10.03 reaction/review

[ash48]

I will not deny that my response to this episode is clouded by my expectations. I honestly went in dreading it, getting prepared to pack it all in and eating a block of chocolate to commiserate.

Instead I was left with such an overwhelming sense of relief (to the point of giddiness) that I've come away thinking it wasn't all that bad.



This was always going to be one of those episodes that would divide fans. It's the ultimate confrontation between demon!Dean and Sam. It was going to reveal what lengths Sam went to to find Dean and show us whether Sam would be successful (this time), in saving Dean. It was going to show us just how "bad" demon!Dean was and what role Cas would play in him becoming human again.

It was a big ask and I suspect many may feel let down by it. Dean was cured and Sam left the building.

But I found it engaging and didn't find myself as bothered by some of the things I'm sensing others have been bothered by.


Let's start at the end shall we? After many many months of Sam looking for Dean, being confronted by Dean, being verbally abused by Dean Sam finally captures him and cures him. He weathered the storm. We were hanging on for that final scene to be between him and Dean yeah? A moment that would let us know the state of their relationship now. Instead, Sam leaves to get food and asks Cas to watch over him.

For some reason (and maybe this will change), I was really ok with this. In fact, can I say I liked it?

Here's why. After everything that Sam had been through in finding and curing Dean that man needed some air. I know that sounds trivial, but boy. He has a lot to digest and to be able to go out and get his, now normal brother normal food has to be the best thing he could have done. There was NO WAY they were going to talk. I had absolutely NO expectations that they would. Sam's perfectly relieved face when Dean came back and his desire to feed his brother was just enough for me.

One big reason for this is how strongly it links to the past "resurrections". Instead of writing about it here - I made a tumblr post about it. I know we didn't get to have the scene of them eating-but the connection was there. It was also significant that we know that there's probably no way they could sit and share food together at the moment. Things are still raw, but Sam wanted to comfort and heal Dean and (for now) that's enough for me.

The was a full on SamnDean episode and so I wasn't surprised (or even disappointed) that we didn't get a bro scene at the end. Sure, I would have LOVED a hug - but it just didn't feel right. Sam's face spoke volumes though.

I even didn't mind Sam asking Cas to watch over him. It's been a long time since I've actually felt the genuine friendship between Sam and Cas and even between Cas and Dean. Finally, there's a sense of them all being on the same page.

I won't deny I was dreading that it would be something that Cas does that finally cures Dean, so I was relieved (relieved I tells ya!) that Cas actually helped Sam and not performed some "miracle" that cured him. I liked the team work.

I like Cas and Hannan ok? I just can't help it. Hannah is growing on me (shame, as I'm sure she'll die) and I can't deny I'd love to see them become an item (just 'cause).


I loved Sam in the episode (I know! shock eh?). He was so stoic under fire. He could have lashed out and did the same thing that Dean did to soulless!Sam and beat the crap out of him, but he didn't. He held back his hurt and anger and merely jabbed that needle in a little harder than was maybe necessary. He wasn't overly emotional and he didn't get hung up on guilt (at the moment) and let it all cloud his task at hand. He fought with his options and the knowledge that he might end up killing his brother. He trusted Cas and did what he thought was best for his brother.

And um..actually? I didn't think Dean's words were anything harsher than Dean has actually said to Sam before (like just before he went into confession in the church in 8.23). Or anything that Sam didn't already feel about himself. I didn't think anything out of Dean's mouth was a surprise - he's been hurt by much more ("if you leave, don't come back" in Levee Breaks). We know, deep down, that he thinks Dean thinks this stuff anyway (flashbacks in Levee Breaks, stuff that possessed!Dean said to him in S8), so I'm not surprised he took it as well as he did. Good for you Sam!


D!Dean was pretty scary, though I think the best performance was last week's. Which, is actually not a surprise. Jensen had 2 episodes under his belt by then. It was still pretty good and I am very sorry to see him go. Jensen clearly loved playing him and I hope that maybe they'll treat us with some flashbacks later (though, I suspect Jensen had is hair cut so maybe not…). I at least hope we get a "lighter" Dean and maybe new Dean channels demon!Dean every now and then because - hot damn! he was great (*guh* him constantly referring to Sam as "Sammy"..creepy…). And the difference when real Dean returned was so very noticeable. Credit to Jensen. I'm sure Dean's arc, or story, isn't over yet. The mark is still there and no doubt he'll have to reconcile his demon side at some point.

