"their codependency is toxic and I'm leaving" and other baffling reactions
I'm not one to post a lot lately. But since it's school holidays and I should be doing distasteful things like tax returns, breast scans, blood work ups, 9th grade english assessment marking, trying to book a pleasant dinner reservation for 7 people for the parents' 40th Wedding Anniversary (when said Parents are about as adventurous as Victor Meldrew out of One Foot In The Grave) I think I'd rather AVOID like a champ and make a note here of some of my 9x01 thoughts.
That subject line was indeed a reaction line from someone on twitter. I looked at it bemused, thinking - where the fuck have you been for the last 8 years? Then the tried and true - when does Dean get his own storyline? that whiny, entitled, BORING, old reaction was trotted out too.
I really liked it. In fact I loved much of it. What an opener! So many threads still to be tied up, so many threads newly unravelled. I love pretty much any episode that let's us go inside either of these boys' heads. The choices the writer's make about who represents what in Sam's head. Turns out Reapers don't need to show up in person when you're in a coma, they can come and gently have a chat with you in your head. And if you've saved the world and are a big damn hero like Sam Winchester, Death himself will even show up for you.
Sam Winchester wanted to die, but only after he got the promise from Death that "nobody else can get hurt because of me". He may as well have got the promise that said "my brother won't get hurt." But Sam also chose Dean at the end of Sacrifice. And Sam chose Dean again at the end here when Ezekiel rides Dean into Sam's head so that Dean can convince him to say yes. I don't think it was Ezekiel driving when Dean turns up in Death's cabin (contrary to popular opinion) to deliver that plea that Sam about his plan and how he can help. During that scene back in the hospital room I pictured the same scene when Ezekiel shows Sam's conversation with Death, A hand on each brother's forehead. Dean will do anything to keep his brother with him and alive. We know he doesn't do well without him, was basically living a shelled out, hollow impression of a life after Sam went into the pit. It's not healthy, it is sad, somewhat selfish and it's pretty damn twisted, but this is the Winchesters and it's why I love Dean and Sam.
A few questions I had - Ezekiel says "No good ones I'm afraid." Dean "Well what are the bad ones?" Makes me think there was more than one option here. I would want to know all the bad options!
Dean wants Sam to know straight away initially. Wants Sam to understand what he did and why. Dean truly feels that given the scenario Sam will accept this. It's only when Ezekiel warns him what will happen if Sam ejects him that he rethinks that choice. Without a doubt Sam is gonna be pissed about this. Is it more than likely that if the tables were reversed Dean would be equally pissed and outraged by such a move - knowing how both of them feel about angels? I'd like to trust Ezekiel. Because that would be something very new. A trustworthy angel. I remember back in Houses of The Holy Sam desperately hoping for some higher power, some greater good, something that could look out for him and save him. An angel who could possibly contribute to that process of purification that Sam talked about in Season 8. But Sam is going to find out quickly I think. No matter how many memory wipes Ezekiel does, Sam is going to know something is wrong.
Where do the banished Angels go? I think it must be Vegas.
Is Metatron the big bad for S9? Is Crowley going to be trunk ridden for the next few episodes? Has the MOL bunker trapped Kevin? How is Cas, as a human, going to evade so many overly zealous for vengeance Angels on earth?
Dean has his storyline. That storyline has always been and always will be Sam. Since Sam was 6 months old he has been Dean's storyline. Sam has wanted Dean to have more than just big brother as his storyline. But Dean has tried that. And failed at it. It's messed up but it works. And if I wanted a show about normal brother relationships I would watch Parenthood or Malcolm in The Middle. Thanks be to Kripke for my psychotically, irrationally, erotically co dependent brothers. May they never change, have normalcy or end up dying separately.
A comparison on the lengths they go to for each other:
S1.12 - Faith - Dean is dying, his heart about to stop. Sam tracks down a faith healer, doesn't look too closely before getting him to save Dean's life. Turns out someone dies so Dean can live. Dean outraged. Sam shrugs and says let's fix it (now that my big brother is cured)
S2 - AHBL1 Sam is dead. Dean sacrifices his soul to bring back Sam.
End of S3 - Dean goes to Hell. Sam does everything in his power and beyond to try and get Dean back. Including offering himself as sacrifice to the Crossroads Demon.
S4 - Sam practically kills himself seeking vengeance for Dean's time in Hell along with Mum and Dad's deaths.
End of S5 - Sam essentially ends his life by jumping into the pit to take Lucifer back.
Start of S6 - Dean goes through hell trying to save Sam eventually follows Sam's wishes and goes to Lisa.
Mid S6 - Dean agrees to be Death for a day to get Sam's soul back.
End S7 - Dean disappears with Cas to Purgatory
Start of S8 - That bizarre time when Sam never looks for Dean - not relevant to this list at all.
End of S8 - Sam willing to sacrifice his life for his brother and the world in order to shut the gates forever.
Start of S9 - Dean gets Sam to say YES to Ezekiel so that Sam can live.
A long and sordid history of completely psychotic plans to save each other. GOOD TIMES!