Supernatural Bitterness & Unpopular Opinions: You All Suck

[DittyDotDot]

So where did the Stynes get a key since there was only the one? Did one of them just pick pocket Sam or Dean?

 

I thought they made their own key by blowing up the door. Didn't they just follow Dean to the bunker, I didn't remember the pick-pocketing? But, it's very likely I missed it. 

[catrox14]

 

ut, now you're talking about warding for species, not necessarily evil. If it's evil they're warding against, then it shouldn't matter what species it is or whether the species was known to the MoL. Evil is evil regardless of how it physically manifests itself. So, if the bunker is warded against evil, anything labeled by the show as "evil" should not be able to get in regardless of whether they're an angel, demon, human... .

 

Okay I see where our disconnect is.

 

I'm not trying to imply that The Bunker is a magical place with an all-seeing and all-knowing evil detector.  It's not Magnus' Lair that's invisible (although they really should do that).

 

It's a BatCave built by human beings based on their knowledge and skills. The Men of Letters would have determined what is evil rightly or wrongly and plan their protection spells and warding accordingly for those various species/entities that they determined qualified as evil, like demons and monster, so yes they probably were a bit species-ist.

 

I highly doubt angels were something they had to factor into their warding because angels were not on Earth. And angels even though they are soldiers they have never been thought of as "evil" historically.

 

To get Crowley in and out of the bunker all they have to do is disable the warding momentarily.  Just like they do with all the other sigils they make. Scrape off the paint and that's it and remake it.

[trxr4kids]

I thought they made their own key by blowing up the door. Didn't they just follow Dean to the bunker, I didn't remember the pick-pocketing? But, it's very likely I missed it. 

As stated in cannon :

 

LARRY

Because it is the safest place on earth, warded against any evil ever created. It is impervious to any entry, except the key.

 

Any entry implies explosives  as well as magic IMO.

[catrox14]

 

Because it is the safest place on earth, warded against any evil ever created. It is impervious to any entry, except the key.

 

The Stynes biew off the door. Maybe when the bunker was built back in the 40s it was impervious to any entry. Although I think there might be two doors. Like the big door on the front might on the road might be the Main Entry that is magical key only?  So they have one under a rock. And then there is another door at the top of the stairs they had to blow through.  That's my fanwank and I"m sticking to it. LOL

 

The Stynes didn't follow Dean, because they were not in the Stynes house when Dean killed the rest of them. They found him getting pizza, Dean captured and took him back to the bunker.  So Dumb!Dean is the likeliest reason and Styne was smart enough to remember how to get there.

Edited April 19, 2016 by catrox14

[DittyDotDot]

Okay I see where our disconnect is.

 

I'm not trying to imply that The Bunker is a magical place with an all-seeing and all-knowing evil detector.  It's not Magnus' Lair that's invisible (although they really should do that).

 

It's a BatCave built by human beings based on their knowledge and skills. The Men of Letters would have determined what is evil rightly or wrongly and plan their protection spells and warding accordingly for those various species/entities that they determined qualified as evil, like demons and monster, so yes they probably were a bit species-ist.

 

I highly doubt angels were something they had to factor into their warding because angels were not on Earth. And angels even though they are soldiers they have never been thought of as "evil" historically.

 

To get Crowley in and out of the bunker all they have to do is disable the warding momentarily.  Just like they do with all the other sigils they make. Scrape off the paint and that's it and remake it.

 

And, that was my point. Either it's warded, or it's not. You shouldn't be able to remove that warding temporarily just to suit your temporary needs. To me that's the definition of lazy writing.

 

However, IMO, the bunker is mysterious and magical. It has power and wifi and water that defies all logic. And as far as I know, Sam and Dean have no idea how any of it works and don't seem all that interested in figuring it out unless the plot needs them to. The warding was done by Magnus through magic just like he created the warding and invisibility spell for his own lair. You can't see it and/or just scrape it off, it's part of the fabric of the place, IMO.

