Quick Update From Supernatural Press Room – 2011 Comic Con
As I’ve done before, here’s some quick random notes from the press room from this morning’s Supernatural session at San Diego Comic Con. Our table only got to speak to Jared Padalecki, Ben Edlund, Sera Gamble, and Jim Beaver, but I got some great info though.
Just remember...SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!
Jared Padalecki
He’s read the first 4 episodes (scripts) of the season and they’re filming the 2nd (the season premiere) and he’s really pleased where Sam’s character is going. The season is picking back up with a run and he’s working hard.
There will be a big bad this season. They’ll have to deal with that, and it’s not Castiel or Crowley.
“Sam and Dean are going Thelma and Louise, I mean Butch and Sundance. We’re off on our own again.â€
They are continuing with monsters of the week.
Jensen directing him was great. “We’re kind of directing each other anyway.†It was like they were rehearsing a scene. They were cool with each other and Jensen is so easy to work with.
Any other genres he wants to tackle? Western was the genre he wanted to do. There isn’t any other he wants to do. He’s looking forward to going back to monster of the week.
It should be noted, he was complaining about it being warm the entire time. He was really sweating!
Ben Edlund
His new role as Consulting Producer hasn’t changed all that much. He’s still writing the same number of scripts and he’s going to direct another episode. He’s also wants to step back and start thinking of something else for his own satisfaction.
Castiel’s story starts with him stabilizing his God complex, but he wouldn’t go into too many details. “The first episode of the next season is almost the 23rd episode of last season. It’s another crescendo. We can’t really talk because it’s other big set of shoes dropping. There’s like 8 shoes dropping in that one.â€
Sam and Dean are going to have a very tough year. They have to learn new tricks and evolve. “This season is about challenging them as hunters. Previous seasons have often been about challenging them as brothers as humans.†They’re going to have some professional difficulties.
Directing “The Man Who Would Be King†was terrifying and awful. He laughed about how he dropped the ball but the crew jumped in and covered for him.
What sort of strange ideas this time? He’s thinking about putting them on the spaceship this year. He’s not sure how to make it work. He was thinking it through though as he was talking to us.
The season is going to be depressing. It’s a depressing show. It just won’t be noir, which is very dark and not very uplifting. “I think Supernatural is about catharsis and vicarious torment.â€
We had a break in the questioning, so I mentioned how on our site we’ve been championing an zombie alligator. “Well think about, no I’ll do it!†Then he says there are days he’ll be happy to do whatever. Then he mentioned that it would be cool to do some taxidermy.
Sera Gamble
In the premiere, Castiel is pissed at God for not being there and he has to deal with what to do with this unlimited power.
“He will start to see what that means, the wall being down.†“We’re not to let him off scot free of course and it becomes a pretty interesting story line. What’s wrong with Sam’s head? Something that Dean points out when it starts to happen, this is like not being attacked by a witch or something this is a true break in Sam’s psyche and maybe it’s something that cannot be fixed.â€
Dean has a lot to deal with in the early part of the season. He’s suffered a great amount of loss. Dean is going to do some serious soul searching in the beginning of the season. It’s going to be really hard for him. He’s going to keep asking himself why he keeps doing what he does.
Dean really takes the loss of Castiel’s friendship hard. “They don’t have a lot of friends of Facebook.â€
There will be a new character introduced that is an old friend of Bobby’s and knows about the whole Supernatural thing but he’s more of a conspiracy theorist. He watches too much of X-Files. He thinks the government created shapeshifters. Sam and Dean end up getting caught in a booby-trap in his house.
Recurring characters. Jo will be back. Colin Ford is returning as Sam in the episode Jensen is directed. Jensen is actually in this episode more than the last one he directed. The premise is in the past, John and Dean dropped Sam off at the motel to go school and then kept calling him for research and information.
How are the new writers affecting the new season? They’re bringing a fresh perspective that’s non-redundant, and they have plenty of great new ideas.
Jim Beaver
He doesn’t know how many episodes Bobby is in this season, but Bobby is in the first 3 episodes.
