8.14 reaction 'n stuff...

[ash48]

OH.MY.FUCKING.GODDDDDDDDDD!! Did they seriously just give us the most amazing dialogue between our two favourite brothers? Like EVER!!!! I cannot believe they actually said those words. (I remember this being tweeted about ages ago but I thought it was for a different ep. I had not idea that was coming).

This is it...(yep, I had to transcribe it because I want it etched in my brain forever)

Dean:

I need you to be safe Sam. Ok? That's what I need.
...

I'm a grunt Sam. You're not. You've always been the brains of this operation. And you told me yourself, you see a way out. You see a light at the end of this ugly ass tunnel. I don't. I'll tell you what I do know - that I'm gonna die with a gun in my hand. That's what I have waiting for me. That's all I have waiting for me. I want you to get out. I want you to have a life. Become a Men of Letters...whatever. You, with a wife and kids and grandkids. Live until you're fat and bald and chugging Viagra. That is my perfect ending. And it's the only one that I'm going to get. So I'm going to do these trials and I'm going to do them alone. End of story.

and

Sam:

I want to slam Hell shut too. Ok? But I want to survive it. I wanna live. And so should you. You have friends up here. Family. Hell, you've even got your own room now. You're right. I see light at the end of this tunnel. And I'm sorry you don't. I am. But it's there. And if you come with me I can take you to it.
Dean: Sam, be smart.
Sam: I am smart. And so are you. You're not a grunt Dean, you're a genius. When it comes to lore to....you're the best damn hunter I've ever seen. Better than me, better than dad. I believe in you Dean. So please, please believe in me too.

GUH!!!!!! All of this is pretty much everything we know about Sam and Dean. All of this wrapped up in these sections of dialogue. It's essentially who they are and what they want. Not just for themselves but for each other. Dean wants Sam to be safe and have a normal life (lalala first half of the season) and be the one who dies in a blaze of glory and Sam wants Dean to believe in him. He wants to do this and survive - with Dean. It's the Dean we've always seen - the one who took his approaching deal stoically in S3. The one who has been suicidal. The one who knows it will end either bloody or sad.

It's the Sam who still needs to prove himself in the eyes of his brother. He still looks up to Dean and just needs him to fully trust he can do the job at hand.

(I am completely handwaving the fact that this dialogue almost makes a mockery of the story arc of those first ten episodes. This has ALWAYS been in them and part of them. The only reason I can imagine the first half existing the way it did - the brothers almost hating each other - is to make all this so much stronger. If that was their plan...IT WORKED!).

None of this is new. This isn't something they've suddenly learned since Dean's return from Purgatory. I am STILL waiting for the penny to drop about what on they were trying to do there. Or rather why. Maybe is was for Dean to realise that Sam having a normal life IS actually something he really, really wants for Sam. Maybe it was about Sam developing a positive outlook - knowing that it IS possible to find happiness in this crazy world he lives in.


MORE STUFF:

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU SHOW for giving Sam this job. I know Sam has saved the world before but this time it's not for redemption. It's on his terms. MY HEART JUST UP AND BURST AT THE END. I cried. I did!! But this time it was tears of friggin' joy rather than despair. Seeing Sam like this is, in this role, might just be one of the ultimate highlights for me this season. Second only to the Batcave 'o Love.

And DEAN!!! *hearts* This is the complex hero that I love. The man you has grown thinking he's the grunt in the outfit - the expendable hero. Who doesn't friggin' know how amazing he is. The one who DOES care for others (lalalala first half). And the chick magnet with a heart of gold.

And we know the last two trials won't just come down to Sam completing them by himself. It will take BOTH OF THEM so there's no fear that one will do this above the other. And wanna BET it will come down to involving them both in the last trial. (HOW EXCITING! TRIALS!!\o/)


I haven't read any reviews yet. I pretty much had to come here and BLAH and SQUEE before reading stuff. I'm not sure if there might be concerns about revisiting old ground with both Sam and Dean. Thinking maybe that both would have moved on from these well known thoughts and desires. My feeling is that they are such an ingrained part of their characters that it's likely that they'll ALWAYS carry these. Sam may never feel he measures up in his brothers eyes (even though Dean makes it clear he does) and Dean may never know his worth (even though Sam has told him before).

