Supernatural Pic Spam - Why I Love Supernatural in a Single Post
I'm not in the Supernatural fandom, so I am posting this merely as an observer and a viewer with an opinion. There's nothing really controversial, it's mostly the pic spam to end all pic spams lol, so I hope you enjoy it :)
Let's start with the obvious. I love Supernatural. I love the Winchester boys, I love the snark, I even love the pithy dialogue and cracked out plots. I started watching this show under complete duress.
marishna and a few other im/lj friends (who I never get to talk to anymore, because I suck) annoyed me and baited me with pictures of the lead actors and honestly? How many girls can *keep* resisting promo stills of JA and JP? I was weak...and even though I was a total wimp when it came to horror films and thrillers, I gave the show a chance. I think I credit SPN with getting me over my childish fears. And I credit marishna (Mari!) and neversince (Christy!) with being my primary suppliers for the first season, since I didn't actually get to watch a live episode until late March or April of that first year. I think the first episode I ever saw on tv was "Provenances".
In the beginning, this was a show about family:
An adorable family of 4 that we get to see happy for all of two minutes before all hell breaks loose...literally.
And then there were 3...
We zoom to present day (circa 2005) and we see Sam's moved on pretty well...or so appearances would have us believe.
Until one night...
"Dad's on a hunting trip and he hasn't been home in a few days."
"Jess, excuse us. We have to go outside."
(I could not have been more owned than I was by the instant brotherly connection in this scene. I have always found it really impressive how quickly and convincingly, JA and JP established their brotherly bond. Especially since, back then, JP was not so great at the whole reading lines aspect of being an actor ;) I'm not a fan of Wincest, mainly because I just don't see how brothers could get together in that way. Sorry guys.)
"House rules Sammy. Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole"
And thus began my love affair with Dean Winchester lol *g*
"No chick flick moments" - aww Dean
So, we're not even through the Pilot and I pretty much could have posted a million caps to show exactly what I love about the show. For one thing, the cinematography is gorgeous. I think the lighting and camerawork are a *lot* more flattering to JA and JP now than they were then, but that's to be expected. Back then, SPN was going for a look and a particular concept and JA and JP were virtually unknown to most of the viewing audience (myself included when it comes to JA). I went into SPN with a genuine dislike of JP and his non-acting. Needless to say, my opinion's been altered between the first season and now. Jared's twice the actor CMM is...which, admittedly, isn't saying much but that's head and shoulders above where he was back during his Gilmore Girls days. Also, maybe it's me, but Jared definitely looks like he's filled out and matured quite a bit since the Pilot. Jensen's basically stayed the same, but why mess with virtual perfection?
"Kids are the best? You don't even like kids"
"Name three children that you even know"
*That* was the moment I fell ridiculously hard for SPN as a show, prior to that, it was all Dean love.
This was the moment, I fell ridiculously in love with Dean, for completely shallow reasons
Six episodes in, this show managed to throw in a shapeshifter, impressive. And, even more impressive, they worked in an extended cut of "In a Gadda Da Vida" - that my dear friends is what pretty much makes this scene. On its own, it's an almost unlistenable song, in this context, it's downright haunting. Coupled with the episode's use of another classic, Filter's "Hey Man, Nice Shot", this episode pretty much left me with no complaints whatsoever. It even got us to question whether Dean and Sam cared about each other as much as they let on.
I couldn't find a cap to sum up why I love 1x14 ("Nightmare") so much, maybe it's because of shots like this...but mostly, because I love the fact that Sam has that revelation about how similar he is to the troubled kids with telekinetic abilities.
There have been more than enough picspams about the first season that I won't rehash too much. I love this shot, Dean looking lost and helpless as Sam and John enter into another of their epic fights.
Basically, what I loved about the first season was the theme of family and filial piety. There's a loyalty that exists between the Winchester brothers and their father that transcends explanation. That ending, pretty much killed me. Who does that in a season finale? Seriously? Which brings us to S2.
Dean Winchester facing his own mortality, for what would appear to be, the first time
Dean struggling to communicate with the one person who's still holding out hope
Dean discovering the origin of vengeful spirits. Gah, this moment kills me. It's the first time Dean realizes he's capable of becoming one himself, that no one's immune.
