11.05 reaction/review (with un-spoiled speculation)

[ash48]

Firstly - yay new female writer on the show (Nancy Won). Secondly - yay for her doing her homework and knowing the SPN universe. Thirdly - yay for being able to write a mix of MoTW and myth arc. For the first time this season I am genuinely intrigued by "The Darkness". I like her ambiguity - I particularly like that she's eating both light and dark souls (demon and non-demon). She can "bliss" people out or make them feel empty and calm. The soul-eating is nothing new, but (so far) the way people respond to her is different. It makes me wonder if they perhaps "balance each other out" and if she can eat angel grace. She seems truly "bigger" than either angels and demons and I rather like that.

Overall, I really enjoyed that episode. It was intriguing enough to keep me engaged and had some great little moments that had me smiling (I particularly like the characterisation of Len. He reminded me of Ronald from NightShifter - which I would like to think was deliberate, but probably not).


There's lots I want to say about this one, but mostly I would like to talk about Dean.

The major message in this episode was about what it's like to be soulless - and how everybody reacts differently. I had a major gripe earlier about how being soulless seemed to affect people differently. Other than Sam, soulless people were violent murderers. Now we have seen Len who describes his state of being as more like Sam's. The conclusion (rather conveniently *g*), is that losing your soul is different for everybody.

I was settling into the episode when Dean came out with "working with family can be tough". Sam gave Dean a hurt, puzzled look and it made me feel pretty uncomfortable and annoyed. Like - where the hell did that come from? Earlier Dean ribbed Sam about "this is your freaky fetish for serial killers", and generally seemed pretty put-out that Sam had found a hunt. In fact, Dean was pretty grumpy about the whole thing (moaning about the B&B and gleefully letting Sam know that he was wrong about the hunt when he discovered all the fakery).

Up until this point I could accept that Dean was just being his old snarky self. He's annoyed by the lack of info on Amara and concerned about what "The Darkness" is etc.

But then we also had this:

Dean: "We can't kill him because he hasn't done anything yet"

Sam: "Dean, we don't want to kill him we want to save him remember?"

Dean. "Right. The new rules"

Um...new rule? To save people? Since when was that a "new" thing (maybe Sam's speech in 11.01 is connected here?)


and other lines like:


Sam: "Maybe we're dealing with a series killer"

Dean: *pfft, you'd love that wouldn't you" (and not said with a smile)

and

"you got a better idea? We could follow the crazy that you've been seeing"(particularly harsh considering Sam's history with visions).


It seemed like constant put down after put down. And not just of Sam. The way he treated Len in the beginning was scornful and mocking. Because Len reminded me of Ronald I am reminded how accepting Dean was with him back them. In fact, it was Sam being a bit of a dick toward him. Dean is someone who knows that the supernatural is out there. Watching him dismiss Len's accounts just didn't ring true to me.

Now. There's a few things this could be. 1). My interpretation is off and I'm reading too much into it (if so, *weeps* because I don't want Dean to be like this), 2). Poor Dean characterisation on the new writer's part (which is hard to believe considering all the other stuff she got right), 3). Dean is still not fully recovered from the MoC and is finding his footing (um, yeah...I'm not convinced to be honest and I don't really want it to be that), 4). He's being affected by The Darkness (the most likely reason) OR...dun dun duuuunnnn 5). He's soulless or partially soulless (which now makes more sense considering what we've just seen and learned about soullessness).

When the episode finished my first reaction was "wow, Dean is soulless, that's gonna be interesting." (Interesting to me because of what Sam has been through and Dean's past reaction to that (beating Sam up when he found out and blaming Sam for "losing it" in 8.23). Seeing what Dean is like soulless would be fascinating to me. It would also connect to Sam (like Sam going to hell after Dean did, Sam seeing purgatory after Dean did, Dean dying after Sam did etc). Show works on Sam and Dean connections and this would just be another one. I also like it because from Sam's experience he could maybe help Dean. It also adds an urgency to finding a way to get the souls back Dean is missing some of his.

