Supernatural 9.09: “Holy Terror” – The Good…They Die Young…
*This by no means is a review rather a fangirl putting her feels in print.*
There is something odd about how i’ve always watched every new episode of “Supernatural.”
After every episode there is the usual excitement, dread, anticipation regarding the next one. These feelings slowly creep out and are replaced by a strange sense of calm, the kind of calm which says “It’s cool…..that was cool….I can take this……bring it, ‘Supernatural.'” This lasts all the way till I press play on the new episode a whole week after. And that is when the story changes.
Once I’m past the much-loved recap, it’s a roller-coaster ride that we’re all too familiar with. The sudden shrieks when something jumps out at us, the broad grins at the lighter moments, the guffaws at the out-right hilarious, the sobs at the emotional bits (& sometimes over everything), the shrinking back into our seats with repugnance at the gore, the slow & ever-increasing series of claps at successfully executed meta….we’ve been through all of this. We have come to expect all of these feelings with every episode we watch. Sometimes the show hits the mark, sometimes it doesn’t but for every miss there are a couple dozen hits so it’s all good.
I went through the same cycle again the days after “Rock and a Hard Place.” They were spent carefully avoiding any promo, tidbits, spoilers about “Holy Terror.” I wanted to go in blind. I almost succeeded too until I was spoiled (but not too much) by Jared’s live tweets. What followed was a frantic leap out of bed to start the ol’ computer up as soon as possible.
The essence of what transpired in the next 42 odd minutes can’t be fully translated into words.
Sure, staying true to the tradition of finales (mid-season or otherwise) a fair bit of angst, twists and heartbreak is expected. But, for me, what “Holy Terror” did was pull out the rug from beneath my feet, rolled me up in it and finally gave my rug-wrapped self a big push off a cliff……..and made me want to scream out “do it again”!
Come to think of it the latest installment of “Supernatural” had a lot going on; the factions are fighting a bloody battle to reclaim Heaven, Metatron is back, Ezekiel is not Ezekiel, Gadreel is gullible to say the least, Cas has his grace back (well, sort of his) and Kevin.
These are a lot of very important characters/plots to be put in one episode and make it work. Boy, did “Holy Terror” make it work!
What truly made “Holy Terror” a splendidly heartbreaking mid-season finale was it’s unpredictability and the Kevin part of it was just that. Let’s admit it, the show wouldn’t be what it is if it went to places where we always expected it to go.
I was fine.
[As fine as one can be while watching SPN, which isn’t a lot.]
Fine with the whole Bartholomew vs Malachi, fine with drunk!Cas, fine with Metatron being up to no bloody good again, fine with discovering who Ezekiel was or wasn’t for that matter, fine with Cas being tortured, fine with Cas stealing grace, fine with Cas’ call to Dean, fine with Dean finally telling the truth to ‘Sam’, fine with basically everything.
What I wasn’t fine with was – Kevin’s death.
Kevin Freaking Solo was killed off.
I was fuming (& crying). A lot of tweets in capital letters to everyone in general, including Osric, followed soon after. How could the writers do this?
Don’t they love us anymore? No wait, this is “Supernatural” so may be he will be back. Yes, Cas will bring him back. Pffttt Kevin isn’t dead…he’s just temporarily unavailable to us, right? RIGHT?
Time passed as I went on to catch up on the hilarious live-tweets but I kept on thinking about Kevin throughout. Something was missing in the picture because we’ve had other much-loved characters die but it was a tad bit different this time.
Surely, it can’t be just because we loved Kevin immensely? Because we’ve loved others too either equally or more….so why?
I remembered Sam’s line referencing Jo from Defending Your Life in S7, “Isn’t it true that you don’t feel guilty about her – that you’re just… sad she’s dead? That it just…blows?“
Come to think about it, every major character death in the show has had a decent amount of time dedicated to the lead up to the event. Be it minutes or more than one episode or an entire season or at least multiple seconds, we always had time to adjust…to prepare our fan hearts. But Kevin’s death was different, sure in hindsight we’re all going ‘I knew it…I knew they were going to kill him off. The signs were all there…’
‘Sam’ casually walking up to Kevin who is half tired, half sleepy to even note the change in Sam’s stance or behavior as he goes on trying to discuss Dean with Sam. Heck Kevin didn’t see it coming….we didn’t see it coming & Dean definitely didn’t see it coming. A palm to Kevin’s forehead, the all too familiar glow of light, the smiting is done leaving behind a broken guilt-ridden Dean to pick up the pieces.
