99 Problems - The long and the rambly
Apr. 9th, 2010 07:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
I'm not sure how much I'll have to say about this ep. It kinda speaks for itself for me. There's character stuff to ponder, and killing of evil things to be had.
Then . . . Everything you need to know for this ep, but forgot to ask.
Now . . .
And wow. It's right out of the gate a high-speed action-packed scene. Dean with the petal to the metal. A wounded Sam.
"You okay?"
"I'm amazing."
Oh, Sam. You really have picked up on Dean's snarky ways over the years.
Jury rigged tanker truck of holy water! \o/ Exorcism on a bullhorn! And I kinda like the cross on the side of the truck.
Michael Shanks! Okay, the first time I watched it--last night--I went the entire episode and did not recognize him (and I missed his name in the credits, 'cause I don't usually read opening credits). This morning I figured out that it was because he wasn't wearing his glasses (which I don't think the actor does anyway) and he was wearing a beard. Apparently that's significantly incognito for me not to realize it's him. *hides face* But now that I do know it's him . . . Yay Michael Shanks!!! \o/
Sacrament Lutheran Militia. Ooookie dokie then. And apparently, they know the score.
Is that set of brass knuckles new? And what, pray tell, would you use brass knuckles against? It would call for close quarters hand-to-hand, and I'm thinking that's not usually S & D's first choice for taking out an ugly.
I kinda love Sam and Dean showing the militia that yeah, they know what's going on. And Dylan being eager about the arsenal in the trunk. And Dean liking the idea of being among colleagues. Of course there's going to be an initial distrust, but I kinda like the whole vibe.
I kinda like the pastor. *nods*
Of course it's a 12-year-old packing salt rounds, Dean. If you and John had figured out salt rounds when you were that age, that would have been yours, and later Sam's, job, too.
"I don't know whether to run screaming or buy a condo." Hee!!!
"We were told not to."
"By who?"
Um, Sam? It's by whom. Good thing Alan Eppes wasn't there. He'd correct you on that.
And of course Dean is going to flirt with the prophetess. Because that's what he does. Heh!
Blue Earth! Pastor Jim's old stomping grounds. I always suspected that Pastor Jim was Lutheran. I wonder if this is his old congregation.
And am I the only one not bothered that they didn't mention Pastor Jim? That would be exposition completely unrelated to the story at hand, and they might even need to include something in the previouslies. Basically, I see it as a nice little nugget for those of us in the know, while not confusing those audience members who are not as intense as the rest of us. Because seriously. Pastor Jim and what happened with Meg has nothing to do with this story. (And remember, intense, on-line fans are not the only viewers. They can't always cater to us exclusively.)
I also find it interesting and telling that Sam is the one calling Cas for help. He's the one who's still fighting, who's still determined to stop this.
Okay, here we get some insight into Dean's current mental state. It's nothing new, really. Since "Jus in Belo," Dean has said he believed they were going to end bloody. He said at the beginning of this season that he didn't believe they were going to win. It's not news. But he's always been willing to fight, even though he believes it to be a losing battle. And as the ep progresses, we see that he's not even interested in doing that anymore. *hugs him*
Which means Sam's got his work cut out for him.
Daniel Jackson Rob wouldn't miss another showdown with some goa'uld demons.
I can't really explain why I love the raid on the demon house so much. The soundtrack, the way the scene is blocked out, the fact that Sam and Dean are part of a larger team. Like Sam says, "This must be what it's like to have backup."
Holy water tank backpack! \o/
Interesting that the pastor, leading the raid, put Sam and Dean on separate teams. Not that it bothered S & D, obviously. But I think it shows a level of trust on everyone's part that S & D are trusting someone other than each other to watch their backs.
And apparently, Sam is the only one who's actually killing demons. I wonder what the other hunters think of the demon-killing Ginsu.
