Supernatural - On Location With the Js in Vancouver!

-by sweetondean

One of the wonderful things about going to Vancon is being in Supernatural heartland. Vancouver is where the show shoots, and one of the advantages of coming to a convention in Vancouver is that sometimes, if you're lucky, you get to see the people you love, making the show you love!

My first Vancon in 2012, I was lucky enough to see a little of "Blood Brother" filming at the 2400 Motel. It was quite an adventure getting there - which you can read about here!

At my second Vancon in 2014, they were filming the 200th episode the week after the convention and it was very much under wraps! Some fans stayed out at set and chatted to crew, but there was no shooting to be seen, as everything was happening inside the high school auditorium.

This year, my third Vancon, I was very much hoping that I'd be lucky enough to see the show shooting. So I crossed my fingers and toes and kept my ear to the ground!

On Wednesday the word on the street was that the show was shooting downtown. We (I'm travelling with Jules from the Superwiki) heard there might be a chance that the boys would be doing exteriors in the evening. So we headed down to the location where the scenes were scheduled that day. There were plenty of fans already there. They'd been staking out the location all day - but although they had seen the boys in the distance, and the boys' families coming and going, unfortunately the exteriors seemed to be taking place in an undercover carpark out of sight - so we collected a few of our friends who had spent the day at set, and went for dinner and drinks instead! It wasn't to be that night, so we filled our feels with pie!

Today, Thursday, once again the word was the show would be downtown, not far from yesterday's location. And once again, the promise was of exteriors featuring the boys, so Jules and I headed down mid morning.

When we arrived...the first thing we saw...parked all shiny on the street...was BABY!

Guess we were in the right place!

Me and my pal Karen, selfieing with Baby!

The crew were setting up for a shoot in an alley. We all stood opposite and watched. Some of the crew came over to say hi, including Production Designer, Jerry Wanek, who then took a few of us down to see a later location and some of the work that was being done there - I won't tell you what it was or what the scene will be, because it's a whacking big spoiler - but he talked us through how the shot was going to go and we met the artist who was assisting in creating the set.

Jerry explaining the set and shot to us

After that we went back up the street and watched as a scene was shot with 2 guest actors in the alley - I think at least one of the characters may be recurring. I took some shots of this scene - but I won't post those until after the episode in case they are spoilery!

The episode being shot was 12x05 and directed by Nina Lopez-Corrado ‏who directed Red Meat.

Nina chatting with crew

Once the scene with the guest actors had finished - the next scene was with the Js! Eeeee!

Jensen and Jared's stand-ins came out to block the scene, as Nina discussed the shot with Steadicam Operator Brian Rose.

Then....the boys arrived - driven to set by Clif! They waved and blew kisses across the road at us.

Jensen and 1st AD Kevin Parks

The boys saying hi - the police guy is a cast member not a cop!

Jensen and 1st AD Kevin Parks

Jensen and director Nina

After getting their hair etc all checked and mics put on, the boys headed over to the building Baby was parked in front of to rehearse the scene.

Jensen talked over the scene with director Nina.

And then went looking for something in Baby ..... thanks Jensen! ;)

The first rehearsal Jared totally missed his mark which caused a lot of laughter.

Jensen pointing out where Jared should be

Jared looking adorable

The boys were in great moods, laughing and joking and playing around.

The scene we watched involved the boys coming out of the building, seeing another car pull away, realise that someone they wanted was in that car, running to the Impala, jumping in the Impala and speeding off up the road in pursuit of the car.

GQ MOFOs!

The first time the boys took off up the road, Jensen laid some serious rubber, fishtailing all over the place! On purpose...for our benefit! Of course!

Jensen was pretty impressed with himself!

We watched this scene being shot several times. The boys running out of the building, into the car and speeding off.  Jensen reversing back down the street, parking, and going again.

Goofing off, in one take they caught up with the car getting away, hopped out and rescued the passenger, taking them back to the Impala!

