Supernatural - 9x1 "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here" Full Reaction
Added 2021-12-01 07:13:22 +0000 UTC
Comments
Thanks for this info @rose mnor !
SKK
2021-12-05 15:32:24 +0000 UTCThanks so much for your validation, Hasnaa. I appreciate this - I felt a bit raw after my long post the other day. *Edited out*
rose mnor
2021-12-04 23:51:30 +0000 UTCThanks rose, i never thought of it as Sam not really having a choice before, this makes more sense than him giving up
Hasnaa
2021-12-04 17:57:12 +0000 UTCAs always i enjoyed reading your comments & learned a lot
Hasnaa
2021-12-04 17:54:17 +0000 UTCNo worries - I don't judge. There are plenty of ships to enjoy in this show, and I have always appreciated that the writers gave all of them a nod from time to time. It's when people get a little too entitled and extra that I have issues in general. I used to do a lot of shipping, but it really skewed my perspective of things and I had a lot of bad experiences in this fandom as a result. So I had to get out for my own well being. But that's just my experience. I much prefer the objective viewing experience. And hearing other ones as well.
Vel
2021-12-02 10:25:20 +0000 UTCI loved that they use Bobby as Sam's inner thought that wants to go if your time is up (hello, continuity from S7) and Dean as the opposite of that. We've seen this before in When the levee breaks where Sam tends to compartmentalize his thoughts by projecting specific arguments onto individuals from his life. And I appreciate this method of storytelling too, it can easily let the audience know Sam's inner thought process from beginning to the end, and how we can understand where he stands at every point and at the very end of things. And it is kinda interesting to note that Death is there on Sam’s terms. Meaning he is not there to reap Sam if Sam doesn’t want to die. Sam has a choice whether to die or not. This leads to why I can also understand where Dean is coming from too and why he was surprised that Sam is giving up. Death is right there giving him the choice to live or die. Whereby before he collapsed, Sam already agreed to stop the trial and live. So I kind of do not have an issue that Dean lets Ezekiel possess Sam in order to not let him die when there is still a way to continue living, to save Sam. By whatever chance there is. That is the Dean's way - you just don’t give up, you find another way. He didn’t simply let any angel possess Sam, he refer to Castiel, to find out about this new angel. And Cas vouch for Ezekiel. Furthermore, at the moment that the possession happened, Dean has every intention of telling Sam about Ezekiel. Only later that he was pressured with the worst-case scenario into keeping it a secret. I'd rather take a risk and have the person I love survive than do the morally right thing, and hope later everything works out for the best. They can work on the solution or make everything better between them on another day. In that way, I guess the intention is what matters the most to me here. When they teased how they are going to save Sam back in the day, the PR was that they are going to use a method that have not been used before. So, Dean letting an angel possess Sam in order to heal him is kinda true to that PR line, but Sam being possessed is not a new thing, and I was a bit disappointed by it at that time. However, I was excited to see the fallout from that. Bring on the angst and the fight, lol. In the s8 finale, for Sam, it was, "I'd rather be dead than disappoint you again. I can't fail you again." In the s9 premiere, for Dean, it was, "I'd rather you hate me than you be dead. I can't fail you again." The Winchester codependency circle was laid out plainly for all to see.
rose mnor
2021-12-02 09:28:07 +0000 UTCAnd the second one is, whether that was really Death or Sam's manifestation of Death, like Bobby and Dean. Questions were raised to Julian Richings about how he was playing Death. Julian has said he didn't play Death as Death. He also said at a later con that he was directed to play Death as Death and that he decided that he couldn't be Death because he wasn't eating. (Sorry, there is no source for this except in fan forums discussing them). Some views as saying that it was Sam's manifestations were, - why wasn't it a normal reaper like always, why is it Death himself - Death's high praised of Sam's achievements, Death earlier was not that impressed with either Sam or Dean, comparing them to protozoa in S7 - normally when Death appears he would be eating as Julian said - there wouldn't be a choice whether to die or not die By the end of the day, Death as the real original Death and not a manifestation would fit the story canon better. Sorry, Julian, your headcanon was a bit off ... The pro for the real Death was, - Bobby's reaper lets him stay but he is still dead, just like Death lets Sam stay whether Ezekiel can heal him or not - Sam in the prior episode to this has probably the lowest opinion that he has of himself, re the church scene, so he can't be elevating his self as per Death's mouthpiece on him - Death came to collect Sam himself and doesn't send a reaper to avoid another rogue reaper incident like Bobby's case. If Sam decides to accept his fate, then Death wants to make absolutely certain that NO ONE shuttles him where he doesn't belong - Death eating something if he is corporeal, outside in the real world. This is in Sam's mind, he doesn't have to eat.
