Quick Reaction: 7x22 There Will Be Blood

[hells_half_acre]

Good episode! Let's go straight to the cut...



Today's song cut-text song is Trickster by David Usher. It came on the iPod as I was walking home, and man, it's such a beautiful ugly song that I'm actually going to directly link to it for you guys. I'd forgotten how much I love it.

Okay, so, beginning at the beginning...where did we begin?

How about I begin with the Winchesters at the cabin. That sounds like a good plan. The Winchesters are sitting around giving themselves headaches while they puzzle over the Word as transcribed by Kevin Tran....um, boys, I saw the screen-shot, it didn't seem that complicated to me! :P

And Bobby agrees! I love the way both Jim Beaver and Jensen play the scene in the bathroom. It's beautifully done, because Bobby doesn't realize that he's not in his right mind (none of us do when we aren't in our right mind), and Dean doesn't want Bobby to not be...well, Bobby. He doesn't want Bobby to be a vengeful spirit, while at the same time, he can't deny the fact that he is...and Dean IS walking on egg shells around Bobby the way you do. I'm not sure if any of you have ever lived with someone who is prone to irrational and extreme mood-swings before, but I have (and they'd kill me if they read this despite the fact that they're much better now) and I can tell you that this scene (and subsequent scenes) ring VERY true.

The fact is that Dean and Sam are slowly becoming slaves to Bobby's moods...well, they WERE up until the point where they go against his wishes, but that's getting really far ahead.

Meanwhile, in a building...Oh I skipped the Dick interview...whatever, it was good. Point of fact though: If anyone reads John Green, or follows the vlogbrothers on youtube...you might know that in John Green's unpublished zombie novella, the zombie "virus" was spread by corn! I thought that was funny...great minds think alike! (Only, in John Green's novella, all the zombies wanted to do was plant and eat corn...only turning people so that there would be more people to plant corn.)

Where was I? Oh yeah...

Meanwhile, in a building...KEVIN TRAN IS STILL ALIVE! I will hold out hope that he will survive somehow! I knew Kevin was too good a person to take the Princeton bait...but, yeah, he's not going to let his mother die. Poor Kevin. My friend pointed out though (and this never even occurred to me, because I have what my family refers to as "The Honesty Disease")....Kevin may not have translated it CORRECTLY for the Leviathans. I guess only time will tell? I was actually surprised when the Leviathan let his mother go, to be honest, I fully expected them to kill her and possibly Kevin once they got the Word. 

Now, mind you, they still HAVE Kevin...so, yeah...he's not safe yet. I really hope he survives. I LIKE Kevin.

Back to the Winchesters...they summon Crowley...who remains awesome. Crowley doesn't seem to know about Castiel still existing...interesting...unless this is some sort of test? Crowley always struck me as a Dumbledore figure (okay, I know that sounds weird...but I just mean that Dumbledore ALWAYS knew the full picture)...though, if Crowley HAD known about Cas, he probably would have made a move on him long before now, so odds are he's not lying.

Interesting that he'll only give his blood after everyone else has though (and they get the bone, presumably)...it means at SOME point, they'll have to answer the question as to where they got the angel blood. Did Crowley not notice the angel proofing on the cabin? Seems odd, doesn't it? Maybe not...

Anywho...they now have a town in North Dakota permanently carved into their kitchen table. That's going to be a bitch to clean.

Off they go!

The zombie apocalypse has already begun!

Before we get there though, I like Sam's "drinky drinky" signal to indicate that he wants to speak to Dean alone. 

But then, CORN-SYRUP ZOMBIES! The only thing the Winchesters can eat are bananas! And Dean discovers the truth about the food industry in America - "natural" doesn't actually mean natural, and high fructose corn-syrup is in everything even though it's horrifically bad for you, even before the Leviathan's tampered with it! (In Canada, there are different rules...it's why Coke tastes better here..,.also Mountain Dew isn't caffeinated in Canada, although it remains disgusting. Though, I guess that brings up an interesting question about how Leviathans are going to zombify the rest of the world, given the different food laws...but, I guess they'll cross that bridge when they come to it and most viewers aren't going to question this.)

