Let’s Speculate: Supernatural 7.17, “The Born-Again Identity”
Warning!!! If you haven’t seen “The Born-Again Identity,” stop reading now! There will be spoilers in this article!
First of all, that was a pretty stellar episode. I loved it. The pacing was awesome, the dialogue was snappy, with all the demons around and the ghost hunt, it felt like old times, didn’t it? Second of all, CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASS!!!!!!
Ahem. Sorry, I just needed to get that off my chest. I have a feeling this is going to be rather rambly (is that a word? It is now!) tonight since I write these immediately after watching the episode and don’t get a chance to rewatch, so I’m still processing. But really excellent work tonight all around, wasn’t it? Sera Gamble wrote the hell out of that script, the acting was fantastic, the special effects were great, and the trench coat was trenchy. Once again, thanks to my Twitter folk for helping me work through some theories! Okay, let’s just dive in, then, shall we?
The Return of Castiel
Look no further for redemption, Cass, because what you did for Sam tonight was it. Taking Lucifer away from Sam and transferring him to his own head? Wow, that was amazingly selfless. I mean, he didn’t even really stop to think it through. He just had the idea, decided he would probably survive it, and went all Terminator, which looked cool as hell, and that was it. And yes, he’s an angel so he’s better equipped to handle spending so much time with Lucifer, but it’s not going to be a walk in the park for him, either. He looked genuinely afraid when he saw Lucifer for the first time. I just…okay, I flipping love Cass, and I’m just kind of in awe of what he did for Sam. And of course Sam deserved to be fixed because he’s Sam and he’s awesome, but what a huge thing to take on. Such a huge thing, in fact, that I think it deserved a hug. Damn it, Winchesters, HUG YOUR ANGEL!
I’m sure Cass will be able to withstand Lucifer better than Sam did because he doesn’t need to sleep, but how do you think this is going to play out? Cass has more experience with Lucifer and more ammunition against him since they’re brothers, so do you think maybe he’ll be able to turn the tides a little bit, give as good as he gets? These hallucinations Sam was having were a very human ailment, so how will that translate to Cass? We’ve already seen that he also suffers from hallucinations, but will he only see Lucifer? Will he be able to more easily tell the difference between reality and hallucination? And what is Lucifer, exactly? I don’t think he’s pure hallucination because how would he transfer to Cass if he was just a hallucination of Sam’s based on Sam’s experiences. I think he’s a link to the Cage. And as someone mentioned on Twitter, Cass has been to the cage when he pulled Sam’s body out at the end of season 5, so that helps with their link.
Now we just need a way to get rid of Lucifer from Cass’ head. My guess: it’s got something to do with the Leviathans. They are older than angels, so I’m thinking they have some strong mojo just waiting to be tapped into. We’ve seen blood magic work on angels to banish them, so my theory for the moment is that Leviathan blood drawn into a banishment sigil + opening the door to purgatory will lock Lucifer there permanently.
The Sam Situation, A Situation No More
Oh, Sam. In the midst of being driven to an early grave by Lucifer, you seriously took the time to find a hunt and save Marin. Well done, sir. Well done indeed. And honestly, it’s about time this guy got a break, isn’t it? I wonder if he and Cass are going to bond over this after they fix Cass and Lucifer goes away again and both are back to normal again? That would be kind of nice.
Okay, still processing, so I’m just going to move on to some bullet points now. LIghtning round!
Bits and Pieces
Who else got teary when Dean gave Cass back the trench coat? I sure did. Not only did he keep it, but he carried it around with him in whatever car he stole that week. But he could have washed off some of the blood, right?
Speaking of the trench coat, that psychiatric facility better have kept it when Cass checked in or I’ll be pissed. And they also better have kept the pants he was wearing because HOT.
Meg as Cass’ nurse and guardian? Brilliant. As long as she doesn’t go Ratched on us, everything will be fine. Snarky Meg is awesome.
I feel bad for Daphne, not gonna lie. She’s probably worried sick right now. I hope someone told her about what’s going on because otherwise, she’s just left hanging, and that’s really cruel. She could call Amelia, get together for coffee and lament how Castiel has stolen their husbands. The Klepto Castiel Club.
