#aka eyefucking from the moment they met

[bragginball-z]

Finally got my mom to watch Lazarus Rising with me. Angel of the Lord Castiel confirmed DRIPPING with Dean-Winchester-I-am-about-to-fuck-you-in-this-barn homosexual energy.

[mentalcurls]

I was thinking back to the kosegruppa/radio party in ep.3 of both Skam S3 and Skam Italia S2, in particular the “Call your girlfriend”/”Self control” scenes, and  I kept going back to how different they feel. The change in the vibe reflects perfectly the characters in the two series, it’s one of those scenes that I think highlights how different a story Martino and Niccolò’s is from Isak and Even’s.

It’s pretty obvious what makes the feel of the two scenes, aka:

the light (blue on Skam; the mother****ing red light LudoBesse loves so much in Skam Italia) 

the songs.

“Call your girlfriend” feels more pointed, Isak is watching Even and Sonja make out and the lyrics sound like a request/suggestion Isak would want to make of Even if/when they got together. But Isak’s actually watching Emma at first, during the part that says “Call your girlfriend / It's time you had the talk / Give your reasons / Say it's not her fault”, so that it seems he’s more focused on himself in that moment, and the song applies to his situation with her pretty well: it’s not her fault he’s not into her and not even pretending to be, the same way he had with past girlfriends, the way he would maybe have pretended to be had he not met Even, and he should tell her. Then the song says “But you just met somebody new” and it that specific second Isak focuses on Even and starts watching him, stealing glances in his direction. And then Robyn sings “And now it's gonna be me and you” and Even looks at Isak and the eyefuck happens and for a sec they’re the only two people in the room in Isak’s perception, to the point his mouth goes slack despite Emma still trying to kiss him. And like, this is a fun, boppy song and it is wildly different from what is going on with Isak and Even right then. The singer/protagonist of the song is happy and confident in her relationship with her partner and she asks them to break up with their girlfriend (and how beautifully gender neutral is this song? It’s only ever “you”, “we” and “somebody new”) to be with her for good; the singer isn’t malicious, she doesn’t want to purposefully hurt the girlfriend, which fits perfectly with Isak’s reaction to Even telling him he told Sonja about them, but that’s a couple of weeks in the future compared to the party. At the party Isak still hasn’t fully accepted his feelings towards Evene and he’s not even sure Even is into him - it’s possibly that very eyefuck that convinces him, paired with the conversation and near kiss in the kitchen later. So it’s an aspirational song, it’s kind of a daydream of Isak’s about the gorgeous boy who’s turning his heart upside down. And after Isak and Even lock eyes, the music builds and builds and we watch Isak, who can barely blink, can’t think, can’t keep track of Emma until he closes his eyes and tears himself forcibly form that interaction. And the crescendo matches Isak’s heartbeat, cause he’s getting hit all at once by the reality that yes, this guy that makes his knees go weak is really looking at him like he wants to eat him alive, despite the girls between them. It’s confirmation.

