![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I have several meta thoughts on Supernatural that I really should write up and post. In all honestly, I'm hesitant to do so because my view of the show is so very different than those that others are posting.
I do that a lot. I'm equal parts coward and narcissist. While I like debate and discussion, I also like the feeling of getting along and being liked. I've always erred on the side of "It's better to be silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." Of course, what good is an opinion if its never expressed. Lately, I've started to think that being thought a fool for nothing is much worse than being being called a fool for something that you actually do.
That in mind, my Supernatural thoughts for tonight:
-- Angels are the masters of retcon, aren't they? They can make everything part of destiny. Conspiracy theorists have nothing on these guys. Of course, if Michael truly believed in "destiny" he would have left John and Mary with their memories because it would have all worked out the same, right?
-- I completely adore John Winchester. I've always felt that he's gotten painted the bad guy when he really isn't. But most of fandom tends to have issues with the "strong and silent" archetype. Combine that with "demanding father" and it's the perfect fannish combination to hate.
--I love the scene between Sam and John. I've always felt that Dean actually has more issues with John than Sam does. Maybe that's not exactly right: I think that Dean's relationship with his father is much more complex that that of Sam's.
--I also loved the scene where the boys were telling Mary that she had to leave before they were born. Save their parents, save the world, all they have to do is sacrifice themselves. They would be willing to do that -- as long as they did it together. Yay TEAM!
--I loved Michael. So perfectly... manipulative. The psychological manipulation of Dean and Sam by the angels and demons is so very well done. It's presented so logically and simply that it seems to make perfect sense. He plays the sympathy card ("I'm just like you") and the generosity card ("When I possess you, I won't hurt you") and the weight of history card ("Stretching back to Cain and Abel").
--Slivers of truth, doled out in small, specific bits can do more damage than a thousand lies. In many ways, partial truths are often more false than most lies. Both Michael and Lucifer use partial truths to manipulate and control.
--Free Will is still the base and foundation of this show. This fills me with great joy. "I have to believe that I can choose what I do with my... unimportant little life". And then "Team Free Will".
--My daughter is right: Cas makes everything better. He wouldn't let Sam and Dean meet Anna. He considers Sam his friend and won't turn on him. He is just as willing to sacrifice himself for the cause as Sam and Dean are. I love his little irritation at Dean for all his pop-culture references. I think he lied to Sam when he said that Anna's plan to kill him/stop him from being born wouldn't work. "No. She's a... Glenn Close". Hee.
--Young Mary and Young John are awesome. I usually don't go for AU, but I'd love to see a world where Young Mary and Young John head off to fight the bad guys (with or without the aid of their grown sons). But then I thought that Mary's parents were completely awesome. And Ellen and Jo were completely awesome. This show has a wonderful talent at making really cool characters. And then they kill them off. Or wipe their memories. I actually don't have a problem with that. I'd rather have them create characters I love rather than characters I don't care about, even if they all end up dead.
I came into SPN late and just hang at the edges of the fandom. I think that has a lot to do with my continued love for the show and my tolerance for the current plots and characters developments. Keeping in mind that I'm an unapologetic canon-whore, I'll also admit to being lucky in that most of how I see the characters is reflected in the way the show is currently going. Although, I've always felt there's meta in how being active in fandom effects how one views the show. That's a dicey and easily controversial meta, though. I also have meta on retconning and more thoughts on free will and coping mechanisms. Even though those are less dangerous metas, I'm not sure they'll ever get posted.
Meanwhile, I'll just enjoy the show because it hasn't disappointed me yet.
I do that a lot. I'm equal parts coward and narcissist. While I like debate and discussion, I also like the feeling of getting along and being liked. I've always erred on the side of "It's better to be silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." Of course, what good is an opinion if its never expressed. Lately, I've started to think that being thought a fool for nothing is much worse than being being called a fool for something that you actually do.
That in mind, my Supernatural thoughts for tonight:
-- Angels are the masters of retcon, aren't they? They can make everything part of destiny. Conspiracy theorists have nothing on these guys. Of course, if Michael truly believed in "destiny" he would have left John and Mary with their memories because it would have all worked out the same, right?
-- I completely adore John Winchester. I've always felt that he's gotten painted the bad guy when he really isn't. But most of fandom tends to have issues with the "strong and silent" archetype. Combine that with "demanding father" and it's the perfect fannish combination to hate.
--I love the scene between Sam and John. I've always felt that Dean actually has more issues with John than Sam does. Maybe that's not exactly right: I think that Dean's relationship with his father is much more complex that that of Sam's.
--I also loved the scene where the boys were telling Mary that she had to leave before they were born. Save their parents, save the world, all they have to do is sacrifice themselves. They would be willing to do that -- as long as they did it together. Yay TEAM!
--I loved Michael. So perfectly... manipulative. The psychological manipulation of Dean and Sam by the angels and demons is so very well done. It's presented so logically and simply that it seems to make perfect sense. He plays the sympathy card ("I'm just like you") and the generosity card ("When I possess you, I won't hurt you") and the weight of history card ("Stretching back to Cain and Abel").
--Slivers of truth, doled out in small, specific bits can do more damage than a thousand lies. In many ways, partial truths are often more false than most lies. Both Michael and Lucifer use partial truths to manipulate and control.
--Free Will is still the base and foundation of this show. This fills me with great joy. "I have to believe that I can choose what I do with my... unimportant little life". And then "Team Free Will".
--My daughter is right: Cas makes everything better. He wouldn't let Sam and Dean meet Anna. He considers Sam his friend and won't turn on him. He is just as willing to sacrifice himself for the cause as Sam and Dean are. I love his little irritation at Dean for all his pop-culture references. I think he lied to Sam when he said that Anna's plan to kill him/stop him from being born wouldn't work. "No. She's a... Glenn Close". Hee.
--Young Mary and Young John are awesome. I usually don't go for AU, but I'd love to see a world where Young Mary and Young John head off to fight the bad guys (with or without the aid of their grown sons). But then I thought that Mary's parents were completely awesome. And Ellen and Jo were completely awesome. This show has a wonderful talent at making really cool characters. And then they kill them off. Or wipe their memories. I actually don't have a problem with that. I'd rather have them create characters I love rather than characters I don't care about, even if they all end up dead.
I came into SPN late and just hang at the edges of the fandom. I think that has a lot to do with my continued love for the show and my tolerance for the current plots and characters developments. Keeping in mind that I'm an unapologetic canon-whore, I'll also admit to being lucky in that most of how I see the characters is reflected in the way the show is currently going. Although, I've always felt there's meta in how being active in fandom effects how one views the show. That's a dicey and easily controversial meta, though. I also have meta on retconning and more thoughts on free will and coping mechanisms. Even though those are less dangerous metas, I'm not sure they'll ever get posted.
Meanwhile, I'll just enjoy the show because it hasn't disappointed me yet.