For them to be actually VOICING these truths to each other is something we just don't get very often. *wallows and wallows*

ALSO:

GLASSES!!!! Seriously!?! The producers are SO stalking our journals. Boys in glasses is just...*GUH*... (though they both looked a little silly but I kinda loved that too...)

Then there's...

- Dean cooking for Sam (and being awesome at it!) I love that it took Dean having his OWN PLACE to discover his talents in the kitchen (FIC! FIC! We need Dean cooking followed by Sam really showing his appreciation...;D).
- Sam taking the burger with him. :)
- Dean having is own room WITH GUNS ON THE WALL
- Dean having a photo of his mom in his wallet
- Sam smiling SO warmly when he sees Dean's room... god I loved that moment.

I pretty much loved everything else also. I mean, it was pretty easy to pick that Ellie was the one with a hellhound on her tail. I was a tad miffed that Dean didn't pick that up when they were making it pretty clear (to us) that it was her - "one time offer" and all that. But maybe that was about upping the tension. Or something.

Oh and I loved Ellie. Strong, driven, knows what she wants woman. I just hate harping on but when they show us they CAN write decent women (*waves* to Charlie and Jody), why couldn't they give poor Amelia just a little bit of that (I know... move on Sarah...). The Kevin montage was cool. The hellhound effect was cool. Dean was cool. I have SO many warm fuzzes for Dean right now.

But seriously (yeah, I've said that a lot *g*) ....it was ALL about Sam and Dean and they EPIC EPIC love for each other. Surely they can't go backwards from here (hee...famous last words I know). But I'm sure they can have "relationship drama" without it being about them horrible to each other.

I'm so happy right now. Happy the show is giving us this amazing stuff. Happy to come off of an ep wiping tears of joy. Happy we have S9 as they obviously DO understand these characters.

Am I in step with y'all? It's weird not knowing what the general consensus might have been. All I know is I loved it.
xx

If you come with me I can take you to it.

ETA: Just a thought. I often hear of people wanting to see Sam save Dean (like me...), maybe this is how Sam will do it. Showing him the "light" at the end of the tunnel might be a big picture kind of saving that Dean needs.

Comments

[yourlibrarian]

That opening scene was reason enough to have kept watching. I really hope we get more of that as opposed to mopey Dean and remote Sam.

Also, my favorite line of the episode (outside of the intro scene) was Sam telling Kevin that fighting evil was a marathon, not a sprint. I liked that so much because it showed Sam speaking from experience. He is as resigned as Dean is in many ways, he knows better than to believe that it will ever be over for sure (no matter what he says to Dean), but he has come to that sort of acceptance in the way an adult does -- knowing that there is no easy fix and that in many cases there is also no winning, just the eternal effort. I like the contrast between Sam's steady push compared to Dean's big gesture way of doing things. Mostly I like that we can actually have some sort of reasonable difference between them that speaks to their own way of interpreting their past.

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Amen. I loved that marathon line, too. The fact that they bothered to stick it in there made me insanely happy. Sam's story was was shown, not told in this episode (to the extent that SPN can manage), and I loved it.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Mostly I like that we can actually have some sort of reasonable difference between them that speaks to their own way of interpreting their past.

Oh god yes. Sam's moment with Kevin was very telling, as was the different ways Sam and Dean dealt with him. Their approaches were very true to their characters.

I love that they have used Sam's history and his knowledge of these things.

Carver spoke of them approaching things in a more adult way. I thought he was referring to the first half - which didn't make any sense, but seeing this now, it does.

xx

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

OMG mere words cannot express the LOVE I have for that dialogue and the episode in general! (my own review was pretty general but I was so ecstatic about RL news that I was a little distracted, lol)

I often hear of people wanting to see Sam save Dean (like me...), maybe this is how Sam will do it. Showing him the "light" at the end of the tunnel might be a big picture kind of saving that Dean needs.

