Let’s Discuss: Are Sam and Lucifer Psychically Connected?
In our recent crop of reviews for “Repo Man†a somewhat fringier theory came up as to why Sam was experiencing such vivid torment from ole fork tongue himself. I certainly was guilty of raising the question in my comments as opposed to the review, so it’s time to bring this concept out into the open and beat the subject to death since we’re still at 25 days until this mini Hellatus ends.
It’s been our common belief, or at least one that the writers have made us believe, that Sam is hallucinating. The wall came down, and somehow his mind has taken all those horrors of torment from the pit and manifested it all into Lucifer — imaginary friend who’s pushing all the right (or wrong) buttons. Sure, Sam is seeing some other weird shit too, like being hung by chains from the ceiling or people in the library bludgeoning themselves to death in a game of extreme headdesk, but those could be dismissed as normal signs of psychosis (I know, I’m mixing “normal†with “psychosisâ€).
Let’s focus primarily on Lucifer. It does seem after “Repo Man†that Sam’s got one vivid hallucination going if he’s seeing Lucifer torture him all over again. What if he isn’t a hallucination? What if this is truly Lucifer, controlling Sam from the cage, using a psychic bond formed between angel and vessel? Here’s why I’m nudging toward that theory.
Raphael
This goes all the way back to “Free To Be You and Me.†If you recall, Castiel and Dean found Raphael’s empty vessel in a vegetative state in the hospital. They wanted to get in touch with Raphael. Here are Cass’ exact words. “There’s almost an open phone line between a vessel and his angel. One just has to know how to dial.†Castiel sent his message in Enochian and it got through, even if Raphael chose to answer later when he wasn’t trapped by a ring of fire.
So we know there is a connection between an angel and vessel. Raphael was an archangel. So is Michael and Lucifer. The bond is way more powerful with archangels. Remember Dean asking Castiel as they found Raphael’s empty vessel, “So is that what I’m looking at when Michael jumps my bones?†Castiel answered, “No not all. Michael is much more powerful. It would be far worse for you.†Yeah, I do like to think that was a humorous exchange, but humor was always lost on Castiel, don’t you think? If anything, this little exchange proves that once an angel is in a vessel, especially a very powerful archangel, there are side effects.
Michael
Let’ s jump to “The Song Remains The Same.†Michael promised not to leave Dean a drooling mess when he was done with him. So while that addresses the physical aspects of possession, aka the vessel can be physically returned to normal if the angel chooses, it doesn’t address the psychic connection. Michael told Dean it was a blood line. So the connection could exist merely in the blood, which is why Sam and Dean were the pre-determined vessels. Since we don’t see Dean feeling any effects from Michael though, it’s my guess any strong connection could only form once the vessel says yes and possession begins.
Jimmy
The power of the angel, or perhaps the agenda of the angel, also affects the vessel. Look at Jimmy Novak. He was a bit shaken by his angel possession, and certainly didn’t find the experience fun, but he was able to function pretty well afterward. Castiel was benevolent with his vessel though and as far as angel chain of command goes, he was middle management. If anything, Jimmy proves that the relationship between every angel and his vessel is unique.
Lucifer
Now to Lucifer. He has told Sam on numerous occasions he’s never lied to him and we have no evidence that this isn’t true. He didn’t lie to Nick either. He said possession would be unpleasant. The connection between Lucifer and Sam though really gets defined in “Swan Song.†Sam had been prepped his entire life for this role and he didn’t know it.
Sam: I’m sure this is all a big joke to you, huh?
Lucifer: Not at all. I’ve been waiting for you… For a long, long time. Come on, Sam. You have to admit — You can feel it, right?
Sam: What?
Lucifer: The exhilaration. And you know why that is? Because we’re two halves made whole. M.F.E.O. Literally.
Sam: This feels pretty damn far from good.
Lucifer: I’m inside your grapefruit, Sam. You can’t lie to me. I see it all — How odd you always felt, how out of place in that… family of yours. And why shouldn’t you have? They were foster care at best. I’m your real family.
Sam: No, that’s not true.
Lucifer: It is. And I know you know it. All those times you ran away, You weren’t running from them. You were running towards me.
