Why I Write Recaps
Normally by Wednesday I like to have the recap up, but this week has been one extraordinary circumstance after another. I at least started the recap for “I Believe The Children Are Our Future,” so that’s a start. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while, but I thought I’d share why I started writing recaps, even though they involve days of intense work.
My first fandom was The West Wing. I found the best community ever on a new upstart site called “Mighty Big TV.” The discussions were intelligent, fans were respectful to one another, and their full length recaps couldn’t be beat. Their mantra was “snark” which was intended to be fun sarcasm. They loved the show, but when something was just hideous, it would be brought out in a funny “what were they thinking” way. These recaps were long, thorough, very funny and thought provoking and I easily killed an afternoon each week at work reading them. That ended up often times being the highlight of my week. That went on for several seasons.
Well, something else happened. “Mighty Big TV” evolved (if you want to call it that) into “Television Without Pity.” Subtle snark suddenly became poisonous, and when checking out other shows recaps they became mean spirited and negative. So did the forums. Why would anyone recap a show that they weren’t a fan of? How does that appease the fans that come to check out the site? I’m not looking for cheerleading, but I don’t want brutal nitpicking either. Once The West Wing ended the site was unbearable.
I never found a site since then that gave me recaps that I enjoyed like with The West Wing. So, naturally, when I came into the Supernatural fandom, I started writing them. They weren’t good at first. As a matter of fact, my season three collection (when I started these) is bad and needs to be completely redone (except “Mystery Spot,” which I rewrote in pretty awesome fashion). In season four I found my groove though and I even get to do more than I got from reading others because I can do screencaps. Having flexibility with your own site is pretty fun.
So, this is the problem, but it’s one I usually look past for creative reasons. The recaps on this site are the articles that get the lowest number of hits. With the exception of “Yellow Fever,” which for some reason I have yet to figure out is one of the most popular articles on this site, they’re all in the basement of site traffic.
So, I thought I would do a little pleading, since there are a couple of these recaps that are my personal favorites that haven’t been getting the attention they deserve. One of the lowest viewed recaps for season four is “When The Levee Breaks,” which I find very odd since this is one of my personal best and personal favorites. So, if you need to kill an afternoon at work and are eager for a hiatus time waster, please check this out. Warning though, make sure you can control your laughter at work.
It should also be noted that a mediocre or bad episode actually sounds better through a recap. It’s that snark again. Check out my recap for “Family Remains.” It involves something I’ve only done once, vigilante recapping. Again, another one of my favorites. You might notice there are less screencaps in this one. That’s because it was too dark and I couldn’t get many good ones.
The lowest viewed recap BY FAR for whatever reason is “After School Special.” I read it again and it could just be my personal bias, but I didn’t think it was half bad. I thought it was good actually. I laughed. Why don’t you read it and tell me if I’m wrong.
Okay, that’s my pitch for now. If there is a particular reason you like or don’t like the recaps, send some feedback my way. Maybe it is foolish of me to keep putting in the work it takes to do these things, especially when I’m trying to go back and write ones for season one and two.
Nah, I love writing them too much. I always have had this philosophy that if I can get at least one person to read something, then I’ve succeeded. Actually I can get two. Sure, that’s the hubby and the dog, but it works.
Thanks, and new recap coming soon!
I’m really sorry Alice. I LOVE your recaps, but I hardly read them simply because I don’t have the time. I’m in college, and I technically already waste to much time on Supernatural (like I mind :roll::-)…so for I’m not sure what reason, I push your recaps aside for a while. As soon as I get some form of break I try to catch up.
Your recaps actually help me understand an episode better, because of all the little details you catch. And they almost always make me laugh too. Your recaps – the way you write, and your perspective on the show – are unique and refreshing to read.
Ok now it sounds like I’m kissing up hahah..but this is really what I think. So Alice, if writing makes you happy KEEP DOING IT, don’t stop. I always have motivational issues when it comes to my writing, but I truly believe that as long as writing gives you pleasure, keep at it. And trust me, it is appreciated.
