But where's Romo Lampkin's cat in this Apocalypse?

5.20 "The Devil You Know"

So Crowley's still in the game. I'm assuming he's got to be on the level with his desire to help, because otherwise this whole situation would pretty much just be a Ruby rehash. Of course this plan of Bobby selling his soul to Crowley in order to find Death and then Crowley promising to give it back right away pretty much seems like the worst idea ever.

Um, I like the idea of Sam being the vicious attack dog that Dean sics on demons? Yeah, that's pretty much all I have to say about this episode.

This episode didn't really feel like the build up to an exciting finale. Given that there are only two episodes left, I'm starting to feel like it's less likely that we're going to see God in the finale. I'm also doubting that we're going to see John Winchester again. Don't disappoint me now, show!

"I'm pretty sure my cat's been reading my diary."

You and me both, Brittany. You and me both.

So, I've felt from the very beginning that Glee is generally a little inconsistent in quality. This has not changed. There were a few episodes at the beginning of the season where that "Terri's fake pregnancy" storyline was driving me so insane that I thought about quitting the show. Since it's been back after the long hiatus, though, it's the message crap that's been driving me crazy.

I thought the whole Madonna episode might kill me. The "girl power" crap was done pretty poorly, and at some points I felt like the message became so twisted around that it was offensive. Luckily the "Like a Prayer" bit at the end was good enough that it kind of made up for the rest of it. This past week's episode, "Home", was also a little preachy, but in a whole lot of random directions. My main problem with that one (other than Kristin Chenoweth, who I loved on Pushing Daisies, but whose character on this show is horribly annoying and unfunny) is that I didn't know a single song except "I Am Beautiful" and all the songs were ballads. There wasn't a single upbeat thing about any of it. Plus this episode was doing a lot to make me dislike Kurt, which is disappointing. I was glad that Quinn at least had some dialog again. I feel like she hasn't spoken in weeks.

In general, I feel a little bit like I'm watching Heroes all over again (and not just because of Dianna Agron, Jessalyn Gilsig, and Jayma Mays). It's like the show has a whole lot of potential that it's not meeting, but I have to keep watching because if it does get there I certainly don't want to miss it. The problem might be that the show really should be all camp, but more and more often they've been going for this earnest thing (that always involves Mr. Shue being self righteous and preachy) and it's just not working for me. It would help if there was a hell of a lot more Brittany.

One other thought that I had while watching this past episode: How is this show really different from Viva Laughlin? I realize that in this case these people are a glee club so it makes sense for them to sing some of the time, but no one can deny that at other points characters just burst into song to convey their emotions, just like in a standard musical. I didn't ever watch Viva Laughlin, but I did watch Blackpool, the original British version, and enjoyed it quite a bit. So what was so different that Glee is successful and Viva Laughlin is a joke? High school students? American Idol lead in? Absence of Hugh Jackman? I don't get it.

A scene from American Gods

5.19 "Hammer of the Gods"

I was a little concerned that this episode was going to give away the plot of American Gods, which I'm only about 1/4 of the way through reading. The room full of deities is remarkably similar to a scene I just read. At least Kripke has always been up front about the fact that American Gods and Sandman are big influences on the show.

Anyway, Gabriel's dead. I'm super disappointed because he's always a lot of fun, but the show's kind of going through a whole cleansing thing, I guess. Killing off anyone who's ever been important. Makes sense if they're planning to start relatively fresh at the beginning of next season. I do like how he went out basically on Sam and Dean's side. I also wonder if those angel sword things are really permanent deaths for the angels or if God can resurrect them if he wants to. If so, it definitely seems like Gabriel deserves resurrection.

However, now Kali might be a person in play. Now that Lucifer has killed the rest of the non-Judeo-Christian gods it's unclear whether she's just going to disappear into hiding, or if she'll show up to try to face Lucifer again. It's also just fun to see Rekha Sharma again. I kept wanting to yell "Don't trust her! She's a Cylon! A particularly bitchy one!" at the other gods in the room. Speaking of the gods, Zao Shen yelling "Don't mock my world turtle" was kind of incredibly hilarious.

Also, Pestilence! He's Max Headroom! He's also grosser than Famine! Like, seriously, magnitudes grosser. Although it looks like he's spreading a deadly flu and not the Croatoan virus. But I could be wrong.

