Reap what you sow. SPN 6.13 Unforgiven overview: Part 3
Part 1, Part 2
Sam.
Oh my... Where do I begin on this one... As if this overview needs to get any longer as is, but here goes.
The Wall of Sam.
Just a couple of points I'd like to dwell upon before we proceed further. I adhere to two assumptions wrt to the current state of Sam's soul and memory that facilitate me an analytic approach to interpreting his ways and bearing nowadas:
1) The Wall fends off the accumulated 'factual' memories of the Cage (what, how and by whom was done to Sam there), whereas the overall qaulitative changes ('skinned alive', 'flayed to the raw nerve') as a marker of abstract emotional capacity, the effects of those 'ministrations' presumably had on Sam's soul, are inherent to the said soul as an integral spiritual entity. As Death pointed out - a soul can't be devided. Hence, I can't see how a *part* of the soul that has been 'skinned alive' can be put behind the Wall. Were it so - resouled!Sam would indicate zero emotionality (which he doesn't), since *all* of his soul would be locked behind the Wall. However, the recollection of the actual *tools* and *procedures* of affecting his soul in the Cage, traumatic in their own right, are what the Wall blocks, and *that's* what we saw in the final scene (flames and all), highlighting the Wall breach.
That considered, my gripe about Sam's soulfulness this episode is consistently the same it was the last time: for someone, whose emotional capacity is 'skinned alive' - Sam's demeanor is remarkably composed. Given everything he learns and remembers this episode. He indicates a scope of emotional reactions, natural for anyone with half a soul and half a consciousness: he's dutifully appalled (though not all too surprized, from what I can tell) by the reminiscence of his antics, he explicates shame and empathy to an extend and he feels sorry (for himself as much as for anyone esle involved). But he's nowhere near crushed or humbled by those flashbacks. A teeny-tiny snippet right after it all comes back to Sam: 'Chill out, Dean'. That's not a reaction of someone who's utterly devastated by what he remembers having done, as his state-of-soul presupposes. Ergo, while I'm not in the least arguing how unimaginable traumatic the experince of the Cage was (the final glimpse proved as much) I'm left wondering as to the eventual effect of that trauma on Sam's soul. Hitched to the evidence of Sam's invigorated trademark anger/drive/self-centeredness/single-mided obsessiveness, highlighted in his interaction with Dean - those wonderings still leave me apprehensive, more than anything.
2) Sam's 'RoboSam' amnesia is not Death's doing and is not the effect of the Wall, but rather, the by-effect of the trauma of resoulment (which is physically and presumably mentally painful, as it was depicted). Or, quite possibly, an automatic protective mechanism of the mind, geared into action to protect Sam as a whole from the emotional impact of RoboSam memories, now that Sam's personality is complete with the abily to 'feel'. The reason I think amnesia is not Wall-induced per se is 'cause how abundantly the recollections seep in by way of flashbacks. That just appears more of a natural reaction of the mind to overcome shor-term amnesia once the information stimuli reach conscious perception range, than breaching a supernaturally erectied firewall, designed specifically *not* to crack for some time (I just have trouble believing Death's handiwork guarantee expiration term was to be a couple of weeks tops). We did get a glimpse of the latter only at the very end of the episode. Hence, accessing the RoboSam memoried does not tantamount in my view to actually scratching the Wall. However, Dean seems to be right on this one, the emotional impact of processing RoboSam memories can distabilize Sam's psyche enough to 'cuase a breach in the Wall proper. Which we witnessed. The question is, however, what *kind* of impact results in this instability. Dean seems to be convinced it's Sam's getting upset over RoboSam (or over pretty much anything). I have my reservations, which I'll voice a bit later, if you bear with me.
Sam and RoboSam.
As it is pans out, the bulk of the episode structure is the juxtaposition of resouled!Sam and RoboSam. What I don't think this structural device was about is the opposition of the two. At least, not in the manner exceeding immediate interpretative surface. And no, please, no need to throw heavy stuff aiming in the general direction of my head. Not just yet, anyway *g*
I'm not claiming that resouled!Sam was identical in demeanor to RoboSam. He wasn't. Resouled Sam was expressing emotion and empathy in all the right places (but his interaction with Dean, however I've pointed that out at length so far). Sugar grains dutifully spilled for us, viewrs, to pick up if we so please. Which is perfectly okay and provides for one of the many planes of the episode perception.
However, the circumstancial context of RoboSam's and Resouled!Sam's actions through the flashback and real-time dimentions respectively, is not corresponding enough to provide for a viable, full-scale opposition of these two installations of Sam to my mind: no civillians to refuse indignantly use as bait for Soul!Sam, no injured monster victims to rush to ER as opposed to putting down, etc.
By far, the only evident circumstancial premise that was a match for both versions of Sam and indicated behavioral opposition (please, don't mix that up with difference!) was the exploitation of sexuality - Soul!Sam didn't jump Brenna's bones while on the case, that's true. But then again, neither did RoboSam back in the flashback, though she fit his 'type'. Maybe Brenna just didn't appeal to him in *that* way? Besides, she didn't appear in the least interested neither then nor now. She loved Roy - that's gotta count for something.
Oh and yeah, Soul!Sam didn't smash Deputy Sheriff's brain's out to escape custody. May have something to do with being arrested in broad daylight in te middle of the town the second time around.
I'm being ironic, of course, but I'm also pointing out that the circumstances to ensue presumably opposable course of action were not exactly compatible.