I know there's quite a few arguments against this - namely that the Js have been saying neither of them are affected by anything this season. Either they are lying or they don't know enough about it yet. Chances are it's not what's going on, but after an episode of discovering what it is to be soulless it certainly opens up that possibility. It would also be a unlikely that they'd go from demon!Dean to MoC to Soulless!Dean in three seasons...(or would it...?!). And yeah, there's heaps of other reasons it would be that (the last episode Dean was much warmer for instance), but I feel like I need some reasons for Dean being this cold and calm.

I just can't accept that this is some sort of "new" Dean. I can see now that he's been "off" since the first episode. I have been *handwaving* it a bit - especially in the last episode where he shut down Sam when he was talking about his visions - I thought it was just the way Dean reacts when he's concerned. I thought we were seeing a more "mature" Dean by his calm response to finding out Sam had been infected, but looking back Dean would have been much more concerned about that. And now when I look back, there are so many more instances where Dean wasn't being the Dean from the past (his phone call to Sam when Sam was infected for e.g.). After that episode there are just too many instances where Dean is being cold and distant for it to be just how Dean is now.

Also - there were lingering moments on Dean when Len talked about "going through the motions for as long as he can" and when Sam asked him what he felt when he was with her. When Sam mentioned that "bliss" it looked like Dean knew exactly what he was talking about. And in that scene when we first see Dean with her? He was transfixed. We don't see what happens next, but what if she took part of his soul to kick start the "birth"? (oh shut up! It's merely speculation! *G*)

I mean, it's not easy on Sam but he's so damn stoic now all of Dean's put downs are like water off a duck's back. *sniff*

And speaking of Sam. I think this season's Sam might be might favourite since Carver took over (so far!). We're getting smart, competent, caring Sam who has been given more screen time. The moment with the boy at the end was lovely. I actually saw a lot of Jared in that moment. Him being a father has meant he knows what that concern feels like. Sam's eternal strength is shining through and it's my fave type of Sam. Now, if only I could have my fave kind of Dean back we'd have a happy match! And for those who don't know me that well - I am not "hating" on Dean. I love him dearly. This is about what's going on with the character in the story - not Dean "hate" at all. *hugs* him because, damn that boy has been through a lot.

Also, I love the reason they find to keep Cas out of the picture. This time, watching Netflix in Sam's room. *snerk*


I know that AS ALWAYS I read far too much into things and maybe hope too much. In S8 when Sam was acting OOC fandom came up with all sorts of great reasons as to why it was so. It turns out it was the storytelling - Sam thought Dean was dead and fell in love. It created conflict and that's what Carver likes. So it's likely that Dean is just being written like this because...um...*headscratch* I really don't know to be honest. Or maybe I AM being too harsh and there's nothing out of the ordinary after all.

But yeah, I enjoyed this episode a lot. It was Sam and Dean working a good old fashioned MoTW case (which turned out to be not so much MoTW). There was a great secondary character and the traditional blood splatters. Lots to love!



5 = Awesome! 1 = Nope
[Poll #2027049]

Comments

[sue beattie (from livejournal.com)]

I was thinking Soulless for Dean also. Like you said about the way he was acting granted in Baby it seemed like Dean but then again not to put red flags out he was acting like himself kind of like Len said playing a part. But I thought Dean was off ever since he has been with Amara and like she said they will help each other now look how the babysitter was all set to give them up to Amara because they were friends. So I do think something is off on Dean not sure if its still from the mark or part of his soul missing but like you said she has to be able to string him along like Ruby did and we keep hearing how Amara is like Sam's Ruby. I enjoyed the episode but yep that is first thing popped in my head when the whole soulless thing popped up again.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed this episode - I had a huge chuckle at Castiel mainlining the Wire, Netflix is suddenly an enormously useful excuse to keep Cas out of the picture! And I really liked little soulless whatshisname, he managed to stay cute and have a conscience even though he didn't FEEL it anymore.