I also love this whole interaction with Dylan and the boys. Dylan, who has found someone not a townie to look up to and learn from (and with whom he makes a pretty good team), and Dean with the encouraging of the young hunter. Gratitude, congratulations ("one more time and you can drive") and a wee bit of teen rebellion.
I also love that Sam and Dean toast with each other, tapping their beer cans together. They might have issues elsewhere, but they're back on steady ground when it comes to fighting the good fight. Yay!
Also? Cooler in the back seat!!!! I kinda like how this beer cooler continues to reappear throughout the series.
And then Dylan gets got by a demon (while in Sam and Dean's care), and Dean is crushed. How much more can the guy take?
And you know what, Dylan's Mom? You really don't have to rub Dean's nose in it. He already believes it's his fault. And you can't imagine the guilt the guy already shoulders on a daily basis.
Now, you might think that I have some thinky thoughts on Leah's message. But really, I don't. Resurrection of the righteous and "paradise on Earth" are pretty scriptural. Scripture indicates that Heaven will be what the Earth was before the Fall. The New Earth, it's called. So, "paradise on Earth" . . . yeah, a pretty good layman's terms way of describing it. I know I'm not explaining that adequately, but that's my paraphrase of it for now.
Of course when she says that the angels have chosen these people and they need to follow the angels rules, I personally get twitchy, and not because of Show. The Bible warns against angel worship. So when she suggests something akin to angel worship, I get twitchy.
And Dean doesn't seem at all bothered by the no drinkin', gamblin' or fornicatin'.
"They just outlawed 90% of your personality." Ouch. And bwah!
But it doesn't overly bother Dean. He's become a go-with-the-flow type of guy, and . . . while I appreciate the attitude (we're not locals), it . . . kinda worries me. Because he's "not cool." And that goes far beyond his attitude to his general state of mind.
I also don't really have anything insightful to add to Dean's conversation with Leah. Except Dean is considering saying yes. He wants confirmation that people will indeed be able to live in paradise, in peace. He doesn't believe it will ever be him, but if he can make it happen for others? He's considering it.
"It must be hard being the vessel of Heaven and having no hope." Ouch!!!
Sam. Oh, Sammy. You used to have faith. You used to pray. Crisis of faith, indeed. *hugs him*
Totally cut off from the "corruption" of the outside world. Fundamentalist compound. And goodness knows we've seen enough of those in the media to see the scary in that. Johnstown? (Which happened when I was in grade school and kinda scared me.) Waco? Yeah. Scary stuff.
And this conversation between Sam and Dean just makes me kind of sputter. I'm with Sam on the whole "fundamentalist compound is not a good thing; toying with people's beliefs is bad," but I totally understand Dean finally throwing up his hands and going, "Ya know? If the angels have the only lifeboat on the Titanic, why fight them?" It hurts to see Dean give up so thoroughly.
But boy howdy, did my hackles rise when Sam said, "You can't do this. You can't do this to me." Excuse me, Sam? Pot, meet kettle. You've left Dean high and dry on multiple occasions in your lives, and now you're making demands like that? "I can't count on anyone else. And I can't do this alone." Okay, right there. That I can get behind. Also? That's a request, not a demand. That's an admission of vulnerability. Of course, it's also heaping more responsibility onto Dean, and his options become more limited by the nanosecond. But it harkens back to Dean saying the same thing in the pilot. Neither of you can do this alone.
Drunken!Cas. Oh, Cas.
I like the idea of Cas knowing the names of all the prophets. It's good to have an ally in the know.
Oh, and things are getting out of control. I like how Dean immediately sides with the pastor. The one guy in the room who hasn't lost his sense of objectivity and critical thinking.
Dean just punched Daniel Jackson! (Wait. That would make this a crossover fic. Never mind.)
Also? I get kind of nervous when violence is perpetrated in the name of "believers" and "the flock." The woman makes me nervous.
Grief can make you do stupid things. And blind grief like that is very easy to play on.
Sam's first question to Dean when he sees blood on Dean's hands: "Are you all right?" I just . . . really like that.