My point is, that through the episode span Soul!Sam for the most part was subjected to accumulating *reactions* to his RoboSam installation, than indulging into actions that could irrevocably showcase Sam being =/= RoboSam once and for good. Which, to my mind, is one of the major underlying messages the episode translated - there's *no* way to effectively and conveniently divorce Sam proper from RoboSam. Why do I think that? 'Cause the episode narrative, via *Sam* himself arrives at a conclusion, as a sum total of his accumulated reactions to RoboSam through the episode: 'It was me' (meaning Sam).
And I do believe that conclusion is well earned, though the apparent evidence of Sam and RoboSam juxtaposition might not supply it right away. 'Cause, since this episode relies heavily on the concept of deja vu, as a narrative and interpretative technique, the sources of that conclusion of Sam's ('It was me') need to be traced in retrospect. RoboSam flashbacks didn't just work as a foil to appall Soul!Sam and make his renewed emotionality stand out. The very *subject matter* of those flashbacks is strategically linked to specific instanses of Sam's pre-Cage life/demeanor/motives.
Let's have a look:
- RoboSam's extremely violent, unasked for assault on the Deputy :: When the Levee Breaks (Sam freaking out and beating Dean to a pulp);
- RoboSam's 'Family just slows you down' :: Sex and Violence (Sam is spelling the same thing to Dean, in exactly the same words!) [and no, please, no need to argue that Sammy was under Siren's spell back then - *two* distinct supernatural excuses to showcase the *identical* mindset is one excuse too many; for those are retroactively not excuses anymore but a *pattern* of Sam's very much authintic, if usually repressed, line of rumination];
- RoboSam going at it Casa Erotica style, while on a case :: Sex and Violence yet again (Dr. Cara), s4 Ruby comes to mind too;
- RoboSam sacrifycing Roy as bait/means to an end :: Jus in Bello (hapless virgin Nancy); Jump the Shark (more hapless still Adam). On those occasions Sam was not allowed to carry the plan out, but the line of reasoning was there.
- RoboSam's mercy-killing Roy and other victims :: pre-Cage Sam has never done anything like that, true. But we know of someone who did just that. John (killing an injured Harvelle, whom he heretofere used as bait). Who's cannonically Sam's cognate in the story. Who was even brough up in this very episode. So I do think that part of the flashback was also evoked for a specific reason.
Namely, to my mind, one of the major reasons for all those flashbacks was to indicate (and bring Sam to recognize) that RoboSam was, in fact, adhering to the course of actions and motives not altogether alien to the Sam we used to know pre-Cage. RoboSam did not just something Sam proper is hypothetically capable of, but some of the stuff Sam proper actually *did*, thought or considered doing at a certain point. And I do believe *that's* what Sam acknowledged, justifyably so, claiming 'It was me'.
It's a fundamental, albeit, an unpleasant epiphany as far as this character is concerned. And was really glad he eventually got there. It's an important step (if only Dean would catch up too some time soon - I'll be a gratified viewr tenfold).
The epiphany per se, this way, did humor me. But not the way Sam chooses to tackle it. Which is through simmering anger, frustration and annoyance (and subsequenly lashing out onto Dean - which is all but second nature manifesting, sadly). For Sam's resoulment arc to be viable, let alone successful, he needs to learn humility and low-profile shame, not to flare in rage at the things he does wrong or perceives wrong about himself. Again. Anger has always been Sam's undoing. Shouldn't he have learned his cue by now?
Incidentally, the way I managed to deduce, Sam's anger and frustration might have been the emotions, primarily instrumental to cracking the Wall. Through the span of the episode (more so before the final flashback hits) Sam gets increasingly enraged (at his inability to remeber first, at Dean's attempts to prevent him, at redemption not coming in buckets in the end). Through the scene preceding the seizure Sam is not so much shattered by what he knows he's done or crushed by guilt, as he's angry, sizzling below the surface (at Dean being right, at the attempted 'undoing' and 'fixing' gone wrong, at Dean's stint in denial, at it not being true, at those memories being so damn awful). So I do think the accumulated experince of anger (which began to burst out fairly early in the episode by way of Sam's intensity and drive) was the key to inflicting that crack in the Wall, spilling the memory through.
And now, on to the Grand issue of the episode: the journey of Sam's Redemption, as effectively foreshadowed by the episode title.
I actually liked quite a bit how the episode managed to balance out the three ajacent concepts: ABSOLUTION, REDEMPTION, FORGIVENESS.
ABSOLUTION of Sam for RoboSam's antics (by way of amnesia and/or desoulment) gets cleared out of the way pretty early.
Deputy's jibe 'Good luck selling it to the judge' is pretty symbolic in this respect. For indeed, that you don't remember it doesn't mean you didn't do it and thus can't be held accountable for doing it.
As the episode unravelled, due to the points I tried to outline above (and assiduously adhere to), absolution via desoulment was also fairly discredited, effectively implicating RoboSam's ways and deeds as derivative from those of Sam proper.
REDEMPTION is something Sam is primarily after through the run of the episode. In keeping with his 6.12 manifesto, Sam is determined to seek out the way to 'fix', or rather 'undo' the damage that he's done while desouled.
Somehow, the array of palusible things for Sam to fix fails to include Dean and Bobby by default. The episode picks up in a motel, effectively banning any possibility of Sam interacting with Bobby (and therefore setting things right with him in whichever fashion); as to Sam's treatment of Dean - I've elaborated at length so far. Dean's well-being in the aftermath of RoboSam's antics, or any other brand of Dean's well-being (alongside consideration or respect for his brother's opinion) just don't make it into the charts of Sam's Grand Path of Redemption.
