S09.E04: Slumber Party

[DittyDotDot]

A newly freed Dorothy seeks the help of the Winchesters and Charlie Bradbury in finally defeating the Wicked Witch of the West.

 

I just don't know. I really want to like this episode, I really, really do. Wizard Of Oz coupled with how I usually adore this show's trips down crazy street...somehow, though, this one ends up falling flat for me. Just feels like they're all a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off running around the bunker splitting up into different pairing and such. I don't know, not a big fan of most bottle episodes, so maybe that's it?

 

And, stabby high heel weapons of Wicked Witch destruction? Really, show? Really? Sigh.

 

Seems like this angel tracking table would be useful, too bad it seems to be totally forgotten at this point. Oh, and I find it absolutely hilarious that the Men Of Letters apparently had this huge, city sized bunker that was manned by just two people? I don't know, maybe they tried too hard to tie in the old and the new. Speaking of which, I don't understand why they shot the flashbacks in black and white other than they thought it would be cool.  It doesn't really take me out of it or even bother me that much; just makes me roll my eyes a bit.

 

Anyway, I liked Dorothy for the most part.  And adore the scenes with Crowley and the Witch..."HISSS" Hee! Other than that, nothing else really tickles my fancy here.

[Iguana]

I always assumed that the black-and-white flashbacks, aside from being true to the time of the flashback, were also a tribute to the movie wizard of Oz as the Kansas parts were black-and-white and only the Oz parts were Technicolor. And I cannot forgive this episode for failing to show Dean finding the garage full of classic cars and totally losing his mind with geeky lust and gear head appreciation.

[DittyDotDot]

You know, I really want to appreciate the garage scenes too--I feel totally cheated in not seeing Dean stumble into that garage for the first time--but it just feels like it was tacked on as another "cool" thing. Plus, whose cars were those? Only two people were manning the bunker. It just feels like they thought it would cool to have a bunch of classic cars in a room together rather than actually being thought out and relevant in the end.

 

I get the black and white stuff was a homage to the movies, but I would've like to see them make it their own--actually, I think making the flashbacks super bright and Technicolor-like might've been more of a homage--I don't know. However, I realize it was directed by Singer, so I shouldn't expect too much out of the box thinking.

[supposebly]

 

but it just feels like it was tacked on as another "cool" thing

True. What bugged me even more about it was that in the Charlie episode with the Djinn, Sam had to steal her car to catch up with them. So, the idea really has no good reason other than: Hey, there are a bunch of classic cars! You know, because that's what they are all about!

[catrox14]

I kind of love this episode. I didn't mind the reveal of the garage. I don't know when they would have been able to show it to us before then, but I love that Baby has a bunch of new friends to chillax with.../realizes Baby is an inanimate object.....

 

Loved Charlie making friends with Dorothy and I loved Dorothy. I liked her attitude and spunk but she was also a bit bristly which was fun.

 

I love  <3 <3 Dean and Charlie's bonding so damn much that I can't stand it. Dean clearly adores her despite his protestations that she was the little sister he never wanted. I just love how they are so easy and comfortable with each other. They tease each other and it's just beautiful. Dean doesn't hide who he is with Charlie. He doesn't hide his porn collection and he tells Charlie to not judge him for it which she really doesn't but she teases him for it being organized.  Mini-rant/  WHICH BLESS THAT SCENE. Because I am so tired of Dean being shamed left and right for his sexual behavior which harms NO ONE and he's always into consensual sex and nothing more. Shame the writers for a stupid running joke, but it's not because Dean is a terrible person for his sexual proclivities which are pretty standard fare IMO. I hate the slut shaming that gets directed his way. /rant over 

 

His devastation when Charlie is killed, kills me.  Jensen you just stop with being so good at grief.   ( no don't stop...ever.) And Dean looked so sad, worried and trying to be supportive when Charlie left for Oz. 

 

sidebar: DittyDotDot, I think this was the scene I was mixing up with I'm No Angel, with Dean asking SamZeke to save Charlie not Cas. 

Edited January 19, 2015 by catrox14

[DittyDotDot]

sidebar: DittyDotDot, I think this was the scene I was mixing up with I'm No Angel, with Dean asking SamZeke to save Charlie not Cas. 

 

I figured that was the case, catrox and I knew once we got to this one you'd remember.

[rue721]

Oh, and I find it absolutely hilarious that the Men Of Letters apparently had this huge, city sized bunker that was manned by just two people? I don't know, maybe they tried too hard to tie in the old and the new.

