Supernatural 3x09: Malleus Maleficarum
Jul. 16th, 2010 06:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meg_tdjProbably the closest thing we got to a Ruby episode. Therefore, I love it.
At the time, I loved the insight we got into Ruby - that she was a human witch who had sold her soul, and Hell had stripped her of 99% of her humanity. I thought that was a cool background story for her, and this was when I really started to appreciate the character.
Now when I watch this episode, I can totally see that it was all just a setup to get Dean trusting Ruby to some degree and stop fighting against Sam toughening himself up, to play with Dean's mind showing him that humans become demons when they go to Hell, and to make Sam feel some kind of kinship with Ruby rather than seeing her as just a means to an end. She saved Dean's life, which made Sam appreciate her more right there, and I notice her "secret" came out when both boys were there to hear it, making Dean think about his future and Sam feel sympathy for Ruby because her past resembled Dean's situation and her present resembled Sam's situation. If that makes any sense? It's just, the way Sam looked at Ruby before Dean pushed him out the door... I feel as though he was thinking he'd finally found someone who understood what it's like to be partly demonic, partly human, you know? The barriers between them were starting to crumble.
So yeah, I love love love the Ruby stuff in this ep. But the actual supernatural stuff? *shudder* This ep preyed on my personal paranoias like the writers had been spying in my head or something, LOL. Teeth falling out, maggots in the food... yeah. I was not amused. I still can't watch the maggots scene. :P
I love that, now that Dean's behaviour has been dealt with, Dean confronts Sam in this ep about the way HE'S been acting. In fact, that motel scene is one of my faves of the season, right from when they walk in the door until Sam runs out after the witches. Just total awesomeness from beginning to end. You can see Dean starting to feel worse and worse as the conversation progresses, I love it. And asking Sam again if he's feeling okay, Sam having no idea WHY Dean is always asking if he's feeling okay, Sam's excuses for changing and for trusting Ruby, all of it. I do have a slight issue with Sam cutting the mattress open before CHECKING UNDER THE BED, and then driving off to kill people rather than dragging Dean outside and torching the whole room, but whatever, he was panicking. ;)
Here, have the clip.
I also love Dean and Ruby's first meeting. That scene was so awesome. And their scene at the end, too. I can see season 4 Ruby in her in that final scene - the sad and sympathetic side, angstful and human, making herself seem relatable and trustworthy. Also, Ruby's grand entrances ROCKED, with the car stopping and then her hero stance in the doorway when she came to rescue Dean. Hahaha! Love iiiiiit. :D
And her comment that she doesn't "believe in the devil" was technically not a lie. She believed in and worshipped Lucifer, not "the devil." Technically. Tricky chick.
Oh yeah, and I love that Dean feels bad for the bunnies, aww. ;)
And MRS. Renee...Van...Allen. I have to be impressed by the actress, because she could NOT have made that character any more obnoxious. ;)
And my single favourite moment of the episode -
Ohhhhhh yes. Mmhmm. YUM.
Quotes -
Dean: Why does a rabbit always get screwed in the deal? Poor little guy.
Dean: *reporting murder to 911* My name? Yeah, sure, my name is... *hangs up*
Elizabeth: But she was an Episcopalian.
Dean: Well, then we're pretty sure she was using the wrong Bible.
Ruby: Put a leash on your brother, Sam, if you wanna keep him.
Sam: The way I see it, if I'm gonna make it, if I'm gonna fight this war after you're gone, then I gotta change.
Dean: Change into what?
Sam: Into you. I gotta be more like you.
Ruby: Stop... calling me Bitch.
Elizabeth: We were just getting Renee a lower mortgage rate!
Dean: What WAS that stuff? God, it was ass. Tasted like ass.
Ruby: It's called witchcraft, shortbus. *leaves*
Dean: *mutters* You're the shortbus, you... shortbus.
Dean: No, I saw Hell Raiser. I get the gist.
Ruby: Actually, they got that pretty close. Except for all the custom leather.
At the time, I loved the insight we got into Ruby - that she was a human witch who had sold her soul, and Hell had stripped her of 99% of her humanity. I thought that was a cool background story for her, and this was when I really started to appreciate the character.
