Review: Supernatural 7.06 Slash Fiction

This review is to be read with Air Supply's All Out of Love.

What a perfect title for the episode! I was half expecting this episode to go nuts with the honey bunny scene. They kind of did, but in a Supernatural-network TV style -- you see it but you don't see it. The Winchester clones was a clever idea by the writer Robbie Thompson, who is a relatively new writer. This was his first Supernatural episode and I hope he will write more. I don't know what is it, but I think his stuff has the Jeremy Carver vibe. Robbie also wrote for Jericho, Human Target and The Cape.

This episode is what I've been talking about in recent weeks -- dialogues and meat in the script! Robbie Thompson did a fantastic job! The dialogues he'd written really got meat in them and he brought something new to the episode. I love the Leviathan's reply to Bobby, "Not quite the finish as holy water, but not as bitter as rock salt." Classy! For a Leviathan! Another thing I love about the script is the season one call back -- the Lady in White, Dead in the Water etc.. the earlier cases. I love that!

What I love about this episode is that Jensen Ackles and Jarpad get to play the Dean and Sam clones. Fans love some bad boy Dean and Sam! We've seen the bad boy Dean in episodes such as Skin, Dream a Little Dream of Me, Two and a Half Men; we've seen the bad boy Sam in Born Under a Bad Sign and When the Levee Breaks. This is the first time we them in their bad boy clones interacting in dialogues and doing full on bad things together. The conversation in the diner before they wasted everyone was very good. I love that Robbie Thompson paid attention to Sam's hair and the Impala!! Even the Impala has to be in lockdown!! Details!! DETAILS!!

I also welcome Kevin McNally to the show. It's weird to see Mr Gibbs in a non Pirates role, but I love it! I thought he brought some heavyweight acting to this episode. The dialogues that were written for him got a lot of meat and it suits him.

Is it just me or do you also love the Bobby and Jody stuff? It's about time Bobby gets some! It's so cute! And thank you Jody for mopping the floor! I am a little in love with the Montana house. It's starting to feel like a new headquarter! Supernatural sticks to the basic when it comes to their evil hunting weapons and methods, we are familiar with iron, silver, rock salt and holy water, and now.. sodium borate. I bet the Ghostfacers don't know about this one! Next time when facing a new kind of monsters, always start with the household cleaning products. You'd never know, may be Baygone can kill a Rugaru. 

Of course, I love all the Pulp Fiction references. Can you imagine if they turn the whole episode into Pulp Fiction! That'd be amazing! And I love Dean singing All Out of Love! INSTANT CLASSIC DEAN MOMENT!!

Let's quickly touch Crowley. It's not unusual to see Crowley to go to the Leviathans with a business proposition. But it's unusual to see Crowley not closing a business deal. He always get what he wants, the King of Hell even got a deal with Castiel! The Leviathan in the limo acted like a corporate PR douche -- we don't need to work with you, we are that good! That's gotta hurt Crowley's feeling! Or better, angry! I think he will go to the Winchesters with the back-to-the-good-old-days speech. And by then, I hope to see the return of Castiel!! Love the organic muffins by the way, nice touch Crowley!

Now that we know the sodium borate is the holy water to the Leviathans, it's a good thing. What's next for Dean and Sam? Are they ready to bring the fight to them and end them? They will need help. They don't want to waste time on the Stunt Leviathan A, B and C, they want to big boss! I think this is where Crowley can help, and I think this is where Castiel can return. I think the dude in the limo is not the big boss, he is like Zach. Someone is higher than him... and I hope the big boss is still inside Jimmy/ Castiel, I think this is how the big boss can be killed. We are approaching the mid-season finale, the story is travelling nicely. I can't wait to see more.

Why haven't I mentioned about Amy Pond? What's there to talk about? The secret is out. She is still dead. Sam is walking away (which by the way, Dean never walked away like that with all things Sam's done in the past)... You know the brothers will be back together! Look at next week's episode, they are working on a case together in episode 7.07 The Mentalist (no Simon Baker please, can't stand the guy!)