 

The under-staffing was so weird! If they only had two employees, why build a whole extravagant bunker like that in the first place? Who funded this bunker? Where did the money for MoL come from? Who literally built it?

 

Dorothy was very fun, I would love to see her again. I loved that she was all cynical and bitter and pulled off that terrible outfit. Wtf about her imprisoning herself forever with the Wicked Witch, though? She acted like that was no big, but COME ON that's terrible.

 

Rant warning:  I hate the Men of Letters concept so much. The set is pretty, but they don't bother to make much use of it, and tbh I think it's too much of a mash-up of the school library set from Buffy and the hotel lobby set from Angel. Plus, I miss the motel rooms! God forbid we got to see any more dirty squats.

 

Oh speaking of dirty, I think it's funny that this is probably the first time that the Winchesters actually have to clean up after themselves long term. Like, have they ever had to seriously clean a bathroom before?! It cracks me up to think of Sam googling how and when to use Comet, or Dean wondering whether separate toilet bowl cleaner is really necessary. I bet that after all those years in motels, they use a towel as their bathroom rug.

 

I cannot forgive this episode for failing to show Dean finding the garage full of classic cars and totally losing his mind with geeky lust and gear head appreciation.

 

You and me both! I like when he geeks out anyway, and there is SO MUCH to geek out about with cars. Hey, how come there hasn't been an episode that involves very cool cars?

 

An ex of mine, his grandfather loves cars -- so the grandfather would go out to Vegas, rent the fanciest Jag or whatever he could find, and race it around the desert. Wouldn't a setting like that be fun? Some desert where everyone is driving wildly in these beautiful cars, I mean. The guys could ingratiate themselves by pretending to be mechanics -- I'd love to see Sam try to stumble through that, because he never seems interested in cars or really anything mechanical at all (but on the other hand, he randomly fixed the Impala offscreen before S8, so who knows). Maybe that kind of thing would be too expensive to film? But then the show just throws in nice cars for no reason and they've got to have about ninety million Babys, so I doubt that it's too far out of budget.

 

I will probably never watch an episode of Dukes of Hazzard, because the Stars and Bars being painted on the top of their car, etc, repulses me to the point where I can't enjoy the show, but on the other hand, I wouldn't mind if SPN wanted to do a Dukes of Hazzard-based homage for an episode, so we could see lots of cool car stunts and stuff. Js.

Edited January 20, 2015 by rue721

[DittyDotDot]

rue721, on 19 Jan 2015 - 11:17 PM, said:

The under-staffing was so weird! If they only had two employees, why build a whole extravagant bunker like that in the first place? Who funded this bunker? Where did the money for MoL come from? Who literally built it?

 

Oh my Chuck, I have wondered this. Plus, in the six months or so, Sam and Dean haven't taken a gander around the place and found the garage or computer room? Seriously, Dean calls it his home and spent a bunch of time decorating his room, but failed to explore the joint first?

 

The more I think about this episode the more I can find that just doesn't work for me.

 

Oh, oh, oh and Kevin being shipped off to freakin' Branson. Two weeks back it was too dangerous for Kevin to even step outside the bunker, but now its apparently safe enough for him to go on a bender for a weekend. I know they thought they couldn't have them running around the bunker and Kevin just hanging out in his room, but it just feels so forced.

 

And, didn't Dorothy say the spell she used bound her and the witch's fates together? Wouldn't that mean that if the witch dies so would Dorothy?

 

And, how many things do you think can possess a person at one time? Sam's already being possessed by and angel, and now a witch is possessing him too? I find that hard to believe. Don't worry, I'll probably harp on this at a later date too.

 

Okay, I promise to stop now. Hey, Crowley is chained up in the dungeon...I like it when Crowley is chained up in the dungeon. See, I always can find something to smile at.

Edited January 20, 2015 by DittyDotDot

[Goldmoon]

Shark, meet ramp. I love the WoO movie but I really didn't need them to make Oz real.  It is just too much. Jeez!  I liked the Crowley bits, but Mark Sheppard can elevate anything.  I continued to dislike Charlie and find Dean's attachment to her contrived. I already knew she wouldn't really die since I have been watching season ten in progress, however is it really wrong to cheer when she bit it?  When the witch possessed them (I had forgotten about Zeke) I wondered why the demon anti-possession tattoo didn't work.  I guess angels and witches are different but I'm just saying.  Yeah, Sam just noticed there was a cord under the table he's been sitting at for 6 months.  I am not an expert on old time technology, but I believe that the files that would be in a very VERY old computer would be a miniscule amount such as would fit on one low-gig jump drive.  There is no way that they would have hundreds of gigs of info on that thing. Also Kevin in Branson and Cas on the lam and yet FUCKING CHARLIE is in the bunker with the boys, sitting on a bed watching tv.

