Supernatural: My Bloody Valentine
The Darling Little Sammy Who Could
by Sylvia Bond
Supernatural Episode Review – Season 5, Episode 14
“My Bloody Valentine”
Both Sam and Dean are ridiculously pretty in this episode. I wanted to say that up front in case in the throes of discussing various things that I forget to mention it. Not that I would ever forget to see it, you understand, but it was one of the things that struck me about this episode. Not that the boys are ever not pretty, but this time around, there was something about the lighting and the makeup and (oh my yes) the hair that I haven’t seen this perfect in a while so I was rather blown away by the ridiculously ridiculously pretty boys.
This week, our last week before an enormous hiatus (on account of the Olympics being held in Vancouver and all), Show gives us a plot where Famine (of Four Horsemen fame) comes to town and wreaks havoc and destruction. Any and all who come within his vicinity become terribly hungry for whatever it is they hunger for, be it sex, or drugs, or rock-n-roll. Then the boys struggle when they themselves succumb to Famine’s influence, and it gets tricky from there. Naturally, the boys win the day, but, this being Show, it’s not without some dicey ramifications.
The first couple who succumb in the opening teaser (two virgins from what I can tell) are so taken by Famine’s influence that they EAT each other up. It was gross. It was more than gross, it was disgusting. There was blood and teeth and gums as they gnawed on each other and the blood flowed. It was one of those “I couldn’t watch” moments, which Show hasn’t had in a long time either, so I’m thinking the Blood Artist and the Special Effects People had a special, late night, coffee-driven convocation and said, HEY! Let’s make it gross! And they did.
To what end? Why, it’s so Sam and Dean could don dark suits (perfectly tailored to their broad shoulders), and almost matching striped ties (which indicates the level of their connection, in this case, sorta connected, otherwise the stripes on both ties would be going in the same direction), of course, and do their research. First Sam interviews the friend of the female victim, and he looks very sweet. Then Sam and Dean do a motel-style dither, complete with fast food drink cups, the laptop, and Dean posing like a cat with his feet up on the desk.
It gets terribly cute, and Sam gets very loving when he gives Dean the nod to “unleash the Kraken” which is apparently, Sam’s pet name for Dean’s penis. Which makes one wonder why Sam has come up with such a pet name, you know? At any rate, he wants Dean to go out so that Dean can enjoy his favorite holiday of the year, Valentine’s Day, or as Dean calls it, Unattached Drifter Christmas. Dean oddly turns it down, which gives me an inkling that all is not right with Dean, for when does the boy ever, ever turn down a chance for nookie? Only when the world needs saving, or when Sam has a cold. (I see in the background that the Coleman cooler, in retro green, which I last recall seeing in the Season 3 ep, Fresh Blood. Do they actually cart that thing in the trunk of the Impala?)
Another couple bites the dust, giving Sam and Dean another chance to march into the local morgue, while Sam gets whiplash checking out a secondary character who is, no doubt, a demon. Of note is the guy who plays the doctor in the morgue. He was such a natural with the boys that I thought he might make a nice recurring character. Naturally, he dies, so no luck there. Anyway, Sam and Dean and their broad shoulders look at dead bodies. And it just gets prettier from there.
Well, not the part where the camera focuses on the moldering hearts and stiffening body parts and stuff, but will you look at those shoulders? Maybe it’s men in white button-down shirts that get me, or the fact that Sam and Dean are talking and communicating and actually working together. Or maybe I’m too easily pleased when presented by the pretty. Dean makes his usual terribly cute “ick” faces at the body parts, whereas Sam is all focused and doctor-like, which always makes me think he missed his calling. (The rolled up shirt sleeves and loosened ties make the boys even cuter. Plus, I can hardly resist Dean getting all goofy and saying to Sam, “Hey. Be my valentine?” Do you think he meant it?)
After they identify angel scratches on the hearts, Dean calls the Soap Angel to do their brain-work for them, because they’re already in over their heads. I so dearly miss the old days when the lads would figure it out on their own, don’t you? At least the Soap Angel’s entry into the story was a little bit funny; I always have to laugh when he uses the cell phone and just doesn’t get it because that’s the way I feel when I use one. As in “Jane, stop this crazy thing!” because there are too many buttons and none of them clearly labeled.
The Soap Angel explains that it’s Cupid at work, and there’s something gone haywire with the results because a hungry love turns into a devouring love, literally. One of my first thoughts was, naughtily, that since Sam and Dean have this weird, brotherly, love-hate thing going on, and they tend to be a little obsessed with each other 24/7, would they then succumb to that and become each other’s valentines? Would the eating then start? I kept waiting for it, some indication, a movement of the mouth (Dean’s) or a look from beneath dark brows (Sam’s) that would take the story into a deliciously dangerous direction. Alas, no, though I feel fairly certain that I’m not the only one who thought this.
Everyone troops out to a restaurant where, this being Valentine’s Day, there are tons of couples in various stages of courtship. Sam and Dean both look very handsome beneath the seductive ambient lighting. I mean, check it, there’s a certain color to their skin and a flush of cheek and lip, and hair artfully arranged. Who are they courting, if not each other? (And me, of course.) If my thoughts strayed overly much from the plot to this visual feast, it really isn’t fair, you know? How’s a girl supposed to concentrate when there’s BOYS to look at? I blame Show and the confluence of this episode with Valentine’s Day, the latter of which was designed to plant these kinds of stupid thoughts in my head.