It was quick. Nobody knew what hit them.
‘Sam’ placing down the piece of paper with Kevin’s name on it was rather sad. The villain isn’t supposed to have shades of politeness. I’m not saying this was polite but just the hint of reluctance with which Gadreel did what he did was enough to make Kevin’s death sting more.
Which brings us to what happened next, Sam as Gadreel is walking away with the tablets leaving Dean between his brother and Kevin’s dead body. It was almost symbolic. Because Dean is literally between trying to save Sam or mourning Kevin and he does neither. In that one moment, he does nothing. We’ve always seen how Dean reacts to death physically pulling the body close to him, cradling the head in his hands, calling out the person’s name over and over, anything, as long as he is in contact with the body before him. This time there was nothing. I’m not sure if this was a conscious decision or if I’m reading too much into it (i’m probably reading too much into it, aren’t I?) but having Dean stay where he was and NOT going after his brother or reaching for Kevin was a brilliant moment. It showed Dean’s realization that this time all that he got from trying to protect his brother was a dead prophet. A prophet that he’d started to feel was a part of their small family. And the fact that Kevin had been killed right in the bunker after Dean’s claims of ‘this is the safest place for you’ is only going to do a number on him.
Same for Sam only multiplied in guilt when he finds out about it. I agree with ‘Sam’ when he said something along the lines of ‘at least I’d like to have had the choice.’ We all know how um..hell- bent Sam was on just dying and crossing over once and for all. So to come to a realization that you’re not only alive due to all the wrong reasons but you also ended up killing somebody close to you…my heart bleeds for what Sam will have to deal with later on even though it isn’t him who is responsible for it.
It isn’t my business to wish for a show to go a certain way. Nobody asked us at the start if we’d like to see Mary Winchester and Jess burning up on the ceiling, did they? I’m sure we wouldn’t have allowed it and then we’d never have had a show as amazing as this.
Overall, I’m very happy with “Holy Terror.” I’m happy that it shook the fandom in all the ways that it did.
Because if the show didn’t make us scream, gasp or laugh then what’s the whole point?
Also because the writers would say “I torture all my friends. It’s how I show love.”
I’m just not feeling what you’re feeling and I think part of it was I really wasn’t that attached to Kevin. I liked him okay and I actually did see it coming a few seconds before he died. Before that I was only suspicious as his being on Metatrons list made the most sense but all that aside, I get why people were thrown for a loop here.
Kevin is the only established character we’ve met who didn’t see it coming. All of the others, Jo, Ellen, Bobby, they and we knew sometime in advance. They were able to look their deaths square in the eye and prepare themselves for it. Kevin never got that.
Right up. ’til the moment he died he thought he was in the presence of someone he trusted to protect him and that’s why I find Kevin’s death especially galling. I’m not broken up about it too much as he was never any favorite of mine but it was pretty horrifying.
I’m just not feeling what you’re feeling and I think part of it was I really wasn’t that attached to Kevin. I liked him okay and I actually did see it coming a few seconds before he died. Before that I was only suspicious as his being on Metatrons list made the most sense but all that aside, I get why people were thrown for a loop here.
Kevin is the only established character we’ve met who didn’t see it coming. All of the others, Jo, Ellen, Bobby, they and we knew sometime in advance. They were able to look their deaths square in the eye and prepare themselves for it. Kevin never got that.
Right up. ’til the moment he died he thought he was in the presence of someone he trusted to protect him and that’s why I find Kevin’s death especially galling. I’m not broken up about it too much as he was never any favorite of mine but it was pretty horrifying.
I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m just not going to get over it.
I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m just not going to get over it.
Thanks for putting into words everything that I feel about this episode, I don’t know how long it’s going to take me to get over Kevin..if I ever will, but you’re exactly right about the writers doing their job and doing it well, it’s why we love/hate them and ultimately why the love wins out, if we weren’t emotionally invested in the show they would have no hold over us and likewise we would not be begging them for more.