He couldn’t talk much about Castiel’s relationship with Bobby without giving away too much. They all were really trying to be secretive about the first episode.
Sheriff Mills is coming back. She’s coming back from an episode, maybe two.
The new big bad is really going to show it’s face in the second episode and Sheriff Mills will be involved with that. She’ll come to Bobby for help.
A lot of things that Sam, Dean and Bobby have counted on as hunters are going to get reshuffled. A lot of what they counted on in the past isn’t going to work the same way. They’re going to have to figure out new things.
Jim Beaver’s episode for Breaking Bad is on tonight! So cool, I love that show.
Later on, I’ll post transcripts and tweets from the panel, which I was able to attend. Stay tuned!!!
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Thank you Alice. I was following on Twitter, but it’s great to see how fast you pulled everything together.
Looking forward to the new season, Yay!
Alice you actually managed to pitch in the zombie alligator and to the one person you is crazy enough to do that. Woman you are great.
I enjoyed all your tweets from the panel. Can’t wait for the transcript though
Woo! Thank you for posting these! These are so spoilery and so amazing. I can’t wait another 61 days! 😥
Alice just found out that there are people who don’t know about the zombie alligator. I think it is time that you revive the story about that gator.
Thanks so much, Alice! Following the tweets in real time, I almost felt as if I was there … I’m really looking forward to season seven!
Can’t wait for the transcript Alice, thank you so much for your work!
September 23rd, better get here quickly. 😆
I don’t honestly see how version 7 of [i]what’s wrong with Sam[/i] is anything other than redundant. I don’t even know if my love for Dean can keep me watching this live anymore though I do have more hope now for Castiel to last beyond episode 2 and for Dean to go all-out to save his friend/brother.
I’m interested in how cagey they are being about the big bad. I wonder if it could be psychoticbreak!Sam or maybe even Bobby if Castiel releases the souls. Maybe one of them might go into Bobby.
Thanks for the update, Alice.
Well Sam’s storyline sounds really interesting — him not knowing what’s real or not, dealing with his hell memories and the aftermath of his wall falling down. Great stuff for Sam.
And Cas will have his own interesting storyline, dealing with his new “God” status and dealing with heaven and all of that.
And then we have Dean who will worry about Sam and Cas and … that’s it? It seems even Jensen doesn’t know about any kind of arc for Dean as of yet. None. I feel bad for Jensen, TBH. I feel he and his character deserve to get an equally compelling and interesting story-arc as Sam and Cas.
I just don’t even know anymore.
🙁
[quote]Thanks for the update, Alice.
Well Sam’s storyline sounds really interesting — him not knowing what’s real or not, dealing with his hell memories and the aftermath of his wall falling down. Great stuff for Sam.
And Cas will have his own interesting storyline, dealing with his new “God” status and dealing with heaven and all of that.
And then we have Dean who will worry about Sam and Cas and … that’s it? It seems even Jensen doesn’t know about any kind of arc for Dean as of yet. None. I feel bad for Jensen, TBH. I feel he and his character deserve to get an equally compelling and interesting story-arc as Sam and Cas.
I just don’t even know anymore.
:sad:[/quote]
the only thing I see is that it doubled the number of people to wring his hands about. No thanks.
An unhinged Sam should give Jared another season of great acting challenges.
Cas’s God complex and his redemption (which I believe will play out this season or next) is a good follow-up on last season for Misha.
Thanks for your prompt reporting, Alice. I appreciate not having to take the time to look up the panels on u-tube to find out what’s in store.
Dean contemplating why he hunts is not a story. That question was answered long ago. Dean hunts because he has to take care of Sam.
I’m actually grateful that the news from Comic Con didn’t give the pretense that there would be more for Dean. I spent all last year first wondering/hoping that Dean would re-discover his love of hunting while in the suburbs with the love of his life. Then I thought maybe there was something about him killing the WoB, being able to look at Zach’s angel grace, or being marked by the fairy that would add to the season. Then I thought Death had a mission for him. He got Sam’s soul back, then his love story ended, leaving Dean in the same place as he was at the end of S5…pretty much laying on the ground figuratively. So knowing that Dean’s role this season is to take care of Sam, look at his belly button, drive the car while the brothers run from the bad guys, and probably mother Cas in a few episodes is welcome and refreshing news. I didn’t like being strung along last season.
