Let’s Speculate: “Adventures in Babysitting”
Warning!!! If you haven’t watched tonight’s episode or seen the preview for next week’s episode, read no further! There will be discussion of plot and other such things you may not want to read. You have been warned! (Here there be dragons.)
Well, that episode happened. I was all excited for “Supernatural’s” return, and I wanted to like the episode, but I just didn’t. It felt kind of manic to me, like it couldn’t decide what it wanted to be; a MOTW or furthering the Leviathan plot, and the two did not mix well. Right now I feel like I’m in this blase long-term relationship with the show where we’ve gotten into a comfortable routine and things are fine, and I’m not sure if I should break up with it or just stick around, and things just kind of keep moving along. But then every once in a while something will happen that will make me remember why I fell in love with it in the first place and I’ll stay in the hopes that we will reconnect and our relationship will be great once again. But enough about that. Now let’s move on to discuss…
Bobby’s Demise
Not cool, “Supernatural.” Not cool. I want to be pissed off that Bobby’s dead, but I just can’t muster the energy right now to be incensed. The show is not going to be the same without him. And yes, people come back from the dead all the time on this show, but still. Sam and Dean have no one in their lives right now that they can count on besides each other, really. It just isn’t necessary to isolate them so much. I just…I want Bobby back, damn it! He was the one who was always supposed to be there! Damn it! But I think maybe he’s a ghost right now. During the episode, executive producer Jim Michaels was Tweeting (follow him at @TheJimMichaels) and when Dean’s beer disappeared, he said, “Who drank that beer??” Now, that could just be him teasing us, but it certainly made me stop and think that maybe Bobby didn’t go with the Reaper. Maybe he did stay around and is watching out for Sam and Dean from beyond the grave. They didn’t show what happened to his body, whether buried or burned on a hunter’s pyre, so it’s possible he’s still around.
What Are the Leviathan Up To?
This is not a rhetorical question. I kind of missed that part of the episode because I was nursing my baby while watching, and she chose that time to be a little fussy britches, so I didn’t hear what was happening. They bought a field or something? In Wisconsin? Maybe the reason Aaron Rodgers had such a fabulous season with the Packers is because he’s a Leviathan.
Frank
Against my better judgment, I liked Frank. He was fun. He called Dean “sweetie pop” and got him in a costume. So of course he’s going to pop up a couple more times before getting killed off. I don’t even want to form an attachment at this point because I don’t really think he’ll live through the season. Still, I hope he shows up again and lives to tell the tale.
Bits and Pieces
I want the Impala back, but I do enjoy the fact that Dean can’t seem to drive any car younger than he is.
I think the hook man from “The Real Ghostbusters” was right. Sam and Dean need to bet bungees for their weapons. Literally get a grip, you two!
The callback to Dean’s time hunting while Sam was in college was a nice touch. As much as Dean doesn’t really want to admit that it happened, it did, and it was nice to see him use that time period to help someone instead of making himself or Sam feel guilty about it.
I didn’t care for the three-week time jump again. At least this time there was some reaction shown, but I didn’t like the convention when they did it the first time after Cass’ death and I didn’t like it again tonight.
Just once I’d like for Sam and Dean to meet a hunter who got into the life not because someone they loved was torn apart but because another hunter saved their life from a creature and once they decided to hunt themselves because once they knew what was out there they couldn’t just let other people get killed.
I’m sure this makes me horribly shallow, but Dean in a fedora next week? Yes, please!
That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thoughts? How did you all like the episode?
Elle said this in one of her recent articles, and I couldn’t agree more.
BOO-URNS!!!!! (Simpsons reference if you want me to explain).
Ugh, who keeps approving these messy scripts? There are so many different ways they could have handled the aftermath of Bobby’s death. This? Give the script to a writer who wouldn’t know emotional depth if he was smacked across the forehead with it by a 2 x 4?
The MOTW story was even horrible! What a waste of Meghan Ory. Why bring in guest stars like that when you give them nothing?
I’m sure I’ll find something I liked about this. Madison was cool. Her story was a bit all over the place though. Too rushed. We didn’t get a chance to like her. Frank, I like him, but his scenes seemed more like time wasters. Except the speech to Dean. That was great. The acting pulled that off.
Who is this character called Sam Winchester anymore? He’s turned into some tasty wallpaper. Thanks show for making a 14 year old more interesting. As for Dean, what exactly did he learn here? That he’s stuck with hunting whether he likes it or not so he must do his job? That’s…that’s…that’s not interesting at all!
What’s happening? Sorry, I’m sure it’ll be better after I get some sleep.
Alice and Ardeospina, I totally agree on the messy writing and the manic nature of this episode. I’ve REALLY loved this season (much more than last), but man this episode threw me for a loop.
I detest the term ‘plot hole,’ but man did this episode leave me with more questions than answers. And I’m NOT ok at all with Bobby being gone. Ugh!
I have higher hopes for next week’s eppy.
I had always felt along with other characteristics Sam was the researcher and hunter and Dean was a hunter and a 5 star hunter at that, if he was there in a hunt Dean would never screw up..when bobby came researching went to him but then Sam had a myth arc story so still he was necessaary but now what is Sam? Myth arc? Researcher? and by seeing the comments not much of a hunter? so what?
I enjoyed it a lot, but I’m going to need to watch it again before I can say anything very cogent.
All in all, I liked this episode. The grieving process shown, from the shock & numbness of the first week through to each of them focusing on the things that helped them deal felt right for each character. The MOTW worked for me and the guest actors were great. I am guessing that this season is about the search for hope-that feels right to me for some reason. The loss of Bobby is hard for me to come to terms with-the same as it is for the characters. I think the key word that keeps showing up here is ‘feel’ – this episode made me FEEL – pain, shock, angst, mild humor, anger, the list goes on. And somehow, that feels right, too.
I have a lot to say about this episode, so I will start off with my short-answer personal opinion: I actually rather enjoyed his episode, despite its relatively meh MOTW story. This episode did deliver some good advancements of the seasonal plots, though.
I’ll start with Bobby. This episode confirms that he really died. And I think it was necessary to show at least a little bit of the boys grieving over Bobby quietly. They didn’t spend too much time on it, but they didn’t gloss over it.