On the other hand, we have Marti and Nico and “Self control”. The red light would turn anything sexy on it’s own, but this is also clearly a sexy song since it is about losing control with someone, because of someone (oh, those lovely thinly veiled 80’s metaphors). Like Isak, Marti at first is looking at Emma, then turns to Niccolò, except that he’s looking at Emma for a much shorter time than Isak was looking at his Emma (Marti 8 seconds, Isak 18 seconds); as for the lyrics, they’re in first person so they should reflect Marti’s thoughts, so that means he considers “the night” his “world” and that he thinks “in the day nothing matters”; at the words “it's the nighttime that flatters” Marti turns to look at Niccolò, though I don’t think they really mean anything in in relation to their situation, it’s just a general positive sentiment towards the night, because it’s a metaphor! The night might be a reference to the “dark” of the secrets Marti keeps, first and foremost his sexuality because he’s in the closet, and more in general his true feelings (i.e. his feelings towards his parents, his guilt for breaking Gio and Eva up) and the things that, in his mind, reveal who he truly is (very self deprecating perception at this point in his story); on the other hand, the “daytime” is the time when he has to keep his mask of apathy-sadness-lying-hiding on, except it is, in fact, a mask, so it doesn’t matter, he is a “creature of the night” and his true thoughts and desires (including his attraction to Niccolò) are a thing of the night. And they’re uncontrolled (“in the night no control”) and they’re threatening to burst into his day-life too (“Through the wall something breakin'”) because of Niccolò, who has been instrumental in the slow-building earthquake that is gonna make his castle of lies crumble (3.4 Argentina, Nico says Marti left the earplugs on the bus while Marti had told his friends he’d been with his mom) and who is wearing a white t-shirt just as the song says “wearin' white as you're walkin' / down the streets of my soul”. Then it goes on “you take my self, you take my self control” and Emma tugs Marti down to kiss her, “you got me livin' only for the night” and Marti looks at Nico again, “before the morning comes the story's told” and Niccolò looks at Marti himself “you take my self, you take my self control.” BAM! The most important words of the song! And exactly the thing that’s happening to both of them: Marti and Nico are both keeping their distance from one another, Marti cause he’s hurt by Nico going hot’n’cold on him, Nico cause he likes him but Maddalena and, most of all, but BPD, but they are irresistibly drawn to one another, so they have no self control. The song continues while they’re staring at each other (“another night another day goes by / I never stop myself to wonder why”) but the lyrics don’t seem significant to me; the thing that strikes me dead like lighting bolt every time is Niccolò angling himself and Maddalena so he can look at Marti more easily and better. Like, whoah. Also, the camera goes back and forth between Marti and Nico, while in the Skam og scene it was on Isak for most of the time during the eyefuck. And this time, it’s not only Marti that loses his focus on kissing Emma, but Niccolò too can’t keep up with his and Maddalena’s kiss. This speaks volumes. They’re exactly in the same boat, this is not a blatant declaration of interest just from Niccolò that hits Marti like a train, this is mutual and they’re both equally affected, this is a challenge. And the song is not aspirational in the way “Call your girlfriend” was, like a daydream about prince charming sweeping Marti off his feet the way it was for Isak, this is aspirational as in “put your money where you mouth is” or more precisely “come put your mouth where you’re eyes are”, they’re recognizing one another as kindred “creatures of the night” that are fatally drawn to one another. Then Niccolò looks away cause Maddalena break the kiss off, possibly because he wasn’t responding anymore, and Marti keeps watching him a bit longer while the singer sings “You're makin' me forget to play my role / you take my self, you take my self control” and that’s so important! That lyric about Niccolò making him forget to play his role, it’s one more reference to the way having Nico in his life makes it impossible for Marti to keep his mask (the mask he’ll throw away a week later in front of St. Peter’s) firmly on. There’s something else: “Self control” has two versions that were both released in 1984, the one we hear in the episode by Raf (who wrote it in the first place) and one by Laura Branigan. It might just have been easier to get the authorization for the Raf version because he’s Italian, but it’s the one that in my opinion works better to describe his situation: in fact, the songs are nearly identical, except for the lyric “You're makin' me forget to play my role” (Raf) that becomes “You help me to forget to play my role” in the Branigan version. And like. No. Nico is an explosive thing in Marti’s life, their mutual attraction forces Martino to take a long hard look at his life and make some decisions, so the more forceful verb “make” here works much better than the softer “help” that could have worked if, for example, it’d been Gio.

[shirtlesssammy]

13x23: Let the Good Times Roll

Then:

Team Free Will 3.0!

Now:

Sam gives the new recruits a rundown on the sorry state of our world. (Extra meta credit to the show for letting Jim Beaver talk about The Shape of Water. I’m pretty sure he was going to be in it but couldn’t due to other commitments. I can’t find that news now, but here’s his tweet about it.)

Dean calls. Apparently, Cas, Jack, and him were on a hunt for a case, and found some Kardashian loving werewolves to take out.

Jack’s still learning (and Dean’s willingly training him. Awww.) While Cas takes out a werewolf outside, Sam, Dean, and Jack take out the rest inside. I love that the lesson about silver bullets doesn’t really apply for Jack, but he still wants to learn. (And, in hindsight, it matters so much that he does learn how to fight like a human.)