Anyway, the Soap Angel is able to ascertain the presence of Cupid as all the couples become instantly enamored with each other, though, alas, Sam and Dean are unaffected. Or are they? In the midst of this is the bit where Dean doesn’t eat his cheeseburger. In keeping with the scene in the motel, where Sam encouraged Dean to go out and do his annual Valentine’s Day romp, and Dean demurred. I thought this was a nice, subtle plant of Show demonstrating that Dean was unaffected by Cupid’s sting mixed with Famine’s poison. Dean has a particular character trait of being a glutton of food and sex, through which he sublimates his need for love and affection, and so on. So to see him now refuse both of those is pretty significant; for some reason, as everyone else in the town grows more hungry, Dean grows less. Whatever can it mean? Sam is concerned about Dean, and I like it when that happens.
Eventually Show introduces the hilarity of the character of Cupid, who is not a small child done up in a diaper with a tiny golden bow and arrow, no. Cupid, in this case, is a fully grown Rubenesque man with no bow and arrow, and, comically, no diaper. In fact, he’s completely naked. The laughs ensue as everyone tries not to look at Cupid’s junk and fails. Nekked Cupid hugs Dean from behind, with Dean doing his best “urk!” face, and then Cupid hugs the Soap Angel, because that’s how they shake hands, even though no one enjoys it. But what made me laugh most was Sam seeing what was coming and saying “Oh, no!” and trying to run away. But Cupid is fast, and even Sam’s long legs couldn’t offer him escape.
I’d like to take this moment to thank Show for the equally nekked man and woman in the opening scene, and for attempting to produce this fully nekked man in response to my all-too-frequent cries for Equal Opportunity Nekked Nudity. I thank you, Show, I really do, for at least following the spirit of the law, even though the idea was to have the nekkedness apply to men with the same guidelines as they do to women. That is, if you’re going to constantly show beautiful naked women, then you should also show beautiful naked men. Get me someone who would look good naked, like Ackles, or Padalecki, or Lou Diamond Phillips. Or, heck, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, now there’s a beautiful man. But nice try, so points there.
It’s pretty easy for the Soap Angel to figure out that while Cupid is responsible for everyone falling in love, he’s not also responsible for the local cannibalism. There’s more hugging of the nekked Cupid and that zappy music in the background that Show plays when goofiness abounds. Just in case a large, naked guy wasn’t enough to clue us in. We also get to learn that Mary and John Winchester did not fall in love at first sight, that in fact, they couldn’t stand each other. But the bloodline had to continue, so they became a match made in heaven.
As Cupid disappears, in a quick little scene, Sam wants to know if Dean is ready for some sharing and caring. Naturally Dean is not, and marches off, giving the camera the opportunity to pan in for a nice close-up of Sam’s face. Which gives the whole scene a tragedy of the lovelorn feel, which further asks the question, are the brothers ever going to become each other’s valentines?
Next up, ridiculously pretty Sam goes out on his own to the morgue to do some checking up on the latest dead character. After which, Show gives me some very nice shots of Sam’s long, striding legs and ax-handle wide shoulders, and his lovely dark hair shifting in the breeze as he moves along the street. I’d like to bring up now that there are not enough shots like this one, either of Sam, or, Dean, for that matter. But I did like the scene in the alley, where, alone and Dean-less, Sam rises up to his usual mettle and becomes the fighter extraordinaire when he tries to take down a demon with the demon killing-knife. I thought it interesting that Sam could smell the demon from a mile off. Was this always something he could do, or was it some Famine-induced ability? Never mind. I shall call him He Who Fights Better With His Hair In His Eyes.
When Sam gets back to the motel, and they look at the briefcase that Sam wrangled from the demon, he does not, naturally, mention the part where he looked at the demon-blood drenched blade whilst drooling. I worry about Sam constantly when he’s confronted like this, because he himself has mentioned how weak he feels in the face of this particular temptation. And, need I mention, the scene in the motel is pretty, just about as pretty as it gets. Remember, I like my men scruffy. Sam and Dean are dressed down in flannel and jeans, and their hair is fresh-washed clean, and their skin looks absolutely touchable. I am distracted to the point of making up an even longer continuation of this bit of dialog.
But it gets better. The Soap Angel explains about Famine getting ready to march across the land and stuff. Then, while the Soap Angel and Dean discuss battle plans, Sam is in the bathroom sweating and shaking and wiping his manly brow with a cold washcloth and looking just about as delish as he possibly can. I like him all flushed and troubled like this, though I’ll freely admit that I didn’t enjoy this scene the first time around. When Sam asked Dean to tie him up so that he couldn’t to succumb to the blood lust, I was just too worried about Sam being so vulnerable to appreciate the beauty of it, no, not with Famine and a bunch of demons running around.
But the second time around, oh, you bet, I enjoyed myself totally. Especially the part where Sam confesses to Dean that he’s got a craving for blood, cause he looks so good when he shakes and comes apart like that. Then he tells Dean to lock him down but good this time. Which has a subtle indication that this wouldn’t be the first time that Dean has had to tie Sam down for his own good. And then there was the bit where Dean actually does the handcuffing. Kinda like he’s been there before, eh? And then, to finish up with, there was the kinky, button-pushing sight of Sam handcuffed to the sink with his hair all sweaty and sticking to his skin on account of his efforts to break the pipes to free himself. (Show’s been reading fan fiction again, hasn’t it!)
Naturally, while Dean is off looking dreamy and dishy in the window-speckled frame of a rain-dappled Impala, Sam’s worst nightmare comes true. He is tied up, suffering from blood lust, and in walks a pair of demons. Once Sam lays eyes on them, it was like watching a pile of éclairs being offered to someone on Weight Watchers. And once the male demon breaks the handcuffs off Sam, he comes completely undone. There’s smashing and crashing and Samhair flying and we wind up with Sam drinking the demon blood from the female demon. Not only does Sam fall off the wagon and rack up far too many points for his program, naturally, this being Show, and since Show can’t have anything the censors would object to, Sam is not drinking the blood from the neck of the male demon, which I would have found a whole lot more interesting. But, damn, it was glorious to watch Sam slam the male demon around and tell him to “Wait your turn,” just the same.
