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feliciakwAs I said in my previous post, this is a really good ep. I very much enjoyed it in an edge-of-my-seat, uber-intense, please fix it now! type of ep.
I'm going to say some (a lot) of things that probably won't make any sense to anyone but me. You have been warned.
Then:
Croatoan! I totally flipped when I saw this graffiti in the promo shot. Though they didn't use this in the way I thought they would (I thought it would be more central to the overall plot), it was still nice to get that nod of continuity.
Vessels. You know, if anyone were just stepping in to show this season, they would have pretty much no background on what had come before. Seriously. Show is so completely different from what it started out as . . .
Now:
Street missionary is . . . surprisingly non-confrontational compared to my own experiences.
Okay, I must say here an now that I kind of really love the comedy stylings of Dean and Cas. Cas making a cell phone call from the side of a road. "This isn't funny, Dean! The voice says I'm almost out of minutes!"
I also love that Dean gives his location so willingly, and I particularly love the way he explains that he's human and needs food and sleep. It just . . . I really like that exchange.
And the way Cas really looks like, as Kalquessa would say, he wants to bang his head against a wall at the way Dean just cuts the connection. "I'll . . . just wait here, then."
Oh! That looks like one of those sunrise alarms like they sell in the LLBean catalogue.
The phone call from Sam . . . I don't know how to tell you how many ways this conversation hurt.
"Just when you thought you were out, they pull you back in." Wow. That's kind of . . . cold.
"What are you lookin' for?" And harsh.
" . . . numb to the earth-shattering revelations . . . " Okay, point taken.
"What do you want to do about it?" A fair question.
"So we're back to revenge?" No, Dean, it's self-defense. "Not revenge. Redemption." Okay, or redemption.
And when Sam tells Dean he's going to prove himself to Dean, it just hurts Dean so freakin' much what he (thinks he) knows he's got to tell Sam next. Because if Dean could have his way, none of this would ever have happened. This show is so noir it's not even funny, because no matter what these boys do, the world it out to get them.
"It doesn't matter what we do . . . the fire and the oil of Armageddon. On that basis alone we should just pick a hemisphere." Oh, Dean. I understand what you're saying. I really do. On the surface, it makes sense. Don't tempt fate, that sort of thing. But dude. They'll use your separation against you. You are stronger as a unit. Whole. Sum of parts. Please, Dean. Please don't make me smack you upside the head.
This. This is the birth of FutureDean. This is where the true cynicism starts to take root. This is the first time that Dean has ever turned his back on Sam. Firmly and without malice. And it hurts him so badly. And it hurts me to watch. Oh, boys.
Dean wakes up, and . . . I don't think we're in Kansas anymore. Or actually, we are. Kansas City, anyway. But definitely not 2009.
The "Closed for Renovations" sign on the theater makes me think of the theater where I work. *snerk*
Graffiti!
I love the chase through the city. Very 28 Days Later. Also, Jensen's athleticism is not unpleasant to watch.
Military unit taking out hostiles to an overlay of 60s rock music makes me think of Good Morning, Vietnam for some reason. Very effective.
I love Dean's constant startlement when angels show up unannounced.
Re: President Palin bombing Houston. That . . . makes me snerk. And then it makes me wonder when Texas seceded, and/or how that's not considered some level of civil war. Written for the humor (regardless of party affiliation, provided you have a sense of humor), but gets way to depressingly thinky on the implications.
Reference to "fringier Christian groups" twigged me not at all. As a Christian, I'm quite aware that there is definitely a "fringier." And . . . this could become a really verbose tangent, so I'll leave it there. (Though his general attitude, as indicated by his tone when he references "Onward Christian Soldiers," bothers me. But I expect to be bothered by Zach, so that's nothing new.)
Bloody bullet holes in Bobby's empty wheelchair. Oh, Bobby. *sob*
I love that A) Bobby keeps a journal (of course he keeps a journal), B) that he keeps it in a hidey-hole, and that C) Dean knows exactly where this journal-hiding hidey-hole is.
Camp Chitaqua. Geo snerked at this, and he just explained to me what it is and that it just seemed to random for them to have just pulled it out of a hat.
The Impala! *gasp* Oh. Oh, no. Oh, something is seriously wrong if this is the condition Dean's baby is in.
And here we meet future Dean. In whom I see nothing of PresentDean, or even the Jensen we see at conventions. This dude is kinda scary.
