Supernatural: Sympathy for the Devil

Let the Bodies Hit the Floor

This ep, the premiere of the long-anticipated Season 5, was eclectic in its mixture of actual bodies hitting the floor, the vague rumblings of the end of the world via the apocalypse, some stuff about Lucifer, the poking fun at fangirls, and, most importantly, the development (or lack thereof) of boys’ relationship with each other. Sound a little bit kludgy? Well, it was in a way, and my excuse for Show is that it wanted to get off to a racing start, picking up the pieces from the end of Season 4 in a hurry and laying them down as fast as possible, scattering them like canon shot.

The result was a little harum scarum, out of which came some funny scenes, too much stuff about Lucifer, some background information that we did not heretofore know, as well as some nice shots of Sam’s legs and Samhair, plenty of closeups of Dean, and well, you know, it’s Show, and we have a whole ‘nother season for which I’m grateful, so you’ll get no real complaints for me.

When we last left our intrepid heroes, they were in St. Mary’s Church watching the mouth to hell open up as the bright lights of Hades shot through to presage the coming of Lucifer. There is brotherly clutching and some incredible Samhair moments as the winds of hell whip over the brothers. And then, Suddenly, Marvelously, before anything bad can happen, something yanks the boys out by their shirt collars and put them on a plane for a little while and then in a car that isn’t theirs as they listen to the radio announcing the signs of the apocalypse. (Actually, I think they rented the car themselves.) Well, I guess if you’re going to use dues ex machina, this would be the time for it! (The selection of the cartoon on the airplane was not accidental, because it allows Show to have a character named Sam in hell. “You’re just the man I need,” says the cartoon devil.)

They drive to see Chuck at his place, where they find the Prophet a little rattled at the flotsam and jetsam left in his apartment by the fact that the Archangel took the Soap Angel and apparently exploded him from the inside. The little pointing where you’ve got something on you exchange between Sam and the Prophet is priceless, and I love it when the high (or rather low) point in Chuck’s stressful day is the fact that he’s got a molar in his hair. (The slender locks of Samhair trailing across Sam’s cheek was a nice bonus.)

Along comes Zach and his Angel Goons to strut and threaten and cast aspersions on Sam and Dean. Zach says that Sam started the apocalypse, and that Dean could have stopped his brother but didn’t, and that it’s everyone’s fault. While Dean doesn’t exactly jump to Sam’s defense, he doesn’t go along with Zach either, and that’s what I like about this scene. I like how Dean calls Zach an “asshat” (only Dean could get away with something like this) and just doesn’t budge from his spot, in spite of Zach’s convincing argument that the devil must be stopped before he can get a vessel. (Which puts a nice spin on things, seeing as how I wasn’t looking forward to the stereotypical devil with horns and everything; no, we’ll get a human who we know is Lucifer. Very tidy, Show.)

Sam is my little lovemonkey, but the best part of this scene is Dean himself, where he resists Zach, and pouts with that lovely mouth of his. And then he does a whammy on the wall to send Zach and his goons into who-knows-where. Finally, finally, we get to see a Winchester doing the derring-do with some swash and buckle, taking matters into his own hands instead of just waiting around for someone to tell him how to feel or what to think.

Precursor to the ever-loving motel room scene, there’s this 15 second scene of Sam coming down the stairs from the, well, let’s just say it’s the Vancouver version of the El, but who cares where they’re supposed to be. It’s 15 seconds of SAM coming down the stairs with those long, long legs of his, taking every single step and showing some very, very nice thigh action. Heck, he probably could have taken those steps, like, nine at a time, or something, but it was very nice of Show (and Padalecki) to take them each, one by one. Plus there’s this little head toss and a wave of Samhair as Sam goes into the motel, and the whole thing just makes me sigh with gladness.

Motel scenes are always nice, especially when they’re in grungy, badly lit, mold-dappled rooms like this one, with the dark green colors mirroring the dark green and blue that the boys are wearing. The setup is perfect for conversation and intimacy, even if the boys aren’t getting along so very well at the moment.

