The Light on Spoilers, Heavy on Squee Preview of Supernatural 11x02 "Form and Void"

So have we all recovered from the season premiere? Have we all theorised and speculated and extrapolated and hypothesised?

Are we ready to find out some answers...maybe...one or two...

WELL I AM! I'm so excited to see the second part of this season premiere...because it truly is a two parter and that's amazeballs!


So...what did we find out! (I promise no poetry :P )


THEN

Dean and the Darkness nearly made out...she whispered sweet nothings to him, about being bound (not in a kinky way), and always protecting each other, and liking hanging out with him (who wouldn't)...BUT WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Sam got some icky Rabid-Nurse blood in his mouth and has developed black veins on his neck (not like last time...I don't think), the other Rabids think he either smells kinda bad or kinda like them...BUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

Castiel has really bloodshot eyes and prayed to heaven for Visine...or help...probably help...but the wrong angels came, at least dickier ones than usual, and they've got him all trussed up like a Christmas turkey...BUT WHAT DO THEY WANT?

Crowley got his end away and then did away with everyone he got his end away with, and then his minions dropped a bombshell, THE CAGE IS CRYING...okay something is the cage is crying OUT LIKE A TORTURED ANIMAL...and OMG WHO IS IT?

A little tiny baby has a itty bitty Mark of Cain, which would be so adorable if she wasn't probably the Darkness....BUT IS SHE REALLY?

And Sam talked and Dean listened...SAM TALKED AND DEAN LISTENED... and they're going back to the whole bumper sticker...

NOW

The brothers are apart, BUT ONLY PHYSICALLY, and dealing with a lot of crap...FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!

I'm very yelly this week!



Let's check out the synopsis!


DEAN AND SAM FACE THEIR OWN BATTLES  — Dean helps Jenna (guest star Laci J. Mailey), the nurse he met after the Darkness fell, get back home safely and then sets off to help Sam deal with a town infected by a mysterious and deadly gas. However, when Jenna falls into dangerous hands, she calls Dean for help and Sam tells him to go back to her. Unfortunately for Sam, he isn’t able to handle the townspeople turned monsters as easily as he thought.  Phil Sgriccia directed the episode written by Andrew Dabb.


Ummmm...pretty sure by nurse they mean DEPUTY! Deputy Jenna, CW marketing department responsible for synopsis! GUH.

Anyhooo...I like that Dean heads back to Sam. Yay! Even if he then heads back to Jenna. And I'm worried about Sam not being able to handle the Rabid towns people as easy as he thought...WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO SAM! And mysterious deadly gas? What a funny way to put it! I sorta want to slap this synopsis!


ANYHOOOOO!


AND WE KNOW CROWLEY IS IN THIS EVEN THOUGH HE'S NOT IN THE SYNOPSIS...'cause...

Excellent

AND WE KNOW CAS IS IN THIS EVEN THOUGH HE'S NOT IN THE SYNOPSIS...'cause...

Pretty eyes! :P

But back to the synopsis. . Last week it was Carver and Singer. This week it's Dabb and Sgriccia. 

Woohoo! What a start to the season!


Okie dokie. Let's check out the promo!

Awwwww it's so short! We were spoiled with all these 1 minute and 2 minute trailers we had before the season premiere. Back to good old 20 seconds! Boo.

THE BABY EATS SOULS! IN HER BOTTLE? Heh. 

Is that what the Darkness does, eat souls or is baby Amara something different. Of course Father Fergus is okay, he doesn't have one! 

There's loads of soul eater mythology - in movies and comics - so it'll be interesting to see what Crowley means and what the show's take on it is.

And what the hell is going on with Sam. What is that. What's happening? WHAT'S HAPPENING? It's all so choppy. I have no clue what's going on in this promo. People screaming. Bodies flying around. Sammy possibly shirtless..................... What? Oh yeah...

And when is Dean going to change out of the Murder shirt! P-ewww! (Mmmmm eau de Dean)

Then there's the CHCH promo - which has way more stuff about Sam and his struggle in it! I wonder who the chick is who says she knows someone is dying. Sam? Or someone else? I really need to know how Sam gets fixed! (Sorry I can't for the life of me centre this!)

Here's the sneak peek! For a minute I thought we weren't getting one!

KABOOM! HEART AND OTHER THINGS EXPLODE! Dean Winchester with a baby... AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

I love that sneak peek for reasons of adorable, for reasons of how Dean reacts - as in doesn't - to Jenna's virginity comment, he's the coolest dude EVER, for reasons of, "for us the bar's pretty low".  I LOVE YOU DEAN WINCHESTER! I love you.

Then there was this fun little number! With some old and some new! TEASE!

GOOD TIMES INDEED!


Argh! I can't wait to see what happens! I hope we end with Sam and Dean in Baby (not with baby), going off to save people whilst hunting things! Just like at the end of that 2nd CW promo! GOOOOOD TIMES!

It's so exciting to have our show back. It's so exciting to have that delicious anticipation every week. That not knowing. That thrill of a new episode and all the happiness, all the angst, ALL THE FEELS!