Thanks for putting into words everything that I feel about this episode, I don’t know how long it’s going to take me to get over Kevin..if I ever will, but you’re exactly right about the writers doing their job and doing it well, it’s why we love/hate them and ultimately why the love wins out, if we weren’t emotionally invested in the show they would have no hold over us and likewise we would not be begging them for more.
I’m also not that upset about Kevin. I was more attached to the character Chuck personally. I think some of the feels may be more for the actor, Osric Chau, then the character he played. I keep thinking how different this season may have gone if we still had Bobby to council Dean. Dean always seemed to take what Bobby said more to heart. I will forever miss Bobby but I don’t want him brought back anymore either.
I’m also not that upset about Kevin. I was more attached to the character Chuck personally. I think some of the feels may be more for the actor, Osric Chau, then the character he played. I keep thinking how different this season may have gone if we still had Bobby to council Dean. Dean always seemed to take what Bobby said more to heart. I will forever miss Bobby but I don’t want him brought back anymore either.
I wasn’t that vested in Kevin, so the emotional impact wasn’t there for me. There will be an emotional reaction, however, if our two leads end the season with no character growth or without their personal journey being expanded in some way. If it isn’t, then Kevin’s death will have no meaning.
I still cuss the writers every season because they killed off Rufus, a character that I just loved, because there was no meaning behind his death. The Winchesters were just reset back to the same emotional hang-ups and they didn’t win anything — things just got worse.
I wasn’t that vested in Kevin, so the emotional impact wasn’t there for me. There will be an emotional reaction, however, if our two leads end the season with no character growth or without their personal journey being expanded in some way. If it isn’t, then Kevin’s death will have no meaning.
I still cuss the writers every season because they killed off Rufus, a character that I just loved, because there was no meaning behind his death. The Winchesters were just reset back to the same emotional hang-ups and they didn’t win anything — things just got worse.
Guess I am in the ANGER, stage.
I want spin-offs YESTERDAY.
This show fucks with fans emotions like NONE OTHER I personally HAVE SEEN, and I watch a lot of tv. I am ill so this is my ENTERTAINMENT.
Bring on JENSEN’S BUTCH AND SUNDANCE ENDING soon………………………..NEXT
Guess I am in the ANGER, stage.
I want spin-offs YESTERDAY.
This show fucks with fans emotions like NONE OTHER I personally HAVE SEEN, and I watch a lot of tv. I am ill so this is my ENTERTAINMENT.
Bring on JENSEN’S BUTCH AND SUNDANCE ENDING soon………………………..NEXT
# 5 Ginger:
I feel the same way about Rufus that you did. I won’t forgive the writers for how they killed him. I really liked him and the actor and he should’ve been given a much better death, (althoutgh, I really enjoyed seeing him again in Death’s Door.)
Another reason why seasons six and seven were the worst seasons ever.
# 5 Ginger:
I feel the same way about Rufus that you did. I won’t forgive the writers for how they killed him. I really liked him and the actor and he should’ve been given a much better death, (althoutgh, I really enjoyed seeing him again in Death’s Door.)
Another reason why seasons six and seven were the worst seasons ever.
Probably you think I’m stone hearten but Kevins death didn’t bother me that much. I knew from the beginning that he is a pawn in a chess game. Therefore it wasn’t a surprise that he died, but how and by whom that was a real punch in the gut. Good storytelling! Surely you could have a Winchester & Friends boy camp series with cupcake episodes, but in the end if I would want to watch something like that, well I would google Justin Bieber…
I personally watch SPN because of the main theme the brother & family issue about the promises and the brake of these with the following consequences. Consequences always hurt, and we are all too afraid to stand up to them. We just have to look outside, all have excuses it doesn’t matter if in school, sports, politics or showbiz. Non of them have the guts anymore too stand to there actions, they all have nicely made excuses, and all except these halfhearted statements and applaud. But SPN has the gut to show the viewer that all actions even made by good intentions have consequences.
