StackedNatural Day 141: 7x17, 11x16, 15x13

StackedNatural Masterpost: [x]

March 23, 2022

7x17: The Born-Again Identity

Written by: Sera Gamble

Directed by: Robert Singer

Original air date: March 23, 2012

Plot Synopsis:

Lucifer is driving Sam into madness. Desperate to save him, Dean tries to find someone who can help.

Features:

Sam’s psychotic break, Lucifer reading the DSM IV, Emmanuel the faith healer, heartfelt talks in the impala, Meg saving Dean’s ass, Dean giving Cas back the trenchcoat, Cas taking Sam’s hell trauma.

My Thoughts:

Hey so remember yesterday, when I said I was sick but don’t worry, it’s not covid? Well, I was wrong and it IS covid, thanks universe. I’m going to still do Stacked (I’m just lying in bed watching netflix anyways), but forgive me if the posts are shorter and less coherent.

This arc is basically the one time that they really focus on the mental trauma of what one of the boys has gone through. Sam’s illness isn’t from a curse or a deal, it’s just the natural consequence of the things he’s gone through.

I’ve been waiting with baited breath for Cas to come back, because a lot of the season 7 filler episodes without him kind of suck. I love how ready Dean is to forgive him, to defend him to himself, even with him breaking Sam’s wall being the reason he was in the hospital in the first place. I love that even without his memories, Cas’ natural instinct is to help people in any way he can. He gets in the car of a random dude and drives like 12 hours even after he sees him kill someone. Jensen’s acting in this whole episode is great, but especially in the scene with Daphne (side note, does anyone ever explain to her what happened to her husband?).

In the same way, even when Sam is so sick he’s barely functional, he wants to help Marin with her ghost problem. I love how fundamentally good they are.

I had forgotten how prominently Meg is featured in this episode - it’s a good one to stack so closely with Goodbye Stranger. Also I enjoy seeing her flirt with Cas, it’s fun.

@meg3point0 pointed out that Dean making a pseudo-deal with Meg to protect Cas is exactly what Cas did last season with Crowley to protect Dean. I love it.

This has been said a million times, but they’ve changed cars a ton of times this season. Dean has been moving that dirty, bloody trench coat from trunk to trunk out of sentimentality, because he had no reason to hope that Cas was coming back. This is also the final piece of a series of moments that I talked about in an earlier post, but all season Dean has been tentatively reaching out, telling people that he was struggling, and all of them except of Emmanuel/Cas has told him to suck it up and move on. Cas tells him that he isn’t a machine. That’s love.

Notable Lines:

“I won. Your madness won. I mean, look at you. It's hard to believe you were the guy that saved the world once.”

“You know, I used to be able to just shake this stuff off. You know, whatever it was. It might take me some time, but... I always could. What Cas did... I just can't – I don't know why.” [...] “You're not a machine, Dean. You're human.”

“I deserved to die. Now, I can't possibly fix it... So why did I even walk out of that river?” “Maybe to fix it.”

Laura’s (completely subjective) Episode Rating: 9.3

IMdB Rating: 9.0

11x16: Safe House

Written by: Robbie Thompson

Directed by: Stefan Pleszczynski

Original air date: March 23, 2016

Plot Synopsis:

After a dangerous creature is released into an old house, a mother and child are comatose. Sam and Dean find that Bobby and Rufus tracked the same creature so the Winchesters look to the past to catch the monster before any one dies.

Features:

A “previously on” that believes in Rufus/Bobby, flashbacks to sometime in s4, evil wallpaper, good special effects, Rufus’ fabulous body, a beautiful moment outside space and time

My Thoughts:

I had never seen this episode before, so I got really stoked when I realized that it was a Robbie Thompson episode, and it was fully justified! I love when a “filler” episode does a lot of work to fill out character details. Just because we aren’t learning more about Casifer or Amara, doesn’t mean it has to be one I would skip on a rewatch.

I really liked how smooth the transitions were between past and present, in the writing and in the directing. I loved paralleling Dean and Bobby so much, the way they both see their kid (kids, in Bobby’s case) that aren’t their kid dead in the nest.

I have missed Bobby and Rufus so much, and I’m glad we got an episode dedicated to how they were a bickering old married couple. I love that the nest was outside time and space so that Dean and Bobby got to really see each other one more time.

The only thing that I wish was different is that I think they missed some opportunities with the hallucinations Dean saw in the nest. If you wanted to keep queerbaiting us (which they did) you could have had Bobby see his dead wife and then Dean see both Cas and Amara, and we could have all argued over which one was supposed to be the mirrored love interest.

My brain is melting because of the covid so I can’t think of much more to say, but I really loved this episode, it was delightful.

Notable Lines:

“”Well if by backup you mean you do all the heavy lifting while I watch. It's Shabbat!”

“Were you ever nice?” “1985. Worst year of my life.”

“Sam and Dean are right in the middle of this thing. I'm worried about my boys, Rufus.”

“Oldest rule of hunting, Bobby. You can't save everyone.”

“How messed up are our lives that you seeing a vision of dead me is actually kind of comforting?”

Laura’s (completely subjective) Episode Rating: 9.2

IMdB Rating: 9.0

15x13: Destiny's Child

Written by: Buckleming

Directed by: Amyn Kaderali

Original air date: March 23, 2020

Plot Synopsis:

A search for the one thing that may give the Winchesters an edge against God leads Sam and Dean to Jo's door and to a secret that may have died with Ruby; Castiel asks Jack to do the unthinkable to help the brothers in their quest.

