Roundtable Discussion on Supernatural 12×7 “Rock Never Dies”

This week we are discussing episode 12×7 “Rock Never Dies” which was written by Robert Berens. Participating in the roundtable are Michele Villery, Jackie Bojarski, Kelly Silva, Liz Schweitzer and Emy Cee.  As always, we love your feedback so leave your comments below and join in the discussion.

Here are this week’s topics!

 

Sam and Dean:

Jackie: The playful banter between Sam and Dean was exquisite in this episode. That car scene in which Sam tries to hide the fact that he’s listening to Ladyheart from Dean? I had the biggest smile on my face watching it. With that said, there were a few moments that caused me to raise an eyebrow. Why was Sam asking Dean how their mother is? Doesn’t Sam keep in contact with her, too?

In addition, how was Sam able to keep the doors from closing in the club? Is Lucifer’s power waning?

Finally, can I just say that I loved the boys in those leather jackets? Here’s hoping that those jackets make an appearance again!

Kelly: First I want to start with Sam walking in on Dean playing word games with Mary.  I felt saddened that Sam is so clearly out of the loop with Mary.  We know that Dean is reaching out to her with texts and games, but where is Mary’s interaction with her youngest?  Watching Sam and Dean together in the car talking about ‘hair rock’ and at the hotel bickering over vegetable water is extremely entertaining. I’m in awe of how strong Sam was at the club when he used his strength and will to keep those club doors open.  I had to wonder if Sam was tapping into his psychic powers without realizing it?

Liz: I just love their chemistry this season. When Sam finds out Dean is playing Words With friends with their mom, Sam didn’t get jealous; he was supportive!

I also totally agree with Jackie, loving the banter and brotherly bickering with each other on Sam’s taste in 80’s hair bands, vegetable water and their trying to pass as rock stars.

Michele: I loved Sam and Dean so much in this episode and this season. I love their banter. It reminds me of the early episodes of Supernatural.  Also, Sam and his love for Hair Metal and Vince Vincente was hilarious.  And Dean playing Words With Friends with his mother. Doesn’t Sam talk to her too?

What about Sam holding that door open? How was he able to do that? Are his powers coming back? Was it the fact that he is Lucifer’s true vessel that gave him that ability?  I don’t even know if Sam realized what he did.

Side note: Sam and Dean, please keep that “rock wardrobe”. It was sensational and it needs to make another appearance.

Emy: First of all, Leather jackets. Now that that’s out of the way, the boys had some excellent banter this episode, I was pleased to see Dean in more of his standard jokey mode and less depressed about Mary. It was also wonderful to see Sam and Dean utilizing and teaming up with Crowley and Cas!

 

Lucifer:

Jackie: I’m going to be honest: I wasn’t digging Lucifer in this episode. I’m going to qualify this by stating that I love Rick Springfield and think that he’s done a fantastic job. I just don’t love where they took Lucifer in this particular episode. He came across as excessively whiny and immature–but maybe that’s who Lucifer has been all along? ?

I think I just miss the old Lucifer, the Lucifer who was insidious yet elegant, regal and cold. That’s the Lucifer that I want to see more of, not the “my Daddy abandoned me again, wahhhh.”

Kelly: This episode shows Lucifer the way I always pictured him to be… chaotic. He kills at random, he tortures at random, and this time he can’t blame daddy for his bad behavior.  Lucifer is only into being Lucifer. It’s hard for another actor to come in and fill Mark Pellegrino shoes on his portrayal of Lucifer; however, Rick Springfield did a great job making the devil his own.  There were times that his coldness truly frightened me.

Liz: just don’t understand why they’re bringing daddy issues back into this season. I get the chaos he must be feeling after hating/loving his father all these years and after getting his apology, he may not know what to do with himself, but I don’t get this long con with the building the reputation of the aging rockstar just to kill a bunch of fans? What?

I get where Crowley was coming from with using the adulation of crowds to get a high, but then it flipped into this daddy issue again? Meh.

Michele: I really enjoyed Rick Springfield as Lucifer. He made Lucifer his own. Let’s face it, it’s hard to top Mark Pellegrino or Jared Padalecki in that role but Springfield did it well. He was at times, chilling and killed at will as Lucifer does. But I too wonder why the writers have Lucifer talking about his issues with his father yet again.