Cas on a bender is very sad. "It is not of import" is rather amusing. Because even drunk, he's still gonna talk with the syntax of an angel. Hee!
And I really rather like the way they're playing the baddie in this one. Not just a false prophet, noooo . . . she's "Babylon the Great; the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Earth." Or as some traditions call her, the Whore of Babylon. (I totally need to be re-reading Revelation. I never made it this far into the book when I was reading it.) I also really kinda like that the exorcisms are a scam. And that the exorcism is "funnier in Enochian." Because this shows a level of deception I don't think we've seen before. And I love that Cas can explain it all, even with a hangover.
And the whole purpose, to manipulate people to slaughter and kill. That's why it's important to know not just what you believe, but why you believe what you believe. And why I always tell people, when we're talking about the Bible, don't take my word for it. Go to the source. Read the context. Understand how it all fits together. Know what it says so you recognize a lie when you hear it.
Most of the townspeople weren't church goers when the "prophecies" started. That, and the fear and the grief, were why they didn't recognize when something was hinky. Pastor Gideon, otoh, knew something was wrong, even if he didn't know what and couldn't follow through with killing what looked like his daughter.
"We all liked Paul, but he was a sinner." And you know? I want to tell her, "Honey, we're all sinners. That doesn't warrant cold-blooded murder." Judging by the look on the pastor's face, he'd agree with me.
"The Whore can only be killed by a true servant of Heaven." And I gotta say, when Castiel is holding that glass of water? Misha has very nice hands.
I kinda love how non-chalant Cas is with "Sam of course is an abomination." Like, meh. Whatever.
Leah's speech to the congregation. And seriously, it's like on some of my crime dramas, where the villains are cult leaders (N3 did an ep or two like that) meets interpretive Bible. And really, cult leaders make me very, very nervous.
Pastor Dave? Meet a real angel.
"And you're an angel."
"A poor example of one." *hugs Cas*
Dean as mentor. To an angel. He can't not be a big brother, can he.
Dean as an expert on deadbeat dads. I'm trying to remember when this pessimism showed up. I mean, he was angry with John back in S2, leaving him with that secret. But was it his dream in DaLDoM? Was it when he found out about Adam? Something has led him down this path of pessimism.
"How do you manage it?"
"On a good day, you get to kill The Whore."
How's that for a pep talk to an angel?
Now, I've seen here and there that that line has really hit some viewers feminist rage button. But I think dodger_winslow explains it very nicely. Not only that, but Dean isn't talking about just any whore (not that he'd kill a hooker anyway, unless she were a witch or possessed or a ghost or something). He's talking about a representative of Evil. (I don't hear the line as "a whore," I hear "the Whore.") So that line, while extremely blunt, totally fits everything that's going on, and I actually kind of like it.
I also like Dean's little lift of the eyebrows.
EEEKKK!!! Is she trying to exorcise Cas?
"Help me! He's a demon." Then please to be explaining how he got into a building with devil's traps at the entrances.
Now Sam has punched Daniel Jackson! (Wait. We're still not doing a crossover.)
And I gotta say, I love Dean staking The Whore. She's trying to throttle him, insulting his insecurities, sneering with derision, and I think it's at the point that he gets hold of the stake that he decides he's going to say yes to Michael.
"It's the end of the world, you're just gonna sit back and watch it happen."
"Don't be so sure."
And much to everyone's surprise--not the least of which is Sam's--Dean kills her.
And is it just me, or does Sam's hair remain windblown? It kinda makes me giggle inside.
And Sam and Dean high-tail it outta there with the pastor and the angel. I find it very appropriate that Dean is assisting Castiel while Sam is assisting Pastor Dave.
Now, Sam is understandably curious and concerned about how Dean was able to gank the baddie. I have several theories.
Dean as True Servant of Heaven, Theory #1: It was said long ago that God chose Dean for healing because he was a young man with an important mission, and he wasn't done yet. I think it's fair to say that God has had an interest in Dean for a very long time.
