*bounces up and down*

[ratherastory]

Holyshitholyshitholyshit!

Oh my God.

*hyperventilates*

If Kripke were here I would totally hug him. Then I would chain him to the radiator in my basement and make him produce more episodes of SPN forever.

Uh... okay. Maybe that was an overshare. :D

A fabulous person pointed me to a website where it's streaming live, so I don't have to lose my mind.



THIS SPACE WILL HAVE SPOILERS IN IT STARTING AT THE END OF THE EPISODE. THEY WILL BE BEHIND A CUT, BUT THIS IS YOUR WARNING.

Okay, first off:

DEATH.

Kripke totally read my mind and figured out I have a kink for psych. hospitals. Clearly. He is catering to my personal whims.

Uh... more oversharing? Sorry.

In no particular order:

1- The not-quite-opening scene of Susan getting killed by the monster is vintage Supernatural. It's the show at its creepiest, spookiest best. I missed this part of the show. The tension, the pacing, the lighting. Could have done without the close-up on the slit wrists, but it too is par for the course, so no major complaints there.

2- "I don't own any elephant books." BWAH! (Yes, it's a "Fletch" reference. I love this show so much.)

3- Dean's non-verbal commentary of Sam's summary of the Apocalypse? Priceless. The eyerolling, the quasi-smirk, the "See, what'd I tell you?" look? It made me gleeful!

4- As amusing as the rubber-glove-snap was, is that at all realistic? Part of me thinks it was shoved in there just for the laughs. Also the non-discussing of it subsequently was pretty hilarious.

5- Jon Gries FTW! The Pretender was my last great television love, and so this? This was like CANDY. He's so very very awesome.

6- Albuquerque!!! For one thing, it makes me think of Bugs Bunny, and makes me laugh. Also, I totally want to know what happened there now. People had better start writing fics STAT! I can't, I don't have time, too many other fic commitments. You heard me, fangirls: to your keyboards!

7- "And you're my paranoid schizophrenic with narcissistic personality disorder and religious fanatic tendencies. Lucky me." Or whatever the exact quote was. Eee! Even if it DID turn out that she was only a figment of Dean's imagination. Hey, at least he conjured up a hot psychiatrist, right?

8- Is it me, or does Sam look like he's grown even bigger/broader than last time? Maybe it's the hospital scrubs. Might have been the crappy live-streaming quality, too, that made him look... umm... puffy? I dunno. Not that I'm complaining, because hey, I got to see it as it aired, so YAY!

9- WRAITH! Is it sad that I immediately thought of Stargate?

10- Drugged-out!Sam is pretty funny, but I disagree with Dean that he's a happy drunk. Uh, Dean? Hello? You've SEEN Sam drunk. He's been drunk on-screen, and he is a sad, pathetic drunk. Much like the way he is here. Sure, he says he's awesome, but his actions and his words say different. Just sayin'.

11- Wendy the nympho was kind of funny, but mostly that bit made me really REALLY uncomfortable. Until she made the crack about wanting Sam now because he's "larger," which made me snort really hard.

12- I am SAD that the Issues™ got next to no air time. IMdB, you LIE when you imply that they would get things off their chests. You LIE like a CHEAP RUG!

13- So, uh, yeah. About halfway in, this ep goes from "potentially fantastically awesome" to just kind of "meh." We've already seen scared!paranoid!vaguely-funny!Dean in "Yellow Fever," and this was a replay of that, but with less emphasis. Been there, done that.

Sam admits he has unresolved anger issues that have nothing to do with outside influences? Uh, check. Dean can't sleep and self-medicates with booze? Uh, check. The Wraith takes the crazy that's already there and amps it up? Uh-huh. Sure. Um, kinda predictable and a little bit boring as a "twist." (I mean, seriously. Raise your hand if you didn't see that coming. *looks around* *crickets* Yeah. Thought so.)

I also don't buy for a minute that Dean would so readily admit any of this to a shrink even if it is to work a case. That's not how he rolls. (Also, fifty drinks a week? That's more than seven a day, which essentially means he's now a functioning alcoholic. Way to go, Kripke. Either you deal soonish with Dean's de-tox, or you've officially made my disbelief come crashing down from where I suspended it.)

All the brilliant psych ward fanfics out there have clearly spoiled me for the show.

Want some good ones? Blue Skies From Rain by lovesrain44.

Reality Check by nong_pradu. PIP, should be finishing soon-ish.

The Apotheosis of Wile. E. Coyote by nwhepcat.

14- Okay, back to the show. There was totally not enough restrained!Sam. *cough* Yeah, okay, I'm a little twisted. Come on, I've seen "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" too! (And Kripke? The "Nurse Ratchet" thing has been used by practically every fanfic writer EVER! Seriously, there are SO many awesome OFOTCN quotes/references you could have gone with, and it wouldn't have sounded as tired.)

