Sofia’s Review: “Supernatural” 8.05 “Blood Brothers”
Oh man, am I ever riding a “Supernatural” high! I spent this last weekend at Chicon and was totally immersed in all things “Supernatural”. Hopefully it didn’t have an effect on my perception of this episode because I loved it. (Don’t mind me while I bury the lede.) I think Ben Edlund is a genius and I’m a sucker for these flashbacks! All around, I’m one happy fan.
No doubt there will be some unhappy fans. People don’t like it when the boys keep secrets from each other. It causes a rift between them that throws off their whole dynamic. But for me, these little bumps in the road are what create the drama that keeps me interested. Not that I want the boys giving each other the silent treatment for episodes on end, I just like a little fuel in the fire. Believe me, I’m right there with you, yelling at Dean to “talk to your brother!”, because that’s what he should do. But inside I find myself intrigued by the drama that Dean not talking to Sam will provide. Does that make me a bad fan? I personally don’t think so. If every episode was full of smiles and rainbows it wouldn’t be the show we all love. And the bumps in the road help us learn more about Sam and Dean as individuals. We’ve always known that Sam is smart but did you know he was handyman? I certainly didn’t. Separating him from Dean, even just in flashbacks, allows us to get to know Sam better. Taking Dean out of Sam’s life made him rethink everything. Whether that’s for better or worse isn’t the point, it’s getting to know Sam’s motivations as an individual. When you separate Dean from Sam you can see just how much Sam helps Dean maintain his humanity. Dean was a cold-blooded killer in Purgatory. Mostly because he had to be to survive. But we also know that Dean has struggled with torture in the past and he quickly reverts back to his old ways when it comes to finding Castiel and getting out of Purgatory. These are things that we only really get to see when the story forces these two characters apart. I am excited to continue to learn more about both these guys through their flashbacks and individual stories. So, what do you think? Would you rather have Sam and Dean getting along and being totally honest with each other? Do you enjoy watching them as a set rather than giving them their own stories?
What also made me happy about “Blood Brothers” is the strength of Benny’s character. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still a lot of mystery surrounding our new vampire friend but I think they made leaps and bounds in revealing his character and motivations in this episode. Call me an eternal optimist, but I feel really good about Benny. Sure there’s a possibility that he’ll betray Dean the way Ruby did Sam but I just don’t see that happening. They fought together in the trenches of Purgatory. Sure, he needed Dean to give him a lift out of Purgatory but he could have easily killed him once they were both topside. He knows Dean is a hunter but he trusts him and Dean trusts Benny to maintain control of his appetite.
We learned a lot about Benny in the Purgatory flashbacks. He saw Castiel as a liability and wasn’t happy to bring him along but Dean was calling the shots and Benny was listening. When the leviathan attacked, it was Benny who went out of his way to save Castiel. How easy would it have been for him to let Cas die and have one less “magnet” to worry about? It would have been too easy. But Benny made his character especially clear to us when he allowed Dean to kill Andrea. She was no longer girl he fell in love with, she was a monster under the spell of her maker and still feeding on humans. So he made the tough choice to let Dean kill her. That says a lot about his motivations. So needless to say I’m on board with Benny at this point. How about you guys? Is anyone concerned about him?
We finally got to learn a little more about Amelia and boy does she have trust issues! Granted Sam was being especially creepy talking about her “good hands”. There is obvious darkness in Amelia’s past which is probably why she and Sam connected so quickly. I hope we get to know more of her backstory as well as their day to day life together. Judging by the first episode of the season it looks like Sam convinced her to get a place that wasn’t a hotel. I assume they all moved in together; Sam, Amelia and Dog. Sorry, but that made me laugh. Name your pet, Sam! I’m still so curious about why Sam left Amelia the way he did and why he hasn’t talked to her since. Her face told us that she knew he was leaving but she didn’t say anything or try to stop him. So many questions!
How about that final scene of the episode? Talk about a weighted moment. I absolutely loved the slow motion movement as Sam grabbed for his knife, not knowing who Benny was or if they were in danger, followed by Dean’s slow shake of the head assuring Sam that Benny is to be trusted. There were so many emotions flying in that moment; confusion, shock, sadness, perhaps some guilt on Dean’s part. It was such a great visual moment. And that heated stare at the end proves that Benny is right, they do have a lot to talk about. I can’t wait to hear what questions Sam has and what explanations Dean is willing to give. Should make for an interesting conversation!
So what about you? Did you love this episode as much as I did? Am I the only one who didn’t want it to end? Do you think Sam and Dean are entitled to their own “personal crap” or do they need to be more honest with each other? Sound off below!
Here are some random moments and quotes worth mentioning.
- I don’t think I can express enough love for Ben Edlund. The man is a genius.
- “Vampirates” Obviously! It’s like the third thing you say.
- Dean: “I was trying to kill Crowley who happened to be wearing his mother at the time…well, there’s a difference!”