Dean as True Servant of Heaven, Theory #2: Dean pledged his loyalty "to God and you guys" in Bobby's junkyard. Despite his obstinacy toward Zach & Co., Dean has not stopped fighting the good fight and trying to kill Lilith/Lucifer/demons/evil.
Dean as True Servant of Heaven, Theory #3: Dean has decided to say yes to Michael. It's in his heart to do so, he just needs to sign the paperwork.
And Sam Does Not Like the idea of Dean saying yes. And he strongly suspects that's going to be Dean's chosen course of action very soon.
Dean takes off, and Sam is left behind. Yeah, there's role reversal all the way around.
Sidebar, prompted by the motel sign: I find it interesting--and I appreciate it--that while they've had various signs in the show that mention Jesus (the movie theater in "The End," the motel sign here), they've not actually used His name. The pastor's prayer prior to the demon hunt, for example . . . it "should" have ended with "In Jesus' name," but it didn't. It ended in "Thank You." The only time you'll hear the Son mentioned (that I recall) is in the Latin exorcism. I'm glad they haven't blatantly brought Jesus into the mix. (I'm not even gonna touch on the angel talking to God being named Joshua, of which the name Jesus is a variation. There are plenty of other Joshuas--the most famous being of Jericho wall-tumbling fame. It's a good, solid, biblical name, and I choose not to read any more into it than that.) Things got twitchy enough with Gabriel. And I honestly don't know what I'd do if they decided to factor Jesus into the mix.
But let's not borrow trouble, right?
Anyway . . .
Dean driving to Lisa's, and it's similar to the music they used in "Fresh Blood" when Sam was talking about how he missed Dean being his brother. Oh, Show, must you kill me even with your soundtrack?
The scene with Lisa, it breaks my heart. Jensen breaks my heart.
"When I do picture myself happy, it's with you and the kid." Jensen breaks my heart. The catch in his breath. The tears in my eyes. I just . . . I want to hug Dean so badly.
And he's going to make arrangements for Lisa and Ben before he says yes. Because Lisa and Ben are the closest he's ever come and will ever come to a family of his own.
I won't even get into how Sam and Sarah (who knows about the supernatural) and Dean and Lisa (or Jamie, who both know about the supernatural) should totally get together. Women who understand the Winchester mission, and who willing to face it. I'm babbling . . .
And he gives her such a tender, tender kiss on her cheek. And is he whispering something in her ear? *leans in closer to try to hear* Dean? Honey? You need to share with the class. We need to know what your'e saying. Because we've been through this thing before with your dad, and it about drove us nuts. So, ya know?
And there we leave it. Dean on his way to do . . . something rash, to be sure. Something he feels he has to do. Something that is a last resort.
IS IT NEXT THURSDAY YET?????
Then . . . Everything you need to know for this ep, but forgot to ask.
Now . . .
And wow. It's right out of the gate a high-speed action-packed scene. Dean with the petal to the metal. A wounded Sam.
"You okay?"
"I'm amazing."
Oh, Sam. You really have picked up on Dean's snarky ways over the years.
Jury rigged tanker truck of holy water! \o/ Exorcism on a bullhorn! And I kinda like the cross on the side of the truck.
Michael Shanks! Okay, the first time I watched it--last night--I went the entire episode and did not recognize him (and I missed his name in the credits, 'cause I don't usually read opening credits). This morning I figured out that it was because he wasn't wearing his glasses (which I don't think the actor does anyway) and he was wearing a beard. Apparently that's significantly incognito for me not to realize it's him. *hides face* But now that I do know it's him . . . Yay Michael Shanks!!! \o/
Sacrament Lutheran Militia. Ooookie dokie then. And apparently, they know the score.
Is that set of brass knuckles new? And what, pray tell, would you use brass knuckles against? It would call for close quarters hand-to-hand, and I'm thinking that's not usually S & D's first choice for taking out an ugly.