Probably you think I’m stone hearten but Kevins death didn’t bother me that much. I knew from the beginning that he is a pawn in a chess game. Therefore it wasn’t a surprise that he died, but how and by whom that was a real punch in the gut. Good storytelling! Surely you could have a Winchester & Friends boy camp series with cupcake episodes, but in the end if I would want to watch something like that, well I would google Justin Bieber…
I personally watch SPN because of the main theme the brother & family issue about the promises and the brake of these with the following consequences. Consequences always hurt, and we are all too afraid to stand up to them. We just have to look outside, all have excuses it doesn’t matter if in school, sports, politics or showbiz. Non of them have the guts anymore too stand to there actions, they all have nicely made excuses, and all except these halfhearted statements and applaud. But SPN has the gut to show the viewer that all actions even made by good intentions have consequences.
[quote]This time there was nothing. I’m not sure if this was a conscious decision or if I’m reading too much into it (i’m probably reading too much into it, aren’t I?)[/quote]
Maybe not. I read that Osric wasn’t there when they shot the scene with Dean calling his name. They may have done that to prevent Jensen from going into Dean character and doing the holding and rocking.
I liked Kevin, but I realized he was never going to get back the life he wanted. Sam is going to have a hard time getting over this. Just one more level of guilt and another reason to believe he should be dead.
[quote]This time there was nothing. I’m not sure if this was a conscious decision or if I’m reading too much into it (i’m probably reading too much into it, aren’t I?)[/quote]
Maybe not. I read that Osric wasn’t there when they shot the scene with Dean calling his name. They may have done that to prevent Jensen from going into Dean character and doing the holding and rocking.
I liked Kevin, but I realized he was never going to get back the life he wanted. Sam is going to have a hard time getting over this. Just one more level of guilt and another reason to believe he should be dead.
#9 percysowner – I really think Jensen is a good enough actor not to do “the rocking and holding” if the directer doesn’t want him to. Osric Chau not being there surely had more to do with scheduling or the cost. I find that comment insulting.
#9 percysowner – I really think Jensen is a good enough actor not to do “the rocking and holding” if the directer doesn’t want him to. Osric Chau not being there surely had more to do with scheduling or the cost. I find that comment insulting.
It was because I saw it coming it was so freaky! Gadreel pulling himself upright and marching so implacably towards Kevin (like a Terminator I just realized) while Kevin had a totally innocent conversation with ‘Sam’ as to whether DEAN was acting oddly was quite possibly the most menacing thing I have EVER seen on Supernatural! Partly because Jared has so much size and ability to loom over people and Sam almost never does that (how does he not do that?). And partly because it was Sam’s body but totally not Sam. It was just amazing and horrifying at the same time and you just knew that there wasn’t going to be a last minute reprieve for poor Kevin.
By the way, in absolutely every moral and logical way (except possibly in Sam’s head when he finds out) Sam DID NOT kill Kevin.
Prix68 I don’t think Percy was being dismissive of Jensen’s acting, the guys do talk about being ‘in the scene’ and making use of what is available and they also have some leeway as to what to do. I imagine if Osric had have been there it might have been played out a little differently though.
It was because I saw it coming it was so freaky! Gadreel pulling himself upright and marching so implacably towards Kevin (like a Terminator I just realized) while Kevin had a totally innocent conversation with ‘Sam’ as to whether DEAN was acting oddly was quite possibly the most menacing thing I have EVER seen on Supernatural! Partly because Jared has so much size and ability to loom over people and Sam almost never does that (how does he not do that?). And partly because it was Sam’s body but totally not Sam. It was just amazing and horrifying at the same time and you just knew that there wasn’t going to be a last minute reprieve for poor Kevin.
By the way, in absolutely every moral and logical way (except possibly in Sam’s head when he finds out) Sam DID NOT kill Kevin.
Prix68 I don’t think Percy was being dismissive of Jensen’s acting, the guys do talk about being ‘in the scene’ and making use of what is available and they also have some leeway as to what to do. I imagine if Osric had have been there it might have been played out a little differently though.
I liked what you had to say, I too will miss Kevin very much. I’m hoping that now that Cass has his mojo back, he can do something about bringing Kevin back.
