WE ARE SO BACK!!! Sorta. Not really but I don’t want to dismiss this season completely. Season 11 did restore my faith a bit (especially after season 10). I mean in just the first episode we finally get to have a discussion about the whole point of hunting. To save lives. It’s so refreshing to start this season from this point, I just wish we could have ended on the same note.
The highs this season have reached heights I haven't seen since season 5. My patience has been so worth it. Visually the ranking here looks bottom tier heavy but the fifth tier is only C tier and there are moments in those episodes that I can say I did enjoy. The second to last tier can be ranked on it's own cause the Mytharc episodes have me scratching my head. Anyway who's up to reading paragraphs (I'm going to use Chuck and God interchangeably in this post).
-Chuck is God or God is Chuck. You know what? What the hell, go for it. No but I actually fuck with this. It just makes sense, out of anyone it would be Chuck. Episode 20, "Don't Call Me Shurley" blew me away. I want to dissect this episode in its entirety so badly but I will only share a quarter of my thoughts here for now. I'm so happy Metatron wasn't killed off before this episode. A few seasons ago I would have rolled my eyes at the thought of him returning but his presence was so deserved here. His whole writing 101 lesson to Chuck was such a clever way to get some much needed introspection into God and his many complicated relationships. Of course Metatron would be the only one able to truly get God to see how much of a utter coward he is. Metatron's devotion to advocate for humanity despite all it's faults he himself has witnessed and has been apart of is so dear to me. Especially considering his previous distain for anything to do with humanity. I find it so interesting that although Metatron is a scribe who has read the ins and outs of every book ever written, it's not until he became human that he came to appreciate all of humanity. And he did not live a pretty life either, no he was in the dumpster digging for scraps in the beginning of this episode. He was finding his way to survive as a human, the same as Castiel before. Honestly Metatron is a one of a kind type of character in this show and I couldn't see anyone else be able to fill his shoes. Okay this turned into Metatron the novel rather than it being about Chuck like it was meant to be oh well. I will say it is a ballsy move to have God be this grounded but damn did they do it so right. Well, in this episode at least. Plus the addition of Light vs. Darkness within the Supernatural lore felt inevitable. I do think they fumbled with it towards the end but I don't think it should be counted as a total loss. I'd have to make a separate post to speak my thoughts on the Mytharc overall this season if anyone cares to read about it.
Anyway Chuck/God is bisexual so cheers.
-Baby and the amulet mentioned!!! A Baby centric episode has been long overdue and boy oh boy did it have me falling in love with this show all over again. I know I made a post before about my favorite Supernatural episode being "Changing Channels" and the others happening to be Gabriel episodes but I think I have to pass the crown to "Baby." I love it so much I get so giddy when I think about the many layers that all come together to make such a beautifully cohesive story. It has heart, drama, great fight scenes, creative camera shots, silly brother bonding, and still pushes the main narrative along. What more could I ask for?? (Balanced storytelling will always win me over). I never thought I'd see an episode like this after season 5. I'm so glad they proved me dead wrong. I didn't realize how much I missed Baby, she's truly her own character in this show. Speaking of missing prominent objects that symbolize familial love and the brotherhood between Sam and Dean...yes the amulet. I've had this sore spot in my heart ever since I witnessed Dean throw it out all the way back in season 5. Then it was mentioned in the episode "Fan Fiction" last season which just hurt me even more. Now here it is after so much heartache, it's back and with a fair explanation to where it's been. I've always half joked with my sibling that Sam picked it up after it was thrown away and I'm sticking to that interpretation even more so now since the show seems to support it. Now if Dean and Sam could mention it in conversation...then I'll be free.
-Casifer was fun lol. I mean Misha Collins you've done it again. I saw recently on Twitter that people were saying that his depiction of Lucifer was too over the top and that it was his acting choices that made this character nothing more than a joke. I’d have to disagree, yes his performance was very expressive and leaned into a comedic portrayal of the character but he was still entirely in character. Lucifer using comedy to be an overall unhinged menace has been a thing since season 7 (Back then he was only a hallucination so I let it slide with little thought). So Misha’s performance doesn’t come out of nowhere, this characterization, whether we agree with it or not, has already existed and is accurate. This is purely a writing issue and not one that falls on the actor. And man do I personally not care for the writing choices made this season when it comes to Lucifer. This season has pushed its limits to how far I’m willing to take his comedic aspects because I find it has overshadowed the parts that make him compelling and sinister. I don’t know why the writers neglected these sides of him in favor of being a comedic relief which just has me rolling my eyes. Yes I like Casifer, as a one off thing that was very entertaining to watch but I know that this is going to be the direction they continue in and that bugs me. Anyway, Misha’s performance helped make Lucifer way more palatable and likable to the audience. Which is important because this character we are meant to despise is on screen for basically the whole season. I also do think Casifer did go on for a bit too long, there's a reason Souless Sam and Demon Dean don't last for entire seasons. It gets draining to watch real fast. This trend of having nothing for Castiel to do for basically a whole season is still continuing and I'm so over it. How long has it been since a true Team Free Will moment? Not saying Cas can only do something when it involves the brothers but come on it's been a long dry spell without an episode focused on the main three.
-This next part is in relation to episode: "We Happy Few." The whole "God is a deadbeat dad" thing was used as an analogy to describe what is a very complex relationship between a God and an archangel but now here it's so literal. You've got to be kidding. Why are we dumbing down Lucifer to a stubborn whiny bratty child?? (Again to reiterate, I don’t blame Misha’s performance, he was working with the script they gave him). They somehow had these larger than life entities' lore be devolved into some shitty reality tv show. You will not make me believe the relationship between God and Lucifer can be resolved through a sit down conversation (To be fair, it doesn't get resolved but it's sorta baffling that I have to watch them even try). How am I supposed to take any of these characters who are supposed to be menacing and these grand imposing figures within this show when they pull things like this?? I know I previously sung praise for this creative decision however, the lack of nuance between these pivotal character interactions just ends up make everything so cartoonish. For example, I would have thought there was going to be some engaging conflict with Sam and Dean's perspectives regarding faith once God, excuse me, Chuck, was in the picture. However, there was no questioning whatsoever this time around. For some unknown reason they decided that the whole emotional core of Supernatural, that being faith, shouldn't be a part of the story at that crucial moment. There's a huge opportunity here for even just a simple conversation between the brothers and Chuck. I mean, Sam and Dean are in the same room as God and NOTHING comes of it?? Sam especially should have had a voice here. Ugh it hurts to see the brothers being so docile and blindly following them. What a waste of an opportunity and now that Chuck's gone I'm just going to have to turn to fan fiction to get what should have been canon.
-The ending. The ending wasn't totally hopeless. Sam letting go of Dean was emotional in a very subdued way. It wasn't over the top like it was trying to force tears or convince me this was totally the end. It wasn't for the audience but it was just for them. This proves Sam has grown so much even just from the last season. Which is so refreshing to see because I wanted to let go of season 10’s characterization. The setup for the Men of Letters and the resurrection of Mary had me intrigued. I mean I did get spoiled before, I saw a clip of Mary with the boys at one point so I can't lie and say I'm shocked. I'm sure if I wasn't already aware I'd be losing it a little. I'm ready for something new that has nothing to do with Lucifer or Gods. If things can go down a notch as far as grandeur storytelling is concerned for just a season or hey just a few episodes then I'll be good.
I wouldn't say this season is a step down from season 10. There have been glimpses of the show remembering what works and finding it's sweet spot throughout this season. Overall I liked this season and what it had setup for the most part. Now on to season 12 with hope that some good has stuck.