Meanwhile, our rain-dappled Dean and the trench-coated Soap Angel are losing the battle with Famine and his goons at the all-you-can eat buffet. (Frankly, if I’d wanted to watch some guy in a trench coat stuff his face the way the Soap Angel does in this ep, I could have trundled on down to Furrs; I didn’t pay my nickel to watch him eat, thank you very much!) And when I say losing, I mean that the Soap Angle is soon hunkered over a tin pan of raw hamburger (which anyone could tell you is crawling with germs) and Dean, oh, the dear boy, is all battered and whumped. The Blood Artist was even so gracious as to add a tone of lost boy in the bruised lip and in the blood dripping down the side of Dean’s temple. I’m sure there’s a school for Blood Artists, not to mention several seminars throughout the year, because they really pulled out the stops here.
There’s a low point, as Famine tries to get Dean to buckle down and hunger for something, but Dean, as we’ve seen, hungers for nothing, in spite of Famine’s influence. Not sex, not food, not drink, not nothing, not nohow. Famine points out that Dean is an empty hollow shell, all dead inside, and while Dean’s expression is a thing of beauty to behold, when have we heard this before? Or better yet, when have we not heard this before? And it’s not that I mind having the delight of Dean’s chin going all woobie or his eyes lighting up with that special emo angry flare, no. But we know about the hollow space in Dean’s psyche, Dean knows about it, and all the demons and angels that have ever walked the earth or ever will walk the earth know about it. To what end, Show, to what end, I ask thee, dost thou keep bringing it up? When will we find out what Dean’s gonna do about it?
Amidst the dire straits in walks Sam, with his chin looking like he’s been at the raspberry jam, and bursting from the seams with muscle and sinew and still more muscle and all hulked out on demon blood. It’s Sam’s worst nightmare, this falling off the wagon, and it’s Dean’s too. You can tell by his face, the grief-stricken tilt of his eyes, and his, “No, Sammy, no” which I heard this time around, yes, it’s all there. But if Sam didn’t step in to save the day, then who would? Even at the cost of falling off the wagon, darling little Sammy is proving that he is willing to put his money where his mouth is. That he would, if needed, trade his soul to save the billionty gabillion souls that inhabit the earth, especially Dean’s.
And it’s how he saves the day that’s really cool. First, with the power of his mind and that manly raised hand, he exorcises the six demons standing around Famine. Then Famine swallows those souls, and mocks Sam, and tempts him and all sorts of bad things. You know what Sam does? He admits he can’t kill Famine, but he sure as heckfire can rip those souls right back out of Famine, through his freaking chest. I’ll admit to liking the part where Sam’s nose starts gushing blood (which was much more artistic than the raspberry stain around his mouth, because I kept thinking, to be more realistic the blood stain should be off centered, not completely centered like a clown’s mouth). And I liked the look on Dean’s face. The one that said, “Oh, crap, Sam’s super powerful and scary now!” And then Sam’s look at Dean, that said, “Please don’t hate me because I’m powerful and dripping with demon blood. I need you to not hate me right now.”
Poor Dean. Now he has to lock Sam up in the panic room (at Magical Bobby’s place, I’m thinking) and listen to him scream. And scream, and then scream some more. The Soap Angel’s attempts to soothe Dean fall unheeded, and Dean makes his way out to the yard to stroll amongst the junk cars. In the rain. Naturally, he’s got a bottle of Jack in his hand, and his steps take him unerringly to the side of his beloved Impala, his only home, and, with Sam coming apart, his last refuge.
I sensed that we had an emo scene coming, and was not disappointed, though I would have liked to see Sam doing a little emo dance and scamper himself as he was being locked up in the panic room and not have all that fun cleaning up and struggling done off screen. But no matter, Dean’s level of grief and despondency and loss will have to do. And really, you can’t go wrong when Ackles turns on the waterworks. Or rather, in this case, turns them on only so far, where the tears stay in his eyes, and he looks to heaven for help. God, Ackles does this SO well, it’s scary.
So, about those ramifications I mentioned early on. No, I didn’t forget, in spite of the pretty prettiness of Sam and Dean. But what I’m about to set out is all pure speculation on my part, I have no inside scoop, no secrets to reveal. Just some thoughts to leave you with as we watch Olympic curling and skating and skiing.
Okay, then, so here’s Dean. All along he’s been resisting pretty much any demon or angel flinging their crap at him. He’s quite capable of meeting his earthly needs with wine (or in his case, beer), women (and the occasional man or two, I should think), and song (which should always be classic rock-n-roll). Because of that, he seems resistant to being influenced by anything supernatural. He’s never been possessed, remember? Yeah, a skinwalker got him good once, and a demon had him on the rack in hell for a good 30 years before he said yes and tried his hand at filleting souls. (Get it? Filet of sole? Filleting souls? Oh, stop me.) But he has never not been himself. Never not been the adorable Dean that we’ve come to know and love.
But soft, at the end of this ep, what light through yonder window breaks? It is Dean, with his face turned up to heaven, with his cup empty, and his heart broken into a million pieces. For he cannot help Sam, who has fallen off the wagon in the worst way, and thusly Sam cannot help him, and Dean knows he cannot save the world without Sam. So he is empty, empty as the wind, and in my mind, this would be the most opportune time for him to say yes to the Archangel Mike.
Can you picture it? Mike swoops down into the junkyard and then it happens. With a blaze of heavenly light, and the whispery shadow of white angel wings. Unless something else happens pretty fast and pretty drastically, Dean’s going to become Mike’s meatsuit. At least that’s what I see. What else could happen here? I’m open to suggestion, need I add, as I’d rather have someone put forth a wild and brave idea, rather than have Show take the easy road and have Magical Bobby or the Soap Angel save the day. I’d rather have some fan fiction-inspired brilliant idea than Dean drinking himself to death, or the A. A. Gabe stepping in to scold and fix and set things aright.
