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rogueslayer452) wrote2010-11-02 07:48 am
rogueslayer452) wrote2010-11-02 07:48 am
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SPN: "You Can't Handle The Truth" Episode Review + Meta
Supernatural 6.06 "You Can't Handle The Truth"
Suspicious that something is definitely wrong with his brother, Dean keeps a close eye on him hoping to look for clear evidence of anything unusual as instructed by Bobby. They go on a case where there's been a series of multiple suicides in a particular area. Suicides that are linked to having the harsh truth being told to them wherever the victim goes, and results to them killing themselves. Believing it might be Gabriel's Horn of Truth, Dean contacts Castiel, but Castiel says it's not the horn that is causing this. Dean is then mysteriously cursed by the spell of truth himself. They discover this is the work of Veritas, the Goddess of Truth. The suicides are meant as a ritual sacrifice for her. After finding out who she is, they follow her in attempts to kill her, only they are faced with getting knocked with the truth about each other. Dean admits the lies he's been living, and he also discovers the shocking revelation that Sam isn't himself after all. Sam has no soul.
After killing Veritas Dean demands the truth, and when Sam tells him about feeling absolutely nothing, of basically admitting to having no soul. Dean unleashing his pent up frustrations and beats his brother unconscious.
This episode brings us typical Winchester angst, but at least something has been revealed and confirmed to move forward on.
The Wincesters: Was what Dean did to Sam necessary?
One of the major hot topics that have been circulating fandom currently is the very last scene in the episode where Dean is senselessly beating Sam until he's unconscious. How could Dean have done that? Why would he have even considered doing that to his own brother? Why to that extreme?
First let's take into account what this episode focuses on. Those cursed with the truth spell encounter plenty of harsh truths by everyone they come across, including loved ones, to the point where they do something drastic such as taking their own lives or the live of others because they cannot handle the brutal honesty that they are faced with, their emotions are triggered immensely that they make the first impulsive move that overcomes them. Now let's look at everything Dean has been encountering not just with the truth curse, but within the last year (and then some). The revelation about Sam was the final straw that ultimately broke that dam that was building inside of him, and it really must have stung knowing that your brother not only lied to you but lied multiple times to your face knowingly playing it up to his own advantage. How can anyone blame Dean for reacting the way he did? It was finding out someone you loved and cared about knowingly placed you in danger but did absolutely nothing about it, and continually lied to you until they were caught red-handed by someone else. How would anyone with that kind of emotionally and psychologically fucked up head react? It's a knife that twisted his gut so deep he didn't know what to do, and did the only thing he could do right then after finding all of this out after having shit being unloaded onto him in one day.
Was it unnecessarily harsh and brutal, and totally reckless? Of course it was, but I felt it was necessary for the current fucked up situation they're both in. They wouldn't be the Winchesters if there wasn't some irrational kind of way of dealing with their issues in some form or another, something that does need to be worked on, and hopefully it will at some point after shit gets back to semi-normal. Seriously, the melodramatics have gone on too long and I think the majority of us are sick of it.
I honestly found this scene incredibly effective, because it was the very last moment of the episode. Dean is beating the living shit out of his brother, with no noise other than the smacking of flesh of Dean's fist into his brother's face until he's unconscious, then dead silence when the screen goes black. It was unnerving, and appropriately so and I think we're meant to have a mixed reaction about what happened in that last scene, from Sam's confession to Dean lashing out as brutally as he did. Everything is totally fucked up, it's all wrong and twisted, and yet it fits with how disoriented everything has been lately. You could clearly see Dean was emotionally disturbed by everything that was revealed to him, how upset he was after beating up his brother, just unleashing all of his anger and pent up emotion in that moment was so real and raw and perfect.
Was it necessary for him to lash out like that? Perhaps not, however it's understandable given everything that's happened. Anyone would have reacted the same way, and I don't blame Dean for doing what he did. It was just an unnerving scene that I think took people by surprising.
Sam Winchester: Soulless Monster = Better Hunter?
Sam doesn't have a soul. He doesn't feel anything. Good to have confirmation on this matter, however there is something else has drawn my curiosity from this episode.
Since we got part of the revealed truth it makes me wonder about how souls are represented in the Supernatural universe and what this could possibly mean. It had been said multiple times this season that Sam has been a better hunter in the last year, he even announces it to Dean that he's better than he's ever been in his life. Mostly due to having absolutely no feelings, no emotional ties whatsoever. Would having no soul make someone a better hunter or fighter? How would one describe a human soul, as part of their conscience? We've never seen something like this in the mythology before, since I always assumed that a person's soul is who they were, without it they were dead. So what does that make Sam, if that's really truly Sam? Is he just a walking/talking shell of the person he used to be? This needs to be cleared up soon because there's no solid groundwork to the mythology surrounding souls in this show, which is kind of a shame.