Off the the Vampire nest! Only to discover that zombified humans kill vampires! Oh man, if only it didn't turn people into zombies...that'd be a great way to get rid of vampires (or at least turn them all onto eating animals...though, I think eventually the animals would get infected too.)

Hidden room!

Hidden pink room!

Immediately, we were all like "It's a trap!" and we were right...still, the girl paints an convincing picture...probably because it's the truth. Also, it makes a lot of sense...if I were an Alpha, I'd definitely domesticate my food source (actually I believe my forefathers domesticated our food source sometime in the thousands BCE...so, yeah, makes sense. And really, that's what the Leviathans are doing too, they're just mechanizing it. Much like the Nazis took killing to a whole other level when they basically put it on the train-lines and conveyor belts...not that I'm comparing modern day slaughter-houses to the holocaust or anything, but I'm just saying that the Leviathans are only "improving" on practices already put in place)

I keep getting off on tangents - I'm really sorry.

BACK TO THE TRAP!

The girl knows where the Alpha might be. So they take off...woo!

Then Edgar shows up! And finds the location immediately! 

I really find it hilarious that Sam and Dean can only eat fruit and veggies. All this time, Sam's been preparing for the corn-syrup zombie apocalypse by acquiring a taste for salads, and we didn't even know. I really love fruit and veggies, so I kept getting distracted by the delicious radishes....mmm...radishes. Have you ever had radishes dipped in honey? I only have once, a long time ago, but, as I remember it, it was a taste sensation.

Smart Winchesters realized that they don't need deadman's blood anymore, because they have an anti-vamp venom in the zombie-blood. I love Sam thinking that he's already making an unbelievable con, and then realizing that even THAT is too complicated for the zombie-guy to follow...and then Dean is just like "give us your blood!" and pulls out a NEEDLE! Hahah, DEAN! Why do you just HAPPEN to have a needle in your jacket pocket?!

Sidenote: Hey Dean, nice new leather jacket! You look so good in brown leather, my friend...so very very good.

And we're off yet again!

They leave Bobby in the hotel room, and he's not happy...and yeah...this is Sam and Dean sticking to their guns despite the fear of what Bobby might do, and I commend them for it. 

And then we get the reveal that yes, it WAS a trap...or at least a spy. The girl is "stockholm syndrome" or likes the Alpha's voice as much as I do...either way, she's not what she seems. And off she goes!

Bobby's freakout is awesome. What are the orders he tries? Dean's birthday, Sam's birthday...then finally his birthday. It makes me wonder if anyone would ever be able to crack any of my passwords - because I'll tell you right now, they are not that simple!

Then the maid comes in and....you know, when Sam and Dean passed her in the hall, I thought she might be a leviathan in disguise or a Vamp or something...but no, she's sadly just a victim. And then she's BOBBY, leaking ectoplasm from her eyeballs. Poor girl. Cool effect they did with the voice. I wonder how long Bobby can keep up this level of strength for? I mean, he seems to be increasing in power very very quickly. I think it's because he's gone from using zen to using rage, and that might be decaying him faster as well. 

Let's rejoin the Winchesters...

True to character, Sam decides their best approach is "let's just talk to the monsters, I'm sure they'll be reasonable." The jump-scare when he walked in the door and then was pulled violently to the side totally got me. I always fall for the jump-scares.

And...ALPHA VAMP!

I have to say, Rick Worthy is just so good as the Alpha Vamp. HIS VOICE! I love his voice. It's just...yeah...old and deep and it DOES things to me.

And I like the fact that he brings up the fact that the Winchesters were armed to the teeth. It's an interesting alliance...or, whatever...that they're trying to form here. I don't blame the Alpha Vamp for being skeptical. Also, that vampire smacking Dean down on the table was BRUTAL! I don't know how they did that stunt, but my god, it was well done. I also love Dean's reaction to it...which was to obviously try to stay cool and collected even though it must have hurt like a sonovabitch.

There's a little boy too! Yeah...they're really good at making the Alpha Vamp both this sort of...polite old creature...while also making him a monster that parents warn their children about. He'll snatch kids from playgrounds and...well, drink their blood, but vampire-blood-sucking has been a metaphor for far too many centuries for us to ignore the hidden meanings. So, yeah, creepiest of the creeps. "Your skin is crawling" indeed...but I'm getting ahead of myself again...

