Scenes I Love . . .
"The Benders" conclusion.
At the start of the next scene, we see Sam storing Jared in the cage he formerly occupied, while Kathleen has Pa covered with her rifle. She tells Sam to go on ahead, but he hesitates. It’s clear he has doubts about leaving her alone with her brother’s murderer:
She insists, however, and once Sam is gone she reveals to Pa that his family killed her brother. “Just tell me why,” she wants to know. He responds, laughing callously:
We don’t see her shoot him, but we hear the gunshot from outside the building. And we know.
Sam and Dean appear from the house. We surmise that Sam has released Dean and they reveal they’ve locked Missy in a cupboard. “What about the dad?” asks Dean.
Her expression dares them to suggest otherwise.
Everyone exchanges awkward looks. The brothers know what she’s done, but I’m sure they can empathize. We can almost read Dean’s thoughts on his face. Doubtless he’s recalling how he promised the family that he’d kill them all if Sam was harmed, and we don’t doubt it. Even Sam might have used the gun he acquired if it hadn’t jammed on him. It was sheer luck that Jared did the job of shooting Pa for him. Sam might have wound up killing someone himself, but for the grace of . . . the narrative; he was spared crossing the line Kathleen crossed. For now.
And, as an audience, we’ve been compromised too, because wasn’t there at least a part of us willing her to pull the trigger?
So, Kathleen calls for a backup unit and tells Sam and Dean they’re on their way:
KATHLEEN: So, state police and the FBI are gonna be here within the hour. They’re gonna wanna talk to you. I suggest that you’re both long gone by then.
DEAN: Thanks.
http://www.supernaturalwiki.com/1.15_The_Benders_(transcript)
She gives him an odd look in response, and there’s a pregnant pause that gives us time to reflect on what’s happening here. This isn’t just generosity on her part. Sure, the brothers can’t afford a confrontation with the state police but, equally, Kathleen can’t afford for them to say something that might contradict the story she’s going to give the authorities. The brothers know Pa’s death was a bad shoot; Kathleen knows Dean’s wanted for murder in Missouri. They both have something on each other, so it’s mutual protection. Here is the climax of the theme of rule breaking and law breaking that has been gathering momentum since the start of the season. The brothers are morally compromised by the position they find themselves in. They might sympathize with what Kathleen has done but, in order to protect themselves, they’re forced to give her a pass whether they want to or not - and by doing so they become accessories after the fact to murder.
Likewise, there has been a pattern all season of civilians who have progressed from petty rule breaking to actual illegal acts through their involvement with the brothers. Now we’ve witnessed Katheen move from being a by-the-book officer to crossing the ultimate line of killing a prisoner in custody and, the question begs, would it ever have happened if she had never met the Winchesters?
Before they part company, Dean expresses his sympathy for her brother’s death:
DEAN: Listen, uh….I’m sorry about your brother.
KATHLEEN: Thank you. (She begins to tear up.) It was really hard not knowing what happened to him. I thought it would be easier once I knew the truth-but it isn’t really. (She pauses.) Anyway, you should go. (SAM and DEAN nod and walk away. KATHLEEN watches them leave, close to tears.)
http://www.supernaturalwiki.com/1.15_The_Benders_(transcript)
There’s a moral for them here if they had ears to hear: Kathleen has discovered the truth about her brother, and she’s had her revenge, but it’s brought her no comfort. The brothers are on a similar quest, to discover the truth about their mother and Jessica, and to avenge their deaths. If only they could take a lesson from Kathleen’s experience.
As the brothers walk away, the camera remains on Kathleen so we can witness her in the emotional aftermath of everything that’s happened. It’s a truly moving culmination to her story.
Everything about this episode has been outstanding. Credit to John Shiban for creating a character of such depth, to Jessica Steen for her fantastic portrayal, and finally to Peter Ellis for keeping the camera on her long enough to capture every nuance of her performance.
The episode ends on a lighter note with some typical brotherly banter but, once again, Dean allows a little vulnerability to show through . . .
before swiftly trying to dismiss it again:
SAM: Do what?
DEAN: Go missin’ like that. (SAM laughs.)
SAM: You were worried about me.
DEAN: All I’m sayin’ is, you vanish like that again, I’m not lookin’ for ya.
SAM: Sure, you won’t.
DEAN: I’m not. (SAM chuckles.)
http://www.supernaturalwiki.com/1.15_The_Benders_(transcript)
Yeah, he will.
I hope you've enjoyed sharing this re-watch with me. As always, I would love to hear your own thoughts and reactions for this extraordinary and pivotal episode.
.
Please follow the "episode rewatch" tag to be notified when new reviews are posted.
