A Visual Review – “Two and A Half Men”
12.
Here’s the alpha as Dean when it has collected its baby. Now, I know the alpha is a horrible monster, what with all the false impersonations and rape and impregnating women and attempted murder and actual murder. (RIP, Mark Campbell, the only one I thought had some potential.) I know I should flat-out hate the thing. But look how relieved it is to have its baby back! It looks like it loves the thing and was completely distraught over losing it. I’m slightly conflicted.
13.
I’m also conflicted because the alpha is a total badass. It’s such an awesome monster. Look at him just walking right out of that room after dispatching the Campbells and Sam and Dean. That’s hardcore, man. And look at the clever framing here: the door frame is just covering Dean’s face so that it can be the stunt double laying on the floor and they don’t have to use any CGI to get two Deans in the room. Cost-saving method!
14.
Just look at the lighting in this scene. Gorgeous. Serge Ladouceur is a genius. He plays a major role in making the show look as fantastic as it does every week, and he never disappoints.
15.
Once again, I love the lighting here with the shroud of light coming off that overhead lamp. But the real star of this shot is the POV. Shooting down at them from the treetops, with a little branch in the foreground, of course, makes it seem like something is out there in the woods watching them still. And for all we know, something still is! It’s a very effective way to add more tension to a scene.
16.
What a way to end the episode. The return of the Impala was perfrect, just perfect. My favorite part was this overhead shot of Dean pulling off the dropcloth to reveal the Impala in all her glory. In fact, if this is how they reveal the Impala every time someone has to get in it and go somewhere, I would be okay with that.
So those were some of my favorite images from “Two and a Half Men.” How did you guys like the look of the episode? Did I miss any of your favorite shots?
Hi Ardeospina
Love your choice of pictures/visuals.
I would take either house in a second, hell just for the Kitchen alone. I can only dream what it’s like to have one where two people are not a crowd.
Ha! Sam barely leaning against his car, like he’s going to break it, he looks so uncomfortable.
The way Bobby-John looks at Dean and his reaction is one of my favourites aswell. In fact that whole supermarket scene was priceless.
I too love seeing old buildings and equipment, imagining the events/history these places and things have had.
The only issue I have with the Alpha was not only did he know what the two Sam’s looked like but he knew exactly what they were wearing. Now granted he may of seen Sam when he was investigating the murders, but to know what he was wearing? Must have x-ray vision.
Jensen/Dean/Alpha look so natural with the baby(s). Definitely father material here.
I enjoyed your article – thanks you. 🙂 I like how you shed light (pun intended :P) on a sometimes neglected aspect (cinematography) of Supernatural.
Arde,
As usual you do a superb job with choosing little moments.
I like the Dean/Lisa shot also becasue it depicts something about characterizations. Dean has his shirt untucked (a change from Exile) showing he’s back in hunter mode but the real star here is Lisa. She’s in a bathrobe with bare feet holding a gun. She’s very feminine but also quite bada** in how she handles the weapon.
I read someone dissecting why Jo and Bela and Ruby didn’t work as much when Meg, Pamela and Ellen did and the idea behind the writer’s perspective was that the writers of the show were so busy trying to make these female characters bada** females when they should have simply made them strong characters and allow the actresses to bring the femininity (like Nicki Aycox did and Samantha Ferris and now Cindy Sampson is doing)
I hadn’t thought about the spook factor of something spying on the Campbell compound until your article but now…oooh, I see it. Thank you for that.
Yeah, that panic room could use a touch of Bobby but then again, he’s a character we’re meant to know and trust and the Campbells…not so much.
Great article. I’m so enjoying these visual moments. Thank you for doing them.
Flamey, just as you, I am a huge fan of the look of this show! I adore the lighting. Master Ladouceur is a genius when it comes to emphasize a scene with the right light, and so often is able to make our guys look incredibly adorable or downright despicable.
Especially with Sam’s ambiguity he’s done marvellous things. And, for instance, the way he lit Dean in Season One’s Water-episode, sigh, in that early diner scene, the man never looked better.
Whenever I watch films or tv shows, I pay a lot of attention to the look and the sound. Here it’s wonderfully done in both departments. The way music and sound effect is used, it leaves me repeatedly in awe.
You choices are also some of my favourites of the episode. This is a new approach to a recap or review to an episode of our show. These articles enrich our site even more. I salute you for the great idea!
Love Jas
I love the way you pick the best shots to highlight. I see them when I’m watching but don’t have the time to study and really appreciate them so thanks for giving me the time to do that. All pics were perfect but I agree a frame by frame of Dean setting the Impala free would have been heavenly bliss 😛
Heh … You were right about the squashability of Sam’s ( ex ) car …
I like tatty old rather than shiney new buildings too, so much more character ( and draughts and mice and leaks but never mind … )
Best shots for me were Big Daddy Shifter leaving with his sproglet and Dean’s smile right at the end when he de-dustcovers the Impala.