Sure, this could all be easily dismissed as Lucifer taunting, playing mind games with Sam to get him to submit, but think about it. If Sam has been on Lucifer’s radar that long, you think something like being sprung from the cage is going to break that connection? Sam was fed demon blood as a baby, and as a result he was given demonic abilities. That includes psychic abilities. Those abilities have been dormant for a while, but perhaps it’s through those psychic abilities where the connection between Lucifer and his vessel is made. Remember Nick had to consume a lot of demon blood too. The reason was so that the vessel wouldn’t burn up, but perhaps it’s more?
I’ve also always wondered how in the world Castiel could have freed Sam from that cage. I’ve raised this issue before, only someone like God or Death could do that. Perhaps Lucifer let Sam go, knowing that he could control/torment up on earth. It’s literally Hell on Earth. Maybe through that connection his bidding can be done. Either that or we’re back to the whole “Is Sam still in Hell†argument, something that if the writers went with, would probably result in a fandom mutiny paralleled with that of Dallas.
It’s also possible that Lucifer is using his connection just to punish his vessel for disobedience. Remember that Castiel, Death, and Balthazar all said that out of frustration (and possibly boredom) that Lucifer and Michael were hate banging on Sam’s soul in the cage. Castiel even said his soul felt like it had been skinned alive after Death retrieved it in “Like A Virgin.†Perhaps Lucifer has chosen to punish the best way he can, through a psychic connection destroying Sam’s mind. It’s really diabolical actually, because through the mind the torment could go on for years. Remember what Castiel predicted in “Caged Heat?â€
Castiel: Sam’s soul has been locked in the cage with Michael and Lucifer for more than a year. And they have nothing to do but take their frustrations out on him. Do you understand? If we try to force that mutilated thing down Sam’s gullet, we have no idea what will happen. It could be catastrophic.
Dean: You mean he dies.
Castiel: I mean he doesn’t. Paralysis. Insanity. Psychic pain so profound that he’s locked inside himself for the rest of his life.
Castiel really didn’t elaborate if returning a damaged soul is dangerous because of a bond between angel and vessel or because Sam’s soul has been damaged beyond repair due to torture in the cage. It really could go either way based on that comment, or perhaps both items are a factor.
What’s super scary to me is if there is a psychic connection, it’s my guess Lucifer will never let Sam go. Being in the cage prevents actual physical possession, but he’s still there in the mind somewhere, fighting Sam for control. He’s the master manipulator, patiently waiting for the right time to strike. All it took is one quick moment of weakness. We know what Sam’s weakness is. Remember the quick shot of Sam in the upcoming preview? Could that be the sign of a man locked in his own mind? (I won’t show it here, just for those that don’t want to be uber spoiled).
Finally, I keep bringing up these discussions (besides the fact they’re great time killers) because of a question I got to ask Sera Gamble during our Comic Con 2011 interview session. What are we to expect with Sam in season seven? Her answer still sticks with me. “His wall just broke and he managed to pull it together to help his brother at the lab, try and stop Cas. He will start to see what that really means, that the wall is down. We were pretty specific what the repercussions of that wall coming down would be. Cas listed the terrible list, basically like you’re going to be a drooling mess, hallucinations, things cannot be fixed and Death also (warned) don’t even scratch the wall. We’re not going to let him off scot free of course and it becomes a pretty major story line. What’s wrong with Sam’s head?â€
Somehow, I just get the feeling that story line has more twists ahead.
Ow, I think I just broke my brain. Enough analysis on my part. What do you think? Is there enough evidence out there that a psychic connection truly exists? Do you think that if that’s true, that puts Sam in more danger? If there is a psychic connection, how in the world does one break that? Especially when it’s freaking Lucifer? Is Sam really screwed for life? Or, do you think there’s no connection and Lucifer and Michael damaged Sam enough where he’s unraveling on his own?
Share any take you have on the matter now. I’ll entertain just about any theory. There’s room for plenty!
