#by season 15 Chuck is FUMING at him too

[agathas-megacoven]

God may be the playwright but Cas is the background extra in the tree costume who wasn’t supposed to have any lines but ends up setting the stage curtains on fire and I think that’s more iconic

[orionsangel86]

15x04 Episode Review - What a Meta Rollercoaster THAT was!

Jensen Ackles directed this. Let that sink in before you read on. Because this means EVERYTHING.

Davy Perez said on Twitter that he had a lot of help with this episode from Bobo, Dabb, Meredith, Even from Jensen and Rob. Which seems pretty clear from me as I was blown away by what I consider a meta masterpiece.

There is a lot to unpack here so let me just jump straight in with my favourite part:

THE REDEEMED FANGIRL AND THE BRONLY GOD

In an episode directed by Jensen Ackles it both astonishes me and pleases me immensely that the strongest and most interesting plot didn’t involve the brothers. Every single scene with Becky and Chuck was a galaxy brain of meta and my head is still buzzing about it. 

**Meta Essay under the cut**

Becky has changed. She has grown up, has gone to therapy, has channelled previously unhealthy behaviour into a stable and successful Etsy business. She is the model fangirl. No longer the source of this shows mockery. Becky shuddered when remembering what she did to Sam. Showing her regret and guilt over her former actions leading the way for this fanbase to forgive and redeem her. Formerly Becky was portrayed as a mockery of those in the fandom who irritated Kripke, now she has grown beyond that dark and hateful corner, has welcomed Castiel into her home as the character whose form appears most often on her shelves. Clearly Becky is a Cas stan now. I bet she ships Destiel in those domestic AU’s she writes on AO3. Only Cas stans and Destiel shippers proclaim “not enough Cas” when referring to the source material after all.

However even though the positive message of the reformed fangirl from obsessive incest fetishist into healthy Cas fan filled me with joy, it wasn’t my top take away moment from these scenes. The entire message of Chuck and Becky’s conversation makes me want to cry tears of joy. After all, it isn’t often your favourite show includes an avatar of yourself arguing with an avatar for the writers - or at least, the villainous arrogant writer who refuses to acknowledge you. 

Becky likes the character drama. Chuck likes the monsters. Becky doesn’t care for the monsters. Chuck brings up the Leviathan (because of course Chuck would enjoy the season that first tried to “go back to the shows roots” and reduce the format back to just “Sam and Dean alone on the road”). Chuck tells her that fanfiction doesn’t count, but our strong willed fangirl avatar tells him “writings writing!” and damn right you are Becky. It counts.

Then Becky goes and blows my mind by speaking aloud in my favourite show the kind of things that I think and talk about every time this show brings out another generic MOTW episode:

“If I had to give one note, the jeopardy Chuck, its feeling a little thin. No stakes. It’s fun to hear the boys voices but a story is only as good as its villain and these villains are just not feeling very dangerous. Not to mention there’s no classic rock, no one even mentions Cas, the climax is a little stale. The boys tied up again while we get the villains monologue which frankly isn’t one of your best. A hint of originality wouldn’t… hurt.”

(x)

At this point I might as well be on the floor because holy shit Becky is me. When did the writers become so very aware of their fanbase? It’s taken them 15 years, but they are finally here. Chuck is fuming of course. How dare a fangirl criticise his work, so instead of taking her advice on board, he plays up. He gets mean.

Chuck’s perfect SPN ending is tragic and in some weird insanely meta way this feels like a message from the writers telling us that they hear us because Becky once again says what we have ALL been screaming on Twitter about a tragic ending:

“It’s awful. Horrible! It’s hopeless! You can’t do this to the fans! What you did to Dean? What you did to Sam?”

I keep thinking that the SPN writers have made Chuck into a parody of the GoT writers. Chuck is arrogant, egotistical, and completely incapable of taking criticism. He went to Becky hoping she would fluff up his ego, but she shot him down and unfortunately, he destroyed her for it. 

