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.

2 more thoughts about Mysterious Blonde Fighter:

1) Barring omniscience, she wouldn't necessarily know that Sam was in a room with shitload of candles until she was in the house and near the room. I can't see any demon giving her a second while she pulls up her hair.

2) For some fighters I know, long hair is a mark of your skill. (You're so good, you don't need to worry about cutting it short. Did I mention that these people are insane?) I doubt that's Kripke's intent, but that's why it's not pinging me.

I have no opinion of the mysterious blond woman (child? girl? chick?) as of yet, but her introduction didn't turn me off, and I've seen enough silly shows and movies where the women have long whippy hair that it doesn't ping me.

Now, if she's fighting in heels I shall laugh and point and make with the mocking. But the hair, well, for me it's a given that it has already been air-dryed with the waving of hands.

Anyhoo, I wasn't quite thrilled with Dean's character (was it the acting? the writing?), and I totally agree that the seven deadly sins should have at least been kept on for at least a mini-arc this season. For all the big deal made out of them, they ended up being rather weak. The YED and Meg were more of a threat than these guys.

I agree that the show/Dean/JA hit it's/his stride at the end when Sam finally brought down the smack-fu with the "one year to live" crap behavior. And hopefully that'll be the last we'll see of that new and not improved Dean.

You know how, when you look back at Season 1 of Angel, and you think, seriously, guys, you think these guys are tough? Just wait. Or Buffy. Or Farscape, or whatever (I would say HP, but that was kind of the point all along). That upping of the ante, yeah? That was my reaction to the 7 and the knife (which, in my head, is medieval. Last time all these demons walked the Earth). Bigger bads and bigger (metaphorical) guns, hand in hand. Raising the stakes.