[GirlyGeek]

Didn't connect well with this one the first time around- It felt over the top and cheesy to have Oz be real.

On re watch, I really liked it (what can I say, I'm a complicated and finicky person) :)

Of course, I love Charlie and I love her and Dean. Dean loves that girl so freaking much and I think it's adorable (in a little sister/family way, of course) and I love that he feels comfortable enough with her to actually show it! He rarely even has that with Sam.

If the show kills her/takes that away from Dean I'll probably never get over it.

Anyway, on rewatch, I just liked the whole concept better, and because I just saw the play Wicked a few weeks ago for the first time, I was able to get a lot of the references, lol.

You know sometimes I dislike silly or really meta episodes at first watch because I'm always sitting there watching it and wondering 'ok, just how silly is this going to get? How crazy are they going to take this?' And I'm on edge the whole time waiting for it to completely shark jump. But then I watch it again and love it. Like I mentioned, I'm a little kooky.

The witch though was a little cartoony for me, though the scene with Crowley was funny.

Edited April 14, 2015 by GirlyGeek

[Demented Daisy]

Just finished a re-watch on TNT and I gotta say, everything you need to know about Sam and Dean is in that (almost) final shot.  Charlie's heading off to Oz, Sam's marveling at the scenery, but Dean can't take his eyes off his "little sister" leaving him.

 

Not great, but not too offensive, either.  For S9, that's almost high praise.

Edited July 1, 2015 by Demented Daisy

[RulerofallIsurvey]

Wow, okay first off - so much cheesy acting in this one.  Not by our guys, of course, but the guest stars were just too...wooden...in the delivery of some of their lines.  I'm looking at you Dorothy and Charlie.  

Secondly - did they really need to bring in the story of Oz this season - and this early in the season?  Cause there's not nearly enough going on already, amiright?  [snort] I'm sure they could have come up with another story line that showcased the history of the bunker and gave them an excuse to get Charlie back on the show.  

Bullet points ahoy!

• Sam walking into the dungeon with the light behind him was a lovely shot.
• a magical mystery computer - not plugged into anything (not even an outlet, Sam.  Really?) and it still works!  Why doesn't Apple have this yet?
• Elphaba got some nasty sharp nails.
• Why does Sam say "Here it is" when he brings Charlie in?  She's an it?  What a guy!  While Charlie herself wasn't as annoying as the last time I saw her, (I actually liked several of her lines and mostly her dynamic with the guys) the Mary Sue factor hit near epic proportions.  So, now she's a hunter - all by her little lonesome took down a vampire and a ghost?  Of course she did.  Isn't this the same girl who could barely go into the Leviathan headquarters without Dean talking her through?  Oh, oh OH!  AND - speaking of magical mystery computers - not only is she the World's Greatest Hacker, but now she's also the World's Preeminent Early Computer Hardware Expert.  Right.  Look, I'm an engineer and I know some really smart older guys (okay, they are probably damn near geniuses - they actually have several patents each) who were probably around and helped build computers in the fifties and even THEY would have a hard time figuring out the dinosaur in the basement with the cathode ray tube innards, much less interfacing with the thing.  But Charlie does it all in what?  A few hours?  Of course she does.  By the by...computers in the fifties didn't have 'software' as we know it.  (Because they didn't have memory chips!) Most of them ran off punch cards.  My grandmother used to feed them in.  Grr...okay - nit picky to some, I'm sure.  But this kind of shit really bugs me.  Not to mention, most folks nowadays are either hardware or software oriented.  Ain't no one I know equally the Expert on both.  //rant.
• Sam, you are not so stupid to think that Charlie could erase all traces of the books from the internet.  Maybe it was just a wishful shot in the dark thing.
• I did like the top secret Amazon line and reminder of Becky.  That was funny.  But the line about the bed being uncomfortable?  Nah - that wasn't an awkward segue at all.  [snort]
• Dean should totally put up a "Hang in there" kitty poster in Sam's room now.  
• Really sad Jenkins had to die.  But he was wrong: Adventure is awesome!  On a personal note, whenever I've looked at something (say travel) as an adventure, it turns out all right - even with long airport delays.  Because adventures always end fine.  :)
• For a hunter, Dorothy is a terrible shot.  Okay, she's been in a jar for 75 years.  I can't believe she called it "living" in the bunker.  That's not what I would call living.  
• The Angel-in-a-Sam is awfully convenient to have around - especially since people keep dying on Dean.  
• Elphaba could control Zeke and Sam?  ZekeSam?  Zam?
• Hey!  Whatdayaknow?  They finally found the garage?  How long they been in this bunker Dean calls home?
• When Dorothy first clocked Zam it looked like a metal rod she'd picked up.  Then a bit later, it's shown splintered in two on the floor.  Hey!  Maybe that was Elphaba's broom?
• Gotta say, the actress who played the WW was fun.  Good job for not having any lines.