And finally, the Horsemen's rings! I was almost right about the horcrux thing. Apparently the boys can use the rings of the Horsemen to unlock Hell and put Lucifer back in it...or something like that. And they've already got War and Famine, so now they're looking for Pestilence and Death. Open a door to Hell with the rings of the Horsemen! Collect all 4!

Well show, if you want to give me a handjob, I guess I'll take it.

5.18 "Point of No Return"

100th episode 5 things:

1. The Fanservice:

• "Blow me, Cas.",
  
• "Cas, not for nothing, but the last person who looked at me like that, I got laid.",
  
• "... Sam and Dean Winchester are psychotically, irrationally, erotically codependent...".

Damn, show. I know you love us fans, and I know you've accepted that we're all a bunch of crazy slash obsessed freaks and that you don't hold it against us, and I love me some meta even more than the next crazy girl, but this was a little bit nuts. I mean, the Wincest remark was at least made by the most lying, manipulative, untrustworthy character on the show so it can be dismissed with a little handwavium. But you practically made Dean/Cas canon! (And with a strong D/s subtext, too!)

2. The Rehashing:

• Sam ran away and Dean is still bitter about it.
• Dean's tired and hates his life and is willing to sacrifice himself at the drop of a hat.
  
• Family is all that counts for anything.
• Sam and Dean get everyone killed.
• Dean doesn't trust Sam.
• Cas gave up everything for Dean and Dean isn't properly appreciative.

All themes that have been covered multiple times in the show and all came up in this episode. The family thing is a given, I guess. It's pretty much the theme of the show and they bring it up like every other episode. But the rest was like piling all of their issues on top of each other just to make sure we know how much they hate each other and themselves and life in general. Maybe the idea was to bring them all up so they could all be hashed out and dealt with. Like intensive psychotherapy in 42 minutes. Unfortunately it all felt a little tired. I love angst, so I can't believe I'm going to say this, but it might be time for some of their issues to get resolved.

That being said, there were a few things that were also rehashes, but in a good way. Like an homage to the 99 episodes that have come before. "'...no shot in hell, Hail Mary kind of thing.' 'So the usual.'" for one. Also, Dean being "the only game in town", the fact that the "beautiful room" is in an abandoned muffler factory in Van Nuys (although hardly Middle America, but maybe that's the point), and that Sam dropped the weapon at the first opportunity. All pretty much "classic" Supernatural.

3. The Game Changers:

I posted before about what I saw to be the state of things so far. And this definitely screwed with that a bit.

• Adam: I did not see that coming. I figured he was dead when we met him and he was going to stay dead because he wasn't supposed to be real. I am actually kind of impressed that they dragged their shark out of the grave to be significant. I also love the fact that stubborn and belligerent appear to be the dominant Winchester traits.
• Zachariah: I expected him to be in this to the end. I really thought he was the face of the Big Bad for the season. As it turns out, he's more like The Beast, and we just haven't met Jasmine yet (I'm feeling weird about the fact that season 4 of Angel is the best analogy I can come up with for this). That gives these last few episodes a whole new level of intrigue...but possibly a lot less douchebaggery now that Zachariah's dead.

And I don't quite even understand the Michael situation as it stands now so I'm not going to comment.

4. The Reunion:

Dean: "Hell, if you're grown up enough to find faith in me, least I can do is return the favor."

Is that it? Are they good now? Back to normal, two against the world, die for each other, Bitch. Jerk. good now? Because on one hand that seems too easy. And on the other it seems underplayed enough to be real. Despite the fact that they haven't adhered to it for years now, "No chick flick moments" is their mantra.

5. The John Winchester bashing:

Seriously? They were crazy with the insults. Crazy. There is no way John Winchester isn't coming back at the end of this season. No way.

P.S. I was going to list The Buffy Move as number 5. As in at the end of this episode Dean had this little speech: "So screw destiny. Right in the face. I say we take the fight to them, do it our way." Basically what Buffy said towards the end of every season, or at least the end of season 7. But the newest episode kind of canceled that out now that the boys have a different and more specific plan of attack.