Dean and Sam are sent off to the study when Edgar arrives, though it's obvious they've been there. I love how Dean really hits the nail on the head with his line about how they're dealing with a creature that's survived on their own for so long they don't realize that there is no guarantee that they're continue to do so. It makes me wonder if Dean's insight is because he's smart (because he is), or if it's a slight leftover from when Dean was momentarily a vampire.

And while I'm talking about that line, I just have to jump back a moment and say how much I loved the Alpha Vamp's line about just how long he's survived "the continental divide"...it's for this reason that I'm REALLY glad that they cast a black man. White people are a later mutation (as are everyone other colour of people) and it just wouldn't make sense for a creature that old (who is meant to resemble a human) to have any other skin colour than black. Also, Rick Worthy is just so awesome at his job.

Okay...so, the Alpha and Edgar talk...and Edgar comes clean about the fact that Dick was lying. They want to get rid of the competition. It's very animal-kingdom. It's why lions kill cheetah cubs (seriously, they do, it's heartbreaking). It's why humans kill wolves and coyotes (which is also hearbreaking). 

And yeah, a leviathan kicking around an ALPHA is a pretty scary thing...like them killing the angels...you don't realize it until it happens, but it's kind of terrifying to see evidence that the leviathans really are more powerful than the most powerful beings that have been on the show so far. 

It makes me wonder how they're going to get close to Dick...though, I'm thinking Bobby is going to come into play there.

The Winchesters save the day! Edgar is decapitated and the alpha gives them his blood...and the boy. I'm not sure the Winchesters should have pressed their luck there, but I guess they actually have hearts - unlike me, I'm dead inside (although I love Kevin Tran...and cheetahs and wolves.)

They should really stock up on more zombie-blood before they stop Dick and everyone goes back to normal.

Speaking of which, if this season is about taking things away from the boys until they are left with absolutely nothing...uh, I think they've accomplished that, because now they can't even EAT FOOD. :P

I'm assuming the boys drop the kid off at a police station or something, because he's not with them when they get back to the motel and discover that Bobby's gone. Again, I wonder how far Bobby will get...

I can't believe there's just one episode left. They still have to get Crowley's blood...and Crowley is apparently trapped with Dick roman (and that can't be good)...and probably Dick KNOWS that Crowley is an essential ingredient in his demise and is going to keep him nice and safe until he neutralizes the threat. 

Also, we still don't know where the bone is coming from...Sam and Dean don't qualify as righteous/pure men anymore, and everyone they know is dead...also, how big does the bone have to be? You sort of need your bones. So...are they going to have to get the bone, then break into Dick HQ and rescue Crowley for his blood, and THEN find Dick?

What storylines are carrying over to S8? I sort of expected Dick to get iced at the end of this season...but seasons always end on a cliff-hanger, so what's this one going to be? Am I wrong is Dick going to stick around? (Truth be told, I'm not too thrilled about that possibility, I don't think they can go anywhere else with him). Is the storyline going to be about Bobby? Cas? Crowley? Meg? ...or is the Alpha Vamp right and we really will "see [him] next season"?

Oh, I guess I skipped over that line. It was great...but what I really liked was the Alpha explaining how Dean and Sam's skin was crawling...how it was taking everything they had not to kill him when they had the chance. I sort of like the idea of stuff...being in your blood, I suppose...of the thought that Hunters hunt and Monsters kill...and for either not to do those things goes against some sort of fundamental nature. I know it's kind of a bleak outlook, but I like it...mind you, I also like when you have episodes like Bloodlust where Dean acknowledges that they've been trained to hate "monsters" and that might not always be right...mind you, that was S2 and Dean was seriously worried that he'd have to kill his brother, so he was probably looking for exceptions to the rule. I'm getting way off topic again.

Anyway, I'd ask you how you think the final episode is going to play out, but in truth, everyone has different spoiler policies and mine is stricter than most - I don't want one of you to accidentally let something slip. 



So, as usual, let me know if I missed anything that you desperately want to talk about!

Comments

[gryphenn.livejournal.com]

Your'e right on way too many plot points to be wrapped up in one ep!

My thought on the bone - they will have to dig up an already dead person who fits the description to get a bone big enough to be useful.