[pixelcat]

This episode is one of the few that has actually gotten me angry over little nitpicky stuff.  My handwavium is pretty powerful, and most things (especially when binging) I'm able to gloss over.

But I am with Rulerofall and calling shenanigans on this one.  The computer was built in 1951.  Charlie can look at the back panel, hook up some USB connections and have access to it?  Encryption software in 1951???  And all of the MoL files are on it?  In what GIGANTIC tape storage room are all these files kept?  And later

Spoiler

they suddenly have Internet access to it, or at least all of the files stored on it (in which case, what server is this running on?  Did Charlie zap it to the cloud?)  I'm still wanting to see the cable/Verizon call out to the bunker to get wireless and an Internet connection installed when Dean and Sam first moved in.  Did Sam just install WAPs all over the bunker or something, because all that stone is going to seriously interfere with the network.  SHOW ME THE NETWORKING CLOSET PLEASE.

Trying to explain all of this just didn't work for me.  And Ruler is right, usually folks are much better at software or hardware, but not both.

The timeline is another thing that is messing me up.  Dorothy shows up in 1935.  The first book was published in 1900.  So Dorothy had to have her adventure at 12 (guessing here), be rescued, have her father write AND publish a book, then appear 35 years later, so she's supposed to be what, close to 50?  Even if she was 6, I'm still not buying it.

But my biggest nitpick in the whole episode is... the shoes.  The shoes ARE RED.  THE SHOES ARE RED!  In the book the shoes are silver, and Charlie (being a big fan of the books as she points out) would KNOW this.  If they wanted to use red shoes because of the movie, fine.  At least have Charlie say something, "I thought the shoes were silver," Dorothy replies that they were always red, then Charlie responds "Guess the movie got it right after all."  So small a thing and I just can't get past it.

The idea of Oz being a faerie realm was intriguing, I liked the idea of knowing about multiple realms out there.  But why not just spill salt in front of the WW and have her sit there counting it?  Or grab some iron and get to stabbing?

When I rewatched it tonight to comment on it, the whole episode felt off to me.  I normally like Charlie, but she was a bit much here.  Master of the ancient computer, hunter-in-training with two solo cases, and knows how to make bullets?  Shenanigans.

[RulerofallIsurvey]

Good Lord, if I could like your post more than once, @pixelcat I would!!  

The Shenanigans are tremendously annoying in this ep.  I've actually thought of more things randomly since I watched it that bugged me, but I refrained from coming back and commenting further because I was trying to move on.  Lol.

The USB connections to the transistor tubes still bug the crap out of me.  I don't think she even had to solder anything.  And she complained there wasn't enough magic in Sam and Dean's world!  Ha!

Speaking of encryption software, I wonder what computer language they used in the fifties that interfaced so easily with Windows 10 (or was it 8 Charlie was running on her tablet?)

And if all their files were on the mainframe, what's with the storage room next to the dungeon with stacks of files and papers?  

I too wondered about the red shoes (and Damn, but they were cheap and ugly looking!) versus silver.  If it was Death by Stiletto, could they not have at least had metal tips?

I gotta stop...

[DittyDotDot]

10 hours ago, RulerofallIsurvey said:

I gotta stop...

Yeah, it never ends with this episode, does it? And, I so want to like it, but I just can't. For me, this is a perfect example of why Robbie Thompson frustrated me as a writer. IMO, he tends to get too caught up in the "concept" that he loses sight of the episode itself. Too many contrivances that I just can't get behind it no matter how much I want to.

11 hours ago, pixelcat said:

But my biggest nitpick in the whole episode is... the shoes.  The shoes ARE RED.  THE SHOES ARE RED!  In the book the shoes are silver, and Charlie (being a big fan of the books as she points out) would KNOW this.  If they wanted to use red shoes because of the movie, fine.  At least have Charlie say something, "I thought the shoes were silver," Dorothy replies that they were always red, then Charlie responds "Guess the movie got it right after all."  So small a thing and I just can't get past it.

