SPN 3x08: "A Very Supernatural Christmas"

[gryfndor_godess]

OH MY GOD, GUYS, THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE EPISODE OF SPN.

(Don’t ask me what my previous favorite was because I don’t have an answer.)

(Wait, that’s a lie; “Shut Up, Dr. Phil” was my favorite.  However, that remains in a category of its own because it’s only my favorite because of James and Charisma.)

THE FLASHBACKS.  The first one, where Dean was kind of rotten to Sam and snarled at him for daring to mention Mary, frustrated me and made me think this would be nothing but depressing.  But then we got the second flashback, which was also depressing (Sam finds out that monsters are real and thinks they’re all going to die and refuses to let Dean comfort him) but had the poignancy to make it all worthwhile.  AND THEN WE GOT THE THIRD FLASHBACK WHERE DEAN STOLE PRESENTS FOR SAM, PRETENDING THEY WERE FROM JOHN, AND SAM GAVE DEAN THE NECKLACE THAT WAS MEANT FOR JOHN, AND MY HEART EXPLODED WITH LOVE AND JOY.

THESE BOYS.  THESE BOYS.

In case you haven’t already noticed, there isn’t going to be any analysis here- it’s really just me flailing. 

Dean is such a good big brother!  He’s obviously not perfect, and in some ways he can be a terrible brother- like when he yells at Sam for daring to talk about their mother, heavens to Betsy, what a crime!- but that makes him a great character and the fact that he keeps trying is what makes him, overall, a wonderful brother.  I loved how after he got angry at Sam, he came back with dinner and didn’t make a big deal of it and how he told Sam the truth about monsters- the little boy actor was really good; his anger seemed over-the-top, but you could see his hesitation about telling the truth in the second flashback and his relief at getting to share the secret.  I loved how he insisted that John was a superhero (even though he is actually a TERRIBLE father and not deserving of his son’s adoration, let’s be honest).  I loved that he stole presents for Sam and swore he didn’t know they were for chicks.  I love how much he appreciated the necklace (in normal circumstances, I would have expected him to scoff at getting jewelry).  Concerning Sam (whose child actor was also really good), I loved how he just wanted to cut through all the bullshit about monsters and John.  His realism was depressing as shit, but it was a perfect counterbalance for Dean and made for heartbreakingly good TV.

JARED’S FACE, OMFG.  WHEN THE LAST FLASHBACK CUT FROM YOUNG SAM TO JARED.  This was possibly the first episode where I thought, “I want to marry Sam Winchester.”  I’m pretty sure in the past I’ve thought that I wouldn’t be opposed to it, but this is the first time where I REALLY, REALLY WANT HIM (um, so I kind of judge TV characters on whether I would marry them.  It’s a thing that started with Ted Mosby, because a few seasons ago, before the writers made him such a tool, I legit would have been the mother; keep in mind when you’re laughing at me, TED MOSBY WAS NOT ALWAYS A TOOL THE WAY HE IS NOW, eff you Carter Bays & Craig Thomas).

So yeah, I would marry Sam.  HE MADE CHRISTMAS FOR DEAN.  THEY GOT EACH OTHER PRESENTS AT THE GAS-MART.  PLEASE CAN I MARRY BOTH BOYS?

I just cannot get over the brotherly emotional roller coaster in this episode.  SO MUCH POIGNANCY.

And not only that, but the episode worked for me on so many other levels!  There was a ton of humor!  Nothing OTT but enough subtle things that I was smiling for most of it (stuff like Dean not knowing who Mary Poppins was- which actually makes sense, given his childhood; Sam knowing all about pagan stuff- although wasn’t Jesus born in spring, not fall?; THE BOYS CAROLING TO THE DRUNK SANTA).  And I really liked the villains.  Mr. and Mrs. Pagan Gods were hilarious when they weren’t ripping out Sam’s fingernail (the only part that really freaked me out because I can’t deal with that sort of torture).  Seriously, villainous grandma-and-grandpa-types was a stroke of comic genius.

Obviously the yanking parents up the chimney was less than fun to watch (oh god the beginning!  The little boy watching his grandfather be killed and not even knowing it!), but I have to admit, the murder in the middle with the adorable blond boy watching and the Christmas music playing was so well executed.  And by that, I mean, SUCH AN ADORABLE CHILD.  His curly hair makes me think he would be a rather good tiny!William (because let’s face it, I have a one-track mind, and that track is Spuffy).

