Feelings on S1

ALL THE FEELS!

ALL THE FEELS!

I think it's an essay question, babe.

With pictures! Come on! I'd even write a new response, not copy the one from over there. Maybe not until this evening, but I would if other people (40 days) play.

S1 will always be one of my favorites, because it's the roots of the show. And looking back it was actually really strong, in terms of the arc, and that killer cliffhanger. It introduced almost everything that the series relies on later -- the origin story, their relationship with their father, their childhood, other hunters (Bobby!), the Impala, demons, all the shades of monster, including human ones, and the big bad thing -- Sam's destiny/powers. And Dean's is always going to be tied into that, because even before John dies I think the boys are learning that when it really comes down to it, they only have each other.

Random things I love about it: the pictures of Sam on the DVDs with the straight-ironed hair; that Jess wasn't conveniently grieved and forgotten moments after she died; that the boys are learning each other all over again after their years apart (but so much about the way they interact is still the same); MISSOURI; how unbelievably young Sam looks; how unbelievably pretty Dean is; nascent Ghostfacers; dying!Dean in the hoodie of pain; Dean in the steam shower; Sam's face when Dean is talking to Michael about being a big brother.

From a meta POV, the energy of creating something new translated to the screen. Everybody was working to make this new thing a success--from veteran directors who saw something special in the chemistry between the stars and the stories off the quirky mind of this new showrunner to the props guys who had to come up with really interestingly new books and weapons--and beer labels!, to the CGI team, having to create new forms of supernatural beings and phenomena on a tight budget. Everything was trial and error, with an element of risk about it, and everybody dove in with total commitment, working together to pull the show through to its first renewal.

And the stars were discovering their characters and making up backstory for them and the relationship between them at the same time they were learning about each other, picking up each other's rhythms and working methods and strengths and foibles both onscreen and off.

S2 will always be my favorite season, because the show came back! Validation they had done something right enough to be renewed for S2! They had found the characters and the strengths of the mythos, but things were still open enough to fill in some backstory. The relationship between the actors and the characters was solid enough for the writers to be more demanding--and they were writing *for* these specific actors now, so the characterisations were strong and solid. S2 had some of the most demanding writing for the actors to portray, revelatory of their characters, backstory, and the actors' depth and ability. And some of the deepest mythbuilding for the series ongoing.

But there's something wildcat, gambling, reckless, and wholehearted about S1 that for me, at least, is irresistible.

I'm not at a physical keyboard, so I'm delayed, not reneging.

Heh.

Yummy.

Way too short notice for today's TeeFury

Not too short for me!