- Dean: “Last I counted, you took a year off. I need a day.”
- Sam: “You are a wascally wabbit, Kevin Tran” I believe this is the line Jared Padalecki referenced at the Chicon breakfast. He said there was a line that Sam says alone at the computer that he really didn’t want to say. He actually tried to get away with not saying it but they made him add it back in post production. I laughed out loud when I heard it in the episode. But am I wrong, or does it sound like something Dean would say?
- Benny: “This is the crazy aunt you wanna take on the road?” Cas: “I am not your aunt. I have no possible relation to your offspring.” I absolutely loved this moment. It reminded me of early Dean/Cas moments.
- Benny: “Obviously, I’m less than comfortable with that.”
- I loved Amelia’s mention of “Sam’s creepy sideburns.” They are definitely taking over his face,
- Benny: “We just let the ocean swallow up all our sins.” Mr. Edlund has a way with the English language. I loved this line.
- Dean: “Was Fabio on the cover of that romance novel?”
- Benny: “You’ve got your head so far up your ass you don’t even know we’re done for.”
- Benny: “What I love ain’t here no more.”
There is nothing wrong with Sam’s sideburns but its nice to know they are so important. Benny was never going to be Ruby they would never do that to Dean and to make sure we get a Benny back story literally even though the character has been on the show 5 minutes.
That scene at the end Sam looked if he was about to explode that was great stuff from Jared . Still not quite taken to Amelia but hopefully more story there will help that . I wonder how dog went from dog to Riot?.
hee hee! Nice meeting you at ChiCon, Sofia! I loved Ben’s script so much that I actually wrote a sonnet to him in my review. I loved the Amelia mention of Sam’s sideburns too. He looked so glorious in this episode. I do wonder when he learned all that stuff about fixing things…maybe in his attempt to be “more like Dean” to survive. He had the impala working too…I really do like Benny…I was surprised this episode to find out that so much of Benny’s backstory is not unlike Sam’s. I guess we always look for those offset personalities in life…great review Sofia!
It was so nice meeting you too!! I have to read this sonnet. He is definitely a worthy subject!
Loved everything you said Sofia! It was a great episode! Amelia’s last name is Richardson who’s driver’s license has her from Texas. Ben Edlund added this because he knows Jensen Ackles is from Richardson, Texas. I love when they do this stuff.
I love knowing those little behind-the-scenes facts. Thanks for sharing!
Sam was not being creepy. She asked how the dog was doing, and he said much better and complimented her work on the stitches. That’s when he said “you’ve got good hands.” People say that about surgeons and doctors all the time.
Right after that he asked “So you think I’m creepy?” and she said “Yes. You buy your clothes at army surplus. White supremicists do that.”
“But I’m not.”
“Drifting serial killers do that.”
She thought he was a creep because of his clothes (which is pretty superficial) not because he complimented her skills as a vet.
This whole thing about Sam being a creep is pissing me off.
No offense meant by the creepy comment. I know Sam so I know he’s not a creep. I know he’s just trying to have a normal conversation with a girl he might be interested in. But when i think about it from Amelia’s perspective I see a guy I don’t know showing up everywhere, noticing things about me and commenting on my hands. Might feel a little creepy even though we know it’s just Sam being adorable.
Sorry. The whole Sam arc is bothering me so much I can’t see past it. I was actually reading your review to find the positive things so I could go back and watch the episode again and try to appreciate them. But as soon as I hit the Sam part I just got mad again. Maybe I should just give it all a break.
Dean will never be written to ever have a false judgement about anyone ever. or make a bad descion that lead to consequences for others. Which means benny will be the most perfect special snowflake Vampire ever. Now Dean has a matching set of Perfect Supernatural besties.
Yup. Jared was right about the line. It’s not Sam. Its Dean. Jared IS the only person working on this show who knows Sam Winchester these days. This is truley disappointing.
[quote]
Yup. Jared was right about the line. It’s not Sam. Its Dean. Jared IS the only person working on this show who knows Sam Winchester these days. This is truley disappointing.[/quote]
I agree the line is more Dean than Sam…. Perhaps there’s a reason Bob Singer insisted on it that Jared didn’t know yet? He’s often said he likes to read scripts so that he only knows what Sam knows at certain points…. It may be there’s a reason Sam is channelling Dean here, and that’s why Singer pushed the line. I can’t believe they don’t “know who Sam is”.
The cartoon allusion has a Deanlike feel, yes (though the “Mr. Tran” sounds very Samlike to me), but I think the writers are underlining the parallels between Sam and Kevin, and it makes sense that Sam is the one who is identifying with and almost communicating with Kevin as he tracks him. Sam matching wits with Kevin at a distance and being both annoyed and admiring when Kevin beats them has a nice ring to me; I can’t imagine Dean apostrophizing Kevin in quite that way, and it feels right for Sam.
