Five Minutes of Flailing over 2 sentences in 6.01

[borgmama1of5]

I rewatched "Exile on Main Street" last night.

And I just have to express my complete melt-down over Jensen Ackles' performance. Specifically the reunion scene, and more specifically, the first thing he says when he sees Sam:

Dean: So I'm dead? This is heaven? Yellow eyes killed me, and now --

The emotion in it struck me the first time, but on the rewatch I realized why. Dean's voice is different than ever before--it is soft, tentative, the antithesis of both the hard-ass snarky Dean and the broken, despairing Dean that we have seen before. For that initial moment, all of Dean's walls are down. There is  a child-like quality in the way he speaks the words, and I heard fear, bewilderment, wonder, disblief, relief, hope--all just in the way he said those 12 words.

And when I saw that last night, I thought, damn, how can he get the accolades he deserves for his acting talent?

And then watched as he transformed 'domesticated Dean' back into 'hunter Dean' through facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language. The level of skill in creating a new persona for Dean, the 'fitting in and trying very hard to find some peace in normal' and then in 42 minutes letting each event shift him back--with resistance--to the man he used to be--it was so gradual as to be imperceptible and yet we can see the difference from the first shot to the last shot in the tension in his face, the resumption of his hunting posture.

We are so lucky Supernatural has him--it would not be anywhere as compelling a show without him.

And not to leave out Jared--he has created a new Sam as well. It is harder to interprete because we don't know what is behind it, but from my perspective, he has walled up all his emotions to protect himself, to the point where he could not remember the connection he had with Dean, or how lost he was when Dean was in Hell. That inability to feel, to recall what they have meant to each other, is the only justification I can see for Sam's insistence that Dean was fine without him.

With that in mind, when we saw Sam's expression during the hug, I saw the start of the thaw of the ice around Sam's heart.  At least I hope that's what I saw.

Does anyone else feel slightly ridiculous to be so excited that there is another episode tonight? Like really, 8 pm Fridays is now the highlight of my week?

Comments

[debbiel66.livejournal.com]

You can feel as ridiculous as me. I'm actually bummed that I have cool stuff going on tonight and next Friday night and will have to wait to watch!

I need to rewatch that scene - thanks for pulling it out.

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

Not getting to watch it immediately? Oh, that sucks!

I have simply decided that I do not have any other life on Friday nights until May.

[sandymg.livejournal.com]

I'm with you. Exactly true on his "am I dead?" moment ... young, vulnerable ... just gutwrenching moment.

And Fridays are my must c tv day. :)

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know at least there is one other person as obsessed as I am :)

[ariadnes-string.livejournal.com]

I completely agree--that was an amazing moment. The range of emotions JA got through in that one scene was just astonishing--without being OTT. I was also struck by the different voice he with Lisa--kind of low, grounded, affectionate--so different than the growly tough voice he's been using for Dean through a lot of the past two seasons....

I can never watch anything between 9-10--too busy making sure the boys go to bed. I won't watch til tomorrow night--

Enjoy!

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

My girls were little when Star Trek: Next Generation was on. During that one hour I ignored them. And everything else. Short of the house burning down (and maybe even then,) I was not to be disturbed.

Occasionally during the hour they were left unwatched they found 'interesting' things to get into, but I didn't care, that was my one hour a week. :)

And scarily, I am WAAAYY more obsessed with Supernatural than I ever was with Star Trek.

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

ME! I AM ALSO THAT OBSESSED!!! :D

also, cry with me, because I work two fridays out of each month D:

/;O;\ (me bawling with my hands over my head)

Also, I have the avi on my desktop so I can just click and watch. :D

I am so with you on Jensen and his ownership of the character. He brings so much to Dean. By everything he's said, he actually feels the emotions that Dean goes through. It's nothing short of amazing to see him bring Dean to life so completely. I think Jensen has a good career ahead of him, like Eastwood good. And I'm really impressed by his level of involvement in learning the technical aspects, and I freaking CAN'T WAIT to see his first directing effort.

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

So how do we get the rest of Hollywood to see how fantastic he is so that when Supernatural is over he is offered some fabulous roles???

