A Letter to Andrew Dabb

There are certain things about supernatural that are for lack of a better word, annoying. Long time ago, in season one, two and three, actually four and five also; the first two minutes of the show weren't always the same. In fact, add six, seven, eight and nine to that tally. Somewhere around season ten, they started doing the same thing over and over which gets kind of monotonous. Dean wakes up in the morning, goes to the kitchen/library where Sam is sitting in front of his laptop. Then Sam says, "Caught a case."

He explains the case to Dean, Dean says but what about *insert big bad here* and Sam says "We'll catch a break but meanwhile let's keep moving, keep swinging..."
He doesn't even sound like he believes it anymore.
So then Dean says "Okay" and the scene cuts to the Impala speeding along the highway.
Interspersed of course with the MOTW characters getting killed.
Sigh.

I miss the days when every episode was different and they didn't have to tell each other to "keep moving, keep swinging," every episode. I miss when their roadside talks were really emotional and personal and gave insight into something. These days they just sound like platitudes. Are we pandering to somebody? Can we go back to storytelling?
I feel like we're losing the vision of what makes Supernatural great. We're losing the spark, sacrificed at the altar of fan service or whatever.
Can we please all remember who we are and what this show is about? Once the focus is lost, we will not last very long. 

Advanced Thanatology

Supernatural has something against shrinks and mental health institutions don't you think? This is the THIRD episode where bad things happen in one. There was Sam Interrupted, with wotisname and the wraith, then there was the Asylum where Sam went crazy and wanted to shoot Dean and now, this episode. I mean, I don't disagree. Asylums seem like miserable places and I guess the subliminal message might be 'just because I see things doesn't mean I'm crazy' right? But are they also maybe fostering stigma? I don't know.

Secondly, why is it that there is always some dumb kid wanting to get themselves killed by going into some haunted house at night? Like what is wrong with you white people? Have you not the sense Chuck gave you? there are easier ways to commit suicide.

Now, to episode specifics.
I thought Sam Winchester reading reviews for a strip club was just about the most hilarious thing to happen in this episode. I can just see him googling strip clubs, going to tripadvisor and clicking on reviews and deciding which is the best one to send Dean to...So OCD and methodical. This is the Plan to Make Dean Happy Again (aside: as if he ever was):
1. Let him eat whatever he wants.
2. Distract him with hunting.
3. Strippers and Burritos.
4. Keep Jack out of sight.
Sam doing his best to 'take care of' his big brother. So sweet. Also typical that he's failing miserably and Dean is just letting him think that it might work.
I saw on twitter someone correcting the writer of the episode that 'last Christmas' Sam and Dean were locked up by the Gitmo guys. But Dean didn't say I bought you a stripper 'last' Christmas. He just said it was Christmas. Much more likely it was season 11. They seemed a bit more carefree in the latter half of that season even with the darkness on their ass. However, I think they were dealing with the cage during that Christmas break soo...season 10? Maybe they celebrated the holiday after the got out?
Anyways, I am calling that scene my 'supercute Winchesters' moment of the episode.

Billie!

I just luh her. She has the most honey trickling over gravel voice I've ever heard. Also, she has the best lines. That whole, 'this universe can be poetic' thing, first of all, made me want to stand up and just give a standing ovation. It wasn't just the words, it was the delivery, the scene setting, her make up emphasizing her lips with every word. It was all so ominous and 'Dean is so screwed' ish. You could see by Dean's face that he figured he was screwed too.

Pet Peeve: supernatural fandom is exhausting and/or full of crazies. My Tumblr feed last week was FILLED with complaints about how "overlooked" Dean is. This week I see that the complaint is that this is the "Dean show" and "What about Sam?" 

Sigh.

So apparently the peanut gallery of #spnfamily was not happy that Dean got to tell the new Death all of his innermost feelings. 

"Why we gotta hear about Dean's angst?"

"Why is this the Dean show" and other subjective nonsense. Never mind that the whole scene was aimed at driving the plot forward. Oh no. Who cares about things like plot points and storylines? 

Anyways.

So Dean is super depressed and suicidal. Do we think Sam knows that? I think that he does. Sam notices everything about Dean; unlike Dean, he doesn't say so. He just acts according to his conclusions. And feeding Dean beer for breakfast and letting him be hungover and debauched just put me in mind of season 3, Sam, bending over backward for his brother who had sold his soul for him. Only this time it was more like 'if this is what it takes for you to remember who you are...'

Excited to see if Billie will be back.

Speaking of the rift, I wonder when Mary and Lucifer and the new Michael are going to make a reappearance...

Lastly and definitely least, Castiel is back. People are very excited about that. I really couldn't care less. Only because Destiel fans are always trying to twist things. They take all the enjoyment out of watching Cas. It's too bad because I get why they need him. but now it's just like, whatever man. Take your fans.