Features:

The pizza man montage, alternate universe Sam and Dean, Jack learning how to blow bubblegum bubbles, Sister Jo and Ruby’s sordid past, Cas visiting the Empty, Meg as the Shadow, HunterCorp, Cas and Dean standing at an altar, Jack going to Eden and regaining his soul, Dean and Cas bickering like a married couple.

My Thoughts:

There is so much going on in this episode I don’t even know where to start. Buckleming strikes again with their insane pacing. Doing Stacked doesn’t particularly help with this, I have lost all semblance of an understanding of the timelines of the late seasons of Supernatural.

I have no idea WHAT they thought they were doing with the pizza man montage - like yeah showing us Meg was a good idea but the rest of it… what? Someone on the editing team is a heller.

I had almost forgotten about HunterCorp Sam and Dean. I think I actually forcibly blocked them from my memory for two reasons, the first being that they have absolutely no material impact on the plot at large (which is a huge waste of literally a second Sam and Dean), and the second being that Jared’s acting as HunterCorp Sam is so bad that it borders on a homophobic hate crime. Someone online (I didn’t save the post or I would link it) pointed out that if they were going to introduce another Sam and Dean they can’t realistically get rid of them the way they did. They’re highly skilled, highly trained hunters who could help as you literally fight God.

I am assuming that Daneel and Genevieve just told their husbands that they wanted to be on the show but that they mostly wanted to hang out with each other and Misha, and I respect that. Sister Jo and Ruby definitely had sex at least once, imo. And as much as they were claiming not to trust each other they were planning to ride out the apocalypse in the Garden of Eden together, so.

I’m mad that Hell isn’t scary still (although I certainly like Rowena’s design better than Crowley’s). I just think that it shouldn’t be so chill for Sam and Dean to walk into the place that holds their greatest trauma and have it be fine.

I’m mad that they’ve set up so many ways to visit the Empty or bring someone out of the Empty and then they drop it and don’t try to rescue Cas. And for all the emphasis on how much the Shadow wants to go back to sleep, it’s still awake at the end of the series. I love Meg as the Shadow though - I wish it had been her all along, rather than Misha being weird, or it could have taken the form of any of the many many angels they’ve killed. Also, it’s BS that Ruby never comes back after making that deal with Cas.

It’s kind of a bummer that the way Stacked worked out, the last episode of season 15 is Jack getting his soul back. The momentum of the emotional arc is all cut off since we’ve already watched the end of the series. At least it means fewer episodes per week, which is more sustainable.

Notable Lines:

“Cas, you know what's good about being dead?” “Uh, as I recall, very little.”

“You know, Dean, he – he feels things more acutely than any human I've ever known.”

“Ruby? The demon you were sexually intimate with?”

“Why do they call this place the Empty? This place is full. It's full of sorrow and despair playing over and over again, of angels and demons dreaming about their regrets. Forever.”

Laura’s (completely subjective) Episode Rating: 7.2

IMdB Rating: 8.4

In Conclusion: Stack with today and yesterday is that Dean always loses at rock-paper-scissors.

<< Previous Day  |  Next Day >>

Probably one among the few shows that has amassed a global fandom and there’s a reason why people go crazy for this monarchial tale. The battle for the throne might just sound primitive, but the execution of an archaic plot such as GOT’s is what made this show what it is today. When a little fantasy element is knitted into its plot that gets denser after each episodes and seasons, this is no longer an usual TV show but a champion of original series genre. The show’s atmosphere would challenge the film industry constantly with its unparalleled staging, flawlessly baffling VFX and a magnificent character arc. It masterfully capitalizes on every episodes and seasons gradually and offers a rewarding experience for its audience and wont let them go free of its grip. This show managed to have a buoyant journey with a little unsettling pace in the mid-seasons especially the tease they gave for the white walkers which was stretched a little too much for its own good. But it did get back on it pace and offered a delightful and major plot maturity in its 7th season. Watch out for the outstanding action sequences.   The final season which was supposed to be an outstanding show down of the glorious odyssey, destroyed everything it was building up for 7 years. Perhaps the novel might have had a more plausible and a convincing climactic ending but the creators chose to have an original content independent of its Novel. In a nutshell, this award winning, crow-pleasing and a mind-blowing series is a must watch epic dynastic tale that shouldn’t be missed. If not for the poor ending, this would’ve been a flawless masterpiece. GOT rating: IMDB - 9.3 RT - 89% OUR RATING - Blows your mind away. #gameofthrones #got #hbo #series #tvshow #monarch #dynasty #gotmemes #gameofthronesmemes #sansastark #aryastark #jonsnow #maisiewilliams #sophieturner #dragon #emiliaclarke #khaleesi #hollywood #lannister #jasonmamoa #kitharington #mustwatch #throne #ironthrone #moviereview #moviereviews #disneyhotstar @maisie_williams @sophiet @peterdinklage @emilia_clarke @iamlenaheadey @nikolajwilliamcw @ramindjawadi_official @gameofthrones @hbo @hbomax https://www.instagram.com/p/CDwLRU0jOyU/?igshid=1po944u356v3c

Glee: 10 Best Episodes According To IMDb | ScreenRant

In 2009, Glee reminded audiences what it was like to be a high school kid who dreamed of stardom. The New Directions were a glee club in an Ohio suburb whose members dreamed of living and working in New York and Los Angeles. Mostly high school outcasts, the characters evolved from comedic high school stereotypes into bonafide stars.

