Monday, 16 July 2012 12:55 | Written by 
I got to admit, I had a fan girl moment. I have never met Jeremy Carver before, and I have been a huge fan of his ever since season three. It was “Mystery Spot” that was the first ever review I did and what inspired me to get into “Supernatural” blogging. It’s amazing how far this has come for me (that conversation came up a few times among fellow bloggers at Comic-Con).
So when he sat down, I gushed over how excited I was to finally meet him and how much of a big fan I was. Everyone at the table was in agreement that we were so glad he was back.
Now, the questions.
Here's the video in it's entirety for those who would rather watch the whole interview. We had more time with Mr. Carver than anyone. The summary is below for those that can't play video due to various reasons.
I asked the first question, it’s one that has been bouncing around the site for a while. Who is the writing staff this year? It’s the same as last year actually. The list of names he went through were very familiar, the first writer being the only change.
Jeremy Carver
Adam Glass
Ben Edlund
Eugenie Ross Leming and Brad Buckner
Andrew Dabb and Daniel Loflin
Robbie Thompson
What’s the overall arc?
“What you’re going to see is obviously the boys coming together after some time apart. That’s “to be determined” time right now. It’ll be through flashbacks exploring what each of them went through in the past. We’ll be spending a good amount of time with flashbacks, really informing us of how they are present day. We are really biting off on a slightly different structure for us. We’ve really gone whole hog with that, a story within a story.
You’re going to see the boys come together. How they come together in episode 1 could be interesting but they do come together. They’re going to come together in pursuit of one thing that’s very very personal for them. It harkens back to their earliest days. It signals the moment that these guys are really trying to play off as getting something that they really, really want. If there was a slightly cheesy sounding theme for the first half of the season it would be “This time it’s personal.” Put that on a poster, put that on a bumper sticker, there were go.
While they’re on this quest this together and we’re doing these flashbacks, I’m understanding that the two guys that are riding in that car are probably even more mature than they were at the end of last season.”
“A lot of the season is all about perception. You might think something will seems to be one way at the beginning, I think the fans hopefully will be pleased with that. It’s never quite how you think it is in a very raw emotional way.”
“You’re going to see some ancient Gods again, you’re going to see the boys have a much more contentious relationship with Crowley, you’re going to see Vampires (I couldn’t make it out, but I think he said “enjoy boating”), also we’ll encounter angels and demons.”
Are comedy episodes coming? Yes, they’re trying to come up with a few. He credited Ben Edlund for handling those types of stories.What are his goals now that he’s taking charge?
“I just feel like the boys have been together for eight years now and they’ve gone through so much, not that it wasn’t but even more so needs to be reflected growth in each guy. You’re a different a guy when your riding around in the car with someone when you’re 22 and when you’re however. He’s your buddy from high school, then at your ten year reunion there’s different kinds of implications. It’s a different way of talking to each other. It can be a little more upfront, a little bit more forward, a little less cagey. Because of the result of their time away from each other they’re sort of, and I think Jared said this in the panel, they’re re-examining who they are and what they want and they’re not afraid to express that with each other.
“Is that a reason why you brought in a love interest from Sam?” Carver had a one word answer. “Yes.”I asked him if he could tell us exactly how much of a time jump there is. “Not yet,” he answered.
And that was our time with Jeremy Carver. Up next, Ben Edlund. He has as usual some very interesting things to say.
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Comments
I'm so disappointed that Sam doesn't look for Dean or Kevin at all though. That is such a lame cop out for treating Sam's character badly over the summer break. They pull the Sam-hating stunt every season now since season 4 aired. I'm sick to death of them doing this to Sam.
And Dean is angry at Sam and resentful of Sam. Like always. So sucky and lazy.
And no one (to my knowledge) ever said that Sam "doesn't look" for Dean. I think it's more that he gave up after a time and made the best of a hopeless situation. In the S7 finale, WE (the audience) know Dean's in Purgatory. Sam doesn't, because Crowley doesn't tell him outright. For all we know Sam believes Dean is dead and has no leads that say otherwise.
Sam would look for Dean, and I'm calling BS to anyone - incl. JC, BE, or JP - who says he wouldn't!
And if Sam didn't look for him, we all know he must have had a good reason (i.e. believing his brother was dead).
They've grown up since the days of making demon deals when one of them dies. They've learned their lessons in that regard. Both characters were weary all through S7. If he believed Dean was dead, it makes since that Sam would try to move on. As someone else said, other than suicide (which no one wants to see) what other choice does he have? He lost everyone. In any case, right now there are so many questions and we'll just have to wait for S8 for the answers.
That's WEAK SAUCE man! LOL! Weak!
If that's Sam's excuse, then he goes down several notches in my book, and I love Sam. I'm bi-bro! That would be a character assassinating type of thing to write in MY view.
I get your opinion about the spoiler - but your reasoning is ad hominem.
