Supernatural season 2
Oct. 7th, 2006 02:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lyoreFinally got a chance to watch the first two episodes of the second season of supernatural.
First of all, Wow. I've been saying for a while that there are two things I'd like to see in this season of SPN - a more well-developed (and continuous) overarching plot arc, and more interesting secondary characters. And in the first two episodes, they delivered both. I am a very happy camper at the moment.
Overall, I thought the first episode was amazing, a great balance of character and plot development, and a terrific mood piece as well. I have more mixed feelings about the second episode - we're back to the monster of the week format, which has it's strengths, but I'm not a fan of scary-clown stories. It had some brilliant and heartrending moments, but it didn't have the emotional whammy of the first episode.
I liked that the plot arc was addressed in the first episode - I hope that we continue to see this develop throughout the season, and not have it rushed through in the last few episodes. From the second episode, it looks like we are at least going to see Dean have some difficulty dealing with whatever it was that John (*sob*) told him, and hopefully we will see some more development in the not-to-distant future.
In terms of secondary characters - to me, it's the recurring characters that make or break a show's 'universe', and I have a tendency not to get completely submerged in a show until I can get that sense of completeness in the world-building. There was potential in a lot of the season 1 characters, but we never really saw them developed into strong recurring characters.
I hope we see more of Bobby, but given his non-appearance in the second episode, I'm not that hopeful. Which brings me, of course, to Ellen and Jo - and Ash.
First of all, Ellen rocks. I hope we find out more about her relationship with John.bob_ette mentioned the 'half-sister' theory about Jo is already doing the rounds, and if I hadn't heard all the Jo-is-potential-love-interest-for Dean rumours so consistently, I'd be getting behind that theory. Still, perhaps Kripke likes his Winchest too :) At any rate, I hope we see more of Ellen, she had far more impact on the episode than her daughter.
After all the speculation about Jo, I never expected her to be such a non-entity. Not annoying, not impressive, just there. Previous weekly token female characters have had far more memorable presences than her. She was in no way vital to the story, and overshadowed by her mother(!) and Ash. So there was nothing in her to hate - but nothing there to warm to either.
Which leaves us with Ash - possibly the coolest thing to hit SPN since the Impala. I want more of Ash, and not just serving as an excuse to get Jo back into the show. He ran rings around her in terms of both character and chemistry with the boys. Plus, the Naked Computer was just damn cool, and he's as possessive of it as Dean is of the Impala.
*SOB* I can't comment on the episodes without mentioning the fate of John and the Metallicar. I was spoiled, but even if I hadn't, I thought that his death was fairly clearly telegraphed from the moment he said he wanted to make a deal with the devil. Never a good move.
To be honest, while I am a bit sad over John's death, I think it was a good move story-wise, and not just because of the amazing angst potential. While he was there, he dominated the direction of the show, and left little room for the boys to develop as characters except in relation to him. Which is interesting, as far as it goes, but there is a limit to how long it can carry a show.
I was, however, mad at the attitude Dean took towards Sam in the second episode. I must admit, being the self-confessed Dean fangirl that I am, it felt odd to be so firmly on Sam's side of an argument. It's mostly because I see the issues between John and Sam as primarily originating with John, and having Dean blame Sam for their continual conflict, while in-character, felt unfair. But again, it will hopefully make things interesting in the weeks to come.
I'm not even going to touch the fate of the Impala, except that Dean had better have repaired the damage in the next episode.
OK, essay over.
Went to see Stormbreaker today. Not bad, basically just a juvenile version of James Bond, with an incredible supporting cast having a grand time chewing the scenery. Or, asbob_ette put it, 'Not so much chewing the scenery as feeding it though the woodchipper'. Plus, the main character has an accent to die for.
It also had the preview of Casino Royale. I must admit, I'm excited.
And now it really is time for me to go to bed.
First of all, Wow. I've been saying for a while that there are two things I'd like to see in this season of SPN - a more well-developed (and continuous) overarching plot arc, and more interesting secondary characters. And in the first two episodes, they delivered both. I am a very happy camper at the moment.
Overall, I thought the first episode was amazing, a great balance of character and plot development, and a terrific mood piece as well. I have more mixed feelings about the second episode - we're back to the monster of the week format, which has it's strengths, but I'm not a fan of scary-clown stories. It had some brilliant and heartrending moments, but it didn't have the emotional whammy of the first episode.
I liked that the plot arc was addressed in the first episode - I hope that we continue to see this develop throughout the season, and not have it rushed through in the last few episodes. From the second episode, it looks like we are at least going to see Dean have some difficulty dealing with whatever it was that John (*sob*) told him, and hopefully we will see some more development in the not-to-distant future.
In terms of secondary characters - to me, it's the recurring characters that make or break a show's 'universe', and I have a tendency not to get completely submerged in a show until I can get that sense of completeness in the world-building. There was potential in a lot of the season 1 characters, but we never really saw them developed into strong recurring characters.
I hope we see more of Bobby, but given his non-appearance in the second episode, I'm not that hopeful. Which brings me, of course, to Ellen and Jo - and Ash.
First of all, Ellen rocks. I hope we find out more about her relationship with John.
bob_ette mentioned the 'half-sister' theory about Jo is already doing the rounds, and if I hadn't heard all the Jo-is-potential-love-interest-for Dean rumours so consistently, I'd be getting behind that theory. Still, perhaps Kripke likes his Winchest too :) At any rate, I hope we see more of Ellen, she had far more impact on the episode than her daughter.After all the speculation about Jo, I never expected her to be such a non-entity. Not annoying, not impressive, just there. Previous weekly token female characters have had far more memorable presences than her. She was in no way vital to the story, and overshadowed by her mother(!) and Ash. So there was nothing in her to hate - but nothing there to warm to either.
Which leaves us with Ash - possibly the coolest thing to hit SPN since the Impala. I want more of Ash, and not just serving as an excuse to get Jo back into the show. He ran rings around her in terms of both character and chemistry with the boys. Plus, the Naked Computer was just damn cool, and he's as possessive of it as Dean is of the Impala.
*SOB* I can't comment on the episodes without mentioning the fate of John and the Metallicar. I was spoiled, but even if I hadn't, I thought that his death was fairly clearly telegraphed from the moment he said he wanted to make a deal with the devil. Never a good move.
To be honest, while I am a bit sad over John's death, I think it was a good move story-wise, and not just because of the amazing angst potential. While he was there, he dominated the direction of the show, and left little room for the boys to develop as characters except in relation to him. Which is interesting, as far as it goes, but there is a limit to how long it can carry a show.
I was, however, mad at the attitude Dean took towards Sam in the second episode. I must admit, being the self-confessed Dean fangirl that I am, it felt odd to be so firmly on Sam's side of an argument. It's mostly because I see the issues between John and Sam as primarily originating with John, and having Dean blame Sam for their continual conflict, while in-character, felt unfair. But again, it will hopefully make things interesting in the weeks to come.
I'm not even going to touch the fate of the Impala, except that Dean had better have repaired the damage in the next episode.
OK, essay over.
Went to see Stormbreaker today. Not bad, basically just a juvenile version of James Bond, with an incredible supporting cast having a grand time chewing the scenery. Or, as
bob_ette put it, 'Not so much chewing the scenery as feeding it though the woodchipper'. Plus, the main character has an accent to die for.It also had the preview of Casino Royale. I must admit, I'm excited.
And now it really is time for me to go to bed.