Very interesting! I’m still not sure about just what/who I think is exactly wrong with Sam, but this theory brings up some new insight into Daddy Winchester; was his possession by Michael the real beginning of his personality change, rather than losing Mary? Because they were already having trouble; he walked out on her temporarily leaving her alone with an infant and a toddler…
Wow now I’m all messed up! I never though of it like that.. and yes it’s very scary if that’s the case… wow I really have no answers… you’ve left me speechless…
Odd coincidence. I’ve been writing a fanfic since 7×04 based on Lucifer and Sam being psychically connected. It’s a viable theory. 🙂
i found your article very interesting, you brought up a subject that i had been pondering since “repo man” aired. up until this episode sam’s interactions had seemed as if they could be something carried over from the cage, hallucinations built on memories of being tortured. but in this episode lucifer truly seemed as if he was a separate entity. the way he saw through information when sam was researching, and basically guided him in getting to the bottom of what was happening reminded me more of multiple personalities than of an episode of psychosis. except when people have multiple personalities, in general from what i have read they simply lose time if an alter personality is in control. (i read a lot of crap on this, i find abnormal psychology interesting) i am definitely wondering where this plot line is heading. in some ways it reminds me of a haunting, the way a soul can cling on to a plane of existence that it should not have the ability to affect. at this point i really don’t have a running theory. i need more input to even begin to lean towards any kind of coherent conclusion. but i really felt this episode took things in a new direction. anxiously waiting to hear what others have to say on this subject. thank you for bringing up a thought worthy topic of discussion!
Love this article, Alice! Really like your take on the connection between Angel and Vessel; I hadn’t considered that point. I have been playing with a little theory of my own for a while. We know Cas warded the boys from angel detection by carving Enochian Sigils into their ribs. Couldn’t somethng similar be used to track or communicate? I think Luci, perhaps during Cas’s rescue, managed to carve an Enochian Sigil onto Sam in order to keep the connection, and it HAS been him all along. Perhaps Sam’s use of his pain receptors (pushing on his palm) interrupts that signal and his tactic of completely ignoring Luci weakens it. Both of these tactics may have worked as temporary or partial blockers up to the point that Sam fully engaged Lucifer. In so doing, he opened the gate wide. I began thinking along these lines because standard human help (drugs and or therapy) are not really possible for Sam – one interferes with his Hunter abilities and the other takes freedom and time he doesn’t have. A supernatural solution is almost necessary. I think he still will have hellmemories/ptsd to contend with and heal, but not on the level he is at right now. Of course, there are many different routes possible, only time will tell what the writers really have in store for us, but I am sure it will be a doozie!
Aice, I am so glad you addressed this because I have been thinkng along the same lines. It does seem like Sam has a connection and that Luci is communicating with him. I don’t see how a hallucination could act like a friend as he did in helping Sam find Dean. The other answer is that Sam needed help, and since no one is left, he hallucinated Lucifer helping him. That’s kind of farfetched I admit.
I don’t know where they’re going with this, but it does seem like Lucifer has a hold of Sam from down under.
Of the different scenarios, this is the one I’d most like to see. This is for two reasons:
– First, since this show is “Supernatural,” I prefer the major storylines to have ties to the supernatural.
– Second, if it bleeds you can kill it. In Lucifer’s case, he might just bleed white light, but we know angels are killable (except, apparently, Cas).
I think there’s a very important fact that you did not consider. Lucifer [i]has[/i] acted in this world from the cage. In “Lucifer
Rising” he was able to make a [i]dead body[/i] (that I assume had no special connection with him like the vessels do) speak even from the cage. That and the fact that there is a special line between an angel and a vessel makes me think that your theory is really plausible.
Alice, you’ve come up with another great theory. Lots of great points were made. I’m going have to ponder this one. I’m glad it’s mini-hellatus time…. 😀
I just think Sam’s mind is a jumbled mess. I don’t think there is a psychic link between Sam and Lucifer
I’ve also been starting to wonder if Lucifer is controlling Sam from the cage after watching Repo Man. I was still going with it being hallucinations brought up by Sam’s tormented mind until that scene where Sam was yelling at Nora and we saw Lucifer’s creepy, knowing little nod when Sam is all up in Nora’s face telling her that he can make her talk. To me it seemed almost like Lucifer was thinking…’ah yes, this is all going to plan’.
Assuming there is a connection, I’m wondering if Death knew about it, and therefore the wall he put up was more of a barricade against the connection. Did Death know that if the wall broke Lucifer would reconnect to Sam? This would also explain why Death was so adament that Sam not scratch it.
I’m usually passive when watching the show letting TPTB do whatever they want, and not participating in the various theories that abound. However, this one I like and think it could be true. It also adds more juice to the fact that Sammy is a freak (his words).
