SPN: 2x06 "No Exit" Jo and John Meta

[phantomas]

What I think about 2x06 after a re-watching...Jo and John meta :)



I like the title. Does it apply to the potential - hereby negated by the revelation at the end of the episode - Jo/Dean love story?
I still like it.
I need to do a little research on this Holmes, because I confess to have never heard of him before.
Yep, I missed Sam too, but not as much as othesr have, I guess. I've been missing John for episodes and episodes (including season one, too), so I think I'm kinda used to the feeling *G*

Two big questions, in this episode. Okay, let's make them three.

1. How gorgeous is JA?
All freckled and hunterly big-brotherly? :D
(good that they have given up on the orangeish pancake they used last season, he's much better like this and freckles really only add to his charm)

With that out of the way, second big question.

2. What about Jo?

I liked her. Jo's problem is that she has been introduced as Dean's love interst, and that taints our analysis and expectations of her. It looked to me in this episode, now that they dedidcated a little time to her, that her only fault is to be young and with little practical experience in hunting, but a strong will to learn and be good at it.

Her father's death isn't at all banal as a motivation for Jo to choose hunting as a career, we've seen that practically every hunter is into it because they have lost someone dear to them, so why should it be different for her? Why can't Jo be wanting to follow in her father's footsteps?

And, if she comes across a little spoiled and bratty, it's because she's grown up the only child of a widowed mother. As much as Ellen is a tough Mama, and she is, MamaBear to the core, it is obvious that her cub isn't scared of her, whereas everyone else is, well, terrified. Jo tried going to school, and didn't feel she fit in there - she's very much Dean-like in her attitude (they way she is written), with the poker and video-games hustling, but the moments when she was scared were sincere.

Notice that after the boys free her, she wants to leave the place, and it's Dean reminding her that actually, yes, their only plan is for her to be bait. She's not all super-woman, gung ho (which I approve of), but once that's the plan, she does what she has to do. Stepping back for a moment, in the scene when she awakes in the box, she is scared: who wouldn't be? But then she composes herself and is well aware of the irony of her situation as she speaks to Theresa/the other girl-prisoner: the rescuer has become prisoner as well.

I'm the first that doesn't victim-girls, but I also dislike super-tough chick, and all in all, I think the writers walked a good line keeping Jo's willingness and excitement on par with her subsequent fear.

Do I want her to end up with Dean? I don't mind, one way or another.

I liked seeing Dean around her, I liked that we got confirmed that no, he's no chauvinist, and that THERE ARE FEMALE HUNTERS OUT THERE (yep, that's how I want to interpret his words). I loved how mature and resigned and pained he came across when telling her about her choices, which sounded to me like: "You still got your mum, you're lucky, stick to that, because once they are gone, they are gone." I liked knowing about the first time John took him to shoot, and that he was a little champion, I liked that JA got to make all those voices and faces and little facial expressions and retort (how bitchy he is when he tells to put the knife down? Love!), because he's a damn good actor and he delivers a better performance each time.

So.

This is not a teen show (kneels and say thanks), Jo won't become the focus of the show, and if for one episode we get less Sam than usual, well, it's okay by me. With JP's broken wrist, I'm quite happy the guy got an easy week out of this episode, plus, we all know that there's something cooking about his powers, Simon Said it's just the beginning, and NO, this won't become the Jo&Dean show (Lanaville, anyone? ;), it's been very clear since the very beginning.

Yes, Jo could do with a ponytail, or something like that, but apart from that, I quite liked her, and I like the idea of a girl hunter, someone like her that wants to learn and go out there and protect people. If Dean & Sam will teach her, fine by me. If Dean will feel something for her eventually, that's fine too. We'll get to see more of his softer side, and I don't mind that. I hope however that in the meantime, he'll get back to his tomcat ways because I like him like that too *G*

Besides, since Kripke has explicitly said that they read the boards and pay attention to what the fans say...well, I don't see much hope for Jo in that direction, honestly. Which could be a pity, because if on one hand I like that they listen to what the fans like and dislike, on the other hand I want them to do what they believe in, you know?

Third question, and very close to my die-hard Jon-girl fan's heart...

3. Is it true what Ellen told Jo about John?

First of all, a disclaimer: I personally like the idea of John being human and therefore having flaws and making mistakes, so my following theories arent't borne out of the need to defend his image. He may as well have made a mistake and caused Jo's father's death, unwillingly. Shit happens, especially when hunting supernatural things.

But.

a) John's fame seems to be that of a great ass-kicking hunter, if with a bad character (see: falling out with friends). Doesn't mean he can't make mistakes, but still, it'd uncongruous.

b) We don't hear what Ellen says Jo. We only know what Jo tells Dean. Ellen could have said something completely different, for what we now. Obviously, I don't see how Jo could have made up all of that on the spot, therefore I'll assume that's what Ellen told her.

c) Ellen may have lied to Jo, however, to defend her father's memory, OR John may have lied to Ellen, to defend her dead husband's memory.

d) cracktastic, but I like it, what if John IS Ellen's dead husband? Or, a man that's close to Ellen when her real husband dies, and Jo is still a baby so she believes he is her father and they let her believe this until John and Ellen part ways? Holes everywhere, I know, but John leading a double life, traveling from Ellen+Jo to Dean+Sam between hunting tickles me ;)
Jo full name is Joanne (spelling?) Beth. Joanne. *G*

Anyway.

I think we will hear more of this, eventually. In fact, a flashback WOULD BE AWESOME, thankyouverymuch.

I love how mentions of John keep popping up here and there, makes me happy :D

All in all, I liked this episode quite a lot. The cement thing is a bit of crack, too, but if it works in blocking access (people and water) to that chamber, I can live with it. :D

Comments

[pheebs1.livejournal.com]

Which could be a pity, because if on one hand I like that they listen to what the fans like and dislike, on the other hand I want them to do what they believe in, you know? I COULD NOT AGREE MRE

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

My cracky theory is that Jo is John's daughter, and Ellen finally had to tell her that. She can't be more than 20, right?

Laa laa. I like my crazy theory and I'm sticking to it.

Seriously, though -- the idea that John was the one resonsible for Mr. Ellen's death seems a bit at odds with how Ellen mentioned John in the Clown show, and her utter grief at the news he was dead. Seriously, if she thought he was the reason her husband was dead, I woudln't have seen that as her reaction. Something's a little off in all this. I hear a rumour that we may see Ellen again this season, so hopefully we'll get to the bottom of that.

[phantomas.livejournal.com]

I like your crazy theory, too ;)

I think Jo is supposed to be 21, in canon. And yes, it all does seem a bit shady.
I can see Ellen coming to terms with the "It was John's fault" issue (maybe she accused him of it at the time and that's why he stayed away after that, and when she saw reason, well, we know How stubborn John Winchester can be), and thus being friendly to his sons, being sorry he was dead (Laaa laaaa laaa, DENIAAALLLL) and it's only when Jo risks her life with the boys that she goes back to her husband's death.

But still...I need to know more, yes :D

[starhawk2005.livejournal.com]

ITA about John causing Havell's death. I just can't see him being negligent or deliberately causing the man's death. Doesn't sound like John at all. So either I'm dead wrong about John, Ellen doesn't know what really went down, or you're right and Ellen's lying. Just doing ANYTHING to keep Jo out of the hunter life so Ellen doesn't lose her too.