[quote]An unhinged Sam should give Jared another season of great acting challenges.
Cas’s God complex and his redemption (which I believe will play out this season or next) is a good follow-up on last season for Misha.
Thanks for your prompt reporting, Alice. I appreciate not having to take the time to look up the panels on u-tube to find out what’s in store.
Dean contemplating why he hunts is not a story. That question was answered long ago. Dean hunts because he has to take care of Sam.
I’m actually grateful that the news from Comic Con didn’t give the pretense that there would be more for Dean. I spent all last year first wondering/hoping that Dean would re-discover his love of hunting while in the suburbs with the love of his life. Then I thought maybe there was something about him killing the WoB, being able to look at Zach’s angel grace, or being marked by the fairy that would add to the season. Then I thought Death had a mission for him. He got Sam’s soul back, then his love story ended, leaving Dean in the same place as he was at the end of S5…pretty much laying on the ground figuratively. So knowing that Dean’s role this season is to take care of Sam, look at his belly button, drive the car while the brothers run from the bad guys, and probably mother Cas in a few episodes is welcome and refreshing news. I didn’t like being strung along last season.[/quote]
Agreed. It’s clear that Dean has nothing.
I’ll give points for honesty at least in that the silence is very pointedly clear that he means jack squat to the show.
Hey, Alice!
Thanks for the great re-cap. I never made it into Hall H. It closed right when I made it up to the door. Gosh that line was LONG! Anyway, I got to see them at PaleyFest. So, I was okay with missing out this time around.
Anyway, are you still look for a WB SPN bag? I’ve got an extra. We can trade or whatever… just let me know.
Yes, very much so! I don’t have much to trade, or maybe I do… Just contact me via the “Contact Us” section and we can work out details.
So sorry you missed the panel. It was great.
Hi Alice
Thank you so much for your write up.
Season 7 sounds like it’s going to be another twisting, turning, upside down roller coaster ride. I better make sure I’m strapped in securely.
Zombie Alligators a possibility!
Hey Suze did you hear that! You may get your wish after all!
Sheriff Mills returns and goes to Bobby for help…I have to say I’m liking the premise there.
I just hope it’s not a death sentence for our local Sheriff. 😥
On an added note I would like to say how sorry I am for the fans that have pre-determined/acknowledged and/or are psychic over season 7.
To already know/perceive that season 7 is a bust, long before any episodes has been aired and before any episodes has even been written is so heart breaking.
I really feel for you all and I hope that whatever decision you make either enduring this ill-fated season or walking away from the show works out for you all.
Not being psychic or having any abilities to perceive the future episodes, I have always had to rely on viewing things first hand. I’m a visual kind of person. I always have to see things for myself before I can pass any judgment. In fact I’ve never been one to even follow the words of professional critics for that very reason. Sometimes they have been right but sometimes they have been wrong…well for me anyway.
I’m not saying that this show has always been perfect or that I have never found some continuity issues. And I admit that in season 6 I was a little peeved that the brothers relationship was being tossed about again for the third season in a row.
But I have never seen or believed that one brothers importance or heroism or story-arc has ever overshadowed one over the other. To me they are both important to the show and are both hero’s in my book…..flaws and all.
I’m not trying to be funny or sarcastic nor trying to start any fights but I think/feel/believe that one has to give things a chance, that one has to finish the book first, has to look at the whole picture and not just one factor/section/character before passing judgment.
But that is just my opinion, which we are all entitled to, as long as one is respectful and non-attacking.
[quote]On an added note I would like to say how sorry I am for the fans that have pre-determined/acknowledged and/or are psychic over season 7.
To already know/perceive that season 7 is a bust, long before any episodes has been aired and before any episodes has even been written is so heart breaking.
