Supernatural5x7 "The Curious Case of Dean Winchester" Spoilerish

[Dorian Thompson]

New episode tonight, good people. I hope I get home from work in time to see it. I hate having to watch online.

Clip from tonight's eppy. Hee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcLsCBw6ojc

 

[Checkmate]

Yay! This episode looks like it's going to be fantastic.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Nothing like a case of the clap.

 

[Bad Atom]

Once again, I have to wait to watch the episode while my little brother gets to watch it as it airs. If he tries to text me with spoilers again I'm gonna kill him... Can't wait to post my thoughts on tonight's ep, as soon as I get to see it... (grumbles)

I also released my "Stupornatural" parody tonight, so when the show's over, at least there's something else to watch...

Part 1:
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odgAN4nSv2M[/yt]

Part 2:
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UbWddML0Po[/yt]

 

[mswood]

he,he

God, I haven't seen it yet, but I have a feeling that they next few weeks are going to suck. As I think we are getting to many humor episodes.....

 

[startrekwatcher]

Average. This season so far with the exception of one or two episodes really hasn't excited or interested me for the most part. I feel most of the time I'm just watching it out of a sense of momentum.

The supernatural plot was pretty thin and predictable. Saw more of the Winchesters willingness to sacrifice themselves for each other and people like Bobby which has been done many times already and to better effect. We get treated to more of the less appealing side of Dean as the adolescent annoying goober. Also as usual I'm not too crazy about the show when it includes humor. It just doesn't appeal to me. I have a certain sense of humor and a lot of the stuff seems a little too forced for my tastes. I'd have preferred a more reflective episode than Supernatural's version of "Grumpy Old Men".

I will say casting Chad Everett was interesting and he managed to capture Jensen's mannerisms and facial expressions expertly. Too bad the same can't be said of Jared or Jim Beaver who I thought had an off week especially when emoting through facial expressions. Bobby's breakdown made me cringe a little and Jared's writhing in angst during the poker game just snapped me out of the whole scene.

I'd give this episode a C. Next week's looks a little too gimmicky but it might be interesting.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

The last "humor" episode we got with the trickster was Mystery Spot. Started funny as hell, ended up deadly serious. Episode 10 is going to be open a vein drama going into the break. So will the second half of the season. Don't give up just yet. Calm before the storm and all.

Awwwww, tonight's episode was sweet. It was really about how much the boys love Bobby. Hee. A case of the clap. Good parody, Bad Atom.

 

[startrekwatcher]

The last "humor" episode we got with the trickster was Mystery Spot.

I thought "Mystery Spot" was not good at all. I remember reading that it was rushed because of the writer's strike but I still didn't like it. In fact, I can't stand the trickster episodes. I can think of several other characters I'd like to see make return appearances besides him.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Really? I think Mystery Spot is perhaps one of the five best episodes of the entire series. The damage done to Sam's psyche was palpable. That was the tipping point. He felt so powerless that it was inevitable he'd go along with Ruby's bullshit after how traumatized he was.

I thought tonight's ep was sweet. The character moments took precedence over the plot, I'll grant you. I think next week will be a bit more serious after the comedy. And episode ten will definitely be open a vein entertainment in the tradition of season four. I promise. I've broken down and read spoilers. Yikes and then some.

 

[Bad Atom]

I don't know if it was the longer-than-usual wait, but I really enjoyed this episode. I'm the first person to complain that they've been sidelining the Apocalypse lately, but the episode was good enough for me to keep my trap shut.

Visually, I thought this episode was very nice. Lots of new and different locations. I'm so used to them hanging around warehouses and out-of-the-way cottages that just the sight of them in a city was refreshing. (I'm still sick of that same freaking motel set though. Seriously, set designers? Move the door, or move a wall, or something!)

The character work is what put this episode over the top for me. While I didn't quite buy Bobby getting around well enough to beat Dean to "the game", I'm glad he was there because it's the best storyline he's had in a while. After this episode, I'm officially at the point where I will be seriously sad if he dies. Jim Beaver nailed it this week.

The guy that played the old version of Dean was pitch-perfect. I could close my eyes and imagine Jensen Ackles delivering the lines exactly the same. Excellent casting! Even though Dean's part in the story was mostly comedic (the "happy dance" was a hoot) I loved that he could sympathize with Bobby and talk to him without getting all sappy.