Brother Dynamics

Why is Dean so against Jack? I mean, apart from his parentage, Jack hasn't really done anything to earn Dean's ire.
So what is it?

I think Dean is trying to learn his lesson finally. He's trying to do what Sam wanted him to do at the beginning of season 11 and change the way they operate. I don't think he's on the "You and me we can get through anything" bandwagon anymore. Not because he doesn't believe but because maybe he thinks that the price they pay is sometimes too high.
They have lost a civilian (Kelly) Cas, their mother, and Crowley in an effort to get rid of Lucifer. Maybe it doesn't seem like the victory is worth the price.
But it's not just that.

The last time he took somebody at face value and let them in, Gadreel ended up using Sam's body to kill Kevin. And that must be forefront in his mind right now as is Sam himself. His father told him that Sam would go bad, that he'd have to kill him. But he resisted that notion. He spent so much time denying it and trying to prevent it, he probably blames himself for failing. For Sam opening the door and letting Lucifer out. And now look where they are...Maybe he's thinking he might have done things differently. Maybe if he had said yes, Lucifer would be dead.
But then again, so would Sam.
It's a conundrum enough to put anyone in a bad mood.
So maybe he's retreated to his most basic state: What Would John Winchester Do?
And maybe he's relying on Sam to make sure that he doesn't have to kill Jack while trying to remain detached enough to make sure he can do it if that's what it comes down to.

A Celebration of Teenwolf

At the end of that movie I think it was called Seven with Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins, the Native American dude is describing how Brad Pitt's character died in a fight with a bear.
"It was a good death," he said.
For some reason that phrase has stayed with me, and I got to say it for Teenwolf.
"It was a good end."

"You're not a monster, you're a werewolf, like me."

Didn't your heart just melt into tiny puddles of love and nostalgia when he said that? I mean...that phrase is like the essence of Teenwolf no? You can't help what your outside does, what you look like, what you are, but you can choose who to be.
And with so many actual monsters disguised as people in the world today, the whole series was such a refreshing take on personal integrity and growth and what it means to have an internal compass all of your own which you follow regardless of what everyone else is doing. *puts hand on heart* Bless.
This was the most satisfying series finale I have ever watched. It didn't leave me dissatisfied or distressed, nobody even died. That was a first I think. There were no cop-outs. I hate cop-outs. Most series finales are cop-outs.
Yay Jeff Davis - you did an exemplary job.
What were the highlights you ask?
Well for me the whole thing was a highlight.
The things that made my heart skip a beat was.
1. VOID STYLES.
I repeat.
Void Styles made an appearance.

I mean...
And then we got to learn what Scott is most afraid of.
Of course, it was the nogitsune! It took not one but two of Scott's friends. It almost killed Stiles and it sure did kill Alison. Of course, he felt like he let his friends down. He is a huge believer in saving EVERYBODY. I bet he'd even try to save Gerard if he thought he could.
Speaking of Gerard, body or he's not dead. Same thing with that daughter of his. Talk about two people who just won't die.
2. Derek Hale
More like my knees were weak and I sighed like an eighteenth-century English Rose. because gat damn! That man was born to be a werewolf and bare his teeth and fight. Just damn. Also, the shape of his head is not even like, human. He is a Work. of. Art.

One thing that was kind of disappointing was the distance between #stydia.  It wasn't even the lack of a kiss as I saw people on twitter complaining about. It was the lack of closeness. I mean they managed to convey that closeness through six seasons of maybe (two?) kisses? But I get it. Dylan O'Brien's been away, he underwent a life-changing accident. He's not the same person and probably hasn't found his new rhythm yet. His new normal. His new, who am I now? So yeah, that discombitude is perceivable through the screen. I hope he keeps his friends close to help him through this.
It's been...how long? Eight years of loyalty to this series. It's taught me much - especially about obscure supernatural creatures, threefold death, what the Wild Hunt really is and other things I just might never have known. Forever grateful. Forever in my heart.
Goodbye Teenwolf.
Till we meet again.
Also maybe Jeff Davis would consider joining the Supernatural writers' room and doing the season's Big Bad. It would be interesting to see what happens.
Also the ending set up a movie perfectly so I hope y'all is looking into that.

Bloody Messiah, Music Video

Vault: Item 42 from Shaving People Punting Things on Vimeo.

So if this was on +Vevo how long do you think it'd take to get certified?
I think this is what Fader meant when they said that the +GRAMMYs have it all wrong when it comes to classifying music.
There is the music of +Empire which is just so very underrated in terms of recognition. Boom Boom Boom Boom, Bang Bang Bang Bang should have received some sort of nomination for something surely. American Music Awards? Whatever.
And this too; the song and the video are epic. And just because it was made for a TV series doesn't mean it's not good music. The Grammys do really need to expand their criteria.
Anyway, meanwhile.
Enjoy.

