On further review: more thoughts about 9.15

[caranfindel]

I'm still not a fan, but I found things to like, and I also think I can put my finger on the thing that bothered me the most.

On rewatch, I'm actually okay with the blatantly anvilicious writing. We're used to the MotW (or the victim) being used to mirror the brothers' situation, and it usually works, but this time it didn't. And I think it's because of the Ghostfacers. As I said earlier, I really don't like the Ghostfacers. But even if I did, they just weren't the right characters to serve as avatars for Sam and Dean. I agree with cuddyclothes and others (sorry, I can't remember who!) who said they're just not serious enough for this role. They are comic relief, not mainpain mirrors. Having these two bumbling morons play out the Sam and Dean story almost feels mocking to me.

Beyond that, there were other things that bugged. One in particular: when the deputy points the gun at Sam, Sam just stands there until Ghostfacer A jumps in front of him (sorry, I don't even like these guys enough to remember which one is which). This seems really out of character - Sam is a warrior, and he would have been lunging for the guy or jumping out of the way as the deputy rolled into position. But he had to stay there so Ghostfacer A could stand in front of him and therefore Ghostfacer B would have to shoot the deputy to save Ghosterfacer A.

But it wasn't all bad. Sam looked awfully pretty. I liked the way the brothers work together seamlessly, even when they're not in rhythm otherwise. And the story about Sam's broken arm was adorable. Look at poor Sammy when Dean tells that story, and also when Dean is about to get his throat cut. He still loves his brother so much.

As far as I'm concerned, the biggest positive to this episode is that the elephant in the room is finally being addressed. Not by Dean, not yet, but we have to believe that the anvil hit him as squarely as it hit us. I hope this means something will happen in the next episode.

Also? Writers? Did you forget something? Like, some kind of mark? Just saying.

Comments

[agelade.livejournal.com]

So, I actually think Sam just standing there when the gun is leveled at him is the writers not forgetting about the Mark. Sam is stunned at the cool casual way Dean has just murdered this guy, a slow steady stab into his gut while the guy is still holding the knife. Sam is shocked at this, and it allows Ghostfacer guy to have to jump in front of him to save him from getting shot. I'm still of the opinion that Mark of Cain Dean and Dean the Cold-Blooded Hunter aren't necessarily different enough to be visible without some really serious work on the writers' parts, but I tied those two events together on my first (and only) watch. I still need to rewatch, but this was my initial impression.

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

Oh, I SO hope you're right.

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

I have a hard time agreeing...I watched that part, and it didn't register to me as different from many of his kills.

[agelade.livejournal.com]

I am with you as far as the kill goes if it were in a vacuum. I'm mostly basing this on /Sam's/ reaction to it. I think it's going to be very hard for the writers to make a clear distinction between Dean the Hunter, who is already ruthless, and Mark of Cain Dean. There's just not that wide a gap between Dean the Hunter and Dean the Killer. Relying on other characters' responses to Dean's kills is a great trick, but it clearly needs to be augmented with more stuff.

[brightly-lit.livejournal.com]

Baha, a mark of some kind--I suspect that's backburner-until-last-three-eps-of-season material, and then it'll become WHAT DON'T YOU REMEMBER THE MARK BUT IT WAS OBVIOUSLY SO IMPORTANT!!