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Supernatural-"Hollywood Babylon"
If I were a newcomer to the show, and that had been my first exposure to it, I would not be inclined to become a regular viewer, let alone a ravening, die-hard fangirl. It was a weak, self-serving episode that insulted the fans and its own continuity by sacrificing plot for nudge-nudge, wink, wink in-jokes. It was embarrassing and boring, and for the first time this season, I considered switching to a repeat of CSI.
Meta episodes can work. Back in the day, Xena did it all the time, and The X-Files indulged in gleeful sendups of their premise with varying degrees of success. But Supernatural and Kripke haven't earned it yet, and therein lies the problem: the episode read less like a show having fun with its audience and more like a group of writers massaging their collective egos and flaunting their supposed cleverness. It was high schoolers with expensive cameras.
I hate to break it to Kripke and company, but they're not as clever as they suppose. In fact they came off as self-impressed egomaniacs with this episode. They would rather play a game of Spot the Shout-Out than ensure that their show is renewed for a third season. Isn't Supernatural on the fence? If so, why not showcase its strong points-its fine, understated tension, its familial angst, and its glee in killing monsters? Why waste valuable time trying to pander to fans you already have when you could be courting new ones? CSI was a repeat this week, and they had a free shot at the Golden Clicker. They blew it with a plotless, plodding, haphazard mess. The teaser promises a return to form this Thursday, but CSI returns next week as well, and it will be too little, too late.
The armchair psychoanalyst in me couldn't help but note Dean's glee at being a PA and his statement that he enjoyed it because he "felt like part of a team." It's a very telling, poignant statement when viewed in the light of his usual disdain for suburbia and "normal" lives. For all his contempt, I suspect that Dean would trade his nowhere existence for a tract house in a heartbeat if his conscience would allow it. As we've seen in "Croatoa", he's tired of running, tired of hunting, and I suspect that the "vacation" in L.A. was more for him than Sammy, his breather before he has to resume the watch.
A pimp for Danse Macabre
If I were a newcomer to the show, and that had been my first exposure to it, I would not be inclined to become a regular viewer, let alone a ravening, die-hard fangirl. It was a weak, self-serving episode that insulted the fans and its own continuity by sacrificing plot for nudge-nudge, wink, wink in-jokes. It was embarrassing and boring, and for the first time this season, I considered switching to a repeat of CSI.
Meta episodes can work. Back in the day, Xena did it all the time, and The X-Files indulged in gleeful sendups of their premise with varying degrees of success. But Supernatural and Kripke haven't earned it yet, and therein lies the problem: the episode read less like a show having fun with its audience and more like a group of writers massaging their collective egos and flaunting their supposed cleverness. It was high schoolers with expensive cameras.
I hate to break it to Kripke and company, but they're not as clever as they suppose. In fact they came off as self-impressed egomaniacs with this episode. They would rather play a game of Spot the Shout-Out than ensure that their show is renewed for a third season. Isn't Supernatural on the fence? If so, why not showcase its strong points-its fine, understated tension, its familial angst, and its glee in killing monsters? Why waste valuable time trying to pander to fans you already have when you could be courting new ones? CSI was a repeat this week, and they had a free shot at the Golden Clicker. They blew it with a plotless, plodding, haphazard mess. The teaser promises a return to form this Thursday, but CSI returns next week as well, and it will be too little, too late.
The armchair psychoanalyst in me couldn't help but note Dean's glee at being a PA and his statement that he enjoyed it because he "felt like part of a team." It's a very telling, poignant statement when viewed in the light of his usual disdain for suburbia and "normal" lives. For all his contempt, I suspect that Dean would trade his nowhere existence for a tract house in a heartbeat if his conscience would allow it. As we've seen in "Croatoa", he's tired of running, tired of hunting, and I suspect that the "vacation" in L.A. was more for him than Sammy, his breather before he has to resume the watch.
A pimp for Danse Macabre
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