Episode reaction: 920 Bloodlines

[citrus_java]

I was expecting to get to like a whole lot of once-minor characters from SPN. I was expecting not to like it, cause I rarely like things on TV, and more rarely, like them on the first try.

Show runners, let's talk. Let's assume you want to draw some of the SPN devoted fans, to a new show, with hopefully new viewers and a cast that really wants to be there. OK.

Some of the things we (and by we, I mean I) like about SPN, though not all of those are always there:
Spectacular characters, writing and acting.
Fascinating relationship(s).
Some of the characters and actors.
Interesting gender stuff.
"On the road"ness. Both feel and plot.
Unique characters, again.
Subtle way of expressing character development, story arcs, exposition.
Unique relationship between the main characters.
ALL THE SLASHINESS.


Some things that make SPN unique:
The cowboy, gruff, masculine, not urban, not liberal air about it.
Well, it used to be like that.
Also, the chibi that are all those guys.
Of the three main characters, one was a virgin until recently, and may be asexual, and the two others were probably raped.
Small cast, focus on in depth character exploration
Except for special cases, monsters are evil
Rural, and not about wishing to stop being rural, just awesome to be there
Main characters over 30 in this genre
Family issues, while most of the family is not there. More about the influence of family on how you are, what you take with you.

Some of the things about SPN that make us (me) cringe:
Black men are angry, and if you give them a weapon they'll use it.
Women are femme-fatales or ass kicking feminine barbies in distress.
They generally look like models.
They die to give men a reason to do things.

Seriously. In the beginning of SPN you made some mistakes – and kept making them. Got a lot of criticism for it. Now you think up this new piece of shit show, and what you bring with you is the racism and women as stereotypical plot devices who have not character beyond how pretty and feminine they are? No. No.
*slaps them across the head*

You KNOW we watch for the believable-acting-chemistry-developed-characters-slashiness. Give it, if you want us to watch more, you idiots!

Other things -
Badly written yet Both weird and nice to see the boys not utterly angsting for a short change.

When I said that I'd like a sort of show reboot, I meant magically, as an alternative universe on SPN for a season (or less). I did sort of mean "please retell the beginning of the show". I did sorta mean "do it badly", cause they were gonna anyway. I did not expect to get a Sammy-sketch done by a different actor.

Oh, wow, they really did do the "evil rich woman hugs someone and frowns evilly over their shoulder as the scene ends" trope.

Oh, wow, they really did show us an eyelash fluttering damsel chained awkwardly with actual chain by the bald bad guy. Sadly, no railroad tracks.

Uch, I hate "all-encompassing war" arcs and plots.

So many little mistakes, OOC - just - ,mvsdvcx. Using things that mean something in SPN irresponsibly. The overcoat, and amulet.

Oh! Let's talk about him wearing the ring on a necklace like the Samulet! At the very least it says something about how much Sam/Dean resonated romance.

Comments

[citrusjava.livejournal.com]

First of all, I don't feel SPN needs to be defended. Perhaps the people it's phobic towards need to be defended more. Second - I'm no expert on the topic, but as I understand and experience it - perpetuating a hurtful and harmful stereotype is very much not the same as saying a similar thing about someone the stereotype isn't used against. In SPN terms - calling Sam a monster is a way bigger deal than calling Jess the same thing (probably), since Sam experienced feeling like a freak his entire life, was persecuted for it by heaven and by other hunters, even, and himself feels that he not OK because of it. Assuming Jess didn't experience any of those things, it would probably be way less of a big deal for her to be called that. Especially since there were other stereotypes there as well. In addition, SPN made a point of going on and on about how angry he is. Just like his father before him. And he wasn't even, so we'd like him. And the gunshot in the end was framed to be considered unexpected, if not surprisingly violent. He didn't even get to have the justification of having to do that to save someone on the spot.