I kinda love Sam and Dean showing the militia that yeah, they know what's going on. And Dylan being eager about the arsenal in the trunk. And Dean liking the idea of being among colleagues. Of course there's going to be an initial distrust, but I kinda like the whole vibe.
I kinda like the pastor. *nods*
Of course it's a 12-year-old packing salt rounds, Dean. If you and John had figured out salt rounds when you were that age, that would have been yours, and later Sam's, job, too.
"I don't know whether to run screaming or buy a condo." Hee!!!
"We were told not to."
"By who?"
Um, Sam? It's by whom. Good thing Alan Eppes wasn't there. He'd correct you on that.
And of course Dean is going to flirt with the prophetess. Because that's what he does. Heh!
Blue Earth! Pastor Jim's old stomping grounds. I always suspected that Pastor Jim was Lutheran. I wonder if this is his old congregation.
And am I the only one not bothered that they didn't mention Pastor Jim? That would be exposition completely unrelated to the story at hand, and they might even need to include something in the previouslies. Basically, I see it as a nice little nugget for those of us in the know, while not confusing those audience members who are not as intense as the rest of us. Because seriously. Pastor Jim and what happened with Meg has nothing to do with this story. (And remember, intense, on-line fans are not the only viewers. They can't always cater to us exclusively.)
I also find it interesting and telling that Sam is the one calling Cas for help. He's the one who's still fighting, who's still determined to stop this.
Okay, here we get some insight into Dean's current mental state. It's nothing new, really. Since "Jus in Belo," Dean has said he believed they were going to end bloody. He said at the beginning of this season that he didn't believe they were going to win. It's not news. But he's always been willing to fight, even though he believes it to be a losing battle. And as the ep progresses, we see that he's not even interested in doing that anymore. *hugs him*
Which means Sam's got his work cut out for him.
I can't really explain why I love the raid on the demon house so much. The soundtrack, the way the scene is blocked out, the fact that Sam and Dean are part of a larger team. Like Sam says, "This must be what it's like to have backup."
Holy water tank backpack! \o/
Interesting that the pastor, leading the raid, put Sam and Dean on separate teams. Not that it bothered S & D, obviously. But I think it shows a level of trust on everyone's part that S & D are trusting someone other than each other to watch their backs.
And apparently, Sam is the only one who's actually killing demons. I wonder what the other hunters think of the demon-killing Ginsu.
I also love this whole interaction with Dylan and the boys. Dylan, who has found someone not a townie to look up to and learn from (and with whom he makes a pretty good team), and Dean with the encouraging of the young hunter. Gratitude, congratulations ("one more time and you can drive") and a wee bit of teen rebellion.
I also love that Sam and Dean toast with each other, tapping their beer cans together. They might have issues elsewhere, but they're back on steady ground when it comes to fighting the good fight. Yay!
Also? Cooler in the back seat!!!! I kinda like how this beer cooler continues to reappear throughout the series.
And then Dylan gets got by a demon (while in Sam and Dean's care), and Dean is crushed. How much more can the guy take?
And you know what, Dylan's Mom? You really don't have to rub Dean's nose in it. He already believes it's his fault. And you can't imagine the guilt the guy already shoulders on a daily basis.
Now, you might think that I have some thinky thoughts on Leah's message. But really, I don't. Resurrection of the righteous and "paradise on Earth" are pretty scriptural. Scripture indicates that Heaven will be what the Earth was before the Fall. The New Earth, it's called. So, "paradise on Earth" . . . yeah, a pretty good layman's terms way of describing it. I know I'm not explaining that adequately, but that's my paraphrase of it for now.
Of course when she says that the angels have chosen these people and they need to follow the angels rules, I personally get twitchy, and not because of Show. The Bible warns against angel worship. So when she suggests something akin to angel worship, I get twitchy.
And Dean doesn't seem at all bothered by the no drinkin', gamblin' or fornicatin'.
"They just outlawed 90% of your personality." Ouch. And bwah!
