SPN 207: Usual Suspects thoughts
Nov. 11th, 2006 09:05 pm![[personal profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
phantomasI think it's safe to say Dean likes to put things in his mouth...*g*
General thoughts on SPN 207: The Usual Suspects
It's not my over-all favourite SPN ep, no, but it's not horrible either (though, remember I like Bugs ;)
I like Carrot Cake, but I wouldn't want to eat it everyday, you know? The show has to change and has to try different directions in order to know what works, in order to grow, and that's what they are doing introducing the Roadhouse people and I assume the Linda Blair's character.
Formula shows like most TV series used to be, when the episodes could and often would be broadcasted in no particular order because it really didn't matter, since there was no or very minimal development whatsoever from the basic idea...well, they don't make them like that anymore: SPN has to change and develop, and I don't mind being along for this ride :D
Plus, I've read an article where Linda Blair says that she had asked for specific things in order to appear in the episode and that the people at SPN agreed to everything she asked...which might mean, for example, that the heavier accent on the procedural apsect of things instead of the supernatural could have been a specific choice in relation to Linda Blair, since she is openly trying to detach herself from her previous most famous role 9and possibly using her appearance in SPN to promote herself for one of the dozens of procedurals out there).
Linda Blair, I liked her. Quite a lot. I hope to see her again. I don't think the heavy make-up helped her, though, and I wish older women could stop having to use so much make up to disguise the lines of ageing. Men don't, so why should women do? I liked her character, and she has a lovely smile. I liked her interactions with Sam from beginning to end. Also, she got the Great Escape, and was sort of amused by it, which gives her extra points. She does freak out a little when the ghost appears to her, but she does the sensible thing: she goes to Dean. She doesn't need to believe him right away, but she doesn't go into denial either. She goes to ask him more questions and to investigate. Which I think it's smart.
Why shouldn't Dean's lawyer pass a piece of paper onto Sam? Sam hasn't been accused of anything yet, and that lawyer is Dean's: client confidentiality and all, he's certainly allowed to pass on messages, since he's allowed not to tell even if Dean confesses to him that he is indeed a serial killer of the worst kind. Besides, the message 'seems' innocuous if a bit loony, and that lawyer doesn't seem too bright.
Any US lawyers out there that can confirm/dispute this?
The Ghost!Woman appearing here and there with the computers and printers printing 'danashulps' over and over?
Damn scary for me, I tell you. If my printer starts printing all on its own, you can bet I'd be down and out in the streets in a matter of seconds *nods* Omen of Death, I liked that. It kept the supernatural element in an episode that was heavily procedural, in an effective enough way for me.
Sam and Dean working together on the supernatural case even if separated? AWESOME. *g*
I like the way their brains ran in parallel directions, and forgive me, BUT THAT IS THE TRAINING THAT JOHN GAVE THEM! YAY! *highfives*
Just the system they have to meet each other if they get separated. They've been working this for all their lives, aside for Sam's four years at Stanford, and John had prepared them well.
Both using Metlock is funny to me because it's the sme thing they do when they speak at the same time, saying the same things. I think the writers dealt well with this separation thing and found a way to make clear that the borthers are in synch no matter what.
The message, coded in film-speak? Great. (and I love The Great Escape and Steve McQueen, so that works even better).
Dean's confession to the videocamera gets points of awesomeness from too. First of all, he looks good in blue ;) secondly, it's way clever. He's claiming his innocence, declaring himself a 'weirdo' but at the same time, putting out there information and clues for whomever might decide to check on that. Cops might not be that interested to the supernatural, of course, and just, and exactly how the bad guy reacted, take Dean for a smartass. But still...Dean's confessed the truth. Instead of making up more lies and risking being discovered, at least this way he can keep a straight version and see what happens.
All the media references? I love them. I'm geeky that way. Especially those to The Shining, also because it's not the first time and thus is becomes not just the media reference of the episode, in between others, but something Dean really likes and admire (Jack Nicholson as an actor, the film as such).
