Sam. Dean. Castiel. God. And the saga continues. My affair with 'Supernatural' is an old one. Its a show I feel very much at home with. Its been around for as long as I can remember. It gave me a lot to think about and I was captivated. I could not get enough of the lore, the personal dynamic between the two ill-fated brothers, the angel who could not catch a break for the life of him. I could hardly believe what they had dared to attempt, what with Death being an actual person and all. It was appalling, it was perfect. After Season 6, I gave myself a break from it, mostly because I had chugged all of SPN in less than 3 months. A part of it was also because the relationship between the two siblings had stopped making sense to me. I found Dean infuriatingly bossy and controlling, while Sam was continually grappling in the dark. I began to doubt whether Dean really loved his brother as much as he claimed to or he just looked at Sam as a distasteful task on his to-do list. So I decided to sever my ties with SPN although I always kept tabs on what the broad story-arc was. I followed the show through seasons 7 & 8 with a passing interest, mostly remnants of the fierce fascination I had for the show in the past.
Then, Season 9 happened. I was hearing about it a lot, about the good stories, the fast pace and the interesting dynamic that had developed between the brothers. It got me interested in a removed sort of way, but enough to want to watch it again. And I have not been disappointed. SPN is back with a bang. And I can't believe it. For a show to have such rich stories to tell in its 9th season is almost unheard of. I hope the season ends on a high note as well.
The show is a study to me. All aspects of it. The characters, their relationships with each other, the people who make this show possible. It is a shining example of how a show can work perfectly if everyone plays their part to a tee. They are fully invested in the show without ever making it look desperate or cheesy. Watching SPN conventions is one of my favorite things to do when I have the time. With the laughs and the earnest answers and the crackling chemistry they all have, you never know how your one hour flew by. Jared Padalecki is my favorite. I can hardly think of anyone with such an easy laugh. It hardly seems to matter to him whether he is making fun of people or being made fun of. He laughs anyway. His breakfast sessions are so enjoyable. You could get him started on anything and he responds earnestly. It is easy to see why he is so loved. Although he and Jensen Ackles together are a riot, I love his sessions with Misha Collins as well. Its almost like watching two children in a candy-store. Padalecki is unpretentious and easy in the spotlight. Not to mention, a knockout actor. Lucifer, Soulless Sam, Demon Blood Sam, Hell Sam, Sam fighting Soulless Sam, Ezekiel Sam, Gadreel Sam, he has done it all, and how. Before I saw his interpretations, I could hardly imagine how a guy in plaids could pull it off. It almost feels like this guy has different reservoirs of personalities that he taps into or creates to become all these characters. The changes that he brings across in his body language to accommodate these people while never really losing Sam in the confusion is a masterful task. I especially loved him as Good Angel/ Bad Angel this season. Him switching from being Sam to Ezekiel in a split-second was just riveting to watch. There is nothing this guy in his jeans and beanie cannot do.
My feelings about Sam and Dean are more conflicted. They are a mystery. I don't think I ever will figure them out at least enough to give it a rest myself. At some point while watching them together, I stop listening and begin staring in borderline confusion. What put the show in motion was Dean trading his soul in return for his then dead brother. Its selfless alright, but its more baffling. It almost felt like he would rather have his brother lead a guilt-ridden life than have to deal with his death himself. This is an approach I felt Dean almost always takes with his too obedient brother. Sam respects Dean, Dean respects his protectiveness towards Sam. If he feels he needs to do something to protect his brother, he does it. What Sam feels about it is a non-issue. Sam has never been so cavalier with his brother. He is the brother who listens. Dean takes decisions for Sam, which end up badly for Sam. He is, in a lot of ways, a victim of his brother's choices. It did, after all, start with Dean's decision to bring his brother back from the dead. And Dean is not one to be reasoned with. He does what he feels is right. For him and for others. I always felt Sam did not stand up to his brother as much as he should have. Every time Sam went down the dark path and did himself irreparable damage, it was for his brother. But Dean never hesitated to make his brother feel as pathetic about himself as possible about the choices Sam made by himself. What I like about Season 9 so far is Sam giving Dean a piece of his mind, and quite often at that. At this point, everyone is besotted by Dean, even Crowley. No one really speaks 'Nasty' to him anymore. Except his brother. And I admire him for that. Dean has always had a pseudo-legion of his. Everyone, for some reason, shares a special something with Dean. Charlie, Jo, Bobby, Garth, Kevin, Castiel, and now Crowley. Sam shares a comfort with all of them, without the special click. Dean is the only one who enjoys that privilege, though for a while Amelia did too. Sam is so quiet and understated about it, you would not even notice. I admire that about Sam. Being careful about who you allow to see at your worst is a wise choice. Neither do these 'connections' Dean shares with almost everyone bother him. He respects it, but he does not want it. The scene between Sam and Cas after he gets his soul back is a perfect example of that. And though he probably has only one strong connection left in his life, I never have seen him whine about it. He is strong and focussed, in the face of everything. Although there are many who would claim to 'know' Dean and not be too far off, no one really gets him like Sam does. Sam can see past Dean's heroism and almost reckless courage. He knows how taking care of him gives Dean a direction to move in. And now that Dean had decided his brother does not need anymore baby-sitting, saving the world is next on his tasks-list. Sam has grown into a hero, in spite of his brother. Given a choice, I would love to have him as a brother. As the season progresses, Sam and Dean will move together while also charging on their personal battle-fronts. Where the season finale will bring the two of them is yet to be seen, but I like the direction they have taken yet. Their relationship is toxic, poison for them and a riddle to others. But they are the only two characters on television celebrating the downsides of being 'family'. No one, not even other TV characters could get away with the things they do every five episodes for each other. In the words of Death, they truly are 'an affront to the balance of the universe'. But who knew they would make it such a fun ride meanwhile??