If the A.A. Mike uses Dean as his meatsuit, then, at last, Dean will have to turn off free will, and succumb to a force that is not his own, which now that I think of it would be something that would horrify Dean to the very center of his being. And I’m not talking the stricken-with-yellow-fever-and-screaming-because-a-stray-cat-startled-him scared. I’m talking about being FREAKED out to the point of hyperventilating and passing-out- and-peeing-himself scared. Giving up free will is something Dean would rather die than do; his self-image is so ingrained in walking the earth and making his own choices as to making a right or left turn, taking a back road or a main highway, he is the master of his own fate and the captain of his own soul. Unless of course, Sam is in danger. Dean’s choice to give up free will would make things very interesting for this character indeed.
As for Sam? Oh, man. The boy is a train wreck I simply cannot look away from. As hard as he tries, his little brother status follows him around like a faithful hound. His role as black sheep (going off to Stanford and almost getting a full ride to law school, the naughty boy!) and as breaker of the solidarity of family Winchester is just the start of things because oh, how the list goes on and on with all the naughty things Sam has done. (Need we mention sleeping with a demon AND choosing said demon over his own brother?) Even if all his wickedness stops now, it would take more than a few years in the naughty chair for Sam to wash off the stain of his personal guilt over all of his failures. In Sam’s mind, even besting one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse with his bare hands and saving his brother and an angel isn’t enough, his soul will never be as clean and pure as Dean’s.
Which is why Lucky wants Sam, and why Mike wants Dean. At what point would each boy truly decide to give in? Because they’re going to, you know. I feel pretty comfortable that they wouldn’t actually do it to save the world and all of the many souls that inhabit therein. Instead, they would do it to save each other, and the race would be to see who would do it first – so that the other brother wouldn’t have to.
Here’s how I see it coming down. Ever see the end of the movie Spartacus? I’m talking the one made in 1960 and filmed in brilliant Technirama, which was the cutting edge back in the day. The scene I’m talking about that you need to consider is the one where Spartacus (played by Kirk Douglas) and Antoninus (played by Tony Curtis) are forced to battle to the death. The irony is that each man wants to kill the other man to save him, because the one who survives the fight will then be rewarded by a slow death by crucifixion. So for Sam and Dean, each will race to say yes first, so they can destroy mankind, kill their beloved brother, and then suffer the pangs of guilt forever and for all eternity so the other one doesn’t have to. Because that kind of sacrifice is what being a Winchester is all about. And exactly the kind of things fangirls like. At least this fangirl anyway. You can decide for yourself.
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.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=4a2b506b-9f34-4238-aa2b-d4ba73d3674f)
Related Reading:
Hi, Silvia!
First things first. This one was a Samhair paradise, wasn't it? I knew you wouldn't fail to appreciate it. All silky, and fleeting, and falling on his eyes. What else can one ask for? A fan commented that it looked like some shampoo commercial and I can’t disagree. Someone should put a clause to Jared's contract to make sure he never ever has his hair cut, other than a trim from times to times to keep it stylish.
Now to serious things. Much has been said of Jensen's performance here so anything I can say will sound flat. Anyways, I want to offer my two scents. I think he was particularly WONDERFUL at the end scene. Not only his facial expression, but his body language, the way he walked, the way he moved, everything about him talked of a man who is devastated. It's a miracle how he manages to do that. Also, Dean's horror and shock at witnessing his darling little Sammy in full action was something. Where are the Emmy people when you need them?
Oh, man, it's like they're ON to us, you know? Each Samhair scene was different too, so it's not like they don't know we're watching. I'll bet they wonder which Samhair scene we liked best? I'd say it was when he was sweating in the bathroom, before he got handcuffed. I sensed a "comb-out" during camera break. As for Ackles, he so rocks, he embodies Dean and he rocks when he does it, and he know he does, but it never hurts to tell him again, right? ACKLES, you rock!!
A favorite Samhair scene? Hmmm, tough one. Each one has its own charms, but I think I'll go with the one when he flung himself over the female demon for her throat, with silky locks flying in all directions, and then turned to the male demon in wait-your-turn fashion with said locks all over his face. That was disturbingly sexy. The vision of his muscled back during the process didn't hurt either.
Now, to my favorite part: Jared. I have no words to express how much I love when Jared releases Mr. Sammy Hyde. It never ceases to amaze me how effortlessly he switches from puppy dog to wait-your-turn to so-I-win mode. That's my boy. With that sky-reaching height and build plus the blood-fueled fury he must be some sight to whoever dares to cross his path. At the same time, he managed to look adorably vulnerable while handcuffed in the bathroom, which was not such a good idea, BTW. It was like offering him to the bad guys as a beautifully packaged gift complete with ribbon bow. Anyways, the truth is that Dean and Castiel went out in a mission to try and save him and it turned out that HE saved them both, which was awesome. Castiel should have a day off from times to times, huh?
I thought it was extremely awesome that Sammy saved them both from the muddle they created at the diner. Pity he had to drink demon blood to do it. Part of me thinks he did it willingly, to save Dean, because when Famine offers the demons up to Sam to drink, he turns it down. Which proves he's not a junkie out of control. He might be off the wagon but it's with a purpose – to save Dean. And for that, Sam would do anything. But the boy, oh, the BOY – MAN, does he look good hulked out. I want to know what program Padalecki is following, split workouts, or staggered weights or what!
