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rogueslayer452) wrote2010-02-15 03:52 pm
rogueslayer452) wrote2010-02-15 03:52 pm
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SPN: "My Bloody Valentine" Episode Review + Meta
This review is incredibly meta-heavy, and I mean that. I have plenty of thinky-thoughts regarding characters from this episode and what we learned from it and how I basically interpret them. Just something to do now that we're on hiatus, which sucks but it allows me to think without being rushed before the next episode. I wrote this within a few hours after mulling over things that I wanted to talk about. But let me just say as a sidenote, after this episode I really reconsidered the things I was eating. *shudders*
Supernatural 5.14 "My Bloody Valentine"
On Valentine's Day, disturbing occurrences are happening when couples suddenly are killing each other in the most unnatural ways (one couple, in attempts of having sex, start cannibalizing each other until they're both dead). The boys call for Castiel's help in the matter, who thinks this is the work of a Cupid gone rogue, only to discover that instead this is the handiwork of Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Making people overindulge in whatever they hunger until the drop dead so he can feed off their souls. It starts to affect Castiel, who craves red meat, and strongly on Sam, who starts reverting to his demon blood addiction as desperately tries to fight against it. Unfortunately, the hunger is too strong and takes over. Famine brings a revelation about Dean to the surface whereas Sam has to deal with his addiction once again.
This episode brings the hilarity and the gross factor in the beginning, but it ends of a bittersweet and angst-ridden note, particularly in terms with the two brothers and what it means for them and their attempts at being all "team freewill" and whether or not it's possible. And all of this before a six-week hiatus? Goddamn you, people.
The Revelation of Castiel and his Vessel
I feel like I need to discuss this straight away, since the episode aired my brain has been racking around what this could possibly mean, or what it doesn't mean, and how I interpret it from what the shows is presenting to us in terms of vessels and consenting.
I think the majority of us believed that since Castiel died with the standoff of the archangels in the finale that Jimmy's soul ascended to Heaven, and that when Castiel was mysteriously resurrected it was him in the physical body, but without Jimmy. Like somehow because of his original body being blown to pieces. But since this episode and the one-line reveal about why Castiel suddenly craves red meat, and it made me seriously ponder because clearly, this is something that's been somewhat speculated but never clearly made evident until now on the show itself.
It's been my personal theory, which I still believe, that the hunger for red meat was simply a residual kind of thing; an echo left behind by Jimmy, if you will. That once the body was rebuild and remade by whoever it is now officially Castiel's, as the last request made by Jimmy was to use his body for whatever work intended and not to use his family as conduits for this cause, it would make perfect sense. Now that Castiel is cut off from Heaven he's beginning to slowly, but surely, become familiar with human behaviors and their ways and perhaps due to that the body is starting to become really his own, in a way. So perhaps the body's craving was much deeper because that was who Jimmy had been; he craved meat, it's not something that magically goes away because that is what the body was used to, so due to Famine's influences of cravings suddenly the body needed what it hasn't had in quite a while. This is my firm belief anyway, that Jimmy's soul departed once the body was destroyed, but whoever brought Castiel back for his particular purpose he was brought back in the body as his own.
However, what if it's not that complicated at all? What if Jimmy still does exist somewhere and is held purely because of his consent?
This is the scenario most of us aren't liking, because based on Jimmy's own words in "The Rapture" it was a horrible experience. He said that it felt like being strapped onto a comet, and quite frankly none of us want Jimmy to still be suffering somewhere in there, mainly because while we all love and adore Castiel, Jimmy Novak's story is definitely heartbreaking because of what he had to give up, his life and his family and his self-sacrifice to the divine cause. So it would be a relief to us if Jimmy's soul had gracefully departed once his own body was destroyed, because he had done his part, and when Castiel returned it was in the identical body of the vessel but it was just himself alone. Although I've been thinking about what this season has been teaching us about angels, humans and consenting to their special destinies, and for those with high belief they are doing something good it seems like a nice idea, but in the reality of the show itself it's not all what it's cracked up to do.
What if that's what this means, that once consenting there is no turning back from it? Once you give your freedom of will away you can never get it back, that you are forever bound to the mercy of whatever deity is possessing you for whatever purpose and you are stuck in this loop until they are finished with you. This is what terrifies me...since angels have to gain consent from their chosen vessels, making them different from their demon counterparts who just take with no regard of anything, living or the dead, so once having that consent they are free to do what they will with them, the souls of those either knowing or in the dark about what is actually happening. The whole idea about consenting is giving away your freewill to the higher beings, and once doing that there's nothing you can do about it, and all in all this is primarily the issue that Sam and Dean are trying to avoid at all costs.
Also, given the fact that an angel dies in the human vessel they are possessing, what would happen to the soul of that person? Would they ascend to Heaven, like I hope they would, or would they just explode into oblivion, into a vast nothingness? What about in Castiel's case, when he died and then was resurrected? Would Jimmy's soul have been destroyed as well? Gone to Heaven, but then returned? What if this is part of the consenting contract to being an angel's vessel? Because that would be pretty sucky and shitty of a situation, don'tcha think? I would hate to think that God or whoever else would be so mercilessly to the human soul like that, because Jimmy might have played his part at first but he deserves to be at rest after everything.
Honestly, it's all complicated and confusing. Both scenarios are plausible and debatable, and I pretty much want the first to be true because I think none of us want Jimmy to still be suffering somewhere in the background. It's also very tricky and complicated issue on the fanon level, too. We just need a straightforward, definitive answer to this whole issue, because otherwise I'm going for my own personal canon.