The message here though is one of hope. Everything about Chuck is framed as negative, as villainous - this includes the tragic ending. Therefore if there is one thing I am practically certain of after this episode it’s that the actual finale will subvert Chuck’s vision. We will not be getting a tragic death ending to the show.

The other thing I can’t quite believe that the writers have done here, in an episode directed by Jensen is the shaaaade. I’m honestly feeling a little sorry for the bibro’s right now. Because the writers have been shading them HARD this season. Chuck has proven himself to be one of them. Imagine having the writers see you and the things you like about the show, and make you into the actual villain? I mean... ouch.

Reasons Chuck is a Bibro

He has tunnel vision on Sam and Dean (ignores Castiel completely)

He is all about the MOTW episodes. Doesn’t pay attention to depth of character

He clearly enjoyed season 7 MOTW brother only season

He believes a tragic brother only ending would be loved by the fans

He wants a dark tragic ending

When Becky recommends he write something else, he moans that he only likes Sam and Dean and only wants to write about them.

He is arrogant, egotistical and doesn’t listen to criticism.

(this is technically a crack intermission to an otherwise serious meta post but ADMIT IT there is truth to this crack!)

SAM AND DEAN - CHUCKS PUPPETS?

Whilst Becky faces Chuck and makes all our meta writer hearts pound with excitement, the other main story was a rather generic MOTW episode. But wasn’t that the whole point? What a genius twist on a MOTW this episode was. We all know the formula, so overdone now in the show that it has grown tiresome. Yet to have that tiresome format called out in the very episode that... includes... that...format... well, that’s gotta be one of the most meta things this show has ever done. I’m in awe. 

Sam and Dean investigate the mysterious death of a cheerleader at Beaverdale high school (and even though I don’t watch Riverdale even I can see how this school is a blatant nod to that terrible show #sorrynotsorry). It starts off pretty boring and normal. Sam and Dean do their thing, they wear the suits and pretend to be feds. They suspect Veronica (again Riverdale fans are probably enjoying this) but realise that she can’t be their vamp. The boys seem quite lost as to who is responsible... until Chuck starts writing that is. Then suddenly a random car driving past the crime scene on CCTV is enough for them to enter someones house with a machete. It’s a sloppy MOTW storyline, but this seems intentional IMO. From the moment Sam and Dean are back in their lumberjack chic and storming the family home to accuse the father of being the vamp, something feels off - or it did to me anyway. 

In fact, as this was all playing out right at the moment that Becky critiqued Chuck’s writing, it felt as if she was critiquing the very MOTW hunt that we were watching, at least from that point onwards. 

Suddenly we are back in Chuck’s world and he’s made it dark and tragic. 

The son in this nuclear family is Jack. unwillingly monstrous, innocent and guilty at the same time. The father, so desperate and self sacrificial for his child - heartbreakingly Castiel:

“You don’t have children do you, because if you did you would know that to see your child in pain, rips your heart out, and you’d know that you’d do anything. You’d die for them.”

The mother, wide eyed, armed and dangerous - Clearly Dean:

“Or kill for them.”

The son plays his part perfectly. Chuck be proud:

“I killed someone that I loved” 

“I’m a monster” 

Compare this to Jack in 14x20 saying to Dean as he stares down the barrel of the gun “You were right. I am the monster.”

But we as the audience know that this situation is wrong. There is no real monster here other than Chuck. The boy is a victim just as Jack was. The parents forced into desperate circumstances out of love. They may be the stereotypical white middle class American family made of privilege and self obsession, but what they do is still purely out of love. It is a situation they are forced into by Chuck, just as he forced the TFW family into the same situation at the end of last season, and we are made to look on in horror as what happened in the season 14 finale happens again, and yet Sam and Dean barely blink or question their actions. This is the strangest part of all. 

Sam’s reaction is interesting, because he knows this is wrong. He knows they shouldn’t be killing this kid. He can see the mirror, the repeated story here. He can TELL that something isn’t right... but he doesn’t speak up, doesn’t protest, doesn’t stop it. 

Dean doesn’t question a damn thing. He plays his part perfectly. It’s haunting. Chuck almost had his clutches in Dean before, but this time his hold is tight. 

