9.17 Initial reaction: I didn’t expect the Spanish Inquisition

[caranfindel]

I cannot hear anyone say the word “inquisition” without going full-on Monty Python. I do not apologize for this.

So, this one wasn’t bad. I can’t say I loved it, but there were many things to like, and not many things to dislike. Sam and Dean are separated for most of the episode, which displeases me, but it makes sense in terms of the story. Seeing them at the end, researching in the same room but at separate tables, was heartbreaking.

Things I liked

The guy complaining about having meatloaf again deserves to be beaten to death. This is a good thing. I don’t care if it makes me an awful person.

BAMF Sammy with hair in his face \o/ attacking the rude kid in the diner.

“You’re lying to Sam like he’s your wife. Kinda makes me your mistress.” I love this because it’s awesome, and because it reinforces the Dean/Crowley parallel to Sam/Ruby. Assuming that’s what they’re going for, which I hope they are.

I’d been spoiled that we’d see Henry Winchester dressed as a priest, and I was relieved to see it was a flashback, not another time travel episode.

Sam’s smartphone exorcism. Hooray for smart Sam. Also, I kind of want Sam latinating as a ringtone now.

OMG, Crowley called the blade “the precious.” indiachick was right – Crowley is Gollum.  \o/

She’s not part of the show, but I really love that lady on the Esurance commercial. “That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.”

Sam’s face when he’s releasing the souls is so pretty. (The rest of the time, that ridiculous Jackie O hair is too distracting. I’m tired of the CW teasing us with GorgeousPromoSamHair and then giving us this flipped up nonsense.)



Things I didn’t particularly care for

Yes, Sam, you can walk into the jail and throw holy water on everyone. Or you could just yell “Christo” and see who flinches. Seriously, why do they not use this?

I liked the idea of Sam figuring out that the people had lost their souls, because again, hooray for smart Sam. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me, because it didn’t make any sense. Sam wasn't impulsively angry and aggressive when he was soulless. He was cold and calculated and he used violence as a means to an end, but he wasn’t just running around being mean to waitresses for no good reason.

Dean’s behavior with Crowley’s little buddy was odd. If Dean caught another hunter in a bar, going after Crowley, wouldn’t he be more curious about that? Wouldn’t he wonder who the guy was and why he was after the King of Hell? (Also, when Dean started having talking to him, I thought this might be someone from the spinoff. I was wrong, obviously.)

Questions and discussion

Sam’s gold tie is awfully gold. I’m sure that has some significance. So far this season, if I remember right, gold has been worn by April the reaper and Hael the angel. Were either of the boys wearing Team Free Will’s blue or red during this episode? I’ll have to look for that on rewatch. Because right now, this aggressively gold tie is screaming “I’m not blue or red” to me, and if I remember right and Dean’s wearing gray, these could be symbolizing the current state of TFW. I hope galwithglasses steps in to discuss this.

Is it just a coincidence that the bar Dean went to is called The Milton (you can see the name painted on one of the windows in the scene where Dean and Crowley are outside), when the town Sam went to was also called Milton?

What did Sam put on the shelf next to the jars of souls? I thought maybe he was just setting his flashlight down, but it seemed significant for some reason.

Why does Sam’s side hurt when he gets punched/thrown by Demon!Nun? It looks like he’s hit from the front and hits a pile of stuff with his back, so why is he clutching his side?

Henry Winchester and Josie/Abaddon as a priest and a nun? Talk about a fic prompt. I wonder if we’ll find out why Josie didn’t have a family.

Why would Abaddon allow a witness to live?

Would the MoL actually go work a case? I thought they just sat around in their ivory towers and did research.

Crowley has fallen off the wagon? What’s the point of this? Where are they taking it?

I’m unspoiled for the next episode, other than knowing

Dean has a shower scene

(for the spoiler phobic… if you didn’t consider “Sam’s gonna be in shorts and a tank top!” to be a spoiler, you won’t consider this to be a spoiler either, and it’s going to be equally impossible to avoid this one anyway), so please help me stay that way. Thanks! (Also, did I hear that there isn’t a new episode next week? Please tell me that’s not true. /o\ )

Comments

[frozen_delight]

The guy complaining about having meatloaf again deserves to be beaten to death. This is a good thing. I don’t care if it makes me an awful person.
That makes two of us, then.

I was really glad that this week we saw a return of tough, smart Sam who doesn't discuss killing people while they're standing right behind him and doesn't need to be saved in a every single tough situation. I felt proud of him for solving the case and taking care of everything all on his own.

Speaking of the case, it's also nice that we now have a really good and solid reason why Abaddon needs to be defeated. I just wish it had been introduced a bit sooner.

“You’re lying to Sam like he’s your wife. Kinda makes me your mistress.” I love this because it’s awesome, and because it reinforces the Dean/Crowley parallel to Sam/Ruby. Assuming that’s what they’re going for, which I hope they are.
What Dean probably vaguely recognises (and accordingly fears) is that he's Crowley's bitch - and not the other way round. The Crowley/Dean confrontation in the pub was awesome, I thought, both in terms of lines, because Crowley was talking the whole time and stripping Dean bare without the latter having to do more than grunt a bit, and because it was immensely enticing visually, how Crowley was always leaning into Dean's space, often sort of over his shoulder - that's further evidence of Crowley playing Season 9's Ruby.
[BTW, I totally love the idea of Crowley being Gollum.]

Other than that, I think it's unbelievably cruel of them to make us wait until April 15th!

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

What Dean probably vaguely recognises (and accordingly fears) is that he's Crowley's bitch - and not the other way round. The Crowley/Dean confrontation in the pub was awesome, I thought, both in terms of lines, because Crowley was talking the whole time and stripping Dean bare without the latter having to do more than grunt a bit, and because it was immensely enticing visually, how Crowley was always leaning into Dean's space, often sort of over his shoulder - that's further evidence of Crowley playing Season 9's Ruby.

Yes, this. Dean has completely become Crowley's bitch (what a turnaround from the beginning of the season!) and Crowley is enjoying the hell out of it. Pun intended.

[BTW, I totally love the idea of Crowley being Gollum.]

Especially because it means Sam is going to be Sam!!!!

[thursdaysisters.livejournal.com]

My favorite detail was the El Sol sign behind Crowley in the bar with Dean. I can't WAIT to see where their storyline goes, Dean's slippery slope into colluding with a demon because, hey, he's got willpower to burn, this TOTALLY won't get out of his control.

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

this TOTALLY won't get out of his control.

Of course not. How could it. (Rubs hands in evil glee)

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

Glad you were also to appreciate the meatloaf scene! And I like your line of reasoning with regard to Dean and Crowley.

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

It is fraught with awesome possibilities.