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(Note from Alice) I'm honored to post the very first article from Ardeospina! It's been a while since we've had a guest contribution and she's the first to actually take on something that I've always wanted to do but haven't had the time for yet. Needless to say, I've very pleased with what she came up with. So enjoy her wonderful take on our favorite third full time cast member.
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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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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.
Comments
Thanks again for a list of wonderful Impala moments!
Boy, I love this show.
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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
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-Impal a, 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
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!
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?
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!
Ardeospina, I´m looking forward to more of your writing, and wish you a great day!