Of dungeons and dragons. SPN 6.12 Like A Virgin
I'm late to the party, as ever. It's been a long and excruciating wait, but SPN is back in the saddle. Or so it claims.
Episode 6.12 'Like a Virgin', quite frankly, left me more confused than gratified and far more perplexed, than hopeful. But for what it's worth, my educated guess is - it was probably meant to, since we're entering a new leg of the journey and enough of uncharted terrain lies ahead. The overall perceptive stance I'm willing to assume, so far, goes along the lines of 'the jury still being out'.
Before we proceed I have to admit to having warmed up to the title through the episode run, for the initial apparent blatancy did manage to spawn some witty layers of double-entendre. Though I still don't care much for Madonna.
Without much ado, on to the, albeit a tad rambly, episode overview. Below be dragons. Cut to avoid possible spoilers.
The episode as is.
To start up on the bright side, what really worked for me was the opening sequence - both the 'Road So Far' concept and the soundtrack of choice. Since the mid-season finale (Appointment in Samarra) was indeed a quite literal closure to a major plot-line (that is - Sam's state of desoulment) and the story pretty much starts anew (Sam's initial amnesia supplying a functional outward metaphor here), at least to an extend. On the other hand, the 'Back in the Saddle' introductory track works both as a plausible (or at the very least - expected) foreshadowing [aren't we supposed to anticipate the Winchester brothers to be back to 'normal' again?] and a cunning decoy, given not all of the previous half a season build up, plot- and characterization-wise, can (or should!) be easily erazed or rebooted at will, and the 'back in the saddle' would, most definetely turn out to be quite a painstaking, emotionaly complicated process for both Dean and Sam, not a state of insta-fix. Which is totally fine with this individual viewer here.
The opening sequence over and done with, my problems with the episode execution arise (like they so often do, this season). And don't get me wrong, the much-awaited mid-season opener didn't ring as much of a letdown, but more of a layout. The episode appeared to be put together as a template of sorts to outline the scope of further plot developments and conflicts, both external (Team!Wichester vs. Ma Monster and the Army of Fugly), interbrotherly (Sam's desoulment vs. its long-lasting impacts on Dean's emotional state and ability to trust Sam), internal (Sam vs. choices of his desouled self, Dean vs. possible repercussions of Sam's resoulment, Dean's hunting persona/duty vs. quest for a family of his own). Therefore, the need to address a vast array of issues, crucial to the show's development throughout the latter half of the season resulted into a jarred and somewhat schematic concoction. Or maybe, it's just me.
One of the major gripes of mine this episode, plot-wise, is the apparent indecisiveness as to the A and B stories ratio, and ensuing disbalanced presentation at any given moment. The 'Dragon' story-line, as a prominent tool of the season-wide myth-arc evolution, was subsequently downplayed in favor of Sam's and Dean's state of uneasy 'reunion' exploration (which in and of itself could be worth an entire episode or two). On the other hand, the aforementioned, much needed, Sam's and Dean's interaction got repeatedly short-shrifted to advance the monster plot. Though, I do believe, the redefined premises of the Winchester Brotherdom were done a lot more consistently, than the dragon sub-plot. The latter, by far, managed to work as nothing much more than a show-case of the boys renewed team-work (or at the very least, was intended to work as such, the way I see it). Which is a pity, given the time and trouble the season spared the Alpha/Purgatory myth-arc so far, and the apparent importance of this particular brand of monster (dragons) to the story graduation into the next plot level.
Here be dragons. Like I've said, this peculiar monster-kind and their specific agenda (namely, why would dragons, and not some other monsters - not vamps, not shapeshifters, not skinwalkers - be savvy enough to summon Da Mom from the bowels of Purgatory???) were not given an in-depth view through the episode, so I'm going to try and pinpoint some facts on the ground, that are deductible from what little data we've got. So:
- Dragons are back after having been purged for 700 years. Which in and of itself meets the profile of abnormal monster activity after the aborted Apocalypse. The Winchesters redefined the established Natural Order and now it's morphed beyond recognition, spawning monsters, heretofore unfamiliar or extinct.
- All monsterkinds, headed by Alphas, I'd presume, work to a joint end: to build up and army and greet the General. That would explain the Alphas' unwillingness to give away the Purgatory coordinates at the cost of their lives - that would work against the plotted intervention. The current myth-arc development is pretty symmetrical to the one, derived by the demons back in the day - to free and army of Hell first (Lilith including), then to free the Prince of Darkness from a top-secret and heavily sealed confinement. My question du jour is - is there a 'Boy King' Mother Monster keeps in mind too to lead her legions (oh yeah, I'm still looking at you, Sam Winchester) or is she an equal opportunity genocide kind of lady?
- Dragons were in possession of an explicit manual to open the gateway of Purgatory (which, my guess is, has little to do with Dante). Here's what gets me confused: is it implied, that *all* monsters had a copy of that creepy manuscript and could summon the Mother at will, or were the Dragons one of a kind for the job? Yet again, it's too early to tell, but my guess is - the trick is the dragons' customized brand of prey. Virgins. Allegedly innocent souls. 'Cause it all has to come down to the power of the human soul, sooner or later. Whereas all the rest of the monsters could busy themselves with 'recruiting' soldiers for the warfare about to erupt, as soon as Ma Monster arrives topside, the dragons had to build up a sufficient supply of - what? - 'power drinks' for a starving Momma, it looks like.
Which, certainly, brings us down to *the* enigma of the latter half of the season. The Mother of All.
Mommy Monster. Well, if nothing else, at least this loose end of Alpha Vamp's criptic ramblings got tied up. We are, indeed, meant to face off with 'a mother' (which is, too, kinda symmetrical to the previous stand-offs the Winchesters had to endure: both Lucifer and God are *fathers* of the respective kinds).