Jared has briefly touched on his workout before, in interviews and at cons. Something about free weights, and running with his dogs. And jokes about his enormous appetite too. I don't envy his parents for having to foot his grocery bill when he was a teenager. He's also said before that he works out so much to burn off excess energy, so he doesn't drive everyone nuts by being hyper. God I wish I had that problem. Also, in Vancouver he said that he works out with Clif, their bodyguard, and in response to a direct question about how much he benches, I believe the answer was 335? 325? Something like that. It was a lot, whatever the exact number was.
I couldn't agree with you more, Andrea. As much as I despise seeing them tear Sam's character down like that, I do love the way Jared plays it. Like you said, he somehow goes from an adorable, slightly vulnerable, and harmless looking puppy to the Hulk in the blink of an eye. And Sam is scary when he flips that way. I think part of it is that, instead of minimizing his size as he seems to do most of the time, when he's playing Hulk!Sam, he uses his size, and it makes the overall impact that much more impressive and effective.
Oh, yes! Sam is donwright scary when he wants to. And that is what makes the contrast with his puppy dog self all the more impressive. You're right. You not always pay attention to his size when he's in sweet Sammy mode but when he hulks up it can't go unnoticed.
Sorry for the multiple posts. I got wordy and was forced to split.
As for the panic room, there are some differences this time. My guess is that he either volunteered our accepted Dean’s “friendly request” (Asylum anyone?) to go inside, since he had already let himself be tied up and locked back at the hotel. I also like it that Dean stood outside the door as if to stay close. Last time we saw the panic room, Sam was tossed in there and left by himself. That’s a definitive improvement and an indication that Dean is not mad at his brother the way he did before. This is confirmed by his answer to Castiel’s words that it was not Sam in there: I know. So he no longer thinks of his brother as a monster. Speaking of Castiel, he’s actually growing on me. I thought he was funny in this one and I liked his reassurance words to Dean. He’s trying.
BTW, I love your idea of a say-yes race to see who can save the other first. That would be awesome! I hope some writer is reading us now.
Hey no worries. : D
Do you think Sam volunteered, really? I like that idea, that way of looking at Sam as being a reasonable human being even when hulked out. But I'd rather envision a struggle, and some angsty begging by Sam *not* to get locked up, something more emotional and out of control. Because I like it when Sam cries, I just have to be honest about that. : D
I think Dean stood outside the door last time too, so I don't see that as an indication this time that Dean doesn't see Sam as a monster. I'm not sure he did then either….I think Dean, at the very least, must be very troubled by the path Sam took to save the day. If it's indicative at all of the path Sam *might* take when the time to save the whole world comes, then Sam will be Lucky's meatsuit sure as rain is wet.
Yes, I do think that he volunteered. It fits better his resolution to fight back the addiction. And we should be proud of him for that, as he knows to well the horrors of detox. But, of course, he could have gone of controle due to the blood's effects, and in that case a little more persuasion would be necessary to put him inside. Hopefully the recent events will be addressed in next episode so some of our doubs may be solved. As for the cries, well, let's just say that I'm not throwing the first stone at you… When The Levee Breaks is one of my most rewatched episodes. I can't get enough of it. If you pay attention, then Dean spent most of the time upstairs with Bobby. He only went down to confrontate an angry Sam following the locking up and, later on, when Sam was having the seizure. Perhaps it's only me, but the fact that he's keeping guard right outside the door this time is meaningful. Se seems more compassionate about Sam's "little problem" than he did before, which is always a good sign.
Sorry for the typing mistakes! I hate it when I do that. I mean "he could have gone out of control".
Sorry for the typing mistakes. I hate it when I do that. I mean "he could have gone out of control" and "he knows too well".
I wanted to say how much I loved Jared's delivery of the "Wait your turn" line. It was chilling.
Oh, yes, wasn't that excellent! I love how bossy he gets when he's hulked out. : D
Thank you for the insight as to why Dean and/or Sam might want eventually to be the first to give in, because until now, I had no idea why Dean was resisting so hard. Hear me out. After Michael assured Dean that he wouldn't be left a vegetable post vessle-ing, the only reason I could imagine for Dean to continue to resist was that he didn't want to kill Sammy. Because really, the fastest way to end the Apocolypse with the least amount of human carnage seems – to me – to be to let Michael take over Dean's body and kill Lucky. Why wouldn't Dean want this, free will and all of that aside? Because he doesn't want Sam to be killed. Why, then, couldn't Dean make a deal that he'll say Yes as long as Lucky is killed while not inhabiting Sam? If Sam can hold out – keep saying no – and Dean says yes, can't the big fight just happen already?
But I do like your take on the reason one brother might want to act first – to spare the other an eternity of guilt. I honestly have no idea how the writers of Show are going to solve all of this. And now with a Season 6 on their plate, one big option – kill both Sam and/or Dean in a splashy display of complete self-sacrifice – is no longer an option.
Well, Show can't kill Sam or Dean because then I would stop watching it, plain and simple. They've already done that besides, in a way, by sending Dean to hell. That's too much seperation of the brothers for this particular fangirl. : D
As to why Dean keeps saying no….part of it might be to string us along a little, in the land of TV script writing, anything can get dragged out for ages. I think we won't find out why Dean says "no" until he says "yes," finally, which he kind of has to do after all this buildup. Because the battle between Lucky and Mike has to happen, especially after all that buildup and not-so-subtle implying that Show has been doing and the trail of "Cain and Abel" that Show has been laying out. The battle will come, and one or both of the brothers will take up the duty that has been their destiny for ever so long. To save Sam, Dean is willing to do anything. He's already gone to hell, so why not to heaven, in a way? Like you said, Mike told Dean it'd be okay after, so…..as for Sam. He's saying no not because he wouldn't want to save Dean at any cost. I think he's saying no because he's terrified of giving in to the darkness within. He's been fighting that his whole life, that power he feels. He's more terrified of giving in to that than Dean is of giving up free will.
