WFB Deja Vu Review – Supernatural 9.02 “Devil May Care”
Have you ever heard the saying βHindsight is 20/20β? It means that we are all wiser about the past once we know the future. Well the writing team at Winchester Family Business thought we would test this theory on Supernaturalβs season 9 storyline!
Local TV affiliates usually rerun the entire Supernatural season during Hellatus. In the United States, the CW started the reruns last week. While a few of us were live-tweeting the seasonβs premiere, βI Think Iβm Going to Like it Hereβ, I was struck by how differently we all perceived events, dialogue, characterβs motivations, lighting and just about everything else in the episode since we knew the ending of each plot line. There was so much foreshadowing we couldnβt detect the first time around! This gave me an idea for a new series of articles.
Each week during Hiatus, several of the writers will rewatch an episode of season 9. We will then combine all our observations into one commentary. This will be much more informal than our usual, detailed reviews. Instead of analyzing, theorizing or explaining, we will offer random thoughts about the episodes. I think it will be fun to see our different perceptions, styles and biases all in one place! Some of us see meta while others focus on canon. I see and hear writing cues. Some are serious, some are sentimental and some are, well, full of snark! Youβll get us all in one place! We may overlap each other and have the same observations or we may contradict ourselves, but that by itself should be revealing!
Even if your TV network doesnβt have the same rerun schedule, you can still watch your own recordings or on-line streaming. Many fans have a rewatch ritual during the off-season anyway, so we are suggesting that we all experience the season over again together, but this time through the wisdom of hindsight! If you missed last nightβs show, rewatch 9.02 then come back and read our ramblings. We may need a new title for our articles (I had to get your attention somehow!), but see what you think of our random insights!
Nightsky
Β· Dean realized that Castiel doesnβt have a harp! Canβt really envision Cas strumming away at the harp anyway. Weird visual there.
Β· At the beginning of the episode, Dean flippantly asked, βWhat Would Sam Winchester Do?β. It occured to me that this very well could have been THE theme for the whole season. Dean must have wondered for months what Sam would do when he found out he was possessed by an angel. As fans, we continually asked each other, βWhat will Sam do when he finds out “he” killed Kevin? What will Sam do when he catches Gadreel? What will Sam do if he is faced with saving Dean against his will? What will Sam do to save Demon!Dean?β Up until the very last second, we were all asking, βwhat will Sam do?β In a way, Samβs decisions and actions are still a major part of the seasonβs cliffhanger finale. What do you think? Should this be our official S9 themeβ¦or at least part of it?
Β· Dean, you thought Crowley was the junk in your trunk then. Little did you know that might actually happen now that you are a demon.
Β· Sam, thatβs a darn small notepad for wanting to write down the name of every demon on earth.
Β· βS.A.M. into S&Mβ. Only Sheppard could say that clearly enough to be understood.
Β· KEVIN!! I forgot we would be seeing Kevinβ¦and Abaddonβs first appearanceβ¦..and normal Deanβ¦and the brothers talking to each other without hate, anger, resentment…So much that I miss. A lot has happened this season!
Β· Ice cream and strippers. I wonder which one comes first.
Β· βRiding Down the Highwayβ. Miss the great rock music in each episode. Music has considerably lightened up this season. A lot of good music, but still, not rock.
Β· Kevin Freakin Solo!!
Β· Memories of the βSacrificeβ dialogue haunting Crowley. This episode was only two shows after that epic masterpiece. So much has happened to make us, and the brothers, negate that fleeting breakthrough in the church.
Β· Crowley: βThatβs how I show loveβ. Whatβs with this guy and love? Iβm going to start watching for Crowley mentioning love on other occasions. I think this may be a core character trait that is being built across seasons.
Β· Crowley was telling the truth about Mrs. Tran. He could have βgiven her backβ to Kevin.
Β· Crowley: βThereβs always another prophet waiting in the wingsβ. I wonder if the writers knew way back then that they would have Metatron shut off the prophet mill.
Β· Dean: βYou gotta know who the monsters areβ β foreshadowing.
Β· Deanβs protective instincts applied even to a young hunter he just met. He sent her away to save her from Abaddon.
Β· Abaddon foreshadowed Dean as a demon! βYou are the perfect vesselβ then all that talk about him being possessed.
Β· Ezekiel apologized to Dean for taking over Sam when Sam was getting beat down. Gadreel is so innocent here.
Β· Gadreel said that Sam knows that Dean stopped the trials out of love. At least Zeke is telling us what Sam thinks. Iβll take anything I can get. Plus Iβm happy to know Sam felt Deanβs love. This got SO messed up. HOW did it go so sideways???…
Β· β¦then Dean tells Zeke: βIf this goes sidewaysβ¦β Zeke: βThat is not going to happenβ. Oh Gadreel. This scene convinced me to trust you. Iβm glad it did, too. I believed in you no matter what you did. Your actions devastated both Dean and Sam, though.
Β· Crowleyβs go-to is making deals. Always finding an angle. He is in chains and he starts negotiating demon names for concessions.
Β· It would have been nice if Dean had believed Kevin about Mrs. Tran. Would have saved her months of captivity.