I think the line from the Alpha is a red herring, my first thought was Bobby took the maid to get the Alpha first and then go after Dick. Or next year is going to be cleaning up after the Levi mess and hunting Vamps. I'm good either way :)

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

My thought on the bone - they will have to dig up an already dead person who fits the description to get a bone big enough to be useful.

Oh man! A DEAD person. Why didn't I think of that?! I'm trying to think of everyone alive, like some sort of chump. :P

I think the line from the Alpha is a red herring

The line about seeing them next season?

I don't think that Bobby could have gotten to the Alpha first...so, wherever he is, I'm thinking he's going straight for Dick? Without a weapon? I'm not sure what he thinks he's going to accomplish really.

[percysowner.livejournal.com]

Speaking of dead people, do you think an Observant Jewish Black Hunter would qualify as a righteous light man? I'd like Rufus's death to be more than just a loss and he wasn't given a traditional hunter's funeral.

[raloria.livejournal.com]

I'm still digesting the eppy and too tired to finish off my review notes tonight. Plan on them tomorrow. ;)

Anyway, um...Dean's new leather jacket. I approve! *guh*

I agree, the bone won't come from the boys. That would be bad and painful anyway. But I love the thought of Dean taking out Dick since it's been his main goal for most of the season.

You didn't talk about "Vamptonite"! You gotta love Dean's ability for clever names. Even Sam uses it later on in the episode.

Poor Dean not being able to eat pie anymore. That is truly cruel and unusual punishment. Loved his line about being a "warrior". :D

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

You didn't talk about "Vamptonite"! You gotta love Dean's ability for clever names. Even Sam uses it later on in the episode.

I couldn't remember the word! It was driving me nuts, because I knew it had been a funny portmanteau, but I couldn't remember it! So, yeah, thanks. :P

This is the difference between writing up your thoughts right away regardless of how tired/tipsy you are and waiting until you are somewhat coherent. :P

[raloria.livejournal.com]

I'm looking at my download now and I just took a good look at that hit Dean takes against the table before the Alpha Vamp. It's Jensen all the way, so that's awesome! It was all done with quick cuts and obviously Jensen's knowledge of how to do stunts. Damn, but that was brutal though. Ouch!

[bard2003.livejournal.com]

"Interesting that he'll only give his blood after everyone else has though (and they get the bone, presumably)... it means at SOME point, they'll have to answer the question as to where they got the angel blood. Did Crowley not notice the angel proofing on the cabin? Seems odd, doesn't it? Maybe not..." - why? he does know that hell & heaven have loose cannones who will try to kill the boys from revenge. he probably has some plans of his own for it.
smart dean is my favorite, but he hides it too well :(

spn need more of serious/intence/smart dean and more kickass sam (sam who was trained for years the same as dean and doesn`t have to be rescude all the time!)

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

why? he does know that hell & heaven have loose cannones who will try to kill the boys from revenge. he probably has some plans of his own for it.

Good point.

spn need more of serious/intence/smart dean and more kickass sam (sam who was trained for years the same as dean and doesn`t have to be rescude all the time!)

I agree. I try not to doubt the writers, but sometimes I get the feeling that they don't actually realize how smart Dean is...or it's something that they have differing opinions about. Like, they forget that these AREN'T the boys from S1 anymore...though, even then, Dean was smart and hiding it.

[liliaeth]

They actually mentioned at the end of the ep, that they dropped the boy off at a police station and were accused of kidnapping him themselves. And that they had to jump out of the window to escape.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Haha, yeah, I completely missed that line...I think I was sitting there going "oh no, what are they going to say/feel/do when they realize that Bobby escaped!" and I completely missed all the dialogue. :P

[mekina.livejournal.com]

Did you get the line about Anna Nicole and Playboy? She appeared in it in 1992, according to Super Wiki... You keep track of this kind of stuff for your timeline, right?

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Oh man! Thanks! I wouldn't even have thought to look that up!

I wonder how new it was when John was carrying it around in his duffle? '92 seems a bit young for Sam to be interested in it, but maybe I'm underestimating little boys. I don't have children of my own after all, I don't know that much about them.