Look at how this was framed and tell me this whole thing isn’t Chuck’s doing?

In both scenes Sam looks on in horror knowing that it isn’t right. But this time no one protests, and Chuck get’s his horrific ending.

Chuck banishes Becky and her family, and arrogantly proclaims that he “can do anything, I’m a writer” and the next scene cuts to Sam and Dean in the car ready for the classic Bro Melodrama moment as to be expected of all standard MOTW, but this time, it feels like they are reading from a script - at least at first:

Dean: “Well that was an interesting one.”

Sam: “Yeah. What Henry did. We’d have done the same thing. For Jack, if we’d had the chance.”

Dean: “Yeah. Yeah we would. Look man I get it. I get it we have lost way way too much. And its hard enough to feel like just cashing up. I felt like that. After Chuck back at the crypt. But you know what brought me back, you did. You saying that what we do still matters.

That’s why I wanted to drag us out here, to work the case, to save lives. Ya know. Because it is, it’s a crap job. We do the ugly thing so people can live happy.”

Sam: “Lucky them.”

Dean: “Yeah lucky them.”

Sam: “But it doesn’t change a thing. Ya know you still do the job. We don’t do it for us. We do it for Jack, for mom, for Rowena. We owe it to everyone whose ever given a damn about us to keep putting one foot in front of the other. No matter what.

Hey man like you said, now that Chucks gone. We’re finally on our own. We are finally free to… move on. Ya know.”

Sam: “Yeah I dunno I dunno if I can move on. I can’t forget any of them. I still think about Jessica. I can’t just let that go.”

Dean: “No man that’s not what I’m talking about.”

Sam: “I know I know I’m sorry I know. What I’m saying is that I don’t feel free. What we’ve done, what we’ve lost, right now that is what I’m feeling and sometimes its, its like I can’t even breath. Maybe tomorrow, maybe ill feel better in the morning.”

Dean: “And what if you don’t?”

Sam: “I dunno.”

First of all, would they REALLY have done the same thing for Jack? Kidnapped and bled an innocent girl to feed him? Because I don’t think they would have. Then Dean goes into a monologue that we have heard over and over again and it feels like he is reading from a script. It’s like going through the motions. We are back in Chuck’s worlds. There is no freedom here. Even the lack of Cas mention which we can argue is because Dean is burying those feelings and in denial, even so it feels jarring in the episode where the lack of Cas mention was already called out directly by Becky, so it only further adds to how disjointed this whole scene is. Like this scene is pure wank fodder for Bibro Chuck. Quite frankly, it is. But this time it feels like the writers are aware of this and are doing it purposely to MAKE it feel off.

The one time the script seems to trip is when Dean mentions moving on - triggering Cas’s words from last week, which he struggles with, and then Sam protests and actually opens up to how he is really feeling. The brother’s are back in Chuck’s maze, and this time it seems like he has made it impossible to deviate from the path - but I do wonder if Sam is going to be harder to control because of the connection...

The final shot of the episode only seems to further confirm that the Winchesters are once again being manipulated by Chuck. They are his puppets again, and this time it may even be worse:

There is a huge sense of foreboding with this final shot. The shaking funko pops seemingly in fear of what Chuck plans to do. The two feathers behind them indicating their missing guardian angel (as Chuck continues to neglect Cas’s role in classic Bronly form) the tree indicating a garden? Heaven? and the grey paper with the Winchester tattoo potentially the gravestone that Chuck visualised? 

Whatever Chuck has planned, it appears to have played out in some form in this episode. Whilst I don’t think that the boys have been completely robbed of their free will, it is safe to say that they are back to playing by Chuck’s script, but this time with the confidence of men who think they are free. 

CASTIEL AS THE CATALYST FOR FREE WILL

For years now, I have been one of those annoying people irritating Cas fans by being irrationally happy when Cas isn’t in key episodes because I can see him so clearly in the negative space that his absence basically forms its own overshadowing presence instead. 

