Thursday, October 4, 2012
We Need to Talk About Kevin
Starring: Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Mark Sheppard, Ty Olsson, Osric Chau, Liane Balaban
Written by: Jeremy Carver
Directed by: Robert Singer
Cinematography by: Serge Ladouceur
MOTW: Crowley, Demons, Unknown character in a jacket.
Time of this Review: October 7, 2012
CW/Supernatural
In A Nutshell: Dean is back from Purgatory. Sam is no longer hunting and seems to have a different logic: if I don't hunt, I won't be hunted. Crowley might be the new big bad.
This review has to fall into the category of "lovefest."
Season eight has a solid take off in "We Need to Talk About Kevin." The hellatus kept me in stitches and Max and I really did our very best apocalypse dance for the war gods to usher in the new season. I'm loving the season already.
I've read enough spoilers over the hiatus thinking nothing would surprise me, but of course, I think Supernatural's new showrunner has an abundance of tricks up his sleeve.
In a homage to "Wendigo", the episode starts in the woods. There's a flash of bright light and a shadow creeps upon a young couple in a tent. The monster in the woods is a slightly confused and feral animal, it's Dean Winchester. That's how the episode begins.
Let's talk about that epic hug, not the one between Sam and Dean. The best hug of the episode goes to Dean and Benny, it's about happiness, trust, loyalty, friendship, and brotherhood. Ty Olsson slips into his role as Benny with vigor. Benny seems slick with blood and grease; and Dean doesn't seemed fazed by any of it.
Okay, lets talk about the other hug, the neutral one. The one that had to start with Dean saying, "Let's do this." Say what? Did Dean just have to talk himself into hugging his brother? Apparently.
It turns out that Sam has adjusted to his life without his brother. Sam seems calm, collected, and resigned to a life without hunting. He's so adjusted that he didn't look for Dean. Sam also doesn't seem too happy that Dean is back in his life. It's too soon to judge this, because after all is said and done in "We Need to Talk About Kevin", fans get the feeling that the episode is well orchestrated. There is a dominant figure to all of this and his name is Jeremy Carver.
Squeek. It turns out that Sam didn't look for Kevin either. But that's okay because Kevin might be smarter than both of the Winchesters combined. Kidding. I'm just happy that Osric Chau is back as Kevin Tran. Kevin is one sneaky, snarky, and extremely intelligent prophet who has escaped from Crowley all by himself, so it seems. I heard so much about Kevin delivering the best line of the episode. It's true. Osric Chau's performance is hilarious. Chau is the breath of fresh air the show needs at this point.
It turns out that Kevin has his own stronghold in a church and he has his own weapons too. Osric Chau really holds his own against the veterans of this show. I love it. Of course Crowley shows up with Kevin's girlfriend in tow and nothing turns out okay, despite Kevin's line to Channing about being possessed, going to her safety school, and everything going to be okay. NOT.
Towards the end of the episode Kevin sees his girlfriend killed by Crowley. Kevin's life is changed forever (if it wasn't changed forever before) and Crowley seems to be the new BIG BAD this season.
Too Much to Love:
*Dean's scenes in Purgatory. Dean looks fantastic muddied and bloodied, searching for Castiel. Yes, fans Dean was searching for Castiel in Purgatory. Dean was brutal about it too.
*The title card, it's interesting.
*I like Sam's "I'm incognito" hair.
*Benny's Louisiana drawl is something I can listen to forever. I wonder why Carver/Singer chose Louisiana. Is it tied to Dean's hunt from season 1, or is this a homage to "Interview With the Vampire?"
*Amelia, I like her. The flashback scenes with Sam bringing in an injured dog to a vet seem like a last minute replacement to however the writers wanted to introduce Amelia, but Sam has a woman in his life. The scenes seem disjointed and possibly unreal. I don't know if Sam is telling the truth here. But I like Amelia and I hope she's the type of woman who can handle monsters lurking about.
*Sam the computer hacker is back. Sam seems meticulously meditative, but his computer skills are in tact.
*Jared Padalecki is playing it very well. I have no idea where Carver is going with Sam settling down and not looking for Dean, and not helping Kevin, but I'm enjoying Jared's very well placed emotions as Sam. Sam is different and I'm sure we'll learn more about what he was doing while Dean was away in Purgatory. I'm just going to say, that I love Sam's intentional serenity. Jared knows what he's doing!
*The overall production value is well crafted. Jeremy Carver, Serge Ladouceur, and Robert Singer, I applaud you.
*The word "PURE", both Benny and Dean say it and every time it's said, I shivered.
*"Purgatory", the name of Dean's weapon. I hope Dean keeps it in his jacket, just like the MacLeods in the Highlander movies.
*Oh, and what's wrong with this picture? Kevin Tran has read a tablet concerning the banishment of all demons from earth forever, yet when Sam asks where the tablet is, Kevin says it's safe. When Sam tries to access more information from the young prophet Dean interferes and assures Sam that just as long as it's safe...Does Dean not trust Sam? There's so much to talk about in "We Need to Talk About Kevin."
