RhymePhile's Rat Race

Thank the Lords of Kobol this week is over! (That was a geeky Battlestar Galactica reference there)

I have my relative pains when it comes to commuting 80 miles each way every day, but yesterday took the cake and ate it too.

Our bus broke down just outside the Lincoln Tunnel (headed home to NJ) only about 10 minutes after we left Port Authority. So at 5:20 we were stuck.

There were around 40 people on the bus, and what annoys me to no end is that the driver didn't say shit about what was going on, i.e. if he called it in, if they were sending another bus, what was happening, all that.

At first we thought we would get another bus, but NO! We had to wait for other buses that were headed on our route to pull over, and try to get on. Well, as Rhymey likes to sit in the back, I couldn't get on the first bus that stopped because most of the front of our bus piled onto the other one. Bitches. Then the second bus was too crowded. Fast forward to an HOUR AND A HALF LATER, the time we would have ALREADY BEEN HOME, and I finally get on a bus THAT'S NOT EVEN STOPPING WHERE I PARKED MY CAR.

But by that point I was ready to get on any bus that was going anywhere near south Jersey. Luckily, one of my bus friends was nice enough to drive me back to where my car was parked.

Thus...I left my office at 4:35 to catch a 5:10 bus. We broke down. What time did I finally get home? 8 effin' 30 at night. 8:30! Four hours door to door. GAH.

The universe is so lucky I had already set up Supernatural to be recorded. I'll have to watch it this weekend. *sigh*

I basically scarfed down dinner and went to bed. What a night.

marciaelena asked for a Supernatural Wincest drabble, in which "Dean has only one week left, and Sam is desperate."

This is because I love you, Mars :-)



The shabby curtains of their cheap motel room did nothing to keep out the rising sun. Beams of light spread over Sam's features, and he frowned, squinting one eye open in annoyance.

"Mornin', sunshine," Dean whispered.

"It woke me up," he pouted, pulling himself up from Dean's bare chest. His brother was wide awake, staring intently at the window. "Dean, did you even sleep?"

He offered up that half-grin Sam was seeing less of these days, but Sam interrupted him before he could answer. They were finishing each other's sentences more often now, too.

"Don't you say it."

The grin hadn't disappeared. "What, Sammy?"

"Dammit, you know what, Dean."

"That I'll sleep when I'm dead?"

Sam's face pinched into a scowl, but Dean only laughed and pulled him down next to him in bed.

"Don't be mad at me just because I want to see your bitchy pout face a few more times."

Sam slid back to where he had been sleeping, pressed against Dean, their legs tangled together. "I hate when you talk like that."

Dean began playing with his brother's hair. "I'm facing it, Sammy. Time for you to do the same."

"I've tried. I tried fighting it, denying it, accepting it, and none of it makes it any less painful." He sat up again, his voice deepening in agitation. "I don't how you can just lie there and wait for it! And knowing why it's happening..."

"Because I swore to always protect you!" Dean growled back. He sighed and took a deep breath, calming himself. "I'd do it a hundred more times if it meant saving you, little brother."

He had no answer for that, and Dean went back to running his fingers through Sam's hair.

"It feels like we're giving up."

"Nah. I'm givin' in. There's a difference." His hand moved to that sensitive spot on Sam's neck. "I'm not gonna go kicking and screaming, Sammy. I made a deal, and it's time to pay the band."

"How am I going to do this without you?" He could hear his voice cracking when he asked it.

"You're gonna carry on, like dad taught us -- like I taught you. You're gonna make a difference, and make us proud."

"I wish..."

"All the wishing in the world won't change what's going to happen, Sam. If I had the choice, I'd wish for a lot of things, too. For mom to live, for dad to be here with us, for all the crap that's happened to this family to be magically erased. But I can't. I have to take what I got. Seven days go fast."

Sam wrapped his arm around his brother's chest. "I guess that means more sleepless nights."

"You complaining?"

It took a moment to understand what that meant, but then Sam laughed.

Dean's hand never left his brother's head. "Yeah, seven days go fast, Sammy. Too damn fast."

There are two short clips from the new episode airing tomorrow and two short interviews with Jensen and Jared right over here.

Make sure you watch the second episode clip first, then the top one. I don't know why they set it up the way they did, but it makes more sense to watch the second clip first.

Obviously you're going to watch four full minutes from the episode, so if you don't want to be spoiled, don't watch.

I found out this afternoon that Photobucket pulled my Meloni/Tergesen mood theme image of "Drained" (which was Keller lying on his bunk, not naked) because it violated their TOS. The hell? I don't have the original photo here on my computer (I downloaded halfdutch's mood theme at home) so I can't write them and complain, but I shall.