rose mnor
2021-12-02 08:57:44 +0000 UTCAnd now to the plot specifics .... a bit different this time around. I would like to go into 2 main issues, or lean more towards fans' confusion, that I saw during my after-episode lurking on the net that time. First confusion: In the scene where Dean is trying to convince Sam not to go with Death and says that memorable line, “There ain’t no me if there ain’t no you,” a lot of us weren’t sure if that was actually Dean — if Ezekiel sent Dean in to convince Sam and then switched places with him, so that he can possess Sam — or if that was Ezekiel all along, looking like Dean. During an M&G Torcon 2013 a few days after the premiere, Questions were raised to Jensen: when you were doing that scene, how were you playing it? Jensen: I was playing it as Ezekiel. He went on to explain that Ezekiel was, however, expressing Dean’s genuine feelings about Sam, but putting it in words that Dean himself probably would never say out loud. In other words, the line was the truth, but we all know that Dean’s not very good at putting his feelings out there, that Ezekiel knew how Dean really feels about Sam and put it in the words that Dean can’t say but Sam needs to hear. He went on with another example, the infamous "I love you" line that was taken out. His reasoning was the same - it didn’t seem like something Dean would actually come out and say very easily. Ditto that above-said line to Sam.
rose mnor
2021-12-02 08:55:40 +0000 UTCLook like I am late for the party .... This is a great season premiere in my opinion, better than the S8 one. The ratings also reflected the same - it was the highest-rated Supernatural premiere since season six. And a great reaction too, Shelley. What an action-packed, suspenseful episode that deftly balances the internal and external struggles of the three main players. It had my complete attention for the hour’s entirety. S9 will continue with an increased rating streak and eventually, SPN became the show with the second-highest percentage gained in TV viewership, falling one spot from S8 to Scandal. It is good to see Misha Collins officially listed as a regular again, rather than a Special Guest Star like the previous couple of seasons. And it is also heartening to see that Jeremy continues utilizing Misha/Castiel as an important character to the series. Castiel's decision to follow Metatron back to heaven in the S8 finale has a tremendous impact on the S9 storyline. His decision to leave Dean in that crucial moment - I just love how much his choices matter to the story. It's interesting how a character who used to be a guest appearance has SO much importance to the storyline now.
rose mnor
2021-12-02 08:53:26 +0000 UTCRight?! These writers can be so detailed and ingenious sometimes. Your comment about his human “thirst” made me remember that Cas at the very beginning of the episode told that nice guy who gave him a ride that he didn’t drink water and then ended with him drinking (savoring is more like it) that bottle of water. UGH when this show is good, it’s GOOD👌🏻
Kristin Dorner
2021-12-02 07:45:41 +0000 UTCOh yes, kudos to you for that costume change comment on Cas, signifying that he lost his angelic status by losing the trench coat and the suit - a normal angel's costume. By changing to a hoodie and jeans (?), he became a human who is subjected to hunger and thirst.
rose mnor
2021-12-02 07:40:42 +0000 UTCIf I may offer a differing view, I don't really think that it is Sam who was so determined to die or wanting to die. In the hospital room, Ezekiel said "This just started," to Dean's "What the hell's happening?" when the monitor made that loud beeping noise. I thought that was the machine signifying that Sam is on the cusps of death? which later Ezekiel kind of waved at it to silence the sounds. In my opinion, the whole episode about Sam is parallel to Bobby’s death journey in Death’s Door. Whereby in the real world, oxygen to Sam's brain has been severely deprived and his body is shutting down. Like Bobby, Sam was on the brink of the afterlife too, so the whole episode is Sam actually on his death’s door. By the end, Death is there to reap him, waiting for Sam to be ready to follow him. And this is when in Sam's mind, the fight to live represented by the image of Dean, disappeared. His fight is over and he is now willing to follow Death. Unlike Bobby. The irony is that the whole of Bobby's journey episode was him evading his reaper, while the reaper is patiently trying to persuade and wanting Bobby to willingly follow him. As we know, Bobby then eventually refused and he stayed back as a ghost, and nearly end up becoming an angry spirit himself.