In another take, when they zoomed off up the road the lights at the intersection were green, so Jensen just kept going! He then did a u-turn up the road and drove back down towards us. He had to u-turn again to get the car back to the correct side of the road for the shot, and nearly turned straight into another car! There was a lot of fangirl gasps! He finally got the car back into position, hopped out and put his hand over his mouth like, "whoops!".

We were moved over to the other side of the street as they changed camera angles on the shot - which actually got us closer to the Js and able to get some better photos!

The boys stood around chatting to the crew, laughing, and generally having a good time. The vibe on the set was light and fun.

Then they were off again...jumping into the car. From where I was, I could get a great shot of Jensen!

The boys drove past us and Jared hung out the car and we all waved - but he was telling us to wave at the cameras as they were shooting us! That's why he's pointing down the road!

Then it was back to running out of the building into the car!

Strike a pose!

And finally, they had the shot and were wrapped on that scene!

That's a wrap!

We stayed until they finished this shot. Then the boys hopped into Clif's van and went back to the circus - where the trailers etc were set up. Waving goodbye as they slowly drove past.

A bunch of us (about 15), headed around the corner to the White Spot - for food, and celebratory drinks and a much needed pee! None of us wanted to do a toilet dash when so much cool action was going on! There were a lot of crossed legs!

All up we were on set for about 4 hours. The crew was amazing;  friendly and happy for us to be there. Several came over to chat on and off through out the day. It was wonderful to watch them working and see that family atmosphere so many of us have heard about. They genuinely look like they're having a good time on the job! The PAs gently and politely guided us to where we would be able to see but be out of shot - taking care of us and their work all in one. The boys goofed off for us, Jensen at one stage commando rolling over the bonnet of Baby for heaven's sake! It was a fabulous experience watching Jensen and Jared in their fed threads do their Sam and Dean thing.

Thanks to all the fans there, who were so great to hangout with and enjoy the day, and to the amazing Supernatural crew for being so welcoming, Nina, and of course the Js for allowing us to watch them making our show. You guys totally rock.

-sweetondean

Supernatural Season 11 - Our Favourite Bits!

by sweetondean and Anna

If you followed our season 11 write ups last season, here at sweetondean, I think you would have been able to tell that both Anna and I dug the season. We may have approached it from different directions, but we both enjoyed the journey we were taken on and where we ended up.

So we thought we'd put together a bit of a list of our favourite moments of the season, some poignant, some funny, some completely whacky! It took a while to bring the list down to something manageable - there were so many things we wanted to talk about! And there are so many other favourite bits we could talk about! But we settled on a list that we think covered all aspects of the show we love so much.

So without further adoo doo - here are some of mine and Anna's favourite bits of Supernatural Season 11!

Let us know your favourite bits in the comments!

We look forward to this being the first of many more joint projects!
-sweetondean


Favourite episode

ANNA: Tie - Red Meat/Just My Imagination

SWEETONDEAN: Baby - though I love Red Meat in that extremely painful Supernatural way, and Don’t Call Me Shurley was really beautiful. But Baby really was something special and I find that I have watched it many, many times.


Favourite brother moment

ANNA: Dean sucking in poison so he can go with Sam, and then the glowing of the Samulet in Sam's pocket.

SWEETONDEAN:  So many! I feel like saying, the whole of season 11! Certainly the moment that Anna mentioned was amazing, but also, simple moments like Dean rushing from Baby to grab Sam and help him back to the car at the end of the episode. I loved the moment Dean came clean about Amara and how Sam supported him with out blinking. And the moment Dean realised Sam was alive in Red Meat and just breathed out “oh God”. Lying in the back of the car, talking about their dreams and fears. Oh and of course, when they went to watch the wrestling! Season 11 was thick with amazing brother moments.


Favourite Sam moment   

ANNA: The entire episode of Red Meat was just one awesome Sam moment for me. 

SWEETONDEAN: Sam was truly remarkable in Red Meat. And I loved that Sam had Dean’s back with the Amara thing, and already knew about Dean’s Amara connections. Legend. I loved that. There was just no judgement which really spoke to how the brothers' relationship has changed and grown.