For, said as it is to acknowledge, Sam's redemption this time around (like it was several times before that, my trusty deja vu hat supplies) is ALL ABOUT SAM.
Sam starts out claiming responsibility for what's been done and the necessity to prevent more from happening. But all that case- and victim- oriented talk soon drowns within the depths of Sam's escalating sense of SELF and, hence, the self-centered, self-righteous (yeah, I'm just a notch away from labelling it 'selfish') hell-bent drive to be THE ONE to fix it (just note the sheer number of the "I's" and "me's" whenever Sam reasons about his involvement with the case).
Were it actually about cleaning up the mess (i.e. the 'object' of redemption), Sam could have conceded to any of the instances Dean offered to relegate the case to other hunters, due to the risks (or at least conceded to letting Dean do the bulk of investigation). THAT would've been professional, that could've actually provided for sparing some of the lives (had Sam left town right away, arachne!Roy could've stopped killing his former flames); and that could've resulted into killing Roy sparing Brenna the trauma. Let alone that would've spared Dean a world of fright, and spared Sam's own self a crack in the wall. But all the above ceased being the point fairly early in the episode. For Sam wouldn't let go of a chance to make things right HIMSELF, since then he wouldn't be able to praise himself for efficient atonement. And THAT is just a step short of capital 'P' Pride. Which, alongside anger, has never before led Sam anywhere nice or remotely safe.
The apotheosis of Sam's reasoning
"'cause I got a frigging soul now, and it won't let me just walk away."
is effectively a self-placating delusion, this way. And an underlyingly hypocrical one, at that. For on two distinct occasions through his life-span, the soul didn't prevent him from abstaining from inherent responsibilities of the hunt. First - two years at Stanford. Monsters didn't stop lurking in the dark, but Sam's soul didn't stop him from walking away. Second - in Free To Be You and Me, s5 (and a bit earlier - at the end of Good God, Ya'll). Luicfer didn't stop his stride planetside, demons lurked all about, Horsemen were unleshed, but Sam's soul didn't stop him from walking away and wallow in self pity (not resorting to research in the backseat, to be useful and help hunt the Devil - just walking away). True, he considered his blood-addiction a liability in the field then, but his current amnesia, coupled with the Wall could prove no less a liability, when push comes to shove. The point is - his soul had nothing to do with Sam abstaining from the hunt on those prior occasions. What was instrumental to drawing him *back* those times was the need for *personal* revenge/redemption. Does that ring familiar? My deja vu hat is running on fumes, exhausted, so far.
What Sam studiously overlooks, building up his passionate (and sound reason-defying) arguments through this episode, is the *personal* part of the equation.
What bothers me even still is the way Sam chooses to go about the pursuit of redemption (fixing/undoing): via stubbornly accessing his memories, against Dean's pleas and admonitions.
Now, yet again, please don't get me wrong on this one: I do firmly believe that Sam *needs* to experience the full scope of his RoboSam memories, for his resouled self to be a veritable whole personality, capable of facing off with and owning up to *all* its aspects. Same way as I do believe Sam needs his memory of the Cage. For the scope of his experinces and the premise of his further personal development (whiever way it takes) to be complete.
But within the context of the episode, Sam's drive to get HIS memories back, instead of resorting to 'regular' investigation no matter what, even at the cost of self-destruction, rang eerily as a short-cut. My deja vu hat went as far as to highlight 'psychic powers to do away with demons as opposed to exorcism or a demon killing knife'.
Yet again, deeming HIS own inner resourses a more efficient means to an end than anything from without and supplying an abundance of *good*, and *moral* and *right* justifications by way of motives has not led Sam down pretty paths, so far. It's a shaky ground he resorted to treading this episode, at best. I might be overrracting here, but still. Couldn't shake off the apprehension.
Bottomline newsflash: redemption is, supposedly, to be about making what one damaged better, or preventing further damage from happening, not about making the one having caused the damage feel better about it.
And that's why, eventually, Sam's redemption fell short, to my mind, too invested in the concept of 'self' that it was.
When all's said and done, Sam's involvement into ivestigation set more things wrong (about himself, about Dean, about their brotherhood, about Brenna and her peace of mind) than it set right. And nothing was actually undone, let alone fixed. Because at times, nothing actually *can* be undone. But the experience of inflicting the damage can be appropriated, exert guilt and shame and used as a guidepost to avoid being repeated. Sometimes, that's all the redemption there possibly is.
In the meantime, now that Sam is resouled, among other things, he's reinstated with the capacity to feel sorry. I'd argue how much of that is feeling sorry for what's been done and how much - feeling sorry for himself, since he was the one to do it, but this overview is getting too long as is.
So Sam asks Brenna for FORGIVENESS, jumping at the conclusion that his admittance to a misgiving and attempted, if failed, redemption would issue, or should issue just that. That's not the first time he arrives at a similar assumption, chances are - won't be the last.
FORGIVENESS, however, is a willful/voluntary moral (and cognitive) act, exercised by an individual on the receiving end of the inflicted damage (emotional or physical), which presupposes, among other things, conscious aknowledgement of the a) said damage b) cuprit's complicity.
*Wilfull/voluntary* is one of the keys here. Brenna acknowledges Sam's complicity, but doesn't deem it necessary to wilfully cancel it. Why should she? She doesn't know him and doesn't have to care for the repercussions of Sam's guilt trip. She doesn't owe Sam making him feel better. So Sam remains... yeah, you've guessed - UNFORGIVEN.
That was a rather crafty trip from foreshadowing to the message, if you ask me.
