Supernatural: Dead in the Water

[gryfndor_godess]

Notes I took while watching:
-This isn't at all like Jaws...
-So is this like a procedural where every episode starts with a murder and the MotW?
-AMY ACKER!!!!!
-I can't decide if I like the boys arguing (Sam's impatient to look for John, Dean telling him to chill out, etc.) or if it seems contrived just to remind the audience what the Overall Arc is.
-Agents Ford and Hamill
-Dean is immediately and instinctively friendly to the kid!
-Dean's scene with Lucas in the playground!!!
-If it can go through the pipes...basilisk!  No, probably not, but really, a line like that and how can you not think of Chamber of Secrets?
-"I think about that every day.  And I do my best to be brave."  GAH.
-NO NO NO NO NO DON'T TAKE A BATH AMY ACKER!!!
-Cool visual effect of the dad going under...really cheesy effect of Dean coming up with Lucas.
-Dean's reaction when she kisses him!  Is he going to get a smooch from the damsel-in-distress at the end of every episode?  Not that I'm complaining as long as the DID are somewhat well rounded, as they were here and in "Wendigo."

Moments that made me giggle inside:
-"That's fun," re: flirting with waitresses
-Dean's reaction to the loch ness monster comment
-Dean telling Lucas that "Chicks dig artists"
-"We're not gonna have to hug or anything, are we?"

Moments that made me actually LOL:
-"Never being able to find your way to a decent pick-up line."
-Dean trying to think of children he knows

Overall Thoughts:
          I really, really liked this episode!  It was funny, it had a mystery actually worth watching, a creepy but not disgusting villain, lots of funny and touching moments, significant Dean interaction with someone other than Sam, and Amy Acker!  Speaking of AA, I liked how she spent most of the episode talking to Sam and then kissed Dean at the end.  Perhaps I am reading too much into this, but his look of shock combined with his criticism of his art skills while saying that women like artists indicates to me that he actually doesn't expect much of himself when it comes to the ladies, despite his PUA attitude.  I don't care for it in real life, but damn, characters with a macho exterior and vulnerable interior are such a turn-on (I'm looking at you, Spike).

ETA: I also think the denouement with the father was handled quite well.  It all seemed natural, from his anger and denial to his desperate confession and plea for understanding when his daughter confronted him to his panic and sacrifice when his grandson was in danger.  None of it felt contrived.

          I don't have any complaints, really, except the rehashed, stilted Dean & Sam argument, and I actually want to watch the next episode.  Unfortunately I can't 'cause of hw, but yay for anticipation.

Purely Subjective Rating:
4/5

Favorite Boy: 
Dean

Comments

[snickfic]

I don't care for it in real life, but damn, characters with a macho exterior and vulnerable interior are such a turn-on (I'm looking at you, Spike).

YES. Dean reminds me a lot of Spike in some ways, particularly the exterior/interior contrast.

-"Never being able to find your way to a decent pick-up line."

Tee hee. Yes. That was the moment during the ep when I cheered. And, rather to my surprise, I was really thrilled to see Amy Acker. Fred pretty much just irritates me, but it turns out I really like Acker in just about any other role.

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

I love that icon of yours.

I had been under the impression that Castiel was a very Spike-like character, which makes the Dean-Spike parallels more interesting. I look forward to seeing how that dynamic plays out.

[snickfic]

I had been under the impression that Castiel was a very Spike-like character, which makes the Dean-Spike parallels more interesting.

Huh. I didn't realize that. Despite having read ghostyouknow27's BtVS/SPN stealth crossover with Castiel in it, I really have very little sense of what he's like. Mostly I gathered that he was a fish-out-of-water, studying-humanity-from-the-outside type, a la Data or Illyria. I'll see when I get there, I guess. :)

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

My impressions of Castiel come from occasionally running into enthusiastic shippers and having read/skimmed the Wikipedia article on SPN a few months ago (fortunately I don't remember too much of the plot). I associate him with Spike b/c as far as I know (and this could be wrong) Castiel, like Spike, was supposed to be a short-arc minor character whom fans adored and so who eventually became a lead; not to mention the surprise-shipping-him-with-another-lead Buffy/Spike parallel. When I started noticing the Dean-Spike parallels I realized I was probably conflating Castiel's origin on the show with his personality. I did think Castiel was snarky about humanity a la Spike's general sarcasm, but I could definitely be wrong.

[ever-neutral.livejournal.com]

Worrrrd on Dean. Boy has abandonment issues up the wazoo.

I can't actually speak for the real-life womanizer thing because, believe it or not, I have never known any guy (superficially) like Dean or Spike, etc. in real life.

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

Boy has abandonment issues up the wazoo.

I bet those will be interesting once they find John.