Emy: Oh man, Lucifer this week was a lot.  Personally I’m sad to see Rick Speingfield go, as he was a remarkable vessel and frankly I’m nervous about the whole Lucifer is President thing coming up. I wonder why Rowena didn’t help stop Luci this time around, but the storyline is still relatively fresh and I’m enjoying it. Also leather jackets. 

Cas and Crowley:

Jackie: Mark Sheppard and Misha Collins have a chemistry that is often overlooked. The bickering between them creates scenes that are hilarious as well as entertaining. With any luck, we’ll see them work together more this season.

Kelly: When the season began, I was wondering what the writers were going to do with Cas and Crowley, and I’m thrilled they are working together on a common problem: Lucifer. I love watching them together, they are like an old married couple. Cas immediately complaining about Crowley’s incessant talking to Sam and Dean was classic.  Crowley, who usually saves himself and hightails it out of dangerous situations, volunteered to help Cas buy the Winchesters a little more time to fight Lucifer.  It made him even more endearing to me.

Liz: I love this duo so much! They are such the odd couple and they work so comically well together. I am sure Crowley has some hidden agenda, but I am hoping he is just in it for the revenge and the camaraderie

Michele: Can Cas and Crowley keep working together? Their chemistry is off the chain! I love the ongoing bickering. It’s pure entertainent. I hope we see more of that.

Emy: Cas is always a highlight for me, and I’m so pleased to see that he is back to his old sarcastic self. “At least I don’t look like a lumberjack.” Crowley and Cas have such a back and forth chemistry, every time they are on screen it breathes new life into the show. I love Sam and Dean, but seeing all of them interacting and coming up with new ways to incorporate Team Free Will, and Crowley, or Rowena, or Jody helps create a fuller arc for the boys in my opinion. 

 

Vessels:

Jackie: To be honest, the rules surrounding vessels have been so confusing lately that I don’t even know what’s canon and what’s not anymore. First, archangels only had one true vessel that could hold them successfully. Now, an archangel like Lucifer can body-hop into vessels possessed by other angels and any random person that they come across. Who knows who Lucifer will choose as a vessel next!

Kelly: Lucifer is burning through vessels because they are not strong enough to hold him and Vince Vincente’s vessel is his latest victim. My biggest concern about this issue is that I don’t want Sam going anywhere near Lucifer, since his vessel is Lucifer’s true one.

Liz: After being on the bottom of the ocean for several weeks, I assumed Vince was not going to make it. It makes me feel so bad for the vessels and reminds me of Cas’s vessel who didn’t survive either 🙁

Michele:  I don’t know if canon exists anymore but  Lucifer is literally burning through people that aren’t strong enough to hold him and I feel that it’s going to take Sam sacrificing himself or attempting to stop Lucifer once and for all. Lucifer knows that Sam is his true vessel. The more he’s out, the more havoc he’s going to create.

Emy: The whole vessel arc seems strange to me, but I enjoy seeing new faces on the show and new actors getting to play Luci.

Predictions:

Jackie: At the end of the episode, there was a worrisome look on Sam’s face, which makes me scared that he will try to sacrifice himself to stop or imprison Lucifer. I definitely think Cas will keep pursuing Lucifer, with Crowley’s help. Other than that, anything is possible!

Kelly: I see Sam, Dean, Cas, Crowley continuing to work together to put Lucifer back in the cage.

Liz: I’m definitely expecting Rowena to make an appearance. I believe Sam is going to try and sacrifice himself to take out Lucifer but his mom will step in at the last minute and sacrifice herself to save her son.

Michele: I think Sam will try to sacrifice himself to get Lucifer back into the Cage. I think the boys along with Cas, Crowley and Rowena will  help in the search for Lucifer. This is actually one of the most unpredictable seasons around. I have no clue what’s going to happen next.

Emy:  I don’t really know what is going to happen the next few episodes, I am very excited to learn more about Castiel, and as I said previously I’m nervous about how Lucifer’s next vessels are going to be. I am hoping we get more of a resolve from Mary too. 

Kelly: Solid B

Liz: B. I love so many elements that this season has going for it, I just am not really into where the Lucifer storyline is going.

Michele: B-

Emy: A-