[quote]But, for me, what “Holy Terror” did was pull out the rug from beneath my feet, rolled me up in it and finally gave my rug-wrapped self a big push off a cliff……..and made me want to scream out “do it again”! [/quote] I laughed out loud when I read that, I feel the same way, it’s like an amusement ride that scares us, but we want to return to it as soon as we get off. 😉
I liked what you had to say, I too will miss Kevin very much. I’m hoping that now that Cass has his mojo back, he can do something about bringing Kevin back.
[quote]But, for me, what “Holy Terror” did was pull out the rug from beneath my feet, rolled me up in it and finally gave my rug-wrapped self a big push off a cliff……..and made me want to scream out “do it again”! [/quote] I laughed out loud when I read that, I feel the same way, it’s like an amusement ride that scares us, but we want to return to it as soon as we get off. 😉
I liked Kevin, and I adore Osric, but I wasn’t emotionally wrecked by his death like some viewers.
I watch for the brothers, and I was more upset by Gadreel’s taking over of Sam, the “There’s no more Sam” line, Gadreel walking out…. and Dean’s heartbreakingly emotional reactions to everything.
Thank Chuck for Jensen and Jared, whose talents make those moments so very painful for us. They are both knocking it out of the park this season.
I’m hoping for many more seasons before they ever get to the “Butch and Sundance” moment.
I liked Kevin, and I adore Osric, but I wasn’t emotionally wrecked by his death like some viewers.
I watch for the brothers, and I was more upset by Gadreel’s taking over of Sam, the “There’s no more Sam” line, Gadreel walking out…. and Dean’s heartbreakingly emotional reactions to everything.
Thank Chuck for Jensen and Jared, whose talents make those moments so very painful for us. They are both knocking it out of the park this season.
I’m hoping for many more seasons before they ever get to the “Butch and Sundance” moment.
[quote]Prix68 I don’t think Percy was being dismissive of Jensen’s acting, the guys do talk about being ‘in the scene’ and making use of what is available and they also have some leeway as to what to do. I imagine if Osric had have been there it might have been played out a little differently though.[/quote]
Thank you that’s exactly what I meant. Jensen’s instinct to do what Dean normally does might have fought with the stage directions and given the scene a slightly different feel. Misha has said a few times that they don’t do Sam/Cas scenes because Misha can’t keep a straight face when Jared pulls pranks. That doesn’t mean Misha is an bad actor who won’t follow direction. It means the writers want to make it easier to play a scene the way they want it played.
[quote]Prix68 I don’t think Percy was being dismissive of Jensen’s acting, the guys do talk about being ‘in the scene’ and making use of what is available and they also have some leeway as to what to do. I imagine if Osric had have been there it might have been played out a little differently though.[/quote]
Thank you that’s exactly what I meant. Jensen’s instinct to do what Dean normally does might have fought with the stage directions and given the scene a slightly different feel. Misha has said a few times that they don’t do Sam/Cas scenes because Misha can’t keep a straight face when Jared pulls pranks. That doesn’t mean Misha is an bad actor who won’t follow direction. It means the writers want to make it easier to play a scene the way they want it played.
IKR Shini!
I am still in a while world of Nope. Nope. Nope!!!
I want my Sammy back!!
I want Cas to heal Kevin.
….Actually, I kind of want to slap Dean for not saying anything to Kevin about bringing a weapon of mass destruction(Gadreel) into the bunker too!
Don’t hate! Am processing my devastation xxx
#KevinLives
IKR Shini!
I am still in a while world of Nope. Nope. Nope!!!
I want my Sammy back!!
I want Cas to heal Kevin.
….Actually, I kind of want to slap Dean for not saying anything to Kevin about bringing a weapon of mass destruction(Gadreel) into the bunker too!
Don’t hate! Am processing my devastation xxx
#KevinLives
I loved Kevin and I’m going to really miss his character on the show. He’s been one of my favourite characters for a good while now. My teenage daughter is devastated. She started watching the show back in S7 and Kevin was immediately her favourite. He was why she kept watching. I have a very mopey teenager in my house at the moment.
I loved Kevin and I’m going to really miss his character on the show. He’s been one of my favourite characters for a good while now. My teenage daughter is devastated. She started watching the show back in S7 and Kevin was immediately her favourite. He was why she kept watching. I have a very mopey teenager in my house at the moment.