Another thing, which many are debating about, is whether Sam was being sincere as he revealed the truth to his brother, that he really doesn't understand what is happening to him. However if he didn't understand then why all the charades until he was called out on it to begin with? His actions outweigh any sympathy going for him. Even if he didn't understand what was happening he has been sketchy since day one; he willingly lied to Dean straight to his face and played it off like he really was telling the truth. More than once he's done this, and that is the ultimate betrayal of trust. Even if he is telling the truth about not understanding what happened to him, he used his new "soullessness" of not feeling anything to his selfish advantage. He only cares about the work, not for the people involved, and certainly not for his brother. No wonder Dean beat him shitless, that is perhaps the worst kind of thing to learn about your only sibling. It's almost a fate worse than having them remain dead, in all honesty.
Could this be connected to the Alpha situation, where there is need of a soulless, emotionless army of the most efficient fighters and warriors? From the preview for this week's episode it might be so....
I'm not entirely sure what is happening with this storyline, while I admit to not being huge on Sam's character for the longest time this has me somewhat mildly curious how it all fits together. But there needs to be something connected to whatever is happening soon and fast. Now the question is where is Sam's soul and can they retrieve it?
Truth Hurts: Could You Handle The Brutality Of The Truth?
One of the intriguing aspects of the episode for me was bringing in the Goddess of Truth. While the entire Gabriel's Horn of Truth was such a red-herring tease, I think it proposed something about how certain characters handle the truth. In the beginning we see character killing themselves because they truly couldn't handle the truth, however when we take a Winchester it's a whole different ballgame.
Living a lie, being caught in a lie, and sometimes believing in a lie so hard that they think it's absolute truth. Our boys hardly deal with the brutality of such truths that well, in fact when it gets slammed onto them with such force it's like an anvil on top of an anvil crushing them. Both of them have been suffering from these lies, these ways of dealing with their own lives and destinies that the harsh reality gets to them. We've seen how they deal with it, through anger and denial, and now when faced with he ultimate test of their own mortality we see that Dean has to face the reality of something he's always known deep down but couldn't allow himself to face. He's been letdown so many times in his life that, even if everything that happened in the last year was based on a falsehood, he desperately wanted to cling to something (whether or not we agree that it was ever the smartest choice to make in regards of his character, but I digress), and even with the smallest little thing he wanted to cling to with his brother being back that turned out to be a lie even after thinking he had been wrong about Sam being a monster. Sam also had to be challenged of his own mortality in the past, and whether he is now or not because of his lack of a soul that's still in question, but they've gone through so much that sometimes the brutal truth might be the only thing that can save them.
We already know the brothers have trust issues and countless other things in their dysfunctional little family of theirs, and they've been living their lives in a huge lie for so long I think they've forgotten what it's like to live truthfully. The main thing now is how they start progressing from all of this.
Memorable Moments of the Episode:
++ Jensen Ackles looks extra pretty in this episode, and I'm not entirely sure how that is possible. I think from the close-ups and his reactions to many things, especially during him observing scenes and looking completely on the verge of breaking, those are some of the best captures for him. In any case, I loved how Jensen did in this episode in portraying Dean as someone who is trying to keep it together until he finally just snapped in the end. There are plenty good scenes were the subtly of his acting is so well done it kind of amazes me just how good of an actor he really is. I mean, we've known this sure, but sometimes you get lost in it.
++ LOL CONTINUITY FAIL. Someone pointed out that when they visit the first victim's house the calender read 2010 -- according to their timeline it's 2011 because they skipped a year. SPN DUN GOOF'D!
++ Sam is creepy in this episode, I'm not sure whether I should be impressed or irked by it, even with the revelation in the end....
++ But not more creepy than the creep/gore factor of this episode. First with the suicide, then with the dentist scene (making more people afraid of seeing the dentist!), and the mutilated corpses inside of Veritas's house that looked like something from Chainsaw Massacre or whatever. This show, I swear.
++ HAY CASTIEL! LONG TIME NO SEE BB!
++ "You were gone for like two seconds, where'd you look?" "...Everywhere." LOL CASTIEL ILU.
CASTIEL POURS HIM ANOTHER DRINK AND KEEP ON WITH THE EYESEXING DURING IT THE ENTIRE TIME, THEY ARE SO MARRIED. ♥
++ I hope Dean stops being an ungrateful jerk to Castiel, though. He really should be taking what Bobby scolded them about being selfish into account, especially with others who also have helped them time and again in the past like Castiel. I understand Dean doesn't really know how to articulate his feelings properly and ends up lashing out in this manner, but did you see Castiel's confused-hurt expression on his face? I mean Jesus Christ Dean, give your poor angel boyfriend a break. He's dealing with family issues just like you are, be at least a little sympathetic with being at war with his brothers. Of course it brought such an amazing subtexty scene between them, as always.