I like the way you think. I wonder if it will lead to Sam sacrificing himself again like he did at the end of season 5. Selfishly I don't really think I'd want to see that because I'd hate to lose him again LOL (even though we know he'd probably come back again) ;)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hi!

Congrats on the RL news!! I did read that. <3

I wonder if it will lead to Sam sacrificing himself again like he did at the end of season 5

I don't think we'd see that this time (well, I hope not). I think Sam had to make that sacrifice before because he's the one that released Lucifer. This time I think it's about both of them - both of them working together to stay alive and get this job done. Shutting the gates of Hell is something they both desperately want.
x

[amnisias.livejournal.com]

Ohmygod - so much love. The first few minutes where just absolute perfection (I need Curtain!Cave fic NOW - it's a memory foam mattress, it REMEMBERS me *happy Dean!smile*). And it just carried on like that, one little perfect moment after the other. Boys in glasses. Dean hugging Kevin. Dean sacrificing himself for Sam. Sam saving Dean because who else is gonna do it... Epic. And all that in the week they renewed for season 9 - anybody else being cynical and thinking that was not entirely accidental?!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

A bed that remembers Dean! So many layers in that me thinks...;D

I'm still grinning over that ep and have watched some key moments over and over...

:))

[galwithglasses.livejournal.com]

Dabb really stepped it up for this one. I thought Ellie would end up being the demon until the whole one-night-only bit. Dean's face morphing was so friggin' creepy....Arghhhhh!

I commented on Counteragent's post that I think this is what people have been wanting to see since the writer's strike crunched S3. Let Sam do the saving and this time without becoming evil to do it. Thing is that Sam can only do so much. He can physically save Dean but Dean's head is a mess. Nobody but Dean can fix some of that crap, but if Sam can get him on the right path for that and off this suicide track, he will have done something much more difficult than any of these trials will turn out to be.

As for the first part of the season, I have stuffed it away in the great wash of forgetfulness. I'm glad I stuck it out though.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I'm glad Dabb came out with this one. I have a feeling he (and Loflin) knows these characters really well, but we don't always see them pull it off.

It was definitely a shame we didn't get a full season 3- I think they had a lot more that they were going to explore.

I would love to think that Sam's line about taking Dean to the light IS all about him helping (aka saving) Dean. It's such a great idea.

I still can't get over the complete turn around from the first half. I'm not complaining though - I keep thinking that first half has somehow much this second half even better...

xx

[therealmccoys.livejournal.com]

So I just took a peek at your reactions to the eps since LARP and the Real Girl, and it is safe to watch again now Y/Y?

I didn't read your whole reviews because I don't want to be spoiled, just the beginning to see your reaction, and seeing as they were SQUEEJOYLOVETHANKGODIHAVEMYSHOWBACK, I feel courageous enough to jump back in.

Should I restart at LARP and the Real Girl? Will I miss anything important if I permanently skip eps 8-9-10?

BTW, I noticed the ratings went back up after LARP. Coincidence? I think not.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

IT IS SAFE TO WATCH AGAIN!!! \o/

You can start at LARP and you really won't have missed a thing.

All you need to know is that Sam left Amelia (which he had already done but for some reason needed to do it again. I think it was about him making a choice to stay with Dean. Which he did. Dean ditched Benny- which was actually quite sad because Benny needed Dean's help. I figure that story line will be continued later).

That's it. Oh...Cas is missing and there's something mysterious going on in Heaven.

Other than that... THE BOYS ARE BACK! And there's so much love you could actually burst! Go watch from 8.11 and enjoy! :))

[therealmccoys.livejournal.com]

YAAAAY I AM SO HAPPY I CAN WATCH AGAIN!!!

It was heartbreaking to have to stop and I missed the boys so much!

