Supernatural: 99 Problems
A Good Man Is Good To Find
by Sylvia Bond
Supernatural Episode Review – Season 5, Episode 17
“99 Problems”
I’d say that if the boys actually did have only 99 problems on any given day, that they’d be having a mighty fine day. An easy day. Perhaps a Saturday (or Caturday, if you prefer), where the only object would be to laze about in their jammies, watching cartoons (or perhaps porn), eating cereal directly of the box, and not worrying about crumbs.
Alas, this is not that Saturday, nor that Thursday either. In fact the ep opens with the boys blazing down a two-lane blacktop road, on the run from a swarm of demons, which is one of the most engaging openings I’ve seen on Show in a long time. I was hooked right away. (Actually there’s no official collective noun for what you call a group of demons, but swarm seemed appropriate.) By the speedometer, I actually think Dean is going 110 miles an hour. (Which if you’ve ever gone it, is really freaking fast.) Beside him, in the passenger seat, Sam is bleeding. Already, it’s a good day, at least for me.
How and where Sam and Dean encounter the swarm of demons is never made clear, but that is unimportant since the result is still the same: Sam and Dean were fighting together. That’s key to me because Sam and Dean need to fight together to win the war, whether or not they are willing participants in the battle. And back to that whole “Sam is bleeding,” thing, I really liked the interaction between the brothers. Dean says, “Are you okay?” and Sam, grimacing and holding down hard on himself to staunch the flow of blood says, with a wiry grimace, “I’m amazing.”
Well, yes, Sam you are amazing, and very adorable when you’re bleeding. Just wanted you to know that. But, also, Show inserts a little moment of comedy, played by Padalecki with brilliant timing. And, juxtaposed against the quick getaway from the demons, the comedy becomes a bright, little fleck of light. Show repeats this effect throughout the episode, giving us the perfect contrast, a balance between light and dark. It’s more effective that way, because if you have all dark, or all light, it gets very boring, very fast.
So we don’t know how Sam was wounded exactly (and I’m peeved at the lack of on-screen first aid for the dear boy), but the boys end up in a town that’s been made into a militia base for tracking and killing demons. This is all kinds of cool, for all kinds of reasons.
First, the boys are rescued by some huntery types who dress a lot like the boys do, and one of whom looks an awfully lot like ruggedly handsome Dennis Quaid, who I love to watch in pretty much any role he plays. The huntery types also have a fire engine apparatus loaded with holy water for hosing down those naughty demons, and they know how to perform with deft ease. And second, because the militia camp is in Blue Earth, Minnesota. Which is not only the previous abode of Pastor Jim from the ep “Salvation”, it is also one of the dang coolest names for a town I have ever heard, so cool that it makes me want to go there. Sadly, Pastor Jim is not mentioned during this ep as ever having been, which I thought was a missed opportunity for a bit of continuity.
Blue Earth has developed a fighting force, and locates demons by virtue of a young prophet who is able to talk to angels. Leah recognizes Sam and Dean as who they are right away, and while Sam seems appropriately shocked and amazed, Dean flirts a bit before he can stop himself. She says stuff about demons, and he says, “You’re not the first prophet we’ve met, but you are the cutest.” Then he half apologizes to the girl’s father (the local padre, who, I must point out, wears a very hot thigh holster), still smirking a bit.
What’s cool here is that this is exactly in character for Dean. He’s a flirt, and a good one, and he likes to take up opportunities for getting noogie when they present themselves to him. It’s one of the ways he feeds his soul, along with eating pie, driving the Impala, and being with Sam. Score another hit for this episode: characters consistently behave in character. Which doesn’t sound like all that big of a deal, except that Show sometimes flails about with this and doesn’t quite hit the mark. Not this time, Show hits it every single minute; every single character knows who they are and what they want to say.
The Blue Earth group knows everything hunter should know, how to make salt bullets, how to fill plastic jugs with holy water, how to have a shotgun wedding, where literally every member of the attendees carries a shotgun, how to prepare for the coming apocalypse. I liked the idea that there was a group of people banding together to fight demons.
I especially liked Sam’s hair as the boys stand in the back of the church at the wedding. It’s got that side part going on, and a sweet sweep of hair beside his eyebrows. It’s thick and full and looks like it’s soft as mink. I’m not terribly keen on the pointy, forward-thrusting sideburns, but figured that if Dean’s the one cutting Sam’s hair (which is what I picture going on), then Dean is cutting Sam’s hair to suit himself. Pointy, forward-thrusting, rock-n-roll sideburns seem to be in keeping with that.
Anyway, the boys go the local bar, which, of course, being who they are, is what they do. (It’s the perfect grotty, mid-Western bar, all dark wood and sawdust and good old fashioned cheap beer.) More bright flickering spots of comedy ensue, courtesy of Sam being on the phone with the Soap Angel. Sam is trying to leave a message that they need info or help or whatever. And he looks really pretty on the phone, with that blue-green plaid shirt, and his hair hanging so cutely in his eyes.
On the other end is the Soap Angel, who for some reason cracks me up whenever he’s interacting with a cell phone. I don’t like the Soap Angel all that much, for the same reasons I don’t like Magical Bobby: too much emphasis is placed on these secondary characters. So why am I laughing? Because it’s funny, that’s why, though comedy is sometimes hard to explain.
The Soap Angel’s answering machine message has sounds, which are a little bit like confused swearing, and “I don’t understand. Why…why do you want me to say my name?” followed by the noises of more buttons being pushed than are necessary, and the final beep. The Soap Angel doesn’t get technology, but since the tattoos on the boy’s ribs hide them from both angels and demons, the only way he can connect with the boys is via cell phone, which is the boy’s preferred form of communication.
But the Soap Angel doesn’t get the idea of phones (let alone cell phones) because for an angel, I think, typical communication is instantaneous, without the physical need for an instrument to talk through. I think that for the angel, talking on the cell phone is like what it would be for someone who’d grown up with touch-screen technology having to suddenly use the keyboard to enter a run command in an MS-Dos Command Prompt to create a pre-historic version of an e-mail. The swearing would soon ensue, and this type of frustration is always hilarious.
Sam and Dean have a dither at one of the tables. Sam’s Samhair is in full force, making his face look all sculpted, with his strong, manly jawline coming across to me like an erotic shock. Oh, dear me, his mouth is so rosy and sweet, and he just keeps moving it as he talks. And as for Dean, he’s lit up and all green eyed and sparkly, and his eyebrows say yes, yes, while his lips say no, no, and it’s almost too much. Really, both of them being this beautiful at the same time should be against the law. What are they talking about? Oh, yes.
They’re dithering about the situation, and why all the demons are in town, and what they should do about it. The usual stuff. But I really had a hard time listening to what they were saying, because they were drinking beer (yeah, I’m going to talk about how pretty they were again.), and at the end, Dean does something with his mouth. Here’s how it goes. Leah has found some more demons, and as the bells ring for people to assemble, Sam says, “You wanna go to church? Dean replies with a sarcastic, “You know me. Downright pious.” Then, to make the point at the end of the sentence, he takes a swig of his beer. And when I say he takes a swig, I mean he kisses the lip of the beer bottle with his beautiful mouth. I’m not kidding here, I almost had a heart attack. You can’t do that on television, can you? It isn’t decent. (Ackles is probably going, “It was just a fumble, reviewer!” To which I would reply, “I would prefer to view it through a more erotic filter, thank you just the same Mr. A.”)
The militia have detected a swarm of demons and Sam and Dean volunteer to join in the hunt. Or rather, Dean raises his hand to volunteer them both, and Sam stands there all stoic and long legged, and dips his dark head in agreement. (The Samhair continued to distract me in a very pleasing way throughout the episode, a fact which I’m sure comes as no surprise to anyone.)
The hunt takes place in a house in the middle of nowhere. Now, normally, I do not like most action scenes because they typically tend to come off as a muddled, herky-jerky mess that’s only in there because some corporate suit dictated that an action series must involve a fight scene in every ep. I’m sure that the stunt guys and gals like getting something to do, but far too often, the action/fight scenes do little to really forward the plot. But here I thought it did.
First up, because the battle itself was interesting. Here Sam and Dean are fighting in a group of experienced huntery types. There’s shooting and killing and the boys not only rescue but are rescued, by people who are willing to watch the backs of everyone in the team, because that’s what you do in times like these. Sam and Dean are good hunters, but so is everyone else, and the camera (and the script, also) decided to focus on the boys at least half the time, dipping away to see what everyone was doing, but always coming back to the boys. Dean gets in several nice shots, but what I really liked was Sam’s work with the demon killing knife.
Remember the Pilot episode, where Sam packs that sharp little scythe in his duffle bag? We’ve never seen it since then, but it planted in my brain the idea that Sam prefers to fight in a hand-to-hand way, rather than from a distance with a rifle or a shotgun. Okay, sure, sometimes he likes to be at a distance from the monsters, and who wouldn’t.