With the Dean and Dean scenes, at first I was a little distracted trying to figure out which shot had Jensen's double in them (you know, for back of the head or over the shoulder shots), but pretty darn quickly, I completely forgot about that. And this is going to sound really strange, and make sense to no one but myself, but I eventually "forgot" (or rather, forgot to notice) that they were being played by the same actor. These two characters are so completely different, and I'm just amazed at Jensen's capability to play both at the same time. Of course, I realize that he didn't play them "at the same time." I'd think they'd shoot all of PresentDean's stuff at once, then FutureDean's stuff (or vice versa). So a lot of the credit for the final scenes goes to the editor. But still. Dude! Two completely different characters to the point where I forgot to notice that it was the same actor. My brain hurts from the awesome.
The little anecdote about Rhonda Hurley: Reminded me of a study--or something--I read about many years ago that talked about how both girl and boy babies are surrounded by soft and satin when they're little, but while girls get to keep the satiny and the soft, boys are expected to give that up in favor of rougher fabrics like denim. But boys still like the soft and the silky. And why shouldn't they? Hence, I'm sure, silk boxers and chamois shirts and the like, for the silky and the soft. Anyway, Dean's matter-of-fact-ness about the whole thing amused me.
FYI, Dean also likes fondling the fluffy robes at WalMart. If you are an underaged reader, please heed the rating and warnings.
"What about Sam?"
"You weren't with him?"
"We never tried to find him?"
Oh, Dean. No matter what you say, you just can't fathom totally and completely losing touch with Sam, can you. Even if it's "pick a hemisphere," it's not permanent in you mind.
Also? We've seen what Sam becomes without Dean. Now we get to see what Dean becomes without Sam. This is Dean without Sam, or any contact with Sam, after five years. Five years of fighting. Five years of hunting for the Colt. Two years of demon virus. Who knows how long of knowing that Sam said "yes" to Lucifer. And who knows how long of being the leader of this band of survivors. It's not a pretty sight to my way of thinking.
Btw, Jensen really outdid himself on the growly voice in this episode.
I'd also like to mention again the thigh holster FutureDean is wearing. Just sayin' . . .
Resourceful!Dean FTW!
The exchange with Chuck intrigues me, because it reveals FutureDean as not only a military leader, but the one his lieutenants go to for advice for administrative-type stuff. I just find that interesting.
Cas. Oh, Castiel. I know a great percentage of the fandom likes this version of Cas. And for the humor, I can go along with it. But to see how far he's fallen away, how jaded he's become. That's just . . . sad . . .
Dean opening a beer can one-handed? Very cool. Dean plugging a teammate in the back of the head? Very distressing.
Dean willingly reverting to torturer? Also distressing. And very telling.
Castiel's "I like past!you." Oh, Cas. I totally agree.
FutureDean's insistence on taking Dean, and his "Zach's lookin' after you, right?" . . . it . . . doesn't feel right. As Cas points out, if anything happens to Dean, FutureDean ceases to exist. And Dean certainly doesn't trust angels, so why would FutureDean? It just . . . feels not right.
And the whole following conversation. I so feel for FutureDean, and his self-recriminations and wanting to go back and do it differently and being unable to. He almost has me convinced. And yet . . .
Why would he tell himself to say "yes" to Michael rather than to take Sam back or something similar? Don't let Lucifer get to Sam. "You do what you have to--say "yes" to Michael--but don't you let Lucifer get his hooks into Sam. 'Cause that's the end, right there." With Dean's later suggestion that the whole thing was a fabrication created by Zach, I look on this with even greater suspicion than I did the first time. And even if it's not, it's only one possible outcome, right? Because I still say that "always in motion is the future. Mmmmm . . . yes . . . .heheheheheheh . . ." Though Castiel said in "In the Beginning" that all roads lead to the same destination, so in some regard, the showdown is inevitable, but there are many ways to get there . . .
Show makes my brain hurt.
Chuck's advice to hoard toilet paper . . . I now have mental images of the Impala's trunk being stuffed with rolls of TP.
The conversation with Cas? It's kinda heartbreaking. And I'm comforted to see that Dean is bothered by seeing Cas like this. Cynical, hedonistic, fatalistic, where once he had a mission, a purpose, a faith. Oh, Cas.
