So
that was a little unexpected
It’s
a fairly standard monster of the week episode (monster cicadas who go dormant
every 27 years then arise, possess people and make them have lots of sex before
burying them to unleash a new generation in 27 years for more murders and
orgies). The episode also has a bit part for Kandyse McClure, which I only
mention because she’s my “oh hey it’s her!” actress – y’know you always
recognise them but can never place them (she’s also tragically underused).
What
was surprising was that one of the random young victims was gay (ok he’s
dead now, so no points – but a young tween gay kid? Not common on TV even
if his screen time is 10 seconds then death) and, much more notable, a couple
of hunters they run into who are also hunting the monster turn out to be a gay
couple (they badly need to go back to acting school, but still. Actually, that’s
wrong, “back” implies they actually went.) And they manage to dodge the usual
full Dean freak out (oh so common) and go for a much more easier-to-swallow
surprise and any other terrible tropes. The two even live. Between this and the
lesbian couple earlier in the season and the fact that both couples included
POC and the presence of Rufus in Safe
House almost makes me think a writer has finally looked back on some
elements on Supernatural’s record and
said “what have we done?!”
Yes,
I realise I’m giving rather a heavy positive slant on something I would just
give a nod to in most shows: after all, 11 seasons and managing a couple of
episodes of non-recurring LGBT/POC characters that weren’t terribly troped isn’t
exactly worthy of a parade and fireworks – but it speaks volumes for how
low my expectations of this show have sunk. So I’m almost torn, a lot of me
is really happy to see this – but a fair part of me is a little annoyed by my
own happiness because is it really enough to be worth this much hope and even
potential glee?
The
hunters don’t become recurring characters, despite Sam and Dean considering
recruiting them to help with the Amarra issue – but since they have now
achieved their revenge they have a chance at their real life without hunting.
They’re hunters who have, as Sam and Dean put it, reached the finish line and
neither wants to break that. It sounds like a twee reason to not include them
further but it does carry the ongoing lessons of the show – of how so many
hunters are deeply scarred from their painful losses in their youth. How they’re
driven to find revenge – and how that revenge, even if achieved, never makes
them happy or fulfilled. Yet at the same time they cannot possibly not pursue
that vengeance.
Of
course these all apply so much more to the Winchesters and their almost
acceptance of their lack of anything resembling a happy ending.
