I’m happy to say that, for me, much of this episode worked, even as the end to Demon Dean, a refreshing story arc for this tenth-season show, was at hand.
Overall, I love these first three episodes. I rejoice at Sam’s laser focus on saving Dean. I’ll take a page from Jared’s recent comments regarding Sam saving his brother: About damn time! I think this three-episode arc was the perfect length for this aspect of the story. Soulless Sam took eleven episodes to conclude, which I despised, and the after effects dragged on for another season plus with a poor resolution. Here, I am given to think the writers may have actually learned something (dare I hope?) and that is: less is more. Also, transparency: We now know pretty much all of what both Sam and Dean while they were separated after Do You Believe in Miracles, and they both know it too. Refreshing!
I wonder how long it will take for the brothers to realize how much Crowley manipulated the events surrounding Lester. Sure, Sam found the guy and talked him into summoning a CRD, but it was Lester himself who made the deal, not Sam. Also, it was Crowley who set Dean in motion to close the deal – only to have Dean go off on his own tangent and kill the client. Crowley has manipulated the First Blade away from Dean, as well as Sam, and managed to get Cas some new grace – and concluding a dumb revenge Adina story that is better left closed. I don’t know what Crowley is up to this season, and I’m not sure he does either at this point. Keep him conniving and manipulating, and less sitting around smiting people and having flashbacks. Those scenes did not work very well as they slowed down the momentum and took away time from what I wanted to see: more Sam and Dean.
Cas’s scenes with Hannah continue to bore, bore and bore. I get that he’s showing us his humanity and his understanding. I even enjoyed the anvil-like nod the writers gave as Hannah asked how he was and he said fine. Sam to Dean much? But the conversations are pointless as I could care less about her growing attraction to Cas, his inability to gently let her down, and all the other blah, blah, blah. Get back to Sam and Dean. Cas got interesting again when Crowley was force-feeding him stolen grace and he interacted with Sam and Dean.
Aside from the momentum dulling Crowley and Cas scenes, except when they were together or Cas was with the brothers, the rest of this episode actually worked. Yes, even the ending. I read some fan comments that felt it insensitive to skip any meaningful brother interaction and instead add a new element, but I think it’s the show’s way of contrasting Castiel’s last comments regarding things being quiet and the brothers taking some time to heal with the reality that evil is always on the march, and there truly is no rest, for the wicked or the weary alike.
While I love a good bro-moment, after all the intensity between Sam and Dean during the episode — granted it was more Demon Dean than actual Dean — I feel that them taking a few moments to breathe separately makes sense. For once, it wasn’t done in anger, but rather in love and the need for rest. Sam is going to get Dean something to eat. Actions speak so loudly that many times words are not necessary. Sam was basically giddy with the thought that he was walking out of the bunker to get Dean some food, not just any food, but likely Sam will come back with Dean’s absolute favorite foods: bacon cheeseburger and pie no doubt. After the last several weeks of loss, doubt, fear, uncertainty, he is leaving the bunker to get his brother something to eat. It is a labor of love right there, and no words need to be expressed.
Did you notice how many times Sam said brother in this episode? He was going to save his brother, it was not his brother talking, he feared he was killing his brother, he was going to get food for his brother…I’m not sure Sam has said brother that much in a long, long time. After his words last season of not being brothers anymore because that was so much the root of their many problems, there is hardly a scene this season without Sam saying the words my brother. I love it!
I like what the writers had each brother focus in on in their quiet moments with Castielat the end. Sam could have focused on the hurtful words Demon Dean said, but he didn’t. Sam knows that is not his brother. Sam has no doubts of his brother’s absolute love and devotion. No, Sam wonders at Dean’s desire, which is more Dean’s than Demon Dean’s since the blood cure was well in effect, not to be saved. Cas proves his insight into humanity, much as he did earlier with Hannah, as he recognizes that Dean’s desire to stay lost stems from the desire not to shoulder all the pain and guilt again. It’s a nod to what Sam went through as Soulless Sam and his back and forth of did he want his soul back or didn’t he. Sam will help Dean find a way – I hope – to live with his burdens and not let them crush him. After all, that’s what brothers do. The J’s have said that the brothers will have some talks, but not likely constant and/or even deep talks. But, if they do things for each other, support, stay near, take care of each other, those actions will speak to their love, and their closeness.
Similarly Cas was the perfect character to convey to Dean that yes, even though he attacked his brother with a hammer, Sam still loves him, and he’s not going to leave him. Demon Dean had all his memories, just none of the emotions (read guilt) that come with it. Restored Dean similarly has all his memories,and, yes, that pesky guilt. Going forward, hopefully he learns how to carry that without being crushed by it. Sam’s presence and support – not literally carrying his brother, not with Dean so broken he is unable to function, but in 1000 different ways, least of all bringing some food and grabbing some coffee, will help Dean know that Sam’s got his back.
