Some negative reaction to the show/season from somewhere that might actually get TPTB's notice if the 1.40 viewers and consistent 0.5 demo hasn't yet.
http://www.tvguide.com/news/supernatural-recap-the-future/?ftag=TVG_Twitter
TV Guide has had several negative reviews of the show since season 12 began.
This :
Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) spend so little time actually doing anything this season that it's hard to tell what Dean and Sam actually feel about anything at the moment.
TV Guide has had several negative reviews of the show since season 12 began.
It's funny. I was reading the 'Rate - such and such episode' from the IMDb page at the start of the season a couple of days ago. It's interesting to see the problems people picked up then that have only gotten worse and how willing to give Dabb a chance many people were. All that patience and goodwill had been totally spent for many by this point.
shareI remember our discussions on IMDb after "Alpha and Omega". We were worried. I know I was, but we were willing to give him a chance because he had a couple of decent episodes. We see how that turned out.
shareYeah, his decent episodes in the early years must've been heavily influenced by Loflin, and then when he went solo, rewritten by Carver as the show runner. That's the only thing I can think of to explain the complete tonal shift and decline in his writing now that Carver is gone. I can't believe that the guy who wrote The Prisoner is the same guy who wrote Alpha and Omega for example.
The same goes for Berens, except since Dabb is now the show runner and the one who corrects scripts to fit into the grand design, Berens's scripts have become just as bad. I have a hard time believing the same guy who wrote The Executioners Song and The Werther Project wrote The Future. I mean, The Future had the look and feel of a NepDuo episode, but it was Berens/Glynn.
have a hard time believing the same guy who wrote The Executioners Song and The Werther Project wrote The Future. I mean, The Future had the look and feel of a NepDuo episode, but it was Berens/Glynn.
I'm hoping Dabb's statement earlier about having a more "traditional" finale meant that he is getting some negative feedback from someone in power. Hopefully someone like Peter Roth or Mark Pedowicz. Someone needs to save the "Lamborghini" before it is beyond hope.
Maybe Cas throwing the keys of the Impala in the front seat (and where was Sam going to sit? Wouldn't Kelly and Cas have gotten in the back seat? Sorry I digress...) was a metaphor for Dabb carelessly losing control of the show by tossing the keys to the writers to try and figure it all out.
I'm hoping Dabb's statement earlier about having a more "traditional" finale meant that he is getting some negative feedback from someone in power. [/quote]
I hope so too. I just hate how new showrunners come in, get drunk on power and try to change the whole show. They ALL did it. Gamble, Carver and now Dabb and they all had to be raked over the coals and forced to course correct. I don't know what's up with that.
[quote]and where was Sam going to sit? Wouldn't Kelly and Cas have gotten in the back seat?[/quote]
In the backseat like in "Paper Moon". Castiel probably wanted Kelly to be next to Dean and in Castiel's field of vision because she's a flight risk. Dean is pretty good at intimidating people, barking orders and threatening those who don't want to walk the line and Castiel knows better than to sit in a position where he can't WATCH Kelly from all angles lol. I would have placed Kelly next to Dean too.
[quote]Maybe Cas throwing the keys of the Impala in the front seat was a metaphor for Dabb carelessly losing control of the show by tossing the keys to the writers to try and figure it all out.
It must be me because I found it enjoyable for the most part.
shareCharacterization has gone out the window with this bunch of writers. Everyone's a flat stereotype - no one's got onion layers anymore (I'm surprised they didn't give Dagon a moustache to twirl).
Tossing the keys onto the front seat next to a flight risk.... duh! cheap lazy writing. It's not just Supernatural that's slipping in ratings. It's across the board. Network TV has settled lazily into the doldrums while streaming venues such as Netflix are stealing audiences because they're offering something new and fresh.
A paradigm shift is taking place in the world of broadcast TV entertainment.
I tweeted the article to Dabb... several times, in fact. (He probably has me blocked)
shareLMAO!
shareHe probably has us all blocked, especially anyone who is an obvious Dean fan. If he does, he's a big baby as well as a douchebag.