Enjoy the episode, everyone!

-sweetondean

THE CARVER IS TALKING!

OH THAT BABY IS SMART FOR HER AGE WITH THE SPELLING! Heh,

How cool does that look with the baby having powers and stuff! Oh I think I love this all ready. And Sam, I can't wait to see what he does to sort black veiny virusy thing out. And Crowley wants the baby? I think that sounds like a hilarious sitcom! "My dad, the King of Hell". I'D WATCH THAT!

Of course the clips tell us way more than Carver does! He's such a spoiler volt. GIVE US SOMETHING, CARVER! Anything.

SOOOOO EXCITED! WHO YA GUNNA CALL?

This guy.  

Have fun, everyone!

-sweetondean (again)

Review: Supernatural Season 11 Premere - Out of the Darkness, Into the Fire.

How good does it feel to have our show back? No really, HOW GOOD IS IT? I always know during hiatus that I’m missing Sam and Dean, no matter how many rewatches I do! But it’s never until they're back on my screen, all new and shiny, and I’m once again immersed in the chaos of their lives, that I realise just how much I miss my Winchesters.

On premiere day, I spent the whole day at work watching the clock and trying to figure out exactly when I could escape and get home to watch Supernatural. I kept off twitter, I stayed spoiler free of the day, I hadn’t read or heard a thing about how the episode was or what people thought. I raced home and sat down and prepared myself. I was ridiculously excited. So excited. My show was back!

And it did not disappoint. Out of the Darkness, Into the Fire was epic, and wonderful and I loved every anxious inducing, disorientating moment of it!

Welcome back, Show. In your 11th season, you are still as surprising as you were in your first.

I loved opening up exactly where we left off in the season 10 finale. I always love when that happens. It gives such a nice sense of continuity. Like we’ve never been gone. Like the last 5 months never happened!

Seeing the Darkness roll in through both Sam and Dean’s differing perspectives was genius. As was the disjointed timeline. Hopping back and forth throughout the hour, kept me just a tad off kilter, which added to those tense, and impending doom feelings I was most definitely getting! As did that drone under so much of the soundtrack, and those really loud bug and bird noises that became almost wince inducing! The whole thing made me feel uneasy in the best possible way.

We were promised a backed to basic vibe, and that’s what we got. The episode felt familiar yet new all in one. The brothers were together, and sure, arguing…they’re bull-headed Winchesters after all, but together…whole…talking…and…listening! It felt like the start of something really great, and something the show has been steadfastly working its way towards over the last few seasons. The brothers being brothers again, but with a grow’dupness that allows them to speak out, and even if they don’t like what they’re hearing, stop and pay attention. Weeeeee!

In fact, this episode felt very much like season 2’s Croatoan to me. Sam and Dean trapped in a hospital, a rage-inducing virus overcoming a town, Sam infected. The tautness, the fear, the feeling of helplessness and claustrophobia their situation and the Darkness swirling around them was stirring up. And Croatoan is one of my favourite episodes ever. So colour me an extremely happy fan. Out of the Darkness, Into the Fire, ROCKED.


Remember when Jensen said at the Australian convention AHBL6, that he'd pitched to Carver that when the Darkness clears, one of the boys should be missing? HUH! Guess he either knows his show so well that he was pitching something they were all ready planning, or they listened. Of course, Jensen had an ulterior motive, that of wanting some time off! A few eps with Dean gone, only to find him on a beach in Hawaii. Nice try Jensen! That’s not exactly how it played out!

I loved seeing Sam witness Dean disappear before being knocked out cold in the trauma of the Darkness overcoming him and Baby. Dean in the churning mass of smoke confused, as this new enemy calmly stands before him. It was all so gorgeous.

Have you ever seen anything as pretty as Dean waking up in a bed of wildflowers? I think not! The peculiar juxtaposition of seeing this tough hunter, surrounded by the reds and pinks of nature, all soft and sunlit glowing, made the shot even more striking. Dean asleep is a beautiful thing, Dean asleep surrounded by flowers is stunning! Actually so was Sam coming up over the hill, hair and worried swirling thing on his forehead in full force! We don’t often get to see our boys in sunshine!

*sigh* It was so good to have them back.

And it was great to have them talking.

For a while now, their job, the toll it has taken on lives, has created pragmatism in how they deal with not only the supernatural, but also the victims of the supernatural. Whether it’s killing demons with the demon knife, and in consequence killing the vessel, or openly talking about killing a teenage girl infected with vampirism, when they actually know a cure. It’s hardened them to the plight of those that they may have once considered saving first. Sam was right; they rock at the Hunting bit of the bumper sticker (loved that reference) but the Saving People bit…they’ve strayed away from. Not entirely of course, but it’s somewhat secondary to them now. When facing off against evil, kill first, ask questions later is how they roll, and it wasn’t always like that. It’s the fallout from years of fighting and watching those you love being destroyed by the life.