RELATED: Glee: 10 Sue Sylvester Quotes That Are Still Hilarious Today

The series lasted for six seasons. It had its ups and downs, but fans were overwhelmingly behind the series even when they hated the storylines. With more than 100 episodes broadcast, the series has an average rating of 6.7 on the Internet Movie Database. The top 10 episodes, however, all rank much higher.

10 The Break Up S4E04 (9.1)

With an episode title like “The Break Up,” it would be right to expect a major couple calling it quits during the hour. Instead, the episode that leads off the top ten involves five major couples ending their relationships. 

Over the course of the hour, Blaine and Kurt, Rachel and Finn, Brittany and Santana, Kitty and Jake, and Emma and Will all reached roadblocks in their relationships. It’s significant that most of the relationships were long-distance as half of the cast was in New York for storylines. The breakups were like a giant reset for the show, allowing characters to grow on their own for a while. It also gave the audience a great acoustic version of “Teenage Dream.”

9 Original Song S2E16 (9.1)

New Directions might not have won their regionals competition in the first season, but in high school, there’s always a chance to get things right the second time around. In this episode, the teenagers tackled writing original music.

While Sue Sylvester coached one rival and Kurt competed with another, the New Directions had to dig deep to write their own music. Rachel wrote herself a ballad, but the group bonded for a fun bop, “Loser Like Me,” which would probably have become the unofficial anthem for the show if the audience didn’t love “Don’t Stop Believin’” so much.

8 100 S5E12 (9.1)

The aptly named “100” was the hundredth episode of the series to air. For the landmark episode, the show went back to what made it so successful.

It reunited nearly all of the original cast members for the “one hundredth assignment” for New Directions. New and old members sang new versions of songs previously performed on the show. It also brought back fan favorite guest stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Kristin Chenoweth, who wanted to do their part to save the club from being shut down, which led right into the second hour...

7 New Directions S5E13 (9.1)

Intended to be watched immediately after “100,” this episode saw Paltrow’s Holly and Chenoweth’s April do their best to keep the glee club alive, but it didn’t exactly go the way they wanted. Instead, they simply gave all of the club members something to think about as they headed toward graduation.

RELATED: 10 Worst Episodes Of Glee According To IMDb

The episode title worked as a nod to the name of the club, but also to recognize that so many characters were going in literal new directions. Will left McKinley to coach Vocal Adrenaline when the club disbanded while all of the seniors made their college plans. Blaine decided to attend NYADA, and Santana gave up her understudy role on Broadway to travel. It was another big change to wipe the slate clean for the show, but it was dressed up in nostalgia, including another performance of “Don’t Stop Believin.'”

6 Sectionals S1E13 (9.2)

The midseason finale of the first season, “Sectionals” found the New Directions triumphing over hardship. They overcame one obstacle after another in the hour.

First, the team had to contend with their competition without Finn. As he discovered Puck fathered Quinn’s baby, he quit the club. Then, they arrived at the competition only to find that all of their songs were being performed by the other clubs. The group had to band together to come up with new songs, some members giving up solos for others, in order to compete successfully. Finn saved the day by bringing them an idea for a new cover, and not abandoning his friends after all. 

5 2009 S6E12 (9.2)

The first hour of the two-hour series finale was a nostalgia ride for fans. Glee flashed back to before the events of the pilot episode, exploring just why each of the original New Directions members decided to join. It was a love letter to fans who’d been with the show since the beginning. 

Fans got to see how Rachel and Mercedes’ competition began, and that Kurt joined the club because his father feared he was suicidal from loneliness. Surprisingly, Artie and Tina only joined the club because friends dared them to audition. The episode added a lot of fun backstory to the characters - even if the continuity didn’t always add up.

4 Dreams Come True S6E13 (9.2)

When “Dreams Come True” aired, it did so immediately after “2009” as part of a proper send-off for the show. It allowed fans to see just where most of their favorite characters ended up.

RELATED: Glee: 5 Relationships Fans Were Behind (& 5 They Rejected)

Following the arts programs being reinstated at McKinley, not only did the new generation of the glee club win nationals, but Will got an offer to be principal of the arts-focused school. That paved the way for a surprising choice to become the new glee club teacher - Sam. While Mercedes began her singing career in earnest, Rachel made a splash on Broadway, and several characters united in the future in New York. The hour didn’t have time to get to everyone, but it certainly tried. The only thing missing was one final rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin.'"

3 Journey To Regionals S1E22 (9.3)

As the title of the episode suggests, the glee club made it to their regional competition for the first time. The episode teased a loss by stacking the judge's panel with Sue Sylvester.

One of the best aspects of the episode is that it brought the end of the season right back to the very beginning. The series began with the first incarnation of New Directions singing “Don’t Stop Believin’" by Journey. Their regional performances were all covers of Journey songs. For some reason, belting out classic Journey is where New Directions was often at their best. In a nice twist, Sue actually voted for New Directions to win, though she was outvoted by the other judges. It’s Sue that helped keep the club going, working out a deal with Principal Figgins. She proved that the biggest antagonist on the series had a heart.