 

But, it's all done by magic, not by sweat and hard work. They don't even have to maintain the bunker. Based on the condition it was in when they arrived, it self-cleans and maintains everything on it's own. To me that's boring. A literal dues ex machina.

 

I just preferred the grounded nature of the show back when they hunted things with tangible earthly weapons and used sweat and hard work to get the job done while driving around the country and making their home wherever they were. The show was a celebration of blue collar Americana and I loved it. But, I realize that's not the show anymore and I've accepted the bunker. Doesn't mean I haven't stopped thinking of fun ways for it to get demolished, though.

 

 

As stated in cannon :

 

LARRY

Because it is the safest place on earth, warded against any evil ever created. It is impervious to any entry, except the key.

 

Any entry implies explosives  as well as magic IMO.

 

I agree, but I don't think TPTB do. ;)

[catrox14]

 

And, that was my point. Either it's warded, or it's not. You shouldn't be able to remove that warding temporarily just to suit your temporary needs. To me that's the definition of lazy writing.

 

I don't think it's lazy writing on the warding. I think it shows that Sam and Dean probably oughtn't be mucking with the sigils for their squirrelly deals.

[ahrtee]

Having just rewatched The Prisoner today on TNT, I can definitely say that the Stynes entered the bunker in a cloud of dust, therefore presumably an explosion.  It also seems to me that the place may be warded from the outside against evil, but evil could either be summoned (ie, Crowley) or brought in (ie, Crowley) by someone with access.  Remember that Dorothy brought the Wicked Witch with her.  My guess (if there were any logic to it) would be:  they rely on magical warding to keep the place *mostly* invisible to humans (that is, off the radar of public services/normal people, as in "these are not the droids you're looking for"), but it's not really impervious to explosives or to people who know where to look.  They use magical warding to keep out "evil" (however you choose to interpret that).  Evil (non-human) can be brought in as prisoner or invited in, but can't break in on its own.  

 

Unless it's needed as a plot point, of course.

 

I don't remember them removing any warding, even temporarily, from the bunker--just those painted on-sigils from other buildings when needed.

 

My own question has to do with the keys: that is, how the heck many keys to the bunker do they have now?  I know they started with just one, but it seems that Kevin, Cas, Sam, Dean and even Gadreel have all come in separately, without ringing doorbells or using a magic knock, even at times when they're all in different parts of the country.   Did they make a bunch of copies at Ace Hardware?  Do they leave the door unlocked when they're at home?  Or do they just pass one around like a hot potato and hope that whoever has it will be there to open the door when they need to come in?  

[MysteryGuest]

I think they've played pretty fast and loose with the one key idea.  They gave the key to Kevin at one point and made kind of a big deal about not telling anyone or letting anyone in.  But Cas obviously comes and goes as he pleases.  Crowley was brought in blindfolded the first time, and then held in the dungeon for weeks.  Then he came back when Sam was summoning him, but went directly to Dean instead.  I don't think he's been in there since on his own.  Lucifer comes and goes through Cas.  The Stynes may have blown the door in, but there was no evidence of them having to fix the door when they were cleaning up afterwards.  So basically, it's warded unless they need it not to be.

[SueB]

 

Picked it up on Amazon.

[AwesomO4000]

Based on the stuff in the bunker, I would think that there has to be some kind of a "we can bring evil beings in" exception to the warding, because otherwise there wouldn't be a need for the "sex torture dungeon." At least I would hope not. And from the old movies in the bunker, we know that they had the demons in there while they were perfecting their demon cure.

 

Maybe one of the things the demon cuffs do is allow a demon to be brought into the bunker because that demon is "controlled" by the cuffs.

 

And there seems to be some way to leave the bunker "open," because Sam mentions leaving the way open for Castiel while he was curing Dean. I also think maybe that switch has something to do with it, since Sam and Dean played cat and mouse with flipping that switch to either open or shut down the bunker during that episode.

 

I'm not saying that any of that explains everything, but it might give some wiggle room for some stuff.

