Open Supernatural Couch: The Man Who Knew Too Much
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When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat
Ronald Reagan
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In a heavily guarded mansion Castiel makes his final step to becoming Heaven’s alpha male. Heaven has never been a democratic place, and Cas is not going to make it one. He rids himself of Balthazar first, the angel who had the audacity to betray him and act it down. I am still hoping that Balthazar isn’t entirely dead. I liked the fellow. I wouldn’t mind to meet him again come season seven.
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With Bobby and Dean arriving shortly after the huge blast of light that indicated an angel’s death, I assume they might have seen it. A welcome committee of T-Rex-proportions awaits them, not really paying attention to them, though, but thrashing the Impala about as if it was nothing but a toy. Oh, baby! I only hope Dean will not have to spend half of season seven repairing her. She deserves better, this old beloved lady.
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I have no words to describe how relieved I am to see both alive, Dean and Bobby. A dark part of my mind has been afraid to lose Bobby along the way.ย
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The demons are only interested in getting their part of the deal that Castiel planned to change. Crowley just wants to re-renegotiate their terms, and he brought support: the archangel Rafael. And here Rafael voices for the first time what it is really about – it’s about becoming the new God. It’s L’tat c’est moi’ all over again. The epitome of absolutism fought for by creatures that were originally designed to follow.ย
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Now, there was a time that Castiel was trapped in a permanent state of infancy, an innocent, really, in the world of scheming and plotting that is very much human and should not be divine. I used to think that Castiel stumbled into the whole thing unaware how quickly he would be corrupted by this immense power in his reach.
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Castiel’s story reflects Season Four Sam’s like a painful echo. His betrayal of loyalty, trust and friendship cuts deeper, though, because he willingly bought into fundamentalist dogma. You’re either with me or against me. There are no subtle shades, no shades of grey. It very much reflects the way Castiel’s whole existence was coloured – there was only black and white. Obey or fall. He never made the experiences a human child makes on his way to adulthood, questioning their parents, deciding what rules to follow and what rules to dismiss. He never knew what it means to make your own decisions until he met the Winchesters and became their ally.
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Castiel has been motivated by what he believed to be of utmost importance and the highest ideal, much like those who kill in the name of religion. This path he embarked upon was shut off from the process of thinking it all over. He has fallen victim to a lust for power.ย
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The freedom he gained with his human allies was not safe in his hands. He wasn’t capable of handling it well, as this season of Supernatural shows.ย
The freedom of free will they fought for is now in danger of being perverted into heavenly fascism by their angelic former partner. It saddens me beyond words.ย
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As Dean and Bobby find a way into the house they don’t prove a threat to the ritual Crowley and Rafael have begun. Even Sam has managed to somehow gather enough strength to get there. He’s barely able to walk, tormented by yet another flashback from hell. It isn’t the first on his trip here. And it won’t be the last for a long time, if the show will follow some kind of psychological continuity in regard to Sam’s heavy trauma.
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Gate of purgatory closed to us, your light is kept from our eyes. But now we stand at this threshold of the great and lowered gate, reliably bringing you honour, we prepare to open it. Terrible creatures, whose teeth never touched human flesh, open now her gorge to our world. Great door be now opened!‘ (and I hope my Latin didn’t leave me entirely)
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But, nothing happens, and how could it – Castiel exchanged the blood cocktail for useless dog blood. As ineffective as the trick was worthy of the King of Hell, actually. And since neither Crowley nor Rafael made any attempt to listen to Castiel and see the light of his plan, he makes them feel the heat. Only a taste of the power he now calls his own.ย
Undoubtedly a good pupil to absolute power, he remembers the way Lucifer divested himself of the liability of one rebel angel a while ago and uses the same gory trick to kill Rafael. He will get after Crowley soon enough.ย
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I don’t know who this Cas is anymore. His bearing, even is face is different. We see the quiet tranquillity of a creature completely convinced of his power and his right to that muscle.ย
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‘So you see, I saved you.’
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‘Sure did, Cas. Thank you.‘ Dean’s innate sense of danger commands him to treat lightly here. Their lives depend on it.
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‘You doubted me. Fought against me. But I was right all along.’
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‘Okay, Cas, you are. We’re sorry. (you have never been a good liar, sweet hunter) Let’s just defuse you, okay?’
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‘What do you mean?’
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‘You’re full of nuke. It’s not safe. So, before the eclipse ends, let’s get those souls back to where they belong.’
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‘Oh, no, they belong with me.’
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‘No, Cas, it’s scrambling your brain (I don’t think it’s a good idea to tell the crazy one that he is crazy)’
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‘Oh, I’m not finished yet. Rafael had many followers and I must punish them all severely.’
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‘Listen to me: It wasn’t. ย I know there’s a lot of bad water under the bridge, but we were family once. I’d have died for you. Almost did a few times. So, if that means anything to you, please. I’ve lost Lisa, I’ve lost Ben, now I’ve lost Sam. Don’t make me lose you, too. You don’t need this kind of juice anymore, Cas! Get rid of it before it kills us all!’
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His words don’t even reach Castiel. ‘You’re just saying that because I want. ย Because you’re afraid.’ Actually, Cas, he is saying that to buy Sam more time to stab you with an angel blade. ‘You’re not my family. I have no family.’
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No, Cas. You did have a family. Not the one that comes from a connection via blood, but one established through mutual love, suffering, fight and survival. The kind of family that can’t be bought. It’s given. It’s earned. Now, Castiel, you throw it all back into the faces of those that truly loved you.ย
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Unfortunately, Sam’s weak attempt to kill Castiel bears no fruit. He is not an angel anymore. He can’t be killed. Not by that blade, that is.
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‘I’m your new God. A better one. So you will bow down and profess your love onto me, your Lord. Or I shall destroy you.’ย
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A better one? Please? How can a vengeful, absolute, cruel, selfish, belligerent, jealous God be a better one? It’s barbaric bronze age, Castiel, dear. I doubt that our Winchester clan will bow down. They haven’t done so in the past, and I can’t imagine them doing it now when the story is far more personal than it used to be.
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The angel we fell in love with over the last seasons is gone. But for me, there is still hope. I won’t be among the followers of this ‘God’. But I will be among those trying to safe him from the power that corrupted him.ย
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The black moment is the moment when the real message of transformation
Is going to come. At the darkest moment comes the light.
Joseph Campbell
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I have no idea where they will go with this still unfinished story in the upcoming season. The wait is already killing me!
