The Supernatural Season Six Bitterness Page
Season finales are always a mixed bag with Supernatural fans. Now that the finale has aired and the dust has settled, either you are raving over what you witnessed or have started making your Sera Gamble and/or Eric Kripke voodoo dolls and looking for pins. No matter how you are feeling, opinions are important. We may be a civilized and happy group here at The Winchester Family Business but we aren’t addicted to Kool-Aid either.
I did this last year and found that it made for some darned good group therapy. For those that are unhappy with Supernatural right now this is your chance to open up.
Bitter about Sam? Bitter about Dean? Bitter about Castiel? Bitter about…sorry Bobby fans but he had a great year. You don’t have a case. 🙂 Bitter about season six plotting in general? The direction of Supernatural? Let it all out and share with us here. You will not be admonished, punished, berated, or taunted. Let loose. Just remember some basic rules we have on this site. Be respectful to others and their opinions. In other words, no attacking other posters. Don’t threaten TPTB either. That’s taking entertainment a bit too far. Otherwise, vent away.
Here’s a recent comment by Rose to kick things off. I think there are many great points in here and they should be said:
Cas brought Sam back from Hell (likely) not realizing that Sam’s soul was left behind. He also brought Samuel Campbell back from (?) in order to hunt down the ‘first’ demons, who for some shaky reasons Crowley believed knew the location of Purgatory. Cas did this to keep Raphael from taking over Heaven, because apparently there are a lot of souls in Purgatory, and they give power in some unspecified way.
At the same time, Balthazar was stealing heavenly weapons, again for a poorly explained reason. Cas doesn’t tell Dean anything, supposedly because he wants Dean to be happy (although having spent so much time with Dean, shouldn’t Cas have realized that Dean was in agony over the thought that Sam was in Hell?) but maybe because he knew Dean wouldn’t approve of what he was doing. So all of the monster killing managed to tick off the Mother of All, who rose only to be killed off after making some vague threats and doing…not much of anything. Then at the very end, Cas and Crowley managed to find the one person who could tell them how to get into Purgatory, and Cas double-crossed Crowley and took the souls for himself. Did you follow all of that? Because I’m not sure I did.
The way I see it, there were two major problems with the arc: it had too many loosely connected components, and too much of it took place off screen. In the first case, there was Souless!Sam, Grandpa Samuel, ReluctantHunter!Dean, Cas the Unreliable Angel, the Mother of All, the ‘first’ demons, Balthazar and the weapons, and the search for Purgatory all going on at the same time. And yeah, some of those were tightly connected, and a few were well explained, but others, like Grandpa Samuel and the Mother of All, made only the barest amount of sense at best. Oh, and I love that for the first half of the season there was an obsession with finding ‘firsts,’ who proved to know exactly jack squat.
But the main problem for me was that the entire war in Heaven took place off screen except for brief, brief scenes in ‘The Third Man’ and ‘The French Mistake’ before being hurriedly explained in a large lump in ‘The Man Who Would Be King’. All we had was Cas assuring us that yes, there was a war going on. Which is a poor way to develop a plot.
I didn’t intend to be so negative when I started writing this. This season had several episodes I liked (The French Mistake, Mommy Dearest, The Man Who Would Be King, Live Free or Twihard, and the Bristol, RI episode) and my love for the Winchesters, Bobby, and even Cas only grew. But this season really failed on the whole ‘arc’ front, especially considering that until this season, Supernatural kept an arc going for five whole seasons,with only minor plot holes and fallacies. That’s unbelievably impressive, and it’s why this season bothered me so much. I tried to get there with the season-long plot arc, I really did. But as I wrote above, there was just too much going on, and especially too much going on off screen.
All of that being said, I’m super, super excited for Season Seven, especially for the repercussions of Sam’s memories, but a better plot arc is at the top of my wish list, right before a little more humor, more Bobby, a slightly more stable and level-headed Dean, and at least a bit of a return to sweet and caring Sam.
I’ve been spending my ‘away time’ each week reading Mo Ryan’s thoughts on each new SPN and frankly, I am on board with all of her thoughts and her approach.
So, my thoughts on Season 6 either as a whole, each individual episode (especially after I took a step back from reviewing) and where we may possibly be headed can all be found by reading Mo’s work.
Sadly for me, my thoughts that were expressed in earlier articles hold true today. But, as Ms. Ryan wrote and I have long professed, I’m on this bus by my own free choice; the writers have chosen a new adventure to embark upon and it is not one I wish to partake of any longer.
Thank you, Supernatural, for all your many episodes, there are a few choice ones from Season 6 that I’ll be enjoying again and again but there is no Season 7 in the future for me. I enjoyed it though for a while and enjoyed everyone here.
Have a wonderful summer all (or winter for those down under).
Cheers!
I agree with all of your points. I have decided I am just going to have to designate Season 6 as “The Arc of Suck,” like apparently all shows that go on this long have, and write it off. It was the definition of “mixed-bag.” Some of the episodes were among the best of the series and one or two were among the best of television. And then The Arc of Suck.
We spent half the season with Samless, this enormously huge plot line, and in the last episode, we didn’t even get full closure on that. Where are the weapons Cas was stockpiling? Why was Balthazaar getting people to sell him their souls? What is Death doing behind all this?
And now for the biggest single blunder of the season: souls as reactors. I cannot parse this in anyway that makes any sort of sense. If souls are this huge power source, why did Lucifer not avail himself of them? He certainly would have no qualms with offing a few billion people for a power up and he clearly could have just stormed heaven and taken over with zero trouble. Nor would Michael and the other dicks with wings we met have any qualms with soul charging. In what universe would Crowley NOT be using all the souls in hell to advance his agenda? Why did the “heavenly” angels not powerup on some hairless ape soul and kick Lucifer’s butt? Lack of knowledge about soul-batteries doesn’t fly at all.
Are the souls consumed when used as power? Did Cas consume 50,000 souls in his first throw down with Raphael? Does he consume some of the “millions” he absorbed with each act of power? Will he run out?
This McGuffin lands with a thud. Its a pity, too, since the Big Bad of Season 7 is predicated on a poorly thought out and executed pile of bullshit.
Narratively speaking, Gamble and Co. need to get over this idea of killing everyone off. In three episodes they reduced the Winchester’s total number of allies by half. Heaping torture, despair, bleakness, isolation and hopelessness upon our heroes isn’t making the show better. Its making it desolate.
Sam and Dean need more than two allies. They need a support network. The secondary character executions are so far from dramatic anymore as to being eye-roll worthy. Move on.
The “wrap up” of the Ben/Lisa/Dean story line was just as badly thought out and executed. Their memories are gone. Great. Exactly how does that remove them from being pawns used against Dean? It doesn’t. At all. Now they just get kidnapped and have no clue as to why. Jensen was heartbreaking in the scene, his performance at the same level of brilliance we are used to seeing from him, but the idea behind the material doesn’t make any sort of sense.
Am I excited about season 7? Probably not. If this evil Castiel garbage were resolved/fixed in the first episode and the show moved on to a story worthy of it, I would be excited. If the writers decided to play in H.P. Lovecrafts sandbox for a while, bring in Cthulhu as the big bad, I would be ecstatic over the show.
As it stands now? If they drag evil Cas into an all-season long arc, I don’t know that I can hang with the show through its seventh season. Which, for me, is heartbreaking, because i have never loved or enjoyed a television show more than Supernatural.