In a way, Dean's ongoing denial as to Sam's complicity in RoboSams feats, factors into the concept too. As long as Dean refuses to recognize Sam's responsibility, there's nothing to found forgiveness on. So Sam still remains UNFORGIVEN.
The point I'd like to voice out in this respect, is that Sam would do good the next time, pursuing redemption via fixing the damage done to someone, who actually *cares* for Sam enough to grant Sam forgiveness in the aftermath. Sure, it's Dean I'm alluding to.
Sam's Hell.
I must say, I'm reserving the judgemet for the time being as to the effects of the Cage, we've been shown in the final scene, on Sam's current state of self and state of soul, planetside. For the textual symmetry sake I daresay it may be a safe bet to assume, things are not exactly what they appear or are linearly deductible from what we've seen. We've glimpsed Sam's hurt and fright, so much is true - but we don't know yet what those hellish flames actually *forged* Sam into as a result. It's the Devil's trap, mind you. It's specifically designed to make Satan out of Angel.
One of the least preferable lines of building onto that glimpse, however, could be to just leave it at that: Sam having been inhumanly damaged by the fires of Hell. Effectively leaving Dean to nurse his brother back to emotional health. That just doesn't supply for compelling drama, as far as I'm concerned. And I'm not even getting started on the plausible comrarison of Dean's and Sam's Hells [presumably in favor of Sam's being worse by default]. THAT would just be a characterization and story-telling letdown. And I don't wonna get irked till I'm forced to do so by the show narrative.
Unless, of course, the show chooses to exploit Sam's Cage-inflicted damage as a tool to elaborate an outlined moral conflict: the possible justification, or lack thereof, of having forcefully stuffed Sam with a soul. I just ardently hope Sam doesn't arrive at the deduction he was better off without one. Dean is heartbroken and straddled with a truck-load of responsibility as is. He *needs* his brother's soul (self-absorbtion and brotherly disregard and all). Guess, we shall see how it pans out eventually.
On the execution note, I rather liked the symbolic undertones Sam's glimpse of Hell evokes. The flames accompany him through his life: Mary's death, Jessica, other YED's arsons. T
Besides, this glimpse is symmetrical to the ones we got of Dean's hell: Dean's hell was about gore and grime, tapping into the concept of humiliation and self-loathing (which became Dean's undoing); Sam's exploits the concept of 'fire' or 'flame' which relates to the idea of being 'consumed' (by revenge, by rage, by guilt, by pride) and subsequently burning out. Befitting Sam and his itinerary, IMO.
Samuel vs. Sam vs. Dean
Just a very quick note here on the idea that occurred to me: Sam's interaction pattern in the flashbacks and in real time effectively juxtaposes Samuel and Dean as Sam's enablers of sorts. Samuel - of RoboSamness, indignant of his grandkids actions, but not steping up to stop them. Dean - of Samness, understanding full-well where Sam's drive and obsessive self-centered ways could lead, but not having it in him to forecefully abort Sam's exploits. Or maybe, respecting and caring for his brother's needs to much. All but to a fault.
While we're on it - I liked Samuel in the flashbacks a lot more, than in 'real life'. He did indicate a degree of human decency and honor, at least being disturbed by Sam's ruthlessness. And he does seem to love Mary too much for his own good. But retroactively, that doesn't change much: demon shenanigans and betrayal of his own flesh and blood. In a way, Samuel is too - UNFORGIVEN.
Brenna Dobbs.
I just wanted to make a quick mention of how much I enjoyed her character, brief her appearance as it was. Subtle and caring, yet strong and steadfast, she provided a peculiar angle of depiction of some of the episode key concepts: acceptance, forgiveness and absolution.
She's made peace with Roy's demise, but would like to learn the truth. However, her drive for just that doesn't overpower or consume her, like it woefully does Sam.
She's appalled by the truth behind what happened to Roy, but she still sees her husband for what he's become - a monster, and helps stop his monstrous doings. Monstrousity, even through no fault of Roy's - is not absolution enough. A curious and tell-tale reflection of the whole RoboSam dilemma, to my mind.
Eventually, she refuses to grant Sam forgiveness - highlighting the tough truth that an ill-advised feat of redemption might not as well change anything; what's been done can not very well be undone. Not at a whim. Not at will. It's real people hurting, and real lives shattered. So she witholds Sam the one thing he craves for *himself* - a chance to feel better. Since the one's hurt by his actions can't feel better, unless he makes it his specific objective in pursuit of redemption.
Randomettes:
- Team!Samuel are far worse hunters than they both like to think: to mercykill an *infected* victim not the same way the original monster is killed was, IMO, a rookie mistake. You kill someone bit by a werewolf the way you kill a werewolf, right? Same goes for vampires. Why presume Arachnes don't fit the profile?
- Dean Winchester is the coolest, consumate professional hunter EVA. Dixi.
- Dean got all dovey-eyed over a brunette with 'wild eyes'. Lisa, back in the day, referred to her younger self as 'wild'. Is that how they got together in the first place? It's all in the eyes? In my 'shippy heart - that counts as proof he misses her. Yay, show!
- Dean called Sam 'Sammy' for the first time upon resoulment. Guess, that highlights the return of 'big brother -litte brother' mode. Can't say I'm too thrilled, but it's justified. It's 'Sammy' when Dean's full-throttle protective.
ETA: I can't believe I've finished it! This overview pretty much ate my brain (though the episode proper didn't, oddly enough). But finally I can post and emerge from hibernation, catching up on the other insightful reviews out there. Thanks for bearing with me, if you ever got this far.