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But I expect the actors to continue their amazing performances. This episode, again, was a joy to watch. Jared Padalecki excels in those scenes when he is given the opportunity to give Sam more shades and obviously revels in doing so, and Jensen Ackles with his moving, understated style in his reactions to his co-stars took my breath away once more. This episode, much as the ones before, was a promise of acting quality that will – undoubtedly – be fulfilled in the upcoming season. I expect nothing less of this kind of talent.ย
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What happened to Sam – built on his experiences in hell – was something very much alike to what people who suffer from multiple personality disorder describe (today named dissociative identity disorder). The human psyche is an economically working entity. It establishes defence mechanisms against traumatic events. The classic and most popular mechanism is simple avoidance – trying to stay away from potentially threatening surroundings or people. That is a conscious decision mostly, though.ย
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Other mechanisms include non-conscious elements like dissociation which is characterized by a disruption of a person’s cognizant functioning. This allows the mind to distance itself from experiences too terrible to bear at a certain time. This symptom is part of an instinctive survival strategy, creating states of arousal or numbing. Dissociative moments occur unexpectedly (triggered by an element connected to or as an echo of dealing with the trauma) and patients describe that as disturbing. They lose control, much like they lost control during their traumatic experiences, and need time to understand that dissociation serves as a shield against the most horrific memories at times.ย
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This was/is happening to Sam, it seems.ย
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Now, how can someone lucky enough never to experience something so dreadful understand what this is like? Most of us have had their rather harmless encounter with that occurrence. People get into situations of extreme character – the sudden snap of anger that makes you break something, driving home in a kind of autopilot-state without remembering that you actually did the driving, excessive sexual experience, a crying fit. These are moments you might wonder ‘Who is this person, acting like this? Is this really me? No, I couldn’t do that, but you also might not remember any of those moments at all.ย
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So, in a non-pathological way each of us possesses the ability to become a multiple personality and be capable of dissociating – our psyche enables us to separate emotions and/or behaviour from our conscious knowledge. We sometimes repress or split them off and don’t remember (and that happens unconsciously).
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But we are not a so-called multiple personality, though we often know about our various roles: family persona, work persona, circle-of-friends persona – a phenomenon psychologists call a patchwork identity. For most of us, the different parts are linked; we know that all these parts are a part of our self, activated in their respective environments. Very rarely a person is the very same person at home and at work. There are differences, sometimes only slight, sometimes big, between these two personas. But we know about it.
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A multiple personality, though, is not aware of these links, the patches are, indeed, split off, with one part taking charge over the behaviour of the affected person – in Sam’s case the battle for dominance was fought out inside his mind, much like it can happen in a multiple personality’s mind, and Soulless Sam felt entitled to supremacy.
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Caused by Sam’s horrific experiences in hell (the moment his subconscious had access to them when Cas brought the wall down), his soul split up. He became Soulless Sam, a powerful, dissocial, sharp, remorseless creature, Sam’s Mr Hyde.ย
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Another part was Innocent Sam (as I like to call him), the one roaming about in a state of amnesia, unaware of what had happened to him and the agony he has been through.ย
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And the third part was Tormented Sam who lost all innocence in the fires of hell. This one had to be repressed at all costs, because he hell experience was probably more than Sam would have been able to handle. Therefore he was the last part to be re-integrated into the whole that is Sam Winchester.
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In terms of this season’s storyline, we learned that every part of Sam was able to function as a separate individual – without his soul, Sam was the epitome of a cunning, fast, reckless hunter. With his soul returned to him, he was an even better hunter because animal instinct is not all he needed. Without empathy he was only half as effective. But still he was not whole. To be the Sam we love and the Sam loved and respected by his close circle, he needed to be re-united with the part that suffered. Only then he is able to be stronger (and not abandon his brother) – if he survives the echoes of the pain that will lash at him in dreadful flashbacks.
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Now – as a trauma therapist I face a problem here: one of the criteria of diagnosing a multiple personality is: the disorder begins in childhood (as any other personality disorder does), on the grounds of heavy, mostly severe physical abuse, as a child. In regard to Sam, this is not the case.ย
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This is where Supernatural takes creative license, but within psychological possibilities. The show combines elements of a multiple personality with symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder. And, boy, they do it well!ย
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People that have been exposed to a long time of repeated heavy traumatisation (as in war, genocide, repeated torture, repeated natural desasters, long-term child abuse, etc) often appear to be different. Almost a different person reacting in utter contrast to what they are known to be. Even changing in a way that you could easily believe their personality was split in more than one. And yet it’s not a multiple personality. But changing is a part of the process when the experienced atrocities are to be integrated into the person’s life and understanding.ย
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It’s too early to say at this point what will happen to Sam after all three entities of him were reunited. I trust (and hope) that season seven will deal with this, and then I surely will delve into Sam’s psyche another time with another article based on Supernatural’s ‘facts’. It is safe to say, though, that Sam will not emerge from this ordeal unscathed.ย
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Dean is still suffering from symptoms of PTSD, and he has had some time to adjust and less time in hell to digest. Still he is not his old self, he has changed – and I salute the writers for keeping the psychological continuity here. Dean still shows the scars his soul has taken down there.ย
With Sam it can’t be different. I could imagine him becoming someone else, within his emotional range, perhaps indeed split into different personalitiesย – even though in real life, according to research, that wouldn’t be possible.ย
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The time that comes now for the Winchesters and their friends will be a dark one. In many ways I have thought it can’t get any darker, but I also believe the writers will dig extra deep into jet black colour.
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Sam will be trapped in the darkness of the horrors he faced, and Dean will be enveloped in the kind of darkness that takes possession of you when a loved one suffers and you can’t help him.ย
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But I am also absolutely certain (and full of hope) that they will find the light needed to lead them out of the maze. It happened in this episode, too. Dean’s flashlight reached Sam in his dissociative state, helped him find his way. As Sam took in the identity of the Soulless Sam and Tormented Sam, it was done with blazing light, not scarring darkness. In the end, family was all that mattered. Love was all that mattered. Love with the faces of sacrifice, loss, endurance, reaching lost ones even in their darkest hour, because somehow stillรขโฌยฆ there was light.
Absolutely amazing. We went on a journey with Sam this season, and while some of it happened through other character’s eyes or in the background at times, we were following Sam home. You captured that beautiful story here.
I, too, hope that in season 7 we see both brothers finally hash out what happened to each of them while downstairs. Dean has pushed it down so far and held it there, and yet he has moments where it is a surging tide set to overwhelm him. They would do well to confide in one another, to share, to not simply lock it away and let it fester.
I turned the Cas storyline over in my head and the key finally found purchase in the lock and slid home. Every step, since his introduction on the show, has lead to this terrible and dark moment. I do not, however, think he had this planned all along. Cas has always needed someone to follow, a guiding hand. We see it in season 4 as he does as told by his Angel superiors. We see it when he BEGS Anna to tell him what to do. We see it in the way he returns from Heaven and reclaims Jimmy’s body, coldly turning his back on Dean momentarily. In season 5, we see him follow Dean as he had his former superiors. Dean called the shots, made the big decisions mostly. He might have learned about freedom and freewill, but he certainly didn’t exercise it. And when he chooses to leave Dean in his Apple Pie life, he takes this cue not from Dean, not from Crowley, but from Soulless Sam. Sure, he didn’t say it, but by walking away from Dean, I think Cas took that as direction to leave Dean alone. He’s begged God to answer him, to guide him now that he is a true outcast in Heaven. God does not respond. He’s also been looking for God as long as he’s been on the show. So, he decides that he WILL become God because hell, God brought him back and surely his plan was to set up a replacement. Why not him?
I’m so with you on Jared’s performances in this episode. I couldn’t believe that he could top his work in The End or Swan Song, and yet he has and more here. It’s captivating in a way that won’t let you go. He’s such an underrated actor in my opinion, and I can only hope that his projects outside of Supernatural will provide him the material to produce more outstanding work as this.
I sat down and started the season over tonight, and now that I’ve read your wonderful review, I picked up on something. We started the season with Dean in a nightmare induced by the Djinn, relieving his mother and Jess’s death, the awful encounter between Azazel and Ben, where the whole Apocalypse storyline could be started over, with Ben as Lucifer’s vessel, if only in Dean’s poisoned mind. It is Sam, albeit Soulless, that saves him. And in this finale, we see Sam go through the process of putting himself back together partly for Dean and because of Dean. It’s amazing how the the beginning and ending melded so well.