I guess its all a game of “wait and see.”
OK … full disclosure … this isn’t a bitterness rant that I’m about to deliver. Second … SPOILERS … if you haven’t watched the finale, don’t read this comment.
The only element of the finale that REALLY made me said (and, yes, I shed tears) Dean asking Castiel to wipe Lisa and Ben’s memories. That broke my heart. And as much as it hurt to watch, you could say that was a high point in the writing … took make a viewer feel that much for a character is a gift.
As to the rest of this season. I think I just have different tastes than some other viewers. I LIKED the fact that this arc was so discombobulated(sp?). It really doesn’t bother me that there was a lot that happened off screen. What happened ON screen, both the highs and the lows, made sense. Maybe I’ve watched too much LOST, but nonlinear plots comprised of more threads than you can keep track of are GOLD as far as I’m concerned.
The comment above mentioned that the Supernatural creative team sustained a five season long narrative arc previously. Yes … they did … and we all didn’t know ALL the answers during season one.
I look at season six as the prologue of Supernatural, Volume Two. Let me repeat that. This entire season was PROLOGUE. Following-up such an incredibly successful Volume One can’t be easy. I remember thinking at the end of the finale of Season FIVE that they could have just wrapped the whole thing up right there. That is how good it was, IMO.
So the writers have had to tie up any loose ends from season five, reset the status quo, give us an interesting story, and lay down some things to look forward to. And there is a lot of that.
> In the scene with Dean, Ben and Lisa, the demon possessing Lisa said that Dean was Ben’s father. I think folks have guessed at that before but I don’t think it has ever been stated. That final hospital room scene really felt like an ending to me, but was it? The relationship with Dean and Ben still feels dangling to me.
> Of course, there has to be resolution of the whole Castiel is the new god cliffhanger. Personally, I don’t think anyone has recognized the importance of the fact that God/Chuck has been MIA for an entire season. God really is still out there and s/S/he/He/ HAS been watching.
> Sam has his memories back … ’nuff said.
> Did anything come out of purgatory when Castiel opened it? Of course!
> I’d still like to see Dean and Sam’s little brother come back. He is still stuck in the cage with Lucifer and Michael, right?
So … naysayers will be naysayers … and I get that other folks have a right to their own opinions and reactions. But for me this was a solid season. And it was a banner one in terms of crossover recognition. I’m happy … happy with the work they’ve done thus far and happy that Supernatural will be back again for a season seven.
Thank you. Thank you! You articulated everything I think. I like to be challenged, I like a show that keeps me hopping, I like to have to think. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed season 6 and how it rolled out. It kept me on my toes because I didn’t know where it was all going or how it would all intersect. Sure there are some loose ends, what season doesn’t have loose ends, dismissed characters or plot lines. Writing is a creative process and sometimes your direction can change as the story flows out of you. Something that seems like a great idea can suddenly go no-where. That is part of the process. You shed it, you move forward. I’m baffled by the bitterness as it’s put here, but to each to their own. Watching a TV show is a choice. But as Kripke said, the fans will always bitch. Lord I remember the backlash after Swan Song and that is one of my all time favourite eps. We’re all different. I’m looking forward to the next chapter of the Winchester brothers story and as always, I will be riding shotgun in the Impala with them because I’m on this journey until the end.
I was just thinking that some folks who’ve been upset with the direction would go nuts reading X-Factor, one of my favorite comic books. Peter David, the writer, works a lot like the Supernatural writers. He lays down plot threads that he sometimes won’t return to for months! It just seems to me that the advent of DVD collections and Netflix have changed the way writers conceive of the narrative process.
Totally agree with you.
To me the “discombobulatedness” rather emphasized the fact that the Big Baddies this year weren’t their usual crop of Big Baddies. The boys were learning on the fly. To apply the demon/angel/apocalypse litmus test to this season seems misplaced.
While I loved Castiel, I’m quite fine with his transformation. Whatever happens to him as a result is not my call, nor was it ever. More so, I’m ecstatic that the boys and Bobby are united in every sense.
Bottom line: this is about the Winchester brothers. Beloved supporting characters come and go, but I watched and will continue to watch as long as Sam and Dean together continue saving people and hunting things — the family business.
[quote]Bottom line: this is about the Winchester brothers… — the family business.[/quote]
Indeed … but I’m kind of hoping that third Winchester brother makes another appearance at some point … ;P
Brilliant!! I agree with you 100%. Everyone has the right to an opinion, but at some moments during this season I’ve felt like I was stupid for liking the arc, for still being able to enjoy the show.
I won’t go further because, to be completely honest, I’m tired of trying to explain the sixth season to second hand haters, people who read that Kripke was leaving the building and anything that came from Sera was going to be bad anyway.
Thank you ChristopherH, I totally agree with you that this is season 1 to a new story and therefore not everything will be answered nor will it be clear…there were loose ends in season 1 and in some cases we had to wait FIVE whole seasons to get an answer.
So I’m sticking around and am excited to see what comes from next season. Sam and his memories should make for some awesome drama, and JPs been doing great lately!
I so totally agree with you. I loves this season so much, I’ve kept every episode on my DVR until I get the DVD. I’ve already rewatched most of the episodes at least three to four times. My colleague thinks I’m obsessed (well maybe a little), but it’s mostly because I just love the relationship of these two brothers. And I found the acting this season was so profound, by everyone concerned, Bobby, Castiel and of course our two favourite bros! So naysayers, goodbye, I’m glad you enjoyed the ride for five seasons, but now it’s time to get off. And thanks to everyone that posts on this site, I’m in Winchester heaven since I found it.
Hi Alice,
I agree wholeheartedly about the overall arc for season six… There were too many loose ends that didn’t tie together for me. I also thought that some of those threads, had they been explored in more depth, had the potential for good storytelling.
I must say that I liked soulless Sam, if for no other reason than the way it explored how someone without a soul would behave. Jared acted the part wonderfully.
On the season finale, I did enjoy watching Sam ‘piece’ himself back together. The scene in Bobby’s house with the Sam that remembered hell sitting in shadow gave me chills. I look forward to seeing how the memories affect him in Season 7.
I don’t like the idea of Cas being the new god, which, I suppose, is the point 🙂
My favorite episodes were “Weekend at Bobby’s,” “Live Free or TwiHard,” “All Dogs Go To Heaven,” “Appointment in Samarra,” and “The French Mistake.”
I thought season six over all was fairly good. I get that there were a few episodes that made me go, “uh, what?” but overall, i enjoyed it. Of course, I love this show, like more than i have ever loved a show so i think no matter how bad an episode is i will still love it. I am excited for Season 7 just because SPN is still my favorite show and i will always look forward to new seasons. I hope season 7 is better than this one, less major story arcs, concentrate on one or two major plots. The whole Cas is God thing made me cry, I love that character so much and to have him change like that? Kinda made me die a lil inside. It got worse when I found out Misha wasn’t going to be a series regular next season 🙁 Long story short: I enjoyed this season and look forward to the next one 🙂
Season 6 was a example of too many ingredients spoilng the broth.. Like some movies a leaner piece of storytelling might of helped. And the cliffhanger needed to be more than castiel and his kneel before Zod impression…
The season started out with eight stories being introduced:
1. Lisa/Ben
2. Soulless Sam
3. Alphas
4. Heaven’s civil war
5. Campbells
6. Alphas
7. Purgatory
8. Heavens WMD
Throughout most of the season, I asked, “Why are the brothers even hunting?” What connection did either have to the various stories, except to serve as plot devices to move the stories along. Then most of the stories were undeveloped and dropped suddently. Now that the season has ended, I am still asking myself why the brothers are still hunting. The season ended with neither brother having any hope, joy, or reward for their efforts and no joy in their hunting. All of the stories were smoke and screens as Cas and the angel story ended up being the season arc. Which leads to my main point about the season:
The intimacy between the brothers and their lives went missing with the angel story. I used to feel like I was sitting in the backseat of the Impala as the brothers learned about each other, joked, and were mad with each other. Through that intimate setting, I learned about each brother. This season they were plot devices to the stories and these two characters were reduced being pimped as the pretty; especially Dean, who had no purpose and no story at all. (I actually now believe that SG hates this character or simply doesn’t get him at all.) The intimacy between the brother’s story and the audience went missing while the show promoted a minor character into a lead. I am hoping that the rumors are true and that the angel story will be over in 7.01.
