It’s not often that we get a guest-star centric episode on Supernatural. It’s a pity that it took until the middle of season 3 for us to finally get some insight into Bobby’s history (Bobby….*sob*). And it took a while for us to get a Castiel-centric episode as well. This year, the writers are remaking the rules because this was only Benny’s second episode and we’ve already gotten his backstory. That’s a good thing. It’s refreshing, sometimes, to realize that the characters who exist in the Supernatural universe don’t only revolve around Sam and Dean. Obviously the Winchesters are their focal point, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their own personalities and stories to tell. One of the amazing things this show has always done was expand the series beyond the brothers. Sure, I want this to be the Sam and Dean show, but I’ve always appreciated the memorable recurring characters who have woven in and out of the Winchesters’ lives. Now, if only we could keep them from dying horrible deaths…..
This week’s episode was not the usual quirky Ben Edlund trip. Then again, Edlund doesn’t always write about fairies or crazy dimension-hopping. He knows how to bring the drama and subtly as well. Will “Blood Brothers” go down in Supernatural history as a hilarious episode like “The French Mistake” or the deeply moving “The Man Who Would be King”? Perhaps not. But it was still a terrific episode that shed some light on a new character, gave us some very interesting flashbacks (the best Sam flashbacks of the season to date) and, perhaps, brought Sam and Dean’s recent troubles to a head.
Call Me, Maybe
When the episode began, the Winchesters were back on the Kevin-tracking trail. Unfortunately, Mr. Advanced Placement was too clever for them and continued to send them on a wild goose chase. That was interrupted when Benny called Dean for a favor and off the elder Winchester went, despite Sam’s questions about him taking a “personal day”.
As it turns out, Benny decided to go after his “maker” after getting out of Purgatory. On a side note, I hate the word “maker”. Maybe because I hail from the Buffy Summers School of Vampirism where I feel like all vampire parents should be referred to as “sires”. Regardless, Benny ran into some trouble when he dropped in on a few old friends and needed Dean to hightail himself to him with a few blood bags.
Dean came running and the wounded vampire was quickly on the mend. But he had a favor to ask of his Purgatory pal: could Dean help him get some revenge on his sire?
I Did It All For Love
Love is often the reason for big choices in the Supernatural universe. John chose to go into hunting because of his love for Mary and his grief over her death. Dean chose to sell his soul because of his love for his brother. Sam was able to momentarily retake his body from Lucifer because of love for Dean. And it turns out that Benny gave up on killing humans for blood long before he ever went to Purgatory….all for love. The love of a woman named Andrea. Unfortunately for the happy couple, Benny’s sire, Quentin, was not happy about Benny leaving their little family for a woman. So he and his men killed Benny.
Which was how Benny got to Purgatory. Naturally, everyone was shocked when he showed up back on earth. But no one was more surprised than Benny when he and Dean infiltrated Quentin’s house and Benny discovered that Andrea hadn’t been killed, as he thought, but had been turned by Quentin. Benny finally was able to kill his sire and then asked Andrea to run away with him. Unfortunately, she had gotten used to the good life of raiding yachts and that’s when Dean stepped in to kill her. After all, if she wasn’t going to embrace the lighter side of life like Benny did, then she had to go.
Awk-ward
Benny didn’t immediately kill Dean for killing the woman he used to love but things got awkward rather quickly when Sam showed up after getting a call from Dean about trying to take out a vampire nest. Cue an incredibly tense first meeting between Benny and Sam. Silence reigned this scene which consisted of a subtle hand movement by Sam to reach for a weapon the moment he realized Benny was a vampire and a responding shake of Dean’s head. Benny quickly realized the increase in tension and left the brothers to talk it out.
