[S09.E20: Bloodlines]

I don't remember 1/2 the stuff you mentioned

 

. Much of what I said was how they should have done it better.  I hope i didn't confuse you. 

[Spoilers With Speculation]

Alaina Hoffman tweeted a pic of her in a harness for this upcoming episode: http://instagram.com/p/naqt61IZTX/#S

 

So clearly Abaddon goes flying at some point in "King of the Damned".  Now who has that kind of juice to make that happen?  Crowley? Cas?  Enquiring minds want to know. 

[S09.E20: Bloodlines]

Apparently my litmus test for whether or not I like an episode is how many times I rewatch within the first 12 hrs.  This one only got once.  But it needed it because I was pretty distracted by the "is this a good potential spinoff or not" question to really pay attention to the episode the first time. 

 

My verdict:

- As an episode -- nope.  It didn't advance Sam and Dean's line AT ALL.  Mild interest in seeing them in Chicago but not enough to warrant the time.  But my expectations were non-existence for Sam & Dean so that's okay.

- As a pilot: two good leads with chemistry but serious re-tooling needed.  They need to de-CW the thing. My loyalty is to the SPN universe, not the CW model of society being made up of pretty people with power.

 

What they did right:

- As mentioned, the two leads.  Nate B. was stronger by far but Lucien L. showed promise IMO.  Lucien was burdened with the heavy drama and the silly fridge fiancé. His performance benefited from a second viewing.

- Tie in the police, avoided vampires being one of the five families.

 

What they could have fixed (i.e. NOT the network's fault):

- Less would have been more.  The last 7 mins were 5 mins too much of pilot set-up.  Drop the Violet/David wrap up. Drop the visit to David's dad. Have Ennis be David's inspiration for going back to straighten out his sister.  Shorten that scene to the glove drop and "I'm coming back" announcement. 

- Drop everything after the boys left EXCEPT put in Ennis saying (as the car drives away) "no I won't be dropping this, this is MY home."

- Add in the boys talking about the hunter life and a little shit from them about killing a human (silence was not good, no matter what is happening with MoC).

- They completely dropped the ball on Ennis being a cop-in-training.  It was in the premise write-up but we were left with NO idea how Ennis earned his income.  They needed that to explain how he knew to hold a gun and moved a little like a pro.

- They shouldn't have fridged the fiancé.

- Have the boys comment on David's lack of shedding and have David say "Country Mouse, City Mouse -- you guys are not as smart as you think. We come in different flavors."  That's enough confusion to say there 's backstory to explain the canon changes.

 

What the Network should do:

- Let them add older power players. The poor actress who was given Margo got a terrible character. Sam with Julian guy (although he had a few better lines).

- Shove Romeo/Juliet to backstory for a full year

- Risk a 13 episode run and try to wok out the kinks.

 

Bottom line:  I think they ought to retool a bit and try for 13 to see if they can make a better product with better characterizations and less CW-ness. 

 

BTW, Tippi B from TWOP has an EXCELLENT weecap: http://tippitv.tumblr.com/post/84315567402/tippitv-supernatural-recap-bloodlines

[Spoilers With Speculation]

The extended promo for next week is pretty damn good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcPF6F_QW28&feature=youtu.be

[Spoilers With Speculation]

 

So does this mean, I don't have to watch the first 40 minutes of the episode?

Dabb's a good writer.  I bet it's a fascinating episode.  It'll be interesting to see how Sam represents the Hunting life to Ennis as I'm sure both boys will try to talk him out of it.  So I think they'll be insight.  Of course, there will be blood.  And I'd like to see Dean go MoC on someone just to impress the hell out of the Monsters that Hunters are real and to be feared.  If you're into that kind of a thing.....

[Spoilers With Speculation]

Andrew Dabb says the season wrap up kicks off at the end of tonight's' episode.  I may or may not be able to concentrate until that time!