Dean in recovery mode and most importantly, awake, yet still unaware of what has transpired
John smiling, it's a bittersweet expression that pretty much tells us everything that's about to happen. Poor John!
This episode aired the night before my dad's triple-bypass surgery and totally freaked me out, for obvious reasons. The last thing I wanted to see that night were more ominous shots of hospitals. When I rewatched it, months later, I enjoyed it a lot more. I guess context always alters the level of enjoyment you'll have for an episode or film, right?
Dean fixing his signature Impala, which is totally unrecognizable at this point lol
Meet Jo (a.k.a. the female character who never stood a chance of being liked by the SPN fandom). Explain to me why a pretty, likable female foil to Dean was uniformly shunned and I might understand. I always liked Jo, though, which is why she's included here. YMMV as always
How's this for symbolism? Dean destroying his father's car and, in the process, erasing the last remaining remnant of his father from his mind.
This look says Dean's not getting over his father's death any time soon
I love this shot at the end of "Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things", don't ask me why, except it's just gorgeous.
I love this shot too, Jo and Dean, a.k.a. what could have been *sigh* Look at the way he's glancing subtly over at her.
Yes, I was a Dean/Jo shipper lol, there's my big fandom secret...or maybe not so big, I think I talked about it once or twice here on my journal.
The thing about S2 is that I really enjoyed it, but it didn't really ramp up until "All Hell Breaks Loose *parts 1 & 2*" So, while I could fill this with a zillion gorgeous pics of Jensen and Jared and their myriad of interesting expressions, I will spare you guys that level of adoration *mostly* and move onto what I loved about S2 as a whole.
Shots like this helped
S2 was a season where SPN could have fallen flat, it could have sunk into a pit of misguided mythology arcs and broken plot lines, but it didn't. What made S2 great was Kripke and Crew's devotion to staying true to who Dean and Sam are. There was never a moment missed. To be honest, what I've loved about Supernatural since the first season is how unwilling it was to fall into a single mold and be forgotten. SPN is the little show that could, as far as I'm concerned. A show produced by *McG* that could have coasted through a season or two on its initial paper-thin premise of two boys searching for the truth 22 years after an unexplained tragedy. The boys were gorgeous, the special effects were slick, if a little cheesy, but Kripke and crew were not satisfied with producing something that was merely passable entertainment or a clever diversion. What they created is not quite art, nor is it always brilliant, but Supernatural is a dynamic example of how great television can come from the most unlikely of subjects. Is it a stretch to call Supernatural *great* television? In season one, I might have thought so. The show focused so heavily on retelling urban legends and tracking the Winchester boys' search for their father that it often came off as amusing, but insignificant. The first season was really enjoyable, but I don't think the show found its voice until S2. That's not to say that the vision wasn't there, but the stakes got considerably higher in SPN's sophomore season. To recap: The Winchester brothers lost their father, John. John sacrificed himself to the Green-Eyed Demon to save his ailing son, Dean. Dean sold his soul to a demon to save his *dead* brother, Sam, at the end of the season. In the season finale, the gates of Hell opened and a pandora's box full of evil spewed forth onto the Earth. Oh and John emerged to save his boys from further harm by essentially killing the Green-Eyed Demon. I mean it takes guts for a show to set an expiration date on a beloved character, although I doubt Dean will ever have to make good on that bargain. I'm naively hoping Sam can save him.
But back to highlights of S2
Sam's possession. This was kind of the moment where I realized this show will go *anywhere* to make a plot work. It showed us that Sam's highly susceptible to demon possession and that Jared Padalecki plays creepy and sadistic far too convincingly.
The boys also proved that they could flash FBI badges with conviction and look ten kinds of sexy
The show also brought us "What Is and What Should Never Be", which in my mind is one of the best episodes this show has ever had.
Dean wakes up in a world that resembles the one he's known his entire life, but is markedly altered.
Reunited
I love how well this shot parallels the one in the pilot. Although Sam looks infinitely more freaked out and wimpy here lol
Flashlights! (Kind of a sad reason to get excited, but I also love JP's expression here).