But it doesn't overly bother Dean. He's become a go-with-the-flow type of guy, and . . . while I appreciate the attitude (we're not locals), it . . . kinda worries me. Because he's "not cool." And that goes far beyond his attitude to his general state of mind.
I also don't really have anything insightful to add to Dean's conversation with Leah. Except Dean is considering saying yes. He wants confirmation that people will indeed be able to live in paradise, in peace. He doesn't believe it will ever be him, but if he can make it happen for others? He's considering it.
"It must be hard being the vessel of Heaven and having no hope." Ouch!!!
Sam. Oh, Sammy. You used to have faith. You used to pray. Crisis of faith, indeed. *hugs him*
Totally cut off from the "corruption" of the outside world. Fundamentalist compound. And goodness knows we've seen enough of those in the media to see the scary in that. Johnstown? (Which happened when I was in grade school and kinda scared me.) Waco? Yeah. Scary stuff.
And this conversation between Sam and Dean just makes me kind of sputter. I'm with Sam on the whole "fundamentalist compound is not a good thing; toying with people's beliefs is bad," but I totally understand Dean finally throwing up his hands and going, "Ya know? If the angels have the only lifeboat on the Titanic, why fight them?" It hurts to see Dean give up so thoroughly.
But boy howdy, did my hackles rise when Sam said, "You can't do this. You can't do this to me." Excuse me, Sam? Pot, meet kettle. You've left Dean high and dry on multiple occasions in your lives, and now you're making demands like that? "I can't count on anyone else. And I can't do this alone." Okay, right there. That I can get behind. Also? That's a request, not a demand. That's an admission of vulnerability. Of course, it's also heaping more responsibility onto Dean, and his options become more limited by the nanosecond. But it harkens back to Dean saying the same thing in the pilot. Neither of you can do this alone.
Drunken!Cas. Oh, Cas.
I like the idea of Cas knowing the names of all the prophets. It's good to have an ally in the know.
Oh, and things are getting out of control. I like how Dean immediately sides with the pastor. The one guy in the room who hasn't lost his sense of objectivity and critical thinking.
Dean just punched Daniel Jackson! (Wait. That would make this a crossover fic. Never mind.)
Also? I get kind of nervous when violence is perpetrated in the name of "believers" and "the flock." The woman makes me nervous.
Grief can make you do stupid things. And blind grief like that is very easy to play on.
Sam's first question to Dean when he sees blood on Dean's hands: "Are you all right?" I just . . . really like that.
Cas on a bender is very sad. "It is not of import" is rather amusing. Because even drunk, he's still gonna talk with the syntax of an angel. Hee!
And I really rather like the way they're playing the baddie in this one. Not just a false prophet, noooo . . . she's "Babylon the Great; the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Earth." Or as some traditions call her, the Whore of Babylon. (I totally need to be re-reading Revelation. I never made it this far into the book when I was reading it.) I also really kinda like that the exorcisms are a scam. And that the exorcism is "funnier in Enochian." Because this shows a level of deception I don't think we've seen before. And I love that Cas can explain it all, even with a hangover.
And the whole purpose, to manipulate people to slaughter and kill. That's why it's important to know not just what you believe, but why you believe what you believe. And why I always tell people, when we're talking about the Bible, don't take my word for it. Go to the source. Read the context. Understand how it all fits together. Know what it says so you recognize a lie when you hear it.
Most of the townspeople weren't church goers when the "prophecies" started. That, and the fear and the grief, were why they didn't recognize when something was hinky. Pastor Gideon, otoh, knew something was wrong, even if he didn't know what and couldn't follow through with killing what looked like his daughter.
"We all liked Paul, but he was a sinner." And you know? I want to tell her, "Honey, we're all sinners. That doesn't warrant cold-blooded murder." Judging by the look on the pastor's face, he'd agree with me.
"The Whore can only be killed by a true servant of Heaven." And I gotta say, when Castiel is holding that glass of water? Misha has very nice hands.