[DittyDotDot]

Based on the stuff in the bunker, I would think that there has to be some kind of a "we can bring evil beings in" exception to the warding, because otherwise there wouldn't be a need for the "sex torture dungeon." At least I would hope not. And from the old movies in the bunker, we know that they had the demons in there while they were perfecting their demon cure.

 

Maybe one of the things the demon cuffs do is allow a demon to be brought into the bunker because that demon is "controlled" by the cuffs.

 

And there seems to be some way to leave the bunker "open," because Sam mentions leaving the way open for Castiel while he was curing Dean. I also think maybe that switch has something to do with it, since Sam and Dean played cat and mouse with flipping that switch to either open or shut down the bunker during that episode.

 

I'm not saying that any of that explains everything, but it might give some wiggle room for some stuff.

 

Yes, I understand there's apparently wiggle room, that was my entire point: it works except when they need it not to. To me the bunker is just a big old pit of lazy storytelling--it's a big old dues ex machina except when they're sitting around spouting boring exposition--and why I feel like the bunker has been used very poorly on the show. And, also why I have been rooting for it to be demolished.

 

ETA: I'm highly amused how you guys are actually making me more convinced of my point by coming up with more and more examples of how they screwed the pooch on this (in my opinion, of course). ;)

Edited April 21, 2016 by DittyDotDot

[ahrtee]

Yes, I understand there's apparently wiggle room, that was my entire point: it works except when they need it not to. To me the bunker is just a big old pit of lazy storytelling--it's a big old dues ex machina except when they're sitting around spouting boring exposition--and why I feel like the bunker has been used very poorly on the show. And, also why I have been rooting for it to be demolished.

 

ETA: I'm highly amused how you guys are actually making me more convinced of my point by coming up with more and more examples of how they screwed the pooch on this (in my opinion, of course). ;)

I'd be the last one (or one of the last ones) to say that they haven't misused or underused or magically hand-waved the use of the bunker.  And yeah, it is a "deus ex machina" place where they can pull answers from their asses when the story wants them to (kind of like a stone-and-brick Bobby).

But to me, that's not the point of the bunker, just like that wasn't the real purpose of Bobby, though it's what became the most obvious/most annoying aspect in later years. 

It's not a magical place where they can find answers.  It's a home.  A home base, anyway.  Someplace where the boys can come back to hide and recover and be themselves, whether it's Sam reading books all night or Dean geeking out over old weapons and old porn.  And I think that's vital to them, especially now.  It's a combination of seeing them grow up/being exhausted by years of sleazy motels/wanting a place of their own, and a sense of continuity, now that they've lost virtually every friend, relative and all other links to permanence except Baby.  And this doesn't lessen Baby's importance to them; it also gives *her* a place to rest up and be pampered. 

Way back in season 1, John said: "I want Dean to have a home."  And in season 2, we saw that yes, Dean really *did* want one.  It took 6 more years before he got one, and I'd be very sorry to see him lose it again.   And for Sam, it's a library he can live in, even if he's been resisting calling it a home.  I think he needs it just as much as Dean does. 

To me, it's another part of the family, just like Baby, and I'd hate to see them lose it.

 

ETA:  Just to make it clear, this doesn't mean that they should live there all the time and stop driving around the country.  We see that they still take off whenever they get bored/have a case, and we can still see the wonderful motel sets.  They've had a life on the road, and of course they'll still want to get out there and just drive now and then.  It just means that they know they have somewhere to *come back* to now, like Bobby's place used to be.  

Edited April 21, 2016 by ahrtee

[catrox14]

 

when they need it not to. To me the bunker is just a big old pit of lazy storytelling--it's a big old dues ex machina except when they're sitting around spouting boring exposition--and why I feel like the bunker has been used very poorly on the show. And, also why I have been rooting for it to be demolished.

 

Be careful what you wish for because Dean's family photos are in his room. They have guns in those rooms. Sam has all his books. Dean's old porn collection. The old vinyl LPs. Won't somebody think of the HENLEYS!

 

If they demolish it they better let the boys get their personal things and Dorothy's motorcyle before tearing it up.