[mekina.livejournal.com]

I always read the Super Wiki episode entries, and as soon as I saw that I thought of you and your timeline. XD

In '92 Sam would have been 9, and Dean would have been 13... I don't have any kids myself, don't know about them, but it could have been an old issue. *shrug*

[marlowe78.livejournal.com]

Hey there.
I liked this episode as well - and though I didn't read John Green, I think the idea of zombies making zombies just to plant corn is creepy as shit!

Kevin may not have translated it CORRECTLY for the Leviathans. I guess only time will tell? I was actually surprised when the Leviathan let his mother go, to be honest, I fully expected them to kill her and possibly Kevin once they got the Word.

Yeah, I'm with your friend here. I thought Dick spotted him being a cheater when he said that thing about "writing some healthy prose there" and it sounded like Kevin was really wordy there... and Dick was suspicious. But maybe not, and maybe Kevin just really DID change the recipe - or hey, maybe he was smart enough to tell Dick that the recipe is for a "eternal life"-kinda drink? Make them drink their own poison? It would explain what Levi has Crowley for.... Whatever, lets wait and see.
And with you, because I tooo thought his mom was a goner. Then again, they could just exchanger her for a bod-mom, right?
And Kevin might still have certain values to the Levis?


though, if Crowley HAD known about Cas, he probably would have made a move on him long before now, so odds are he's not lying.

Ah, but don't you remember? Demons lie... all the time. So I don't think he has no clue... he might just have thought to let it go, to give them time to work towards his REAL goal in this little game I'm certain he's playing. He looked way too cheerful and agreeable to the Winchesters ;-)

In Canada, there are different rules...it's why Coke tastes better here..,.also Mountain Dew isn't caffeinated in Canada, although it remains disgusting. Though, I guess that brings up an interesting question about how Leviathans are going to zombify the rest of the world, given the different food laws...but, I guess they'll cross that bridge when they come to it and most viewers aren't going to question this.

Good for you! I found in my short visit into the USA that most food tastes rather horrible to my European taste-buds. I might like Canada....
I have to admit, the fucking awful Reese's Buttercups are delicious... (and horribly badwrong--- still good, though..)

I think over here, corn-sirup isn't used in much. We do use good-ol' sugar, though...
As to "how to get the rest of the world" - well, get America, get the rest. If you don't get them with the sirup, get them with the turducken, or with the corn itself. Since there is basically only one (?) company that has all patents on corn, it'd be easy. And if not via corn, you just temper with potatoes and wheat, and that's it. Done deal. Wouldn't be that hard in the end, I'm sure. Also, if you get the "big bosses" in the countries hooked on one of the things, it'd be easy to get them to spread the stuff.

ot that I'm comparing modern day slaughter-houses to the holocaust or anything, but I'm just saying that the Leviathans are only "improving" on practices already put in place

Oh hell yes! It's what makes them creepy, but you have to think about it first to get the real level of creepy. I mean, they aren't cackling evilly (mostly), they don't slam people against doors or trick them into Hell, they don't get really angry or get out a lot of bloody gore... they are clean and nicely suited, have good offices and USE the structures too bend everything to their goals.
It makes them boring for viewers, where we got to be so nicely creeped by the sexual innuendoes we are used to from demons and Lucifer, but that's only when you don't think about it.

because as you said, WE DO THE SAME! We cure animals of things just so they can be kept as walking, breathing meat. We change the food to make the animals fatter faster, we have this whole economy based on how to take care of your food.
And Dick - I love that actor, he's such a good bad-guy! - is so cold! He doesn't have this compassionate look, that evil smirk that the demons posses right before they stab you in the back. He is not interested in all that stuff, he's just hungry, and smiles like he means it, but can't get it quite right. He looks crazy, if I met him on the street, I'd be very wary of him.
So the Levis are really creepy, but in a smart, understated way. Lovely done, I think.

[marlowe78.livejournal.com]

As for the outlook on next season, (100% spoiler-free!) I'm sure we'll see the Alpha vamp (I LOVE him! He's the old-fashioned creepy ;-) ) again, and I'm kinda thinking Crowley and Meg are still around. So there might be Cas as well, since he's working with Meg - or travelling? Or... sleeping? If he can? I wouldn't know...
But I think Dick will be done. And Bobby too, I think. Just.. my idea. He's so far up the dark-and-angry already, he might pull himself together in the end to help Sam and Dean for something or other, but I'd say his story's been told.

