I feel like my episode reviews are getting redundant, but it’s in the best possible way. Another S10 episode that I absolutely loved! Usually when an episode is SamnDean lite I’m grumbling, but a) what we got of the brothers, I liked, and b) this episode was all about the ladies, and that was awesome! In fact, it was so awesome that my daughter and I (who watched the episode together) actually AGREED on just about everything! Is the moon blue??
I’ve loved the character of Jody Mills since her introduction, and over the course of multiple seasons and many conventions, have come to love and respect the woman who plays her so perfectly, Kim Rhodes, even more. I love Jody with Sam, and Jody with Dean, and Jody with adopted daughter Alex – but you know what? I really REALLY love Jody with Sheriff Donna. These two were meant to share screen time – thank you, Jenny Klein and Phil Sgriccia, for making that happen!
The script was rich with one-liners and anti-misogynistic-dick-zingers and laugh-out-loud moments, but it also managed to have a great deal of emotional resonance. Perhaps especially for women. Many of us are good at covering up our hurt with a shrug and a deflecting joke, often at our own expense. Donna was good at it, and maybe not so good at letting go of a guy who doesn’t have many redeeming characteristics. Some of us have been far too good at that from time to time, too.
Sheriffs Mills and Hanscom had a hysterical and appealing Odd Couple vibe, and Kim Rhodes and Briana Buckmaster bring a real-life chemistry to the roles that is a lovely mirror to the chemistry between Jared and Jensen. Though the flirty banter is a bit more overt.
Kim Rhodes live tweeting: *returns quickly* Wait. What exactly is “blingoed”? Are you hitting on me? Cuz in that case, I’m in! #supernatural #jodythoughts
@City_Cinderella: Obviously this is the scene where donna and Jody kiss
My twitter dash: I ship it like FedEx.
One of the best things about this episode was its realism. That’s not usually what Supernatural is known for, seeing as it’s a show about the SUPERnatural, but it works best when its human moments are real. Like Donna’s reaction to finding out that monsters exist – she hid behind a pole and hyperventilated. Let’s face it, that’s probably what most of us would do (or am I just speaking for myself here? Possibly.)
Not only did this episode pass the Bechdel test once again (go S10!), but the conversations between Donna and Jody also rang very true. Their connection wasn’t made easily, and it wasn’t sappy. It was awkward and blundering, but genuine. They persisted, working to find what they had in common – loss and hurt and hope and a whole lot of guts. And that seemed pretty damn real. Both women are trying hard to deal with circumstances that are far from perfect – and while they start out making assumptions about what the other “should” do, they both eventually realize that it’s hard to judge when you’re not in someone else’s shoes. Sometimes it’s hard to get over someone even when they’re an assbutt. Sometimes it’s tough to be a parent even when your heart’s in the right place (like Jody’s relationship with Alex). Because who would expect Alex to be perfect, after the life she’s lived? Jody’s dealing with the realistic aftermath of SPN’s violent and monstrous world. Smoking grass under the bleachers and firecrackers in the background? You’re doing okay, Jody. Better than.
Jody is somewhere between a mom and a friend and a hunting partner to the boys too. Sam’s smile when he sees that she’s calling lights up his whole face. And the way she hugs the brothers when she sees them is full of emotion. She knows they’ve been through something, and whatever it is, she wants to be there for them. And they clearly feel the same affection for her.
Buckmaster got some of the best comedic lines. I laughed hysterically just from her wide-eyed yet matter of fact response to the mostly consumed teenager in the morgue. “Ate the whole kit and kaboodle.”
Every scene in which the two women took on the episode’s contingent of guys who were dicks was gold. The gun dealer trying to sell them on a cute little gun they can take with them to “get your nails done”? Oh, their faces!
Kudos Kim Rhodes for the expression on your face when you zinged him back:
Jody: You call this a big one? I hope you drive a Porsche.
Touche!
And Donna may not have been ready for Sheriff Mills to put her dick of an ex in his place, but I certainly appreciated it.
Donna: I lost six pounds!
Doug: You’re a quarter of the way there!
Jody: What’s wrong with you? Do you get off on fat shaming chicks?
Everyone watching: Yay!
I’m not going to quote every line of this episode, honest, but damn, there were a lot of good ones.
