Thoughts on SPN 7.17

[emmram]

Hmm. I feel as though I should really, really like this episode, but at the end, I'm just... confused, and maybe a little upset.

SPOILERS under the cut.

Comments

[kettle_o_fish]

*rolls around in your review

[emmram]

I yawned through most of the Dean/Cas interactions and the trenchcoat was pure pandering and lame. So lame.

I'm glad I wasn't alone in that. I mean, here we are in Sam's big breakdown episode, and Show spends half of it trying to force the Dean/Cas through. Like you said, it would've worked so much better as a two-parter. It would've given Show the chance to actually give Dean more than just a few minutes with his brother, and build up to Castiel regaining his memories (because, seriously - this is the much-hyped comeback episode, but barely five minutes after he's Castiel again, he's locked away for good in a psych ward?).

Was it really necessary for Dean to shack up alone in some abandoned house? HIS BROTHER IS DYING. You'd think he'd spend every moment he could with him...while still looking for a solution, of courseYep. God, I wanted that so much. At least, you know, something that was more than just one scene - a scene they'd already released a week ago as a "sneak peek". Sam's had his share of bedside vigils. It could've been

[kettle_o_fish]

You were so not alone! Ngl, I was pleasantly surprised that we at least got what we did, and I loved Marin, but honestly, the Dean action needed to be elevated. I don't even care if Dean AND Cas hung out while Sam deteriorated. I hated how the "solution" was seemingly pulled out of thin air with Cas. He was all, "I can't fix it. I can't fix it OH WAIT I CAN SHIFT IT."

Really?

I mean, where was Dean when Castiel was trying to heal Sam the first time after the electroshocks (that I firmly believe should have probably killed the Sammeh what with his organs already failing and whatnot). I wanted it so baaaadly. I wanted hair-smoothing, and Dean making sad!face when a bunch of Sam's hair came out in his hand. I wanted an oxygen mask, dammit.

And if I had known that the sneak peak scene was ALL the Sam and Dean interaction we got for the entire episode, I wouldn't have watched it.

*clings*

[emmram]

I've been breaking my head over the mechanics/logic behind the Transfer. I mean, I don't expect Show to make sense, but like you said, this was way out of the blue.

that I firmly believe should have probably killed the Sammeh what with his organs already failing and whatnot

That's true, but I believe Castiel managed to fix that. He probably managed to bring back Sam from the dead, which is why we see him in decent physical condition later. This leads me to consider a possibility -- if Cas hadn't thought of the Transfer, what would they have done? There's no way Dean would let Sam just die, so maybe Castiel keeps repairing the organic damage, while Sam keeps deteriorating mentally and Dean keeps trying to find ways to heal him, getting more and more desperate in the process. This allows for issues--and anger and resentment--between Dean and Castiel to play out more naturally (No more "By the power of the Trenchcoat, I forgive you!" nonsense), and ultimately, they will have to consider if it's just kinder to... let Sam go.

I wanted

[kettle_o_fish]

I don't understand the mechanics of it either. I mean, from what I understand, the hallucinations were a symptom of the broken soul. Castiel couldn't fix the broken soul, therefore Sam was stuck with the hallucinations.

Now if Castiel chose to SUPPRESS the hallucinations, that would have been one thing. Like, he can't cure Sam, but he can make him feel better. Ok. I could have accepted that.

But I don't see the reasoning behind ABSORBING the symptoms if it doesn't treat the cause of them. Won't Sam just start hallucinating again?

I really hope there's something that Show hasn't told us yet that makes this make sense.

In the mean time: FIC.

There's no way Dean would let Sam just die, so maybe Castiel keeps repairing the organic damage, while Sam keeps deteriorating mentally and Dean keeps trying to find ways to heal him, getting more and more desperate in the process. This sounds like the premise of AMAZING!FIC. This sounds like the premise of amazing!fic that you should probably write because you're awesome

[emmram]

Yep, Show has some 'splainin' to do. :p

Y'know, I might just end up writing it and it would be the angstiest coda that ever did angst and it would all be your fault? :D

OMG DEAN LOVES CAS MOST BECAUSE HE SAVED THE TRENCHCOAT AND THREW AWAY THE SAMULET

OMG. I never actually thought of it that way! I mean, if the Samulet is to Sam-Dean what the trenchcoat is to Dean-Cas, WOW. That is upsetting. (Also, that stuff about "I've been able to brush off every other tragedy/betrayal except Cas's." Really?)

:(((

[kettle_o_fish]

I'm willing to accept fault for any angsty 7.17 coda you choose to write. :)

Yeeeah, I didn't think too much about the trenchcoat vs. samulet argument either...until I looked at my tumblr. It's really upsetting when you think about it because I can't really pretend the Destiel fans are delusional when they point it out. It makes sense. And it's so not ok.

My rage is so tired...but it's still there. *tiny token rage*

[emmram]

Done! Got longer and actually less angstier than I'd intended, but there you go. :)