You see, Sam fumbles it big time because the first thing out of his mouth is an explanation that the hex bag he just tossed to Dean (which will shield the boys from angels and demons) is something that Ruby taught him. What I like here is Sam’s desire to be honest about things, instead of just pretending that he learned about the hex bags from a book. Sam’s expression is just perfect, wide mouth and wide eyed (and terribly sweet) as if he just can’t get enough air in his lungs while telling Dean something as damning as this.

Also nice is the shadows on Dean’s face as he scowls and, in his big brother way, checks to make sure that Sam is doing okay without more demon blood. Dean’s been all “forget it” and “never mind that just now” about Sam’s attempts to apologize and holding it tight;  he’s ready to move on, and carry around all that baggage he’s planning never to deal with, and Sam’s trying so hard to do the right thing, but Dean, he just wants to make like it’s an ordinary hunt, trying to find that Lucifer guy. Which is typical Dean, because he’s the King of Denial and I think it’s killing him to be mad at Sam at all, let alone for something like starting the apocalypse. Which is, when you get down to it, a heck of a lot more serious than just taking the last cookie in the cookie jar.

And let’s talk about the scene with Fangirl Becky. I’m not really sure whether this is a shoutout or a slam, either way, it made me laugh, but uncomfortably with the mockery Show might be wanting to make about fangirls. When we see her, Becky Fangirl is busy writing her naughty fan fiction. In fact, she is setting up a scene in her Wincest story where Sam and Dean will acknowledge and potentially act upon their dark, forbidden love. Her prose is purple to be sure, but her passion for her subject matter knows no bounds, and for that she must be given props.

Here’s my critique. Although the level of technology at Becky Fangirl’s disposal is appropriate (high-end computer complete with an internet computer phone), her room is far too clean in that there is no used coffee/tea mugs, no food detritus, no clothes on the floor. Lastly, she would be in her jammies, or something more comfortable, for writing. If she’s as devoted a fan as we’re given to believe she is, she would be giving up on some of the niceties of homemaking and self-care to get into her writing. I’m just saying, having been there, I find it

improbable, at the very least, that her bed is made.

In a bit (stolen) straight out of Galaxy Quest, Chuck appears on her computer phone and convinces Samlicker81 (that’s Becky Fangirl’s online name) that it’s all real. And seriously, this would be a dream come true for any fangirl, though I am convinced that in another universe, a dimension parallel to our own, it is True. Every word. Anyway, Chuck, convinces Becky Fangirl to deliver a message to the boys.

In spite of the awkwardness of the meeting, Fangirl Becky takes her task seriously and delivers the message word for word. Actually, I should refer to her as Becky Samgirl, because that’s what she is. Oh, I liked that part, I did, especially where she puts her hand on Sam’s chest (without permission) and Sam says, “Can you stop touching me?” and she says, “No.” Just like that. Because of course, she can’t, it’s her dream come true, don’t you see?

My mind did wonder why they made her a Samgirl instead of a Deangirl. There’s all kinds of reasons you could come up with, but I think the bottom line is that it was just funnier, on account of Dean is always shocked and surprised when some girl picks Sam over him. (An aside, there was an interesting self shoutout as Show, via Becky Samgirl, praises itself from moving from demons to angels, because demons were getting old. I’m here to tell you that the angels are already old and Show should move on to something else already.)

Bobby shows up at the motel with the Impala (which is so dark and polished that it looks like sex on wheels). That’s fine, he probably went to St. Mary’s and got the car to deliver to the boys. What I want to know is, does he know about the body in the trunk? Remember the nurse, Cindy McKellan, from the last ep of S4? Yeah. She got drained and stuff so that Sam could have a huge shot of demon blood, and her body was still in the trunk when he arrived at the church. Unless he dumped it, but I don’t think so, seeing how all fired up he was to get there to ice Lilith. And Bobby’s not likely to have looked before getting in to drive the car, so, Cindy McKellan’s body still needs to be dealt with. (Plot point dropped, tsk tsk, Show.)