Meanwhile, Bobby and Mary take a nice stroll through the countryside, summing up the new world order.

Yay for Rowena and Charlie Thelma and Louise-ing it through the Southwest. I’m a bit more concerned about Ketch “out doing Ketch things.” Uh, that man is a cold blooded killer. Is he redeemed? He. Killed. Magda. (Natasha: And Eileen. Horribly.) And then Bobby and Mary share a look. (Or, as the script says: They eyefuck.) The lovely interlude is interrupted when they see blood and find Maggie, another refugee, dead, head bashed against a rock.

Sam and Dean are back at the bunker, and that whole werewolf hunt was a lesson for Jack. Dean wants to retire -on the beach with Cas. If Jack can hone his powers, Sam and Dean are going to get their well deserved retirement. SOB.

Jack, bby, is having a nightmare though. Dean rushes to his room and they have a father-son moment.

They share a moment of mutual nightmares (and we relive au!Kevin’s death again!), and then Dean gives a wonderful, heartfelt, motivating talk to Jack. It’s such a beautiful moment to highlight that Dean will never stop being a parent, and he’ll never stop caring and fighting for his family. It’s also, I think, a moment that will sustain Jack next season. He’s family, and Dean’s his family, and as Dean says, “we look after our own.”

Sam rushes to tell Dean about Maggie, and cut to them all standing around her body.

Jack takes it personally, but Sam tries to reassure him that it’s not his fault.

Back at the bunker, they start interrogating another refugee. She is shocked to learn that Maggie is dead, and admits that there was a boy that she had a crush on. She probably went to see him the previous night. Jack flaps out before the others.

The boy is named Nate, and he works at the Gas and Go, and Jack is full on rage nephilim. He blasts him, and starts to choke him, demanding an answer to Maggie’s death. TFW bust in and Cas tries to intercede, but is tossed across the room (No Jack!), and then Dean shoots Jack (to get his attention.) Jack, realizing his error, runs out in self-loathing defeat.

Jack starts beating himself up literally and figuratively, and I was tearing up a bit during this scene. He fits so well with TFW --self-loathing and the inability to accept himself and his limitations/uniqueness.

At the Gas and Go, quick thinking Cas gives Nate the FBI cover (with aliases Rowland, Knowles, and Williams, heh. And Dean’s so proud of his quick-thinking husband, he flashes the peace sign. Goober.)

The place starts to shake and lights begin to flicker --and it’s clear an angel is forthcoming. AGH.

Jack is still hurting himself in the forest when Lucifer pops in. BLARG.

Sam, Dean, and Cas make a run for it, but before they can escape in Baby, Michael appears. BLARG.

Dean lights and throws their entire container of holy oil at Michael (aw, I remember when Cas originally obtained it to keep Rafael in a ring of fire) and they hightail it out of there.

Meanwhile, Lucifer lets Jack know that it was Sam that trapped him in the AU world. He tries giving Jack the “we’re not human” speech and tries to convince Jack to leave with him. And then Jack, who couldn’t possibly get ANY CUTER, starts talking about Star Wars and light sabers, and OMG. Season 14: Supernatural in Space!

He also worries about Sam, Dean, and Cas, but Lucifer tells him that this is their opportunity to escape their past, their sins, and start over. Hmmm, I mean, Jack’s made mistakes, but dude, he doesn’t really have a past, or sins. Don’t drag him into your pity party. However, Lucifer sells his plan well enough that Jack agrees.

At the bunker, Bobby and Mary discuss Maggie’s death. Jack and Lucifer come strolling in like it’s nbd. Mary springs into action, telling Bobby to call Sam. Lucifer is here to bring Maggie back to life, per Jack’s wishes. I’m getting a Pet Semetary vibe with this, but it’s all good in the end. (Sidenote: Bobby called Sam - and presumably Dean and Cas - “boys”. Gah.) And before TFW can make it back to the bunker, Jack and Lucifer are gone.