And then there’s the truth about this show—regardless of what Cas has done. It’s always been a love story. Truly. The brotherly bond and love these two brothers have for one another may bend, it may strain, but it will never break. We saw it tested yet again and it passed only to come out the stronger on the other side. Now that they’re a united singular force again I truly pity Cas. They’ll run him over to protect it.
Thanks again for the seat on the couch, even if I am long winded as hell!
This was such an amazing response and article. I couldn’t agree more. As I re-watched the first episode tonight, the beginning and ending episodes clicked together for me, too.
As for Jared, I agree. He has become such an excellent actor. They both are… I don’t think that he’s under appreciated, at least by true fans of the show, just that people are torn between Jared and Jensen. I think they’re both great and over looked by the establishment. However, with all the press that the show has received this year, that may come to an end. Let’s all hope for the best!
I’m looking forward to Season 7 and I’m hoping that the writers will continue with this story arch and delve into Sam and Dean’s internal Hell turmoil, but leave their relationship alone. It’s nice having them back together on an even playing field.
Hi rmoats8621, thank you for your comment! So true – we won’t have to suffer through another season of the brothers being torn apart and at odds with each other (I hope so).
Cheers, Jas
The writer in me can’t help but play with the whole puzzle now that it has been given to us—okay not WHOLE puzzle per se as there will be some pieces put in place next season. And I’m glad I’m not the only one that noticed that in Exile we saw Dean experience a similar dream sequence as Sam did in The Man Who Knew Too Much.
I don’t think Jared is underrated in the fandom circle as much—but yes, in the establishment I do. He’s overlooked often, partly because of the genre Supernatural resides in, partly because it’s on the CW, and for a few other reasons. He’s a true artist—as is Jensen—and it’s a shame that either haven’t had the chance to do something much more significant outside of the show. Hopefully, as you said, now that the show is garnering much more press that will change.
Oh God, I can’t imagine the writers being stupid enough to spend all of season 6 building the brothers relationship back to equal terms only to rip them asunder again. I do think they will experience some growing pains and they will argue at times, but they’ll be stronger together than they’ve ever been before—as it should be.
Far Away Eyes, hello and thank you so much for your comment. Donรขโฌโขt worry about being long winded. Sometimes we need more than one sentence to say what we want to say รขโฌโ and, well, I have been known to be quite long winded myselfรขโฌยฆ ๐
With the hiatus upon us, I will do the same you did รขโฌโ start Season Six over again and watch it as a whole. Iรขโฌโขm sure many aspects will become clearer รขโฌโ and leave us hungrier for Season Seven, oh myรขโฌยฆ I agree that the writers managed to blend beginning and end of this season in terms of the journeys of Sam and Dean. And there will be a lot of work to do in the future in that department.
It is one of the most beautiful love stories, indeed. Love comes with many faces. And this is one I adore most, I guessรขโฌยฆ
Thank you again. Whenever you feel like it, take a seat and enjoy the restรขโฌยฆ Cheers, Jas
I’m glad that I’m not too long winded. You’re right. Sometimes it does take more than that simple sentence!
I’ve been meaning to, since I saw Caged Heat really, write an essay since the puzzle won’t leave me alone until I do. I was going to target Soulless Sam only, but as the season progressed it turned into a whole season package, so that’s what I’m working on.
I don’t anticipate having it done before I go to NY and then Jersey for the convention, but I’ll have fun along the way with it. It’s my first season without being able to dive right into the next, so now I can stew over it.
You’re absolutely right that love has many faces and these two love so very very much. It’s that love that touches our soul with this show and as long as we have that, I’ll be watching!
So will I, Far Away Eyes. It’s what moves me more than I have words to describe.
Will you let us know about that piece you’re working on? I’ll be curious to read it, if you don’t mind.
See ya, Jas
Absolutely. I first have to rewatch the season and play with things. I’d love to share what comes from it here if it is welcome.
wow, you’re online, eh? That’s nice. ๐
I’m sure it will be welcome – if you like send it to Alice, since she, as our editor-in-chief, handles all that gets online here.
I, for one, would love to read it.
I will have to do that. Thanks for the suggestion.
I work in retail for a living, but I’m a fiction writer. Right now I’m procrastinating so here I be!
Now I’m even more curious. So, dear writer, I wish you the best of luck for that project.
And, well, procrastinating can fuel one’s creativity sometimes, to my experience.
I assume you’re located somewhere in the US, which means it’s daytime for you. For me it’s good night, now, half past eleven, and I feel that sleep’s trying to claim me…
Sleep well when it’s time for you, Jas
I am in the US. I live in the Southwest corner of Minnesota. I’m about a 90 minute drive from the real Sioux Falls, which by the way, is a lot lot larger than depicted on the show.
I do hope that you’ll sleep well and that my procrastination will bear fruit.
I will most definitely accept anything you write. Your posts are so wonderful and make so many great observations I never thought of. Many of our writers (including Jasminka) got started by writing excellent analytical comments. If you can do that in comments, you can definitely do it with articles.
If you want to post something, just send me a message through “Contact Us” and I’ll send you an email address to send the article to.
Thank you so much for the offer and the welcome, Alice.
As soon as I can manage to finish it, I’ll let you know.
This was a lovely and insightful piece that I am in total agreement with. I was really blown away by this episode, especially Jared’s incredible work as the various versions of Sam. Posture, vocal inflections, word choice, facial expressions, everything–all completely unique to each version.
Also, loved the comment about Bobby being the warm fireplace or long-burning candle. That was so perfect and apt.
I think my favorite scene of this episode was when Sammy met Hell!Sam. Not only was Jared breathtaking as the broken, bloodied version that remembered Hell (gives me chills to think about the memories he holds), but the way Sam came to terms with having to remember the Cage so he wouldn’t leave his brother alone. The moment he said that line, I remembered him saying that was his favorite line in the series at whichever con and can really see why. This is the Sam that I fell in love with in the earlier seasons and it’s so wonderful seeing him in full force in this episode. Sam has so much inner strength that is so often underestimated–even by Sam himself–and it was amazing to see it in full force in this episode.
I hadn’t really thought much about the use of light in this episode until I started reading some reviews and watching the episode again, it’s really incredible and well-done. The candles in Bobby’s house? Another favorite. But more importantly, that Dean was Sam’s light, his beacon, both literally as he shone a light into Sam’s eyes and figuratively since he was the reason that made Sam keep going… Ah, so perfect for these boys.
I was also really impressed with the changes in Castiel and Misha’s portrayal. He really did *look* different now that he’s made his choice and turned “God.” I know a lot of fans are upset about the direction, but I like it and think it makes a lot of sense. Cas is such an infant in terms of making decisions for himself, and his model for decision-making is the Winchesters. Far from the greatest examples. And with angelic power and problems, it seems natural the issue would become a much larger scale when bad decisions are made.
I also have a hard time seeing Dean forgiving Cas for bringing down Sam’s wall since Sam is the off-limits area in his life, so I hope that issue is addressed since it really bothered me.
Ah, so many interesting things to talk about in this episode. Thanks for sharing, I had a great time on the couch!