I really feel for you all and I hope that whatever decision you make either enduring this ill-fated season or walking away from the show works out for you all.
Not being psychic or having any abilities to perceive the future episodes, I have always had to rely on viewing things first hand. I’m a visual kind of person. I always have to see things for myself before I can pass any judgment. In fact I’ve never been one to even follow the words of professional critics for that very reason. Sometimes they have been right but sometimes they have been wrong…well for me anyway.
I’m not saying that this show has always been perfect or that I have never found some continuity issues. And I admit that in season 6 I was a little peeved that the brothers relationship was being tossed about again for the third season in a row.
But I have never seen or believed that one brothers importance or heroism or story-arc has ever overshadowed one over the other. To me they are both important to the show and are both hero’s in my book…..flaws and all.
I’m not trying to be funny or sarcastic nor trying to start any fights but I think/feel/believe that one has to give things a chance, that one has to finish the book first, has to look at the whole picture and not just one factor/section/character before passing judgment.
But that is just my opinion, which we are all entitled to, as long as one is respectful and non-attacking.[/quote]
I think we gave the show plenty of chances in the last two seasons. To feel less than enthusiastic about what sounds like more of the same disappointment is more logical, at this point, than hoping there’s something better they’re keeping under wraps. You know the old saying, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” At this point, show has made fools of many of us for two seasons now. We’d have to be blind, and/or stupid to keep trying to kick that football as long as Lucy (aka same writers and showrunners) are holding the football. That doesn’t make us psychic, just capable of learning from past mistakes. Watching the last two seasons was a mistake I won’t be repeating. And I’m sorry if I don’t believe you weren’t trying to be sarcastic.
These are great spoilers… I am even more curious about the upcoming season.
From my point of view this sounds like they are going to continue the psychological continuity of the characters.
I think it is realistic that Sam will have trouble digesting (to put it midly) it all. And to me it makes sense that Dean begins to seriously wonder about what he’s doing.
The ‘fun’ he used to have as a hunter has left him. Hardly surprising – he’s lost too much, too many people he cared about. At some point, there is a break in a person’s resilience and ability to take stress.
It’s realistic that both brothers might develop difficulties in their ‘trade’. I’m very curious to see how both will be coping with their experiences. Perhaps the somewhat mutual knowledge of what it means to be imprisoned in hell will allow them to be even closer than they already are. And – hopefully – they will experience the healing effects of catharsis.
Thanks a lot for these tidbits, Alice. I know how busy you are. Take your time.
I’m eagerly waiting for the season premiere.
And – I think Suze will be very, very happy if the zombie alligator truly emerges at some point (and this shrink here will be, too 😉 ).
Love, Jas
I really was looking to Comic Con as the great white hope for something, anything that would make the next season worth tuning in for. I’m so disappointed that there remains to be nothing for Dean to do. I don’t think I can even bring myself to watch the episode Jensen directed. I love that man like no one else that’s ever been on my television, but it’s time to cut my losses. It’s just not worth it to be let down time and again. I might even have dismissed the lack of Dean spoilers if the spoilers we did get weren’t so awful. It’s like they read my mind and discovered my list of everything I never, ever want to see on the show and decided that would be awesome plot fodder.
I once sent a gushing letter to the writers and received a lovely thank you letter and an autographed picture of Jensen and Jared. The letter and the pictures have been framed and sitting in my living room for the last 5 years where anyone can see them. I wish I could send them back and forget I ever started watching.
Thanks again for these, Alice. You must be wrecked from the last few days! I have to say I’m finding these titbits mouthwatering. (Though I’m thinking of campaigning to have next years Comic Con and all related spoilers moved to late September so that we can have the Con one day and the season premier the next. Revealing this and then making us wait for another 60 days is bloody inhumane!)
I like the boys will be more challenged in the hunting side of their lives because they do seem to have been finding the ganking pretty standard these last few seasons. Plus, they haven’t done a good old fashioned salt and burn in a while and I sometimes miss the innocence of those times.
I LOVE there will be no time jump in 7.1. Straight in, as we left it. How the boys going to talk their way out if this one, I don’t know!