It’s clear that Sam is floored by Dean’s friendship with a vampire. And he has every right to be. After all, Dean’s spent a lot of time being angry with Sam for his monster friendships, including Ruby and, more recently, Amy. Of course, Dean was right about Ruby, but everything about hindsight is 20/20. I don’t think Sam will ever understand Dean’s relationship with Benny. Not only because it’s an unusual move by Dean, but because he won’t ever be able to understand the bond forged between the two down in Purgatory. And that’s perfectly acceptable. But it would be hypocritical of Dean to simply expect Sam to accept Benny as a fixture in his life and tell him to get over it. So, what I suspect we’ll see is Benny having to prove himself to Sam – assuming he’s a fixture going forward – and for Sam to be doubtful. That being said – and putting the question of Amy aside because she was basically a plot device – Sam is still going to have to learn to tolerate Benny to some degree, just like Dean grudgingly tolerated Ruby. Does Sam need to trust Benny? No. But I think he is going to have to learn to deal with him. At least until we see how this entirely situation plays out.
The Path Through Purgatory
In addition to the Benny revenge story playing out on earth, we also got additional flashbacks featuring Benny, Dean and Castiel in Purgatory. It appears that Dean’s plea to the angel by the side of that lake got through to Cas, because he joined Dean and Benny on a trek through Purgatory. Unfortunately for them, it soon became clear how much of a monster magnet Castiel was in that dimension. And while it’s clear that Benny isn’t happy about Dean’s angel friend tagging along, he does save his life from a leviathan. Could it be that Benny really is a decent guy?
I’ve been suspicious about Benny since day 1. This episode made me feel some pity for him. It’s clear that a lot of characters on Supernatural understand loss and a desire for revenge. Was the whole “true love” story a bit corny? Sure. Are we really to believe that the love of a good woman will turn a man from a blood-thirsty vampire into an upstanding citizen? Maybe. Does it really matter in the end? Not particularly. I thought Ty Olsson sold Benny’s story quite well and I came out of the episode feeling better towards Benny than I did before. My internal dilemma is that I simply don’t want to trust him, but the truth is that Benny’s given us every reason to trust him. Could he be planning an incredibly elaborate ruse like Ruby did? Perhaps. But we know it’s possible for vampires to be “good”, so to speak. After all, look at Lenore. And isn’t redemption a common theme for this show? If, as fans, we can forgive Sam for going a bit “dark side” in season 4 and forgive Castiel for his actions in seasons 6 and 7, then surely it’s possible for Benny to achieve his own redemption and fight on the good side, even if we weren’t privy to his life as said blood-thirsty vampire.
But do I trust him completely? Not yet. Like Sam, I think I’m going to need some additional convincing.
Handyman by Day, Therapist by…Day
In addition to the Benny storyline, “Blood Brothers” gave us greater insight into Sam’s flashbacks, which is something that has been lacking lately. Sure, Dean’s scenes in Purgatory pack quite the punch and I always enjoy them (not the least because Dean’s ridiculously attractive when he’s slaughtering things, which also makes me worry about my own mental state), but I also really want to understand why Sam has made some of the choices he did over the last year. My biggest question about Sam is why his relationship with Amelia is different from Dean’s stay with Ben and Lisa. Yes, they’re under different circumstances (brother disappearing for deliberate sacrifice vs. accidental side-effet) and the brothers are clearly different when it comes to hunting, but I really want to see why Sam chose a normal life this time around. And, in particular, with this woman.
This week’s flashbacks went back to shortly after Sam hit the dog with his car. The pooch has been recovering with Sam at his motel and Sam’s ability to connect with people landed him a job as the motel’s handyman. One day, while fixing one of the motel rooms’ sinks, he discovers that Amelia is living in the motel. Despite sending the dog home with him, she’s wary of Sam and thinks he might be a stalker/serial killer. But the truth is, they’re not very different. Sam realized that she’s been holing up in the motel for three months and hasn’t really connected with anyone, prompting him to ask whether it’s because she’s all alone. And that’s the moment the two of them see something in each other. They both recognize the loss in the other person and obviously build something from there.
Amelia’s been a strange character since she joined the show, but that’s just the way the writers have chosen to portray her. She first came across as kind of mean when she met Sam and the dog and then his memory of her with the birthday cake seemed surreal. But it wasn’t until this episode that I really felt something more for this character, although I haven’t been able to connect with her fully yet. That’s not a critique of the actress, but one of how the writers have chosen to introduce her to us. On the other hand, I can see Sam connecting with her because he sees a part of his own situation in her. In a sense, his connection with Amelia isn’t all that dissimilar from his connection with Ruby between seasons 3 and 4 (with the obvious difference being the fact that Amelia isn’t an evil demon). There too he grabbed on to a woman who offered him something he needed (in Ruby’s case it was an opportunity for revenge for Dean’s death and in Amelia’s case it was a shared sense of understanding about loss). But my big question is, is their relationship built to last? Could this be the woman that Sam really lives with if – one day, by some miracle – he gets out of hunting? Did they build something true and honest out of the terrible losses they both suffered before starting this relationship?