I have been thinking along these lines since Episode 2 myself. Even rewatched the Raphael scenes you indicated. There’s not much evidence that Lucifer is separate though. Everything he told Sam in RepoMan, Sam already knew on some level. He’d seen the handwriting and he’d seen the coroner’s report himself. The only possible clue is the weather report he was reading. Would Sam know what was in that book? Possibly.
Still, I’m hoping this is my take for two reasons. 1. I’d love them to sign Mark Pelligrino permanently. 2. Even if they don’t get Mark, its likely this can be fixed via some kind of tattoo (like the anti-possession one he already has) or brand (like the one Meg gave Sam) or the anti-Angel rib thing. Likely Castiel would know what to do and he is coming back.
I’m so glad you wrote this article I’ve been mulling this over for awhile (as I already commented) and it is so nice to see the idea fleshed out and justified. If this turns out to not be where the story is headed, it should be! I find the notion that Lucifer is messing with Sam much more preferable that Sam just going bonkers forever. It seems like there could be a way, in their world, to maybe tackle that. After all they have gotten the best of Gods, demons, angels, and reapers.
I just want to add that a couple of scenes in the last episode had me going “hmm”. One is when Sam got hit in the head, he was down and out for a few seconds. Luci still there and commenting. Second when Sam got up and left the library, you could hear his footsteps walking away for several seconds, clearly out of earshot, Luci sitting at the table saying “He said shut up” very softly. I might be overthinking but it gave me pause.
Thanks again Alice. I’m with ya on this one!
Yeah, this is the horse I’m backing-theory wise, but I can’t figure out what if anything this has to do with the time problems. Since angels can effect time, it could be Luci, but some of the time issues seemed benevolent in nature, so unlikely to be him.
I have often wondered if this is the case. If Raphael, in Heaven, could be reached through his earthly vessel, then surely Lucifer, even in Hell, could make a connection.
Azazel managed to communicate with Lucifer by providing a human intermediary and a sacrifice. Lucifer, having established a bond with Sam on earth, and perhaps a more significant one in Hell, may be able to maintain that link across a sealed door.
Lucifer’s treatment of Sam inside the cage must have altered him fundamentally. Hell is where humans go to become demons, after all. Could Sam have lost some of his humanity there, and become closer to being a supernatural entity? Castiel’s “skinned alive” description comes to mind. Are all of Sam’s defenses gone, skinned away? Is he fully open to the influence of a stronger mind?
I think it very possible. And the vision of Lucifer is so focused on trying to reclaim the previous relationship with Sam.
I like the idea that Lucifer does not lie, because he does not have to. However, this vision of Lucifer has told conflicting stories to Sam. If Lucifer is determining Sam’s visions, then either he has decided on torment over truth, or the truth is an intricate thing in the case of Sam’s “hallucinations”.
I think this makes a lot of sense and would work well in the overall structure of the Supernatural storyline. It’s an aftermath of the vessel possession. So I guess that means that the reason you give consent is because it may never really go away; there may always be traces. Once let in, always let in; kind of like vampire lore and houses. One invitation grants the right of easement.
A lot of interesting things to think about. Quite honestly I’ve got the feeling my head is about to split open from all the theories. And even weirder I love it.
So, enough of that what I wanted to say was that I also think there could very well be a connection between Sam and Lucifer, maybe right now it might be more “influencing” rather than completely “controlling” Sam. I’ve got the feeling a few times over the season actually. Sometimes I felt like some Lucifer humour shone through in Sam and I found it fucking creepy even though I knew Sam had to deal with Lucifer every single day.
So, let’s say there is this “bond” between Sam and Lucifer, there is something else I had to think about. Maybe it doesn’t fit completely in this discussion, but I didn’t know where else to put it. Maybe I’m mixing things up and therefore my thoughts are bound to be bullshit, but still… I know this theme has been touched before and it’s about “time”. So, maybe I didn’t realize it but has there actually ever been said what year it is? Because I can’t remember right now. So bear with me if none of my thoughts make any sense because I got years mixed up. I’m gonna write them down though now anyway.