When I have rambled on about negative space in the past, it is almost always connected to MOTW episodes following some big DeanCas drama, and on the surface level, people have moaned about how the Cas mention wasn’t enough, or Dean hasn’t acknowledged him or something like that.

Well, this episode is no exception. But this episode IS different in that this episode textually calls out the lack of Cas blatantly within it’s script. Which is just some next level self awareness from this show that I am amazed by.

The entire first three episodes of this season spiralled around this DeanCas tension and drama which us Destiel shipping meta writers could barely believe we were watching since it is practically unheard of for this show to set its emotional A plot around Dean and Cas rather than Sam and Dean. But that is what Dabb has done. When that tension came to its climax in 15x03′s final scene, it was well speculated that 15x04 would understate the DeanCas break up due to the episodes being filmed out of order and therefore Jensen not knowing exactly the impact of the break up when he filmed his scenes for this episode. 

Well, we were certainly right that it was understated, with Dean basically burying his feelings in denial and work and food and drink. Until Chuck started writing and therefore took control back of the script, Dean was eating or drinking in practically every single scene. As he is well known for using food and alcohol has coping mechanisms when spiralling into a dark mindset. Other than these key clues, Dean doesn’t mention Cas once. So we can speculate that he hasn’t told Sam what happened, and probably made up some excuse about Cas leaving so that Sam wasn’t concerned. Though no doubt we will find out the extent of what Sam knows fairly soon.

On a surface level, DeanCas shippers and Cas fans have a right to be somewhat upset by this lack of acknowledgement of Cas, even though it is perfectly in character for Dean to bury his feelings in denial and distractions. But beneath the surface this meta masterpiece of an episode was so full to bursting with Cas it left me very happy. Lets go through the key Cas positive areas:

1. The AU world vision of Sam’s that opens the episode is dark and depressing and indicates a world in which Sam's demon blood obsession got the better of him, which was a season 4 story arc (which we all remember as Cas’s introductory season), and yet Benny appears as Dean’s right hand man, a season 8 story arc founded in Purgatory (which we all relate heavily to Cas). Castiel is mysteriously absent from this vision though, even though the two key story lines here in the OG world heavily revolved around Cas. The question has to be asked, in fact the entire vision demands we ask it, just as Becky points out later: Where is Cas? This AU world is sure to appear later in the show, and I have a feeling Castiel’s absence will be explained.

2. Becky’s house - The crew clearly had a lot of fun filling this set with fan made merchandise (and what a wonderful way to reward your fanbase by including their creations in the show itself?). As a Cas girl my eagle eyes were mainly looking for any Cas merch and I was not disappointed. In fact there wasn’t a single scene in Becky’s house where a Cas figure of some kind wasn’t in frame. Whether that was Jensen’s decision or not, it makes me very happy. I talk here about the specific arrangement of Cas merch paired up with Dean merch which blatantly proves Becky is a Destiel shipper). In fact, Cas looms in the background in every scene until Cas sits down at the end to write his tragic ending when the camera pans to the Winchester funko pops bobbing like puppets. Cas is jarringly absent from that scene which only further indicates that he has been overlooked and is therefore still free of Chuck’s manipulations.

3. “No one even mentions Cas” - Obviously this was the line that pulls everything else together. For this to be said in an episode in which the very complaint actually occurs is a whole other level of self awareness and by including it the writer is of course reminding the audience to question this very thing. Like with the first scene, like with every moment that Sam and Dean are on screen together stubbornly not mentioning Cas or the extremely dramatic emotional break up scene at the end of the last episode, this line links everything together and forces the audience to keep Cas at the forefront of their mind.

4. The Bro Melodrama scene - As I mentioned above, this whole scene feels like the brothers are reading from a script and going through the motions but particularly Dean, whose stubborn refusal to mention Cas when he says “ We do it for Jack, for mom, for Rowena. We owe it to everyone whose ever given a damn about us to keep putting one foot in front of the other. No matter what.” it feels so intentional that they have left him out here. Thanks to that one line from Becky, the lack of Cas mention is impossible to ignore. He is so present in the negative space that its like a brick to the face. There is no way that there isn’t an agenda here regarding Castiel.