And Wheee! Sam was held in Room 101! *dies*
Also, Dean? Still pretty scary, if you ask me. BUT, he knows that once people have seen the supernatural, with their eyes, once they are scared like the detective is...well. HELP is the word they want to hear, help is what they need, and they will grab and hold onto it with all their strength. So, Dean tells her Sam can help, because he can see how scared she is (I would be!). And what they do, their job, the family business, is more important that Dean being held for murder. Which, for me, adds more awesomeness points to it all.
Sam, right on cue, has goen to wait for Dean. Because, after all, Sam hasn't been arrested, so yes he is a fugitive, but only from questioning (unless I missed them saying it, but I don't think so) and I think they are both pretty confident that all that there is to Dean's case is circumstantial. Even if he's been accused of the murder in St. Louis, still there's Becky's testimony that saves him, isn't there? Just a case of having the same name, and no murder weapon, no motive for the local killing, just his suspicious presence on the scene.
Yes, juries have convicted for less as the bad guy says, but DA have decided not to prosecute in just as many cases, with no direct proof and no witnesses.
The motel wallpaper? It had a life of its own, lol.
Hacker!Sammy wins! And "You have your job, I have mine." What a turn around. Somewhat sad, thinking of Sam's aspiration and wishes, but on the other hand...ther's pride in those words, in his voice, I think. Dean would approve and be proud, I suspect.
I love, no, adore the way Sam goes about sharing their knowledge and imparting ghost-hunting lesson to the detective. Again, I see pride there, of many a job well done, and many people helped.
Sam ELBOWING the wall DOWN. Enough said.
The boy is definitely growing on me. *G*
I personally don't think the ASHLAND letters were reflected onto the wall. It looked to me as if they were painted on it. Therefore not a prop/set mistake. Also because you can see behind Sam, when his shoulders are to the window, that the light from the window actually ends up on the floor, doesn't reach as far as the opposite wall. But I may be seeing it wrong. Okay, nope. When the detective walks close to the wall, you can see the letters reflected on her coat. Prop/set mistake. Ops :D
Re: the necklace. We know that bad guy Pete gives on to good cop lady Linda Blair (yes, names are totally escaping me, sorry), but no where it says that he gave one to the murdered Death Omen woman too. The only sure clue is that since Pete got one and that woman got one too, they might have connected at some point - for example: he saw hers, liked it and asked her where he could buy one like it for good cop lady, etc etc., so that there's now a definite probability they knew each other, thus establishing a previously unknown link, which, in turn, opens up a new train of thoughts, connecting previous events (the missing heroin) in a different way.
The bad guy's actions are not as unbelievable as it could seem, imo. First of all, one thing is to be demoted for having moved a prisoner without the appropriate paperwork (and you know, paperwork can always appear, someone owes someone else a favour...I can see him thinking, 'first I take care of this, then the rest.' One thing is to be accused of a thriple murder, another of unproper handling of a suspect: it would always be a cop's word against someone like Dean, with no home address, no job, a car that if they search it will reveal lots of hidden weapons and quite the list of precedents...whom do you think they're gonna care about uh?).
"Just one more dead scumbag"...sadly, it's what Dean is in the eyes of society. And most cops.
Another point of awesomeness, how Dean and Sam communicate with each other just with their eyes, the look of worry in Sam's eyes, and how Dean is the one calling the shots even if he's the one handcuffed and on his knees....yes. Uh.
I was saying...Sam couldn't be armed because he's beed held for questioning, and I assume they wouldn't have let him in the police station while carrying, and the Impala had beed taken, too. So, no weapons for Sam to use. And he didn't forget to salt and burn Death omen woman's bones, they realised she wasn't vengeful and that makes a difference, once her killer has met with his own reaper, as Sam says, she should be at rest therefore not needing salting and burning, but just a decent burial.
I love that nothing gets solved, personally, and that they go away with basically the police on the lookout for them, because I'm sure that it will make for another handcuffs/cell detention ep or two in the future*G*
The "pea soup" reference...well, I didn't get it right away *G* so when I did get it, it didn't make a strong impression of me. I like the "Nice lady", "For a cop", and "Did she look familiar to you" exchanges better.