2 Nationals S3E21 (9.3)

When “Nationals” aired on television, it originally aired as part of a two hour Glee finale. The second hour served as a goodbye episode for the characters who graduated high school. Perhaps this episode ranked higher simply because the audience wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

It could also be because this particular episode would have worked as a perfect fairy tale ending for the show. In it, New Directions made it to nationals, competing against Vocal Adrenaline and Aural Intensity. They repeatedly competed against the two throughout the season. Mercedes overcame food poisoning, Rachel overcame her nerves, as did Unique, and for the first time, the group was the best glee club in the nation. It would have made a great series finale if the show hadn’t kept going. 

1 The Quarterback S5E03 (9.6)

One of the most emotional episodes of the series happened to be the most well-received. Following the death of series star Cory Monteith, the cast and crew took some time off to grieve. When they returned, it was to film a send-off episode for his character Finn Hudson.

The episode didn’t go into detail about what happened to Finn, but it picked up right after his death. Throughout the hour, the members of New Directions got together to mourn him through music. Different ways of dealing with grief were explored as Kurt, Santana, Puck, Will, and Rachel were all spotlighted throughout the extended episode.

NEXT: Glee: 10 Times The Show Broke Our Hearts

source https://screenrant.com/glee-best-episodes-according-imdb-tv-show/

Kevin Cage of @spotlightsaga reviews... Rick and Morty (S03E02) Rickmancing The Stone Airdate: July 30, 2017 @adultswim Ratings: 2.859 Million :: 1.48 18-49 Demo Share Score: 8.5/10 @cartoonnetwork @danharmon TVTime/FB/Twitter/Tumblr/Path/Pinterest: @SpotlightSaga *********MINIMAL TO NO SPOILERS********* Change is fucking hard. When something as monumental as divorce goes down during your childhood, whether it be at a very young age to all the way through to your later teen years and even beyond, it's never an easy adjustment. While it's true that i don't have a father, biologically speaking (I do but he literally has NEVER contacted me - lines open, pussy, redemption is just a call away), I was lucky enough to see my mother stand by her husband, a man whose rightfully earned the title of 'Dad' in my life. Don't trip, I'm not getting mushy here, I know my cartoon audience! Parents fuck us up, then they nag, then they don't speak to you, then they smother you (sometimes with a pillow). It's a vicious cycle, really. Seeing my mother stand by a man who literally almost completely destroyed himself and nearly took everyone down the dark and treacherous rabbit hole of addiction with him was extremely confusing. I harbored feelings of anger and resentment at first, but after awhile he made spectacular & unexpected life changes for the better. Suddenly I realized he wasn't some shit sucking asshole, he was just human, something we're all guilty of in one way or another. People make mistakes, and they sometimes self-destruct for no reason at all, and most everyone's first 'Fight or Flight' reaction is to pack up your shit and fucking RUN. I'm so glad that my mother didn't do that, we have our differences, but my Dad is one of the few male role models I have, that actually taught me something real in this world and given things I can really use and apply to real life situations. Sometimes you have to step away from people for awhile, but if you really love them, you never give up. I'm not sure if 'Rick & Morty' is the best place to pull out my existential bucket of ooey-gooey fun, maybe sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't... That's the incredible thing about this series in general! Where a great toon like 'Mike Tyson Mysteries' is frankly all fun & games, 'Rick & Morty' is layered (like a fucking onion, y'all) and far more than just a slapstick cartoon for stoners. People are finding that not only is this series funny beyond all reason, it's also incredibly endearing and real. The series main character, chemical friendly & artist of intellect, Rick Sanchez (Justin Rowland), would never admit it, but underneath all the multi-dimensional murders and lowbrow side effects from his chemical hobbies is a regular, mad scientist type Grandpa with a big ol' heart. Don't get me wrong, Rick has every right to tell Jerry (Chris Parnell) to fuck off... The whole 'tiny planet' fiasco and selling Rick out just wasn't a good look, it was a pathetic disaster, a true low point, and it landed Jerry in a job where he's paid in pill supplements and is basically a cuckold to the invading alien race... Oh, and then there's that god-awful windbreaker. Most straight men have problems dressing themselves after a separation or divorce, but damn... Can't nobody tell Jerry 1992 has long since came and gone, even though I wish it hadn't!?! Beth (Sarah Chalke) and Jerry had already been on the outs for two seasons, so this whole divorce thing was a long time coming. As much as I hate Gary's new post-relationship windbreaker, I am so in love with this new, improved, 'no fucks given' Summer Smith (Spencer Grammer). I feel like the place that Summer is at in her life in this very moment is the exact same place I would be and the exact same something I would do if I had an evil/heartwarming genius Grandfather, like Rick, who could travel back in time & space and alternate dimensions... And spend extended time in another realm ala Turbo Kid (2015), Doomsday (2008), or Escape From New York (1981 - Prepare for more Post-Apocalyptic film references). Not all R&M fans are happy tho, but that's because the show is expanding and going deeper... We're seeing an important evolution of the show and like it or not, it's a road that's necessary for the series to take so that it may spread its wings, giving us something new every time. R&M isn't a show that just pops us often... It's sacred, there's nothing on tv like it. It's literally a revolutionary metamorphosis for the #animatedseries genre. It cannot keep giving you the same ol', same ol' and hitting that one note that caught our attention in the first place and still survive with integrity... There's so many goddamn different and unexpected notes that this show can and will hit, both in the near and distant future, that it's completely unfair to ask it to remain stagnant so that we can have our normal R&M laughs. Shit just doesn't work like that, bruh'. Morty is terrified of this new Summer... But I don't think it's purely 'genuine concern'. Sure, that's a part of it, but already in S3 we are seeing Summer kind of inch him out of his co-anchor or sidekick spot with his Grandad. It's never easy to share the attention and affection of the ones we love, especially when the 'one that's loved' in question can literally make the impossible completely and totally possible. Morty has his own shit he's dealing with though, hell even Rick is feeling the toxic effects of the biggest divorce ever broadcast on animated tv. Weird, but true. In 'Rickmancing The Stone', Morty, Summer, and Rick all head to a 'Mad Max', post apocalyptic, style universe where men wear buckets on their heads, killing is for sport, and ultimately a place where you have to fight for all the things you want, to the death... Basically the literal opposite of what Jerry is doing with Beth. It's all a fantastic juxtaposition of the very life back at their original 'Earth 1' that they are trying to escape from and it's incredible to see this 'Nihilistic Wasteland' through three different sets of eyes, each character gaining something different from the experience. Spotlight Saga's Cartoon Fans are incredibly strict when it comes to spoilers, so I'm not here to spoil the episode (Spoiler Free! Yayy). I know that there are many of you, outside of TVTime, that read these articles for the content and don't necessarily watch the show. I'd love to take you deeper on this one, but I simply can't. We can give you the rundown on the basic plot, but trust me, anything beyond that and Cartoon Purists will legit crucify all of us over here on a broken telephone pole. Besides, when we tell you that 'Rick & Morty' could possibly be the greatest American Animated Television Series of All Time... We fucking mean it. This isn't a show that you want to miss out on, so those that are avid readers (and yeah, we fucking love you for it), know that this is one of the special ones that you need to set your DVR, buy the season on #Vudu or wherever you can access it and give it a thorough once, twice, three or even more times over. I, myself, have personally watched this particular episode 4 times already, and it won't be the last. The series, as a whole, is still holding strong at #7 on #IMDB's user rated list of Top Rated TV Shows (of all time), holding a 9.3/10 with nearly 138,000 votes and counting. That's some seriously heavy shit for an Adult Swim cartoon to find itself smack dab in the middle of a comprehensive list of all the greats w/series like GOT, Breaking Bad, The Wire, and The Sopranos. It's seriously everything that everyone says it is and more. Really. Those that ARE watching and are a little taken aback by the show suddenly taking a new direction and tackling serious issues through brand new avenues, give it a chance. This show has done right by you so far, it's definitely not going to let you down. I rarely put my stamp on a series outside of praising a season, or certain episodes because you never know what kind of hard turn a show is going to take... But let me tell you... I believe in 'Rick & Morty', and wherever this fresh faced S3 is taking us, I want in on the fucked up, Science Fiction laced, blood soaked, LSD inspired shot storm of a road trip fully stocked with McDonald's Mulan Szchuan Sauce... ESPECIALLY since the show is clearly embracing a bit of #existentialism and stirring it up in its big bowl of psychedelic, 'what the fucks', never-ending, unpredictable journeys... All while continuing to turn old tropes into something that feels incredibly new and progressive. Wabba Lubba Dub Dub!