In a beautiful little scene, Sam takes it on to yet again to apologize and explain. He’s got a new body to try it out on, aka Bobby, and so he has himself a go, stuttering and sweating and swaying a little as he stands there, and wide eyed again because this is HARD for him. Not just being wrong (which Winchesters, as you know, never like), but in needing forgiveness from the people he cares about. It was such an effective scene and I felt so bad for him here (and enjoyed the closeups of Sam, as well, with his expressive eyebrows and that glittery threat of tears in his eyes), especially when Bobby got up and started ranting and raving.

Personally, when I first saw this scene, I thought that someone needed to get mad at Sam, to yell and castigate and give him a verbal thrashing because he seemed so obviously to need it. He wants the yelling to start, the anger to begin, because waiting for it is worse and if it never starts, he’ll never be forgiven. And that’s what he wants most of all. Oh, Sam. I forgive you.

There’s been lots of discussion, whirling around fandom and the boards about this, and here’s what I think, and that is, surprisingly, that Zach is right, everyone’s at fault. Both boys were duped by their respective teams, and both boys had a hand in breaking the first seal (Dean) and breaking the last seal (Sam).

You can be all pro-Dean when you point out that Dean broke the first seal unknowingly and unwittingly because he was being tortured on the rack for 30 years, and was it really his fault that he was only human? Then you could be con-Dean and throw in the fact that  The Dad was also tortured in hell but he never broke after lasting a much longer period of time, and why was Dean so weak? Or you could mention the fact that maybe Alistair’s lying about what happened to The Dad.

Then you could jump to the Sam side of the argument and sternly point out that Sam was very aware of every decision he (voluntarily and willingly) made and broke the last seal (killing Lilith) on purpose, so he’s to blame. Or you could mention that Sam has the moral high ground because he thought he was doing good and was willing to sacrifice everything (including himself and his eternal soul, if needed) to get rid of Big Bad Lilith so he’s not really to blame.

Either way, there’s plenty of blame to come down on both sides. However, what it comes down to, I think, is that both Sam and Dean understand that the breaking of the first and last seals was fated, and there was almost nothing they could do. Mistakes were made on both sides. But I think the biggest issue, the biggest mistake, was when Sam chose Ruby over Dean. I’m a Samgirl and I still think that is where the fault lies, and what Dean is really having a hard time forgiving Sam for. It’s personal, you see, and the fate of the world can just go sit in the milk for all Dean cares about it, as long as Sam is with him, both physically and emotionally. Even Sam lying the whole time about, well, about Everything, picking a demon over his own brother is what’s landed Sam in the doghouse. I’m liable to get some disagreement on this, but I’m going to stand by my man. Or, rather, men.

Alone and paley wandering, Sam leaves to go to do some research, which is what Show seems to do with my beautiful boy when anything interesting or that moves the plot forward happens. Luckily, Show decides to reward me with a nice little (and yeah, at 10 seconds, I mean little) scene of Sam walking down the street. He’s all mopy and hunched over, with his Samscowl firmly in place and his Samhair tucked ungainly behind his ears because Dean doesn’t love him and all’s not right with the world.

I’d be much more satisfied with a scene like this if something actually came of Sam’s self-castigation. Honestly, what I’m looking for here, sometime soon, is a scene where Sam falls to his knees in front of Dean as he begs for forgiveness. It’s not necessarily that I want Sam to be in such a humbled position (though I anticipate that his messy crying would be quite nice), but more that I want there to be a scene that rachets up the emo and angst enough so that the brothers can kiss and make up, so to speak. To put it bluntly, the resolve scene between them should be satisfyingly huge enough to override the separation between them, and it should long enough to actually Mean something. And lastly, it should not contain Bobby. (Or the Soap Angel, come to that.)

With Sam gone, Dean quickly figures out where the Michael Sword is (in a locker of The Dad’s in upstate New York, yeah!), and we, the viewers, find out that Bobby is possessed as he attacks Dean. Which is supposed to be, I guess, the big whoopity-do about this episode, but the way I look at it, Bobby had it coming. Not because of who he is, but because he’s the only one who’s not been possessed yet (besides Dean), so it was high time.