OMG, the stabby high heel weapons of Wicked Witch destruction....ugh! Nail in the coffin for me on this one. Not only that they were red, but all you had to do was stab the Wicked Witch with them? Really? So very...you know, I'm not at all opposed to cheese, but I prefer mine with a whole lot more flavor. This was more like Velveeta, which isn't even really cheese! ;)

[pixelcat]

I agree with both of you!  I think it's the forest for the trees in this episode for me.  Too many little things stop me from seeing the episode as a whole, and I want to like this more than I do.

I will say that I did love the fade between Dorothy sitting at the table in b/w to Dean sitting at the "console" table waiting for Charlie and Sam to come in.  I also think Sam saying "here it is" was in regard to the bunker, not Charlie; only way it makes sense to me.  Sam getting flustered when Charlie mentions "beckywinchester176" made me giggle.

[catrox14]

My takeaway from Slumber Party is all about Dean and the big lie and that it's starting to crumble. 

It's clearly a problem and he wants to tell someone but he's terrified that Sam will die if Ezekiel taps out. Now Sam is starting to ping on something not being right when he heard Dean say "Zeke".  And poor Sam is so confused. It's just all so terrible really.

Dean's face at the end when Charlie leaves. He just got a new little sister and now she's gone.

sidebar: Shut up, Sam about books with pictures. Shut your face hole on that point. I hate it when Sam says shit that goes after Dean's intellect. It's just fucking mean.  Why couldn't they have had Sam just say "I read the books because they are always better than the movies" Why make it about Dean's intellect? It makes Sam look like such a dick. 

[RulerofallIsurvey]

32 minutes ago, catrox14 said:

sidebar: Shut up, Sam about books with pictures. Shut your face hole on that point. I hate it when Sam says shit that goes after Dean's intellect. It's just fucking mean.  Why couldn't they have had Sam just say "I read the books because they are always better than the movies" Why make it about Dean's intellect? It makes Sam look like such a dick. 

IMO, there have been lots of things that make Sam look like a dick (See Season 8) but this isn't one of them.  This was simply good-natured ribbing between brothers who know how to push each other's buttons.   Just like Dean calls Sam "bitch" all the time - which if one wanted to be extra sensitive about it, could take that as a serious affront to his masculinity.  Just like Dean teases Sam about his hair (another slight against his manhood.)  Neither of which makes Dean look like such a dick - but it could if Sam took it the wrong way.  He doesn't.  And Dean didn't take this the wrong way either.  They were relaxed, chillin' out, watching Game of Thrones and having a good time, so Sam teased Dean a little.  NBD.

3 hours ago, pixelcat said:

I also think Sam saying "here it is" was in regard to the bunker, not Charlie; only way it makes sense to me. 

Ah!  Okay, I hadn't even thought of it like that.  That makes SO much more sense!  I feel better now.  Thanks! :)

[catrox14]

51 minutes ago, RulerofallIsurvey said:

IMO, there have been lots of things that make Sam look like a dick (See Season 8) but this isn't one of them.  This was simply good-natured ribbing between brothers who know how to push each other's buttons.   Just like Dean calls Sam "bitch" all the time

They have had the "bitch" "jerk" exchange literally 3 times in the show to this point. Dean told Sam to stop being a bitch in s7 about Amy. But I literally cannot think of another time that Dean actually called Sam a "bitch" non "Jerk/Bitch" division.  Can you refresh my memory when it happened outside of those occasions? 

Whilst I do agree that they push each others buttons for me going after Dean's intellect has always been something Sam has done. And it clearly hurts Dean. His reactions each time are always like 'Whoa. Dude. Why?' It's weird and I don't know why the show does it.  Sam could tease Dean about being a closet nerd, about all the chicks he bangs, about the car. Any number of other things.

Specifically here, I have a bit of headcanon that Sam is being competitive because of Charlie. Dean is enjoying something with Charlie that Sam hasn't followed. So Sam says, 'I'll read the books and Dean wonders why when the show is enjoyable"So Sam ups the ante and implies that Dean can't read but only with pictures. It's shitty and weird and Jared plays it with too much snark if it's meant to only be teasing. MV

Spoilers for s9

Spoiler

I also have a headcanon this is actually  Gadreel being a jerk to Dean because he's becoming nested in Sam and is pretending to be Sam. But that's just my wild ass headcanon.

