Supernatural: In My Time of Dying
Aug. 25th, 2011 08:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gryfndor_godess2x01: In My Time of Dying
I don’t have notes this time because I watched the episode while on the treadmill and hence without a computer. But I still have…
Overall Thoughts:
Another fantastic episode! I think I actually liked this one even more than the last one. I love everything about Dean’s out-of-body experience, from how Sam refuses to give up on him and tries the Ouija board (that scene was adorable and so in-character for both of them!) to his conversations with the reaper to the revelation of how violent spirits are created to the camera work itself (such as the audience not knowing Dean is in the room during Sam and John’s fight near the beginning and then the camera panning to reveal Dean, who knows that John just lied about something).
The interactions with the reaper were both meaty and sad (really liked the actress; not crazy about the differences in the mythology from “Faith”- would have to rewatch “Faith” to see if it actually jives), and I appreciate so much the look on Dean’s face when he realizes what will happen to him if he refuses to go with her. You can tell that if Demonturdface (my name for the Big Bad, until I find out his real one- I’m assuming he’s not actually Lucifer) hadn’t saved him, Dean would have accepted his fate and moved on rather than become one of the things he hunted (not sure how I feel about him forgetting everything; it makes sense, I guess, but it also seems a little clichéd).
Speaking of Demonturdface (also really like that actor), John’s death was quite moving and I’m actually sad that he’s dead. I spent most of the episode hating his guts and glaring whenever he was on-screen, but the reveal in the end is just heartbreaking and completely redeems him IMO. I still don’t think he’s someone I would like in real life (military-style relationships between parents and children, with “Yes, sirs,” etc., are one of my biggest pet peeves), but it is so obvious now that he really does love his sons more than anything- and he truly, truly loves Dean and did recognize the courage and hard work Dean displayed growing up. I’m really glad that Dean got that validation from his father before John died, even if Dean did look really confused by it (which makes sense, given that last episode, that same validation was what made him suspicious- excellent full circle).
The fact that John was willing to compromise with Demonturdface makes him so much more of a 3D character. I know that eventually we’re going to get into angels and God and the actual Hell and religious-y type stuff, and so I wonder what actually happened to John. Did he get to go to Heaven (cause if he did, with all this angel stuff, the boys might actually get to see him again someday!)? Did the Colt destroy him utterly, the same way Illyria supposedly destroyed Fred? Did Demonturdface get to take his soul to Hell as part of the bargain (I really hope not)? Will someone please tell me if we find out what happened, although don’t tell me what the answer is.
Sam was just as lovable as Dean in this episode, IMO. I love that he calls John on not caring about Dean (although why did he bring John the summoning supplies anyway once Bobby told him what they were? Bit contrived, that) and that he does everything he can think of to help Dean. As I said, the Ouija board was a wonderful touch, and it really does seem like such a Sam-thing to think of and resort to. The scenes between him and Dean where you sometimes saw one and sometimes both were also excellently staged. Jared’s face when he thought Dean was dying was also beautiful/heartbreaking to watch. I love that Sam maintained his new family-over-revenge mindset, and I hope it carries forward into following episodes.
My only minor quibble with the episode is that I don’t understand why the blonde nurse died (lying on the ground- suffocating?- and crying for help). The reaper wasn’t there, and the nurse didn’t seem to be dying of natural causes.
Random note, I think a great title would have been “10:41,” the time that John died (such a great way to end the episode). At the very least the title could have been “In the Time of My Dying” instead of “In My Time of Dying.” Isn’t the former a famous quote? Or not…according to Google the latter is actually a famous quote and is both the title of a gospel song and a Led Zeppelin song. Huh. I would swear I’ve heard the former a lot more frequently, though.
Well in any case, this episode was phenomenal. RIP, John Winchester.
Purely Subjective Rating:
5/5
Favorite Boy:
Tie
I don’t have notes this time because I watched the episode while on the treadmill and hence without a computer. But I still have…
Overall Thoughts:
Another fantastic episode! I think I actually liked this one even more than the last one. I love everything about Dean’s out-of-body experience, from how Sam refuses to give up on him and tries the Ouija board (that scene was adorable and so in-character for both of them!) to his conversations with the reaper to the revelation of how violent spirits are created to the camera work itself (such as the audience not knowing Dean is in the room during Sam and John’s fight near the beginning and then the camera panning to reveal Dean, who knows that John just lied about something).