5. Castiel as the self sacrificing father - The second most glaringly obvious mirror in the episode after the son that mirrors Jack, the father of the vampire boy was far too ready to be killed by the Winchesters if it meant saving his sons life. Neither Sam nor Dean ever willingly offered themselves up for Jack, but we as the audience know all too well that Cas did in one of the most heartbreakingly emotional moments of Season 14. In an episode where the Winchesters stubbornly refuse to mention Cas (though Dean’s drinking on the job and overeager consumption of meaty food are a good indicator of his repressed feelings), Cas forces his presence on them anyway. It is a clear indicator of how close and important Cas is to the story that it is impossible for the boys to ever really forget about him, and I suspect that this will start to eat at Dean very soon.

6. Chuck overlooks the most powerful player - What ties in everything I have mentioned above already about Cas in the negative space, is Chuck. Because the whole point of this episode is that whilst he argues with Becky - the avatar for an inclusive healthy fandom that clearly adores Castiel and surrounds themselves in his image - we are left watching a stale and relatively boring MOTW episode where the Winchesters really do act like nothing more than shallow two dimensional bronly versions of themselves - because that’s what Chuck forces them to be. Chuck, who sits down and types with his Sam and Dean puppets metaphorically shaking with fear as they are condemned to live under his pen once again. It isn’t an accident that in a house surrounded with Cas merch no matter where you look, the one time his image isn’t in frame is that all important last shot - an indication that whilst Sam and Dean may now be under Chuck’s control, Castiel is not. Therefore Castiel’s importance in freeing the boys from Chuck’s villainous tragic ending becomes elevated. This episode symbolically makes Castiel the catalyst for true free will - after all, Castiel himself finally took control of his life and his mental health last week when he chose to walk away. In an episode where his presence in the negative space couldn’t be more obvious - he is the metaphorical elephant in the room - I can’t help but wonder just what role he has to play in Chuck’s vision, because right now it seems Chuck has simply forgot about him. A terribly foolish thing to do given everything Castiel has proven to be capable of.

OVERALL

As a quick summary, I’ll say I loved this episode and everything about it. Even the puppet bronly Winchesters because they were so clearly framed as being wrong. It’s such a hopeful episode, that indicates a hopeful non tragic inclusive TFW ending at least. Chuck is the villain and he will be beaten in the end. Dean and Cas will reunite and it will be the kind of scene that will rip all our hearts out in its emotional investment. Jensen Ackles directed an episode that threw major shade at the Bronly fandom corners, that celebrated TFW inclusivity through the reformed healthy successful fangirl Becky. That villainised the dark tragic brother only ending. This was a thoroughly validating and satisfying episode for me as a meta writer to watch. It has elevated my hope for the rest of the season, and following the incredibly emotional Destiel break up scene that held the focus of the last episode, I can’t stop myself from feeling joy just knowing that right now, everything that I watch this show for, all the things I adore about it, are the same things the writers of this show enjoy and are making the focal points for the series.

This isn’t a show for people that only care about seasons 1-3. This isn’t a show for people who hate Cas. This isn’t a show for people who fetishise the dark, depressing tragic game of thrones style brother ending. This is a show for people like me. Who actually enjoy it and celebrate it and can’t wait to see what happens next.

[slapshotsandoneshots]

Chapter 15: Throwing Cookies. 

Warning: Angst & Cursing. 

It had been a few months since that night in your kitchen. Tyler threw himself into hockey and you buried yourself into the house renovations. You had almost finished the house except for the single room down the hall from you and Tyler's room. The room that you had planned to use as a nursey one day. 

You and Tyler were more distant than ever. You spoke but nothing of any importance. When you did talk it usually ended in a blowout fight. You were trying but you just couldn't figure out how to talk to your husband. You sat at the kitchen island drinking a cup of coffee when you thought back to a fight you and Tyler had right after his mom had left. 