Everything Sam's done, even bad things, were done with good intentions. And Dean's made mistakes just like Sam has. That's not character assassination. That's character development. These characters are first and foremost HUMAN. They have frailties, weaknesses, flaws, desires, and their will to fight is not limitless. Who knows why Sam didn't look for Dean - I choose to believe there's a reason, because nothing demonstrates to me otherwise. The writers have ALWAYS given compelling, albeit controversial reasons for the characters' actions.
That have been my exact words after first reading the spoilers.
I so hoped the writers would have learned something. There's a point when you can't damage a character any more. Like you said, they pulled the same stunt since season 4. I hoped that they would let it rest. Actually that was my only wish for S8 (and that the brotherly bond might return). Unfortunately I seldom get what I want....
He's no longer smart. He can't hunt on his own. He needs someone to hold his hand through life. He is unfeeling. He's highly resilient. He's whatever the writers want him to be in that moment. Yeah.
The one trait they hadn't screwed w/was his love and devotion to Dean, and now that's gone as well. Way to develop Sam, Writers! Good job!
Thanks for the great video, Alice! I'm still high-rolling on the positive vibes! (even though the writers announcement was a little meh...I was hoping for some turnaround but; still reserving all judgement).
Bring on season 8!!!!
Another great interview, Alice!
Exciting interviewing. Promising more and more of my favorite brotherly love. And I am wondering what the "personal thing" is? Can any one guess what it is? Is it Samulet? Or is it their father's or mother's soul? Please, don't tell me they are trying to find Castiel for the first half of entire season.
And are there any ideas about the guy who helps Dean to escape purgatory? Based on the information available I believe he is Gordon Walker or YED.
I am SO hanging on to this statement in light of the other spoilers we've been given.
There is hope yet for every plot and characterization issue I've thought of, and this could go in such interesting ways.
- And thanks Alice! -
I'm betting (not that it matters much at this point in the game) that the thing they're going after is Dean's amulet. Nice way to bring that back in after the 'drop it in the trash' heartbreaker.
Yes, yesssss. My only ray of light for this season. I hope he knows what he's doing. I'm gonna pray or something haha.
This could be really interesting but I seriously hope that nooky w/ Amelia isn't all that Sam was doing - to me that's dull. (except for the shirtlessness, of course)
I'm really excited aobut the quest portion of the story. I hope its back to the roots of S1 - and its John Winchester's soul they're looking for.
Hope Chuck is listening.
I love the concept of a story within a story and that the brothers are finally!, hopefully!, please let it happen!!! going to each evolve into their own person. It is past time, IMO. Long past time.
Just because they 'live together' and need each other doesn't mean they're not individuals.
Not caring about Dean and his life/death is not being individual or anything, it's being selfish and cold-hearted.
Sage, I agree with you. The boys are definitely their own people with their own thoughts, their own ways to handle conflict, their own beliefs, etc.
I never quite understand the belief that they aren't their own people. They have very distinctive personalities.
It would seem that the Sam character is getting the same type of treatment from the writers now. Perhaps, in the writers minds, Sam's aching desire for "normal" is being addressed again because it never really went away-which is what I've thought all along.
Yes, the brothers are different. Very different. And one of the biggest differences about them stems from this very thing, IMO-and it's been the greatest influence on how each of them views "family", IMO. Going by these spoilers, and going by what the writers and JP have said in them, their intention is not to make Sam look "selfish" or "cold-hearted"-self-involved, maybe-but aren't we all, at times-and yes, even Sam. But considering the childhoods that thye've both had, everything that they've done and has happened on the show so far becomes more understandable to me, in hindsight. And what Carver is seemingly proposing to do here promises some permanent and tangible growth for the better for both characters, IMO. So I'm looking forward to it.
I am glad they have decided to tell the story of away through the flashbacks as it will open up and deepen the present day story we are watching. Plus the rolling out of the monsters, the bad, and the Angels and Demons the vehicle that tells our story sounds great and marvelous fun. Roll on Season 8...
I'm particularly interested in the idea of making flashback so sustained. It's like if you do it just once you're saying 'this is the answer', 'this is why'; but if you keep doing it and it grows and has its own order and its own presence, then the past is more realistic and more volatile.
In earlier seasons they've shown the guys affected by nightmare, say, and that's a way to get the past into the present and to suggest a motivation, but it sounds like this flashback stuff is going a lot deeper. The limitation with nightmare is that the character is in control of how much they disclose, how much they suppress; well, they're out of control because what happened has got into their psyche and is disturbing their sleep, but they can try to manage the situation. Flashback doesn't ask questions or give them those choices. It just is. It has to be reckoned with as an equal to the present rather than being filtered / intensified / rendered safe through a particular consciousness. So even though it's done and dusted, on another level it isn't finished and it isn't tame.
Given Carver's statement about 'perception' and point of view, that background gives a whole lot of potential.
It's a good quick insight too into the value the new show runner can bring, the fact that he can so deftly add in a fresh dynamic to the show in its eighth year. I guess the edits in and out of past and present will be pure narrative voice -- why do you put this next to that? -- and that's a whole new and unpredictable character on Supernatural. At base it sounds to me like the show might be edgier and more grown up under Carver.