Shows that try seasonal gimmicks can become saccharine pretty easily, but this episode was fantastic.  Everything about it was superbly executed.  The opening was creepy, the Christmas music was well used and not overplayed, the red herrings weren’t contrived, the villains were scary and funny, the flashbacks were well utilized, the humor was subtle and consistent, the acting was excellent, and there was a perfect mixture of pathos and comedy.  I sort of just want to watch this episode all over again.  I’m not because I’m tired, BUT THAT’S HOW MUCH I LOVED IT.

NEW FAVORITE EPISODE.

Did y’all like it or am I alone in my glee?

Comments

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

This is me, December 2010. Just before leaving for my own Christmas.

*memory flail*

Kid!Sam is a superb actor. Many attempts at kid!Dean during the series are less so, though this one's okay.

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

:) That's so nice that you have a clear recollection of watching it. I wonder if I would have liked it even more if I'd seen it during the intended time of the year. It put me in quite the Christmas spirit...

[pocochina.livejournal.com]

ooooh, definitely not alone! I just watched this episode for the first time this past week so this post is timely for me. I was hesitant to watch it my first time through because I am allergic to Christmas, but I ended up really liking it. It strikes that balance of being cynical about the holiday and totally heartfelt about the relationship.

This was possibly the first episode where I thought, “I want to marry Sam Winchester.”

HE'S SO GREAT HERE. he just gets better and better, too. <3

Concerning Sam (whose child actor was also really good), I loved how he just wanted to cut through all the bullshit about monsters and John.

yeah. For such a skilled liar, Sam really resents pretense. Dean finds performance comforting and escapist, so he does it even when it's not part of the job, but it chafes for Sam. Which is why the Christmas charade costs him so much emotionally, but he does it for Dean.

GRINCHY SAMMY = GPOY.

(even though he is actually a TERRIBLE father and not deserving of his son’s adoration, let’s be honest)

right?! the legit worst. Joss Whedon is like, "daaaamn, rly?"

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

I just watched this episode for the first time this past week so this post is timely for me.It strikes that balance of being cynical about the holiday and totally heartfelt about the relationship.

I'm the opposite about Christmas in that I love it, and I thought the episode had a nice balance of mocking it affectionately. They poked fun at the commercialism of it with drunk Santa and the villains, but they did a really nice job of showing the spirit of it with the boys.

it chafes for Sam.

I relate so much to that. Although I'm not sure I agree that he considered the Christmas celebration a charade. It wasn't like Dean was pretending it wasn't his last Christmas. I think they just viewed it differently, where for Dean, he wanted to make the most of it, and for Sam, it was too painful (I mean, I suppose it was a charade in the sense that they were acting like they had something to be happy about, but I don't think it was a charade in the sense that either character was lying to himself).

the legit worst

He got a few points for sacrificing himself for Dean but in every other regard, he sucks so much.

Ugh, Joss is probably jealous that his parental characters were only lowercase terrible.

[pocochina.livejournal.com]

(I mean, I suppose it was a charade in the sense that they were acting like they had something to be happy about, but I don't think it was a charade in the sense that either character was lying to himself).

Yeah, that's what I meant. Enabling the dysfunction by pretending things are okay when they're so fucked-up. Dean was never expected to buy into the pretense. Sam really feels like he's being had when he's told to play nice (because he was for so long). But the episode gives us the flashback to the moment where Dean told Sam the truth about their lives, which is why it makes sense that Sam is willing to go over his every instinct and...make egg nog and watch the game and act like they're celebrating instead of mourning. OH BOYS.

[joans-journal.livejournal.com]

I adore this episode, too. In fact, I just watched it last week.
I love Supernatural. I love Sam and Dean. I usually can not contain my glee, either. Last night my boyfriend watched it with me for the first time, and i swear, like every other moment I was like, "Isnt this show genius and arent these boys JUST AWESOME ND BADASS?"
He basically told me he thinks theyre bros and that it was "alright", lol. Oh well. You cant win them all.

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

Yay for more SPN friends! :)

Maybe your boyfriend will like it more if he sees more. I know it took me a good while to work up enthusiasm about the show (it does have a severe lack of ladies, which might not put your boyfriend off but definitely turns me off occasionally).