[Supernatural Survival Game]

Home ++

Salvation --

Bloody Mary --

 

39 - Scarecrow
33 - Pilot
31 - The Benders
27 - Faith
27 - Skin
23 - Dead in the Water
23 - Something Wicked
19 - Devil's Trap
17 - Phantom Traveler

09 - Shadow

07 - Salvation
07 - Home
05 - Bloody Mary
 

 

GANKED:
Route 666
Bugs
Provenance
Dead Man's Blood
Hook Man
Nightmare
Asylum
Wendigo
Hell House

[Spoilers With Speculation]

 

Wait, I didn't think Sam had that ability anymore.

 

 

It's not an ability to cure a demon so much as a fancy exorcism.  So all Sam has to do is go back to confession, give his blood to Dean 8 times (once per hour) and finish with the "bloody fisted sandwich".  Closing the Gates of Hell was 3 trials (hellhound, rescue innocent from hell, 'cure' a demon).  So Sam can still 'cure' a demon.  Now the question I was raising was ... since he backed away from completing the third trial, is there a statue of limitations on those trials.  Like they have to be done successfully on the first try each time.  Could Dean turn around and try to shut the Gates of Hell by starting from the beginning by ganking a hellhound?

 

In short, the boys know how to cure a demon.  If Dean turns into one, Sam could cure him.  A side benefit COULD be that the Gates of Hell would close but I imagine that it might kill Sam in the process.

[Spoilers With Speculation]

Well Sam knows how to cure a demon.  And it just might kill him -- is there a time-limit on closing the Gates of Hell? And it would be Supernatural and of course make what Dean said was true (that Sam would do anything for Dean).

[Spoilers With Speculation]

This one really sent me buzzing.  I was more generic in my list and when he says "a situation they've never faced before" I'm thinking ALL 195 episodes.

 

Dean, Sam, and Cas have all died.  So, I'm going to say -- they are alive.  I'm throwing Cas in there out of desperation and hope.

Sam and Cas have gone darkside so Dean going darkside .... IDK.  I think Dabb is quibbling if he says that is "new"

IA that Sam potentially having to kill Dean is new but it's a parallel/a repeat.

 

My first thought - Dean's eyes turn black and he's a demon.  We've never had a character ACTUALLY be a demon before.  They've been possessed and gone darkside (usually based on good intentions) but this would be a first.

 

It's a cliffhanger so someone or something is in jeopardy - or Dabb doesn't understand the definition of cliffhanger.  I'm still voting for Deansil in Distress but more of his soul being an issue than physical harm.

 

It's true neither of the boys have killed the other so that COULD be the cliffhanger. 

 

Ack.  I just know it's going to be EPIC and I can't wait. 

[Supernatural Survival Game]

Faith ++

Home ++

Devil's Trap ++

 

37 - Scarecrow
33 - Pilot
29 - Faith
27 - The Benders
27 - Skin
23 - Dead in the Water
21 - Something Wicked
19 - Devil's Trap
17 - Phantom Traveler
09 - Salvation
09 - Shadow
07 - Bloody Mary
05 - Home

 

GANKED:
Route 666
Bugs
Provenance
Dead Man's Blood
Hook Man
Nightmare
Asylum
Wendigo
Hell House

[Supernatural Survival Game]

Home ++

Salvation --

Bloody Mary --

 

33 - Scarecrow
33 - Pilot
27 - Faith

25 - The Benders
23 - Dead in the Water
25 - Skin
19 - Something Wicked
17 - Devil's Trap
17 - Phantom Traveler
07 - Bloody Mary
07 - Salvation
07 - Shadow
05 - Home

 

GANKED:
Route 666
Bugs
Provenance
Dead Man's Blood
Hook Man
Nightmare
Asylum
Wendigo
Hell House

[Supernatural Survival Game]

--  Wendigo

--  Hell House

++ Home

 

33 - Scarecrow
31 - Pilot
27 - The Benders
27 - Faith
23 - Dead in the Water
23 - Skin
19 - Something Wicked
17 - Devil's Trap
17 - Phantom Traveler
09 - Bloody Mary
09 - Salvation

07 - Shadow
05 - Home
03 - Wendigo

03 - Hell House

 

GANKED:
Route 666
Bugs
Provenance
Dead Man's Blood
Hook Man
Nightmare
Asylum

[Supernatural Survival Game]

**A moment of silence for Route 666**  The pretty sex scene and Dean emotional vulnerability could just NOT compensate for 'Racist Ghost Truck'.  I couldn't vote for or against it due to my ambivalence.

