Supernatural - 220 - What is and What Should Never Be
I knew in advance what the set-up for this week’s episode was. Though I hated knowing, I was really looking forward to seeing how they would handle this type of story line.
Supernatural - 220 - What is and What Should Never Be
Awww, booo, the Impala has new license plates.
It was a nice way to follow up last week though, with having Sammy be a little paranoid when he spots a cop-car.
Dean: See? Nothing to worry about.
Sam: Yeah. Being fugitives. Freakin' dance party.
Dean: Hey man, chicks dig the danger vibe!
Dean is checking on a series of disappearances and Sam has figured out that it’s a Djinn hiding out in ruins. Leave the research to Sammy and the fighting to Dean!
Sam: I guess they’re powerful enough, but not exactly like Barbara Eden in harem pants.
Dean: My god, Barbara Eden was hot, wasn’t she? And way hotter than that Bewitched chick.
Sam: Are you even listening to me?
Dean: (clears throat) Yeah.
Heee, I like geeky-Dean.
The second Dean entered the building I knew he’d get hurt. Well, the second he said no to come pick up Sam so they could check it out together I knew… Okay, so I’d been spoiled for that part, but it was kind of obvious. Plus the pre-opening title sequence featured the boys; something is going to happen to one of them.
It was a good set-up though, Dean sneaking around, and the Djinn jumping him. And the evil creature uses pretty blue lights to cast Dean into an alternate reality.
Heh, I liked the look on Dean’s face when he waked up next to Carmen. Poor boy was so confused.
Lol, is it wrong that when I saw the guitar in their flat I was begging for a scene where he’d play it? I knew it wouldn’t happen, but it spurred some nice images in my head.
Dean: The Djinn, it attacked me.
Sam: The gin, you were drinking gin?
Dean: No, ass-hat, the Djinn, the scary creature, remember?
When Sam first picked up the phone, I thought it was real world Sam, but of course the second he asked about gin I got it. Poor Dean was so confused. It didn’t help much that Carmen woke up and asked him what was wrong. Oh, Dean. And when she kissed him… I never thought I’d ever see Dean be uncomfortable kissing a girl.
Clever boy though, checking the mail to learn more about where he is, then when he sees the picture and storms out of the apartment.
He did pretty much what I would have done, run home to check if his family was still living there. And when he sees Mary… awwww!
Dean: Let me ask you a question. When you put me into bed when I was little, what did you always tell me?
Mary: Dean, I don't understand.
Dean: Just answer the question!
Mary: I told you angels were watching over you.
Dean: I don't believe it.
When Dean first meets Mary, seriously, it was a wonderful scene. Heartbreaking considering how tightly Dean hugged her… and heart warming for the same reason. I actually got misty-eyed watching that scene.
I was disappointed that John was dead here as well, I was hoping to see him again. To see him in that setting would have been nice. Though the softball thing was amusing to me too.
And of course another JDM character dying of a stroke, the irony was just too much for me, I had to laugh.
The photographs were kind of amusing, some of them looked a little too much like manips, but still I like that it was part of the episode, and that someone had put effort into making them.
I loved that he asked if he could stay there for the night when Mary wants to call Carmen, just so desperate to be home.
Then he does what he knows he has to, he investigates.
Professor: Son? You been drinking?
Dean: Everybody keeps asking me that. But, uh, no.
I liked how the scene with the college professor mimicked the one from ‘Scarecrow’, with the professor telling him these things weren’t real, and Dean reassuring him that, yeah, he knew that.
That ghostly woman, at first I thought she was kind of like a spirit that wouldn’t let him forget where he’s really from. And judging by what’s revealed in the end of the episode, I guess I wasn’t that far off.
Is it weird that the fact that Mary made Dean a sandwich struck me as one of the sweetest things ever? It’s such a simple act, but in this show it’s those little things that usually get to me. It was a brief moment, but he was so happy. Mommy made him a sandwich! It’s the closest thing he’s had to a home-cocked meal since he was 4!
Dean: (looking out the window) That lawn looks like it could use some mowing.
Mary: You want to mow the lawn?
Dean: Are you kidding me, I'd love to mow the lawn.
Mary: Knock yourself out. You'd think you've never mowed a lawn in your life.
Dean mowing the lawn was just too good. I really liked that he would be able to take so much joy in such a simple task. He got to be normal, to do something normal.
I had to laugh when Sam and Jess showed up. Sam looked so preppy it was kind of painful And when Dean hugs Jessica so hard, just for being alive, awww, so sweet. He never knew her in real life, but the fact that she makes Sam happy is enough for Dean.