Thank you, purplehairwonder, for your elaborate comment! You know, your favourite scene is also mine here. Itรขโฌโขs full of nuances, and it went straight into my soul.
I believe the writers canรขโฌโขt let the issue of Cas deliberately bringing down Samรขโฌโขs wall untouched in future episodes. Itรขโฌโขs too big a matter to be let go uncommented. I think the struggle with that (probably particularly with Dean, since he felt really close to the angel) will be shown, and Iรขโฌโขm so very curious about how it will turn out!
Take good care, Jas
Another incisive and interesting review Jasminka.
It is such a relief to read a sensible discussion about the strengths of plot, characterisation and the marvellous acting without descending into petty discussions about the number of close-ups, lines of dialogue or perceived slights against favourite characters that too often happens on other forums.
I always look forward to your reviews.
Hi KatieV – thank you for your comment. I’m happy to hear that you like to come here to read my reviews, thanks a lot for your acknowledgement!
I have to say, I am glad to not venture to those sites anymore where discussions like that you mention take place. I don’t like that at all and the tone of some of those comments tends to upset me.
Why it often has to come to those arguments continues to elude me.
Feel free to come back whenever you like, there’s always a plate of fresh cookies to your left ๐
Cheers, Jas
Dear Jas,
This was a wonderful article, but then I think we knew, given the subject matter it was going to inspire a special `open couch`.
I have just a few random musings here.
I loved all the references to light included, it was an excellent continuation of established themes.
I was, like you really upset, but impressed by Misha`s performance, as our loved little angel was nowhere to be seen in this one. I don`t really think this was in his long term plan, `Our Cas` would never have contemplated all the machinations of this Non-God Castiel. Like you I hold out hope, don`t we always, that things can be fixed and we get the `nerd angel` back, but I do not expect him to recover from this unchanged, and can`t wait to see where we go from here. It will be interesting to see how they move the relationships forward as the deliberate breaking of the wall was devastating, obviously for Sam, but also for Dean, as we know, to hurt Sam is pretty much the worst thing anyone could do to him.
Bobby was, as ever, wonderful, I love how he knows exactly which buttons to press to focus Dean and keep him together. I was so relieved when he moved in the upturned Impala, incidentally, she will be fine.
In this episode Jared was wonderful, he played the pieces of Humpty Dumpty brilliantly, 3 totally distinctive men. It was quite scary to see the return of RoboSam and heartbreaking to see the shell of `Tormented Sam`. I have been amazed at some online comments and criticism I have seen of this story line and the fact that `he recovered too quickly`. We saw him arrive at the end scene guided there by Deans note and sheer willpower, but did not even hear him speak, or indeed know if he has the capacity to speak after the damaged pieces became whole again. The consequences I am sure will be devastating and far reaching, we know this show, one of the reasons we love and admire it is precisely because of the way they continue story lines.
That line, the one that has now, as he said recently, become Jareds favourite, was perfect. Oh Kripke, how I love and hate you! It is amazing how he can manage to sum up everything about the show in a simple line, how many times has he done this before? I am reminded of Swan Song, when Dean was about to leave for Stull Cemetery and was told by Cas `All you will see is Michael killing your brother` and he replied `Well I aint gonna let him die alone`. He really is an evil genius.
So now we have to wait, it is to be a very long hellatus, so many questions longing to be answered.
I loved Season 6 just as I loved all the other seasons. Yes it was different, after all we had one character absent for much of it as `It wasn`t Sam! ` But there have been some amazing episodes as usual and I am counting the days to Season 7 with the same enthusiasm as always.
Thanks again, you know I have a `season ticket` on this couch
Love Ju
Hello Julie, dear. There is always a seat reserved for you (here and in reality, of course).
Like you I canรขโฌโขt wait to see what they will be doing with these characters in the season to come. I am also sure that they will probably be very changed, in ways we still need to see. But moments like those weรขโฌโขve watched them go through in this season leave wounds. Some shallow, some deep.
I canรขโฌโขt believe that people actually moaned about how Sam รขโฌหrecovered too quicklyรขโฌโข, come on. Obviously those people have no idea whatsoever about how a human mind works รขโฌโ or, on a more empathetic note รขโฌโ they were lucky enough never to experience terrible moments that left their souls scarred and therefore canรขโฌโขt imagine how that might be.
Youรขโฌโขre right, all weรขโฌโขve seen was that Sam stumbled to the house where the showdown took place, obviously weak, but we donรขโฌโขt know anything else about his state. And thinking about what might be revealed about it scares me. Not only a little (and hereรขโฌโขs me, clutching a comfy pillow to my stomach :-* )รขโฌยฆ
Thank you so much! Love, Jas
Absolutely fascinating and interesting read. I loved how much this made me think, how it highlighted a few things I hadn’t thought of quite like that and how because of what you do for a living added another and deeper layer to the finale for me.
I’ve read a couple of people who’ve linked Robin quite heavily to Dean because of how similarly their over all personalities were. This girl was a smart, feisty, witty and strong girl. At least the version of her Sam had in his head and as you pointed out she had a protector role which I don’t even need to name who has that role in Sam’s real life. Also how Dean and her voices and words at one point blended together. The only reason why I think she’s depicted in the form a girl is the fact that usually we link the protector, the caregiver and the softer qualities to the mother but I really think she has a lot of Dean’s wit, fast thinking and attitude because she wasn’t a part of Sam himself. She was an outside force, sharing his journey and riding along side him in the impala, trying to keep him safe and protect him by telling him to go back. To me it just has Dean written all over it.
I just wanted to let you know how incredibly interesting I found this and I’ll probably end up recommending people to read this if they really want something to think about.
Hi Cammie, and thank you very much for your thoughts! I am very happy and honoured to read that my article added another layer to this episode for you, and thereby, hopefully, enhanced the enjoyment of it. And thank you for recommending it to others. I didnรขโฌโขt expect that reaction, and, well, it touches meรขโฌยฆ
Itรขโฌโขs an interesting thought รขโฌโ that Robin was in fact Dean in another form. It makes sense, absolutely. And itรขโฌโขs a lovely idea. That Sam always had Deanรขโฌโขs presence with him, even in his darkest hour. Lovely, indeed. Soothing.
Take good care, Jas
oops, something went wrong here… ๐ฎ
Hi Heide and welcome back! Iรขโฌโขve been wondering where you are and if you are well. I can relate very well to the issue of being very busy รขโฌโ and glad that you had time to watch the showรขโฌยฆ and happy that you took time to read this and comment. Thank you!
The writers did indeed a great job in creating Samรขโฌโขs story here. You know, I donรขโฌโขt think that Soulless Sam actually wanted to die. The way I read the story, he felt to be the strongest of them all, being the only one (it seems, at least in these scenes) who was aware that there are more parts, much like a host persona within a multiple personality does. There mostly is one persona that runs the whole shebang. And here Soulless Sam wanted to be the one in charge.
I will continue to delve into the psyche of the characters, just didnรขโฌโขt want to go further here, simply because we donรขโฌโขt know yet how both, Sam and Dean, will emerge from this. But rest assured that I will take a close look on that. I love doing so, and I love to hear that you like it, thank you!
Castielรขโฌโขs story is indeed very tragic. And perhaps a mirror to a human turning the wrong way and being corrupted by power in such a dreadful way. And perhaps, here will come the point when Death appears to reap God, as he once told Dean in a Chicagoan pizzeria.