Here’s my 2 cents…
I’ve read every recap here, and almost every article too, ecxept some spoilery ones ’cause now I’m spoiler-free (YAY!) and some numberfacts ones ’cause I’m really not that interested in them (and living in Europe where those numbers really don’t work in the same ways, if you catch my drift…’cause I don’t 😀 sorry, lost my thought *glee* ) MOVING ON… I love your reviews (as much as your top10’s) and I like the way you write…
Top3 reviewers for me are you (’cause you rock *shifts in embarrassment*, Bardicvoice (she has the most thinkiest metathoughts) and Sylvia Bond (she’s hilarious). You guys are the only ones whose reviews I await every week, you all bring something different to the table and even when I don’t always agree, you keep me entertained so kudos to y’all *grin*
So please, please, please don’t stop writing, ever. You obviously have a real gift and I can only wish I’d have your way with words 🙂 I used to play piano professionally for nearly 10 years and then I stopped (haven’t regretted that decision) ’cause my heart wasn’t in it anymore. The thing I do regret is, when I moved away from home, I didn’t take my piano with me and now I haven’t played in years… And that sucks… As soon as my hubby and I buy ourselves a real home where the kittys can roam (and future puppies too!), I’ll get my centuries old (well, not really, but it sounds like it ’cause it hasn’t been tuned in like over a decade or something 🙂 ) piano and start to play again.. just for me. Ah. heaven.
Uups, sorry for the story of milife but please, recap and review and top10 away as much as you can and I’ll be (still repeating myself i see) a happy camper, forever and ever, amen.
christ that was long :geek:
Ok, so, this LOOKED long on my word but it wasn’t.. hee…so scratch that last sentence 🙂
I love your recaps, Alice. I find them interesting and full of detail’s that I gloss over while following the story. The screencaps are wonderful. You have more than any another reviews I’ve seen.
I actually was trying the other day to go back and find recaps from seasons 1-3 and for some reason couldn’t figure out how to get to them. Going into the Episode Previews and Reviews didn’t seem to show me how to find your earlier reviews. I just am not good with websites technical stuff. Thanks for the links, now I have fun reading for a while.
Don’t worry, I know I read ’em. You always catch a bunch of stuff I missed, and they can be snarky, which is always a good thing. Plus, you cover everything. Sure, it isn’t easy to wax whatever on 40 minutes of teevee (sometimes I struggle when I review albums at my dumb blog), but you manage to fit all the angles us fans check out and subsequently blab about. I think I read your After School Special (a criminally underrated episode, at least it seems that way) recap over at blogcritics, but I’ll click on it here to up the hit count. 😎
I’ve read every single one of your recaps Alice, and I loved every one of them!
I love the screencaps too, in fact some of them provided some wonderful desktop wallpapers :D, well I’m not a computer wizard so I have no idea how to make wallpaper, so I take what I can get and let me say Alice your screnncaps work just fine!
So I hope you never stop writing and I’ll be waiting for the next one!
I used to read some of your recaps and articles when you were less biased. But with time you became so much pro-Sam and anti-Dean i stopped reading because honestly there’s no point.
Alice, I like your reviews a whole lot, but I just love your recaps with screencaps. They are my very favourite part of this site.
I would be excited to read your recaps of Seasons 1 and 2 if you did them. I nearly always agree with you and I love your sense of humour. Reminds me of Dean’s 9 year old humour. LOL!
My favourites are you, Bardicvoice, Gaelicspirit and Tina Charles. I look forward to reading all yours and their comments after every episode. So please don’t even think of stopping.
I love your recaps. You seem to be level-headed and fairly unbiased, and at times that is something that is in short supply in this fandom. In fact, this is probably one of the best sites for Supernatural out there. I like the TWOP recaps, but the forums are an absolute nightmare.
You are a talented writer and I respect your right to prefer one brother over another. But when that bias so clearly flavors your recaps, then I regret that I look to other recaps instead (and if you perhaps feel that the bias doesn’t show, even your above listed polls are worded in such a way to reflect this: the first with an anti-Cas bent, one poll supposedly about the brothers but the choices all including Sam but not necessarily Dean, and another all Sam poll.) Perhaps you only wish to attract readers such as yourself who prefer Sam and that’s fine. But that definitely is off putting to real bibros such as myself, who prefer to see equal treatment of the brothers.
I’ll admit that I haven’t read many of your recaps, but the ones I have I think are really good. The people saying your bias is blatant are obviously looking for it–before I knew you were a big Sam fan I couldn’t even notice. I’m a slight Dean fan (but I like both) and I don’t really care if you say something nice about Sam and then something sarcastic about Dean.
