Supernatural VegasCon 2015 - Day 1 Report

Hi everyone!

Well here I am as day 2 of Vegascon kicks off, I thought I'd give you a quick report on the shenanigans so far!

Hazel and I drove in to Vegas on Wednesday - we'd spent the previous day at the other happiest place on earth, Disneyland! The schedule was very late to go up, but we did know that registration for Gold commenced at 9pm. OMG...SO LATE! Last year it was about 7pm! Anyhoooo...we checked into the hotel, running into a few pals on the way to our room. The thing about doing a bunch of these things is that you get to know so many people, it really is like this big family reunion atmosphere!

We headed down to registration about 7.30, we'd seen via the wonders of the Vegascon hashtag on twitter that people were queueing from about 6! We didn't need a low reupping number (for next year), as we wanted to keep our seats. (They're good seats, C33, 32. Pretty central and nice and close.) I gotta tell you though, I was so happy that we got down there early! Because the line became like Crowley's Hell before too long. 

We sat in the queue chatting to friends, meeting new friends and hugging friends passing by. I got to meet Viv, who I've been talking to on twitter for 5 years at least! She was one of the first Supernatural fans that I connected with and we finally met! Awesome.

About 9.30 rego finally kicked off and we got through it all pretty quickly, hit the vendors room and then hit the sack! It had been a long day!

Day 1 of the convention kicked off Thursday at 1230, with the wonderful sounds of Louden Swain, followed on stage by the host with the most, Mr Richard Speight Jr.! 

I suggest if you're coming to a con, you do not miss the opening. Rob and Rich are such good mates. They riff off each other and are damn funny. They could take that show on the road! Rich is an amazing ad libber - his sassy comebacks are the best. They tease each other, they tease us. They really are a great opening act! The Rules and Regulations song has become a highlight. Every time Richard tells us the rules they're a little different (but the same), all to the musical back up of Louden Swain. And of course being Thursday people (as opposed to Friday people), we also got our very own song! I will say that the turn out for Thursday was one of the best I've ever seen. It was a big crowd for the first day!

Our first guest out was Tyler Johnston. Tyler of course played 2 characters in Supernatural, Matt Pike in season one's "Bugs" and then the ill fated Weiner Hut angel Alfie/Samandriel.

Tyler was a lovely story teller and had a great sense of  humour, very dry. He talked about some of his other projects that he's done over the years, how he looks 10 years old (he looks about 18 and he's 28), and how he can't grow a beard! He told a very funny story about having to wear a "cock sock" for a nude scene on the second day of shooting a series he was working on. They gave him something resembling a baby sock and he had to ask the wardrobe person for assistance to squeeze everything into it! Then everything kind of fell out of it during the scene - yes these are the things we talk about at conventions! He told us that the head gear Samandriel had to wear during the Crowley torture scene was super painful and was like actual torture! It pressed into his head and what with all the screaming he had to do, he was extremely uncomfortable. He told us that when he did the first episode of Supernatural, he asked the boys for an autograph for "his sister", but it was actually for him, and he had that signed photo on his bedroom wall for what sounds like an awkward amount of years (he said until he was 24, but I think he was joking...I think)! He finally took it down, but he still has it.

Next on stage was Travis Aaron Wade - AKA Cole. This was Travis' first convention, but you'd never know it. He was like a pro. Super charming, super funny, brilliant stories. I think everyone left the room totally enamoured (as you could tell by the instant queue to go buy tickets for a photo op with him!)

Travis talked a lot about his animal charity, Arm The Animals, how that came about and the work they do. He also told us how he ended up with three chihuahuas, known as the tan mafia! He was encouraged to rescue one (by his then girlfriend who turned out to be engaged to someone in Chicago...a story for another convention, he said!), and then when he picked up the one he decided to take home, that chihuahua was holding on to another tiny chihuahua, who was the runt of the litter. So he took both, because the little one wouldn't survive without the care of its sibling. It turned out the little one had a form of doggy Downs Syndrome and needed some expensive vet treatment...which being an animal lover, he just had to do. His third chihuahua came to him as a stray. He tried to find the owner, but to no avail, so he ended up keeping him. He calls that one the runner, because no matter what, if you leave a door or a gate open, he'll run! He obviously adores his pooches and all animals.