And if I had to work on Friday nights? I would probably die. So I feel your pain!

[jennygeee.livejournal.com]

I am so excited for the next episode I'm like a teenager!!!

Only this show and only Jensen can make me feel like that :)

Poor Dean thinking that he died and gone to heaven because he was with his Sammy - oh how I love these two!!

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

That whole 'Sam = heaven' just broke my heart because Sam seems to have forgotten what he means to Dean.

[jennygeee.livejournal.com]

I do hope Sam softens up a little though.

I cannot understand how on earth both Sam and Bobby thought it would be better for Dean not to know that Sam was alive!! Don't they know Dean at all!!! I know they say they did it for Dean's own good but for heavens sake, Dean gave his soul for Sam!

Only this show can get me this worked up :D

[twirlycurls.livejournal.com]

That broke my heart too!
It was such an immediate conclusion for Dean to reach: if he was seeing his "dead" brother, then he was in heaven and all was well. *sigh* There was nothing he wanted more than to be reunited with Sam.

If the callous person we saw in last night's episode is really Sam, then I can only conclude that he's NEVER known what he means to Dean. Maybe part of it is the parent/child thing -- Sam's always been the protected and cherished little brother/son so perhaps it's simply impossible for him to understand how Dean sees him. Maybe it would take him having a child of his own to fully get it.

Anyhow, thanks for friending me! It's nice to meet another mother who is OBSESSED with this show. :)

[glorious-spoon.livejournal.com]

The emotion in it struck me the first time, but on the rewatch I realized why. Dean's voice is different than ever before--it is soft, tentative, the antithesis of both the hard-ass snarky Dean and the broken, despairing Dean that we have seen before. For that initial moment, all of Dean's walls are down. There is a child-like quality in the way he speaks the words, and I heard fear, bewilderment, wonder, disbelief, relief, hope--all just in the way he said those 12 words.

Yeah, this. That moment just killed me.

And I hope you're right about Sam. I'm coming up very short on reasons that make sense, and I think you've got a good argument here.

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

I confess I read the theory about Sam's coldness on someone else's review, and I'm sorry I can't remember whose. But it is the only thing that makes sense in light of the first 5 years of being there for each other!

[metallidean-grl.livejournal.com]

Dean's voice is different and you are right, that is what is so great about Jensen. We saw so many facets of Dean in this episode, partner, friend, brother, hunter - and Jensen really displayed each one so differently and we could easily tell which frame of mind he was in. He can relate so much through his voice, eyes, face, body that dialogue just cannot. Which is what indeed makes him such a great actor and Supernatural is very fortunate to have him on board. I agree that this show would not be as compelling and Dean would not be as heartbreaking had another actor been playing him. Jensen is phenomenal and I also wish that Hollywood would give him the accolades he so deserves.

As to the moment with Sam, when he finally accepted the fact that he was not dead, that Sam was alive and kicking and in front of him, he is exhibiting a look of shock, disbelief, relief, surprise in his eyes that Sam is actually here. The whole moment really left me wanting, because it lacked an emotional depth that we are so used to between Dean and Sam. And yet, it should be expected given the fact that these two have been apart for a year and given the fact everything both of them have been through. Sam's reaction, his smile and nod of the head shows us that he was glad to finally be with his brother again, but still also lacking any emotional depth. Both Jared and Jensen played this scene so beautifully and it was so different that anything before and different than any of expected, which is why it is such a great scene.

At the end of the episode, Sam wants Dean with him because Dean still cares, he has that human emotion, and Sam needs that. I think back on the episode 'The End' where Dean says that they are better together because they keep each other human. Well, I really thought of that when Sam said he wants Dean with him, because now maybe Sam is thinking I need Dean with me because he will help me to become more human again.

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

Thank you for coming by to share your thoughts!

I guess the bottom line is that Jensen is just completely amazing, and I really want him to be a highly respected and working actor when SPN is over. Though I'm in no hurry for it to end!