The truth is, we don’t know. I don’t doubt their feelings towards one another, but I am curious as to whether either of them was in the right frame of mind to build a lasting relationship. Is Sam stubbornly clinging to an ideal of a normal life with her because that’s what he wants or does he just want to escape a world where everyone dies? We won’t know the answer to that until we see more flashbacks and – more importantly – see Sam interact with Amelia in the present. Yes, Sam and Dean clearly have some issues to work through right now, but is Sam really willing to permanently give up his brother for Amelia when push comes to shove?
I’m not entirely certain Sam would make that choice. No matter how much he insists that a normal life is what he wants.
Final Thoughts
“Blood Brothers” was a great episode and I’m feeling rather good about this season of Supernatural. In fact, I’ve really enjoyed every episode thus far. If I had but one complaint it’s that I wish we could see more flashbacks, perhaps even one episode devoted to Dean flashbacks and another one to Sam flashbacks. I need to see more about what each of them went through to really understand Dean’s bond with Benny and Sam’s bond with Amelia. In a way, those two characters represent a new “partner” for each of the brothers and they’re far different than a character like Castiel or Bobby because Benny and Amelia will really only “belong” to one brother or the other, whereas Cas and Bobby have been a fundamental part of both brothers’ lives (even if, yes, Cas is closer to Dean – he’s still going to be more of a friend to Sam than Benny will ever likely become).
It looks like the Winchester in-fighting comes to a head next week when the brothers finally air all of their issues with each other. Much in the spirit of the episode “Sex and Violence” (because it seems like one or both of them becomes possessed and takes out their anger on the other) I think we’ll see the long-awaited showdown between Sam and Dean. Which can only be a good thing, because as much as their words can hurt each other, they always seem to do better after they’ve gotten their grievances out of their systems. Watch a preview here for the November 7th episode.
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I agree so much with the need for longer flashbacks! The only time we understand the brother’s POV is in the past. Then I am able to empathize completely with them. Present day portrayals just leave me wondering.
I love this episode, especially for the fight scenes. lol And I finally got some sense of Sam’s POV, because he leaves me floundering in the present. And I’d watch Purgatory forever.
Next week I hope they just get it all out so they can bond again. I hope it’s real feelings, and not a possession, though that would be cool, if they are left closer and not further apart like after Sex and Violence.
I think it will be a possession, but that their real feelings are coming through. Like with Sex and Violence, it will give them an opportunity to say what they really WANT to say, but haven’t been able to get out. Still, it was after their huge fight right near the end of season 4 that Dean apologized to Sam over the phone and the brothers reconnected – even if only for a moment.
Oops I forgot to say how great Ty Olsson was tonight. His scenes with Jensen were fascinating! I’m eager to learn more.
I thought it was a good episode but not a great one. I was sick of Purgatory by the second episode, because I don’t care about Dean’s relationships with his false brothers, either one of them. Cas and even Bobby are Dean characters to me, not Sam and Dean characters. The writers are pimping Dean’s “brother” relationships outside of Sam, while barely covering Sam’s story with Amelia, or Amelia’s character. Sam was thrown under the bus, and so far, he’s still being dragged behind it without much explanation or understanding. This season is entertaining, but it lacks any kind of emotional depth or sense so far. I was hoping Jeremy Carver’s time at Being Human would have done this show some good, but so far, all I see is the same Dean reruns over and over again. The issue flip flops, which only come with huge anvils from Dean’s POV and very little of Sam’s, just makes this show seem very hypocritical and false too much of the time. The producers thew a dart on a map to figure out where Sam should meet Amelia, but unfortunately, that’s how I feel they’ve been ‘planning’ for Sam all too often on the show, at least since Season 3 or 4. If a writer can’t write from Sam’s POV and don’t know who Sam is, then they shouldn’t even be writing for this show.
