And now, a Supernatural post of relative substance

[meganbmoore]

Up to ep 11 now, so some random thoughts.  This should be unspoilery if you at least have the general gist of S2's set up.

The main thing that's been standing out to me is that the biggest weakness of S1 was the near complete lack of supporting cast.  Now, Supernatural is not and should not be an ensemble show...it's a roadtrip show about  a pair of brothers who go around fighting supernatural beasties out of folklore and horror stories.  It doesn't need an ensemble cast and would be held back by one.  Throughout S1, however, I kept thinking that it really, really needed a support system...just a couple people they could go to for information, if they needed a place to rest or lie low for a couple days, etc.  Basically, I spent all of season 1 thinking they needed Ellen, Ash and Jo.

And I love them all.  Ash(please oh please oh please don't let him be the leak in the roadhouse) may be something of a generic info geek guy, but he's fun.  Ellen is a great mix of motherly instinct and behavior and tough-as-nails vet/bar-keep.  She is, honestly, the best kind of motherly influence for Sam and Dean-takes care of them and gives them affection when they need it, but never gives them an inch or lets them get away with anything, which they very much need.  And they are both absolutely terrified and in awe of her.  And Dean has admitted he's scared of her.  I love it.

And-I'm sure this one will surprise absolutely everyone here-I love Jo.  I DON'T love Jo because she was brought in as a potential love interest for Dean.  I love Jo because she's fun, smart, cute and energetic.  Alona Tal manages to make Jo a girl who very much wants to be a part of the world that constantly walks in and out of her home but is frustrated because her mother won't let her be.  When Jo and Ellen fight, it doesn't grate on me the way a lot of protective mother/rebellious daughter fights do, because it makes sense...Ellen is terrified of losing Jo with good reason, while Jo has been raised to take care of herself and knows what's out there, she just isn't allowed to do anything about it.  Jo is more than gutsy enough to be a hunter, she just doesn't have the experience.  I love her.  The fact that Alona Tal and Jensen Ackles have great chemistry and timing and that Jo and Dean are very compatible is just a great bonus.

I honestly think TPTB seriously screwed up by stating up front that Jo was a potential love interest for Dean.  I think that if they'd just introduced her and had her as a recurring character for a while and THEN decided (officially) to go the Dean/Jo route, it wouldn't have caused such an uproar with the fans.  Most of what makes them really shippy now is the chemistry between Ackles and Tal.  Even without that, though, you have really cute and fun interactions between the spunky but too young daughter of a hunter and the hardened playboy hunter who will never ever ever in a million years touch her because he's afraid of her mother.  And because he likes and respects her.

Yes, if Jo does not return, I shall be ETERNALLY BITTER FOR ALL TIME.

I also find myself rather liking Gordon, the obsessive hunter who makes me think a lot of Angel's Gunn gone very, very wrong.

I'm really liking how they seem to be focusing more of ghosts this season, specifically, how there are so many different kinds of ghosts and legends behind them...it says a lot that so many episodes can be about ghosts without seeming repetitive.

And on a final(almost) note:  I love that Sam, the guy with psychic powers and the "big destiny" is the one that, at this point, has a good chance of one day being able to just settle down and leave it all behind him.  Mind you "a good chance" means no more demons after him and being able to tell himself that it won't mean people dying, but hey, he'd be able to live a normal life(and wants to.)  Meanwhile Dean, the "normal" one hasn't a prayer of ever having a "Normal" life or leaving it all behind.  Really, the best he'll ever be able to have is someone he can be friend and partner with day to day, and maybe something more when time allows.  Like Jo.  When she's a bit older and he  at least somewhat gets over his fear of Ellen.

And I have realized I have no Supernatural icons.  I have fixed and am sharing.  These are just from the pics I've posted and one or two others, so they're rather lacking on the Sam front.  I'm sure that I will shortly embark on a huge Supernatural iconning spree and will have more Sam icons then.

          

       

       

Comments

[bzoppa.livejournal.com]

I think if Tal had been allowed to stay, I probably would have kept up with the show.

As it is... I think I'm ditching it next season.

Icons, icons... I should hunt ones down this weekend for every show I'm watching so I can have something appropriate, rather than just my poltergeist one.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I am hopeful that they'll bring Jo back...They are bringing Ellen back, so...

[magicnoire.livejournal.com]

Yay, icons! I took a few. :)

I've only made it up to episode 9 so far. I keep falling asleep because of the medicine I'm taking but if it's making me feel better, I can't really argue with the results.

But in short: Yes, I agree with you. (Shocker, surprise.)

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I need to choose a Dean/Jo one to upload to my userpics...just don't know which...

And medicine making you feel better is good.

And you agreeing with me? But...but...SUCH A THING HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE!!! The world shall end... (extreme sarcasm for those who read the comment and don't know that we tend to have the same opinion about 19 times out of 20)

[foenix.livejournal.com]

You already know of my agreement...

They should've done more with Bobby and the priest in season one, but thinking about it, with their search for their father, season one kinda was all about how alone they were in the world, both literally, and as a storytelling device and metaphor. So it makes sense on that level, and is probably what they were going for, but yeah. They should have built up a little more.

Especially the priest since he kinda appeared then died. ;p

[magicnoire.livejournal.com]

I am so very sad the priest made an appearance that lasted only 1 minute before meeting an unfortunate end. My reaction was: "....hey."

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction too... "HEY! We got this guy 5 seconds ago WHY IS HE DYING???"

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I keep watching for Bobby after the first ep, but...

At least Ellen isn't just being "Jo's mother"

And I want more Gordon.

I remain sad over the priest.

[foenix.livejournal.com]

Oh, Bobby comes back, don't worry. At least three episodes.

Gee, they actually gave Ellen *gasp* a rounded character! ;)

Gordon...that was the Hunter that quite likes the killing, right?

And it's telling that NO ONE remembers the priests name. ;)

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Yes, Gordon is the one who quite likes the killing...

Who is a self trained vampire hunter and whose sister was turned and he had to kill her...

No, I don't think of Gunn in almost every scene he's in...

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Yes, if Jo does not return, I shall be ETERNALLY BITTER FOR ALL TIME.

There will be two of us . But I liked Dean with the demon lady too - he has fabulous chemistry with everyone. :D

Lovely, very "cool" icons - I love them!

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

True, Jensen Ackles can ccreate chemistry with a wall if he has to.

I realized yesterday that Dean/Jo is one of my biggest shipping weaknesses the girl-next-door character with a hopeless cruxh on the screwed up guy(usually also a playboy) who makes himself only see her as a little sister character...now that I have realized that, I may be doomed to shipping them forever.