Top Ten Impala Moments
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Hello, everyone!
Since this site has been such a boon for me during the Hellatus, I decided to ask Alice if I could start writing up some Top Ten lists as a way to contribute to the site. She graciously said yes, and I went to work! So thanks, Alice, for letting me join the fun.
Why Top Ten lists, you may ask? Well, for one, I love making lists. Two, I like seeing other people’s opinions on the subject I’m talking about. It’s fascinating to see how one moment can resonate so much with one person and another person can have a totally different reaction. Three, I don’t really have a point three, but a two-point list isn’t a very good list, so…
Without further ado, I present to you the Top Ten Impala Moments!
Top Ten Impala Moments
The Impala is the coolest car on TV. But for Sam and especially Dean, it’s more than just a car. It’s been there for some of the most important moments in their lives, offering silent support in their times of need. It’s acted as hotel, love nest, battleground, hiding spot, and so much more. No wonder it’s such a fan favorite! Who wouldn’t want a car like that? That being said, it was really hard to pick just ten moments to highlight. My criteria for this list were: only positive or fun or just plain cool things made this list. The Impala gets vandalized enough for a separate list! (Which I’m working on, naturally, since I’m in an Impala mood.) Only one roadside confession allowed. Why only one when there are so many good ones to choose from? Well, that too could probably be its own list, so one will represent all. Lastly, no Impala arguments allowed. The boys fighting is so hard to see, and this is a celebratory list, so no arguing! Plus, the added bonus with making your own list is you get to set the rules.
Honorable Mention – Side views for all – After School Special
Look at how they framed these shots. So cool! After four seasons, it’s hard to find new ways to shoot the Impala, but they did a great job here. Bonus points for making Sam look so small, too, because we all know what a giant he is.
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Great list, Ardeospina! I can think of one scene that I wish you’d had room for on your list (but I’m not sure which one I’d tell you to remove) and that’s the scene of the Impala sitting outside of the hotel room where Dean and Sam are celebrating Christmas in “A Very Supernatural Christmas” – I just love how they pulled back in that shot until we could see the Impala, with snow falling and Christmas lights reflected on it, like it was outside standing watch for awhile to allow our boys a little downtime to just relax together.
Thanks again for a list of wonderful Impala moments!
Awesome list (and awesome writing. You rock) While I wouldn’t change any of the list, I would like add one of my personal favorites, and that is Sam speeding past John and cutting him off from “Dead Man’s Blood”. Although how he avoided a beating from Dean for endangering the Impala like that I will never know.
Ardeospina, I just thought of another Impala scene, one that breaks my heart everytime I see it, and that is the scene at the end of ELAC where Dean, in his despair, takes a crowbar to his beloved car. I always thought at that point that the car was a stand-in for his father, and Dean was taking all of his hurt and pain out on it because he suspected Dad died in his place and also because of what John told him about Sam before his death.
Boy, I love this show.
I love your list!
I’m also going to add a favorite of mine: The beginning of Jump the Shark, when we see the Impala serving as a hotel by the seaside for the boys.
Alternatively: The beginning of Family Remains, when we actually see Sam all squished in the backseat trying to sleep.
We always knew that they had to sleep in the car sometimes, but it wasn’t until S4 that we actually saw it. I love the idea of the Impala as their home.
Great list! I do also love the Sampala the “should i honk?” line makes me laugh everytime.
I would also vote for the scene in ELAC because the impala was there supporting Dean letting him pour his brief out that moment just broke my heart.
Also not to mention playing a role in the pilot where Sam drives the car into the house to force the ghost home.
But yeah – back in black, definately an awesome moment that song just fits!
Awesome Ardeospina — and welcome first post to boot.
I’ve had best Impala moments floating around in my head for almost a year, made lists, knocked them around, lost them and frankly never got to it…you have and judging from your writing and your thoughts and the comments of others, you could do many, many more Impala moments.