Thank you again, Heide. I hope you are well! Come back when you can, Iรขโฌโขm sure youรขโฌโขll find interesting stuff here on our site. And I hope your รขโฌหbusinessรขโฌโข will leave you enough time to relax!! Jas
Hi Jas,
That was a wonderful review. Your love and understanding of Sam, and your professional knowledge of the subject matter really shone through (Look… a light/lite? pun!)
There is so much to think about, with respect to Season 6 and the upcoming Season 7. Sam will be struggling with ALL his memories now. And Dean will be struggling to help and protect his brother, as well as trying to keep, what I’ve nicknamed The Lead-Lined Chamber of Dean, firmly locked too.
My concern for the brothers is that they always want to help each other cope, but they afraid to burden each other with what they perceive as their own weaknesses. So, they often hold their emotions in, or repress things (Dean especially) rather than seem “needy”. I think they would have a better chance of finding healing if they could just be more open with each other. If they can share some of those horrific memories, maybe they’ll find a way to accept them, and process them. But I suspect that veers dangerously close to “chick-flick” territory for them, and possibly the writers.
I really appreciated your observations on Castiel too. It actually has me thinking of his caution to Dean, back in Season 4’s ITB.. “You have to stop it!”. I feel like the It in that command has now become a venegeful, wrathful new G/god. (Cas might think he is, butI’m not entirely convinced he’s big G-God. However, perhaps I’m just protecting my own earthly self from being smited, or shut out at the pearly gates!)
And I like that you called Cas an Alpha Male. The Alphas were another of the symphonic themes of the season that I kept hearing. But it got a little lost at the end. I’m hoping they pick up that thread next year.
What blazed through this episode for me, like you, was again the love the brothers feel for each other. Cas may be powered by the souls of millions. But they are fueled by something equally as potent — Love. I believe that it can conquer most things, if not all of them. And it’s what will help them fight the horrors (of the mind especially) coming their way in Season 7.
I think it’s also Love that will make them try to get the angelic Cas back. Hopefully Dean’s words of forgiveness at Rufus’s grave will extend to Castiel as well. But bringing down Sam’s well was just cruel..
I’m so impressed at the growth that JA and JP have shown as actors. Their performances are why we all believe Dean & Sam Winchester are real. I just hope the Hollywood Powers That Be are watching. And that when the times comes, and contracts allow, there will be some big roles offered to them.
Finally, I loved your use of quotes. They were beautiful. So, I’ll end with one I particularly like, which I think sums up the Winchesters love for each other, and the fighting spirit that keeps them going, even when hope seems lost…
[i]”It is better to light a single candle than to stand and curse the darkness”[/i]
[quote]I think it’s also Love that will make them try to get the angelic Cas back. Hopefully Dean’s words of forgiveness at Rufus’s grave will extend to Castiel as well. But bringing down Sam’s well was just cruel.[/quote]
You know, I was really struck by Dean’s use of the past tense at the very end of TMWKTM (“We [b]were[/b] family [b]once[/b].”) versus the present tense in TMWWBK (“Next to Sam, you and Bobby [b]are[/b] the closest things I [b]have[/b] to family. You [b]are[/b] like a brother to me.”). Same message, different tense.
I hope Sam and Dean work to get our favorite nerd angel back, but I really have a hard time seeing Dean forgiving what Cas did to Sam. I’m more able to see Sam forgiving Cas eventually since he went down a similar path and it was only his bond with Dean that brought him back AND the wall coming down eventually forced him to become whole again for the first time since “Swan Song.” But Dean? Cas knows very well how Dean takes anyone harming Sam and I can’t help but see that as his way of severing his bonds with the Winchesters. And that’s sad.
I disagree that Cas went down a similar path as Sam’s from season 4. I’ve already wrote that Cas crossed every single line that Sam refused to cross, and Cas refused to show even the slighted iota of self-awareness and remorse that Sam showed at every turn.
Sam was labeled a monster by his own brother and lost his way when trying to save the world. Cas cannot blame being lead astray by the manipulation of others (as Sam was) and he had every advantage to turn away. Cas crossed the lines and he did when he wasn’t drunk on souls. He was fully rational when he cold blooded murder his followers, friends, and tore down Sam’s wall knowing full well that Sam will “suffer horrifically”, Cas’ own words.
Hello PDreamy and thank you for your thoughts!
You know, I also hope that Sam and Dean will stop their silence about their pains now that they do have knowledge of what hell and its torture is like รขโฌโ it would help them immensely to talk about it. What I often find is that trauma makes people feel isolated, because hardly anyone they know is able to relate. Itรขโฌโขs a painful loneliness. Talking to someone who knows, feels and fears similar things is so very helpful. I hope these guys will find the comfort in that.
And perhaps then they will be able to get Castiel back from his terrible quest. Perhaps love will do that, or that candle that needs to be lit (the quote you ended your comment with is truly beautiful, too, thank you).
Take care, dear, and thank you for your kind words. Cheers, Jas
I can say I’m with you on all that has been! Thanks a thousand times thank you for writing what I feel. sorry for my English is very bad. But from Argentina I want to tell you that I d agree 100% with you. I love the series and I love Jared was excellent and act! like jensen and misha. I hope Season 7 Hermanos find the more united than ever!
Verowinchester, hola y gracias for your sweet comment.
I’m happy that I captured what you feel, it’s always lovely to hear that to be even possible, so thank you so much.
Don’t worry about your English – I understood perfectly what you wanted to say, I’m sure.
Estos hermanos son รยบnico, verdad? (and my Spanish is not good… but perhaps I will learn it someday… ๐ )
Adiรยณs and thanks again! Sending many kind regards all the way across the Atlantic to Argentina! Take care, Jas
Mlealo, hello and welcome back to my couch, madam. I am happy to hear that you enjoy your stay on my cozy cushionsรขโฌยฆ
Your thoughts on the soul, respectively living without one, have been on my mind quite a while, too, and with where the show went with it, I might come to a conclusion sooner or later. Right now I donรขโฌโขt have a good answer to it (and my brain is not functioning well today, forgive me, Iรขโฌโขve had a strange night), but if you like, you could check out two articles Iรขโฌโขve written on the topic. Itรขโฌโขs รขโฌหSam and the mystery of the missing soulรขโฌโข
https://www.thewinchesterfamilybusiness.com/article-list/category8/13024-sam-and-the-mystery-of-the-missing-soul.html and รขโฌหSurvival of the Soulfulรขโฌโข https://www.thewinchesterfamilybusiness.com/article-list/category8/13630-survival-of-the-soulful-will-sam-as-a-species-survive.html .
You can find them on my writers page (but perhaps I managed to copy a link into this replyรขโฌยฆ ahรขโฌยฆ not sureรขโฌยฆ)
I think your analogy to that Enterprise episode is logical, donรขโฌโขt you think? Kirk was divided in two completely antagonistic entities, able to function on their own, but the best person possible came back when these were re-united. I think the same holds true for Sam. With all these parts brought together, he is the person we love.
Thank you! Jasminka
Incredibly insightful, hats off to you, Jas. Given what was going on in Sam’s mind it makes complete sense that the analysis would end up on your couch ๐
The use of lights are clever, showing the internal guidance in Sam’s mind and the outside influence via Dean; from night when innocent Sam was lost and doesn’t remember, to daylight when he confronts the starkness of himself. Bobby’s house had light but the tortured soul stay hidden in the dark, finding comfort there. Jared once again knocked it out of the park, I am continuously impressed on how many different Sams he brings convincingly to life.