See you soon.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of hoping Dick will be done next season - I think his story has run it's course, though, they might prove me wrong. And yeah, same goes for Bobby - there's not much more they can do with him.

Basically: Agreed!

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm with your friend here. I thought Dick spotted him being a cheater when he said that thing about "writing some healthy prose there" and it sounded like Kevin was really wordy there.

Ooo, very good point about that line. It had to mean something.

And with you, because I too thought his mom was a goner. Then again, they could just exchanger her for a bod-mom, right?

But when he let her go, he instructed them to "inform of her of the consequences of talking" or words to that effect...which means that she's still herself. Though, I guess she'll become a zombie now anyway. :P

Ah, but don't you remember? Demons lie... all the time. So I don't think he has no clue... he might just have thought to let it go, to give them time to work towards his REAL goal in this little game I'm certain he's playing. He looked way too cheerful and agreeable to the Winchesters ;-)

Very true! I think you might be right.

Good for you! I found in my short visit into the USA that most food tastes rather horrible to my European taste-buds. I might like Canada....

We still aren't as good as Europe, but yeah, no offense to the US, but I've NEVER had truly delicious food there. I've had food that's okay and will do, but I've never had anything that compares with food that I can get in Canada or Europe. Even at restaurants...mind you, I can't afford the fancy restaurants, so maybe that's where I've gone wrong.

And I will say that Europe has the best yogurt that I've ever had...and (at least in Germany) it's so inexpensive! Germany wins hands down for having the most inexpensive quality food. I've only found two brands of yogurt in Canada that compare with 99 cent German yogurt, and I have to pay at least $5 for them. :P

So, yeah, be thankful for where you live! You are healthier and wealthier than a good portion of the Western world.

Back to the show though...the the Leviathans could take Asia if they got into the soy business! And that's an extremely large portion of the world's population right there. So, you're right. Start with America and move from there.

Oh hell yes! It's what makes them creepy, but you have to think about it first to get the real level of creepy. I mean, they aren't cackling evilly (mostly), they don't slam people against doors or trick them into Hell, they don't get really angry or get out a lot of bloody gore... they are clean and nicely suited, have good offices and USE the structures too bend everything to their goals.

Very well said! Exactly! They are the cold machine of evil!

[katsheswims.livejournal.com]

Very interesting thoughtsm as usual!!

Yes, Sam and Dean dropped the kid off at a police station. When they were in the motel hallway Dean was complaining about the cops thinking they were the kidnappers.

I have no idea how the season will end. I'm thinking cliffhanger of course, but there seems to be so much they're going to have to pack into one episode. I do think they'll kill Dick. Will that kill all the other leviathans though? I hope so. But it seems like they will have to deal with Bobby in the next episode too. I'm hoping he'll choose to move on because it's really going to hurt Sam and Dean to have to 'kill' him.

I also loved Dean's new leather jacket. It's a very good look for him. I don't know why but Dean in general was really attractive this episode...

That table slam was startling and really looked real. I'm wondering if it was Jensen or his stunt double?

Dean's drama over losing pie and being forced to eat fruits and vegetables was very amusing to me.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Yes, Sam and Dean dropped the kid off at a police station. When they were in the motel hallway Dean was complaining about the cops thinking they were the kidnappers.

Oh man, I completely missed that conversation. :P Thanks.

I do think they'll kill Dick. Will that kill all the other leviathans though? I hope so. But it seems like they will have to deal with Bobby in the next episode too. I'm hoping he'll choose to move on because it's really going to hurt Sam and Dean to have to 'kill' him.

I'm hoping that they kill Dick, which will kill all leviathans...and that once Dick is dead, Bobby will get a second chance to crossover of his own free will (because he stayed for revenge on Dick, and Dick will be dead, so he'll have no reason to stay anymore.) That way the boys won't have to burn the flask, because, yeah...that'd make them sad.

Dean WAS really attractive this episode. And yes, the leather jacket is very beautiful on him. According to the director, it's custom-made and Jensen helped design it...so, yeah... that boy knows what he's doing when it comes to leather (*flirtatious eyebrows*) I guess they decided that since they couldn't find a good enough replica of his old brown leather jacket, they would just design him a completely different new one.