Then we have Sam, who is going through the jobs and grieving quietly for Bobby but still acting like everything is fine, not letting all that loss get to him when he has other things to worry about. While I do find it odd that Sam would go after a random case instead of chasing a Leviathan lead, I do think it was quite in character. Krissy called Bobby, and Sam couldn’t just ignore the call. He was thinking about spreading the news that Bobby died before she even called, and when he picked up on the impression that Krissy sounded scared, he couldn’t just ignore that. He had to help the kid out.
And I also think we may have found our first sign that Sam is starting to lose control. Remember the last scene in the episode? Sam admitted that he wasn’t okay, but that he just wanted to work. I read some theories that Sam might be using work as a distraction from his hellucinations, and that he might be closer to the edge than we might think. I think his words and his body language in that last scene could’ve well been our first clue.
And now we have Dean, who is very much grieving over the death of Bobby, and is hell-bent on getting revenge on Dick Roman. Throughout about half of the episode, he is focused on the Leviathan mess (which got a little bit of development; not much, but at least we know what the numbers are), and the other half is him helping Krissy save her father while he saves Sam.
I think Frank’s advice for Dean was actually something Dean needed to hear. It just might prove pivotal to Dean’s state of mind for the rest of the season. Dean didn’t just brush off his advice, he considered it. And even tried it at the end. Sure, it was a struggle enough just to smile, almost bringing out the single-man-tear, but he kept on trying to keep that smile on his face to the credits. It may not be so much of a genuine smile, but it is a step forward, and I think it’s a sign that there just might be some hope for Dean Winchester, not only for the rest of the season, but perhaps even in the long run of the series.
I don’t know if I’ve covered everything I wanted to, but I think I’ve gotten enough down already to get my point across. I’m not gonna go into the technical aspects of the episode, such as the acting or scripting or pacing of the episode alone. I don’t really pay too much attention to that (unless the acting is god-awful), and focus on the story and character developments as I call them.
I hope my long comment makes sense, and that I got my point across.
You got your point across very well and excellent comments and theories I agree Dean needed o hear Frank’s words, but I still have a BIG PROBLEM with “With everyone Dean’s has ever loved except Sam and he ain’t in fine shape what do the Brothers have to live for never mind keep on fighting.
[quote]”With everyone Dean’s has ever loved except Sam and he ain’t in fine shape what do the Brothers have to live for never mind keep on fighting.[/quote]
Good point Nitewoman7!
I liked this episode although there were problems throughout it. Shout out to Jensen! Jensen really showed Dean’s angst feelings at losing Bobby. I can see him becoming so single minded and driven after his death. I’m just worried that after Dean gets even with Leviathan…what’s next? Will he want to lay down his arms forever and walk away or go on a one way suicide mission which he knows he won’t survive? What will be his purpose for continuing on if he does decide to keep pushing on? It doesn’t appear that Sam will be enough any more.
Poor Jared…stop using him as expensive wallpaper to use part of Alice’s response! And as for Sam, I understand that they may not want to take the path of showing Sam going totally to pieces…as in a little crazy, but maybe they should. Take it further down that road! It would be totally realistic with everything that he has gone through. The writers seem to be using a bandaid approach to Sam’s situation. We’ll patch it now and address it later. I really think that “later” has arrived.
As for the missing beer…I hope if that means that Bobby is still around in spirit, it won’t be for long. He’s of much better use as a whole person than a ghost. Someone that Dean and Sam can and have relied on both professionally and personally. Enough of the killing of friends…We’ve all had our fun with the Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid references. Now, let’s repopulate the world. Give us back the Impala! (I’m ready for a great car chase!) Heck, at this point, I’ll even take a “bad dream” reference for this whole year (like Dallas…Pam and Bobby shower scene). I’m just saying that I’m tired of them killing friends in almost every episode or that’s what it seems to me.
Of course, I still am loving Supernatural as a whole. Just some hard decisions need to be made and they need to be made more sooner than later….
Overall I give this episode a “B+”.
PS. I really liked Madison McLaughlin as Krissy and I hope she will return along with Kevin McNally as Frank. Both actors are very enjoyable to watch! 😀
I liked the episode but it was too all over the place. they should have only stuck to the leviathan`s storyline for this episode and also the grief process.
You are the first person to put into plain terms how I feel about this show right now. I do feel like it’s that long-term relationship where you used to think that nothing could ever make you love it less, but then you get into this comfortable routine but everything has changed, while everything is fine, but nothing is fine. Now, you’re left with this hole wondering if things can ever get back on the right path or if it’s just going to keep getting bigger and bigger. But I don’t know if I have same hope. I know watching the first two episodes of the season I remember exactly why I loved this show, but now, that feeling is crashing so far.
I didn’t cry for Bobby. I’m sure if that’s because it hasn’t registered or if it’s because I haven’t cried over this show since “Swan Song.” And I’m not really interested in the Leviathans. They seem more like an inconvenience than a threat. And yeah, the Leviathans killed Bobby, but since there is absolutely no hope in the show and everyone dies for no reason and nothing ever comes out of getting the bad guy, what’s the point of getting upset over the Leviathans killing Bobby? If it wasn’t Dick Roman, then it would have been something else? And it’s not like anything good or rewarding is going to come out of stopping the Leviathans. Even if the world is saved, Dean is just going to get more and more depressing and Sam is just going to go more and more into the background.
I want the Impala back. I loved that for once Sam going to Stanford was used as a good thing instead of Sam was selfish and wrong. I don’t like that Dean didn’t take the time to correct John’s journal. What was up with that? I wonder if something bad happened on that hunt and made Dean not talk about it. I hope that maybe in some type of supplemental material we get that answer.
I didn’t like the monster of the week, mainly because you could see how everything was going to play out. It was kind of like paint by numbers only [i]Supernatural[/i] edition. The only twist was that Dean didn’t kill the monster.
I like Frank too, but some of scenes went on too long and just were pointless. They could have focus a little more on Sam, but then that would require writing Sam which seems to have cause a lot of difficulties this season. But something for Sam. Just a couple of conversations with someone who cares or someone trying to get through to him, but Sam’s quiet that must mean he’s not fine or fine depending on the week. I don’t know.
I hate that Dean is only staying for revenge. He hates hunting now and he doesn’t believe there is anything else. I don’t recognize him anymore. I had a lot of trouble recognizing him last season, but I still thought Dean was in there somewhere. But now, he’s just gone. Both Sam and Dean are. They just seem so hallow. There is no hope and not like middle of fourth and fifth season. Because at least then you knew there was a dooms-day moment when everything had to come to ahead. Here, there is nothing. And the episodes being all over the place don’t help to focus on anything or feel much of anything.