Travis also talked about those brilliant fight scenes and how big a role the stuntmen played in them, and Jensen - who he says is an amazing camera fighter. (I've got to say, I believe that every man or woman who comes in contact with Jensen seems to walk away with hearts in their eyes!) He also talked about how he originally auditioned for the role of Dean and that ten years later he found himself getting beat up by the actor who got the part! Then he spoke a little bit about the Js extraordinary friendship, about how someone once told him about how the boys don't like each other and he laughed because it's so far from the truth. And like so many others before him, he discussed how the boys lead the way on set, how they have no egos at all, and that the Supernatural set has a family atmosphere and that all comes down from the way the boys are with each other and everyone who comes in contact with them. Bless. We love hearing stories like that.

I had to take a little break while Lauren was on, so I missed her panel, only catching the very end, but I caught up with her in the autographs and she was lovely as usual.

The last panel of the day was Osric. He'd come on dressed as Lauren's Futurama character, Amy during Lauren's panel, but for his panel he was just Osric.

Osric talked about cosplaying about how he could pretty much do that full time and how he has to remind himself that he is an actor not a professional cosplayer! He answered a fans questions about convention and how best to enjoy them, and talked about how at his first Supernatural convention he made a point to stay for the whole con and watch it as a fan and audience member so he could understand what we got to experience. He sneak peeked us a trailer for a movie he's done called "Killing Poe". He talked about what inspires him and keeps him going - the SPNFamily keeps him going when he's having a rough time - and about how he reaches out to fandom because he knows that just a little message from him can totally change someones day and if he can do that, he will.

Pretty much, Osric spent 45 minutes being totally adorable. He's such a sweetie. I'm so glad he's part of our crazy family!

And that was the end of the day. I got autographs with Lauren and Travis and then headed to a lovely dinner with Fangasm's Lynn. We always threaten to have dinner together but never seem to squeeze it in. This time we decided we'd do it hell or high water on the Thursday night. So we sat for a couple of hours talking all things Supernatural. How we came to the show, the fandom. How it's changed both our lives. We talked a lot about a certain boy we both adore and that character he plays. We talked fandom and fan fiction and everything in between. We always call ourselves "Brain Twins" because of a certain train of thought we both have that so often ends up revolving around Jensen or Dean! It was a really great way to finish up the first day, talking our passion for our show and our love for our cast and our dedication to our fandom.

Then I scurried off to bed...I skipped the Gold cocktail party - even though I'm pretty sure it will be the last one ever - to get some much needed rest. Gotta grab your sleep when you can at a con!

So today is day 2 and we have Tim Omundson, Curtis Armstrong, Gil and Osric and Samantha Smith. I'll try my hardest to keep you updated on proceedings and keep an eye on my twitter for photos!

-sweetondean 

SPOILERS SWEETIES! Promotional Photos Supernatural 10x15 "The Things They Carried"

Now I know I'm a little tardy with these, but I'm on route to Vegascon at the moment (squeeeee) and I'm currently in Venice Beach chillaxing (did I really just write chillaxing???) and getting tattoos and stuffs. BUT THAT'S NO EXCUSE! BECAUSE I'M A FANGIRL AND THAT'S A 24/7 JOB! Heh.

So without further a doo doo (she said doo doo) here are the promo photos for our next episode, 10x15 "The Things They Carried" accompanied by *random commentary.

*random commentary may be random

"Hello, yeah, can I get a pizza with the lot, and extra cheese and peperoni." #PeperoniDreaming

(The above may not honestly represent the contents of this scene)

Oh and, heys Green Cooler! 

This photo makes me think that there's a possibility that I've read too much fanfiction....

I'll just leave this here.

Okay so, this is a Khan worm ep, Cole has the Khan worm, Cole and Dean have many batteries and some jumper leads...so either they're curing Cole or this is some weird BDSM scene.... OKAY I KNOW IT'S NOT! BUT DON'T PRETEND YOU DIDN'T THINK THAT TOO!

Um.