But in a situation like this, and with a guy who really could exorcise all those demons with just a twitch of his handsome brain, I think he really likes fighting with the demon killing knife. It lets him express his rage, and really get in there, up close and oh, so personal. When he really gets going, like he does in this scene, he moves like a graceful athlete (Samhair flying!), so watching him fight was a joy unto my eyes. (And props too, to the team who developed the choreography for the fight scene, it was eye-catching, interesting, not overly long, and moved the plot forward. Plus, you know, Sam and Dean fighting, yeah!)
At the end of the fight, as they all stride away from the battle with insouciant ease, Sam says, “I guess that’s what it’s like having backup.” The idea here is that usually Sam and Dean fight alone or with each other, or sometimes with an annoyingly intrusive secondary character, who is not always the most experienced of fighters. Here, they are in a group of people who know what they hell they are doing, which is quite a change for them. Does this perhaps lay the groundwork for the idea that in the coming final battle that they will have to join forces and be less isolated? Or was it simply a tease for them and for me of what it might feel like for them not to be not so all alone? Once you’ve tasted camaraderie like that, it would be very hard to go back to fighting on your own.
One of the young hunters wants to catch a ride back to town in the Impala, and who can blame him; I’ve been waiting for my chance for years. Sam and Dean fold the boy to their metaphorical bosoms, tossing out acceptance along with a can of beer. (The gesture where the boys toast each other with a clink of beer cans was beautifully underplayed.) Alas, what you can’t see is that the lad is wearing a Red Shirt, which leads to him getting whacked by a demon who’d been hiding under the Impala. (The undercarriage will have to be totally sanitized now.)
I think the death of the young man (Dillon) might have personalized the battle for Dean, as I had the feeling that Dean felt like Dillon could have been a young Dean. Anyway, the death leads to much sadness and prayers, drama, and, lo and behold, it moves the plot forward. The prophet has a vision and steps forward and announces that the group will all be chosen by heaven, and that the mother of the dead boy will see her baby in heaven, if…yeah, if. Then the prophet lays down all kinds of rules, tightening some sort of noose that heretofore now had been invisible.
Remember the comedy I mentioned earlier? Well, Sam and Dean come out of the church after the funeral. Sam lists off those things which are now forbidden by the angels, according to the prophet: no drinking, no gambling, no pre-marital sex. Dean’s shaking his head, because, since when have any of those kinds of rules ever applied to him? And Sam says, “Dean, they basically just outlawed 90% of your personality.” This funny little quip (beautifully timed and perfectly reacted to) rather distracts the viewer (me) from the underlying problem here: these kinds of rules are laid down when someone wants to have control over someone else. But the little comment Sam makes is not only funny, it’s effective, because it’s distracts me (at least for a bit) from the main point, which is, where is this all heading and why would someone feel the need to control these kinds of things?
Sam and Dean separate, but that was okay, because each boy got his own scene, both of which moved the plot and established the creepy feeling that all was not well. Dean goes to visit the prophet. He heard her little speech in church, and now he wants to hear it, without the rainbows, please. He wants the real truth. She gives it to him (about the holy showdown), and I’m not going to say I knew it was her, but I kept getting weird vibes that seemed to be established by her weird hair (who parts it in the middle like that?) and makeup (eyebrows, overly plucked) and clothing (ill-fitting, even on such a cute little figure). Anyway, she tells him that the earth will end in fire and brimstone, and only the chosen will survive. Dean doesn’t seem to be affected by the fact that he is among the chosen, because, as we know, he doubts very much that he is worthy of anything resembling God’s love, etc. It’s a very serious scene.
Sam, on the other hand, goes to the bar. The barkeep must get rid of his stock, since what he sells has just been outlawed. The barkeep offers up conversation about holy rollers and not being a hypocrite, and offers Sam a shot of whiskey. They toast each other and down the shots, and then Sam takes the shot glass and very carefully sets it to one side. I didn’t know whether the gesture was emphasized because Sam wanted to resist the temptation of having another shot (and he does tend to have an addictive personality) or whether the bolt of whiskey had hit him harder than he expected. Either way, the strong, long-wristed gesture by Sam is very artistic.
Back in the motel room, Dean is waiting for Sam. He’s sitting up in bed, and in walks, or rather, in staggers Sam. It was the perfect fannish moment. I can’t even begin to tell you how many fics there are out there where this exact scene happens, where one brother goes out to drink, and the other one is a tad irritated when the drunken one returns. Sam staggers only a little, and soon, the dither ensues. (And both boys are wearing green shirts, with their shirtsleeves rolled up, and just….thank you to the Costume Team, because I really like them looking like this. Green is a good color for both of them.)
Dean is more tired than irritated, so Sam is not really in trouble. Sam, now relaxed with the drink, tells Dean about the lack of cell connection, cable, and internet, and how it cuts them from the “corruption of the outside world.” (The quote marks are Sam’s.) Dean isn’t concerned, so Sam sits on the bed opposite Dean’s and the boys have a little dither on the motel beds. Sam points out the direction the town is taking and how, with all the new rules in place, they will soon be drinking cool aid. Sam sees it for what it is, that this type of control often leads to isolation and other cultish behavior.
As is typical with him, he sees the big picture, and the broad-ranging implications of this type of group dynamic. (See what I mean about the characters being in character?) Dean (also in character) seems to feel that it’s not a big deal, maybe they should stop fighting, he can’t bring himself to care a whole lot, and I can see why. Dean doesn’t follow anyone’s rules but his own, and besides which, if he doesn’t like the view, he can always hop in the Impala and drive off. Sam tells Dean he doesn’t want to do it alone, as he feels he might have to, and Dean takes off. But the difference here is, instead of storming off, he actually lets Sam know that he needs some fresh air, which tells Sam that he will be back. (Which means the brothers are getting along even better than they did last week. Even if they’re disagreeing, they’re still sticking together.)
Into the motel room stumbles the Soap Angel, who Sam quickly realizes is drunk. So now you’ve got a Deanless Sam, still recovering from his shots of whiskey at the bar, and a Soap Angel who is three sheets to the wind. Angels, as you know, wouldn’t normally reach for alcohol to numb themselves from the horrors of their daily grind, because typically they would be saturated with the glory of adoring God.
I totally didn’t expect this scene, which involves Sam and the Soap Angel being thrust together in an unexpected, slightly tipsy, and intimate tete-a-tete. (My friend in Alaska was thrilled when the Soap Angel leaned in close to whisper in Sam’s ear. She thought it was very slashy, to which I replied, yeah, you and the other three Castiel/Sam fans out there, har har.) But I thought it was more interesting that the Soap Angel, who heretofore this had very little to do with Sam, now suddenly gets a full blown scene with him. Not that the scene wasn’t interesting, because it was just unusual, you see.
Anyway, the Soap Angel tells Sam that Leah is not a prophet at all. I thought, oh, thank goodness, the chick was creeping me out, and now Sam and Dean will kill her, and maybe we’ll get a funny little scene with the Soap Angel recovering from his encounter with a fifth of Jack. Which is what happens, only not in the way that you would expect. Which I liked because sometimes, as you know, TV stuff is so darn easy to predict.
Meanwhile, while Dean is out and about, he discovers a fracas at the bar. The barkeep is under attack for being a sinner who by selling his wares would keep them all from being among the chosen. (Leah had earlier been wailing that there were sinners among them who must be destroyed. The townspeople in true lemming form are happy to comply.) Dean tries to calm everyone down, and I had a feeling he wanted to get the barkeep out of there, but the mother of the dead boy shoots the barkeep, and Dean soon arrives back at the motel with blood on his hands. (And, of course, “Out, out, damn spot,” flitted through my brain.)
Dean calmly washes his hands, which is a perfectly normal activity after someone dies in your arms. After which the Soap Angel, in a cranky, hung-over tone of voice, announces that Leah is nothing more than the Whore of Babylon. (And seriously, drunk, hung-over Soap Angel makes me giggle like crazy.) Apparently It rises when the apocalypse is upon the earth to hasten the death of many innocent people, etc. I love Dean’s reaction, because I think he thought that the Soap Angel was being a little harsh in calling It a whore.
Of course it’s not a real whore, it’s a metaphorical whore. It’s not even a real person, it’s an allegorical figure of evil that has been used to describe everything from the greedy passions in ancient Rome to a false spiritual queen to even Jerusalem itself. Regardless of the ways the term has been twisted and used to smear those cultures or societies or power structures that someone wanted everyone to turn against, it’s a symbol in the bible that bad times have come, and innocent people are going to suffer.
The lads and the Soap Angel discuss that the only way to kill the Whore is to kill It with a stake made from the branches of a cypress tree that grew in Babylon (now in present-day Iraq). The Soap Angel has this wonderfully tired hung-over air as he hands the stake over; I don’t like the Soap Angel for far too many reasons than need repeating here, but I did like him in this ep, and especially in this scene.