StackedNatural Day 10: 2x01

StackedNatural Masterpost: [x]

September 28, 2021

2x01: In My Time of Dying

Written by: Eric Kripke

Directed by: Kim Manners

Original air date: September 28, 2006

Plot Synopsis:

In the aftermath of the car crash, the surviving Winchesters go to the hospital, where one is stalked by a Reaper while another must consider sacrificing himself to save the others.

Features:

Dean’s out-of-body experience, doctors with literally no bedside manner, a successful Ouija board, our first Reaper, the origin of angry spirits, John’s deal.

My Thoughts:

This season premiere is so much better than the season 6 premiere that it is literally mind boggling.

The camera angles when Dean first wakes up outside his body are so good, it’s really well directed and lit. I love when they do tilted cameras and muted colour palettes, which the first few seasons are great at.

Do you think that John was disappointed that Sam is the one who walked away from the car accident? Obviously the relationships between the three of them are so messy and complicated and he was always way more protective of Sam but I don’t think that necessarily translates to Sam being his favourite. And if Sam had been the one to die in that crash then it would have solved the demon blood/psychic problem without him having to actually make the hard call. I’m not the first person to say that when Dean smashes the glass of water while Sam and John are arguing that John thinks it was Sam’s powers manifesting, not Dean’s spirit.

Really the best indication of their relationships to their dad is that at the end of the episode when John has already made the deal, they both know that something is going on for different reasons: Sam because John backs off instead getting pissed that his authority isn’t being respected, and Dean because John is gentle and says he’s proud of him. And of course John uses this moment to apologize (way too late) for the way he raised Dean before instantly dropping the burden of killing Sam. I am foaming at the mouth and this is a John Winchester hate blog.

There’s a lot of good lore revealed in the episode in terms of the reapers. I wish they would have explored the idea that reapers can be possessed by demons though, it seems like that should have been paradigm-shifting and it never happens again. Also, love that we never have to see the bad cgi reapers again and they just stick with the human forms. Supernatural gets a bad rap for having all the monsters just look like guys but in this case I think it was the right call. A terrifying green spectre was never going to be the most effective way to convince people to move on and it's weird that that was part of it.

I did laugh a little during the Ouija board scene when Dean says “you can’t kill death”. Wait 9 seasons, bud.

When Sam is talking to Dean’s body and he says, “you can't leave me here alone with Dad. We'll kill each other, you know that”, not realizing that his dad really would kill him if he felt like he had to. Devastating.

I also like the (accidental?) foreshadowing of Tessa saying that Dean’s about to become the thing that he hunts. This will remain relevant! All the way to season 9 and 10!

Notable/Kickass Lines:

“I've done everything you have ever asked me. Everything. I have given everything I've ever had. And you're just going to sit there and you're going to watch me die? I mean, what the hell kind of father are you?”

"Dude, I full-on Swayze'd that mother."

“Dean, you're not the first soldier I've plucked from the field. They all feel the same. They can't leave. Victory hangs in the balance. But they're wrong. The battle goes on without them.”

“I can't explain it. The edema's vanished. The internal contusions are healed. Your vitals are good. You have some kind of angel watching over you.”

Laura’s (completely subjective) Episode Rating: 9.8

IMdB rating: 9.3

In Conclusion: One of the notes I wrote during this episode was “All Winchesters know is lie, tax evade, and sacrifice yourself for your family” which does kind of sum up the episode nicely.

<< Previous Day | Next Day >>

The 5 Best & Worst Episodes of Drunk History, According To IMDb

Drunk History is a pseudo-educational history show put on by Comedy Central. Creator and host of the show Derek Waters brings in history buffs, has a few drinks with them, and then has them tell him a story from history as best as they can.

Celebrity actors try to lip-sync and act out their version of events. The show’s very successful sixth season just ended in August 2019, but there hasn’t been any news of a renewal for season seven yet. Until then, here are the five best and five worst episodes for Drunk History, as ranked by fans on IMDb. 

RELATED: The 10 Most Memorable Characters From Your Favorite ‘90s Teen Comedies

10 Worst: Games — 7.4/10

This great episode gives us the stories of Milton Bradley, Bobby Fischer, and Roger Sharpe, who are all important names in the gaming world. Lauren Lapkus, Craig Anstett, and Rich Fulcher are the storytellers who get drunk and try to tell the stories that Topher Grace, Taran Killam, and Jake Johnson have to act out.

Many of the Drunk History episodes hit the 7.3 and 7.4 mark. It’s a good mark—on a scale oF of 10, 7 is nothing to sneeze at. So it’s not that “Games” is a bad episode—how could anything that includes Lauren Lapkus and Jake Johnson be bad?—but that so many other Drunk History episodes are great. 

9 Best: Drunk Mystery — 8.4/10

A lot of the fun of Drunk History comes from the drunken version of historic events that storytellers attempt to tell. But in “Drunk Mystery” part of the premise is turned on its head: these are all stories that no one knows the real end too. Where did Agatha Christie disappear to for eleven days, and why does she say she doesn't remember? Who was the real DB Cooper, and did he survive his dramatic escape? Who was the Circleville Letter Writer that threatened an entire town? 

This episode's funniest moments come from everyone's continued surprise about these strange tales. Nothing beats a drink and a mystery.

8 Worst: National Parks — 7.3/10

In this episode of inebriated historical storytelling, Steve Berg, Daryl J. Johnson, and Tess Lynch successfully tell their tales. It includes Jayma Mays playing journalist Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who worked to save the Florida everglades; Adam Beach as Richard Oakes, who led the 19-month occupation of Alcatraz by the Indians of All Tribes Native American group; and Thomas Middleditch as John Muir, who convinced Teddy Roosevelt to preserve Yosemite. 

RELATED: 10 Funniest Shows on TV Right Now

How could an episode with such cool stories be so lowly rated? Well, 7.3 isn’t a low score. But it could just be because it aired the week after one of the most highly rated episodes in Drunk History…well, history. Compared to the powerhouse episode “Are You Afraid of the Drunk?” this episode is only good, not great.

7 Best: S.O.S — 8.4/10

Paget Brewster and Mark Gagliardi have several drinks with Derek Waters and tell him the tales of Navy officer Douglas Hegdahl’s escape from a POW camp in North Vietnam and how Florence Nightingale revolutionized the field of nursing. 

While the stories are great, the highlight of this episode is probably Brewster’s and Waters’s banter. They make a great comedic team, and their playfully antagonistic blustering throughout her story is what makes the episode so watchable. 

6 Worst: Siblings — 7.2/10

This season four episode focuses on some of the famous—and forgotten—sisters of history. Did you know the Wright brothers had a sister? What about the Fox sisters, who started the Spiritualism craze? Or the Kopp sisters whose “unladylike” behavior in the early 20th century saved their family home? 

Lauren Lapkus returns to tell stories this episode, as does J.D. Ryznar. Jason Ritter stars as one of the Wright brothers alongside Jenna Fischer as his sister. Rachel Bilson and Elizabeth Olson play two of the rebel Kopp sisters. And Sarah Ramos shows up as Maggie Fox, the Fox sister that confessed. 

5 Best: Heroines — 8.6/10

This season five episode has an impressive cast. Not only do Paget Brewster and Tiffany Haddish show up to get drunk and tell stories, but Evan Rachel Wood, Busy Philipps, Alexander Skarsgård, Jack McBrayer, Mandy Moore, and Maria Blasucci all show up to star in this set of tales. With these great comedians bringing these histories to life, how could this episode ever be bad? 

RELATED: 10 The Good Place Characters Sorted Into Their Hogwarts Houses

The three stories covered are: Civil War hero Clara Barton and the founding of the Red Cross; the tale of Deborah Sampson, who disguised herself as a man to fight in the Revolutionary War; and Rose Valland’s fight to save art from the Nazis.

4 Worst: Washington, D.C. — 7.2/10

 In the very first televised episode, drunk storytellers Matt Gourley, Allan McLeod, and Eric Edelstein talk about the wild histories of the US capitol, including the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Elvis Presley’s friendship with Richard Nixon, and Woodward and Bernstein revealing the Watergate scandal.

Despite having an amazing cast that included Dave Grohl, Jack McBrayer, Adam Scott, Will Forte, and Jack Black, this episode still isn’t rated very highly compared to other Drunk History episodes. Maybe because the Watergate scandal and assassination of Abraham Lincoln have been done to death? Some of the show’s most successful episodes do cover lesser-known history, after all. Regardless, it’s a funny episode and a great place to start watching.

3 Best: Are You Afraid of the Drunk? — 9.0/10

Some of the highest-rated episodes of Drunk History are showing up in the most recent season, which is a great sign that the show is trending up. Since creator/host Derek Waters started the show as a side project as a Funny or Die web series, it’s only gotten funnier. 

RELATED: The 10 Best Comedy Movies Of All Time, According To IMDB

“Are You Afraid of the Drunk?” is another star-studded episode: Seth Rogen, Evan Rachel Wood, Elijah Wood, Will Ferrell, Maria Blasucci and others show up to tell scary stories in the dark. This episode has Evan Rachel Wood’s amazing performance as Mary Shelley, which creator Derek Waters considers one of the best performances on the show ever.

2 Worst: Election Special — 6.6/10

For a TV show that is six seasons and 72 episodes in, having a lowest single episode rating of 6.6 is impressive. 

Of course, the reasons “Election Special” ranks poorly are obvious—it aired the night of the 2016 US Presidential election, which was a nail-biter for most of America. There were large swaths of the country that were not in the mood to laugh. Moreover, host Derek Waters and guest host Steve Berg are mostly rehashing some of the funniest presidential episodes Drunk History has done in the past. Though the stories of Lincoln’s assassination and the competitive campaign between John Adams and Theodore Roosevelt as funny stories, the original episodes are much funnier than this review.

1 Best: Hamilton — 9.3/10

Lin-Manuel Miranda, writer and star of the Hamilton Broadway show and America’s darling, is one of the best narrators that has ever appeared on Drunk History. He and Derek Waters get drunk and talk about the amazing life and legendary of Alexander Hamilton. Guest stars Alia Shawkat and Aubrey Plaza show up to play Hamilton and Aaron Burr respectively, delightfully bringing to life Miranda’s charming narration. In fact, we previously ranked Alia Shawkat as the best celebrity guest star on Drunk History ever. 

If you only ever watch one episode of Drunk History, make it “Hamilton.” You might think you’re over Hamilton after his years in the pop culture spotlight, but the story isn’t complete yet.

NEXT: 10 Quotes from Arrested Development That Are Still Hilarious Today

source https://screenrant.com/best-worst-episodes-drunk-history-imdb/

5 Best & Worst Episodes Of Bates Motel (According To IMDb)

Norman Bates first appeared in the 1959 novel called Psycho by Robert Bloch. Just a year later, Alfred Hitchcock would adapt the book as a horror film starring Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates. Perkins would return for three Psycho sequels from 1983 to 1990, before passing away in 1992. After a forgettable TV movie called Bates Motel released in 1987, followed by an even more forgettable remake of Psycho in 1998, Norman would return once again for the TV prequel, Bates Motel.

Related: 10 Best Things Bates Motel Did As A Prequel To Psycho

A&E’s hit show would run from 2013 to 2017 starring Freddie Highmore as the iconic killer. The series would end after five seasons, but not before telling the haunting tale of Norman Bates’ early years. Now that all of the episodes have been out for a few years, IMDb has given the show a total of 8.2 out of 10. Here are the 5 Best And Worst Episodes Of Bates Motel (According To IMDb).

10 Best: “Forever” - 9.5

Season 4 Episode 9 of Bates Motel continues to show Alex Romero trying to get Norman back into Pineview. Romero tries numerous times to convince Norma that she isn’t thinking clearly, but that only makes her more upset since she thinks she knows what is best for her son. Seeing that she isn’t going to get through to her, Romero meets with Dylan behind Norma’s back to try to get Norman committed, as Pineview only needs two signatures from family members.

The episode finally shows Norman getting what he wants as Norma breaks it off with Romero to focus more on her son. The episode ends with Norman trying to commit a murder/suicide by lighting the broken furnace in their basement and then laying in bed with his mother. Romero tries to save them, but Norman is the only one to survive the ordeal.

9 Worst: “Nice Town You Picked, Norma…” - 8.0

Like many TV shows, Bates Motel got better as the series went on. The majority of the worst-rated episodes come from Season 1, starting with the second episode in the series called “Nice Town You Picked, Norma…” This episode introduces Norman’s half-brother/cousin named Dylan. Dylan shows up needing a place to stay, which Norma begrudgingly agrees to.

This episode also begins the bond between Emma and Norman as they are grouped together and a school project and accidentally stumble upon a marijuana field together. This episode has one of the earliest showcases of Norman's violent tendencies, as he tries to kill Dylan after he insults Norma.