I don’t know. Maybe it’s time to take a break from the show. I can’t remember the last time I missed an episode or tried staying from the fan online. I think I missed fifteen minutes of an episode back in season four and the last full episode I missed was season one. I’m sorry to go on so long, but I don’t know what to do. The characters have nothing to hope and guest stars are more interesting than Sam’s quietness. And I’m tired of it having to be one brother or the other brother’s pain to focus on. They could have just thrown out the MOTW and really focused on the brothers. A lot of shows do that (throw out the weekly formula) to allow characters to cope with the pain of losing a loved one.
I hate the idea of not watching because I want to be there for Jared and Jensen no matter what, but I’m getting really detached from the show. And I am sad over how the direction of the show. I never thought I would be more excited and interested in [i]The Vampire Diaries[/i] than [i]Supernatural[/i], but yet, [i]The Vampire Diaries [/i]almost had me in tears this week over a character just leaving for a while and [i]Supernatural[/i] kills off a long-time character and I’m more upset with the writers and the direction than Bobby’s death. I feel like something is wrong with me!
Im so sorry that you don’t really enjoy watching Supernatural anymore. I love this show and I actually really enjoyed this episode, I like that the writers are trying new things. All relationships change over time as people grow and mature, and I think this show, the writers, and these great actors have evolved over the seven years, changing the ‘scenery’ of this road trip every episode. Sit back, watch and enjoy 🙄
I agree. I love the show and enjoyed this episode. I think there are two kinds of fans, those who watch for entertainment, and those who live for the show and dissect and analyze every single solitary aspect of the show, down to the color of Sam and Dean’s shoelaces. SPN is a TV show, on a struggling TV network, that is watched by maybe 2 million people in the US-the fact that it has lasted for 7 years, with fans all over the world says enough. Be realistic; name 10 TV shows that have lasted 7 seasons and maintained the same high quality it had in the beginning?
[quote]I agree. I love the show and enjoyed this episode. I think there are two kinds of fans, those who watch for entertainment, and those who live for the show and dissect and analyze every single solitary aspect of the show, down to the color of Sam and Dean’s shoelaces. SPN is a TV show, on a struggling TV network, that is watched by maybe 2 million people in the US-the fact that it has lasted for 7 years, with fans all over the world says enough. Be realistic; name 10 TV shows that have lasted 7 seasons and maintained the same high quality it had in the beginning?[/quote]
I am not looking for high quality just for somebody anybody to care about Sam. I want a character not a outline of one.
Thank you. I’m not sure what to do. I like that the writers are trying new things, but I wish that the writers would focus it and use it as something for both brothers. I understand that relationships change, but I want for there to be hope for the brothers. Right now, everything is so draining. I used to be able to sit back and enjoy the show, but now I’m questioning where the show is going instead of enjoying the ride. I blame it on the lack of hope and connections for the brothers.
I remember [i]Smallville[/i] hit a rough patch in the sixth and seventh seasons and despite my problems with the eighth season, it had a direction and you could understand what was happening and why. I think the ninth season of [i]Smallville[/i] proved that it is possible for a show to have not so great seasons and then come back for a season with a wonderful plot and focus.
I do think it is possible for the show to come back and have direction again. For me, it’s a little difficult because [i]Supernatural[/i] still has really good episodes and a lot of potential, it’s just untapped right now. The show might never be able to recapture its glory days so to speak, but that doesn’t mean that the show can’t have a come back. I want for the show to have a focus and hope. Once I know that Sam and Dean are hunting not because it’s the only option or revenge, but because there is good in their world and they have a purpose, then I’ll be able to sit back and enjoy.
I do think the writers need to change somethings. But I probably shouldn’t be so fussy, but I really think the show needs some new life and hope.
On first watch, I did actually enjoy it. Sure I have some issues but for the most part it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. All over the place…. for sure but there were moments I really liked. I thought the MOTW was a little weak but hey there are only so many monsters in the world. Sometimes I think they are grasping at straws to come up with new ones.
Anyway, its too early to have a complete opinion yet. I’ll watch it again this afternoon when I can have a chance to really really watch it without being interrupted by a 9 yr old, lol. My great nephew comes to stay with us every Friday night and his father tends to bring him over right in the middle of the show. Bad timing I know but I can’t seem to break him of the habit, lol.
OH and I’m with you on Dean with a Fedora. OMG Can we get one for Sam as well? Gotta love it when they dress in costumes. Dean in a hard hat again….. ahhhhhh. I think the shallow end of the pool is gonna get filled up pretty quickly.
I think it was a sense of obligation more than anything that had me watch this episode but I was quite surprised, and in a good way. Sure, there were gaping holes all over it and a few things that made me go ‘What the hell?’ but there were also some nice references to seasons past so it wasn’t all bad.
I liked the whole ‘week at a time’ jump as a means of showing the boys processing Bobby’s death. It seemed quite appropriate, and real. The first few days following a loss are spent just sitting in shock, too numb to move or even talk. Come week two, you’re going through the motions such as washing dishes (hurrah for washing dishes!) and come week three the anger/actual realisation starts setting in.
The thing with the beer was quite strange. Please do not let Bobby be a ghost. If that happens chances are Sam and Dean could end up having to salt and burn him one day and that will end the boys altogether. Hopefully it will just be a ‘nudge nudge wink wink’ sort of thing ala the bent spoon in The Mentalists.
Where on earth did Dean get $15,000 from? Did Bobby have life assurance or something? Is it physically possible to sleep for 36 hours straight on a hardbacked chair? (Course it is possible that Frank mixed up time again but still….) Is it really that easy to steal a cherrypicker? Why, oh why, does proof of blood have to come from a big slash on the arm? Would a needle to the finger not be sufficient? And why on earth are they cutting near veins? And they’re sharing knives!! I’m going to send Dean a leaflet on the danger of doing things like that.
And you’re right about the bungee. That three hunters (who knew they were going to be attacked) could be dispossessed so easily of their weapons is farcical.
Re: Dean. Dude is marching head first down the road of revenge and that’s a scary thing. Revenge destroyed his father, it almost destroyed his brother so I’d rather Dean not go down that route because if he does not only will it mean that he hasn’t learned a damn thing from Sam’s mistakes but if he does go there then the foundations the show was built on will start crumbling. It will no longer be about saving people, hunting things; the family business and Dean will no longer be a hero driven to save lives. Dean will become a Gordon, so consumed by hate and revenge it will completely twist him, make him unrecognisable and prohibit him from seeing any hope anywhere, at any time.
