Sure, in driving the story, the standard, run of the mill, creepy kid's ghost story was used. That ghost story though existed to bring these characters to an understanding. Their experiences came from two completely different worlds and perspectives meet with unpredictable results. Not unlike when two guys meet in a chat room because they share a love for a story. Or the author and the fan finding bliss over an act of heroism. Makes for a nifty story, huh? For those who didn’t think so, especially long time viewers, I think we need to go back to the fandom thing.
Fans are passionate about their show. Their expectations are high, their notions of the way things should go sometimes large. Sure, there are also fans like Becky, who trusts the vision of the creator but something about this family drama raises passions and awareness that are unparalleled with other entertainment mediums. You know the TV shows with the highest ratings are usually the ones with the least passionate fan bases? Do you see CSI fans raising such a stink if Mendelsohn has Nick or Catherine have an intense falling out over betrayal from an addiction? No, if they didn’t like it they’d be turning the channel. So why do Supernatural fans stay rooted and raise trouble when things take the twist they don’t agree with? When characters are introduced that they don’t like? Why don’t they walk away? Because they’re too emotionally invested, that’s why. Because this show isn’t just a TV show. It’s a surrogate social network and a way of life for many.
Keep in mind that the show, despite this parody, wasn’t condemning fans. If anything, it was honoring them. I think for so many online fans who are deep rooted in negativity and raising controversy that it’s hard to see the forest through the trees. Kripke and all TPTB love the fans despite all their quirks and harsh criticisms. The fans usually respect each other too in spite of their differing opinions, especially at the cons when the barrier of online anonymity is erased. Just like Dean, sometimes it just takes just the right shift in perspective to realize that things aren’t that bad. Like going to an actual con. Like meeting average people and finding out who they are. Like finding out firsthand why they’re so drawn to the story. Like seeing everyone have their fan girl and boy moments and understanding the motivation behind them.
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Article comments
1 - Rachel
Awesome. Pretty much how I felt about the episode from the get go.
2 - Huppy
I also thought it was a cute episode, although (nitpick here) I did think it was odd and abrupt when Becky blurted out to Sam that Bela had given the Colt to Crowley, not Lilith. That was out of left field.
Otherwise, I thought it was a cute episode, even though I haven't ever attended a fan convention. But I understand the gist of the conventions. Always good to see Chuck, and I thought the ghost story and convention attendees were interesting.
3 - Phira
I thought the episode was all right. I didn't find it as amusing as I found Changing Channels (I watch CSI: Miami because it's so bad it's hilarious, so you can imagine I was dying at the Horatio Caine impressions). But there were three things that really bothered me.
First and foremost, I've been incredibly unhappy with how women, people of color, and queer people are portrayed on Supernatural, or how they're not portrayed (I think this was the first episode with any queer main supporting characters). Playing the same-sex romance as a joke in order to laugh about a) the slash fiction out there and/or b) Dean's obvious discomfort was entirely inappropriate of the writers. Finally, queer characters, and they're meant to be a joke. It left me with a terrible feeling afterwards.
Next, I don't understand the purpose of the character of Becky. If it's to poke fun at obsessive fans, I still don't get it. Her obsessiveness about Sam was especially unnerving; she knows he's real, and has no problem harassing him? It felt fake, like a bad joke that should have been on another show.
Finally, like Huppy, I really felt like the very end, with "OH, by the way, do you know where the Colt is?!" was totally out of nowhere. Not even remotely believable!
I DID, however, love seeing how there were both men and women in suits asking questions and showing fake IDs. Made my day.
4 - Robijean
I didn't feel Becky mentioning the colt was out of left field. Earlier in the episode we saw her sitting there listening when the boys explained to Chuck they had more important things to do like hunting for the colt.
I think she remembered then what happened to it and would have told the boys if they hadn't gone off with Chuck to discuss things. She told Sam the first real chance she got.
And I can see Bela telling Dean she gave it to Lilith instead of saying I gave it to Lilith's right hand man to give to her, a bit of verbal shorthand.
5 - AmMo
Great article Alyce! It was really interesting to read it filtered through your recent con experience, and gave me some things to think about that hadn't occured to me.
6 - Nitewoman
great article talking about the relationship between Supernatural and fandom. You stated everything excellently. I am a fan convention goer and I loved this episode. I thought everything was said or shown with great respect to us fans. How many shows even acknowledge they have fans uh?
Robijean, I so agree with you about the colt and Becky's role in telling Sam. in the Then segment talking about the colt, I knew something was going to come up about it, and yes Becky telling Sam who had the colt was a surprise but a good scene to set up this week's episode.
I was not upset with the fake Dean and Sam admitting that they are partners and I never felt that Dean was dissing them. I felt he found a new understanding when people who have the same likes become friends or partners. His so called discomfort to me was not having thought about these people who wanted to live their lives in fantasy. He only just heard about slash a short while ago in TMATEOTB.
It was really clever on Eric's part to have these normal guys explain to Dean what the story was all about or in this case Sam & Dean's life. They gave Dean another perspective to think about things and realize their lives weren't that bad. These guys would be the only ones who could say this and have Dean actually listen and learn.
Happy we've had a few fun episodes because playtime is now over and I'm going to be dying with fear, sadness and all those things Eric throws at us.
7 - Mary (Bardicvoice)
Loved your take on this one, Alice! I came down in much the same place. This show is about relationships, the families we build as well as the families we're born to, and what we'll do to help them and make all our lives better. No wonder it speaks to all of us who get what the story's about!