You Can't Handle the Truth (about so many things) - Spoilers!

[ancastar]

Before I launch into my deep thoughts about this week's ep of Supernatural, I want to apologize for not being around much these days.  My life has been madness lately.  I have not only the whole two job/puppy thing going on.  But I've been coughing for five weeks now (one more week, and my doc is ordering a chest x-ray [I already got an inhaler

Comments

[mimblexwimble]

My only issue is Sam largely swayed Dean with an emotional plea, all the while saying he couldn't feel anything.

I was thinking about this. The look on Sam's face when he lies to Dean the first time and the look on his face when he's telling Dean the truth are the same. I think his emotion came from confusion and a longing to understand what's wrong with him. It was like he was saying to Dean (when Dean tried to use the curse on him), "Why would I do that to you? I've had your back before. Why would I react like that?" He doesn't know and he wants to and that's where the emotion comes from.

It's still an emotion, but fits with the only other emotion we've seen him have.

I'm also not sure what we're supposed to think about Sam's realization he needs help. Maybe Sam was in denial before. And afraid of Dean's reaction, which has never been all that great when it comes to Sam's lack of human-ness. Maybe he was hoping to fix things himself? He was very interested in souless Aaron and the retrieval of his soul

[mimblexwimble]

It's still an emotion, but fits with the only other emotion we've seen him have.

Except for the fear. *facepalm*

[ancastar]

Yeah, I know. It's stuff like the fear that throws off the whole "I don't feel it" thing.

[mara_snh]

Fear is elemental, an instinct as opposed to an emotion. Maybe a soul isn't necessary.

[de_nugis]

I am not talking myself out of leaving the fandom at this moment. It is a wonderful feeling. I can handwave any number of inconsistencies for that.

To be fair, we didn't see Dean break in hell and begin to torture. We don't always see the most horrific stuff happen to either brother. I will be happy if they give us lots of resouled Sam coping with aftermath.

Also, there may be some flashbacks. I know, last time they gave us big Sam stuff in flashbacks it was a Bad Thing, but I think it was more that we had the bad luck to get a not good episode for a pivotal point than that it COULDN'T have been wonderful.

[de_nugis]

And because I am a horrible selfish person and only care that I am not in canon despair this week, I neglected to say sorry you have been sick and hope you feel better.

It's because the cat stole my soul.

[ancastar]

Hee! Those danged cats. I wonder what fresh hell my little guy is thinking up.

[ancastar]

True, we didn't see Dean in hell. But we saw his gruesome death, got flashbacks and his confrontation with Alistair in Head of a Pin was almost like a capsule version of what he must have gone through. If you compare that to what we got of Sam's situation, it's not hard to understand why a lot of viewers were far more sympathetic to the elder Winchester than the younger.

[draycevixen]

I am here for the hugging. *squishes you gently but only out of consideration for your cough*

You have an enormous pile of things on your plate right now, of course you haven't been around much.

Just concentrate on getting better soon. ♥

[ancastar]

Thanks. I can't believe how long this has gone on. I finally went to the doc this week. She said she thinks I have a respiratory infection with "lingering bronchial irritation." The inhaler is supposed to soothe my lungs. I can't tell if it's really working. And I'm still coughing.

[draycevixen]

It would make sense. It sounds like you're running yourself ragged and any sort of respiratory thingy -- yeah, it's a technical term -- tends to linger when you're a bit run down any way.

Be well. ♥

[ancastar]

Clearly you are highly skilled in medicine. ;-) I'm sure you're right and I'm rundown. I just don't see any remedy for it. Things aren't going to get easier for awhile.

[gidgetgal9]

I agree with all of what you said about the boys.

One thing that bothered me, was Bobby. I giggled at his admissions but ... it didn't seem Bobby to me.
He told Ben when they came to his house that his TV didn't work so how is he watching Tori? And I think he was a little cold when it came to Sam. I know he gets Dean better and clicks with him better but he has always come across as loving both . Anyhoo that is me nit picking I'm sure.

Oh and Sam knew a beat down was coming... he knows that it is Dean's way to deal and he didn't fight back which... really kind of breaks my heart. I understand it is part of their dynamics but it still makes me sad. :(

Excited for next week though! :)

[ancastar]

Good catch! I'd forgotten that Bobby's set had been on the fritz.

I'm not surprised that Dean is his favorite. That bond had seemed to be there earlier, like in AHBL and even last year when Bobby is trying to talk to Dean about what Sam needs to do. It's tough though isn't it--Dean is Cas' favorite and Bobby's. Who the hell does Sam get?

As for the beatdown--yeah. Sam let it happen. He never once tried to defend himself. Again, that breaks my heart. The poor guy can't catch a break.

[mara_snh]

I think Bobby only told Bobby that to get Ben out of his hair and upstairs with his mother. The TV is in the grownup section of Bobbyworld. That's how it come over to me, anyway, but who knows, really, with all these damn CATS!

I recommend http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/ for injections of sweetness and light as needed, by the way.

[yvonnegos]

Why Sam gets the freaky Campbells that are probably only using him for their own use to do their bidding of course. *rolls eyes sarcastically at the writers* Sure wish Sammy could get some love. ;P Dean deserves love too of course, just not ALL of it. ;P

[jessm78]

Ouch! Hope you start feeling better soon.

Some really interesting thoughts about this one. I was another fan patting herself on the back that I'd called it, but you bring up a very good point that work seems to be Sam's safe place and his escape - especially his escape. It does seem to bother him somewhat that there's something wrong with him, but it's almost like he uses work to escape the way he buries himself in it.

Dean not feeling as if he could be in the same car with Sam was heartbreaking.

Oh, God, I felt that way, too. :(

The problem is that, as we've seen since the season began, Sam is clearly missing something. Yet he isn't consistently cold. I'm glad you brought that up. I was thinking this, too. He hasn't been totally unemotional all the time. There were even the scenes where he had a little bit of banter with Dean, and his amusement over how well the babies took to Dean in 6x02. Definitely not something we'd see from someone who's totally cold

[ancastar]

Thanks, hon! I'm pretty sure there's nothing wrong with me a good long vacation wouldn't cure. ;-)

The estrangement between the brothers is really hard to take, especially as we spent all of last season bringing them back together. I'm really hoping that what Dean learns next week will help him find his sympathy again for Sam. Because hardest of all was to hear Lisa say to Dean, "You'll never be happy as long as Sam is alive." Yikes. I get why she was saying it, but man...talk about harsh.

[debbiel66]

Because hardest of all was to hear Lisa say to Dean, "You'll never be happy as long as Sam is alive." Yikes. I get why she was saying it, but man...talk about harsh.

But he was miserable with Sam seemingly dead for a year. Lisa knows that too.

I loved the scene with Lisa, but it was so achingly sad. She played it very well.