Even though Sam had a smaller part this time around, it was nice to see him hold his own against Patrick. He's growing up, and if he doesn't want his brotherly bond with Dean to be a weakness, this is a good start. Nice bluff, Sammy.

The only weakness would be the lack of character development for Patrick and (especially) his female companion whose name I didn't catch. Her motivation for helping the guys was sketchy, and it seemed too easy. And I'm really surprised that they didn't try to kill Patrick - okay, gunfire tickles, but you'd think they'd keep at it instead of basically leaving.

Overall, I was satisfied. The funny stuff was funny without screaming "COMEDY EPISODE", the director managed to generate quite a bit of suspense from a poker game, and the character work was great. I'll give this one a solid B.

(A side note: I LOVED that the episode opened with "THE APOCALYPSE IS HERE!", because there's a similar sight gag in my video.)

 

[broberfett]

Which STD is the clap? Would his booster shot get rid of it?

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Gonorrhea, I think.

 

[Checkmate]

I really enjoyed this episode, but then again I'm one who enjoys the show for the characters far more than I do the overall plot or story arcs.

As always, I love whoever is responsible for the casting of this show. They're fucking gifted. Even when the writing is just so-so, the cast and their acting abilities elevate the show above the source material. Almost makes me want to gush like a little girl, but I'll try and hold back on that.

Regarding the motel set: That has to be one of my favorite little quirks of the show. I look forward to seeing how they change that little divider by the door and otherwise make the room look different. It's one of those things that'll live to be a charming note for fans long after the show is off the air. Sort of like the redshirts or styrofoam boulders on the original Star Trek.

Otherwise I agree with Bad Atom's criticisms. They just kind of forgot the fact that these guys are paranormal hunters this week. Which is something I can almost buy if you assume that they were just relieved to have fixed Bobby's blunders. I really think they should have finished the incantation though. That would have likely finished off Patrick (who, if truly just a witch, would have aged and died in moments) and reversed everything he's done. But I can overlook all of that because I thoroughly enjoyed this episode.

 

[selina]

An excellent episode with great character moments. And I liked the bad guy because he wasn't he wasn't just an average demon. I really enjoyed it.

 

[Obiwanshinobi]

Satan would have had a field day on that Man-Witch if he had killed his vessel. Of course Sam's not gonna die just like that though. Plus imagine what Sam would have done if he still had his powers. He did have telekinesis right? Or did it just work on demons to exercise them quickly?

 

[Reverend]

I liked how "grey" they painted the antagonist in this one. It would have been so easy to have him as an evil life sucking monster, but they made him very human and damn near sympathetic. Like any good con man, he doesn't steal anything (besides watches) just let's a person's own greed do most of the work.

Oh and "old Dean" was a hoot.

 

[FreezeC77]

Actually Rev that was really the only aspect of the episode I liked. There wasn't a vanquished monster, the brothers didn't really succeed in doing anything. They had no idea how to get the better of Patrick, his girlfriend had to help them with all the information about a spell and still Patrick outdid them. Ultimately Sam won just due to complete flat-out luck. Plus Patrick wasn't completely evil, he was just a con-man and a pretty ambiguous character.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Final ratings per Travis Yanan at pifeedback.com


Supernatural
- 2.917 million viewers
- 1.7/3 HH
- 1.4/3 A18-49
- 1.5/4 A18-34
- 1.4/4 W18-34 Inching back up since Fringe's premiere siphoned the audience. By CW's pathetic standards, it's good.

 

[Checkmate]

Actually Rev that was really the only aspect of the episode I liked. There wasn't a vanquished monster, the brothers didn't really succeed in doing anything. They had no idea how to get the better of Patrick, his girlfriend had to help them with all the information about a spell and still Patrick outdid them. Ultimately Sam won just due to complete flat-out luck. Plus Patrick wasn't completely evil, he was just a con-man and a pretty ambiguous character.

Compared to a blood-sucking vampire or a ghost that gets its jollies from disembowling you, yes. He was just a con-man and an ambiguous character.

Considering he flat-out killed people by draining them of their lives by beating them at a game he knew he had the upperhand in. Or, at best, completely ruining the lives of others by giving old men their youth (as seen by the wife of Mr. Asian Menage)... No. He wasn't just a con-man or an ambiguous character. He was a murderer. One who apparently fed off the lifeforce to sustain his own and anyone else he cared to.

 

[Evilash111]

OH MY GOD!

THE CW actual allowed a character on one of its show to state that they are in their 30's. What will happen next, people OLDER than 25 on MTV?