The opening? Great! I love seeing the MOL Bunker and it stands to reason seeing a bit of its history is always going to be received well. And I loved our intro to Dorothy and the idea of the world of Oz being more than a fairytale.
Crowley. I like the notion that he's stuck there stewing for so long. I was worried when Sam didn't pull the false wall/shelves thing back. He just walked out and shut the doors. I've always been an advocate for the don't even engage in conversation method when it comes to holding King of Hell bastard demon types prisoner. Mark has perfected the delivery of "Bollocks" in such a satisfying manner.So we see Charlie and Dorothy do some girl-power bonding which is just fine. Moving on to the Crowley scene - again I loved Mark's delivery. But boys...come on. Even I would have thought to check out that screwed up bit of paper. Witch is voiceless. Paper. Crayon. Hello?? Could have saved themselves from unnecessary risk. I get jumpy when they let Crowley do anything....makes me nervous just having him in the bunker!
So off they trot to the kitchen. I do love the idea of Dean being the domesticated one when it comes to the cooking and the cleaning. That kind of tickles me in fact. It's a neat unexpected quality. I totally dig Dorothy's journal too.
Time for some Sam and Dorothy bonding time now as they discuss the concept of what "home" is and of course off they go and separate. I've discovered that show is actually incredibly consistent with this tactic. Whenever the viewer feels that sticking together is the best idea show will inevitably choose that point to split up a successful duo or group. INEVITABLE.
Meanwhile back in Dean's room Charlie appreciate's Dean's porn stash whilst Dean goes through a box of stuff that makes me wonder what the hell he's thinking, let alone touching the stuff, never mind keeping a box of UNKNOWN, MORE THAN LIKELY INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, MOL's ARTEFACTS in his own damn bedroom. Isn't the memory foam and the Samurai swords enough for pete's sake?
The witch stepping up at that moment actually made me roll my eyes, because to be frank I had been wondering about the somewhat laissez faire approach both the boys had been taking. IT'S A WITCH FELLAS. It's all very well now you have fancy poppy bullets but what were you doing before that? Why does Dean have to take the key so obviously out the box? Why can't he just look and then LEAVE? Oh right the story...so Charlie can throw herself in harms way. That whole scenario felt clunky and forced to me. I don't mind the idea that Charlie gets seriously hurt (even killed) trying to protect Dean. I do mind that it's not done in a smart way...this whole scene was just too paint by the numbers.
The witch stepping up at that moment actually made me roll my eyes, because to be frank I had been wondering about the somewhat laissez faire approach both the boys had been taking. IT'S A WITCH FELLAS. It's all very well now you have fancy poppy bullets but what were you doing before that? Why does Dean have to take the key so obviously out the box? Why can't he just look and then LEAVE? Oh right the story...so Charlie can throw herself in harms way. That whole scenario felt clunky and forced to me. I don't mind the idea that Charlie gets seriously hurt (even killed) trying to protect Dean. I do mind that it's not done in a smart way...this whole scene was just too paint by the numbers.
And then to the scene that grated my chops the most....
I understand that Dean was upset about Charlie. I get that he was desperate to save her. But I have to ask if he's not getting a little too comfortable with Samzekiel. Firstly to call on Zeke so blatantly - sure he beats himself up about it later but to me the slip up is a huge sign that he's getting way too comfortable. Why isn't he constantly thinking about how to tell Sam about him, or how long till Zeke can leave. Dean was written so appropriately distraught by the choice he faced in 9x01 and the decision he felt forced to make and he continues to show complete self-loathing over his decision later on. I know he wants Charlie back. But if he'd just taken a moment to think - he probably could have used this to his advantage.
![deanzeke904]( "deanzeke904")
Why not use this moment to explain to Sam who Zeke is. Sam sees Charlie lying there dead. Dean distraught. Dean telling Sam he's gotta let Zeke bring her back. Sam: Who is Zeke? Dean explains it all. Sam would be incredibly upset....but I'm positive he would see his way clear to thinking how to bring Charlie back. Have Sam be an active part of how to save Charlie rather than just an ignorant tool. He would have been forced to not reject Zeke in order to bring her back. He would have had to listen to Dean who would have told him about how Zeke had saved his life and Dean's life and the lives of other people. Perhaps an argument might be that he was pressed for time, the Witch has the key etc etc. But quite honestly they didn't seem all that urgent about the tasks prior to Charlie's death (or after she was back!). I find the time factor argument not a sufficient one to support his rather rash behaviour. Especially when you consider later on they're busy talking about their concept of home (after it's been seen the Witch can kill with one zap and now she has the key and is still around injured) - where's the urgency?? Boys - YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HUNTING!!