Quoting percysowner
” I liked Kevin, but I realized he was never going to get back the life he wanted. Sam is going to have a hard time getting over this. Just one more level of guilt and another reason to believe he should be dead”
I believe Sam is intelligent enough to realize that he in no way did anything to be guilty or ashamed of in the death of Kevin. He had no control whatsoever in those events. I think Sam felt a little guilt over soulless Sam’s actions (undeservedly) but in this case his body was hijacked by another entity entirely. An entity that he did not knowingly invite into his body. This was a direct result of Dean’s actions and also non-actions (to protect Kevin) and I think Sam will recognize that. No one knows that more than Dean. I truly hope they do not have Sam agonize over something he had NO control over!
Quoting percysowner
” I liked Kevin, but I realized he was never going to get back the life he wanted. Sam is going to have a hard time getting over this. Just one more level of guilt and another reason to believe he should be dead”
I believe Sam is intelligent enough to realize that he in no way did anything to be guilty or ashamed of in the death of Kevin. He had no control whatsoever in those events. I think Sam felt a little guilt over soulless Sam’s actions (undeservedly) but in this case his body was hijacked by another entity entirely. An entity that he did not knowingly invite into his body. This was a direct result of Dean’s actions and also non-actions (to protect Kevin) and I think Sam will recognize that. No one knows that more than Dean. I truly hope they do not have Sam agonize over something he had NO control over!
Thanks for a great “not review”.
This is a side note I just want to mention since I’ve touched on the topic of Dean and Guilt.
Remember in EPI 2 or 3 when he said to Abbadon that his head was a horror show? I remember sorta flinching at the fact he’d say that to Demon or that he’d say that at all. I think we forget that Dean has all of Hell and Purgatory to never forget. Didn’t Sam finally get his Hell erased when Cas took his crazy away?
At any-rate, I bring that up to have a look at the terrain that his new mistake/consequence is going to have on him. This is going to do a number unlike any other. Dean has always felt guilty for everyone who has died. Anyone remember that scene in Bobby’s basement “Think of all the people we’ve gotten killed” and he goes on to list a whole bunch of them? …brace yourself.
I’m kinda surprised that some people did not connect with Kevin. The parallels between Kevin and the Sam- demons killing both mom and girlfriend, Dean’s reaction to finding out that Sam hadn’t gone after Kevin who was their responsibility, the way Dean insisted that Kevin was apart of their family, that he’d die for him…well, anything that the boys put that much effort into to protect makes me way too invested -for their sake at least. But even without that, I thought Kevin was awesome from the beginning. His plight- being ripped from his normal life because they found that “caveman lego”, having to live on the run, being hunted. I’m not sure how I didn’t see his death coming from 100 miles off, but there was something about how little he’d been in the episodes leading up to this that made me thing that he was going to stick in the background, doing research back at the bunker for the boys for a long time.
For me, the worst part was knowing that Kevin knew that this wasn’t the best place for him, (“I always trust you, and I always get screwed”) but it was family and you stick with family no matter what.
Kevin’s last words were concern about Dean. That got be pretty bad. (but we did notice that Gad said Dean was going to fine…why did he say that?)
Poor Kevin was walking over to get a book off the shelf and in walked death in disguise as Sam. Just horrible.
When Dean came running in to see Kevin being zapped by NotZeke, he called to Sam, still thinking that it was Sam.
I’m glad you pointed out that fact that Dean didn’t go after Sam. I expected a half-hearted chase or for him to call out to Sam.
Dean simply called out Kevin’s name, not really expecting and answer but in a sort of denial. This can’t be happening. This can’t be real. and the realization that Kevin did trust him and did get screwed. They left us with Dean collapsed on the floor, alone.
Jared said at some convention that Sam is going to be very upset when he finds out what Dean has done to him. I hope Sam beats the crap out of Dean for Dean’s sake, instead of walking off which has been his MO when he’s really upset.
Just some rantings that have been going through my head this weekend…..
Thanks for a great “not review”.
This is a side note I just want to mention since I’ve touched on the topic of Dean and Guilt.