The Soap Angel tells the gang that the only person who can slay the Whore is a true servant of heaven. Dean asks, “A servant like—” The Soap Angel lists each one of them off with a kind of desperate tiredness that had this little undercurrent of funny running through it. “Not you, or me,” he says, and then continues quite kindly with, “Sam of course is an abomination.” The camera’s on Sam for the reaction shot, a little squirmy grimace, and yet another flicker of brightness in this ep that’s really about the end of the world. The comedy is deft and appropriate throughout, and in this scene, Collins sets it up, and Padalecki knocks it out of the park.
After Leah babbles in the church, leading her lemmings, the Soap Angel fetches the padre, who, of course, is a true servant of heaven. When the padre asks why the angel can’t do it, I liked the slouch in the Soap Angel’s shoulders as he admits that he’s a poor example of one. And Dean’s quasi pep talk to the Soap Angel was also a nice touch.
They gang has a little trouble convincing the padre that his little girl isn’t his little girl, but they manage it. However, their plan goes awry. There’s chasing and fighting and Samhair flying, and the padre and Sam and the Soap Angel are quickly out of commission. There’s even a Tossing of the Dean, and quickly the Whore straddles Dean, and starts a little name calling and regular demonic nastiness, and I thought, okay, sure, Dean kills It, it’s all good here.
Dean is on his back, being choked (because, after all, it is Thursday). The name calling involves the usual concepts of Dean and his self-loathing, and although he’s probably used to it by now, it’s still coming at him like a Mack truck. Then the Whore says something interesting, in that Dean is probably just going to sit back and passively watch the end of the world.
At that moment, Dean’s whole demeanor changes. The light shifts in his eyes, and he sort of tightens up his entire being and shoves the cedar stake through Its heart. His face is clear and straight and severe and terribly focused. Typical stuff, right? Dean saves the day, ta-da! (And need I mention this swoon worthy moment? When Dean kills the Whore, there’s this little breeze that lifts Sam’s hair and tosses it about. Which was just the perfect little finish to this scene.)
But it occurs to me while Dean is killing the Whore that there was more than one level to the “ah-ha” moment that Dean seems to have. Viscerally, he gets the satisfaction he often does when killing something evil; it’s his “gotcah, bitch!” moment. Then, on a deeper level, there’s this flash that goes across Dean’s face that reflects his sudden awareness that he is the one that needs to do this saving the world thing. And indeed, saving everyone is something that Dean has talked about many times in the past. He considers it to be his personal bailiwick, which he and only he is responsible for. Thusly, this is what he must do. All of this is conveyed in a flicker of a second. The credit for that flash and the multilayer meaning that came to me I credit entirely to Ackles, who I have called the Man of a Thousand Expressions, and for good reason, such as the scene I just described.
As they pick up the drooping padre, Sam and Dean brotherly exchange looks of a particular nature, somewhat different than their usual “you okay?” looks. This time, they seem to be saying, “Did you see that? Do you understand it?” It’s heart rendering to see this pair of matching expressions on their faces, especially after all they’ve been through. And that is because, like I’ve said before, in spite of everything, they are still brothers who have lived in each other’s pockets since day one, and who know the dark places in each other’s soul, and who know what matters. That they’ve come to this point, well, it speaks of their brotherly love and the dire nature of the situation.
Only when everyone stumbles out of the basement, does Sam point out the obvious. He asks, “Dean, how did you do that?” Dean replies, “My long rung of luck held out, I guess.” Then Sam points it out: “Last I checked, she could only be ganked by servant of heaven.”
I had a little moment of shock there, because you know what this means, right? That what all the Deangirls (and all the Samgirls too, for that matter) knew was true: Dean has a halo. He always has, and he always will. That for all his drinking and tomcatting around, his soul is so pure that it cannot be tainted, so totally and completely pure, so untarnished and untarnishable, that both sides of this war will do anything, anything to get it under their control. (But you know what’s going to keep that from happening, right? Yeah. Sam. Sam and Dean staying together is what’s going to save us all.)
As they pile into the car, Sam asks: “Are you going to do something stupid…like Michael stupid?” Sam’s expression is dark and his forelock shadows his eyes from the street light. He’s holding really still while he waits for Dean’s answer. And that’s because Sam understands the implications as well as Dean does. Perhaps better, since his viewpoint is more objective than Dean’s in this. Dean, for his part, is standing inside of it. You can see it in his face, looking sweet and wide eyed across the top of the Impala. There’s a lot he’s not saying, but Sam is able to hear it just the same; again there’s conversation without dialog, which I put to the credit of Ackles and Padalecki bringing the goods to this quick little scene.
After Dean takes Sam and company back to the motel, there is a little first aid scene for the padre. That’s a little black mark for this ep, just a tiny one, but it’s there. And that’s because Sam didn’t get any first aid, why on earth is Show spending time for first aid for a secondary character? At the very least, the fact that Sam’s doing the first aid while the dialog goes on around him means that he is in the scene, as opposed to being outside, or hung on a towel rack to dry.
Dean leaves, as he says, to get some clean bandages. Sam knows something is up long before he hears the familiar rumble of the Impala’s engine. Sure enough, Dean takes off, leaving Sam bereft and pretty sure about what Dean intends to do. (Run, Sammy run! Oh, too late.) Dean, oddly, heads out to visit Lisa. (And is accompanied by some very beautiful background music.) For those not in the know, at one time, many years ago, Dean hooked up with Lisa. Years later, Dean rolled into town again, and suspected that the son Lisa bore (Ben) was his own. Testing proved that Dean was not the father, but in the meantime, a bond was born.
Apparently Dean has thought about Lisa over the years, and goes to see her. In fact he admits to her that when he thinks of settling down and being happy, he thinks about doing it with her. I loved listening to him say this. I love the expression on his face and the angst in his eyes that turned them so green and bright, with love and affection for Lisa streaming out all over the place. I always felt that Lisa would be good for him because she wouldn’t try to make him into something he wasn’t. She would be the reason that settling down would become a positive option for Dean. I like images of the boy on the road until the 12th of Never, but if he’s going to settle down, then it should be with someone like Lisa. (Same with Sam and Madison, before her untimely death. Or Sarah, let’s not forget her.)
The only problem I had was that, outside of a dream sequence in “Dream a Little Dream of Me”, where Lisa appears on a picnic blanket, Dean’s never mentioned her. Now, granted, he’s not the type to openly discuss his inner workings, but still, if Show was going to have this kind of heart-revealing (almost chick flick) moment with a specific character, than said character should have been mentioned more often. You can’t just fling her at us like this, Show! (Although really, better Lisa than any other woman.)
Anyway, Dean’s wearing his leather jacket, which harkens back to the early days, as he hasn’t been wearing it all the time in more recent eps. And he looks so Deanish with those adorable faint purple smudges around his eyes, standing there a little diffidently, not letting her welcome him in, not for an hour, not even long enough to drink a beer. Sadly, it’s quite obvious what Dean is doing. He’s delivering a message, which he does in very couched terms: “The people that I’m going to see next, they’re not going to get anything from me without agreeing to a few conditions.” Which means making sure that Lisa and Ben are taken care of, that Magical Bobby, and Missouri, and Chuck, et al, are all taken care of.
Chief in Dean’s list of people, in fact, first in line, is probably Sam, as if Sam, in Dean’s mind, will play no part in what’s to come. In a previous review I postulated that each brother would say yes to ensure that the other brother wouldn’t have to, rather like Spartacus and Antoninus wanted to kill the other one first to save him from the slow death of crucifixion. I don’t think that that’s what’s happening here anymore, but rather that Dean feels if he does this, using Sam as Lucifer’s meatsuit will no longer be an option.
And that’s because Dean is simply, in his mind, not going to lose. Not when the stakes involve saving the entire of the gabillion people on the planet. So yeah, I think he’s going to do it. Do I want him to? No. Dean has gone through enough, has been through enough, not to mention what that’s going to do to Sam. Do I think the outcome will be good? Well, as the Scarecrow said, “It’s going to get darker before it gets lighter.”
So this is how I see it going. I have no insight, no advance copy of the script, so I do not know for sure. But it feels like everything is pointing to the yes moment for Dean, both the timing (after killing the Whore) and the buildup (it’s been the topic of conversation for a great long while now), and his decision now to warn Lisa as best he can, and his plan to look for those he loves. It’s not like he’s trading his soul for their safety, but he’s not doing this servant of heaven thing without a solid guarantee that they’re going to be alright.
This episode was terribly good in all the ways that matter. The characterization was spot on, the set design and makeup and wardrobe all supported the story rather than detracting from it. Ackles and Padalecki were On Fire. The episode had everything it needed to have, and nothing it didn’t. Everything came together, and nothing was wasted. Show, you bring me joy this week. Thank you.
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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Great review, Sylvia! And especially lovely screencaps this week.
Oh where to start. How about with the good? Castiel amused me to no end this week. The voicemail, the drunkenness, the hung over attitude, it was all good. I even took the "Sam, of course, is an abomination" remark in a reasonable way, due to the way he delivered it. It reminded me of the tone of voice I would use to call one of my brothers or friends a nerd or something. More of an affectionate dig than a cruel jab. The guys did look especially lovely this episode, and you're right, green is a good color for both of them. It's also my favorite color, and in my opinion, a very underused one in all aspects except foliage.