Loved the red lighting during the bunker chase.

Talks of them killing each other. Dean actually trying to kill Sam and Sam worrying about having to kill Dean. The only other time this has come up (as far as I can remember) is when Dean worried that detoxing Sam could kill him. The "killing your brother" might be revisited with the Mark still in play.

I was also surprised how much I enjoyed Crowley! (See, I WAS riding high by my relief!!) I loved him reminiscing about Dean and his minions trying to be like him. I think because I much prefer this "charming" Crowley to shouting, boring (sorry!) Crowley. I have no idea what his plan is for Dean (with the Mark), but it can't be good (I hope!). I do think he genuinely likes Dean though.


I know there were quite a few weaknesses (like, why doesn't Hannah actually act like an angel? She was hurt and didn't cure herself immediately (looked like a broken rib maybe?). Also… is Sam luring an innocent man (who he was planning to stop from making a deal anyway) as monstrous as Dean actually killing him? Or even all that problematic? I mean, Sam and Dean have killed innocent people many times. All those meat suits. And worse, have actually given an innocent person to another person (Mrs Tran) to kill. Is it as bad as non consensual possession? Killing a person to drink their demon blood? I don't know about you but it seems a bit try hard to me (for which I am damn relieved I have to tell you! I didn't want Sam actually doing something that was totally OOC).

That pie in Dean's room would have mould on it, for sure.

An angel "hug" (more like a circle of arms) can hold down a demon? Since..when?

"Hell" always looks disappointing when they show it. I like it when it doesn't look like some traditional idea of Hell (like the long lines of waiting people from that past ep…).

Boo, Sam didn't use his own blood to cure Dean (though, makes a heap of sense that he didn't really).

The pacing might have lacked a little and it did feel anticlimactic. Demon!Dean seems to have been cured far too easily (and quickly!). But I was good with it ending where it did. It felt like we could now get into some good ole MoTW stories, sans angels and demons for a while. I really want that! I want to see Sam and Dean, on the road, hunting monsters. Sure, their relationship will no doubt be tense but it can't be ANYTHING like it was last season. Can it? Did this feel like "nothing" to anyone else? Dean was a demon so all that can be excused on that (even if it comes out that some of it's the truth. It wasn't nearly as confrontational as the stuff they made Sam say to Dean in S9). Sam was determined and dedicated to the cause (and we even got POV and family pictures and pie!), he cured Dean, looked massively relieved, went an bought him comfort food for his soul and came out of the whole thing with little more than leading douche Lester into a trap. No doubt, there'll be deeper discussions about all that, but at the moment I'm just damn happy to not be weeping over my show.


I am interested to see what the discussion will be between them about "who's the bigger monster". It's a non starter as far as I can see. I still hope it becomes a discussion about what they do for each other, but at the moment I'm just happy that we got through this as relatively unscathed as we did.

(I did mention relieved didn't I?)


POLL (for some reason was screwing up positing it here).

Comments

[tebtosca.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't say that I even hated it, because my expectations were already super low knowing the writers. I mean, the Deadly Duo are the most offensive pieces of shit on the writing staff, so it could have been much, much worse. But overall, I was...bored. And that's a high crime to me, particularly in an episode that should be an emotional apex.

I do think that this episode was much too important for the first one back from hiatus. Jensen did a fine job directing, but none of the actors felt like they were settled back into their roles again. Even compared to last week (which was fantastic), everything felt tentative and off. I didn't feel anything, and what's worse than that?

Sam going sky-diving at the end made me eye-roll but I'm so used to them doing that to him that it's not really surprising. I also know that logistically, they did it because [SPOILERS] Cas is fucking off by himself for the next five episodes, so I expected that scene to be there. I mean, you can fanwank it, but that's actually why that scene was there lol. I do find it pretty hilarious that the entire scene was basically Cas playing marriage counselor, so that was amusing.

So, yeah, anti-climactic as fuck, with bad writing/pacing and acting that wasn't up to par even compared to last week. And I know you liked it, but the entire Crowley bit was completely unneccesary and proved once again that the Duo pack too many things into their episodes to the detriment of everything.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Actually, I can see all that. Very much so. It didn't feel as powerful as it could have done and I think a lot has to do with them settling into their roles. It must be hard having to get to this point without having down the first two episodes. And, to be honest, to have Jensen direct an episode he is so heavily in I don't think it a wise choice. To have to switch from behind the camera to in front of the camera would have been a huge ask. He did ok of course, but I'm surprised they didn't get someone else for this one - considering how important it was.