If we look at the history of Ruby, it’s possible if Sam’s story hadn’t been dumped in Season 3, that she would have been given more complete and sympathetic characterization. But once the angels were introduced in S,4, it was reduced to a racist, demon-hating blare-horn that included Sam in its wake. It was more important to make Dean the ‘light, angel’ brother to contrast with Sam the ‘dark, demon’ brother. But what did that do to how Sam was portrayed on the show? Sam was dehumanized, his story hidden in the dark, along with a lot of potential viewer sympathy. Yes, many did and do sympathize with Sam, but so many seem to use Ruby and the demon blood to hate on Sam, and no, Sam has not been forgiven by them. This is the legacy that Jeremy Carver is repeating this season, in how he is treating Sam and Amelia so far. If Sam is the normal, light brother this time, why is he still being hidden in the dark? Fans are left to survive on the scraps of a starvation diet with Sam, far too often.
Thank you for those words.
This is exactly how I see things. And it´s so sad.
Season 7 was such horror to me, that I stopped watching. I tried to give season 8 a new chance, because I thought Carver would do any good.
But the way things started I skipped that hope and still avoid the show.
I cannot watch it anymore, because it makes me angry and dissapointed.
Jane,
I disagree 100% with your all over the place comments, but to say “Sam Fans are left to survive on the scraps of a starvation diet with Sam, far too often” makes me think you missed Seasons 4-7 (Demon blood Sam, vessel Sam, Souless Sam, wall-breaking Sam to name the main themes and Sam in the “front role.”) Wild guess but you’re a Sam girl?
Alex,
Also disagree 100%, Season 8 is light years ahead of your dreaded Season 7. If you are not watching the show anymore, nothing to comment further.
I have to agree with Nate here. I think that Sam’s stories have been a driving force through many, many seasons. If anything, I think Dean driven stories have been rather light. Some Dean fans will complain about it and while I achknowledge there’s some truth to it, it’s never been a real deal-breaker for me. That being said, I’m very much enjoying Dean’s Purgatory storyline right now and I hardly think Sam is being sidelined. His flashbacks are just as important to understanding Sam’s individual journey as Dean’s flashbacks have been. And the truth is that both of them are important to the overall season mytharc (the search for the tablets).
As for Sam being the “dark” brother, I think that’s been played out. The truth is that every good fight needs a yin and a yang and Sam’s destiny from the time he was a baby was to be a vessel for Lucifer. So, yes, that makes him a bit darker than Dean (although Michael himself is hardly a beacon of pure goodness and neither is Dean). And whatever Sam did with drinking demon blood and shacking up with Ruby the truth of the matter is that he never really reveled in being evil and he gave up his life to save the world at the end of season 5. As far as I’m concerned, Sam has always been good and has redeemed himself for some of his poorer (although understandable) choices and he’s not the only main character to redeem himself for his actions either.
The story has progressed so far from Sam and Dean being dark vs. light that it’s not even a consideration any longer.
Oh for the love of Chuck, everyone stop it with the “Sam gets better storylines” “No Dean gets better storylines.” It was old like five seasons ago.
Yes, Nate, I hear you. I don’t mean to be arrogant, but I’ve never understood how Sam is the one being thrown scraps. To me, it’s always been Sam that gets all the juicy important stories. Any time it looked like Dean might actually have an arc that mattered, Sam’s plot would always take over and matter more. Sam had all of season 1, season 2 Dean was going through his guilt about John, but Sam was a ‘special child’ with psychic powers. Season 3 Dean had a year to live and was going to Hell, but Sam met up with Ruby. Season 4 Dean was brought back by Cas and was supposed to stop the Apocalypse, but that turned out to be an angel lie and Sam’s screwing Ruby and demon blood addiction was the top story. Season 5, both of them were angel vessels, but Sam was the one who got to be Lucifer and stop the Apocalypse. Season 6, Dean was domestic for a year, but Souless Sam story got favored status. Season 7, nothing for either brother.
