![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I feel like I should be writing something pithy or eloquent about my governor being impeached tonight, but the only surprise for me in this whole mess is that he ever managed to get reelected in the first place. So, I'm going to write about my favorite TV show instead.
I was really afraid that tonight's episode was going to be a humorous one. I'm not at all against humorous episodes, even though I don't always like them, but it would've felt awkward after spending the last four days mourning the loss of Kim Manners.
I was expecting an "in memory of" at the end of the episode, but I was really expecting it to be for Kim Manners and not those two other people. I guess they didn't want to take the focus away from those the episode was originally dedicated to, which makes sense, but I hope they do a tribute to Kim Manners sometime soon.
This episode really did play out like an ABC Afterschool Special with its focus on bullying and popularity and how much high school sucks for pretty much everybody no matter what social group they're categorized in. Most of the characters found out that social status in high school is pretty fluid and can change on a dime. The cheerleader went from sitting with the popular kids to being a nobody on the whim of one snotty blonde. Dirk the bully went from being an object of terror to a victim of bullying himself after Sam publicly beat him up. Dean went from the cool kid in school to a loser in seconds after being caught cheating on Amanda. And Sam went from a victim of bullying to the cool kid in school after taking down Dirk. And Sam wound up being a bully in Dirk's eyes because he was the first person to beat Dirk up (but apparently not the last). Funny how a tiny little geek with no money and an itinerant lifestyle like Sammy can be seen as having it all by a kid who became a bully because he couldn't deal with his feelings over losing his mother. It's all a matter of perspective.
I hope we get some more flashback episodes before the series ends. I love Colin Ford as Teen!Sammy. He really nails Sam's personality so well. I didn't like Brock Kelly as much as Teen!Dean. He seemed to be channeling Vinnie Barbarino or The Fonz more than Dean. Although, I suppose one could make the argument that Dean was the one channeling The Fonz in his efforts to appear too cool for school, but that wouldn't explain why he kept up the act in front of Sam when it was just the two of them. But it was awfully cute that despite Dean trying so hard to be the coolest guy around, the thing that impressed Amanda and the guy she really wanted to get to know was the side of Dean that came out when he was with Sam.
Some random things that didn't fit anywhere else:
• I loved the scene at the beginning where Dean was checking with Sam to make sure he had his books, lunch, and butterfly knife. Fanon becomes canon again. ::points at icon::
• I also loved that Sam was the one who eventually had enough and took down the bully. Most Wee!chester fic I've read has had Dean beating up bullies for Sam instead. Good to know that Sam wasn't helpless; he just had a much longer fuse than Dean.
• Have the Winchesters ever had to salt & burn a friend before? I know they did that for John, but that was a precaution, not because John was malevolent. Sam really liked Barry. I'm glad the spirit turned out to be Dirk and not him.
• That was one heck of an instant exorcism Sam pulled in the hallway. Looks like someone has been practicing.
• Sam already hated hunting by the age of 14, although he'd obviously been training in unarmed combat at least (which Dirk can attest to). Sam's English teacher at Truman High is the one who set him on the course for college and out of the "family business," which had apparently never occurred to Sam as an option before. Dean would probably kick the guy's ass for being a bad influence on Sam if he knew.
• There were the usual number of pop culture references in the episode, but my favorite was Dean calling the first possessed girl "Martha Dumptruck," a shout-out to one of my favorite movies as a teen, Heathers.
• Pssst, Dean? Gym teachers haven't dressed like that since The White Shadow. I'm just sayin'.
I really liked this episode a whole lot more than I thought I would.
ETA: This was the icon used on the original LJ post.
I was really afraid that tonight's episode was going to be a humorous one. I'm not at all against humorous episodes, even though I don't always like them, but it would've felt awkward after spending the last four days mourning the loss of Kim Manners.
I was expecting an "in memory of" at the end of the episode, but I was really expecting it to be for Kim Manners and not those two other people. I guess they didn't want to take the focus away from those the episode was originally dedicated to, which makes sense, but I hope they do a tribute to Kim Manners sometime soon.
This episode really did play out like an ABC Afterschool Special with its focus on bullying and popularity and how much high school sucks for pretty much everybody no matter what social group they're categorized in. Most of the characters found out that social status in high school is pretty fluid and can change on a dime. The cheerleader went from sitting with the popular kids to being a nobody on the whim of one snotty blonde. Dirk the bully went from being an object of terror to a victim of bullying himself after Sam publicly beat him up. Dean went from the cool kid in school to a loser in seconds after being caught cheating on Amanda. And Sam went from a victim of bullying to the cool kid in school after taking down Dirk. And Sam wound up being a bully in Dirk's eyes because he was the first person to beat Dirk up (but apparently not the last). Funny how a tiny little geek with no money and an itinerant lifestyle like Sammy can be seen as having it all by a kid who became a bully because he couldn't deal with his feelings over losing his mother. It's all a matter of perspective.
I hope we get some more flashback episodes before the series ends. I love Colin Ford as Teen!Sammy. He really nails Sam's personality so well. I didn't like Brock Kelly as much as Teen!Dean. He seemed to be channeling Vinnie Barbarino or The Fonz more than Dean. Although, I suppose one could make the argument that Dean was the one channeling The Fonz in his efforts to appear too cool for school, but that wouldn't explain why he kept up the act in front of Sam when it was just the two of them. But it was awfully cute that despite Dean trying so hard to be the coolest guy around, the thing that impressed Amanda and the guy she really wanted to get to know was the side of Dean that came out when he was with Sam.