Why not use this moment to explain to Sam who Zeke is. Sam sees Charlie lying there dead. Dean distraught. Dean telling Sam he's gotta let Zeke bring her back. Sam: Who is Zeke? Dean explains it all. Sam would be incredibly upset....but I'm positive he would see his way clear to thinking how to bring Charlie back. Have Sam be an active part of how to save Charlie rather than just an ignorant tool. He would have been forced to not reject Zeke in order to bring her back. He would have had to listen to Dean who would have told him about how Zeke had saved his life and Dean's life and the lives of other people. Perhaps an argument might be that he was pressed for time, the Witch has the key etc etc. But quite honestly they didn't seem all that urgent about the tasks prior to Charlie's death (or after she was back!). I find the time factor argument not a sufficient one to support his rather rash behaviour. Especially when you consider later on they're busy talking about their concept of home (after it's been seen the Witch can kill with one zap and now she has the key and is still around injured) - where's the urgency?? Boys - YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HUNTING!!
Then to top it all off - he makes it all even less believable by making the answer for Sam's question when he's back, virtually unanswerable by openly telling him Charlie got zapped throwing herself in front of Dean. Sam's now been knocked out - how many times? - since the start of S9? I've lost count but it's way more than Sam would ever need to start being suspicious and subsequently grumpy about Dean's decidedly untenable answers. Why not take a moment to think exactly how this should be played - if it's sooo important that Sam doesn't know or that when he does know it's not because he's figured it out on his own - why not take a breath and come up with a semi-decent explanation. I'm hoping it's because that locomotive of coming clean is just building up unstoppable speed towards the revelation for Sam. Show is deliberately stacking on the tension in this regard.
So then we have that moment I refer to above as "Amateur Hour" and evidence that Sam and Dean have dropped their game somewhat as hunters. IE Conversation about home when all senses should be acutely centered on eliminating the danger instead.*Rolls eyes* HANDWAVE....again.
Moving on. Witchy pops up again...gets the jump once again and this time mind controls both the boys with her green eyed wonder powers. It's at this point I'm thinking - so now Sam has been moved into the trunk. Zeke is in the back seat and Miss Understood Defying Gravity is the kamikazi driver at the wheel. SMH. Surely an Angel (even fallen and injured) can take on a witch. Or not even take her on - I really felt Zeke would have been able to block her at the very least from completing the meld control thing. WHATEVER.
I tell you what was cool though. THAT GARAGE WAS AWESOME!
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The cars alone had me drooling. The garage, Crowley's Wicked references, the first edition Wizard of Oz hardback, BABY looking so beautiful, ACDC and Sam's indirect verbal acquiescence that maybe he can just start calling the Bunker home plus the boys bathed-in-the-light-of-Oz level of pretty was enough to get me through. But boy oh boy this was a tough one. Certainly comes in 3rd in terms of enjoyment so far. 9x01 is still at #1 and 9x02 and 9x03 are equal 2nd. I liked both of those episodes just as much as each other.
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![904finalscene]( "904finalscene")
I am unspoiled for next week except for the name - and just that alone makes me grin in anticipation :) Even more so the episode after that one!
The cars alone had me drooling. The garage, Crowley's Wicked references, the first edition Wizard of Oz hardback, BABY looking so beautiful, ACDC and Sam's indirect verbal acquiescence that maybe he can just start calling the Bunker home plus the boys bathed-in-the-light-of-Oz level of pretty was enough to get me through. But boy oh boy this was a tough one. Certainly comes in 3rd in terms of enjoyment so far. 9x01 is still at #1 and 9x02 and 9x03 are equal 2nd. I liked both of those episodes just as much as each other.