I could go on and on about the direction and artistic direction the show went in, but I’ll stop with voicing this one major complaint about the undeveloped multiple stories and the loss of the brothers as leads in their own series, but I will add that I am angry that Jensen was sidlined so completely and pathetically in S6…and angry is the word. I did not feel that Jared was done any favors either, what with the one-dimensional and totally unlikeable soulles Sam story, which went on way too long and ended up undeveloped along with the rest of them. I imagine the fallout of Hell will be seen in S7, bugt I hope that is kept to a minimum because, frankly, I just don’t care.
Oh, and let me add that I find it uncreative and childish that each brother has to go through the same thing as the other brother. Please. These are two grown men in their prime. I don’t believe they have to be treated like the fans are six years old and whichever one brother they may like gets to do or have the same thing the other brother has. Lots more stories out there that can be developed for each of them. (I’m saying I hope Dean doesn’t end of addicted to pills and alcohol next season and has to go to the panic detox room because Sam did when addicted to demon blood. Enough, already.)
I know this sounds really negative, and I guess that it is. My disappointment in S6 is negative, so there it is…a small piece of it anyway.
That said, the individual episodes (for the most part) were not terrible, but the over mytharc was just awful. I am so hoping that SG can pull it together for S7. The show is great and the two actors are great, and I know the writers have the talent to get our two brothers, the ones we used to recognize, back in the Impala being heroes.
[quote]The season started out with eight stories being introduced:
1. Lisa/Ben
2. Soulless Sam
3. Alphas
4. Heaven’s civil war
5. Campbells
6. Alphas
7. Purgatory
8. Heavens WMD
Throughout most of the season, I asked, “Why are the brothers even hunting?” What connection did either have to the various stories, except to serve as plot devices to move the stories along. Then most of the stories were undeveloped and dropped suddently. Now that the season has ended, I am still asking myself why the brothers are still hunting. The season ended with neither brother having any hope, joy, or reward for their efforts and no joy in their hunting. All of the stories were smoke and screens as Cas and the angel story ended up being the season arc. Which leads to my main point about the season:
The intimacy between the brothers and their lives went missing with the angel story. I used to feel like I was sitting in the backseat of the Impala as the brothers learned about each other, joked, and were mad with each other. Through that intimate setting, I learned about each brother. This season they were plot devices to the stories and these two characters were reduced being pimped as the pretty; especially Dean, who had no purpose and no story at all. (I actually now believe that SG hates this character or simply doesn’t get him at all.) The intimacy between the brother’s story and the audience went missing while the show promoted a minor character into a lead. I am hoping that the rumors are true and that the angel story will be over in 7.01.
I could go on and on about the direction and artistic direction the show went in, but I’ll stop with voicing this one major complaint about the undeveloped multiple stories and the loss of the brothers as leads in their own series, but I will add that I am angry that Jensen was sidlined so completely and pathetically in S6…and angry is the word. I did not feel that Jared was done any favors either, what with the one-dimensional and totally unlikeable soulles Sam story, which went on way too long and ended up undeveloped along with the rest of them. I imagine the fallout of Hell will be seen in S7, bugt I hope that is kept to a minimum because, frankly, I just don’t care.
Oh, and let me add that I find it uncreative and childish that each brother has to go through the same thing as the other brother. Please. These are two grown men in their prime. I don’t believe they have to be treated like the fans are six years old and whichever one brother they may like gets to do or have the same thing the other brother has. Lots more stories out there that can be developed for each of them. (I’m saying I hope Dean doesn’t end of addicted to pills and alcohol next season and has to go to the panic detox room because Sam did when addicted to demon blood. Enough, already.)
I know this sounds really negative, and I guess that it is. My disappointment in S6 is negative, so there it is…a small piece of it anyway.
That said, the individual episodes (for the most part) were not terrible, but the over mytharc was just awful. I am so hoping that SG can pull it together for S7. The show is great and the two actors are great, and I know the writers have the talent to get our two brothers, the ones we used to recognize, back in the Impala being heroes.[/quote]
I agree 100% with everything she said – Congrats Ginger – you just voiced what I and a friend of mine have been discussing for quite a long time.
Good job.
Clarice ; }
[quote]The season started out with eight stories being introduced:
1. Lisa/Ben
2. Soulless Sam
3. Alphas
4. Heaven’s civil war
5. Campbells
6. Alphas
7. Purgatory
8. Heavens WMD
Throughout most of the season, I asked, “Why are the brothers even hunting?” What connection did either have to the various stories, except to serve as plot devices to move the stories along. Then most of the stories were undeveloped and dropped suddently. Now that the season has ended, I am still asking myself why the brothers are still hunting. The season ended with neither brother having any hope, joy, or reward for their efforts and no joy in their hunting. All of the stories were smoke and screens as Cas and the angel story ended up being the season arc. Which leads to my main point about the season:
The intimacy between the brothers and their lives went missing with the angel story. I used to feel like I was sitting in the backseat of the Impala as the brothers learned about each other, joked, and were mad with each other. Through that intimate setting, I learned about each brother. This season they were plot devices to the stories and these two characters were reduced being pimped as the pretty; especially Dean, who had no purpose and no story at all. (I actually now believe that SG hates this character or simply doesn’t get him at all.) The intimacy between the brother’s story and the audience went missing while the show promoted a minor character into a lead. I am hoping that the rumors are true and that the angel story will be over in 7.01.
I could go on and on about the direction and artistic direction the show went in, but I’ll stop with voicing this one major complaint about the undeveloped multiple stories and the loss of the brothers as leads in their own series, but I will add that I am angry that Jensen was sidlined so completely and pathetically in S6…and angry is the word. I did not feel that Jared was done any favors either, what with the one-dimensional and totally unlikeable soulles Sam story, which went on way too long and ended up undeveloped along with the rest of them. I imagine the fallout of Hell will be seen in S7, bugt I hope that is kept to a minimum because, frankly, I just don’t care.
Oh, and let me add that I find it uncreative and childish that each brother has to go through the same thing as the other brother. Please. These are two grown men in their prime. I don’t believe they have to be treated like the fans are six years old and whichever one brother they may like gets to do or have the same thing the other brother has. Lots more stories out there that can be developed for each of them. (I’m saying I hope Dean doesn’t end of addicted to pills and alcohol next season and has to go to the panic detox room because Sam did when addicted to demon blood. Enough, already.)
