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amberdreamsSo here are my thinky thoughts.
The first part, showing Dean’s normal life juxtaposed against his past, felt very poignant and infinitely sad, and not just because his past had Sam in it. It was almost equally because Dean is a hunter, he should be dangerous, he should be out there saving people and hunting things, and it is just wrong to see him cutting wood or hammering nails, or even making breakfast for Ben, however much I like Lisa and Ben. And I do – I like them both – Lisa is quite frankly - awesome.
Using the Djinn left some holes for me – for instance, where/when did Dean’s hallucinations start? Was his drinking in the bar with Sid real or a part of a fantasy? Because from there he sees the werewolf scratches that are planted in his head by the YED who is part of the illusion…..I admit I am still (after watching twice) a bit confused about that part. Not that it really matters, but these things are a bit niggly.
Like the tests Sam did to prove he was ok - I mean, would Dean really let anyone grab a knife that may or may not have been real silver to cut themselves and be satisified? Or pour white stuff that may or may not have been salt into a carton of water that may or may not have been blessed and take drinking it as being proof the person was human not a demon? I don't think so. But as a plot device it saved time so hey, I suppose I can roll with it. A bit sloppy but...
Obviously we are meant to be worried about what the Campbells are up to – and at the moment, they have not been presented in a very good light, apart from Grandpappy, who is saying all the right things to Dean. Sam was played in such a way as to leave concerns, whether they go as far as worrying that Sam is not entirely Sam, or just that the trauma he has been to has changed him in the way that Jared has spoken about – made him harder and less caring. To say that this would make Sam now more like Dean in Season 1 is, I think, to completely misread Dean, as he was always a deeply caring character, whatever the surface gloss he put over it. He was just able to do what he felt was necessary, just as Sam did then. Even when Sam was angsting more, he still got the job done.
All in all I think it was a strong episode. I would really like to see more about Sam’s side of the reunion, give the brothers more time alone together to thrash things out, but I don’t think that is going to happen just yet. Dean's reaction was great – just the right amount of anger and hurt mixed with the joy and relief – and I can see how this can easily be milked for quite a while given the new ‘hard’ Sam….and the doubts that Dean is bound to have once he has time to think about what has happened.
Actually the Samuel Campbell resurrection is in some ways the more interesting one – given that he has said he was in Heaven “brought me down” which implies that it is at least angels if not a higher power at work – and therefore there really ought to be a reason for it. And then there is the question of how long Sam was in the cage before the (same?) power dragged him out too.
Yep, all in all a great start and better than I was expecting!
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Date: 2010-09-25 03:53 pm (UTC)I don't think that the idea of Sam being more like season 1 Dean has anything to do with heart or emotion. It's their rolls that have been reversed. Season 1 Dean was well aware that there was a lot more darkness than light in the world and that being a hunter wasn't a job, it was a life, while Sam was perfectly convinced that, if you don't go looking fortrouble, trouble will forget that you exist.
Now, we see Dean content with being out of the hunting life, apparently forgotten that the darkness doesn't puff out of existence just because he sleeps with teh proverbial light on and Sam, who has embraced the hunting life, has gathered a hunting group around himself and has even *g*, fencied up his car to his liking (I suspect a lot of fancy gadgets and velcro are involved)
But I agree with you. What a great, awesome way to start the season!
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Date: 2010-09-25 05:13 pm (UTC)Funny, I don't think Dean was content or feeling safe out of the hunting life so don't see that the role reversal is that strong on that count - he was guarding the house and didn't have his head in the sand even before he started dreaming the Djinn dreams....
Can't wait to see how this all develops, I think they have managed to pack in quite a bit to this opener and I hope they have the talent without Kripke to see this through to its full potential - I reckon they will.
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Date: 2010-09-25 05:31 pm (UTC)With Dean, I suppose, the level of relaxing and being content is never going to be the same as Sam's in season 1. Sam cut strings early on, somewhere around 18, when he mostly had his father's training and his brother's emotional protection of the ugliness that hunting could bring. Dean got out after 40 years in hell and standing by as his two brothers jumped into hell. It's not the exact same positions for them both, but I can definately see the similarities.
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Date: 2010-09-25 05:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-25 04:08 pm (UTC)Thanks hon.
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Date: 2010-09-25 05:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-25 05:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-25 05:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-26 02:10 am (UTC)And yes, something is definitely going on with the Campbells. Samuel in particular, I won't be surprised if it's something not-Samuel.
Very good review, you took a broad perspective without bias, unlike a lot of reviews I've read :)
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Date: 2010-09-26 02:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-26 06:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-26 06:07 pm (UTC)Okay if I friend? :)
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Date: 2010-09-26 06:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-26 06:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-26 06:15 pm (UTC)