"I know your lying expressions. I've seen them in the mirror." Oh, PresentDean.
"Something is broken in you." And the look FutureDean gives our Dean? That right there is when I realized that there was none of PresentDean left in FutureDean. So incredibly broken. And I understand his mission. And that saving the world might take priority. It's the using the team as decoys without their knowledge or any intention of getting them out alive that I just . . . guh.
(It's interesting, because all through this writing, I've been looking at FutureDean and thinking, "What would Jonas Blane do?" 'Cause The Unit handled some very morally ambiguous storylines, and Jonas made some very ambiguous decisions. But he always regretted the loss of innocent life or the life of his friends and comrades in arms. I'm thinking Jonas would be highly suspicious of FutureDean.)
"Sam" breaking (Future)Dean's neck . . . *sob*
But that's not Sam at all, which we of course knew. Heck, we don't even know if there's anything of Sam left in there (considering what Raph's vessel looks like post-vesseling).
Now, everyone else in fandom seems to think that Jared rocked this scene. But I have to admit that at first, it seemed . . . awkward . . . to me. But as the scene progressed, and the . . . discomfort . . . of seeing Lucifer present himself in Sam's body, it--or rather, Jared's portrayal--highlighted for me what it is that bothers me about Lucifer. Because Jared is playing it precisely right. With the slight twitches of the lips and the false sympathy, like Dean amuses him in a mildly entertaining diversion kind of way. He's a wee bit over the top at some points, and yet, even that is precisely right.
There are so many things wrong with the story Lucifer tells Dean that I don't even know where to begin. Degrading God's creation and shifting blame for disobedience, for starters. I have no problem looking at the source of this story and taking it for either the total fabrication or complete twisting of events that it is. Consider the source. But part of me fears that this is actually the story that the writers are going to go with for the mytharc and this was actually exposition (in much the same way that YED showing Sam what happened in the nursery turned out to be exposition rather than a fabrication). If this is the story the writers use, I shall be very disappointed. The over-reaching implications will bring me and Show to a parting of the ways. Except for Jensen. I'd probably still watch for Jensen.
But going back to Jared pointing out to me what bothers me about Lucifer. Keep in mind that this isn't a complaint. It works really well. It's a very effective ploy. And Jared played these layers really well. What gets to me is Lucifer's veneer of sympathy. He's so soft spoken. So "poor little me." So appealing to the human sense of fair play. And yet, with a twitch of the lips, his smugness shows through. If he likes Dean (which isn't a given), it's only in the way he might find a pet amusing. He's all coaxing and "I'm sorry, but it's inevitable. No matter what you do, Dean, you lose." And it takes a certain kind of strength to see through that lie.
As Dean talks back to Lucifer, Jared is really kinda creeping me out. Because the false sincerity just reeks of smugness.
"I know you won't [stop]. And I know you won't say 'yes' to Michael, either. And I know you won't kill Sam." And that right there tells me that Lucifer thinks he's won.
And Jensen? Where did you go to get that tear going? Seriously. You say it's like a muscle, but what do you tap into for that? I mean, the scene in WIaWSNB, I understand. Sam's deathbed scene, I understand. I can understand the confessions last season. What did you tap into for this one?
Dean hearing Lucifer's words in Sam's voice, coming from Sam's mouth, seeing those very un-Sam-like expressions on Sam's face . . . and knowing that he started down this road five years ago . . . Oh, Dean.
And Zach is back, and so confident that there's no way Dean can say no. And he makes sense--before Lucifer gets to Sam, before billions die. And part of me is saying, "Just let him call Sam and say goodbye first."
"Oh, I've learned a lesson, alright. Just not the one you wanted to teach." Because Dean's contrary like that. Hee!
And Zach really does enjoy threats as a form of persuasion. I've got to give him points for this ep, though. A trip to the future is a lot more creative than stomach cancer.
"I've got you now, boy!" Oh, that . . . doesn't sound good, or indeed, much different than the opposition.
Castiel! Yay, Cas. "We had an appointment." "Don't ever change." Oh, I'm so there with ya, guys. For realz.