So, I apologize in advance if all the years are wrong, but to me it seems like Season 5 ended in the year 2009/2010. Means when Season 6 continues it must be late 2011/2012, which makes Season 7 play loosly around 2013 maybe already 2014. Yeah, what do I want with that. Good question. I couldn’t help but think of the episode “The End” in season 5, where Dean gets to live in the year 2014 for a few days.
What if this possible future didn’t really get prevented? I know my theory has some holes (the Croatoan/Apocalype, etc), but maybe just maybe there might a tiny little something in there. What if we’re heading toward this time now? We always assumed that when we got to see Satan-Sam in this episode, that there never was a “Cage”-incident ever, so to say Sam said yes and he’s being posessed ever since. But what if this future actually showed a Sam that has been “controlled” by Lucifer from the cage (I know it’s all abit over the top but somehow I would find it to be interesting, especially because of what it says about “destiny”, “choice” and “fate” which always had been major topics throughout SPN) and Sam just couldn’t fight him anymore? I mean – except for Chuck – things maybe could add up… As far as I remember in “The End” we see no Bobby (Is he alive or dead? Was that said back then?). Bobby is dead now for all we know. There is Castiel, but different from what we know. He lost his powers, got human. Now, we know Castiel is coming back but he won’t be the Castiel we knew… And Dean. Yeah, Dean. Maybe Dean will get like that when he really sees there is no way of saving Sam.
I doubt that this is really what the writers have in mind, but I thought it was interesting to think about. Which leaves me wondering how the hell, if this could be what we’re heading for, how the boys could fix this? I have no idea. There are other interesting things to think about though, I’m just unable to write them down in a way anyone else could understand. I doubt anyone was able to understand those thoughts I tried to express here, so… But what about Dean and Michael? Could there be a “bond” as well, even though he said no and Adam is in the cage with him? What if Dean can hear Michael in his head as well? I know there are no sign for it, but… yeah.
Sorry, I’m unable to write anything coherent now. My head is spinning. I love this site though. It’s so much fun reading about all these theories and ideas.
i think i agree with your theory. when i first read alice’s theory the first thing that popped to my mind was are writers planning the end!future as an end game?
some part certainly fits. bobby is dead, angels left and cas is coming back as a different cas. and i can certainly see dean becoming the broken version of himself.
I have thought of this also. I kinda love the idea because it shows that no matter how hard you try, the script has been written. Now that does go against everything that Dean believes, but it is the logic of the episode where we first meet Chuck in season 4. No matter what Dean did, things happened as Chuck foresaw.
As to the “End”, yes Bobby was dead. Dean was a cold killer, and Sam had said yes. Hmmm, Dean is headed on that path and I believe that once you say yes, it’s forever.
Okay, now my wee little brain hurts. All these wonderful theories to think about.
I think Sam being psychically connected to Lucifer makes so much sense, but if that turns out to be the case, the poor guy is a goner. But we have learned in the past that archangels can be killed, Lucifer killed Gabriel with the angel blade and Cass killed Raphael with the snap of his fingers. So maybe killing Lucifer is the only way to break that psychic bond. Although, according to the Bible Lucifer is the most powerful of the archangels along with Michael. So maybe Michael being in the cage with Lucifer can interfere somehow? Oy, now I’ve made myself even more confused…but hey keep ’em coming.
I’m really torn on whether Lucifer is supposed to be real or a hallucination, which I suppose was what Evil Genius Edlund was going for. Two occasions that jumped out at me where it would seem that Lucifer is something more real, was when we see him in a place where Sam isn’t. First, when Sam walked away from Lucifer in the library, we’re still seeing Lucifer sitting there, smirking. “He said shut up to me.†Would we really be seeing him talking to himself, at a point in time when he and Sam are no longer in the same place? And the second, when Sam broke into Nora’s office, Lucifer was already sitting at her desk. Can a hallucination be somewhere before you are? Or was Sam expecting Lucifer to already be in there? Can a hallucination manifest itself according to someone’s expectations? And if so, wouldn’t that give the person control over the hallucination?
On the other hand, when Nora attacked Sam and hit him in the head, Lucifer cringed, and said, “Mi cabeza.†Was he simply taunting and teasing Sam, or is Lucifer really a part of Sam’s psyche, and he felt the pain also?