*Jensen. Jensen Ross Ackles! If Jensen Ackles isn't known as one of the best television actors out there, he needs to be recognized as one of the best actors on television. Kripke created Dean Winchester, but Jensen Ackles made Dean Winchester and icon. It's like watching two different characters, but I know I'm not. Dean is traumatized and Jensen Ackles plays it with sincerity, subtly, and perfection. In this case, it's beyond perfection. The phone call from Benny unleashes what's lurking deep within this relationship and I can't stop gushing about it. Fans, do we love Dean's Purgatory/postPurgatory voice? I know I do.
Season 8 is starting off with so much mystery. It's a wonderful set up and I can't wait to watch the story Carver and Singer have in store for us.
Favorite Quotes:
Dean: Alright, well let's do this.
Sam: I don't know whether to give you a hug or take a shower.
Dean: Good. That's good. No, we…we always told each other not to
look for each other. That's smart. Good for you. Of course we always
ignored that because of our deep abiding love for each other but not
this time right Sammy?Sam: Nothing says family quite like the whole family being dead.
Kevin: Eat Me!
Sam: Listen I know this is going to sound crazy to you. I don't
even necessarily need you to understand but you need to know. I didn't
just drop out Dean. I found something. Something I've never had all my
life.
Dean: It was bloody, messy, 31 flavors of bottom-dwelling nasties.
Hell most days felt like 360 degree combat. But there was something
about being there. It felt pure.
Kevin: Banish all demons off the face of the earth. Lock them away forever. That could be important right?
Crowley: Hello boys. Dean, you're looking…well let's just say
Purgatory didn't do you any favors. Where's your angel?
Dean: Ask
your mother.
Kevin: There's a demon in you and you're going to your safety school.
The bottom line: If you haven't watched the episode, you're missing out.
This article is a reflection of
the opinions of the author. The author and Celebrity Hollywood
Connection are in no way affiliated with the CW, Supernatural, or
it's creator Eric Kripke. All Supernatural photos are property of the
CW network. Celebrity Hollywood Connection is not getting paid to blog about Supernatural.
No copyright infringement is intended. This is a fan blog.
4 comments:
celebrityhollywoodconnectionOctober 15, 2012 5:40 PM
Hi readers, I just thought I should add this:
Yes, I heard an accent and my husband did too in "We Need to Talk About Kevin."
Before Dean and Benny hug and Dean says, "I guess," I thought I caught a little something in his voice.
During the phone conversation, when Dean says, "What we did down there, was what we had to do." There's a distinct accent and Dean's phrasing has a lilt to it.
It's very subtle. When Dean and Benny first meet, Dean says "over there," and there's a little "something" in his voice. I just called it Dean's post/Purgatory voice, which I changed to Purgatory/postPurgatory voice because he has it in Purgatory as well. But yes, whatever Jensen is doing with his voice, there are traces of it in the season premier. I do have to mention that I hear it clearly when I'm watching the episode on TV. My computer speakers are terrible.
- I don't know if it was added later, or if Jensen Ackles wasn't supposed to do it and was fighting off the accent. Maybe it's not supposed to be so heavy an accent. If this is an accident and not meant to happen, then what a cool and amazing happy accident this is. LOL.
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edOctober 15, 2012 11:15 PM
I don't know about during the episode, but at the end, when Dean calls Benny there is a certain accent in Dean's voice. Not a lot of people have mentioned it. But it's on the sly. Can't tell what is going on. Just as long as Jensen is consistent with it and it seems like he's doing it consistently. More fans noticed an accent in the second episode. But yeah, you're the only blogger I've come across to describe anything Purgatory/ postPurgatory about Dean's voice. Even before it was changed, you had it down as Dean's postPurgatory voice, lol.
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Replies
ellenOctober 15, 2012 11:19 PM
I loved the premier, oh yes, there IS a SOMETHING in Dean's voice at the end of We Need to Talk About Kevin. Nobody has mentioned it but you blogger. I can't tell what is going on. Is it an accident like you think or a happy accident, because really, it adds a layer to Dean and Benny's relationship. An extra layer. Accident or intent to add an extra layer, bring it on!!
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celebrityhollywoodconnectionOctober 15, 2012 11:40 PM
Hi, thanks for commenting. I thought Dean's voice was done on purpose, especially because of the phone call scene.
I got a pm about posters hearing a Cajun accent in the second episode, "What's Up, Tiger Mommy" (specifically in the flashback) which I thought was normal because both Max and I heard something in Dean's voice in "We Need to Talk About Kevin." And then I started feeling that I had gone insane because it seems like only a very few of us heard a different Dean in the Purgatory scenes in episode 8x01.
I can't say what is going on. I guess only Jensen knows what is going on. What I said in my first reply might be true. Maybe it was a happy accident. It's possible that Jensen did the scene, an accent came out, he liked it and is now continuing with it. If the actor doesn't know he's doing it, then it's probably the best accident to occur on the show so far. LOL. Who is a foil to whom? If it's a naturally occurring accident, please continue!
At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if the only cast member who knows Dean's storyline is Jensen Ackles.
But, I must say that when I wrote the review, I called it Dean's postPurgatory voice because of the accent. I thought it was done deliberately to show Dean's trauma and to show how close Dean is to Benny.
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