Favourite Dean moment  

ANNA: Tie - Dean's priceless reaction to Sam having the amulet...his face said it all...and his verbal confession to Amara that Dean needs Sam and Sam needs him.

SWEETONDEAN: His reaction to winning Rock Paper Scissors, and his honesty with his brother when he needed to be honest the most. Also, his speech to Amara - he's a smart one, and knew exactly how to reach her, but speaking from the heart about the thing most important to him; family.


Favourite Cas moment  

ANNA: Casifer outing himself in the Vessel.

SWEETONDEAN: I really loved Cas on the phone in Baby - while Dean is fighting and he’s just talking and talking! I loved that! It cracks me up every time I hear it.


Favourite Crowley moment 

ANNA: Every single scene with his mom!

SWEETONDEAN: Hmmmm I think it was when he escaped Lucifer’s clutches and nearly zapped Lucifer just about taking him out. I also loved when Crowley went into to Cas’ vessel to try to confront Lucifer and free Cas. 


Biggest WTF moment

ANNA: Dean with Sam and Crowley and Rowena plotting a plan then all of a sudden, without any explanation, and any way of knowing about the church, Dean leaves Sam.  

SWEETONDEAN: The whole of Red Meat. I think I screamed WTF at my TV about 100 times! That was damn stressful! The most stressful episode ever for me. Sam getting shot, then smothered, and Dean frothing at the mouth. WTF! Argh, such an amazingly, painful episode!


Favourite recurring character   

ANNA: Tie: Chuck/Rowena

SWEETONDEAN: I love them all - Rowena, Mark P’s Lucifer, Chuck, Metatron. Don't make me choose!


Favourite new character

ANNA: Sully

SWEETONEAN: Ditto - Sully. I also loved Eileen Leahy and Cesar and Jesse. I love meeting new hunters, and I love Eileen was a Women of Letters.


Favourite monster

ANNA: Lucifer

SWEETONDEAN: Yeah, Lucifer. He was pretty heinous in season 11 and he’s always pretty damn awful. I also enjoyed the Soul Eater in Safe House.


Funniest moment

ANNA: The Sparkle crime scene in Just My Imagination.

SWEETONDEAN: Oh yes Sparkle and the blood on the womens face, and Dean's awkward conversation - that whole scene is absolute gold.


Weirdest/Wackiest moment 

ANNA: The severed head on the windshield in Baby!

SWEETONDEAN: Yep that head on the windscreen was freakin’ hilarious - and in the Green Cooler. Too funny! I also loved the whole of Just My Imagination. The mermaid, Weems…all so out there. Oh and the freaky bunny in Plush.


Moment that made you cry the most

ANNA: Tie - Reappearance of the Samulet/Sully telling Sam he was a hero.

SWEETONDEAN: Red Meat when Dean thinks Sam is dead, Dean confronting God, it was so surprising to see him that raw, and the moment in the graveyard in Alpha and Omega, when Sam and Dean say goodbye and can’t even look at each other.


Moment that made you most proud - can be show or character moment

ANNA: Sam never giving up during any moment of this season...most especially saying no to Lucifer, and his defiance when telling Lucifer that his brother would come walking through that door and his unwavering belief in Dean, even when being questioned by Lucifer.  

SWEETONDEAN: Sam’s strength up against Lucifer. Dean telling the truth to his brother about Amara, and also telling Sam that everything is in the past - all that every mattered is that they’re together - in fact Dean’s openness and vulnerability throughout the season was special, and surprising, and amazing. I feel like he learnt a lot in seasons 8- 10. And generally, the way the brothers have come through such hard times and have become even closer because of it.

From a show point of view - the whole of season 11, but especially Baby.


Favourite line/quote  

ANNA: “He needs me, I need him”, and Dean calling Sam a sinner/rebel and Sam responding by calling Dean an idiot! 

SWEETONDEAN: “All that matters, all that’s ever mattered is that we’re together”


Favourite music cue 

ANNA: Night Moves.