8 Best: “Marion” -9.4

Bates Motel was always a prequel to Hitchcock’s Psycho, but Bates Motel told its own story about the character Marion Crane. In this episode, Marion (played by Rihanna) checks into the Bates Motel. A lot of the events leading up to the famous shower scene are very similar to Hitchcock’s film, but Marion actually isn’t killed by Norman. Instead, when Norman begins to feel the urge to kill Marion, he hurries her out of the motel.

Related: 10 Iconic Quotes From Psycho

The big twist of the episode is that Norman ends up killing Sam Loomis the same way Norman killed Marion back in 1960. It was an ingenious way to end the episode by paying homage to the original, but also not doing a shot for shot remake.

7 Worst: “Unbreak-Able”- 8.1

Tensions are high in Season 3's fourth chapter. “Unbreak-Able” focuses on the aftermath of Annika’s death as Norman wonders if he killed her, while Norma tries to decode the flash drive she received before Annika died. Romero also tries to figure out how Bob Paris is connected to two deaths in White Pine Bay.

Norman and Emma start to get intimate in an abandoned cabin, but when Norman mentions his mother, Emma is justifiably upset and storms off. The episode ends on a bit of a cliffhanger as Norman discovers that Caleb has been living with Dylan. Norman thinks Dylan has betrayed their mother and after a scuffle with his brother, he drives off to tell Norma of Dylan’s deceit.

6 Best: “Norman” - 9.3

Like most season finales of Bates Motel, Season 4's conclusion leaves little to no room for disappointment. This episode deals with the aftermath of Norma’s death, heavily focusing on Norman and Romero. Norman plans funeral arrangements by himself and when they allow him to see Norma in their parlor, Norma’s eyes open for just a brief moment.

Norman, not being able to cope with his mother’s death, digs her up, brings her home, and super glues her eyelids open. The finale also sees Romero getting arrested for perjury, so he is unable to get his revenge on Norman. The episode ends when Norman is about to kill himself, only to hear his mother playing on the piano.

5 Worst: “Underwater”- 8.1

Appropriately titled, Season 1's ninth episode begins with Norman dreaming about drowning Bradley. Norma tries to sell the motel but a realtor tells her the motel won’t sell since a highway bypass is being built that will make people avoid the road to her property.

Norman’s teacher, Blaire Watson, continues to support Norman with his writing and even goes as far as to publish his short story without getting Norma’s permission. As if Norma’s life wasn’t already in a tough spot, Jake threatens to kill Dylan and Norman if she can’t come up with $150,000 that Zack Shelby owed him from the Chinese sex slave trade.

4 Best: “The Cord”- 9.3

Many TV shows can’t quite stick the landing when it comes to series finales, but thankfully Bates Motel had no problems when it came to ending Norman Bates’ storyline. The episode begins with Regina driving Norman and Romero to the site of Norma’s corpse in the woods. After an altercation with Romero, Norman kills him and then takes Norma’s body back home. After getting stuck in the memory of moving to White Pine Bay, Norman calls Dylan to tell him the news of them moving from Arizona and invites him over for dinner.

Dylan urges Norman that he needs to get help after he sees his dead mother’s body propped up at the dinner table. Dylan then shoots Norman in self-defense, thus ending Norman’s killing spree. The series ends with shots of Dylan, Emma, and their daughter happily walking down a Seattle street, the motel being sold to another family, and finally, a shot of Norma and Norman’s tombstones.

3 Worst: “The Man In Number 9”- 8.1

“The Man in Number 9” picks up directly where the last episode left off. Romero arrives and changes the story of the incident with Shelby in order to protect Dylan. After Emma comes to visit Norman, Norma takes Emma on a drive where she finds out about Norman’s attraction to Bradley.

Related: 11 Reasons We Question Norma Bates' Parenting Skills

Oddly bothered by it, Norma decides to spy on Bradley through Emma before offering her a job at the motel. This episode introduces Jake Abernathy as the mysterious man in room 9, who would quickly prove to be a huge problem for the Bates’ since they killed Keith Summers and Zack Shelby.

2 Best: “Norma Louise”- 9.2

With the support of Norman, Dylan finally confesses to Norma that Caleb has been staying with him at the farm. Absolutely furious, Norma packs a bag and storms out of the house. She then buys new clothes, trades in her car, and tries to hook up with somebody at a bar.

This entire time, Norman is extremely worried about his mother; at one point, even blacks out and starts acting as if he is Norma. This episode marks the first time that Dylan sees Norman wearing Norma's clothes, while also showing Dylan and Emma’s romantic relationship begin to blossom.

1 Worst: “First You Dream, Then You Die”- 8.2

While the series finale is among the best episodes of Bates Motel, the very first episode of the season is among the show’s worst. The show begins with Norman finding his dead father, which - later in the series - we find out was his doing. Norma and Norman move to White Pine Bay, where Norma surprises her son with a Motel that she bought as a fresh start.

Things spiral out of control quickly as Norma is assaulted by a man whose family previously owned the property. After Norma kills him, she asks Norman to help clean up the mess and they later dump Keith’s body in a lake. While it is among the worst episodes of the show, it still started off the series with a lot of shocking moments and did its best to introduce most of the main characters.

Next: Slasher: 10 Things Only True Horror Fans Would Have Noticed

source https://screenrant.com/bates-motel-best-worst-episodes-imdb/