And then we come to one of the best exchanges, imo, in the series. Dean, apologizing: "I'm sorry. I don't know. I'm whatever I need to be. But I was wrong." Wrong about what? About being stronger apart than together. About their connection being their weakness. About pushing Sam away. And not only is the apology an apology, it is forgiveness. It is trust. And just prior, if Sam wants back in, Dean will take him. Not only that, but he'll give him custody of the knife. " . . . we're each other's Achilles heal . . . we're all we've got . . ." Oh, man, the callbacks to previous seasons. The end of "Scarecrow," the exchange in NRFtW . . . boys, it's always been this way. Whole. Sum of parts. The former is greater than the latter. Please remember this.
And there is so freakin' much wrapped up in Sam's "thank you." That's a "thank you" for everything. Thank you for apologizing. Thank you for acknowledging you need me. Thank you for recognizing that we need each other. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for giving me another chance.
"You are the second best hunter on the planet." And it'd be a shame for the second best hunter on the planet to sit out the Apocalypse, wouldn't it.
"We keep each other human." And that, my boys, is the whole point. *hugs Dean for saying so*
All in all, a fantastic episode. Even if it did stress me out some.
In other news, the weather is crisp and clear, and it's a beautiful quiet day.
I'm going to say some (a lot) of things that probably won't make any sense to anyone but me. You have been warned.
Then:
Croatoan! I totally flipped when I saw this graffiti in the promo shot. Though they didn't use this in the way I thought they would (I thought it would be more central to the overall plot), it was still nice to get that nod of continuity.
Vessels. You know, if anyone were just stepping in to show this season, they would have pretty much no background on what had come before. Seriously. Show is so completely different from what it started out as . . .
Now:
Street missionary is . . . surprisingly non-confrontational compared to my own experiences.
Okay, I must say here an now that I kind of really love the comedy stylings of Dean and Cas. Cas making a cell phone call from the side of a road. "This isn't funny, Dean! The voice says I'm almost out of minutes!"
I also love that Dean gives his location so willingly, and I particularly love the way he explains that he's human and needs food and sleep. It just . . . I really like that exchange.
And the way Cas really looks like, as Kalquessa would say, he wants to bang his head against a wall at the way Dean just cuts the connection. "I'll . . . just wait here, then."
Oh! That looks like one of those sunrise alarms like they sell in the LLBean catalogue.
The phone call from Sam . . . I don't know how to tell you how many ways this conversation hurt.
"Just when you thought you were out, they pull you back in." Wow. That's kind of . . . cold.
"What are you lookin' for?" And harsh.
" . . . numb to the earth-shattering revelations . . . " Okay, point taken.
"What do you want to do about it?" A fair question.
"So we're back to revenge?" No, Dean, it's self-defense. "Not revenge. Redemption." Okay, or redemption.
And when Sam tells Dean he's going to prove himself to Dean, it just hurts Dean so freakin' much what he (thinks he) knows he's got to tell Sam next. Because if Dean could have his way, none of this would ever have happened. This show is so noir it's not even funny, because no matter what these boys do, the world it out to get them.
"It doesn't matter what we do . . . the fire and the oil of Armageddon. On that basis alone we should just pick a hemisphere." Oh, Dean. I understand what you're saying. I really do. On the surface, it makes sense. Don't tempt fate, that sort of thing. But dude. They'll use your separation against you. You are stronger as a unit. Whole. Sum of parts. Please, Dean. Please don't make me smack you upside the head.
This. This is the birth of FutureDean. This is where the true cynicism starts to take root. This is the first time that Dean has ever turned his back on Sam. Firmly and without malice. And it hurts him so badly. And it hurts me to watch. Oh, boys.
Dean wakes up, and . . . I don't think we're in Kansas anymore. Or actually, we are. Kansas City, anyway. But definitely not 2009.
The "Closed for Renovations" sign on the theater makes me think of the theater where I work. *snerk*
Graffiti!
I love the chase through the city. Very 28 Days Later. Also, Jensen's athleticism is not unpleasant to watch.
Military unit taking out hostiles to an overlay of 60s rock music makes me think of Good Morning, Vietnam for some reason. Very effective.
I love Dean's constant startlement when angels show up unannounced.
Re: President Palin bombing Houston. That . . . makes me snerk. And then it makes me wonder when Texas seceded, and/or how that's not considered some level of civil war. Written for the humor (regardless of party affiliation, provided you have a sense of humor), but gets way to depressingly thinky on the implications.