++ I disliked that Gabriel's Horn of Truth was merely a red-herring (although it was an excuse to get Castiel into the episode, which I appreciated), and I just hope that it's not all for nothing. That the Horn will be used later at some point. Perhaps with an actual discussion/reappearance by Gabriel himself? *prays*
++ BOBBY IS LOVE. HE GETS PEDICURES AND WATCHES 90210 AND I LOVE IT. Dean's reactions to all of this was priceless. XD
++ DEAN AND LISA ARE FINALLY OFFICIALLY OVER, LET US REJOICE! NO MORE BAD "DOMESTICATED" MELODRAMATIC BULLSHIT! \O/\O/\O/\O/ I'm sorry, but I can never be convinced that entire thing was meant to be serious or even part of canon to begin with. It was horribly written and characters were badly treated, and I'm praying, for the love of everything that is holy, that Lisa never ever returns. Let her character go with the last shred of dignity she has left.because of they bring her back to welcome Dean with "open arms" again I am going to cut some bitches I still think it's kind of meh how they used a truth spell to handle this, but if this wasn't gonna do it it wasn't ever gonna happen. The quicker the better, I suppose.
++ Can we just talk about how fucking gorgeous Veritas was? Hot damn girl. Also must have her wardrobe, they did good. Just saying. ♥
++ I've already talked about the ending scene ad nauseum, my final say is that as unnerving as it was it was definitely appropriate for the fucked up way they live their lives. The lies, the charades, it stops here, and hopefully they will figure shit out from now on. *prays they move forward*
++ Needed more Castiel though, I'm just saying. However....
++ STOP MISSPELLING CASTIEL'S NAME SHOW! I AM NOT GONNA TELL YOU AGAIN! *cue rage!face*
Overall: It was a pretty good episode. Not outstanding, but not bad. There was some progression of what the hell has been happening with Sam, and in the most brutal way possible gave us something to go on in moving forward in this particular storyline. It has gotten me mildly interested in what is happening with Sam (and the Campbells), so let's hope they continue that streak. We also get Dean facing more brutal truths in a single day than he can handle, which again his reaction in the end is totally understandable given all of that and a lot more of what he's gone through. Even with Castiel's brief appearance I loved it even more than most of the scenes featured in this episode, which is totally not showing how biased I am. ;p Anyway, with the truth spell of the Goddess Veritas we learned something about Sam being soulless, and now perhaps onto juicer things that won't make this season an entire bore.
Suspicious that something is definitely wrong with his brother, Dean keeps a close eye on him hoping to look for clear evidence of anything unusual as instructed by Bobby. They go on a case where there's been a series of multiple suicides in a particular area. Suicides that are linked to having the harsh truth being told to them wherever the victim goes, and results to them killing themselves. Believing it might be Gabriel's Horn of Truth, Dean contacts Castiel, but Castiel says it's not the horn that is causing this. Dean is then mysteriously cursed by the spell of truth himself. They discover this is the work of Veritas, the Goddess of Truth. The suicides are meant as a ritual sacrifice for her. After finding out who she is, they follow her in attempts to kill her, only they are faced with getting knocked with the truth about each other. Dean admits the lies he's been living, and he also discovers the shocking revelation that Sam isn't himself after all. Sam has no soul.
After killing Veritas Dean demands the truth, and when Sam tells him about feeling absolutely nothing, of basically admitting to having no soul. Dean unleashing his pent up frustrations and beats his brother unconscious.
This episode brings us typical Winchester angst, but at least something has been revealed and confirmed to move forward on.
The Wincesters: Was what Dean did to Sam necessary?
One of the major hot topics that have been circulating fandom currently is the very last scene in the episode where Dean is senselessly beating Sam until he's unconscious. How could Dean have done that? Why would he have even considered doing that to his own brother? Why to that extreme?
First let's take into account what this episode focuses on. Those cursed with the truth spell encounter plenty of harsh truths by everyone they come across, including loved ones, to the point where they do something drastic such as taking their own lives or the live of others because they cannot handle the brutal honesty that they are faced with, their emotions are triggered immensely that they make the first impulsive move that overcomes them. Now let's look at everything Dean has been encountering not just with the truth curse, but within the last year (and then some). The revelation about Sam was the final straw that ultimately broke that dam that was building inside of him, and it really must have stung knowing that your brother not only lied to you but lied multiple times to your face knowingly playing it up to his own advantage. How can anyone blame Dean for reacting the way he did? It was finding out someone you loved and cared about knowingly placed you in danger but did absolutely nothing about it, and continually lied to you until they were caught red-handed by someone else. How would anyone with that kind of emotionally and psychologically fucked up head react? It's a knife that twisted his gut so deep he didn't know what to do, and did the only thing he could do right then after finding all of this out after having shit being unloaded onto him in one day.
Was it unnecessarily harsh and brutal, and totally reckless? Of course it was, but I felt it was necessary for the current fucked up situation they're both in. They wouldn't be the Winchesters if there wasn't some irrational kind of way of dealing with their issues in some form or another, something that does need to be worked on, and hopefully it will at some point after shit gets back to semi-normal. Seriously, the melodramatics have gone on too long and I think the majority of us are sick of it.