.
At the start of the next scene, we see Sam storing Jared in the cage he formerly occupied, while Kathleen has Pa covered with her rifle. She tells Sam to go on ahead, but he hesitates. It’s clear he has doubts about leaving her alone with her brother’s murderer:
She insists, however, and once Sam is gone she reveals to Pa that his family killed her brother. “Just tell me why,” she wants to know. He responds, laughing callously:
We don’t see her shoot him, but we hear the gunshot from outside the building. And we know.
Sam and Dean appear from the house. We surmise that Sam has released Dean and they reveal they’ve locked Missy in a cupboard. “What about the dad?” asks Dean.
Her expression dares them to suggest otherwise.
Everyone exchanges awkward looks. The brothers know what she’s done, but I’m sure they can empathize. We can almost read Dean’s thoughts on his face. Doubtless he’s recalling how he promised the family that he’d kill them all if Sam was harmed, and we don’t doubt it. Even Sam might have used the gun he acquired if it hadn’t jammed on him. It was sheer luck that Jared did the job of shooting Pa for him. Sam might have wound up killing someone himself, but for the grace of . . . the narrative; he was spared crossing the line Kathleen crossed. For now.
And, as an audience, we’ve been compromised too, because wasn’t there at least a part of us willing her to pull the trigger?
So, Kathleen calls for a backup unit and tells Sam and Dean they’re on their way:
KATHLEEN: So, state police and the FBI are gonna be here within the hour. They’re gonna wanna talk to you. I suggest that you’re both long gone by then.
DEAN: Thanks.
http://www.supernaturalwiki.com/1.15_The_Benders_(transcript)
She gives him an odd look in response, and there’s a pregnant pause that gives us time to reflect on what’s happening here. This isn’t just generosity on her part. Sure, the brothers can’t afford a confrontation with the state police but, equally, Kathleen can’t afford for them to say something that might contradict the story she’s going to give the authorities. The brothers know Pa’s death was a bad shoot; Kathleen knows Dean’s wanted for murder in Missouri. They both have something on each other, so it’s mutual protection. Here is the climax of the theme of rule breaking and law breaking that has been gathering momentum since the start of the season. The brothers are morally compromised by the position they find themselves in. They might sympathize with what Kathleen has done but, in order to protect themselves, they’re forced to give her a pass whether they want to or not - and by doing so they become accessories after the fact to murder.
Likewise, there has been a pattern all season of civilians who have progressed from petty rule breaking to actual illegal acts through their involvement with the brothers. Now we’ve witnessed Katheen move from being a by-the-book officer to crossing the ultimate line of killing a prisoner in custody and, the question begs, would it ever have happened if she had never met the Winchesters?
Before they part company, Dean expresses his sympathy for her brother’s death:
DEAN: Listen, uh….I’m sorry about your brother.
KATHLEEN: Thank you. (She begins to tear up.) It was really hard not knowing what happened to him. I thought it would be easier once I knew the truth-but it isn’t really. (She pauses.) Anyway, you should go. (SAM and DEAN nod and walk away. KATHLEEN watches them leave, close to tears.)
http://www.supernaturalwiki.com/1.15_The_Benders_(transcript)
There’s a moral for them here if they had ears to hear: Kathleen has discovered the truth about her brother, and she’s had her revenge, but it’s brought her no comfort. The brothers are on a similar quest, to discover the truth about their mother and Jessica, and to avenge their deaths. If only they could take a lesson from Kathleen’s experience.
As the brothers walk away, the camera remains on Kathleen so we can witness her in the emotional aftermath of everything that’s happened. It’s a truly moving culmination to her story.
Everything about this episode has been outstanding. Credit to John Shiban for creating a character of such depth, to Jessica Steen for her fantastic portrayal, and finally to Peter Ellis for keeping the camera on her long enough to capture every nuance of her performance.
The episode ends on a lighter note with some typical brotherly banter but, once again, Dean allows a little vulnerability to show through . . .
before swiftly trying to dismiss it again:
SAM: Do what?
DEAN: Go missin’ like that. (SAM laughs.)
SAM: You were worried about me.
DEAN: All I’m sayin’ is, you vanish like that again, I’m not lookin’ for ya.
SAM: Sure, you won’t.
DEAN: I’m not. (SAM chuckles.)
http://www.supernaturalwiki.com/1.15_The_Benders_(transcript)
Yeah, he will.
I hope you've enjoyed sharing this re-watch with me. As always, I would love to hear your own thoughts and reactions for this extraordinary and pivotal episode.
.
Please follow the "episode rewatch" tag to be notified when new reviews are posted.
.