Re: Supernatural 7x21 "Reading is Fundamental" spoiler/discussion thre
Well on three issues, one that we in principle agree with two that I seriously disagree with.
1. Is in general I don't like non realistic humor episodes. Or even the general softer storytelling episodes. All of which have been around since really season two.
The interesting thing is that for the great character drama the show can be (look at episodes like In My Time of Dying or Abandon All Hope too see just two of the many examples the show has done), none of them garner the media attention of the humor, let alone the meta humor episodes. For example I think I like the meta episodes better then the just softer story telling more typical in a monster of the week episode.
But I also know that the show could not be made on the CW if it was the dramatic piece that I would like it to be all season. Heck I don't think any network would allow it be that type of show. Some cable outlets yes, broadcast tv, probably not.
For myself if the characters stay true to themselves I will forgive a lot of the lighter story telling, have from the get go.
2. Shaking things up. While the formula is fairly by the book, for an hour long action/drama show. I think SPN shakes things up more then most hour longs on network tv. IT handles concepts about morality and religion that most shows wont ever touch. It pushes humor in ways that most comedies don't touch, let alone dramas. It's fairly affective in keeping true to the reality of its universe. I e, dangerous life, thus high turnover in characters, even characters that are very popular with the fans. a rare show (I mean do you know what network that it airs it) in avoiding large amounts of time on romance, avoids pandering to the audience in parading out the sex appeal of the leads again this is the CW, yet how many times over 7 years have the guys actually been shown without a shirt on? Almost all broadcast shows show more. They also have pushed the leads into darker places then most any drama has ever done for broadcast networks.
3. The repetition of character traits and beats. I know you don't care for that, but to me thats one of the cornerstones of being a successful character drama. People change little over life. Why would we expect these characters to do that. They have both been shaped and scarred by their early life, a life that I know is vastly rougher and darker then mine was. I expect that scars to last. Then of course not only was their (pre series) life pretty awful, their series life as been even worse.
I mean I can't imagine the show sending a character to hell and not have that character feel that impact not just for a few episodes but over seasons. I can't imagine having a character who has felt he has had no control over his life, and that destiny has doomed his soul, not to feel that, and to make bad choices trying to escape that. Not just in a few episodes, but over season after season. That doesn't mean that the characters can't grow. But growth is usually small, its not 180 degree changes in how you act and react to others and various situations.
And when a show that is a drama, about things so far away from actual real life (let alone when they do humor or softer episodes), you need strongly drawn and realistically behaving characters to ground your show.
If they didn't do that I would have never made it through the first season.
My CW reception is completely gone yet again, so I shall watch by my other means later on in the evening. Have fun. 
I liked him. So the Leviathan ate him? 
