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Supernatural: The Slice Girls (2012)
Good Concept, Poor Execution
I usually quite enjoy a good exploration of Greek mythology. They had some fascinating guest stars and the plot should have been interesting.
Dean's spiral into depression is really taking its toll. As Sam points out, he was going wobbly with the loss of Cass, and has full out lost his ability to give a crap about anything after Bobby's death. As someone who suffers from depression, I like that all the well-meant advice isn't doing anything to solve Dean's problem - faking it, burying it, "just get over it already", none of that actually helps. What helps? Time, talking it out, medication, and dealing with the underlying issues. Dean's lost everything except Sam - and while it's been said before that all they have is each other, it's now almost literally true. Dean's lost his father-hero (John), he's lost his dad and mentor (Bobby), he's lost Ellen and Jo who played family roles in his life, he's lost his best friend (Cass), he's lost his wife and kid (Lisa and Ben), he's lost his Baby, he's lost his rock shoutout fake IDs, and in this episode we've seen that he's even lost his interest in one-night stands. It's going to be a rough road for Dean getting out of the hole he's in, and the one support he's got left is hanging by a thread.
So with this look into Dean's psyche, why does the episode suck? Mostly, because the plot is boring and the characters are one-note. From the second Lydia hit the screen until they discovered the abandoned warehouse, I could not care about the Amazons. There was no "there" there. They're evil man-hunting women who raise their daughters quickly and make them kill their fathers? Congratulations. We got to see several times how conflicted Emma was, but in the end it didn't matter. She was evil and had to be killed before she killed Dean. Why? Just so we could have the parallel with Amy? There had to be a million other ways to do it, better ways.
Supernatural: Defending Your Life (2011)
So, When Will They Learn?
Seventh season. Seven years, these boys have traveled together. They've both been to hell and back, they've both kept secrets and lied and hid only to discover that they can forgive each other just about anything. Dean can forgive Sam for being corrupted by demon blood, Sam can forgive Dean for hypocrisy and selling his soul.
I can understand Dean choosing to kill Amy, though I find it hard to forgive him. I can't understand why he's lying to Sam about it. Hasn't he learned by now that he and Sam can't keep secrets from each other?
I was glad to see Jo again. I think they left her in a good place in season 5, grown up and ready to accept her fate, but I think Dean needed to hear her and Sam both explain that he doesn't need to feel guilty about the bad stuff that's happened because of him. Maybe, once he's done being stupid about Amy, Dean will finally be able to let go of his guilt.
Supernatural: The Man Who Knew Too Much (2011)
Extremely Weird Season
Supernatural was designed with a five-year arc. You could tell it in Season 6, as they struggled to find their way forward.
There were a *lot* of interesting ideas. The return of the Campbells, them working for Crowley, Crowley looking for Purgatory, the Mother of All, Castiel working with Crowley, the War in Heaven. And that was the problem.
This felt like two or even three years' worth of mytharc crammed into one. And while believe me I cannot stand the idea of one more second of Soulless Sam having been written, the season ends up feeling disjointed, rushed, and confusing. Imagine if season 3 had been "Intro to Ruby, Dean Dies and Returns, Meet the Angels, Let's Find the Seals, Oops Lilith's Dead, Apocalypse Averted." Would we care about Castiel? Would we recognize Raphael for the badass he's supposed to be? I would've liked to spend more time with the Mother of All, and with the Campbells. So Season 6 - first half about getting Sam his soul back, leave that the way it is because oh my Cas it could not have gone any longer. Second half, focus on the Mother of All, with the big showdown happening in the last episode where they learn that Crowley is alive. Season 7 - first half getting more involved with the War in Heaven - I have to ask, Raphael knows Cas's big weak spot is the Winchesters, right? So why not go after them? I know they have that sigil on their ribs, but they can't get around that with other methods? Second half, investigating opening Purgatory and dealing with Cas's betrayal.
And with all that, how do you end the season? Castiel as God is interesting, and I put it up there with the other cliffhangers we've gotten. His character has certainly gone off the rails, though. Breaking down Sam's wall was cruel and that, above all else, has me wondering how in the world Dean and Sam can ever forgive him. Dean, Sam, and Bobby have been through hell and back together and forgiven each other just about everything imaginable. I can only hope that season 7 brings Cas to a place where he can start to earn their forgiveness - a good start would be to realize that he needs to ask for it.
I do have to say, I'm glad that for once, the season is ending with Dean and Sam both still alive and in a good relationship with each other. While I hope to see Sam struggling with his memories in season 7, it seems like he'll make it through alive at least.
Season 6 is definitely my least favorite season so far. I will probably rewatch it once, to look for early clues about Cas, and then never again.
The X Files: Irresistible (1995)
Characterization problems and silliness
Scully being creeped out by dead bodies with hair and nails removed? In medical school, I'm sure she saw things like that. NOT good. Especially since in the next episode, she easily shrugs off a victim with heart and eyes removed.
If the whole point of the episode was to show that humans are capable of just as much evil and cruelty as any alien or paranormal being, then the morphing was just plain silliness.
On the other hand, Scully fighting through her fear of Donny to manage to fight back was excellent, and Donny was a great villain. The point was appreciated - it's easy to blame things going wrong on supernatural causes, but to accept that human nature includes cruelty and malice is far more difficult.
The X Files: Darkness Falls (1994)
Great episode, except for the plot hole.
The atmosphere of this episode was incredible. Duchovny and Anderson deliver yet another amazing performance, playing off each other while maintaining their believer and skeptic roles perfectly.
The guest stars and the subplots felt real, and added to the suspense and the fear of the episode.
Two problems, though: 1. If the bugs are afraid of light, then why do they MAKE it? Bioluminescence is cool, yes, but it would be cooler if it made sense. 2. If the bugs are afraid of light, why did they attack Spinney when he got out of the car to look at the tires and *left the headlights on*?