[quote][quote]
Yup. Jared was right about the line. It’s not Sam. Its Dean. Jared IS the only person working on this show who knows Sam Winchester these days. This is truley disappointing.[/quote]
I agree the line is more Dean than Sam…. Perhaps there’s a reason Bob Singer insisted on it that Jared didn’t know yet? He’s often said he likes to read scripts so that he only knows what Sam knows at certain points…. It may be there’s a reason Sam is channelling Dean here, and that’s why Singer pushed the line. I can’t believe they don’t “know who Sam is”.[/quote]
The last Edlund script had a line in it from Sam that sounded more like Dean too – something about confusing an angel (Metatron) with a Transformer. Maybe Singer just doesn’t want actors overriding dialogue – especially on Edlund scripts.
Amy, I think Dean has been written as imperfect many times. One small example-torturing in Hell leading to disasterous consequences. I’m guessing that Benny will eventually, due to his issues with fitting in, will give in to his urges and feed. I could be completely wrong but it seems to me they are setting this scenario up.
I just get the negative vibs with Sam and the story direction with him. Has anyone thought that just maybe it is Jared’s spot on acting that is taking you to that dark place? We still have lots of BS to get on his year away from Dean and so far, personally, I love where it is going.
This week we finally got to see a little more of Amelia and how it was the beginning of her and Sam getting to the point of living together. Each week the little pieces start to make it clearer on that relationship and I have faith that in the end, it will all make sense.
That last scene was the most telling of them all. What a credit to the actors in delivering so much dialog without saying a word. BE is on the top of his game with this one.
Yeah Trucklady, I’m with you. I like the Sam storyline, and I like Amelia.. and yeah, every flashback Sam has had so far is layered in weird. For example the dialogue is deliberately cryptic and leaves you with conflicting impressions in meaning. Love it.
Sorry, I should have reread before hitting send:
I meant to say ” I just don’t get the negative…..”
Really enjoyed reading your fangirl burst- btw who was blood brother in this- not Sam and Dean- is the ref. to Dean and Benny???
I would say definitely Dean and Benny. Since Benny calls Dean ‘brother’ instead of ‘Dean’, and the blood bit has two separate meanings of war camaraderie and vampires.
I think it will be clear if Benny is long for this world when we see if he tries to call Sam ‘Sammy’ at any point. People who do that (who are not Dean) have a tendency to die… mind you everyone on the show dies but Dean is the only one who comes back again.
Actually, everyone comes back again!
No I mean everyone that calls Sam ‘Sammy’ dies and doesn’t come back – though the only examples I can think of are Mary, John, probably Jess, Gordon and that guy from Benders. None of them have been resurrected 😀 … yet
Ah! I see! True. Only Dean gets to call Sam “Sammy!”
Well I hope Sam came back twice otherwise we have been watching a mirage .
The blood brother could just as much mean Sam and Dean as they are actually blood brother ‘s . But who knows Dean has so many brothers now .
At least three times! It’s disputed, I guess, whether Sam actually died in 5.22, but he certainly died in 2.21, 5.13, and 5.16.
Bobby and Cas have also come back from the dead. As has Benny, already, since he was killed and went to Purgatory and Dean brought him back.
Dean wins by a large margin, though, because of Mystery Spot.
I could think of it as ‘blood brother’ excludes Sam – because Sam is simply ‘brother’ the basis of the show. But that is just my take on it, I agree that it is just as likely that they are being ambiguous.
Are we just talking about times Sam has died? He also died in Wishful thinking (4.08) and Sympathy for the Devil (5.01)
When did Sam die in 5.01? I don’t remember that scene.
As far as the title is concerned, I’m pretty sure it was a reference to Dean and Benny.
Zachariah ripped his lungs out. You can see him in the background looking pretty dead. I agree it’s like Buffy’s ‘I was only gone for a minute’ so it may not be canon…
Hi Sofia, loved your review. I adored this episode so much, I might watch it again today, housework be damned! We have learned to expect so much from a Ben Edlund script, and he surely does not dissappoint. And Guy Bee’s direction was pure genius. Dean’s flashback at the beginning when he’s driving to meet Benny was my favourite, the slow motion, freeze frame of it all had me squeeling with joy. And Benny whistling was very “Kill Bill” to me. I really like Benny and I think he will remain true. If he dies, I don’t think it will be by a Winchester hand.
Sam’s story is so intriguing. I am loving that we are finding out about Sam & Dean’s past year little by little. I like the slow-burn. Amelia is quite the enigma isn’t she? I can’t wait to find out her story. And yes, I agree that Sam’s line at the computer felt very much like Dean, but it was cute nonetheless.
I agree with you about having the brothers apart, I love the drama that brings to the table. Season 4 is my favourite for that very reason. Obviously, I don’t want them angsty with each other in every single episode, but a little goes a long way. Season 8 so far has not let me down.
Anybody notice the name of the boat behind Dean and Sam? Star Wars II
Loved your review and loved the episode. Everyone was at the top of their game.