Plot-wise - it's about time. For we've gone for half a season, on and off, with nary an antagonist. Crowley qualified only partially, since the boys were forced to work *for* him most of the time. Meg wasn't in long enough. We don't know enough of the Celestial Civil War proceedings to identify viable foes. Looks like now the show is back onto the cosmic level of confrontation: Winchester Brothers vs. a powerful, malevolent Entity. Which is both good, since it could help fuel the outward 'heroic' slant of the narrative, and not so good - since the most compelling dramas the show has always been about were not waging epic battles to save the world, but waging battles to reinforce one's inherent humanity. I'll only hope the introduction of a new Big Bad will not shift the focus away from those internal battlefields of both Dean's and Sam's.
Speaking of the Big Bad - aka - the Mother. I'm not sure I'm able to deduce right away what kind of a mythical trope she's supposed to stand for. Like I've said, the show's conceptual pattern has so far introduced an array of deadbeat Dads (both human or otherwise: John, Samuel, God, Lucifer, Azazel, Daddy Ghoul, Daddy Djinn, Alphas, even Dean himself), whereas the concept of motherhood has only been addressed in passing. The only significant mother the protagonists have a reference pattern of relating to (apart from Lisa) is, apparently, Mary Campbell-Winchester. Whereas through the prior seasons, tangled quite explicitly within the Judeo-Christian mythological set-up - it was easier to relate Mary proper and the notion of her 'special' motherhood to the loose concept of Virgin Mary - a human mother chosen to give birth to a 'special' child of divine descent (two, in our case), capable of saving the world at an inhuman cost.
Not that the show's cosmogony has taken a turn to a broader chtonic-cum-pagan-cum-existential framework, I'm frankly at a loss how to fit Mommy Winchester in. But fit her somehow we outght to, since 'the mother' mythologeme, of all things, is moving to the front lines this season (that, and Grandpa Samuel's quest for Mary's soul is yet to be abandoned). The one thing I ardently hope for is that Mary =/= Ma Monster. The boys would be beyond upset.
Until futher notice, the itineraries of my guess-games as to Ma Monster's origins go along the lines of Gaia - a spawn of Chaos, Mother Earth (or Mother Nature), to have given birth to both proto-deities (including Chronos - Time) and some of the proto-monsters (Cyclopes, Hecatonchires).
It remains unclear, though, what her agenda and the reasoning behind her resurrection is. Is it just a Monster take-over of Earth, or do the master-plans extends to the overtake of Heaven and Hell as well? And how does The Mother's introduction play into Lucifer's and Michael's incarceration, God's ongoing state of MIA, Civil War in Heaven and Raphael's plot to restart the Apocalypse?
That is not to forget Death, as a driving force of the universe, apparently, having an agenda (and quite possibly a say of his own) in the matters brewing currently within the world of supernatural activity. If the Winchester brothers are an affront to the structure of the universe, could it be they are set up to confront the Natural Order icarnate, in the form of the Mother of All? If so - to what end?
Besides, The Mother's ressurrection still doesn't cast any light on the reasoning behind fetching Sam's body from the Cage, a year and a half ago. Moreso, could it be that Crowley's reasons to search for Purgatory were akin to the reasons of Monsters - to summon (or negotiate with) the Mother? Why not resort to bargaining, then, Crowley was so keen on?
Guess, it'll take the rest of the season to figure out the aforementioned puzzles.
Purgatory. I'm not going to dwell at length on this one ontological coordinate, alluded to in the episode, namely 'cause, like many a conceptual issue, I do feel it's been understated to get readdressed furthermore. I've already speculated, that this season has been about introduction of mythological 'tertium datur's' to the heretofore established narrative paradigms: Alpha Monsters - to angels and demons, Mother Monster - to God and Lucifer, and finally, Purgatory - to Heaven and Hell.
I've already mentioned the symmetry, inherent to the procedure of introducing the Mother into the narrative: as a Commander to head an army, freed from millennia of confinement. Pretty much the same way as Lucifer was released onto the world at large. The similar symmetry is depicted in the way Purgatory itself, as a locale, is tackled: so far, a 'prison of flesh, blood and fear' was employed to describe Hell. Cf.: 'It's all blood and bone and darkness'.
Moreso, the show has more than once toyed with the structure of Judeo-Christian ontology being not a given, but a POV. Most prominently, we've been reminded of the concept in 6.09 through the notion of fairies and Avalon.
So, my question is - could it be, that Monsterland (a.k.a. Purgatory) is not so much a part and parcel of the established in-'verse ontology, but a monster version of Hell? Hell's cognate, in a way. Just like Lucifer was/is the demon cognate of God. Like Mother Monster, apparently, is for all things toothy and clawey, who don't very well practice any human brand of religion, as far as we can tell. What would constitute monster Heaven, then? And where does the realm of Earth and humans fit in all of this?
As it was probably designed to do, the episode leaves more questions in the wake, then answers.
On to the character interaction patterns, outllined this episode. Like I've said, I do find all the character stances, revolving around the episode's 'other' major plot-point - Sam's resoulment - a lot more consistent, then the overall dragon shenanigans. Though, there are still issues wrt to character interaction and characterizition, that got me confused this episode. I'll try and point them out as well.
Dean and Cas.
Oddly enough, I do think that the initial confrontation over Sam's forced resoulement served multiple purposes of conflict and plot foreshadowing, but hardly that of Castiel's characterization per se. I'm not sure we've witnessed Cas *that* livid at Dean ever since 'Point Of No Return'. Given the disproportionate premises for anger in these to episodes, I'm really not sure what to make of Castiel's outburst.
But, foremost - facts on the ground, significant to bear in mind for further reference:
a) Sam's soul is damaged in the manner, that presupposes (unless I'm severly misinterpreting here) hypersensitivity;
b) Sam's ongoing well-being is implicitly proportionate to the soul-damage;
c) Dean needs to be aware (like he already isn't!) that his solo power decision to restock Sam with a soul might prove deadly to Sam's body due to aforementioned damage - should Sam not survive the repercussions, the blame will reside on Dean's shoulders;
d) Dean needs to be aware, that killing his brother's body might've been a lesser evil (ergo - the mercy-killing option is still on the table).
The matters outlined have already been addressed in Caged Heat and Appointment in Samarra (by both Cas and Death), the major difference being that hypothetical suppositions as to the state of Sam's uncaged soul are now, presumably , confirmed fact.