I caught up with the two most recent Supernatural episodes I had DVR'd, "Fresh Blood" and the Christmas episode. "Fresh Blood" was boring (I thought) and I'm glad Gordon is gone, because that actor was horrible. For every word that came out of his mouth all I could hear was one long monotone. Ugh.

The Christmas episode was fair. I know everyone was all squee-y and what not, but the MotW was lame, and that's why I watch the show. I don't know if anyone noticed, but the oldskool "Special" graphic that spun into the camera and started the show was originally used by CBS before their Charlie Brown holiday specials in the 80s.

Here's what I think they should do if they have a Season 3: Let Sam maintain his Hunter status, and Dean's soul can either 1)be absorbed by the Impala or 2) stay to walk the Earth. It's hilarity no matter how you play it -- a talking car, bitching at driver Sam all season, or the disembodied ghost of Dean, floating along next to Sam dishing out clever double entrendres and quippy asides. It's gold, people! I'll cross the WGA picket line to write that shit, dammit.

There's a short "director's cut" clip of tomorrow's Supernatural ep "Bedtime Stories" on the CW.com. Sam and Dean are discussing fairy tales, and when Sam mentions Cinderella and the pumpkin that turns into a coach...well, you'll just have to watch.

Outside the US and want to watch? Here's a tutorial that explains how to do it. The tutorial talks about watching streaming content from the US network ABC, but it's essentially the same. You need access to public proxy servers.

Also? In the "Who's Your Favorite Winchester Brother?" poll on the CW site, Dean is ahead at 68%. Hee.

Please don't shotgun me with rock salt, but I'm giving my honest opinion of last night's SPN premiere.

( I was rather disappointed, actually )

Season 2 of Supernatural debuts on DVD next week, and I've written a review for my Big Dot Com. This will no doubt be edited, so I thought I'd throw it out here before it gets cut to shreds. I have to keep these short; I'd love to be able to explain the whole season in more depth. But I tried to touch on the things I found important -- like Jensen Ackles' performance this season, and I hardly ever mention that in reviews.

As much as I enjoyed Season 1, I think Season 2 surpassed it. Many people prefer the Monster of the Week arc to a season; I preferred the dramatic arc they used in Season 2.

I can't wait for Season 3 to begin. I haven't felt that in a long time, with the exception of Battlestar Galactica.

( Rhyme's Supernatural review )

This just in, coming September 11

I wanted to point out a few of my favorite moments from last night's season finale of Supernatural, highlighted with screencaps shared from oxoniensis

( Finale highlights and reviews of certain scenes, meta, longish, with obvious spoilers )

Yeah, it's coming September 5th.

More at TVShowsonDVD.com, with a tentative cover image:
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=5598

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!

( Devil's Trap review thingy, this time with episode title! )

Y'know, I should really write down the damn titles of these Supernatural eps, so I sound fairly smart in my little mini-reviews here.

( Babbles about last night's ep, don't read if you haven't seen it )

crimsonsenya, don't read this until after you download the episode. Seriously. Spoilers ahoy.

For those of who who did watch, here are a few of my opinions for you to ponder.

Okay, ever since this show first premiered and Dean called the two cops on the bridge in the pilot episode Mulder and Scully I've been hooked on this show (and I tried to get my Flist to watch back then). Maybe not as much as some of you fan fic writers out there, *cough*, but pretty much every week I've been entertained. There have been a few misses along the way, but not enough to get me to stop watching.

Now, nine years of watching The X-Files means that we've seen just about everything creepy or scary on TV. But lemme tell ya, tonight might have been one of the only times I ever actually got chills watching an episode of TV. Even XF never creeped me out as much as that scene when the ghost is revealed and the camera kept hovering on the little girl's doll. AIIIIEEEEEEEE. Chills, people. Isn't that awesome? Go SPN! And then I let out a squeal when Sarah popped her head up from helping Sam (not like that!) and came face to face with the ghost.

Now, onto ep specifics.

In-joke alert: Anyone notice the license plate on the one fancy cars as the camera panned by before the Brothers Winchester entered the auction house? It had the NY license plate of "THE KRIP." An homage to creator Eric Kripke, perhaps?

Is there some Asian heritage in Jared Padalecki's background? In all those close-ups of he and Sarah at dinner his eyes have a distinctly Asian-looking feel to them. Also? His teeth looked like they were glowing. Cut down on the Crest White Strips, Jar'!

In related news: Dear Jared, Please cut your hair. If I turned you over and dusted my shelves, you would probably work better than a Swiffer. Love, Rhyme.

