WTH is this reporter saying?? Zapit "Best of"

[yimhappy]

blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2011/12/breaking-bad-the-vampire-diaries-and-more-zap2its-favorite-dramatic-episodes-of-2011.html


'Breaking Bad,' 'The Vampire Diaries' and more: Zap2it's favorite dramatic episodes of 2011

Carina Adly MacKenzie
"Supernatural" - "The Man Who Would Be King": Castiel (Misha Collins) was shrouded in mystery for the majority of Season 6. As an audience, we understood this, as he was busy fighting a civil war in Heaven, and we're not so deluded to think that the show has the kind of special effects budget that a satisfyingly epic Heavenly battle would require. In "The Man Who Would Be King," though, the man behind the curtain revealed himself. We were finally privy to Castiel's origin story, to the life he led before he met Dean Winchester, and, of course, to the fact that while we'd been distracted by the Mother of All, Castiel himself was, inadvertently, becoming the true "big bad" of the season. While heartbreaking to many fans of Castiel, I thought the move was a brave and unexpected one, particularly for a show that has become relatively formulaic in the trajectories of its season-long arcs. It brilliantly serviced the underlying themes of the series and, just as the audience was becoming complacent given the impermanence of death on the show, it raised the stakes for the viewers and the characters. It may not have been particularly pleasant to learn that Castiel was behind so much of the Winchesters' suffering -- but that's the whole point of a "twist," right?



I’m OK with most of Carina’s article. Cas as big bad was a decent, stake-raising twist, although I think S6 could have been executed better.

But, I’m WTF when she says, “It brilliantly serviced the underlying themes of the series”. What SPN theme is she talking about?? Is SPN’s theme supposed to be “family/friends will betray you, but you’re stuck with them”??

WTF?
During S1-S5, I thought that some themes were…

• The bonds of family/friends can overcome the worst darkness, and even change destiny.
  
• Think for yourself; you can stand up to authority.
  
• The worst can happen; but you can still overcome.
  
• Wounds can lead to strength.
  
• Have faith in yourself, it’s not easy, but it’s the only way to win.

I really loved what I thought were SPN’s themes, so I no like this.
Does what Carina said ring true for anybody??

[geordiegirl1967]

I agree with your summary of the themes, and I agree that the writer has misinterpreted. Personally this ep wouldn't be my choice as one of the best, but at least we got on the list.

[yimhappy]

geordiegirl
What would have been your choice as best SPN episode in 2011??

[427_Impala]

Yeah, this reporter obviously isn't a fan. Or even a viewer...

I'm really glad we got TMWWBK. It was nice to find out what the hell was going on in Cas' mind, and it did answer a LOT of questions. Though Cas never did say whether he deliberately brought Sam back soulless... But I'm sure that's not significant

If they HADN'T done TMWWBK, we'd all be sitting here saying "We needed a Cas-centric episode! We need to know what was going on in his head!". I rather liked it, actually - it was so nice to get some FREAKING ANSWERS for a change! Misha was brilliant, and Jensen's hurt!Dean was heartbreaking. Great ep. But certainly not the BEST one of the season...

As for which ep was the best... Well, I didn't love the first half of S6. That was hard going sometimes; when I turned on EOMS, it was like a totally different show. One I might not have continued watching if it was the first ep I saw. *shrug*

But it got better. And, looking back, I can appreciate the whole noir thing - in its own way, early S6 was good TV. Just different to what we were used to. (That said, Sam should've had his soul back by about ep 8. As good as Jared was at being soulless, that went on for toooo long.) Anyway - the last half of S6 really picked up.
That said, thank Cas for S7! Feels like home. Old-fashioned SPN. *sighs happily* Makes S6 easier to watch - now I know it gets better!

There's usually a difference between 'best ep' and 'favourite ep', I think. Although, in 2011, there's a clear winner - Hello, Cruel World. Sam talking to a Lucifer that Dean/Bobby can't see, reality collapsing around him to the point he nearly shoots his brother... There were funnier eps, and sadder eps, but HCW was great all-around.

TMWWBK was necessary, but not that great. And it didn't TOUCH the underlying themes of the series! Expect to remind us that Sam and Bobby are always the only ones Dean can trust (that's a recurring theme, I guess).

But yim is right - SPN isn't about your allies betraying you and doing nefarious, sneaky things! Cas is yet another example of why Dean/Sam/Bobby only really ever have each other - as were the betrayals of Ruby (to a certain extent), Bela, and Anna - but beyond that, Cas' temporary insanity is an isolated event in a single mytharc. It's not a summary of SPN itself.

Oh God. I'm talking myself into thinking Carina was kind of... not toally wrong. Cas does kinda represent a repeating pattern of allies/non-enemies betraying the boys. And they do keep losing people close to them...

Okay, so maybe she was a LITTLE bit right. But TMWWBK isn't the best ep of S6. And it only underlines ONE recurring theme of SPN.
There's SO MUCH more than that to this show, and if people didn't betray them occasionally, how would Sam and Dean know they only ever really have each other??

Fortunately, SPN isn't about betrayal - it's about family. Sam and Dean (and Bobby) are always there for each other - as evidenced in HCW! - no matter what. They literally go to Hell and back for each other. It's not about the betrayals, it's about the rescues!

[geordiegirl1967]

Jan 4, 2012 17:45:04 GMT -5 yimhappy said:

geordiegirl
What would have been your choice as best SPN episode in 2011??

One of LaV, TFM, MD, DD or (probably the winner for me) HCW.

[yimhappy]

Good points 427_Impala

I would have picked "Appointment in Samaria" too, as a "great" episode. But I think it was in 2010, so that disqualifies it.
I hear that "Death's Door"(2011) was a supposedly great episode. But I have mixed feelings on it.
I loved "Mommie Dearest"(2011) too. But maybe I don't know what "great" TV is. I don't watch much.