 

Back to our regularly scheduled game:

++ Home
++ Shadow

-- Hell House

33 - Scarecrow
31 - Pilot
27 - The Benders
27 - Faith
25 - Dead in the Water
21 - Skin
21 - Something Wicked
17 - Devil's Trap
17 - Phantom Traveler
09 - Bloody Mary
09 - Shadow
09 - Home
07 - Salvation
07 - Wendigo
03 - Hell House

GANKED:
Route 666
Bugs
Provenance
Dead Man's Blood
Hook Man
Nightmare
Asylum

[Spoilers With Speculation]

Stairway to Heaven .... summary has implied spoilers from King of the Damned

 

#Supernatural 9.22 synopsis "Stairway to Heaven" (May 13): TESSA THE REAPER RETURNS — After a massive attack on the angels, Castiel (Misha Collins) calls Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) for help. As they leave, Dean’s eagerness to bring the First Blade doesn’t go unnoticed by Sam who is worried about the cost to his brother whenever he uses the Blade. Meanwhile, Castiel is shocked when he learns the angel that caused the attack was one of his followers and did it in his name. Dean discovers there is a conspiracy amongst Castiel’s angel followers and at the heart of it is Tessa, the Reaper. Guy Bee directed the episode written by Andrew Dabb.

source: http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1s1h3mu

 

Holy moly.  So Dean HAS THE FIRST BLADE.  Which obviously happened in King of the Damned.  And we know Crowley is still alive because we have BTS shots of him filming the finale.  So... Is Abaddon kaput?  Why would Crowley be around if Abaddon was dead? Why wouldn't Dean have killed Crowley yet if he has the First Blade? Enquiring mind want to know.

 

Other tidbits: Tessa is in on a plot AGAINST Cas? Please don't have Dean torture her.  I don't want that.  I kinda ship Dean/Tessa.  Since when did she become political?  *whimper*.  GNB is one of my favorite directors and I love Andrew Dabb's writing so I'm expecting a great episode. I'm just a wee bit freaked at this summary.  And I can't believe they spoiled that Dean has the Blade.  I personally LOVE spoilers but not everyone does. 

[Supernatural Survival Game]

++ Shadow

-- Hell House

++ Home

 

33 - Scarecrow
31 - Pilot
25 - The Benders
25 - Faith
23 - Dead in the Water
21 - Skin
21 - Something Wicked
17 - Devil's Trap
17 - Phantom Traveler
11 - Wendigo
09 - Bloody Mary
09 - Salvation
09 - Home

09 - Shadow
03 - Hell House

01 - Route 666

 

GANKED:
Bugs
Provenance
Dead Man's Blood
Hook Man
Nightmare
Asylum

[S09.E18: Meta Fiction]

 

Why doesn't Dean have his tattoo anymore?  Did I miss something because I didn't see it during the shower scene.

Outing my OCD on this:

- He had it still.  In the shower scene the camera doesn't pan down far enough (dammit!) -- although at that angle, pulling back a little when Dean's head was facing up would have put this show on HBO. At the mirror scene, the mirror is foggy but you can kind of see the blue/grey tinge in the mirror on his chest.  In the promo where the camera is APPROPRIATELY PULLED BACK (thankyouverymuch....ahem), he's clearly got it on.

[S09.E19: Alex Annie Alexis Ann]

 

I thought Sam was choosing his words very carefully there--it's not that Dean enjoyed it, he was showing off and having far more fun than Dean usually would. Killing monsters is a means to an end for Dean, he does it to save lives and help people while getting to let off a little steam himself--he's never been proud of it before or not felt the weight of it. I didn't see Sam as judging him for killing a monster, but was concerned at how un-Dean like he did it.  Not saying that I cared for Jared's performance much, just that Sam didn't seem all that judgy to me, just concerned.