It’s been set to awesome music, Back in Black, Renegade are just two that come to mind. There’s the Impala as backdrop or support — Phantom Traveler, Family Remains, Jump the Shark, AVSC (well, that’s really foreground but still)
I love it when it’s in chases, Route 666, HOTH and oh, yes, that scene from Croatoan is great (especially in the lengthy preview as it’s to different music)
I’m blathering on, the point is there are many, many, many opportunities for lists and with your writing and Alice’s photos — no end of the love for the Impala.
Definitely glad you included In the Beginning (and since this was a happy list, I wasn’t fearing The End (sob!)
Thanks for sharing
Wow Ardeospina, great list! Glad you picked your own rules too. Nice to set your own stage! Loved all your choices. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I loved KITT.
Loved the chase scene in Route 66 too, especially the end when Dean spins around and waits for the truck. Don’t knew who that stunt driver was, but he was good.
One other favorite of mine is at the end of The End, when Dean and Sam reunite. Loved Dean leaning against the car waiting when Sam drove up. Just look like everybody was back at home.
Hope you post LOTS and LOTS of list. Look forward to your next one.
All hail listmaking! Great first outing, for who doesn’t love the mighty Impala?
Can’t disagree with any of your choices (and definitely agree with your top two, actioneering and badassery), and now I’ll have to rewatch some more to see if I can dig up a few honorable mentions.
Great list. We all love this mighty car. I also thought of a favorite (like Sablegreen) of Dean leaning against the Impala waiting for Sam. It was like Dean AND the Imapala were waiting for Sam to return, because we all heartbreakingly remember Sam’s goodbye to the Impala in GGY when he brushes his hand along the car as he walks away. That was another touching moment of the relationship between the boys and this car.
I also loved the scene in Ghostfacers when the boys announce their presence in the driveby. They also did that in Hookman, where Lori is sitting by the ambulance and you hear the rumble of the car and Lori looks up to see Sam and Dean driving by looking surveying the scene. I loved that!
The scene in Croatoan where Dean drives backwards to escape the demonic thugs was also another one of my all time favorite Impala moments. There is nothing our car can’t do or be.
Welcome Ardeospina! This list is – to speak with Dean – awesome! There is no cooler car on this planet, and we’ve been given some terrific reminders here as to why we are bound to love this car…
You’ve picked practically all my favourites (get out of my head, woman!), and whenever I watch the ‘Sampala’ going ‘Should I honk?’ I keep looking for my head, as it rolled off from laughing…
Thanks, dear, give us some more! 😆 loved this! Jas
Hi Ardeospina
I love the top 10 idea’s.
I had to do some thinking on what stands out for me, there is just so many.
I also like the end of A Very Supernatural Christmas and the standoff in Route 666.
In Yellow Fever at the end with them leaning up against the car drinking the beers.
I still like the pilot when they’re on the bridge and the headlights turn on
“Who’s driving your car?â€
And in Lazarus Raising the glowing look of love Dean gives the Impala after Sam throws him the keys.
I better stop now.
Thanks for sharing.
A great list! Make more!
I especially love the arrival of the Impala in Ghostfacers. When you just hear that rumble and then see it coasting on by. It just gives me goosebumps!
The car outside the window in the Christmas episode is so —— I don’t know! happily tear inducing, a really really nice moment. The boys and their car.
Awwwww! Sniffle!
Don’t be a stranger Ardeospina!
Love this list– awesome choices! You’re so right about number 1, there could be no other. There are so many great Impala moments to choose from, must’ve been hard to narrow it down. I loved the Christmas shot, Sam trying to sleep in the back seat, and Sam driving into the house in the pilot too. Although I guess you could argue that driving into a house could earn a place on the vandalism list. I suspect that’s where Dean’s temper tantrum will make an appearance.
A couple of favorites of mine: Andy steals the Impala. I adore this scene, cracks me up every time. “Sure, man!” and Dean’s left standing alone in the road while his car drives away. The roadside “auto shop” scene from season 3, Dean teaching his little brother how to take care of his baby gets me every time. I also love Dean coming back to his car after his sojourn in Hell, only to find that Sam has installed an iPod jack. Or does that belong on the vandalism list too?
Hope to see more from you, this was great!