It’s really a writer’s job to be biased. And even when you’re trying not to, you can’t help it because personal opinion just reflects in everything a person does. It’s how it is.
Please Alice, don’t stop writing your recaps. I love them sometimes more than the reviews. I especially loved your When the Levee Breaks recaps. They are awesome. I know i look forward to them every week. And now that you’ve teased me on the recaps you plan to do for S1-2, you have to do it now. I’m now looking forward to seeing those. Especially season 2. That season was and is still my favourite season.
I’ve only read one recap on TWP and i almost vomited. The person who writes it on there disgusts me. I can’t even understand what they are saying half the time. And from what i’ve heard about that site, i don’t intend to go back; ever!
I like them too, don’t stop!
Haven’t read the last two ‘cos I haven’t seen the episodes yet and one must do these things in the correct order or the bastiens of thingy will crumble …
PS. Biased … Toi? Don’t think so, unless it came on all of a sudden in the last couple of weeks …
You know, I’m always open to criticism. It’s something writers must endure and take well. So, I accept the “you’re biased” criticism of some. That’s not my intent, but hey, perceptions are what they are. In my defense, I’m far more equal with the treatment of brothers than most sites who usually do have a Dean bias. But yes, I’ll admit, I lean toward Sam. I’ve never made that a secret.
However, if you want to see something different, please suggest! Want a poll question about Dean, great, what shall it be? Dean doesn’t have a shirt like Sam that he’s worn for four seasons. What would sort of contest would you like of Dean’s? Where in any of these recaps have I been anti-Dean? I don’t think I’ve ever been anti-Dean. If you think not, pull some examples and prove me wrong!
You see, this is why I speak out about Jared vs. Jensen and Sam Fans vs. Dean Fans. It’s all become about nitpicking and pitting the fandom against one another. There’s this little thing called constructive criticism. Go for it! Be adults about things.
(Moved to this thread, because I don’t think it belonged in the Tigershire/Suze thread).
Wow, can this site be any more Jared/Sam biased? You name this site the Winchester Family Business? Really? More like, Sam is the only Winchester you even care about and Dean should be his doormat. What garbage. At least have the decency to be honest and say this is a Sam oriented site.
Hey Alice,
As a fan of the show, and the lovely Winchesters, I don’t think you’re biased towards any of the brothers in the way that you’re being accused of being. You may be like you said, a Samgirl, but i don’t see how that makes you anti-Dean. You recaps and reviews always portray the brothers how they were shown to us in the episode.
Why do some people assume being a Samgirl or a Deangirl makes you anti the other brother. I think people who throw that around are confused and are just projecting what they themselves are. That one poster who accuses you of being a Samgirl and anti-Dean obviously is a Deangirl who is anti-Sam so she assumes you are the same way as she is. Those are the sort of fans our fandom could do without. There is no harm or foul if you relate to one brother better or find one endearing, but if it means you have to bash and be an ass to the other, then you’re not a serious fan of the show because the show has always been about the family Winchester and the beautiful relationship of Sam and Dean; not who is hotter or more important.
So yeah, i don’t think you do any of the brothers injustice Alice. And this is coming from a fan who hates anyone who bashes any of the brothers blatantly and view the show through their own twisted lens.
First, let me say that your recaps are awesome, Alice! They always, always make me laugh and make me think about the show in a way I missed on the initial view.
I usually read each and every one of them –with the exception of lately for 2 reasons: one being the fact that my stupid, outdated computer at work wouldn’t display your site properly all of a sudden one day (not a problem anymore now though!) and two being an insanely crammed agenda in recent weeks. But next week? Back to regular recap reading for me! I haven’t been on the site for a while and I feel like I’ve missed a lot.
Regarding the comments about whether you’re “super biased” to Sam: let me just say that you do a great job of honouring both brothers quite well. Occasionally, something hints that you are a Sam-girl, it’s generally a positive hint (such as drooling in text over the 6’4 marvel of a man – and really, who isn’t drooling right there alongside you?), and it certainly isn’t visible in any sort of neglect of Dean or any other such thing. I tend to relate more with Dean, as I have previously stated, but I in no way find this site is offensive or disparaging to Dean or Dean-fans. Your site is the only one I read because of your policy against bashing one brother or another. When I first started watching Supernatural and surfing the web, your reviews caught my attention, but more importantly, sustained my attention because your observations are insightful, clever and witty without resorting to tasteless bashing for the sake of controversy.
The poster above who so very rudely commented should not be taken to heart in any capacity. Someone who is unable to voice their own opinion without tromping all over someone else isn’t worth listening to at all. Some people, sadly the more extremist elements of the Supernatural base, like to cause trouble.
Alice, it’s very clear that you love those Winchester Boys just as much as the rest of us nuts! As long as you’re post, I’ll be here reading (and commenting).
Hi,
I’ve just discovered your site through Maureen Ryan’s The Watcher, and while I haven’t read your recaps yet (I’m definitely planning to), I wanted to thank you for what you said about Mighty Big TV versus Television Without Pity. I really thought it was my own excessive sensitivity that had me feeling like a complete moron any time I posted to the TWoP forums (particularly the Supernatural ones) or took offense when I read their show recaps. I am glad to know that I am not the only one who was put off by the increasingly nasty tone of the site.
I’m looking forward to commenting more as I read through your recaps. Thanks!
I always read your recaps, being English I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE sarcasm! AND of course I love your recaps because you always seem to say what I am thinking, SO, you must be right! Keep it up girl!!!!
“In my defense, I’m far more equal with the treatment of brothers than most sites who usually do have a Dean bias. “
I don’t think you are far more equal. What I’d love to know is where is all this Dean-reviewer bias, I’d love to read those sites, I haven’t been able to find any.
What I usually see are reviewers bending over backwards to be unbiased which seems to end up being “Let’s criticize Dean while building up Sam, let’s make sure whenever we do criticize Sam’s actions we make sure we try and say Dean’s equally at fault, even on those occasions when he isn’t”. That is what the whole “Dean hasn’t told Sam he broke the first seal” thing which was pushed among many reviewers was about. I never doubted Dean told Sam after Monster At the End of This Book when Chuck asked Sam if he knew what Dean was supposed to do and Sam said yes. The idea that somehow Sam knew what Dean was supposed to do while never having been told why, by a Dean who showed very little inclination towards witholding anything from Sam for longer than an episode last season was just so much twisting in a desperate attempt to make Dean equally at fault, so it could be said if Dean had only told Sam why, it would have changed Sam’s actions.
Alice, I’m sorry to say I find you are by far one of the MOST biased reviewers in terms of either brother, not the least. I’m not going to pull examples because I’m not going to read over a whole bunch of recaps I disliked the first time around.
You asked why people don’t read your reviews, that’s probably why, whether you like to hear it or not. Attacking Castiel all the time probably doesn’t help much either.
Seeing and reporting both brother’s point of view is not having a bias towards Sam, it’s good reporting.
Rianne, check out LiveJournal. Plenty of Supernatural reviews posted there each week, many by Dean fans. Some, but certainly not all, will be linked to here:
http://community.livejournal.com/spn_heavymeta/
I would like to point out to you that criticizing or analyzing a character’s actions is not the same at “attacking” a character.
There’s no need for every viewer of SPN to experience the show in exactly the same way, and I think the fandom, and the show, would be much more enjoyable if we were all more tolerant of other people’s experiences and interpretations, and gave our fellow fans, and the characters, the benefit of the doubt.
As an example, I really like Misha but am not very invested in Castiel’s story. I was on chat with my sister after the last episode and asked her, “What’s Castiel’s problem?” and she shot back, “He’s utterly lost and confused.” And I was like, yeah, I haven’t been giving him the benefit of the doubt and suddenly got a lot less huffy about the character.
I’m very turned off by all the anger and huffiness and spitefulness I’m seeing all over the net the past few weeks regarding SPN, and I wish everyone would ease up and try to have a little more fun.
relax, alice, with all the respect for a fellow human being – Rianne is really saying some weird things that should not be taken seriously.
I came here because of your recaps and stayed here because of them.
They are interesting, usually show me some small details I missed when watching and also point out alternative possibilities how to view things going on.
Maybe I would even prefer some more sarcasm (I loved kroki-refur’s Episode Reviews of Doom, but she stopped writing them in the end of season 4), but that’s not critic, just a personal opinion.
good luck!
@Rianne: if you really believe this site to be that much of a Dean-bashing atmosphere (which I don’t agree with), then why, as an obvious Dean-girl, do you frequent it? I mean this question with total sincerity and anyone out there who can posit an answer as to why a person would choose to go on a site that, in their opinion, is negative towards their favoured Winchester, feel free. I genuinely don’t understand this phenomenon – when I don’t like the content of a site – I don’t put it on my list of favourites. If you don’t like TWFB and/or the way that Alice or any of the other contributors write – which is fine, you’re entitled to your opinion after all – then don’t come here for your reviews/recaps. And for the record, Alice questioned readership of her recaps, not her reviews. Frankly, Alice’s recaps are very detailed and they document the episode – so if think there is a bias in the recaps of what actually played out on screen then perhaps it’s the show you have an issue with altogether?
Further, I agree with Antoinette’s very well articulated point that a criticism or analysis of a character or their actions is much different from an attack on that character. Ultimately, we do interpret what happens differently. Many, many times I’ve had a strong reaction/opinion to a scene and then read the review(s) on this site and gone: “Oh – that’s a totally different way of looking at that! Wow – never would have looked at it that way.â€
Alice, you rock. Plain and simple.
I for one am sick and tired of this site’s bias against bias. (I’ll try to be more meta next time)
My place isn’t only album reviews, and honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever reviewed a classic rock record. What could I possibly say about Exile On Main Street that wasn’t said 35 years ago? 😎
Hi, Alice–I’m just going to add my voice to the many who’ve talked about how much we love you’re recaps.
I’m new to Supernatural and to fandom in general, and I’ll admit, I didn’t get what recaps were all about at first. I’d seen a couple on other sites and thought they were just detailed plot summaries (sheepish head duck here). I sort scratched my head and wondered why, since we’d all seen the ep. The answer to that question should’ve been obvious right then, but clearly a couple of neurons failed to fire. Then I read the recap for Fallen Idols. Oh, right– there’s commentary throughout–loving snark, funny, cool details I’d totally have missed. So I’ve slowly been going back through the site and catching up when I get some downtime. I know family, work and occasionally going out for some sunshine probably ought to come first, but I really hope you continue & look forward to the new recaps
Alice, hi,
hello folks,
just tuned in in the middle of the night (Europe…) … what’s going on here?
Unfortunately, a part of the comments, including the names, get cut off on a regular basis for the time being, so I’m not able to refer to anyone in particular, but from what I was able to read – I’m kind of feel my hackles rising…
Might be because I’m fairly new to commenting on this show or on recaps/reviews and just not used to the manner in which it ostensibly is supposed to be done…? Don’t know.
First of all, Alice, as I said before, I found your reviews on blogcritics and enjoyed whatever you had to offer. Then you directed me to your site, and I loved the welcoming atmosphere and the fun-loving, multilayered comments that are to be found here.
Your reviews look at the show from different angles, and from minute one I’ve loved the respectful, witty, insightful way you comment on the episodes, and you mix it with the kind of wry humour I adore.
You do it because you enjoy doing it, and it is generous to share your thoughts with so many strangers on the web – and it takes guts to do that… because in a way, by publishing your personal opinions, you allow yourself to become a target some will ever like to take a shot at. I don’t believe it is always easy. You put a lot of time into it, energy and love, and I’d like to thank you for the fun I have reading your articles.
Sometimes I think if we sat down over a nice glass of wine, we’d be able to talk for hours about this marvellous show and having fun doing it – without ever feeling the need to put glass fragments into the liquid…
Keep doing what you do as long as you love doing it.
And, of course, you have a life outside of this site and this show (which is important), and everyone of us who does, too, will understand that at time there is not enough time to get it all done.
There is hardly a day that has enough hours to do all I would like to do (or have to do), I guess you know what I’m talking about.
Allow me to quote Eleanor Roosevelt, another intelligent woman, who once said ‘Do what you feel in your heart to be right. You’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do, and damned it you don’t.’
I, for one, will love coming back to your articles and enjoy a good read!! Thank you.
But… one more thing – since when do we have to choose a brother? Since when has Supernatural become a show whose fans jump at each others’ throats about loving Sam and hating Dean or loving Dean and hating Sam?
Whenever I read an article – be it the New York Times or Empire or, as we are here, a blog – it is always biased to some extent. A writer will have an opinion and voice it. There is no such thing as absolute truth. When three people look at the very same situation, you will get three diverging points of view, as everyone notices different things. It’s profoundly human. Everyone of us carries some sort of filter that will allow some aspects to get through, and other facets will bounce off. So what? These filters (for the sake of discussion allow me to stick to that phrase) are adaptive for adjusting to various situations, a person will notice different aspects in different settings.