I know this sounds really negative, and I guess that it is. My disappointment in S6 is negative, so there it is…a small piece of it anyway.
That said, the individual episodes (for the most part) were not terrible, but the over mytharc was just awful. I am so hoping that SG can pull it together for S7. The show is great and the two actors are great, and I know the writers have the talent to get our two brothers, the ones we used to recognize, back in the Impala being heroes.[/quote]
I agree 100% with everything she said – EVERYTHING..
Congrats Ginger… Your comment was perfect!!
I’m the friend that Clarice mentioned above, in the previous comment ..
And please, I’m gonna ask some for you… I’d like to post that your comment on my livejournal .. Would this be possible? Of course, I’m going put all credits for you… And I’m sending you my e-mail: pollysupernatural@yahoo.com.br
You can answer here or there, your choice..
Thanks .. Brazilian hugs…
Well, I don’t have any bitterness about the finale or S6, so I guess this isn’t the thread for me. Now last year? Swan Song? THAT made me bitter. S6 took that bad taste out of my mouth. I’ve enjoyed it — the soul-less Sam arc especially.
I haven’t really been on the same page as Mo Ryan in her reviews this season but I will agree that overall SPN has been rather depressing. However, I don’t think you can blame S6 for that. To me Show has been on a downward spiral in tone since season three when Dean was ‘terminal’ — possibly since all the way back to S2 when John Winchester died. The darkness culminated with Swan Song which left Sam to an eternity in hell and Dean a hollow shell. (Hence the SS bitterness!)
To me the nadir of the downward spiral – as always illustrated by the boy’s relationship — was at the point before Death returned Sam’s soul, when for the first time Dean truly entertained the idea that he could NOT save his brother and would have to kill him. (Robo!Sam of course would kill Dean without hesitation if he had to.)
Now it seems to me, through the rest of S6 that Show has been on an upward trend, a more hopeful trend. But it was three seasons on the way down, it can’t climb all the way back up in half a season. Bob Singer told Jensen it wasn’t like turning a rowboat, that changing the course of Show was like turning an ocean liner. Now maybe I have rose-colored glasses on and am seeing hope in the rebuilding of the boys relationship that isn’t there. Maybe Sera and Ben and Rob and Erik’s world view really is ‘Everything sucks and we’re all screwed, so fuck it, nothing matters.’ The talk of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid always makes me nervous in this regard. So I do agree with Mo in one respect — and I have thought this for a long while;
Supernatural does need to put the ‘win’ back in Winchester.
I thought about it when Crowley was listing the foes that the boys have beaten. It was a pretty impressive list, but the problem is, it doesn’t feel like the Winchesters have had any victories that mean anything – saving the world in Swan Song was hollow because I don’t give a shit about the world per se — in the context of the Supernatural universe, I only care about the Winchesters. (And Bobby and Cas)
So to me, S6 was a step in the right direction. My cup is half full.
Before I started wittering on here I had a think back about my reactions to each of the episodes and overall I can’t think of one that I felt let down by. There were maybe two I felt less than enthused by but even they shoved on the story some bit, no matter how small.
Yeah, at times the season felt a little crowded. There was a truckload going on, from new family, to no souls, to Purgatory etc etc but one or two things.
A lot of the ‘mini’ storylines were tied up in each other (Purgatory/Alphas, WMD/Heavens Civil War) but they all (to me) played a part in the main arch; Castiel and souls.
I’m not au fait with the whole renewal process of shows (as in, at what stage did SPN know it’d be there for five years?) but don’t forget that seasons 1-5 could be taken as one huge story. This is chapter one in a second volume of the SPN story. It would have been very difficult to take baby steps into a new story, especially when the last chapter of the first book ended with the Apocalypse. They couldn’t go slow into it. This is the first step on a new arch, that’s all.
Are there lose ends? Course there are. There have always been loose ends. However, there’s a difference between a loose end and something that’s pointless. So while many mini storylines seemed to taper off (eg heavenly weapons) it’s no biggie. These storylines were bought in for a purpose, and they served that purpose.
The missing weapons of heaven? Apart from ruling Moses out as a suspect (and that was important, cos I’d say he’s a fairly dodgy character…), they served to introduce the idea that heaven was in turmoil, Castiel was struggling and to introduce Balthazar; who ended up playing a pretty big role.
The Campbells were a link between Soulless Sam and Souled up Sam. Without them, (a) who knows where Sam might have ended up (A hooker? Thanks for that mental image there, Robin!) (b) Sam would have been aimless when he was returned to earth (c) Crowley & Castiel would have no way of gathering their Alphas. Without the Alphas, we wouldn’t have learnt about the souls, and Purgatory. Without that, Castiel would never have become the new god.
I get Castiel not telling Dean. Might not like it, but I understand why he did it. From his point of view, he bought Sam back to Dean and Sam walked away. I don’t think Castiel knew Sam was soulless at this stage. Let’s face it, it wasn’t until mid season 5 Castiel and Sam even became close. How well does Castiel even know Sam? For all Castiel knew, Sam did not want to contact Dean, did not want to drag him back into the life. Maybe Castiel was respecting [i]those[/i] wishes.
Also, as Castiel said to Crowley in ‘The Man Who Would Be King’ (this show really needs to get some shorter titles…), he doesn’t have a soul. Yes, he [i]knows[/i] that Dean misses Sam but does he [i]feel[/i] it? Without a soul, is Castiel not just another version of Soulless Sam; they both understand the concept of love/loss etc but it doesn’t mean anything to them because they don’t recognise it or empathise with it.
Castiels reasons for not telling Dean are the same as Bobbys; a need to protect those they can. Would Dean have been better off knowing Sam was back? Definitely. Was Dean worse off [i]not[/i] knowing Sam was back? No. I imagine that would be a pretty good argument for a dude/angel without a soul.
Soulless Sam? I won’t say too much on that because I loved that storyline from day one. It, in its own way, introduced the power of souls, emphasised what Sam (and maybe all of us) would be like if you stripped away the nice packaging of emotion and humanity and guys, what’s left, what we’re capable of, is pretty damn scary (especially the scene in The Man Who Knew Too Much where he shot Robin). It [i]really[/i] made us appreciate Souled up Sam when he got back, complete with the puppy dog eyes and innate sense of good because he was such a contrast to Soulless Sam. It showed Dean (and us) that there was something worse than a Sam who has visions, drinks blood and shags demons.
Ben and Lisa was another storyline I loved. Ok, it’s probably over but it served a beautiful purpose while it was there. Dean [i]can[/i], even if he wants to think he can’t, do family. He has something to dream about when all this is done. He could see a future without hunting, and he’s good at it. He’s not a burnt out shell of a man, or a bloodthirsty killer who’s only good at slitting throats. He’s a man who will do whatever he has to in order to protect those he loves. Can’t think of a better man (apart from John, obviously!). I’m hoping that in season 7 (it feels good to be able to say that!) Dean will start realising just how good he is.
I loved how this season, from the minute Sam got his soul back (or whenever he woke up) reinforced again and again the brother’s relationship; the faith, trust and love they now have in each other.
I love the equality of their relationship now, epitomised in that amazing scene in 6.22 when Dean placed a gun on the address by Sam for when he woke up. It wasn’t a question of ‘if’; it was a question of ‘when’. If he had any doubt, he wouldn’t have left Sam alone there, especially not while both he and Bobby went on a job they could both die in.