Some random things that didn't fit anywhere else:
• I loved the scene at the beginning where Dean was checking with Sam to make sure he had his books, lunch, and butterfly knife. Fanon becomes canon again. ::points at icon::
• I also loved that Sam was the one who eventually had enough and took down the bully. Most Wee!chester fic I've read has had Dean beating up bullies for Sam instead. Good to know that Sam wasn't helpless; he just had a much longer fuse than Dean.
• Have the Winchesters ever had to salt & burn a friend before? I know they did that for John, but that was a precaution, not because John was malevolent. Sam really liked Barry. I'm glad the spirit turned out to be Dirk and not him.
• That was one heck of an instant exorcism Sam pulled in the hallway. Looks like someone has been practicing.
• Sam already hated hunting by the age of 14, although he'd obviously been training in unarmed combat at least (which Dirk can attest to). Sam's English teacher at Truman High is the one who set him on the course for college and out of the "family business," which had apparently never occurred to Sam as an option before. Dean would probably kick the guy's ass for being a bad influence on Sam if he knew.
• There were the usual number of pop culture references in the episode, but my favorite was Dean calling the first possessed girl "Martha Dumptruck," a shout-out to one of my favorite movies as a teen, Heathers.
• Pssst, Dean? Gym teachers haven't dressed like that since The White Shadow. I'm just sayin'.
I really liked this episode a whole lot more than I thought I would.
ETA: This was the icon used on the original LJ post.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-30 02:39 pm (UTC)From:I really liked this episode. The only thing that bugged me a little bit was the height difference. (And Colin Ford doesn't quite look 14 yet. But he's so good I can overlook that.)
The White Shadow! *loves*
Just yesterday I was thinking that Illini (Illinoisians?) must be so ashamed. Including the President. Gak, politicians. *shudders*
no subject
Date: 2009-01-30 03:24 pm (UTC)From:Yeah, the height difference did make it seem like there was more than 4 years age difference between Dean and Sam.
Just yesterday I was thinking that Illini (Illinoisians?) must be so ashamed.
For the most part, we're more relieved to be rid of him than ashamed of what he's done. He's the one who should be ashamed. (P.S. -- It's 'Illinoisans')
no subject
Date: 2009-01-30 02:43 pm (UTC)From: (Anonymous)Sam just wanting to be normal.
Dean trying to pretend he doesn't care about anything.
Barry getting beat up and harassed until he couldn't take it anymore. I'm glad it wasn't his spirit hurting people.
Dirk taking out his anger on everyone around him because he didn't have anyone to turn to.
I didn't think Sam exorcised the ghost, I thought the salt drove him out.
I loved Sam's "what I did last summer" paper about killing werewolves, esp. 'cause I read a fanfic about Sam handing in a paper like that.
And I too thought that Dean would hate the teacher if he knew who gave Sam the idea to leave. Though if it hadn't been him, it would have been someone else. Sam was/is too intelligent not to stand out, even if they are only there for a few weeks.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-30 02:45 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2009-01-30 03:27 pm (UTC)From:But then later they used a saltwater-soaked rope to hold the spirit in. ::is confused::
I read a fanfic about Sam handing in a paper like that.
I think I read that fic too.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-31 01:15 am (UTC)From:Last night's episode made me cry at the end when Sam goes to see his old English teacher.
Dean would have his ass handed to him by six mothers I know for having dodge ball (aka "legalized stoning" - no, really, that's what she called it) in gym. I almost wish Dean had a scene with a grown-up Amanda - serve him right if she didn't remember him.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-31 02:03 am (UTC)From:It was so sad when the teacher asked Sam if he was happy and Sam couldn't answer him. ::sniffle::
Dean would have his ass handed to him by six mothers I know for having dodge ball (aka "legalized stoning" - no, really, that's what she called it) in gym.
I never realized so many people had dodgeball trauma. I liked dodgeball. It beat the hell out of square dancing.
I almost wish Dean had a scene with a grown-up Amanda - serve him right if she didn't remember him.
That would've been awesome.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-31 07:20 am (UTC)From:I played the world's tiniest violin for Dirk since he really didn't have to take it out on other kids and Sam's "crime" was defending himself after getting a punch and knockdown from him on two separate occasions, but then I remembered how so many of the parents of the kids who tormented me and my brother if confronted couldn't believe that their angel children could do such a thing... and if they did, we must have done something to deserve it. So I'm going with my gut on Dirk the Jerk and I remain certain Sammy saved some kids from being Dirk's future victims.
Wee!Sam was excellent, and I think students everywhere are happy Dean became a hunter instead of a PE teacher.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-31 08:00 pm (UTC)From:I think students everywhere are happy Dean became a hunter instead of a PE teacher.
That's one of the side effects of all the moving around they did--Dean's only real role-model of a PE teacher was his ex-Marine hunter father. I think students everywhere are happy that John never went undercover as a PE teacher.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-01 03:04 am (UTC)From: