Disclaimer: I am an actual Supernatural fan, not a hater - the opinions expressed here are genuine frustration, not prescription grade generic snark. There were times this season where I wondered if Supernatural had finally hit the end of its awesome streak. Some episodes seemed a little over the top on the goofy factor, and the generic slasher movie motif of one in particular made me groan. Overall, though, an intense season of Supernatural with a really intriguing overarching plot: the breaking of the seals in order to unleash Lucifer, and Sam's own descent into a personal hell of demon blood gargling and psychic shenanigans; oh, and, Castiel - easily the best new character added to the show since Bobby first reared his bearded mug. Now, about this finale.
I realize, of course, that the zealots will fillet me for my opinion here, but the finale of Supernatural "Lucifer Rising" was easily the worst episode of the season. It's not hard to explain why I feel this way, Dean spends much of the time locked in a white room with a platter of burgers and beer while Sam struggles with the fact that there are human beings inside all of those demons he's been bleeding. That Sam would not have considered this a long time ago, as in when he defended the use of the powers to Dean by pointing out that he was 'saving' people, is simply asinine. For all that matters, the reveal that the Angels want the apocalypse after all so they can bring peace to earth via heavenly nuke strikes is less a twist as it is a retrofit.
At this stage in Sam's dilemna, his last minute hesitations seemed out of character. The build up suggested a battle between the brothers exasperated by Sam's demon high; instead their reunion is painfully procedural, with Sam turning on his demon pusher Ruby after finally figuring out he's been used.
"Lucifer Rising" was certainly watchable, but presented few challenges that seemed to be targeted to the hard core fans that have actually paid attention to the mythology. In fact, it was an effective setup for the fifth season of Supernatural - if nothing else. Probably the best part of the episode is what didn't happen: the long rumored death of Bobby, which would have deprived the show of one of its most beloved characters.
The end, with Lucifer rising and Castiel effectively alienating himself from his heavenly forces, suggests a battle that the boys are sorely not up for. All the more reason that, despite a weak finish to this season, fans will be lining up for Supernatural next fall.
Not to fillet you or anything, but … ;-)
I don't think that Sam's last minute hesitations were either out of character or out of sync with the Mytharc thus far. We've actually only seen 1 instance of Sam drinking blood from a demon-possessed "meat-suit" (Jimmy's neighbor in The Rapture), and I don't think he was drinking from the demons he'd fought prior to this (in Metamorphosis, I think) Sam had Ruby take the freshly exorcised victim to a hospital. He also abstained from drinking the blood of the exorcised-but-dead waitress he'd battled in Lazarus Rising. The only reason that Ruby had Sam feed on the Nurse was that he'd need more demon blood than she could supply him with in order to take on Lilith. Usually Ruby's feedings are sufficient for his needs.
I enjoyed the finale (okay, I'm uncritical in my affection for the show — I even like Bugs despite the painfully weak climactic bug attack). I think that the parallels between Azazel and his father (and self-sacrificing children) with the Winchesters was brilliant (once again graying out the moral/ethical distinctions of the ultimate Big-Bad). I also loved the dark spin the angelic forces took. Is Castiel's "fall" (disobedience) really all that different from Lucifer's? Sam & Dean will be fighting *both* Heaven & Hell next season, and as Zachariah noted "God has left the building"!
I also liked the send-off Kripke gave Ruby who was one of my favorite characters (although I wish that Kate Cassidy had remained in the role). Yes, Ruby, you were totally AWESOME!
Once isn't enough? What is the world coming to ;). I took Ruby's admonition that Sam had done it before to mean there were others, however rethinking this you may be right.
Not to fillet you or anything, but … ;-)
I don’t think that Sam’s last minute hesitations were either out of character or out of sync with the Mytharc thus far. We’ve actually only seen 1 instance of Sam drinking blood from a demon-possessed “meat-suit” (Jimmy’s neighbor in The Rapture), and I don’t think he was drinking from the demons he’d fought prior to this (in Metamorphosis, I think) Sam had Ruby take the freshly exorcised victim to a hospital. He also abstained from drinking the blood of the exorcised-but-dead waitress he’d battled in Lazarus Rising. The only reason that Ruby had Sam feed on the Nurse was that he’d need more demon blood than she could supply him with in order to take on Lilith. Usually Ruby’s feedings are sufficient for his needs.
I enjoyed the finale (okay, I’m uncritical in my affection for the show — I even like Bugs despite the painfully weak climactic bug attack). I think that the parallels between Azazel and his father (and self-sacrificing children) with the Winchesters was brilliant (once again graying out the moral/ethical distinctions of the ultimate Big-Bad). I also loved the dark spin the angelic forces took. Is Castiel’s “fall” (disobedience) really all that different from Lucifer’s? Sam & Dean will be fighting *both* Heaven & Hell next season, and as Zachariah noted “God has left the building”!
I also liked the send-off Kripke gave Ruby who was one of my favorite characters (although I wish that Kate Cassidy had remained in the role). Yes, Ruby, you were totally AWESOME!
Once isn’t enough? What is the world coming to ;). I took Ruby’s admonition that Sam had done it before to mean there were others, however rethinking this you may be right.
I'm a "zealot" I suppose but I'm not going to fillet you either. You're simply expressing an opinion. I loved the episode, though it did feel like one big frustrating cocktease. Have to reel them in for season five, you know. Kripke was thinking he might only get four so he'd planned a big blow out for this season. When they got renewed after all, well, he had to prolong things a bit. That's the name of the game. I didn't find Sam's last minute hestiation out of character at all. In spite of everything–the demonic blood racing, his heart beat magnified to the point it was almost all he could hear, Ruby screaming at him, "What are you waiting for?" and all the chaos of the moment….Dean's screaming at him not to do it still rang faintly in Sam's ears. That caused the hesitation. The Winchester bond is just that strong. That's the point of Supernatural. It bent like a tree in a hurricane, but the bond between Sam and Dean still exists. It's that extraordinary.
There was certainly plenty to like, with like being the key-word. :D. I agree that the bond is strong, and key to the show; however, this particular 'test' was weaker than what I had anticipated. Still, I love the show and can't wait to see the Winchesters kick satan's ass, LONG overdue. ;)
I’m a “zealot” I suppose but I’m not going to fillet you either. You’re simply expressing an opinion. I loved the episode, though it did feel like one big frustrating cocktease. Have to reel them in for season five, you know. Kripke was thinking he might only get four so he’d planned a big blow out for this season. When they got renewed after all, well, he had to prolong things a bit. That’s the name of the game. I didn’t find Sam’s last minute hestiation out of character at all. In spite of everything–the demonic blood racing, his heart beat magnified to the point it was almost all he could hear, Ruby screaming at him, “What are you waiting for?” and all the chaos of the moment….Dean’s screaming at him not to do it still rang faintly in Sam’s ears. That caused the hesitation. The Winchester bond is just that strong. That’s the point of Supernatural. It bent like a tree in a hurricane, but the bond between Sam and Dean still exists. It’s that extraordinary.
There was certainly plenty to like, with like being the key-word. :D. I agree that the bond is strong, and key to the show; however, this particular ‘test’ was weaker than what I had anticipated. Still, I love the show and can’t wait to see the Winchesters kick satan’s ass, LONG overdue. ;)
'lucifer rising' the worst episode of the season??…..c'mon !!
there were easily still worse episodes !!
for eg:the 21st episode was totally unnecessary because at the ending of the 20th episode they show what's coming up next week and we understand what's gonna happen in the next week's episode(21st) just by watching that 30 sec clip !!! like, the brothers going 2 separate ways, dean saying "if you go out that door, don't you ever come back"……..so we come to know what's gonna happen in the 20th episode itself !!!
so technically the 21st episode was a waste !!!
now,……….jon lachonis, u still think the season finale was the worst episode ??
Well, let's separate the issues. Yes, absolutely sucky that they pretty much revealed what was going to happen. However, the fact remains that the finale pretty was pretty much dialed in anyway – very predictable.
Now, for perspective – I find Supernatural to be way way above average; so at its 'worst' it is pretty good. So me saying it was the worst of the season is like saying it is the least awesome; not that it is bad TV. It sort of regurgitates the same themes that have been kicked around all season and ended with one of two possibilities that we knew would happen.
‘lucifer rising’ the worst episode of the season??…..c’mon !!
there were easily still worse episodes !!
for eg:the 21st episode was totally unnecessary because at the ending of the 20th episode they show what’s coming up next week and we understand what’s gonna happen in the next week’s episode(21st) just by watching that 30 sec clip !!! like, the brothers going 2 separate ways, dean saying “if you go out that door, don’t you ever come back”……..so we come to know what’s gonna happen in the 20th episode itself !!!
so technically the 21st episode was a waste !!!
now,……….jon lachonis, u still think the season finale was the worst episode ??
Well, let’s separate the issues. Yes, absolutely sucky that they pretty much revealed what was going to happen. However, the fact remains that the finale pretty was pretty much dialed in anyway – very predictable.
Now, for perspective – I find Supernatural to be way way above average; so at its ‘worst’ it is pretty good. So me saying it was the worst of the season is like saying it is the least awesome; not that it is bad TV. It sort of regurgitates the same themes that have been kicked around all season and ended with one of two possibilities that we knew would happen.
Hey. I too am a Supernatural fan, and I know what you're talking about. "Lucifer Rising" was a disappointment, and not in a small way!
I WROTE A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT IT: Would love to know what you think…
http://rogueindies.blogspot.com/2009/05/lucifer-r…
Hey. I too am a Supernatural fan, and I know what you're talking about. "Lucifer Rising" was a disappointment, and not in a small way!
I WROTE A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT IT: Would love to know what you think…
http://rogueindies.blogspot.com/2009/05/lucifer-r…
Boring episode. The writers seem out of creative ideas. Maybe they should let some of the fans write some episodes;)
Boring episode. The writers seem out of creative ideas. Maybe they should let some of the fans write some episodes;)