Sam.
Oh my... Where do I begin on this one... As if this overview needs to get any longer as is, but here goes.
The Wall of Sam.
Just a couple of points I'd like to dwell upon before we proceed further. I adhere to two assumptions wrt to the current state of Sam's soul and memory that facilitate me an analytic approach to interpreting his ways and bearing nowadas:
1) The Wall fends off the accumulated 'factual' memories of the Cage (what, how and by whom was done to Sam there), whereas the overall qaulitative changes ('skinned alive', 'flayed to the raw nerve') as a marker of abstract emotional capacity, the effects of those 'ministrations' presumably had on Sam's soul, are inherent to the said soul as an integral spiritual entity. As Death pointed out - a soul can't be devided. Hence, I can't see how a *part* of the soul that has been 'skinned alive' can be put behind the Wall. Were it so - resouled!Sam would indicate zero emotionality (which he doesn't), since *all* of his soul would be locked behind the Wall. However, the recollection of the actual *tools* and *procedures* of affecting his soul in the Cage, traumatic in their own right, are what the Wall blocks, and *that's* what we saw in the final scene (flames and all), highlighting the Wall breach.
That considered, my gripe about Sam's soulfulness this episode is consistently the same it was the last time: for someone, whose emotional capacity is 'skinned alive' - Sam's demeanor is remarkably composed. Given everything he learns and remembers this episode. He indicates a scope of emotional reactions, natural for anyone with half a soul and half a consciousness: he's dutifully appalled (though not all too surprized, from what I can tell) by the reminiscence of his antics, he explicates shame and empathy to an extend and he feels sorry (for himself as much as for anyone esle involved). But he's nowhere near crushed or humbled by those flashbacks. A teeny-tiny snippet right after it all comes back to Sam: 'Chill out, Dean'. That's not a reaction of someone who's utterly devastated by what he remembers having done, as his state-of-soul presupposes. Ergo, while I'm not in the least arguing how unimaginable traumatic the experince of the Cage was (the final glimpse proved as much) I'm left wondering as to the eventual effect of that trauma on Sam's soul. Hitched to the evidence of Sam's invigorated trademark anger/drive/self-centeredness/single-mided obsessiveness, highlighted in his interaction with Dean - those wonderings still leave me apprehensive, more than anything.
2) Sam's 'RoboSam' amnesia is not Death's doing and is not the effect of the Wall, but rather, the by-effect of the trauma of resoulment (which is physically and presumably mentally painful, as it was depicted). Or, quite possibly, an automatic protective mechanism of the mind, geared into action to protect Sam as a whole from the emotional impact of RoboSam memories, now that Sam's personality is complete with the abily to 'feel'. The reason I think amnesia is not Wall-induced per se is 'cause how abundantly the recollections seep in by way of flashbacks. That just appears more of a natural reaction of the mind to overcome shor-term amnesia once the information stimuli reach conscious perception range, than breaching a supernaturally erectied firewall, designed specifically *not* to crack for some time (I just have trouble believing Death's handiwork guarantee expiration term was to be a couple of weeks tops). We did get a glimpse of the latter only at the very end of the episode. Hence, accessing the RoboSam memoried does not tantamount in my view to actually scratching the Wall. However, Dean seems to be right on this one, the emotional impact of processing RoboSam memories can distabilize Sam's psyche enough to 'cuase a breach in the Wall proper. Which we witnessed. The question is, however, what *kind* of impact results in this instability. Dean seems to be convinced it's Sam's getting upset over RoboSam (or over pretty much anything). I have my reservations, which I'll voice a bit later, if you bear with me.
Sam and RoboSam.
As it is pans out, the bulk of the episode structure is the juxtaposition of resouled!Sam and RoboSam. What I don't think this structural device was about is the opposition of the two. At least, not in the manner exceeding immediate interpretative surface. And no, please, no need to throw heavy stuff aiming in the general direction of my head. Not just yet, anyway *g*
I'm not claiming that resouled!Sam was identical in demeanor to RoboSam. He wasn't. Resouled Sam was expressing emotion and empathy in all the right places (but his interaction with Dean, however I've pointed that out at length so far). Sugar grains dutifully spilled for us, viewrs, to pick up if we so please. Which is perfectly okay and provides for one of the many planes of the episode perception.
However, the circumstancial context of RoboSam's and Resouled!Sam's actions through the flashback and real-time dimentions respectively, is not corresponding enough to provide for a viable, full-scale opposition of these two installations of Sam to my mind: no civillians to refuse indignantly use as bait for Soul!Sam, no injured monster victims to rush to ER as opposed to putting down, etc.
By far, the only evident circumstancial premise that was a match for both versions of Sam and indicated behavioral opposition (please, don't mix that up with difference!) was the exploitation of sexuality - Soul!Sam didn't jump Brenna's bones while on the case, that's true. But then again, neither did RoboSam back in the flashback, though she fit his 'type'. Maybe Brenna just didn't appeal to him in *that* way? Besides, she didn't appear in the least interested neither then nor now. She loved Roy - that's gotta count for something.
Oh and yeah, Soul!Sam didn't smash Deputy Sheriff's brain's out to escape custody. May have something to do with being arrested in broad daylight in te middle of the town the second time around.
I'm being ironic, of course, but I'm also pointing out that the circumstances to ensue presumably opposable course of action were not exactly compatible.