Um.

Cole, did you forget your safe word?

(sorry, not sorry)

#justsayin'

 In all seriousness, WHO'S CABIN IS THIS. No that's not what I was being all serious about. In all seriousness (this time for sure), I hope that these pictures mean that they cure Cole and don't kill Cole. Because I like that character, which probably does not bode well for him...

Meanwhile....

I guess, while Dean sorts out Cole (or something), Sam works the case from a different angle? Is this the wife of one of the crazed infected-by-Khan-worm husbands?

Hero Sammy to the rescue! Yay!

The lighting on this shot is gorgeous.

Also Sam and a gun is gorgeous.

Also Sam is gorgeous.

Crusty guest bad guy is crusty! Eeewwwwwwwwww.

So, Sam and Dean are apart for a bit in this episode. Boo. But it looks like they're attacking the same case. Yay! But there's still 2 weeks to wait until we see it. BOOOOOOOO!

-sweetondean

*sweetondean would like to apologise to Supernatural for wilfully misinterpreting these promo pics

**sweetondean is not sorry

FROM STAR TREK TO SUPERNATURAL - HOW A FANGIRL'S LIFE CAME FULL CIRCLE.

- by spnmom

Like many of us, spnmom was deeply saddened by the death of Leonard Nimoy. He was family. A SciFi icon. Someone who had always been a part of our broader fannish community. spnmom was a Star Trek fan before she was a Supernatural fan, and felt the need express what that show meant to her and how that has translated into what our show means to her. The two are intricately interwoven. She is a fangirl after all. I hope you enjoy this personal story of crossing fandoms. It made me cry. I love fandom. 

Please let spnmom know your thoughts or your own stories in the comments.

-sweetondean

First, I would like to thank sweetondean for allowing me this indulgence and to use her forum. To boldly go where I have not gone before.  Because there is nowhere else I would feel safe to express my deepest thoughts and feelings about how Star Trek, Supernatural, and how their cast have impacted my life.  I thought about posting something on Facebook, but my sons most likely would’ve been embarrassed and/or mortified. :\

I can distinctly remember the moment, at age 11, when Star Trek stopped being a TV show for me and became so much more.  I watched many sci-fi shows in the 60’s on our black and white TV, but I found Star Trek much more fascinating for some reason.  Sorry, I couldn’t resist using one of Spock’s favourite words.  

It was March 1967 when The Devil in the Dark aired.  I went to watch it at the neighbor’s home on their colour TV, my first time seeing the show in colour! To use Supernatural lingo, it was a MOTW episode.  A rock like monster, the Horta, was killing miners. Spock did a mind meld, as shown in the Hallmark ornament above and came to find out, the miners were killing it’s babies, these big silicon spheres!  When Spock revealed this I recall having what I think was my first empathetic moment for a character in a TV show.  And it happened to be an alien!  It immediately made me feel sad and I felt a deeper meaning.

Now mind you, I don’t think most of us at age 11 were looking for deep things while watching TV.  I know I wasn’t.  And I probably didn’t have the vocabulary to even describe what I was feeling at the time.  But I know I shed a tear for a TV show and that surprised me.

That is when my lifelong Star Trek connection began.  Because somehow I knew it was speaking to me personally.  Like I said, I couldn’t put words to what I felt back then, but later I would understand it had so much more to say than to just entertain me.  There were moral dilemmas, choices and consequences, life and death decisions, underlying social statements, hidden meanings, parallels to the turbulent 60’s issues like civil rights and of course the prime directive.  Should they intervene, share what they knew, let an outsider in on the ‘secrets’ (tell others about supernatural stuff?)

By now you must have realised how those same things I just mentioned are prevalent in Supernatural as well.  I'll discuss more of that and other parallels of the shows later.

After hearing of Leonard Nimoy’s passing I dug out my Star Trek S1 DVD’s my son gave me awhile back, which I had never finished.  By chance I had stopped on a disc that had a great piece from one of Mr Nimoy's interviews in 2003 about Star Trek.  He was discussing the same episode I just mentioned and revealed that it was a particularly important episode for him personally, because it was “about something important to me.  How we tend to demonise the things we don’t understand, or the people we don’t understand”.

