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Wow, a Dabb & Loflin ep I didn't hate.
I loved how the soundtrack kept cutting off the song playing in the Impala before it got to the chorus. Yes, that was "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan.
So apparently everyone gets their own little slice of Heaven in the afterlife based on their happiest memories. I can go with that. However, except for their time in the Roadhouse with Ash, I don't think Sam and Dean's Heaven was under their control at all. I think that was all Zachariah picking and choosing their memories from the start. I don't believe for one second that all of Sam's happiest memories were of himself without Dean. That 13-year-old Sam shooting off fireworks in Dean's memory didn't look unhappy to be with his brother. Does Sam have happy memories that don't involve Dean? Of course. They weren't joined at the hip all the time. I'm sure Dean has some happy memories that don't involve Sam too. Zachariah chose those memories as a form of psychological warfare against the two working-class yahoos who ruined his career and turned him into a laughingstock.
The sad thing is that it worked. Dean is at such a low point right now that he believed Sam was happiest without him (and maybe always secretly believed that) and he doesn't see himself and Sam as a team anymore. Dean trashing his amulet wasn't just a statement that he'd given up his faith that God would step in and straighten out this mess, it was also a slap in the face to Sam. Dean had always valued that amulet not because it burned hot in the presence of God, which he didn't know until recently, but because Sam gave it to him. I hope Sam pulled it out of the trash after the fade to black and that Sam eventually giving the amulet back to Dean (and Dean accepting it) will symbolize the healing of the rift between them when it actually happens.
The biggest problem between them at the moment seems to be that they can't see things from each other's perspective. Sam never realized how much his leaving hurt Dean because in Sam's mind, he was leaving John and hunting, not Dean. He also never realized how much time Dean spent smoothing over conflict in his family because John and Sam were all Dean had after the fire. Sam has no memory of the family Dean had until he was four; he doesn't remember his mother and he only knew his father as a drill sergeant. Meanwhile Dean doesn't understand that in many ways, Sam grew up in a different family than he did, so family means something different to Sam. Sam doesn't feel the sense of loss that makes Dean hold on to family so tightly because Sam was too young to remember what he lost. That doesn't mean he loves Dean any less.
Now God is on Earth but won't intervene in the apocalypse. I can believe that God doesn't think the apocalypse is His problem. He gave us free will for a reason. But how does that jive with all the times He's apparently interfered by resurrecting the Winchesters or otherwise stepping in to save them, especially Sam? (I loved how Sam was really surprised to turn up in Heaven-- "I've done...stuff"). For a deity who seems to want to remain neutral and uninvolved, He certainly keeps sticking His nose in Winchester business.
The only thing that bothered me about this episode was that Kripke promised at the beginning of the season that this season would be about Sam and Dean reforging their relationship. Instead, we're 16 episodes in and the boys seem more at odds than ever. I'm still along for the ride, but I really don't want to have to wait until the season 6 finale before they reconcile.
P.S.--Now that Sam and Dean are alive again, I hope they track down Roy and Walt to give them an attitude adjustment.
I loved how the soundtrack kept cutting off the song playing in the Impala before it got to the chorus. Yes, that was "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan.
So apparently everyone gets their own little slice of Heaven in the afterlife based on their happiest memories. I can go with that. However, except for their time in the Roadhouse with Ash, I don't think Sam and Dean's Heaven was under their control at all. I think that was all Zachariah picking and choosing their memories from the start. I don't believe for one second that all of Sam's happiest memories were of himself without Dean. That 13-year-old Sam shooting off fireworks in Dean's memory didn't look unhappy to be with his brother. Does Sam have happy memories that don't involve Dean? Of course. They weren't joined at the hip all the time. I'm sure Dean has some happy memories that don't involve Sam too. Zachariah chose those memories as a form of psychological warfare against the two working-class yahoos who ruined his career and turned him into a laughingstock.
The sad thing is that it worked. Dean is at such a low point right now that he believed Sam was happiest without him (and maybe always secretly believed that) and he doesn't see himself and Sam as a team anymore. Dean trashing his amulet wasn't just a statement that he'd given up his faith that God would step in and straighten out this mess, it was also a slap in the face to Sam. Dean had always valued that amulet not because it burned hot in the presence of God, which he didn't know until recently, but because Sam gave it to him. I hope Sam pulled it out of the trash after the fade to black and that Sam eventually giving the amulet back to Dean (and Dean accepting it) will symbolize the healing of the rift between them when it actually happens.
The biggest problem between them at the moment seems to be that they can't see things from each other's perspective. Sam never realized how much his leaving hurt Dean because in Sam's mind, he was leaving John and hunting, not Dean. He also never realized how much time Dean spent smoothing over conflict in his family because John and Sam were all Dean had after the fire. Sam has no memory of the family Dean had until he was four; he doesn't remember his mother and he only knew his father as a drill sergeant. Meanwhile Dean doesn't understand that in many ways, Sam grew up in a different family than he did, so family means something different to Sam. Sam doesn't feel the sense of loss that makes Dean hold on to family so tightly because Sam was too young to remember what he lost. That doesn't mean he loves Dean any less.