“If we don’t change, right now, all of our crap is just going to keep repeating itself. I unleashed a force on this world that could destroy it, to save you and I’d do it again, in a second I would do it again. This isn’t on you, this is on us, we have to change."

This was an incredibly self-aware moment for both the show and the brothers, and after so much water under the bridge, it felt like that big reset button being firmly pushed once and for all on the brother’s relationship.

Of course they will always save each other, that’s who they are, that’s who the show is. But facing what they’ve brought about together, without finger pointing, without wallowing guilt, which out anger at each other, that feels new. “We broke it, we brought it.” “Lock and key”. How I loved that.

And sadly, they will always keep secrets – that’s how they were raised, and they’ve been doing this since we first met them. But I give Sam a pass on not telling Dean he was infected by the Rabid nurse in the storeroom (what a great gig to get, fighting Jared!). If he’d had told Dean, Dean would have hightailed it back to Sam without hesitating. And I give Dean a pass on not telling Sam about what he was remembering of the Darkness, they had other fish to fry in that moment, and I’m not even sure Dean knew what he was remembering – and certainly wasn’t able to make sense of it. But I do hope they both come clean at some point…in the near future…she says…knowing better.

And what about all that stuff with the Darkness? What the hell did that mean? I wasn’t even entirely sure that Dean was actually remembering, or if only we were seeing what happened. Or was that yet to happen? Were we seeing a future conversation? Was she there, or did she just manifest in Dean’s mind? I was as disoriented as Dean was – which was so well done and really kinda perfect.

I do think that “I’m screwed” look on his face at the end, probably meant it was all coming back to him in dribs and drabs though, and none of it sounded good. Poor Dean, truly out of the darkness into the fire.

What will it mean to be bound to the Darkness? We certainly saw the affect the always protecting the Darkness thing had on him when it was revealed at the end that the baby named Amara wore the Mark of Cain. A teeny weenie Mark of Cain! I gasped! Then clapped my hands because it was so damn deliciously unexpected!

So was the baby the Darkness herself? The Darkness born into this world, kinda like Damien. That might explain why the mother died. Or maybe she was a new lock against the Darkness, that might explain why the Rabids all focused on the hospital – trying to destroy the new lock? Or maybe the Rabids were the opposite - maybe they were a side effect of the Darkness being released, like antibodies and they were coming to destroy the baby - maybe that's why Dean wanted to kill them all so bad. I saw some people theorising that the baby was in fact the progeny of the Darkness and Dean – they did look like they were about to make out! #Hot. Though that never entered into my head (and I totally hope Show doesn’t go there).

And did it all feel like this was another baby that was carried to saftey by Dean - a baby also infected with something supernatural... Powerful ties back to something so familiar, when Dean carried Sam out of their burning house, Sam infected with demon blood... Nice.

I loved everything about the Darkness. Her menacing stillness, how she said she felt peaceful around Dean (Jensen can be quite calming!), questioning whether Dean was saying he wanted to kill her or he shouldn’t kill her – placing doubt in his mind and ours. She was beautiful, her smoke was beautiful, and she was a scary as hell. She’s everything a malevolent, ancient entity should be, and I can’t wait to find out more about what the hell she is, and what that means to our boys. Being freed after so long locked away and thought forgotten, what are her plans for this world, and the man she has called her protector. Eeeep!

And that was the thing I loved the most about Out of the Fire, Into the Darkness, the questions it raised, the confused and unsettled state I was left in, just like the brothers. It was like we were truly experiencing their loss of equilibrium alongside them, as we all struggled to understand this latest apocalyptic disaster. It was beautifully done. Perfect and intriguing. And I’m desperate to see what happens next - which is just how a season premiere should leave you.


Though the focus was well and truly on Sam and Dean, we also found out what the outcome was for Crowley and Cas.

Cas, whammied by Rowena’s attack dog spell, is trying to control his homicidal tendencies. It was touching to see him reach out to the brothers and check in on Dean, playing down his own dire predicament to ensure his friend was okay. Wonder where he learnt that! I do wish he hadn’t put his faith back in Heaven. Geesh. Maybe he was hoping for Hannah and her sisters (and brothers) to come to his aid. Instead he got who knows what! Two rogue angels? That was my immediate thought. Or two pissed off angels. Metatron’s henchmen? I wonder what they want from him? It doesn’t look good! Especially in the next promo! (Spoiler alert!)

And Crowley made an excellent and crafty escape. Nice work, sir! I love seeing his red smoke, it’s so luscious! And he lucked out getting a bit on the side before calling for his minions to reunite him with his usual meat suit! The aftermath of the orgy…I don’t even want to know. I feel like the Darkness and him are not going to be friends...which will throw him awkwardly back in line with the Winchesters - well, maybe not with Sam after all the trying to kill him stuff!


And then… the Cage was mentioned.

Michael and Lucifer and THE CAGE! O.M.G.!

Okay, bear with me while I indulge my crazy, overactive, fangirl brains!