SWEETONDEAN: Night Moves. Just so perfect.


Moment that required a damn fruit basket

ANNA: The return of the Samulet.

SWEETONDEAN: Night Moves scene with the boys singing and laughing in Baby.

Supernatural at San Diego Comic Com 2016

-by sweetondean

Welcome to sweetondean's 2016 San Diego Comic Con coverage...and no, I'm not there...I'm basically Ariel in this scenario! But even though I'm home in Sydney, I will be keeping an eye on goings on and trying to collate as much Supernatural news as I can, right here!

This year, in addition to the Supernatural panel on Sunday in Hall H, press interviews and Nerd HQ panels, a whole host of Supernatural alumni will be there with new shows and comics and cool stuff!

Past showrunners Eric Kripke, Sera Gamble and Jeremy Carver will be there with their shows - Timeless, The Magicians and Frequency; Writers Ben Edlund, Robbie Thompson and Adam Glass will also be there with their projects, The Tick, Spiderverse/Marvel and Brik.

Felicia Day will be doing panels at Geek and Sundry, Nerdist and NerdHQ, and the Gishbus will be in attendance, with Misha doing a special panel on Saturday.

And Big Daddy John Winchester - AKA JDM will be in attendance with a nasty baseball bat for The Walking Dead!

There will also be other past cast members attending panels with their new shows. So lots of stuff to look forward to!

So I'll be pulling together, photos, panel videos, press interviews and all sorts of goodies!

Let's kick off the coverage of a huge 4 days!

The Writing on the Wall - A Study of God's Role in Supernatural Season 11... Part 2 - The Redemption Angle: Metatron, Gabriel, Gadreel, Cas and Lucifer

- by Anna

I had postulated in part 1 that if Chuck/God had been the one to send Sam's vision in Baby, then why didn't he warn Sam about Lucifer as well?  My belief is that not only did God want to save his sister, but he wanted to save his children as well, to offer them a shot at redemption.  Family, that's what this show has always been about and it's my belief that Chuck/God wanted to save his family, and at what point did God put his plan to do that into effect?  My guess, the moment Heaven was commanded that Sam and Dean Winchester be born.  Chuck/God kept talking about the Chosen and it got me thinking of who that could possibly include, other than the obvious, so I went back and compiled a short list of those of God's children who redeemed themselves.  I can't help but believe that God had known all along that all of these children would eventually seek redemption.  Perhaps God had known this to be the case all along, and why He chose them to begin with.

The Writing on the Wall - A Study of God's Role in Supernatural Season 11 - Part 1

- by Anna

When Season 11 came to its conclusion it became clear to me what its true meaning was all about, what Show has always been about really, and that's family.  Sam and Dean Winchester, created by Heaven, at God's command, who would come to represent what Chuck/God wanted for himself. It is through Sam and Dean Winchester that God finally achieves his goal. From the moment Chuck appeared in Don't Call Me Shurley, I started to believe I understood what He was really doing, how he had carefully orchestrated the situation so that it came to the conclusion he so desperately desired. As I watched the final four episodes, it occurred to me what Chuck/God had been trying to achieve, what he wanted to achieve all along. He wanted his family. Personally, I think the writing on the wall has been there long before the beginning of Season 11. I can honestly go back to the Pilot, when it all began, but that would be more of a novel than an article! I thought it would be fun and a nice time killer during hiatus to go through the episodes of this season where I found evidence to present to you all examples that would go toward proving my theory, that Sam and Dean were in fact Chuck's/God's weapon for not only saving the world, but for saving Chuck's/God's family. I hope that as we go through the eps that you might be able to see, as I do, that the writing has been on the wall all along and it's at the conclusion of the finale that one might see the big picture.

As this is a bit of a length study - it will be presented in 2 parts!  So I will now take you on the first part of a journey through Season 11 and what were the moments for me, that provided evidence of the big picture, of not only what Alpha & Omega was all about, but what Show has always been all about since the day it began going on 12 years ago.