OH GOD THIS FACE KILLS ME! Poor Dean, this is the moment where it all comes together and he realizes that everything that's happened since the djinn touched him has been a smokescreen of sorts, created by the djinn, to keep Dean anaesthetized until the djinn has had a chance to suck him dry. God, seriously, this scene actually hurts to watch for me. This face says it all. It says, "I'm dying and none of you are real...but I sort of wish this was all tangible and that I could keep believing the fantasy, because it's a taste of a life I've never known" Gah, yeah, I'm a sucker, what can I say?
Reality
There's no reason for the inclusion of this cap, none...except I just couldn't keep it out *sigh*
No real reason for this shot either... *g*
And that pretty much wraps up my tribute to "What Is and What Should Never Be", on to "All Hell Breaks Loose (part 1) for those who are still enjoying this :)
From this perspective, JP almost looks small...I guess from such a wide angle, anyone would look small though lol *g* ;)
I wish this season was longer, so that we could get some more insight into why Mary was a target and exactly who Sam is and how he garnered such attention from the upper echelon of the underworld. I guess we've sort of learned quite a bit about it by now, but S3 hinted at some much deeper connections between Mary and the Green-Eyed Demon and I really wish we could have seen that plot developed more. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it gets revisited before the season ends. Although with the introduction of Lilith, I'm not sure how that would work.
Sam discovering that Ava's not.that.innocent...she's actually the embodiment of evil. It turns out, she didn't even really have to work that hard to get there...which means Sam is even more susceptible...
This is right before Sam suffers that fatal blow
Gah, no words, none...I think this moment changed the entire course and tone of the show.
That about wraps up this pic spam. I might do another in the very near future to highlight what I love about "All Hell Breaks Loose" part 2 and the better half of S3. I think the main problem I run into in any pic spam is that the prettiness renders me incoherent and then I'm incapable of sharing how I really feel about shows I love.
Just so this doesn't end on a down note...
All caps by
bluebear_74
I guess I went a *little* overboard on that pic spam, but it was fun to put together and I pretty much got to say everything I've been wanting to, for awhile about the first two seasons. I'm not locking it, because it's a totally fandom post and it's been eons since I did a non f-locked post. And, for the first time in awhile, I'm actually enjoying work. Apparently all I need to have fun there is to keep busy, really busy, like the kind of busy where you have 54 reports due in the next two weeks. Alright, time for me to head off for work!
Hope everyone has a good day! :)
Let's start with the obvious. I love Supernatural. I love the Winchester boys, I love the snark, I even love the pithy dialogue and cracked out plots. I started watching this show under complete duress.
marishna and a few other im/lj friends (who I never get to talk to anymore, because I suck) annoyed me and baited me with pictures of the lead actors and honestly? How many girls can *keep* resisting promo stills of JA and JP? I was weak...and even though I was a total wimp when it came to horror films and thrillers, I gave the show a chance. I think I credit SPN with getting me over my childish fears. And I credit marishna (Mari!) and neversince (Christy!) with being my primary suppliers for the first season, since I didn't actually get to watch a live episode until late March or April of that first year. I think the first episode I ever saw on tv was "Provenances".In the beginning, this was a show about family:
An adorable family of 4 that we get to see happy for all of two minutes before all hell breaks loose...literally.
And then there were 3...
We zoom to present day (circa 2005) and we see Sam's moved on pretty well...or so appearances would have us believe.
Until one night...
"Dad's on a hunting trip and he hasn't been home in a few days."
"Jess, excuse us. We have to go outside."
(I could not have been more owned than I was by the instant brotherly connection in this scene. I have always found it really impressive how quickly and convincingly, JA and JP established their brotherly bond. Especially since, back then, JP was not so great at the whole reading lines aspect of being an actor ;) I'm not a fan of Wincest, mainly because I just don't see how brothers could get together in that way. Sorry guys.)
"House rules Sammy. Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole"
And thus began my love affair with Dean Winchester lol *g*
"No chick flick moments" - aww Dean
So, we're not even through the Pilot and I pretty much could have posted a million caps to show exactly what I love about the show. For one thing, the cinematography is gorgeous. I think the lighting and camerawork are a *lot* more flattering to JA and JP now than they were then, but that's to be expected. Back then, SPN was going for a look and a particular concept and JA and JP were virtually unknown to most of the viewing audience (myself included when it comes to JA). I went into SPN with a genuine dislike of JP and his non-acting. Needless to say, my opinion's been altered between the first season and now. Jared's twice the actor CMM is...which, admittedly, isn't saying much but that's head and shoulders above where he was back during his Gilmore Girls days. Also, maybe it's me, but Jared definitely looks like he's filled out and matured quite a bit since the Pilot. Jensen's basically stayed the same, but why mess with virtual perfection?