Teen Wolf vs. Supernatural

Bromance:

vs. 

I'm gonna say +Jensen Ackles and +Jared Padalecki win this one simply because in terms of depth and longevity, nobody can touch them. +Tyler Posey and +Dylan O'Brien as Scott and Stiles are like Season one Sam and Dean. They have a ways to go but they're getting there.

Hellhound

vs.

I think we can all agree that Sheriff Parish wins this one HANDS DOWN. Talk about dramatic! and Hawt. Damn.And the BUILD UP...

Nazi Douchebags

vs. 

Teenwolf also takes this one IMHO. A guy who is apparently boiled for like three seasons wins over the fake give blood, resurrect Hitler isht that was peddled in Supernatural. Also hot damn Mr. Nazi with the Aryan hairstyle! Also "Hitler's" German accent in Supernatural was just the struggle. And their execution was just sloppy. Sorry, Teenwolf for the win hands down.

Hunters

vs.

Sam and Dean vs. Chris Argent and his crew....hmm.We gotta break this one down further.
Okay first there are the Winchesters and then there are other hunters on Supernatural. We can all agree that they are depicted as backwoods, flannel wearing, shoot first, ask questions later, hicks.
While Chris and his crew are portrayed as ruthless, efficient, leather jacket wearing, super organised, they have a motto, the women choose the kills, impressive arsenal, tend to know exactly what they are doing, cool kids.
Who wins?
I guess if we're talking JUST Sam and Dean for Supernatural they are the clear winners because they beat everyone including Lucifer while the Argent clan of hunters has been DECIMATED.
Kitsune

vs.

I mean...

Is it even a competition?

Music

When it comes to music I think there's a tie. Supernatural introduced me to music I might otherwise never have know about. Someone say 'Beautiful Loser' (Can I get an Amen?).
Teenwolf on the other hand also features music that is not very common; some really good beats. and they tell you what the song is called and the source of the music.

Character Development
Season one Scott McCall is definitely not Season six Scott McCall. He's definitely grown and developed and prospered. Season twelve Dean still has some aspects of Season one Dean, but he's grown too. Mostly I think he's more confident in his abilities and has a more balanced view of who his father is. Sam is like a completely different person but Stiles is like...the same.
Surprises

When it comes to dealing with lore and the monsters that they feature they do tend to throw you a curve ball when you were expecting this to happen and instead something completely different happens.
That's the basis of a good story. It surprises the reader and delights them or horrifies them. Whatever it does, emotion is evoked.
In this sense, the shows are a tie.
That's why I love them both so much.

Season 12, 1 and 2

So the new season of Supernatural started with that classic thing that they've done for most seasons where 'hey, Sam and Dean are not together and they're finding their way back'...and then we get a hug.
Except they forgot the hug.
Or they couldn't find an opportunity to hug.
That actually given the storyline seems like the most likely explanation. They maybe couldn't work it in so it looks natural. And I guess if we're factoring in the fact that they parted maybe a day or two before they were reunited, or was it two weeks?

How long was Sam in captivity?
Anyway, point is, it wasn't a year or four months or a year and a half or how long it usually is. It was 'days' in supernatural world time.
Of course for us it was four or five months and we bloody well wanted that hug.

In lieu of a hug though Andrew Dabb, if that's not possible, is some super super closeness.
Thanks.

I'm really loving the return of season 1-4 Sam fucking Winchester. I swear when he pretended to cut his throat and then was fighting Toni Bevel on the stairs....
DAaammmmnnnn.
I needed a minute.
Fuck.

Wild Animal!Sam needs his own community.
I don't know what's going on with Dean though. First of all, Everyone's beating his ass. Is it the bomb he was carrying? Did it weaken him? Or is he just tired, or in shock? Something's going on with Dean Winchester and I wanna know what.
Or, I don't know, bring my badass Dean back.
The power struggle that's gonna happen between Mary and Dean Winchester is something I am looking forward to. Dean is used to being the mommy, and here comes their real mommy. Alive and well and ready to be mama. Where does that leave Dean? He's not used to being looked after. And he's used to telling everyone what to do.
He's already been unable to tell Mary what to do so much so that he actually asked Cas for help.
Dude.
Cas.
or is it Cass?
The things people choose to argue about really bore me.
This season better address the fact that Sam has no Key of Solomon on his chest. Whatever is happening there needs to be rectified, IMMEDIATELY.
Why borrow trouble when you don't need to?
Get it done Sam.
Dean.
They have to get their mother a tattoo anyway; Sam can get one too.
Anyway, I'm still very excited for this season; enjoying myself thoroughly and refusing to buy into the negativity.