Dean's stance remains unwavering (and I honestly don't believe how it could possibly not, given who Dean is and how he is about all things Sam): RoboSam was too dangerous to be left alive; Sam's soul was suffering too much to be left in the Cage. The option of killing Sam and/or releasing his soul into Heaven, having not tried out even a miniscule chance to save *all* of him, not just the body or just the soul, has never been and would hardly ever be among Dean's primary MO strategies. To reunite the body with the soul and hope for the best - was just that miniscule chance in question. And it'd really take not knowing Dean at all to assume he'd pass it up.
Now, through the span of the series, Dean has matured into a place, where he *is* capable of letting his brother go, given the latter dies human.
So Castiel's anger in this respect truly bewildered me. Dean is justifiably scared, hurt, barely holding it together, but also firm through all of their exchange. Because not yet ten days ago - Dean was Death incarnate. He knows the weight of consequence firsthand now. And he won't shy away from a tough call. But he will also supply his brother a chance to reacquire and reacquiant with his humanity - if he can. Because both Sam *and* Dean himself need that chance. And Dean will be there, through thick and thin, he will be there, to tackle the aftermath.
It puzzles me, that Cas would opt to overlook this, just like RoboSam did, disclaiming his soul the other time.
Now, sure enough, it's not too far-fetched to suppose, that Cas is just genuinely concerned by Sam's prospective well-being (they *are* friends, after all) and, by extension, is concerned for Dean, given Sam doesn't make it through the ordeal. To channel fear and care through anger and to lash out on the closest culprit is a very human thing to do (*all* the Winchester men honed the technique to perfection). Except that Castiel is not human. His exposure to Team Winchester has rubbed off, of course, but through the recent year and a half he's pretty much reverted to his angelic ways. So, either getting into Dean's face (and later, attempting to hug Sam) is an indication, that Cas is more human now than he'd prefer to give away, or there's something about Sam's soul and in-Сage experience Cas is acutely apprehensive of, but doesn't know how to let out (to shelter Dean from hurt/disappointment, it figures).
Like it so often is this episode - my jury is still out on the matter.
Dean and Bobby. One of the things that got me utterly thrilled as much as got me to exhale that proverbial breath is Bobby's stance on the repercussions of Sam's resoulment from those, exposed to RoboSam's least amiable ways, standpoint (namely Dean and Bobby himself). That Bobby should voice out loud scattered tid-bits of opinion on the matter gives me hope that the show is indeed tackling the issue of RoboSam having been still viable Sam enough as an interpretative option whereas a clean slate is but a temporary, if necessary, delusion:
'Well, isn't this just neat and clean?'
'And now it's all just... Erased?'
'Well, maybe it wasn't all Sam, but it was him, Dean.'
All in all, Bobby pretty much highlighted my (as in - individual, fairly unbiased Sam-wise, fairly reasonable viewer's) opinion which comes down to just that: a human being is a sum total of *all* experiences and choices the mind, body and soul undergo, so no part of those experiences could be justifiably done away with at will not to violate or undermine the said human being's integrity. Dialectics 101 - the whole bears qualitative characteristics of its parts, any given part bears qualitative characteristics of the whole. That said, Sam's *mind* had access to the memory stock and reference patterns to be capable of individual choices enough, even devoid of emotional and evaluative capacity sans soul, for those choices to be appropriated by Sam's persona and owned up to. Just like the experiences of Sam's soul in the Cage are Sam's own. Just like Dean owned up consciously to his stint as Alastair's intern.
The show, so far, made a specific point to emphasize, that the only premise for a mind/body/soul to be unaccountable, or at the very least - partially unaccountable for their actions is the state of possession by a quality-wise different entity (demon or angel). Sam even made an explicit reference, however brief, to the distinction between *Lucifer's* actions within his body and his own. So, sans Lucifer at the steering wheel, Bobby is right - soul or no soul - it was Sam that hideous year and a half. As much as it hurts to comprehend.
And it *does* hurt. Dean exponentially more so, than it does Bobby (let's keep in mind, Bobby was the one quite willing to perceive RoboSam as *just* Sam).
Dean's is, through the span of the episode, woeful catch 22. Foremost, whereas Bobby has the benefit of common sense and blissful detachment - Dean is way too much invested in the matter of Sam's incarceration in the Cage; too scarred by the exposure to Sam's desoulment; too scared by the possible outcomes of getting that soul back; too hopeful as to the alleged return of *his* brother.
To lie Sam in the face as to the loop year his memory is missing is an obvious mistake - for all the reasons Bobby points out. Lies never did the Winchesters any good and truth will out anyway (which it does in this episode too). But that is, by far, the *only* line of action Dean could resort to, staying true to who he is:
- sure enough, half a year's worth by RoboSam's side hurts like hell, stopping Sam within an inch of killing Bobby hurts like hell, stopping himself within an inch of killing RoboSam hurts like hell, having lost Lisa and Ben to Sam's charming vampire ret-con experiment hurts like hell - but Dean can not possibly hold his brother accountable for something he doesn't remember doing (not at that particular point in the episode, anyway). Dean is many things, but petty isn't among them.
And that is not to say Dean is unable to carry grudges - especially where grudges are due. Early season 5 is proof enough. Sam was due the blame and lack of trust then, he's more than due it now (once the memory is fully reinstated) - but staying angry at his brother (however justifyably so) has always hurt Dean as much (if not more) as it hurt the said brother. So, no wonder Dean is not following Bobby's cue on this one. The memory of pain and betrayal hasn't gone anywhere, but Dean opts not to channel it through misguided ire. He just endures in silence and gets sadder by the minute, clinging to any ray of brighter upside he can grab in the situation.