15- I'm glad Martin got to redeem himself a little bit. I'm a sucker for redemption plot lines.

16- Dean snapping off the Wraith's... thingie (what was that? A horn? A bone spur? A really stiff tentacle? Ew!) made me cringe and hide my head in my hands. Because I am a GIANT WUSS.

17- WHY do the boys always pick when they're sprinting toward their car to make a getaway to have a heart-to-heart? I mean, really? And it's ALWAYS Sam doing it. WTF? Can't you talk while you drive? (Bobby makes a point of this in *Season 3*. Do they never learn?!?)

18- Could Sam please save HIMSELF for once? Please? Just once?

19- Oh, Dean. Bunny. Look how well burying it all has worked for you so far. :P Also? WE KNOW THIS, ALREADY. I was hoping for some lightbulb moments this episode, but apparently that ain't gonna happen.

20- How many different license plates has the Impala had over the years? Can anyone tell me?


Okay, that's all I can think of for now.

Comments

[elsewhere-kels.livejournal.com]

LINK LINK LINK DEARGOD LIIIIINK

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Sorry!

http://www.justin.tv/lieut#r=P19HMpI

It's nearly over, though.

[elsewhere-kels.livejournal.com]

That's fine =D I'd end up rewatching either way!

[tifaching.livejournal.com]

psych hospitals, huh? Gets a plot bunny, damn it. Don't need any more! While I love me some crazy Dean and large Sam , I was a little underwhelmed by this episode. The anvils were falling a wee bit too hard. Dean's guilty and not sleeping and drinking too much and he can't save every one. Sam's angry and Dean blames him for everything that's happened. And it's all in their minds because the wraith made them crazy. Well, duh, we all knew that's what they were thinking about themselves you silly writers. And at the end Sam finally admits that he had anger issues that have nothing to do with anybody but himself and he's going to do what with them? Why bury them of course because that's how the boys we know, love and write about operate. I loved their crazy, but ultimately heroic hunter buddy, but really? This could have been better.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

I am writing up a bullet-point summary as we speak. The ep started out really really strong and then kinda fishtailed into not-awesome about halfway through.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Okay, the whole review is up, in which it turns out I mostly agree with you. ;)

[agent-jl36.livejournal.com]

For the love of pudding!!

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Eh?

[dinalori.livejournal.com]

Uh, I'm guessing that's about the

*pants drop* \o/ "PUDDING!"

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Oh, right!

You know, I actually forgot that bit, because, umm... yeah. Not my thing.

Huh.

[agent-jl36.livejournal.com]

Sorry - I thought you had seen the whole show. Once you do you will understand..

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

I got it later, thanks! :)

[dinalori.livejournal.com]

#5- BROOTS!!!\o/ Now if they can just get Andrea Parker on (I don't care as what, but I think she'd make a kick ass hunter!)I can die a happy fangirl death.
#8- thank you! I thought it was just beacuse I've been watching S1 & 2, but yeah. He does seem bigger.
#'s 10, 12, &13? *nods in complete agreement*
#16- Did you ever see that Buffy episode where she's halucinating she's in a mental ward? The monster that made her crazy had a spike thingy just like it. It was all I could think about.
#17-Hell Bobby's repeatedly made that point. I think Tall Tales was the first time.
#20- Well, the first plate was KAZ 2Y5, then it changed to the current one in WIAWSNB, in that episode in the AU it had a differnt one, and in After School Special it had another one in the flashback. So four?

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Guh. Andrea Parker. HELL yes!

Everyone seems to agree that Sam is suddenly huge.

No, I didn't see that Buffy episode. Must have been from a later season, when I stopped watching.

I wonder if they're changing the Impala's plates on purpose. They must be.

[primrose-1.livejournal.com]

I think Dean DID have a lightbulb moment. He just chose to ignore it. "Because that's what they do to get by."

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

That's not a lightbulb moment. The boys know they have issues, it's not a secret. I was just hoping Dean would finally figure out that what he's been doing so far isn't actually working.

Meh.

It was a pretty solid episode overall, but it didn't add much to the story, which is why I think I was disappointed: it promised more than it delivered.

[pkwench.livejournal.com]

I agree, it started awesome and then just wandered off somewhere. Not that it didn't have its highpoints, but it just had a flavor (not resolution flavored either, sadly) to it like they had this great, awesome idea that, for whatever reason, didn't quite pan out.

1 - agreed. When you're hitting the monster of the week ep, it's always good to start out nice and creepy. Loved!

2 & 3 - The intake interview was just delightful. I almost see it as what started the bullshit session in writerland. "What if Sam and Dean sat down and, in all seriousness, told someone what they did and how they felt?" "They'd get admitted to a psych ward." "I know, right! Pass the pixie stix and Dew, I feel something comin' on!"