The Croatoan virus was Lucifer’s end game in the Apocalypse timeline. Lucifer was the original wearer of the Mark of Cain, the lock for the Darkness, and the evil of the curse associated with it rose up inside him, turning him into to what we know now as The Devil. If the Darkness’ smoke did in fact cause this “28 Days Later” affect on the locals of Superior, maybe that’s where Lucifer got the virus idea – from his connection to the Darkness? And the fact that demons, which Lucifer created, are like tiny clouds of Darkness…OMG, I really love all these connections! Even if they’re only in my mind!

What if…when the Mark was removed from Dean’s arm, it was also removed from Lucifer, the original lock and key? I’m assuming, of course, that it was still on him somewhere – Cain retained the Mark and it’s affects, even when he passed it on to Dean. What if that was who was screaming in the Cage…Lucifer, suddenly clear of the Mark? Tormented by what he has become, and knowing that this ancient evil he was the last line of defence against, was now free – and he was now free of its influence. 

Lucifer is the Morning Star, the bringer of light… And now we have the Darkness… Huh? Huh? You reading my mail on where I’m going with this?

WAIT! I never theorise because I’m always wrong! Always. Without fail. Usually proven by one of you guys in the comments! But I love Lucifer (that still makes me awkward to write) and I would dearly love his story to somehow be woven into this latest mess…as long as if we get to see him, he's Mark Pellegrino (maybe not so rotty tho)! 

Or course it could have been Michael screaming…and I'd like that to be Matt please (which doesn't make sense I know but still), I’d be cool with that too. I AM EXCITED THAT THE CAGE AND LUCIFER AND MICHAEL WERE MENTIONED, CAN YOU TELL? Someone is screaming in the Cage. Someone. Is. Screaming. In. The. Cage.

Out of the Darkness, Into the Fire, was a powerful, intriguing, suspenseful opener, which set the scene for what already feels like an exciting season. It was beautiful to look at, with sassy dialogue and an inspired constructed script by Carver, and more of the spot on performances from our main cast, and guest stars that this show seems to continue to deliver. There was a familiarity to the vibe of the thing that feels good and right and that I was longing for without even consciously knowing it

I’m already loving how the brothers are talking and relating to each other, sharing blame, not wallowing in guilt, (and yeah, lying, but I’ll reserve judgement on that). Sam’s determination to be heard. Dean stopping and actually hearing his brother. Both allowing the other to do what they do best. *swoon*

The questions around what the Darkness is, what she wants, and what’s her bond to Dean is, are fabulously fascinating.

The questions around Sam’s infection – did the Rabids back off because they knew he was already one of them, or because of something else? Demon blood? Lingering Grace? How is he going to cure himself and what will that mean? More deliciousness!

What on earth is the deal with the baby? Who is she really? And will Dean have to ask for some skin to make sure everyone he feels passionate about saving in the future isn’t actually secretly marked? Heh.

The torture angels what's their deal, and the crying out in THE CAGE! Is Crowley going to go check it out? We're going to see the Cage aren't we. Oh God. That's so damn exciting.

There's so much I don’t understand and that’s just awesome. Like, so awesome I can’t even. Because really, should a show 11 seasons in, be this damn surprising? I watched this episode 3 times back to back and every time I was blown away and excited – maybe even a little more than the time before. I’ve since watched it a few more times. And I’ll watch it again when I’ve finished posting this. It’s up there with my favourite openers. There. I said it. I loved the tone of it. I just love the not knowing. I love thinking about what everything means. Reading theories. Talking theories. I don’t do this with any other show, and I know in my heart I never, ever will. Supernatural is just that special. 

Welcome back, Show! I missed you like crazy. ❤

-sweetondean

The Light on Spoilers, Heavy on (over excited) Squee Preview of the Supernatural SEASON 11 Premiere - "Out of the Darkness, Into the Fire"

OH MY GIDDY AUNT!
IT'S NEARLY HERE!
THE HELLATUS IS NEARLY BEHIND US!
IT'S SUPERNATURAL SEASON 11 TIME!

SEASON 11! 11!

Woo. Gotta calm down!

And that means it's preview time! Yay!

Yep, it's time to get our hearts ready for lots of Supernatural style love and pain, which is the same as love in our fandom, because season 11 is upon us!

So where did we leave our favourite heroes and villains?

Sam did a deal with an evil witch, because Dean's Mark of Cain was making him twitch.

Dean was getting more grrrr by the day, and Sam knew that there was no other way.

So he constructed a plan and started to lie, but he really didn't mean for Charlie to die... :(

She gave her life for her adopted big bro, so Rowena could make that pesky Mark of Cain go.

Then Death got a call to meet Dean face to face, and offered to send him to outer space!

To remove the Mark would let an evil out, an evil called the Darkness, in case there was doubt!

But before Death would let their deal be done, he said Dean had to kill number 2 son!

With Sammy looking up all puppy dog eyes, Dean gave us all a helluva surprise.

He swung Death's scythe away from his bro, and straight into Death, and down Death did go!