That’s the magic of variety – many people see many things.
One fan might like Dean more, another might be a ‘Samgirl’, and I bet there are ‘Johngirls’, Castiel-lovers and Bobby-fans out there. Some might even have a soft spot for Zachariah. Again: So what?
I can’t believe that there is actually a debate going on about whether or not someone is biased and likes Dean or Sam (or whoever) more, instead of focussing on the many dimensions the show has to offer apart from that.
And I don’t understand how a question like that can result in personal attacks and resentment.
I, for one, have always loved the journey of both brothers and have been supportive of Dean and of Sam (which is still somewhat confusing, since they are after all characters someone made up) and have tried to understand what makes them tick. I never felt the need to prefer one over the other. I’ve felt slightly more attracted to Sam, and that never meant that I’ve ever thought less of Dean.
It never occurred to me that might be important to some people…
Folks, this is a tv-show. We love watching it. We love to discuss the story and the motives of the characters, and so many more aspects… Can we not continue doing that instead of wasting energy on reproach and unconstructive criticism?
Best wishes and good night from all across the Atlantic, Jas
Since this thread kinda changed to this whole bias-thing, I’ll say this.
I love both bros, equally. I might ‘get’ Sam better but that don’t mean I don’t love Dean, ’cause man o’ man I do. I understand both boys and I love the way their minds work and that they are different yet the same. I love that we see John and Mary in them and are reminded by their roots almost every ep, ’cause not many shows do that. After 5 years, we still get all this background stories, it’s awesome.
I could talk about this show all night long but in the end of the day, it’s still a tv show. Very good, deep and heartwrenching, but still a tv show.. And all this Sam vs. Dean bitching and the ridiculous debates that sometimes pop up (believe me I don’t look for them) when I surf around the net, are just so turning me off… Even to the point when I wish for the days I just loved this show and didn’t even know about this whole fandom business. Why can’t we all just get along? I know, I know, people are all different and it’s good and all but still, this is sometimes so frustrating… But then again, if I hadn’t found these sites (the good ones), I might have fangirled my hubby and friends to death ’cause there’s a limit to what they can take from me about SPN 😀 And all these great fans who write their stories, and reviews and metas and songs and poems etc., AND comments, these (you) guys are the best part of this fandom and I can’t (and won’t) regret that. Let’s just love the show, it’s ours (heeeee!) and it will end one day. I’d rather spent my time praising than dissing it.
@alice, ah, Let It Bleed *is* probably their best, IMO, that or Sticky Fingers. Ask again tomorrow. To answer your question, um, mostly just whatever new (rock/metal/darkwave) stuff I buy whenever I decide to not be lazy and actually take time to write the damn thing in between posts about whatever crap is brewing in my noodle. I’ve found that unless you have actual musical talent/training, which I don’t, reviewing a classical CD is an awful mess. 😎
There’s a comic character called Biffer Bacon who just wanders around starting fights with whoever he comes across ‘cos he doesn’t have any other way of relating to them … Does this remind you of anyone? :roll::
Objecting to one or the other bro is like claiming one end of the Impala is a pointless waste of metal while the other end is fabulousness itself … It’s both or neither!
Alice, so sorry to see this happening on your site. I haven’t been able to visit your site for a few days, and I come on tonight and see these biased people have found you. I have to say, I was glad you received such a nice mention on Mo Ryan’s site, but I thought at the time about it attracting some unwanted posters.
I have read some of these wars on other sites and really feel the negative posters are really not arguing for any reason, or to make any point, they are just auguring for the sake of auguring. Everyone has a right to their own opinion, and if you can make a point without slandering, name-calling or degrading other person position, your point-of-view has no merit.
The sites provide them with anonymity, so they feel safe in saying things they would never do in person. To me these are just inexperienced persons with to much time on there hands who like to see their words in print. Unfortunately, as long as they get responses, they will keep it up. Their actions are very destructive to the sites they post on, the respectability of the whole show in general, and true constructive fans in particular.
Just had to add my 2 cents worth.
Alice – I do enjoy your recaps so I hope you keep writing them. As far as your Sam bias, well, most of the Supernatural recaps out there seem to be written by people with a Sam bias, I feel, so you’re not alone. There are some recappers where the bias is quite obvious, and I really wish they would try a little harder to present a balanced view. Oh well. But I think your recaps have always been very fair to both brothers, although you do make it clear that you prefer Sam, so that might turn some of the bi-bros or Dean girls off, I don’t know.