You were still curled up in bed while Tyler got ready to leave on another road trip. after he was ready he crawled into bed with you in his full suit. 

“Hey, I'm about to leave for this trip love” he whispered. 

You just nodded in response. 

“Hey what if we try again when I get home” he started as he placed his fingers to touch your cheek. 

You looked at him astounded, “Why would you say that..” 

“No, I just want...” He tried to backpedal 

“What, what do you want!” you got louder 

“Y/N..” he said softly. 

“Screw you for even suggesting that, screw you.” You could see Tyler holding back the tears but you could bring yourself to care. 

“Okay, Alright Ill go. I'll call you when we land” he choked out as he got out of bed. 

You simply turned over as the door closed. 

You sighed as you took another sip from your coffee. You hadn't been fair to your husband and you knew it. You had done a lot of healing in the time since your miscarriage but now your marriage was in disarray. The season had ended and Tyler was currently at locker cleanout. You were hoping with more time on the both of your hands you would get everything back on track. 

You heard the door open and Tyler made his way into the kitchen. 

“Hey babe, how was cleanout?” you asked with a smile. 

“It wasn't too bad, the truck is full of some smelly equipment,” Tyler stated as he grabbed a drink out of the fridge. 

“Well before we tackle that, why don't we go get a nice lunch.” you smiled. 

Tyler raised his eyebrows, you hardly suggested going out these days and he was surprised. 

“I am glad we are going to have time to get back on track Tyler. I’ve missed you.” you tried stepping off the island stool. “We could also get some of our favorite take-out” 

“Let’s do that, I am still a bit tired. I could go for a nice nap later too.” he smiled. 

An hour later, you were finishing the Chinese you had ordered. You and Tyler had kept the conversation going and you thought you were on the right track. that was until Tyler suddenly spoke up. 

“This is the first real conversation we’ve had in months Y/N”

“That is your choice Tyler, I’ve been here, I’ve been trying” you tried clearing your plate. 

“Don't put the blame on me here, you won’t let me in!”

“I'm not putting the blame on anyone.” you tried once more calmly.

“I want to talk to you Y/N but you won’t talk to me about how you're feeling. You hide it all away. I’m your husband for god’s sake.”

Tyler was now standing he was getting louder. This is how it had been starting these days. You and Tyler would get into these fights longing for the other to feel your own pain and it was becoming a dangerous habit.

“You left me Tyler. You got to walk away and you ran. You got to escape to those games and I sat in this house and I was dying. Our baby died and I was dying!” you yelled as you slammed your dish in the sink.

God damn it Y/N! You think I was somehow just fine when I left? You think it didn’t kill me to leave you each time? You don't think I died a little too?” Tyler knocked his chair over with one swift move and you flinched.

“No, not like me Tyler. You were coping, you were okay. I couldn’t even function Tyler.”

“You don't think I knew that? I wasn't fucking coping, I was covering. I wanted to take care of you. I was putting you first! But the thing I fucking needed was you. But you wouldn't allow me to grieve with you for five fucking seconds. I have been waiting for you Y/N. I’ve been trying to give you time but I won't wait forever. Something has got to give. Either we need to see someone and figure this out or we won’t survive. This marriage won’t survive. And we need to figure it out or separating is going to be the light at a very long tunnel.

You couldn’t believe what you were hearing. You were now fuming. You and Tyler always aimed with low blows during these fights but never had he mentioned you separating.

“Is that what this is to you? Oh, I am so sorry I have been keeping you in this fucking prison.  You yelled as you chucked a handful of fortune cookies at your husband.

“Maybe Del Zotto was right, you were fucking crazy for marrying me.”

“Y/N, What the hell are you talking about!” Tyler yelled back shielding himself from your barrage of cookies.

“I know what you're friends think of me, I'm not stupid. You made some huge mistake marrying me and all my fucking problems.”

You lobbed a few more handful of cookies at Tyler, as realization was slowly hitting you. “You just want to end it? Go back to how it used to be with him?”

“That's not what I said if you would listen. Y/N what are you doing!”

“I’m throwing cookies at you!”