Meanwhile Rowena and Crowley and Cas, were concocting a spell that was totally bad ass!

It sent them flying across the room, and out of the window a lightning bolt went zoooom.

Straight to Dean's mark, it made his arm glow, and when the dust cleared he was like, "Where did it go?"

The Mark of Cain totally vanished from sight, and Sam was like, "Cool! It's gunna be all right!"

And Dean was like, "Um I don't think so bro", since when does our luck not totally blow!"

Then out of the ground came great plumes of black, and Sam and Dean were like, "OH. FRACK!"

They ran to the car, but got stuck in a hole, as a big cloud of Darkness towards them did roll!

Meanwhile things for Crowley were not going well, when Rowena hit Cas with an attack dog spell.

Cas all bloody and bleeding eye, charged at Crowley, angel blade raised high.

Back with the boys they sat side by side, just as they should on this epic ride.

Nothing to protect them, but Baby and each other, as Sam reached out to hold onto his brother. 

And as we faded to black we were left with sound, of Sam calling Dean...
WAY TO MAKE OUR HEARTS POUND!

I would like to formally apologise for my bad poetry


NOW

SEASON 11 BABY!!

WOOOOHOOOO!

So, let's check out the synopsis for episode 1 of season 11, "Out of the Darkness, Into the Fire"

THE WINCHESTERS FACE THEIR BIGGEST THREAT EVER — Picking up where the finale left off, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) must deal with the Darkness that has been unleashed. Castiel (Misha Collins) deals with the effects of Rowena’s (Ruth Connell) spell and recalls his brutal battle with Crowley (Mark A. Sheppard). Robert Singer directed the episode written by Jeremy Carver

The A team! All of our wonderful cast, and Carver and Singer!

So we know that we pickup exactly where we left off season 10 - with Cas going for Crowley and the boys facing down the Darkness. Though according to Jensen, when we rejoin the boys, we don't know exactly how long they were in the Darkness and what happened to them whilst they were surrounded by the black ick! Oooooo!

We've been kind of spoiled when it's come to trailers and sneak peeks and stuff for this episode! Well, I should say for the premiere of the season, because apart from the sneak peek, we know that there's more than one episode represented in the promos that we've been lucky enough to be gifted with. Like the EPIC 2 minute trailer that was produced by the show! it looks like shots from episodes 1 - 4 to me, because I'd say the point of view shot of the boys eating is from the "Baby" ep, which is episode 4.

So here's the very special, secret project, promo that the show put together, just for us!

How lucky are we to have the show itself put together a season opening promo, and a really great one at that! When I saw this promo it reminded me just how dark and bloody our show is. Because this is damn dark, and damn bloody, and damn awesome. And that shot of Jensen driving the Impala at the end is one of the hottest things I've ever seen. Ever. Like...EVER.


We also know that the season opener is pretty much a 2 parter. Not sure if that means a TO BE CONTINUED or just that the events of episode 1 stretch into episode 2. We know that from what The Carver has said, but also the synopsis and promo pics from episode 2 feature the same guest cast as in episode 1. I love this. I love that we get a really fleshed out opening to this season and that the first 2 episodes are to be looked at as one piece.

Here's the CW promo. Which has a lot of different shots in it and a very dark and grungy vibe. I like this promo, it brands the show as totally badassed. It looks like a horror show. As it should!

There's a lot going on here. Is what happens to this town, because of the Darkness? I'm kind of assuming so. I'm totally looking forward to seeing what happened to Sam and Dean when that Darkness rolled over them. And what the hell with the screaming Sam shots - with his face all pulled in some contraption, and blood running down, and he's shirtless (which I ain't gunna complain about). Man, what is even going on! Eeeeeee! My excitement levels are growing exponentially as I talk about it!

Okay, and we also got a sneak peek!

I love how in sync the boys are. The way they get out of the car together, cock their guns together, raise their guns. together. Sam's little sideways glances at his brother, checking in. Love it. I freakin' love this sneak peek. Seriously though, "show me some skin", should become the show's new catch phrase! Right?

I'm pretty damn excited for this season. Okay, yes, I'm excited for every season! But for the first time in a long time...like a really freakin' long time, we go into a season knowing that both the boys are whole, they're not supernaturally affected, or dying, or on some other plane, or with some random chick! They're not separated, they're on the same page, fighting shoulder to should as brothers, and HOLY SHIT, I mean that alone is bloody awesome! 

I'm also really glad that Crowley is back to being a bastard and that Cas (once he's sorted out that attack dog thing), is a fully charged up angel again - though not sure what ramifications that will have on the story, it's always been an issue, the Winchesters having a high powered angelic buddy as a get out of gaol free card!

But, mostly, I'm just so damn excited to see my favourite bros being bros. I'm sure they have some stuff to nut out, and Winchesters being Winchesters, they will fight and there will be lies and all that stuff that has been part of their functionally dysfunctional relationship from the get go. But hey, they're Sam and Dean, not possessed, wall broken brain damaged, on deaths door, or demonised. THEY ARE SAM AND DEAN. For now. I think. And that's AMAZEBALLS. 

