wealhtheow (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
wealhtheow) wrote2010-04-25 09:55 pm
wealhtheow) wrote2010-04-25 09:55 pm
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Spn 5x19 "Hammer of the Gods"
I was really, really enjoying this episode (man, the writers have really read their Neil Gaiman--first the shout-outs to Good Omens, now this American Gods homage). The Winchesters are reacquiring their camaraderie, Kali's response to Dean's pick-up line ("No."), Dean's joy at the chocolates on the pillows, the gods' banter, Kali being a hard ass...
But then Lucifer walks in. And suddenly all the gods are completely powerless? Even though there's no reason for Lucifer to be more powerful than, ya know, actual *gods*, and not just a minion of a god, like Lucifer is? So the gods' awesome rants about the Judeo-Christian faiths not being the only ones on the planet suddenly ring a little hollow. I mean, the writers seem to buy into Lucifer's perspective of "lol pagans" rather more than the (rather more reasonable, to my mind) gods' perspectives. I could see an oldie like Mercury getting ganked, for instance, but Ganesh? He's worshiped by like half the planet*! There is no way that Lucifer could kill him with a single dismissive gesture, without even looking at him. Plus, I was not a fan of Kali on the ground cowering before a white dude, and then getting saved by another white dude. Pretty fucking offensive, from where I'm sitting. Also, why was there a random Ghostfacers commercial in the middle of the ep? Very odd.
Blergh. This was a particularly frustrating episode not only because it reaffirmed Supernatural's privileging of Christianity and white dudes over every thing else, but also because it could have been so.much.more. The gods of the world *should* be taking sides in this battle! Some on the side Christians call "Lucifer's", some on the side Christians call "Michael's". But every pantheon would have their own reasons for being on that side, consistent with the internal rules of their own faith. Why make this all about Christianity's end of the world? Why not make this The End of the World? And boys like the Winchesters, who grew up in a Christian culture, see it through the lens of Revelations, whereas someone who grows up expecting the coming of Baha'u'llah will see all of those expectations coming to pass...It would be hard to do, though. I guess it's easier to just throw some people in a room, stick nametags on 'em, and then have Lucifer splatter their blood across the walls.
*Hmm, ok, more like ~20%...but still!.
But then Lucifer walks in. And suddenly all the gods are completely powerless? Even though there's no reason for Lucifer to be more powerful than, ya know, actual *gods*, and not just a minion of a god, like Lucifer is? So the gods' awesome rants about the Judeo-Christian faiths not being the only ones on the planet suddenly ring a little hollow. I mean, the writers seem to buy into Lucifer's perspective of "lol pagans" rather more than the (rather more reasonable, to my mind) gods' perspectives. I could see an oldie like Mercury getting ganked, for instance, but Ganesh? He's worshiped by like half the planet*! There is no way that Lucifer could kill him with a single dismissive gesture, without even looking at him. Plus, I was not a fan of Kali on the ground cowering before a white dude, and then getting saved by another white dude. Pretty fucking offensive, from where I'm sitting. Also, why was there a random Ghostfacers commercial in the middle of the ep? Very odd.
Blergh. This was a particularly frustrating episode not only because it reaffirmed Supernatural's privileging of Christianity and white dudes over every thing else, but also because it could have been so.much.more. The gods of the world *should* be taking sides in this battle! Some on the side Christians call "Lucifer's", some on the side Christians call "Michael's". But every pantheon would have their own reasons for being on that side, consistent with the internal rules of their own faith. Why make this all about Christianity's end of the world? Why not make this The End of the World? And boys like the Winchesters, who grew up in a Christian culture, see it through the lens of Revelations, whereas someone who grows up expecting the coming of Baha'u'llah will see all of those expectations coming to pass...It would be hard to do, though. I guess it's easier to just throw some people in a room, stick nametags on 'em, and then have Lucifer splatter their blood across the walls.
*Hmm, ok, more like ~20%...but still!.
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It would be hard to do within the space of a single episode, but a great idea for a season -- especially since we already spent S4 on the whole Christian myth.
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