That table slam was startling and really looked real. I'm wondering if it was Jensen or his stunt double?

According to raloria who looked at it very carefully - it was all Jensen.

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

Lat week's and this week's episodes felt like they were incomplete, and I don't think I will be able to appreciate them fully until the finale when it all (hopefully) comes together...

It would have been nice if some of these plot twists had been spread out a little more instead of feeling hurriedly shoved into place...but tv is a different animal than a book and with so many writers, it's probably a miracle that we get as much consistancy as we do...

I totally missed the police/returning little boy interaction. One of the Js said something in a recent con about having a problem with a scene where, as written, they left a young hostage behind, and they actually called CA to say Sam and Dean would have rescued the kid, and they demanded it be rewritten. I am assuming this was the kid they were referring to.

In agreement with your speculations.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Interesting! I had not heard that story about the Js getting the scene rewritten. I'm kind of proud of them for that - as much as I think Sam and Dean were pressing their luck, it WOULD have been out of character for them to leave the boy.

Although I thought that last week's and this week's episodes were great, and although they feel complete to me...I also think that this year the pacing of the show has been off. I'm really hoping that they correct it for next season, because it's rather frustrating. They had a similar problem in S5, but I don't remember it being quite this bad.

[morganlucas41.livejournal.com]

Great review! I liked the ep too, but didn't have a whole lot of thoughts about it - it's definitely a lead-up to the finale, but I'm excited for that.

One quick thing, about Bobby and the hotel maid. Did you think that was just regular ghost possession, then? When I saw the black goo I immediately thought leviathan. And IIRC, she said something like "just borrowing you for a minute" (haven't rewatched yet). So I sort of assumed a leviathan had "possessed" Bobby or something to that effect.

If it's still Bobby in control, then to me that's better, but I'm really not sure! So it's definitely interesting.

And also, yes, *loved* Dean's new jacket, lol :)

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

I think it's definitely Bobby possessing the girl. If you think back to After School Special in S4 - when ghosts possess people, they leave ectoplasm behind, and it's coincidentally black like Leviathan blood. The line of "just borrowing you for a minute" was definitely Bobby talking to the girl, and not the girl talking to Bobby.

[metallidean-grl.livejournal.com]

Interesting comment you make about the boys being prone to Bobby's moods. I hadn't thought of it that way before, but there is truth to that. They can't really talk anymore because they fear Bobby is around listening in, and then when they do want to talk, they make sure they are away from the flask. So, yea, being a slave to Bobby now is very true. I agree that with the end of this season Bobby's story has run it's course and he needs to go. Oh gosh, I hope he goes. He has to go.

I also hope that Kevin Tran is alive. And wouldn't that be great if he did mis-translate it a little for Dick. Sadly, I don't think that will be the case. I think Kevin was too afraid for himself, and for his mother, to think his situation through and think to mis-translate some of the writings. It would be great if he did though.

Funny comment you make about Mt. Dew. That is my favorite soda and the main one that I drink.

I loved AlphaVamp's and Edgar's conversation. It was such a great game of chess until Edgar finally revealed himself. And then Dean and Sam with the Alpha. It did make your skin crawl that they were kinda in an unholy alliance to take out Edgar. But these were all awesome scenes and so well done. Then the fact that Dean and Sam insist on taking the little boy with them, that is so Dean and Sam, and it would have felt off if they left without him. I read in the other comments about what J2 said at JIBCon. I hadn't heard that, so that was fun information to know about. I also love it that Jensen and Jared called California and insist on a rewrite that they leave with the boy. These two do definitely know their characters.

I felt this was a good setup to the season finale and there is a lot to do in this episode. I also wonder how they will get it all done. I fear that Bobby will get in the way with his vengeance, and I hope that Dick gets his due in this episode and that we won't be seeing him again next year. But, it could end up with some big cliffie and then we see Dick in only the first episode and then he is gone, for good. I have no idea how this is going to end. I'm just very excited for it. It should be good.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Agreed on all points! (Except, obviously, Mountain Dew, which I still think is gross. :P )

I'm really hoping the wrap up both the Bobby storyline and the Dick storyline...but it may indeed be a cliff-hanger, ala S6, where we have to wait until the fall to actually see them go. It'll be a LONG summer.