Joss Whedon Goes Shakespeare with Much Ado About Nothing

At last year's SDCC, Joss referred to his Avengers cast as "his dream team". As perfect as the Avengers cast is, long time die hard fans know THE Joss Whedon dream team is not the Joss Whedon dream team until you hear names such as Nathan Fillion and Amy Acker.

So, the news is out! Joss completed a 12 day shoot of Much Ado About Nothing, a film based on a Shakespeare play. Joss shot the film in his house in Santa Monica, California with cast so big, I cannot contain my excitement!

Amy Acker — Beatrice
Alexis Denisof — Benedick
Nathan Fillion — Dogberry
Clark Gregg — Leonato
Reed Diamond — Don Pedro
Fran Kranz — Claudio
Sean Maher — Don John
Spencer Treat Clark — Borachio
Riki Lindhome — Conrade
Ashley Johnson — Margaret
Emma Bates — Ursula
Tom Lenk — Verges
Nick Kocher — First Watchman
Brian McElhaney — Second Watchman
Joshua Zar — Leonato’s aide
Paul M. Meston — Friar Francis
Romy Rosemont — The Sexton
And introducing Jillian Morgese as Hero

According to the press release, "Much Ado About Nothing is the first feature Bellwether, a micro-studio created by Joss Whedon and Kai Cole for the production of small, independent narratives for all media, embracing a DIY ethos and newer technologies for, in this particular case, a somewhat older story." I love the idea!!


For someone like Joss to make a movie with a cast this big without any leak to the media, is amazing! He really has a group of very loyal friends -- people who love what they do, love the art, love and respect Joss!

To read all about Much Ado About Nothing, check out the Official Website and Wired.

I don't know about you, but this is the next most exciting thing next to the release of the Avengers!

Joss, thank you for being so awesome!!

Review: Supernatural 7.05 Shut Up! Dr Phil

We know Kung-Fu!

It's not like I don't like the filler-the-monster-of-the-week episodes, it's just that I love the mytho heavy episodes in the past (and always) more. For some reasons, this is the first time in awhile that I welcome a good and fun filler episode such as Shut Up! Dr Phil. I don't know why, I guess I was just so bothered by last week's episode, I really don't like the whole putting Dean on trial thing, I don't like the idea of making Dean feels guilty. I know it only makes him more human, and I get it, but again it's the writing and the material I don't like. I officially hate Defending Your Life. May be that's why I welcome a fun filler like Shut Up! Dr Phil. Have you guys seen the funny version of Dean and Sam in the motel room? I couldn't stop laughing when I saw the actual footage. That was awesome!

There are a couple of Awesomesauces I would like to discuss this week. First of all, how often do we hear a dude screaming in the opening of a Supernatural episode? That was as awesome as Dean screaming at a cat in Yellow Fever. The dude was not good, he was very good. One thing Supernatural does really well was the scare tactics. The anticipation of Wendy getting electrocuted was well paced, it came down to the writing and the editing I guess. That was awesome!

Although Jim Beaver wasn't in the episode, but Bobby's grumpy-old-man-badass attitude was so well told through Dean's phone dialogue with him. You can just imagine the look on Bobby's face when Dean was speaking to him over the phone.

Speaking of a missing regular, I love the idea of having Cas appeared in Dean's dream. Poor guy, he must be stress! Dean feels crap about everything -- from friends' deaths to not being able to save everyone -- there is always something eating in him, that's him. When something bad happened, he feels responsible, it's always his bad. If Amy Pond kills again, it's on him. If Sam goes dark side, it's on him. The Hero syndrome -- every hero has it, Jack Bauer, Jack Shephard -- that's who they are, they are not the sharing type. It's hard to be a hero's friend or family. 

I don't know why, but you can tell when the writers had fun writing the episode. The thought process like adding a bit of gore here and there was very well done in Shut Up! Dr Phil. "There were tiny beating hearts in my cupcakes" was awesome! I gotta say, writers Brad Buckner and Eugene Ross-Leming really nailed it this time! The last time they wrote for Supernatural.. well…. 99% of us didn't like racist monster truck.

