RhymePhile's Rat Race

Ooh, I'm late with my Supernatural comments, but that's because I got a new work computer and things this morning were all fritzy. They've been de-fritzed, finally (like my screencapping wouldn't work, which: bad!) and I've found the time now.

But I took notes last night fer Chrissakes, so of course I have to offer up my thoughts!



First, I'm glad they killed the Demon Meg. Why? Because she killed that dog in the yard! Noooooooo violence against animals! Bad! Also, was that poor Rottie tied up by his paw?? He better not have been. I've spoken before about my intense hatred for violence against animals for superfluous reasons, and this was certainly one of them. The Winchesters didn't even say "Sorry about your dog" when they left Dirty Hat Guy's house!

This was a Kim Manners directed episode, if anyone noticed, and it really showed.

After looking him up on the IMdB, I realized Sebastian Spence played one of the main characters in Category 7: End of the World with Nick! He was the boyfriend that saved the chick Monty was going to shoot at the end. Hooray for more synergy!

I liked the equal opportunity beating Dean laid down on Meg. I mean, not that violence against women is being supported here, but I like the fact that if she's evil Dean doesn't even think twice. I liked her quote about Papa W.: "He begged for his life with tears in his eyes!" Uh, Meg, everyone on this show has tears in his eyes! Acting without eyes welling up with tears is a no-no!

Also quite enjoyable was the trembly-lipped, teary-eyed Intense!Dean. Jensen my dear, there have been many a time this season that you've had to work really, really hard at making the script work because of slightly shoddy writing, but this time it was effortless. Whoo. I don't really care for Jared Padalecki, (and if I hear that grunted "Dean!" yell one more time I'm going to hurl my TV across the room) and it was nice to see Ackles really pull this episode off. He shined.

Speaking of, I bet ol' Jared had to practice all that Latin, huh? But it's good to see Sammy's college edumacshun has been good for something.

Second funniest line of the night comes right after the exorcism and Meg's blood-spewing: "Call 911! And get some water and blankets!" Hee! I'm sorry we banished that demon from you, Meggers, but here, take comfort in this goose-down quilt! Oh, don't worry, we also used a Brita water filter for the water. LOL. And 911? What the heck was Dirty Hat Guy gonna tell them? "Ohhh…just ignore that giant pentacle on the ceiling there."

Guess what? There was an actual blue sky seen in this episode! I kid you not! In the railyard scene! Wow! And hey, did you notice the Metallicar was dirty in this ep? It's usually pristine and shiny.

Best line of the night? "I have a Yorkie up there who pees when he gets nervous." A Yorkie??? Ahem. GAY!!! LOL!

I thought the scene in which the boys got into the apartment as disguised firefighters and did nothing more than tussle with the demons watching over Papa W. was kinda weak. Of course, in retrospect, we discover why they were easily tossed into the closet, but if wrasslin' demons was all the Boys did they should have been suspicious.

The axe through the apartment door that bumped us into commercial was pretty cool. A little formulaic there, Kim, but I'll give it to you since you haven't directed enough this season to suit me.

I didn't guess that Papa W. was possessed right away, happily enough. I liked the way they threw us off with the holy water bit. But when we discover he is possessed, I cheered. Excellent!

Kudos to Makeup this week for Padalecki's convincing-looking swollen eye after the beat-down from Sebastian Spence. I also happened to be watching the TV Guide channel the other night, and they were doing a little interview with Padalecki where he was discussing how he learned stunts and such for the show. He mentions that they came in handy when "eight drunken buffoons" jumped him and Ackles in Vancouver one night. He says that two of the drunks went to the hospital and he suffered a broken hand. Interesting. He's pretty wiry, Padalecki, but he's also like 6'4", so I wouldn't mess with him.

Okay, now onto the meat (as it were, heh) of the episode.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan looks better in Evil Orange Demon Eyes. Why is that?

Dean swears to God a lot. Notice that?

So, the showdown. Of course Dean would be the one who realized it wasn't Papa W. right away. I liked his little monologue before Papa W. walks in, too, where he's talking about killing people and not thinking twice about it. It says a lot about his character.

Violence, tears, daddy issues, more violence, blood, weepy eyes….damn, what a great last couple of minutes. But I really wish Sam would have shot his father and killed the Demon. Here's why.

Not only would it have been an amazing piece of storytelling, but Papa W. has basically been a shell for the last 22 years anyway. He's been on the hunt for all that time, never settling down for long, not having much of a life, and here was the chance for his son to avenge the Winchester family. Sam blames himself for much of what's happening, and it would add even more angst to the character if he had to live with the guilt of killing his father while also ridding them of the Demon. Frankly, it should have been a natural progression in the story, I think, making Sam and Dean's hunt even more seeped in emotional angst. It was interesting to note that it was Dean who was begging Sam not to kill Papa W. Oh, and the slammed against the wall, blood running from Dean's chest scene? Wicked awesome. More Dean!Peril, please. I love watching Ackles do pain.

Where was I?

Ah yes. Now, since we still don't know if the CW is picking up SPN, I thought they could have ended it differently. We could have an eternal cliffhanger on our hands, kids, but I really doubt it. SPN did far beyond what the WB hoped this season, and chances are they're not going to give up on one of their new, high-rated shows. It's a wide-demographic draw, because it brings in the teen girls for the Man Squeeage, and it brings in the teen boys who like to see tits, ass, guns, violence, and tough-ass cars. Hmm, I think I might be in the latter camp. Less the tits.

But how dare they crash the Metallicar?? Ugh. And car crashes have been a dime a dozen lately, what with Vaughn and Sydney getting smashed last season on Alias before they changed the show and flushed it down the crapper, Linc getting smashed on Prison Break, and those great Volkswagen commercials that were surprising the first time I saw them, and now I only watch just to see the airbags go off and the guy's neck flick almost 90 degrees. Hee.

I'm pleased at that very last fade-out shot, where the truck driver is noticeably demon-possessed, however. That was a nice touch. Sammy looks the worse for wear, doesn't he? I will say that if they decide to kill Papa W. in the car crash (which is entirely possible, since Jeffrey Dean Morgan is all over TV this season) it will have been a crappy way to send him off. I would have much rather seen him get killed by the Demon.

Overall, however, I thought the season finale was wonderfully done, thanks in large part to the cracking script by creator Eric Kripke and Manners' direction. Ackles really gave one of his best performances of the season…it's nice to see him come a little unhinged like he was on Smallville. Padalecki still needs a damn haircut.

And when I hear when the DVDs are due out, you people will be the first to know.