So I’m sorry, I think it’s Dean’s turnnow, after 7 seasons, to finally get a storyline that features him. Although it’s not looking that way. Dean’s Purgatory story is turning out to me more about Benny and Cas, and I’m sure Sam’s story with Amelia will be more featured than Dean’s. So to me, it’s always been Dean that gets screwed.
I love Benny. I think he’s a great addition to Supernatural universe. The more hot guys, the merrier.
Agreed, I’m enjoying Ty Olsson I think he’s doing a great job as Benny. I’ve been fascinated by how busy he has been this year. He was on Falling Skies, Arrow, Flashpoint, and that’s just in the last few months. He’s everywhere and I’m glad he has this opportunity to work – he’s a great actor and fun to watch.
I trust Benny as far as backing up Dean. It was the telephone scene from the first episode of the season that sold it for me. You could hear and feel the bond between them, and more importantly the understanding. I’m a bit worried going forward mostly because of what we understand about vampires. John told us in season 1 that vampires mate for life, Dean has just killed Benny’s mate. Now, I realize that Dean didn’t have a choice after all she was about to kill Benny, and Benny was sorta okay and accepting of it, but the psychological effect on Benny down the road and ultimately on his relationship with Dean is the real concern. In essence Andrea was already dead, killed by Quentin and all that was left behind was a shell. So, if Benny is able to really see that and not see Dean beheading her every time he closes his eyes then they may get out of this situation with minimal blood shed. Then we have to ask ourselves, is that what we want? Blood shed on this show can often be fun!
One note on the Sam scenes, stop the over glossy, dream quality of the scenes. Brighter colors and a more upbeat feel is fine, but they feel more like dream sequences that actual memories.
Hmm… I actually like the bright, almost dream-like scenes of Sam. They really come in contrast with the dark Purgatory ones and I feel they showcase the different lives the brothers led, even more. You know, to Sam this probabbly does feel like a dream :)
By the way Clarissa, where are our slideshows? It’s been weeks!!!
I know, I know! I’ve spaced them out a bit more this year because of my re-watch, which was supposed to make the whole process either. But I’m still only mid-way through season 2 and it’s been 3 months o.O
Anyways, I promise you’re getting a new slideshow next week for episode 8.06!
Glad to hear it, thank you. By the way, if you ever get stuck or are just busy, you can always just ask us. We fans are vocal and always have ideas.
I’ve got about 17 more ideas for slideshow topics, but if the show goes on another 2 years I might run out! You can always drop me ideas here or in other comments. I make a point to read all comments on my articles.
I really am starting to like Benny’s character, even though I have no idea how he’ll play into things down the road. Ty Olsson is a favorite genre actor of mine and his portrayal really made me a believer in the character. Plus, he and the guy playing Kevin are both in Halo: Forward Unto Dawn so my Halo fanboyism may be making me biased.
Sam does not need to understand Dean’s relationship with Benny, and he
may not like Benny, nor like that Dean and Benny are friends, but I hope Sam is at least grateful for Benny helping Dean survive in Purgatory. Without Benny, Dean may never have gotten out of Purgatory, so Sam should be thankful for that, unless of course, Sam is resentful of Dean coming back into his life because it ruined his happy life with Amelia and the dog.
You say it would be hypocritical of Dean to expect Sam to accept Benny, but it would also be hypocritical of Sam to not, Sam’s the one who first wanted to let Lenore, another vampire live. Sam believed that Lenore wasn’t harming humans, so I don’t see why Benny would be any different.
I actually did say that I think Sam will learn to “tolerate” (if not fully accept) Benny, just like Dean did for Ruby. But, as we’ve both said, I don’t think Sam will ever really come to accept him because he won’t have the same experiences with Benny as Dean did.
As for Lenore, I think that’s a bit of a different situation, at least right off the bat. She has Sam tied to a chair and deliberately let him go to prove herself. I don’t know if the situation will Benny will play out with that. But I believe that Sam isn’t going to spend all of his time plotting a way to kill Benny. They’re going to have to come to some sort of a statemate for sure.