The title?
I think it's okay, maybe even clever. The usual suspects: bad cops, banal money/drugs motives. The usual suspects: vengeful ghosts..only, it's not. The usual suspects: guys like Sam and Dean, homeless, jobless. Only it's not.
Comments? Ideas?
General thoughts on SPN 207: The Usual Suspects
It's not my over-all favourite SPN ep, no, but it's not horrible either (though, remember I like Bugs ;)
I like Carrot Cake, but I wouldn't want to eat it everyday, you know? The show has to change and has to try different directions in order to know what works, in order to grow, and that's what they are doing introducing the Roadhouse people and I assume the Linda Blair's character.
Formula shows like most TV series used to be, when the episodes could and often would be broadcasted in no particular order because it really didn't matter, since there was no or very minimal development whatsoever from the basic idea...well, they don't make them like that anymore: SPN has to change and develop, and I don't mind being along for this ride :D
Plus, I've read an article where Linda Blair says that she had asked for specific things in order to appear in the episode and that the people at SPN agreed to everything she asked...which might mean, for example, that the heavier accent on the procedural apsect of things instead of the supernatural could have been a specific choice in relation to Linda Blair, since she is openly trying to detach herself from her previous most famous role 9and possibly using her appearance in SPN to promote herself for one of the dozens of procedurals out there).
Linda Blair, I liked her. Quite a lot. I hope to see her again. I don't think the heavy make-up helped her, though, and I wish older women could stop having to use so much make up to disguise the lines of ageing. Men don't, so why should women do? I liked her character, and she has a lovely smile. I liked her interactions with Sam from beginning to end. Also, she got the Great Escape, and was sort of amused by it, which gives her extra points. She does freak out a little when the ghost appears to her, but she does the sensible thing: she goes to Dean. She doesn't need to believe him right away, but she doesn't go into denial either. She goes to ask him more questions and to investigate. Which I think it's smart.
Why shouldn't Dean's lawyer pass a piece of paper onto Sam? Sam hasn't been accused of anything yet, and that lawyer is Dean's: client confidentiality and all, he's certainly allowed to pass on messages, since he's allowed not to tell even if Dean confesses to him that he is indeed a serial killer of the worst kind. Besides, the message 'seems' innocuous if a bit loony, and that lawyer doesn't seem too bright.
Any US lawyers out there that can confirm/dispute this?
The Ghost!Woman appearing here and there with the computers and printers printing 'danashulps' over and over?
Damn scary for me, I tell you. If my printer starts printing all on its own, you can bet I'd be down and out in the streets in a matter of seconds *nods* Omen of Death, I liked that. It kept the supernatural element in an episode that was heavily procedural, in an effective enough way for me.
Sam and Dean working together on the supernatural case even if separated? AWESOME. *g*
I like the way their brains ran in parallel directions, and forgive me, BUT THAT IS THE TRAINING THAT JOHN GAVE THEM! YAY! *highfives*
Just the system they have to meet each other if they get separated. They've been working this for all their lives, aside for Sam's four years at Stanford, and John had prepared them well.
Both using Metlock is funny to me because it's the sme thing they do when they speak at the same time, saying the same things. I think the writers dealt well with this separation thing and found a way to make clear that the borthers are in synch no matter what.
The message, coded in film-speak? Great. (and I love The Great Escape and Steve McQueen, so that works even better).
Dean's confession to the videocamera gets points of awesomeness from too. First of all, he looks good in blue ;) secondly, it's way clever. He's claiming his innocence, declaring himself a 'weirdo' but at the same time, putting out there information and clues for whomever might decide to check on that. Cops might not be that interested to the supernatural, of course, and just, and exactly how the bad guy reacted, take Dean for a smartass. But still...Dean's confessed the truth. Instead of making up more lies and risking being discovered, at least this way he can keep a straight version and see what happens.
All the media references? I love them. I'm geeky that way. Especially those to The Shining, also because it's not the first time and thus is becomes not just the media reference of the episode, in between others, but something Dean really likes and admire (Jack Nicholson as an actor, the film as such).
