OMG. This is one of the most insightful metas I have read in a long time. I am glad I am not the only one who noticed Dean's rebuttal to Sam's statement 'I know you'. He doesn't anymore. but just like that Sam is no longer 'Sammy' anymore. Both characters have become emancipated and while Sam is embracing his new found self, Dean is still struggling with the new definition of his life.
I very much agree that blood was extremely prevalent in this episode - starting from Sam's statement about this feeling in his blood to all the blood being sprayed to the new insight of Dean having something (hunting) in his blood as well.
I never saw Sam's actions in 4.17 as revenge against material matters or circumstances (he does hate his life there after all). But it does make sense within the episode's context. Thank you for pointing that detail out.
Apropos cleansing... you're the first other person I see here who has mentioned that detail. Do you think that it might have a deeper meaning? I have the theory that the angels might have cleansed Dean for something, since cleansing is often a ritual part of preparation before battle. What do you think?
Actually, I hadn't thought about the cleansing much but I think you're right considering he came back with no scars on his body. Like they washed away his past in a way, which is kind of appropriate for this season.
And yeah, blood's been such a big deal the whole series. That a piece of meta right there, tracking the uses and significance of blood throughout SPN (beside just the fact that Kripke likes a nice messy kill). I mean, Sam literally has something else in his blood, kind of the opposite of what Dean does. And you wonder at what point will they cease to be blood kin? I bet Sam's caught in a devil's trap before the season's out.
And yeah, Dean is struggling. And it's sad because he has to do it alone, no support from Sam, but then again, that would almost cripple him more, I think. And there's the difference; Sam's come into himself with Ruby's help where Dean's had to do it either alone or with the angels actually interfering with that process. So yeah, Sam's a lot more dependent than he thinks.
I very much agree that blood was extremely prevalent in this episode - starting from Sam's statement about this feeling in his blood to all the blood being sprayed to the new insight of Dean having something (hunting) in his blood as well.
I never saw Sam's actions in 4.17 as revenge against material matters or circumstances (he does hate his life there after all). But it does make sense within the episode's context. Thank you for pointing that detail out.
Apropos cleansing... you're the first other person I see here who has mentioned that detail. Do you think that it might have a deeper meaning? I have the theory that the angels might have cleansed Dean for something, since cleansing is often a ritual part of preparation before battle. What do you think?
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And yeah, blood's been such a big deal the whole series. That a piece of meta right there, tracking the uses and significance of blood throughout SPN (beside just the fact that Kripke likes a nice messy kill). I mean, Sam literally has something else in his blood, kind of the opposite of what Dean does. And you wonder at what point will they cease to be blood kin? I bet Sam's caught in a devil's trap before the season's out.
And yeah, Dean is struggling. And it's sad because he has to do it alone, no support from Sam, but then again, that would almost cripple him more, I think. And there's the difference; Sam's come into himself with Ruby's help where Dean's had to do it either alone or with the angels actually interfering with that process. So yeah, Sam's a lot more dependent than he thinks.
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