His words spoke to me again, only this time not Spock’s words, but Leonard’s.  And the introspection began in earnest.  I realised that episode was my first real connection to a TV character and listening more closely to what they were telling or teaching me. I think I knew even then that I was watching the show after that with a different perspective. I couldn't share this with my friends.  If I did say anything they gave me weird looks and thought I was acting odd!  There was no ‘fangirl’ acceptance back then!  So as others watched for pure entertainment, I buried my geek girl thoughts so as to be accepted by my friends.

But as I aged I did find myself analysing many other TV shows and movies (much to the annoyance of my family and friends I might add), being careful not to share too much. Then when I went to college, Star Trek was on in the late afternoons after class.  I got reacquainted with my fangirl inside, but again, I didn't say too much.  I mean come on.  This was college in the 70’s.  If I had gone on and on about how a sci-fi show episode with two enemy guys having black and white faces, but opposite halves reflected a social issue, my friends probably would’ve accused me of eating some ‘special’ brownies.

However, my secret was let out of the bag when James "Scotty" Doohan made an appearance at my college.  I couldn’t contain myself and I turned into a total fan girl.  I was a nervous wreck before his appearance, wondering what to wear, etc.  He brought outtakes which were hilarious and gave me a sneak peak into the show behind the scenes.  Afterwards I got his autograph and a kiss on the cheek!!!  Or I kissed him.  I really can’t remember which it was! A brain fart.  (I’m sure anyone who has been to a SPN convention can totally relate!)

For the next several years my fangirl was subdued, occasionally making an appearance when there was a Star Trek movie.  I did get goose bumps and indeed stood and let out a yelp in the full theatre when Kirk saw the Enterprise in space dock in the first movie.  My husband just rolled his eyes and slunk in his seat.  Then there was my total meltdown in the Wrath of Khan.  I sobbed buckets and had to cover my face as I left the theatre.  My husband said, “It’s just a movie!”

Spock’s famous quote, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” still gets me today.  Can you say Supernatural parallel?  How many times have Sam and Dean put others’ needs before their own?  How many times have they saved the world or risked their life for mankind or humanity?

So more years pass and along comes Supernatural.  At first I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what drew me to the show.  Initially it was because Bobby was from my hometown, which I found fascinating.  Oops, did it again.  But soon I had an epiphany.  OMG.  Supernatural had the same undercurrents of social injustice, hidden messages and lessons, life questions that I had loved about Star Trek so long ago.  Belief in saving mankind and a belief that things could be better.

There was true character development and interaction and humour between the characters, just like in Star Trek.  There were humorous episodes and playful episodes.  Remember Trouble with Tribbles? There was the Sam and Dean bond, reminiscent of Kirk and Spock’s relationship.  And of course Bobby, their Dr. McCoy.  And men who couldn’t say I love you or verbalise how much they cared about each other, just like on Star Trek.  But wait, there were also episodes where Sam and Dean were under a spell or possession when true feelings, although sometimes warped a bit, were shared. Just like in Naked Time when the Star Trek crew was infected with a virus and Spock’s emotions came hurtling to the surface.  Lest I leave this one out.  How many times have Dean or Sam died and come back?  How can one not think of Spock dying and returning, albeit via the movies.

Plus, duh, the obvious Star Trek references in many Supernatural episodes.  Dean saying “let’s Star Trek 4 this bitch”, the Khan worm and young John Winchester telling Dean he could probably get reception on the Enterprise!  I know Dean has mentioned the Vulcan mind meld. (There were others I can’t think of at the moment.)

Both shows had period and time travel episodes.  Some of those are my favourite Supernatural episodes and City on the Edge of Forever with Joan Collins is a fabulous Star Trek episode.  Another favourite of Leonard Nimoy’s.  He said he thought it may have been the best episode of the series.

On that same DVD a snippet of an interview with William Shatner talked about how the show tangled with creatures more intelligent than they were so the show would use brawn to overcome them.  The reverse was true also.  When the crew came upon an alien with more brawn they used clever ideas to show human’s intellect to outwit their enemy.  How many times have Sam and Dean had to do the same?