[Demented Daisy]

I said it back in September and I'll say it again.  The bunker isn't Dean's home and it hasn't been since Kevin was murdered there.

[ahrtee]

I said it back in September and I'll say it again.  The bunker isn't Dean's home and it hasn't been since Kevin was murdered there.

I (politely) disagree.  They also sent Kevin off, if not into the light, then with his Mom, from there (with his kind-of forgiveness).  IMO, if it were truly so traumatic/had such bad memories, they could have left at any time.  But they still seem to be well settled in and relaxed there.  But  YMMV, of course.  

[catrox14]

I said it back in September and I'll say it again.  The bunker isn't Dean's home and it hasn't been since Kevin was murdered there.

 

 

I think once he and Kevin made peace with each other and Mama Tran came and saw him off he's been much better off than when it happened. It seems to me if Dean was really that unhappy there,  he would stay on the road all the time.  as always MV

Edited April 21, 2016 by catrox14

[Demented Daisy]

Standard disclaimers; IMO; mileage varies; blah blah blah.

 

I (politely) disagree.  They also sent Kevin off, if not into the light, then with his Mom, from there (with his kind-of forgiveness).  IMO, if it were truly so traumatic/had such bad memories, they could have left at any time.  But they still seem to be well settled in and relaxed there.  But  YMMV, of course.  

 

That doesn't make it home; that makes it a comfortable place to stay.

 

Home is where Dean's heart is, as much of a cliché as that may be.  He's been searching for a home since his was destroyed at 4 years old.  He had it with Sam and John, even though they were constantly on the road.  For a short time, he may have had one with Lisa, but we didn't see much of it.  

 

When was the last time we saw Dean genuinely happy in the bunker?  (No snark, real question.)  Not relaxed, not comfortable -- joy at being there with Sam and Cas, with the people he loves?  I think we had a moment last season, just before Charlie was killed, but it's tough to say because he was being corrupted by the Mark.

 

I think he'd like the bunker to be home, with his albums and his photos and Sam and sometimes Cas, and at first he might have felt like it was home, but I don't think that lasted for long.  I think being out there, on the road, with the crappy food and hotel rooms, is when Dean comes to life.  

 

The Bunker, once the novelty wore off, has been a convenience to Dean, at best.  

[catrox14]

 

I think he'd like the bunker to be home, with his albums and his photos and Sam and sometimes Cas, and at first he might have felt like it was home, but I don't think that lasted for long.  I think being out there, on the road, with the crappy food and hotel rooms, is when Dean comes to life.

 

I would have agreed with that until s10 and his demon!Dean phase. I think that makes the road a little less appealing as a constant way of life now for Dean. Clearly he still wants to hunt and spend time on the road, but I dunno...I'm not so sure he would be happy with dying in a motel room now. Dying in the bunker with Sam and Cas or going out in a blaze of glory saving people? Saving the world. Sure.  Die in a retirement home around some friends? Sure. Die in the Impala? Yes. But I don't think Dean wants to die alone in a motel room.

 

I'm not sure Dean has been truly happy in years if ever TBH. He takes joy in hunting and being around people, but I'm not sure "happiness" is a thing he even thinks about. I think he tries to be content with his existence. I don't think he's been happy since Mary died   JMHO

[Demented Daisy]

Why in the world would Dean die in a motel room?

[ahrtee]

Standard disclaimers; IMO; mileage varies; blah blah blah.

 

 

That doesn't make it home; that makes it a comfortable place to stay.

 

Home is where Dean's heart is, as much of a cliché as that may be.  He's been searching for a home since his was destroyed at 4 years old.  He had it with Sam and John, even though they were constantly on the road.  For a short time, he may have had one with Lisa, but we didn't see much of it.  

 

When was the last time we saw Dean genuinely happy in the bunker?  (No snark, real question.)  Not relaxed, not comfortable -- joy at being there with Sam and Cas, with the people he loves?  I think we had a moment last season, just before Charlie was killed, but it's tough to say because he was being corrupted by the Mark.