Once again, ghost Bobby makes an appearance! At least, that’s what I think is going on. I love, too, how willing Dean is to just sort of deny the whole issue because he wants to. He’s in Deanial about it, as usual. And yes, I know he brought it up to Sam some episodes back, but these two have shown time and time again that they’ll follow even the tiniest of leads to find a ghost. When it may be Bobby? DENY! I find it amusing.
How hilarious was Emanuel, though? “Oh, my gracious.” “Was that a flirtation?” Even though he wasn’t Cass, he still didn’t understand any references. And he smiled! Aww.
I understand the reasoning behing leaving Cass in the institution, but it still sucks. I would have liked to see the band back together, you know?
How cool was that montage when Cass was burning out demons and remembering?
If you type www.bouncingbabynames.com into your web browser, it will take you to a page that says “Forbidden access.” But the server name is “Greatest International Scavenger Hunt The World Has Ever Seen,” GISHWHES for short, AKA Misha’s Guinness record-setting scavenger hunt he put together last year. Well played, show. Well played indeed.
All right, I could go on and on about this one, but it’s time for me to head to bed. What did you think, readers? Were you happy to see Cass back? Were you sad that he got left behind? Are you excited about next week and the return of Garth and some drunken hunting? Looks like a fun one.
After all Lucifer is Cas’s brother! He should have more leverage with him,but wait I’m thinking like Lucifer is real and not a hallucination. Where did that idea come from? Of course crazy hallucinating Cas is still more able to cope than Crazy hallucinating Sammy because of the whole no need to sleep thing. Full time Lucifer somehow doesn’t really sound better! HHmmmm…
Fun Arde! I don’t think Luci was anything but a hallucination. What Cas did can be thought of as empathy. You can take away another’s pain into yourself and then the ’empath’ dissipates it within. I’m thinking it will take Cas a while to do that as he was just restored as Cas, or maybe the boys, or Meg, will find a way to help him do that but is a possible explanation .
Also it was great when Dean brought out the coat. I’m told it was seen in the back of all the trash cars they have been driving so Dean was taking it with him where ever he went. I say while the hurt for the betrayal was still there, seems Dean actually forgave Cas a long time ago.
Sam’s issues are over, thanks to Dean and Cas, and the leviathans are on the rise. Crowley is incorporating himself into every sector he can and Meg, who has sworn to kill Crowley, is now guarding the most powerful being currently on the planet. A being the boys supposedly need for the leviathans in some way. What do you think of Meg’s part in this.
As for Bobby’s ghost, it’s not a sure thing it is Bobby. And Dean thinking it is Bobby is not being in denial. He really wants to think Bobby is still there helping him out. Question is is it Bobby or a figment of Dean’s imagination. Gamble leads everyone to think it is just Dean’s grief, but two producers have hinted that it is real. So will Dean get to see his second father again? I hope so. I really miss him and hope the series manages to bring him back someday.
I actually think it is something or someone else. Some one who has a stake in helping the boys for some reason. Maybe Crowley? That would be interesting.
Anyway, just my 2cents worth.
This was a fantfreakintastic episode!
Heart rate up-check
Heart broken multiple times-check
Heart full of awwwww-check
Pissed that Meg isn’t ganked yet-CHECK!!! (SHE TOOK JOHN!!! Ellen! Jo! GAH!!!)
Relieved that demon blood wasn’t the magic Sam cure-check
In knocked-on-my-ass awe over the acting-Check infinity
Oh, and does Emmanuel’s marraige mean that Cas is de-hymanated? 😀 :-* 😳 😀
I loved Jared’s acting in this ep. Sam, softly accepting he was going to die and then working a job. This is why they’re going to Heaven–someday. He was so sad. Sera is such a good writer and does not get enough credit for it by the fans.
I loved this episode! I wished it had come sooner, but at least they didn’t wait until the very end of this season to show it. It was brilliant! Acting, directing, writing and everything else was excellent! Sam had his breakdown and he’s a lot better, but now we’ve got Cas to think about. I’m not so sure I like the idea of Meg keeping watch. She’s one sneaky chick! I am so looking forward to the rest of the season. 😀 😉
Appalling episode.
