The title of this episode said it all. Though when it comes to Sam, he is truly the only one that is free (or at least, semi-free if you tilt your head and squint). He is truly the only one keeping them BOTH in chains, his unwillingness to speak, but his insistence at keeping them both to the job...
Yeah.
Poor Kevin, captive to the bunker and trying to speak over the lack of Winchester communication.
And Castiel, bound by his own morals and realizations.
This whole episode was awesome, if melancholy, my only problem? Sam. But then, I can't think of anyone who is happy with him right now, including himself!
I don't know...Sam doesn't seem very free to me...and it's a captivity of his own doing. I mean, he voluntarily returned to hunting with Dean. He got into the Impala because, I think, he didn't know where else to go. He's as trapped with Dean as Dean is with him, but Sam is the one making their partnership miserable because he won't talk about all this crap that he brought up. He just cut his brother open and walked away, leaving Dean to try to keep himself from bleeding out. And that doesn't mean I think Sam didn't have a reason to have the knife in his hand, but he's gotta go all the way if he ever wants to truly be free. Go all the way...or leave. Simple as that.
Yeah, it was a pretty darn good epi. :)
I'm happy to see you, by the way. Feel like it's been awhile since we've been able to LJ-chat. :)
Hmmm...good point. And one I can completely see: everyone that is alive right now is trapped because of his unwillingness to either move forward or let go. He drove Cas away via Dean and Cas has stayed away because of the problems he could cause. Dean can't let him go, can't be his brother or even his friend without Sam's leave. And Sam just refuses to make up his mind, speak, leave or even (really) stay and be happy. Very simple. And so heartbreakingly clear. He is the one with the keys, everyone else is just waiting for the jailbreak.
Happy to be here, lovie...I've missed you. Think life has been kinda crazy for us both!!
Insightful recap, as always. I, too, found the interaction between Mama Tran and Sam so terribly sad, so powerful. All that passed between them with hardly any words...killer.
As for the boys, I'm really wondering at this point. Is Sam so hurt, so wrecked he can't see beyond this crud, even when Dean is utterly devastated? Or is there something weird going on... When Kevin spoke and Sam still fled, turned away from Dean, I suddenly had this fleeting thought: something's going on with Sam besides his own baggage and psychological crap. I have no idea if that's the case, but I started wondering about little understood elements at play: the Mark of Cain, remnants of 'Gadreel's grace' that might still be inside of Sam... Is something going on here, or is that just wishful thinking because this hurts so damn much?
I give Mama Tran serious kudos for drawing that emotion from Sam with just a look. I mean, she killed me. *sniff*
Honestly? I actually hope it is just Sam's own baggage and emotional crap that had him turning away from Dean at the end. Too often stuff that happens with Sam is written off as because of this Supernatural thing or that Supernatural thing. I think this needs to be just Sam and he needs to cycle through these emotions and come up with a way to deal with them that doesn't leave them both in tatters.
Angels - meh. I just don't care. It's too complicated and there's plenty else that's important to me to worry about the mess with the angels.
It was soooooo good to see Kevin again!!! I feel so bad that he's stuck here and I worried like Dean about him becoming an angry ghost. :( For the time being, tho, he's with his mom and they're together and it'll be good, at least for a while.
I agree with you about Mama Tran looking too clean to have been there for a year. Looked more like it had been a week.
And yes, the magic cream - they use it way too much on Show. I don't think they realize the value of a little extended hurt. lol
It WAS good to see Kevin. I wouldn't be super surprised if we saw him again when they 'fix' Heaven (b/c you know they will). I just hope he stays "Kevin" until that time and doesn't go vengeful spirit on us.
"...value of a little extended hurt." HA! I love it! Yes, yes they do.
This. Also the number of people who I've seen totally dismiss Dean's apology to Kevin as really just a "pity party" is making me sad. Everyone wants an apology from Dean but when he gives one, heartfelt and genuinely sorry for what he's done he's derided for it. Guy can't win on that one.
Pfft. Kevin, I can excuse saying that because he was frustrated and dead. But if anyone really listened to his apology, watched him as he gave it, I don't know how they could call it a 'pity party' unless they were just looking for a way to belittle Dean. He didn't say 'woe is me' -- he said, 'this is on me, I did this, and I'm sorry.'
Your recaps always hit the nail on the head for me and I look forward to reading them. I agree that Dean just oozes loneliness (Jensen does this SO well) and both him and Sam are captives of their own pain. Alone togther, as you aptly said. So sad. On a lighter note, I loved your take on the current storylines with 'hellgate' and 'heaven's closed for business, made me smile!
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Yeah.
Poor Kevin, captive to the bunker and trying to speak over the lack of Winchester communication.
And Castiel, bound by his own morals and realizations.
This whole episode was awesome, if melancholy, my only problem? Sam. But then, I can't think of anyone who is happy with him right now, including himself!
*HUGS*
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Yeah, it was a pretty darn good epi. :)
I'm happy to see you, by the way. Feel like it's been awhile since we've been able to LJ-chat. :)
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Happy to be here, lovie...I've missed you. Think life has been kinda crazy for us both!!
*HUGS*
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As for the boys, I'm really wondering at this point. Is Sam so hurt, so wrecked he can't see beyond this crud, even when Dean is utterly devastated? Or is there something weird going on... When Kevin spoke and Sam still fled, turned away from Dean, I suddenly had this fleeting thought: something's going on with Sam besides his own baggage and psychological crap. I have no idea if that's the case, but I started wondering about little understood elements at play: the Mark of Cain, remnants of 'Gadreel's grace' that might still be inside of Sam... Is something going on here, or is that just wishful thinking because this hurts so damn much?
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Honestly? I actually hope it is just Sam's own baggage and emotional crap that had him turning away from Dean at the end. Too often stuff that happens with Sam is written off as because of this Supernatural thing or that Supernatural thing. I think this needs to be just Sam and he needs to cycle through these emotions and come up with a way to deal with them that doesn't leave them both in tatters.
Thanks for reading, despite this being late!
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It was soooooo good to see Kevin again!!! I feel so bad that he's stuck here and I worried like Dean about him becoming an angry ghost. :( For the time being, tho, he's with his mom and they're together and it'll be good, at least for a while.
I agree with you about Mama Tran looking too clean to have been there for a year. Looked more like it had been a week.
And yes, the magic cream - they use it way too much on Show. I don't think they realize the value of a little extended hurt. lol
Next ep looks pretty good. A nice break.
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"...value of a little extended hurt." HA! I love it! Yes, yes they do.
See you after next epi!
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'Cause Jensen Ackles is tearing my heart out without saying a word...
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How is that a pity party again?
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