My point is, that through the episode span Soul!Sam for the most part was subjected to accumulating *reactions* to his RoboSam installation, than indulging into actions that could irrevocably showcase Sam being =/= RoboSam once and for good. Which, to my mind, is one of the major underlying messages the episode translated - there's *no* way to effectively and conveniently divorce Sam proper from RoboSam. Why do I think that? 'Cause the episode narrative, via *Sam* himself arrives at a conclusion, as a sum total of his accumulated reactions to RoboSam through the episode: 'It was me' (meaning Sam).
And I do believe that conclusion is well earned, though the apparent evidence of Sam and RoboSam juxtaposition might not supply it right away. 'Cause, since this episode relies heavily on the concept of deja vu, as a narrative and interpretative technique, the sources of that conclusion of Sam's ('It was me') need to be traced in retrospect. RoboSam flashbacks didn't just work as a foil to appall Soul!Sam and make his renewed emotionality stand out. The very *subject matter* of those flashbacks is strategically linked to specific instanses of Sam's pre-Cage life/demeanor/motives.
Let's have a look:
- RoboSam's extremely violent, unasked for assault on the Deputy :: When the Levee Breaks (Sam freaking out and beating Dean to a pulp);
- RoboSam's 'Family just slows you down' :: Sex and Violence (Sam is spelling the same thing to Dean, in exactly the same words!) [and no, please, no need to argue that Sammy was under Siren's spell back then - *two* distinct supernatural excuses to showcase the *identical* mindset is one excuse too many; for those are retroactively not excuses anymore but a *pattern* of Sam's very much authintic, if usually repressed, line of rumination];
- RoboSam going at it Casa Erotica style, while on a case :: Sex and Violence yet again (Dr. Cara), s4 Ruby comes to mind too;
- RoboSam sacrifycing Roy as bait/means to an end :: Jus in Bello (hapless virgin Nancy); Jump the Shark (more hapless still Adam). On those occasions Sam was not allowed to carry the plan out, but the line of reasoning was there.
- RoboSam's mercy-killing Roy and other victims :: pre-Cage Sam has never done anything like that, true. But we know of someone who did just that. John (killing an injured Harvelle, whom he heretofere used as bait). Who's cannonically Sam's cognate in the story. Who was even brough up in this very episode. So I do think that part of the flashback was also evoked for a specific reason.
Namely, to my mind, one of the major reasons for all those flashbacks was to indicate (and bring Sam to recognize) that RoboSam was, in fact, adhering to the course of actions and motives not altogether alien to the Sam we used to know pre-Cage. RoboSam did not just something Sam proper is hypothetically capable of, but some of the stuff Sam proper actually *did*, thought or considered doing at a certain point. And I do believe *that's* what Sam acknowledged, justifyably so, claiming 'It was me'.
It's a fundamental, albeit, an unpleasant epiphany as far as this character is concerned. And was really glad he eventually got there. It's an important step (if only Dean would catch up too some time soon - I'll be a gratified viewr tenfold).
The epiphany per se, this way, did humor me. But not the way Sam chooses to tackle it. Which is through simmering anger, frustration and annoyance (and subsequenly lashing out onto Dean - which is all but second nature manifesting, sadly). For Sam's resoulment arc to be viable, let alone successful, he needs to learn humility and low-profile shame, not to flare in rage at the things he does wrong or perceives wrong about himself. Again. Anger has always been Sam's undoing. Shouldn't he have learned his cue by now?
Incidentally, the way I managed to deduce, Sam's anger and frustration might have been the emotions, primarily instrumental to cracking the Wall. Through the span of the episode (more so before the final flashback hits) Sam gets increasingly enraged (at his inability to remeber first, at Dean's attempts to prevent him, at redemption not coming in buckets in the end). Through the scene preceding the seizure Sam is not so much shattered by what he knows he's done or crushed by guilt, as he's angry, sizzling below the surface (at Dean being right, at the attempted 'undoing' and 'fixing' gone wrong, at Dean's stint in denial, at it not being true, at those memories being so damn awful). So I do think the accumulated experince of anger (which began to burst out fairly early in the episode by way of Sam's intensity and drive) was the key to inflicting that crack in the Wall, spilling the memory through.
And now, on to the Grand issue of the episode: the journey of Sam's Redemption, as effectively foreshadowed by the episode title.
I actually liked quite a bit how the episode managed to balance out the three ajacent concepts: ABSOLUTION, REDEMPTION, FORGIVENESS.
ABSOLUTION of Sam for RoboSam's antics (by way of amnesia and/or desoulment) gets cleared out of the way pretty early.
Deputy's jibe 'Good luck selling it to the judge' is pretty symbolic in this respect. For indeed, that you don't remember it doesn't mean you didn't do it and thus can't be held accountable for doing it.
As the episode unravelled, due to the points I tried to outline above (and assiduously adhere to), absolution via desoulment was also fairly discredited, effectively implicating RoboSam's ways and deeds as derivative from those of Sam proper.
REDEMPTION is something Sam is primarily after through the run of the episode. In keeping with his 6.12 manifesto, Sam is determined to seek out the way to 'fix', or rather 'undo' the damage that he's done while desouled.
Somehow, the array of palusible things for Sam to fix fails to include Dean and Bobby by default. The episode picks up in a motel, effectively banning any possibility of Sam interacting with Bobby (and therefore setting things right with him in whichever fashion); as to Sam's treatment of Dean - I've elaborated at length so far. Dean's well-being in the aftermath of RoboSam's antics, or any other brand of Dean's well-being (alongside consideration or respect for his brother's opinion) just don't make it into the charts of Sam's Grand Path of Redemption.