Both brothers will benefit from the presence of the other, and through interviews by Carver as well as both J’s I have hope that this search for identity and reconciling oneself to who they are and what they’ve done is done together. It would be about time.
Other moments I loved:
• Sam in Dean’s room looking at the photographs while the show’s theme of family played in the background
• Dean sitting on his bed leafing through those same photos at the end
While Demon Dean is essentially over in three episodes, and the next looks like a straight up hunt, I think this arc was very successful.
Season 10 is off to a very good start.
I don’t plan on reviewing this every week, but hopefully (if I stay inspired and find the time) I’ll let you know what I’m thinking. I usually do a mid-season article on where shows are, and who knows, I may devote one just to SPN, but thankfully, mid-season hiatus is in the fair distance. PoI remains my firstpriority in reviews (even as I was very late last week) and Grimm bows this Friday, and this season I plan on reviewing all through the season, not giving up at the end because time got away from me. But, the pup I got in January is almost a year old, so I cannot use her as an excuse for not reviewing anymore.
Until next time, thanks for reading, Elle2
I’m sorry you won’t be reviewing the show regularly. I do like your take. I did like this episode a lot. Other than the weird angel story and the what the hell do I care about hell story it worked for me.
Don’t want to get timed out so thank you for your review.
Hi, Cheryl42,
You never know, if I’m inspired, I’ll review. Allow me to tell you a lengthy story, and when it’s done, you may be glad I try to hold myself to the neighborhood of 1000 words per review. 😉
Several years ago, Alice was so generous and allowed me to start exercising my hobby of writing on her site, WFB. I started reviewing weekly. There was no pressure to do so other than what I put on myself. But, I found myself getting sucked into what other people thought and that affected what I wrote and I found myself trying to be better than I truly am — comparing myself to other writers, some with exponentially more talent in writing than I. So, it started to become work, a contest, and no longer enjoyable. It also affected how I viewed the show, as I like to find the good and discard the bad, but I didn’t want to simply mindlessly ooh and aah over something if it wasn’t to be ooh’d and ahh’d over.
Then Season 6 happened and I imploded myself. I think my last article was somewhere around mid-season. There might have been more, I don’t know. I could go look at the archives, but choose not to relive my frustrations. I still stand behind every word of frustration I wrote in that mid-season wrap-up article, although the tone could have been much, much gentler. Still, I vowed not to write harsh, negative things ever again as I didn’t want to destroy anybody else’s happiness. Hey, I might have thought things were bad, but if there were others who liked what was going on, and clearly there were, what right do I have to rain on their parade? I decided I had none.
I sat back each week and watched the show. Most things I did not like but I didn’t need to share it all over the place. Sometimes I’d privately e-mail Alice, occasionally I’d post a comment, but I mainly stayed quiet. I also never rewatched an episode once it aired. I just cleared my DVR and moved on. When Bobby Singer was killed off (in my mind, for no reason other than Sera Gamble wanting to write a magnificent script — which she did, but I have never, and will never watch that episode ever again. I saw it when it aired, and never since), I put the show out of my mind for nothing other than a way to pass 15 minutes or so as I sped through it each week watching for any possible hint of brotherly love. I moved on to Person of Interest and Grimm. Admittedly, it took two shows to replace SPN, such was my love.
Alice invited me to write reviews for both shows over the next couple of years. At first I was reluctant as I didn’t want to be consumed with writing and not allowing myself to enjoy the show, but as time passes, and we grow through this journey called life, I find that I had my own niche, my own voice, and that I could write a review based on what I saw and not try to live up to anybody else and how they reviewed it. Also, I learned how to focus on what I like and for the most part, discard the rest and do so in a way that is only slightly insulting (*wink*). If two people read it besides me (Alice, of course does, so there’s one) so be it. But I’m having fun again. I have found my own voice — sometimes the anonymity of the internet is a positive thing. I read lots of PoI reviews, usually after I’ve already formulated my own thoughts, if not even written the review, and I find that I am a very different voice than a lot of other reviewers, and that’s a good thing.
What I’ve learned is not to put too much pressure on myself, and three shows each week could truly be too much pressure, and I’ve also learned not to try to forecast where something is going, such as I used to try to do with Supernatural. I admire Nightsky for her Threads series, she is so good at pulling out those nuggets, but I no longer try to do what someone else is already doing quite masterfully.
I may review it again this coming week, or I may not. I truly have no idea. But, as I said at the top, if inspired, I will do so. And, hey, you already know I like to go on and on. 😀
I think my voice is unique amongst all the shows I review — then again, so does everyone else. 😉 And, if you’re liking my take, all the better — for you and for me.