Or different writers for this one. I didn't know until I saw the intro who wrote it. You should have seen me…I collapsed into the sofa and cried…NOOOOOO!

So again, went in preparing for the worse - and was pleasantly surprised.

I have no idea why Crowley worked for me this time. He never usually does. At all! I was laughing at some of his lines - most unusual! ( or maybe it was the guy trying to be Dean. The subtext in all that…man….). I get that none of it was necessary - but then I find all the angel stuff unnecessary too. I can only assume it's to support the Js - and I figure he's popular enough to warrant whole scenes like that.

And a potential 5 eps of MoTW?! I'll be totally cool with that! (oh, until they make Sam do something stupid and Dean buries himself in self loathing…)

[tebtosca.livejournal.com]

It wasn't that the Crowley stuff was bad, it was that the episode was already packed full and it was a waste of time. That's always one of the problems with a duo episode.

[SPOILERS] Next three are MOTW, then a mytharc where J2 filmed separate from Misha, then another MOTW, before the mid-season finale with all three of them (as usual)

Oh by the way...did Sam really get the save? I mean, he did all the hard work and gets shit thrown in his face and Cas gets the thank you while the minions preen lol

[t9d7e1.livejournal.com]

Even though it was anticlimactic, I think it can be said that Sam did get the save, he cured Dean. Cas just helped him capture Dean after he escaped. Dean thanked him because of Sam, because he stopped Dean from killing Sam. If it was up to Cas, he would have killed DD. And minions always make something out of nothing anyway and always take things out of context, I mean that entire convo was about Sam and I liked when Dean asked "Does he want a divorce?"

[percysowner.livejournal.com]

That is my biggest problem with the episode. Now if next week, Dean thanks Sam for saving him, I'll be okay. Sadly I expect that only Cas will ever get thanked. Carver has said that manly men don't talk about these things, so I'm not expecting any acknowledgement of Sam's actions, other than Sam feeling guilty about what he did and probably Dean dinging him for being more of a monster than Dean was. (I hope I'm wrong.)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

How do you know all this stuff? As in, who's in which ep etc? (I suppose there's info out there about what each ep is about - which I usually don't click on...).

And yes, I think absolute credit goes to Sam (*phew*). So, ok. It wasn't one of the BIG saves I suppose (that credit really has to go to Crowley/Cain/The Mark), but after all the searching and trapping and blood injections we really do have to give credit to Sam. Cas stopped Dean from killing Sam and allowed Sam to continue his intention so god dammit! I'm taking this as a save! *g*

Also ALSO Cas didn't touch Dean's head and it was suddenly all OK! No miracle cure at the last minute. All he did was assist in restraining him (I haven't checked the destiel camp on this but from your comment I assume they are taking that as a Cas save? Well, we all have our own interpretations. They have to take what they can (which is slim pickings at the best of times). If anything it was about Sam and Cas working together- but that was nearly all on Sam. Cas was kept away until that very last minute.

As for the thank you? Hee - nope. There's never that. Sam got shit for not thanking Dean for saving him last season (don't even get me started!) so Dean not saying thank you is par for the course/ It's the way they roll. He might say it later. Or give Sam crap for bringing him back. Depends how pissy Carver wants to be about it.


(And even though Sam didn't use his own blood I think the wincesty vibe is back. At least marriage was mentioned again...).

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

That is where I am with this one - I felt nothing. Dean wasn't scary, I cared less about Cas this week than last week, half the script made no sense... and you saying it was Dabb and Loflin explains that perfectly. I want the Feels, dammit.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Not Dabb and Loflin. The racist truck Taxi Driver, canon messing duo.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Oh right, whatever, both duos generally suck, I've found. Though I notice Dabb and Loflin can write reasonable episodes on their own.

[tebtosca.livejournal.com]

Oh no, the Deadly Duo is Buckner and Ross-Leming aka Bob Singer's wife aka the Racist Truck writers. Loflin hasn't been around since mid-S8 and Dabb solo is the one that wrote the (great) episode last week.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Gotcha. Aren't they now co producers too? Sigh.

[tebtosca.livejournal.com]

the minute Kripke left, Singer brought them back and promoted them