Then, Season 9 happened. I was hearing about it a lot, about the good stories, the fast pace and the interesting dynamic that had developed between the brothers. It got me interested in a removed sort of way, but enough to want to watch it again. And I have not been disappointed. SPN is back with a bang. And I can't believe it. For a show to have such rich stories to tell in its 9th season is almost unheard of. I hope the season ends on a high note as well.
The show is a study to me. All aspects of it. The characters, their relationships with each other, the people who make this show possible. It is a shining example of how a show can work perfectly if everyone plays their part to a tee. They are fully invested in the show without ever making it look desperate or cheesy. Watching SPN conventions is one of my favorite things to do when I have the time. With the laughs and the earnest answers and the crackling chemistry they all have, you never know how your one hour flew by. Jared Padalecki is my favorite. I can hardly think of anyone with such an easy laugh. It hardly seems to matter to him whether he is making fun of people or being made fun of. He laughs anyway. His breakfast sessions are so enjoyable. You could get him started on anything and he responds earnestly. It is easy to see why he is so loved. Although he and Jensen Ackles together are a riot, I love his sessions with Misha Collins as well. Its almost like watching two children in a candy-store. Padalecki is unpretentious and easy in the spotlight. Not to mention, a knockout actor. Lucifer, Soulless Sam, Demon Blood Sam, Hell Sam, Sam fighting Soulless Sam, Ezekiel Sam, Gadreel Sam, he has done it all, and how. Before I saw his interpretations, I could hardly imagine how a guy in plaids could pull it off. It almost feels like this guy has different reservoirs of personalities that he taps into or creates to become all these characters. The changes that he brings across in his body language to accommodate these people while never really losing Sam in the confusion is a masterful task. I especially loved him as Good Angel/ Bad Angel this season. Him switching from being Sam to Ezekiel in a split-second was just riveting to watch. There is nothing this guy in his jeans and beanie cannot do.
My feelings about Sam and Dean are more conflicted. They are a mystery. I don't think I ever will figure them out at least enough to give it a rest myself. At some point while watching them together, I stop listening and begin staring in borderline confusion. What put the show in motion was Dean trading his soul in return for his then dead brother. Its selfless alright, but its more baffling. It almost felt like he would rather have his brother lead a guilt-ridden life than have to deal with his death himself. This is an approach I felt Dean almost always takes with his too obedient brother. Sam respects Dean, Dean respects his protectiveness towards Sam. If he feels he needs to do something to protect his brother, he does it. What Sam feels about it is a non-issue. Sam has never been so cavalier with his brother. He is the brother who listens. Dean takes decisions for Sam, which end up badly for Sam. He is, in a lot of ways, a victim of his brother's choices. It did, after all, start with Dean's decision to bring his brother back from the dead. And Dean is not one to be reasoned with. He does what he feels is right. For him and for others. I always felt Sam did not stand up to his brother as much as he should have. Every time Sam went down the dark path and did himself irreparable damage, it was for his brother. But Dean never hesitated to make his brother feel as pathetic about himself as possible about the choices Sam made by himself. What I like about Season 9 so far is Sam giving Dean a piece of his mind, and quite often at that. At this point, everyone is besotted by Dean, even Crowley. No one really speaks 'Nasty' to him anymore. Except his brother. And I admire him for that. Dean has always had a pseudo-legion of his. Everyone, for some reason, shares a special something with Dean. Charlie, Jo, Bobby, Garth, Kevin, Castiel, and now Crowley. Sam shares a comfort with all of them, without the special click. Dean is the only one who enjoys that privilege, though for a while Amelia did too. Sam is so quiet and understated about it, you would not even notice. I admire that about Sam. Being careful about who you allow to see at your worst is a wise choice. Neither do these 'connections' Dean shares with almost everyone bother him. He respects it, but he does not want it. The scene between Sam and Cas after he gets his soul back is a perfect example of that. And though he probably has only one strong connection left in his life, I never have seen him whine about it. He is strong and focussed, in the face of everything. Although there are many who would claim to 'know' Dean and not be too far off, no one really gets him like Sam does. Sam can see past Dean's heroism and almost reckless courage. He knows how taking care of him gives Dean a direction to move in. And now that Dean had decided his brother does not need anymore baby-sitting, saving the world is next on his tasks-list. Sam has grown into a hero, in spite of his brother. Given a choice, I would love to have him as a brother. As the season progresses, Sam and Dean will move together while also charging on their personal battle-fronts. Where the season finale will bring the two of them is yet to be seen, but I like the direction they have taken yet. Their relationship is toxic, poison for them and a riddle to others. But they are the only two characters on television celebrating the downsides of being 'family'. No one, not even other TV characters could get away with the things they do every five episodes for each other. In the words of Death, they truly are 'an affront to the balance of the universe'. But who knew they would make it such a fun ride meanwhile??
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