But only time will tell, eh. : D
I thought it had been made clear that the reason he doesn't want to say yes to M. is because the ensuing battle would wipe out half of humanity, so he prefers to look for better alternatives. It's in Sympathy for the Devil.
Another great review Sylvia!
This one was not a good one for me. I actually thought to myself, as the credits rolled up at the beginning "Edlund, huh? Maybe I should skip this one and rewatch last week's episode instead. I'd like to hang on to that happy fangirl feeling." But as Alice said, I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it. And by the time it was over I had flames of hatred for the episode. I've cooled off since then, but I still don't like it one bit.
I thought it was over the top, unnecessarily disgusting for starters. I have worked in the medical field, both human and animal, and there are very few things that gross me out even when they're right in front of me. Grossing me out with something on the TV screen is even harder, but this episode pulled it off, and not in a good way. I think in that way it was a homage to the movie, or at least the remake of that movie, that the episode was named after. I started closing my eyes half way through My Bloody Valentine 3D, because I was so sick of seeing blood and gore. I also thought the dialogue was clunky in places, but I don't know if it was written that way, or if it was just badly played (by the guest stars, they're the only ones I had trouble with).
I did think the telephone exchange with Castiel and Dean was funny. I love it when Castiel is all out of the loop on human stuff. It's a nice reminder that he's not human. Cupid was also amusing, but I could have done without the emphasis on John and Mary's relationship. Flying DENSITY anvils! Look out!
Oh boy. I'd already figured out from last week's promo that Sam was gonna fall off the wagon and it ticked me off then. I didn't feel any better about it when it came to fruition this week either. The entire blood drinking storyline was stupid the first time around, and down right asinine on repeat. And another illustration of one of the reasons why I hate Edlund's writing. He never passes up an opportunity to trash Sam, in fact, he creates opportunities to do so. I didn't see any great concern or sadness on Dean's face when Sam was done with Famine. I saw distrust and maybe a bit of disgust, or maybe I'm wrong on the exact emotions, but whatever it was, he looked judgmental to me. Yes Dean, because not having a soul (which, if he doesn't have a soul, as Famine implied with his whole "inside, you're already dead" speech, does that mean Dean isn't human? How can one be human without a soul?) is SO much better than being your stupid brother the blood addict. Right. The hunger that Famine induced was so extreme that even Castiel couldn't resist it, yet Dean seemed to think that Sam, a recovering addict, should have been able to brush it off when he had his craving shoved in his face. Whatever, Dean. I realize that I may be projecting here, and I could be completely wrong about how Dean felt, but since they didn't see fit to let either one of them say anything in reaction, I guess I won't know for sure how Dean felt until March 25th. Or possibly not even then.
I'm extra special wordy this week, so I have to make a part two. Sorry.
You honestly got that Dean thinks he's "so much better" than Sam from that scene? Wow. I guess we must have watched completely different episodes then because if it's one thing that Dean certainly isn't thinking in that scene it's that he's better than ANYONE and that includes his brother. I think Dean feels about as worthless and hopeless as a human being can. And I find it ironic that you "hate Edlund" for what you perceive to be "trashing Sam" and yet you have no problem "trashing Dean" here. I saw Dean's reaction as borderline shock and grave concern for his brother. In no way did I see Dean think "my stupid brother the blood addict." I can only assume that you aren't willing to see Dean as anything other than a horrible person. That's mind boggling to me.
continued… Dean knew that everyone was being affected by Famine and he knew it wasn't Sam's fault that he drank the blood. It was Famine's influence. Dean's reaction was because he was concerned about what this would do to Sam because he's concerned about his brother. But if it's important to you to trash Dean because you believe it somehow makes Sam look better, then go for it… I guess. But I personally have too much respect for both Dean and Sam (and the writing/acting in the episode) to automatically assume the worst of either character. I don't think Sam deserves it and I don't think Dean does either.
I didn't say Dean thinks HE is better. But I do think he thinks his situation is better; he's right, it is. And I'm not sure that he doesn't think that, tables turned, he would be able to resist falling prey to the addiction in the first place. But that's not something that's likely to ever be addressed, one way or the other.
I saw what I saw, and probably my reaction was partially based on the way Dean reacted to Sam's addiction the first time around, which was, granted, a little different situation. But nonetheless, he was very judgmental, and since they didn't give us a reaction scene this time, all I can base my opinion (and that's all this is) on is his facial expressions in the end of the scene in the restaurant. I see one thing, you see another. I'm not going to tell you you're wrong on a matter of opinion.
You can assume anything you like. I can't stop you, and nothing I say is likely to change said assumption. I don't think Dean is a horrible person. But I do think that since Hell, he tends to automatically see the worst in his brother, and therefore reacts in a less than compassionate way. Again, my opinion. But in that final scene outside the panic room, I saw more concern in Castiel's expression, voice and body language than I saw in Dean's.
I have to defend Dean here. How can you read Dean’s expression after Sam’s display of power? Why is the Monalisa smiling? Dean’s face is a mosaic of feelings here, and disgust is not absent. But the dominating feeling is a deep, deep sorrow, at least the way I read it. Because his worst nightmare is coming true: Sam’s soul is seriously endangered. Dean said in The End that he and Sam keep each other human. So if Sam is lost to him, what his prospects are? Thus his utter hopelessness.
As for Sam, they fully addressed his addiction, yes. But I think the script made him justice this time. It showed that he won’t give in without a fight and if he does, it will be for a good reason. Why didn’t Castiel beam him straight to the panic room? Good question. Why, indeed? I suppose that for no other reason than his having to pay Famine a visit and save Dean.