Reference to "fringier Christian groups" twigged me not at all. As a Christian, I'm quite aware that there is definitely a "fringier." And . . . this could become a really verbose tangent, so I'll leave it there. (Though his general attitude, as indicated by his tone when he references "Onward Christian Soldiers," bothers me. But I expect to be bothered by Zach, so that's nothing new.)
Bloody bullet holes in Bobby's empty wheelchair. Oh, Bobby. *sob*
I love that A) Bobby keeps a journal (of course he keeps a journal), B) that he keeps it in a hidey-hole, and that C) Dean knows exactly where this journal-hiding hidey-hole is.
Camp Chitaqua. Geo snerked at this, and he just explained to me what it is and that it just seemed to random for them to have just pulled it out of a hat.
The Impala! *gasp* Oh. Oh, no. Oh, something is seriously wrong if this is the condition Dean's baby is in.
And here we meet future Dean. In whom I see nothing of PresentDean, or even the Jensen we see at conventions. This dude is kinda scary.
With the Dean and Dean scenes, at first I was a little distracted trying to figure out which shot had Jensen's double in them (you know, for back of the head or over the shoulder shots), but pretty darn quickly, I completely forgot about that. And this is going to sound really strange, and make sense to no one but myself, but I eventually "forgot" (or rather, forgot to notice) that they were being played by the same actor. These two characters are so completely different, and I'm just amazed at Jensen's capability to play both at the same time. Of course, I realize that he didn't play them "at the same time." I'd think they'd shoot all of PresentDean's stuff at once, then FutureDean's stuff (or vice versa). So a lot of the credit for the final scenes goes to the editor. But still. Dude! Two completely different characters to the point where I forgot to notice that it was the same actor. My brain hurts from the awesome.
The little anecdote about Rhonda Hurley: Reminded me of a study--or something--I read about many years ago that talked about how both girl and boy babies are surrounded by soft and satin when they're little, but while girls get to keep the satiny and the soft, boys are expected to give that up in favor of rougher fabrics like denim. But boys still like the soft and the silky. And why shouldn't they? Hence, I'm sure, silk boxers and chamois shirts and the like, for the silky and the soft. Anyway, Dean's matter-of-fact-ness about the whole thing amused me.
FYI, Dean also likes fondling the fluffy robes at WalMart. If you are an underaged reader, please heed the rating and warnings.
"What about Sam?"
"You weren't with him?"
"We never tried to find him?"
Oh, Dean. No matter what you say, you just can't fathom totally and completely losing touch with Sam, can you. Even if it's "pick a hemisphere," it's not permanent in you mind.
Also? We've seen what Sam becomes without Dean. Now we get to see what Dean becomes without Sam. This is Dean without Sam, or any contact with Sam, after five years. Five years of fighting. Five years of hunting for the Colt. Two years of demon virus. Who knows how long of knowing that Sam said "yes" to Lucifer. And who knows how long of being the leader of this band of survivors. It's not a pretty sight to my way of thinking.
Btw, Jensen really outdid himself on the growly voice in this episode.
I'd also like to mention again the thigh holster FutureDean is wearing. Just sayin' . . .
Resourceful!Dean FTW!
The exchange with Chuck intrigues me, because it reveals FutureDean as not only a military leader, but the one his lieutenants go to for advice for administrative-type stuff. I just find that interesting.
Cas. Oh, Castiel. I know a great percentage of the fandom likes this version of Cas. And for the humor, I can go along with it. But to see how far he's fallen away, how jaded he's become. That's just . . . sad . . .
Dean opening a beer can one-handed? Very cool. Dean plugging a teammate in the back of the head? Very distressing.
Dean willingly reverting to torturer? Also distressing. And very telling.
Castiel's "I like past!you." Oh, Cas. I totally agree.
FutureDean's insistence on taking Dean, and his "Zach's lookin' after you, right?" . . . it . . . doesn't feel right. As Cas points out, if anything happens to Dean, FutureDean ceases to exist. And Dean certainly doesn't trust angels, so why would FutureDean? It just . . . feels not right.
And the whole following conversation. I so feel for FutureDean, and his self-recriminations and wanting to go back and do it differently and being unable to. He almost has me convinced. And yet . . .
