Supernatural 4x16 - Eight things I loved, four things I liked and four things I did not so much care

[katysam]

It's been a long time since I've done one of these. Not a review, just thoughts which I can't even guarantee it make sense but they did in my head. ;)



THINGS I LOVED:

1. The Sweet Torturous Anticipation
   Technically not part of the episode but OMG, you guys. I have never seen so much CAPSLOCKING in response to an episode - EVER - and that is on the 'safe' side of the lj-cuts! Even my niece, Laura, felt the need to SMS when she was halfway through watching to tell me she thought I'd like it. To say I was nervous going into this is an understatement.
   



2. Welcome back Castiel!
   I've missed you little guy. Oh, wait... Welcome back Wet!Castiel. They really should film in the rain more. *is shallow*
   



3. Angel shadow wings
   That affect is never getting old.
   



4. Uriel is the funniest angel in the garrison. Ask anyone."
   Oh, Castiel/Misha. You crack me up!
   
   Uriel laughed at Dean. Why does Uriel get to laugh and not Castiel? Is it because Uriel really is the funniest guy in the garrison? If I was to compile a 'Supernatural Wish List', seeing Castiel smile would be close to the top.
   
   
   
5. Castiel getting demoted because he has feelings
   Feelings for Dean, no less. :)
   "For what it's worth, I would give anything not to have you do this" - Castiel.
   Does that include your grace, Castiel? Personally, I think it does. It's my belief that Castiel will most likely fall.
   



6. Alistair
   Dean may have had his 'Trolley of Torture' containing all he needed to physically inflict pain on Alistair but Alistair still had the upper hand. He is a master at emotional torture and he used it to it's fullest extend. Telling Dean, John lasted 100 years and never broke whereas Dean only lasted 30 years was pure brilliance on the demon's part. It's interesting that demons seem to know exactly how to manipulate people to get what they want whereas angels (Uriel, I'm looking at you boy!) seem to be totally clueless. Probably got something to do with the fact that angels haven't been on earth for a couple thousand years.
   
   The guy who played Alistair was incredible and I was a little sad to see the character killed. OMG! His voice! Honest to Lucifer, I loved listening to him speak. It must have so hard to keep that voice going the whole episode but he was so convincing I found myself Googling the actor to check if he speaks like that in real life. (He doesn't) One of my rl!bff and I were discussing his voice the other day and she thought it sounded familiar. My first thought when I heard it was, he sounds like Cameron from Ferris Beuller's Day Off when he's pretending to be Mr. Peterson (Sloan's dad).
   



7. "Goooooo!"
   Misha Collins was terrific in this episode. I loved how he sounded when he told Anna to "Goooooo!". He was so commanding and then ten minutes later we saw him looking and sounding completely lost, begging Anna to tell him what to do.
   




8. Dean and Castiel

They are friends now. Love that. Dean only tortured Alistair because Castiel asked him too. If it had just been Uriel doing the asking, Dean would not have gone through with it. Castiel was waiting by Dean's bed because he was genuinely concerned about his human. He was there because he wanted to be not because he had to be. Dean likes Castiel and Castiel likes Dean. Slashiness aside, there is more fondness between Dean and Castiel, than there is between Sam and Ruby. Again with slashiness aside, this fills me with glee.



9. Just When You Thought They Couldn't Break Dean Any More.
   Seriously, did Dean really need anything else to angst over? Isn't it enough that he blames himself for John's death, Sammy's death, not being able to protect Sammy... heck, he probably even blames himself for Mary's death. After all he wasn't able to kill YED when he went back to the future. Now he has to live with the knowledge that he broke the first seal and started the apocalypse. Damn it. I'm sure the first item on the agenda at every single Supernatural writers meeting is, ITEM #1 - How can we fuck up Dean Winchester even more? Hell, it's probably the second and third and fourth item too.
   

THINGS I LIKED:

1. Sammy driving like a bat out of Hell
   That was cool. It also shows that Sammy hasn't lost of all Dean's trust. After all, Dean ain't letting anyone he doesn't trust drive his baby... while he sleeps in the passenger seat.
   




2. Sam busting in to rescue Dean and Castiel
   Sam learning to kill demons with his mind (and hand) is cool. It's effective and it makes sense that he has that ability and has learnt to use it. I also understand why he lies to Dean about it. I'm sure Sam honestly believes he's doing the right thing and he knows Dean would not approve but I just wish Sam would share with us what his big plan is. See #3 in 'Things I do not so much care for'.
   