- for most of his conscious life Dean's primary imperative was to *protect* Sam, from whatever menace (from within or from without) there might be. It's all but second nature. To do so Dean has a history of resorting to white lies. The longest running one being 8 years of sheltering Sam from the knowledge of supernatural. Later on - Dean tried to conceal the morbid truth of Daddy's deathbed testament, then - the truth of Sam's ressurrection at the cost of Dean's soul. The truth infallibly outed on those prior occasions, but the intent was consistent: to spare Sam the shattering and damaging effects of the revelation. It has never worked out quite right, but it has never stopped Dean from trying either.
With forces of Heaven and Hell alike, Death thrown into the mix, conspiring to convince Dean of the precarious, weakened, fragile state of Sam's freed soul - there's no wonder Dean opts to treat Sam's amnesia as an unexpected bliss and deduces the reaqcuaintance of Sam with the ugly truth behind his soulless antics might prove devastating. Quite possibly immediately linked to the destruction of 'Da Wall' and flooding Sam's mind with the memory of the Cage. So, common sense or not, Dean would rather face the music, once Sam learns of the lie, than willingly endanger the brother he worked so hard and gave up so much to get back. That adherence to this imperative - protect Sam - should ensue conscious and eager repression, gulping down and downright abnegation of Dean's own issues/grievances/trials/tribulations is just more of Dean than anything ever is. It may be not healthy, it sure as hell is dangerous for the already far from leveled equilibrium of his upset, anguished, traumatized self - but it's all Dean. Front and center.
What can I say? It appears, Dean is a far better, benevolent person than Bobby (and yours truly) could ever aspire to be.
And deep down, I'm glad Bobby seconded Dean's play, if reluctantly. As much as I'm glad Bobby was honest about his own feelings. 'Cause it really came across as him doing it not so much for Sam's sake, but for Dean's. Dean needed that make-believe of back-to-normal so badly, for however briefly.
Dean and Sam. Oh my... Where do I begin? First of all, I have to admit, that of the many 'reunion-upon-resoulment' plausible scenarios I was wary of through the hiatus, convenient amnesia, by far, ranked top. For all the reasons Bobby outlined and we've already addressed. 'Cause it's too neat and simple. 'Cause it doesn't really resolve anything. 'Cuase it's frakking *not* fair as far as those, who had to suffer through to RoboSam, are concerned. BUT! Come to think of it, upon the viewing I did arrive at a place of acceptance - since Sam's temporary amnesia (which is now apparent it will be temporary) was a necessary tool to both advance the plot (otherwise, the boys would have to deal with the repercussions of RoboSamness *right away*, there being hardly any room left for a case investigation) and to present Dean with a case study how far gone the delusion of 'automagic normal via Sam's resoulment' really was. Which makes me all the more sad, but that needed to be explored. Hence, though I'm still not thrilled with the amnesia development, I can at least reconcille myself with it.
So, just to make it clear right away - I'm nowhere in the vicinity of flailing squee wrt the Winchester brothers being 'OMG-back!' or 'OMG-back-together!' or 'OMG-back-to-normal!', foremost because the episode narrative, to my mind, went to substancial lengths to point out none of the above being true to fact. Not completely, anyway. No insta-fixes is more than agreeable with me, since I firmly believe any semblance of 'normal' in the Winchester Brotherdom of Woe has to be a) well earned by *all* parties involved (granted by defualt due to amnesia/desoulment/magic wall/unspeakable self-sacrificial benevolence of another party does not qualify in my book); b) has to incorporate, build upon and move forward from the sum total of *all* of the boys' emotional and mental experiences, joint and separate.
Before you start aiming heavy stuff in the general direction of my head (what? I can fathom viable counterarguments derived from the instances of the boys' alleged team work as much as the alleged evidence of Sam being back to his pre-Cage-self through the episode - I'll get to those a bit later, sure enough!) let me make a confession: I *loved* the hug. Clear and simple. Loved the way Sam all but body-slammed Dean into a crushing, smothering embrace. Loved that Dean couldn't help himself and hugged back - RoboSam or not, six months of private customized hell or not, near-assasination of Bobby or not, *that* was the hug he went for when first meeting Sam half a year ago, that was the hug he never got. Loved how long it took till they broke apart.
But foremost, I loved that hug for the display of an honest, believable emotion behind the premise of Sam's amnesia, in keping with the last information and experience he remembered at the moment: having subdued Lucifer and bidden a bloody and battered Dean one last farewell before the leap to presumably eternal damnation. To be able to hug his brother one last time, was most likely, the last thing on Sam's mind before he woke up in the panic room.
Besides, what that hug (and the one Sam gave Bobby) was most probably meant to indicate - was the return of Sam's emotionality. Which is, in and of itself, a nice change of pace as opposed to RoboSam's frigid ways, but there *are* issues and nitpicks I have to make on the matter too (which I will, as this overview proceeds).
The hugs over and done with, the character interaction framework unwinds off kilter. Precisely because Dean and Bobby (especially Dean) do have that year and a half under their belts, coupled with the full scale of RoboSam related memories, whereas Sam does not (for the most part). So, to my mind, it's necessary not just to keep in mind that Dean and Sam are literally on different pages concerning each other through this episode, but also on *what* exactly pages they are (Dean - having lived through the year of grief, but also having tasted the flavor of solace and normal happiness only to have it ripped away by the horror of Sam's desoulment, having lived through fright, hurt and betrayal, having given up his principles to work for Sam's salvation, having given up his very nature and impersonating Death to get Sam's soul back; Sam - having woken up to the memory of the ultimate triumph of his and Dean's brotherhood as well as his own humanity).
That said - Dean's reactions, actions and motivations throughout the episode are quite in keeping with all of the aforementioned emotional build up as well as the MO of his character. Whereas Sam's reactions and actions, apart from the hug, somehow felt short, given the outlined premise. I'll try and explain my point.
But first, a glimpse of Dean's standing amidst the redefined brotherhood (since through the episode of the two brothers Dean is the one in the know of all the pieces of the interaction puzzle - factual, actual, implied and omitted).
For all of the alleged grand brotherly reunion, the word is *still* alienation.