P.P.S. Other random things about this episode:

• Dean decided he needed to look hot to say Yes to Michael. I'm all for that.
  
• For some reason Dean and Adam seemed to be wearing the same outfit.
• Bobby is, as usual, awesome.
• Bobby's panic room is also awesome.
• Sam is retarded and it is beyond me that a George and Lenny joke hasn't come up in this show yet.
  

Live from Detroit - Michael vs. Lucifer - Apocalyptic Throwdown!

Kripke has mentioned that this was really a five season story and Sera Gamble has said that season 6 is like starting a sequel, so I figure everything over the last five seasons is fair game for this finale. This is my list of important factors that are still in play and could be relevant:

Humans:
- Dean
- Sam
- John (Seriously, why isn't he in Heaven?)
- Mary (I know she's dead, but she's still around all the time.)
- Jess (Same deal as Mary.)
- Bobby
- Jesse, the 11-year-old Antichrist
- Chuck and Becky
- Lisa and Ben Braeden (Was Lisa's appearance last week random or a sign that they're important?)
- The Ghostfacers
- Missouri Mosley
- Young Sam (This show loves it some Colin Ford.)
- Adam

Angels:
- Michael
- Lucifer
- Gabriel
- Raphael
- Castiel
- Zachariah

Demons:
- Pestilence and/or Conquest (Or did they just skip that one? The husband thinks it'll be Pestilence and it'll bring back the Croatoan virus. The husband is right.)
- Death
- Crowley (Was he just around to give the boys back the Colt?)

Other people:
- God
- Shapeshifters (The fact that this apocalypse is all about what body you're in seems to make them relevant.)
- Tessa the Reaper (She likes Dean a lot. She might show up.)
- Kali

Things: (I feel like they've been collecting horcruxes. And I'm kind of right.)
- The amulet
- The Colt
- Metallicar
- Ruby's knife
- War's ring
- Famine's ring
- Pestilence's ring
- Death's ring

Places:
- Heaven
- Hell
- Earth
- Detroit

Those are my thoughts for now. I will probably append it in upcoming weeks. And I have. Everything in italics was added after the original post. Same with links.

And a whore ain't one...as long as you have a servant of Heaven and a stake made of Babylonian Cypress. Top that, Jay-Z.

5.17 "99 Problems"

5 awesome things about this episode:

1. Armed demon-fighting Christian militia. A motel with a marquee that reads "Stay 2 Nites Get a Free Bible." It finally feels like the Apocalypse!

2. The Whore of Babylon! "On a good day you get to kill a whore." Exactly, Dean. Stop being so dead inside. Today is a good day.

3. Drunk Castiel and absolutely everything that that entails. Seriously, that should happen every week.

4. "Sam, of course, is an abomination." I realize that's basically like me listing Drunk Castiel as 2 of my 5 things, but I don't care. The line is just that good.

5. Apparently the love of Dean's life is a yoga instructor he had awesome sex with for a weekend 10 years ago and then who's life he saved two and a half years ago and whose kid he thought might be his, but isn't. But the weirdest part is that he seems to be the love of her life too.

This one goes to maybe seven and a half-ish.

5.01 "The Eleventh Hour"

I kind of figured there was no way I'd dislike him. I mean he had a hell of a mantle to pick up and undoubtedly BBC and Steven Moffat and everyone responsible for the situation made damn sure he was capable of it before hiring him. I don't know if I love him. It's hard to get over David Tennant. But I like him. I don't have a real feel for his personality yet. What'll make him new and unique and not just a hybrid of Nine and Ten (he doesn't even have a catch phrase yet), but he's fun. Although I'm a little disappointed that he dresses like a kind of boring old college professor. I liked him better in Ten's old clothes. Ten at least had the trench coat and the glasses to give him kind of a quirky distinction. The boring bowtie isn't really doing it for me. I'm not saying he needs to dress like a clown or even be as weird as Four, but a little something fun would be nice.