I came at this episode from an odd point of view. As it was airing, I was in New York, on the 7 train, returning to my hotel in Queens. I had a friend who was watching at home, who was emailing me tidbits and comments (which she knew I wanted her to do), so I got it bits and pieces at a time. It's the first time I haven't been waiting in front of the TV for an episode to start. By the time I got home (the stupid bus took over half an hour to show up), it was over, and though there were a few reaction posts up, I couldn't download the episode yet. Didn't stop me from reading the posts though. I have terrible willpower when it comes to spoilers.
I mention that because one of the first things she sent me was a message saying "Lisa was in the previouslies!" to which I replied, after a good three or four minutes of thought "Lisa? Who is Lisa?" I wound up figuring it out a few seconds later, just before she responded. I feel like I used to be a pretty big fan, and I'm pretty up on the show and characters and such, especially the ones that came along before I got disillusioned. But I honestly couldn't remember who Lisa even was. That should let you know how I felt about the end of this episode. Dean goes haring off to what I'm assuming was Indiana to show up on Gumby Girl's doorstep, keeping in mind that all she is to him is a really bendy, long ago fling, and his not!baby's mama, to proclaim that he's going to make sure she's safe by virtue of what he's about to do? What? How is that kosher?
If Sam had pulled a similar stunt last season (Remember how firmly he thought that what he was doing was the answer? That it would save the world, and Dean too? Interesting…) and taken off into the night, leaving Dean behind with two injured men on his hands (not to mention leaving Dean calling after him the way Sam was), only to show up on, say, Sarah's (from Provenance) doorstep, to tell her that she was his happy place and that he was going to insure her safety (Not Dean's. Not Bobby's. Chickie's) with what he was about to do, he would have been positively SLAUGHTERED. Strung up, drawn and quartered and dismembered, slowly, Alistair-style. Ungrateful. Hateful. Evil. Disgusting. Selfish. All words that would have been flung at him with extreme vitriol.
But because it's Dean doing it, it's supposed to be, not just okay, but heart breaking and sympathy inspiring? Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot. I understand, in a way, why it was her. I think Dean has put her and Ben up on a pedestal, idealizing them as his perfect family that could have been. But I still think Lisa was an odd choice. Even though I couldn't stand her, I think Cassie would have worked better in that spot for me, if they just had to do it that way. Jo would have been even better, if she was still alive, though I don't know that she would take kindly to being passive and letting Dean protect her. So I feel like I understand why he was there, and honestly, I don't object to him wanting to protect Lisa and Ben. If he had gone about making that proclamation differently, I wouldn't object to it one bit. But given the way his relationship with Sam has been on the rocks recently, the way that Dean chose to handle this really left a sour taste in my mouth.
Thank you, and I'm glad you like the pics! There was an embarassment of riches for that this week.
The Soap Angel, yes, he was affectionate in his insult, much in the way I would call my sister an idiot, or my brother in law a pain in the ass. There was affection behind the remark, and along with the tired hungover air made me like the Soap Angel very much. And THAT's saying something, as you know. I'm with you, the green on the boys is fantastic, and we would like to see more of it please.
So you read the reviews first? Ah me, that'll slant an opinion faster than anything. I avoid them at all costs, with very few exceptions, and even then, I don't read till after. But I can see your situation, being in transit, and wanting a taste of it.
Lisa's introduction was not kosher nor well planned, nor very smooth. Even if the scene was good, woudln't Dean's first concern be for Sam? Or did he go there because he felt that Sam already knew he would be saved?
I'm far from perfect, but I honestly don't think that reading the reviews colored my opinion in any appreciable way. Mostly because my opinion was pretty opposite of most of what I read. Not all of it, but most of it.
I'm with you on liking Castiel all of a sudden. He's slowly been growing far more likable, in my opinion. Which is scary, but kind of awesome, all at the same time. I hope they leave it that way. I feel better liking him. It makes the show more enjoyable.
Yeah, the Soap Angel – funny in the right kind of way, unobtrusive, but there, and for some reason, the Columbo raincoat, all scraggy and wrinkled matches. He's a secondary character, and his job is to support the main characters, like he does here!
And leaving Sam was not right, just as it wasn't right for Sam to leave Dean.
But you raise a point. When Sam did it, fandom was up in arms, so why aren't they now? (Or are they?) First up, neither boy is right in what they did. But I think in Sam's case, he was going off to Ruby, and that was dangerous, and Dean is going off to Lisa, which is not dangerous. But that's what FANS know, so we were angry on Dean's behalf, and are here angry on Sam's behalf (with good reason). So I'm not saying it's right or wrong, just a persepctive thing.
So I hope you see what I'm saying. What fans know is different than what the characters know. We were mad on Dean's behalf and now on Sam's.
As far as I've seen, no, fandom isn't up in arms. They might decry what Dean did, but they turn right around and justify it, often by pointing to Sam's behavior last season. Or, as another commenter below implied (though she didn't say it this way, she may have meant it differently; I have seen others apply it in this fashion though) it's Sam's fault for not approaching Dean about things in the right way.They always find a way to make what Dean did okay with them. That's not being up in arms, nor is it real criticism. Sam was thoroughly denounced, reasons be damned, but Dean? He did it because of [insert reason here], so it's okay, you see. It's totally understandable.
And you're right, what we know and what the characters know are two different things in a lot of cases, and that does color our opinions vs their reactions. I don't see a way around that though. It'll always be that way.
I don't think it's Sam's fault at all for wanting Dean to fix it – I think he might be doing this, true, but he's always looked up to Dean and frankly, the older sibling calls the shots in so many ways. How many times have we heard this over the years? "Because I'm the awesome older brother, that's why." So with that in place, Sam is looking to Dean to tell him which way to jump. As the youngest, I know exactly how that feels. I'm a card-carrying, lawn raking, mortgage paying adult, and when something goes awry, I'm on the phone to my older sister, asking, "So what do we do now?" Sam doesn't deserve to be denounced, and should not be, for doing something that is so heavily influenced by the group dynamic he is currently in.
And you are right, the balance between what we know and what the characters know is shifting and overlaps a lot.
As far as the characters go, for all Sam knows, Dean is going straight to Michael. Sam knows nothing about Lisa (mabye some things that Dean told him) but not that he's got this connection where he would feel strongly enough to make a side trip to see her, right before saving everyone on the planet. (Who's the Jesus figure now!) So I'm pretty sure Sam is having a heart attack over this, not just that Dean isn't doing the "we are partners" thing, but he's also going to do something that might kill him. it's an awful situation for them both. And it's not fair, it's just not fair.
It's bad for the relationship between the brothers, and it's mean to Sam, to put him in this spot. What do you think Sam will do now? Will he RACE to get to Lucky before Dean gets to Michael, just to save Dean? Frankly, I'm more worried about the relationship between the brothers than I am about the end of the world. (Do you hear that, Show???)
I really hope all of this doesn't send Sam racing to Lucifer to save Dean. That would monumentally stupid. Which means it's EXACTLY what Show would do to Sam's character. I'm hoping Sam will dig in his heels and fight for Dean, ignoring what Dean is saying and doing to him, to try to save him. Because it's the right thing to do. But it all depends on how hard Dean fights back, and how much help he has. Sam can fight Dean on this, for a while at least. I don't think he can fight Dean AND heaven though.
The only comment I want to do about this episode is that if it was SAM wanting to say YES to Lucifer, he would be the worst abomination that ever walked on Earth. But because it's DEAN, it's heartbreaking. As far as I'm concerned, the only thing that breaks my heart is the fact that he's concerned about the safey of a woman he met a long time ago and never spoke of again, while showing no concern at all about what will become of Sam if he does say YES to Michael.
And on that level, Dean being able to kill the Whore didn't sit well with me either. Nobody questioned how Dean got into heaven in the last episode, though they couldn't resist reminding Sam that he was unworthy, and now Dean can do what even Castiel couldn't? Sure, Castiel is falling, but he still has powers, or as far as we know he does, so he's not fallen yet. I think it's probably a combination of the vow he made to serve heaven a while back, along with perhaps a mental decision to say the big Yes, that lead to it. But if it's anything else, if they meant it in any other way, then no. If Dean's holy, I'm a pumpkin.
Maybe I'm alone, but I see huge parallels between Dean's behavior at the moment and Sam's last season. The running off, the erratic behavior, the trusting someone else rather than their brother, the conviction that they know best, it's all there. Yet somehow, despite the intense bashing that Sam took from the viewers last season for doing many of the same things (I realize Dean hasn't gone quite so far as Sam did. Yet. There's plenty of time left. And clearly, thankfully, Dean isn't sleeping with Castiel. But if Castiel was a woman…I mean, Dean didn't waste any time with Anna, now did he?), when Dean does these things, it's rationalized, explained, and hand waved away. The best is when someone explains it by saying it's justified due to the way Sam behaved last season. Um, no. Two wrongs don't make a right. All of Dean's long suffering patience and "righteous" anger with Sam thus far were based on the idea that Dean is better than that, that given the same circumstances, he wouldn't behave the same way (which I never believed, but that's just my opinion). If he starts doing the same things, that all falls apart.