I honestly found this scene incredibly effective, because it was the very last moment of the episode. Dean is beating the living shit out of his brother, with no noise other than the smacking of flesh of Dean's fist into his brother's face until he's unconscious, then dead silence when the screen goes black. It was unnerving, and appropriately so and I think we're meant to have a mixed reaction about what happened in that last scene, from Sam's confession to Dean lashing out as brutally as he did. Everything is totally fucked up, it's all wrong and twisted, and yet it fits with how disoriented everything has been lately. You could clearly see Dean was emotionally disturbed by everything that was revealed to him, how upset he was after beating up his brother, just unleashing all of his anger and pent up emotion in that moment was so real and raw and perfect.
Was it necessary for him to lash out like that? Perhaps not, however it's understandable given everything that's happened. Anyone would have reacted the same way, and I don't blame Dean for doing what he did. It was just an unnerving scene that I think took people by surprising.
Sam Winchester: Soulless Monster = Better Hunter?
Sam doesn't have a soul. He doesn't feel anything. Good to have confirmation on this matter, however there is something else has drawn my curiosity from this episode.
Since we got part of the revealed truth it makes me wonder about how souls are represented in the Supernatural universe and what this could possibly mean. It had been said multiple times this season that Sam has been a better hunter in the last year, he even announces it to Dean that he's better than he's ever been in his life. Mostly due to having absolutely no feelings, no emotional ties whatsoever. Would having no soul make someone a better hunter or fighter? How would one describe a human soul, as part of their conscience? We've never seen something like this in the mythology before, since I always assumed that a person's soul is who they were, without it they were dead. So what does that make Sam, if that's really truly Sam? Is he just a walking/talking shell of the person he used to be? This needs to be cleared up soon because there's no solid groundwork to the mythology surrounding souls in this show, which is kind of a shame.
Another thing, which many are debating about, is whether Sam was being sincere as he revealed the truth to his brother, that he really doesn't understand what is happening to him. However if he didn't understand then why all the charades until he was called out on it to begin with? His actions outweigh any sympathy going for him. Even if he didn't understand what was happening he has been sketchy since day one; he willingly lied to Dean straight to his face and played it off like he really was telling the truth. More than once he's done this, and that is the ultimate betrayal of trust. Even if he is telling the truth about not understanding what happened to him, he used his new "soullessness" of not feeling anything to his selfish advantage. He only cares about the work, not for the people involved, and certainly not for his brother. No wonder Dean beat him shitless, that is perhaps the worst kind of thing to learn about your only sibling. It's almost a fate worse than having them remain dead, in all honesty.
Could this be connected to the Alpha situation, where there is need of a soulless, emotionless army of the most efficient fighters and warriors? From the preview for this week's episode it might be so....
I'm not entirely sure what is happening with this storyline, while I admit to not being huge on Sam's character for the longest time this has me somewhat mildly curious how it all fits together. But there needs to be something connected to whatever is happening soon and fast. Now the question is where is Sam's soul and can they retrieve it?
Truth Hurts: Could You Handle The Brutality Of The Truth?
One of the intriguing aspects of the episode for me was bringing in the Goddess of Truth. While the entire Gabriel's Horn of Truth was such a red-herring tease, I think it proposed something about how certain characters handle the truth. In the beginning we see character killing themselves because they truly couldn't handle the truth, however when we take a Winchester it's a whole different ballgame.
Living a lie, being caught in a lie, and sometimes believing in a lie so hard that they think it's absolute truth. Our boys hardly deal with the brutality of such truths that well, in fact when it gets slammed onto them with such force it's like an anvil on top of an anvil crushing them. Both of them have been suffering from these lies, these ways of dealing with their own lives and destinies that the harsh reality gets to them. We've seen how they deal with it, through anger and denial, and now when faced with he ultimate test of their own mortality we see that Dean has to face the reality of something he's always known deep down but couldn't allow himself to face. He's been letdown so many times in his life that, even if everything that happened in the last year was based on a falsehood, he desperately wanted to cling to something (whether or not we agree that it was ever the smartest choice to make in regards of his character, but I digress), and even with the smallest little thing he wanted to cling to with his brother being back that turned out to be a lie even after thinking he had been wrong about Sam being a monster. Sam also had to be challenged of his own mortality in the past, and whether he is now or not because of his lack of a soul that's still in question, but they've gone through so much that sometimes the brutal truth might be the only thing that can save them.
We already know the brothers have trust issues and countless other things in their dysfunctional little family of theirs, and they've been living their lives in a huge lie for so long I think they've forgotten what it's like to live truthfully. The main thing now is how they start progressing from all of this.