I kinda love how non-chalant Cas is with "Sam of course is an abomination." Like, meh. Whatever.
Leah's speech to the congregation. And seriously, it's like on some of my crime dramas, where the villains are cult leaders (N3 did an ep or two like that) meets interpretive Bible. And really, cult leaders make me very, very nervous.
Pastor Dave? Meet a real angel.
"And you're an angel."
"A poor example of one." *hugs Cas*
Dean as mentor. To an angel. He can't not be a big brother, can he.
Dean as an expert on deadbeat dads. I'm trying to remember when this pessimism showed up. I mean, he was angry with John back in S2, leaving him with that secret. But was it his dream in DaLDoM? Was it when he found out about Adam? Something has led him down this path of pessimism.
"How do you manage it?"
"On a good day, you get to kill The Whore."
How's that for a pep talk to an angel?
Now, I've seen here and there that that line has really hit some viewers feminist rage button. But I think dodger_winslow explains it very nicely. Not only that, but Dean isn't talking about just any whore (not that he'd kill a hooker anyway, unless she were a witch or possessed or a ghost or something). He's talking about a representative of Evil. (I don't hear the line as "a whore," I hear "the Whore.") So that line, while extremely blunt, totally fits everything that's going on, and I actually kind of like it.
I also like Dean's little lift of the eyebrows.
EEEKKK!!! Is she trying to exorcise Cas?
"Help me! He's a demon." Then please to be explaining how he got into a building with devil's traps at the entrances.
Now Sam has punched Daniel Jackson! (Wait. We're still not doing a crossover.)
And I gotta say, I love Dean staking The Whore. She's trying to throttle him, insulting his insecurities, sneering with derision, and I think it's at the point that he gets hold of the stake that he decides he's going to say yes to Michael.
"It's the end of the world, you're just gonna sit back and watch it happen."
"Don't be so sure."
And much to everyone's surprise--not the least of which is Sam's--Dean kills her.
And is it just me, or does Sam's hair remain windblown? It kinda makes me giggle inside.
And Sam and Dean high-tail it outta there with the pastor and the angel. I find it very appropriate that Dean is assisting Castiel while Sam is assisting Pastor Dave.
Now, Sam is understandably curious and concerned about how Dean was able to gank the baddie. I have several theories.
Dean as True Servant of Heaven, Theory #1: It was said long ago that God chose Dean for healing because he was a young man with an important mission, and he wasn't done yet. I think it's fair to say that God has had an interest in Dean for a very long time.
Dean as True Servant of Heaven, Theory #2: Dean pledged his loyalty "to God and you guys" in Bobby's junkyard. Despite his obstinacy toward Zach & Co., Dean has not stopped fighting the good fight and trying to kill Lilith/Lucifer/demons/evil.
Dean as True Servant of Heaven, Theory #3: Dean has decided to say yes to Michael. It's in his heart to do so, he just needs to sign the paperwork.
And Sam Does Not Like the idea of Dean saying yes. And he strongly suspects that's going to be Dean's chosen course of action very soon.
Dean takes off, and Sam is left behind. Yeah, there's role reversal all the way around.
Sidebar, prompted by the motel sign: I find it interesting--and I appreciate it--that while they've had various signs in the show that mention Jesus (the movie theater in "The End," the motel sign here), they've not actually used His name. The pastor's prayer prior to the demon hunt, for example . . . it "should" have ended with "In Jesus' name," but it didn't. It ended in "Thank You." The only time you'll hear the Son mentioned (that I recall) is in the Latin exorcism. I'm glad they haven't blatantly brought Jesus into the mix. (I'm not even gonna touch on the angel talking to God being named Joshua, of which the name Jesus is a variation. There are plenty of other Joshuas--the most famous being of Jericho wall-tumbling fame. It's a good, solid, biblical name, and I choose not to read any more into it than that.) Things got twitchy enough with Gabriel. And I honestly don't know what I'd do if they decided to factor Jesus into the mix.
