A Visual Review – “Caged Heat”
And again, sorry for the delay on this, but I’ve been busy working on other projects (see 12 Days of Supernatural Christmas) that have been taking up a lot of time! Anyway, “Caged Heat” was directed by Robert Singer, a very familiar name in the “Supernatural” world, and not just because he has a character named after him.
1.
I don’t know why, but I just like the way this knife tray looks right here. It’s kind of stark. And I know that’s blood, but it’s fake TV show blood, so it’s okay to think it looks pretty. *nods*
2.
The light! Oh, my god, the light. As we all know, I am a sucker for streaming light, so this is right up my alley. Just look at the extreme bands of dark and light on the left of the screen there. Lovely.
3.
I like how Sam is just kind of draped on the floor there. He’s very artistic when he gets knocked out. Also, I really like it when they squat in run-down houses instead of staying in hotel rooms. I love the look of run-down buildings. They have so much character.
4.
Seriously, just look how amazing this house is. I love it. And yes, we’re all totally looking at the set design and not at the tied-up Winchesters. Ahem. Anyway, the production team did a great job this episode with all the dilapidated buildings: first this house and then Crowley’s monster building. They’re both so grungy and dirty and really fun to look at. The best part is that the sets on this show always look so organic. They never look like a set. They look like a house that hasn’t been inhabited in years, or an abandoned building or wherever they are. This show always looks like it has three times the budget it does.
5.
What a cool shot of the spell components with all the flames and the candles. Also, I want to know why one has to use black candles for that sort of thing. Do supernatural beings have a color preference? Do black candles burn better? Is it purely for looks? Do they smell like black licorice when they burn? Am I overthinking this? (The answer to that one is yes.)
6.
I’m just going to take a minute to be shallow here because I really have no good reason for posting this shot except that I really like this barely there profile of Dean with just a kiss of light on his face, and grandpa all blurry and no doubt glaring in the background.
7.
I like how this shot is behind the TV so all the TV accessories are sort of framing Cass here. Very nice. And I like how appropriately confused he is, heh.
8.
Apparently, I need to add characters in closeup profile to the list of things that I’m a sucker for because man, there have been some awesome profile shots this episode. Also, Cass doesn’t do a lot of staring into nothing. He’s usually looking at someone or something, speaking to someone. He looks really pensive here. I hope he’s not thinking about his civil war and how badly it’s going for him. Which I am curious to know more about, so I hope we see that in the second half of the season.
My favorites of this fine lot – #2 (factory ? and streaming lights – very nicely done), #14 (grungy hallway) and #15 (overhead shot of Team Freewill, with Impala).
Ah sweet, a visual review. And so early in the morning!!
Re: 6, 8 & 9. I love side profiles, of anyone, because I love angles on faces and with these profiles of Dean and Castiel you get to see them so clearly. Plus, for me, theres something so romantic about a side profile. Don’t know why.
Absolutely LURVE 13! In a room that has obviously seen pretty major violence and fairly scary monsters, I love the idea that the most dangerous thing that room has ever housed is Sam.
I’m so definitely with you on the abandoned buildings vibe. They’re just so eerie but strangely calming at the same time. I love to imagine about the lives lived in these places. I always feel you should tiptoe around them in perfect silence and with reverence for fear of disturbing the ghosts of the past.
I know you’ve probably seen loads of these kind of sites but theres a website chronicling abandoned buildings etc in Ireland that you might like. It’s http://www.abandonedireland.com. There are some freaking amazing images on there. A lot of castles etc which are just shells at this stage but there are other places like schools, old swimming baths, churches etc which are more recent and with plenty of signs of ‘life’ evident.
The Magdalen Asylum, Ballyvourney College and the Lost Mines are some of my favourites.
Anyhow, thanks again for the review.
Licorice candles? Really? Dearest Flamey, I think you and I should have a serious session ;-)…
I loved this, again, and no need to apologize for being late, there is always enough work, isn’t there, within the work for this site and outside of it.
One of my favourites is the one with the candles (perhaps it’s just for good looks that they use black candles. It’s creepier, eh?)
and another is the raw knife there. I have a thing for impressively macabre shots like this. And for blood, of course (but you know that… :D) – ahem, *dials the number to set up a session of her own* :lol:…
Thanks again for all the work you put into this to give us such great fun!
Love, Jas
My favourites are the profile ones for sure 6,8 & 9. I just love the hint of light off Deans face and just enough light on Castiels to see his expression.
I love #15 aswell with the overhead view.
Now #13 you’re going to think I’m nuts and please note I just got off my fourth night shift, but when I saw was the first panel board on the left, with the large gash in the panel and with the two nail holes just above, it looked like a face sticking his tongue out at me. And the scratch marks above the nail holes/eyes look like tuffs of hair. Yeah Ok….I’m nuts!
Beautiful atmospheric pics as usual Arde, but, as I am feeling ill and sorry for myself, thank you especially for Number 9, Love Ju
The atmospheric pics inside the building are very cool. I also thought about Asylum while watching this and wondered if it was the same building, but probably not. It was definitely creepy.
And then, I like any pics that have Dean, profile, shadowed, full on – anything and I am happy. Especially liked how they framed Dean in the little door window of his prison cell when Samuel was talking to him and Dean was threatening him. Very eery, yet beautiful.
All are nice and I especially enjoyed the run down buildings. But now I am thinking of Cas as being creepy! Ah well, still love the nerd angel.
My favorite though is #3. Artistic. Beautiful. yum
Evelyn, I believe this is the same building that was used in Asylum. Probably one of the creepiest locations in Vancouver and used by a lot of the shows shooting there.
Arde, there sure is something to be said for stills, isn’t there. Gives one time to really study the layout, lighting, mood etc. They are all great but my faves are the profile shots. Simply lovely… 😉
CitizenKane2, that factory was just amazing, wasn’t it? I really liked that exterior.
Tim? (some call you) side profiles win at life, don’t they? Love. And I’m glad to see I’m not the only one. Also, thank you so much for that website! I don’t actually know of many abandoned building sites, so I can’t wait to check that one out! I’m sure they’re super atmospheric.
Dany, if all your dreams don’t end with a Cass makeout session then you’re having the wrong dreams. =)
Liebes, licorice candles do exist! http://www.happycandles.com/black-licorice-candles-candle/
I’m not the only one with a strange mind!
Karen, I am so with you in seeing faces in everything. When I was 5, we moved to the house I grew up in, and in my room, there was this patterned wallpaper that my mom really liked but I saw faces in it everywhere, and it freaked me out so badly I couldn’t sleep in my room until the wallpaper was torn down. So yes, I have always had a very active imagination!
Julie, aw, sorry you’re not feeling well, and glad that pic could make you feel better!
Evelyn, yeah, that conversation between Dean and Samuel was really pretty, too. Good choice!
Yvonne, he did manage to pass out rather gracefully, didn’t he?
Rose, seeing the show in stills is definitely a completely different experience. There are some shots that I absolutely love that I don’t even notice when the show is playing at full speed. And conversely, there are times now when a scene is playing out when I will think, “oh, that is going to be gorgeous in stills.”
Love all the pictures, but my favorite has to be the Impala and Dean. Even though people walk away from them, these same people also walk back. (It is okay to park your car in the middle of the road, when there is no traffic) Is it just me, or was the Impala closer to the fence in #16 than it was in #15?