[RulerofallIsurvey]

15 hours ago, catrox14 said:

They have had the "bitch" "jerk" exchange literally 3 times in the show to this point. Dean told Sam to stop being a bitch in s7 about Amy. But I literally cannot think of another time that Dean actually called Sam a "bitch" non "Jerk/Bitch" division.  Can you refresh my memory when it happened outside of those occasions? 

Whilst I do agree that they push each others buttons for me going after Dean's intellect has always been something Sam has done. And it clearly hurts Dean. His reactions each time are always like 'Whoa. Dude. Why?' It's weird and I don't know why the show does it. 

It's interesting that you honed in on the "bitch" remark and mentioned nothing about the times Dean has teased Sam about his hair.  And no - I can't specifically reference any occasion that Dean called Sam a bitch.  I've been binge watching 9 seasons now over the past few months and a lot of the episodes and even seasons are running together.  And I guess I just don't have as good a memory as you do.  I just know that he has.  I mean, come on - they are both just teasing each other.  Like my brothers do to me and I do back to them.  Nothing more.  As far as the "Whoa. Dude. Why?" Reaction - well, I've seen that on Sam's face a time or two when Dean teased him about something too - like being a nerd (and thank you for reminding me of all the times Dean has told Sam that his nerdiness knows no bounds...)  But once again, I don't think Sam takes it too personally, maybe because he's used to it.  Maybe Dean had more of a reaction this time (if in fact he did, which I don't think he did) because he's not used to Sam teasing him.  It's usually Dean insulting Sam under the guise of teasing.

15 hours ago, catrox14 said:

Sam could tease Dean about being a closet nerd, about all the chicks he bangs, about the car.

Seriously?  If the goal is a little dig at the other person's ego (and it is) then, the closet geek might work, but all the chicks he bangs?  Dean would be proud of that.  Ditto with the car.  

15 hours ago, catrox14 said:

Specifically here, I have a bit of headcanon that Sam is being competitive because of Charlie. Dean is enjoying something with Charlie that Sam hasn't followed.

Actually, when Charlie was about to divulge spoilers for future seasons, Sam said he hadn't read ALL the books yet - implying that he had at least read the first one (since they just watched the first season.)  So I wouldn't say that Dean was enjoying something that Sam hadn't followed.  

Again, I don't think Sam was implying Dean can't read - or can only read books with pictures.  Sam knows that is not true.  He was teasing.  Nothing more.  I can picture one of my brothers saying something similar to me - and they both know I'm not stupid either.  That doesn't mean they're not going to tease me about it.  That's what brothers do.

[Dobian]

Okay, this episode was dumb on top of dumb.  The only things I kind of liked in it were the Crowley scenes and the fact that the whole episode took place in the bunker, which is a cool place and I like seeing more of it revealed.  The old Univac computer is awesome.  But The Wizard of Oz now being part of the Supernatural universe?  Really?  I guess every fairy tale and fantasy is real then on this show.  I wonder what episode Mary Poppins will "pop" up in.  Sheesh.  Possessed Sam and Dean trying to kill Dorothy and Charlie was so laughable I had to roll my eyes.  Even the song choice for when they're walking down the yellow brick road made no sense.  "For Those About to Rock"?  Huh?  How about "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"?  Well maybe that's a little too obvious, but any song with "road" in it would have worked.  I'm not even going to get into all the other stupid things I noticed in this one.  Oh well, every show has a clunker now and then, and this is one of them.

Edited August 9, 2016 by Dobian

[DittyDotDot]

Alright, I've already picked apart the stupid in this one, but I actually popped in here to say, Crowley amuses me so much right now. "HISS!!" 

On 8/8/2016 at 7:44 PM, Dobian said:

Even the song choice for when they're walking down the yellow brick road made no sense.  "For Those About to Rock"?  Huh?  How about "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"?  Well maybe that's a little too obvious, but any song with "road" in it would have worked.  I'm not even going to get into all the other stupid things I noticed in this one.  Oh well, every show has a clunker now and then, and this is one of them.