For, said as it is to acknowledge, Sam's redemption this time around (like it was several times before that, my trusty deja vu hat supplies) is ALL ABOUT SAM.
Sam starts out claiming responsibility for what's been done and the necessity to prevent more from happening. But all that case- and victim- oriented talk soon drowns within the depths of Sam's escalating sense of SELF and, hence, the self-centered, self-righteous (yeah, I'm just a notch away from labelling it 'selfish') hell-bent drive to be THE ONE to fix it (just note the sheer number of the "I's" and "me's" whenever Sam reasons about his involvement with the case).
Were it actually about cleaning up the mess (i.e. the 'object' of redemption), Sam could have conceded to any of the instances Dean offered to relegate the case to other hunters, due to the risks (or at least conceded to letting Dean do the bulk of investigation). THAT would've been professional, that could've actually provided for sparing some of the lives (had Sam left town right away, arachne!Roy could've stopped killing his former flames); and that could've resulted into killing Roy sparing Brenna the trauma. Let alone that would've spared Dean a world of fright, and spared Sam's own self a crack in the wall. But all the above ceased being the point fairly early in the episode. For Sam wouldn't let go of a chance to make things right HIMSELF, since then he wouldn't be able to praise himself for efficient atonement. And THAT is just a step short of capital 'P' Pride. Which, alongside anger, has never before led Sam anywhere nice or remotely safe.
The apotheosis of Sam's reasoning
"'cause I got a frigging soul now, and it won't let me just walk away."
is effectively a self-placating delusion, this way. And an underlyingly hypocrical one, at that. For on two distinct occasions through his life-span, the soul didn't prevent him from abstaining from inherent responsibilities of the hunt. First - two years at Stanford. Monsters didn't stop lurking in the dark, but Sam's soul didn't stop him from walking away. Second - in Free To Be You and Me, s5 (and a bit earlier - at the end of Good God, Ya'll). Luicfer didn't stop his stride planetside, demons lurked all about, Horsemen were unleshed, but Sam's soul didn't stop him from walking away and wallow in self pity (not resorting to research in the backseat, to be useful and help hunt the Devil - just walking away). True, he considered his blood-addiction a liability in the field then, but his current amnesia, coupled with the Wall could prove no less a liability, when push comes to shove. The point is - his soul had nothing to do with Sam abstaining from the hunt on those prior occasions. What was instrumental to drawing him *back* those times was the need for *personal* revenge/redemption. Does that ring familiar? My deja vu hat is running on fumes, exhausted, so far.
What Sam studiously overlooks, building up his passionate (and sound reason-defying) arguments through this episode, is the *personal* part of the equation.
What bothers me even still is the way Sam chooses to go about the pursuit of redemption (fixing/undoing): via stubbornly accessing his memories, against Dean's pleas and admonitions.
Now, yet again, please don't get me wrong on this one: I do firmly believe that Sam *needs* to experience the full scope of his RoboSam memories, for his resouled self to be a veritable whole personality, capable of facing off with and owning up to *all* its aspects. Same way as I do believe Sam needs his memory of the Cage. For the scope of his experinces and the premise of his further personal development (whiever way it takes) to be complete.
But within the context of the episode, Sam's drive to get HIS memories back, instead of resorting to 'regular' investigation no matter what, even at the cost of self-destruction, rang eerily as a short-cut. My deja vu hat went as far as to highlight 'psychic powers to do away with demons as opposed to exorcism or a demon killing knife'.
Yet again, deeming HIS own inner resourses a more efficient means to an end than anything from without and supplying an abundance of *good*, and *moral* and *right* justifications by way of motives has not led Sam down pretty paths, so far. It's a shaky ground he resorted to treading this episode, at best. I might be overrracting here, but still. Couldn't shake off the apprehension.
Bottomline newsflash: redemption is, supposedly, to be about making what one damaged better, or preventing further damage from happening, not about making the one having caused the damage feel better about it.
And that's why, eventually, Sam's redemption fell short, to my mind, too invested in the concept of 'self' that it was.
When all's said and done, Sam's involvement into ivestigation set more things wrong (about himself, about Dean, about their brotherhood, about Brenna and her peace of mind) than it set right. And nothing was actually undone, let alone fixed. Because at times, nothing actually *can* be undone. But the experience of inflicting the damage can be appropriated, exert guilt and shame and used as a guidepost to avoid being repeated. Sometimes, that's all the redemption there possibly is.
In the meantime, now that Sam is resouled, among other things, he's reinstated with the capacity to feel sorry. I'd argue how much of that is feeling sorry for what's been done and how much - feeling sorry for himself, since he was the one to do it, but this overview is getting too long as is.
So Sam asks Brenna for FORGIVENESS, jumping at the conclusion that his admittance to a misgiving and attempted, if failed, redemption would issue, or should issue just that. That's not the first time he arrives at a similar assumption, chances are - won't be the last.
FORGIVENESS, however, is a willful/voluntary moral (and cognitive) act, exercised by an individual on the receiving end of the inflicted damage (emotional or physical), which presupposes, among other things, conscious aknowledgement of the a) said damage b) cuprit's complicity.
*Wilfull/voluntary* is one of the keys here. Brenna acknowledges Sam's complicity, but doesn't deem it necessary to wilfully cancel it. Why should she? She doesn't know him and doesn't have to care for the repercussions of Sam's guilt trip. She doesn't owe Sam making him feel better. So Sam remains... yeah, you've guessed - UNFORGIVEN.
That was a rather crafty trip from foreshadowing to the message, if you ask me.