Memorable Moments of the Episode:
++ Jensen Ackles looks extra pretty in this episode, and I'm not entirely sure how that is possible. I think from the close-ups and his reactions to many things, especially during him observing scenes and looking completely on the verge of breaking, those are some of the best captures for him. In any case, I loved how Jensen did in this episode in portraying Dean as someone who is trying to keep it together until he finally just snapped in the end. There are plenty good scenes were the subtly of his acting is so well done it kind of amazes me just how good of an actor he really is. I mean, we've known this sure, but sometimes you get lost in it.
++ LOL CONTINUITY FAIL. Someone pointed out that when they visit the first victim's house the calender read 2010 -- according to their timeline it's 2011 because they skipped a year. SPN DUN GOOF'D!
++ Sam is creepy in this episode, I'm not sure whether I should be impressed or irked by it, even with the revelation in the end....
++ But not more creepy than the creep/gore factor of this episode. First with the suicide, then with the dentist scene (making more people afraid of seeing the dentist!), and the mutilated corpses inside of Veritas's house that looked like something from Chainsaw Massacre or whatever. This show, I swear.
++ HAY CASTIEL! LONG TIME NO SEE BB!
++ "You were gone for like two seconds, where'd you look?" "...Everywhere." LOL CASTIEL ILU.
CASTIEL POURS HIM ANOTHER DRINK AND KEEP ON WITH THE EYESEXING DURING IT THE ENTIRE TIME, THEY ARE SO MARRIED. ♥
++ I hope Dean stops being an ungrateful jerk to Castiel, though. He really should be taking what Bobby scolded them about being selfish into account, especially with others who also have helped them time and again in the past like Castiel. I understand Dean doesn't really know how to articulate his feelings properly and ends up lashing out in this manner, but did you see Castiel's confused-hurt expression on his face? I mean Jesus Christ Dean, give your poor angel boyfriend a break. He's dealing with family issues just like you are, be at least a little sympathetic with being at war with his brothers. Of course it brought such an amazing subtexty scene between them, as always.
++ I disliked that Gabriel's Horn of Truth was merely a red-herring (although it was an excuse to get Castiel into the episode, which I appreciated), and I just hope that it's not all for nothing. That the Horn will be used later at some point. Perhaps with an actual discussion/reappearance by Gabriel himself? *prays*
++ BOBBY IS LOVE. HE GETS PEDICURES AND WATCHES 90210 AND I LOVE IT. Dean's reactions to all of this was priceless. XD
++ DEAN AND LISA ARE FINALLY OFFICIALLY OVER, LET US REJOICE! NO MORE BAD "DOMESTICATED" MELODRAMATIC BULLSHIT! \O/\O/\O/\O/ I'm sorry, but I can never be convinced that entire thing was meant to be serious or even part of canon to begin with. It was horribly written and characters were badly treated, and I'm praying, for the love of everything that is holy, that Lisa never ever returns. Let her character go with the last shred of dignity she has left.
++ Can we just talk about how fucking gorgeous Veritas was? Hot damn girl. Also must have her wardrobe, they did good. Just saying. ♥
++ I've already talked about the ending scene ad nauseum, my final say is that as unnerving as it was it was definitely appropriate for the fucked up way they live their lives. The lies, the charades, it stops here, and hopefully they will figure shit out from now on. *prays they move forward*
++ Needed more Castiel though, I'm just saying. However....
++ STOP MISSPELLING CASTIEL'S NAME SHOW! I AM NOT GONNA TELL YOU AGAIN! *cue rage!face*
Overall: It was a pretty good episode. Not outstanding, but not bad. There was some progression of what the hell has been happening with Sam, and in the most brutal way possible gave us something to go on in moving forward in this particular storyline. It has gotten me mildly interested in what is happening with Sam (and the Campbells), so let's hope they continue that streak. We also get Dean facing more brutal truths in a single day than he can handle, which again his reaction in the end is totally understandable given all of that and a lot more of what he's gone through. Even with Castiel's brief appearance I loved it even more than most of the scenes featured in this episode, which is totally not showing how biased I am. ;p Anyway, with the truth spell of the Goddess Veritas we learned something about Sam being soulless, and now perhaps onto juicer things that won't make this season an entire bore.
no subject
Great review by the way!
I can only stare at the pretty when I am watching it.
no subject
Thank you. :D
no subject
Someone on another message board made the very good point that Sam basically got what Dean wanted in season four (ie not to feel anything) and I really hope they tie that into the season's big theme of getting what you think you want but not really wanting it; Cas got Heaven and he's miserable, Crowley is miserable as the King of Hell and Dean was miserable in his normal life.
'++ I hope Dean stops being an ungrateful jerk to Castiel, though.'
Me too. As much as it adds yet another layer to their already complex relationship, I really hope Dean at least sees that Cas isn't nearly as not-human as Dean keeps saying he is. It's kind of funny that while Sam has stopped being able to feel, Cas feels more. Maybe Cas will have to give Sam some of his grace to replace the missing soul, just a theory.