That's my take too.  It doesn't seem reasonable to me to judge Sam for being unconcerned and then judge Sam for being judgey when he's showing concern.  I may have preferred he phrase it a different way -- like LESS oblique Sam, how about more to the point like "since the MoC you seem to be a bit more bloodthirsty Dean, I'm concerned."  But this was Sam concerned IMO. 

 

 

It was a MOTW episode, but I actually enjoyed it and was pleasantly surprised by the complexity of the message.

Well said Mcolleague on your whole analysis.  I think it was spot on.  I REALLY like Bob Berens' writing in this episode. 

[Supernatural Survival Game]

Couldn't stay up so late anymore - shifting to mid-morning posting:

Note: Ms Taken - I presume you really meant to downvote Home and am working off your totals as posted.

 

Home ++

Hell House --

Shadow ++

 

35 - Scarecrow
31 - Pilot
27 - The Benders
25 - Faith
23 - Dead in the Water
21 - Skin
21 - Something Wicked
17 - Devil's Trap
17 - Phantom Traveler
13 - Wendigo
09 - Bloody Mary
09 - Shadow
07 - Salvation
05 - Hell House
05 - Home
03 - Route 666

 

GANKED:
Bugs
Provenance
Dead Man's Blood
Hook Man
Nightmare
Asylum

[S09.E19: Alex Annie Alexis Ann]

It was a little jarring to switch gears back to MOTW, but as MOTW episodes go, I thought this was a winner. I did an immediate rewatch and feel like the episode was much better when my expectations were aligned. Kim Rhodes has really made a complete and complex character in her had a dozen or so episodes.

[Supernatural Survival Game]

Home ++
Hell House --
Bloody Mary --

33 - Scarecrow
31 - Pilot
27 - The Benders
25 - Faith
23 - Dead in the Water
21 - Skin
21 - Something Wicked
19 - Devil's Trap
17 - Phantom Traveler
13 - Wendigo
11 - Shadow
11 - Salvation
09 - Bloody Mary
05 - Hell House
05 - Route 666
05 - Home
03 - Asylum

GANKED:
Bugs
Provenance
Dead Man's Blood
Hook Man
Nightmare

[S09.E18: Meta Fiction]

http://tippitv.tumblr.com/post/83339640202/recap-supernatural-meta-fiction

Tippi's recap for refugees

[Supernatural Survival Game]

Home ++

Hell House --

Bloody Mary --

33 - Scarecrow

29 - Pilot

27 - The Benders

25 - Faith

23 - Dead in the Water

21 - Skin

21 - Something Wicked

19 - Devil's Trap

17 - Phantom Traveler

11- Bloody Mary

11 - Shadow

11 - Salvation

13 - Wendigo

07 - Hell House

07 - Route 666

07 - Asylum

05 - Home

GANKED:

Bugs

Provenance

Dead Man's Blood

Hook Man

Nightmare

[Spoilers With Speculation]

Yes but King of the Damned is pre-Stairway to Heaven. Plus if Crowley could wrongly take Bobby to hell + Abaddon is harvesting living people's souls, I'm thinking she could pull it off. Of course she'd have to know about Kevin and they talked on the phone but he never gave him his name. Plus she's have to know Crowley gives a shit. Maybe he sobbed about poor dead Kevin to Lola.

Again, really long shot here.

[Spoilers With Speculation]

I was kind of hoping that was what the title "King of the Damned" was about.  Now, not so sure.

Going to throw a random thought out there: Kevin?  What if Abaddon nabs Kevin's ghost and uses it as leverage?  Now it only works if Crowley is still on the human blood and feels remorse over Kevin.  I give it verrrrrrry long odds.  But this whole "force Crowley to kill the boys" twist surprises me because I figured the brothers being dead was Crowley's end game (after all, they made him a junkie and lost him his kingdom).  So, I'm trying to rethink what motivation -- at ALL -- Crowley has to want to protect Sam and Dean. Obviously he wants Dean to kill Abaddon first but that's a temporary alliance.  So... still pondering but I thought I'd throw "Kevin" into the pool of possible leverage.