Why would he tell himself to say "yes" to Michael rather than to take Sam back or something similar? Don't let Lucifer get to Sam. "You do what you have to--say "yes" to Michael--but don't you let Lucifer get his hooks into Sam. 'Cause that's the end, right there." With Dean's later suggestion that the whole thing was a fabrication created by Zach, I look on this with even greater suspicion than I did the first time. And even if it's not, it's only one possible outcome, right? Because I still say that "always in motion is the future. Mmmmm . . . yes . . . .heheheheheheh . . ." Though Castiel said in "In the Beginning" that all roads lead to the same destination, so in some regard, the showdown is inevitable, but there are many ways to get there . . .
Show makes my brain hurt.
Chuck's advice to hoard toilet paper . . . I now have mental images of the Impala's trunk being stuffed with rolls of TP.
The conversation with Cas? It's kinda heartbreaking. And I'm comforted to see that Dean is bothered by seeing Cas like this. Cynical, hedonistic, fatalistic, where once he had a mission, a purpose, a faith. Oh, Cas.
"I know your lying expressions. I've seen them in the mirror." Oh, PresentDean.
"Something is broken in you." And the look FutureDean gives our Dean? That right there is when I realized that there was none of PresentDean left in FutureDean. So incredibly broken. And I understand his mission. And that saving the world might take priority. It's the using the team as decoys without their knowledge or any intention of getting them out alive that I just . . . guh.
(It's interesting, because all through this writing, I've been looking at FutureDean and thinking, "What would Jonas Blane do?" 'Cause The Unit handled some very morally ambiguous storylines, and Jonas made some very ambiguous decisions. But he always regretted the loss of innocent life or the life of his friends and comrades in arms. I'm thinking Jonas would be highly suspicious of FutureDean.)
"Sam" breaking (Future)Dean's neck . . . *sob*
But that's not Sam at all, which we of course knew. Heck, we don't even know if there's anything of Sam left in there (considering what Raph's vessel looks like post-vesseling).
Now, everyone else in fandom seems to think that Jared rocked this scene. But I have to admit that at first, it seemed . . . awkward . . . to me. But as the scene progressed, and the . . . discomfort . . . of seeing Lucifer present himself in Sam's body, it--or rather, Jared's portrayal--highlighted for me what it is that bothers me about Lucifer. Because Jared is playing it precisely right. With the slight twitches of the lips and the false sympathy, like Dean amuses him in a mildly entertaining diversion kind of way. He's a wee bit over the top at some points, and yet, even that is precisely right.
There are so many things wrong with the story Lucifer tells Dean that I don't even know where to begin. Degrading God's creation and shifting blame for disobedience, for starters. I have no problem looking at the source of this story and taking it for either the total fabrication or complete twisting of events that it is. Consider the source. But part of me fears that this is actually the story that the writers are going to go with for the mytharc and this was actually exposition (in much the same way that YED showing Sam what happened in the nursery turned out to be exposition rather than a fabrication). If this is the story the writers use, I shall be very disappointed. The over-reaching implications will bring me and Show to a parting of the ways. Except for Jensen. I'd probably still watch for Jensen.
But going back to Jared pointing out to me what bothers me about Lucifer. Keep in mind that this isn't a complaint. It works really well. It's a very effective ploy. And Jared played these layers really well. What gets to me is Lucifer's veneer of sympathy. He's so soft spoken. So "poor little me." So appealing to the human sense of fair play. And yet, with a twitch of the lips, his smugness shows through. If he likes Dean (which isn't a given), it's only in the way he might find a pet amusing. He's all coaxing and "I'm sorry, but it's inevitable. No matter what you do, Dean, you lose." And it takes a certain kind of strength to see through that lie.
As Dean talks back to Lucifer, Jared is really kinda creeping me out. Because the false sincerity just reeks of smugness.
"I know you won't [stop]. And I know you won't say 'yes' to Michael, either. And I know you won't kill Sam." And that right there tells me that Lucifer thinks he's won.
And Jensen? Where did you go to get that tear going? Seriously. You say it's like a muscle, but what do you tap into for that? I mean, the scene in WIaWSNB, I understand. Sam's deathbed scene, I understand. I can understand the confessions last season. What did you tap into for this one?
Dean hearing Lucifer's words in Sam's voice, coming from Sam's mouth, seeing those very un-Sam-like expressions on Sam's face . . . and knowing that he started down this road five years ago . . . Oh, Dean.
And Zach is back, and so confident that there's no way Dean can say no. And he makes sense--before Lucifer gets to Sam, before billions die. And part of me is saying, "Just let him call Sam and say goodbye first."