"Kids are the best? You don't even like kids"
"Name three children that you even know"
*That* was the moment I fell ridiculously hard for SPN as a show, prior to that, it was all Dean love.
This was the moment, I fell ridiculously in love with Dean, for completely shallow reasons
Six episodes in, this show managed to throw in a shapeshifter, impressive. And, even more impressive, they worked in an extended cut of "In a Gadda Da Vida" - that my dear friends is what pretty much makes this scene. On its own, it's an almost unlistenable song, in this context, it's downright haunting. Coupled with the episode's use of another classic, Filter's "Hey Man, Nice Shot", this episode pretty much left me with no complaints whatsoever. It even got us to question whether Dean and Sam cared about each other as much as they let on.
I couldn't find a cap to sum up why I love 1x14 ("Nightmare") so much, maybe it's because of shots like this...but mostly, because I love the fact that Sam has that revelation about how similar he is to the troubled kids with telekinetic abilities.
There have been more than enough picspams about the first season that I won't rehash too much. I love this shot, Dean looking lost and helpless as Sam and John enter into another of their epic fights.
Basically, what I loved about the first season was the theme of family and filial piety. There's a loyalty that exists between the Winchester brothers and their father that transcends explanation. That ending, pretty much killed me. Who does that in a season finale? Seriously? Which brings us to S2.
Dean Winchester facing his own mortality, for what would appear to be, the first time
Dean struggling to communicate with the one person who's still holding out hope
Dean discovering the origin of vengeful spirits. Gah, this moment kills me. It's the first time Dean realizes he's capable of becoming one himself, that no one's immune.
Dean in recovery mode and most importantly, awake, yet still unaware of what has transpired
John smiling, it's a bittersweet expression that pretty much tells us everything that's about to happen. Poor John!
This episode aired the night before my dad's triple-bypass surgery and totally freaked me out, for obvious reasons. The last thing I wanted to see that night were more ominous shots of hospitals. When I rewatched it, months later, I enjoyed it a lot more. I guess context always alters the level of enjoyment you'll have for an episode or film, right?
Dean fixing his signature Impala, which is totally unrecognizable at this point lol
Meet Jo (a.k.a. the female character who never stood a chance of being liked by the SPN fandom). Explain to me why a pretty, likable female foil to Dean was uniformly shunned and I might understand. I always liked Jo, though, which is why she's included here. YMMV as always
How's this for symbolism? Dean destroying his father's car and, in the process, erasing the last remaining remnant of his father from his mind.
This look says Dean's not getting over his father's death any time soon
I love this shot at the end of "Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things", don't ask me why, except it's just gorgeous.
I love this shot too, Jo and Dean, a.k.a. what could have been *sigh* Look at the way he's glancing subtly over at her.
Yes, I was a Dean/Jo shipper lol, there's my big fandom secret...or maybe not so big, I think I talked about it once or twice here on my journal.
The thing about S2 is that I really enjoyed it, but it didn't really ramp up until "All Hell Breaks Loose *parts 1 & 2*" So, while I could fill this with a zillion gorgeous pics of Jensen and Jared and their myriad of interesting expressions, I will spare you guys that level of adoration *mostly* and move onto what I loved about S2 as a whole.