The interactions with the reaper were both meaty and sad (really liked the actress; not crazy about the differences in the mythology from “Faith”- would have to rewatch “Faith” to see if it actually jives), and I appreciate so much the look on Dean’s face when he realizes what will happen to him if he refuses to go with her. You can tell that if Demonturdface (my name for the Big Bad, until I find out his real one- I’m assuming he’s not actually Lucifer) hadn’t saved him, Dean would have accepted his fate and moved on rather than become one of the things he hunted (not sure how I feel about him forgetting everything; it makes sense, I guess, but it also seems a little clichéd).
Speaking of Demonturdface (also really like that actor), John’s death was quite moving and I’m actually sad that he’s dead. I spent most of the episode hating his guts and glaring whenever he was on-screen, but the reveal in the end is just heartbreaking and completely redeems him IMO. I still don’t think he’s someone I would like in real life (military-style relationships between parents and children, with “Yes, sirs,” etc., are one of my biggest pet peeves), but it is so obvious now that he really does love his sons more than anything- and he truly, truly loves Dean and did recognize the courage and hard work Dean displayed growing up. I’m really glad that Dean got that validation from his father before John died, even if Dean did look really confused by it (which makes sense, given that last episode, that same validation was what made him suspicious- excellent full circle).
The fact that John was willing to compromise with Demonturdface makes him so much more of a 3D character. I know that eventually we’re going to get into angels and God and the actual Hell and religious-y type stuff, and so I wonder what actually happened to John. Did he get to go to Heaven (cause if he did, with all this angel stuff, the boys might actually get to see him again someday!)? Did the Colt destroy him utterly, the same way Illyria supposedly destroyed Fred? Did Demonturdface get to take his soul to Hell as part of the bargain (I really hope not)? Will someone please tell me if we find out what happened, although don’t tell me what the answer is.
Sam was just as lovable as Dean in this episode, IMO. I love that he calls John on not caring about Dean (although why did he bring John the summoning supplies anyway once Bobby told him what they were? Bit contrived, that) and that he does everything he can think of to help Dean. As I said, the Ouija board was a wonderful touch, and it really does seem like such a Sam-thing to think of and resort to. The scenes between him and Dean where you sometimes saw one and sometimes both were also excellently staged. Jared’s face when he thought Dean was dying was also beautiful/heartbreaking to watch. I love that Sam maintained his new family-over-revenge mindset, and I hope it carries forward into following episodes.
My only minor quibble with the episode is that I don’t understand why the blonde nurse died (lying on the ground- suffocating?- and crying for help). The reaper wasn’t there, and the nurse didn’t seem to be dying of natural causes.
Random note, I think a great title would have been “10:41,” the time that John died (such a great way to end the episode). At the very least the title could have been “In the Time of My Dying” instead of “In My Time of Dying.” Isn’t the former a famous quote? Or not…according to Google the latter is actually a famous quote and is both the title of a gospel song and a Led Zeppelin song. Huh. I would swear I’ve heard the former a lot more frequently, though.
Well in any case, this episode was phenomenal. RIP, John Winchester.
Purely Subjective Rating:
5/5
Favorite Boy:
Tie
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no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 01:36 am (UTC)The demon = the YED until we learn his real name. :D
And yes, we do eventually learn what happened to John.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 01:39 am (UTC)Great! Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 01:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 01:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 01:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-26 01:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-27 04:54 am (UTC)Alas, for the Reaper was my favorite MOW in all of S1 (helped that the episode was excellent, too), but I think they decided at this point they needed more flexibility. You don't have to read it exactly as a retcon - maybe the guy in Faith chose to look the way he did - but it smells a lot like one.
Speaking of Demonturdface (also really like that actor)
He is fabulous, and I think he does a great job of carrying on with the character that JDM started in the last episode. They actually get quite a few really strong character actors on this show.
So yeah, you were totally right about the title and I've been saying it wrong all this time. *facepalm*
Gah, I love this episode so very much. I don't think I mentioned it in my review, but I loved the musical theme Dean had in this ep - beautiful and melancholy. Just in general I'm really impressed with the scoring for this show.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-27 01:39 pm (UTC)Yeah! I hadn't thought of it like that precisely, but you're right. The new guy plays a good villain to begin with, but even more he really does transition seamlessly from JDM's efforts. It's not at all like you're watching two different villains.
I'm becoming more impressed. I don't care for rock, so the way most S1 episodes always ended with a song blaring as they roared off in the Impala usually bugged me, but the instrumentals are more-or-less pleasing, if sometimes a little heavy-handed.