Destiny and Predictions: Allusions of the Post-Apocalyptic Future
At first I thought that the possible future Zachariah showed Dean in "The End" was something he constructed and fabricated so Dean would consent to becoming Michael's vessel, but the more this season goes one the more I realize that there are subtle things that are creeping up that allude to what that future showed us. It might not end up like that future, not entirely, but little things are starting to rise to the surface.
First of all we have the revelation about Dean's emptiness, how he doesn't need to fulfill something inside of himself because he craves nothing. This is a frightening notion because future!Dean was dead inside, he acted mercilessly and cold, had no remorse and was for the mission instead of emotion. Our Dean has suffered through so much over the years, recently watching those who he loved and cared about, those he considered his family, die in the most horrible way possible. There's still a gleaming part of him that holds his humanity, but what if that's not enough? What if he does turn into that dark and cold individual of that future? It certainly is seeming that way. There's also Sam, who is desperately trying so hard to resist what Lucifer wants from him, yet we see him (reluctantly) revert to those old ways of his demon blood addiction, the hunger for power. We also see Castiel, still an angel, though with his powers having been diminished he's becoming more and more human with each passing day. We've seen him drink alcohol, riding in cars, now eating excessively; although that was part of what I mentioned above, of the body needing to be nourished and that nourishment was stronger than anything else at that time, Castiel is familiarizing himself with humanity and being around Dean that he's being influenced by our worldly things. With this episode that hunger was strong enough to overpower him that he was weakened by it, so what does that say?
In any case, the allusions and parallels towards this dark!future we were shown are starting to worry me, not that I'm not positive they'll avert the End of Days so to speak, but because of how they'll all end up afterwards. I don't want Dean to still be broken, I don't want Sam to be tormented by his need of redemption and getting sucked back in again, and I don't want Castiel to fall. But it seems all signs are pointing towards those inevitable things, and it pains me incredibly.
But I think that's the lesson here, that despite all these warning signs about fate and destiny and the inevitable, about how both sides are so positive that Sam and Dean are going to give in at any given time, it makes it much more easier to root for them and their resilience and the strength and courage of humanity. That even against all odds they will pull through, and we have to hold onto this hope even if at the end of the episode it seemed that their weaknesses are showing them quite the opposite.
Dean Winchester and His Painfully Devastating Destiny
Famine revealed how utterly broken and empty Dean is in the end of the episode, and while it might be somewhat of a broken record since we've all kind of watched Dean kind of slowly deteriorate since he returned from Hell, despite that "give 'em hell attitude" he wears as his poker face most of the time, this actually gives some interesting light to where he is now and what might in fact happen in the future between him and the angels.
Tell me I'm not the only one who thought Dean was considering actually saying "yes" to Michael at the end of the episode? Because I feel if anything, that broken emptiness inside of him would be such an indicator for getting him to agree to anything; to stop the pain, the hurt, of watching those he loves die and especially after watching his little brother go back to his addictions. What if this is precisely what the angels are waiting for, if they understand how stubborn he is they just want him to break. I don't know, it just seems that way based off of everything. Sam, despite his best efforts, giving into the hunger for power; and Dean, being told how empty and dead inside he is, might as well have nothing else to give other than to go for the last resort.
In the end Dean was praying towards the heavens -- to whom, we don't know. To God, to his parents, to anyone that would listen to his pleas. There's all this incredibly weight on his shoulders and although he was all "team freewill" in the last episode, this tells him the contrary about how weak they are, how there are limits and eventually they will break.
He won't though. I'm praying that he won't because like I said before the show is about the strength and hope and resilience of humanity, and while it seems like things are going downhill I have faith that they'll find a way.
But Dean is not dead inside, no freaking way. He might be devastated and broken for sure, after everything that's happened and might be at loss of what to do and where to go next, but he's definitely not empty inside. He still has hope, which is holding on by a thread right now but even so, it's a glimmer of something. I think what Famine said to him was like reaching in and pulling out the harsh truth and sticking it directly in his face, because it's something he's been kind of pushing back because he keeps moving forward, but he has to acknowledge it. And I thought he had been, in the premiere he was upfront with his brother about how they weren't on the trusting page anymore, but that could have been a sign of his waning hope in certain cases. Not willing to fight it, just letting it be. I hope he gets restored soon because, God show, can you break him even more? For goodness sakes, let him heal, let him find that strength again.
Memorable Moments of the Episode:
++ Episode title "My Bloody Valentine" <----- I SEE WHUT YOU DID THAR SHOW, LOL
++ EPIC DEAN/CASTIEL SCENES LIKE WHOA
Obviously not exactly what we were wishing for in regards to a Valentine's Day episode, with the smooching and the influenced by Cupid kinda deal we were all praying would have happened, but we had some pretty amazing scenes with them that included major slashy tones. THE EPIC CELL PHONE CONVO, Castiel stealing Dean's burger (he totally wants his manmeat, for reals), their little "date" in the car, just every single moment with them on screen is magical. Every episode should include this kind of Dean/Castiel scenes.
++ I LOVE CUPID! HE'S TOO ADORABLE! Just from the giddiness and the attack of hugging everyone as "their handshake" which, lol! Also with the crying and getting upset and HUGGING CASTIEL TWICE and his "I LOVE LOVE! AND IF LOVE IS WRONG THEN I DON'T WANNA BE RIGHT!" OMG LOL AWKWARDNESS YET SO CUTE. Too bad that he only got just that one scene with Castiel and the boys, but it was a priceless scene nonetheless. I still want him to come back though, he's quite enjoyable. Plus I wouldn't mind some Cupid and Gabriel antics, I think that would be beyond hilarious. XD
++ Also note: it appears that the Cupids aren't that well aware of what is happening upstairs in Heaven, since they are more commonly Earth-bound with their duties to get couples together from their orders, they don't need to know anything else. I found that quite interesting. Not that it would do them any good anyway, since they don't seem fit for fighting in the warrior sense. Heh.