The assistance that he gave Sam on the case, might not have been anything that Sam wouldn’t have been able to figure out on his own, but maybe that was just the devil being subtle. The guy’s tongue might be forked, but it’s smooth. Maybe if he had been too blatant in his foreknowledge, it might have spooked Sam into shutting down, and not being receptive to anything Lucifer said. Maybe by being more supportive and guiding, he could lull Sam into letting his guard down. It does seem strange that a mere hallucination would try to be helpful. And if that’s really all it was, why see Lucifer? If he could hallucinate anything or anyone, why would it always have to be Satan? Why not see Bobby? Or Ava Wilson? Or a wendigo? Unless Lucifer wanted Sam to see him, in which case, wouldn’t he have to be more powerful than just a hallucination in order to exert that kind of control?
I like the idea that Luci might be something more like a psychic connection, but at the same time, my heart breaks for poor Sam, because how could he ever hope to “fix†that?
Thank you, Alice. Loved this article. Lots to think about.
Secret Willow,
I don’t know lf you saw my comments a few before yours but those were the exact two scenes I pointed out as well. I glad someone else saw them the same way. Also when Sam got coldcocked it seemed he was out for a few seconds, would a hallucination still be there? Sam and Dean could be more likely to fix that than Sam going totally insane. Though anythings possible on this show, angel help would be a maddening cop out!!
No sorry, Leah, I missed that. Probably because I’m supposed to be working, and I shut down the window real quick when my supervisor walked by. Oops. Hee hee. I’ll have to go back and read through everything again. That’s cool that you picked up on the same scenes.
“You worry about him, all he does is worry about you. Who’s left to live their own life here? The two of you. Aren’t you full up just playing Snuffleupagus with the Devil all the livelong?”
This is sort of off the wall, but I had to look up Snuffleupagus after Bobby said this to Sam, because I didn’t get the reference. Apparently Snuffy was thought to be Big Bird’s imaginary friend until finally in 1985 Big Bird proved he was real all along. Just had to share. 🙂
I just saw your post, MelT. Thanks for explaining that reference. It seems completely apt!
What if the whole Snuffleupagus comment was foreshadowing? I can hope. I hold to the line spoken about Raphael and his vessel that there is always a connection.
What I really want to know is if Michael should be let out of the cage to kill the leviathans or if he’s as much a devil as Lucifer after years within!
My question is, Nicks body would be distroyed so there is no way even lucifer could be back in that vessel.
Hi Alice
I too was wondering if there was some form of a connection between Lucifer and Sam and if all of Sam’s hallucinations were being projected/created by Lucifer. This storyline intrigued me but also put some frightening possibilities in my head that scared me more than the thought it is all from Sam’s horrible memories.
If Lucifer is connected to Sam does it mean they are eternally tethered together in life and in death? Is Sam destined to return to hell when he passes on?
If Sam finally loses all control of his mind, does this then give Lucifer the ability to take over Sam’s body like a possession? I don’t believe Lucifer is able to physically leave his cage, so the possession would be more like mind control, turning Sam into a puppet or like a remote control robot. Either way the prospects are horrifying. The only light at the end of the tunnel is I have to believe the writers have conjured a viable way to severe the connection. This of course opens the door to the question of how and by whom or by what?
Interesting analysis! I believe Lucifer is real, too.
It seems to me SN has given us two sorts of hells. One is based on the ancient concept that hell is an actual place reached through a hell’s gate, leading to an underworld of horrific torture. With some form of help, it’s possible for a good soul like that of John, Dean, or Sam to escape from such a place and find happiness again. The other hell is quite different. In “Shadow,” Dean threatened to send Meg back to hell. She answered, “I’m already there.” From this hell, there’s no possible escape. The hell of evil souls is a hell of the mind. Wherever the demon or devil goes, it carries its hell with it for all eternity.
Lucifer’s evil spirit may want to find a way back to earth by using Sam as its vessel. But, IMO, it certainly wanted to consume Sam’s good soul, enforcing its eternal misery and torment upon the human. How?
I’m guessing Sam’s good soul couldn’t escape the pit the way John’s and Dean’s did because–to save his brother, Bobby, and the world–the human had consented to allow Lucifer to possess him. Death knew the soul of the human and the spirit of the devil were so inextricably bound that one could not be taken from the pit without the other. So Death erected a barrier between Sam’s soul and the devil’s spirit. The enormous power of Lucifer’s will made the barrier fragile. Even scratching the wall was dangerous.