I’ve often felt that there have been many times this season where the show has sought to dissociate itself from seasons past and one thing the first five seasons always had was hope. No matter how bad things got and no matter how small the sliver of hope was, it was always there. I hope to God that the show won’t become so dark and so bleak that there is no hope left to be found, and they are coming dangerously close to that point (if they’re not already there).
What to say about Sam in this episode? I liked that he distracted the beastie so she wouldn’t kill Lee, that was cool and true to character. (Though what a horrible thing to say to anyone, even a monster!) What else? Um, I liked the grey brown shirt he had on at the start of the episode. Thank God he wasn’t wearing it when he was getting gnawed on because the blood would have ruined it. Oh, and he washed the dishes. That’s about all that can be said, really. (I’ve learned not to expect too much in relation to Sam…..)
One thing though, how many times this season will Sam have to play the pretty princess to Dean’s rescuing prince? I’m slightly bothered by the idea that the three times this season Sam has gone off on his own he either (a) went on a road trip with Lucifer and needed to be rescued (b) messed up a hunt and needed to be rescued or (c) gotten married and needed to be rescued. If Dean decides to put a leash on Sam and refuse to let him out of his sight from here on in then Sam will find it difficult to argue with that because he is seemingly incompetent when it comes to working on his own.
I liked Chrissy. She was spunky and exactly how I imagine a 14 year old female Dean would be. She asked the right questions, didn’t take any crap from anyone and is determined to be the master of her own fate. She’s not going to take condescension from people who think she’s incapable because of her age. She had the wherewithal to get herself out of cuffs, keep a weapon hidden on her person and know how to kill the nasty beasties whose name I can’t spell. I also liked Lee but that’s more cos he was nummy. Shame they’ve retired.
Hurrah for Stanford not being used as the means to attack, offend or rebuke but as something valid and worthy, something to aim for. That was nice.
In fairness, those two beasties whose name I can’t spell were asking to be killed. There were two people, nay two [i]hunters[/i], unrestrained in the picture and one of them decides to start feeding on a guy who is tied up? Man, some monsters really are too stupid to live!
I’m still not overly keen on Frank. He almost seems like a parody of a conspiracy theory nut. While I appreciate the sincerity of the advice he gave Dean, I still think he’d be better in small doses. (And show, don’t even think about trying to replace Bobby with Frank.)
Franks advice to Dean is valid though, and advice that Dean himself has dished out to Sam on more than one occasion. You fake it til you make you make it. Suck it up and move on. Hunt til you get it or it gets you etc because there’s really not much else to do. I know it’s an idea that adds to the overall bleakness of the season but I don’t think hunters can ever be happy. Sure, they can have moments of levity (like being tickled on your deathbed) but they spend their lives surrounded by death, and loss and suffering. They must surely wake up every morning wondering if this is going to be the day they die bloody (and quite possibly hoping that it is). Even if they retired they couldn’t be happy because those experiences shaped who they are. Plus, how could they be happy knowing that there were people out there who needed help but they were choosing not to help? There’s no escaping it so they can either be miserable while sitting on their hands, or miserable while helping others. Man, that is beyond depressing.
Still though, onwards and upwards. Not the worst start for the second half of the season.
Thanks for this Ardeospina. Hope you guys are doing well.
I admit that I am living in fear that Dean seeking revenge will turn out to be proof he loved Bobby more than Sam and it the right an just thing to do. So often if Sam does something (trust a demon named Ruby) it is bad but when Dean does the same thing (trust a demon named Crowley) everything goes according to plan AND Sam comes out looking like a fool to have not trusted Dean’s judgement.
This is also demonstrated when Dean let Lucky, who killed because he didn’t like the people he killed, go in All Dogs Go to Heaven, we are supposed to feel all sympathetic for Lucky, but when Sam lets Amy, who killed for the survival of her child, Sam is forced to admit that Dean was right to kill her.
I am still thinking this episode over and will probably watch it again before I really comment. My unhappyness with Sam’s grief being almost totally ignored is coloring my reaction to this episode. I think it wasn’t that bad in and of itself. Certainly I didn’t feel the loathing that I did with All Dogs Go to Heaven. I will just have to give it time so I don’t react from my massive disappointment of Sam becoming pretty, pretty wallpaper.
[quote] So often if Sam does something (trust a demon named Ruby) it is bad but when Dean does the same thing (trust a demon named Crowley) everything goes according to plan AND Sam comes out looking like a fool to have not trusted Dean’s judgement.
This is also demonstrated when Dean let Lucky, who killed because he didn’t like the people he killed, go in All Dogs Go to Heaven, we are supposed to feel all sympathetic for Lucky, but when Sam lets Amy, who killed for the survival of her child, Sam is forced to admit that Dean was right to kill her. [/quote] I have not seen the episode yet but these are my feelings too.
I have seen these episodes but not adventures in babysitting
Frankly i am not worried about Dean loving Bobby more its not like Bobby loves Sam more than Dean …no this was just momentary pettiness .Actually for me atleast the problem is there is no person who loves or likes Sam more than Dean in the show for a long long time.. If i too feel like how you, Alice and Tim felt about Sam after watching the episode or even if that is not the case then i will discuss about the episode ..the episode will be available to me in another 5 hours…
I get the impression here that, maybe, like me, is not the show that is tiring us, but the overall depressing felling, especially after this episode. And after reading Tim’s comment, I started wondering what is for Sam and Dean in the end. Can’t they get a little happiness in their lives? Because I didn’t see it in all the 7 seasons so far. Yes, there were funny and light moments, the brotherly bond, but real happiness? Not even when Dean was with Lisa and Ben he was happy. Maybe Sam was happy in Stanford, or Dean was happy in the first 4 years of his life – but is that all?
The show is about hope, but what is the message so far? You hope all your life for something better, you do all you can, you have to get over so many losses and traumas, but then you die without having a little taste? I know, life is hard, but is not all hard and sad ALL the time, and it is not what the writers are showing us so far (IMO).
And over and over we are being told that the life of a hunter never ends well. Is it what is going to happen to Sam and Dean? Either they quit (if even they can, because they are always with a monster royal chasing them – demons, angels or leviathans), and I am not sure they will be happy as civilians, as Tim pointed out, or they die bloody. Can we have a middle turn solution, please, PLEASE?
