Ben Edlund Episodes – A Deeper Look
So I’m willing to go here, I know a lot of folks in the fandom don’t like Mr. Edlund, he’s too off the wall, he’s too ‘out there’ his scripts bring nothing to the overall storyline…he even likes the Ghostfacers AND he gave them a theme song.
Well, I love Ben Edlund’s writing. The man is brilliant and extremely talented.
For those of you who think the man is nothing but a hack that produces nothing but silly, insipid, bring nothing to the mytharc stories here’s the episodes the man has written in three seasons:
Simon Said
Nightshifter
Hollywood Babylon
Bad Day At Black Rock
Malleus Maleficarum
Ghostfacers
Monster Movie
Wishful Thinking
On The Head of a Pin
There’s quite a blend of satire, mytharc, standalone and all are awesome in their own way.
Simon Said:
This is a different take on ‘special kids’ for Andy is not at all disturbed by his abilities, what a contrast to Sam who has nothing but angst and deep worry about them, nay obsession. That’s not a bash against Sam but he could take a page from Andy’s book; Andy’s got his van, his friends, his coffee; what else does he need?
Edlund also deepens the emotions of both brothers in this episode, Sam worries more about what the demon has in store and Dean’s inner feelings come to light when Andy uses his ‘Obi Wan’ abilities and gets him to talk:
Dean: “Sam here, he’s my brother. He’s psychic like you, not really like you but see he thinks you’re a murderer and he’s afraid that he’s going to become one ‘cause you’re all part of something that’s terrible and I hope to hell that he’s wrong but I’m starting to get scared that he might be right.â€
This is an awesome episode that is fully mytharc based, it’s deep, it’s emotional, it’s angsty…makes me wonder how I’d forgotten about it and thus was so amazed at Mr. Edlund’s turn with On The Head of a Pin…shows that you really do have to go back and watch all seasons again and again; the writers sure do, and they use what’s come before to move the story ahead.
Only one nitpick I have with this episode, Mr. Edlund, you had Andy drive the Impala…Bobby is fine, Sam is expected…nobody else.
Nightshifter:
A classic, no doubt about it. Why? Heck if I know, I mean, really what does make a classic? Is it the music? Renegade by Styx. Is it the new characters introduced? Ronald Resnick and Victor Henricksen? Is it an episode that furthers the mytharc…’cause this one really didn’t – although Sam’s emotional journey continues from the events of Croatoan, Hunted and Playthings. Here Sam is so cold toward Ronald, so un-Samlike even Dean comments… “…it’s a little creepy how good of a Fed you are.â€
Sam gives Ronald no quarter when it comes to debunking the mandroid theory, he is cold and somewhat ruthless. He’s also right – as we see sooo very many episodes later in Jump The Shark – innocents out in the line of fire do get killed, Ronald, Adam; it’s a hard lesson.
Ben Edlund gives us Victor Henricksen, followed by John Shiban who furthers his story and the lovely (but brutal) Sera Gamble who kills him, not once but twice!
Nightshifter is one of my all time favorites (the list is growing admittedly)
Hollywood Babylon:
I’ll admit, I have not seen this episode for a long time and, if not for my doing the Road So Far Series, I likely would not have watched it with any kind of urgency; this is a great episode. It’s funny, it gives slight reference to Heart – the emotional punch to the gut that was just before this – it has more in-jokes than I’ll ever be ‘in’ enough to understand, or laugh at. It is a delight from top to bottom.
The opening scene where Tara is practicing her lines and her scream on set, after badly blowing her take, and then seeing the supposed dead guy up in the rafters and giving a real, honest, scared to death scream…and no one on set reacts other than to have the director say: “Now that’s what I’m talking about.†Stitches…I’m in stitches!
For those of you who don’t like satire, I get it; it is an acquired taste and while I’m glad I’ve acquired it I don’t want a steady diet of it. However, we get one to two of these a season so I’m okay with that. There are jokes on Jared and Jensen, there’s homage to old and bad horror movies, there’s cracks at the Canadian weather, cracks against the crew (What’s a PA? I think they’re like slaves—hah!)
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That was great Elle2!
I just can’t agree with you more about these wonderful episodes and Mr. Edlund’s writing.
He has to be a great writer to have done both Hollywood Babylon and On the Head of a Pin. What a contrast in atmosphere!
Yes, I enjoy every one of Mr. Edlund’s episodes again and again and again.
I find I agree with you a lot Elle2. Great minds LOL?
Hi, Bevie,
I agree that it does take a lot of talent to be able to write the spectrum that is Nightshifter, Wishful Thinking and On The Head of a Pin. We are so fortunate to have so many — or actually so few which helps keep it from getting messy — wonderful writers on our show. I know other shows that have over a dozen writers and I often wonder why as I find so little continuity. Sometimes smaller is better. I digress…happens a lot.
I find quite a few people that agree with me or as I like to think of it — I agree with them. I would say there are many great minds that populate this site.
🙂
Many great minds indeed 🙂
I absolutely agree Elle2, I think Ben Edlund is effin brilliant. Although, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that Dean is Batman, because I believe that he’s even more awesome than Batman
OTHOAP almost killed me dead, it’s so intense. And when Dean was in the hospital, it was really nice because we got back a tiny glimpse of the old Puppy!Sam. Especially when he demanded that Castiel heal Dean, “Miracle, now!”..omg.
Simon Said was also great. Funny and scary all in one. “You find out you got a brother you buy him a beer, you don’t start killing people!” Hah!
And how Ron absolutely hated Sam, too cute!
Ok basically, there’s too much awesome to summarize 🙂
Hi, Narcissus,
I agree about there being too much awesome to summarize. Since OTHOAP was on just the other night it really came home again just how awesome the episode is…and how awesome Season 4 was. Can you imagine we’re under four weeks now until the premier! Wow!
Glad you enjoyed that little look at Mr. Edlund’s eps. May there be many more
It’s quite a revelation seeing all his episodes listed like this … So many of my all time favorites are on there.
Let’s hope he’s got his pencils all nice and sharp for September!
Hi, Suze,
I agree with you, when I compiled them I was a bit shocked as I looked and realized, wow, he’s done some pretty powerful eps. I’m eagerly awaiting his genius (and sometime insanity) for Season 5.
🙂