Enjoy the episode. I intend to bask in it. If I could roll around on it I would!

FUCK YEAH SUPERNATURAL IS BACK!

Excuse the language I'm excited. And also Australian....

-sweetondean

SUPERNATURAL VANCON 2015 REPORT

My friend, Elizabeth went to Vancon this year and has kindly written up a report to share her wonderful experiences! Don't forget to give her some love in the comments!
-sweetondean


The Creation Entertainment Supernatural Convention in Vancouver (#VanCon) is always a very special experience. It is the “hometown” of Supernatural. The show has filmed every episode but The Pilot there so any place you go you can easily stumble upon locations used in the show. It makes the world of Supernatural feel real in a way. I love being able to stand in a place and say “Sam and Dean stood right here.”

This convention was the first weekend of a nearly month long vacation so I am going to try my best to remember the highlights these many weeks later :D

This year the convention was held at the Vancouver Convention Centre in downtown Vancouver. It has normally been held at the Sheraton Wall Centre which is a hotel. You could easily walk down from your hotel room to the convention. This year everyone had to stay off-sight. I thought it was going to be a bigger problem than it was but our hotel ended up being only two blocks from the convention center and an easy walk (even in some of the rainy mornings). The convention center was GIGANTIC!!! I really enjoyed having VanCon here but did kind of get nostalgic when we drove by the Wall Centre later in the week. Though, I count it as a good sign that the conventions are getting so big they have to look for larger buildings to hold them in.

We all arrived in Vancouver on Thursday. There is a small group of us who make this journey (pilgrimage?) (I kid...) (maybe) to Vancouver every summer. For most of us, this is the only time we see each other all year so it is always a great reunion. Registration started around 8pm and even though we were re-upping the same seats for next year we still loved to hang in the registration line with everyone. After we got registered we did a quick recon of the center to familiarize ourselves with the new layout. Even for the size, it was surprisingly easy to navigate. The convention center had its own security that was handling the lines and mass of people. They did such an amazing job. It was great to have them around.


FRIDAY

I love Fridays at Supernatural conventions. There are not as many people and the energy is always really high! Louden Swain and Richard are a house band and MC to beat no other. Their chemistry is electric and they play off each other so well. They joked in Dallas that they should record a convention song album with all the songs that have become standard at SPN conventions. Like “Rules and Regulations” and “The Last Question” I think that would be hilarious and I would so buy one (to get autographed, of course) :D

Anywho...I digress...

The breathtaking Mr. Gil McKinney kicked off VanCon with his solo panel. Gil is in New York trying his hand at singing and acting there. He shared some stories about his dogs not liking NY. Pretty funny. Of course, a fan asked a singing question and he broke into As Time Goes By from Casablanca. His voice...so perfect...so rich...so (what? Oh sorry)

Tyler Johnston was up next. I was able to see Tyler at his first convention appearance in Vegas in March. He is such a stage presence and ridiculously funny! He also tells a version of the classic Kim Manner’s Bee Story from the episode Bugs. It is also interesting to hear him talk about the difference between working on the show in Season 1 and then again in Season 8.

Osric’s panel was amazing as always. We had heard there was going to be an epic cosplay but when he arrived on stage he was just dressed in his normal street attire. He shared the story of an amazing fan who had worked so hard on his cosplay (and even drove DAYS to hand deliver it) but Osric could tell that he wasn’t satisfied so he told him to keep working on it and Osric would premiere it at another convention. Aww! *heart clench*

It was so fun to have Erica Carroll at her first convention appearance in VanCon. She was a little nervous when she got on stage (she confessed to reading some fan reactions to Hannah) but she was so sweet and amazing and the crowd just loved on her. She brought cupcakes to hand out to the people asking her questions. Her panel was amazing. Fun fact: When Hannah is naked in front of Cas (10.07 Girls, Girls, Girls) that isn’t actually Erica. She used a body double for that scene because she has made the choice not to be naked on film. I really respect her courage. The sensational Ruthie Connell also made an appearance at the end of Erica’s panel. The two knew each other before Supernatural so it was neat to hear them squee about being on the same show.

Those were the panels for Friday. My friend Jilly and I had decided to do a Louden Swain photo op together last minute. I had done one before but she had not. When we got up to the band, Jilly said “This is my first Louden Swain photo op!!” All the guys were like “YAY!! We have to do something special!!” Mike offered her his bass and Billy, Rob and Mike all squeezed in around her. I wanted to hug Steve (because drummers need love too!!). It was a great photo op and when we got them to sign it on Sunday they all cracked up seeing it. Side note: when we did another Louden Swain op in Dallas two weeks later (yes, we were addicted), Steve remembered me and said “More hugs for the drummer??” when we were leaving the op. He gave me an extra hug. Love him <3

photo by Chris Schmelke

We skipped karaoke because some of us were sick and all of us were tired with a few more weeks of vacation left but from all accounts it was a great night!