Remember in EPI 2 or 3 when he said to Abbadon that his head was a horror show? I remember sorta flinching at the fact he’d say that to Demon or that he’d say that at all. I think we forget that Dean has all of Hell and Purgatory to never forget. Didn’t Sam finally get his Hell erased when Cas took his crazy away?
At any-rate, I bring that up to have a look at the terrain that his new mistake/consequence is going to have on him. This is going to do a number unlike any other. Dean has always felt guilty for everyone who has died. Anyone remember that scene in Bobby’s basement “Think of all the people we’ve gotten killed” and he goes on to list a whole bunch of them? …brace yourself.
I’m kinda surprised that some people did not connect with Kevin. The parallels between Kevin and the Sam- demons killing both mom and girlfriend, Dean’s reaction to finding out that Sam hadn’t gone after Kevin who was their responsibility, the way Dean insisted that Kevin was apart of their family, that he’d die for him…well, anything that the boys put that much effort into to protect makes me way too invested -for their sake at least. But even without that, I thought Kevin was awesome from the beginning. His plight- being ripped from his normal life because they found that “caveman lego”, having to live on the run, being hunted. I’m not sure how I didn’t see his death coming from 100 miles off, but there was something about how little he’d been in the episodes leading up to this that made me thing that he was going to stick in the background, doing research back at the bunker for the boys for a long time.
For me, the worst part was knowing that Kevin knew that this wasn’t the best place for him, (“I always trust you, and I always get screwed”) but it was family and you stick with family no matter what.
Kevin’s last words were concern about Dean. That got be pretty bad. (but we did notice that Gad said Dean was going to fine…why did he say that?)
Poor Kevin was walking over to get a book off the shelf and in walked death in disguise as Sam. Just horrible.
When Dean came running in to see Kevin being zapped by NotZeke, he called to Sam, still thinking that it was Sam.
I’m glad you pointed out that fact that Dean didn’t go after Sam. I expected a half-hearted chase or for him to call out to Sam.
Dean simply called out Kevin’s name, not really expecting and answer but in a sort of denial. This can’t be happening. This can’t be real. and the realization that Kevin did trust him and did get screwed. They left us with Dean collapsed on the floor, alone.
Jared said at some convention that Sam is going to be very upset when he finds out what Dean has done to him. I hope Sam beats the crap out of Dean for Dean’s sake, instead of walking off which has been his MO when he’s really upset.
Just some rantings that have been going through my head this weekend…..
[quote name=”Abby S”]Thanks for a great “not review”.
This is a side note I just want to mention since I’ve touched on the topic of Dean and Guilt.
Remember in EPI 2 or 3 when he said to Abbadon that his head was a horror show? I remember sorta flinching at the fact he’d say that to Demon or that he’d say that at all. I think we forget that Dean has all of Hell and Purgatory to never forget. Didn’t Sam finally get his Hell erased when Cas took his crazy away?
.[/quote]
No, actually Cas taking away Sam’s “crazy” was never a mind wipe, it was a patch job of sorts merely to get Sam on his feet and functioning so they could defeat the Leviathan. Sam has 180 years of Hell torture by Lucifer and Michael to contend with….although the show never seems to go there much or give Sam props for surviving that experience or for coping with it either.
[quote]Thanks for a great “not review”.
This is a side note I just want to mention since I’ve touched on the topic of Dean and Guilt.
Remember in EPI 2 or 3 when he said to Abbadon that his head was a horror show? I remember sorta flinching at the fact he’d say that to Demon or that he’d say that at all. I think we forget that Dean has all of Hell and Purgatory to never forget. Didn’t Sam finally get his Hell erased when Cas took his crazy away?
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No, actually Cas taking away Sam’s “crazy” was never a mind wipe, it was a patch job of sorts merely to get Sam on his feet and functioning so they could defeat the Leviathan. Sam has 180 years of Hell torture by Lucifer and Michael to contend with….although the show never seems to go there much or give Sam props for surviving that experience or for coping with it either.