 

I think he'd like the bunker to be home, with his albums and his photos and Sam and sometimes Cas, and at first he might have felt like it was home, but I don't think that lasted for long.  I think being out there, on the road, with the crappy food and hotel rooms, is when Dean comes to life.  

 

The Bunker, once the novelty wore off, has been a convenience to Dean, at best.  

I think maybe we just have a different sense of "home."  Yes, the cliche is "home is where the heart is," which in Dean's case means Sam (and, when he was younger, John, too).  But he's never going to find that mythical home he lost at age 4, and it's a sign of how much he's grown that he's wise enough to know that and accept it.  But there is also the home you make for yourself once you're an adult--the place where you can relax, that you fill with the things that give you pleasure, where you can just be yourself with no need for pretense.  That's different from being *joyful* at being someplace.  

 

For myself--I'm "genuinely happy" to be home when I first get back after a trip, or after a particularly hairy commute.  That doesn't mean I spend all my time at home marveling at its wonders and smiling to myself.  Once that first "I'm so glad I'm here" phase is over, then it's just a sense of peace and contentment and relaxation, not only because it's a "convenient" place to be, but also because it has all the things that make me happy--my books, my computer, my pictures, my cats.   It's not a question of "joy"...it's more a sense of peace.  And that's something that's been missing from the Winchester life for way too long.  

 

There are places where you stay for convenience--honestly, I think that was Dean's home with Lisa.  But IMO, he always seemed perched there, as if he'd put on a whole different life (that of construction worker, husband/father figure, "normal" person), but he never really settled in to it--that's why the car was under wraps, probably why he didn't work as a mechanic, why he kept his gun and salt and whiskey under the bed, out of sight but within reach.  He wasn't happy, because he thought Sam was in hell; but he also wasn't comfortable, because he wasn't himself, and that's why he able (and happy) to leave and get back on the road--he was getting back to who he really was.    

 

Similarly, if he just wanted "convenience," then he could stay at any of the (seemingly innumerable) cabins that Bobby has tucked away in every state.  He wouldn't need a home base--he could just keep moving, from motel to motel to cabin and back again.  But he and Sam and even Cas now keep coming back to the bunker, from wherever in the country they happen to be.  That's not for convenience--that's a kind of homing signal, which means to me that there is some kind of pull.  Sure, he "comes alive" on the road--that's when the adrenaline is pumping and he's having adventures--but he *still* keeps coming back to the bunker.  

[catrox14]

Why in the world would Dean die in a motel room?

 

Why wouldn't he?

 

He died in a motel room one time already.  Given the amount of time he has spent in motel rooms, if he returned to that same nomadic lifestyle, he's as likely to die in a motel room as dying in a hunt.

[Demented Daisy]

Sorry, no one is going to convince me that Dean is happy at the bunker and will ever call it home.

 

But that's why we have this thread.

[catrox14]

Sorry, no one is going to convince me that Dean is happy at the bunker and will ever call it home.

 

But that's why we have this thread.

 

 

I'm also factoring Dean's age. Yeah he's not 40 yet but dude is TIRED.

 

I'm asking seriously no snark what have you seen in Dean this season that shows he's really any HAPPIER on the road than at the bunker? Amara is bugging him too and Cas is in jeopardy. He worries about both of those situations whether on the road or not. I think whatever might seem happy is really him no longer being burdened by bloodlust.

 

When he went to the bar with the wrestlers he seemed pretty bored with the whole thing other than hanging with his childhood crush. He didn't ogle the chick dancing on the pool table. He kind of shook his head at the chick lying on the table with beer being poured into her mouth.  He got accidentally drunk with the wrestlers but he didn't seem happy.

 

S10 Dean seemed happy to go from the bunker and to his local bar where he knew the barkeep and scammed the college boys.

[SueB]

Sorry, no one is going to convince me that Dean is happy at the bunker and will ever call it home.

But that's why we have this thread.

Wasn't that a theme in 'Slumber Party?' That Dean felt the bunker was their home and Sam did not?