I love, absolutely LOVE the show, but I really need the the boys to taste at least a little bit of happiness, or a victory without awful consequences, that brings something good to them, not bitterness.
Maybe I’m getting too much ahead here – I don’t want the show to end with Season 7, but I can’t help but be really concerned about Sam and Dean, because if the writers are planning a not good ending for the boys, then I will REALLY be mad – I love them too much.
Meanwhile, please throw some good news towards them, for a change.
It is the first time I write here, although I’m always reading the great articles and comments. I thank you for the opportunity and apologize for my spelling or sentence construction mistakes – English is not my first language! Did I made sense?
Vivian
You made all kinds of sense. You perfectly stated what has been bothering me in Seaason 6 and 7. The doom and gloom this season is almost more than I can take.I need Dean Sam Baby Impala and Bobby to be my heroes alive and sane
You made absolute sense, and I happen to agree with what you said and what Tim said. I’m afraid the show is going in too dark a direction. It started in season 5 and it is continuing. Yes life can throw you more curve balls than home runs, but please, these guys need a home run soon. And Dean being hell bent on revenge can be a good thing to light the fire under his ass, but when has revenge ever gotton these guys into anything good? I adore this show, but it is starting to bum me out a little.
And don’t worry about your English Vivian, it’s perfect. English is not my first language either, so I know I make spelling mistakes and stuff like that, but as long as we get our point across, it’s all fine.
Thak you Nitewoman7 and Sylvie for your kind replies. Well, I still hope the writers have something good for the boys this season. So, I’m looking foward for that moment.
Wha?
I want to be clear and separate the liking of this episode with “liking” how they dealt with Bobby’s death.
I liked the episode.
The way we find out about Bobby blows. Using a time elapse montage to do it? Crappy I didn’t even know there was a trope ([url]http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ReallyDeadMontage[/url]) for this until I looked it up, and it is so lame that the writers of SPN resort to something so formula.
In a way the writers are dealing with important stuff the way Dean is- they gloss over it, don’t talk about it and bury it deep.
Gah!
I’m not saying I want a series of Kodak moments here, but some acknowledgement that some real stuff happened to these boys would be nice. IIRC there was an episode where a picture was taken before going after Lucifer- “Abandon All Hope” ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG7wKbrHNKk&feature=related[/url]). Four of the people in that picture are dead now.
And I get that Dean doesn’t want to talk about squat, but Sam? He is bubbling over and that is going to go sideways at some point soon. Catharsis is healthy, give it a try SPN writers.
I am seeing a common thread/theme here: major tragedy happens- go out and get revenge, let it consume you, eat you up, control your life, until you die.
It would be nice if somebody stopped the ride just once and got off. I think Dean was pointing at that with the girl saying that she does not have to buy into the lifestyle- she could go to Stanford. There is hope.
My personal hope is that Bobby’s soul is now one with the Force and he comes back to guide[s] Luke and Leah[/s] Dean and Sam through some dark times ahead. Maybe he is an angel now? It would be nice to see that some good does happen. I was hoping that at some point Bobby may settle down with the Sheriff, but that dream was shattered nicely.
On a side note, I am wondering if the writers of SPN have heard of Big Sugar? They would be right in Dean’s wheelhouse. Hard rock lines and a love of muscle cars. Give ‘er.
The episode itself- liked it. I would like to see Sam and Dean do some wheeling and dealing to make some coin to fund their hunting ways tho’. Perhaps selling some hot semis or something seeing as the previous owners are all beast bait.
In some ways I do get the switch to Frank. Bobby had books and lore and knowledge of all the old hunting ways to go after beasts- the MotW. Frank is all tech and the books are online. Frank is the person to help the boys go after Roman who is a modern day monster. Modern monster needs modern hunters to deal with it.
Edit- if Bobby is Obi Wan, does that make Frank Yoda?
Got more, but that’ll do me ’til I ruminate a bit.
Woofâ„¢.
Hey, I love Big Sugar. Bring it on.
Oh yeah, shout out to Dean in the cherry picker- classic! Make sure your fall arrest gear is properly hooked in- lol.
With the boys playing “dress up” so much I would like to see an episode giving a nod to the Village People. Or at least Dean giving a couple of good one-liners to the fact.
Frank- mine says “manager” yours says “technician” so get up there. heh.
Woofâ„¢.
I’m feeling a little ambivalent towards this episode right now. I will have to rewatch a few times to form a cogent response to it. I can say that it took me a while to even get into it after learning that Bobby is it fact really dead. I mean really show? You are going to take away another beloved character, and one that Sam & Dean need in their lives to survive? Come on! Although if he is a ghost I’ll take it. An ethereal Bobby is better than no Bobby at all.
As for the show itself, I really think that two storylines is one storyline too many. I liked both aspects, and I would have liked it better had it been one or the other. I really like Frank, but as you say Ardeo, I’m going to try not to get attached to him, because I’m sure he will become cannon fodder somewhere down the road. And I really liked Krissy, feisty little girl can kick ass! It might be interesting if they met her and her father sometime in the future. They supposedly quit the hunting business, but really, can anybody really quit that life?
I’m rewatching the episode now so I can digest all the information better. But I’m not going to lie, Bobby dying has bummed me out but good. I’ll try smiling like Dean, but it’s not going to be easy.
Hi, on first watch I liked this episode a lot. I liked the time lapse, when we know from the boys immobility and stone faces that the worst has happened, to watching them slowly come alive and start to function again over this three week period. Bobbys death was not dragged and we didn’t jump too far ahead.
Sam being Sam, he can never ignore anyone in need, no matter how much emotional pain he was in. This MOTW storyline was a vehicle, and insight into the boys minds, emotions and thinking. It was used to remind us of the beginning of the boys journey together by referencing Sam and Sanford, and showing through Dean’s comment evolved maturity in the boys and their relationship. The MOTW storyline was also used to vocalise how the boys now felt about hunting and its emotional toil and life consequences. It showed that Dean will still drop everything to come to his brothers aid. Although the monsters were not the best we have seen, I think it was there for a reason, not least enabling the episode to end with hope ‘..its nice to walk away from someone and think that they’re going to be alright”.
Although not a fan of the Leviathans so far, just the right amount of bait was dangled to keep us wondering what will happen next and why.
I loved the acting of the guest stars especially Chrissy. Jared did a great job showing Sams silent / inner angst (though still wating to see the wall), but in particular I was in awe of Jensen Ackles’ ability to convey emotion without words, just the right amount, not overdone.