There were other random dialogues in this episode, which I love! We know everything about the victim! Dewey Stevens, Rotarian, Methodist, tenor, blue ribbon pecan pie champ, asthmatic…It's a small community in Prosperity.

I don't know about you but I wouldn't be able to keep a straight face when I know I am talking to Agent Sambora, whose sides are poking out. 

I love the idea of having Charisma Carpenter and James Marsters in the witch version of War of the Roses (it could've been Mr and Mrs Smith). James and Charisma were so cool! They were both very comfortable in their roles and they nailed it. There were sparks between the Starks. It was awesome! I cannot think of another actor and actress who could play Don and Maggie. James Marsters had the George Clooney vibe and Charisma's hair.. OMG.. I love her hair and her party dress. I sense a return! I don't think it's a random idea from the writers to reveal Don's power to us -- he could petrify a Leviathan. Supernatural doesn't throw an idea out there and not follow through (except Grandpa.. but let's just pretend that didn't happen at all) Surely the Starks need to come back to help the boys, right?

It's not very often we see the Winchesters not finishing a job by killing the monsters. Especially in the monster-of-the-week type of episodes, they killed off most monsters 90% of the time. Occasionally Dean and Sam let them go, for example the vampire Lenore and this time they spare the lives of the Starks. May be the witches are too powerful and may be it's a 'better-get-out-of-there-thanks-for-saving-our-lives' type of situation.

Btw, let the poor man have his pie!!

Anyway, overall, Shut Up! Dr Phil was a great filler episode with a little bit of the Leviathans element. The Cheeseman is stunned but will return. Stay turned for next week's episode Slash Fiction… I love you Honey Bunny!






The CW also released another teaser about what's coming! Mr Gibbs anyone? Check out that promo at SpoilerTV.

If you missed Supernatural on MTV'10 on Top, here is it!!! Take the mystery spot tour with Jensen and Jarpad. Apology for the lame introduction!

Jarpad Tweeted a Funny Video

 It's good to be on Twitter. I love instant information. And I love instant information from @jarpad. This is an out take from this week's episode Shut Up! Dr Phil, thanks to Phil Sgricca.




Less than 24 hours to go... Shut Up! Dr Phil.

Supernatural Wedding; People's Choice Awards

So, it's time for a Supernatural wedding...! Here is the synopsis for 7.08, Time For a Wedding

HERE COMES THE GROOM; PLUS DJ QUALLS GUEST STARS — While on a hunt, Sam (Jared Padalecki) runs into someone from his past and a confrontation ensues. Meanwhile, Dean reluctantly teams up with a quirky, laid-back hunter named Garth (guest star DJ Qualls), when he finds himself in a situation that he just cannot explain. Tim Andrew directed the episode written by Andrew Dabb & Daniel Loflin. SpoilerTV
 
Oh-oh.. Dabb and Loflin..

It's also time to vote for Supernatural at the People's Choice Award. Every fucking year I said this... Supernatural is NOT science fiction! If they can't even get the genre right, they clearly have no idea what they are doing! Having said that, Supernatural is on the Favorite Network TV Drama. You will need to type in Jensen Ackles and Jarpad's name in the Favorite Actor Category. Do it! Do it NOW! Click here to vote.
 

Pulp Fiction Slash Fiction -- It's Supernatural Pics Time!

Is it just me or do you get the "Everyone be cool, this is a robbery" Pulp Fiction vibe?

Synopsis for episode 7.06 Slash Fiction:

DOUBLE THE WINCHESTERS, DOUBLE THE FUN --- Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) are once again on the FBI's "Most Wanted" list when two Leviathans clone the brothers and go on a killing spree.  The subject of a nationwide manhunt, Sam and Dean need to drop off the grid so Bobby (Jim Beaver) sends them to Frank Deveraux (guest star Kevin R. McNally), a quirky surveillance expert, for help. Meanwhile, Bobby continues to search for a way to kill the Levianthans, or at least slow them down, so the real Winchesters can stop their evil doppelgangers. John Showalter directed the episode written by Robbie Thompson (#706). Source: K-SiteTV

Didn't they kill the Mother here?