rose mnor
2021-12-02 06:42:49 +0000 UTCAwesome reaction as alway, Shelley! This episode really threw me when I first saw it because I had the same thoughts as you. The more I rewatched it and thought about it, it brings up some really interesting things. This episode is just a big old discussion of consent. Like others have said, Dean specifically said that he knows that Sam would NEVER agree to be possessed by anything. But his own fear of Sam dying (and permanently by asking Death to make sure he couldn’t come back) caused him to make a decision that went against Sam’s own wishes. And having Zeke pose as him to convince Sam to change his mind was so manipulative (using “there ain’t no me if there ain’t no you”, basically saying if you’re gone there won’t be a point of me living) and was a perfect example of “coerced consent”, which of course is NOT consent. Even knowing that, it’s hard to blame Dean for doing what he did. I have been fortunate to never be put in this kind of position, but I cannot even imagine it. I have no idea how it would feel to have to make that kind of decision, especially if what the other person wants goes against everything you feel at your very core. ESPECIALLY in Dean’s case where not only does this feel like losing a brother, but must also feel, at least in part, like losing a son, too, because he pretty much raised Sam. I’ve always felt like that was a huge reason the brother’s relationship is so intense (especially on Dean’s side). It’s interesting to look at this from the perspective of someone who works in healthcare, too. I makes me think of terminal patients, like cancer patients, that have just been fighting for so long and are so tired and ready to be done, but they will keep fighting only because of their loved ones beg them to (focusing more on the quantity of life more than the quality those few extra weeks or months of life will be). Or of family members of people in comas that make medical decisions that go against what they know the patient wants just because they are not ready to let the person go. Even Cas and Hale are an example of the consent discussion. But their situation reminds me more of consent issues with intimate relationships (she wants to get close to him so he will stay with her, so that they can “become one”, then when he tries to leave, she forcibly keeps him with her by hurting him and threatening his safety). Cas is human…FINALLY!!! I have wanted this for so long! The fact that as an Angel he had this massive appreciation for humanity and now gets to experience it is so poetic🥰 And I LOVE how they represented that visually with his costume change at the laundromat. This is such a good season with a LOT of complexity to it and I cannot wait to tag along on your S9 experience!
Kristin Dorner
2021-12-02 02:25:33 +0000 UTCHe was so hurt he was dying with a chance of survival here, but if he finished them it would been lights out without a chance of hope I believe.
Kyle
2021-12-01 22:14:21 +0000 UTC@Vel p.s. When I said "I ship plenty" in a previous comment to which you replied, I wasn't specific about what and when I ship 😉
SKK
2021-12-01 20:59:05 +0000 UTCI will go into detail next episode.
Christopher simeon
2021-12-01 17:52:22 +0000 UTCWho? Can you send me a message who Hael is supposed to represent? I never picked up on that and still don’t. I’d like to hear your thoughts, as it’s got me intrigued. Thanx!
Amye Sabin
2021-12-01 17:07:18 +0000 UTCFirst off love the reaction. I really enjoyed this premiere and what it says about Sam and dean. First off in Sam mind dream and what that says. Dean is the part of Sam that wants to fight. Why? Because Dean is always the reason Sam stays hunting. Bobby on the other hand is the part that wants to die. Why? Because it is his death, the ghost situation and his last words as a ghost in 7x23 "When it is your time go" that made Sam stop wanting unnatural means of staying alive and my theory is why he did not look for dean because he figured dean may feel the same way. (He did not on the account of he was not dead lol) Bobby mentions making a demon deal confirming the parallel with dean's self destructive choice in that season 2 finale to bring sam back to life leading to many of the bad things that happened to Sam that Sam feels responsible for. It also is a parallel to giving sam his soul back and the issues that caused to sam psyche as well that you also mentioned. Zeke(short for Ezekiel) is not the same as Cas which is why he is a great addition to this story especially with Cas not being an angel. He is very logic driven while cas is more emotionally driven now as we see this episode. He does not see the problem in hiding it from Sam on a emotional level and what that does to dean he is just thinking about Sam physically. In a weird way dean gets a person other than Sam and Cas to talk to like he could have had with benny. I am surprised shelley that you think Sam would agree to be possessed after season 5 proved that they would do anything not to be a angel condom. Sam would have gone with death if dean had told him that he had to be possessed. But is he right to do so? Now Hael the angel. I want you to think hard on who she is a parallel too and why. I also love the ascension and the descension of sam and cas. Human turned angel and angel turned human.
Christopher simeon
2021-12-01 15:17:13 +0000 UTCWhen the episode first aired, I had the same thought as Shelley…that Sam was going to be fine when the episode started, but clearly we were so far from right. I agree with DazzleFae on Dean’s state of mind. In the hospital room, he clearly says he knows Sam would not want to be possessed. He clearly didn’t want to do it, but when it was the only way, he let his fear take over. Time will tell if Dean was right or wrong about Sam’s views. I agree 100% that Jared does a great job of physically portraying Ezekiel differently (as well as his voice delivery). With just a glance, you can tell it is not Sam.