++ I found it interesting how Castiel eats. Like, I never had any fascination watching others eat, because it's kind of awkward and a little strange, but there's something with how Misha portrays Castiel's eating habits, especially since this is the first time we've seen Castiel eat anything, was just interesting to see. Plus, did you all notice just how animated Castiel seemed? He was so distracted by the burgers too (bringing forth more nicknames from Dean, "the Hamburglar"? "Happy Meal"? Idky but I find these little petnames cute, heh)
++ Nothing says "I love you" more that cannibalism. Yummy.
++ Disgusting and gross this episode was, though I might not have been squeamish like others are because hey, I can watch gorey horror films while eating myself (because I am some kind of freak, apparently) but afterwards uh, yeah. I thought twice about eating something.
++ "It's Famine" LOL oh Castiel, you never learn do you?
++ Neither does Dean, apparently, because he punches Cupid not remembering that punching angels is like punching your hand against concrete. *shakes head* Oh boys.
++ I'm very proud of Sam, he resisted and he knew he was being affected by the need for hunger, and he tried to stop it. But it was too much to handle. Oh, the poor boy.
++ QUESTION: I'm still confused about Sam's powers, since I thought that the demon blood was just a mindtrick thing for him to think he needed the blood to boost himself up, but like Ruby had said to him he didn't need the blood. The blood was like the Dumbo's feather, he has the ability inside him all along. Or is this more about being power-hungry for that taste of blood, that once getting hooked you can't stop? Like those who are alcoholics and start to recover, you know you want to but you resist until something pushes you over the edge, like in this episode with the effects of Famine's power. But that makes me wonder, with Sam's hunger for the power and his obvious rage, all these are things that Lucifer needs, and him seeking redemption how will he contain it all? It's just kind of confusing for me right now.
++ PARALLEL: In comparison with Buffy the Vampire Slayer this time, I couldn't help but think of how Dean and Sam are just like Buffy and Willow in S6; Willow with her dark magic addictions and Buffy just going through the motions of life after being brought back. Interesting, really.
++ I didn't like Famine comparing Castiel to a dog, obviously, because it said it in the nastiest, degrading way possible (and where Castiel is kneeling on the floor, all fours, eating ground meat from the bin, oh God such a horrible thing). However, in the sense of being absolutely faithful and loyal towards the Winchesters, Dean especially, that's where I see the dog comparison. Because let's face it, Castiel is sorta like a puppy. A lovable, adorable and sweet puppy, and gets all protective over the boys whenever danger lurks.
++ THE ENDING SCENE OH GOD. Whenever you need a good angst scene, always count on Jensen Ackles to give his best performances. From the single mantear to the mainpain, yeah. It's not Supernatural unless there's angst involved. Just seeing Dean plead and pray to whoever is listening, that just broke my heart. His face when he and Castiel were standing outside the panic room, and Castiel trying to reassure him (which was beautiful because Castiel doesn't normally do the reassuring thing, but he does it with Dean and I love that). But that ending, with him leaving to go outside. Just, God. WHY DIDN'T THEY HAVE CASTIEL GO OUT THERE TO COMFORT HIM, FOR GOODNESS SAKES?! HURT/COMFORT PPL. HURT/COMFORT, LET HIM HAVE A HUG FROM HIS ANGEL DAMMIT. :(((
++ BEN EDLUND, I FUCKING LOVE YOU TO PIECES. Write for more episodes, okay? You bring out the best of the show and the characters, particularly with loads more Dean/Castiel moments (and Castiel and the boys really, them together being awesome is great stuff). PLUS NEXT TIME HAVE SOME DEAN/CAS HUGGAGE, PLZ?! They both need it.
Overall: From a streak of some random episodes that weren't exactly on my radar of that interesting, we finally get back to the swing of things with these last two and "My Bloody Valentine" really got back to how the show should continue to be. It's not that I don't like the occasional monster-of-the-week episodes, but we shouldn't have them constantly in a season where the boys should be more focused on the larger issue, being the Apocalypse and Heaven and Hell and all of that. "My Bloody Valentine" was a combination of the hilarity with the gross factor, and tying in with the apocalyptic storyline while hitting those emotional points with the boys towards the end. This had the kind of formula of what "Changing Channels" was, only with more gore and bloody and grossness. And I loved it, a lot. Plus any episode with Castiel getting into antics with the boys is alright with me, especially if it contains more of the Dean/Castiel goodness because I've missed their epic chemistry. ♥
Frakking hiatus, oh well. We have time to think and analyze things over and get prepared for the last half of the season, hopefully with minimal interruption the next go around. It just seemed like we came back from the long winter hellatus, and now we're in yet another one. Ugh.
Hey, it still doesn't beat the seven month hiatus between the first half and the second half of the final season of BSG, let me tell you. Now that was a hellatus if anything.
Supernatural 5.14 "My Bloody Valentine"
On Valentine's Day, disturbing occurrences are happening when couples suddenly are killing each other in the most unnatural ways (one couple, in attempts of having sex, start cannibalizing each other until they're both dead). The boys call for Castiel's help in the matter, who thinks this is the work of a Cupid gone rogue, only to discover that instead this is the handiwork of Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Making people overindulge in whatever they hunger until the drop dead so he can feed off their souls. It starts to affect Castiel, who craves red meat, and strongly on Sam, who starts reverting to his demon blood addiction as desperately tries to fight against it. Unfortunately, the hunger is too strong and takes over. Famine brings a revelation about Dean to the surface whereas Sam has to deal with his addiction once again.