Oh, and it was adorable too.

4 - I never snap my gloves unless I'm being intentionally cheeky (which is always to staff, not patients). Also, nurses and prostate exams? Ehhhhh. Yeah okay, maybe. However, since she was the monster, maybe it was just all part of her mucking with them. Or up them. Or, yeah. Moving on.


6 - I look forward to the fic people crank out. Will it involve the late, great Papa Winchester? I'm sure someone's will. I won't have time to write it either, but I'd love to read some. :D

7 - It made me sort of think real therapy with Dean would be horrible and yet awesome. And yet horrible.

8 - DUDE IS HUGE. It makes me feel funny. *twists* Huuuuuge.

9 - Wraith = Stargate. I can't help it. Shep and Rodney have imprinted it upon my brain.

10 - That was a bad line. They could have done better without even trying. "Since when are you a happy drunk?" "This is your brother. This is your brother on drugs. Any questions. No, Sam, put your hand down, man ..." "Oh, good, you're high. That'll help move things along, Sammy." "No, you're not awesome. If you were awesome, you'd have saved me some." "Wow, so apparently it just takes a few drugs to make you stop being such a dick. Who knew?" Not that those are awesome, but at least they don't pee all over continuity.

11 - Nympho did not bother me except for the logic. Someone who's going to jump patients and molest them maybe not so much with the wandering around freely. Though, I damned near died when Sam told Dean he couldn't hit that.

12 - The issues were dangled like fangirl bait. I waited, I wanted, and now I have friggin' wire hook in my cheek. Oh, Kripke. You won't ruin the show if you go there just a teeny bit.

14 - Restrained Sam. That makes me think naughty thoughts.

17 - Because the writers think if they spend more than 90 seconds on issues and heart-to-heart that they'll somehow immasculate the boys and ruin the show? Not the I agree. Hell, I'd dissect their issues and put them on slide under a microscope if someone would let me. But, I always get this sense that they create these huge emotional situations and then refuse to really deal with much of them because "it's not what the show's about" or something. I dunno. Does it really take much? I mean, they could have added another 15 seconds of dialogue there and been all over it.

18 - Here's what I want. I want Sam to save himself and I want to see him get whumped. Really, how many time's has Dean been laid up in the hospital? Sam needs to be whumped on. I know Sam getting his ass kicked and Sam saving himself aren't exactly on the same page, but they wouldn't have to do it simultaneously.

19 - I wonder if Dean will crack before Sam. He's like a timebomb. Also, apparently, he's going to need a new liver.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

4- I didn't buy it. The only way it makes sense is if the Wraith is messing with them, and... meh.

6- Oh God, the FIC! *rubs hands gleefully in anticipation*

10- Yes. They have great writers on this show. WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT LINE?

11- It was funny, but there was a level of squick there that kind of ruined it for me. You're also right about the logic.

12- *snarls at Kripke and the writers*

18- Yes. Come on! Dean always gets himself out of trouble, why can't Sam? Where did competent!Sam of Seasons 1-3 go? I know he's in there somewhere. :P

19- Dean should be puking up blood by now, at the rate he's going, or at least in rehab and waiting for his name to come up on the transplant list. Seven drinks a DAY? God.

I really hope Kripke & Co. fix this. We already know they're broken, we don't need the reminder, we need the fixing now!

[greeneyes-fan.livejournal.com]

Regarding #8, if a guy that size was having a violent psychotic episode in the day room, do you and one buddy attempt to restrain him? Of course not! That'd never work, and you'd probably get hurt.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Yes, this! Holy cats, the guy is 6'4" and weighs half a TON! That requires a massive intervention, not two guys trying to hold him down. :P

I suppose they're going to say it's not a ward for the violently insane, but still!

[claudiapriscus.livejournal.com]

I shall always have a special place in my heart for "he's not evil. He was just....high." Along with Sam's heartfelt head shake.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

That was pretty awesome, I agree. The episode had a really really strong start, I will give it that: pure unadulterated SPN goodness.

[claudiapriscus.livejournal.com]

So disappointing that it kind of fizzled. For any other show, this episode I think would have been a good one- but I know how awesome they are capable of being so I am less than impressed.

[twoexcluded.livejournal.com]

I love fics that deal with distorted perceptions of reality! *bookmarks two of the fic recs* Does your psych hospital kink extend to mental illness/psychological disorders in general, or is it mostly about the environment? Is it possible you have not heard of Moths in the Mirror (http://fleshflutter.livejournal.com/21221.html) by fleshflutter yet? Case fic in a psych ward, a classic and a must-read, if you like those themes.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, I love both!

And yes, I've read that. It's spectacular. Thank you!