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.
I think there was a question, relatively recently, as to whether Dean still had his pearl-handled Colt as of season 7, and I just noticed it in Pennywhistle's Magic Menagerie.
Also, from same episode, the clown doll at the end? Has a bullet hole in it, which is
fantastic.
Great shirt. Damn.
Anyone who desperately needs to see Jared in
New York Minute
(beware Olsen twins!) can do so at noon eastern time on HBO Family.
Oddly, I'm not that desperate yet.
Oh, I had a topic for today! It's
39 days now,
yes, ita?
What are your favorite performances -- maybe top five? (As in, Jensen in ABHL II, etc.) Both actors!
Can I steal your topic for IO9? I was gonna go with something a little fandom skewed (vid), and I hadn't thought of anything more general access.
I think I'm going to go with my favourite scene being John and Dean in the hospital once John has decided on his sacrifice, and he's apologising to Dean and thanking him, just before he goes off to die without telling Sam anything (and yet I have a website for your ass, Winchester).
But the sincerity with which he at least balances the books with one of the two people that needs it, even if he's holding back on some key information, he gets Dean up to date as of...a couple days ago. And Jensen--the openness the amazed look, and the fear and sadness with which Jensen just looks at JDM, and the vulnerability in his voice as he reacts to being told he's strong--it's one of the most heartbreaking deliveries--like, outside of context and lines, and everything. If I didn't know English or these characters, this is a moment that would be a gutpunch nonetheless.
Jared is harder. He didn't show up as polished as Jensen, so he's spending some time feeling out the character (as Jensen is a bit) and just hitting his notes in general (which Jensen was already good at). So, for a while, his moments were buoyed by working off Jensen, or the fact that we were invested in what had gotten us so far--I think Heart is a good example of that--the situation was horrible, and Jensen was doing such a brilliant job, that Jared is lifted by them both, and tears my heart out. When did he start doing his own tragic heavy lifting? I'd say by season 3, with Sam processing the deal. The speech where he knows what Dean is hiding, and wants him to be open with it? I'd say Jared totally brought it there. He'd grown into the role and gotten a lot better at acting by that point, although we got to see him get much better even beyond that.
Getting to five will be harder. I'll need some more time not distracted by the day job.