This episode brings the hilarity and the gross factor in the beginning, but it ends of a bittersweet and angst-ridden note, particularly in terms with the two brothers and what it means for them and their attempts at being all "team freewill" and whether or not it's possible. And all of this before a six-week hiatus? Goddamn you, people.
The Revelation of Castiel and his Vessel
I feel like I need to discuss this straight away, since the episode aired my brain has been racking around what this could possibly mean, or what it doesn't mean, and how I interpret it from what the shows is presenting to us in terms of vessels and consenting.
I think the majority of us believed that since Castiel died with the standoff of the archangels in the finale that Jimmy's soul ascended to Heaven, and that when Castiel was mysteriously resurrected it was him in the physical body, but without Jimmy. Like somehow because of his original body being blown to pieces. But since this episode and the one-line reveal about why Castiel suddenly craves red meat, and it made me seriously ponder because clearly, this is something that's been somewhat speculated but never clearly made evident until now on the show itself.
It's been my personal theory, which I still believe, that the hunger for red meat was simply a residual kind of thing; an echo left behind by Jimmy, if you will. That once the body was rebuild and remade by whoever it is now officially Castiel's, as the last request made by Jimmy was to use his body for whatever work intended and not to use his family as conduits for this cause, it would make perfect sense. Now that Castiel is cut off from Heaven he's beginning to slowly, but surely, become familiar with human behaviors and their ways and perhaps due to that the body is starting to become really his own, in a way. So perhaps the body's craving was much deeper because that was who Jimmy had been; he craved meat, it's not something that magically goes away because that is what the body was used to, so due to Famine's influences of cravings suddenly the body needed what it hasn't had in quite a while. This is my firm belief anyway, that Jimmy's soul departed once the body was destroyed, but whoever brought Castiel back for his particular purpose he was brought back in the body as his own.
However, what if it's not that complicated at all? What if Jimmy still does exist somewhere and is held purely because of his consent?
This is the scenario most of us aren't liking, because based on Jimmy's own words in "The Rapture" it was a horrible experience. He said that it felt like being strapped onto a comet, and quite frankly none of us want Jimmy to still be suffering somewhere in there, mainly because while we all love and adore Castiel, Jimmy Novak's story is definitely heartbreaking because of what he had to give up, his life and his family and his self-sacrifice to the divine cause. So it would be a relief to us if Jimmy's soul had gracefully departed once his own body was destroyed, because he had done his part, and when Castiel returned it was in the identical body of the vessel but it was just himself alone. Although I've been thinking about what this season has been teaching us about angels, humans and consenting to their special destinies, and for those with high belief they are doing something good it seems like a nice idea, but in the reality of the show itself it's not all what it's cracked up to do.
What if that's what this means, that once consenting there is no turning back from it? Once you give your freedom of will away you can never get it back, that you are forever bound to the mercy of whatever deity is possessing you for whatever purpose and you are stuck in this loop until they are finished with you. This is what terrifies me...since angels have to gain consent from their chosen vessels, making them different from their demon counterparts who just take with no regard of anything, living or the dead, so once having that consent they are free to do what they will with them, the souls of those either knowing or in the dark about what is actually happening. The whole idea about consenting is giving away your freewill to the higher beings, and once doing that there's nothing you can do about it, and all in all this is primarily the issue that Sam and Dean are trying to avoid at all costs.
Also, given the fact that an angel dies in the human vessel they are possessing, what would happen to the soul of that person? Would they ascend to Heaven, like I hope they would, or would they just explode into oblivion, into a vast nothingness? What about in Castiel's case, when he died and then was resurrected? Would Jimmy's soul have been destroyed as well? Gone to Heaven, but then returned? What if this is part of the consenting contract to being an angel's vessel? Because that would be pretty sucky and shitty of a situation, don'tcha think? I would hate to think that God or whoever else would be so mercilessly to the human soul like that, because Jimmy might have played his part at first but he deserves to be at rest after everything.
Honestly, it's all complicated and confusing. Both scenarios are plausible and debatable, and I pretty much want the first to be true because I think none of us want Jimmy to still be suffering somewhere in the background. It's also very tricky and complicated issue on the fanon level, too. We just need a straightforward, definitive answer to this whole issue, because otherwise I'm going for my own personal canon.
Destiny and Predictions: Allusions of the Post-Apocalyptic Future
At first I thought that the possible future Zachariah showed Dean in "The End" was something he constructed and fabricated so Dean would consent to becoming Michael's vessel, but the more this season goes one the more I realize that there are subtle things that are creeping up that allude to what that future showed us. It might not end up like that future, not entirely, but little things are starting to rise to the surface.
First of all we have the revelation about Dean's emptiness, how he doesn't need to fulfill something inside of himself because he craves nothing. This is a frightening notion because future!Dean was dead inside, he acted mercilessly and cold, had no remorse and was for the mission instead of emotion. Our Dean has suffered through so much over the years, recently watching those who he loved and cared about, those he considered his family, die in the most horrible way possible. There's still a gleaming part of him that holds his humanity, but what if that's not enough? What if he does turn into that dark and cold individual of that future? It certainly is seeming that way. There's also Sam, who is desperately trying so hard to resist what Lucifer wants from him, yet we see him (reluctantly) revert to those old ways of his demon blood addiction, the hunger for power. We also see Castiel, still an angel, though with his powers having been diminished he's becoming more and more human with each passing day. We've seen him drink alcohol, riding in cars, now eating excessively; although that was part of what I mentioned above, of the body needing to be nourished and that nourishment was stronger than anything else at that time, Castiel is familiarizing himself with humanity and being around Dean that he's being influenced by our worldly things. With this episode that hunger was strong enough to overpower him that he was weakened by it, so what does that say?