I might be in the minority but I think Dean contemplating why he hunts is hugely important. It’s not going to take up the whole season but it does need to be addressed.
Dean was dropkicked into the hunting world at age 4 and has remained pretty steadfast in it for almost 30 years (Wow, that makes Dean sound old!). Despite the fact that as early as Season 2 he confirmed he wasn’t happy with it, he was jaded from it and even though it cost him everything, he still hunted.
The time he spent at the Braedons was the first chance Dean really got to make a decision that involved his own wellbeing. I think Dean needed to do normal, he needed to do safe, to bring him to the point of realisation where he could [i]accept[/i] that he was a hunter. Prior to this he was a hunter by proxy; he never got to make that decision. He was dropped into it and despite the many brave faces he put on it, he couldn’t get out of it. In Season 7 though, (hopefully) he’ll make the choice that was denied to him for so long and when he’s chosen it, when he’s embraced it and once he’s accepted who and what he is, then the sense of purpose and fulfilment Dean got from hunting back in season 1 will be back in full force. (Dude had better choose hunting now or I will have serious egg on my face!)
Saying a mere ‘thanks’ sounds kinda trivial in light of the huge amount of work that you do here, Alice but I hope you know how much all your work is appreciated.
I feel your pain so very well, Hoyt, and hope something will happen to bring you back. I, myself, will be retreating back into the lurkdom as concerns this site for now, as I have little positive to say about the show itself and TPTB who are running things. I just don’t understand their seeming desire to push a good-sized portion of their fandom away. Patience is one thing, feeling like you’re being strung along and used yet again, is another.
[quote]I feel your pain so very well, Hoyt, and hope something will happen to bring you back. I, myself, will be retreating back into the lurkdom as concerns this site for now, as I have little positive to say about the show itself and TPTB who are running things. I just don’t understand their seeming desire to push a good-sized portion of their fandom away. Patience is one thing, feeling like you’re being strung along and used yet again, is another.[/quote]
Strung along and used is exactly what I feel has taken place. I’m not a Nielson box viewer and it’s pretty clear that TPTB could care less if I watch, so recaps will keep me abreast and, if the sky should fall and Dean’s handwringing journey should lead him to discover a love for hunting, I can always pick up again in S8. I am happy that others still find enjoyment in the stories being told. The 2J’s deserve the attention and the credit for making it work.
Thanks Alice. Your reports are so much appreciated by me.
The moaners have arrived in this thread and are being ignored as much as possible as I have enough crap to deal with in real life.
Can’t hardly wait for season 7 and more reports from you too. 🙂
[quote]Thanks Alice. Your reports are so much appreciated by me.
The moaners have arrived in this thread and are being ignored as much as possible as I have enough crap to deal with in real life.
Can’t hardly wait for season 7 and more reports from you too. :-)[/quote]
THANK YOU! I’m so sick of the bashing that’s going on, and Comic-Con wasn’t even 24 hours ago. I’m just going to sit back and enjoy the ride.
Well, one more post to celebate the name-calling here. Nice…*sigh*… Enjoy.
Alice, you can delete this if you choose.
I’ve largely stayed away from the ComiCon updates, as I do not like spoilers on principle, but I’ve seen some of the ugly comments briefly enough to know there’s enough vitriol to melt the Impala.
I don’t get it. The season technically hasn’t even official aired and the loud vocal bad apples are already trying to spoil the apple cart for everyone else. If you go into it thinking that you’re going to be disappointed, that you’ll hate it, that it’ll be awful or a let down, guess what? It WILL be for you. It’s simple psychology.
Now, I’ve largely stayed away from all spoilers, but the few I’ve heard should excite, not infuriate. None of these leaks will sum up the whole of what we will watch this fall. None of them. Anyone who thinks they’ve been handed the whole puzzle for the season with these spoilers is sorely mistaken.