The boys had their share of comedic and touching moments too, which is a combination that Supernatural gets right more than most shows. One of my favorite scenes in the episode was part scripted, part brilliant Ackles adlib (according to Jenny Klein’s tweet)
Sam: “Try to be less defensive of your pretend job.”
Dean: “This badge means something.”
Sam: “I made it at Kinkos.”
Dean: “Yes, you did. Be proud of that.”
I laughed out loud when that scene happened; now I know why it rang so true. Nobody gets the brotherly banter between Sam and Dean more than Jared and Jensen.
The brothers got some serious moments too. Oh, and they also got knocked out and tied to trees. Which necessitated some epic levels of Winchester silent communication as they try to get free of the bad hippie vampire girl’s version of bondage. (Hey, and why did she have to be named Lynn? I’m looking at you, Jenny Klein…)
Lynn: *strokes Dean’s face and chest and then takes off his belt*
(No, not me! The vampire hippie vamp girl Lynn. Though it sounds like it could have been…)
Dean: I’m not in the mood.
And by the way, Sam and Dean tied up having wordless conversations when tied to trees makes for hysterical out of context gifs. Just saying.
One of my other favorite scenes made me laugh and smile fondly simultaneously because it was the role reversal of an SPN trope we’ve enjoyed since S1.
Sam: (not wanting to hit the road and take the case) Jody said she was on top of it, Dean.
Dean: *makes pleading face*
Sam: *folding* Okay, let’s take a drive.
Tumblr: Sam’s not the only Winchester with lethal puppy eyes.
The brothers have a much more serious conversation at the end of the episode, as Jody and Donna are having one too.
Sam: You good?
Dean: Yeah. You know, for the first time, I didn’t feel like the mark was pushing me.
Sam: (looking epically worried) First time?
Dean: “All I know is, back there, killing those vamps. I felt like me again.”
Sam: “Alright, so that’s– good. Right?”
Dean: “Yeah.”
Sam: “Okay. Let’s go with that.”
Dean: *rubs at the mark*
I don’t know if Dean’s fooling himself or both of them, and I don’t think Sam is as good at believing what he clearly wants to believe as he wishes he was.
They’re both worried, but they also haven’t come up with anything to do yet, no way to counteract the mark or cure Dean from its effects. From what Jared and Jensen have said, Sam and Dean have plenty to worry about – which makes me excited to see what happens next!
Also, Americana is playing during this scene, implying that Jody and Donna are sisters/family just like Sam and Dean – because, as we all know, family don’t end with blood. There was something very poignant about Jody and Donna just forging a bond, eager to get out there, ‘saving people, hunting things’, juxtaposed with Sam and Dean, ‘out there’ all their lives, having gone through so many struggles and having come so close to losing their bond. Jody empathizing with Donna’s discovery of “what’s out there” reminds me of Sammy losing his innocence, and Dean wishing that he could spare his little brother that knowledge.
I’m all wibbly again just thinking about it.
Kim Rhodes, Briana Buckmaster and Jensen Ackles all live tweeted the west coast airing.
My favorite Kim and Briana tweets?
Kim Rhodes: “Screw you, Winchester.” No. Really. I mean… um… I gotta go. Bye. #supernatural #jodythoughts
Hey, who can blame her? Not me, surely.
Briana Buckmaster: SHUT THE FUCKING DOOR. -what I actually wanted to say
Can’t you just see Kim and Briana onstage at a con together? I’m grinning just thinking about it.
And we all followed along as Jensen ordered pizza and waited impatiently for it.
Jensen: Come on pizza, I’m dying here. #pepperonidreaming
And yes, that actually trended. Yes, we can trend anything.
Meanwhile, many of us were thinking the same thing as my Tumblr dash.
Tumblr: Can we get a spinoff of Donna and Jody fighting sexist douchebags?
Now that’s an excellent question!
Thanks, Jenny and Phil, for a great episode.
So my daughter and I were finishing our pie and hot cider, chatting about the episode. In pretty good spirits.
Then came the promo for next week, which left me gaping rather unattractively at my television and my daughter laughing at me. But seriously, folks. WHAT??? I don’t think there are enough tissues in the world for next week’s episode.
Are you ready?
–Lynn
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