Well the boys have to interact with somebody. I gather that nobody thinks there is much of a shot for my hope that she turns out to be the big bad. I guess that would be kind of subtle for this series.

It would be gender-issue skeevy on a show that doesn't need more of that.

But on the first point, yes.

If Dean has to, from a narrative perspective, come to regret that he's going to be dead in a year, he needs something he cares about outside of Sam, some kind of external relationship. Dean being Dean, just friendship wouldn't cut it. He needs some kind of attachment.

Sam, well, Sam could use one, for many reasons, though the plotting depends less on it.

I will say, as someone who had long hair for years (waist-length) and a taste for fire, as well as random physical activities around fire, I would leave it down more often than not.

Your long hair may vary, but it tended to get in my way as much up and constrained as down and loose, so I don't really buy the hairband complaint.

I'm a recent fan, so have seen fewer episodes than I missed. Another point about the show: how often do Black people manage to avoid both of these fates:

A) being a bad guy or turning into a bad guy
B) dying

Cause so far the only Black person I've seen get any significant screen time who did not end up doing one thing or the other was hotel porter and the hotel haunted by the drowned little girl who was later joined by her aged younger sister.

Issiah's death sure does not represent a breaking of the pattern. Maybe Tamara will, but she looks pretty doomed right now to me.

I'm a recent fan, so have seen fewer episodes than I missed. Another point about the show: how often do Black people manage to avoid both of these fates:

Black females tend to fare reasonably well, in terms of surviving and not being evil.

We have yet to see a black male ally who lasted past a single episode.

I'm having the absolute opposite reaction to this particular actress than you, Plei. I've been eager for more female agency on the show, for good characters with chewy backstories. I love Ellen Harvelle beyond reason. And yes, I like Jo, but I don't buy her as an effective lone hunter, either. A partner, an apprentice, yes, but not on her own. And Tal isn't nearly as stereotypically young CW stock as Cassidy appears to be.

I'm willing to see what she's got. But her initial appearance doesn't impress or intrigue me, so she--and the character--is going to have to win me over.

And Tal isn't nearly as stereotypically young CW stock as Cassidy appears to be.

I disagree, as I knew Tal specifically from previous roles on the WB, so she's kind of slotted into that Hey! It's that CW/WB/UPN person! slot for me, and she has the softer, younger look that I expect from them.

I found the introduction of the character much less heavy-handed than I was expecting, and a lot more interesting. How does the demon know her? Why? Where did she learn to stalk effectively? How does she do that cool kohl liner thing without her eyes watering?

The show would have to get to its 5th season before it could comprehend the idea of a female big bad.

Er, I think having Meg be a recurring villain is a credit to their comprehension.

I guess I can't quite see what's so surprising about the idea of them having to cast young and hot (look at the boys - yes, they can act, but we spend many posts rhapsodizing about their beauty). We haven't seen anything of the character other than she stalks Sam's nose, she can fight very well, and she wears her hair down.

My apprehension stems from the fact that while Kripke and Co. show a tendency to understand the coolness of the idea of women & people of color with agency, they tend to fuck up the execution. I've got faith that Ms. Cassidy's character is damn interesting - I just hope that the producers & writers write her arc properly (i.e.: non-problematically. You hear me, Eric??).

IOW, it's their show. I have to have some faith in them and let them show me what they want to show me. Then, I can judge.

So, Ple, what you're saying then is that I am just a great big klutz? I burned the hair off my forearm once, by reaching over a be-candled table without thinking. (I also once set my cat's tail on fire one time.)

I... think we may have to agree to disagree on the long-hair thing. I know stunties prefer it, because the flailing hair hides their faces, but it's the hair equivalent of fighting in a sheath dress: sure, maybe you can, but all things being equal, why would you handicap yourself like that?

But her initial appearance doesn't impress or intrigue me, so she--and the character--is going to have to win me over.

And this differs from other characters how? We have glimpsed the new character - we have not been really introduced. So suspending judgment until we see some character building/acting makes sense. Your catnip may vary of course.

I think she has to win everyone over. But unless she can't act or has been written really badly I don't see why she wouldn't.