I love that TVG is calling out the season as crap, because they might just be one voice the network/studio will listen to, if the plummeting ratings won't do it, though they should.
I'm also tagging Jensen's twitter in my complaints now, because the one and only person Dean fans might have, used to have, in their corner is the guy playing Dean - and I can't believe he's happy with how Dabb has deconstructed his character all season. He loves Dean being a badass and being in the thick of things, and Dean is so far removed from that this year it's pathetic. Good grief, not even Sera Gamble treated Dean as shabbily as Dabb has.
And, really, every character is being horribly written. I can't say I like the writing for anyone this year. And the storytelling is simply bad. Who knew that Bloodlines would end up being Dabb's best idea.
So you go, TVG! Give them an earful of how much S12 sucks! If nothing else, maybe the CW will rethink showrunners.
I can't believe he's happy with how Dabb has deconstructed his character all season. He loves Dean being a badass and being in the thick of things, and Dean is so far removed from that this year it's pathetic.[/quote]
I really wonder what's going on there. He used to be very vocal when he didn't like a storyline, especially when it involves Dean, Sam or the brothers.
[quote]So you go, TVG! Give them an earful of how much S12 sucks! If nothing else, maybe the CW will rethink showrunners.
Here's another article I thought was pretty good at expressing some of the malcontent I've seen of late.
https://movietvtechgeeks.com/dean-winchester-terrible-horrible-no-good-bad-day-aka-future/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialWarfare
The only thing I had a bit of a problem with was when the author said this:
And do the ends always justify the means if you think you know what right is so that how you get there doesn’t matter? That seems to be both Mary Winchester’s and Castiel’s beliefs, but it has never been Sam and Dean’s.
Strange that it's written by one of the Fangasm ladies. I was under the impression that the reviews on the Fangasm site were generally positive.
shareMe too. I remember a few weeks ago we were talking about fans, like the Fangasm women, being too close to the people involved in the show to be objective and it creating this kind of echo chamber where the people involved in the show think the entire fandom is thrilled with what they're seeing - guess not all of those top tier fans are thrilled, which says a lot, I think. It makes me think even more that everyone involved BTS is well aware of all the problems many (not all) in the fandom are having with this season.
shareIt makes me think even more that everyone involved BTS is well aware.
I also liked that she didn't say that this episode was the entire problem, that it's a season-long problem. I particularly liked this:
Talk about a bad day. They didn’t get to save the day in any way, shape or form. They were essentially bystanders and observers, unable to impact what happened. Unable to save the Colt or get through to Cas. I know that this is probably where we have to be at four episodes until the season finale – that the show has to narrow down to Sam and Dean only having each other and seemingly helpless and defeated. We’ve followed this pattern in other seasons, and I’ve felt similarly frustrated. But this season is particularly frustrating because we’ve gotten so little of the Winchesters all season long. They’ve been bystanders and observers far too often – we’ve had so little time to look into their feelings that I don’t even know what they’re feeling most of the time![/quote]
[quote]The early seasons of the Show were all about how the circumstances that the Winchesters found themselves in impacted their family relationships – we always knew what Sam and Dean were feeling because that’s literally what the show was about. Sera Gamble and Eric Kripke both talked about how the other characters with whom Sam and Dean interacted illuminated who they were and how they felt, about themselves and each other (. . .) I don’t even know, at this point, what they’re feeling about the BMoL (and Sam’s deception) or their mother! It’s like the Winchesters’ feelings are just glossed over and never explored, and yet that’s what I really want to see. That’s what I care most about with this Show, so if I don’t know what they’re feeling, I’m lost.
the Winchesters’ feelings are just glossed over and never explored, and yet that’s what I really want to see. That’s what I care most about with this Show, so if I don’t know what they’re feeling, I’m lost.
I agree with this. Not that I want soap opera, but come on! - a lot has happened and we have no clue how they feel. Sam & Dean are the heart and soul of this series. They were once, anyway - I don't think they are any more.
Yes, Lynne is part of what I call the squee squad (Australian ladies too). They just LOVE everything! So I'm surprised she authored this. Maybe our disenchantment will get through to TPTB.