Give me some bad boy Dean anytime anywhere!

Photo source: SpoilerTV

And of course, Jensen, Jared and Misha plus the cast will appear at Chicago Con. Yeah Chicago! Oh Hello Death! My friend Amy and a few others will be there. I am so jealous, but hey, Nashcon here I come!!!

Oh hello Jensen:)

Avengers Assemble!

Last weekend, the cast of The Avengers made an appearance at New York Con. I was actually surprised, a little, how enjoyable the panel was. Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg and Mark Ruffalo were funny! Chris Evens was so nervous, so cute! You can watch the full panel here! I do recommend it, because it was great!

I was hoping to see RDJ, Scarlett and most importantly Joss Whedon to be there, but they couldn't make it. Which leads to my next question, when will we see the entire team of the Avengers on stage or at any press campaigns? There are definitely enough cast member to make a 2-day convention! I'll go.. For a summary of the panel, check out Film Critic.

Both Tom Hiddleston and Clark Gregg both sang on stage.. funny and awesome! And I am so glad to hear from Mark Ruffalo that his 'Ruffalised' Bruce Banner is more mature! I found the previous Banner so annoying, like he can never control himself. When he gets angry, buildings collapsed! 

Can't wait to see this movie!!

Review: Supernatural 7.04 Defending Dean

Because you're worth it.

7.04 Defending Your Life was written by Adam Glass and directed by Robert Singer. Adam was the writer for Mommy Dearest, Like a Virgin, All Dogs Goes to Heaven and Two and a Half Men, and Supervising Producer for tons of other Supernatural episodes.

I'll get to the point. I don't care so much for the Egyptian God storyline. Supernatural isn't known for using costumes, their approach in the wardrobe department is very modern -- even Evil Santa wears a simple cardigan, Baldur wears a suit and no angels wear wings, and Clowns are Clowns. I am not sure if Osiris fits into the Supernatural-urban-legend norm. But then again it's Supernatural, the sky's the limit. I do like the ghost dog idea and the fact Sam watches The Good Wife!

Guilt, is a very important element of the show and it is this week's theme. I've been thinking about the whole guilt thing. But you know what, enough is enough... I am going to turn this around and call it -- supernatural bullying. I have enough of these monsters and supernatural creatures giving Dean shit.

Dean is a hero, his life is all about saving people, hunting things, protecting his little brother. Dean has been carrying a lot of crap on his shoulder since he was five! Supernatural things like monsters, creatures and spirits have been bullying Dean forever -- Famine, Zachariah, YEDJohn and DemonDean basically said to his face, "You're nothing. You're worthless." They, and others, said things to devalue my hero. It doesn't matter how strong you are, stuff like that really messes your mind. We don't live in a perfect world, there are more bullies than heroes. They will always find a way to push you and kick you when you are down, just to make themselves feel more superior and important. That's pretty much how I feel after I watched this episode.

Dean feels crap most of the time, he has a hero syndrome -- he just doesn't think he is awesome! Dean's heart is pure. Why? Because Dean is selfless, he is not a bully. He helps people unconditionally. He never ever has any agenda or evil plan to harm people. Dean doesn't kill for thrills, he doesn't kill to survive, he doesn't kill to make himself feel important. He kills supernatural things because they harm people, they may have a reason or two sometimes, but they kill people. If you're a human and you kill humans for whatever reasons, you go to jail. If you're not a human and kill humans, you get Dean Winchester.