Sit back. Watch the show. Try not to put all these expectations upon small snippets and teasers given to us thus far. We’re lucky to have this show a seventh season, with 23 as opposed to the 22 episodes like normal. The actors take time out of their busy lives and schedules to hang out with US the fans, call us their “family,” and are so genuine and sweet to answer our questions at those conventions.
The least we could do is give the show its due respect and let it unfold for us on the screen BEFORE judging it.
There. I’ve said my piece. Alice, again, you can remove this post if you choose.
[quote]Alice, you can delete this if you choose.
I’ve largely stayed away from the ComiCon updates, as I do not like spoilers on principle, but I’ve seen some of the ugly comments briefly enough to know there’s enough vitriol to melt the Impala.
I don’t get it. The season technically hasn’t even official aired and the loud vocal bad apples are already trying to spoil the apple cart for everyone else. If you go into it thinking that you’re going to be disappointed, that you’ll hate it, that it’ll be awful or a let down, guess what? It WILL be for you. It’s simple psychology.
Now, I’ve largely stayed away from all spoilers, but the few I’ve heard should excite, not infuriate. None of these leaks will sum up the whole of what we will watch this fall. None of them. Anyone who thinks they’ve been handed the whole puzzle for the season with these spoilers is sorely mistaken.
Sit back. Watch the show. Try not to put all these expectations upon small snippets and teasers given to us thus far. We’re lucky to have this show a seventh season, with 23 as opposed to the 22 episodes like normal. The actors take time out of their busy lives and schedules to hang out with US the fans, call us their “family,” and are so genuine and sweet to answer our questions at those conventions.
The least we could do is give the show its due respect and let it unfold for us on the screen BEFORE judging it.
There. I’ve said my piece. Alice, again, you can remove this post if you choose.[/quote]
Sit back and watch the show. You do realize that, if people did that, this site wouldn’t exist, right? The fact that you’re here reading and commenting flies completely in the face of your purported well-meaning advice. Rest assured that, for all the bemoaning of negativity, Alice and everyone who post here are sucking up the attention, and even though I hate giving it to them, the surest way of not being heard is to say nothing. And the policy of the site to ignore dissenting commenters is not to make them stop. Everyone knows that ignoring someone when they’re talking will just make them talk louder. A hundred comments from people who are upset and discusssing their opinions is a lot more valuable to a site like this than people who say thank you and leave.
And as I stated above, the shoe’s been given plenty of chances.
That is true, too. It is the nature of the beast, yes. There’s always going to be those that aren’t happy.
I just don’t understand how people can be so upset and irate over something they have yet to see, and are attacking it outright.
Sure, not every comment has to be positive, but some of the comments have generated such negativity as to have some posters say they don’t wish to visit OR post. Now isn’t that a determent to this site or those like it?
[quote]That is true, too. It is the nature of the beast, yes. There’s always going to be those that aren’t happy.
I just don’t understand how people can be so upset and irate over something they have yet to see, and are attacking it outright.
Sure, not every comment has to be positive, but some of the comments have generated such negativity as to have some posters say they don’t wish to visit OR post. Now isn’t that a determent to this site or those like it?[/quote]
No, it’s not a detriment. When someone yells “Fire!” people come running. It doesn’t matter if they swore they wouldn’t. It’s the nature of the beast to go where the action is. Wank and argument is action. The hit counters is spinning like a nuclear power plant. It doesn’t even miss those people who go away and say they’re not coming back, because NEWSFLASH, they still come and read. They’re still a legitimate hit whether they’re lurking or commenting. Lurkers are the biggest part of all these boards, much to the dismay of the most outspoken posters.
As far as being upset over something they have yet to see. It’s the writer’s job to promote their product. If people are upset, it’s because they want to be sold on the show. People don’t get upset if they don’t care and then get nothing. They get upset if they care. You should be glad people are complaining. It means they haven’t switched off or that they’re willing to be brought back. I was looking for something to restore my excitement for show, but there’s nothing out of comic con that doesn’t make me cringe. I won’t be watching. Why watch something that might turn out to be interesting when there’s plenty of other programming out there that actually looks interesting already? Wait and see is passive. Life’s too short to wait and see.