Good bye Supernatural.
[quote]Appalling episode.
Good bye Supernatural.[/quote]
I wouldn’t go so far as to say it was appalling, but I didn’t like it. I’m glad I’m not the only one!
I’ll still be watching, but the entire season has been filler. Nothing Sam or Dean has experienced has had any impact on them. So far, every plot, has been a huge waste of time.
I have no interest in the Leviathans so . . . . there’s not much for me to look forward to in the upcoming episodes. I don’t care how the Leviathans are killed. It’s not like they won’t be killed.
Best “new Cas” line: “Just like riding a bicycle.” “I’ve never done that either”. 😎
I’m not going focus too much on the episode itself because that will need thinking and time and I’ve big plans to do lots of things today. Such big plans, once I get out of bed.
Excellent episode, thank heavens. A little rushed perhaps but what of? I have to be honest; I was pretty worried about how this one would pan out. The scenes in the hospital were crushing, and yep, sleep deprivation is one of the worst forms of torture out there. I’m like a cut cat these days because I’m only getting about 4 hours a night so five days of no sleep doesn’t bear thinking about.
Dang, JP really made you feel all the hurt and confusion and weariness in this one. Round of applause for you, sir. Dean’s desperation and then the smatter of hope were equally as painful to watch, though I think (I hope) our boy is almost back. His brother is as good as he’s going to get. Castiel is no longer dead and as he doesn’t sleep Lucifer’s bedtime telling stories won’t affect him the same way. I wouldn’t mind seeing how Lucifer and Castiel interact.
I did find the return of the trenchcoat a little, um, mawkish. Sorry! Seriously though, has Dean been carrying that freaking coat around the country the whole time, transferring it from car to car?? Okay, that’s a little disturbing…..
And on an aside, this is the second ‘marriage’ Castiel has fecked up. What does the angelic dude have against the holy sanctimony of marriage? On a second aside, he met a woman and got married within a few months. There’s hope for us all yet! On a third aside, I don’t usually find the unkempt, stubbled look the hottest in the world, but holy shit tonight!!
A non-aside, was the doctor possessed for a bit? Seriously, Sam hadn’t been there that long. Would doctors really just jump into ‘surgical solutions’ after such a short period of time or was that a demon talking?
And they’re working with demons (a demon) now? Again. I’m glad to see demons back, to be honest. A bit of classic, old school, bad. Even if they have become the stormtroopers of Supernatural. Honest to God, even I’d be able to kill one at this stage.
However….. (oh Lord God, there’s always a fucking ‘however’ with me, isn’t there?), the ending. I’m seeing a lot more questions than answers after it. I’m not sure if I’m overthinking things or if there is a hell of a lot of reconning (is that the word?) going on but I thought there was a lot of wtf moments going on.
First, Castiel, a now full blown angel is on lockdown in an psychiatric institution with visions of Lucifer in his head. Now call me cynical but that sounds like a recipe for disaster. We saw Castiel, even as a lesser angel, get drunk. What would medication will do to him? (I’m imagining rainbows out of his ass for some reason!)
Okay, I know Meg is there to keep an eye on him, or get him pizza or whatever, but Meg is a Lucifer loyalist. Is she really the best person to have around? Heh, a Lucifer hallucinating angel, there’s one you don’t see every day.
Secondly, Castiel transferred Sam’s hell to himself. Um, how? Did hell damage Sam’s [i]soul[/i] or was it just the [i]memories[/i] of hell that were impacting him? I’m pretty sure season 6 established it was the soul that was damaged. Is Sam’s soul now fixed or has Castiel taken the damaged part of Sam’s soul into himself? Did he take away Sam’s memories or just the hell ones or just the worst ones or just the hallucinations? If they are just Sam’s memories, how could they affect Castiel? And as they [i]did[/i] seem to affect Castiel should we assume that they weren’t mere memories/hallucinations but Sam was actually linked to Lucifer and now Castiel is linked to Lucifer. (Holy shit, did Castiel just say ‘yes’ to Lucifer??) Is Castiel’s ‘soul’ or grace (or whatever angels have these days) now damaged as a result of this transfer? And is this the end of the Hell storyline? I’m kinda hoping it’s not because if it was, that was quick, and remarkably easy. I thought the show had established how dangerous it was to lose any part of yourself, so is this just a temporary fix to get Sam ‘up and atom’ again?
