The Starks’Marriage and the Winchesters’Relationship
I made a crack about how the Winchesters’relationship is kind of like a platonic marriage, at least in the sense of how insular their relationship is. But in this episode, it was clear that there were parallels between the Starks’marriage and Sam and Dean’s. In the final confrontation in the Starks’home, Sam happily congratulated the Starks on finally communicating. ‘All these years, you buried your anger and disappoint until it tore you apart and all you needed to do was talk!’he declared. Tell me that’s not a metaphor for the Winchesters’relationship at several times among the last 6 seasons. Dean is not the only person who likes to keep things inside. Sam has done it himself on many occasions (like in season 4 when he kept Ruby a secret).
Communication is the key to any good relationship or marriage and there are strong parallels between Don betraying Maggie and Dean ‘betraying’Sam by killing Amy, even if Dean believes it was the right thing to do. There’s also something to be said for Maggie and Don talking out their problems when Dean refuses to talk to Sam about his own problems.
New Sam Isn’t That New
Some fans don’t understand the new leaf Sam has turned over. The end of the last episode and the beginning of this week’s episode show that Sam is trying very hard to heal himself. Sera Gamble warned us in the summer that Sam’s wall coming down would be horrific, but that it would eventually be something he would have to learn how to live with. The first few episodes of the season showed the horrific aspect and now we’re on to the ‘Sam is trying to cope with it’part. Do I believe they’ve simply brushed Sam’s problem under the rug? Not necessarily. I think that Sam is tired of being so beaten down and he’s trying very hard to look on the bright side. After all, if he just dwells, he could end up like Dean.
I think that the effects of the wall falling will continue to be seen, even if we don’t see Sam having an ‘episode’each week. But Sam cannot spend each episode going progressively crazier, because who wants to see him locked up in a mental institution at the end of the series? Further, who wants to see both brothers on a downward spiral of guilt and depression at the same time? That’s too much sadness even for this show. I think that Sam is doing the best he can under the circumstances and is focusing his energy on trying to be okay so that he can help his brother.
The truth is, Sam has always been better about dealing with his own feelings than Dean, even when it’s feelings of guilt or depression. Yes, Sam is, without a doubt, flawed, and he has done many questionable things over the course of the series. But Sam also has a tendency to try and fix himself and his relationships after he realizes the bad things he has done. Recall the conversation between the brothers at the end of the season 6 episode ‘Like a Virgin’. After Sam realized what Soulless Sam had done, he could have wallowed in pity. Chances are that’s how Dean would have responded. Instead, he told Dean that he was sorry for what his soulless self had done and he wanted to make amends. In a way, Sam is doing the same thing right now. He knows that the wall is down and there’s nothing he can really do to fix it beyond trying his best to keep going.
Is it possible that Sam’s chipper attitude could crash and burn one day from exhaustion? Perhaps. But both boys have been through so much pain and anguish and, without a doubt, paid their dues (going to Hell, having their loved ones die, etc). Sam is finally starting to realize that you either try to let all of that go so that you can keep going or else you will go crazy. Unfortunately, Dean hasn’t learned that lesson yet.
Concluded on next page….
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Thanks for your review. It proved to be insightful and revealing. I love that you notice all the fine points. I rewatching the episode now and loving all the references you made topast shows. Thanks again and keep up the great work.
What a perfect review. I actually have a crick in my neck from nodding while reading every page. Thank you for such great insights!
I totally agree especially your point about some of the infighting that I've noticed on some sites. Gosh, this is a show about two brothers and I believe both have great story lines this year.
As for tonight's episode, it was great! Bloody where needed and funny at other times. Wonderful job by the writers and the pace of the episode was terrific. I loved it! I also liked that Sam and Dean didn't kill the Starks. I liked how Don saved the boys at the end. Good allies to have in the future. I mean, they're both over 800 years old and maybe they can help the boys figure out something to stop the Leviathans.
"Frankly, I believe that both brothers have their good and bad qualities, but each of them are equally as important to the show. For the life of me, I don’t understand the in-fighting among certain factions of the Supernatural fandom. Can’t we all just get along?"
Thank you! I've been saying that ever since I noticed all this Sam vs. Dean garbage a few seasons ago. It's about the Winchester BROTHERS guys! Not just Sam OR Dean. Geez. Re tonight's episode, the takeaway is: under NO circumstances should you ever tick off an 800 year-old witch. That's how you end up with beating hearts in your cupcakes. Which, btw, I don't think I'll be eating cupcakes anytime soon. I liked this episode. I thought it did a great job of advancing the overall arc but giving us one that was still kind of MOTW. I agree with your characterization of Dean and how he deals with loss/grief. He was devastated about losing John, and Sam knew that, but Dean didn't talk about it for a very long time. And even when he did, it was on his terms. Not Sam's.
This was great write up. I was reading through the comments in the last article and it just left such a negative impression that I was a little Supernaturaled out. Sam vs Dean is never fun, except to the few who seem to love making everyone miserable. But then this episode was a hoot and it sort of reminded me that I really do love this show and everyone involved. And seeing Cordelia and Spike together like that…it was just plain entertaining.
Great review, agreed with every word! I love the way the Show is dealing with the boys' psychology, delving into their emotional problems while respecting their "no chick flick moments" personality. Some people want them to emote like chicks because that's what they want to hear, even though it's not what Sam and Dean would say. As you have so eloquently pointed out, it is not in character for Dean to openly grieve for Cas. He's going to do with his grief what he always does with hurtful emotions, as he said himself "Bury them deep and let them come out in bouts of violence and alcoholism." He's not going to sit around weeping into Cas' trenchcoat. It has been made very clear he was deeply hurt by Cas' betrayal, and then by his loss, even though we don't see him having chick flick moments about it. I have always hated the Samgirls vs Deangirls, and now sadly we have Casgirls lashing out (to the point where they are deliberately voting down the ratings of each episode without Cas on sites like tv.com.) I love all of them, but I can certainly understand people loving one character more than others–I just wish they didn't take it out on the rest of us.
I agree with all the comments that have been posted so far. Great review. I have always disliked the infighting among the fans. I have never understood it. Loved the episode.