All I can go with is my gut reaction, the first thing I thought when I saw the scene. You can ask my friend who I was chatting with, but my reaction then was the same as what I wrote above. Like I said, my reaction to it could have been colored by the way Dean responded the last time the addiction storyline was used, and I realize that things are very different, both between the brothers and in their world, in their world now than they were back then. I do know that coming into that scene, I didn't think badly of Dean or have a preconceived notion that he would react one way or another to anything that might happen, so I wasn't looking for something to find fault with him on. I still don't think badly of him, I just think, based on the way I interpreted what I saw, that he could have handled the end better. That's all. I really wish they had given us a verbal reaction, so we could know what Dean was thinking, instead of having to rely on reading his expression.
But even if I go with what you saw, I have a problem. I don't think that this one relapse shows that Sam's soul is in any more danger than it was before this episode. As you said, Sam fought so hard. And he didn't take the easiest way out, he didn't drain those additional demons Famine gave him. Plus he saved Dean and Castiel. It's not like Sam just randomly went rogue and started sucking back blood because he wanted to. He was pretty well forced into it. So yes, his soul is endangered, but this particular instance doesn't make me think his soul is more endangered. It certainly wasn't a good situation, but it could have been far worse. I'm not saying you're wrong about what you saw, not at all.
I think you're probably right, the lack of earlier panic room use is probably a plot device, because they needed Sam to save Dean and Castiel, and I'm glad that they did give him a chance to save the day. I just wish they hadn't knocked him off of the wagon to do it.
I know what you mean. Sam fought bravely against the hunger and did everything in his power to stay clean. It wasn’t his fault that he ultimately gave in. Even when he did, he saved Dean and Castiel and resisted the temptations that Famine offered to him. I think that’s exactly what this episode is trying to say about Sam: he’s essentially good, he’s trying to find redemption and he can put his powers to good use. So I don’t think they knocked him off of the wagon gratuitously here. That’s what I liked about the episode as far as Sam is concerned.
But from Dean’s point of view, his brother is using his “psychic crap” again, something that always scared the hell out of him, to use his own words. I think that right now he’s too afraid for Sam and too tired about the whole situation to think clearly, but eventually he’ll come to the realization that Sam’s powers may be used as a weapon and accept who his brother is.
Where you see Dean being "judgmental" I see Dean being "concerned." And Castiel's concern was genuine… but it was more for DEAN'S state of mind than Sam's situation. Castiel was concerned because Dean appeared so hopeless in that moment [and as it turns out, based on his plea to God for help, that's exactly how he felt]. And my point wasn't our different "opinions" on the matter. My point was that it's quite hypocritical of you to "hate" Edlund's writing because you feel he "NEVER passes up the opportunity to trash Sam" (which I find to be completely inaccurate) and yet here you are, not passing up an opportunity to trash Dean because YOU would rather assume him to be judgmental than concerned for his brother's well being.
No, that's not hypocritical. I'm entitled to hate Edlund's writing and dislike the way Dean responded in this situation. If you insist upon continuing to see that as a hatred of Dean (which it isn't) or as trashing (instead of expressing an opinion about that particular scene) be my guest. Trashing Dean would be taking issue with everything he did, or calling him out for breathing, and complaining no matter what he did. I have issues with that scene, and his reactions in it. You find it inaccurate that Edlund trashes Sam (which I have believed long before this episode), and I find it inaccurate that my displeasure with Dean over this ONE part of the episode is anything remotely close to trashing a character. So, as I said before we're back to the same thing, a matter of opinions. I think we're going to have to agree to disagree. I'm okay with that, and if you don't like me, frankly, that's okay too.
I wasn’t crazy about the gore parts either. A little too much to my taste. I watched the episode online so I had no choice the first time. But upon rewatching, I chose to skip those and pretend they didn’t exist.
As for the rest, I was disappointed with Ben Edlund’s previous episodes this season, so I received this one with low expectations. Ok, another one with Sam as set decoration, I thought. So I wasn’t prepared to like it the way I did. To start with, the performances were top notch. And most importantly, for the first time in a long, long time, I saw unmistakable signs of their bonding healing. There were displays of reciprocal concern throughout and I cheered at how Sam turned to big brother for help. And as I commented in another post, Dean seemed more receptive this time.
That's true, Edlund did use Sam more than he usually does. A point in his favor I suppose. And you're right, the performances were awesome. The only person I took issue with acting wise, was that girl who played the girlfriend who came to the office. She seemed off to me.
I also agree with the part about Sam asking for help. I was thrilled to see that, and in that instance I liked Dean's response very much. He was angry but it didn't seem directed at Sam and he was concerned. He wanted Sam out of there, now, and that concern carried over into the whole locking Sam down scene too. And you're right, the fact that Sam asked for that help, and the response he received, indicates that their bond is fairly significantly repaired from where it stood earlier in the season. Which is awesome.
And then we come to the end (of both the episode and this post). Ah, yes, the end. Where they completely skipped over how they got from where ever they were to Bobby's panic room. They totally ignored Sam's reaction to what he had done, left out whose decision it was to put Sam in the panic room (was it Sam's? Did he fight them? Was he as broken by all of this as one would think he would be? What did Dean say to him? There would have been the proof of what Dean was really feeling, but we never got it.), and instead gave us wooby Dean the amazing not quite crying man angsting next to his beloved car for the one millionth time. Because that's what's important. That we know that Dean is worn out and needs help. Because that hasn't been thoroughly drilled into our heads for over two seasons so far. No, we clearly needed a reminder of that. Pardon me while I try to keep my eyes from rolling out of their sockets.
