I actually like the Gary Seven episode a lot, but didn't get it was a pilot til I was much older. Once I understood that, things made much more sense.

I'm jaded as well. I guess overall I am happier with the show now than I was at this time last year, but not by much. I actually am looking forward to the hiatus so I can build up some enthusiasm for the show again - absence, hearts, something something.

Well, I wasn't going to watch so I don't really care either way. I admit I'm a little surprised though given my general dislike of most of their offerings - thought for sure some CW exec would think it was gold.

According to EW, no Bloodlines:

Ugh - poo babies! I *hate* when that happens!

Pennitration.

That's a really apt comparison - I agree about Dracula consistently not living up to its promise. This one seems to be keep Dracula on the periphery, which works for me right now. The Frankenstein stuff was fantastic.

Is there chocolate "mouse" in this one?

I just learned of and read that a few months ago. Well, read the first half and skimmed the rest because I couldn't take it any more but still wanted to know how it played out. I haven't re-read the original book, but it was so bad it made me doubt my good memories of the first novel

Allusions to meat heads, tree stumps and goons are GO!

Seems like a missed opportunity to describe it as Pennilicious.

I hear you about the zombie/infection stuff. But I love del Toro so I'll definitely give it a try. If anyone can make that kind of stuff seem genuinely creepy again, he's the one.

I enjoyed the first episode. Del Toro's The Strain is also coming too so I'm hopeful that is decent too, although I haven't heard or seen much about that yet. It might just be a decent summer for tv horror.

Do you mean that you think Cas (or underlings) killed him or faked it? Either way - I hadn't considered it yet but now I am.

Just wanna say you and JVDB have both been sort of scarce lately and you are both missed. You need to stop having a real life on Tuesday/Wednesday and come back to us!

Pretty sure the remaining storylines have already broken. I still doubt they'd have room for new anything at this point.

Definitely worth the price of a Netflix subscription, alone. Hopefully someone who is making those casting decisions will agree.

There's your butterfly effect, right there.

Aw, now I've got to call him Dean Cained 'cause I don't like bullies.

Definitely. I made that point somewhere else on these threads.