'It was horribly written and characters were badly treated, and I'm praying, for the love of everything that is holy, that Lisa never ever returns. Let her character go with the last shred of dignity she has left.'
THIS!
'++ I've already talked about the ending scene ad nauseum, my final say is that as unnerving as it was it was definitely appropriate for the fucked up way they live their lives. The lies, the charades, it stops here, and hopefully they will figure shit out from now on. *prays they move forward*'
Me too. I liked that ending scene because I think it really showed that Dean had reached his breaking point. For all we know, Dean might wish that Sam had stayed away so he could have continued to live his normal life lie with Lisa and Ben.
'++ STOP MISSPELLING CASTIEL'S NAME SHOW! I AM NOT GONNA TELL YOU AGAIN! *cue rage!face*'
Where, oh where do they keep getting that second S from.
'Even with Castiel's brief appearance I loved it even more than most of the scenes featured in this episode, which is totally not showing how biased I am. ;p '
Me too. It really says something about how well Jensen and Misha play off each other that they can make even brief scenes so interesting.
no subject
I'm seriously hoping this theme goes somewhere, because I find it fascinating and it certainly isn't coincidental. This is leading to something. I'm personally speculating that this could have our characters understand where they belong, which path is the right path for them and discovering something about themselves. It might be a long-shot knowing this show, but I got to believe that this might be progression of character developments. Finding out things they wanted weren't things that made them happy. It has to mean something, right?
As much as it adds yet another layer to their already complex relationship, I really hope Dean at least sees that Cas isn't nearly as not-human as Dean keeps saying he is. It's kind of funny that while Sam has stopped being able to feel, Cas feels more.
Agreed. I think Dean has been frustrated for a long time, with everything he's gone through and what he's suspecting of his brother, and for some reason he tries to hide behind this facade of perhaps not getting too close after so many disappointments like this. But there really needs to be some recognition of everything Castiel has done for him. It's just heartbreaking watching Castiel in that scene as Dean is yelling and cursing at him when. His face is almost crestfallen and you can tell he wants to tell Dean what he's been doing, but he cannot for his protection. I do hope there is a scene at some point acknowledging this.
That's also very interesting, Castiel has more humanity than Sam does right now, he feels while Sam does not. Fascinating.
Me too. I liked that ending scene because I think it really showed that Dean had reached his breaking point.
*nods* Yeah, it's such a fantastic scene because of how disturbing and unnerving it was. You feel torn between wondering what the hell Dean is doing yet understanding why he reacted the way he did (because most of us, the audience, has been feeling the same frustrations and confusion at Sam since this season began) and it's like a punch in the gut of a scene. It was done excellently.
Me too. It really says something about how well Jensen and Misha play off each other that they can make even brief scenes so interesting.
This. It's nice seeing their dynamic played out on the screen, they have such amazing chemistry it's insane.
no subject
It is a nice contrast. It does make me wonder why exactly not having a soul makes you not feel. As far as we know Cas doesn't have a soul (why would he need one) and even if an angel's grace can stand in for a human soul, future!Cas lost his grace and he still felt. Although maybe he's feeling things through Jimmy's soul. Sadly I don't think the writers really thought through the implications of No Soul = No Feelings beyond it makes Sam the bad ass hunter Sera always wanted. I like how in the preview clip they mentioned that Sam doesn't sleep; so he's basically an human!angel now. Who knows maybe Lucifer and Sam have their own profound bond in that Lucifer burned out Sam's soul and replaced with his own grace.
'I'm personally speculating that this could have our characters understand where they belong, which path is the right path for them and discovering something about themselves. It might be a long-shot knowing this show, but I got to believe that this might be progression of character developments. Finding out things they wanted weren't things that made them happy. It has to mean something, right?'
I hope so too. It makes so much sense that the writers would tie all those characters getting what they wanted but not really wanting it together. Please let them do something with that.
'It's just heartbreaking watching Castiel in that scene as Dean is yelling and cursing at him when. His face is almost crestfallen and you can tell he wants to tell Dean what he's been doing, but he cannot for his protection. I do hope there is a scene at some point acknowledging this.'
I want that too. Is one scene really too much to ask.
'It was done excellently.'
It was. I love how there was no background music for that scene because it adds to the starkness of it.
'This. It's nice seeing their dynamic played out on the screen, they have such amazing chemistry it's insane.'
So true.
no subject
It is sad, and unless there is a fine distinction explained on this subject it is certainly going to be added to the list of How This Show Cannot Hold A Steady Groundwork of Their Own Mythology. Because there needs to be a reason for such an anomaly even though there was never really a clear explanation in the first place concerning souls.
I hope so too. It makes so much sense that the writers would tie all those characters getting what they wanted but not really wanting it together. Please let them do something with that.
I will be disappointed if nothing comes from it.
no subject
It does, it really does.
'I will be disappointed if nothing comes from it.'