AdoptDontShopPets
2021-12-01 14:30:21 +0000 UTCOh season 9 Dean is hot, but he does get hotter...
Sharon Owen
2021-12-01 13:50:22 +0000 UTCUgh, I'm never gonna be okay with Dean tricking Sam into "consenting" to Angel possession. Like, I understand he was scared of Sam dying and he was panicking, but he literally acknowledged that Sam would never consent to being possessed by anything (hmm, I wonder why! Oh, maybe becAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER TIMES HE'S BEEN POSSESSED!) but then went and tricked him into it. He's literally giving some Angel he's never met before the ability to take over control of his brother's mind and body whenever he wants. I am never going to be okay with that. It just really annoys me that he literally states that Sam wouldn't wanna be possessed, but does it anyway. He is giving Ezekiel so much power over his brother, and giving Sam no way to defend himself if anything were to go wrong. But this other part of me is glad for the storyline because I do enjoy it and Jared just does such a good job at portraying this new character...
DazzleFae
2021-12-01 12:17:55 +0000 UTCI really enjoy Sn 9 and it starts off with a bang. Bobby, Death coming back was great. Dean having Sam possessed seems like a plan until Sam gets better, but Dean not telling him. I don't know, all I thought on first watch was, "wow this could go really wrong" Anyway happy December, welcome to Sn 9. I'm excited
Brenda Lewis
2021-12-01 11:47:22 +0000 UTCThis episode is great, if Sam was gonna die anyway couldn't they have closed the gates of hell first then dealt with him dying like they did here anyway! What was the point of not closing the gate of hell then? If he's dying anyway. I don't know why Sam was so determined to die. Since Sam was possessed by lucifer himself & hated every second of it, i am not confident that Sam won't immediately eject Ezekiel if dean told him. I don't blame cas for the angels falling, it was all metatron, cas didn't even know this was a spell not a trial, no one suspected metatron coz he saved Kevin, not even dean suspected him, i don't think dean was telling cas that he forgives him per se, coz he didn't do anything to him, but more that cas may think that dean will be mad at him & that he may be scared to show his face & dean wanted to make sure that cas knows that it's not the case & when dean learned that cas is a human & that he is on his way to the hospital, he just wanted him to stay safe, even if that means he can't visit them in the hospital, and told him to go to the bunker instead, that shirtless cas scene, hello?! This is how we're starting the season i see 🥰😂, he was already naked when he took off the trenchcoat, sorry for the thirst 😂. Great reaction, Shelley 👏
Hasnaa
2021-12-01 11:24:53 +0000 UTCFun fact: Jared's Ezekiel scenes were filmed first, so Tamoh (who plays Ezekiel's vessel) was copying Jared. They both did a great job. I knew you'd pick up on the S2 parallels, but the other ones were things I'd never thought of. And of course, you're right - - as always! Great reaction, Shelley! Definitely going to be an interesting season to watch with you. Sometimes fandom spaces can be stifling when certain episodes are caught in the middle because of ship wars and expectations. And I'm always pleasantly surprised by your read of things - even if I don't ship. Thank you for that.
Vel
2021-12-01 10:09:23 +0000 UTCThis was awesome!! Loved the reaction, as per usual!! 💓 I laughed out loud in the last scene when you said, "Speaking of thirst..." 😄 Indeed. Just FYI, the fandom jokes about S9 Dean being just extra hot. LOL! You'll see as time goes on in the season! So, just fair warning! 😁 I agree - I think Dean probably could have told Sam here and Sam probably would have been okay. I think it just really rattled Dean to see Sam completely giving up and being willing to die. I mean technically that was two times in like two days that Sam was willing/happy to die and so I think now Dean's scared to take any chances. And I guess it would only take a second for Sam to panic and eject Ezekiel and he'd probably be dead pretty quick. Jared is great here playing Ezekiel, very impressive! Human Cas is adorable and so hilarious! He's gotta work on his people skills! 😄😄 Great, great reaction - I think you're going to love Season 9, I know I do!! (And not just because S9 Dean is hot af!) 😉😂😉😂
Linda Moore
2021-12-01 08:24:18 +0000 UTCHeyyy hope your holiday was awesome! I think this is pretty awesome premeire. I gotta admit i didn't appreciate it when it aired like i do now but..... Anyway Can't Wait for the rest of Season 9!
EddieSpice69
2021-12-01 08:15:40 +0000 UTC
