SPN "Pac-Man Fever" review

Here's a bit of background for this post and then I'll actually get around to talking about the episode... The way this usually works for me is that I watch live, then if it's good (which this one was) I watch again within an hour or so, then I listen to it while I write the review. That way I have the audio to remind me of what I was thinking when I first saw it. Anyway. Enough non-SPN related talking. Let's get down to what's really important!

Supernatural Season 8, Episode 20 - Pac-Man Fever

I'd seen the promo for the ep, seen the preview clip, knew it was a Robbie Thompson episode - in short, I was insanely psyched for this before it ever aired. And rather than falling short, it totally exceeded my already high expectations (I think I may be in love with Robbie Thompson and his ability to write a totally awesome script...)

First, let me just say - Dean Winchester in a military uniform!! Yes, I know it's really shallow, but guys in uniforms have always done it for me, and man, oh man, did he look good.

Following that, I proceeded to shake with silent laughter at Sam's bedhead and Dean threatening to cut it, with said laughter increasing even more with the whole thing with the missed catch... "That's why we don't have nice things..." - Jensen playing Dean talking to Sam quoting Jensen talking to Jared - so awesome...

And while I hate seeing Sam hurting, I have to admit to loving Dean in protective-big-bro mode, which we got to see a lot this time around. I'm worried about what the last trial will end up doing to Sam, but I'm probably even more worried about what Dean will do to save Sam. Because we all know that he will do pretty much anything to save his little brother - even something monumentally stupid. So while it's been really great to get the "broments" (love, love, love Charlie channeling her inner SPN fangirl this ep...), and while I'm totally a sucker for the brotherly relationship that makes SPN what it is, I got all concerned right along with Dean every time Sam showed just how sick these trials are making him...

But on a brighter note - the Batcave has a shooting range!! So totally awesome. The fact that Sam can't even hit the target - not so awesome. And Dean repeatedly saying that they're gonna sit things out until Sam gets better - my insides got all knotted up because I'm pretty sure Sam isn't going to "get better," and I think the brothers both know that too, but Dean, as always, isn't gonna let go of his little bro (more on that later).

SPN "Taxi Driver" review

And in keeping with my resolution, here's the next review. Side note #1: I'm writing this while listening to the episode, so you'll be getting what I remember of my first impressions, plus whatever comes to me this time through.

Supernatural Season 8, Episode 19 - Taxi Driver

This episode made me wish I'd gone spoiler-free... It was good, hard-hitting, but I think I would have been even better if I'd had no clue what was coming. Anyway. Down to details.

I was really, really pysched for this episode, given that I knew Bobby and Benny were going to be back (benefits of spoilers - kickstarting those emotional responses before the episode ever even airs), and then I got a little worried seeing Eugenie Ross-Leming and Brad Buckner's names in the credits. Given that their last episode was barely mediocre, and that they haven't really been known for delivering top notch fare, my spirits dropped a little, but thankfully they didn't do too badly with this crucial piece of the story. I'm gonna give their script for this maybe a 8 out of 10 for dialog, and about a 6 or so for actual plot, but thankfully it left room for the actors to take an okay script and turn it into something great (kudos to Jensen and Ty especially, but also Jim Beaver, Mark Sheppard, Jared, and Osric as well)

Up to this point, I hadn't really been drawn into the whole 'Kevin Tran, prophet of the Lord' plotline (not that I hated it, but it hadn't fully caught my interest), but this time around, I really liked his piece of the story. From him answering the door with a frying pan loaded and ready (which totally cracked me up - Tangled reference, anyone?), to him going very much off his rocker (or is Crowley really in his head? I'm still not sure on my conclusion there), that whole plotline played out really well. And like I said earlier, kudos to Osric for playing the is-he-nuts or is-it-really-Crowley dilemma to the point where the audience doesn't know either - well done.

I also feel the need to commend Mark Sheppard on playing one of the best bad guys of the series. He always, always plays Crowley with just the right balance between creepy and pure evil, and I have to admit that even though he might be less powerful than Naomi, he scares me more. And it seems like he's getting close to figuring out what the boys are up to, which isn't gonna be good... Side note #2: since watching this series, I now see Crowley when I try to picture Screwtape. Which is awesome.

SPN "Freaks and Geeks" review

This is my new resolution: I shall work on my writing skills by writing reviews of the newest episodes of TV shows (starting with Supernatural, and possibly expanding my horizons if I discover that I actually like this). I'm not going for an official sounding review though - what you're going to get is my unfiltered reactions to the episode, which may oftentimes include more than a little fannish squee. You've been warned, so if you proceed, you do so at your own risk.

Supernatural Season 8, Episode 18 - Freaks and Geeks

I have to admit to not really being terribly excited by the premise for this episode when I first read it a little while back. While I did like the character of Krissy when she showed up a season ago, the idea of a "hunter's school" sounded like sort of a lame idea - too much like an X-Men ripoff, and not enough like Supernatural.

That being said, I wound up really enjoying the episode. After watching for eight seasons, I've learned to sit back and enjoy each episode for what it is on its own, as well as in relation to the greater myth-arc, which basically means I can enjoy a good standalone episode just as much as one that's mythology-heavy. And while this was not at the top of my list for standalones (Yellow Fever, anyone?), it definitely had its moments. So let's start from the beginning, shall we?

Finding out from the opening that we were returning to classic monster lore actually made me really happy. I was just thinking the other day that we're most of the way through this season, and we've encountered only one ghost this whole time, a few werewolves (and even that didn't really feel like your classic monster), and our only interaction with vamps has been through Benny's story. Of course, this vamp story didn't end up playing out quite like a classic vamp tale, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it. It's been way too long since we've seen anyone behead a vamp, and the idea of the cure has sort of sat around going to waste for a couple seasons now, so it was nice to see that pulled back in, however briefly. Side note: I think the chance to cure the girl who'd been turned also fit very well with how Dean has progressed this season - giving him on opportunity to save a monster rather than just kill it. He's come a long way, and it's really good to see that.