And now I love you for thinking DEAN might have lost all or part of his soul to the Darkness. I want this so much because it would explain a lot - and give us a real hazard for Sam (and Dean) to fight for. I mean, how would souls be freed if they've been consumed? So maybe they haven't been eaten but are living fuel for the Darkness - and when Amara is vanquished they will fly home to their bodies like the souls the boys rescued from the jars a while back.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I'm no the only one then. There' s been little things in past eps but this one seemed the most obvious to me. I'm wondering if he's hollowed out in some way. That Amara has removed some part of him. So hard to tell these days because Dean hasn't be "Dean" for over a season now, so hard to know really.

[rideaimpala67.livejournal.com]

gotta say that I loved the new writer, congratulations to her, she did her homework and gave us a very well done episode! (one like we haven't seen in a lot of time).

Now about the episode, I was confused, in one hand I thought "maybe this is the writers trying to back off with the teen drama they have been putting in the last couple of seasons", but in the other hand it was like... the change from certain point (MoC!Dean) to certain point (ThinLizzie!Dean) is way to big to be normal. so I didn't knew what to think of it.

Till I started reading convos on twitter and this entry on your journal, then everything did a little bit more of sense, I can put some stuff together.

My theory is, Amara has part of Dean soul on her or she ate the whole thing you know, why?

first: THE KISS, or the almost kiss on the first episode, we didn't see what happened there but we could see that Dean was thinking about it at the end of that episode. (maybe we didn't see the rest because she ate his soul)

second: at first I thought Dean was thinking just logically on this, but yeah, he won't have done what he did if he was in his right mind. Dean wouldn't have leave Sam at the hospital alone, he would have put a second "jus in bello" and keep all the sick people locked in the hospital till they find a cure.

third: he's done with everyting, we can see this in this episode and a little bit on baby, in "thin lizzie" we can see it on the examples you wrote on your entry, he doesn't want to be there, he is 100% done the whole episode, now on "baby", there is this line after Dean finish the call with Cas and calls Sam?, he says something like "The guy has been attacked" is not exactly that but he says that with a tired sigh on his voice tone.

What I want to highlight here is what you already said: he's playing his part, my money is in: Dean know what going on with him, but he knows that if he says something about it people (Sam) is gonna freak out and is going to go with all his guns against Amara, and if, taking notes of what Amara said at the first episode, she and Dean are bonded, he being part soulless or soulless might be playing more team Amara than team Sam.

is just a theory thought!, sorry the bad english, not my first language :P

[ash48.livejournal.com]

It amuses me that Netflix is the reason for Cas being out of the picture. It makes me wonder what on earth will be the next excuse (and also…how sick is he? We have to assume he's been there for a while now as Dean would have had to fix the Impala….*handwave*).

And now I love you for thinking DEAN might have lost all or part of his soul to the Darkness.

I want it to be something. I worry that this is actually Dean now and I just… it's hard. He couldn't wait to prove Sam wrong, and he complained about his "family". That's not the Dean I know.

And yes, I figure they will have to somehow kill Amara to free the souls. Or turn Amara to willingly free them. I can see many ways they can go here. I suppose I just hope it's not "let's make Dean snark at Sam because it's fun to do". There's just too much between them now. But, I will accept it if it is. They've written enough OOC Sam to make me believe it's just what they do.

[sam-dean-lover.livejournal.com]

1.my grade's an A+! :D!
2. Nancy Won! Welcome to Supernatural! she took her talent and brought it to Supernatural i just YES! Being Human loved that show (watched that too)
3. will wait to watch ep 6 til see what you thought
4. ep 5 re-watchable 4 more xs

[tebtosca.livejournal.com]

Dean's been cold and resentful towards Sam all season and I'm glad people are finally vindicating me by acknowledging it lol

[sue beattie (from livejournal.com)]

I always forget about almost kiss but why hasn't Cas caught on is there enough of Dean to still be Dean that Cas can't figure it out or Sam? I mean look how long took Dean to figure out something was up with Sam but then Dean was out and with Lisa and Ben and could think about it more. I think with the fact Amara is on the loose sucking souls and they need to find Metatron and other ways to get rid of darkness they are not noticing what is going on with Dean. And also what is wit his answer last night being with her ok that was odd? And we are going to hear Dean criticize Sam for praying to God which is that an effect of no soul?