Thanks for the advice, I will jump back in at LARP. It feels weird to not watch all Supernatural episodes, but I don't want to be made to feel like throwing stuff at the TV again. For one, I just got a new 51-inch flat-screen high-definition TV. :)

I'm guessing we'll never get a good reason so I'll just pretend the first 10 eps of this season never happened. If we get more of the Sam and Dean and Supernatural I fell in love with, I can live with that.

YAY, now I have four Supernatural eps to watch and many more to come! \o/

[ash48.livejournal.com]

It's a real relief! The Sam and Dean of the last 4 eps are the ones we all feel in love with. From 4.11 on there's a nice build up to where they are in 8.14. The hope is that they stay like that (for a while at least!)

Let me know what you think! :))

[grace-of-cas.livejournal.com]

Still in love with this episode. Have read so many reviews and my heart still catches in my throat and my eyes tear up! Hugs to Sam and Dean and hugs to the fandom as we relish the love and the heartache that the boys shared with us. *FEELS*

[ash48.livejournal.com]

AGREED!!!!

This will be one of my all time favs I think. :)))

[el1ie.livejournal.com]

About time someone paid the ransom and got our show back from those stupid kidnappers.

Finally I feel like the new season has started with these last three episodes - I'm still bummed they didn't START from here, with gramps and the Men of Letters, there's still plenty of conflict between them in this story line but now I feel at least they're still THEM and not those other two daft buggers that have been impersonating our heroes for the last 10 episodes - soap opera dialogue that would have John Winchester turning in his grave - if he had one!

I feel a prediction coming for the end of the season....Sam so sick he needs Castiel to heal him, but Castiel is cut off from heaven and has no power and he has to use Dean's soul? Yes, I know 'that' part of fandom would probably interpret it differently and die of glee - hopefully quietly, but 'my' part of fandom would love it too. I can deal with Castiel on show if they include him in the Winchester's dilemma and not steal it from them for himself - put them in danger and I'm happy.

I feel happy with show right now.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hey hun!

I can deal with Castiel on show if they include him in the Winchester's dilemma and not steal it from them for himself - put them in danger and I'm happy.

That's exactly how I feel. I want Cas to be part of their story. Not just Dean's. Not just Sam's. TBH honest I have no idea how they will include Cas in all this. (I had to find out which ep he returns in so I am prepared...;D)

And how wonderful it is to see them back like this. I so love the bat cave. Great invention. :))

[el1ie.livejournal.com]

Haha! Snap! Except, I haven't bothered looking, I'm just presuming...sad we now have a character that's seemingly untouchable - but still, keep him in the Winchester story and I'm not bothered.

The Bat Cave is a wonderful invention, I so agree. It's been really hard, wanting then to stay hunting and watching them squatting in filthy cold conditions, bedding down on squalid floors with no heat or clean water. Made me very guilty and depressed for them, but now having this wonderful warm, clean place makes me much happier wanting this legacy for them - well done show.

The trials are also intriguing, I'm not sure where they're going - I can't see show sealing hell this season, not with at least one more year to go, demons have been a part of this since the beginning and I can't really see a show without them now somehow. So whether this is leading to Sam actually failing - or, maybe the trials lead to a certain point and then there's another task, I don't know, but I feel at long last there's a purpose and a goal and I'm excited to learn the next twist, try and guess what's going to happen and I haven't felt like that for a long time.... who knows, maybe they have to reach a point of preparing two/three tablets (Hell this year, heaven/purgatory next depending on pick up) and close up the whole lot together as a series finale?

I still have all those unanswered questions from those first 10 episodes, far too many really, but I'm sticking my head in the sand and hoping to shit they don't now TRY and go back and makes sense out of some of them - shut the door on it all and keep going I say.

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

Just, belatedly, yes to all of this. Just, boys being brothers (in glasses) and saying everything they need to say, with the two of them forever saving each other and the world.

(And "you can't run from this; you can't protect me" just popped on itunes and I think I'm going to get weepy again. SHOW!)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Show brings all the weepy! And I love it when they bring the "good" weepies. :))