DEAN

So, what, our home's not good enough for the "Hang in there, kitty" poster?

...then later...

Sam: I don't have any memories of home. And whenever I've tried to make a home of my own it really hasn't ended well.

Dean: Yeah, but a lifetime of abandoned buildings and crappy motel rooms? I mean, this is about as close to home as we're gonna get, and it's ours.

Perhaps you think Dean has changed his mind or it meant something different. Just seems pretty straight forward to me. Edited April 21, 2016 by SueB

[MysteryGuest]

Dean is on record that he considered the bunker his home.  He was upset with Sam because he didn't feel that way, and hadn't done anything to fix up his room.  He might have had moments after Kevin died, but I think the bunker is as close to home as Dean has.  He cooks, he cleans up the kitchen, etc.  Sam is the one who thinks of it as where he works, not where he lives.  And I'm not really sure that that's still the case with Sam at this point.

[Demented Daisy]

I've stated my opinion on the matter, namely:

 

The Bunker, once the novelty wore off, has been a convenience to Dean, at best.

 

 

So now, a gentle reminder:

 

 

Please remember this is not a debate thread. We expect that you all respect each others opinions; there are no 'right' or 'wrong' opinions here, only differing ones. Respecting opinions includes stating yours without being overly caustic, whether it be a positive or negative one, because as the laws of physics dictate; every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

 

Thank you.
 

[SueB]

I missed your 'novelty' comment. Thanks.

[MysteryGuest]

And I was stating my opinion, nothing more.  I have zero interest in trying to convince anyone of anything.  

[DittyDotDot]

I'd be the last one (or one of the last ones) to say that they haven't misused or underused or magically hand-waved the use of the bunker.  And yeah, it is a "deus ex machina" place where they can pull answers from their asses when the story wants them to (kind of like a stone-and-brick Bobby).

But to me, that's not the point of the bunker, just like that wasn't the real purpose of Bobby, though it's what became the most obvious/most annoying aspect in later years. 

It's not a magical place where they can find answers.  It's a home.  A home base, anyway.  

 

I'm aware the point is it's a home base, and as I stated up thread, I don't care for that idea, myself. I personally think it's an affront to the show. I agree with Chuck, "It never occurred to them that, sure, maybe they never really had a roof and four walls... but they were never, in fact, homeless."

[auntvi]

Unpopular opinion where I live:

 

F'ing Cubs on WGN!! How dare they??!! They are preempting Supernatural next week. So I have to find a place to stream or wait till Thursday night to watch. F'ing Cubs.

 

[Binns]

So true although, not my first re-watch. (so yes maybe too much Supernatural) I started watching in Feb of Season 9 then watched the rest of season 9 in real time it didn't seem as bad then, now though, just a trial to get through. Season 10 was a little better and I have really enjoyed season 11.

I struggle with 8/9 too. I'm on season 7 now and I'm kinda...dreading it. But I have the DVDs this time so am looking forward to the extras that I missed out on before.

[MysteryGuest]

I've never watched any of the DVD's.  Are the extras really worth it?  Do they do commentary on multiple episodes on each disc?  I know the music is original, which would be nice, but I just can't see spending the money when I can basically watch Netflix whenever I need a fix.

[Diane]

I've never watched any of the DVD's.  Are the extras really worth it?  Do they do commentary on multiple episodes on each disc?  I know the music is original, which would be nice, but I just can't see spending the money when I can basically watch Netflix whenever I need a fix.

I would like to know too. Is it worth it?

[catrox14]

I have s9 and s10 on DVD I like the bts stuff.  But I found out they look like shit on my old DVD player so I play them on my PC which is pointless. I guess I need a new DVD player.

[MysteryGuest]

You can get a blue ray player now for about $75.00...possibly even less.  It's worth it.

[SueB]

First ... let me explain that I've watched all 9 hours of the Lord of The Rings extra material but the movies multiple times listening to commentary.... so, I'm not a impartial person when it comes to DVD extras.  BUT I'd say I really enjoyed many of the extras. S8, in particular, was outstanding.  S1 & S2 were a little par for the course bur S1 had the boys doing a commentary.