[percysowner.livejournal.com]

Maybe Amara isn't eating the souls totally and they are going to "the empty"? Because Billie already told Sam she's going to send him and Dean there. So maybe that is a way to save these souls? I mean it is Chekov's The Empty now, just sitting around waiting to be used.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

*high fives* Hopefully it's for a reason and not just because…well, just because.

I just wish they would stop with the resentment and mistrust and the crap. I thought we were supposed to be over this in this season… *sigh* (and I hope someone asks Jensen about Dean in the next con).

[catinplaid.livejournal.com]

So after all the discussion over on twitter, and after reading your thoughts on this, I agree with what you say about Dean. Yes. I must rewatch this epi and pay closer attention to Dean's reactions to Sam, and to Len, but when you go further back to the previous epis, I think you're right. Dean, at least in some occasions, is acting weird and harsh towards Sam. Like in the talk about the visions in Baby: When I first watched it, it hit me how dismissive Dean seemed to be to Sam. Afterwards, I thought it might be how you also explained it the first time around: That Dean wanted to comfort Sam, show him there's nothing to it. But maybe I accepted that cos I wanted to believe it so much?
(Also, yes, poor Sam just accepting all of Dean's put downs so stoically... *sniff* That hurts a bit)

You know what I noticed when I thought about it, though? Off the top of my head, I'd say that all the times Dean acted "weird" like that, there was a connection to Amara, or Amara was mentioned. Dean's phone call to Sam when Sam was infected: Dean had Baby Amara on his hands. Their talk in Baby: Sam started talking about his visions by mentioning Dean's connection with Amara ("Hey Dean... You said when you saw the Darkness you weren't sure if it was the real thing or a vision, right?"). And this epi was full of Amara, too. Now maybe I'm wrong about this, but I think what we see from Dean now isn't bad characterisation/storytelling, it's deliberate. So it must be either reasons 4 or 5 from the ones you state :)

Related to that: In a recent interview the boys had on set they said that Dean still hasn't told Sam about his connection to the Darkness. And while Jared (and Sam) thinks Amara is evil, Jensen (and Dean) is more reluctant to agree with that. He said it's to be determined what she is. So whatever they tell us about neither brother being afflicted isn't 100% correct, I don't think. There is something going on with Dean.
(Here's the link to the interview, if you haven't seen it yet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76dkmAvXHPE)

I loved the epi nonetheless. I think the new writer did a great job. The whole epi had an oldschool SPN vibe - like Baby too. I'd be sooo happy if they stick to that!

[debbiel66.livejournal.com]

I think I was just so happy at the "old school" feel of it, I didn't concern myself with as many of the the negatives you brought up. I saw them, sure, but even at their series "best" (season 2 for me), they were never lockstep in agreement and were occasionally prickly with each other. For me, it makes the lovefest that was "Baby" all the more sweet.

I'd personally chalk it up to storytelling for this particular episode, but seeing how I missed eps 2 & 3 (what the heck happened to Cas? Sigh. Guess I should at least try and find out if I'm in this for real, season 11), my opinion isn't work all that much.