[quote name=”E”]….although the show never seems to go there much or give Sam props for surviving that experience or for coping with it either.[/quote]
Hello E, in a way they did, Sams silently wish to die. The episodes “Sacrifice & I think I’m gona like it here” showed a weary havocked psyche beyond repaire. By “fleeing” into the arms of death, is a desperate cry of an introvert person. And the tragic of it all, Dean interprets Sams introverted reaction as an act of “weakness”, imho that was the main issue of season 8 pointing out that Sam is weak and untrustworthy. (*lol* and Dean fraction jumped on the train) But then, in the Impala scene in 9.01 when Dean said to Sam “I knew that you would pull the trials” showed that Dean has accepted Sams attitude and in a Dean brotherly short word way excused him self.
Imo Dean is going to suffer more from Kevins death than Sam. In a tragic way Sam is used to loose “friends” that is why he doesn’t make that easily friendship like Dean. Because if you don’t invest in a friendship you can’t lose it. But Deans über-care taking personallity wants to protect in his pov all “weak”. He sees it as his duty his vocation, but now he double failed in a catastrophic way. He lost his brother and Kevin. In season 8 we saw a loftily and superior Dean and now like in a greek tragedy or even biblical sense we can participate the fall of Dean Winchester.
Superbientem animus prosternet! Pride comes before the fall!
That is why imo the screen writters had to let Kevin die by the physical hands of Sam and desperate mind of Gedreel. In a way it was as if the goddess Faith was mocking Dean by holding a mirror in front of his face showing him that he is only a mortal human being not a God who can determine over others lifes.
Like I once wrote beautiful writting and an outstanding preformance by Jared, Jensen and Osric. The old greeks would have adored this show 😉 love & greetz from Germany
[quote]….although the show never seems to go there much or give Sam props for surviving that experience or for coping with it either.[/quote]
Hello E, in a way they did, Sams silently wish to die. The episodes “Sacrifice & I think I’m gona like it here” showed a weary havocked psyche beyond repaire. By “fleeing” into the arms of death, is a desperate cry of an introvert person. And the tragic of it all, Dean interprets Sams introverted reaction as an act of “weakness”, imho that was the main issue of season 8 pointing out that Sam is weak and untrustworthy. (*lol* and Dean fraction jumped on the train) But then, in the Impala scene in 9.01 when Dean said to Sam “I knew that you would pull the trials” showed that Dean has accepted Sams attitude and in a Dean brotherly short word way excused him self.
Imo Dean is going to suffer more from Kevins death than Sam. In a tragic way Sam is used to loose “friends” that is why he doesn’t make that easily friendship like Dean. Because if you don’t invest in a friendship you can’t lose it. But Deans über-care taking personallity wants to protect in his pov all “weak”. He sees it as his duty his vocation, but now he double failed in a catastrophic way. He lost his brother and Kevin. In season 8 we saw a loftily and superior Dean and now like in a greek tragedy or even biblical sense we can participate the fall of Dean Winchester.
Superbientem animus prosternet! Pride comes before the fall!
That is why imo the screen writters had to let Kevin die by the physical hands of Sam and desperate mind of Gedreel. In a way it was as if the goddess Faith was mocking Dean by holding a mirror in front of his face showing him that he is only a mortal human being not a God who can determine over others lifes.
Like I once wrote beautiful writting and an outstanding preformance by Jared, Jensen and Osric. The old greeks would have adored this show 😉 love & greetz from Germany
Kevin’s death wasn’t too much of a surprise, at least to me. I was sorry to see him go; didn’t care for him that much when he was introduced in S7 but his character arc has developed nicely since the start of S8. Osric grew in the role as an actor, too.
Now for the $64,000 question; between Sam and Dean, who’s going to win the self-loathing contest once Sam is freed from Gadreel’s control and finds out what happened? Dean is already despondent but, even though it wasn’t his fault, Sam is going to blame himself for Kevin’s death.
Kevin’s death wasn’t too much of a surprise, at least to me. I was sorry to see him go; didn’t care for him that much when he was introduced in S7 but his character arc has developed nicely since the start of S8. Osric grew in the role as an actor, too.
Now for the $64,000 question; between Sam and Dean, who’s going to win the self-loathing contest once Sam is freed from Gadreel’s control and finds out what happened? Dean is already despondent but, even though it wasn’t his fault, Sam is going to blame himself for Kevin’s death.