If there is one teeny tiny quibble is “Castielรขโฌโขs story reflects Season Four Samรขโฌโขs like a painful echo”. S4 Sam was sacrificing himself under the devastating thought that his actions would make him a monster, be hated by his brother, and he would die in order to save the world. In contrast, Cas wanted power for himself, not necessarily to save the world. In “The French Mistake” Cas had gotten all the heaven weapons and Raphael was forced to retreat. Cas appeared to be getting the upper hand in the civil war, but he still wanted the souls for himself and Raphael became a convenient excuse his pursuit. Cas arrogantly declaring himself God is canon to his character since season 4.
Cas every advantage that Sam was deprived of in season 4. Sam was mistrusted by Dean pretty much from the get go. Cas had Dean’s trust until it was proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was doing bad things and keeping them secret. Sam was manipulated by both sides, Castiel knew what Crowley wanted and he still made the deal. Sam tried to take Dean with him to kill Lilith and wrongly didn’t cut Ruby out. Castiel got to hear Dean’s last plea that he had gone too far and needed to be depowered and that Dean still believed that he could be saved. Sam got a changed voice mail and the message that Dean hated him and that Sam was not salvageable. Cas got every chance to turn back. Sam had very few.
Castiel crossed over every single line that Sam refused to cross, and refused to show even the slighted iota of self-awareness and remorse that Sam showed at every turn. Castiel embraced his own madness and self-pity and sense of self-righteousness.
I absolutely agree with you. While I see the correlation between season 4 Sam and season 6 Cas, the differences are becoming more and more stark as the season settles in my mind.
Cas has all the advantages that Sam never had and more and yet he has embraced the madness and drive for absolute power despite the pleas from Dean. He isn’t sorry for it, not really.
Sam’s actions in season 4 were driven by love and a misguided sense that he had to avenge what Lilith did to Dean by sending him to Hell. The breaking of the Seals was his cover. Cas simply hid and lied and when his cover was blown then tried to cover up his utter madness and drive for power by making fake apologetic overtures. He then went a step further with crumbling of Sam’s Wall. Sam had never meant to hurt Dean as he had with Ruby. Cas seems to have no reservations about doing so here.
Love your posts when I come across them, Far Away Eyes. I didn’t think of the idea that Cas was taking his cues from soulless Sam walking away from Dean and his apple pie life, but it makes sense and it further shows how incapable Cas was at making decisions for the benefit of the greater good. Cas’ pride and arrogance convinced himself that he can be just like the Winchesters, or in this case, like Sam.
At first I thought the writers were going to parallel Cas’ descent with season 4 Sam. But as the storylines progressed and Cas continued to lie through his teeth and cause suffering to others, it suddenly occurred to me that they weren’t paralleling Cas and Sam, instead showing that Cas was trying to be like Sam but minus the humility, the self awareness, the innate goodness, the empathy, and the self-sacrificing for others, especially for his brother.
Since season 4, Cas has never took accountability, never took responsibility, and always blamed others (he tried to blame Ellie’s death on Crowley). And on top of it he would rather sacrifice others and once he ran out of sacrificial lambs only then maybe, maybe he will sacrifice himself as a last resort. Where as the Winchester brothers would rather sacrifice themselves before all others.
Thank you. This fandom has certainly made me feel welcome.
I think there’s some truth to what you’re saying about Cas, wanting to be like the Winchesters, yet unable to follow through. I think the biggest obstacle for Cas is that he is not a leader but a follower and without someone to steer him he makes blunders of epic proportions. He spent all of season 4 doing as told, then begged Anna to tell him what to do. He spent all of season 5 following Dean.
A lot of people took issue with the way Dean referred to Cas as a baby in Mommy Dearest, but it makes sense when you take into account that Dean sees the truth—well as much as he’s willing to admit. When it comes to being a grown up, to making decisions on his own, Cas is very much an infant.
I think Cas has some true feelings for the Winchester brothers. I think he truly does or did have some love for them. The power he was gifted with after his resurrection in Swan Song totally corrupted him as it would seem it was more power than he had before his death. Power corrupts and absolute power, as he’s now taken in, corrupts absolutely.
Cas has been on this path since his introduction and it is no surprise in hindsight that he ended up where he did. He has spent a long time looking for God and I think with his resurrection at the end of Swan Song he took it as his direction that he was to do God’s work. Somehow that twisted into God hand picking him as His replacement. Hell, Dean asks him after Cas heals him if he is God and then asks if he’s the new sheriff in town. Of course the tipping point came when Crowley nudged Cas further down that dark path.
I’m going to be curious to see how they deal with this corrupted being–if they choose to save or destroy him.
Hi LordAniline and thank you very much for your thoughts.
I see your point, and I believe I was a tad unclear in my writing. With describing Castiel’s path as an echo to Sam’s I meant to say that I believe that it was intended by the writers to reflect Sam’s journey, but also to show the differences.
And, of course you are right here, there are major differences, as you will also fiind in the sentences after the one you quote above. Castiel had very different reasons to go down that road from those that motivated Sam.
Cheers, Jas
Thank you Jasminka for the clarification though I still disagree with how it reads. I read and re-read that paragraph couple of times before I wrote my initial comment. To even mention Sam’s struggles in the same sentence is akin to making excuses for Cas who had all the advantages (Dean’s trust, power, knowledge, etc) at his disposal, where Sam had none of those options and yet he never crossed the lines that Cas all too gladly did. When Cas does the wrong things, let it be all on him; I rather people don’t drag Sam in so to somehow lessen Cas’ misdeeds and culpability.
You are entitled to read the scene as you do, of course. It was not my intention to ‘lessen’ Castiel’s deeds or to make excuses for him.
My intention is to understand why he would do it. And to that I have not found a satisfying answer, yet.
Cheers, Jas
Your intention to understanding the “why” of Cas’ actions is honorable, but again brings back the main issue I have the psychology establishment in trying to find a root cause to the problems of people’s souls. The psych community has nearly done away with the entire concept of evil, in essence denying its existence, and then expends super human efforts to find litany of rationalizations for even the basest behaviors into simple, justifiable reactions to their circumstances. But they must put the corruption somewhere, so they lay it on society at large (in SPN world, blame Sam) in order to give a pass to the individual who has done the bad deed. Society then has to suffer the predation of evil individuals even while bearing the blame for the evil deeds perpetrated upon it. Society is you and me who are expected to be willing to bear responsibility for the acts of another over which we have no power to stop or persuade from his evil course. This helps no one but the evil doer.
I am very sorry that you came to understand the efforts of psychology in this manner, LordAniline.
This science always strives to understand why people react the way they do, and since people are complex, the answers established via countless studies and observations are equally complex.
Society and culture always provide effects on people, on everyone living in a certain environment, which adds to this complexity.
Understanding is not synonymical to justifying.
Understanding enables the researcher to find means to actually help those who need it and, of possible, cure their mental illnesses.
I’d like to invite you to read Zimbardo’s [i]Lucifer Effect [/i] or Hare’s [i]Without Conscience [/i] to see that psychological scientists have not denied the idea of evil, but aspired to understand its reasons and the concepts that encourage its development.