SATURDAY

Saturday opened with high expectations! There had been some rumors about a certain person showing up to Saturday Night Special.

Ruth’s panel was up first. She also brought gifts because she didn’t want to be outdone by Erica. But she confessed to not being as on top of it as she could have been so she just brought all the free toiletries from the hotel to hand out! It was completely hilarious. She is a gem of a woman. Strong and so capable. She might be my new girl crush (she totally is). I can’t wait to see Rowena again this year.

Theo Devaney (who played Crowley’s son Gavin) made his first convention appearance. He was sincere, funny and completely stole the crowd. Plus...his accent is really sexy. Sexy. Like a lot sexy...
where was I?
Oh yes. Theo is sexy.

Osric and Gil did their joint panel has as become tradition. They love to tease and play off each other. It is very fun to watch. Osric was teasing Gil that he needed to find a Jasmine costume for him to wear sometime after Gil admitted in his solo panel that he kinda liked Jasmine as a kid.

Always one of my absolute favorite panels of any con weekend is Mark Sheppard’s. He is so snarky, witty and hilarious. I love how he roams the crowd. This time he found a little girl wearing the “I Wuv Hugs” shirt and she matched wits with him for a couple minutes. It was EPIC! Find the video on YouTube. It is a must watch. Mark always closes his panel with a sincere thank you to the SPN fans. He is such a huge supporter of us just as we are of him.

Always makes sure to go pee before the R2M (Richard, Rob & Matt) panel. You will regret it if you don’t :D The highlight this year was when someone brought the hamster from ComicCon and they did a whole rift with it again. THE LAUGHTER TEARS WERE REAL!! They are so spontaneous and are the best of friends. I loves them <3

Last panel of the day was Misha’s. This panel at VanCon was probably the best Misha panel I have ever seen. Of course, everyone teared up when he come on stage because this was the first time he had appeared since he was mugged in Minnesota. Everyone was so glad to see him looking so good. The love was obvious in the room.

We were able to have a nice long break to run back the hotel and freshen up before the SNS that evening.


SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL

This amazing night that Louden Swain puts together every convention is...honestly, there are no words to describe it. The energy and passion is perfect. I look forward to the SNS every convention. There is nothing like it.

When we arrived and took our seats I spied Clif over to the right side of the stage. I laughed and said “That can only mean ONE thing!” But as the music got started, I kinda forgot about the extra treat we were expecting. Louden Swain is magic on that stage. They pull in the talented cast of SPN and of the Creation staff and put on a DAMN good show. Gil singing is always an epic highlight! He sang a Maroon 5 song this time. That boy...he really can sing anything.

After Louden Swain and Rich sang Seven Bridges Road (personal favorite, btw), Rob turned to the curtain and invited a “new to the convention tour” guest. He then broke into this huge grin and said “J-dawg, will you get out here?!”

Nothing prepares you for Jensen Ackles jumping up on stage dressed in dark green pants and a black t-shirt with a 6-string slung around his neck. Nothing...NOTHING I TELL YOU!

photo by Karen Cooke

I was in Vegas when he sang Sister Christian at the SNS but just adding the guitar to this performance made it 500 times sexier. Shew! Okay...

Jensen sang Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd with Louden Swain, Richard, Mark Sheppard and Adam Malin. It is pure joy to watch Jensen 100% enjoy something. When he sings he is in this bubble of happiness. He is a rocker at heart. I could watch him forever. (If you somehow missed this 8th wonder of the world ;-) ...here is the link).

After Jensen, Louden Swain and Gil lead everyone in Carry On Wayward Son. It always gives me chills to sing that song in a room of fellow SPN fans. CHILLS!


SUNDAY

Bright and early Sunday is the J2 Gold panel. I don’t usually remember much from this panel because JARED AND JENSEN ARE 20 FEET AWAY!!! I usually have to go watch YouTube afterwards (shoutout to the awesome fans who record these panels for us so we can relive memories!) But some of the things I do remember is the beautiful discussion that the boys had about balancing families and work. They talked lovingly about their wives and how they are so patient and forgiving about finding that delicate balance.

They also expounded on the snake story from Yellow Fever and how Jared was the one freaking out about the snake even though it was coming over the couch on Jensen’s shoulder. Of course they demonstrated :D

They also told a story about driving from Vancouver to L.A. after the season one year in separate vehicles but together [Jensen: “It was a convoy. I’m not going to lie.”] They had walkie-talkies and demonstrated the conversations between vehicles. “What’s your 20?” “I’m still right behind you!” Boys <3

After the panel, it is always a blur of J photo-ops. I loved all my photo op experiences and I love how they take a minute each time to make you feel special, heard and loved. The one experience I will share is in Jensen’s solo photo op, I had just done a op with a friend and him. She was walking away and Jensen held my arm because we had told Chris as we walked up that it was a double and then a solo. I stood there with Jensen holding my upper arm and looking at me and I couldn’t figure out why he wasn’t doing the pose idea I had. It felt like a minute but I am sure it was just a few seconds before I realized I hadn’t actually told him the pose idea! I started laughing and was like “I need to tell you my pose!” Jensen laughed and said “I was waiting!” By that time I had forgotten the pose so I just asked for a hug. He said “Absolutely.” and hugged me really tight. Later when I picked up my op from the photo table, I burst into tears. WHICH I HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE, MIND YOU! It is my favorite solo op.