I really liked this episode for many reason, and at the moment these are just a few, but I am interested to see where the writiers take up on this journey.
I hated this episode. It had everything I’ve come to dislike about this season (the Dean emotional focus, interaction only with Dean by side characters, lack of depth in Sam’s character – he’s really only about empathy now, and a dumbing down of Sam and Dean). And this episode seemed to handle everything awkwardly. I didn’t understand Dean’s look at the end, the dialogue was dull, and there were weird moments such as Dean instantly falling asleep.
I liked this episode in general, but it raised some serious problems with S7 for me.
After watching this episode, I have great fear that there is no story for the brothers that I, as an audience member, can buy into. It appeared to me that the message was that the brothers will just smile and go on. What is the quest here? Am I to just hope that both brothers can hang onto their sanity in spite of all their losses? I was hoping that Dean would regain his love of hunting this season and find self-worth in doing so. This episode left me with the idea that Dean will just bury all the crap and keep going…with no joy, no victory to win. Isn’t that what Dean has always done? What, exactly are the brothers fighting for?
How is a mentally ill Sam supposed to develop from here on? Sam has learned to bury his past. That’s what he said at the beginning of the season. So now what, Sam? You just keep hunting because that’s all that is left?
This episode was the epitone of the sister fanfic in all it’s glory. I hate sister fics, and I hate that a sterotypical TV teen (a bad attitude, know-it-all, stronger in spirit than all adults) had to save the big, bad hunters. Sam looked really dumb falling for the truck stop damsel in distress when; Hello, Sam, you’re looking for monsters, and Dean appeared to have lost half his brain cells and all of his monster ‘spidey senses’ when he DID NOT notice the waitress got in the rig carrying a monster and a victim in the rig. But our little 14-year old girl sure noticed that! And she picked a lock, killed the monster, and cut Sam loose so that Dean could be saved while he was stopped dead in his tracks from indecision. Not to mention she got her first kill at a younger age than Dean, who was 16, and probably at a younger age than Sam (but we don’t know how old he was, only that he started hunting at 12). Did I mention that I hate sister fics and child actors.
It couldn’t have been clearer that Krissy was young Dean. One good thing, I guess, is that Dean did not turn into John and at least gave Lee a suggestion to get out of the business and save Krissy from a miserable life. This was in character with the Adam and the Jump the Shark episode.
I would have preferred that Dean realized from his experience with Krissy that he did the family a service and started a path back into enjoying hunting. Instead, I think it was made pretty clear that Dean will just go on as is, one week at a time.
I did like the Dean/Krissy scenes up until the girl save and, although I wasn’t too excited with Frank the first time I saw him, I liked him better in this one…probably because it was made clear that Frank would not be taking Bobby’s place as another Winchester family member.
I’m still ticked off that the Impala is gone, but I think it was pretty clear that Bobby will be the ghost that doesn’t turn bitter and into a killer. He’ll just helpfully haunt the brothers’ asses from here on out is my guess, or maybe he’ll have a miraculous ressurection or some such nonense. Either way, it’s pure audience manipulation.
The brothers are more and more looking like losers…hot losers, that is. Why is it that they keep hunting? Retire, let Lee and Krissy carry the mantle, or Roy and Walt, and go find something fun to do. I’ll follow you on that show…well, if it doesn’t involve Lisa and Ben, that is.
All that said, I liked the episode and was glad the brothers are back. I’ll be here until the end, but it’s only because I enjoy watching Jensen perform his magic. My hope for this season is now that Dean continues growling and drinking and being all grumpy. I like a grumpy Dean.
Now I’ll go read the previous posts.
ETA: I want to know why the brothers were so dumb as to camp out in Rufus’s cabin for three or four weeks knowing that they were competent enough for the Levi to want to eat and how Dean got $15,000 from petty cash to pay Frank, since they can’t use credit card scams any longer and can’t even risk a Day’s Inn to sleep in.
Re: The $15,000. They had a huge pile of GOLD they took from the dragon’s lair and it can’t be all gone yet.
Re: Bobby. Won’t believe he is dead until I see a burn or a grave. Hoping he is comatose and some reason for acting as if he has died. (to keep safe from the big mouths maybe?)
Liked the episode as I am still hopeful for Bobby. After all, he and the sheriff have to get it on, don’t they?
About the beer bottle and the 36 hours and the time they met Frank (is that his name?) How about God of Time messing about with them? Could be the out they have for Bobby to be alive. Get back to before he got shot and prevent it. Don’t care if its cheesy! Just want Bobby!
Wasn’t the best and certainly wasn’t the worst episode ever, and am looking forward to meeting Eliot Ness again.
Still love this show and never want to see the end of it. 8)
But wasn’t the point of the leviathans finding out about their credit card scams to cut off their resources and make them more vunerable? Also, why were they living in abandoned homes with no power if they had financial reserves?
I believe Bobby is dead. I don’t need to see a pyre or a grave or a body to confirm it, the reaction of Sam and Dean confirmed it for me. Why on earth would they need to keep up this ruse while in the privacy of their home? The boys would not just sit around for three weeks doing next to nothing if Bobby was alive.
I also don’t think they would leave Bobby while he’s in a coma because it would essentially mean he’s unprotected. Add to that, if Bobby is in a coma, then he can’t be just stored under the bed, he would [i]need[/i] to be in a medical facility. If he’s in a medical facility then they would need to be with him more than ever because a man with a gunshot wound to the head would be damn easy for the Leviathans to trace. I would find it insane for Sam and Dean to leave Bobby on his own if he was still alive.
To: Tim the enchanter
But, why are you making this comment? Sam actually said Bobby passed away,
that maybe Bobby is a ghost because of Dean’s beer who knows, but Sam said Booby died.
maggie, I was making the comment in reply to an earlier comment where the poster stated that s/he would not believe Bobby was dead until s/he saw a grave or pyre. Sam and Dean believe Bobby is dead, their reactions tell us that. Given their profession they would not believe it unless they were convinced of it.
Now whether or not Bobby will [i]stay[/i] dead is another story but as at this moment in time, it’s my firm belief that Bobby is dead.
