SPN: The One Where Castiel Isn't Himself
May. 1st, 2009 06:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gategrrlLast night's episode I like the myth arc episodes because they're less likely to freak me out because of my tender Horror/Thriller Movie sensibilities (I have a hard time watching on screen gore/violence of a certain type, which usually includes people being hunted).
Anyhow, since I'm relatively new to the SPN ranch, I don't worship any particular Holy Cows of SPN Fandom. Although Castiel didn't impress me much in the first episode I saw him in this season (either Sex and Violence or Death Takes a Holiday, not sure which), in this episode, at least I get his back story. After all, even though the angels are on God's side, supposedly the side of Good, they don't work for humans at all. And that gives the angels and God a weird gray tone, whereas the Demons are all bad. Or are they? Maybe what Satan wants, when he can finally emerge, is to wake the strangely absent God up.
I liked last night's episode. Dean got something to play, Sam got something to play; everyone got to see how the angels possessing a human works, and how it makes their human hosts and their families vulnerable. Castiel showed much compassion for his host, aware that perhaps this man was not as elastic in his mind as a child could be...but then his host had the chance to save his child from what could be, for her, a fate worse than death: being an angel's host is no easy thing. And perhaps he figured that the heaven Castiel tried telling him about would have no good if he knew that his daughter was not going to be there, too, eventually. Horrible choices.
Dean, of course, had to make a horrible choice of his own: with one younger brother he had no idea hadn't existed until a few days before dead, here he is having his suspicions finally confirmed about Sam, the brother he knows much more about. One wonders if Dean wishes Adam, his unknown younger brother had survived to help carry this load a bit. But then, he didn't want Adam to have the same life he and Sam have had to have.
And Sam, always working for the good by digging himself deeper into demonhood. Next week where we get to see Alastair (who should be hosting a twisted version of Monsterpiece Theater!) again, back from the hallucinary dead. I wonder if his father is going to show up, too, even though he's not a demon (although, according demonic type monsters, yes, John was a monster even more than they were).
I'll be buying the sets as they come out and get cheap. That way, I can fast forward through the parts that freak me out and focus on the interesting mythology parts.
Anyhow, since I'm relatively new to the SPN ranch, I don't worship any particular Holy Cows of SPN Fandom. Although Castiel didn't impress me much in the first episode I saw him in this season (either Sex and Violence or Death Takes a Holiday, not sure which), in this episode, at least I get his back story. After all, even though the angels are on God's side, supposedly the side of Good, they don't work for humans at all. And that gives the angels and God a weird gray tone, whereas the Demons are all bad. Or are they? Maybe what Satan wants, when he can finally emerge, is to wake the strangely absent God up.
I liked last night's episode. Dean got something to play, Sam got something to play; everyone got to see how the angels possessing a human works, and how it makes their human hosts and their families vulnerable. Castiel showed much compassion for his host, aware that perhaps this man was not as elastic in his mind as a child could be...but then his host had the chance to save his child from what could be, for her, a fate worse than death: being an angel's host is no easy thing. And perhaps he figured that the heaven Castiel tried telling him about would have no good if he knew that his daughter was not going to be there, too, eventually. Horrible choices.
Dean, of course, had to make a horrible choice of his own: with one younger brother he had no idea hadn't existed until a few days before dead, here he is having his suspicions finally confirmed about Sam, the brother he knows much more about. One wonders if Dean wishes Adam, his unknown younger brother had survived to help carry this load a bit. But then, he didn't want Adam to have the same life he and Sam have had to have.
And Sam, always working for the good by digging himself deeper into demonhood. Next week where we get to see Alastair (who should be hosting a twisted version of Monsterpiece Theater!) again, back from the hallucinary dead. I wonder if his father is going to show up, too, even though he's not a demon (although, according demonic type monsters, yes, John was a monster even more than they were).
I'll be buying the sets as they come out and get cheap. That way, I can fast forward through the parts that freak me out and focus on the interesting mythology parts.
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no subject
Date: 2009-05-02 02:23 am (UTC)That's how I watched SPN the first time around! :)
no subject
Date: 2009-05-02 05:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-03 12:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-02 02:33 am (UTC)If you're not boycotting Amazon, keep an eye on prices there. They often have sales on boxed sets, and I've managed to get the first three seasons for the library for under $25 each. I think I got the first season for $15.99.
I don't think I'll be able to wait that long for the fourth season. The downside to hooking my library patrons on the show is now I have several bugging me wanting to know when we'll be getting season four. They're not pleased to learn it's still airing new episodes and won't be out until later this year.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-02 05:01 am (UTC)Silly patrons, wanting and wanting without waiting!
no subject
Date: 2009-05-02 05:17 am (UTC)First season is currently $19.99 at Amazon.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-02 05:34 am (UTC)I still have Carnivale and Dead Wood to watch, too. And I have the first season of The Dead Zone (I love my Dead Zone), too!
well, actually..
Date: 2009-05-02 02:58 am (UTC)Me: Actually, you got his vessel's backstory. We learned very little about Castiel in this ep - except that he's apparently had a radical attitude adjustment. And also, that apparently minors have the ability to give consent in heavan's judicial code, which is pretty disturbing, actually. Although consistent with hell's judicial code (ask me about Bela Talbot (season 3) sometime if you're interested)- which actually, is even more disturbing.
The only reason an angel possessing a human leaves his family vulnerable is because of the evil demons from hell - I don't think that we've seen heavan attack Jimmy's family (yet, anyway.) Also, Ruby definitely is a gray demon, in this canon (well, until she stabs one or both of the boys in the back, at least.)
Also, re: Dean's youngest brother - I think Adam was already dead before the ghoul called John's magically charged/working phone. I don't think Dean had recovered from the shock of finding out his father had lied to him (again) enough to form any opinion about dead:Adam (other than jealousy, and reflexive protectiveness, of course.)
Also, John, much as I dislike him (even more, now), wouldn't really be a monster imo. Also, his actor's career is going pretty well - we're not likely to see him on Supernatural anytime soon.
Sam ... we'll have to wait and see.
Anyway - it's a lot of mytharc to absorb - good luck. This is all my opinion, of course. Ignore as you see fit.
Anyway, welcome to the fandom.
Re: well, actually..
Date: 2009-05-02 05:00 am (UTC)Adam was already dead by the time Dean and Sam found him...or the ghoul, rather, that had found and eaten Adam; but the ghoul did emulate Adam well-enough, I think to draw them in, with enough of Adam's background, to fool the people (or at least the waitress in the diner) in his hometown.
LOL--and you're right about John's magic phone! Does Dean keep it charged and recharged in the vague possibility that someone will call it? LOL!