In any case, the allusions and parallels towards this dark!future we were shown are starting to worry me, not that I'm not positive they'll avert the End of Days so to speak, but because of how they'll all end up afterwards. I don't want Dean to still be broken, I don't want Sam to be tormented by his need of redemption and getting sucked back in again, and I don't want Castiel to fall. But it seems all signs are pointing towards those inevitable things, and it pains me incredibly.
But I think that's the lesson here, that despite all these warning signs about fate and destiny and the inevitable, about how both sides are so positive that Sam and Dean are going to give in at any given time, it makes it much more easier to root for them and their resilience and the strength and courage of humanity. That even against all odds they will pull through, and we have to hold onto this hope even if at the end of the episode it seemed that their weaknesses are showing them quite the opposite.
Dean Winchester and His Painfully Devastating Destiny
Famine revealed how utterly broken and empty Dean is in the end of the episode, and while it might be somewhat of a broken record since we've all kind of watched Dean kind of slowly deteriorate since he returned from Hell, despite that "give 'em hell attitude" he wears as his poker face most of the time, this actually gives some interesting light to where he is now and what might in fact happen in the future between him and the angels.
Tell me I'm not the only one who thought Dean was considering actually saying "yes" to Michael at the end of the episode? Because I feel if anything, that broken emptiness inside of him would be such an indicator for getting him to agree to anything; to stop the pain, the hurt, of watching those he loves die and especially after watching his little brother go back to his addictions. What if this is precisely what the angels are waiting for, if they understand how stubborn he is they just want him to break. I don't know, it just seems that way based off of everything. Sam, despite his best efforts, giving into the hunger for power; and Dean, being told how empty and dead inside he is, might as well have nothing else to give other than to go for the last resort.
In the end Dean was praying towards the heavens -- to whom, we don't know. To God, to his parents, to anyone that would listen to his pleas. There's all this incredibly weight on his shoulders and although he was all "team freewill" in the last episode, this tells him the contrary about how weak they are, how there are limits and eventually they will break.
He won't though. I'm praying that he won't because like I said before the show is about the strength and hope and resilience of humanity, and while it seems like things are going downhill I have faith that they'll find a way.
But Dean is not dead inside, no freaking way. He might be devastated and broken for sure, after everything that's happened and might be at loss of what to do and where to go next, but he's definitely not empty inside. He still has hope, which is holding on by a thread right now but even so, it's a glimmer of something. I think what Famine said to him was like reaching in and pulling out the harsh truth and sticking it directly in his face, because it's something he's been kind of pushing back because he keeps moving forward, but he has to acknowledge it. And I thought he had been, in the premiere he was upfront with his brother about how they weren't on the trusting page anymore, but that could have been a sign of his waning hope in certain cases. Not willing to fight it, just letting it be. I hope he gets restored soon because, God show, can you break him even more? For goodness sakes, let him heal, let him find that strength again.
Memorable Moments of the Episode:
++ Episode title "My Bloody Valentine" <----- I SEE WHUT YOU DID THAR SHOW, LOL
++ EPIC DEAN/CASTIEL SCENES LIKE WHOA
Obviously not exactly what we were wishing for in regards to a Valentine's Day episode, with the smooching and the influenced by Cupid kinda deal we were all praying would have happened, but we had some pretty amazing scenes with them that included major slashy tones. THE EPIC CELL PHONE CONVO, Castiel stealing Dean's burger (he totally wants his manmeat, for reals), their little "date" in the car, just every single moment with them on screen is magical. Every episode should include this kind of Dean/Castiel scenes.
++ I LOVE CUPID! HE'S TOO ADORABLE! Just from the giddiness and the attack of hugging everyone as "their handshake" which, lol! Also with the crying and getting upset and HUGGING CASTIEL TWICE and his "I LOVE LOVE! AND IF LOVE IS WRONG THEN I DON'T WANNA BE RIGHT!" OMG LOL AWKWARDNESS YET SO CUTE. Too bad that he only got just that one scene with Castiel and the boys, but it was a priceless scene nonetheless. I still want him to come back though, he's quite enjoyable. Plus I wouldn't mind some Cupid and Gabriel antics, I think that would be beyond hilarious. XD
++ Also note: it appears that the Cupids aren't that well aware of what is happening upstairs in Heaven, since they are more commonly Earth-bound with their duties to get couples together from their orders, they don't need to know anything else. I found that quite interesting. Not that it would do them any good anyway, since they don't seem fit for fighting in the warrior sense. Heh.
++ I found it interesting how Castiel eats. Like, I never had any fascination watching others eat, because it's kind of awkward and a little strange, but there's something with how Misha portrays Castiel's eating habits, especially since this is the first time we've seen Castiel eat anything, was just interesting to see. Plus, did you all notice just how animated Castiel seemed? He was so distracted by the burgers too (bringing forth more nicknames from Dean, "the Hamburglar"? "Happy Meal"? Idky but I find these little petnames cute, heh)
++ Nothing says "I love you" more that cannibalism. Yummy.
++ Disgusting and gross this episode was, though I might not have been squeamish like others are because hey, I can watch gorey horror films while eating myself (because I am some kind of freak, apparently) but afterwards uh, yeah. I thought twice about eating something.
++ "It's Famine" LOL oh Castiel, you never learn do you?
++ Neither does Dean, apparently, because he punches Cupid not remembering that punching angels is like punching your hand against concrete. *shakes head* Oh boys.
++ I'm very proud of Sam, he resisted and he knew he was being affected by the need for hunger, and he tried to stop it. But it was too much to handle. Oh, the poor boy.