But I'm in again....that's something. I watched two weeks in a row, almost in real time. And you know, 11 seasons in, our show isn't doing too bad. :)

Love your reviews, Ash - wanted to watch in time to participate!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Oooooh. Though, sounds far too - um, thoughtful for the show maybe? But yeah - we have Billie and Amara and The Empty and The Darkness in play so far this season. That's a lot of balls in the air. Hope they are good at juggling…:)

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping that what seemed like old-school anvils (the good kind!) in this episode were really what they seemed. The last couple of scenes in particular seemed to hint strongly that all is not right with Dean's soul situation. It was only in 11.01 that I really felt Dean was cold and not himself, which I put down to Mark of Cain aftereffects, but then in this episode there were a lot of moments that seemed to underscore it more obviously.

Here's hoping we're not off base. :)

p.s. The only reason I would be sad if he does turn out to be soulless (or soul-impaired) is that it would change the tone of "Baby" for me. Otherwise, I think it's interesting. Of course, now the cynic in me thinks that if he does turn out to be soulless, once he gets his soul back he's gonna blame Sam for not figuring it out sooner. LOL

[percysowner.livejournal.com]

Cas didn't know Sam's soul was gone until he stuck his hand in him. So, he wouldn't know if part of Dean's soul was gone.

As for Sam not noticing, since Dean came back from Purgatory he has blamed Sam for Ruby (again), losing his soul and not telling Dean it was lost, even though Sam didn't know it was lost. He then crammed an angel into Sam against Sam's wishes. Then he took the MOC, turned into a demon, tried to kill Sam with a hammer after he was partly human, got cured of being a demon, but still was under the influence of the MOC and killed Death. I'm not sure Sam thinks he can predict Dean's actions anymore. Dean spent seasons 8-10 expressing low level and high level anger at Sam. So his distance may not seem that off.

[tebtosca.livejournal.com]

Well, you know that I don't think there is an in-show reason besides the writers not knowing how to write these guys for so long and the actors being confused by how they are supposed to play things lol

But, hey, if I'm wrong, I'll be the first one to admit it!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Especially Jensen at the moment. After a year and a half of "not Dean" it must be confusing. Tho. They seem so brother focused and positive when they talk about their characters. I'd hate to think it was just actor interpretation ( but possible). For me, it was the directing and editing that seemed to emphasize the "wrongness". But maybe it's mixed messages all round.

[rideaimpala67.livejournal.com]

was thinking about it just a couple of minutes ago, is very difficult to know if there is really something up with Dean or not because we don't know if that is just bad writing (not knowing how to handle Dean) or something done on purpose.

anyway, by now the "something is wrong with Dean" theory is strong, but we can't be certain :/

[rideaimpala67.livejournal.com]

Happened something similar to me!, I have been watching the episodes but just like a regular viewer so all this thing got me with the guard off and now I'm mostly confussed, without knowing what to believe

the good thing is, we got two "good" episodes in a row, I think we can take that as a win :D

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

Your thoughts pretty much echo mine on this episode. I enjoyed it as well, and I think this new writer did a great job.

I thought it was interesting how they showed that people whose souls were stolen can respond in different ways. I was wondering if their own personal situations, emotional history, etc had anything to do with it.

Yeah, Dean's behavior at times gave me some real "wtf?" reactions. The "working with family" thing and "new rules" in particular raised an eyebrow. At first I was wondering if it was some residual effects from the Mark in play, but then those scenes where he's taking in all of what Soulless!Len and the babysitter were saying, it made me wonder if it had something to do with Dean's soul somehow. I'm almost wondering if Amara is holding his soul hostage somehow... or even just part of his soul? That part at the end after they drove off and she said she'll see him again soon really made me think about that. I guess we'll see.

I'm with you in loving Sam so far this season! Loved his talk with the boy at the end (and is it me, or did he kind of look like a "mini-Sam" with the clothes and hair? ;)).

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

I'm kinda with you, here! I noted Dean's surliness, but I didn't chalk it up to SOULLESSNESS. After the brothers discussing honesty and not killing people, I'm not sure Dean would keep this from Sam? Not mention that he doesn't feel quite right, in some way? But I could be wrong! I've certainly been wrong before...