Now God is on Earth but won't intervene in the apocalypse. I can believe that God doesn't think the apocalypse is His problem. He gave us free will for a reason. But how does that jive with all the times He's apparently interfered by resurrecting the Winchesters or otherwise stepping in to save them, especially Sam? (I loved how Sam was really surprised to turn up in Heaven-- "I've done...stuff"). For a deity who seems to want to remain neutral and uninvolved, He certainly keeps sticking His nose in Winchester business.
The only thing that bothered me about this episode was that Kripke promised at the beginning of the season that this season would be about Sam and Dean reforging their relationship. Instead, we're 16 episodes in and the boys seem more at odds than ever. I'm still along for the ride, but I really don't want to have to wait until the season 6 finale before they reconcile.
P.S.--Now that Sam and Dean are alive again, I hope they track down Roy and Walt to give them an attitude adjustment.
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Date: 2010-04-02 03:37 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-04-02 04:02 am (UTC)From:I saw baby steps being taken, especially in the last couple of episodes, but I think all that progress was wiped out by the end of this one.
I agree that Sam and Dean will always have issues with each other (they're only human), but I think they can have those issues without all the animosity they have now.
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Date: 2010-04-02 05:06 am (UTC)From:I agree to disagree, what I saw was Sam seeing things from Dean's point of view. How he feels on things, regarding hunting and their family. If anything I understand why/how Sam views family as a whole as opposed to Dean though. As far Dean getting rid of the amulet, that his way of losing hope, in episode 5.14 we really saw that but I think the nail was hit on the head here though also. Yes they are further apart, but I also think that Sam will work harder and get back to really repairing his relationship with his brother. I get why Dean has this tight hold on family also. Loved you review though! Awesome! on a side note, Kripke doesn't deserve Sam and Dean he just keeps breaking and breaking them!
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Date: 2010-04-03 01:36 am (UTC)From:I also think that Sam will work harder and get back to really repairing his relationship with his brother
I think Sam has been busting his ass all season to redeem himself and make things up to Dean. Unfortunately, Dean is so overwhelmed that he can't feel forgiveness for Sam yet because he can't feel anything; he's just feeling numb at this point.
Kripke doesn't deserve Sam and Dean he just keeps breaking and breaking them!
Amen, sister! If he can't play nice with his toys, they should be taken away from him.
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Date: 2010-04-03 07:08 am (UTC)From:I agree and hopefully their will be more understanding about this between Sam/Dean and the writers won't sweep it under the rug. It has been so much miscommunication, and alot of water under the bridge that I just yell at the tv sometimes during the episodes well just talk damn it! I want them to talk, hash it out, argue, yell or scream whatever it takes to see Dean's abandonment issues and Sam's issues get dealt or at least semi resolved before the show ends, and maybe invest in some good therapy, and vacation time.
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Date: 2010-04-03 06:10 pm (UTC)From:'Had to kill your sister because she was turned into a vampire? Spent 40 years in Hell? Start the apocalypse? Discover you're destined to be Lucifer's vessel on earth? Make an appointment with Dr. Hunter's Kid. Fake insurance cards accepted.'
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Date: 2010-04-03 06:43 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-04-02 03:55 am (UTC)From:I hope they track down Roy and Walt to give them an attitude adjustment. Well, Dean did warn them. Hee!
Hmmm, it hadn't occured to me that Zachariah hand-picked those particular memories for them to relive. That puts a different spin on things. Now if only the guys could realize that their own memories were being used against them. They did provide some amazing insight, however.
I am clinging desperately to Sam's tiny light of hope that they can find some way, together. And I will kick Sam's ass myself if he didn't pull that amulet out of the trash. After I kick Dean's ass for tossing it in the trash in the first place.
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Date: 2010-04-02 03:59 am (UTC)From:Yeah. I'm dying to know how old Sam was when he ran away.
I will kick Sam's ass myself if he didn't pull that amulet out of the trash. After I kick Dean's ass for tossing it in the trash in the first place.
I'll hold them still for you.
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Date: 2010-04-02 03:57 am (UTC)From:I, too, am not pleased that there hasn't really been any reforging of Sam and Dean's relationship. I probably wouldn't say they were more at odds than ever, but they certainly haven't even come close to fixing things, and given that they've got to tie up the apocalypse plot, I'm not sure how they could afford the time to really bring Sam and Dean back together like they said they would. Waiting til the end of season 6 for a real reconciliation would be tortuous.
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Date: 2010-04-02 04:08 am (UTC)From:Considering how much they have to wrap up in the next few episodes and how dramatic season finales tend to be, I've pretty much given up on the boys reconciling this season. I just hope the writers don't drag out this rift between the brothers for another whole season, or I'll have to hunt them (both the writers and the brothers) down and start knocking heads together.