And Wheee! Sam was held in Room 101! *dies*
Also, Dean? Still pretty scary, if you ask me. BUT, he knows that once people have seen the supernatural, with their eyes, once they are scared like the detective is...well. HELP is the word they want to hear, help is what they need, and they will grab and hold onto it with all their strength. So, Dean tells her Sam can help, because he can see how scared she is (I would be!). And what they do, their job, the family business, is more important that Dean being held for murder. Which, for me, adds more awesomeness points to it all.
Sam, right on cue, has goen to wait for Dean. Because, after all, Sam hasn't been arrested, so yes he is a fugitive, but only from questioning (unless I missed them saying it, but I don't think so) and I think they are both pretty confident that all that there is to Dean's case is circumstantial. Even if he's been accused of the murder in St. Louis, still there's Becky's testimony that saves him, isn't there? Just a case of having the same name, and no murder weapon, no motive for the local killing, just his suspicious presence on the scene.
Yes, juries have convicted for less as the bad guy says, but DA have decided not to prosecute in just as many cases, with no direct proof and no witnesses.
The motel wallpaper? It had a life of its own, lol.
Hacker!Sammy wins! And "You have your job, I have mine." What a turn around. Somewhat sad, thinking of Sam's aspiration and wishes, but on the other hand...ther's pride in those words, in his voice, I think. Dean would approve and be proud, I suspect.
I love, no, adore the way Sam goes about sharing their knowledge and imparting ghost-hunting lesson to the detective. Again, I see pride there, of many a job well done, and many people helped.
Sam ELBOWING the wall DOWN. Enough said.
The boy is definitely growing on me. *G*
Re: the necklace. We know that bad guy Pete gives on to good cop lady Linda Blair (yes, names are totally escaping me, sorry), but no where it says that he gave one to the murdered Death Omen woman too. The only sure clue is that since Pete got one and that woman got one too, they might have connected at some point - for example: he saw hers, liked it and asked her where he could buy one like it for good cop lady, etc etc., so that there's now a definite probability they knew each other, thus establishing a previously unknown link, which, in turn, opens up a new train of thoughts, connecting previous events (the missing heroin) in a different way.
The bad guy's actions are not as unbelievable as it could seem, imo. First of all, one thing is to be demoted for having moved a prisoner without the appropriate paperwork (and you know, paperwork can always appear, someone owes someone else a favour...I can see him thinking, 'first I take care of this, then the rest.' One thing is to be accused of a thriple murder, another of unproper handling of a suspect: it would always be a cop's word against someone like Dean, with no home address, no job, a car that if they search it will reveal lots of hidden weapons and quite the list of precedents...whom do you think they're gonna care about uh?).
"Just one more dead scumbag"...sadly, it's what Dean is in the eyes of society. And most cops.
Another point of awesomeness, how Dean and Sam communicate with each other just with their eyes, the look of worry in Sam's eyes, and how Dean is the one calling the shots even if he's the one handcuffed and on his knees....yes. Uh.
I was saying...Sam couldn't be armed because he's beed held for questioning, and I assume they wouldn't have let him in the police station while carrying, and the Impala had beed taken, too. So, no weapons for Sam to use. And he didn't forget to salt and burn Death omen woman's bones, they realised she wasn't vengeful and that makes a difference, once her killer has met with his own reaper, as Sam says, she should be at rest therefore not needing salting and burning, but just a decent burial.
I love that nothing gets solved, personally, and that they go away with basically the police on the lookout for them, because I'm sure that it will make for another handcuffs/cell detention ep or two in the future*G*
The "pea soup" reference...well, I didn't get it right away *G* so when I did get it, it didn't make a strong impression of me. I like the "Nice lady", "For a cop", and "Did she look familiar to you" exchanges better.
The title?
I think it's okay, maybe even clever. The usual suspects: bad cops, banal money/drugs motives. The usual suspects: vengeful ghosts..only, it's not. The usual suspects: guys like Sam and Dean, homeless, jobless. Only it's not.
Comments? Ideas?