Thirdly, Castiel is now i dtrioblóid mór (‘big trouble’. I’m teaching Yira O’Bah how to speak Irish…) in more ways than one. He can no longer rely on heavenly protection. In fact I’d say there are a few angels looking to smite his fine ass and Crowley and his host of demons are definitely after him (Cue ‘Casley’. Hee hee.) Can Meg really hold off all those? Will the boys end up having to save Castiel?
Fourthly, and spoiler alert, (though they are more questions than anything) [hide]Misha Collins is back for at least two more episodes so I guess he wasn’t institutionalised for long. What sort of state will he be in when he gets out? Will he still carry Sam’s memories? Will Lucifer still be there, will he have corrupted Castiel? Could Castiel be next season’s big bad? [/hide]
So many freaking questions. Ah well, I’m sure another few rewatches will satisfy some of those.
Thanks Ardeospina.
thanks # Tim the Enchanter for ur questions . i am too freaking exicted now and i just really couldn’t see it that way!! 😆
i think that , castiel transferd sam’s experience of hell into himself, and after all i don’t think sam was having hallucinations about lucifer , luci was actually there somehow but sam could only see him bacuase he was in the frigging cage with him so dean couldn’t see him as he was in hell sometime (dude , they take vactions strange places!) and i maybe guess that Castiel will have some big fighting against the devil but he wont have it like the way that sam did . after all that i think Castiel did a big kinda sacrifice for sam and most importantly dean , because as you see in that scene when he is pissed of dean not telling him from the start that he IS castiel , he says that he deserved to die and he is not to be there and alive (and btw how is he back anyway?!) so he wanted to reedem himself to dean and himself and maybe the whole world with transefring sam’s broken soul’s part into his body or his being or wat ever it is! i think that whats matters.
im so freaking proud of this epiosde. i should re-watch it and think about it better but right now i kinda have all the friggin feelings , but i’ve got to say i am kinda satisfied!
and btw how lucky was dephne to finding Cas “UNCLOTHED” ????
Oh yes, that was a great episode. I found they managed to cover a whole lot of ground in only 42 minutes without it feeling rushed, and Sam even managed to take out a ghost and save Marin!
First off, I love that Cass didn’t hesitate for one minute to take Lucifer into his head to save Sam from dying of exhaustion. And I fully understand why he needs to be kept in the hospital for his own safety with Meg as his nurse no less. I was very happy to see her back in full form. I loved Dean’s little frustrated eye roll when Cass said he didn’t know how to ride a bike either, I’ve missed those eye rolls!
[i]How cool was that montage when Cass was burning out demons and remembering?[/i] Oh, absolutely, my favourite part of the whole show, and the music accompanying that scene was really good. Does anyone know what that was? Or was it an original just for the show?
One last thing in closing, Jared killed in this episode.
Clip w Cas and the song was great!
And…
Yes, Jared rocked!
Just popping in to say that the song is “Turn Into Earth” by the Yardbirds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFBaukiTFfE
Thank you, I checked it out on Youtube, what a great song. I had never heard that one from The Yardbirds before, I will surely be downloading it to my iTunes.
Castiel shifting Sam’s hallucinations was the LEAST he could do. And as for the insanity he took on…..since Castiel is a an immortal being its a small penance to pay for the thousands of humans and angels he has killed especially since considering he’ll only most likely spend a few months on the crazy train until a cure is found.
Small penance indeed. But he at least did sound sincere in his regret when he apologized to Sam.
I loved this ep too. It was fantastic. And I’m super excited to see where we go with the Meg thing and what happens next with Cas, let alone with Sam and Dean and their troubles! So exciting!! 🙂 Great thoughts off such a big ep!
i know something nefarius is going to happen now that Luci is inside Cas and Meg is right there to help it along.