I liked the episode, the showing of thier quiet grief, Dean channelling that into hunting Dick Roman, and Sam wanting to help the girl who had Bobby’s number. I think the focus was definitly on Dean, but that doesnt bother me. As for Dean trying to smile in the face of his grief, that is a normal human thing to do. For most of us, there comes a time we have to grin and bear it until it gets better. We grieve of course but most of us dont wallow, we smile through the tears and go on. That is what Dean was doing at the end, and its normal. Its also adult. I think its a maturing, he is not going to be the same Dean he was in earlier seasons, and he is not going to act the same way he did when he lost his father for example. (even though Bobby was a father figure of sorts)
I am looking forward to see how the rest of the season plays out. As for Dean haveing the emotional story.. to me, he has most of the series. So this is nothing new, at tleast to me. From my point of view we have always been looking through Dean’s eyes (except during flashbacks to Sam without Dean in IKWYDLS, and right after Dean died) So I have no problem with it now.
Jensen, as always kicked it out of the park. While I would have liked to have seen more Sam, the fact that Dean had to rescue him? Just like old times.
I also liked the actress who played Krissy.. I liked the fact she was like Dean. It made me smile.
All in all, I enjoyed the episode very much. I miss Bobby..I hope we see him again in any form really, but I think his death was handled very well.
just my two cents.
[quote]I liked the episode, the showing of thier quiet grief, Dean channelling that into hunting Dick Roman, and Sam wanting to help the girl who had Bobby’s number. I think the focus was definitly on Dean, but that doesnt bother me. As for Dean trying to smile in the face of his grief, that is a normal human thing to do. For most of us, there comes a time we have to grin and bear it until it gets better. We grieve of course but most of us dont wallow, we smile through the tears and go on. That is what Dean was doing at the end, and its normal. Its also adult. I think its a maturing, he is not going to be the same Dean he was in earlier seasons, and he is not going to act the same way he did when he lost his father for example. (even though Bobby was a father figure of sorts)
I am looking forward to see how the rest of the season plays out. As for Dean haveing the emotional story.. to me, he has most of the series. So this is nothing new, at tleast to me. From my point of view we have always been looking through Dean’s eyes (except during flashbacks to Sam without Dean in IKWYDLS, and right after Dean died) So I have no problem with it now.
Jensen, as always kicked it out of the park. While I would have liked to have seen more Sam, the fact that Dean had to rescue him? Just like old times.
I also liked the actress who played Krissy.. I liked the fact she was like Dean. It made me smile.
All in all, I enjoyed the episode very much. I miss Bobby..I hope we see him again in any form really, but I think his death was handled very well.
just my two cents.[/quote]
Here is mine does it not occur to anybody including the writers and Sera that Dean doesnt always need the emotional sl. That has far has I know it isnt written in stone. So why not for something diffferent actually give us Sams emotional journey you know when you have suffered like him to keep buying he internalizes becomes unrealistic, old and a excuse .
No offence to Dean but when you have seen him emote once you have seen it a million times and it is boring.The potential they had this season was IMO thrown away for paint by numbers storytelling and a lack of guts to deal with Sams trauma.
[quote][quote]I liked the episode, the showing of thier quiet grief, Dean channelling that into hunting Dick Roman, and Sam wanting to help the girl who had Bobby’s number. I think the focus was definitly on Dean, but that doesnt bother me. As for Dean trying to smile in the face of his grief, that is a normal human thing to do. For most of us, there comes a time we have to grin and bear it until it gets better. We grieve of course but most of us dont wallow, we smile through the tears and go on. That is what Dean was doing at the end, and its normal. Its also adult. I think its a maturing, he is not going to be the same Dean he was in earlier seasons, and he is not going to act the same way he did when he lost his father for example. (even though Bobby was a father figure of sorts)
I am looking forward to see how the rest of the season plays out. As for Dean haveing the emotional story.. to me, he has most of the series. So this is nothing new, at tleast to me. From my point of view we have always been looking through Dean’s eyes (except during flashbacks to Sam without Dean in IKWYDLS, and right after Dean died) So I have no problem with it now.
Jensen, as always kicked it out of the park. While I would have liked to have seen more Sam, the fact that Dean had to rescue him? Just like old times.
I also liked the actress who played Krissy.. I liked the fact she was like Dean. It made me smile.
All in all, I enjoyed the episode very much. I miss Bobby..I hope we see him again in any form really, but I think his death was handled very well.
just my two cents.[/quote]
Here is mine does it not occur to anybody including the writers and Sera that Dean doesnt always need the emotional sl. That has far has I know it isnt written in stone. So why not for something diffferent actually give us Sams emotional journey you know when you have suffered like him to keep buying he internalizes becomes unrealistic, old and a excuse .
No offence to Dean but when you have seen him emote once you have seen it a million times and it is boring.The potential they had this season was IMO thrown away for paint by numbers storytelling and a lack of guts to deal with Sams trauma.[/quote]
I understand you see it that way but since the series has been set up that way, IMO, I dont expect it to change now. I understand it bothers you, but it doesnt bother me. I just enjoy the show for what it is…I am more of a sit back and enjoy the ride kinda person. Each to his or her own though and your opinon is just as valid as mine. 😉
MelJ.
I appreciate you see the show differently and are happy to see it all through Deans eyes.My point is when Sam goes through traumatic life changing events it is Sam we need to see it through. Dean cant tell me how Sam feels only how Dean feels about what Sam has gone through.This suffocating Dean pov for me has created a unhealthy unbalanced show that is doing nothing for Sam and truthfully the show either.
Of course it can change why not there is no reason just a desire to want to do it.There was balance in season 1 and to a degree season 2 so it can be done.
Right now the tagline for Supernatural should be ”Sorry Sam but nobody in Supernatural can hear you Scream”.
Yes ,like when John died i can understand why they focused on dean’s emotions as it was more harder for him to come in grips of the news.but when they came to know about mary’s Deal Sam’s emotional state after that was not explored.I don’t say that it always has to be about emotional POVs of characters as they have to present a story but that was something which changed his life so..
I was wondering if anyone has listened to Adam Glass’s podcast over at Winchesterbros? I heard that it suppose to explain a lot of the problems with the episode. And while I disprove of having to have the episode explained to me to make me feel better about it, I was wondering if anyone had and if it did make a difference. I guess he wouldn’t explain why Dean isn’t Dean or why Sam has to be in the background, but I am curious if it does help with the episode.
(I’m not trying to be mean or anything about asking this, but I heard that it helped so I was wondering if it helped anyone or if it provided valuable insight to the brothers.)
You aren’t being mean! It’s a good question to raise.