Now when I watch this episode, I can totally see that it was all just a setup to get Dean trusting Ruby to some degree and stop fighting against Sam toughening himself up, to play with Dean's mind showing him that humans become demons when they go to Hell, and to make Sam feel some kind of kinship with Ruby rather than seeing her as just a means to an end. She saved Dean's life, which made Sam appreciate her more right there, and I notice her "secret" came out when both boys were there to hear it, making Dean think about his future and Sam feel sympathy for Ruby because her past resembled Dean's situation and her present resembled Sam's situation. If that makes any sense? It's just, the way Sam looked at Ruby before Dean pushed him out the door... I feel as though he was thinking he'd finally found someone who understood what it's like to be partly demonic, partly human, you know? The barriers between them were starting to crumble.
So yeah, I love love love the Ruby stuff in this ep. But the actual supernatural stuff? *shudder* This ep preyed on my personal paranoias like the writers had been spying in my head or something, LOL. Teeth falling out, maggots in the food... yeah. I was not amused. I still can't watch the maggots scene. :P
I love that, now that Dean's behaviour has been dealt with, Dean confronts Sam in this ep about the way HE'S been acting. In fact, that motel scene is one of my faves of the season, right from when they walk in the door until Sam runs out after the witches. Just total awesomeness from beginning to end. You can see Dean starting to feel worse and worse as the conversation progresses, I love it. And asking Sam again if he's feeling okay, Sam having no idea WHY Dean is always asking if he's feeling okay, Sam's excuses for changing and for trusting Ruby, all of it. I do have a slight issue with Sam cutting the mattress open before CHECKING UNDER THE BED, and then driving off to kill people rather than dragging Dean outside and torching the whole room, but whatever, he was panicking. ;)
Here, have the clip.
I also love Dean and Ruby's first meeting. That scene was so awesome. And their scene at the end, too. I can see season 4 Ruby in her in that final scene - the sad and sympathetic side, angstful and human, making herself seem relatable and trustworthy. Also, Ruby's grand entrances ROCKED, with the car stopping and then her hero stance in the doorway when she came to rescue Dean. Hahaha! Love iiiiiit. :D
And her comment that she doesn't "believe in the devil" was technically not a lie. She believed in and worshipped Lucifer, not "the devil." Technically. Tricky chick.
Oh yeah, and I love that Dean feels bad for the bunnies, aww. ;)
And MRS. Renee...Van...Allen. I have to be impressed by the actress, because she could NOT have made that character any more obnoxious. ;)
And my single favourite moment of the episode -
Ohhhhhh yes. Mmhmm. YUM.
Quotes -
Dean: Why does a rabbit always get screwed in the deal? Poor little guy.
Dean: *reporting murder to 911* My name? Yeah, sure, my name is... *hangs up*
Elizabeth: But she was an Episcopalian.
Dean: Well, then we're pretty sure she was using the wrong Bible.
Ruby: Put a leash on your brother, Sam, if you wanna keep him.
Sam: The way I see it, if I'm gonna make it, if I'm gonna fight this war after you're gone, then I gotta change.
Dean: Change into what?
Sam: Into you. I gotta be more like you.
Ruby: Stop... calling me Bitch.
Elizabeth: We were just getting Renee a lower mortgage rate!
Dean: What WAS that stuff? God, it was ass. Tasted like ass.
Ruby: It's called witchcraft, shortbus. *leaves*
Dean: *mutters* You're the shortbus, you... shortbus.
Dean: No, I saw Hell Raiser. I get the gist.
Ruby: Actually, they got that pretty close. Except for all the custom leather.
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no subject
Date: 2010-07-17 12:36 am (UTC)Have I thanked you lately for getting me into this show? ;)
no subject
Date: 2010-07-17 12:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-17 01:48 pm (UTC)Ruby really is so kickass. The way she just makes herself invaluable to the Winchesters, and knows exactly how to interact with each of them... it's perfect. She appeals to each of their need to protect the other, gets Sam to trust her, and plays off of the fact that Dean won't trust her, but will accept a truce. She's a brilliantly subtle character, especially with where it goes after this. And, the witch plot for this episode is so creepy and awesome. It is really still disappointing that the writer's strike hit during season 3. There is some much that I feel would have been in that season.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-17 08:51 pm (UTC)Yes, yes, and YES. I love characters that are into mind games and manipulation, and Ruby had it down to a fine art. She looks so pretty and harmless on the surface, but then you realize what she is and what game she's really playing, and whoooooa... they planned and executed this storyline SO WELL, even with the writers' strike. I do wish we'd seen Katie in a few more eps, and I will forever shake my fist at the strike for depriving us of that, but I came to love Gen's Ruby and her new approach with Sam every bit as much, and I think they managed to fill in the gaps really well considering.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-17 09:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-17 09:39 pm (UTC)