Honestly? For me, Show gets one more chance. If the 100th episode blows me away. If it's about the brothers, plural, and not about heaven and the angels. If they give me some hope that Sam and Dean will ever be Sam'n'Dean again, or something close to it. If they at least give that pedestal they've put Dean up on a good rocking, then I'll stick around. And I'd probably settle for just getting one of those things. Otherwise, I'm out. I've been unhappy for almost two years now. I think I've given them plenty of chances to change, and all they've done is make it worse. It's been made abundantly clear that I'm backing the wrong horse (which, believe it or not, isn't Sam alone; it's the two of them together, Sam'n'Dean) in their race, and therefore my bet is worthless.
Actually I took that scene in the last episode differently than you did. I thought Joshua was directing his comments to both boys. He starts the statement off looking at Dean and finishes it looking at Sam. To me that makes the entire statement applicable to both boys. I also think that the look Sylvia mentioned in her review was Dean making the decision to say Yes. At that point, he became a servant of heaven and was able to kill the Whore. If he'd struck a moment earlier, I don't think he could have done it. We saw him slowly coming to the decision throughout the episode so I wasn't surprised when he made it.
Sam also suspected that's why he killed her. To me it was obvious he believed Dean had decided to say Yes and we see him asking his brother as they leave.
And no Dean shouldn't have driven off and it was very reminiscent of last season with Sam. Dean thinks saying yes is the right thing to do and he knows Sam will try to stop him, so he bolts. It was wrong last season for Sam and it is wrong this season for Dean.
The interesting thing is that the Samgirls don't seem to realize all the criticism Dean is taking for leaving Sam like that and also for going to see Lisa. It isn't considered acceptable just because Dean did it.
Last season I could understand why Sam did what he did even if I thought he was wrong. This season I can understand why Dean did what he did even though I think he is wrong. Just because they do something wrong doesn't make them hated characters, it makes them all too human – flawed, imperfect but still capable of being loved by the fans.
Joshua may have started that remark by looking at Dean, but he was looking at Sam, very pointedly, when he made the "after the things you've done" jab. That was meant for Sam, and Sam alone, IMO.
Oh I agree on why Dean was able to kill the Whore. That's how I want it to be, anyway. I just don't trust Show not to totally backpedal and make Dean some sort of saint.
I don't think it's that Samgirls don't realize it. It's that we don't see it happening. The closest I've seen someone come to criticizing Dean has still had a healthy, heaping dose of justification attached to it. That's not real criticism. It's "Oh Dean! I can't believe you did that! But I totally understand why and you had reasons for doing it." Whereas Sam was never allowed reasons. There were no buts attached to anything he did, just condemnation. So yeah, they are considering it acceptable just because it's Dean doing it. If they're willing to reason it out and figure out why he did it, they're accepting it. I saw all kinds of reasons for what Sam did, and see reasons for what Dean is doing, and I wouldn't have them be anything but human, flaws and all.
I think the contrast between the brothers is on purpose. I love Sam, you know I do, and I wail at the lack of his presence, and feel it keenly and horribly when he's not there. But the whole holy/abomination contrast thing is less about who they are as people and more about what they represent in the apocolypse. Personally I like Sam being a little darker and messed up, it means more, it affects me more.
Dean being holy doesn't make me like him better, just sos you know. In fact, it makes him less interesting to me, that kind of perfection would be impossible to live with and live up to.
Okay, so there are parallels between what Sam did last season, and what Dean's doing now. I don't think either boy is right in doing what they're doing To Their Brother. That's the key thing here, both are wrong in keeping secrets, and rushing off into the night without a word, in making decisions on their own, in thinking that they and they alone can save the world.
But that's the point here, to my way of thinking. Becauase the brothers will be discovering that the only way to save the world is to save it together. The splitting behavior of the angels and demons is exactly what's keeping them apart. All that crap going on then and now, is an example of that, and the result is that the boys keep harring off on their own.
I'm not saying it's right, but as to why Dean's bad behavior gets a pass, think about it. He's on the side of angels, that's why. Yet, Sam's bad behavior (a whole lot like Dean's) doesn't get the same pass. Why? Because he's not on the side of angels. Demon blood, consorting with demons, and answering only to himself. He's dark and dangerous and unpredictable, and like John, pretty much answers only to himself. Dean answers to the world, Sam is his own man.
"I'm not saying it's right, but as to why Dean's bad behavior gets a pass, think about it. He's on the side of angels, that's why. Yet, Sam's bad behavior (a whole lot like Dean's) doesn't get the same pass. Why? Because he's not on the side of angels."
My problem with that line of thinking is that, in the context Show has presented them, the angels are exactly NO better than the demons (with possibly the sole exception of Castiel). None. Not a bit. They don't care if the world burns. They don't care if innocent people die. They don't care if they have to kill, lie, or steal to get what they want. They're greedy, conniving, nasty beings. So why is being on their side the good thing? It seems to me that this battle has no good side. I don't trust any of the angels any farther than I can throw them, including Michael. And unless Joshua was lying, God's no better. There's no good side to this, not even the one Dean has chosen to give his allegiance to.
The other thing that bugs me about that line of reasoning is that the boys weren't given a choice. They weren't told "One of you must serve heaven and one must serve hell, it's your choice". Sam was chosen to fight on the hell side before he was born, and certainly by the time he was six months old. He never had a chance. If Sam and Dean each had been given the chance to choose which side to serve, that might work better for me.
All of which is not to say that you're wrong, just why I can't follow that line of reasoning. And I totally agree that the only way they'll work this out is together. Being apart isn't the answer, ever. I just thought we already covered that issue. As Jessifer said earlier in the season, same song, different verse.
At the same time, Sam is the prodigal son here, as well, and as valued in heaven as Dean is. But he's not been prodigaled yet, since he's still an abomination, poor lad.
BAck to the separateion and the splitting behavior. The boys are soulmates, and cannot be split, at least not forever. And what's a marriage if it's not the bonding between soulmates? And how will they save the world? WHom God has joined, let no man put asunder, etc. The boys have to come together to do this saving the world thing.
I've been hearing that the 100th episode is supposed to be something special, and maybe fix things. I'm with you, I hope that what you want comes to pass. Sam 'n Dean forever.
Hmm. I liked this episode, for the most part. Up until the last seven minutes or so. I probably would have enjoyed it more if the "Then" part hadn't shown Lisa, and I hadn't spent most of the time waiting for her to show up in Blue Earth and, y'know, have her presence make some kind of sense.
I liked Lisa. I was pretty sure Ben was Deans son just because they hammered that point in with their Anvil of Obviousness. (although I read a great fanfic where Ben was John's son, which would explain the connection too. Oops, losing track there.) However, this huge Plot Point of Doom would have worked a little better if they'd set it up beforehand. We've heard more references to Cassie than we have to Lisa, and in the Djinn's little dreamworld? Shouldn't that have been Lisa instead of Carmen? IF Dean has been so stuck on her? Hmm.
So I give show an B+ for the whore of Babylon story (they would have gotten an A if the misogynistic references to women and whores were also not quite so blatant) and an F for their Return to Lisa, the formerly bendy yoga party girl who's become a perfect single mom in the suburbs who's let one one-night stand turn her into the perfect woman, waiting for her man.
You know, this show used to make me happy. I'm hoping for episode 100 to give me a great big turn around.
I agree about Lisa. While I like the character, I can't blindly adore the scene she was in. She was dumped in the plot like so much baggage. Dean's fabulously lovely when he's around her, BUT. She's come from out of nowhere, and that's sloppy in my book.
As to the Whore, I've been hearing that whole misogynistic complaint from fans, and frankly, I just don't see it. Or if it's there, don't blame it on Show, blame it on the bible. Show is following the bible, appropriately bringing up this character of evil who shows up as the apocolypse is picking up steam. What are they supposed to do, change the name of the evil to the "Bastard of Babylon?" That wouldn't make any sense at all.
I hope the 100 episode knocks it out of the park, I really do. I'm here for the duration!
The Bastard of Babylon! Hee. No, you're right. Not quite the same ring.
I don't know…maybe not so much misogynistic as stupid. On the show, women seem to be placed into two categories, Victim or Evil,. Oh, there are a few that they've given a personality, but they manage to kill them off as soon as they've sold the fandom on their characters (Hello Ellen, Jo, I'm looking at you!). I think only Sarah from season one and Jaime from the b&w episode have managed to escape that curse.
To me, that "I can kill a whore" as a reason for life being worth living for Dean just seemed…not very Dean-like. Even Dean at the end of his rope. He's never seemed to care about using "whore" as an expletive, and he seems to respect women in all shapes and forms. If you substitute "demon" it would work better, imo. Or the whole phrase "whore of Babylon". Eh. Maybe it's just me.
On the happy side, the boys did look good.