Mid-whumpage, in waltzes a demon who turns out to be Meg. I like Meg, but I liked her better as a blonde (without the fake and terribly obvious speech impediment) and hope to hell this character isn’t going to turn out to be another Ruby/Bella playmate for the boys. Not that either boy would stoop to consort with demons (let alone angels) at this point, but you know. Enough is enough here. Mid-battle, Sam strides in, Samhair flying, and enters the fray. He punches her, she punches him, there’s scuffling and slamming and finally Possessed Bobby rises to the surface of his own meatsuit and stabs himself in the gut with the serrated, demon-killing knife.

At one point, Dean (yes, Dean) yanks the knife from Bobby’s gut, and gets up to attack Meg. She smokes out of her body, and leaves the boys to struggle getting Bobby to the hospital. I love Sam’s hand sweeping through his hair here, making it all flyaway and floofy, and the color of the lighting of the hospital, more stark and clear than the light in the motel room. I’d like to think the clean lighting represents the boys developing ability to communicate and trust each other once again, but then, maybe it’s just Show giving me a visual treat.

The boys arrive at Castle Storage, which is one of The Dad’s lockers where he keeps things both magical and dangerous. I love it that Show remembered these lockers, seeing as how they could be a font of things that need to be dealt with by the boys, and provide any number of terrific hunts. Also especially nice is the little wordless scene between the brothers as they pull their guns out of the trunk of the Impala and gear up for battle. I love the sexy gun twirl that Dean performs and Sam’s adorable pout as he matter-of-factly loads bullets into the shotgun.

This is followed by a scene that contains the usual exposition from Zach (who shows up with with his Angel Goons standing by as silent as goons ought to be) except that Zach points out that Dean is the key, that Dean is the Michael Sword. Is this the explanation for why Dean’s never been possessed? I think so. He’s been earmarked from birth it seems, to be the vessel for the Archangel Michael. For anyone else, this might be an honor, but Dean? He doesn’t give a rat’s behind. Not even when Zach fells Sam like a redwood tree and breaks both his legs and rips out his lungs.

In spite of Zach’s other threats, Dean’s 100% Dean. He says “no” and “eat me” and stands his ground, even with Bobby and more than 10 million people at risk. EVEN, dare I point out, with Sam at risk because Dean’s realized the final, horrible truth: these guys aren’t the good guys, and it doesn’t behoove him to give in. He’d rather die. I love Dean like this, when he’s certain of both himself and the ground he suffers on. (And it’s interesting how, in both scenes with the boys and Zach that Sam always is standing behind Dean, using his brother as a shield. I think Sam’s terrified of angels now, and who could blame him.)

In walks another dues ex machina bit, and although I usually draw the line at one per episode, this one was rather fun. Yes, and in spite of the fact that it’s the Soap Angel who comes in, fingertips abalazing, to get rid of the Angel Goons. Instead of being all monotone and “there’s nothing I can do, Dean,” he’s all smash and grab and flash and fire. He’s got his Avenging Angel eyes in, and he’s far more interesting in this scene than he’s ever been. Especially when he demands of Zach to “put these boys back together.” Most telling, besides the unanswered questions as to how the Soap Angel isn’t dead, is the sigils that he burns into the boys’ ribs. The markings will hide the boys from every angel in creation, including Lucifer. Which begs the question, now how are they going to find trouble to get into? Oh, demons. Right. Them.

Dean and Sam pay Bobby a visit in the hospital because he’s been stabbed and apparently was operated on whilst Sam and Dean danced with the angels. Here’s my issues with Bobby being stabbed, and the resultant improbabilities that follow. In spite of the fact that I’m all for Bobby dying (because the vacuum of his surrogate fatherlyness would mean that the boys would have no one to rely on but each OTHER), I’m full of dubiousness as to how it didn’t happen.