Spacial and physical alienation, on the one hand: Dean seems to avoid Sam's company, unless he can't help it - lest he slips and gives himself away, triggers some damaging memories. Not only that, however, but for the same reason, methinks, Bobby is reluctant to share personal space with Sam: Dean's memory is tragically intact, and it takes a painstaking effort to reconsile the person Sam seems to be now with the one, consciously aiming a dagger at Bobby's heart, or smirking creepily in a dark backstreet. Just as it was torturous to match up the brother he thought he knew with a cold-blooded atrocity of RoboSam, before. Whenever in Sam's presence - Dean is fairly ill at ease. For it never bode well with him to lie Sam in the face. Dean needs some breathing space to figure out where to go from there: for most of the episode Sam had not one, but *two* ticking bombs inside his head - one quite possibly capable to set off the other. Besides, Dean needs some breathing space to get his own head straight: he's got himself convinced to restore Sam's memory can prove dangerous, so he can't aford the luxury of as much as glancing sideways at Sam the wrong way. Exceptionally selfless and as close to sanctity (no kidding!) as it probably gets in that univrese - Dean is only human, nonetheless. What RoboSam did to him, what RoboSam was *capable* of doing - hurts, whether Sam remembers it or not. And for all that forgiveness can (and should under regular circumstances) take a while, Sam, for what Dean knows, is granted a 'mechanical' absolution. Amnesia as a clean slate - Dean does not believe himself justified to inscribe upon, especially for reasons Dean'd always ranked lowest of the low in his book - his own gratification and retribution. So Dean needs to fast-track his mind into the same 'absolving' mode to match up the actual state of affairs wrt to Sam's resoulment. Done for Sam's benefit, as much as his own, the task seems all the more welcome. And so Dean... alienates. Again.
Cognitive aleination, on the other hand: Dean has done it before - while RoboSam was still in place and kicking - clinging to the shadow of the hope his brother's *true* self will be *nothing* like that, once resouled. Dean does it this episode with renewed enthusiasm - having the opportunity to stock up evidence how *different*, how *true to self*, how empathetic resouled Sam is. If I got a nickle for each and every time Dean claims 'it wasn't Sam!' (meaning RoboSam) this episode - I'd have a whole lot of nickles. Bottomline is - woeful as it is, Dean's steadfast alienation is a self-fulfilling delusion. Dean's many a forlorn look and a loaded silence this episode is indication enough. Sam might've improved (though not full-tilt, if you ask me) on the resoulment front, but the memory of RoboSam still burns Dean like a mother. And one of those days (sooner rather than later, given Sam is now privy to his own exploits planetside) Dean will have to face RoboSam as much as Sam will have to, as a part and parcel of who Sam is and is capable of being, given the mindset. And Dean will have to deal with his own standing about this unapologetically exposed aspect of Sam's persona. And it will hurt even more, for Dean will have to admit to betrayal and anger, RoboSam inflicted. Moreso, it will be up to Dean to establish the framework of their brotherhood and mutual trust furthermore (since Sam's bound to play catch-up for awhile). Of course, a lot will depend on Sam's pledged predisposition to 'fix what he gotta fix' and acting out on that pledge. Besides, Dean has a long running history of being biased in favor of Sam on the matter of the latter's misgivings. But the bottomline is still as follows - alienation doesn't work to set things 'right' and back to 'normal', as much as Dean wished it would. Dean is aware of that, and the implications behind the illusion pain him.
Amnesia or not, Sam is not the exact same person that lept inside the Cage a year and a half ago. And which is more - neither is Dean. If nothing else - Sam's voiced out claim 'you're exactly the same' and Dean's subsequent non-response is lampshade enough for just how *untrue* the statement is. Hence there is no plausible going back to normal for the two of them. But, hopefully, there is still a going forward.
Now, on to the matter of the brother's working interaction. Like I think I've mentioned before, I do belive the dragon investigation was meant to showcase the banter, the teamwork and the invigorated trust. Which it did - to an extent. Once again - let's not forget how differently Dean and Sam assess their mutual standing. Sam has no idea he's acting out of the ordinary (as opposed to RoboSam's MO), whereas Dean picks up on every breadcrumb to indicate Sam's restored soulfulness and is, understandably, prone to boost it up tenfold given the prior trial of RoboSam's cold-hearted ways: oh look! he's not psycho sociopathic with the victim's family, he's so empathetic with the victim, he's so indignant at Dean's dubious data collection ways, he stabbed the dragon and saved Dean's life. Phew! Sammy's back! I wonder if the viewers' similar reaction was also intentionally factored into this particular perceptive equation.
But this viewer here is also aware of the following:
- Dean is, by far, still the dominant source of banter (having visibly relaxed and, apparently, determined to *enjoy* having his brother back back); before we learned Sam was RoboSam, before the vampire incident - the lack of banter was not that drastically apparent either ('what's your milage, again?', off the top of my head);
- RoboSam was not sociopathic on *all* occasions, forcing himself to feign empathy for Dean's benefit up to a certain point;
- RoboSam did manage to save Dean's life (the Djinn incident, hungry Ghouls in Caged Heat) as well as to derive a semblance of a working relationship with Dean, while they were tenured as Crowley's henchmen. Don't get me wrong - trust nor affection was a non-issue, but they somehow managed to capture those Alpha's and stay alive. So some level of marginally functional team-work must've been in play while their objectives coincided.
Yet again, before you start throwing heavy stuff my way, just bear with me for a minute here. I'm not claiming that Sam and Dean's interaction is *exactly* the same now that Sam is resouled. Far from it. What I'm trying to point out is that RoboSam's and Dean's interaction was not *at all times* dramatically different from the kind on display through this episode. And I'm left wondering, if it's an intentional conclusion to be derived. More wondering still, where this line of reasoning might lead.
Furthermore, what meagre instances of brotherly interaction outside the framework of the case (that is not tackling the final dialogue just yet - it requires a glimpse of it's own) got me somewhat confused on Sam's behalf (like I've said, Dean's reactions are in keeping with the objective build up his character underwetn and the headspace he worked himself into through the episode). I'm confused not for what they were, but rather - for what they weren't.