And apropos of nothing, I thought that Dean, being one of the very few possible hosts for Michael, would be "chosen by heaven" no matter what his intentions. I know they want us to believe it's a sudden choice to say "Yes", but I think as a vessel of heaven, he could killed the whore of Babylon even if he kept his "No" vow.
I think I'm in the minority on my reading of that line, but I really felt Dean was using the blackest of humor there. He emphatically does not think that a good day is killing a/the Whore – he takes no enjoyment from anything anymore, and seemed to be rather sarcastically pointing out how shitty his life is.
So although I flinched at the line, anticipating the fandom wank about it, it didn't really bug me because I read it as the bleakest of sarcasm.
You are so right about Lisa being Carmen. That would have made a lot more sense. And even if they couldn't have gotten that actress back, if they'd named Lisa Carmen it would have worked. Maybe. It would have been better, at least.
I don't get the misogynistic thing either. As Sylvia pointed out whore (or in some translations, harlot) is in the Bible. Show didn't pull that one out of thin air. Also, personally, and only personally, whore doesn't bother me as much as, say, bitch does. The definition of whore, though it does reference a female first, also applies to a male that takes money for sexual acts. Bitch, however, as an insult, refers solely to a female. So if a man calls another man a bitch (excluding the jokey way that Sam'n'Dean used to say it), they're insulting them by calling them a woman. That, to me, is misogyny.
Loved your recap! Now I have to read the old ones.
I have been struggling with the show these last two seasons since there is very little Sam. I'm sticking with it only because I want to know how this all ends, dammit!
But the one thing that has struck me these two last episodes is that Dean admitted that John and Mary's marriage wasn't perfect until after she died. And nobody told Sam as usual. Then in the last scene in this episode, Dean tells Lisa that in his happy place, he thinks of her and Ben. And that after he gave Sam hell for not including him in his happy memories in heaven.
I was dumbstruck, I tell you. I wonder how much Dean lies and has lied to Sam? It all sounds awfully close to emotional blackmail and it was a hypocrite thing to do.
The awful feeling I got from the scene was that despite all his family-love, it's not the members of the family that matter, but the general idea of one.
How much about what Dean has told us is really the truth since it seems he has no problem lying to his brother even if he frowns upon Sam lying to him? I am not trusting Dean with Sam anymore. Sad as it is, at this point I feel the need to shield Sam from Dean because the scene gave me the sensation that Sam was never, not even to begin with, important to Dean as a person but only as an impersonal little brother with his set place in Dean's castle in the air..
That broke my heart more than anything ever has on this show. What if it's all been a lie?
I loved that you loved my review! I hope you like the other ones as well, there are lots of them by now.
And I'm with you, not enough Sam, never enough Sam. What's there his choice, of course, but there's just not enough of it.
There's been lots of little tidbits in Show about their marriage recently, hasn't there. But I think Sam does have an idea because Sam was there when Dean remarked that their marriage was perfect only after she died. And he seems the type to have a more objective view on the whole thing anyhow. Just like he knows that John wasn't the perfect father, he is quicily learning that the marriage wasn't perfect either. But then, which marriage is?
As for Dean talking to Lisa, yes, that's calling the kettle black, isn't it! It's very hypocritical of him and I think he would defend himself to Sam by saying, "This doesn't have anything to do with you!" Oh, Dean.
As for the general idea of what a family is, I agree with you and disagree with you. I think everyone has an image of what a family should be, and Dean (and Sam for that matter) is no different. He's struggling to juxtapose that against what his family really is, and it's not coming up to snuff. It never will. It never does. But at least he has Sam. : D
It's interesting what you want to do, protect Sam from Dean. It's certainly been very hard to watch the double standard, you know, Dean lied to Sam about being in hell for a while there, and yet Sam was very accepting that Dean didn't tell and then did tell. He was just there for Sam. On the other hand, the demon blood and Ruby and a whole host of other things, such as what Sam's favorite memories were, Dean goes ballistic. So double standard, yes. And I worry about Sam, but I worry about Dean too. He's living in denial – though I think in this ep, he's finally making a decision. Whether that decision is the right one remains to be seen.
II agree, I've seen Sam be there for Dean, even neglecting hos own needs since John died and it took ages for Dean to spill what John had said. Another lie btw, since Sam asked if John had said something. So I am totally baffled by the lying on Sam's part being so awfully wrong. yes, it was, objectively, but from Dean's point of view I would expect some self-insight about lies.
Sam doesn't judge like Dean does and I think that's why my heart has gone to Sam. Like you pointed out, he accepted Dean mistakes , even if they involved him (like the deal and the promise to John did) and carries on.
The thing is that I still recognize Sam, as awful as he behaves at times, I get him even if I want to slap him silly. I used to get Dean too but that last scene and all the double-standards he holds, all be it perfectly human, it still throws me that he seems to learn nothing. He goes from idealizing to downright contempt and there's no middle-ground. He was starting to learn about gray-ones in season 2 but that just vanished. Now I am almost afraid of Dean because his humanity has truly suffered by the looks of it.
So yes, i guess I worry about Dean in a way too but I worry more about Sam's sanity at this point if he finds out that this Dean never really loved him and just uses him. I will have to use duct tape for my heart if that happens.
Maybe I should be happy Sam's story isn't upfront since I'd probably be a crying mess all the time if it were.
I would rather be crying and seeing Sam's story, instead of having it told in hindsight, or not at all. And those grey tones, yes! He used to be going there, but now he's stopped.
Overall, this is what families are like, to be sure. They drive you crazy. I think, in spite of that, in spite of understanding that familes are horrible, and brothers don't get along, Sam doesn't get the support he deserves, not from Dean or the fans. If his story were shown rather than referred to, I'd cry because it was sad, but at least I'd get Sam's story.
Then in the last scene in this episode, Dean tells Lisa that in his happy place, he thinks of her and Ben. And that after he gave Sam hell for not including him in his happy memories in heaven.
>> I think it's all because Dean saw what Sam's heaven was..and is now embracing his own dreams which he pushed aside for his family(sam and dad).
But when he met Lisa it must have been at the time Sam was at Stanford and Dean was surely free from him, if not from dad. It was also alluded that Dean did some hunting by himself at the time. If he's always had this dream, why didn't he act on it before now? Or even mention it? He can't blame Sam for not getting his own life when Sam wasn't even there any longer, neither can he claim he pushed it to the side for anybody's reasons but his own. .
Sam's always told him that there must be something Dean wants for himself As early as in Shadow. A family of his own was never mentioned, he frowned at the thought about settling down. That is until he lost the family he had, or so he thinks. It just seems odd and yes, very childish if it's just a revenge on Sam's happy memories in heaven.
I think Dean is currenlty chasing rainbows.
"gave me the sensation that Sam was never, not even to begin with, important to Dean as a person but only as an impersonal little brother with his set place in Dean's castle in the air."
I agree, and I don't. Heh. I think Dean really does loves Sam an incredible amount, and Sam is important to him as a person. However, I also think the show has given us plenty of evidence that on many levels Dean would prefer if Sam were a hell of a lot more like him.
John raised Dean to be his mini-me, and Dean has never really let go of wishing Sam were his own mini-me. We've seen that as recently as Swap Meet. What fascinates me is that Sam, otoh, accepts Dean exactly as he is (with the exception of s4). Sometimes Sam wants to be away from Dean, or has an agenda not in line with Dean's, but we've never had a plot about Sam wishing Dean liked his music and hobbies and so on.
So I'm hoping Dean's growth this season is in realizing Sam truly does love him, and it's also okay that Sam is different than him.
Such a good point….and somewhere, I had been feeling this, but not articulating it very well, either in my head or on paper. Like my statement somewhere in one of these comments, when Dean tells Sam the truth about being in Hell, Sam's accepting and there for Dean. The reverse is not true, not always, and is sometimes accompanied by a punch to the jaw. Sam loves Dean as he is, and never wants him to be any other way. That's love, in my book.
That is a very good point. I would love to see Dean make that realization. That would be huge character growth for him.
Yes, it was shown in Sex and Violence too. It's been a current theme for at least two seasons.
Yes, I've been waiting and waiting on the Dean maturation arc. It started in season two but was pulled back. I so agree that it needs to happen. And when I see it I'll believe that Dean really loves Sam the way Sam loves Dean – for who he is, faults and all. Not just because he happens to be a brother and it's your duty to 'love' him.
Right now I just can't see the love as anything else than another of Dean's idealized concepts.
The hunter in the beginning (Rob) was played by the ruggedly handsome Michael Shanks (ala Dr. Daniel Jackson of Stargate fame!!)
This was a fabulous episode. So many things played perfectly. My only slight peeve is Sam's inability sometimes to communicate with Dean in a way that Dean needs. Sam came at it from the "you can't do that to me" side.. I wanted to yell, come on haven't you learned… Dean thinks you don't care as much about him as he does and you're pulling the "it's all about me, you have to think about me" thing. Tell him you are concerned for DEAN, don't want to think what it will do to him. That's how you get Dean to re-think. He already feels no one really cares about him (the way he does about them).. we know that's not true.. tell him SAM!