Cheers, Jas
I agree, Lord Anline, the comparison between Castiel and Sam is ridiculous and needs to stop. Sam did what he did out of selflessness, to save his brother and the world. Castiel did what he did out of quest to covet power for himself and he killed his own brothers and sister because they caught on to what he was doing and said his plan will fry half the world.
Sam had a soul and had been making decisions about what is right and what is wrong since he was a child. Cas didn’t have a soul and had spent his thousands of years doing what he was born to do – be a good soldier and follow orders. A better comparison might be Cas to RoboSam. I’m not taking sides here. Both stories are complicated and both characters deserve some sympathy (which is why I love SPN).
I agree, cd28, Castiel is a soulless creature which makes it even more ridiculous to compare him to someone like Sam who possess depth of feelings, self-awareness, humbleness, and selflessness that Castiel can’t even hope to understand.
But Castiel’s soulless state does NOT excuses him from all of the crimes he committed, especially in light that his brother and sister knew it was wrong and tried to stop him. I know Castiel fans want to somehow make things okay for him, but trying to somehow blame Sam or compare the two isn’t the way.
It seems to me you didn’t understand what I was saying. Well…
S4 Sam was sacrificing himself under the devastating thought that his actions would make him a monster, be hated by his brother, and he would die in order to save the world. …
Cas every advantage that Sam was deprived of in season 4. Sam was mistrusted by Dean pretty much from the get go. Cas had Dean’s trust until it was proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was doing bad things and keeping them secret. Sam was manipulated by both sides, Castiel knew what Crowley wanted and he still made the deal. Sam tried to take Dean with him to kill Lilith and wrongly didn’t cut Ruby out. Castiel got to hear Dean’s last plea that he had gone too far and needed to be depowered and that Dean still believed that he could be saved. Sam got a changed voice mail and the message that Dean hated him and that Sam was not salvageable. Cas got every chance to turn back. Sam had very few.
Castiel crossed over every single line that Sam refused to cross, and refused to show even the slighted iota of self-awareness and remorse that Sam showed at every turn. Castiel embraced his own madness and self-pity and sense of self-righteousness.[/quote]
THANK YOU for summarizing this so well. Sam has also been “herded” all his life by the demons who replaced teachers and prom dates and best friends whenever he stayed in one place long enough (the ones Lucifer gleefully killed in Swan Dive). I think the souls of Sam and Dean are both special. And I wonder how that will play in this new soul-driven story line.
Hello Jas,
I was waiting for this couch since I finished watching that episode the first time. There is so much that goes through my mind that I don’t know were to start.
The whole Sam/Dean story in this one I think is comparable to love relationship between a man and a woman. How often has a man/woman told his/her partner “You are the light of my live”. Don’t get me wrong I most definatly don’t mean in a slash-way. It’s more like the brotherly love between Sam and Dean. Lisa knew that when she told Dean that now that Sam is back she has no chance in his live anymore. They just can’t live without each other. Which is so heart breaking. But it also gives them the strength they need to endure everything that is thrown into their path.
As for Castiel. No I didn’t see that coming since the beginning not even till mid-season. But then it slowly dawned on me that he, who never really learned to make his own decisions, might make the wrong decisions. Especially since he never actually let the Winchesters in on what he did up in heaven. But there is something that jumped my mind during the final scene. Castiel has absorbed the creatures from purgetory. Over the season we were told that the evil monsters go to purgetory and it sure looked to me like Cas kind of was possesed by evil when he asked the boys to bow in front of him. On the other hand our beloved Dr. Visyak told Bobby that not all is bad which is in Purgetory. Therefore I wonder if the good and bad purgetory creatures within Castiel will fight it out in Season 7.
For some unknown reason I think that Sam looks so hot as Sam from hell (or like I call him Samell). I completly agree that both Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki are outstanding actors. As you know I watched this episode the first time during the German con. Jared’s panel was the last one of the day and as you can see in the vids he was his bubbly usuall self on stage. Afterwards I went to watch the final eps with Junkerin. And saw Soulless Sam and Samell. Both so far away from the real Jared Padalecki that if I should have ever needed any proof (which I didn’t) that he is a trully outstanding actor I had it right there in front of me. And the next day after watching those tormented scenes I saw him again walking through the hotel and greating us funs with a cheerfull hello. Up until then I knew he was a good actor but never appreciated his acting abilities as much as I did Jensen’s. Wow was I wrong.
Thanks again for giving me a place on your couch.
Yirabah, you are always welcome to my couch, of course!
I’m sure you can imagine, it took me a while to write this (and when I was not writing, I was hardly able to [i]not [/i] think about it).
It’s an interesting idea – will we learn more about the good and the bad of purgatory? Ah, it’s such a long hiatus… we’ll have to be patient (not one of my best developped traits, I have to confess ๐ ).
The real Jared is, indeed, utterly different than what we’ve seen in these episodes. He’s simply lovely… and I’m sure he’ll give us more of such high quality performances. There just isn’t another option.
Thank you so much for your thoughts. Sending you a warm smile, Jas
Ich habs dir gesagt ๐
I’m glad to hear, Heide, that you are well. I can perfectly relate to the ‘overworked’ problem. Same here… 8)
I hope you can find some moments to relax and enjoy the things you love to do, to fill up your batteries ๐
I will be writing over the hiatus (some ideas are in the works), depending on how much time I’ll find apart from work. And my co-writers here will be busy delivering articles, too, I’m sure!
I’m happy that you like it here. I love this site, too (would you have guessed? ๐ )…. okay, I have to grab something to eat and then it’s off to bed early. Mondays are always exhausting.
Take good care, sending smiles, Jas
??? ๐
The “I told you” was meant for Yirabah. Because I told her in Mannheim Cas would chance
[b]Hallelujah[/b] Sister! ๐
Oh, Dany, I am so happy to hear from you, dearie!
I understand well what you mean, and no words are necessary.
And, please, stay as long as you like. I’m honoured to have you. And you know that I have always a place for you on my couch and in my heart,as kitschy as that may sound. I’m all for kitsch… ๐
hoping you are well, Jas
Hi Jas
Iรยดm very buissy right now but I always like to take some time on your couch. And boy I need it. After beeing in Mannheim watching the Final, having a Coffee Lounch with Jared it is hard to finde a way back to normal live.
It was nice to hear Sam saying, that he wouldnรยดt leave his brother. We heard it from Dean and we expected it form Sam to but it was nice to hear. Jared sad it was his favorit line ever. Well I got to go. I want to finish my Con Report some day. ๐
Thanks for coming over despite your schedule, Junkerin!
Hold on to that experience for as long as you can (and like), for reality will claim you soon enough.
Cheers, Jas
Goodness, I’m late to the couch this time, but wanted to say how much I enjoyed the discussion here. Maybe I needed a little time to recover & think things through…
(and yay for the Highlander mention! I loved the series & the original movie too; the sequels, not as much)
I adored how light in so many varied forms played such an important factor throughout the story, for good or not so good. Just beautiful!
Jared was nothing short of amazing in portraying the disparate “pieces” of Sam, & I cannot wait for next season to see the process of healing & reintegrating those pieces that must surely take place over time. We only saw a glimpse of the put-together-again Sam at the very end of the finale, & he was certainly very fragile, summoning all his willpower to make it there, to be there for his brother.