The special effects tonight were fantastic. Every week they come up with new and inventive ways to use camera angles and film effects to give us jarring, off-putting moments. The highlights tonight were the automatically restoring painting, and the ghost scenes, as usual. Great work.

Casting department, at first I had trouble with what looked like the model-turned-actress playing Sarah, but she won me over in the end. Maybe because I liked her hair. *shrug*. But she pulled it off by making me want to see her again. Maybe. I said maybe.

The records researcher was yet another XF alum, most notably as the hypnotherapist who helped Scully recall her experiences in the "Patient X" "Red and the Black" two-parter. He was also seen somewhere early in the show's run too, but I can't quite remember. He was also the guy who played the lead character's father in "Moving Malcolm," that indie film Nick Lea co-starred in. See what I did just there? Brought it all back to Nick! Yeaaahhhh.

If the Brothers Winchester and Sarah hung around long enough at that cemetery, maybe they could have gone looking for Melissa Scully and William Mulder among the tombstones.

Best gory effect of the night: It wasn't the gigantic pool of blood the husband found his wife in in the teaser (nice touch, that, yuck) but it was when Evelyn's head almost came off! Wicked! I guess that little girl ghost must have had some strong-ass ghost muscles, huh?

And finally, the line of the night: "Ever since we got here you've been tryin' to pimp me out to Sarah!" Okay, tell me that didn't light a fire under all you fanficcers out there. Dean, older brother and snazzy-dressin' pimp-daddy, whoring out his younger brother to...I'll leave it up to your dirty imaginations.

Whoo, stinky episode tonight. The writing was extremely poor I thought; not one of the their better attempts. Even the flashbacks rang false.

However, three things: "Queens. Right." Bwahahaahaaaaaa!

Fantastic casting on that kid. The casting department has been really excellent for this show.

And for you Simpsons fans out there, pay special attention to the conversation Dean and Sam have while Sam is on the computer in the library. He mentions that there have been other occurrences in "Ogdenville and North Haverbrook." As any Simpsons fan knows, those are two other towns in which Lyle Langley (voice of Phil Hartman) sells monorails to in the episode "Homer vs. The Monorail."

Just in case you've got the hiatus blues (and who doesn't?) the Brothers Winchester return tonight at 9 p.m. EST for a new episode, entitled "Hell House." Don't forget! There's a new Smallville on right before it, and I might have to watch, because James Marsters pops up again -- I've got some serious Spike-missing going on.

Here are a few thoughts on last night's Supernatural. Yeah, I'm supposed to be in bed, but I have off tomorrow for a doctor's appointment.

( Rhyme rambles upon last night's SPN ep )

Listen, John Shiban. I, unlike others, have not forgiven you for the crap-ass XF episodes you wrote such as "Teso Dos Bichos," "El Mundo Gira," and the horrendous "Travelers" way back when. You've had time to mature, to be more creative, to hone your skills, and you give us stuff like last night's Supernatural? With the stereotypical weirdo backwoods family, including the rotting teeth?? C'mon now.

( Rhyme gripes to John Shiban about last night's show )

I watched Tuesday's Supernatural tonight, and this episode gave us a lot of shots of the Impala. Some things I noticed:

+ The rims aren't stock. How did the Winchester boys afford custom rims? More credit card scams...
+ There are extra side mirrors, one on the passenger side, and an extra on the driver's side. Usually there's only one side mirror, and that's on the driver's side. The Metallicar has three.
+ The interior, including the paneling and headliner, are tan. The seats and steering wheel are black, but the dash is tan as well.
+ If it's a '67 Super Sport, the "SS" should be visible both on the steering wheel and over the back left taillight. I'll have to pay closer attention.

I have nothing of any interest to report whatsoever, other than I had a farily crappy morning before I even got into work. Sigh.

I thought I would simply show off an icon made by taillypo so my Supernatural Flisters could drool. Hee.

My Metallicar replica should be coming today or tomorrow, I think. I have to figure out how to miniaturize the license plate. What state is it again? I'm a bad fan. And hey, I didn't watch Tuesday's ep yet, but did they do body work on the Metallicar after that Big Bad Black Truck smashed into her?

So you want to own the Metallicar? Or at least an incredible facsimile, complete with real rubber tires and a hood that opens so you can see the Metallicar's guts?



You know you do! Go here:
http://www.collectablediecast.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2771
and place your order. They are limited to only 2,500.

Even better, kids -- you can pay with PayPal! It's recommended for international orders. That means our friends overseas who have an obsession with the Winchester Boys can buy these as well. Here is the info for international buyers:
http://www.collectablediecast.com/index.asp?PageAction=COMPANY

See how much I love you people? ;-)