I love that by leaving a gun, it was an invite for Sam to join them. Dean wouldn’t have been able to do this 12 months ago. He’d have left him a phone, food and water and then probably locked the panic room door. He’d never have invited Sam to a dangerous fight. It would have completely gone against his inherent over-protectiveness towards his brother. Now that they’re equals though….
Castiel gone rogue? (I can’t use the words ‘big bad’ because I don’t know yet if I believe Castiel is bad. Going against the Winchesters wishes doesn’t necessarily equate to enemy). Well, it was either him or Bobby and I’m glad it was him. Sorry…
Were there things I didn’t like about the season? Sure (but two of them are fashion related so I don’t know if they count). I felt some parts of it moved slowly (but that might be because I’m impatient) some quotes were kinda clichéd, some parts left me feeling rather uncomfortable but honestly, no more and no less than any other season.
I need to sit down and list the reasons why I loved this season but for now, I’m one very satisfied customer!
Spot on here. I agree with you completely. I might have joined this train late (only since October), but I have yet to actually walk away from an episode let down. Sure, Mannequin 3 wasn’t the greatest, but I still enjoyed it.
I felt that the Soulless Sam storyline was planting the seeds for what was to come once Sam had his soul back. Back at the beginning of Season 2, John told Dean that he would have to kill Sam if Sam turned into something that wasn’t Sam. Soulless Sam, more than anything else that happened to Sam, was that guy John could have been warning about without realizing it. Did Dean do this? NO! He, instead, did everything to get Sam back. Some things he tried were dead ends, some things were misleading, the working for Crowley was evidence of his desperation in the midst of a Hostage situation more or less—but if anything, Dean was determined as he always has been to SAVE Sam, not kill him.
I find this season to be a love it or hate it in the fandom as I watch the reactions float in here. I for one, enjoyed it. Was it perfect? No. But it was daring and it was thought provoking and I found myself rather pleased and set up for a season 7 in the Fall.
So I’m very much with you. The ride has been fun from start to finish and I’m glad there will be more stories to see.
If you have the time, you’ll really enjoy going all the way back and watching Seasons 1-5!
Already have a couple times through now. I’m guessing by some of the conversations that I’ve seen that season 4 had some of the same responses this one did.
I didn’t discover this website until this season, so haven’t been in tune with the broader conversation here. I guess I’m one of those who tends to only watch shows I feel strongly about. There are too many things to do in life than to waste time on things I don’t really enjoy. The irony in my case is that ever since the movie Hellraiser I’ve been totally turned off by horror. Then I saw a couple episodes in the middle of season one … I’ve been hooked ever since.
I got hooked by the sheer wanting of both Sam and Dean. I’m a writer myself, and the biggest thing for me is what the character “wants.” That want statement means everything to me. I feel we’ve seen it as the current under this season, regardless of what Cas has done or not done with the whole over arching storyline. That want statement for Sam and Dean still holds true as much in the season 6 finale as it did for the pilot. As long as they have this crucial piece, I’ll follow the rabbit hole down.
Yes … that is what made the end of the Lisa/Ben thread so gut wrenching for me. I think they’re going to be back at some point. I can’t believe the comment about Dean being Ben’s father was for naught. If men can be brought back from either Heaven OR Hell and Great Walls in the Mind can come crumbling down, then a little thing like a mind wipe can be undone as well.
This is the deep irony of the show. Both Sam and Dean want more than anything to have the white picket fence family life (and it is funny that the show can be sort of a celebration of something that it rarely actually portrays), but what they get is the Winchester family business. And it’s the relationship that keeps them both going.
What some have been saying about the supporting cast being demolished is true though. This show does need some serious repopulation.
Yes, both Sam and Dean want that, but not more than anything. What they truly want more than anything in the whole world is to be in each other’s orbits and for the other to be happy. I’m satisfied that this season had that from both brothers when all was said and done.
I pity Cas, turbo charged as he is at the moment. Sam and Dean (and Bobby, too) are one united force. They will run him over if they must to keep what they want now that they’ve fixed the majority of their own issues. I got the feeling he was totally making the mistake so many have made—underestimate them. It’ll be his undoing, rather that be death or something else.
I do hope that if we should have some new characters introduced that they can stick around. They do need more hunters to interact with, even if they don’t travel with them or whatever.
I’m very curious to see what happens with Cas. He isn’t their brother by blood, but what has happened with him this season isn’t far removed from what happened with Sam in Season 4. Misha Collins has become a fan favorite, so if enough fans piss and moan, he might have more appearances than are currently predicted.
I’ll be curious to see where they go with this as well, but anything we say now will only be speculation at this stage. I just hope to enjoy the ride no matter what direction the take us in—just as long as Sam and Dean continue to want as intensely as they have for six seasons.
[quote]I’m very curious to see what happens with Cas. He isn’t their brother by blood, but what has happened with him this season isn’t far removed from what happened with Sam in Season 4. Misha Collins has become a fan favorite, so if enough fans piss and moan, he might have more appearances than are currently predicted.[/quote]
I’m not sure how much weight “fan favorite” holds. I remember reading that a fan favorite would die in the finale and they were taking about Bathazaar.
Who knows … it is all speculation at this point. Based on promo spots this season, interviews and screen time, he certainly became more than a marginal character. I would have to go back to earlier seasons to review how the writers created comic relief before Cas showed up, but he worked really well in that sense.
I honestly don’t know if I would miss him or not. For me, the main center of gravity in the show is Sam and Dean and their relationship. But other commenters make an important point when they lament the death of so many supporting characters. The writers will have their work cut out for them in creating new and compelling personalities to accompany Dean and Sam on their journey.
Bravo!
I would love to read the reasons you loved the season!! 😀
I agree with so many of you. The story lines were completely out of control and not at all complete. EVIL CAS!!!!!!!!!!!WTF!! Does anyone else see a connection to Urial from season 4?? Hated that guy, is that the new Cas?? If it is that sucks and SPN writer should be ashamed of themselves. WHAT THE HELL are they doing. I’ve rode out season 6 mostly because I was hoping for some pay off in the end, but I’m just sad and disappointed. I feel like maybe they should have just ended it with season 5. It makes me sad cause I love the boys but this season was just short of absurd. I want them to stop creating heart-ache just so Jenson can show us what an excellent actor he is…we know move on. This thing with Cas is to much. Cas was good, righteous, he would not fall like this!!!! Sam’s probably the only decent story line, they should have stuck closer to it. The mother died WAY to easy…come on she’s the Mother of ALL!!! It makes me want to watch French Connection again so I can see Kripke get it in the end!!!!! Wow I need that!! I will continue to watch SPN cause I love the boys. I’ve gone darkside and joined twitter to follow Misha at least I can get a fix that way…. 😥
Cas isn’t evil any more than Sam was when he was all suped up on demon blood. People forget that there is a real God in this universe. His name is Chuck. And he seems to like to put the pieces in place then sit back and kind of watch all kind of Hell break loose (or not) ;P
If Misha Collins really isn’t going to be around much next season, then my bet is that they’ll resolve this development with Cas in the first episode and move on to whatever else they may want to write about.
I, for one, am still a huge fan for Sam and Dean’s little bro being broke out of the cage at some point.