*Mid Episode Aesthetic Break*

TFW slightly panics when they get back to find that Lucifer’s come and gone with Jack. (Like, that old problem again, amirite?) They split up to investigate leads. Sam gets to gently interrogate Maggie and ask who killed her. Eek. She didn't catch an ID on his face...but she saw his eyes.

Cue Jack and Lucifer… They stargaze together in familial bliss out in the woods while Michael starts his assault on the bunker.

Lights begin to flicker and the front door rattles. Sam orders Mary and Bobby to take Maggie out through the garage. Sam, Dean, and Cas await Michael. He busts in, they all pull out their weapons and proceed to...fire fruitlessly at Michael while he floats down from the upper balcony like he’s Peter Pan.

Michael tells them all that they can fly if they’ll only believe quickly gets the upper hand on all three of our heroes. He reveals that he made a deal with Lucifer to get to their world. Luci helped him open a rift. (See? I told you not to let Lucifer stay, Sam.) In return, Lucifer gets Jack and Michael gets everything else. (Lucifer. Dude. I love Jack and hate you... but that's a hell of a lopsided deal.)

Michael gives Dean a little preview of his idea of “saving the world” promising Dean that he will be the first to die – the first person he “saves.” Um. Thanks but no thanks, dickhole. Dean slowly suffocates in Michael's grip and Sam prays to Jack for help.

Jack, that sweet little cupcake, hears Sam's prayer. He realizes that Sam's begging for help and flaps away to the bunker to join the fight.

Dean continues to choke when...WAPOW WAPOW! Jack uses his super nephilim force to knock Michael down. Jack goes full glowy eyes on Michael, twisting his hand into a fist until Michael writhes in agony. “Lucifer, we had a deal,” Michael gasps and Jack turns to Lucifer and asks what that means. (Aw, Jack.) Welp. Lucifer was gonna get the fuck off the planet with Jack while Michael laid waste to Earth. Thus, all the stargazing and romanticizing Star Wars.

Cas is pissed that Lucifer would just abandon ship (why are you surprised, Castiel?) and Sam ratchets Jack’s shock up another level. Sam reveals that Lucifer killed Maggie. Though Lucifer initially denies it, Jack's eyes glow and he compels Lucifer to tell the truth. (Me: Stop thinking about Tom Riddle in Harry Potter compelling people to “tell the truth.” Jack’s a precious smol nougat. He’s no Voldemort! Also me…)

“She saw me and she screamed so I crushed her skull with my bare hands and it was warm and wet and I liked it.” It's somewhat refreshing to hear Lucifer say this because he’s the ultimate spin machine, constantly covering up his misdeeds. However, it’s also so disturbing to hear Lucifer's true thoughts that hide under his smirking exterior.

Jack's face falls. “You're not my father,” he says. “You're a monster.” Lucifer screams in rage. He tells Jack that humans are worthless, and that he doesn't need Jack. In a flash, he slits Jack's throat and sucks out a big wallop of grace. NOOOOOOOO!

Lucifer grabs a weakened Jack and Sam lunges for Jack...and then Lucifer flaps out of there with both of them. Dean and Cas are left alone in the bunker with Michael.

Cut to Sam getting tossed across a church floor. Lucifer kicks Sam, his very favorite punching bag. And he's got Jack just where he wants him. Mustache twirl, mustache twirl.

Back with Michael, Cas demands to know a way to stop Lucifer. Michael tells them that Lucifer is supercharged with Jack's grace...and now he can destroy the universe. Um. Oops. (Does stolen grace slowly kill archangels too?) Michael protests that he can't do anything to stop Lucifer in his “banged up meatsuit.” He coughs pathetically. “This is the end of everything,” Michael says. And damn it all, if Dean doesn't get a really dumb idea lodged in his head.

“What if you had your sword?” Dean asks.