[DittyDotDot]

I've never watched any of the DVD's. Are the extras really worth it? Do they do commentary on multiple episodes on each disc? I know the music is original, which would be nice, but I just can't see spending the money when I can basically watch Netflix whenever I need a fix.

I have S1-S9 on DVD and think they're worth it for me. I don't really watching it via streaming if I can help it. But it's totally a personal thing. Plus, I love knowing how things work, so I love the commentaries and such.

They do do a few commentaries per season and I really enjoy the ones on the first few seasons. In general, Kripke's enthusiasm is very infectious. Jared and Jensen have only done, I think, 4 commentaries over the years, though, so it's mostly writers and directors. Some of those folks are rather insightful and entertaining.

As to the other features: the gag reel is always priceless; there's usually a few deleted scenes; and generally a couple featurettes with TPTB discussing the season.

Then, there's usually a look at something kind a special for that season. For instance, I thoroughly loved the featurette on the MoL set they did on the S9 disks--I may not care for the concept of the lair, but acknowledge the art department built a beautiful set. There's a great little bit on the S6 set about Jensen's first directing gig, which is pretty good. And I liked the feature they did on scoring Time After Time. However, most of these you could find on YouTube, as well.

The last couple seasons they've done some fun things for the fans. Like the Day in the Life mockumentry on the S9 disks and I hear there's a featurette about fandom on the S10 disks.

So, overall, I think they've got a pretty good mix of interesting tidbits, but may not seem necessary to everyone. I will say, if you're thinking of buying the blue ray versions, you might be able to save a few bucks on the first couple seasons by buying the DVDs. The show was shot on film for the first couple seasons and just wasn't designed for that format.

Hope that helps.

Edited April 23, 2016 by DittyDotDot

[MysteryGuest]

Thanks for the info, ladies!  I love behind the scenes stuff, so I might just have to look into the DVD's.  Maybe I can scope out my local library to see what they have.  I'm not sure I'm prepared to invest over $100 in DVD's right now, but I would love to listen to the commentary.  Then maybe I can start with the seasons that I find most interesting.

[mertensia]

I always buy anything I know I'll want to keep: what happens if in two years they're no longer available through Netflix or whoever?

The Blu-Rays for the show are pretty good. Earlier seasons had some really nice extras.

[BlueMeanie]

Unpopular opinion where I live:

 

F'ing Cubs on WGN!! How dare they??!! They are preempting Supernatural next week. So I have to find a place to stream or wait till Thursday night to watch. F'ing Cubs.

 

I watch the show on the CW website.  I live in Colorado and the show becomes available to watch at about 11:20 pm on Wednesday.  There are commercials, but if you don't let it go all the way to the end, you can go back and watch without it replaying the commercials.

[Binns]

I've never watched any of the DVD's. Are the extras really worth it? Do they do commentary on multiple episodes on each disc? I know the music is original, which would be nice, but I just can't see spending the money when I can basically watch Netflix whenever I need a fix.

Well, Netflix broke my heart by taking away Doctor Who and you never know when they will take away SPN. i know I will watch these over and over. I got the Blu-Rays because I happen to have a PS3 to play them on- season 1 and 2 didnt need to be Blu-Rays though. As for the extras, I enjoy the commentaries (especially the ones the boys do but they are more rare) and the BTS things. The gag reel looks much better on my big screen than on YouTube. I'm sure most of the extras can be found on YouTube, for what it's worth.

[catrox14]

WAT? Netflix took away Doctor Who??

 

I think SPN will be safer because they have the deal with WB.  I did not know that about Doctor Who. WTF Netflix.