Who knows if Misha/Cas will be around much next season. We literally have no idea. Jim Beaver is not a ‘series regular’ and never has been, he’s always been a ‘guest star’ but he’s still in plenty of episodes. I also don’t see Cas as evil, I see him as misguided, just as Sam was with his dark path in season 4. Too me Supernatural is about loss, forgiveness and redepemtion. I think all of these themes can be addressed in the Cas story line. And for me, this show will always be about the Winchester brothers, not that I don’t love other characters I do, but it’s about Sam & Dean and for me it always will be and I will always stick by them.
FYI ‘the Bristol, RI episode’ #13 ‘Unforgiven’.
The only bitterness I really have is towards the concept of Lisa and Ben being more family than Sam and Bobby. I thought my head was going to explode when the boy told Dean ‘…you know you’re walking out on your family, right?’ Hello, the only reason that Dean was there in the first place, was because his BROTHER told him to move on. I am sure that if it was up to Dean, he would have keep on hunting after ‘Swan Song’. He did mention that he had tried to find a way to get Sam out. Lisa told him ‘…You two have the most unhealthy, tangled up, crazy thing that I’ve ever seen, and as long as he’s in your life, you’re never gonna be happy.’ Hey bitch, did you see Dean after Sam got his soul back, he looked damn happy to me. Enough with Lisa and Ben. They do not remember Dean, he doesn’t need them, let them disappear like his ‘love’ Cassie did.
The Soulless One made us appreciate Sam more. I liked the battle of the Sams. I liked the concept that this was all happening in Sam’s mind. The thing that was Sam’s main reason for battle: dah, Dean (take that bitch).
Gramps and the ‘cousins’ were okay, they are all dead so no harm done. It was nice to see Ellen again. RIP Rufus.
What about the alphas? Once we had Mother, the alphas seem to disappear. There did seem to be a lot of story lines and most of them reached a conclusion of some sort. Did Cas bring back Gramps and crew so that Crowley would leave Dean alone? Were they in Hell and Crowley just brought them back himself? Not that I care, but it would have been nice to find out.
For me season six really started kicking it into gear with ‘Appointment in Samarra’. That episode and every one after it, I loved. The ones before it were ok. There were some I just hated (Clap), but all in all, I enjoyed season six and am looking forward to buying it on dvd.
I can be many things about this show, but bitter has never been one of them. I got on this bus and will remain on it until it reaches the last stop and kicks me off.
That said, I have to say I much prefer the simpler hunts of the brothers in the past. My favourite and most enjoyable seasons are 1, 2 and 3. The boys accomplished a great deal of good in those 3 seasons that left a good feeling that there was hope perhaps somewhere in the future, and their relationship with each other was just endearing and wonderful to see. Then, in season 4, aside from Lazarus Rising, It’s a Terrible Life, On the Head of a Pin and a few others, that wonderful relationship deteriorated and practically disappeared completely by the end of When the Levee Breaks and Sam was actually choking his downed and beaten brother. Also, the apocalypse had reared its ugly head and I do hate stories, movies and tv shows about the great apocalypse and end of the world scenarios. Its just too damn big and takes away from the awesome intimacy of the first 3 seasons. Throw angels who are dicks into the mess and what chance do two humans have of emerging victorious?
Also hated Sammy and his blood drinking. The best part of season 4 was seeing Dean skewer that skank Ruby. (I guess I do have a little bitterness after all, but it is just that everything just got so darn big and unwieldy with the apocalypse, missing God and douchy angels.)
Even with all of that I still loved the show above all others to be seen and still do to this day.
Season 5 was an improvement for me as Sam and Dean gradually came back together almost as they had been in the beginning. Swan Song was a family triumphs sort of episode and I loved the way it was family that won the day. Dean not letting Sam die alone and Sam remembering the good times with his brother enabled him to defeat Lucifer.
I actually prefer season 6 to either 4 (at the bottom of my list) or 5, as once Sam got his soul back the brothers were once again a loving and formidable team together. Once that happened, I appreciated the first half of the season very much more than when it was occurring on the screen. I can watch and enjoy the first half of the season now, knowing what will come.
The brotherly relationship is the reason I am addicted to this show Never before have I been so enamoured of two characters as I am with Dean and Sammy.
This season I grew so very fond of Lisa and Ben. I liked them the first time I met them back in season 3. Lisa is such a good and strong person and took a poor broken Dean into her home. If not for that, he may have despaired and ended himself. She gave him a reason to keep living and I love her for that. I’m sorry
they are apparently being written out of the story at this time. The boys are so alone and have lost so many people.
If I could ask for something from Sera and the writers I would ask that they please refrain from killing off every single friend the Winchesters ever had. I worry every season that it will be Bobby next. God, I miss Ellen and Jo and Ash too!
I’m hoping Chuck will return next season and have it out with Cas, perhaps demoting him to human in order to learn a little humility. That would correct the problem of having the boys rescued time after time by a teleporting angel who is also able to heal wounds.
Like Sam said last season, “Remember when we just hunted Wendigos?” I would like it to be like that again and have them relying on themselves without a deus ex machina ready to rescue and heal.
Whatever, I’m not threatening to stop watching or complaining that Dean has no story (which is ludicrous) or that its all about Dean and not Sam or any of the other complaints that can be read on other not so nice sites. I’m loving the Winchesters and Bobby and hope Cas can be redeemed and am looking forward to season 7 and hopefully 8, 9 and 10. If Smallville could do it, why not our show?
Hey! And bring back Gabriel! Chuck can resurrect the Trickster as he died trying to do the right thing. If he brought Cas back twice, why not?
Thank you Kripke for giving me these two fantastic characters, and thanks to the 2Js for awesome acting and never phoning it in once in the past 6 seasons! Love you all!
[quote]I’m hoping Chuck will return next season and have it out with Cas, perhaps demoting him to human in order to learn a little humility.[/quote]
I firmly believe that we’ve all completely forgotten about Chuck and the fact that the God of the Supernatural universe remains an omnipotent (if somewhat absent) God. This whole twist with Cas is so easily dealt with.
I’m really not bitter about season 6. I will love this show, forever, no matter how much of a mess this season was. The only thing I am bitter about is that some fans decide to never watch Supernatural again. Maybe I can understand why, but it just makes me sad. That’s all.
WTF? Grandpa Samuel (who had seemed kind of cool) got raised from the dead, turned out to be an ass, and worked for a demon who promised to resurrect Mary? (What?) But then he gets killed…again. There’s a whole family of Campbells, with 1000’s of years of cool hunting lore and tradition….no, oops, they’re gone. There’s a war in heaven, but you don’t get to see it, until one giant exposition episode. Eve needs 40 virgins…wait, she only needed one. Souls are eternal…wait, no, they’re batteries. Lucifer’s pit is impregnable…wait, no it isn’t. Sam will be destroyed if his wall comes down…wait, no. Samuel’s the baddie, no it’s robo-Sam, no it’s Eve, no, Crowely. This season had me scratching my head constantly. I just don’t feel the Gamble-faith the way I felt the Kripke-faith. Sorry, I don’t feel that steady, if sometimes sadistic, hand on the tiller. But I kept hoping that it would all come together at some point. Like that absolute “aha!” moment, when we all realized how completely and utterly Ruby had played Sam, and all the off-notes of the previous season suddenly made sense. So, OK, it’s finale time. I’m sitting in a hotel room, with a large HD TV (damn, those boys have pretty eyelashes), and a ready a box of tissues, prepared to get slammed, and then ……. Cas, eats millions of monster souls and turns into an evil god? Really…no, really? WTF? It’s like we somehow wandered into the weaker seasons of Angel…really? I love my boys. i’ll keep watching, but….really?…really?