++ QUESTION: I'm still confused about Sam's powers, since I thought that the demon blood was just a mindtrick thing for him to think he needed the blood to boost himself up, but like Ruby had said to him he didn't need the blood. The blood was like the Dumbo's feather, he has the ability inside him all along. Or is this more about being power-hungry for that taste of blood, that once getting hooked you can't stop? Like those who are alcoholics and start to recover, you know you want to but you resist until something pushes you over the edge, like in this episode with the effects of Famine's power. But that makes me wonder, with Sam's hunger for the power and his obvious rage, all these are things that Lucifer needs, and him seeking redemption how will he contain it all? It's just kind of confusing for me right now.
++ PARALLEL: In comparison with Buffy the Vampire Slayer this time, I couldn't help but think of how Dean and Sam are just like Buffy and Willow in S6; Willow with her dark magic addictions and Buffy just going through the motions of life after being brought back. Interesting, really.
++ I didn't like Famine comparing Castiel to a dog, obviously, because it said it in the nastiest, degrading way possible (and where Castiel is kneeling on the floor, all fours, eating ground meat from the bin, oh God such a horrible thing). However, in the sense of being absolutely faithful and loyal towards the Winchesters, Dean especially, that's where I see the dog comparison. Because let's face it, Castiel is sorta like a puppy. A lovable, adorable and sweet puppy, and gets all protective over the boys whenever danger lurks.
++ THE ENDING SCENE OH GOD. Whenever you need a good angst scene, always count on Jensen Ackles to give his best performances. From the single mantear to the mainpain, yeah. It's not Supernatural unless there's angst involved. Just seeing Dean plead and pray to whoever is listening, that just broke my heart. His face when he and Castiel were standing outside the panic room, and Castiel trying to reassure him (which was beautiful because Castiel doesn't normally do the reassuring thing, but he does it with Dean and I love that). But that ending, with him leaving to go outside. Just, God. WHY DIDN'T THEY HAVE CASTIEL GO OUT THERE TO COMFORT HIM, FOR GOODNESS SAKES?! HURT/COMFORT PPL. HURT/COMFORT, LET HIM HAVE A HUG FROM HIS ANGEL DAMMIT. :(((
++ BEN EDLUND, I FUCKING LOVE YOU TO PIECES. Write for more episodes, okay? You bring out the best of the show and the characters, particularly with loads more Dean/Castiel moments (and Castiel and the boys really, them together being awesome is great stuff). PLUS NEXT TIME HAVE SOME DEAN/CAS HUGGAGE, PLZ?! They both need it.
Overall: From a streak of some random episodes that weren't exactly on my radar of that interesting, we finally get back to the swing of things with these last two and "My Bloody Valentine" really got back to how the show should continue to be. It's not that I don't like the occasional monster-of-the-week episodes, but we shouldn't have them constantly in a season where the boys should be more focused on the larger issue, being the Apocalypse and Heaven and Hell and all of that. "My Bloody Valentine" was a combination of the hilarity with the gross factor, and tying in with the apocalyptic storyline while hitting those emotional points with the boys towards the end. This had the kind of formula of what "Changing Channels" was, only with more gore and bloody and grossness. And I loved it, a lot. Plus any episode with Castiel getting into antics with the boys is alright with me, especially if it contains more of the Dean/Castiel goodness because I've missed their epic chemistry. ♥
Frakking hiatus, oh well. We have time to think and analyze things over and get prepared for the last half of the season, hopefully with minimal interruption the next go around. It just seemed like we came back from the long winter hellatus, and now we're in yet another one. Ugh.
Hey, it still doesn't beat the seven month hiatus between the first half and the second half of the final season of BSG, let me tell you. Now that was a hellatus if anything.
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I seriously doubt Jimmy is still really there, there is parts of him that are from the sounds of it but I am sure Jimmy would want to see his wife and daughter instead of craving meat, the meat craving sounds like physical body thing rather than Jimmy being alive. Also, none of the characters on the show treat Jimmy like he is still alive so it's easy for me to not do so, even though I suspect there are parts of him still tied to Castiel's being.
I am also pleased by the show using Castiel wisely and proving he can be an integral part of the show on an almost weekly basis.
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but I am sure Jimmy would want to see his wife and daughter instead of craving meat, the meat craving sounds like physical body thing rather than Jimmy being alive.
Definitely. Jimmy had strong feelings towards going back to his family in "The Rapture", if he had still been in there somewhere his hunger would have craved the love of them instead of the meat. So this is more of a residual physical body reaction than anything else, and you're right about the show not treating as though he is still there. So yeah, I'm fully convinced that there are still echoes there but mostly it's all Castiel now.
I am also pleased by the show using Castiel wisely and proving he can be an integral part of the show on an almost weekly basis.
Yeah, they've done a pretty good job with making him an interesting asset to whatever is happening in each episode. Though I do wish we could see what he's been doing with his search for God, I like seeing him in these kinds of episodes with the boys too.
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++ PARALLEL: In comparison with Buffy the Vampire Slayer this time, I couldn't help but think of how Dean and Sam are just like Buffy and Willow in S6; Willow with her dark magic addictions and Buffy just going through the motions of life after being brought back. Interesting, really.
OMG! Yes! I am so glad to see I am no the only one who sees the parallels.
++ I didn't like Famine comparing Castiel to a dog, obviously, because it said it in the nastiest, degrading way possible (and where Castiel is kneeling on the floor, all fours, eating ground meat from the bin, oh God such a horrible thing). However, in the sense of being absolutely faithful and loyal towards the Winchesters, Dean especially, that's where I see the dog comparison. Because let's face it, Castiel is sorta like a puppy. A lovable, adorable and sweet puppy, and gets all protective over the boys whenever danger lurks.
Once again, I agree. Castiel is incredibly loyal to those who places his faith in.
All I gotta say this eps. was ripe for H/C fics.