“Why!” Tyler shouted as he blocked a few from his face. 

“I don't know!” you shouted back throwing another handful. 

“Stop, Stop Stop!” he suddenly grabbed your wrists and you looked at him. 

“why are we doing this.. what happened to us.” you got out through a few staggered breaths. 

“I don't know.” 

“How do we get it to stop,” you whispered. You and Tyler stood there frozen for a second and then suddenly the space between you was closed. 

You were now laying in bed with your husband. This was the first time the both of you were intimate since. You turned to Tyler and grabbed your husband’s hand. 

“Tyler, I love you and I am willing to do what it takes to get us back to where we were a year ago. Let’s get help.” 

[modifiedtrashcompactor]

"We're all very sad about a lot of aspects of the ending of the show."

Not, uh, "the show coming to an end."

This and the Jensen-on-stage vid (where he talks about having been unhappy about the ending 'until' Kripke 'talked him through it' and then with exactly the energy of Katniss reciting Panem-Today-Panem-Tomorrow-Panem-Forever winds it up with a spiel about how "excited" he is for it and we'll be "excited" too) - it's all reeeeal vibing on a cast that wanted to do so much better by us and were staring down the road, Bad Moon Rising playing in their ears, knowing the mack truck about to side-swipe 12-15 years of their passionate performances and our passionate fandom into a 4-alarm-dumpster-fire.

I don't know if anyone remembers the vids from the cons immediately after the death of original Charlie aired - I've never seen like, *all* the actors on a show telegraph so much rage and disgust at a plotline or set of writers/writers' decisions that way.

This isn't *as* extreme so far as I've seen, and it's risky business as an actor airing negative sentiment towards showrunners - you don't want to be seen as a "problem" by the projects that could hire you. But this obviously wasn't what these folks wanted to leave us with.

I have no damn idea what made the showrunners/writers/studio look between the "bang" and "wimper" buttons on the console, dive for frantically for whimper, but in a slapstick comedy of errors slip on a banana peel, loose their shoe down a drain, tumble arse-over-tea-kettle, only to find their taint an inch from their nose as they let out one of the wettest of farts possible - as the world watches on, stunned, and gagging on the fumes: I mean, the "bang" was right there, you're supposed to choose "bang," "whimper" was an option sure, but this was at least supposed to be a binary choice. Y'all just invented a new kind of fail? Like, that wasn't even one of the buttons!

I hope someday, with Dabb far in the rear view mirror, we'll get the kind of miniseries the actors have mentioned a time or two. Something that just - can take the hot mess of these last two eps, synthesize it into some fucked-up fever dream of chuck-isn't-really-depowered or omniscience-twisted-Jack as the intro premise, set about a plot actually about - any? Of? The core themes? With a bonus Orpheus rides into the underworld segment for Dean to do as Cas once did for him - bring him back from the Empty to life on earth.

IDK, maybe let the cast hash out the plot. They're actors. They know stories too. They've lived with the damn character's headspaces, building continuity and flow and interior life into every performance in every episode no matter how unversed the writer actually was in the larger continuum being contributed to, spent years wearing them as a second skin.

The whole damn season was about overthrowing God - the Writer. You know, until it very suddenly and very abruptly wasn't. I guess because, you know, at the end of the day: why kill a good ego trip? After all, Dabb spent so much time with the fandom for the last 12-15 years, *really getting to know us.* What we'd want in a finale. Look at this brilliant ending, guys! Don't you feel Seen by Dabb?

Maybe it's time to manifest that shit, actually overthrow the Writer-As-God, bring some praxis to the table. A miniseries written by the people closest to the characters - the actors, collaboratively; who've rolled with the punches of a revolving door of showrunners, who've had to take every script, particularly the ones lazied out by writers who couldn't bother seeing the characters in more than one dimension, and try to build a coherent evolving-over-time fully-dimensioned performance with continuity and nuance.

(Look, let me have my fantasy, okay?)

There’s a hole in the calendar coming up and that’s a nice thing for me at least.

{ ☆ }