Me too. When I heard Cas was going back to Heaven and Dean was going to have a normal life in season six I had really hoped they would do something like that, I like to call it the Neverwhere ending.
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Precisely!
I hope Dean stops being an ungrateful jerk to Castiel, though. He really should be taking what Bobby scolded them about being selfish into account, especially with others who also have helped them time and again in the past like Castiel. I understand Dean doesn't really know how to articulate his feelings properly and ends up lashing out in this manner, but did you see Castiel's confused-hurt expression on his face? I mean Jesus Christ Dean, give your poor angel boyfriend a break.
THIS, SO MUCH. I know Dean's upset and frustrated - understandably so - but, although I loved his quiet yeah, thanks, I think it's too little and too late. :/
CAS is fierce enough not to need any extra s.
What are they going to do with Sam?
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I know it's been said before multiple times, but there needs to be a scene where Dean really truly does acknowledge everything Castiel has been doing, and continues to for them and humanity. If anything a brief little moment that we know everything is okay between them, because while they still have their friendship as shown we need something more than that. I know that Dean will react like this in fear of getting close, but some reconciliation would be nice to see.
As well as a damn hug, but that's obvious. ;)
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THEIR NEED FOR AN EXTRA LETTER. IT IS REDONKULOUS.
I have no clue what is to be done with Sam. Without a soul they need to figure out what happened and why, and until then I haven't the foggiest what they'll be doing. We don't know what his deal is anyway, why he's been acting like this and who knows if he truly is in cahoots with Creepy Grandfather Campbell or not.
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.. Is it even possible for Jensen to look prettier? GODDAMN, that man is gorgeous.
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.. Is it even possible for Jensen to look prettier? GODDAMN, that man is gorgeous.
Seriously!
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And honestly, is it a crime to have a female character that is neutral instead of making her into a love interest or pure evil? It's entirely possible to do that, dammit. *grumbles in the corner*
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It's a shame that the writers rarely seem to go to the gray zone with the ladies, they are nearly always one side of the spectrum, like ~Love Interest~ vs ~Evil Bitch~ or possibly the victim, a lot more than the guys. Although there are those like Ellen and certain one-episode-women who were pretty much neither.
Well, at least they have yet to kill off females in this season. That was getting tiring.
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Preaching to the choir, bb. Fandom tends to have a hivemind at times and if you say anything negative towards something you are immediately hounded by others. Which is why I stay on the fringes of this fandom.
Although there are those like Ellen and certain one-episode-women who were pretty much neither.
Yeah, I missed those awesome ladies who were merely episodic characters because I feel, unless you're of the adult women like Ellen or Pamela (and the exception of Mary and even Ruby during the third season), if you were a recurring female role you often got pushed into either one of those categories. The writers clearly cannot write for those roles without screwing them up in some form or another, which is sad.
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I thought it was just a great scene. Believable reaction, and beautifully acted on Jensen's part.
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Was it brutal? Yes. Was it unnecessary? Yes. Was it understandable? Hell yes!
Considering how dangerous the Hunting lifestyle is, Sam placed Dean's life in more danger by lying to him. Of course, this isn't the first time but it does seem to be a pattern with Sam with holding back info. from his brother. Which is kinda ironic considering he's always asking his brother to open up to him but he fails to do the same thing.
Losing his soul may have made Sam a better hunter but it's also made him a worse human being. It's taken away all his good qualities and brought out all his bad ones enforced.
I think this eps. brings up a valid point about honesty and truth. Sometimes, as much as we want to be honest with ourselves and others, it's more comfortable to be believe in a lie.
He really should be taking what Bobby scolded them about being selfish into account, especially with others who also have helped them time and again in the past like Castiel. I understand Dean doesn't really know how to articulate his feelings properly and ends up lashing out in this manner, but did you see Castiel's confused-hurt expression on his face?
Word! I think this is a failing that both Dean and Sam have where they got so wrapped in their own issues that they fail to realize that other people have problems.
Like I said elsewhere, Castiel and Dean are fighting the same war just from different sides. They are both independent and stubborn and expect so much out of each other and then get disappointed when they fail to be what the other wants. It's just sad.
Still, it's nice to have confirmation that they are still friends. Here's hoping that as the season goes on, Dean and Sam can pay Castiel back by helping him for a change.
++ Needed more Castiel though, I'm just saying. However....
Again Word!
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That's an interesting observation, and you're totally right. For someone who wants his brother to be more open-minded Sam really doesn't return the favor. Sam is more of the independent of the two brothers, I get that, but it goes both ways here. His trust needs to be earned and not just believed, especially after everything. Granted this is one of the fall-backs of their codependent relationship, but it needs to be fixed.
Losing his soul may have made Sam a better hunter but it's also made him a worse human being. It's taken away all his good qualities and brought out all his bad ones enforced.