3. Anna
   She killed Uriel. That's a good thing. I suspect Anna may be a handy girl to have around in the event of an apocalypse. She can stay. :)
   



4. Hey, God? What's doin' buddy?
   There was so much talk about God in this episode. On one hand I love the epicness of it all but on the other hand it concerns me. Supernatural was always taking a huge risk introducing religion into the show to the extent it has this season and it looks like they are intending to push the boundaries even further. I can't wait to see how far they take it. Will we eventually see God? Will we see Lucifer?
   
   For what it's worth my casting choices are:
   Lucifer = Chad Michael Murray. (Understudy = Eric Kripke)
   God = Michael Rosenbaum (with hair). (Understudy = Steve Carlson)
   
   

THINGS I DID NOT SO MUCH CARE FOR:

1. Uriel's attitude
   Uriel needed a serious attitude adjustment but I guess that's a mute point now. He made you realise how far Castiel has come since hanging out with us mere mortals and the Winchesters.
   



2. So, everybody's calling him Cas now?
   I love that Dean calls him 'Cas' because that's so very Dean. Dean's the kind of guy that has nicknames for everyone and loves using them, probably just to annoy the other person. Eg. 'Sammy' during the first season or 'Junkless' for Uriel. I think the fact that he uses 'Cas' so often now goes a long way to show how familiar he's become with the angel. That's simply the name he likes to call Castiel.
   
   Anna and Sam calling Castiel 'Cas' is not on though. He's Castiel and Castiel he should always be. Work!bff pointed out Anna and Castiel have known each other a long time so perhaps she called him 'Cas' before but it doesn't seem like an angel thing to do. *shrugs* Sam, on the other hand, should refer to him as Castiel. Sam doesn't really know him. This isn't really a big deal, more of a pet peeve.
   



3. Ruby, in general
   Before I go any further, I don't hate Genevieve Cortese so this isn't me just bitching about her. My issue with Ruby is with Ruby as a character and most of it just happens to stem from this season.
   
   I don't think she is recognisable as Ruby any more. I don't mean physically, I mean her personality. A demon takes over a body and controls it, right? Especially a 'dead' body like the current Ruby. Therefore, when possessing a new vessel it stands to reason the only changes should be physical. Unfortunately, I can't see that with Ruby this season. This episode was the first time I've watched Ruby and was able to imagine Katie Cassidy playing the character that way. Someone mentioned Ruby has changed because of what happened to her after Lillith took over her vessel at the end of 3x16 and GC mentioned in a recent interview that "specific choices being made" in relation to the overall arc and she is just telling the story. That might be the case but how do we know that? Sure, some of us may have read about it in an interview here or there, but it's still only speculation.
   
   This leads to the second issue I have with Ruby as a character which is she's been around for almost two seasons and what do we know about her? We know she was once a witch who claims to want to help Sam. But why does she want to help? What is she getting out of it? Besides the obvious fringe benefit of sleeping with Sam, that is. ;) At the end of the day I don't care about her because I've been given no reason to care about her.
   



4. Sam
   *sigh* It's not Sam I don't care for but it's the way he's behaving. Perhaps I'm just getting impatient but it's beginning to bug me. Work!bff and I were discussing the show the other day and I came to an interesting realisation. Bear with me here and hopefully some of this will make sense...
   
   We see things from Dean's POV all the time because for a boy who once said, 'No chick flick moments', he sure is fond of them. Whether it's an angel called Castiel, a reaper called Tessa or a brother called Sammy, Dean seems to pour his heart out at a drop of a hat this season. We know what he's done and what he's feeling. Bless him, poor soul.
   
   We've also seen things from Castiel's POV. He's made his feelings clear by defending his 'mud monkeys' to Uriel, by admitting to Dean he has sympathies towards his humans, and by asking Anna to tell him what to do. Admittedly a lot of this came out this episode.
   
   But in the case of Sam, we really have no idea what he's feeling or what he's going through. Sam has spoken to Dean a couple of times but I know I don't trust Sam when it comes to talking to Dean. Sam is already lying to Dean about Ruby and his powers so why not lie about other stuff too? Besides Dean, there is no one else for Sam to share his feelings with. Ruby? I don't think so. Bobby? Perhaps he could but he hid from Bobby for months when Dean was in Hell so it's no wonder he hasn't turned to him now.
   
   Sam is becoming more and more distant from his brother and the other characters, and he is becoming more and more distant from me, as a viewer. I know deep down he's doing it all for Dean but, yeah, I need to hear Sam say it. I want to know what Sam really thinks. What's his goal? What's his dreams? ;)
   
   I still love Sam but damn it! I really want to like Sam again. *cries*