Really great review Clarissa. “Blood Brothers” I think is the best episode so far Season 8, which has renewed my passion for Supernatural. The only thing I would differ a bit is I feel Dean and Benny’s bond is clear. They are like soldiers returning from war. There are a few great interviews with Ty Olson where he states that connection between Benny and Dean. I think last night, by Benny killing the Leviathan who was going after Castiel (how AWESOME was that sequence?!?!) was a big step in Dean knowing he could trust Benny. I loved the Sam flashbacks, because you are correct, they have been little teasers, and last night we’re getting more into the real story of what happened with Amelia and Sam. CAN’T WAIT for next week! They better start off with Sam and Dean’s conversation on the dock!
Oh, I also agree that the bond between Dean and Benny is clear, but I would still like to see more flashbacks if only to flesh out how Dean went from anti-vampire to pro-Benny. Not because I don’t understand the bond, but just because I’d like to see that whole relationship get fleshed out a bit more.
I think I liked the leviathans in purgatory more than I liked them in all of season 7 – so that was DEFINITELY an awesome sequence!
I think the Winchesters are long over-due for a big confrontation and I hope it helps them lay all of their cards on the table. We know how bad secrets are between these boys, so hopefully they can fight it out and get it resolved.
Excellent review, Clarissa. I agree with pretty much everything you said. Supernatural has tried on several occasions to humanize monsters/ghosts/demons etc. (i.e. Lenore, Madison, Molly, Lucky, Amy) and I think it’s worked to a certain extent. But at the end of the day (with the exception of Molly) all of those creepy crawlies were killing humans and needed to die. I don’t think I feel the same way about Benny. Yes, Benny is a vampire and he had killed people before, but he had changed long before he got to Purgatory and it seems to have been a permanent change. And as you mentioned, one of the main themes of SPN is redemption and Benny shouldn’t be exempt from the opportunity to repent for his past sins. I’m not sure I trust Benny entirely, but I do understand him more now and I want to trust him. And Dean’s trust is, I think, more than just the fact that they were brothers in arms down in Purgatory. Benny saved Castiel. When the leviathans attacked, Benny very well could have let Cas die. It would’ve solved their monster-magnet problem, but Benny knew how much Cas meant to Dean so he saved him. I think that went a long way in earning Dean’s trust.
I am also really glad we got more Sam/Amelia flashbacks. I was headed toward not liking Amelia because of how nasty she was to Sam when they first met. But this episode softened her somewhat for me. And I’m really glad because I think we’ll learn more about not only what Sam did during his year away from Dean, but who Sam became during that year. When Amelia and Sam met, they were in the same place. They were both lost and full of grief. Their worlds had spun out of control and they didn’t know how they were going to find solid footing again. When they found each other, they found stable ground. I’m not saying it’s necessarily healthy to form a relationship based upon shared feelings of loss, but if that’s what it takes to help you begin to heal, then that’s what you do. I don’t think Sam wants to be with her just so he can quit hunting. I really believe Sam loves her. Furthermore, he’s had a taste of normal and he liked it. It’s no longer just an idea or an unattainable dream. It’s something he’s actually experienced and something he is now willing to fight for.
This was an excellent episode, and I am really loving this season so far. I think it would be beneficial to have a Dean flashback episode and a Sam flashback episode so we can get their past year from their perspective. As far as next week’s episode, I don’t think the Boys are going to be possessed. Right now, neither brother is really trying to understand the other’s POV, and I think that’s what’s really causing the friction. Next week it looks like they are finally forced to talk about everything they’ve been trying to avoid. Looks like it’s going to be good.
A friend of mine has some questions she isn´t able to oversee, and she is a bit confused because nobody lost a word about it.
Why was Dean able to walk through a Vampire nest and was not declared as an human hamburger, like we learned in older episodes, where Vampires could smells Human over miles!
I mean they were walking past him and couldn´t smell him or hear his blood rush and heart pump??
And why had Benny explain it to Dean how a Vampire feels? Dean was once a Vamp too! And they had similaries, because both killed their creator in the end!
Funny thing here also: Dean said back then he could smell his creator for miles, Benny wasn´t able to do that. Why?
Good points Bonnie! If they’re gonna have Dean bond with a vampire, you’d think the fact that Dean had actually been one for a short time would come up!