Β· Dean to Kevin: βYou, me, Sam and Cas. We are all we got.β I wonder if the writers knew they were going to destroy every bit of that team.
Β· Sam: βI feel better than I have in a long time. Iβm happy with my life in the first time in forever. Things are good.β I credit Gadreel for giving Sam some good days.
Β· Overall impression => This episode felt so much like βold timeβ Supernatural. I hadnβt realized how bitter and isolated the second half of the season became. It was really nice to have βboysβ again. I miss them. A lot.
Bookdal
Β· Crowley’s character development is always that he has a deal going so what does that mean for his involvement with Mark of Cain storyline? I think it’s a long con.
Β· Crowley states what we all know – The brothers are selfish about each other. They’ll sacrifice others for the other. Is this why Crowley encourages Mark of Cain? Has he figured out the way to defeat the brothers is to separate them?
Β· Hunters are still bitter about Sam’s Lucifer thing. Wish they’d deal with that more.
Gerry
Β· Gadreel to Dean: βYou did it out of love.β On the rewatch, I was struck by this continuing theme in the examination of right and wrong. Clearly, the possession was a violation of Samβs autonomy. Does it matter why Dean did it? Gadreel says yes, and interestingly, later on in the season, Castiel agrees. Cas doesnβt dismiss the violation, but he does say motivations matter. To further complicate the situation, Gadreelβs own motivations drive his arc and eventually managed to change the opinion I had formed of him after Kevinβs murder. Motivations matter. I think thatβs something the angels are learning through Cas. Itβs something Sam and Dean usually knowβexcept when they hurt each other. Then they have to relearn it, which is the ultimate purpose of this possession arc.
Β· Abbadon to Dean: βIβll use your body. . . β Despite the emphasis on understanding why Dean did what he did, the episode doesnβt skimp on pointing out the violation inherent in possession. Abbadonβs threats to Dean in their final scene foreshadow what will actually happen to Sam later in the arc. His body has already been taken over and will later be the instrument of Kevinβs death, a scene which will cause nightmares night after night for Sam. Possession, whether by angel or demon, takes away free will in an abhorrent fashion. And only Supernatural could make such a serious point in such a scorching hot scene. Abbadon and Dean had chemistry to burn. I canβt believe the writers didnβt take advantage of the fact throughout the arc.
Β· Crowley to Kevin: βThink they care about you? Youβre going to lose, Kevin, everything.β This was just heartbreaking, not least because Crowley has a point. People close to the Winchesters tend to live short lives. However, I donβt think itβs because the brothers are selfish or cavalier about other people. I think itβs because they are involved in a war. We saw Dean grow from boy to man during season two and what he found inside was the ability to lead. To be a leader, he has to be able to make hard decisions. He has to know how to use people. I donβt think that means he doesnβt care about those people. Dean grieved Joβs fate in βAbandon All Hope,β but at the same time accepted he had use her death strategically. War is not pretty.
I think much the same is happening in this episode with Kevin. Dean genuinely wants to protect Kevin, and believes Kevin is safer in the bunker. He also knows Kevin is an asset they need and therefore he wants the prophet close to hand. Itβs a very fine line between care and utility, and itβs a line Dean walks best with Sam to guide him, as we saw in βThe End.β Deanβs compromised relationship with Sam as much as Gadreelβs Trojan horse entry into the Batcave will lead to Kevinβs death. Sam will soon understandably see Deanβs need for him as selfish, but I think the showβs narrative posits Dean needs Sam to stop the part of him that can make difficult leadership decisions from taking him over, turning him into something monstrous.
***
So there you have three different writers who were all struck by very different aspects of βDevil May Careβ. What did you see on your rewatch? Feel free to add your thoughts, or comment on any or all of our observations. You can pick one or several. Itβs a full week until the next rerun, so we have time!
Although I’m still disgesting all of the above, I had to comment quickly on: “Sam, thatβs a darn small notepad for wanting to write down the name of every demon on earth.” Because it about knocked me off my chair with laughter. I hadn’t thought about that…but yeah, it was a tiny little note pad, wasn’t it? LOL!!!! We can’t expect everything out of our 2 favorite hunters, now can we? π
Thanks for getting the ball rolling on the comments! I was afraid my tongue-in-cheek title scared everyone away!
Glad I could brighten your day! When I saw Sam standing there all ready to write his big list on that tiny paper, I thought, prop dept – you couldn’t find a bigger sheet of paper??
I had forgotten how much I loved this episode. Jared’s portrayal of Zeke/Gad was so well done. He really was two completely different characters. Killing the demons, the broken wings and telling Dean what he needed to hear. Gadreel was trying so hard to be honorable. Abbadon and Dean…what an intense scene. Now looking back is this what Dean is going to feel? Is he trapped in his body? Will he actually do those things? Oh please Sam get to him in time. I loved the whole Catniss joke. I thought that was a little dig at Revolution myself. Kevin! π Sam in the end happy? When was the last time Sam was happy? And poor Dean sitting there knowing it was all going to go to hell. So much packed into one episode. Andrew Dabb this is how to write an episode of SPN.