Pendactyl specualted about 8 before spoilers and I think she had a similar view: "The possibility that appeals to me the most right this moment is having Sam be stable, in the manner of Season 6 Dean (minus the lame suburban-ness and dad haircut and tucked in jeans...why would you do that to such a good looking guy?!), and Dean be extremely driven and angry and the other end of the spectrum from his apathy this season (like what we were supposedly getting when he was in revenge mode, but I didn't really see it). Have Sam act as an anchor to draw Dean back to the middle, neither apathetic nor obsessed, have Dean act as an an agent in propelling Sam into motion."
http://www.thewinchesterfamilybusiness.com/archive-articles/39-opinion/17222-lets-speculate-what-sort-of-sam-and-dean-do-you-want-to-see-in-supernatural-season-8.html
We've been promised that Supernatural would return to an earlier seasons vibe for several seasons now and it's never happened. This is the 1st time that I feel like I can see the wheels moving to make that happen. I'm liking what I hear thus far.
The only thing that will ruin it for me is if I start hearing about a bunch of silly meta episodes. A couple of them were very well done but I really want the show to be more of the dramatic series it started out as.
Have faith in Sam! We know how much he loves Dean, he would never just give up on him that easy! My Sammy would never do that!
And let's face it, it'd be a bit rude if, not knowing what's going to happen, he said 'oh I'm so angry at this, how can they make Sam look bad again? Those writers are horrible'.
I bet he respects the crew enough, and also, he has to lure us to see the show, and needs to seem enthusiastic about it.
Trust me, I was soooo mad when I saw those interviews, I think I would had made the weirdest faces if I'd been the interviewer lol
But I think Jared is only doing what he has to, that is, selling the soul, and being as charming and friendly as he is, everything seems happy (sorry, do I sound too much like a fangirl? That's it because I am :P)
The SHOW!!
poor Jared!
Dean getting resentful and hurt by Sam is something I could of done without to be honest .
No I really dont think we will get anything in that department .They might not even see it has a issue ? this show has had no qualms in the past where Sam is concerned and maybe Sam getting angsty over Dean isnt a concern for them.
Cynical I know but maybe that just dont see it the same way we do.
Sam could/would only give up and "retire" completely after he'd put himself through hell trying to find Dean - and failed.
That I could believe and understand.
I can see a woman falling for him, but would she also support him? I just don't think a man like Sam would be happy with that. Ahh, questions.
Although, I don't know why Crowely would be concerned with that. But wouldn't it be awesome to have him mentioned again?
Oh damn, wait, I just thought of another reason; Adam! Remember the brother they lost to Michael and who for some reason hasn't been thought of since? Do they find a way to rescue him, and will they mean they accidently free Michael and Lucifer again? Ok, I'll try to stop posting for a few minutes. Hope I've brought up some good topics to discuss.
Unfortunately using that logic we SHOULD have had a fantastic story showing Ruby gaining control of Sam in season four, more than the Ruby=good message of IKWYDLS. We also should have seen the build up of Sam's insanity, how Dean lying to him affected his grip on sanity and something more than Sam pressing his hand and the "let's give the crazy storyline to Castiel" deus ex machina. But we didn't and that's over and done now. Again, Carver did show that he actually cared about Sam's mental state during his last stint on Supernatural, so he may actually pay attention to Sam. I will watch, I've just been let down too many times to really believe that Sam will actually get emotional development or that we we see life through Sam's eyes this season. I live in hope, but not in confidence.
In season 6 all it took with Dean was a sentence to let us know he had tried to find a way of getting Sam out .
I think they will go with Sam believing Dean is 'dead' and deciding to opt out of hunting as it offers too much pain and the desire to hunt disappears .Then Dean reappears and off we go with whatever story.
If Adam is what makes Sam leave his normal life and return to the road instead of Dean himself, I'm gonna be veeery angry.
But in the case of Adam, is he really dead? So would it mess with the natural order of things if they found a way to get him out? From the spoilers I did gather that Angels will be coming back into play.
Oh darn, now I'm remembering that at first Adam DID die when the ghoul killed him. Well, if nothing else maybe they could release his soul and send him back to Heaven.
I would like to discuss what happens to Dean as well. What does happen to him, and what things is he afraid of Sam finding out?
I HATED Ruby! Yeah I know I was supposed to, but I really hated anything that came between Sam and Dean so much. I was so happy when Dean killed her. Although I understood in the end how Sam got mislead by her. I think for me I could have dealt with him drinking her blood and doing the psychic experiments, but it was him getting sexually involved with her that made me want to throw a beer bottle through the screen. Anyway, I choose to believe that this situation won't be like that, and we will find out that everything Sam did is understandable. He is older and more seasoned now,there has to be VERY GOOD reasons behind his actions and unfortunately we'll just have to wait it out.
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