Misha was amazing too. I could feel my heart begin to harden against this character I had once loved so much. I was initially quite devastated that the writers had chosen to take Castiel in this direction, but it could prove to be a fascinating storyline. Cas really has been corrupted by his One Ring of power, but I’m still hoping he can give it up before a fall into the fires of Mt. Doom leaves all hope of redemption beyond reach.
Jensen & Jim brought me to tears as well. Dean showed his quality in just being there with his brother, thinking he couldn’t do anything to help, not realizing that his voice & presence actually were reaching Sam in his unconscious battle.
Jas, I loved your analogy of Bobby to light & warmth! So true.
Thanks for the couch! It is certainly a bright spot in this Hellatus!
Dawn
Dawn, another Highlander fan? Yay, that’s sweet to know!
Don’t ever worry about being late, sometimes we need more time to process out thoughts and emotions ๐
I’m with you, of course – the actors did such an amazing job! I stand in awe when I see talent like that. It makes me proud, even when that sounds a tad cheesy.
I’m happy to be able to provide a couch. You’re welcome to snuggle into the soft cushions at any time!
Thank you so much for your comment and your kind words, love Jas
Jasminka, I’ve only now read this wonderful article as I’m trying to catch up on everything all writers on TWFB have written since the beginning! I don’t know how I missed this one though, as I had read your article on “Let It Bleed”. But I must say this one touched my heart greatly. Just the way these wonderful actors have interpreted their roles this season was absolutely phenomenal!
I hadn’t even thought of “Highlander” until you mentioned it, but man, how true. And that happens to be one of my favourite movies, I love Christopher Lambert. You bring such depth to these episodes,I will be looking forward to reading what you have to share with us next year.
I’m very afraid of all the darkness happening to our boys. I always have to go back to the “lighter” years of season one and two to make me feel better. I know it’s just a TV show, but these characters seem so real to me, I think about their situations a lot. Many kudos to all the writers for being able to make us care so much about fictional characters. It’s like when I read a book where one of the character gets hurt and it makes me cry, I always surprise myself.
Until season seven, I will be reading (hopefully) everything on this great site.
Hi Sylvie, welcome to the site!! And thank you so much for your movoing comment!
I love Highlander, too, and always liked Christophe Lambert! The original film was a gem! It should have been only one!
I can understand your fear of what will happen to the boys… I feel afraid for them, too.
You know, I think it’s easy to write about the characters because they’re so real, despite being fictional. They are depicted in this unique manner – the writers are just fantastic, and the actors bring the lines to life, so – the praise really belongs to them.
I thank you very much – I’m happy that you like what I offer her, and I hope to be able to bring interesting stuff up for you to read and like. There’ll be a retro-episode Open-Couched soon.
Enjoy your adventure here on our site. I know I speak for all of us when I say: welcome and thank you for liking what you find!
Take care, cheers, Jas
I just had to say this but Misha really scared the crap out of me in the ending here, the show is so lucky to have actors who can pull off the stories they write, and Misha is definitely one of those rare gems. The Cas that appeared at the end is nothing like the Cas we have come to love for so long! His voice is different, his eyes are different, his face is different, I don’t even know how Misha was able to do that but it scared me because the Cas I love so much always had that spark of curiosity behind his blue eyes, and now it’s just cold and dark.
I think it’s easy for many to judge Cas and just call him a simple bad guy, I have heard many do that, but to say it like that is to toss aside 3 years of character development and I simply do not believe that foot-solder Castiel in Season 4 somehow planned all this, the pain and suffering and loss, just to become a God from the very beginning when he showed up. That would mean kicking out all those real moments that mattered like it was trash and I refuse to believe that there was no sincerity in any of Cas’s actions, if they make it like that, it would be the worst character assassination I have ever seen and I’ve seen plenty enough.
It’s tragic to watch Cas fall, and while many of those decisions were of his own making and choice, it was decisions made in an attempt to save the ones that he truly cared about, the ones that he thought mattered. I myself have been down that path before, trying to do the right things the wrong way, I can understand Cas’s feelings. And what Cas needed was a shoulder to lean on, he needed someone to understand, someone to just listen and stand by him, he needed someone to be there, and there was no one.
And I think to me, that is where I saw this tragedy, Cas really love the Winchesters, they mattered so much to him, their trust in him would mean everything, he wants to help them, he wants to be on their side, but I think Cas soon found out the hard way that they could not stand by him, not the way he had done for them. Even when he begged Dean, Dean had turned his back, I honestly think in that moment, Cas just cracked. He was already under considerable strain in trying to stop another Apocalypse, trying to save a world that wasn’t his, trying to protect his own home, but all that on the shoulders of one little angel carrying all the weight, he was bound to snap eventually. And with no support from Dean and the others, that’s exactly what he did, he broke.
When a person has nothing to hold him back, nothing to tie him to emotions and feelings, things that matters, there is only a dark and terrible road that awaits, I’ve seen people go down those roads and that is exactly what is happening to Cas. He lost Dean and the others, he lost their trust, he lost the last shred of family he’s ever had, and if they were gone, then what else was there for him to fight for except grab the power of the souls and win his war. He’s got nothing else to fight for, the war and winning it are the only things that he can still hold onto.
I’m not gonna excuse the mistakes that Cas has made and the decisions he’s taken himself to, but I can understand what led him here. Cas IS like an infant in so many ways, freedom and free-will weren’t things that angels understand, they weren’t things that they just grasp, and I think in many ways, that’s where the boys and Cas lost their foresight in their plan to stop the Apocalypse the first time. They were all cocky, I mean, did they really think the prophecy would just simply stop and everything would go back to normal? That somehow angels would understand free-will and exercise it right? This was always bound to happen, and none of them saw it coming. None of them thought about the consequences, and now they’re all suffering for it, for that lack of foresight.
I guess I’m not shocked that Cas fell into this road when it came to free-will, it’s not like the Winchesters are exactly the best role models and if that’s where Cas learns everything about humanity, then it’s no wonder he’s screwed up.
All in all, amidst all the mistakes, I have not given up hope, I still believe that there is a way to fix this mess, there is a way to bring back the real-Cas that I know is still somewhere trapped beneath all those souls trying to fight back. If there is anything I have learned in the last 3 years is that Cas loves the Winchesters and he is damn stubborn and self-sacrificing just like a Winchester, as long as a part of Cas is still in there somewhere, there is always a chance to bring him back, I believe that! Cas is not gone, and a bond like what Cas had with the boys don’t just break apart like it never happened.
I know Cas has done a lot of crappy things in the last few episodes, but Cas IS family, and Winchesters don’t give up on family, so I have to believe that the boys will not give up on Cas, that they will try to save him before just killing him.
I have to believe that Cas can be saved, because after all he has risked and sacrificed for the boys and humanity, Cas deserves a better ending than just turn into another bad guy. Let Cas come back home, let him find and work for his redemption. These Winchesters make mistakes that often put the world in danger, but it’s family and you don’t give up on family.
I’m with you on this one Belinda. I don’t believe that Cas intended from the get-go to become God. He was and is way too childlike, but as you said so eloquently, he just got lost down a very dark road. Just like Sam did in season 4, and he was redeemed.
So, I think there is hope for Cas to come back to the Winchesters, maybe not as he was before, but still not as an enemy to be destroyed.
Let’s start praying to the SPN gods that they don’t let the Cas supporters down.