I just watched “Let it bleed” and “The man who knew too much”.
My initial thoughts – I liked “Let it bleed” a whole lot more than “The man who knew too much”.
I did liked the way the Lisa/Ben story arc was resolved. Although I’ve been a big fan of Lisa/Ben, I do recognise that it would be hard to continue to write them into Supernatural, in any meaningful and significant way.
While one might argue whether wiping Lisa/Ben will actually save them from demons / monsters / future kidnappings, I do think that it was plausible (and realistic) that Dean did the one thing he could think of to “save” them at the time. He probably thought that erasing the memories of Lisa / Ben was the best chance for them to move on with their lives (without him) and find happiness.
Needless to say, Jensen’s acting was spectacular – especially the final scene with Sam about breaking Sam’s nose. “Let it bleed” was throughly enjoyable for me.
I wished I could say the same about “The man who knew too much”. I have to say that my initial impression is that some parts felt … I don’t know what’s the word for it … artificially contrived in a rushed way, and (for me) there were quite a number of leaps of logic which did not quite make sense to me. Even Dean’s speech to Castiel in the final minutes just didn’t ring true for me.
In short, I was more puzzled by “The man who knew too much” instead of enjoying it.
Also, I’m not sure how the writers are going to deal with God!Cass next season – I hope it is not going to be a contrived device like God!Cas neutralising the Winchester Brother’s arsenal against monsters / demons just for the heck of it. Or worse, God!Chuck and/or Death just comes and takes away Castiel’s powers.
Thank you for providing the venue. 🙂
Oh, Season 6…I didn’t like it…well, not all of it. There were some episodes, particularly “Weekend at Bobby’s” that I thought were the best I’ve seen, and I’ve watched since Season 1. Then again, this is the first season I haven’t watched all the episodes (Mannequin & Unforgiven, just can’t bring myself to do it for some reason).
Agree with all above that say, basically, WTF? w/regard to Campbells and souls and walls and Alphas. Dislike the Dark!Cas that seems to be coming for S7. Am terrified that Dean’ll be hugging a sobbing Cas at the edge of a vortex, babbling about a yellow crayon. Oh, who am I kidding? Dean and Sam will most likely kill Cas (together? a la Ruby?) off in the first episode and then go riding off together to lather, rinse and repeat Season 1 forever. I sympathize with Mo Ryan’s feelings of claustrophobia if that is the case.
Also, I do apologize, in some circles this doesn’t make me a “true fan” I guess, but I LOVE CASTIEL. I realize that the writers have no idea what to do with him, which is a shame, but I love the character and am sad that they had to resort to the “going evil” route. I am as disappointed with Cas’s fate as I was with Anya’s in Buffy.
In fact (jeez, I had no idea I would be so long-winded), Supernatural has begun to remind me a lot of Buffy Season 6, Buffy Needs Prozac. It’s just all so, so bleak. I miss all the great characters they’ve killed off (and alternate realities and dreams and flashbacks do not count as bringing characters back). Bobby’s days are numbered, I know it. I can’t care about new characters, if they should ever get around to bringing any in, because I know they only exist for the “Gotcha!” moment when they’re killed.
I’ve read that the Impala only holds two. Well, technically it holds three, because I’m supposed to want to come along for the ride, right? Like Mo Ryan said, it’s starting to feel a little claustrophic in there.
I just wanted to say that I liked Season 6. Granted some of the episodes weren’t on the top of my list, but I’ve got a couple of those from previous Seasons..I simply don’t like “Cris Angel is a Douche Bag” or “Bugs”.
However, the saddest thing that I’ve seen this year is how polarized some fans are becoming. On some sites, it’s become very vicious. I think that’s taking things just a little too far. As for me, I’m going to stick with Supernatural to the end. I like the story and want to see where it goes from here.
That’s sad, frankly. It’s too bad people have to be that way.
Thankfully, the CW doesn’t drop shows just because portions of the fan base turn sour. Smallville just finished its tenth season, for example. And that is remarkable under any circumstance. But some commentators online have observed it wouldn’t have lasted that long on any other network. The same thing could probably be said about Supernatural. Heck, even the ubersuccessful Battlestar Galactica only went four seasons on SyFy.
Only on the CW can we enjoy this kind of television. People can be vicious all they want, but it won’t stop me from watching.
[quote]I just wanted to say that I liked Season 6. Granted some of the episodes weren’t on the top of my list, but I’ve got a couple of those from previous Seasons..I simply don’t like “Cris Angel is a Douche Bag” or “Bugs”.
However, the saddest thing that I’ve seen this year is how polarized some fans are becoming. On some sites, it’s become very vicious. I think that’s taking things just a little too far. As for me, I’m going to stick with Supernatural to the end. I like the story and want to see where it goes from here.[/quote
Yes it can be vicious. There actually people out there trying to blame Sam for all of this. Quite how he is at fault is one of lifes mysterys but they refuse to see what Castiel has done and acted and look to find another source to blame.
Ellie , could you please tell me where people are blaming Sam because i want to go and read it and want to go back and see what they have said about Sam during Season4 and 5 as well as about Cas’s involvement during that time…I too am tired of Sam getting blamed but want to know their thought sequence…
I call this out as BS. The virulent hate on the other forum where you post is all for Castiel.
Season 6.
I liked Soulless Sam. I hated Dean whining about Soulless Sam.
I liked Cas finishing up his 3 year path. Since season 4 he’s done some terrible things and the boys have always given him too many passes. I guess that’s what he meant by freedom being a rope to hang yourself.
I hated Cas transporting them everywhere and magically fixing wounds. I like the Impala and I like seeng the boys stitch themselves up.
I hated that Dean’s character was so incompetent this season. He wasn’t even able to manage a devil’s trap or save his fake girlfriend in the end. Dean has always been a skilled hunter. I don’t think a year off would make him that rusty.
I was disappointed in season 6 altogether. I found it especially disturbing that the finally was written [i]before[/i] they got the go-ahead for season 7. If the show had ended there it would of really been lame. I will watch the beginning of s7 but it better be much better than season6 to keep my interest since the boy’s story/friendship/relationship has been tossed to the side.
I can’t say I loved this season nor can I say I hated it either.
And I’m definitely not bitter over it.
I found the writing on the most part was fantastic and the acting was stellar by our beloved regulars and special guest stars.
I really wasn’t bothered by all the different storylines and the unresolved issues, I figure season seven will provide some of those unanswered questions. After all look how long it took for us to find out what Mary’s ‘Sorry’ to Sam was about and the disclosure of what Azazel plans really were.
However with that said I did find this season to be appropriately numbered as number 6 in my list of favourites.
I think for me it was the constant Doom and Gloom factor that put this season last on the list.
It has been looming around since season one and each year it has become more and more prominent. But this year, I feel that’s all it has been.
How many people were the brothers actually able to save this season? And the ones that were saved, it seemed to of come with great consequences and with no happy endings.
And look at all the friends and ally’s the brothers have lost this year alone.
Lisa, Ben, Rufus, Balthazar, Dr Visyak and now Castiel.
And what the Campbell’s could have been for our brothers turned into something so sour and tragic.
Then there was Crowley…season 5 he was a fun ally, of course he could never be trusted but he was no way near being the biggest douchebag that he became in season 6.