Anyway, about all the betrayals...
Let me also add the Campbell's betrayal.

Betrayals have been recurring. But I wouldn't have called dealing with betrayals "the underlying themes". I don't think folks are watching SPN to see betrayals.

To me, the betrayals were part of a bigger underlying theme of learning to have faith in yourself, and in your loved ones. Learning when to trust is a big part of learning faith in yourself. We all make bad calls, and the results can horrific. I'm grateful SPN actually showed heroes making disastrous calls, and dealing with it.

Actually, when I put it like that, Carina's talk of underlying theme makes more sense.
I guess having the "betrayal" come from Castiel was just confusing, because previously Castiel was on the side of validating the brother's faith in themselves.

[427_Impala]

Jan 4, 2012 19:40:21 GMT -5 yimhappy said:

Anyway, about all the betrayals...
Let me also add the Campbell's betrayal.

Betrayals have been recurring. But I wouldn't have called dealing with betrayals "the underlying themes". I don't think folks are watching SPN to see betrayals.

Oh, I forgot about Sampa!

They do get betrayed a lot, don't they? But you're right - the betrayals aren't the point. They're a means to an end - the point is Sam/Dean/Bobby all banding together. Just one of the plot devices used to demonstrate the awesome relationships on this show.

[yimhappy]

Jan 4, 2012 19:50:56 GMT -5 427_Impala said:

Jan 4, 2012 19:40:21 GMT -5 yimhappy said:

Anyway, about all the betrayals...
Let me also add the Campbell's betrayal.

Betrayals have been recurring. But I wouldn't have called dealing with betrayals "the underlying themes". I don't think folks are watching SPN to see betrayals.

Oh, I forgot about Sampa!

They do get betrayed a lot, don't they? But you're right - the betrayals aren't the point. They're a means to an end - the point is Sam/Dean/Bobby all banding together. Just one of the plot devices used to demonstrate the awesome relationships on this show.

Agreed, means to the end.

Now I'm clearer on why I don't think "Dean's betrayal" "served the underlying themes". It's incomplete. Cas "betrayal" should have taken Dean to a place of strength, where he comes back stronger, and more confident. I guess Sam is coming back stronger. But we haven't Dean bounce back stronger yet.

But, now that I think of it, if you just look at Cas, then TMWWBK does touch on that "finding faith in yourself" theme I see. Cas is really exploring his decisions, and what he should have faith in.

But, I always saw SPN's themes as ultimately positive. That whole TMWWBK arc seemed way negative to me, not so much in TMWWBK, but how it ended in S7. It makes me wonder if SPN believes in positive themes. I wish something in SPN is positive. The brother's lives seem so bleak.

[yimhappy]

Jan 4, 2012 19:50:56 GMT -5 427_Impala said:

Jan 4, 2012 19:40:21 GMT -5 yimhappy said:

Anyway, about all the betrayals...
Let me also add the Campbell's betrayal.

Betrayals have been recurring. But I wouldn't have called dealing with betrayals "the underlying themes". I don't think folks are watching SPN to see betrayals.

Oh, I forgot about Sampa!

They do get betrayed a lot, don't they? But you're right - the betrayals aren't the point. They're a means to an end - the point is Sam/Dean/Bobby all banding together. Just one of the plot devices used to demonstrate the awesome relationships on this show.

I guess it depends on what you mean by theme. To me, the relationships showcase the theme. But the relationships aren't the theme.

But i understand that many are watching to see the relationship by itself, without thinking what the relationship tells us (the theme).
It's all kind of inseparable to me, relationships, theme, the very heart of the show.

But ugh, I've seen much heart in S7's stories. yet.


EDIT - I forgot DD, which had :heart: , and is positive about overcoming inner horrors.

[427_Impala]

Jan 4, 2012 20:13:11 GMT -5 yimhappy said:

Agreed, means to the end.

Now I'm clearer on why I don't think "Dean's betrayal" "served the underlying themes". It's incomplete. Cas "betrayal" should have taken Dean to a place of strength, where he comes back stronger, and more confident. I guess Sam is coming back stronger. But we haven't Dean bounce back stronger yet.

But, now that I think of it, if you just look at Cas, then TMWWBK does touch on that "finding faith in yourself" theme I see. Cas is really exploring his decisions, and what he should have faith in.

But, I always saw SPN's themes as ultimately positive. That whole TMWWBK arc seemed way negative to me, not so much in TMWWBK, but how it ended in S7. It makes me wonder if SPN believes in positive themes. I wish something in SPN is positive. The brother's lives seem so bleak.

It feels unfinished, doesn't it? Sure, Dean is carrrying Cas' trenchcoat around in the trunk, but he's still hanging around emotional rock bottom. Just waiting for him to deal with it in some way... (just quietly, I think we might be waiting a while).
Bizarrely, I think Sam is in a better place than Dean . And he's seeing Luci everywhere! As usual, Sam is dealing and Dean isn't.

I also like to think SPN is ultimately positive. Hey, the world hasn't ended yet, right? (Not permanently, anyway!) And maybe it's just that the TMWWBK arc hasn't really ended yet, and we haven't seen Dean work it through to its conclusion yet - we have yet to see >>Misha back<<, after all. (SpoilerVision just to be safe!)

Beyond that, I have no idea where it's going from here. Death's Door really threw a spanner in the works for all our theories! We don't know enough to guess, really.

[reedusisababe]

Oh it's stupid Carina hate her. Never listen to her she only inflicts rage.

Biggest Delena hater out there, Delena is Vampire Diaries thing.