I felt bad for Dean that he didn’t know it was Mary’s birthday, but the scene in the restaurant was nice. Though it was kind of weird seeing Dean in a tie.
Dean getting a chance to reacquaint himself with Carmen was good too.
Carmen: What do you say later we get you a cheeseburger?
Dean: Oh god yes. How’d I end up with such a cool chick?
Carmen: I just got low standards.
Hee, Carmen was a cool chick. I liked Carmen; she seemed like a nice match for Dean even though she wasn’t real.
When Sam and Jess announce they’re engaged, Dean knew it was coming, but they all seemed so happy. It was a nice moment.
This episode actually helped me a little with understanding the Sam/Jessica pairing, as it was never really that obvious to me until now.
I liked the scene back at the house. Even though Sam didn’t really seem to want anything to do with Dean. It was sad, but it made Dean realise that this isn’t the Sam he’s grown up with. Especially when Sam wonders why he’s calling him “Sammy” all of a sudden, and tells Dean they haven’t talked in years and that Dean’s been a jerk to him the last few years.
(Sam has just told Dean they don't get along)
Dean: We don't? Well, we should. You're my brother.
Sam: "You're my brother."
Dean: Yeah!
Sam: You know, that's what you said when you snaked my ATM card, or when you bailed on my graduation, or when you hooked up with Rachel Name.
Dean: Who?
Sam: Uh, my prom date. On prom night.
Dean:(under his breath) Yeah, that does kinda sound like me.
Hehe, even in this world Dean’s a womaniser. That is a pretty bad betrayal though, so I get that this Sam was pissed.
I also felt Sam looked down at Dean for drinking, I’m not sure Dean necessarily had problems, but apparently he had some adventures in his youth. At least that’s what I got from that.
Sam: You know, I'm not asking you to change. I guess we just don't really have anything in common.
Dean: Wait, whoa whoa whoa. Yes we do, hunting.
Sam: Hunting? I've never been hunting in my life, Dean.
Dean: Yeah, well, then we should go sometime. I think you'd be great at it.
Awww, Dean. He’s trying so desperately to get it all, his family together and (mostly) alive, and the Sam he knows. He’s grown up protecting his brother all the time, and not having Sam need protection anymore has to leave a hole in Dean’s life.
I liked the scene with Dean and Carmen back at the apartment; he seems to have made his peace with her being in his life.
Carmen: What's gotten into you lately?
Dean: This isn't gonna make a lick of sense to you. But I feel like I've been given a second chance.
It was such a sweet little moment between Dean and Carmen when he said that about getting a second chance.
Dean: I'm dating a nurse? That is so... respectable!
I feel kind of bad, but when she said she was working the late-shift my first though was that she was a stripper. I had pretty much the same reaction Dean had to her being a nurse, but I loved that though, made me like her even more.
Even though the part where Dean is watching TV and realises that the plane they saved actually crashed was sad, I kind of loved the fact that it was a nod to one of my fave season 1 episodes.
I liked that this was something that spurred his further investigation, and gave him even more proof about the importance of the work he and Sam does.
The bit in the bedroom with the ghostly girl, and the corpses in the closet, ugh, that was creepy. It’s not often the creepy of this show has much of an effect on me, but that was nicely done.
Dean: (staring down at John's tombstone) Why? Why is it my job to save these people? Why do I have to be some kind of hero? What about us, huh? Mom's not supposed to live her life? Sammy's not supposed to get married? Why do we have to sacrifice everything, Dad?
The scene at John’s grave broke my heart. Dean has sacrificed so much growing up, why shouldn’t he be entitled to some normal living?
It now made sense why John was dead in this life too, so this scene could take place. Even though I would have loved to see John alive again, this scene kind of made it worth it, because Jensen knocked it out of the park.
I loved the fact that the scene where Dean breaks into Mary’s place so nicely mimicked the pilot when he breaks into Sam’s place. It’s such a nice way to keep the show tight, and have nods to things that have happened in earlier episodes.
Using the excuse that he has to pay off a bookie was kind of quick thinking, good boy Dean. J Sam didn’t look too surprised either. More disappointed that Dean would steal from Mary.
Dean: Sam, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that we don't get along. I wish to hell I could stay to fix this. But I gotta do this. People's lives depend on it.
Sam: Dean, what're you talking about?
Dean: Nothing. Forget it. Hey, just tell Mom I love her. I'll see you, Sammy.
(Dean leaves the house)
This Sammy isn’t stupid either. Dean being all nice to him and asking him to tell Mary he loves her was a pretty big warning sign for him, so he jumps in the car and insists on going with Dean.
Dean: Bitch.