I heard about it, but I haven’t had a chance to listen to that yet (It was quite an evening watching my Detroit Lions go down in flames). I hope he does explain this, because I’m so perplexed about things.
Here’s the link for people who have missed it:
[url]http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mediablvd/2012/01/08/winchester-radio-adventures-in-babysitting-w-adam-glass[/url]
I listened to the podcast (slow morning….). There were maybe 12-15 minutes discussion about 7.11 while the rest of it was more general. This is a (brief) summary of what was said.
The reasons he gave for the relatively quick grieving process was because Sam and Dean have a job to do therefore they don’t have much time to grieve.
They went with the no funeral pyre and three weeks later scenario was because in real time over a month had passed since Bobby’s death so they wanted to reflect that.
Who drank Dean’s beer? ‘It could be a lot of different things…’
The glance Sam gave Dean when he thought Dean wasn’t looking and the glance Dean gave Sam was Sera Gambles idea. (I liked that part….)
He confirmed that the episode was written in the mould of ‘True Grit’ with Sam as the Matt Damon character and Dean as the Jeff Bridges character.
He also confirmed that Krissy was written as a younger Dean. That’s how he knew about the lockpick thing but as Dean was not a girl, he didn’t check for pins in her hair.
He also said that Dean froze during the rescue because there were kids involved. This is also the reason he didn’t kill Amy’s son or the baby in Two and a Half Men.
[b]Not 7.11 related but might be interesting![/b]
Eric Kripke was much more involved last year than he is this year. The ‘Jefferson Starships’ and the decision to make the baby in Two and a Half Men a monster were his.
Apparently the writer who creates a character is paid each time that character is used. I did not know that!
Re: Time for a Wedding, apparently they were looking for a way to bring Becky back so he pitched the idea of her coming back in a Stephen King’s [i]Misery[/i] sort of scenario. Becky was ticked that the books were no longer being written so she kidnapped Sam. (Not sure how this would have worked but I think I’d have preferred it to what we got……)
Adam Glass has another episode written and it should be coming in the Spring.
And *spoilers [hide]next week’s episode is about Dean going back in time. [/hide]
That’s pretty much it. It was quite soundbitey (and didn’t come near what I perceive to be the main problems with the season) but it might answer some questions.
I liked both of the episode, Sam worried, Dean focused and the end OUR! Sam wanting an ok! from Dean type you’ll be along with me to whichever comes and the Dean having that smile not to give up. Remembered the music of Charles Chaplin “Smileâ€, is not a rock, but she remembers the end with Dean. I’m happy and I’m happy I’m watching Supernatural. 😛
*
Smile
Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You’ll get by…
If you smile
With your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile if you’ll just…
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you’ll just…
If you smile
With your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you’ll just Smile…
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you’ll just Smile.
Charles Chaplin 😥
I loved the episode. Except for Bobby being dead (I so did not want him to be dead..bad writers Krissy was terrific. A female version of a young Dean. MOTW was interesting and some what deadly. Loved Dean in the cherry picker. Jensen is so good at subtle comedic movements. Last scene Dean trying to smile broke my heart
I AM REALLY CONFUSED. I THOUGHT U AS A GHOST COULD ON HAUNT THE LAST PLACE? WASNT THAT BOBBYS HOUSE.
I WOULD LOVE TO THINK THAT RUFUS LEFT THE CABIN TO BOBBY, AND BOBBY TO THE BOYS. I KNOW THE PROB. W/ IDENTITIES AND ALL BUT WOULD LOVE THE BOYS TO HAVE A HOME OTHER THATN THE CAR.
I DONT GO TO CONS OR READ TO MANY SPOILERS BUT I READ THAT THE CAR COMES BACK. I ALSO THINK THAT MOST HUNTERS HAVE MONEY IN ALL SORTS OF PLACES.
GUY BEE ON A RADIOCAST ALL BUT SAID SMALLVILLE WAS AROUND FOR 10 YEARS, SO KEEP HOPE ALIVE 🙂
OTHER HUNTERS HAVE HAD KIDS. THE HUNTER SAM KILLED WHEN HE WAS POSSESSED HAD A DAUGHTER THAT WROTE A LETTER TO HER DAY. SHE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN A HUNTER.
IF U NOTICED DEAN PICKED UP BOBBYS LEATHER FLASK. SMELLED LIKE GOOD LIQUOR, WE DONT KNOW IF DEAN DRANK IT BUT LETS SAY HE DID. BOBBY SAID OK U TAKE MINE I WILL TAKE YOURS. CAN GHOSTS DRINK???
ON U TUBE CLIPS IT SEEM THAT JENSEN WANT THEM TO GO OUT THELMA AND LOUISE STYLE. I DO NOT LIKE THAT ENDING.
CANT SAM GO FIND SARAH BLAKE AND DEAN GO TO MELANIE FROM THE MENTALISTS??
I KNOW IT IS JUST A TV SHOW BUT I LOVE IT SO MUCH.
The one thing that struck me as highly irritating is that the writers ignored Dean’s reliance on alcohol. Dean drinks when he’s sad, happy, frustrated… Well, pretty much all the time. So Bobby dies and apparently all he does is sit on a couch and look sad?
What I want to know is… Where was the scene showing Dean face down on the couch having managed to drink himself unconscious? Or maybe just aimlessly watching TV and drinking? This would have been far more in keeping with Dean’s character. It would have also been an opportunity for Sam to interact with Dean in a more forceful way – that is, Sam is trying to deal with his own grief and having to deal with Dean’s sh*tty coping mechanisms.
That would have been much more in keeping with both characters’ reaction to grief based on every episode since S4.
As to Sam – Sam’s time in hell and his return was an excellent opportunity to reset the character but the writers seem to have bailed on this entire concept. After all, the purpose Sam was born for has been fufilled (he did become Lucifer’s meat suit, temporarily) and he has more than paid the price. The writers at this stage could have Sam process that realization in a more pronounced way and then Sam gets his mojo back and makes some changes that are beneficial to both of the brothers.
Personally, I’ve always wanted to see a short arc in a season where the guys actually stay put in a small town for a few episodes and try to fit in while hunting monsters.
Modeled this episode after True Grit? And he does the comparison with the remake? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot over! John Wayne is rolling over in his grave! And Glen Campbell isn’t dead yet. No wonder there is major blowage from this Adam Glass dude. If you’re going to do a spin off a classic, quote the classic buddy.
Woofâ„¢.