In a way, Dean's ongoing denial as to Sam's complicity in RoboSams feats, factors into the concept too. As long as Dean refuses to recognize Sam's responsibility, there's nothing to found forgiveness on. So Sam still remains UNFORGIVEN.
The point I'd like to voice out in this respect, is that Sam would do good the next time, pursuing redemption via fixing the damage done to someone, who actually *cares* for Sam enough to grant Sam forgiveness in the aftermath. Sure, it's Dean I'm alluding to.
Sam's Hell.
I must say, I'm reserving the judgemet for the time being as to the effects of the Cage, we've been shown in the final scene, on Sam's current state of self and state of soul, planetside. For the textual symmetry sake I daresay it may be a safe bet to assume, things are not exactly what they appear or are linearly deductible from what we've seen. We've glimpsed Sam's hurt and fright, so much is true - but we don't know yet what those hellish flames actually *forged* Sam into as a result. It's the Devil's trap, mind you. It's specifically designed to make Satan out of Angel.
One of the least preferable lines of building onto that glimpse, however, could be to just leave it at that: Sam having been inhumanly damaged by the fires of Hell. Effectively leaving Dean to nurse his brother back to emotional health. That just doesn't supply for compelling drama, as far as I'm concerned. And I'm not even getting started on the plausible comrarison of Dean's and Sam's Hells [presumably in favor of Sam's being worse by default]. THAT would just be a characterization and story-telling letdown. And I don't wonna get irked till I'm forced to do so by the show narrative.
Unless, of course, the show chooses to exploit Sam's Cage-inflicted damage as a tool to elaborate an outlined moral conflict: the possible justification, or lack thereof, of having forcefully stuffed Sam with a soul. I just ardently hope Sam doesn't arrive at the deduction he was better off without one. Dean is heartbroken and straddled with a truck-load of responsibility as is. He *needs* his brother's soul (self-absorbtion and brotherly disregard and all). Guess, we shall see how it pans out eventually.
On the execution note, I rather liked the symbolic undertones Sam's glimpse of Hell evokes. The flames accompany him through his life: Mary's death, Jessica, other YED's arsons. T
Besides, this glimpse is symmetrical to the ones we got of Dean's hell: Dean's hell was about gore and grime, tapping into the concept of humiliation and self-loathing (which became Dean's undoing); Sam's exploits the concept of 'fire' or 'flame' which relates to the idea of being 'consumed' (by revenge, by rage, by guilt, by pride) and subsequently burning out. Befitting Sam and his itinerary, IMO.
Samuel vs. Sam vs. Dean
Just a very quick note here on the idea that occurred to me: Sam's interaction pattern in the flashbacks and in real time effectively juxtaposes Samuel and Dean as Sam's enablers of sorts. Samuel - of RoboSamness, indignant of his grandkids actions, but not steping up to stop them. Dean - of Samness, understanding full-well where Sam's drive and obsessive self-centered ways could lead, but not having it in him to forecefully abort Sam's exploits. Or maybe, respecting and caring for his brother's needs to much. All but to a fault.
While we're on it - I liked Samuel in the flashbacks a lot more, than in 'real life'. He did indicate a degree of human decency and honor, at least being disturbed by Sam's ruthlessness. And he does seem to love Mary too much for his own good. But retroactively, that doesn't change much: demon shenanigans and betrayal of his own flesh and blood. In a way, Samuel is too - UNFORGIVEN.
Brenna Dobbs.
I just wanted to make a quick mention of how much I enjoyed her character, brief her appearance as it was. Subtle and caring, yet strong and steadfast, she provided a peculiar angle of depiction of some of the episode key concepts: acceptance, forgiveness and absolution.
She's made peace with Roy's demise, but would like to learn the truth. However, her drive for just that doesn't overpower or consume her, like it woefully does Sam.
She's appalled by the truth behind what happened to Roy, but she still sees her husband for what he's become - a monster, and helps stop his monstrous doings. Monstrousity, even through no fault of Roy's - is not absolution enough. A curious and tell-tale reflection of the whole RoboSam dilemma, to my mind.
Eventually, she refuses to grant Sam forgiveness - highlighting the tough truth that an ill-advised feat of redemption might not as well change anything; what's been done can not very well be undone. Not at a whim. Not at will. It's real people hurting, and real lives shattered. So she witholds Sam the one thing he craves for *himself* - a chance to feel better. Since the one's hurt by his actions can't feel better, unless he makes it his specific objective in pursuit of redemption.
Randomettes:
- Team!Samuel are far worse hunters than they both like to think: to mercykill an *infected* victim not the same way the original monster is killed was, IMO, a rookie mistake. You kill someone bit by a werewolf the way you kill a werewolf, right? Same goes for vampires. Why presume Arachnes don't fit the profile?
- Dean Winchester is the coolest, consumate professional hunter EVA. Dixi.
- Dean got all dovey-eyed over a brunette with 'wild eyes'. Lisa, back in the day, referred to her younger self as 'wild'. Is that how they got together in the first place? It's all in the eyes? In my 'shippy heart - that counts as proof he misses her. Yay, show!
- Dean called Sam 'Sammy' for the first time upon resoulment. Guess, that highlights the return of 'big brother -litte brother' mode. Can't say I'm too thrilled, but it's justified. It's 'Sammy' when Dean's full-throttle protective.
ETA: I can't believe I've finished it! This overview pretty much ate my brain (though the episode proper didn't, oddly enough). But finally I can post and emerge from hibernation, catching up on the other insightful reviews out there. Thanks for bearing with me, if you ever got this far.