"Oh, I've learned a lesson, alright. Just not the one you wanted to teach." Because Dean's contrary like that. Hee!
And Zach really does enjoy threats as a form of persuasion. I've got to give him points for this ep, though. A trip to the future is a lot more creative than stomach cancer.
"I've got you now, boy!" Oh, that . . . doesn't sound good, or indeed, much different than the opposition.
Castiel! Yay, Cas. "We had an appointment." "Don't ever change." Oh, I'm so there with ya, guys. For realz.
And then we come to one of the best exchanges, imo, in the series. Dean, apologizing: "I'm sorry. I don't know. I'm whatever I need to be. But I was wrong." Wrong about what? About being stronger apart than together. About their connection being their weakness. About pushing Sam away. And not only is the apology an apology, it is forgiveness. It is trust. And just prior, if Sam wants back in, Dean will take him. Not only that, but he'll give him custody of the knife. " . . . we're each other's Achilles heal . . . we're all we've got . . ." Oh, man, the callbacks to previous seasons. The end of "Scarecrow," the exchange in NRFtW . . . boys, it's always been this way. Whole. Sum of parts. The former is greater than the latter. Please remember this.
And there is so freakin' much wrapped up in Sam's "thank you." That's a "thank you" for everything. Thank you for apologizing. Thank you for acknowledging you need me. Thank you for recognizing that we need each other. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for giving me another chance.
"You are the second best hunter on the planet." And it'd be a shame for the second best hunter on the planet to sit out the Apocalypse, wouldn't it.
"We keep each other human." And that, my boys, is the whole point. *hugs Dean for saying so*
All in all, a fantastic episode. Even if it did stress me out some.
In other news, the weather is crisp and clear, and it's a beautiful quiet day.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-10-05 02:59 am (UTC)I don't see why Dean had to apologize. At all. I can see that it makes him an even better man than he was but still it was Sam's role to apologize because he never did it for everything he's done to Dean in S4. But still it didn't even occured to sam to say his Sorry.
They'll use your separation against you. You are stronger as a unit.
This also bothers me because really? All last year was proof that them together isn't better at all. At least for Dean. And how would they stronger as unit when dean can't trust Sam? I don't buy that he'll easily forget sam's betrayal. He can looks like he forget and forgive but stuff like this can't be just shrugged off. Sam didn't do anything to prove Dean can trust im. On the contrary he proved that without Dean he will give in to Luci - as if he didn't learn anything from the last season at all.
So no, i can see Dean trying to pretend that everything suddenly ok between them and that he took Sam back for practical reason but from Sam's acting i won't trust him a iota.
About pushing Sam away
Mmm... no. Dean didn't push Sam away. It was sam's decision and dean just respected it. As for the phone call in 504 Dean had very proven reasons to say that. It wasn't pushing away, it was stating the facts.
Now, everyone else in fandom seems to think that Jared rocked this scene
Heh, i can assure you - not everyone.
Cas. Oh, Castiel. I know a great percentage of the fandom likes this version of Cas. And for the humor, I can go along with it. But to see how far he's fallen away, how jaded he's become. That's just . . . sad . . .
I agree and i think it was intentional. Because it was hurt Cas, Cas who lost faith and we saw before how adamant was Cas about his faith. It was his strongest part. I'm glad they showed him like this and i'm glad Dean said Never Change.
Pt 1
Date: 2009-10-05 01:44 pm (UTC)I don't see why Dean had to apologize. At all.
Because he knows he hurt Sam, and he's not too proud to apologize for that. I don't know how else to explain it in the limited time I have available at the moment.
I can see that it makes him an even better man than he was but still it was Sam's role to apologize because he never did it for everything he's done to Dean in S4. But still it didn't even occured to sam to say his Sorry.
And because this is a TV show, Sam never will. They've moved beyond that point in the story. Sam apologized profusely in 5.01, though he was never specific. I would love if Sam got specific in his apology, but I don't think it's going to happen. I'll take what I can get.
That's not to say that Sam doesn't have his issues. He does. From way back. But that would take an entirely separate post.
Dean did hurt Sam with the refusal to take him back. Sam's mindset has changed (his motivation is redemption rather than revenge now), but Dean said no.
They both hurt one another, therefore they both need to apologize. And they both have, inasmuch as I think Show is going to have them apologize.