I agree. I think this was an outstanding episode. I was a little distracted by random hunters popping up, but the rest of the story was done so well that I think it is one of the most solid shows all around.
Hi Nightsky – funny to see this article. After S9 finished, I decided to do a Carver era S8/S9 rewatch, hoping this gives me a more positive take on the end of the season. Just finished 9.05 Dog Dean Afternoon last night . It’s amazing how certain conversations and comments take on new meaning in light of how season 9 unfolded. Just a couple of thoughts/comments on what had happened up to Devil May Care –
* Crowley – how he manipulated Kevin, and was already playing the long game with Sam and Dean, particularly Dean because all indications were that Sam already had enough of Crowley’s shit. Even with his brush with humanity, and human blood addiction, Crowley always seemed to be a couple of steps ahead of everyone else.
* Poor Kevin – turns out his mother was alive; Dean did him no favors by stopping him from leaving.
* Abaddon’s fight/conversation with Dean took on new meaning in light of Dean ending the season as a demon.
* Zeke/Gadreel – at this point, all indications are he’s one of the good guys.
* Tracy – the fallout of Sam freeing Lucifer – I like when they do this as a reminder of the repercussions of Sam (or Dean’s) prior actions. Maybe a little foreshadowing of what’s to come with Sam’s possession and Gadreel?
* Sam’s happiness and contentment – such a shame because it ended up being built on duct tape, safety pins, and a bunch of lies. And the look on Dean’s face when Sam was saying this…
* Sam’s possession – in retrospect, the writers appear to start whitewashing/explaining it away, which is really ashame because it could have been interesting to delve in to this beyond the handful of lines it was given in the episode with Sam and Castiel trying to extract Gadreel’s grace from Sam, and Sam and Dean’s trailer park conversation in the last episode of the season. If Dean knew Sam would never agree to possession, and, via his angel mind meld with Sam, knew that Sam had come to terms with dying, remind me again who Dean did this for?
* Dean – already ankle deep in lies at this point in the season, and it only gets worse from here. Jeremy Carver did say one thing that rang true – Dean’s decisions directly drove a good portion of the myth arc this season.
You and I had so many of the same observations! I haven’t decided about Crowley, though. I am not convinced that he was toying with people with any other goal in mind except to get himself free. He was working the deals to be sure, but I think he was making it up as he went along. I am not convinced that he is in a long con.
Hi Nightsky – I did think he was toying with Kevin, trying to egg him on, maybe in to doing something stupid . As far as Sam and Dean goes, he already knew they weren’t going to close the gates (because they hadn’t) and weren’t going to kill him (again, because they hadn’t). So, Crowley was probably thinking ahead to what to do if/when he got out of the dungeon; his main problem besides those “denim-wrapped nightmares” was Abaddon, so he obviously knew about the Mark of Cain and, when the proverbial shit hit the fan, was looking for a way to take advantage of the current state of affairs between the brothers. I do think he saw something on the cuneiform that Sam and Kevin had him translate, and this is going to come in to play in S10.
Thanks for thinking of this and taking the time to recap the re-watch in this way. I find I enjoy the seasons more and more after it is all said and done and I know where there were going. I think I allow my wants and sometimes even other people’s views to skew my enjoyment of an episode. However, after the season is over, I can watch it and enjoy it for just what it is. I find I sometimes get lost in the mire of an episode plot line but when I take a step back and look at the ENTIRE nine seasons, threads tend to be more cohesive and make more sense than I may have thought originally.
It seems Sam and Dean have a similar issue with each other. They tend to get caught up in the moment and whatever the argument, or current violation, or differing viewpoint is. But, when push comes, they always come back together because they love and need each other above all else. Co-dependent much?? π Thank dear sweet Chuck for such codependency! π
I absolutely love Crowley. In fact, he may be my favorite character (although….. so hard to choose just one) but he definitely had the best character introduction onto the show “How ’bout you don’t miss, MORON!” Makes me smile just thinking about that first meeting with the Winchesters. I have loved Crowley’s arc this season. He is so snarky and such a salesman like that you can forget how dangerous and evil he can really be. I think in someways he is lonely though and is jealous of the Sam and Dean’s commitment to each other. I think he is hoping he can have a true partner in crime in Dean. Plus, bonus is the boys are always “less” apart than they are when they are united. Really looking forward to seeing what antics Crowley is up to in SX.
Is it October yet???
What a great idea Nightsky. I love reading the different condensed reviews on rewind.
I didn’t think I was ready to go back and rewatch those episodes. I had such hope for “Zeke” back then that the memories are bittersweet. Now I’m curious to see what it’s like seeing him as Gadreel from the very start. Thanks for giving me a summer mission π
Buffsgirl and Mary9930,
I also see each episode completely differently after I know the outcome of each plotline. It is almost feels like watching a new season again! This is turning out to be even more fun than I expected.
Tonight is episode 3 “I’m no Angel”. Everyone rewatch on TV or DVR or on line streaming and join us tomorrow for our team rewatch review. We will have even more reviewers participating!