This episode is entertaining. The meta jokes are funny. And the songs are great. I think the cover of "Carry On My Wayward Son" is one of the most strangely moving scenes in the show's run. But I also cannot sake the feelings that the writers were being mean spirited and/or obtuse. They should have left well enough alone or been much more careful.
Anyone who follows Supernatural knows that slash fiction (erotic fan fiction) involving Sam-Dean, Dean-Cas (others) is both common among some fans AND also know that it is a huge point of conflict among fans and to some extent the creators-fans. I'm not going to re-hash the textual arguments here, especially around Dean. But this episode clearly acknowledges that the writers know of this sort of fan fiction existing. It is not the first time the show has made jokes about this dynamic. Basically anytime Carver Edlund or the Supernatural books come up there's a joke about. I wish the writers would leave this topic alone because at this point there is no solution to it that will not piss off someone.
This episode-it is meta, and it is the 200th episode-clearly is meant to be an olive branch of a sorts to these fans. You can see it by including the material generally and especially in the scene in which Dean says "You have your version and I have mine" to a fan fic writer. I think this is intended as a statement of inclusion or permission. Instead it comes off as a statement of power. I don't know what to make of this text and it annoys me greatly that the episode went *there* in a milestone episode.
Anyone who follows Supernatural knows that slash fiction (erotic fan fiction) involving Sam-Dean, Dean-Cas (others) is both common among some fans AND also know that it is a huge point of conflict among fans and to some extent the creators-fans. I'm not going to re-hash the textual arguments here, especially around Dean. But this episode clearly acknowledges that the writers know of this sort of fan fiction existing. It is not the first time the show has made jokes about this dynamic. Basically anytime Carver Edlund or the Supernatural books come up there's a joke about. I wish the writers would leave this topic alone because at this point there is no solution to it that will not piss off someone.
This episode-it is meta, and it is the 200th episode-clearly is meant to be an olive branch of a sorts to these fans. You can see it by including the material generally and especially in the scene in which Dean says "You have your version and I have mine" to a fan fic writer. I think this is intended as a statement of inclusion or permission. Instead it comes off as a statement of power. I don't know what to make of this text and it annoys me greatly that the episode went *there* in a milestone episode.