[fanspired]

I've been speculating that Amara took Dean's soul since 11.02 (http://fanspired.livejournal.com/68931.html) and now I'm starting to be convinced of it. What if that implied kiss from Dean's Amara vision was not in fact an almost kiss but, instead, her leaning in for a soul suck? I definitely think a dramatic parallel was being made between Dean and Len. If Dean is not actually soulless then I think it s at least implied that he is for all practical purposes, and has been for some time (at least since Purgatory and arguably since Bobby died).

Definitely "YAY!" to see a female writer on the team. Very promising start.

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

I adored this episode! I was so damned glad Nancy Won (the new writer) caught the flavor of the universe and the characters, gave us fun, snappy dialog (even Sam's traditional case infodump wasn't so dumpy!), and spun a great myth-arc/MotW hybrid, I hardly noticed Dean being a little more snarky than usual. Welcome to our world, Nancy! I have high hopes for more great episodes from her.

Maybe it's my position as a mom of three teenaged sons, but see, this is how boys (specifically brothers) act towards each other. They rib mercilessly. They poke bruises, they feign hurt, they don't take it that personally. So I didn't think Dean was being markedly crotchety, but that doesn't mean I didn't miss something! They DID make a big to-do about the soullessness business. (I don't think this is what Dean's "problem" is, but I've been wrong before...) I kinda read it as Dean isn't the glib, devil-may-care kid he was in earlier seasons. He still needles Sam every chance he gets--because brothers--but it's tempered with so much water under the bridge, a hard-lived life. And yeah, maybe he HAS looked into the abyss too long. But like I said above, they could be pulling a fast one on us! I wasn't as alarmed by it as some watchers were, though.

Anywho, two solid, highly enjoyable episodes in a row! I think we have the Snyder-Charmleo team writing the next one, and I usually dig their stuff too, so here's hoping for a delightful threesome! :D

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

It never ceases to confound me how two people can see the same thing and interpret it so differently (I get this in my real life job ALL THE TIME)...

hells_half-acre's response to the 'working with family is a pain' remark was completely the opposite of what you saw: ...the hotel guy making a crack about working with family for 20 years... and Dean and Sam are like "uh, yeah, three years is the longest time we've gone consequtively WITHOUT working together since I was 6 months old, but yeah, 20 years must be rough..." only, you know, they say that with their eyes.

I use that as an example because I'm not seeing Dean as acting OOC...both of the boys have teased each other, sometimes harshly, since the pilot, and Dean in particular can be heavy-handed about it. (Side note--last ep, when Dean wanted Sam to say were-pires and he wouldn't--Dean's face really fell when Sam wouldn't play along. That's they way they are.)

I see Dean as being worried about Amara saying they having a bond, and his preoccupation with figuring out what that means is coloring some of his behavior, but I don't see him as missing some or all of his soul...He's trying to figure it out without worrying Sam because he knows how much hell he put Sam through last year with the Mark, and he's protecting Sam from worrying about him...because that's also what they do, even though we know it doesn't work...

His remark about the new rules for saving people makes sense in view of his realization that MOC Dean wouldn't have thought twice about killing Len, and he's reminding himself that he's back on the right path now.

I hope really hard that we will get an intriguing payoff with Amara...she doesn't seem to be pure evil, like Dick Roman was...I wondering if her bond with Dean will eventually show her why humanity is worth preserving, that seeing Dean's soul has been through the wringer and yet he still perseveres will cause her to leave the earth alone?

I was encouraged that show took the time to explore different reactions to soullessness and especially that Sam's experience was used!

I was also impressed with this being Nancy Won's first script--so many throwbacks to little things from the early years, she really did her homework! And like you, Len reminded me of Ronald Resnick, poor guy.

Of course, the better the show seems to be doing things, the more nervous I get about being let down...

[debbiel66.livejournal.com]

Also a mom of three older boys! I wonder if this colors how we interpret brotherly snark. My boys are crazy about each other, but you wouldn't really know that, listening in. :)