Shots like this helped
S2 was a season where SPN could have fallen flat, it could have sunk into a pit of misguided mythology arcs and broken plot lines, but it didn't. What made S2 great was Kripke and Crew's devotion to staying true to who Dean and Sam are. There was never a moment missed. To be honest, what I've loved about Supernatural since the first season is how unwilling it was to fall into a single mold and be forgotten. SPN is the little show that could, as far as I'm concerned. A show produced by *McG* that could have coasted through a season or two on its initial paper-thin premise of two boys searching for the truth 22 years after an unexplained tragedy. The boys were gorgeous, the special effects were slick, if a little cheesy, but Kripke and crew were not satisfied with producing something that was merely passable entertainment or a clever diversion. What they created is not quite art, nor is it always brilliant, but Supernatural is a dynamic example of how great television can come from the most unlikely of subjects. Is it a stretch to call Supernatural *great* television? In season one, I might have thought so. The show focused so heavily on retelling urban legends and tracking the Winchester boys' search for their father that it often came off as amusing, but insignificant. The first season was really enjoyable, but I don't think the show found its voice until S2. That's not to say that the vision wasn't there, but the stakes got considerably higher in SPN's sophomore season. To recap: The Winchester brothers lost their father, John. John sacrificed himself to the Green-Eyed Demon to save his ailing son, Dean. Dean sold his soul to a demon to save his *dead* brother, Sam, at the end of the season. In the season finale, the gates of Hell opened and a pandora's box full of evil spewed forth onto the Earth. Oh and John emerged to save his boys from further harm by essentially killing the Green-Eyed Demon. I mean it takes guts for a show to set an expiration date on a beloved character, although I doubt Dean will ever have to make good on that bargain. I'm naively hoping Sam can save him.
But back to highlights of S2
Sam's possession. This was kind of the moment where I realized this show will go *anywhere* to make a plot work. It showed us that Sam's highly susceptible to demon possession and that Jared Padalecki plays creepy and sadistic far too convincingly.
The boys also proved that they could flash FBI badges with conviction and look ten kinds of sexy
The show also brought us "What Is and What Should Never Be", which in my mind is one of the best episodes this show has ever had.
Dean wakes up in a world that resembles the one he's known his entire life, but is markedly altered.
Reunited
I love how well this shot parallels the one in the pilot. Although Sam looks infinitely more freaked out and wimpy here lol
Flashlights! (Kind of a sad reason to get excited, but I also love JP's expression here).
OH GOD THIS FACE KILLS ME! Poor Dean, this is the moment where it all comes together and he realizes that everything that's happened since the djinn touched him has been a smokescreen of sorts, created by the djinn, to keep Dean anaesthetized until the djinn has had a chance to suck him dry. God, seriously, this scene actually hurts to watch for me. This face says it all. It says, "I'm dying and none of you are real...but I sort of wish this was all tangible and that I could keep believing the fantasy, because it's a taste of a life I've never known" Gah, yeah, I'm a sucker, what can I say?
Reality
There's no reason for the inclusion of this cap, none...except I just couldn't keep it out *sigh*
No real reason for this shot either... *g*
And that pretty much wraps up my tribute to "What Is and What Should Never Be", on to "All Hell Breaks Loose (part 1) for those who are still enjoying this :)
From this perspective, JP almost looks small...I guess from such a wide angle, anyone would look small though lol *g* ;)
I wish this season was longer, so that we could get some more insight into why Mary was a target and exactly who Sam is and how he garnered such attention from the upper echelon of the underworld. I guess we've sort of learned quite a bit about it by now, but S3 hinted at some much deeper connections between Mary and the Green-Eyed Demon and I really wish we could have seen that plot developed more. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it gets revisited before the season ends. Although with the introduction of Lilith, I'm not sure how that would work.
Sam discovering that Ava's not.that.innocent...she's actually the embodiment of evil. It turns out, she didn't even really have to work that hard to get there...which means Sam is even more susceptible...
This is right before Sam suffers that fatal blow
Gah, no words, none...I think this moment changed the entire course and tone of the show.
That about wraps up this pic spam. I might do another in the very near future to highlight what I love about "All Hell Breaks Loose" part 2 and the better half of S3. I think the main problem I run into in any pic spam is that the prettiness renders me incoherent and then I'm incapable of sharing how I really feel about shows I love.
Just so this doesn't end on a down note...
All caps by
bluebear_74I guess I went a *little* overboard on that pic spam, but it was fun to put together and I pretty much got to say everything I've been wanting to, for awhile about the first two seasons. I'm not locking it, because it's a totally fandom post and it's been eons since I did a non f-locked post. And, for the first time in awhile, I'm actually enjoying work. Apparently all I need to have fun there is to keep busy, really busy, like the kind of busy where you have 54 reports due in the next two weeks. Alright, time for me to head off for work!
Hope everyone has a good day! :)