This also bothers me because really? All last year was proof that them together isn't better at all.
Much of last year they were working at crossed purposes. They might have been together in the sense they were hunting and traveling together, but they most certainly were not working as a unit, not on the Lilith thing. Now they are both on the same page in that being together keeps them human. Which was the whole point of that line, but I'll get to that in a minute.
I don't buy that he'll easily forget sam's betrayal.
Forget? Probably not. The adage "forgive and forget" is something of a fallacy. But the whole point of forgiving someone is that in spite of remembering what they did, you don't hold it against them. You don't dwell on it. You don't hold a grudge. You learn from the experience, and you move on. Dean might well have to remind himself that he has forgiven Sam. It will probably take effort for him to trust Sam in certain situations. But forgiveness involves effort and trust involves risk. And yes, it does make Dean a better man than he would otherwise be if he can do this.
If Show does not make some forward movement on the brothers working together and trusting each other again--unless there are specific apologies forthcoming--it will get very old, to my way of thinking.
Sam didn't do anything to prove Dean can trust im.
And he won't be able to prove Dean can trust him until Dean gives him that chance. And that won't happen until they're working together again.
Dean didn't push Sam away. It was sam's decision and dean just respected it.
The first time around, yes. But then when Sam asked to start hunting with him again, Dean refused. That was Dean's decision. Dean had his reasons, and they sounded like good reasons. But deep down, I think his reasoning was--at least partially--self-preservation from being hurt again. When he essentially told Sam to go away when Sam wanted to work with him again, and Dean made that final disconnection when he closed that phone--that was Dean's decision to sever the relationship. Closing the lines of communication. Cutting Sam off. Shutting him out. Pushing him away.
The whole point of the episode was to show how things would turn out if Sam and Dean aren't there for each other, to ground each other.
i think it was intentional. Because it was hurt Cas, Cas who lost faith and we saw before how adamant was Cas about his faith.
Oh, it absolutely was. It was another layer of what happens to those close to Dean if he loses himself to the quest.
Pt. 2 "We keep each other human."
Date: 2009-10-05 01:45 pm (UTC)We don't know why Sam would say "yes" to Lucifer. It could be that Lucifer told Sam that if Sam says "yes," Lucifer won't destroy the planet. It might be because Lucifer tells Sam that Dean is dead and that it's up to Sam to do what he can to save the world. Whatever it is, it's a possibility that without Dean, Sam gives up hope and can't fight anymore.
And now Dean realizes what he'll become without Sam. This episode shows us Dean without Sam as a balancing influence. Dean without Sam turns into a ruthless military leader who sees his comrades not as people, but as commodities, decoys to be used in a suicide attack. He doesn't even do them the respect of telling them that they are the diversion while he makes entry from the back door. He's become just as single-minded, just as dangerous to those around him. He's become cold and un-compassionate. His goal is admirable, even necessary. But Dean himself has become broken and twisted inside.
This actually isn't a new concept in Show. Reference the final conversation in Bloodlust, when Sam and Dean are talking over the roof of the Impala in that beautiful sunlight.
The brothers' need for each other has been a recurring theme throughout the series. But now we've moved it beyond the co-dependence to the practical, that left to live inside his own head, without his brother, each has the inclination to lose sight of himself.
Then there's the practical in the sense of working as a team to watch each other's back. Like when Sam rescues Dean from wendigos and scarecrows and djinn, and when Dean rescues Sam from poltergeists and angry ghosts and ghouls.
They need each other to watch each other's backs mentally as well as physically. And I think (I hope) that this particular ep was a breakthrough in character development in that each has gotten beyond the point of co-dependence to a point of mature partnership.
Unless there's a prank war. Then all bets on the maturity thing are off.
I hope that made sense.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-06 07:03 pm (UTC)Lucifer is that sleek con man -- sweet/soft spoken never actually lying, but twisting the truth enough that you end up not sure what's real. You "almost" feel sorry for him. Almost -- then like you mentioned.. you see a crack in the veneer -- the smugness.
Such a great intense ep.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-08 02:46 am (UTC)Every now and then my roommate will watch with me even though she's not really into Show. That scene came on, suddenly she was at full attention.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-08 10:26 pm (UTC)Word up on future!Cas. I love that he's broken, but still has just enough of his past self that he can chuckle and say "What? I like Past You."