3.09 Malleus Maleficarum: That’s What Hell Is

[bardicvoice]

3.09 Malleus Maleficarum:  That’s What Hell Is

Bombshell from fight with

Desperate housewitch “book club:”

Demons were human.

Episode Summary

The bizarre death by tooth loss of a pretty young woman in Sturbridge, Massachusetts and the attempted murder of her lover by maggot-burger drew the Winchester brothers into the pursuit of a black-magic witch.

Comments

[riverbella]

This show uses irony maybe more effectively than anything I've ever seen, especially the way it is structured to flip-flop the roles the brothers take on in response to constantly-changing circumstances. Less intelligent writers and directors, and less talented actors would find it difficult to carry that off so seamlessly and without losing character integrity. Dean's speech about how things were supposed to be--driving around in the car arguing about the sanctity of life etc.--was extremely poignant. Dean is aware that he needs that check, and he also has a lot of guilt over his part in stealing Sam's innocence over the years. Sam is strong, strong enough to do what he has to do to go on and fight if indeed he can't save his brother, but in losing Dean, he will be losing a large part of himself--and deliberately stripping away some of it by choice so that he can deal with "this craphole of a world" with which he will be left. Neither one can survive intact, if at all, without the other. It is heartbreaking

[bardicvoice]

Thanks for coming, and sorry I never responded; life's been nuts. In a good way, but nuts.

I care more about Ruby than I do about Bela, if only because I'm wondering so much about what she's really after, and why. I frankly don't care why Bela's a greedy bitch ... *grin*

And it looks as if we actually will get more of the season! I have my fingers crossed so hard, I'm having problems typing!

[whimsywinx]

Mary, your meta commentary scared me more than I had been in awhile (I swear this show is going to give me an ulcer). I'd been so wrapped up in Dean, that I failed to extrapolate what Ruby said to Sam's situation. I was already concerned about Sam losing his moral compass, now I'm downright terrified!

If Ruby's news that Dean will turn into a demon isn't incentive enough, I think Sam's revelation that he's trying to become Dean will be. His life is never what Dean wanted for Sam.

And am I the only one who thought it was ironic that the WitchDemon has the exorcism spell memorized?

(x-posted in TVG)

[bardicvoice]

Sorry for the scare, dear!

Did you notice that what the WitchDemon was using on Ruby wasn't the exorcism text we know? Everything they were playing with sounded like a variation on Gaelic, and that included the incantation to rip Ruby out of the body ...

[whimsywinx]

Ah, I thought something sounded different. It's obviously been too long since my last exorcism.

[just_ruth]

Thank you for a deep and thought-provoking review. The points you raise are indeed something to be mulled over and chewed on.

I disagree about the soundtrack, but I'll leave it at that. I think they missed an incredible opportunity to give new meaning to the name of the hotel by not using "Conquistedor" by Procol Harum.

And I just can't resist. . .
(This season had better not turn out to have been a djinn-induced dream …)

Oh, I don't know. Remembering another show that turned an entire season into a dream (and if you're the same age as "I put a spell on you" You know which show I mean) I could so live with the final shot of the season being Sam surprising a naked Dean in the shower. . .

[raputathebuta]

I could so live with the final shot of the season being Sam surprising a naked Dean in the shower. . .

And with that, all coherent thought has fled my brain!

[bardicvoice]

I certainly wouldn't mind a naked Dean in the shower shot (and yes, that show is precisely what I was referring to!), but I still don't want everything I've agonized over to have been nothing more than a dream! *grin*

Hmm, I wonder what the price tag is on using Procol Harum ... that might have had something to do with it.

[just_ruth]

Yes, the price of music does affect the soundtrack, ah, well, I can always make my own "fantasy soundtrack" :)

[yourlibrarian]

Between Ruby’s prodding, his own fears, and his growing despair at being unable to find a way out of Dean’s deal, Sam has begun deliberately forgetting who he is, in order to build the Sam that he thinks he needs to become

What a great observation. Goes back to what Casey said about hell being despair.

And I believe that now, facing the certainty of becoming a demon, he will finally have the incentive to search for a way to avoid dying and going to Hell because of his deal.

That's an intriguing idea as well. It would be a good shift for his character if he did.

I would never see Dean possessing someone else

Well, for the show's purposes that would only work if they wanted to change actors. For a fanfic writer though, what a fascinating idea it would be if he came back to share Sam's body.

I always thought that it was surprise that killed AzazelI agree. I also noted that Dean didn't try to hang on to Ruby's knife afterwards, both he and Sam left it for her. Given she helped Bobby create new bullets for the Colt I would

[bardicvoice]

Thanks for coming by and commenting! My apologies for not replying sooner - life's been nuts.

I loved the way that his discovery that he's fated to become a demon played out in Dream a Little Dream of Me ...

A Father's Influence

[katerush]

When I read your in-depth examinations of all-things-Supernatural, I come away with a much better understanding of all the subtle interactions of the characters and themes. But I need your help in understanding one point, for which I haven't been able to find any explanations. At this time, I'll ask your forgiveness if I am rehashing ancient history (but this is really bugging me and I'm hopeful you can help me see this more clearly

Re: A Father's Influence

[bardicvoice]

Hi, katerush! Welcome to my blog, thank you for commenting, and my apologies for not responding sooner - real life has been nuts.

About John - I'm not certain that his being in Hell would necessarily have given him the inside track on the demons' plans for Earth and his boys. And his goal and focus for so long was destroying the yellow-eyed demon that I wouldn't be surprised if the satisfaction and fulfillment of that goal wasn't enough to release him. He had fought so hard and for so long, had given so much, and finally had the joy of seeing his boys together and victorious ... I could see him laying his burden down. He'd been terminally tired, heart and soul, even before he'd been possessed and Dean had nearly died; I think he deserves his reward.

That said, he might still be out there, somewhere. I don't expect it, though. I like to think he's found his Mary again.