DAMN IT, DEAN

How did we not see Lucifer stealing Jack’s grace? Extracting Jack’s grace to depower him was a plot point last year, and Lucifer using other angels’ grace to power up was used all this season. I think (like always) maybe the pacing could have been better to make it more weighty at the end? Had Lucifer met Jack sooner, and felt betrayed by Jack, and stole his grace sooner so we could feel that power, maybe that would make Dean’s decision more necessary? We know where Dean was coming from with his absolute need to protect his family --at the cost of his own life. They were in a bad spot, but I’m not sure the show made the stakes feel as high as they really were.

Meanwhile Lucifer is playing with his food (aka Sam) when Jack demands that he leave Sam alone. Lucifer's unimpressed and switches his attention to nougat. He punches Jack repeatedly. Father of the year award, here. :(

Lucifer tells Sam that family sucks and Jack being “family” is meaningless. To prove his point, he tells Jack to kill Sam. Lucifer drops his archangel blade at their feet and settles back to wait for the show.

Dean continues breaking our hearts at the bunker. While Cas asks Dean to back down, Dean sells himself as Michael's “sword.” UGH. Michael tells Dean that, were Dean possessed by him they MIGHT have a chance to defeat Lucifer. (Holy shades of Lucifer-possessing-Cas, Batman!) That's all Dean needs to hear. “Lucifer has Sam. He has Jack. Cas, I don't have a choice!” Dean brokers a deal with Michael: Michael can possess him, but he's in charge. Michael looks...very pleased.

Sam and Jack face each other down while Lucifer natters at them. Sam bends down and picks up the blade. Jack looks hurt. Confused. And then Sam tries to hand him the blade so Jack can kill him instead. NOOOOOOO! (Please imagine this in Luke Skywalker’s voice.) Sam’s willingness to sacrifice himself for his adopted son inspires Jack to...sacrifice himself. Jack knows how to end Lucifer’s game. He’ll kill himself! Jack starts driving the blade into his skin when light streams from behind him. It's Dean! Er, Michael! Er, Michael!Dean! 

“Heya, Sammy,” Dean’s familiar greeting is assurance that he’s still behind the wheel. He looks to Lucifer. It's time to rumble. Lucifer and Michael!Dean start to fight. Um...in the air? (This is no Crouching Tiger.) Supernatural could have at least given them both swirling capes.

Lucifer begins to get the upper hand and it’s looking bad for our team. Sam runs forward and picks up the forgotten archangel blade from the floor, tossing it up into Dean’s hand. Dean stabs Lucifer with it and Lucifer glows with red fire (still floating) before he finally poofs out. DING DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD!

Lucifer lies dead on the floor, the embers from his burned wings glowing like stars around his head. (Kudos vfx department)

(Boris: I was really shocked about Lucifer’s death at first (I’ve also held that Lucifer would be the ultimate Big Bad in the end), but they’ve been reversing The End this season and that’s exactly how they ended it.)

Sam experiences intense relief. Lucifer, his torturer, is dead! They're happy...they're celebrating… This is Return of the Jedi and they’re all about to eat a little storm trooper with some fuzzy Ewoks when--

Dean buckles over, gasping. Oh no, we know the signs of an angel/human internal battle. “We had a deal!” Dean shouts and when he lifts his head, Michael's behind the wheel. He looks around casually and then flaps out, leaving Sam and Jack in shock behind him.

Back at the bunker, Mary and Bobby rush back into the library only to find Cas sitting alone on the step. He says nothing. Just shakes his head...

On a quiet street, Michael goes for a stroll. He's purloined some classy new duds so he can walk the world. His eyes glow…

Stay tuned, kids.

You Can Quote, You Can Quote, You Can QUOTE!!!

You shot me.

Wanna lightsaber?

Ginger trouble!

You, me, Cas. Toes in the sand. Couple of little umbrella drinks. Matching Hawaiian shirts, obviously. Some hula girls.

It's not about being strong. … Even when we're strong. Man, things are gonna happen. We're gonna make mistakes. Nobody's perfect. But we can get better. Every day, we can better.

I think he thought I'd be trapped over there in “giant litter box world” forever.

Before you died, do you remember anything about the person who killed you?

Daddy Sammy coming to the rescue.

Thanks for the suit.

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