And the panic room brings me to my final point. Dean asked Castiel to beam Sam out of there, to get him away from the hunger, and Castiel said it would just follow Sam. Okay, fair enough. But why not immediately beam Sam to the panic room and lock him in? He clearly had no objections to being restrained for his own safety (and you're so right, that was HOT. Poor Sam.), so I doubt he would have protested. Now he's safe, even if he is still jonesing, because he can't get out, and the demons can't get in. Voila! Dean and Castiel have time to kill Famine. Which they couldn't do, turns out, but at least it would have made sense. And if Dean hadn't just stood there and watched Sam exorcise those demons after he picked up that knife, and had run up and at least tried to chop off Famine's ring, maybe it would have worked.
One last thing. This episode brought me back to what I was saying about filters last week. That shirt that Sam was wearing in the latter half of the episode, the blue and brown plaid? Okay, Jared wore that shirt to the convention in Vancouver and the colors in that shirt were quite bright in person. Like a bright chestnut brown and a fairly vivid shade of blue. But in the episode, those colors were darker, quite a bit darker. So I really think there's some sort of filter thing going on, in addition to lighting, that's changing the colors.
Whiskey, I'm regretting the fact that we didn't get to see the aftermath of the Famine confrontation scene too. I'm inclined to think that it was Sam's decision to go into detox because, like you said, in his desperation to remain clean he was cooperative with confinement. But others didn’t interpret it that way so I guess this issue remains dubious, whether on purpose or not I don’t know. Like I said above, I hope this will be brought back sometime in upcoming episodes. I'm very much interested to see the developments from now on. Because there’s no way any of them can just ignore what happened. Dean was horrified at seeing with his own eyes what his brother can do. I wonder how he'll look at Sam now. And Sam, despite all his intimidating demeanor, reacted pretty much like a child caught in mischief before his big brother's gaze. He so much fears Dean's rejection. It’s perhaps his deepest fear. How he’ll deal both with Dean and with his own inner demons after everything remains to be seen. I assume, at least, that all these issues will be properly addressed.
I really want to believe Sam chose to go into that panic room and detox. But unless they see fit to give us a throwaway line in a later episode to clear it up, I guess we'll never know. If they had omitted that scene in favor of something more important, or something that would have shown us something new, I could let it go. Instead, they omitted it to give us yet another Dean angsts beside the Impala scene. He looks very beautiful when he angsts and we all know he's running on fumes and I don't think there's a single person watching who doesn't feel sorry for him. But we didn't really need to see that for, what is it now, the tenth time? Something like that.
I hope Dean doesn't look at Sam any differently. He watched Sam pull Samhain, so he had seen Sam use his powers before. If he starts treating Sam differently because of this, then we'll be back to square one with the brotherly bond and I really can't stand that. I'm so very, very tired of them being on the rocks, or even just barely off the rocks the way that they were to this point. As you said, and I totally agree, Dean's rejection is one of Sam's greatest fears, if not the greatest. I really hope Dean doesn't make Sam face that fear this time.
"Which is why Lucky wants Sam, and why Mike wants Dean. At what point would each boy truly decide to give in?" Yes that's the BIG question isn't it.? It seems to be pointing to Dean saying yes first although I'd love it if he and Sam found another way. I still have hope that Team Free Will will prevail!
I really enjoyed this episode. Thanks for the review!
BTW, I love the shirt Jared was wearing! I think the colors looked great in him. It’s funny how they use their SNP clothes in conventions.
If I remember correctly, Jared has said that he does it on purpose. I guess so he looks more Samlike for the fans that come to Supernatural cons, at least for those cons that occur during filming. I saw him once at a con during the writer's strike and he was wearing something that I'm assuming was his own. It didn't look like anything Sam would wear.
The funniest thing to me about that outfit he had on in Vancouver was his shoes. He had on boots. With HEELS. Like an inch and a half or so. I was boggled by that. Jensen was picking on him, in a cute way of course, for it later, during their panel.
You gotta be kidding me! Of course he needs to wear heels, because he's sooo small, the poor guy. : ) I don't blame Jensen for picking on him.
Sylvia.
Hi! I can't believe we have to endure yet another long hiatus!
Anyway, I really enjoyed this episode. Yes, I am twisted that way. I love it when the Winchester's lay on the angst!
1). Oh so much pretty in this episode. I am glad you got that out of the way first.
2). Let me say that opening scene was the most disgusting and vile things I have ever scene on my television but so help me I couldn't look away.
3). Loved our in sync our boys were this episode. It felt good and right and just made me feel all warm and cozy. Loved all the dithering.
4). Oh I just love when Sam takes charge and gets pumped up on Demon Blood. And, he used his powers for good. Wow!
5). Honesty has crept into our boys conversations and I for one am so glad. All those lies, in the past, only damaged their relationship.
6). The cell phone exchange was priceless. I was giggling like a school girl.
7). Cupid and hugging…talk about invading Dean's personal space! I can only imagine what he was thinking.
8). Ben Edlund is on sick, twisted individual!
9) Famine was one creepy dude.
10). Poor Dean! I never ever thought we would see him so broken and empty. Just thinking about that final scene hurts me to the core. I knew he was depressed and I knew he wrote the book on self-loathing but I never imagined him reaching out to God and begging for help.
Oh how I love this show. I don't think I will ever grow tired of the pretty or the comedy or the drama or the angst or the closeness of our Winchester boys. The passing of time has only made them more engaging and sexier and rugged and smoldering. They are my weakness! Seriously! I am obsessed with them!
I will see you after the long hiatus ends.
Take care, Joan
The blood stain in Sam's face is really weird. I noticed that when he wait-your-turned the male demon, he had blood up to the side of his nose. Next time we see him, the blood is only around his mouth and chin. Two possibilities appear to me:
1) He wiped off the blood close to his nose, but not the other parts (??).
2) He used a napkin between the two snacks, thus the different stain.
Neither makes a lot of sense. It’s a detail, but it won’t hurt the makeup team to pay some more attention.