Sam: What're you calling me a bitch for?
Dean: You're supposed to say "jerk."
Sam: What?
Dean: Never mind.
Lol, awww. Dean is still not giving up on having the old Sammy by his side. That little exchange was great though.
Sam: What's in the bag?
Dean: Nothing.
Sam: Nothing?
Dean: Yeah! Nothing!
Sam: Fine! (reaches for the bag and pulls something out)
Dean: You don't want to do that!
Sam: Oh really? (sees the blood jar) What the hell is this?!
Dean: Blood.
Sam: Yeah I can see that it's blood, Dean, but what the hell is it doing in here?!
Dean: You don't want to know.
Lol, I loved that part too, poor Sam seemed so freaked. And the look on his face when Dean explains what he’s going to do, lol.
Sam: You're having some kind of psychotic breakdown.
Dean: I wish.
When Dean started opening the window on his side of the car I knew he was gonna take Sam’s phone and toss it out, lol, good boy Dean. It didn’t even look like he gave it a second thought, just get rid of the phone.
The whole scenario amused me a lot, as it was basically taking a chunk out of one of the early pilot scripts, where John died in the pilot and Dean comes to take Sam home after graduation, but takes him along on a hunt.
I love that they’re able to do that, I feel it’s a nod to the fans. They know we’ll pick up on it, and if we don’t it’s still a funny scene.
I thought it was kind of sweet that Sam was asleep when they reached the building where the Djinn was. I don’t totally get how he was able to fall asleep when he thought Dean was nuts, but for all I know he figured he’d deal with it when Dean stopped the car, or Dean knocked him out.
Dean: Well, we're not in Kansas anymore.
The Djinn’s victims hanging there was kind of gross. Excellent make up job, because it was kind of unsettling. Especially when the Djinn came down to them and drank that girl’s blood then cuddled her. Ewww.
I liked freaked-out Sammy. I think that was a little nod to one of the early scripts too, but I can’t quite remember it. But it was good.
Dean was clever though, putting all the pieces together, and realizing that he was in a Djinn induced coma like the girls.
And when he tells Sam he has to stab himself to wake up. I honestly didn’t know how to react, because that just struck me as a pretty big gamble.
Sam: (to Dean, about to stab himself with knife.) Look, this isn't a dream, all right. I'm here with you, now, and you are about to kill yourself, Dean.
Dean: No, I'm pretty sure. Like, 90 percent sure. But I'm sure enough.
Lol, aww Dean. Even in a situation like that you make jokes.
Sam of course tries to change his mind, and when that doesn’t work, Mary, Carmen, and Jessica appear as well and try to convince him to stop and enjoy the fantasy.
The following scene were they’re all trying to convince him to stay. It broke my heart, because he did want to stay, and hell I wish he could too. I’m so involved in this show, that every time they have a chance of happiness I want them to grab, even when they’re not really supposed to.
Dean only considers it for a second, before he stabs himself.
Waking up to Sam trying to help him, the Sammy he knows. Poor Dean looked so pale and sick, I just wanted to jump into the screen and take care of him.
Of course the Djinn comes to ruin the escape and knocks Sam out, but Dean manages to free himself and save his baby brother for the umpteenth time.
When they checked the girl I was pretty sure they’d just lost the chance to save her, but when it turned out she was alive I was so happy, if only because Dean was so relieved that he’d gotten to her in time.
Luckily the girl survived, and the boys talk about what happened.
Sam: I thought it was supposed to be a fantasy.
Dean: It wasn't. If Mom never died, you and me would've never gone hunting and you and me, you know.
Sam: Yeah. Well, I'm glad we did.
I felt so sorry for Dean. The vid I had was corrupted so I missed what he said after; after dad died… but the look of heartbreak on his face spoke volumes.
I still want an uncorrupted version though.
Dean: You had Jess. Mom was gonna have grandkids...
Sam: Yeah, but Dean, it wasn't real.
Dean: I know. But I wanted to stay.
I wish you could have stayed too Dean, at no cost. I’m to involved in this show and it’s characters, because my heart breaks for them all the time. And this episode, and what Dean had to face pretty much tore my heart apart.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
I loved this episode. It broke my heart, but this show has done that so many times now that it’s only some duct tape holding it together by now. I loved Jensen’s portrayal of Dean in this episode; whenever I think that boy has shown us all he can do he gets another chance like this and proves me wrong.
I hope they’ll bring the events of this episode forth again sometime, because I would love to see it. Part of me wishes he’d meet Carmen again in real life, but I don’t see that happening.
I have nothing but love for this episode, and suspect it’s one that’ll have more than a few repeat viewings.