First, Bobby is stabbed with the demon killing knife whilst being possessed. Heretofore now, when that happens, the host body dies, according to what Show has given us. But Bobby doesn’t die. So, not dead yet, but for the wrong reason. Second, even if the demon-killing powers of the knife didn’t get him, the fact remains that Dean (yes, Dean) pulled a serrated-edged knife right out of Bobby’s gut. It’s five minutes before the battle is over, and 10 minutes before the boys can get Bobby to the hospital. It’s a gut wound, people, and Bobby would have bled out long ere that.

Then, third, even if he didn’t bleed out, you see him after the surgery, in a bed, having suffered a wound deep enough to potentially affect his ability to walk. Not only is he not on oxygen or anything resembling a heart monitor or other post-surgery paraphernalia (such as drainage tubes, antibiotics, or morphine drip with a morphine button) he is, get this, sitting up. With a gut wound and internal injuries? I’m all for dramatic license, but really? Seriously? This whole thing just made me shake my head.

Then there’s Lucifer. Yeah, he was in this episode, okay? My sister says that the scenes with Lucifer courting the vessel that it wants to possess were seductive and very effective with all those white and black and red colors. She waxed poetic about the double meanings and how Lucifer was very subtle when it explained how God let the man down, and how Lucifer could bring justice and revenge for the untimely deaths of his wife and son. Lucifer isn’t lying, not exactly, because the man does feel let down and does want justice and revenge and he feels that Lucifer can give it to him.

That’s the way the devil works, by giving you what you want, only not in the way you would have wanted it, so you don’t want to be messing with that. But in grief, people make strange decisions, so now we’re rather stuck with Lucifer being played by the same guy who played Rita’s abusive husband, Paul, on Dexter, an image I can’t quite get out of my mind. Luckily, Mark Pelligrino seems a flexible sort of actor (he’s been on everything else on TV, it seems), so we might be in for a bit of a treat there.

Near and dear to my heart is the “Dean, is there something you want to say to me?” conversation at the end of the ep. Dean tells Sam that it’s the fact that Sam chose Ruby over him that he can’t forgive Sam for. Because, like I said, when it comes down to it, it’s his relationship with Sam that Dean values most; family has always come first for him. When he says to Sam, “I just don’t think I can trust you,” he means it, although, yes, there’s that little out he leaves Sam. He doesn’t say “I don’t trust you,” he says, “I don’t think I can trust you,” and that leaves the door open between the brothers. Equally as nice, while Dean’s walking away from Sam and towards his beloved Impala, he stops and tips his head in Sam’s direction as if to say, “Are you coming?” Which is Dean all over again, as he would never willingly leave Sam behind, regardless how mad he is at him.

Lastly, there was this amazing, albeit small, reveal. Fangirls have been wondering and discussing and, yes, even dithering about whether or not Dean ever graduated from high school. Of course, in a fanfic, since we never knew, the writer could take this in a hundred directions, depending on the needs of the story. But now, from Dean’s own beautiful mouth, we learn that Dean has a G.E.D. Question answered, yes, but case closed? No. Now the discussion will follow along the lines of how, when, and why? Did Dean receive any encouragement from The Dad to do this? Or did Sam badger him in submission to take the test? Or was Dean on his own, and Sam never knew? Again, fan fiction writers can take this any number of ways, but it’s still nice to know, so thank you, Show, for that lovely little tidbit. And thank you for the rest of the ep, too. In fact, thank you in advance for Season 5, I’m sure it’s going to be, as Dean would say, AWESOME.

Sylvia Bond is a ten-year technical writing veteran with too many degrees under her belt to count. She lives in Colorado, but does not ski, preferring instead to spend her money and time at the annual Great American Beer Festival, taking road trips across the United States, and reading historical fiction from the comfort of her fluffy green arm chair. She has been involved in fandom since 1993 and been writing fanfic since approximately 1993. What she finds most amazing about fandom (besides the open heartedness of fans and the sheer amount of creativity) is how visible fandom has become. “In my day,” she says, “we had to hide behind P.O. boxes to get fanfic. But nowadays, people wear t-shirts that shout their affiliation and share their shiny toys on the internet.” It’s a wonderful world.

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