Through video clips and interviews I have come to understand that the set of Star Trek had some wonderful cast camaraderie, as does the Supernatural set.  There were pranks and fun was had much of the time.  The Star Trek family atmosphere grew stronger through the years, including cast from other Star Trek series because of conventions.  How many past cast members of Supernatural are now best friends because of the conventions, even though they never acted together or met until a convention.

Finally, the lead actors.  William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy developed a deep friendship over the years as have Jensen and Jared.  William Shatner posted this after Leonard’s passing, “I loved him like a brother”.  Sound like any other guys we know?  Leonard was also quoted in the past as saying they were ‘like brothers’.

Shatner and Nimoy realised as the years passed how much their characters impacted others lives. They heard countless times how people became scientists, engineers or astronauts because they had watched Star Trek as a child.  These people became the future!  They listened to fans and there was a beautiful letter Leonard Nimoy wrote in response to a young girl’s question in a fan magazine back in 1968.  She was bi-racial and had trouble fitting in.   She wanted to know how Spock did it.  His response is still relevant today in that he told her to be true to herself, whether that was popular or not.  You can find the response at www.celebrity.yahoo.com

That reminded me of how Jared and Jensen both have said so many encouraging things to fans who’ve been struggling with depression or other issues.  Jared especially has addressed this topic often.  

Of course they all have done many, many conventions while breaking down the barrier between fan and cast by developing friendships.  Not only stepping into our living rooms via a TV screen, but now entering the same room with those lucky enough to attend a convention.  Giving of themselves in time and sacrificing family time to be with fans.

I fantasised about attending a Star Trek convention for years.  But those early conventions had kind of a reputation of having crazy fans and they weren’t always treated with much respect by mainstream TV watchers.  I didn’t have the guts, or anyone to go with for that matter.  If I ever brought it up I again got a strange look in response.  I simply couldn’t risk the condemnation from family and friends.

Then along came Supernatural.  I began going to fan web sites, reading blogs and watching videos of conventions.  Supernatural fandom encouraged and allowed me to release that inner fangirl that I had suppressed for so long.  I made the leap and went to the first VegasCon.  It was everything I’d hoped it would be and more.  I regretted never going to a Star Trek convention, but by now they've grown so big I don't think I could get the same feel.  Plus, some of the original cast is forever gone.  But enjoy VegasCon I did.  I even won a trivia contest!  I guess binge watching 7 seasons of Supernatural on DVD and TNT for a a year helped, as I had only been watching about a year at the time I attended!

I believe Supernatural fandom and all fandoms owe a debt to Star Trek and the Trekkies/Trekkers. Without them going where no (wo)man had gone before, we might not be able to enjoy the SPN conventions and fan experience as we do now.  The early Trekkies endured criticism, judgement and pretty much everything awful, but kept going in spite of it.  Now multi-generations attend Star Trek conventions together.  They cosplay together, plan family vacations around conventions and enjoy the company of an extended Star Trek family.  They have created a legacy over almost 60 years.  

Supernatural is in the infant stage of their legacy, but I have a feeling it will last long after the show is gone. The cast will stay connected, the fans will continue to converge on conventions, continue to write fan fiction and watch DVD’s or whatever future media brings.  The SPNfamily is already multi-generational, and I have no doubt, it will continue to grow.

And crossover fandoms are growing.  This can’t be more evident than when William Shatner started interacting with Supernatural and other fandoms.  Live tweeting, messing with Misha ("Cupcake") and supporting many other Sci-Fi shows.  

My life has truly come full circle!!!!  So surreal that after nearly 50 years, my first deep encounter and connection to a TV show, Star Trek, should somehow now be interwoven with another show I've become deeply connected to, Supernatural.  One led to the other, but now they're on the same plane!  Mind boggling.