I do believe Famine was lying though. If Dean was truly dead, he wouldn't be praying for help. He's just broken. I really wish that had Cas comforting like they did in S4 but I guess he had to stay and watch Sam.
Still, the Dean/Cas interactions were WAY better that the last eps. I mean Cas was actually part of the team and not passed out off screen.
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Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm thinking as well. The body itself wasn't physically his for a long time, and with Jimmy's soul having been departed the echoes of what that body needs still lingers, such as craving for certain foods and the like. Castiel is certainly becoming more and more human in that regard with his being now attached to that particular body, so of course he would be influenced.
OMG! Yes! I am so glad to see I am no the only one who sees the parallels.
Heh, someone mentioned this comparison last season but I think it's more relevant now with everything that's going on and their own personal journeys and such.
I do believe Famine was lying though. If Dean was truly dead, he wouldn't be praying for help. He's just broken. I really wish that had Cas comforting like they did in S4 but I guess he had to stay and watch Sam.
But this got to thinking about why would Famine lie? Perhaps it's something that would break Dean even more once realizing his problem of not having any particular hunger for anything that he would start to consider saying yes to the angels? Because if he were truly dead inside he wouldn't care, he would just want things to be done and over with. But he's most certainly not dead inside. He cares, he's held on this long, hanging by just a thin string of course, but he wouldn't be dead inside if he were out praying for help. He feels, he wants to do something, but he's just broken and at loss with everything that's been happening around him. Broken, but not a lost cause.
It really did make me wish they had a comforting scene between him and Castiel, a freaking hug for goodness sakes or something. *le sigh* But heh you're right, this episode spawned shitloads of hurt/comfort fics.
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Dean, Dean, Dean . . . breaking my heart into a tiny million pieces. But that's just what he is: BROKEN. Not dead. He's just stuffed all of that so far down in himself, repressed all of his emotions so deeply that he feels dead. He needs someone to remind him how much he loves life and how passionate he still is, that there's still stuff worth fighting for. And that someone would be Cas. ;D
Loved your comparison of the boys to season 6 Buffy and Willow. Interesting to think that they both had to hit rock bottom before they were able to recover--Buffy crawled out of that grave with Dawn, ready to begin her new life and show Dawn the world, and Willow had to learn to control her addiction and use her powers for good. Will we see Sam learning to control and use his powers for good, and will we see Dean crawl back out of his hell because of Cas giving him something to live for, with him wanting to show Cas the world and how wonderful it is? Thoughts to ponder....
Also? I <333 BEN EDLUND.
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From the way it was described it was hell being stuck without any control, so I would hate to think that Jimmy still is existing in the background suffering all this time. :( I would think that God or Castiel or whoever was generous enough to let his soul be at peace, because after everything he had done his part. He deserves that at least of all he'd given up and sacrificed, don'tcha think?
But that's just what he is: BROKEN. Not dead. He's just stuffed all of that so far down in himself, repressed all of his emotions so deeply that he feels dead. He needs someone to remind him how much he loves life and how passionate he still is, that there's still stuff worth fighting for. And that someone would be Cas. ;D
Major word to this, especially the Castiel being the one to show him part. ;)
Will we see Sam learning to control and use his powers for good, and will we see Dean crawl back out of his hell because of Cas giving him something to live for, with him wanting to show Cas the world and how wonderful it is? Thoughts to ponder....
Dude, this is what I'm hoping will happen, because it's just so perfect and right for their individual journeys to mesh together in such a way to make everything right again. I've actually been wanting Sam to control his powers and use them for good for quite some time now, and Dean reaching out and knowing the beauty of life and wanting it to show to Castiel? Oh man, that would be epic and not just in the slashy/shippy way either, but it would mean both boys have grown from all they've suffered from over the years. :D :D :D
BEN EDLUND IS JUST LOVE, HE SHOULD WRITE FOR ALL THE EPISODES. ♥
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Yep, I totally agree.
Dude, this is what I'm hoping will happen, because it's just so perfect and right for their individual journeys to mesh together in such a way to make everything right again. I've actually been wanting Sam to control his powers and use them for good for quite some time now, and Dean reaching out and knowing the beauty of life and wanting it to show to Castiel? Oh man, that would be epic and not just in the slashy/shippy way either, but it would mean both boys have grown from all they've suffered from over the years. :D :D :D
I know! This is exactly what I've decided I want to happen after reading what you posted about the parallels.
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When Cas smiles in the car about how much he enjoys the burgers I was all OMGZADORABLES!!! Misha has such an expressive face that sometimes I feel it is a shame that he has to be such the straight man all of the time (even though I love straight faced Cas). So yes indeed, it was awesome getting to see a more animated Cas for an episode.
I think the Dumbo talk was more about Sam choosing to make the choices that he did and go down that path, as well as his need for the power more than the blood itself. That's how it comes across to me. Even in this episode it seems like the blood is what he hungers at first, but really to me the blood is just the fuel for his true hunger - the power.
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My thoughts exactly. He would be wanting the love of his family or his freedom, not food. It's definitely a residual thing of the body, and the more I read other people's thoughts on this the more I'm convinced of it.
Yeah, I'm happy they used expressive!Castiel in this episode, he was all sorts of adorable. ♥
Even in this episode it seems like the blood is what he hungers at first, but really to me the blood is just the fuel for his true hunger - the power.
Yeah, that's probably it, he still thinks the blood is the source but really his hunger is really for that power that's still deep inside of him, what he's been repressing and trying to redeem himself from ever using. This has me thinking that if Sam starts training himself to use his powers for good (and not what he thinks is good, like last season) things might go over more smoothly when they come face to face with Lucifer again, because it's not helping matters if he keeps pushing it down. I don't know.