 It's so disappointing they blew their music budget here for something so awkward for the episode. Goodbye Yellow Brick road would've been a good choice, but I'm thinking that might not have been affordable. There's got to be a hundred versions of Over The Rainbow and I'd imagine there's gotta be a rock one out there they could afford. Just another nail in the coffin. ;)

[bettername2come]

Gildart Jackson automatically makes me feel unease due to his time on Charmed. Kevin is on vacation in Branson? That's a weird solution to him being absent this episode. He could've been part of the slumber party. Aw, Dean called the bunker "our home." Crowley whistling "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is a nice touch. "I just cleaned in here." He's come so far since the days of "It's not food anymore, Dean. It's Darwinism." Jared continues to do well with Not!Sam characters. Both angel and creepy possessed witchy thing. Poor dead Tin Man. The shoes are silver in the books, people, come on. And they're not even sparkly! Sam gave Crowley a fucking crayon. I do like the little moment of Dorothy and Sam bonding over books series. I think the guys were so close to going into Oz for a second there. I don't completely hate the idea of Oz being real in the Supernatural world. I think it being part of the fairy world makes a certain amount of sense, but it's one of those examples of how the story totally went off the rails. It's more Once Upon a Time than Supernatural. I think the song at the end was ill-suited for the scene, but it kind of worked until the lyrics started. "Over the Rainbow" would've fit better. 

[Hanahope]

I knew Dorothy and Charlie would team up at the end.  Wonder if we'll see them again.  I presume yes, since even dead characters return now and again.

I was expecting water to hurt the witch, but I guess that would be too easy.  

The red shoes looked a bit ordinary.  I would have thought there'd be something more special about them.  

Crowley was fun, as always.

[Katy M]

On ‎8‎/‎1‎/‎2016 at 10:20 PM, pixelcat said:

The timeline is another thing that is messing me up.  Dorothy shows up in 1935.  The first book was published in 1900.  So Dorothy had to have her adventure at 12 (guessing here), be rescued, have her father write AND publish a book, then appear 35 years later, so she's supposed to be what, close to 50?  Even if she was 6, I'm still not buying it.

That one is probably the only explainable thing from the whole epi.  Time is different in OZ, so she wasn't aging as fast when she was there.  We don't how much time she was spending there, but I would imagine quite a bit.

[Catfi9ht]

First time watching season 9. I quit after season 8 originally and this season seems stupider than the last. JFC this episode alone was 100 pounds of stupid in a 10 pound bag. They really need to hire female writers on this show. It really shows in this episode in particular. Speaking of female writers, this seemed more like the Sera Gamble episode, Clap Your Hands If You Believe. Trying to do a genre mashup with this show and the tone is really wrong really makes bad writing even worse.

[Iju]

okay, can i just say how epically calm crowley handled seeing that witch in the dungeon? he can see any chance as fast as a blink and take it over with ease.
okay, maybe i'm too into crowley.

also i'm so bloody stupid because i just realised dorothy was from the oz instead of an oz (you know like in the SPN 'verse) at the very end. like when the bricks were showing. so major smh for me.

and when possessed-sam grabbed dorothy by the arms and lurched her on the ground, i have to admit my heart jumped...but for another reason. whoops.

also come on SPN, you didn't have to kill charlie. i know no-one, not even the main characters, are safe from death's blow, but come on. this is just going to be a future problem i assume, as revivals usually are in this show.

[The Companion]

On 1/19/2015 at 1:36 AM, Iguana said:

I always assumed that the black-and-white flashbacks, aside from being true to the time of the flashback, were also a tribute to the movie wizard of Oz as the Kansas parts were black-and-white and only the Oz parts were Technicolor. And I cannot forgive this episode for failing to show Dean finding the garage full of classic cars and totally losing his mind with geeky lust and gear head appreciation.

I really wanted to see his reaction too. Also, I wanted some good classic car and bike porn.

On 1/19/2015 at 7:43 AM, DittyDotDot said:

You know, I really want to appreciate the garage scenes too--I feel totally cheated in not seeing Dean stumble into that garage for the first time--but it just feels like it was tacked on as another "cool" thing. Plus, whose cars were those? Only two people were manning the bunker. It just feels like they thought it would cool to have a bunch of classic cars in a room together rather than actually being thought out and relevant in the end.

Uh oh. What if they are all racist murder cars? 😆

On 1/19/2015 at 10:59 AM, catrox14 said:

 

I love  ❤️ ❤️ Dean and Charlie's bonding so damn much that I can't stand it. Dean clearly adores her despite his protestations that she was the little sister he never wanted. I just love how they are so easy and comfortable with each other. They tease each other and it's just beautiful. Dean doesn't hide who he is with Charlie. He doesn't hide his porn collection and he tells Charlie to not judge him for it which she really doesn't but she teases him for it being organized.  Mini-rant/  WHICH BLESS THAT SCENE. Because I am so tired of Dean being shamed left and right for his sexual behavior which harms NO ONE and he's always into consensual sex and nothing more. Shame the writers for a stupid running joke, but it's not because Dean is a terrible person for his sexual proclivities which are pretty standard fare IMO. I hate the slut shaming that gets directed his way. /rant over 

 

His devastation when Charlie is killed, kills me.  Jensen you just stop with being so good at grief.   ( no don't stop...ever.) And Dean looked so sad, worried and trying to be supportive when Charlie left for Oz. 