Thank you Star Trek, Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner, for the life lessons you showed me so many years ago, even though the impact took years for me to discover.  They will live long in me and I feel they have helped me prosper.  Possibly in ways I am still unaware of.  I am trying at my age to live out Leonard’s advice to that young girl from the 60’s. To be true to myself.  It’s not always easy, even at my ‘mature’ age.  There are still incredulous looks, ridicule and a lack of understanding from some close to me.  Not only regarding my selection in TV shows, obsessions (er… hobbies) but with career choices I have made.  But that moment back in 1967 may well have been the beginning of a journey in life that I am just now understanding.  It may have been what led me away from a medical career, eventually to social work and now working with the homeless.

I want to thank Supernatural cast, crew and fans for creating a medium that allowed me to be true to me and awaken those distant memories, while creating new ones.  What a great meld it is becoming. 

LLAP

spnmom3

PS.  By total happenstance I chose this to wear on the day of Leonard Nimoy’s passing before I heard about it.  

Supernatural Understands The References! A Look at Pop Culture in the Show.

by Lindsey

Like all of us, Guest Writer Lindsey is a big fan of the literary, filmic and pop culture references in Supernatural! So she put together some of her favourites! Check them out, and let us some of your favourite references in the comments!

-sweetondean

For ten seasons, we have been graced with the wonderful writing of some of the most talented people working in television right now. From Eric Kripke to Adam Glass to Robbie Thompson (just to name a few), the writers for Supernatural have kept us entranced and entertained for episode after episode. One thing that I have enjoyed just as much as the insanely intricate storylines are the pop culture references and influences that have been a part of the show since episode one.

From undertones to one-liners, the presence of popular culture on Supernatural has ranged from hilariously obvious to cerebrally subtle. As a self-confessed pop culture geek, it’s one (out of the many) element that I love about the show, that the writers are themselves, fans. From music to movies/TV to books, they love these things as much as we do. And they express this love by writing it directly into the show in many different ways, whether it’s a direct reference or overarching inspiration for a script. 

So, to help pass the time until we’re blessed with a new episode, I thought I’d share what I consider to be a few of my favourite pop culture influences we’ve seen so far. 

Sam and Dean, Dean and Sam. The innocuous first names of our beloved Winchester boys, right? Well, not so much. You’ve probably heard of Jack Kerouac; you may have read On the Road, which many consider a defining work representing the American counterculture movement of the 40s and 50s. What you may not know is that Eric Kripke took his inspiration for naming his characters from that book. On the Road is a stream of consciousness narrative of the cross-country travels of Dean Moriarty and Sal Paradise; it embodies the never-ending search for something that neither character can define and is continuously changing. 

Enter Dean and Sam Winchester; a pair of brothers endlessly driving on a mission that has no real end in sight- doing what they must when the moment calls for it before moving onto the next objective, questioning what they’re doing but never stopping. While the Winchester boys are not Kripke’s attempt to modernise the Beat era characters of the famous novel, the connection is still a meaningful and powerful one. 

A fan of another illustrious author, Eric Kripke has said that Supernatural is basically Sandman meets American Gods. The influences of Neil Gaiman and his works are evident all throughout the show. When we are first introduced to Castiel, it is like looking at a doppelganger of John Constantine from the Hellblazer comic book series. Our favourite King of Hell, Crowley, shares his name with one of the two main characters in the Good Omens novel. These are just two instances where we can see how the works by Neil Gaiman have helped shape the show.

Good Omens also features a prophet by the name of Agnes Nutter, who writes The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch. While Chuck and the Carver Edlund series of books had more than one significance, it’s possible that the inspiration for it was taken from Agnes Nutter.

But of all the aspects of the show that have been influenced by Neil Gaiman, my personal favourite was the Hammer of the Gods episode in season 5.

If this wasn’t a shout out to American Gods then I don’t know what else could be. As you’ll remember, that episode has Sam and Dean trapped in the Elysian Fields Hotel by a group of gods from the old world religions who were planning on banding together in an attempt to stop Lucifer and the Apocalypse. In American Gods, the gods and creatures of the old world exist because of the belief people have in them. But as time goes by, they are being replaced by gods of the new world such as celebrities, media, and technology. Infighting and a bid for power ensues between the two sides before they are convinced to return to their homelands and make the best of what they are given. This episode paid much respect to Gaiman and his concept was flawlessly incorporated into the story arc. Not only is this a theme we have seen in several other episodes, I think it’s an interesting notion from a mythological point of view as well.