 

I'm noticing more and more go to Amazon but I can't seem to watch it on my laptop and I can't stream it to my TV because Chromecast doesn't work wtih Amazaon Prime

[MysteryGuest]

I've definitely seen all of the gag reels, but I don't know that I've seen the behind the scenes things.  And I've never heard any of the commentary, so I'd like to listen to that.  I think I will head to the library to see if I can find the discs.  I've honestly gotten away from buying DVD's.  I've gotten so used to streaming that it's pretty much all I do.  But you're right, they could pull the episodes at any time, and I'd be scrambling to find somewhere to watch them.  

[sarthaz]

[SueB]

Trial by fire.  An oldie but a goodie.

[DittyDotDot]

Heh, as I always say...no villainous plot can't be brought down with bit of rational thinking. But that kind of thing has no business here! ;)

[Mulva]

My bitterness:

Sam's desire to go off to college was healthy, normal and appropriate.  The fact of earning a scholarship considering his background and breaking away from John's control shows immense strength, determination and character.  However, since this hurted Dean's fee fees, this has always been portrayed as a heinous act of malice and betrayal.

[amensisterfriend]

In honor of SPN currently airing on S3: 

I just love S3, literally almost everything about it. I don't think that's quite as unpopular as it used to be, but I recall a lot of people disliking it while it aired, and even now many people I know seem to prefer S1, S2, S4 and S5. I may have even been one of those people who didn't adore S3 when I first saw it, but now I love it and am kind of surprised all over again by how many of my top episodes are in this season. I even really like a lot of the S3 episodes that most hate, including the generally loathed Red Sky! Clearly I need some sort of intervention ;) 

I adore Bela. Believe me when I tell you guys that I understand why people wouldn't, but I just enjoy her scenes far more than I should. But...

...I never enjoyed Ruby for some reason. I'll up the unpopularity by adding that I actually like the far less popular S4 Ruby more than S3 Ruby. Or, more accurately, dislike her less :) 

[Aeryn13]

I think Bela suffered from some of the same writing pitfalls Charlie later did. They come onto the scene and automatically the leads` IQs drop five hundred points to facilitate her awesomeness. There is no push/pull where you win some, you lose some, other than her first and last episode. Charlie just was an ally instead of an antangonist so it probably didn`t became noticeable in quite the same way.

Ironically, I think Season 3 retroactively rose in my estimation because back then I was coming off Season 2 which I enjoyed very much and I didn`t have any idea how bad the show could get later. So upon first watching, it just seemed like bottom level. Now 8 years later, it is probably mezanine. But I still can`t say that it has rewatch value for me. The episodes I hated back then are much better than those I truly hated later but I still have no desire to watch any of them again.

To be fair, I find it very, very difficult to rewatch anything. Even my most beloved episodes of all time. Knowing where it all leads or doesn`t lead takes most of the fun out of it. It`s sad but even the good stuff is now kinda tainted and diminished. I mean, I watch the characters being actually much better, more admirable and rootable people in earlier Seasons and I get dejected thinking where they end up. I wish I could completely unknow/forget everything after a certain point.  

[FlickChick]

3 hours ago, amensisterfriend said:

In honor of SPN currently airing on S3: 

I just love S3, literally almost everything about it. I don't think that's quite as unpopular as it used to be, but I recall a lot of people disliking it while it aired, and even now many people I know seem to prefer S1, S2, S4 and S5. I may have even been one of those people who didn't adore S3 when I first saw it, but now I love it and am kind of surprised all over again by how many of my top episodes are in this season. I even really like a lot of the S3 episodes that most hate, including the generally loathed Red Sky! Clearly I need some sort of intervention ;) 

I adore Bela. Believe me when I tell you guys that I understand why people wouldn't, but I just enjoy her scenes far more than I should. But...

...I never enjoyed Ruby for some reason. I'll up the unpopularity by adding that I actually like the far less popular S4 Ruby more than S3 Ruby. Or, more accurately, dislike her less :) 

Right there with you. I always liked Bela and thought that she was a fine foil for the boys. Likewise, I disliked the character of Ruby, but could tolerate her more in S4 than S3. And I'll throw myself under the bus by saying that I thought Genevieve did a fabulous job in the S4 finale - probably because the character died - but her best acting of the season.