When Castiel savagely ripped down the wall, Sam might well have been destroyed by Lucifer. But the same incredible determination and courage that drove Sam to throw himself into eternal hell to save his brother, Bobby, and the world
prompted him to create a new wall–built by the strength of his will.
However the human’s soul–the seat of the will–had been dreadfully tortured. Soon after Sam managed to get to the factory in 6.22, Lucifer began to appear. The devil might have overcome Sam’s will quickly had not Dean intervened early in S7. Dean managed to convince his brother that Lucifer wasn’t real, but merely an hallucination that could be driven away if Sam maintained a connection with the real world by inflicting pain on himself. The technique worked, leading Sam to believe the devil was indeed an hallucination.
I believe the technique worked for another reason. Through Azazel’s demon deals with prospective parents and the concept that Lucifer had to say “yes” to Lucifer, the writers seemed to be drawing on the old legend that a demon or devil can’t enter an abode or a body unless it’s invited in. As long as Sam believed Lucifer was nothing but an hallucination, the devil was powerless. The human had to acknowledge the devil’s reality for Lucifer to be invited in.
Sam was emotionally exhausted by Bobby’s death, Dean’s depression, and his own struggle to resist “hallucinations.” By “Repo Man,” his will–his wall–had been seriously weakened. Lucifer gained enough of a foothold so he could stay around, talking to Sam, trying to get him to talk back. Sam resisted until Dean went missing. Then everything changed. Desperate to find his brother, Sam began to listen–to interact with Lucifer, to follow his advice. Sam ceased treating Lucifer as an hallucination. He acknowledged the reality of the devil, surrendering his will by seeking Lucifer’s help in finding Dean. In short, Sam invited the devil in.
Now, Lucifer is free to overwhelm Sam’s good soul with his eternal misery and torment. Sam knew what he was doing. He willingly submitted himself to the devil to save the brother he so loves.
Sorry. In paragraph 7, I meant, “the concept that Sam had to say ‘yes” to Lucifer.” I need an edit button to clean up my messes!
I’ve been quietly reading everyone’s thoughts on this idea, hoping someone would comment with the same ideas I am having. So far, no one has. It appears that the majority of the people who are commenting are the ones who are on board with this being a possible scenario. It certainly falls in line with what this show is about and is not such a far fetched idea. However, I am of the opinion that everything we are seeing with Lucifer is 100% Sam’s own hallucinations and nothing more. I have two reasons for this.
First: If Sam and Lucifer are psychically connected and he still has influence over Sam, then it stands to reason a way will be found to break this connection. That would be a way out, but where does that leave us? Sam will still have 180 years of hell memories and 18 months of soulless memories. There will still be the mental repercussions of this. It cannot be ignored, Sam would still be in very bad shape. We do not move forward in this part of the story line at all.
Second: For me this is the more compelling reason why I think this is all Sam’s hallucinations. I lived with the effects of day in and day out hallucinations that involved Lucifer. Not me personally, with my mom. It was 24 hours a day, every minute of her waking hours and it invaded her dreams. Just like Sam, she never got a break. And I can tell you from what I personally witnessed, and the very little my mom told me, the way these hallucinations of Lucifer are being presented is on the mark. They truly hit the nail on the head. I can’t ignore that. So this is why I am in the “it’s all in Sam’s head” camp.
In case anyone is wondering, my mom has passed on and is now with my dad and finally at peace. I’m hoping Sam gets the same outcome, but not for a very, very long time. After all, Sam and Dean are my number one source of TV entertainment. Gotta hold onto that for as long as possible! 🙂
Linda, I’m so terribly sorry about what your mom and you went through. Thank God she’s happy now with your dad.
I guess I’m hoping Sam isn’t experiencing the same kind of thing your mom did. If Lucifer’s still in the pit and tethered to Sam, maybe the link can be broken and the memories will somehow fade, as they seem to have done for Dean. Fiction’s so much easier on characters than life is on people.
Dear ALice: This theory of yours just broke my heart…but it’s really, really plausible. (sigh) How to break free of Luci’s connection? How about exorcism and the love of friend and family? …… (whispers) Thank you.