One of the more recent homages was during one of the first few episodes of the current season with Demon!Dean. And it had to do with one of my all-time favourite movies, The Shining. And let me tell you, as someone who has watched and dissected that movie more times than I can count, this made my day. I absolutely loved it. What we saw went above and beyond all the references that have been made in previous episodes.

At the most basic level is the parallel between Dean and Jack Torrance, right down to the red shirt both are wearing when the action finally goes down. In The Shining, Jack is slowly influenced by the supernatural that inhabits the Overlook Hotel and we watch as he descends into madness.

At the beginning of Season 10, Dean is now demonic and fully under the control of the Mark of Cain. We watch as he parades around, clearly not giving a flying…well, you know…about what he is doing or the damage his actions are causing.

In The Shining, Jack’s wife Wendy finally looks at the novel he has supposedly been working on, only to find ‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ written over and over, page after page. This leads into one of the most iconic chase scenes in cinematic history (in my opinion, at least). Cut to our show. After Dean is able to slip out of the spelled handcuffs, he stalks through the bunker looking for Sam in a way that was so reminiscent of Jack looking for Wendy that it gave me chills. Watching him taunt Sam in an attempt to draw him out was outstanding; it really cemented the point that this was not the Dean Winchester we knew and loved.

Jensen definitely channelled Jack Nicholson as we see him finally bust through the door, seeing his face only through the splintered wood. While I’m glad that Dean didn’t suffer the same fate as Jack Torrance did, I thought the entire sequence was wonderfully done and the effort put forth by the writers and actors to make it happen was remarkable.

Finally, on more lighthearted note, the fact that it is written into the show that Dean is a movie buff is one of most subtly brilliant characterisations on the show. It makes his character that much more relatable and lovable. Especially when he makes a reference that no one gets, because let’s face it, we have all been there. Dean has made a plethora of one-line movie references, some so clever and subtle you almost miss them and others comically recognisable. Some of the actual movies Dean has mentioned are: Apocalypse Now, Psycho, Evil Dead Trilogy, Star Trek, Star Wars, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Pretty in Pink, Thelma and Louise, Wayne’s World, Deliverance, Blade Runner, and Beaches.

The fact that there is a healthy dose of chick flicks along with the sci-fi and horror movies is one of the funniest things ever. It makes you think, how exactly does Dean not only know that movie but well enough to use the reference correctly…late night cable at the motels they’ve lived in all their lives or secret obsession? We’ll probably never know.

Sam is no slouch in this area either. He has made his fair share of hilarious movie references over the years, including Hellraiser, Mary Poppins, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Animal House, to name a few. We also know that Sam has read the Harry Potter series as well as some of Game of Thrones. I wish we could see a little more of these sides of Sam and Dean. Or maybe it’s because I wish they could catch a break and indulge themselves in what most people take for granted, the chance to relax and zone out by watching a good movie or reading a good book.


So while Supernatural has made its own impact on pop culture, I’m sure the writers will continue to give homage to those that have come before them, to pay respect to the people or things that have inspired them over the years. I look forward to seeing what they do, to analysing what it means, and to crying or laughing at the brilliance of it all.

SPOILERS SWEETIES! Supernatural Episode Titles Until The End of Season 10!

Do we always have all the titles to the end of the season by about this time? It feels like we don't! But now we do! And, you know, as soon as we see titles, we can't help but speculate! Because that's what we do, right?

Anyhooooo, here are the titles for the remaining episodes of Season 10!

10x15 - The Things They Carried (read synopsis here)

10x16 - Paint It Black

10x17 - Inside Man

10x18 - Book Of The Damned

10x19 - The Werther Project

10x20 - Angel Heart

10x21 - Dark Dynasty

10x22 - The Prisoner

10x 23 - Brother's Keeper

But what does it all mean? What are your guesses? Which are myth eps, mythalone eps or standalone eps?

WHAT DOES BROTHER'S KEEPER MEAN?????

Let's play let's torture ourselves with wild and painful theories!

Hit me up in the comments with your ideas!

-sweetondean