“In my defense, I’m far more equal with the treatment of brothers than most sites who usually do have a Dean bias.”
Hmm. I don’t agree that most Supernatural sites have a Dean bias. Could you provide some examples? I would say the TWOP forum is, but certainly the recaps are not. In fact the TWOP recaps are quite anti-Dean at times. I don’t know of any recaps out there that are “Dean biased” actually. I also read recaps from Pinkraygun.com, Buddy TV, and Kroki Refur, who are all quite Sam biased. I haven’t seen the equivalent Dean biased recaps though. Bardicvoice at supernatural.tv is bi-bro and balanced, I think.
But anyway, I do enjoy your recaps and I will continue to read them. Thanks for doing them!
“In fact the TWOP recaps are quite anti-Dean at times.”
Chris, why would you imply that’s the same thing as being pro-Sam? Doesn’t seem so to me. I think Demian at TWoP is anti- any character who is getting on his nerves at that particular moment. He calls Dean bow-legged and Sam a corpse-fucker, just to tweak fan-girls’ sensitive feelings, as far as I can tell. I like Demian’s recaps. I think they’re funny and they remind me not to take the show so damn seriously.
Oh no! the fanwars found us!
Honestly, I don’t think you can ever do anything right in the world of Supernatural fans. This is the only site I still read and comment on, because it is so friendly and UNBIASED. Yes I really think it is unbiased. This is one of the only places I enjoy reading because eeryone has an opinion and everyone respects that. I would really hate to see that thrown away.
Antionette, I’m afraid I’ll have to disagree with you, I really don’t like Damians reacaps. I have no idea if they are biased or not, because I have never made it past the first few pages. It’s just not my sense of humor. The whole dragon thing? Terribly annoying.
Overall, I’d like to say that being pro- Sam or Pro-Dean (I really hate those terms) doesn’t mean you are anti anything. Like I said here before, this show is about both of them, apocalypse or not. They both have their flaws and they have both made mistakes and they are both incredibly adorable for it.
Just so you know, I am a total Sam-girl 😈 :D.
Probably shouldn’t have said that…
“@ Antoinette: Chris, why would you imply that’s the same thing as being pro-Sam?”
I didn’t. Please read my post again. I was replying to Alice’s statement that most sites have a “Dean bias” so my reply was specific to that particular wording. And I mentioned other recappers who are Sam biased, but I did NOT say those same recappers are anti-Dean. I do not equate pro-Sam with anti-Dean and I assume you don’t equate pro-Dean with anti-Sam. As I said, other fans *might*, I don’t know.
And I agree with PetraO, I think Demian’s TWOP recaps are terrible. And just because I believe this doesn’t mean that I take the show “so damn seriously.” I much preferred Cynthia’s Supernatural recaps when she took over for Demian last season.
Hi PetraO,
it’s perfectly alright to say that you were a Samgirl. Please, continue to say what you feel and who you like, and if Sam’s the one who floats your boat, you’re absolutely entitled to say so. And – if it helps – Sam floats my boat, too. And Dean would be perfect to be my brother… And I don’t care what anyone thinks about that… Love them both, just in different ways…
Hello Sablegreen,
I loved your comment, thank you! You bring up an important point – as long as the fans in question get responses, they will probably keep their venomous work up, so let’s not encourage them any longer and let’s get back to what we love to do and what brought us to this marvellous, intelligent, full-of-fun site!
Cheers to you Alice! We’re in your corner here!
All my best, Jas
I think your recaps are interesting and well written, but I generally don’t read recaps unless I missed an episode of a show. I read your articles every few days and love the silly polls.
On the bias issue – I don’t think I have ever seen any instance of you favoring one over the other.(I have read every article on this site, including your Jensen vs Jared as well as Is Sam too stupid to live) I think if one reads between the lines, one could possibly make a case that you find Sam/Jared more physically attractive? I think that some people are forgetting that IF you wrote biased articles,and IF you were anti Dean, that would be your RIGHT, and they don’t have to read your stuff.
Anywho..I personally find Sam mesmerizing in one scene and Dean breathtaking in the next. I wanna wring Sam’s neck one week and box Dean’s ears the next. Im a BiBro lover and hater 😈