But I'm hoping next week, Sam goes about it a different way.
Actually, Dean's proven that push come to shove, sometimes he's not that great at communicating with Sam either. The way he tossed out that "If you walk out that door don't you EVER come back" ultimatum in When the Levee Breaks proves that. He knew from past experience that wouldn't work with Sam, would only exacerbate the situation, but he said it anyway. And honestly, I don't think it matters what Sam says to Dean at this point, or how. Dean has made up his mind, especially about how Sam feels about him after last week's episode (which, way to go Dean. Yes, three memories in heaven that may or may not have even been selected by your brother himself is EXCELLENT proof of how said brother feels about you, absolutely. /sarcasm), and I don't think words are going to change anything for Dean right now. He needs something bigger. Or, as everyone was yelling at Sam last season when he was the one misbehaving, Dean needs to listen to his brother.
I agree that Sam could have used a better argument with Dean. However, I think he went with the old standby that has always worked in the past. He now knows it won't work anymore and will come up with a new message. I think he's probably also seen Dean use a similar message with others to keep them going – Bobby for one in The Curious Case of Dean Winchester. Sam didn't see it but I'm sure he knew what Dean was going to do and say.
I too hope next week Sam uses a more convincing argument countering Dean's very real reasons for deciding to say yes. He needs to appeal to that as well as their brotherhood.
Thanks for pointing out who Rob was. I've just started watching, would you believe, Stargate: Atlantis, and boy amd I enjoying myself. And am becoming a McKay fan. I just love it when he screams.
Both Sam and Dean have communication problems like you wouldn't believe. And they're each accusing the other one of what they themselves are doing! What I think Sam was doing here with the whole "you can't do that to me" was playing the pity card, as though everything Dean was doing was about Sam, which it isn't. Neither is what Sam doing always about Dean – and Dean was hot and heavy with his accusations last week. Thing is, both of them are doing it. I think it speaks to their co-dependant natures, which is oh so fun on Show, even if it's hellish in real life.
What does Dean need? Does anybody know? Sam told him straight out that he loved him even if he was messed up in Sam interrupted. He's been asking how he's doing, pointing out about the nightmares and the drinking as early as last season. and he's gotten nothing. How is Sam supposed to know how to deal with Dean since Dean doesn't respond to anything right now?
Sam's met Dean's needs since season 2, in one way or another and Sam is still in the dog house? I don't know from where this 'it's all about me' is coming from since Sam's been crawling in the mud and not asked anything of Dean this season. Not much in earlier seasons either when I come to think of it.
To kill him if he went bad, yes and that was wrong and boy did Sam get the lesson with Madison. In Hunted, when Dean did want to take a break and Sam had just learned the huge secret, Sam went off on his own, which was wrong but he didn't ask Dean to help him solve his problems. He wanted to solve them by himself.
I think Sam does see what this does to Dean but just like Dean last season, there's no way of getting through to his brother.
Actually, Dean's proven that push come to shove, sometimes he's not that great at communicating with Sam either. The way he tossed out that "If you walk out that door don't you EVER come back" ultimatum in When the Levee Breaks proves that. He knew from past experience that wouldn't work with Sam, would only exacerbate the situation, but he said it anyway. And honestly, I don't think it matters what Sam says to Dean at this point, or how. Dean has made up his mind, especially about how Sam feels about him after last week's episode (which, way to go Dean. Yes, three memories in heaven that may or may not have even been selected by your brother himself is EXCELLENT proof of how said brother feels about you, absolutely. /sarcasm), and I don't think words are going to change anything for Dean right now. He needs something bigger. Or, as everyone was yelling at Sam last season when he was the one misbehaving, Dean needs to listen to his brother.
Seriously you think Dean's being put on a pedestal? The character's being dragged through the mud, half of fandom's mad at him including Deangirls. He's not wearing a halo and even if he was it'll be tarnished because the ones who want him to say yes are being portrayed as the bad guys. He managed to kill the whore not because his soul is pure but because he's a servant to heaven and he's thinking about saying 'yes' to Michael. He's already agreed to do heaven's bidding back in season 4 which makes no sense since they've never referred back to that moment. Plot holes and crappy writing galore, not impressed.
It's not that I think he's on a pedistal, it was just that since he was able to kill the Whore of Babylon, in spite of everything that he is and does, it indicates that there's a purity to his soul that will help him save the world. Dean's not the perfect character by any means, he's been mean to Sam lately, for one thing. And the pre-marital sex? Yeah, we can take that as given. But the thing of it is, his soul is pure. Thus the halo idea, and my postulating that he'll say yes to Michael. And I'm not sure why his saying yes would piss anyone off, though, but there you go, everyone has their opinion.
Oh, Sylvia, you mentioned an old little dream of mine: the return of Sarah! I didn't like the way Lisa was introduced into this episode. I have no objections to the boys having a little romance, but this came out of the blue and felt somewhat forced. We saw Lisa in the far distant beggining of Season 3, then a little bit later on in the same season and never heared about her again. And now all of a sudden… But well, by the law of balance, if the writers were as considerate as giving Lisa to Dean, Sam should have a girl too. And who could be more perfect than Sarah? She wasn't the damsel-in-distress type that I find so annoying. Far from that, she was inteligent, courageous, determined and, or course, incredibly gorgeous. And most importantly: she truly liked Sam, even knowing what he did "for a living" if you can say that. I loved the way she dealt with him. She could be the connection he needs, since nobody else seems to connect with him. Yes, I think I'll start a Sarah petition.
I'm with you 100%!
Some time in the past there was a Sarah petition, to bring her back for a return visit, and because SAM deserves to have a nice smart sweet strong woman to give him some loving. He deserves it. Just as we deserve to have characters introduced with logic and forethought. Not like this. But hey, if you started another one, I'd sign it, for sure. And I'd get everyone I knew to sign it. : D
First all this fixation with 'Sam hair' is that a euphemism for something else *snickering and leering*
I also wondered why no mention was made of Pastor Jim, after all if I'm not mistaken he was the first friend of the family killed by a demon.
As for Ben, I think he is Dean's son. I'm waiting for Ben and Jesse(the AntiChrist) to 'duke it out.' I loved the scene between Lisa and Dean.
Why, morganslady, are you accusing me of having lewd thoughts???? I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you! And hurt! Would never…never, um, well sometimes, maybe all the time…. : D
Sam's just beautiful all the way around and the hair is just the icing on the cake.
Poor Pastor Jim. He had one scene, and yet that echoes down through time, in so many fanfics. I wonder why they left him out.
Your theory about Ben and Jesse is interesting. It makes me think that the curse on THIS generation (Sam and Dean) will be visited on the next with Ben and Jesse, regardless of who the real fathers are. Interesting.
what if dean being able to kill her is because he's a servant of the heaven irrespective of whether he feels that way or not…like Michael told him, free will is an illusion…which also explains why Dean ended up in heaven even though he may not exactly belong there like a poster pointed?
May be now he's accepted his destiny and what michael told him and is ready to do the needful as he sees no reason to fight anymore.
Oh, good one! Whether we see Dean as pure enough, or whether he sees himself as pure enough, there's no getting around this particular destiny, right? Nice, nice.
Great review of the episode. I think Dean is still trying to save as many people as possible by saying yes to Michael even though he's had to give up on saving everyone. To me it was seeing the mother of Dillon kill the bartender, Paul. He realized by delaying, not only lives will be lost but also souls. Following up on Pamela's statement to him in heaven about the attic being better than the basement.
For the first time, he realized there could be something worse than the loss of billions in a showdown between Michael and Lucifer. Millions of souls could be lost while trying to find another solution. He's been to hell and knows exactly what that means. Then in addition to Paul's death, he sees Castiel on the path to what he was in The End. He must be worried that things will come to pass as it did then. Michael may not be around to accept his yes if he waits to long, the angels could all leave.
I loved how this episode tied in all the things the boys have been learning this year until Dean finally realizes that his best option might be in saving only half the world's population instead of everybody. I do like how he thinks he can negotiate with Michael for those people that are special to him.
I can't wait to see what happens next. It was obvious to see in this episode that Sam has taken up the mantle of leader of "Team Free Will" and he isn't going to let his brother say Yes to Michael if he can do anything to stop it. More discord between the brothers but I think it may be that discord and the realization of how Sam feels to bring the brothers completely back together again.
Thank you, I'm glad you liked the review!
Oh, the boys. Oh Dean, oh Sam. Both of them are struggling so very hard. And Dean, realizing that yes, there will be fire and brimstone, but, like you pointed out, any delay means he's loosing more souls. The Whore is there to beat God to the punch before the Rapture. The Whore's intention is to cull as many as she can to keep them from getting into heaven. And, as you pointed out, that's what Dean realizes in this ep – his delay means more souls will go to hell. I wish I'd thought of that!
And I liked his negotiation idea – it might not work, but those are the people he loves, and so. It's very Deanish of him. : D
As for Sam and his leadery tendencies, yes! Free will, and independant thought, and being his own man, and standing up for what he feels is right. And that's Sam to a T. One thing I mentioned in the review was how in character both boys were. Even if I would like MORE Sam, please, when he was there, he was all Sam. In spite of what the YED said, he was 100% Sam.