All the way back in the episode with the vegetarian vamps Dean commented that Sam kept Dean from becoming too unhuman (can't remember exact words) and I have my fingers crossed that this is an arc for the season.

[metallidean-grl.livejournal.com]

Jensen is amazing and I hope that he gets the accolades and roles he so deserves in the coming years. I also am not anxious for SPN to end, but we all know that it is an inevitability. As for him getting the recognition he deserves, I hope it happens, but who knows. He is one of those actors that likes to stay under the radar, and it seems so much these days that Hollywood only really pays attention and gives the big roles to those individuals that are way above the radar line. We'll see. Either way, it will be interesting to follow his career as the years go on.

The comments you are talking about are in Bloodlust at the very end when they are talking over the car. Dean is talking about killing things that didn't deserve killing, he is questioning how raised John raised them to hate the vamps and all monsters and how Dean wants to kill them all. And remember during the episode Sam is the one that got Dean to see reason and not kill these vamps because they weren't killing humans, they were just trying to live their lives and get by as humanely as they could. So here at the end Dean, counters to Sam that he didn't kill them, all because he is a pain in his ass and Sam says that "i guess I'll have to stick around and be a pain in your ass." That's a great scene.

It would be cool to see that reverse itself and Sam wanting to kill everything that is in harms way and Dean being the one to see reason. I can see that happening, especially with what Sam says that he wants Dean with him. Sam has lost a lot of his humanity, he has become, from what appears, a cold-hearted hunter and together Dean and Sam have always balanced each other out and kept each other human. So, it will be interesting to see them reverse this role a little bit. Especially with Dean after having lived a "normal" life this past year. His perspective is definitely changed. I have a feeling it's gonna be a great year.

[irismay42.livejournal.com]

Well I have to wait until tomorrow to see it (damn this living on a different continent thing!) but I'm ridiculously excited for 6.2 too! When I saw the promo pics I just thought the writers were pandering to the fangirls a little too much, but now it looks like it might be a fun episode!

And you're so right about Jensen. Did you see the interview where he said he really wasn't happy with the way Dean was written in 6.1 and was trying really hard to make him softer than the Dean we know and love, but still with an edge to him? He definitely accomplished that. Ordinarily, I would never have been worried about Dean wandering round an abandoned building in the middle of the night on his own, but in that early scene? Well I was really hoping Sam would hurry up and show up!

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

On rewatch I decided that he was feeling some of the effects of the djinn poison, because I just couldn't believe Dean would be so spooked, even if he hadn't hunted in a while.

But the layers Jensen puts into portraying Dean--just amazing!

[agent-jl36.livejournal.com]

Great catch and commentary! Now I have to study those scenes more closely...

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking you won't find that a hardship :)

[xwacky.livejournal.com]

I am so with you re Jensen's acting. That reunion scene I watched numerous times just to hear him say "So I'm dead? ..." There were so many different emotions delivered in that line that were stunning to see and feel.

I hope you won't get mad at me in saying when watching the show, I felt Sam's characterization was flat. But since then, I noticed a couple of things. One of which is I have a strong suspicion that the post production editing exacerbated Sam's 2-dimension-ness. For example, take the reunion scene. I noticed the reunion hug we saw from the episode was different from the one they showed in the promo. I saw the animated gif fans made based on the promo that Sam clearly wrapped his arm around Dean when Dean went to hug him. But on the show, they only show the shot where the camera was zoomed in on Sam's face, we didn't get to see his arm (body language) at all. Once I saw the gif, I realized there were more depth to Sam's response to the hug than what they aired! *miffed*

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

Now that is a fascinating catch! I must find one of the fan gifs to see for myself!

[tversan.livejournal.com]

Very true.
And I really hope we get to know the reason behind Sam's new personality. It's obviously hell,but is it also something else?

Friday night is totally the best night, I count down the days during the week. And I need to figure out how to tell my friends I can't see them, because I'm going to watch tv, haha. Well, I'm going to have to tell them the truth when that night comes, they already think I'm weird enough =P

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

Lot of speculation now about how much hunting with the Campbells has also 'influenced' Sam.

Crossing fingers for a really killer reveal...