Foremost, let's recall, once again, *what* the last things Sam remembers are: Lucifer commanding him (he admitted to that much), then leaping into the Cage (having conquered Lucifer within). What falls in between is Dean's showing up at Stull Cemetary unexpectedly, Dean calling out to Sam, refusing to give up on his brother, Dean being beat up within an inch of his life by Lucifer's forced hand, the memory of their brotherhood and a lifetime of affection bringing Lucifer to his knees, helping Sam cope.
We saw Sam hug Dean, then Bobby heartily - Occam's Razor principle suggests the reasons behind both explicitly juxtaposed acts to be similar: joy Dean and Bobby made it alive after what happened.
But the shere magnitude of Dean's involvement into the Apocalypse aversion scenario would, presumably, call for at least a 'thank you' on Sam's part, slipped out somewhere along the way. 'Thanks for not giving up on me', 'Thanks for being there for me', 'I couldn't have done it without you' - something, anything. This season, as much as this episode, does not shy away from declarative statements on the matters of conceptual and characterization relevance. So, until furhter, notice, the lack of this kind of declarative acknowledgement - speaks louder to me than many a thing vocalized, and rings some pretty worrysome bells. I could comply to Sam's unwillingness to address the experience of Lucifer, had it not been brought up by Sam's own self second thing upon awakening. So to bemoan the lack of factual memories and stay mute as to the matter of such profound emotional impact, in the immediate aftermath of having regained one's soul - looks kinda like a glaring omition to me. Yet again, I wonder if it's intentional.
Moving on. A little passing allusion to Dean's experince in Hell and it's repercussions (before embarking upon a hunt). Much as I appreciate Dean's time in Hell to be brought forth as a characterization dimention still immensely crucial to understanding who Dean is and what makes him tick nowadays, Sam's statement just rang cold and dismissive. And, somehow, so RoboSam-like I got goose-bumps. Might be, I'm overreacting, but still.
Conversation in the car on the way to Oregon.
'So you never even tried, huh?'
'Look at you, look at this - you're exactly the same'
Could be, the whole excahnge was just meant to demonstrate Sam's restored ability to care for Dean's well-being. What it managed to give off as far as I'm concerned (and I watched it 8 times by now!) - is a remarkable, and disturbing (!!!) lack of care. No rue at the deduction Dean, seemingly, broke the promise (belay that - Sam's deathwish) and failed to be happy. No particular sadness upon learning the fact that Dean tried a family with Lisa and Ben and it didn't work out. For what it's worth, RoboSam bemoaned the prospective loss of Dean's apple-pie paradise with more enthusiasm, and we know he was lying his head off. It's an eery idea to entertain, but still. Can't help myself.
Dean couldn't possibly elaborate on how exactly he came to loose Lisa and Ben at that moment, but for someone who, supposedly, knows Dean as well as the *real*, soulful Sam does it ought to have been apparent that 'didn't work out' doesn't even begin to cover it. And Dean is very much in pain over the matter. Sure, Sam knows better then to prod when Dean is on the defensive, but there're facial expressions to convey regret, sympathy, concern, indignation. Something. Anything, other than a mild puzzlement.
Moreso, there's yet one question Sam never voiced this episode. He does gets around to 'Are you okay?' when Dean gets so blatantly fidgety it's hard to ignore (for all of his professional lying competence, Dean has never been good at lying to Sam about how he feels). But never once 'How have you been?' Granted Sam is certain of having been dead for a year and a half - and that has always agreed just nicely with Dean, sure!
Fair enough, Sam remembers that Dean went on boartd with Lucifer trapping plan. But he should also remember how discorded with the emotional reality Dean's theoretical allegation to grow up and let Sam go was. The very fact that, for all Sam knows, he's now back topside due to Dean's efforts and some dealing activity with Death - should be prompt enough as to how 'un-okay' Dean has been that loop 1,5 year. Should be - but for some reason isn't.
While we're at it. Dean's bargain with Death got Sam predictably infuriated and worried, alright... for all of two seconds. Dean's explanation as to the nature of the bargain and the stakes is ambiguous and dubious at best - but Sam just goes with it... No further questions, no prodding for details to judge for himself whether the deal went as smoothly as Dean claims, no calling Dean out on being reckless, at the very least. Dean messed up with Death and Sam is totally cool with that as long as Dean states it's over and done with. For dealing with powerful supernatural entities for the purport of ressurecting their kin has *never* ended on the worst side of bad, for the Winchesters, no sir. And yeah, here be another thank you I kinda anticipated, but it never panned out: 'Thank you, brother, for plugging me out of the Cage'. Add it to the list.
I dunno... Maybe I'm too picky-choosy and should take up Dean's cue and not stare the gift horse in the teeth too intently, but those are minute obeservations like those listed above that halt me from embracing and celebrating the 'return of real Sam and real brotherhood' full-scale just yet. And those are not even *all* of my gripes. Stay tuned, if you will.
The junkyard dialogue. Right up there with Bobby's confessions, the points voiced through this exchange are among those I wanted THIS badly to be recognized and addressed on-screen: Sam's apology, Sam's acknowledgement that nothing is 'cut and dry', that he's the one with the Zippo in his pocket, Sam's promise to 'fix what he gotta fix'. Those are all the right and fair things to say, given all that's transpired for both Dean and Sam, and I can't pretend I didn't cheer when they were spelled out loud.
BUT! As it goes, there constantly seems to be a 'but' for me to stumble over wrt Sam's resoulment aftermath this episode. 'Cuase we do have half a season worth (okay, about one third of a season worth) of Sam spelling out loud some good and right things, presisely the kind Dean would *want* to hear according to his estimations, only to choose and act out in the way polar opposite to what's been postulated (the soliloquiy of All Dogs Go to Heaven comes to mind, for one). Sure enough, there's the argument that Sam didn't have a soul then, and now he does. But you know how it goes about crying wolf one time too many... The fact is that I, as a viewer, do really need to witness resouled Sam *act* on what he claims to Dean in the way decidedly different than RoboSam would; show, to support all the tell. And then I'll be more than thrilled to go back to this very scene and hang up a huge, gaudy, flouriscent sign 'ON THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION' above Sam´s head.
