#we could use a heroic all-purpose shape-shifter

[sammysdewysensitiveeyes]

Making RP-related jokes about shape-shifters messing with Shaw made me realize.....there really aren’t that many all-purpose shapeshifters associated with the X-titles, which is weird, since it seems like it would be a common power.

There are lots of characters who can transform their bodies in various ways, but most of them are very specific transformations, like Wolfsbane and Catseye going into animal form, or Colossus’ steel form, Emma’s diamond form, etc.  But in terms of all-purpose, turn into any other person/animal shape-shifting, I would list:

Mystique, the obvious and most famous (also best)

Copycat, mostly a Deadpool character

Changeling/Morph - mostly either dead or an Exiles character, but is super versatile with shape-shifting in Exiles

Benjamin Deeds Morph - a specific kind of shape-shifting where he mimics other people, and also exudes some chemicals that cause people to automatically like and trust him - I don’t know if he can take animal form.  Barely seen in the past few years.

Random - apparently can change into anything, but most makes giant arm guns, barely seen since the 90′s

Meggan - a unique type of shape-shifter who is also empathic, and her body transforms in response to other people’s perceptions of her, as well as her mood and the environment.  She doesn’t seem to do the “pretend to be another person” kind of shapeshifting, but maybe that’s because she didn’t initially have very good control over her powers, and I wasn’t sure if she could turn into an animal, but her bio confirms that she can.  She also has elemental powers and other abilities beyond shape-shifting.

Then, there are a couple of mutants who have shape-shifting as one of many abilities, but don’t often use it, like Apocalypse or Mr. Sinister, who probably wouldn’t be considered as “just shape-shifters.”

Honestly, out of all of these, Mystique and Meggan are the only ones with shape-shifting as a primary power that are commonly used, and Meggan is still strongly associated with elemental powers and magic.  I guess writers want to put their own twist on transforming mutants rather than making a character who is “just” an all-purpose shape-shifter, but there are actually not that many out there, especially compared to the many telepaths, or telekinetics, or fire mutants, etc.  

Obviously, this just means that Mystique reigns supreme as the best shape-shifter.

#all the more reason to resurrect 616 Changeling #we could use a heroic all-purpose shape-shifter #admittedly he wasn't that heroic but he died like a hero #let me know if I missed anyone

[darkstar6782]

4.05: Monster Movie - My Rewatch Review

I absolutely love that they chose to do an episode in the style of a classic monster movie. I have never been a particular aficionado of them, but they are enough of a cultural phenomenon that I at least appreciate the aesthetic, and there is something about knowing and appreciating your roots when it comes to the ambiance of the horror genre that I love to see. And this episode gets the ambiance spot-on, from the old-timey setting (great idea to use an Oktoberfest celebration to get the medieval castle and village vibe without a whole lot of reach), to the black-and-white film, to the old-fashioned special effects and the organ music soundtrack. And it’s nice to have a relatively light-hearted episode after the way the season started, and given where it is about to go.

That doesn’t mean it was without its serious moments, though, because it wouldn’t be an episode of Supernatural if it didn’t add in at least a little bit of drama. Dean’s conversation with Jaime about how he views the hunter’s lifestyle now compared to before he went to Hell was a minor reveal, but it was painful in two different ways. The first was Jamie’s response to finding out what kind of life Dean and Sam lead—instead of praising their heroism, or saying that it sounded dangerous or lonely, she came right out in the bluntest of terms and told him that his life must suck. Which, from a certain perspective, is most definitely true, but it’s always a bit jarring and sad for the people around Sam and Dean to realize that so easily, because I think a lot of their drive to keep living the life that they do comes from the idea that, if people knew what they sacrifice in order to save others and keep them safe, they would consider it a noble and heroic calling, not just a crappy lifestyle choice. And though Jamie does go on to thank them by the end, the fact that she sees the reality of their lives so quickly has to be kinda painful for Dean to confront.

And then, there is Dean’s admitting that, before he went to Hell, he was wanting to give the job up, because it had just cost him too much, but that coming back—specifically, I imagine, being brought back by the angels and being forced to confront the upcoming Apocalypse—has renewed his purpose and commitment to the hunter lifestyle. This is not surprising, but what’s sad is the fact that Dean does not hold on to this revelation about his own life’s purpose down the road, when Sam is faced with the same choice, nor does he use it to examine the fact that Sam also had that choice to make in the past and made a different one. The central conflict between these boys for most of the series seems to be the fact that they have a hard time reconciling the different things they want out of life with the fact that they are brothers and they don’t want to give up the bond with one another that the hunting lifestyle has provided them. And yet, just a little more introspection on Dean’s part every time Sam decides that what he has to gain by hunting isn’t worth what it costs him (almost always when he has to do it alone after Dean has died) would have saved them a lot of drama in the seasons to come.

There is, of course, also another obvious parallel to what Sam is going through in this episode, though, unfortunately, only we as the audience are privy to that fact. Because the shifter’s story is a truly tragic one—called ‘monster’ and ostracized by everyone, even his own family, just for being different (likely from a very young age, by the sound of it), he chose to become the monster that everyone already assumed he was. This gives a similar level of nuance to shifters that we have gotten for vampires in the past—the fact that there is still human intelligence there, and human choices and human drives and needs. The implication here, in fact, is also that shapeshifters are born believing they are human, and it is likely the circumstances of their discovering that they have the ability to change shape that drives who they become later in life, much like how Sam’s discovery of his psychic abilities and the way that his family reacts to that knowledge informs how he chooses to use them. There could be plenty of shifters in the world that do not use their abilities at all, or that never hurt people, because they are capable of making the choice not to, but there is also a level of upbringing and love and support that has to come from those around them to keep them from turning into the worst versions of themselves. You hear that, Dean?

#supernatural #4.05 monster movie #spn rewatch #tgpcSPNr #the great pre-convention SPN rewatch