But let's not borrow trouble, right?
Anyway . . .
Dean driving to Lisa's, and it's similar to the music they used in "Fresh Blood" when Sam was talking about how he missed Dean being his brother. Oh, Show, must you kill me even with your soundtrack?
The scene with Lisa, it breaks my heart. Jensen breaks my heart.
"When I do picture myself happy, it's with you and the kid." Jensen breaks my heart. The catch in his breath. The tears in my eyes. I just . . . I want to hug Dean so badly.
And he's going to make arrangements for Lisa and Ben before he says yes. Because Lisa and Ben are the closest he's ever come and will ever come to a family of his own.
I won't even get into how Sam and Sarah (who knows about the supernatural) and Dean and Lisa (or Jamie, who both know about the supernatural) should totally get together. Women who understand the Winchester mission, and who willing to face it. I'm babbling . . .
And he gives her such a tender, tender kiss on her cheek. And is he whispering something in her ear? *leans in closer to try to hear* Dean? Honey? You need to share with the class. We need to know what your'e saying. Because we've been through this thing before with your dad, and it about drove us nuts. So, ya know?
And there we leave it. Dean on his way to do . . . something rash, to be sure. Something he feels he has to do. Something that is a last resort.
IS IT NEXT THURSDAY YET?????
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Date: 2010-04-10 12:12 am (UTC)Conversely, I am bothered not at ALL by the "Whore of Babylon" situation. Thought it was an interesting adversary to bring in, and am still rolling my eyes at the people who want to find misogyny (sp?) around every corner. Aaaand...I LOVED the Dean/Lisa scene. I was very touched that somewhere in a corner of his mind, he's held onto his fondness for her and Ben as something that's important to him, enough to make provisions for their safety, and particularly if he still thinks it's possible that Ben is his child. (Biologically or not; Ben's a Mini-Me. The kid makes Dean shine.) Doesn't mean Lisa is the love of his life. He just cares enough to want to protect them. And that's all good.
(But what's happened to Cindy Sampson? She looks 10 years older than when she did Kids Are Alright.)
Anyway. Yes. Bleak, but good.
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Date: 2010-09-01 06:34 pm (UTC)So, thanks for that. :-)
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Date: 2010-04-10 12:57 am (UTC)I totally get what you're saying...but I think at this point Sam is totally justified in using whatever means are at his disposal to get Dean to stand up and fight again. He's not saying that because he's selfish. He's saying it because he's Dean's little brother and he knows, he knows that is one of Dean's buttons, that Dean is programmed to help/protect little Sammy. It's a calculated bit of manipulation, meant to go right along with "don't leave me alone" (which is indeed a good request, but is also calculated--Sam knows how much Dean himself hates the idea of being left alone).
It's hard being the motivator, isn't it, Sam? Good luck with that. *pats his head*
Sam's hair totally stayed windblown. I snickered. :)
I think the Blue Earth thing gets me because there should have been some reference in-story. It wasn't dropping something in that viewers might get but the boys could be expected to have forgotten, imho. Especially since it's the first time we've seen a pastor running a group of hunters--the first time we've seen an established hunter who is also a man of God since Pastor Jim. I mean, I will be content with the fic that is sure to be written, but it would have been nice if it had either been set elsewhere, or if there had been some one-line nod to the past. Imho and YMMV, of course. :) (I'm altogether too fond of Pastor Jim, given his screen time.)
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Date: 2010-04-10 08:03 am (UTC)I also noticed the windblown hair. You are not alone!
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Date: 2010-04-10 01:04 am (UTC)I loved when Pastor Gideon asked Castiel who he was and he replies, "I'mmmm anangeloftheLord." It was so pitch perfect with chagrin. LOL
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Date: 2010-04-13 02:46 pm (UTC)There was so much to like about this episode, and with only . . . what . . . five more eps left in the season, I think flailing will be a continual state of being here on out.