And I like her. She's crazy hot, for one, and she didn't require any big explanation or go through any period of disbelief because she met him as a child so that went a long way in making her pleasant. Also she has a cute but snarky way about her. They're good together. That being said, I am a little weirded out by the romance potential. I thought after the whole Ten/Rose issue they were trying to get away from the Doctor being in love with his companion. Maybe Eleven won't ever be in love with Amelia (or are we officially calling her Amy?), but with them both at least looking young and attractive and seeming to share the carefree, adventurous attitude, there's definitely the potential for attraction. I realize she's getting married "tomorrow" (think it's to Rory or Jeff?), but we know how well those relationships usually work out once a girl's met the Doctor.

So the story was...okay. I mean, I guess it was a Steven Moffat episode:
- 20 something cute girl? Check
- Excessive repetition of a single phrase? Check
- Not-quite-seeable threat? Check
- The Doctor saving the day in a single act of cleverness? Nope, and that was disappointing. That communicating with major world organizations to make the whole world broadcast Zero thing was very RTD and felt like filler. If the whole solution had just been making Amy dream about the multiform it would have been better. Maybe not quite fantastic enough for a season opener with a new Doctor, though. Also, if he was going to do all of that talking to powerful people thing, why didn't he call UNIT? Were they disbanded or destroyed or something and I just forgot? Anyway, the story was fine, but I was hoping for something a little more Empty Child/Doctor Dances or Blink - ish. Darker, I guess.

In the preview for the upcoming season I'm a little disappointed to see Daleks and Cybermen again. One of the best parts about the Martha season was that the season-arc-Big Bad wasn't the Daleks. I hope they just make a cameo this year.

All in all, I'm not just absolutely quivering with anticipation, but I am pleased with the start and I will happily watch the whole season. If for no other reason than to see if he ever wears better clothes.

You got your good things...and Dean's got jack shit.

5.16 "Dark Side of the Moon"

The message of this episode seemed to be that Dean Winchester can't catch a break. His life sucks. He goes to hell. Hell sucks. He comes back to life and his life sucks even more. He goes to heaven. Heaven sucks. And then he comes back to life again and it's certainly going to continue to suck. Seriously, his few hours in heaven were possibly worse torture than his 40 years in hell. His dead mom told him how she never loved him and how everyone else hates him too. And that was after he'd realized that all of his brother's happiest memories were when he was away from him. At the beginning of the episode I kept wondering why he didn't try to stay dead. His life sucks and he's tired. Stay in heaven! But the answer became obvious pretty quickly. It probably would have been better for a little longer if Sam hadn't been there with him causing trouble with all his Sam-related angst. But I guess when angels are out to manipulate you, you don't stand a very good chance of getting any rest in heaven, angsty brother or not.

So Dean's whole sphere of existence, whether he's dead or alive, sucks pretty hard. I'm starting to get the feeling, though, that this season...and the last...maybe the whole series up to this point, has been about forcibly dragging Dean down to rock bottom. Which makes me think there's a reward coming in his future. Or some retribution. Something. The fact that he prayed for help and then he got to go to heaven and talk to Joshua and get his direct message from God implies that God's listening to him. It pretty much sucked that God's message for him was basically "Stop bugging me and go home. I'm not going to help you.", but I'm kind of doubting that God really meant it. Because that's a pretty pointless message. Why bother sending that message at all? Just ignore Dean. But since he did send that message, and he sent Dean back to life remembering that message, that message is probably supposed to motivate Dean to do...something. Unfortunately that something started with him throwing away the God-radar amulet that Sam gave him for Christmas. :(

If Ash's heaven is The Road House, why is it empty? It seems weird and lonely. But I guess if he's figured out how to jump around to his friends' heavens too, then he's got company? Maybe? Anyway, I have a big question about this part. Ash said he'd been looking for John Winchester in heaven and hadn't found him. I can think of a few reasons he might have said that: 1) After John dragged himself out of hell to help the boys kill the YED, he just got sent right back to hell. 2) The writers needed a reason for the boys to not spend their time in heaven running around trying to find their dad. 3) John's on Earth riding shotgun in his own body while God uses him as a vessel. They've thrown that God=Dad thing around so much this season that I wouldn't even be surprised. I'm going to be more surprised if they were actually able to get JDM back on the show. And by surprised I definitely mean REALLY FREAKIN' EXCITED by this possibility.

And finally: How awesome is it that io9 paraphrased a David Lynch movie/Pixies song for the title of this week's Supernatural recap? So awesome that I decided to copy them, that's how!