Is there a race for each brother to say yes first? I keep changing my mind on that, every time I think about it. Right now, I think yes!
I feel that Lisa as Dean's big love is a tad out of left field, but she was featured in DALDOM, as his dream gal, and I still suspect Ben in his, her claim of a test notwithstanding. That scene had me crying very hard, so Jensen's acting was incredible. Lisa, along with Ben and a home represents Dean's ideal life at this moment. If Jo were still alive, he would have paid a visit to her, maybe, but Lisa has a child, and Dean wants to be a father.
This episode was upsetting, hilarious, crazy, weird, downright insane on so many levels. A community that knows about demons and saved the brothers' lives? PERFECT! A Whore of Babylon who is false, taking the place of a beloved daughter, telling them to do bad things that will force them to kill each other? BAD! A drunk Castiel whispering in Sam's ear, telling him he's an abomination? FUNNY AS HELL! Dean acting like he doesn't give a damn about anything anymore? UPSETTING! Once-loving townspeople going mob-crazy and trying to force a man out, then one murdering him? INSANE & UPSETTING!
The episode was phenomenal, but the previous one was, IMHO, better.
Anyway, there's been a lot of speculation why Dean was able to kill Leah. As I recall, he did give himself over to heaven a while back ("On the Head of a Pin?") and agree to become heaven's servant? To serve heaven as he had his own father? He did that with Cas, and afterward, Bobby was upset that he had become heaven's bitch? Wouldn't that make it logical that he could do to Leah what he did? Of course, why would Cas be wrong about that? Some might argue that Dean doesn't belong in heaven, given what a bad boy he's been with the credit card fraud indiscriminate screwing, drinking, etc., but he's saved a lot of people, so he's allowed. God overlooked Sam's evil activities and demon blood and let him in, too.
Unless you're right, Syl, and Dean's soul is so pure, it cannot be tainted.
Like you, I'm eagerly awaiting ep #18. There are spoilers all over for those who have already seen advanced previews of the show, but I avoided them all. I do know more than I wish I did, sadly, and am pissed about it.
Love, Robin
I hated the ending with Dean and Lisa, just hated how it came out of nowhere. First, Dean falls in love with Jo's woman hips, and he emotes over her like they had a real relationship (did Dean even mention her frikking name in GGYA?), now he's slobbering over Lisa and Ben as his imaginary perfect family and how he imagines their life would be. Yuck. Now, maybe there is a real connection between Dean and Lisa and Dean and Ben, but that's not why he showed up on her doorstep out of the blue. He wasn't there to make a real relationship with her, or even get her email address so they could communicate on the road. No, he was there to confirm his fantasy dream life of an Instant Family and Normal, all those things he ripped Sam apart (and so did the fandom) for in season 1 and 2. It is rank hypocrasy at this point in the story to trot out Dean's Special Insta-Family and pretend once again that Dean is in a love story with someone, like they did with Jo. Dean can make all the weepy emo faces he wants to, I just don't buy him and his angle anymore.
Now that that is out of the way, nice review, Slyvia! I am simply flat-out done with Dean's emo train. I don't care if he has good reasons to cry and look like he's just sucked lemon, because I know he does. I just don't want to see it or hear it anymore. I was sick of this Dean way, way back in the beginning of season 2, and he never, ever leaves! Plus, Sam has always paid the price for this, always. And I am flat-out done with that, too. He should be a train-wreck of issues. But no, no, let's not show how anything might affect Sam on the show. Let's not show how his addiction to demon blood started, or how his powers truly work, or his powers at all, actually. Let's not show why Sam does nor doesn't do something with actual scenes. Let's not give him a real POV on the show. Let's not let him be right ever. Let's not show him praying, even though he actually believes in God. Whatever. Dean is damn lucky he has Sam for his brother, because I wouldn't put up with his passive aggressive bs the way Sam does.
I hated the ending with Dean and Lisa, just hated how it came out of nowhere. First, Dean falls in love with Jo's woman hips, and he emotes over her like they had a real relationship (did Dean even mention her frikking name in GGYA?), now he's slobbering over Lisa and Ben as his imaginary perfect family and how he imagines their life would be. Yuck. Now, maybe there is a real connection between Dean and Lisa and Dean and Ben, but that's not why he showed up on her doorstep out of the blue. He wasn't there to make a real relationship with her, or even get her email address so they could communicate on the road. No, he was there to confirm his fantasy dream life of an Instant Family and Normal, all those things he ripped Sam apart (and so did the fandom) for in season 1 and 2. It is rank hypocrasy at this point in the story to trot out Dean's Special Insta-Family and pretend once again that Dean is in a love story with someone, like they did with Jo. Dean can make all the weepy emo faces he wants to, I just don't buy him and his angle anymore.
Personally, I’m just curious to what Dean was whispering into Lisa’s ear at the end of the episode. It was very reminiscent of when The Dad whispered into Dean’s ear way back in season 1 or 2.
Nice question. Hopefully we'll find out!
I wondered if maybe he was warning her that if Ben was really his son, he was in danger because of his bloodline. I think one of the reasons Dean might have gone to Lisa is because there is a chance Ben could be his and therefore part of the bloodline that can be a vessel for Michael.
I also thought Lisa responded to him not in the way of a woman interested in a romance but in the way of someone facing a suicidal individual and trying to get him to sit and talk. Dean had all the signs of someone about to end their life – saying his goodbyes, divesting himself of his belongings (in this case his dream fantasy of a family), and talking about ending things, death, etc.
I think she reacted to his desperation. And I think the reason he went to her in this time of desperation was two-fold – he wanted to prepare her about what she would soon be seeing on the news (because of his act of saying yes) and he wanted to also warn her that Ben could be in danger if he was actually his son.
nICE REVIEW, sYLVIA. i WASN'T TOO KEEN ON THE EPISDE – HATED THE LAST SCNE
Nice review as always, Sylvia. I do love reading your reviews. As for the episode I wasn't too keen on it. I thoroughly disliked the last scene with Lisa which came out of nowhere and seemed designed merely to gratuitously ramp up the Dean angst – I mean, only a few weeks ago he was sighing over Jo and now suddenly Lisa's his happy place?! And this coming after giving Sam hell last week for not having Dean in his happy memories! Hypocritical much, Dean! Plus I am so fed up with the constant Emo!Dean.
I figured that the raeson why Dean could kill Leah was because he'd become Heaven's Bitch back in LucR, not so much because he's such a pure soul.
But I did love the Sam and Castiel interaction and the little revelation of how scared Sam is too. Hey Show, nice of you to remember that Sam is stuck in the middle of this apocalyptic nightmare too.
And the Sam!Hair was magnificent.
A lot of people have commented to me that they didn't like this ep as much as I did, and I can see why, because the Lisa and Jo thing, yeah, right out of nowhere, and lots of emo for Dean but hardly any for Sam. Even though Sam gets the blame for the apocolypse, Dean gets the credit (and the expectation for saving it.) The only thing that saves it for me is that I'm fairly comfortable that the brothers won't be saving the world on their own. They will need to do this together, at least that's where it's pointing for me.
As for the Samhair – I'm also pretty comfortable thinking that they're now styling Sam's hair for Samhair fans, that is, it's not an accident that it looks this cool!
Actually I didn't see the same thing as a lot of people saw in Abandon All Hope, so I don't think he was sighing over Jo as girlfriend or potential love interest at all but instead sighing over the loss of a friend and colleague. I thought he probably regretted Ellen's death as much as Jo's, only with Jo being so young it seemed more tragic in her case. In real life, I know a young person's death seems worse than someone who had a chance to live a full life.
I also didn't see Lisa as a love interest, she made it quite clear the last time she wasn't interested and it would be horribly stalkerish on Dean's part if he didn't realize that. I think he was there to warn her about the danger to Ben if he shared his bloodline. Also he wanted to let her know he was taking preparations to protect them from the events she'd soon she on the news. I think Dean believes there is a very real possibility that Ben is his and naturally he'd want to protect him and his mother.
Dean saying yes is to him the last act of a desperate man, is almost suicidal and he's taking some of the last steps a person seriously contemplating ending their life would take. Clearing up loose ends, making arrangements.
Oops, I forgot to correct my post before posting. I'd had the capslock on by mistake. I'm so sorry.
No worries. : D
No worries. : D
I've always believed that Lisa lied to Dean about Ben and that the boy is his son. Why would she lie?
You have a wonderful weekend on the 'catch and release' program and end up pregnant. You raise the kid alone and a little bit over a decade later, the fish you threw back shows up looking for another wild weekend.
She looks at the life Dean leads and knows it won't work with her and her kid and him – not how he lives when she sees him.
As much as you might miss someone or want someone or even live within the fantasy you build around someone, when you have a life and a kid and a world to consider, you don't take back a guy just because you got all bendy with him and DNA was exchanged.
Ben is Dean's son and that is just biology.