I'd be pissed if this was all a Dallas/Who Shot JR? dream sequence
I've not completely discounted this yet, but I'd be very disappointed if this were the outcome. In the end, there are afew too many things that have happened outside of Dean's immediate awareness - Samuel and co. capturing the Djinn being the main one. I mean, if this is a dream sequence then Dean can dream anything, I suppose, but it really wouldn't make good narrative sense. So I'm hopeful on this point.
something changed him, if that makes sense
It makes perfect sense. The contrasts with previous seasons canon are frequent and obvious, and clearly there to be picked up on. And I like to think (in my blindly optimistic way) that the writers wouldn't just head down the well-trodden 'something's wrong with Sammy' road without having something to back it up. I'm convinced that some outside influence is at work here, and the mystery surrounding Sam's return just convinces me more. And I think that's Dean's opinion too, for what it's worth.
Lisa getting pregnant with Dean's kid
Oh God please no. Soap-tastic! I don't really think Lisa's evil, although I admit I enjoy the idea, but the perfection she offers is just too easy and I'd be surprised if there wasn't something going on under the surface there.
Cas is clearly meant for great (and possibly terrible) things
On the strength of this ep, I love where they're taking Cas. There's so much scope for heartbreak in how his intentions are interpreted. And I do love me some angst!
Thanks for your thoughtful and thorough comment - I'm glad you got something out of my ramblings! :D
(Incidentally, I've been toying with linking these recaps at spn_mongrels, since I feel bad about my lack of contribution there - would this be appropriate content, would you say?)
One thing Cande brought up was the idea that Sam doesn't have a soul anymore - technical details of how he might still be alive without it notwithstanding (this is SPN! Everybody wave your hands!), I really *like* that idea as an explanation. Hiring hookers, not caring about torturing a child, being distant with Dean: without a soul, he would not FEEL the emotions that would otherwise underpin those situations such as shame, compassion, guilt, or fear. He's like an automaton who knows what he is supposed to care about, but like a sociopath, he simply doesn't. If that's the case, then I would guess that he's made some kind of deal to get it back, which would be interesting, and would explain why he's not talking to Dean about it.
I'm rolling round to something approaching this conclusion myself, and have been doing sporadic rewatches with this in mind. Sam's not entirely without emotion - he appears to feel fear when facing a fight, he definitely felt annoyance at Cas not coming to him, and there seems to be some disappointment at Dean choosing to stay with Lisa (plus the snark he gives about this subject smacks of jealousy).
What he seems to be missing is the emotions linked to empathy - there doesn't seem to be any real understanding of the concept that others have feelings. Which could easily be a side-effect of soul-tampering. As for how aware he is of the changes to himself - I don't think he fully understands what's happened to him, but I do think his prevarication implies that he has some memory he's not sharing.
I love having this much to speculate about - I just hope Show lives up to the effort!
What he seems to be missing is the emotions linked to empathy
Which is, actually, almost sociopathic. The only emotions we see from him are only in regards to himself, as you point out; and I can't get around being alive without a soul at all. So tampering sounds more likely, you're right - Hell sliced up his soul, and only let him keep parts of it?
I love having this much to speculate about - I just hope Show lives up to the effort! YES! I love this stuff...more than I usually do with any other other show. Oh, SPN, you OWN me! LOL!
I've not completely discounted this yet, but I'd be very disappointed if this were the outcome. In the end, there are afew too many things that have happened outside of Dean's immediate awareness - Samuel and co. capturing the Djinn being the main one. I mean, if this is a dream sequence then Dean can dream anything, I suppose, but it really wouldn't make good narrative sense. So I'm hopeful on this point.
something changed him, if that makes sense
It makes perfect sense. The contrasts with previous seasons canon are frequent and obvious, and clearly there to be picked up on. And I like to think (in my blindly optimistic way) that the writers wouldn't just head down the well-trodden 'something's wrong with Sammy' road without having something to back it up. I'm convinced that some outside influence is at work here, and the mystery surrounding Sam's return just convinces me more. And I think that's Dean's opinion too, for what it's worth.
Lisa getting pregnant with Dean's kid
Oh God please no. Soap-tastic! I don't really think Lisa's evil, although I admit I enjoy the idea, but the perfection she offers is just too easy and I'd be surprised if there wasn't something going on under the surface there.
Cas is clearly meant for great (and possibly terrible) things
On the strength of this ep, I love where they're taking Cas. There's so much scope for heartbreak in how his intentions are interpreted. And I do love me some angst!
Thanks for your thoughtful and thorough comment - I'm glad you got something out of my ramblings! :D
(Incidentally, I've been toying with linking these recaps at spn_mongrels, since I feel bad about my lack of contribution there - would this be appropriate content, would you say?)
Reply
One thing Cande brought up was the idea that Sam doesn't have a soul anymore - technical details of how he might still be alive without it notwithstanding (this is SPN! Everybody wave your hands!), I really *like* that idea as an explanation. Hiring hookers, not caring about torturing a child, being distant with Dean: without a soul, he would not FEEL the emotions that would otherwise underpin those situations such as shame, compassion, guilt, or fear. He's like an automaton who knows what he is supposed to care about, but like a sociopath, he simply doesn't. If that's the case, then I would guess that he's made some kind of deal to get it back, which would be interesting, and would explain why he's not talking to Dean about it.
Gahhh!
Reply
What he seems to be missing is the emotions linked to empathy - there doesn't seem to be any real understanding of the concept that others have feelings. Which could easily be a side-effect of soul-tampering. As for how aware he is of the changes to himself - I don't think he fully understands what's happened to him, but I do think his prevarication implies that he has some memory he's not sharing.
I love having this much to speculate about - I just hope Show lives up to the effort!
Reply
What he seems to be missing is the emotions linked to empathy
Which is, actually, almost sociopathic. The only emotions we see from him are only in regards to himself, as you point out; and I can't get around being alive without a soul at all. So tampering sounds more likely, you're right - Hell sliced up his soul, and only let him keep parts of it?
I love having this much to speculate about - I just hope Show lives up to the effort!
YES! I love this stuff...more than I usually do with any other other show. Oh, SPN, you OWN me! LOL!
Reply
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