To me it’s like no matter what the Winchesters and Bobby did, they just couldn’t win, that everything they did was for nothing.
The only time I felt even a ray of hope was at the end of Appointment in Samarra when Sam was reunited with his soul. I have to admit I was not a fan of the Soulless Sam storyline. Not that I wasn’t intrigued by Sam’s strange behaviour and the wreaking of my brain as to WTH was wrong with him. It was effect Soulless Sam had on the brothers relationship, to have it being torn apart again for the third year in a row really started to weigh me down with this impending Doom and Gloom. Having Sam reunited with his Soul and to finally have the brother’s bond back and working as a team was such a joy for me. However that has been the only positive thing to come out of this year.
Everything else has been bleak and depressing.
I am hopeful that next season will be able to push that Doom and Gloom Cloud away.
I have no intentions of getting off this Supernatural bus, I’m here till the end, but like one of the other commenter’s stated ‘Supernatural does need to put the ‘win’ back in Winchester.’
The season finale for me was just a complete shock! 😮 I didn’t see that coming at all! I think this is my least favorite season finale… (and yes i am including season 3’s finale).. The relationship cliffhanger really bugs me! ‘Bow down before me and profess your love..’ what in the WORLD!?!? I never ever thought that could happen… especially CAS! I mean omg! And the look on the boys’ and Bobbys faces were just so.. uhm pitiful like they had no clue how to react! I had a sleepover for my birthday that night and made my friends quite down and i could feel their “she’s crazy” looks while i screamed, mumbled, yelled, dissapproved, and CRIED (lisa&ben) over these final episodes.
Sheww i could go on and on about this show…. but can’t right now lol glad i at least got that little bit out 🙂 thanks
[quote][quote]
Congrats Ginger… Your comment was perfect!!
I’m the friend that Clarice mentioned above, in the previous comment ..
And please, I’m gonna ask some for you… I’d like to post that your comment on my livejournal .. Would this be possible? Of course, I’m going put all credits for you… And I’m sending you my e-mail: pollysupernatural@yahoo.com.br
You can answer here or there, your choice..
Thanks .. Brazilian hugs…[/quote]
Use anything you like of mine if you find it useful. You might want to correct some of my embarrassing typos, though. I had a screaming baby on my lap when I typed this and a 4-year old escaping from the house that I was intermittently having to chase down.
Thank you!
Hi, Alice
I agree with ChristopherH completely. And about this season is a prologue, but that means i am going to expect for another 4 seasons to wrap up all those loose threads and those jumbled archs. I mean i don’t expect they can wrap them all up in season 7. It would be too forced.
You see i like to write stories and i adore genius writers who can gives me surprises at every turn and makes me wonder. I really wish i could write like that (Still learning :)) Sometimes, when i read a story and the writer decides to bring back the previous arch 3 volumes ago to make sense of everything, i wonder do they think of that ahead before even writing it all? Or just has a brilliant idea one night “Hey, i’ll bring up the previous long ago arch. that’ll be interesting”. Like what JKR did with her little notes when writing The Philosopher Stone. She planned ahead and when it comes down to the end, it’s beautiful.
So i am looking forward to the next beautiful arch of Supernatural.
I wouldn’t say this season has been awful but there have been some odd episodes and things that ruined it. What I really think was the main problem of Season 6 was too many story arcs hanging over us. Soulless Sam, the hunt for Purgatory, the War in Heaven, Balthzarr’s weapon stealing, Alpha hunting, Ben and Lisa, etc. I was getting confused with these story-lines, I couldn’t follow them. Previous seasons had a general direction like “Get Dean out his deal” or “Find and kill Lucifer”. They were simple but engaging stories that also had small personal tie ins to the brothers (Sam dealing with his powers, Dean becoming afraid of death).
I think for Season 7, hopefully there will be less story arcs. I’d also like to see the effects of Sam and how he’s going to cope with his knowledge of hell and what he did over the past year. And some stand alone episodes (‘Clap your hands if you believe’ and ‘The French Mistake’ were all fantastic stand-alone stories mostly).
I’m never going to stop watching Supernatural unless they replace Jared and Jensen. I’ll keep watching and I will defend this season from some of the haters. There were flaws but I think the writers are going to realise what they did wrong and fix their mistakes.
Alex
No bitterness or complaints here! For me, the main arc was Sam and his lost soul. This was an inspired and logical step after the events of “Swan Song” and Jared handled it all beautifully. When a season contains such wonderful episodes as “The French Mistake,” “Appointment at Samarra,” “Unforgiven,” “Frontierland,” and “The Man Who Knew Too Much,” I am nothing but grateful.
Can you tell me (when you get it) is there a German version on it? 😆
The season started off looking like it was going to be about Sam’s year and about monsters, but both were red herrings. We never got more than a very superficial overview of Sam’s time in Hell and what happened to him afterward. His first centric was about how he couldn’t remember anything, and his second was overshadowed by Cas’s storyline.
In the end, the story was the souls, and that story belonged to Cas – the soulless angel who takes the wrong path and ends up overdosing on the power of souls. So while a lot of people said we were seeing Sam’s story told through Dean’s perspective, what we in fact saw was Cas’s story told through Dean’s perspective. Sam was nothing more than a symbolic representation of the importance of souls. Next season I want Sam to go back to being a character again.
I totally agree with you! Even when we got ‘our Sam’ back, he’s still not himself completly. The only time we saw the real and complete Sam this season was after he woke up in the panic room in the finale.
The first half of the season is unrewatchable (is that a word?). I’m trying all my best to try and erase from my memory that shameful part of Supernatural.
Apart from very few episodes, I thought this Season was an entire bust.
What am I mostly bitter about? Well, Dean and the non-existant storyline – again. Apparently it wasn’t enough to trample his supposed storyline in the first five Seasons into the dust and make him compeltely useless and unimportant in 5.22 but I had hoped that with a new beginning, he might actally get a real arc now.
Instead, not only no storyline but for the first half of the Season he meely followed Robo!Sam and was stripped of any competence of a hunter. So as better to show Robo!Sam as the bestest hunter, sex!god, wisecrack and whatever else the plot of the week called for him to be.
The Lisa/Ben pseudo arc was dropped in episode two and only revisted when they figured it was time for a Dean-episode and since he had nothing else to do, that got revisited. Right down to the nonsensical “resolution”.
Things got a bit better in the last third of the Season but the Finale was again a complete dud IMO.
So, for my favourite character? Worst Season ever by a longshot.
For other characters? Well, Cas may have a chance if they don’t unceremoniously drop him next Season. Sam-as-Sam is actually behaving decently these days but, again, too many years of being the special focal point of the story to the detriment of Dean has left me too bitter to enjoy it anymore. Ditto for the brotherly relationship. Dead and buried to me after Season 5.
This is my least favorite season and the reason is soulless!sam.
I’m so tired of the ‘Sam being a selfish jerk to his brother storyline’.
It made S4 a nightmare and makes me wish the first half on S6 never happened.
Minus he “French Mistake” and the gag inducing display of Jared/Genevieve-epic-love (is this SPN or the Padaleckis’ Show) and the return of the one of the worst actress this show has ever had (Cortese), I had no serious problems with the post-resouling episodes.
Give me Sam and Dean as a team, and it makes everything bearable (okay maybe not Rufus’ death).
I’m just hoping at least the music comes back. Oh and for some reason Kripke also comes back and tells Gamble to go back to writing a few episodes here and there.