This message is definitely vital to the theme about how everything you thought you wanted wasn't for the best after all. Sam had expressed multiple times before that he wanted to become a better hunter, and he's gradually been heading towards this road, his decision-making has been clouded. I used to remember Sam being the smarter one of the two, now it seems like he's taking reckless risks in the name of hunting, and what's interesting is that Dean says in this episode that looking at Sam now it reminds him of himself. Was Dean ever this reckless? Ever gotten so into the job that he didn't care? I think the only point I ever saw him go into that deep end was during the second season after their father's death. He was consumed with hunting.
I certainly think that Sam, while he says he needs help because he doesn't know what happened to him, he might not want to return to the way he was. He might end up liking not having his soul. At least that's what I've been picking up. Who knows?
Word! I think this is a failing that both Dean and Sam have where they got so wrapped in their own issues that they fail to realize that other people have problems.
Exactly, someone needs to smack both of them upside their heads because not everything revolves around them and whatever issues they're having that week. There are bigger things happening out there and even if whatever is happening with Sam might be connected to it, Dean needs to get his head in the game. It's one of the things I kind of disliked about how they handled the apocalypse last season.
Like I said elsewhere, Castiel and Dean are fighting the same war just from different sides. They are both independent and stubborn and expect so much out of each other and then get disappointed when they fail to be what the other wants. It's just sad.
I completely agree, and I wanted to make a separate post about it because it seems some aren't getting that concept that they are both fighting the same kind of war between their families just in a different kind of way. At least anything Dean would understand having to handle a very fucked up, dysfunctional family that cannot get along and being caught in the middle of the fray. He wanted his brother and his father fight like that for years, he should be able to understand and perhaps offer his help instead of asking it for a change.
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I want Dean to stop being an ungrateful jerk to Cas too, I realise he's been worn thin by everything that's going on. It just makes me sad.
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Dean should at least understand that while he's trying to sort things out with his brother, Castiel is trying to do the same with his in Heaven. They are both fighting the same kind of war and there should at least be recognition of that. Castiel did look hurt when Dean said those things, which proves how much humanity he still has. I hope that Dean sees this and does apologize...and we get that damned hug. Because Lord knows both of them need it.
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Was it unnecessarily harsh and brutal, and totally reckless? Of course it was, but I felt it was necessary for the current fucked up situation they're both in.
This is how I feel. Yeah, it was messed up, but since when are the Winchesters not messed up?
I'm sorry, but I can never be convinced that entire thing was meant to be serious
This so much. IT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE. Also, I will forever say that no matter what character they had in Lisa's place, it was way too convenient, story telling wise, that Dean had a ready made family to go to. But then, S6 wouldn't have had as much angst if Dean was living in an apartment by himself or something. He wouldn't be TORN when Sam came back. But the whole domestic Dean thing was just a huge disservice to the character, I thought.
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Precisely. We might not like how they deal with things but that's just who they are (and we have to admit sometimes old habits die hard with them). Even though I wish they would cease the "something is wrong with Sam" schtick because that's beating the dead horse. Let them grow from their past experiences instead of standing still or moving backwards, for goodness sakes.
Also, I will forever say that no matter what character they had in Lisa's place, it was way too convenient, story telling wise, that Dean had a ready made family to go to.
THANK YOU. This is the major thing that bugs me because they made it far too easy and simple, and the fact they only used Lisa and Ben as a prop and backdrop for adding more angst and drama is definitely a disservice to all the characters and who they are. Lisa would be more sensible than allowing Dean into her life with all his troubles, Dean would have had the sense to not do that on anyone regardless anyway. While I'm sure they needed a reason for there to be some kind of push/pull for Dean to get back into the life again, why did it have to be that? Why could Dean just had his own life after everything? That is more believable than the crap they were pulling.
And also, if they were planning on doing this they should have at least given us something that Dean and Lisa actually had chemistry, instead she was mainly just there, which the only thing they had in common was caring for Ben, which was also barely shown either. There was no background for her character, nothing like that. She was just a crutch for Winchester drama and that's it. Another way of disrespecting one of the few decent female characters on the show. -__-
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Also, FUCK YEAH VERITAS IS A HOT BITCH. She can get ittttt. I almost wish they didn't have to kill her :|
Also, I agree with you on this episode. It wasn't bad but I just don't know how I really feel about it. Yeah, it gave us some info but it also gave me fuel to my hating on Sam parade. *kanyeshrug*
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When Dean was looking through his phone we see a list of his contacts, Castiel is there but it's spelled "Cass" instead of Cas. And I'm like NO NO NO THAT IS NOT HOW YOU SPELL IT YOU JACKASSES! DO YOU SEE AN EXTRA LETTER THERE? THERE IS NO REASON TO BE SPELLING HIS NAME LIKE THAT.
Veritas should have stuck around, even though I understand why they had to gank her. She was a fierce bitch. I kinda want her and Kali to meet up and bond or something, they would be one gorgeous BAMF team together. y/y?