Oddly enough, Dean seems to be similarly unperturbed by Sam's confessions. Oh, Dean is petrified out of his wits that Sam has *learned* of his own antics and that knowledge can crush him. *That* is Dean's primary focus and he fights tooth and nail to keep the safe delusion in place - that it was not Sam, that Sam needs not dwell too hard on his RoobSam shenanigans lest it breaches the Wall. But the very fact that Sam has actually *apologized* in due course didn't render Dean exhilirated. It could be that Dean is yet unwilling to let go of alienation - against all reason. He doesn't want to relive hating his brother. It hurts too much as is. It could be that Dean has heard Sam apologize so many times so far, for so many things - even before the desoulment. And not all of those things were truly the culprit of Dean's pain and sense of betrayal. Those wounds are not completely healed by now. The accumulated experience might have just rendered him weary to grant Sammy a gold star any time the latter deems it necessary to apologize. It could be that through the last half a year Dean heard Sam say the right things so many times and payed dearly for falling under the spell, he is (just like yours truly) a tad apprehensive to jump on board with Sam's resolutions of righting the wrongs just yet. It might be, in his mind's eye, Dean is already predisposed to forgive, even if it takes a longer while to forget - and didn't need Sam's apology as an incentive. It could be that deep down Dean is scared, once having learned of his RoboSam's perks and outward benefits, Sam might get less thrilled about the resoulment gig and blame Dean for violating RoboSam's explicit wish. And there would go the much craved preemptive apology... It could be all of the above, tangled tightly within Dean's bruised and wary mind and heart, to render him more catious about Sam's speechifying, than exhilirated.
To boot, Dean's haunted expression upon Sam's inquiry 'What would you do?' just broke my heart. Again. Oh my... back in the day, upon return from Hell, Dean would've given *anything* not to feel the memory of his guiltiest downfall. He got a front row seat to contemplate what kind of a monstrosity granting of that wish could've turned him into. He still wants a better bargain for his brother than he ever wanted for himself: given the chance and choice, *Dean* indeed would want to find out the truth and maybe right the wrong, but he wishes so hard Sam was spared that kind of pain and shame. Presisely 'cause he knows firsthand how hard it hits. Oh Dean...
Dean.
By the time the episode commences, Dean is beyond tired. To the point he most likely wants it all just over and done with. He's tired of mourning the brother that didn't come back from the Cage. He's tired of living through his own worst nightmare - of a brother that doesn't give a damn about him. He's tired of anticipating a stab in the back. He's tired of loosing the battle in the name of RoboSam's humanity. He's tired of justifying his reasons behind reinstating Sam's soul to anybody who'd care to listen. He's tired of being frightened what resoulment would do to Sam. He's tired of feeling preemptively guilty for, quite, possibly, having killed his brother. He is tired of awareness he might still have to kill Sam - should resoulment prove too damaging. He's tired of anticipating how to face resouled Sam, given the history of RoboSam's exploits.
So when Sam wakes up a) fairly okay - not a drooling babbling mess, but not a prior RoboSam either; b) blissfully ignorant of his RoboSam persona - Dean just grabs the opportunity for the respite. A cherry on top of Sam's resoulment Dean couldn't even dare hope for. A gift horse. Dean works so hard to wire his (and Bobby's!) mind into conviction that Sam's amnesia is the best thing that could've happened to them, that Dean's own pain doesn't count as long as it helps flesh out the dream of 'having his brother back' - it's poignant to behold.
'Who wants to remember all that hell?'
just about covers it. For it's not just Sam's soul that was in Hell for 1,5 year. It was Dean's own too.
And now Dean aims to preserve the blissful bubble of make-believe that hideous half a year never happened. That RoboSam never happened. That it's just the two of them, same as usual, sans epic destinies and mythic fates, sans inhuman sacrifices and devastating costs - saving people, hunting things. Back to being brothers the way Dean dreamt through many a sleepless night. Cracking jokes. Having each other's backs. That's what Dean hoped against hope while searching for a way to save Sam's soul from damnation - that it would revert everything back to 'normal'.
And Dean is trying. He's definitely basking in any minute indication that Sam's not like RoboSam. He's enjoying the simple pleasures of his jibes earning a smile. He's slipped into the pattern of trusting Sam with his back so easily it, probably, even puzzles him.
And yet - it fails to work the anticipated way. Denial and alienation is an efficient coping mechanism only for so long. Dean can barely look Sam in the eye. Dean is not dumb and he's aware the illusion won't last. No more than it holds water. It's apparent fairly early through the episode *Dean* won't last long pretending and playing 'normal' like he does initially. The scattered semblance of brotherly normal, incidentally, doesn't quite work to atone for the wounds inflicted and reopened, isn't quite enough to fill out the void new losses and responsibilities carved within Dean's gut. For RoboSam *did* happen. A year of family and fatherhood *did* happen. Dean is different. Sam is different. And that's the way it should be and will be henceforth. Much as it hurts to admit and accept.
What aggravates the situation -as it nearly always does for Dean - that he's well aware blatant lie, however well-intended, would hardly do them both any good. So on top of worrying for Sam possibly loosing it, once the truth outs, Dean needs to be aware Sam could end up mightily pissed at him for concealing the truth in the first place. Either way - Dean faces the probability of loosing his brother. Again.
Luckily, Sam doesn't appear infuriated just yet, but the threat of time-bombs going off in his mind remains. Besides, there's a whole year's worth of RoboSam's antics *Dean* is clueless about. There is no telling what kind of atrocities the past holds in stow. There's no telling what that rediscovered knowledge is going to do to Dean's perception of Sam (bruised and battered as it is already). And, knowing Dean, he might as well try and burry his own frustrations for the sake of Sam's Wall integrity and Sam's safety. Which never once worked healthily for Dean's own mental and spiritual balance.
I just hope, Dean will be able to face the reality of RoboSam, alongside Sam doing just the same, deal with it in a grown up fashion and move forward from it with minimum possible damage. To whatever end.