First off, I’d like to thank Alice for the lovely introduction, as well as the screencaps for the season 5 stuff, the Sampala and Impala row. I don’t have access to season 5 episodes, so she very graciously filled them in for me.
Second, thanks, everyone, for your extremely kind words! I had a lot of fun making this list, and I’m glad to see you’re enjoying it. I knew that the readers of this site were a great group of people, but it was still a bit nerve-racking to put something online in public for people to read and comment on! So thanks very much for the support and encouragement. I really do appreciate it.
Third, a number of you have mentioned the scene at the end of A Very Supernatural Christmas where the camera pulls out to show the Impala outside the hotel window. All I can say is you’re so right! That’s such an incredible moment! To be totally honest, I didn’t even think of that one. Bad on me! Maybe I didn’t think of it as an Impala moment because by the time they pan out, I’m usually in tears, so the car is all blurry and whatnot. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 😆
Lastly, I’ll definitely be doing more lists! (I’m even list-making in my comments. Sheesh. Lists on the brain…) Like I said, I had a great time putting this one together, and I’ve got a number of ideas in the pipeline, including another Impala-themed list, so stay tuned!
Thanks again for reading and for your support!
Ardeospina
Addendum to my last post — crowbar attacks and iPod jacks definitely belong on the Impala vandalism list, and (spoiler!)they’re there.
Congrats Ardeospina on your first article! Looking forward to many more!
Impala? Are you kidding me? If I had the money I´d own one!!! I even have a shirt with an Impala-print, and, sweetheart, I don´t do fan-shirts.
I had the chance to talk to an Impala-owner, he described it like this: (quote) “It´s big as a living-room, drinks 20 liters per 100 km, and is the most freaking awsome car I´ve ever driven!!!” And: “When you´re in Berlin, I´ll take you for a ride” (quotes end). Do I have to mention this stranger made my day?
Alice, if this is not allowed I appologize, you know what to do: There´s an awsome fan video on youtube about the Impala called “Dean & The Impala”, made by ChevyBabe1. It´s so far the best I´ve ever seen.
See, Ardeospina, you made my day with your article :D. And I´d definitely add the Christmas-Impala, that scene touches me everytime.
One thing I have to touch on here: the Croats. That word makes me crinkle – bigtime …. I´m a Croat and I have no virus in me :cry:: How the hell did the writers come up with this word????
Cheers!
Lara
Freebird, I’m glad you enjoyed the list! The Impala is an awesome car, but if I had the money, I’d own Bobby’s Chevelle SS. I drool just thinking about that. But I’d definitely paint it. No jalopy for me!
And I apologize for the unintentional slur there. I take it you’re Croatian? I believe the writers took the shortened form from the full-length Croatoan, and it just happened to equate to the shortening for Croatian, though they are pronounced differently. Still, it never even crossed my mind that it could be offensive, so I apologize. I won’t use it again!
Ardeospina, no offense taken, please, don´t take it as a resentment from me. I understand that Croatoan is just a word the writers have introduced and that the virus-infected have to have a name, too. Linguistics can be tricky, I know, I do translations.
The Croatoan-word also makes me crinkle from laughter, like in typos like “croatian virus”. I think in one of the gag-reels, when they shot the epi with Croatoan firstly mentioned, Jensen had trouble pronouncing it and said something like “Croa…. croa… croatian?”. Made me laugh out loud.
So, Ardeospina, no insult intended, sorry if it came over like that. 🙂
How about Croatoans instead?
Oh, phew! I’m glad I didn’t offend you! That’s the last thing I want. Croatoans works for me!
But a random fun fact for you is that Croatoan isn’t just a made-up word by the writers. That’s the word the lost settlers of Roanoake carved into a tree in 1590. I think they mentioned it in the episode “Croatoan,” but I haven’t seen it in a while. No one’s really sure what they meant, though! It’s a U.S. History mystery!
Oh, my God, you´re right! Now, there´s a mystery I´d like to see solved. Gotta do some research on that, I don´t believe the Croats made it all the way to America just to wipe out some settlers 😀
Ardeospina, I´m looking forward to more of your writing, and wish you a great day!