SPN 3:08 - A Very Supernatural Christmas

[maygra]

I totally approve of the casting for young Sam. And I was really glad they were able to get the young actor back who played Dean in "Something Wicked". Seriously, the whole episode rocked the house, but those two young actors did a great job of bridging the years between the boys we know and the kids they once were. It was actually gratifying that the Sam here, despite being young (maybe 8-9? possibly even 10 -- although Dean doesn't quite look 14) seemed to be pretty mature for his age, and it was good to see Dean kind of giving him a hard and occasionally nasty time and Sam pretty much shrugging it off, like Dean's threats were always a little hollow, along with his insults.

I even liked the progessive steps of hero worship: Dean for his father, obviously, but just as obviously (but with pre-adolescent restraint) Sam's hero worship of Dean, of not wanting Dean to see him cry, of trying to be tough like Dean is, just like Dean tries to be tough like John.

And I knew about the amulet, although the script changed slightly from when I first read it, and it's less clear if Bobby gave the amulet to Sam to give to John of his own volition or if (Uncle --hee!) Bobby, sent it along because Sam asked for something (either in fact or in an idea) to give to his father. I can see a dozen ways this could play out in fanfic -- since I'm still half-convinced that the reason Dean's never been possessed is because of the amulet. More interesting if Bobby didn't actually know of the amulets properties that way -- or if he did, since he may have had some idea of what John was hunting. I think [perhaps not (although it could also be a snafu on the part of the continuity folks on the series) since, Bobby didn't give the boys amulets against possession until late last season.

But still, it was nice to see the origins of the damn thing, and that Sam thought it "Special" enough to give to his father, and thus equally special enough to give to Dean. It makes me wonder what Sam had planned for Dean's gift in lieu of that. (And perhaps it was a pocket knife that John eventually got.) Nice also to see at least some suggestion that Sam's grievances with his father weren't necessarily blown out of proportion. Broken promises at that age -- especially by parents -- can be really tough on a kid, even if a parent has a good reason to break them.

For the rest of the episode -- it was pretty creepy and extremely well done, if a bit gruesome. I do take a bit of issue with the idea that meadowsweet is a particularly rare herb -- it may be in Michigan (or Vancouver) but elsewhere in the US, especially the east, it's not that uncommon and propigates itself pretty easily. (Although possibly different varieties than the show researchers were looking at) but it's a pretty minor quibble. The "gods" were suitably creepy in that twilight zone kind of way. The torture of the boys was cringe worthy (and despite watching though squinting eyes, props to the props people who rigged the fingernail gag...that was anasty.

I really liked the moments the boys had too, adult version -- at odds over Christmas but still in synch, and that Dean didn't duck away from it this time. I honest to go don't see how Dean thinks Sam is ever going to be okay with this.

And I freaking loved the closing scene -- because Sam doesn't like Christmas any more than he likes halloween, but as with Jess, he gave it his best because it made her happy, and he gives Christmas a shot too, because it means something to Dean. (okay, and just an observation -- that Dean gave Sam something he might want himself -- skin mags, and something he needs more than Sam appears too -- shaving cream. And Sam gives Dean motor oil and junk food....

Taking back this having watched the scene again. Dean did buy those things for himself. He wasn't prepared for Sam to try and give him Christmas, and I'm guessing he stopped to pick up the mags and shaving cream for himself, and did some quick thinking on the spot when he realized what Sam was doing. It doesn't really change my opinion on the rest, but I do think it very adorable and very Dean to give Sam his won stuff, and even more telling for Sam to get it, and appreciate the gesture. He had, after all, told Dena he wasn't doing this. God. Could they possibly love each other any more than they do? I think not.

I'm just saying that Sam is......

Not to start an argument or debate...but Sam really does honestly put himself in there people's shoes a good deal more easily than I think Dean does. It's not a criticism of Dean so much as an observation of Sam -- an he's not really flashy about it...but as with his ease at getting people to talk to him when he tries..I'm just ever more thrilled with Sam's subtle empathy.)

Sam said yummy. That will never stop being funny.

And again with the brother's as a gay couple -- playing it for all it's worth. And us. Tell me Kripke and the boy aren't doing it just to yank our chains. *g*

Comments

[maygra.livejournal.com]

No worries *g*

And lets face it, the lighter side of paganism isn't nearly as horrific or fun as the darker side for story telling, just as there's probably a case to be made that there really is more to catholicism than that handy exorcism ritual. But you can't talk about the Catholic church without remembering the Inquisition, or paganism without the much vaunted (if not invented) blood sacrifices...it'd be like voodoo without dead chickens. *g*

I stick to my guns that as far as Supernatural is concerned all of the religions, major and minor, are simply tools not of faith or actual deism as much as they come with such handy and infinitely twistable rituals and histories.