Also...
When Dean and Castiel are having their cute little banter while we're focusing on Sam in the motel room, Dean jokes about him being the Hamburglar and Castiel replies, "I have developed a taste for ground beef." Later in the car, Castiel tells Dean that the beef makes him happy. He keeps referring back to himself, meaning that he's starting to be accustomed to the human body and its needs such as hunger and food.
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i've always thought that it was just a possible future. one that might or might not happen, but could, and perhaps zachariah chose it because it was one of the worst, or because it was such a desolate world, i don't know. but i do think that by showing dean that possible future - one of many - he fucked up his own plan. he obviously didn't know dean well enough to know that dean wouldn't just give up, and i also believe dean knows that that's a future he doesn't want, would never want, and will do anything to avoid it (short of saying yes to michael, that is). so yeah. i actually love that the situation is starting to get similar, the little things that make it seem like it's something that will happen - because i believe it won't. not really. sure, cas is becoming more and more human, sure, sam's still struggling. but dean knows what he doesn't want to happen, and what kind of person he doesn't want cas to be, what he doesn't want sam to do, and i believe (i have to believe) that dean'll do his very best for it to go a whole other route.
and, frankly, I DON'T WANT CAS TO BE WHAT HE WAS IN 5.04. FUCK NO. D:
He might be devastated and broken for sure, after everything that's happened and might be at loss of what to do and where to go next, but he's definitely not empty inside.
definitely not, i completely agree with you on that. sure, he's broken. he's broken in ways most people can't even imagine, and he's entitled to it, what with, you know, hell and all. but he's not dead inside. if he were, he wouldn't feel so broken. he wouldn't feel the desperation, the sadness. he wouldn't feel much of anything at all. he wouldn't care, and he does, so fucking much it almost breaks my heart. i just really want him to get that chance to heal, the last push that tells him yeah, it's okay to be okay. that's why it's just nice to sometimes watch a few season one & two episodes, because he's so much happier in them.
something i don't like, though, is that they rarely have cas do anything other than bringing the boys a case or randomly helping them out. i miss cas kicking ass. i want more of kickass castiel, i really fucking do. don't get me wrong, i LOVE that he's such an important character these days, and i love it even more when the boys and castiel rely on each other, but damn, do i want some ass kicking to happen. :D
and BEN EDLUND FUCK YEAH. :D
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That's my feeling too, now that Dean has seen a possible future he's going to do whatever it takes to make sure it doesn't happen, and I'm sure that what was seen will be averted. There are those little things that do appear which resemble what we saw in that future, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's going to come true. Not in the slightest, it's just the development of the characters, and more importantly how they'll get through with it once averting the Apocalypse.
Oh and yes, I certainly don't want future!Castiel either. :( So devastating watching that version of. I love our Castiel of now, kthx. Like Dean said, "don't ever change." ♥
i just really want him to get that chance to heal, the last push that tells him yeah, it's okay to be okay. that's why it's just nice to sometimes watch a few season one & two episodes, because he's so much happier in them.
God, watching the first season is like watching a completely different Dean Winchester. He's so full of life and hope, he's laughing and smiling and so carefree and just being Dean, whereas now where he's gone through so much that he's just holding on. It's like going on this rollarcoaster with him, you know? Dean's endured so much and sacrificed so much that he's hitting that rock bottom of being so torn and broken, that I really wish the show wouldn't continue kicking him while he's still down, you know? Allow him to heal, give him time to understand his purpose and the next step on his journey. I seriously wanted Castiel to be there at the end of this episode to comfort him, because he needs that much. :(
something i don't like, though, is that they rarely have cas do anything other than bringing the boys a case or randomly helping them out. i miss cas kicking ass. i want more of kickass castiel, i really fucking do. don't get me wrong, i LOVE that he's such an important character these days, and i love it even more when the boys and castiel rely on each other, but damn, do i want some ass kicking to happen. :D
Heh, well while they have integrated him into the more relevant episodes to the cause rather than having him in pointless filler episodes they've had this season, I do agree we need more of Castiel being the BAMF that he is, let him get all down and dirty with his swordplay (that sounded wrong somehow, lol!). I kinda want them to return to his mission of finding God, especially with Dean's amulet because that was something they placed in the beginning of the season but haven't (yet) returned to. I'm hoping in the last half they'll focus more on that.
BEN EDLUND SHOULD WRITE THE ENTIRE SHOW, I SWEAR. I WOULD BE A HAPPY BUNNY IF HE DOES. :D :D :D
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However, in the sense of being absolutely faithful and loyal towards the Winchesters, Dean especially, that's where I see the dog comparison. Because let's face it, Castiel is sorta like a puppy.
Oh, he is exactly like a puppy. So Dean, don't you give him the cold shoulder; he's just going to stay there and stare at you with big, sad puppy eyes, all lost and confused and oh-so-loyal.
But Dean is not dead inside, no freaking way.
He's depressed.
PLUS NEXT TIME HAVE SOME DEAN/CAS HUGGAGE, PLZ?! They both need it.
DAMN RIGHT. Also, more scenes like the phone conversation with personal space issues, thank you very much!
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I agree with you though, I don't want Castiel to become fully human. He's getting tastes and understanding firsthand about humanity while still maintaining his angelic status, but I want him to remain in that status; to stay innocent and pure.
*nods* Dean is shattered, depressed and broken, given everything he's gone through. But he can be fixed, he's not a lost cause at all. He needs to regain his hope, to have something to have faith in, and I want Castiel to be there to remind him of that and to be the one to fix him again.
DAMN RIGHT. Also, more scenes like the phone conversation with personal space issues, thank you very much!
YES TO ALL OF THIS. :D :D :D