On the brighter, Sam's resoulment unrelated side: SWORD IN THE STONE! Loved it! Yeah, the procedure didn't work out along the lines of anticipated, pathos-boosted cliche (which I ended up liking even more, btw) - but hey! It worked! And Dean is, as ever, the one for out-of-the-box thinking and breaking the preordained pattern. The facts on the ground are - Dean *did* manage to extract a functional dragon slaying weapon from the stone. So it does count in my book.
Go Sir Dean! *g*
Dean and the golden treasure of the dragon liar just got me sad, somehow. Dean's not greedy - he's just truly never had much. And more than often - didn't have enough to fare within the lines of decency. Besides, not a fortnight ago he had to pay Dr. Robert some hefty bulk of cash. I don't even wanna know where he got it! Guess, it's a safe bet to presume he's pretty low on dough nowadays. So the little prize couldn't harm. The dragons hardly wanted it anyway.
Sam.
Just so you're warned - if the episode left you convinced Sam's resoulment worked to a T, Sammy's back and there's nothing but hearts and puppies ahead of the Winchester Brotherdom, you might wanna skip this section of the overview. However, I'd really appreciate if you don't, given you've got this far.
I've elaborated at length above on the details and observations of Sam's behaviour and reactions that left me feeling 'off' through his interaction with Dean. I'm not sure where to place them, but there they are, nonetheless. True, there are also indications of his emotionality/empathy/compassion/ability for remorse being back. But there is *major* incongruity I about Sam's state of resoulment that I can't quite wrap my mind about.
Namely: Sam is FINE. Okay. Good.
It's been depicted on more than one occasion through the episode.
Don't get me wrong - I *don't* want him a drooling mess or a wheepy heap. But! And it's a huge, juicy 'but' - the show went to considerable length via narrators of varing degrees of reliability (Castiel, Death, Crowley, Cas again - Death and Cas being the most credible, as of this episode) to specify, that Sam's soul was severely damaged in the Cage. In such a fashion ('skinned alive', 'flayed to the raw nerve') that presupposes some seriously hightened, all but painful, degree of emotional response to the incoming stimuli. And yet... Sam is fairly fine...
He does indicate a level of emotionality (the hug, for one), but not dramatically different from the emotional responses of his late season 5 pre-Cage self. And at times those responses are even more on the subdued, downplayed side, as compared to late s5 (especially taking into account the end of Stull Cemetary stand-off and where it supposedly landed Sam emotionally). Shouldn't his fragile, hypersesitized via the Cage soul supply more raw, acute reactions? If anything, Sam is remarkably cool, logical and placid about many a thing through this episode.
The very fact that he actually woke up from the procedure, methinks, is indication enough that something is not quite right. Castiel was glad to see him alive, but also worried by Sam's unexpected placidity. Or so it seemed to me.
Speaking of Castiel's interchange with Sam. Castiel's joy and an attempted hug - sweet. Looks like Cas is viewing himself more of a 'third Winchester brother' than Adam ever did. Sam's detachment (granted he *saw* Cas die last time they met ) - odd. And to play Castiel's cluelessness like a fiddle... That just not quite what friends do, from what I've been told. Maybe, it's what brothers do? I dunno...
I'm not yet sure what to make of Sam's amnesia. Sure enough, human mind is prone to block traumatic experiences, for a while. Sam's memory of Hell is blocked by Death. The amnesia is Sam's own doing. But! His *mind* was not traumatized through the tenure as RoboSam, and his soul is allegedly too exhausted to battle the unpleasant experiences. So what's blocking what? Sam's mind, unwilling to let the soul deal with it's less than stellar performance? Or Sam's soul, shying away from shameful memories? But that's a healthy knee-jerk reaction to stress, right? Whereas Sam's soul is not supposed to be healthy, according to many a good 'doctor'.
Speaking of healthy reactions... Dean spent the whole episode afraid the knowledge of RoboSam's exploits will crush Sam. Whereas the truth is - it didn't. Sam is bewildered by what he learns from Cas, upset, maybe (though he sure seemed mighty calm and cool as a cucumber through the final exchange with Dean), but abhorred by what he's told he did? Not so much. Shattered and rendered disfunctional by the shere magnitude of guilt? Far from it. Well, maybe things will change once his memory is fully reinstated. But for now, Sam is keeping his cool, focused on figuring out the facts with surgical precision and not sparing emotional undercurrents more attention than they are due at any given moment. If at all. And you know who gave off the similar vibe at times? Right... RoboSam... *ducts undercover*
Honestly, I have no idea what to make of it all for now. Could it be, that Sam's soul is far less damaged, than everybody and their angel are apprehensive about? If so - what does it mean? An illustarion to Death's statement that a soul is stronger than we know? More staedfast? Or something far more menacing altogether? There are many ways for Hell to 'damage' and/or 'mutilate' a soul... Inflicting pain upon it is but one of them. Forging it into an entity of darkness - is another...
One thing is true - I SOOOO want to be wrong on the latter assumption.
Randomettes.
- Virgins. Don't have much by way of intelligent analysis to say here, apart from the metaphoric manifestation of carnal and spiritual purity, false purity or lack thereof (the concept of 'scarring' one's vessel, anyone?);
- Dr. Visyak. O_o Want more of her. Want more of her and Bobby. Want more of her helping Team Winchester out with research.
- Bobby to Sam: 'It's got nothing to do with you, Sam. How could it?' Just. Priceless. Sure, it never does, Sammy, dear! Never ever.
- Dean on Cas: "Friggin' child!" Precious. Is it just me, or are Dean and Cas doing the big-rother push-n'-pull on each other lately? Both convinced *he* is the big brother in the ratio?
- Dragon Cave. Was a bit tacky, but the fight sequence was fairly badass. Loved that rail-push-up-and-kick thing Dean did. Sam saving Dean's life didn't hurt either.
ETA: Can't believe I'm done! As it goes, I'll comb the bugs out in due course, but for now am posting as is to finally be able to emerge from the overview hibernation and go read the insightful reviews my f-list supplied in abundance.