Dean reminds me so much of Jack Bauer -- everyone he'd ever loved or known, died in bad situations. Was it Dean's fault that Jo die? Was it his fault that John die? Was it his fault that everyone die? No! They died because Kripke liked killing off characters! Oh wait.. what? As for Sam, how hard was it for Dean when he had to prevent anything bad from happening to Sam, especially after John told Dean that if he couldn't save Sam, he had to kill him? How hard was it to see Sam to go dark side, and Dean felt helpless for not being able to do anything? Even if Dean didn't 'dragged' Sam back into the hunting life, everything would still happen. Dean isn't the other guy who was killed by the ghost dog, he isn't those dicks in Yellow Fever, and he certainly isn't those jerks in The Benders. Nobody should judge Dean the way they judge anyone else. Dean feels guilty because he cares about what he does, he feels crap because he still has a heart and it's a big one.

So, Osiris, dude, you shut your pie hole!

What I LOVE about this episode is the Dean and Jo moments. It's no secret that I am Team Jo. I have always loved their on-screen chemistry on the show. Jo wasn't exactly a love interest (I know this comment is debatable) and her character certainly had the potential of being a love interest but It wasn't like that. I think the right words were used to summarise Jo's feeling for Dean -- Jo idolised Dean, and she has a massive crush on the guy. (Who doesn't? Right?) I love how much Jo had matured as a character and how much Alona Tal has grown as an actress. She was so so good in this episode, Alona totally nailed this! Her compassion and sorrow were seriously moving. Her scene with Dean was so amazing, I wished she'd never left the show and continued to be there for Dean and Sam.

I am all Dean! I will always defend Dean... like, he jumps I jump. And sometimes, I almost feel like this.. when it comes to the nuts and bolts of character development of Dean Winchester, they should leave it to Eric Kripke, Sera Gamble, Ben Edlund and Jeremy Carver. Don't let anyone else to 'have a go'. If something isn't written perfectly, people will get the wrong idea. Long time fans get it, even if something isn't crystal clear, we always get it. But other fans/ viewers won't get it, they see what's in front of them.. they'll be like, "Oh is Dean is a killer?" Oh shut up! I mean, why is that even a question?

I shall conclude with this: Certainly some very important Dean scenes should have been written better under the pens and fingers of Andrew Dabb and Daniel Loflin, like the death of Amy Pond, I get why Dean has to do it, I get why this secret is killing him, but the scene, the secret and the situation could have been designed better to get the message across to the viewers. Adam Glass did an ok job with Defending Your Life, but it should be more meaty if you know what I mean?

The Dean stuff requires much attention and justice. I know why I am defending Dean, not only because Osiris is a load of crap, I know Dean deserves better. I know Dean is not a bully. I know Dean is a hero.

And do I even have to explain further when it comes to Jensen Ackles's performance? Give the man an Emmy already!!

Next week, 7.05 Shut Up, Osiris! Oh.. sorry.. it's 7.05 Shut Up, Dr Phil, featuring Buffy's Charisma Carpenter and James Marsters. Is it just me or do you secretly wish Joss Whedon was the writer and/or director of this episode?

The Avengers -- First Official Trailer (High Ten!)

I woke up for this.... The first official trailer for The Avengers is mind blowing..

The one thing that I most look forward to is the dialogues. From what I can tell from the trailer, Joss Whedon has nailed the dialogues and the team dynamic. In a way, yes, it's not the usual Joss Whedon stuff, if you don't know who wrote and directed this movie, you can't tell it's the work of Joss. However, once you see the character interaction and dialogues, I think you will see Joss' signature stuff. From what I can see, I think he, the cast and the crew have done a great job.  




This is already one of my all time favorite movies. I cannot wait!!! The Avengers releases in Australia on April 25, 2012, that's one week ahead of the US. Take that!

Marvel Studios will present some footage and participate on a panel at New York Comic Con this weekend -- Saturday, October 15 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. ET. Marvel Studios will debut never-before-seen footage from the film, and panelists will include Kevin Feige (Producer), Chris Evans (Captain America), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson), and Cobie Smulders (Agent Hill). For more info here.

Baby News -- Congrats Jarpad and Gen

The baby is coming..... Jarpad announced on Twitter this morning that Gen is pregnant. The couple is expecting their first child in 2012. Baby Jarpad... Uncle Jensen.. Woot! Woot! One happy family.

On behalf of me, myself and I, congratulations. Take care.