So who knows, Cheryl42, there may be something from me about this time next week. Frankly, if the show keeps me inspired, I’ll review all 23 episodes. And it will have been a very, very, very long time since I felt like doing that. But I only write when I like something. I guess I’m a fair-weather reviewer, but I don’t like to critique, unless it’s just a little. What was in the review above is about as far as I like to go anymore with my criticism. Doesn’t mean I don’t have more, there was plenty I cut out of the article, I just don’t want to be that voice anymore.
There, did you need a potty break, a meal, a nap during that lengthy answer to your non-question? Well, it’s been a rainy day here, apparently I felt like over-sharing.
Until next week, maybe…
Well I very much enjoyed your review. I do love a positive voice with a dash of criticism so I hope you remain inspired. That would mean that the show is having a good season. And that is a win for all of us.
Hi elle2 I loved your review and your response to Cheryl. I’m glad you “over-shared’. I enjoyed this episode very much for many of the same reasons you did. I thought it had suspense, emotion and an undercurrent of brother love from Sam that ran through all the scenes with Sam and DD that satisfied me in a way I can’t even explain. I didn’t need a big emotional scene at the end, it was quiet and seemed so right to me. I was one of the few people who actually liked the Hannah and Cas scenes, I find them sweet and soothing as opposed to boring. I was so relieved to read a review that seemed to be of the same mindset as myself. I honestly haven’t enjoyed the show as much since the 6th season but it is still a fine show in many respects not the least of which is Jared and Jensen’ commitment and passion for this show. It still has things to offer I feel. Thank you so much elle2.
Hi, Leah,
Wow, we could be sisters in our viewpoints — well, except I was still pretty bored with Cas and Hannah, but more because it was awkward and felt contrived (killing Daniel and also the whole angel romance thing.) Someone commented on Gerry’s review that a more compelling story for them would be figuring out how to get heaven open again so those caught in the veil can get in. Hmm, that would be interesting. Think of it, last season Kevin’s ghost said it was pretty chaotic in the veil with heaven closed. If they showed that as affecting what’s going on on earth, Sam and Dean would be central to trying to fix the fallout, but also Cas and Hannah working to stop the chaos by opening heaven up “for business” as it were would tie their story in with Sam and Dean.
Like you, Season 6 was when I fell out of love for much of this show. It’s the brothers that drew me in (Mystery Spot being my first ever episode and all) and the lack of anything remotely close to that since, well, even back to Season 4 but definitely 6 onward is what has turned me mostly cold. This season, with Sam so focused, so expressive of his love and commitment to his brother, and Dean so broken and certain that his family is forever gone, so much so he chose the MoC and then wanted to remain a demon so as to not feel the pain of the loss, well, that is pulling me back in.
I don’t believe the show has the caliber of writers anymore to elevate it again, but, Jared and Jensen have been pretty vocal now about how much they love where this season is going, Jared especially in regards to Sam and his love and focus on his brother which time and time again he relates to the Sam of many, many, many seasons ago, has me hopeful again. I also think that if the writers will focus on the characters and not in trying to make complex mythologies, the scripts will be more successful — even as the characterizations won’t be as deep as a R. Tucker or C. Humphries or S. Gamble or E. Kripke and even B. Edlund (who crazy man as he is, knew how to find the emotional depth and bring it out), especially with J&J being careful to ensure that what they actually end up saying is more akin to what men and brothers would say, and less like teenage angst.
We’ll see.
But yes, you’ll always be safe with me for finding the positive, giving a nod and a shove to the negative and leaving the rest alone. I write for fun. Also, if I don’t review an episode, likely two things happened: first, it was so horrible that I didn’t have anything good to say, or, second, I ran out of time and will try to address it along with another one at a later date. That happened last year with Grimm on a couple of occasions where I doubled up my reviews.
I’m interested in this Tuesdays because the producers have said that in the monster-of-the-week tradition of the show, this one thematically is about where the brothers are at after last week. We may have to read between the lines a bit, but Metamorphosis did a good job of thematically being on point with the brothers as did last season’s Thin Man (even as I mourn the sadness of the Ghostfacers).
Time will tell. 🙂
I’m with you elle2, all the way. It would be great to have the souls trapped in the veil folded into with the Cas and Hannah story. And a great way to bring Osric back a few more times. It would be so cool if Osric could lead them all back to heaven when Cas finds a way to resolve the heaven’s gate problems and the unrest among the angels. I do believe this is where it is all headed, I think Cas will eventually end up back there. But, we’ll see I am famous for my bad speculating. 🙂 I will watch for your reviews knowing that you are busy. They will be appreciated.