(no subject)

[rubykatewriting]

I liked Walter for the first time ever. (He certainly won some points last week for singing Beauty and the Beast on Betty's doorstep.) He fucked up, but I can see why Betty took him back and why she wants to continue working on their relationship instead of going for the first someone new. However, I don't see them surviving much longer. Betty, for better or worse, has been changed by her job with Mode, and eventually Walter isn't going to fit with the new Betty.

I LOVED the scenes with Daniel and his mother. Claire, as played by Judith Light (Hee! Angela!), was brittle, sympathetic, and little more than a visitor in her own life. Her husband put her in a rehab facility essentially against her will, and she has stayed put. Is it because he dumped her there, or does she truly fear for her safety? Some over at uglybetty think that Bradford is really covering for her, and that she is truly the one behind Fey's "death." Hmm...I don't know about that, but this is why I'm truly beginning to enjoy the mystery. It just keeps getting better and better.

Now, as for Daniel, that boy doesn't know which end is up, and that lies fully in his upbringing. With a drunk for a mother, a father that clearly favored his older brother, and an older brother who could do no wrong, the fact that Daniel is able to function at all is a true testament to some wicked inner-strength (though he would definitely argue with that view).

It was interesting Daniel's reaction to Betty's criticism of the way he conducts his sexual life. He was very defensive, and I think that has to do with his affection for her and her opinion of him matters, but also because even he isn't that clueless with his whole bullshit line about, "Nobody's getting hurt." Although I wish just one woman on Betty's tour of Daniel's sex life, week 40-something, to be all, "Yeah, whatever." I wanted one to come to the table with Daniel's same attitude because it's not like women don't appreciate sex for sex's sake. Guh. My main quibble with the episode.

I enjoyed Wilhelmina’s plotline, and seeing Christina interact with someone other than Betty. I like when they mix it up in ensembles, as it never fails to shake up the current dynamics. Christina, Marc, and Wilhelmina battling over the dress was hilarious. (That elevator sees more action than anyone/thing else on this show, and I love how characters will pop on, talking in short-hand, and then pop off all quippy and shit.)

Amanda's little bathroom breakdown was odd but she recovered it in the end. "You know what? ... This NEVER happened." I'm really starting to appreciate the supporting players here (Michael Urie in last week's episode was made of win), because as Amanda left, her walk, the way she carried herself, changed back into the backbiting bitch we all know and love. Well done, Becki Newton.

Then you have that ending. Daniel turning down even a platonic evening with Amanda, and then Betty and Walter deciding to stay together but slow down. I love this show.


Okay, I actually enjoyed this episode. Like a lot. The humor was back. Sammy's visions were back and played a part in the MOTW. Dean was adorably dorky (admitting his fear of Ellen (damn straight, boy. She’d snap you in two if so inclined.) And, "He totally Obi-Wanned me!"), but the singing, as sarkastic said, felt more Jensen than Dean. I mean, I know Jensen is a singer and has started performing with a friend of his from back home, but Dean just busting out in song? Now? Nope. Good voice though, even if it was REO Speedwagon.

As for the MOTW, I found Andy quite harmless. He used his power of persuasion for ill-gotten gains, but he didn't come across as horrible as those sides were reading a few months back. He obviously drew the line at some things. His twin brother, however, made me see RED. Not only did he force Tracy into his car, he was going to rape her and then force her to "fly" off the dam. That fucker deserved to die, and the fact that his powers were so much more progressed than his brother's was terrifying. I mean, how he could feel Dean from that distance and managed to get Dean to turn the rifle on himself? Ooh, boy. Yeah, in this ‘verse, with everything they come up against, it's kill or be killed.

The final scene in the bar was great. So the season-long (or is it going to be series?) arc is finally coming into play. Why did Ellen send Jo to get the case of beer when they were going to discuss the demon? Where are they going with Jo's characterization? If she's to be a believable love interest for Dean, and part of the hunting community all this time, then she wouldn't get sent out when the “grown-ups” are sitting down for a chat. Interesting that they've decided to turn the Demon's MO thus far on its ear. Of course, it could all go down the shitter in the end, as this show seems to toe that line like whoa.

But they used Soundgarden! Put them together with Bush and Pearl Jam and you have the soundtrack of my high school years. And a little Chris Cornell is ALWAYS a good thing.

Overall, I loved the brothers' relationship in the episode. Dean asking for a do-over and Sam, "Are you seven?" I prefer the focus be on the boys, with the MOTW taking a backseat and the Demon-arc in the trunk. This episode did that pretty well, but it was written by Ben Edlund, writer of the much beloved Angel ep Smile Time. Of course, this means nothing to me, as I’ve never seen it, except that I enjoyed this episode a LOT and it felt tons more cohesive. The dialogue was better and the humor felt more organic, especially the pop culture references (I buy Dean as a Star Wars geek, whereas I don't buy him ever sitting through Pretty in Pink).

It's looking up so don't go screwin' it up, writers/producers.

One more thing: [SPOILER] is it next week’s ep that features the homicidal spirit of H.H. Holmes? Because I really hope they bring the scary because that was man was FULL-ON FUCKING INSANE.[/SPOILER]

Comments

[halfway2home.livejournal.com]

"Smile Time" was the best episode of "Angel" ever and possibly one of the best episodes of TV. It was dark and funny and twisted. And yes, it featured puppets! I think Ben Edlund's sense of humor definitely came off in this SPN episode.

[briary-flower.livejournal.com]

Angel was a different show every season because it was struggling to find its audience, but the show that I think of as Angel - you know, a show created by the guy who created Serenity - was season 3 & season 4. That was pedal to the metal, hardcore Angel. Dark, (and especially in season 4) brutal, and too intense and intelligent for 'shippy fangirls. I was glad Angel got a season 5 because it meant that the cast and crew were still employed, but S5 Angel was a retcon joke, IMO Angel unleaded. I know folks are fond of Smile Time, but it was just Angel with Muppets. The defining moment of ten years Angel was not Angel as a puppet. It wasn’t even the funniest joke in the run of the show.

Having said that, I thought last night's Supernatural was pretty good. That's a qualified good; in a universe where we understand that Supernatural is not that great a show. As always, the dialogue was bad ("Sayum, you look layke ur sucking on a layemon.") Dean's existential crisis from the Vampire ep seems to have healed up fine ... and by that I mean I'd like to see more character continuity.

Sam: I may be a killer.
Dean: Those things are asking for it.
Me: But in the vamp eppy you said ... *sighs* Never mind.

Also, don't they need to, er, keep track of these "special" children? You know, for the "war" and all? So why did they walk away from that slacker of no fixed address? Anyway, when Andy found them in the car was sweet. Loved, loved, loved that tracking shot back into the alley, and then Sam holding his hand up to ward Dean off, great sequence, so beautiful. Really cool, even if you know they just did that self-immolation stunt because they were all, Hey! We could do a self-immolation stunt in the writer's room. I'm totally feeling Jared these days, btw. I'm finding him much cuter than Jensen. Dean wears too much jewelry and basically comes off as an unsuccessful musician. Is he really in a band? Urk. Tell me it's not with Christian Kane.

I wish Alexis would do a guest episode, even though she's better than this show. It would be cool if she played someone super-powerful and evil. Oh, have you read Firestarter? They ripped the plot off from that book.