photo by Chris Schmelke

An extra special treat this year was having the promo of the Supernatural Fan Movie at the convention. Clif and his brother Mitch and Jason Fischer did a short Q&A about the making of the movie and their hopes for the future of the project. Their love for the fans was so evident that I am tearing up just writing this. They wanted to put into words and video the magic of the SPN Family and judging from one of the best 8 minute promos I’ve ever seen, they have done just that. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place as we all watched this tribute to the lightening in a bottle that is our family.

Here is the link to the promo and the fundraising page for the project. Check it out.

One of the cool things that happened on Sunday (I don’t remember when it exactly happened. Sorry...fuzzy brain) Richard and Rob were on stage talking about how someone from Entertainment Weekly had done a piece about Jensen singing the night before and had mentioned everyone performing with him EXCEPT for Louden Swain!! It was their concert and they weren’t even mentioned!! So they asked us to all tweet them and tell them to credit the band. I believe the hashtag was #dontforgettheband Less than an hour later, they came back on stage to share the tweet that EW had posted on their official account giving credit to Louden Swain. They were VERY impressed by our fandom influence! It was a great moment.

The boy’s afternoon panel was a lot of fun. I loved Rob and Jensen’s back and forth about how they showed up both dressed alike. Rob did this pantomime about he and Mike climbing a ladder and looking into Jensen’s window to see what he was wearing so he could dress the same. Hilarious!! :D Then there was the running gag about Jared’s fake quote about volcanoes being mountains that are volcanoes and Jensen’s “comedy elbows” They were in a great mood.

Things became more serious when they were asked to describe each other in 3 words. Jared called Jensen “Talented, loyal to a fault, genuinely caring.” Jensen called Jared “A good friend.” The sweetest moment was when they were answering a question about their favorite moments on set and Jensen said his favorite was watching Jared fall in love with Gen. (awwwwwwww!!!!!) He told this funny story about Jared interrupting Gen reading on set between scenes (which apparently she doesn’t like) and trying to start a conversation. It was a beautifully precious.

photo by @jillyrulz

They wrapped the panel with the standard last question song. Rob gave Jared his own cow bell that had JPAD written on it in case he wanted to join SNS in the future!

______________________________

I am know there were so many other things that happened but this re-cap is already nearing novel length. Thanks for bearing with me.

I am so grateful that I am able to go to conventions. I will never take it for granted. The opportunity to meet and talk with our cast and crew. To meet and develop amazing friendships with fellow fans. These conventions are like huge family reunions.

Thanks to Amy for letting me relive the awesomeness <3 I will be back in a few weeks with a DenverCon recap! I am so excited they are FINALLY coming to my home city!! I still have to pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming the whole thing!

-Elizabeth

SPOILERS SWEETIES! Promotional Photos - Supernatural 11x02 "Form and Void"

YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S ONLY A FEW DAYS UNTIL THE SEASON PREMIERE, RIGHT?

AND NOW WE HAVE PROMO PICS FROM EPISODE 2.

OMGGGGGGGG!

Let's look at them!

*The following quotes from episode may or may not be correct.

Dean internally: "Oh for goodness sake, I have one maroon shirt, ONE! And she goes and wears the same colour? I mean. Really?"

Girl internally: "Damn him. He looks way better in this colour than I do. Stupid pretty-boy hunter."

Fandom internally "Is he still wearing the murder shirt? How many days in a row has Dean Winchester been wearing that shirt? It must be starting to smell. Mmmmm Dean Winchester smell...."

Guy internally: "Is that a damn moose coming down the street after me?"

Sam internally: "I can't believe how glossy and fluffy my hair still looks, even after the Darkness got all up and in it."

Guy internally: "Stupid pretty-boy hunter with his glossy and fluffy hair. Or you know, hair."

Crowley internally: "Excellent"

Dean internally: "OH COME ON...NOW CROWLEY'S WEARING A PRIEST'S OUTFIT? That's totally mine and Sammy's look!"

Crowley internally singing whilst gazing at Dean: "Misty water colour memorieeeessss of the way we wereeeeeeee. Sigh."

Cas: "PUDDING!" Ha ha ha. Oh." 

Cas internally: "Damn it. I hate it when I'm hilarious and no one is here to see it"

Cas: "PUDDING!"

Random Demon 1 internally: "Well, this is awkward."

Random Demon 2 internally: "Huh. That thing about them being junkless is obviously so NOT true."

Cas internally: "I bet this never happens to Dean Winchester when he drops his pants."

YEP, PRETTY SURE THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON IN THESE PROMO PICS!

-sweetondean