 

Yes and yes. I also love that Charlie has been portrayed as being knowledgeable about porn and completely comfortable when it comes to sex. She also recognized the porn star in LARP and the Real Girl and she was less awkward going for it with the fairy than almost anywhere else. Plus she doesn't feel like a lesbian written for men to me. YMMV, but in a show that seems to sometimes struggle to write female characters, Charlie really works for me. Which is why I almost had a heart attack with the second quoted paragraph when i thought it was a future spoiler.

On the red shoes, I thought that was intentional? They said the books revealed hints for Dorothy. The fact that they were the wrong color would have clearly indicated to Dorothy and only Dorothy that they were important. 

Y'all, I don't care that this one is probably objectively terrible for all the reasons above, I loved every minute of it. Well maybe other than the unintentional hilarious deep voices the guys used which literally made me laugh out loud. Like I had to pause it because they were so random and bad and hilarious. I don't think that was the intended reaction?

Yes I love Charlie and yes I shipped her and Dorothy (even though I rarely ship anyone), but it was also just so fun and stupid and campy and delightful. Plus I loved them running around a closed bunker. My favorite Who episodes are usually ones with bits involving running around spaceships, so maybe it's a me thing.

This is probably my last episode of 2019 and I will have to slow down when I go back to lawyerin' next week, so I am happy to have gotten one I really enjoyed in. 

[Katy M]

49 minutes ago, The Companion said:

Yes I love Charlie and yes I shipped her and Dorothy (even though I rarely ship anyone), but it was also just so fun and stupid and campy and delightful. Plus I loved them running around a closed bunker. My favorite Who episodes are usually ones with bits involving running around spaceships, so maybe it's a me thing.

This is the episode in which I really start to dislike Charlie.  Prior to this she was a genius hacker, which she had been doing her whole life.  And a great LARPer.  But in Pac Man Fever she was an awkward, at best, hunter.  Now she shows up and she's learned to hunt from an app.  She took out a whole nest of teen vamps by herself.  She figures out most of the Oz clues.  More than even Dorothy.  She becomes superhunter extraodinaire and it only gets worse from here on out.  And she even has the audacity to complain hunting's not magical enough.  It's not supposed to be magical, Charlie.  It's dark and dirty.

[BabySpinach]

50 minutes ago, Katy M said:

This is the episode in which I really start to dislike Charlie.  Prior to this she was a genius hacker, which she had been doing her whole life.  And a great LARPer.  But in Pac Man Fever she was an awkward, at best, hunter.  Now she shows up and she's learned to hunt from an app.  She took out a whole nest of teen vamps by herself.  She figures out most of the Oz clues.  More than even Dorothy.  She becomes superhunter extraodinaire and it only gets worse from here on out.  And she even has the audacity to complain hunting's not magical enough.  It's not supposed to be magical, Charlie.  It's dark and dirty.

And don't get me started on the tonguebath that every other character slathers on her because she's just the most special little nerd/hacker/sharpshooter/LARPer/street kid genius/sexually-irresistable messiah that ever existed. Calling her the "smartest person in the room"? Having her treat Dorothy's real life like a fairy tale that is "ruining her childhood" because the truth of it is less magical? Treating hunting like a fun little hobby? Fucking gag me. 

I've long been of the opinion that Charlie is just a bundle of cutesy stereotypes and quirks rather than a real, authentic person. Who the fuck makes a pop culture reference immediately after waking up tied to a chair (a la 8.20?). And she's simultaneously supposed to be both a sassy badass who outshines everyone else AND a self-insert Little Sister character for the brothers to constantly hug and rescue and praise. These two qualities just end up creating this impenetrable barrier of constant coddling and validation for her.

I never felt that Oz fit as part of the Supernatural mythology. Too cutesy, cartoony, cheesy, shallow... much like Charlie herself. 

[ahrtee]

1 hour ago, BabySpinach said:

Who the fuck makes a pop culture reference immediately after waking up tied to a chair

Dean, in WIAWSNB?  ("Auntie Em--there's no place like home.")  😁