I know that this is probably where we have to be at four episodes until the season finale – that the show has to narrow down to Sam and Dean only having each other and seemingly helpless and defeated. We’ve followed this pattern in other seasons, and I’ve felt similarly frustrated. But this season is particularly frustrating because we’ve gotten so little of the Winchesters all season long.[/quote]
The scenario, the boys having only each other in the last episodes is going to feel as tacked on and artificial as the recent carving of the initials. In order for any of this to have some weight, you need to keep the boys emotionally present in the narrative and with each other from start to finish.
[quote] They’ve been bystanders and observers far too often – we’ve had so little time to look into their feelings that I don’t even know what they’re feeling most of the time![/quote]
Precisely. Irrelevant guest stars asleep on the side of the road.
[quote]Now, I still don’t know how they feel about the resolution with the Darkness, or that Sam was carrying the amulet in his pocket for years, or how either of them feels about Dean being a demon or having the mark of Cain or the lengths Sam went to in order to save him. How does Sam feel about having to face Lucifer after all his trauma in the Cage? I don’t even know, at this point, what they’re feeling about the BMoL (and Sam’s deception) or their mother! It’s like the Winchesters’ feelings are just glossed over and never explored, and yet that’s what I really want to see. That’s what I care most about with this Show, so if I don’t know what they’re feeling, I’m lost.
Lynn's review made me kind of sad actually. She is struggling to remain a fan at this point. When the "squee squad" starts to lose hope then you know the show is in trouble. Most of her problem with the season is the lack of Sam and Dean POV and the characterization of Dean. But bringing back characters and treasured icons (COLT!) just to destroy them is wearing thin even for the most "Rainbows and Unicorns" fan.
It just seems like Dabb and Singers vision isn't resonating with anyone very many fans right now.
Most of her problem with the season is the lack of Sam and Dean POV and the characterization of Dean
Well, it's what he did with Bloodlines and was obviously proud enough of it to let it get to air.
shareThe thing is that Bloodlines was panned. Which I don't understand why he thought Supernatural: The Bloodlines Edition would go over well. Spoiler alert: it didn't lol.
It must be that typical brand new showrunner arrogance that we've also seen in Gamble and Carver.
I'll never forget that early Huffpo interview were Carver admitted that the writing team told him Amelia was a bad idea (that was in the Summer before season 8 started). He forged ahead and it was a major flop.
I remember you mentioning that the writers weren't jazzed with Dabb's Lucifer idea. He forged ahead and look where we are.
The difference is that Carver course corrected in the second half of S8 (yes it wasn't perfect but it was light years better than the first half). Dabb so far is still forging ahead with what looks like an even worse idea into S13.
shareTrue, which is why I'm praying the ratings force him to reconsider.
shareCarver was smart. I know a lot of fans didn't like season 8 but the ratings came back for a reason. Season 8 was a very balanced season. Dean had his purgatory arc. Sam had his trial arc. Sam fans hated Amelia and that he didn't look for Dean. Dean fans hated that he became Sam's nurse and cook. They both had a good balance of monster kills. Carver introduced the Bunker, MoL and had stories for Kevin, Crowley and Cas that weren't as boring as watching paint dry. Season's 9 and 10 started a slight ratings decline as the focus shifted to Dean but the ratings remained relatively stable. Season 11 focused on the saving part and neither brother got a lot of monster kills but they were in it together. It seemed balanced until the point it appeared Dabb started taking control. Dabb is bent on telling the stories he wants whether people watch it or not and that is the biggest threat to this shows survival.
shareSeason's 9 and 10 started a slight ratings decline as the focus shifted to Dean but the ratings remained relatively stable.
I agree that season 8 has a lot of buzz but Friday ratings are lower than weekdays ratings and the show had just moved from Friday to Thursday I believe. Singer also mostly credited the Netflix deal for the influx of first time watchers, so while I don't take away from the season 8 buzz, Carver's writing was not the only explanation for the change in ratings.
shareThe hopping around to different days and different times is something to be considered too.
share