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Date: 2010-04-02 04:12 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-04-02 05:12 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-04-03 12:24 am (UTC)From:I agree - 100% - it's really been an awful disappointment in that respect so far. I guess he really meant he was going to take the whole damn season to do it. It can't be easy though - I get that.
It just about broke my heart when Dean tossed the amulet and declared it worthless. OW!
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Date: 2010-04-03 01:43 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-04-03 03:21 am (UTC)From:It's been really fuzzy about what Dean's main hangup has been - in "Sympathy for the Devil," it was implied that it was Sam breaking the final seal - which I always thought was GROSSLY unfair, considering that 1) Dean wanted to kill Lilith also and 2) Dean broke the FIRST seal. His fury at Sam choosing Ruby over him is much more understandable and logical in view of their relationship. I also think it's the ultimate "Sammy sin" in Dean's book and would be the one he'd have the most difficulty overcoming.
But, progress has been a snail's pace, and mostly we've seen ADDITIONAL TEARING down, rather than much healing. It definitely seems to be two steps BACKWARD for every one they take in the right direction.
With a season six in the offing, I REALLY want to see a return to something a bit lighter and less angsty - I mean, they've always been angsty, but early on they had a lot more fun with each other. The story arcs have been epic, but it's WOW - exhausting!
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Date: 2010-04-03 03:48 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-04-03 03:32 am (UTC)From:From your keyboard to Kripke's ears...
Love your acknowledgement that Sam and Dean essentially grew up in two different families. So true. And so problematic. I want them back together!
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Date: 2010-04-03 03:49 am (UTC)From:You and me both. Two seasons of strife is plenty.
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Date: 2010-04-03 07:34 pm (UTC)From:What a depressing episode. (Even if it was "good," which I think it was.)
ETA, so glad to see Pamela's eyes again (Traci D. has such beautiful eyes), although she did look kind of ragged. Maybe all that partying in heaven is taking its toll.
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Date: 2010-04-03 07:50 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-04-04 03:58 pm (UTC)From:I do think there is room for hope though. Finally, Sam has the opportunity to understand the impact of his choices on his brother. Dean, if he can stop and think about it for a moment, can recognise that free will means you don't have to obey orders and take care of everyone else before yourself.
As for how season five ends, well for much of the season I've been expecting them to end in Detroit with Lucifer's face off with Sam rather than the end of the Apocalypse. I didn't see anything here to change my mind.
Season six? *flappy hands*
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Date: 2010-04-04 05:32 pm (UTC)From:I've been expecting a brother-on-brother showdown in Detroit. I hope the show surprises me. I don't want to see Sam and Dean fight any more than they have, but I don't want God to do a hand wave and magically fix everything either.
And I don't want Bobby to die.
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Date: 2010-04-05 02:54 am (UTC)From:Some how they have to get on the same page and come up with a plan they can work on together and I'm not sure how they can make that happen.
I've been expecting a brother-on-brother showdown in Detroit. I hope the show surprises me. I don't want to see Sam and Dean fight any more than they have, but I don't want God to do a hand wave and magically fix everything either.
With all the emphasis on free will I don't see how they can go with a God fixes it solution.
And I don't want Bobby to die.
Me neither.
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Date: 2010-04-05 09:58 pm (UTC)From:Neither do I. Not realistically, anyway.
But with all the emphasis they've been putting on finding God, I have a hard believing He won't show up at some point, and what would be the point of having Him show up if He didn't do anything?
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Date: 2010-04-12 04:57 am (UTC)From:But isn't one of the ideas about God that he sets everything in motion and then watches how it all plays out? He doesn't interfere because this is all one huge experiment? The only time to act would be if his creation was destroyed and he wanted to go for another iteration.
And yeah he's already tweaked things a little but I still don't think he's going to make any game changing plays. Obviously now I've typed this up Eric Kripke will prove me wrong in either a stupendously fantastic, or completely pathetic, way. *lol*
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Date: 2010-04-12 11:45 pm (UTC)From:Absolutely. That's one of many reasons I don't want God to step in and fix everything. Again, my concern is that with all the emphasis on finding God (and discovering he's on earth now), I can't believe He won't physically appear, and if He appears as a character, He's going to be doing something. He's not a wall hanging. There'd be no point in having Him as a character if he showed up and didn't do anything. And I don't want Him to do anything; I want Sam and Dean to be awesome and save the day.
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Date: 2010-04-13 12:12 am (UTC)From:This with bells on!
Though these days it's looking like Team!freewill is basically Team!Sam. *whimper*
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Date: 2010-04-13 02:03 am (UTC)From:It also doesn't help that Dean and Castiel don't really respect Sam right now because of the whole demon blood/apocalypse thing, so Sam is the one they're least likely to listen to on apocalypse-related matters.
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Date: 2010-04-14 01:22 am (UTC)From: