The season’s fourth episode, “Baby”, was written by Robbie Thompson and uses unique camera angles, direction, and lighting to tell the episode's story through the perspective of the Winchesters’s 1967 Chevy Impala.
The episode begins with one of the final scenes from the episode's story, which is Dean handcuffed in the back of a beaten up Impala.
The story revolves around a monster of the week case that Dean and Sam catch wind of while they are at the bunker. The first scene shows Dean and Sam washing Baby and it’s implied that Dean is in shorts. Sam notes that Cas is on the mend. Dean has cabin fever.
In the car we see Sam take a smoothie out of the green cooler and Dean complains about the beer. They pull up to a roadhouse and we jump to seeing Dean in the morning. Camera angle from backseat shows Dean approaching and when he gets in, he notes that mistakes were made but you can see he has no regrets. A woman emerges from the backseat and it seems Sam also made some mistakes.
The next scene is nice brothers laughing and singing to “Night Moves” by Bob Seger. A lot of banter between the brothers until Dean encourages Sam to sleep. He dreams about his father, or perhaps not? Matt Cohen returns for this sequence. Sam and “John” talk about how Dean has taken care of the car and Sam, and how John never wanted this life for the boys. The tone changes when Sam accuses him of either being God or not real. John warns Sam that the Darkness is coming and that only “you boys” can stop it. He ends by saying “God helps those who help themselves.”
There follows a long conversation sequence between Sam in the backseat and Dean in the frontseat. Sam reveals his vision and also that he was infected back at the hospital. Dean chastises him and they have a long discussion about the life and dreams and what could’ve beens. Dean reveals his own dreams about life without hunting and Dad teaching him to drive. Sam dreams about Mom. Dean says that this is their life and that they’ll figure out how to defeat the Darkness, like they always do. They go to sleep calling each other “jerk” and “bitch.”
Back in town, Dean finds out details on the case and wants to call it a werepire. Sam nor Cas sign onto this name. There is a cute sequence of the Impala being driven by a valet driver, who picks up her friend and they joyride before bringing it back.
Sam heads out to investigate while Dean goes to the crime scene. A deputy shows up while Cas is on the phone. Both the fight and the phone call are humorous. Dean ends up decapitating the werepire and putting its head in the cooler.
Dean picks up Sam and a seeming victim of the werepire, Mrs. Markham. Cas finds out it’s an ancient monster, which Dean calls a Ghoulpire. They figure out the way to kill it is with copper and they realize that copper pennies are no longer copper. They stop at a gas station and while Sam is inside flirting with the cashier, Dean gets attacked by Mrs. Markham, who steals the car. Two women have driven this car in the episode.
Markham takes them back to the deputy’s body and reattaches his head to his body. They beat up Dean and the deputy notes that they’ve laid a trap for Sam. Sam will make a good soldier in the Alpha’s army. He’s building an army to fight the Darkness. As Sam notes in the end, even the monsters are afraid. There is another fight sequence where Dean gets beaten up by both the deputy and Mrs. Markham. Finally he finds a handful of pennies and shoves them into the deputy’s mouth, which kills him and cures Markham. She is horrified and scared for her kids, who had been turned. Dean is worried about Sam so they take a rather beautifully shot u turn back to Markham’s house. They arrive and Sam has the kids. Everyone is okay if beaten up.
The episode ends with a quiet exchange between the brothers.
Since this was a standard MOTW, there is not a lot to spec. Great job by the director and writer.
The story revolves around a monster of the week case that Dean and Sam catch wind of while they are at the bunker. The first scene shows Dean and Sam washing Baby and it’s implied that Dean is in shorts. Sam notes that Cas is on the mend. Dean has cabin fever.
In the car we see Sam take a smoothie out of the green cooler and Dean complains about the beer. They pull up to a roadhouse and we jump to seeing Dean in the morning. Camera angle from backseat shows Dean approaching and when he gets in, he notes that mistakes were made but you can see he has no regrets. A woman emerges from the backseat and it seems Sam also made some mistakes.
The next scene is nice brothers laughing and singing to “Night Moves” by Bob Seger. A lot of banter between the brothers until Dean encourages Sam to sleep. He dreams about his father, or perhaps not? Matt Cohen returns for this sequence. Sam and “John” talk about how Dean has taken care of the car and Sam, and how John never wanted this life for the boys. The tone changes when Sam accuses him of either being God or not real. John warns Sam that the Darkness is coming and that only “you boys” can stop it. He ends by saying “God helps those who help themselves.”
There follows a long conversation sequence between Sam in the backseat and Dean in the frontseat. Sam reveals his vision and also that he was infected back at the hospital. Dean chastises him and they have a long discussion about the life and dreams and what could’ve beens. Dean reveals his own dreams about life without hunting and Dad teaching him to drive. Sam dreams about Mom. Dean says that this is their life and that they’ll figure out how to defeat the Darkness, like they always do. They go to sleep calling each other “jerk” and “bitch.”
Back in town, Dean finds out details on the case and wants to call it a werepire. Sam nor Cas sign onto this name. There is a cute sequence of the Impala being driven by a valet driver, who picks up her friend and they joyride before bringing it back.
Sam heads out to investigate while Dean goes to the crime scene. A deputy shows up while Cas is on the phone. Both the fight and the phone call are humorous. Dean ends up decapitating the werepire and putting its head in the cooler.
Dean picks up Sam and a seeming victim of the werepire, Mrs. Markham. Cas finds out it’s an ancient monster, which Dean calls a Ghoulpire. They figure out the way to kill it is with copper and they realize that copper pennies are no longer copper. They stop at a gas station and while Sam is inside flirting with the cashier, Dean gets attacked by Mrs. Markham, who steals the car. Two women have driven this car in the episode.
Markham takes them back to the deputy’s body and reattaches his head to his body. They beat up Dean and the deputy notes that they’ve laid a trap for Sam. Sam will make a good soldier in the Alpha’s army. He’s building an army to fight the Darkness. As Sam notes in the end, even the monsters are afraid. There is another fight sequence where Dean gets beaten up by both the deputy and Mrs. Markham. Finally he finds a handful of pennies and shoves them into the deputy’s mouth, which kills him and cures Markham. She is horrified and scared for her kids, who had been turned. Dean is worried about Sam so they take a rather beautifully shot u turn back to Markham’s house. They arrive and Sam has the kids. Everyone is okay if beaten up.
The episode ends with a quiet exchange between the brothers.
Since this was a standard MOTW, there is not a lot to spec. Great job by the director and writer.
I only have one question and that’s about the alpha. Do you think we’ll see more alphas activating their armies? If so, will we finally see Alpha Vampire again?!?!!! (Hopes and wishes)
Leave your thoughts, feelings, and other things here.
Leave your thoughts, feelings, and other things here.
Comments
i totally agree. ;)
Hang on. Amelia survived too.
There is nothing like Supernatural when it is firing on all cylinders is there.
I would assume there is going to be a big gap between cases unless Cas can heal cars too.
I'm curious to see if Dean's words from his dream about "sticking the landing" will proove to be important or come into play later on as well as what the connotation of the proverb "God helps those who help themselves" is going to be.
A lot to like in the episode. Loved the fight scene in Baby. Kudos Jensen Ackles.
Lucifer does not like competition. For all the "I am a jealous god," in the bible, Luci really is !!
God helps those who helps themselves... it's a way to suggest he's God wit hour lying... claudication Lucifer. And a push for them to do something. With no information other than what death told them, opening the cage is obvious.
As PSG says God just DOES stuff, no telegraphing.
I could be wrong, but I just don't see it as being Michael or Lucifer. Lucifer told sam he would never lie...not that he would he would ever be able to fool you.
I still lean towards it being God or possibly even Gabriel.... I have my reasons for leaning that way....one being that I found it quite interesting that the episode started with Chuck/God narrating. I got the feeling that was show's way of telling us that God is ever present. I found it interesting that despite Sam confessing to dreaming of his mom, it's his father that he saw in the vision. His father, considered absent....and the angels who consider God an absent father.....kind of God's way of being funny I think....
I don't agree that God's been silent. I actually found that God has spoken a few times. God has spoken through Joshua.. God has spoken through Chuck. And I actually think that God has always been present. Every time the boys come back to life. when dean prayed for help outside at bobby's during my bloody valentine.....i t may have seemed like his prayer wasn't answered, but it in fact was.....Sam...t hat was the help Dean needed, and Sam is who ultimately stopped Dean from saying yes to Michael. God brought cas back. I still think God sent Benny to protect Dean in purgatory and I firmly believe that God put that dog in front of Sam's car. When john told sam that God helps those who help themselves...I believe he was basically telling him that they need to keep fighting together, to not give up....that he will help them along the way....when they need it, just as he always has....
so whether or not it was God himself or God's mouthpiece, I think the visions sam is getting is more heavenly than it is anything else. Jensen noted that what's circling sam isn't necessarily evil.....and i'm sorry but regardless of whether Lucifer carries the mark or doesn't , he's evil.....I don't believe it was a mark that made him evil all these billions of years....I believe his own hatred and anger has made him evil....who's to say that the mark corrupted Lucifer? how do we know that Lucifer wasn't already jealous and angry and self righteous and the mark, once given to him fed off of those already existing feelings....isn 't that why cain was worthy of it...and eventually dean? because negative feelings and beliefs already existed? think about it. Lucifer was the most beautiful of God's angels. He was God's most trusted. Above all his brother's and sister's Lucifer was God's favorite. Then God creates man and puts them above all....above all his children...most especially Lucifer....don' t you think it's plausible that Lucifer was enraged and jealous that God put lowly humans above all angels...above him? That these feelings of jealous didn't come from a mark, but came from the fact that Lucifer was no longer no. one in God's eyes, the very eyes which he's been no. 1 for for, who knows how long? I don't think the mark caused Lucifer to be jealous....I think the mark fed off of Lucifer's already existing feelings of jealousy, that comes about when one isn't seen as the "most" anymore. when they feel replaced...whet her or not the mark is on Lucifer makes no difference...Lu cifer isn't suddenly going to become good after eons of feeling jealous and hatred and anger.....espec ially given that those feelings were already a part of Lucifer....the mark just increased what already existed...I don't think Lucifer can ever be untainted....be cause the mark didn't taint him...Lucifer was already tainted with those feelings....the mark just fed off of it...
sorry I digressed....
I'm not sure where the story is taking us....but for now.....i'm going with God or God's mouthpiece....i 'm sure we'll find out either way soon enough:)
I am not very well versed in christian mythology ..but I think god is compared to or called as Father in heaven so god might have taken the visage of their father.
so yes I too thought it might be god or gabriel..but it is too early and I know too little to rule out Lucifer or Michael.
Pissed that they didn't deliver on the tease about the car wash scene for either Sam or Dean. Also would like to kick the person who edited out Jensens adlib of "Get out of my car!" during the car fight scene ala Clint Eastwood.
I'm going to be an arsehole.
This was the best episode of Supernatural in quite a long time. Easily the best post-Kripke episode. Easily. Weekend at Bobby's has finally been eclipsed.
Here is where I begin to be an arsehole.
This episode is living proof that the previous episode's failings were not that of the writers (Ep. 3 by The Nep Duo). The words being spoken are only part of the story. The camera position; the camera angle; the camera movement; the camera placement; set design; colour; etc ... how dialogue and narrative is captured and presented, is just as important as how dialogue is written and delivered.
Embrace how each frame, even those without dialogue, still spoke to you. Every frame told a story.
I know I'm a lone man on a ledge here. You won't hear what I'm saying.
But I don't care. I'll be here until I get banned.
Peace, bitches!
Episode 3 had some very bad writing.
Why do you keep saying you will be banned?
Thank you for sharing your perspective on directing. You are right, this episode had some amazing direction.
While Action!Ackles is not as experienced, he did demonstrate impressive skills in 11.03, especially in regard to set design, colour, lighting, and camera angles...
I have written a critique on his directing and hopefully, that review will be popping up soon.
I invite you to revisit, read and discuss this topic with us on "Wednesday's Watching 11.03"
There is no need to apologize for your viewpoint or put yourself down for having one.
Although, sometimes you might be called upon to defend your viewpoint, we respect that there are many perspectives and opinions.
Thank you, Sir, for sharing yours.
even Bitch - Jerk sounded different.
This was an Outstanding episode. Should have known Robbie Thompson wrote it.
I did not watch until after midnight. So, so good. :)
I would have accepted Chuck & only Chuck's voice. :)
Unlike Alice, I've been well aware that poor Sammy hasn't "gotten any" in years, so I was thrilled that he finally got to scratch that itch AND have the first belly laugh (which seemed more like a Jared laugh) he's had in even more years. Hmmm, maybe there's a connection? I also share Alice's love for the Night Moves scene- it is destined to be one of my favorite bro scenes ever. Which reminds me, the music rocked in this ep- literally!
I loved that in what was seemingly going to be purely a MOTW ep there was still some forward movement on the season arc. Again, this reminded me very much of the earlier seasons when the eps beautifully interwove some story arc plot with the MOTW story. I loved Sam's vision scene. Michael would seem the most likely candidate, but why would Michael appear to Sam rather than to Dean? On the other hand, I don't think it would be Lucifer because he was always pretty open and honest with Sam about his intentions and thoughts, so why the pretense here? I like to think it's God, but I'm just throwing my hands up on this one. I especially liked Sam's (belated ) honesty about the visions, and Dean's calm assessment of them, as well as the relative calm with which he took the news about Sam's infection. I hope this is to be the ongoing dynamic between the bros this season.
I agree with Russ that the direction was outstanding. I am most certainly not knowledgeable about the technicalities of directing: to me, it comes down to the scenes being memorable for reasons other than the dialogue, even if I can't articulate why. By that measure, every scene in this ep was outstanding. The director did a phenomenal job with the Baby perspective, from the brothers stretching out and quietly talking to the hilarious fight scenes.
I love the idea of all of the monsters being in a tizzy, even if it's somewhat reminiscent of S6 and Eve. I agree with Bookdal that it would be great to see alpha vamp again.
Of course I have a few teeny issues:
1. It isn't really a knock against this ep, but it's now become clear that the brothers will never have a conversation about all of the crap that happened between them the last two seasons. If they were ever going to have such a conversation, this would have been the ep. Apparently they don't need any closure on those issues. Well, I do!!:D
2. No Dean in shorts, or water fight between the boys? No shirtless Sam in the back of the impala? Come on, RT- we have needs!!!
3. What did the woman say when Sam tried to give her his number?!! I really want to know. In fact, I couldn't really hear Dean's line after that, so if anyone can help me out, what did he say after Sam started telling him that.
If you ignore the last episode (which I'm trying to do:)) this has been the best start to a season in quite awhile. Three outstanding eps and only one clunker. I have not felt this excitement about the show in so long, or this satisfaction from the brothers' relationship that is the cornerstone of the show. I hope so much that it continues.
ETA: on second thought, maybe it is Lucifer in the vision. The first time he ever appeared to Sam it was in the guise of a dead loved one (Jess) so this could be him doing the same thing.
It would be nice if they actually tied up that whopper of a loose thread regarding the MOC and Lucifer, but I'm not holding my breath.
I just finished watching abandon all hope....Lucifer had single handedly killed an entire town in order to summon death. Lucifer bore no mark when he committed this horrendous act. He had long since transferred it to cain, yet here was Lucifer the epitome of evil...killing innocents in order to summon death. His goal as affirmed by Crowley to destroy humankind and then when finished wipe out demons as well. Lucifer even tried to convince Cas to side with him...comparing themselves as both being rebels cast out of heaven. Lucifer spoke of Michael and how he was betrayed by him... all of this jealousy, hatred and spite....coming from Lucifer himself....Luci fer who bore no mark ....a Lucifer who gave that mark away thousands of years ago....who had time to get angrier and angrier and grow more vengeful with ea. year he spent in the cage all due to the fact that his father who adored Lucifer most of all, adored humans even more....
so I guess the way it went down was Lucifer was cast out of heaven by Michael when Lucifer wouldn't bow down to humans.....but wasn't sent to the cage until he corrupted his first human....cain.. .cain who he convinced to murder his brother and when he did, lucifer transferred the mark over to him....I don't gather that Lucifer can corrupt cain and give him the mark while in prison....once Lucifer corrupted the first human and created the first murderer, that's when I assumed he was put in the cage as punishment.... of course thanks to Lucifer, humans were thus tainted forever....the only reason cain got to live...in the world of spn of course....is because he bore the lock to the darkness....onc e cain was released from the mark, he was free to die....somethin g he might very well have welcomed given that his punishment was immortality as a knight of hell no less.......
here's a notion....given that i'm not on board with either Lucifer or Michael being responsible for sam's visions.....I wouldn't think it out of the realm of possibility that it could be cain....I don't see cain as being allowed to get into heaven....unles s of course he does a little penance. look I still think God does listen and does in fact help the Winchesters.... I think a lot of times he does it through others....so maybe if it's not God himself sending the visions....it's someone who's doing it for him....wouldn't it be a blast if it was cain....:D
My secret wish is that it's Gabriel.....;)
You've put together an interesting sequence with Lucifer but I think a lot of it hinges on whether Lucifer still carried the Mark or not, and we just don't have enough information yet.
The fact that "John" told Sam that he never could fool him led me to believe it is either Lucifer or Gabriel. This wouldn't be something God would say, and Sam has had very limited interaction with Michael. After all, Lucifer did appear to Sam as Jessica in a dream in S5. And we all know how much Gabriel liked to mess with Sam and Dean, particularly Sam. But, then again, if Michael OR Lucifer had the ability to reach Sam or Dean with "visions", I imagine that both of them would have been messing with Sam and Dean all along.
Somehow I see the solution is going to be for the first time that we lose both brothers at the end of this season. Depending on if we get a S12 or a movie we may have a long summer ahead of us.
This is what kinda worries me Cheryl. The plot this year seems so huge and all-encompassin g, since it involves the ultimate "big bad" and it certainly appears that it will involve God and the archangels. It really sound like a series-ending story, because where do they go from here? What's left to fight after they resolve the D issue? Wendigos and ghosts and ghoulpires? :) Unless they're going to accordion this story into next season. (Which also worries me because the last story arc that they accordioned into two seasons was pretty badly executed IMO). So in the back of my mind I keep thinking that TPTB suspect that this will be the last season, possibly because the Js want to be with their families more now that the kids are getting older. I really want to be wrong about this.
There was the Darkness, a horribly destructive, amoral force that was beaten back by God and his archangels in a terrible war.
God locked the Darkness away where it could do no harm, and he created a Mark that would serve as both lock and key, which he entrusted to his most valued Lieutenant, Lucifer.
But the Mark began to assert its own will, revealed itself as a curse, and began to corrupt. Lucifer became jealous of man.
God banished Lucifer to Hell.
Lucifer passed the Mark to Cain, who passed the Mark to you, the proverbial finger in the dike.
this is an excerpt that I copy and pasted from the brother's keeper transcript. According to this transcript, Lucifer had the mark which is both lock and key and he transferred it to cain.....once transferred, the mark is no longer on Lucifer....then death says that cain transferred it to dean....who is now the proverbial finger in the dike. according to death....once the mark is transferred it's gone....that's why death told dean that if he wanted to get rid of it he had to find someone to give it to....so Lucifer has been evil without the mark....once he transferred the mark, Lucifer wasn't untainted and suddenly became the beloved and trusted angel he once was....he continued to wreak havoc on humanity....
in regards to Lucifer contacting sam and the whole vessel thing...as noted elsewhere....I find it quite a stretch to think that in the 6 years that Lucifer was trapped in hell...with all the time he had and all that anger and hate just building up...I can't quite get past the notion that if Lucifer could've contacted sam he wouldn't have already....give n what we know of Lucifer I find it hard to believe that he wouldn't have psychically tortured sam first thing when sam was rescued from the cage....
I believe all roads will eventually lead to the cage....I just, and until show proves otherwise, I just don't buy Lucifer or Michael giving sam his visions......
I find it more plausible that it's God, or God's mouthpiece or Gabriel.....hel l i'd even buy Ash finding a way to contact Sam....that at least I can make sense out of.
CAIN
I can give you the mark, Dean, if it's what you truly want.
DEAN
What are you talking about?
CAIN
The mark can be transferred to someone who's worthy.
DEAN
You mean a killer like you?
CAIN
Yes.
DEAN
Can I use it to kill that bitch?
CAIN
Yes. But you have to know with the mark comes a great burden. Some would call it a great cost.
DEAN
Yeah, well, spare me the warning label. You had me at "kill the bitch".
CAIN
Good luck, Dean. You're gonna to need it.
DEAN
Yeah, I get that a lot. Let's dance.
[CAIN grasps DEAN's right forearm with his and a line of red veins spread from CAIN's mark to burn an identical mark on DEAN's forearm. DEAN gasps in pain as the mark disappears from CAIN's arm.]
That's from First Blood transcript. Cain didn't have the mark once he passed it onto dean. It disappeared.
Dean knew Cain was immortal. The only way to kill him was by another MOC bearer using the First Blade. The same with Dean. Dean also knew he couldn't die before he summoned Death. He told Sam (when discussing Charlie's death) that he couldn't die. He also told the Stynes that if they flatlined him that he'd be back, that he could not die. Death said that he (Death) could kill him but would only do so if there were someone else to bear the mark.
I can pass on a virus but still be infected. ;)
CASTIEL What have you done?
CAIN These bodies? Just cleaning up a mess I made a long time ago.
CASTIEL Cain, I know what you were. But you'd resisted for so long.
CAIN What can I say? I got the taste back. With Abaddon's army gunning for me, I had to take up arms again, and I liked how it felt.
CASTIEL Those were demons. These... [Cains crouches down and picks up a muddy stuffed teddy bear]
CAIN Humans. Eh, the Mark thirsts for all kinds.
CASTIEL This is a massacre.
CAIN Yes. And soon it'll be a genocide. [Cain drops the bear] My children, my whole poisoned issue. A lot of them out there right now ... killers, fighters, thieves, some more peaceful than others. But they still carry it ... the disease. If the Mark wants blood, I'll give it mine.
and... later in the same episode
DEAN When he gave me the Mark, Cain said that this day would come, that after I killed Abaddon, I would have to come and put him down.
SAM Great. So you're taking orders from a madman.
DEAN No, he wasn't mad then. Cain resisted the Mark for a long time, then I came, kicking up trouble about the Blade. I sent him down this path. This is on me.
and if Lucifer did transfer the mark and no longer bears it....then why does he care if the darkness is released at all? If anything...Luci should be doing the happy dance down in the cage...laughing his ass off at the fact that the very thing God had fought to keep at bay is now roaming free once again....that the very thing god tried to stop can now happen...I would think this would tickle Lucifer to no end...a big screw you to his father who banished him to the cage.....
that's another reason why I can't put my head around Lucifer trying to summon sam....I see no reason for it....
but Lucifer was in part responsible for helping to contain the darkness....so I can see someone/somethi ng else giving sam clues that will lead him to Lucifer.....
maybe dean never saw death at the saloon and it was an moc induced vision....sam noted there were consequences, but we never really knew what they were....is it possible that the whole moc/darkness will be released spiel that came from death was a vision created by Rowena? that she in fact released the darkness herself using a spell? that the botd and the codex together in Rowena's hands were the actual consequences? that the whole lock and key story is just that...a story to cover her tracks?
what you think that's too much?:D:
thanks for the due diligence nj....forgot about that part. ;)
I'm also reading elsewhere speculation that Gabriel was Dream!John, but I don't buy that because he did trick/fool Sam in the past... unless they ignore all that history then Lucifer still makes the most sense.
The I could never fool you is flattery. Only Lucifer tries to trick people into possession or actions. Michael was pretty straight up with
Dean. It's definitely not God. God would not announce it. It would happen when needed like the plane rescue.
The God works in mysterious ways also seems like Lucifer. He's making Sam believe he's God without lying. Of course Lucifer wants out of the cage. Who wouldn't.
So maybe Luci CAN'T LIE to his True Vessel, because we all have heard the term, "The Devil is a liar." ;);)
Lucifer also tried to fool or deceive Sam at least once that I can recall, tho there may be more, when he first appeared to Sam as Jessica.
The other possible would be Gabriel even tho Dream!Johns words would be odd in that respect - 'I never could fool you, could I?' - when he actually repeatedly did and quite successfully. Unless he was referring to Sam figuring out it was him and not Bobby in Mystery Spot. Michael never tried to fool Sam, nor did God. Besides Lucifer or Gabriel no one else makes any sense.
I couldn't possibly come up with a better summary of this episode!
You laugh and tease but you know what's sick? The fact that when you guys said "basis for" and "don't encourage her", I agreed with you that it would be a good one to caption and already had two pop into my head. I'm sick. I know that now. I gave up on the Captioners Anonymous Twelve Step program when I got to the one where I had to apologize to everyone I ever hurt or offended. I mean yeah, I'm willing to but I got a bit overwhelmed when I realized how many posters on this site alone so I said the Hell with it and am embracing my "vice" with open arms. If you need me, I'll be over in that corner, thinking. ;)
And, correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think there was any music in this episode, other than what was being played from Dean's cassette collection.
Baby is one tough old broad and the three of them still make a great team. The long scenes between the brothers were well written and didn't feel forced, as it often has in the past few seasons. Sam and Dean singing along to Night Moves will make the highlight reels. Dean's fight scene with the ghoulpires was cleverly choreographed and well executed. And, miraculously, Sam got laid and the woman didn't die. Considering the circumstances, both brothers appear to be in a good place right now and that hasn't been the case in a very long time.
A minor quibble; given Sam's history of visions in earlier seasons, I was a little surprised Dean did not raise any major concerns/red flags when Sam told him about his visions/dreams.
As far as Sam's dreams and visions, my initial thought was, if Michael or Lucifer could "reach" Sam or Dean from the cage, they would have been tormenting the brothers since Death retrieved Sam's soul from the cage in S6. I do think God has a hand in this and is facilitating these visions but will save that discussion for Nightsky's next Threads article.
I was thrilled to death to hear them refer to each other as "Jerk" and "Bitch". It's been way too long...
And Dean getting his ass kicked while Sam collected pennies just cracked me up... It was a good episode. I liked it.
i don't think it was michael or lucifer talking to sam or giving him his visions....but based on "you boys have to stop it".....that was very reminiscent of zach telling dean he had to stop the apocalypse. cas used those exact words as well....it felt very much like an angelic warning....but not the ones in the cage as i still think messages cannot be sent from the cage, whether the darkness was released or not. I do think that lucifer and michael are freaking out in the cage....but not more than that. however, whether it's actually God, coming to sam in a visage he would listen to, or another angel doing so, i do agree that all roads do lead to the cage...and i do feel like it's a friendly entity more than anything else.
angels seem to use dreams as a form of contact...we've seen it before. and i found it interesting, given that sam spoke of dreaming of his mom, that in his vision he would be visited by the form of his father....seems to illustrate that it was in fact a vision and not a dream...the message that God helps those who help themselves....s eemed like that was more of a message for the boys...that the way to beat this is to work together...to keep at it...that God isn't necessarily not going to help....as a matter of fact, in swan song..i thought God helped very much...it was the boys love and their perseverance to keep fighting that ultimately beat the devil...but it was the light...the light from the heavens...that shone upon that little army man so that sam could recall the love he has for his brother so they could win....in essence....god helped the boys who helped themselves....
so i'm not ruling out God in this scenario appearing in the form of the father...;) my other secret hope is that it's actually gabriel....:) no matter who it is...i don't think it's evil and i don't think it's anyone from the cage....but that's just me. ;)
if Lucifer had the mark originally, then the assumption I thought was that as he cursed man...he gave the mark to cain....Lucifer no longer bore the mark it was totally off of him. Otherwise, if it was simply transferred from Lucifer and he still retained it....then the darkness should never have been able to be released, because Lucifer is still alive and still retains the original mark...
so if the darkness is able to be released, doesn't it stand to reason that Lucifer, once he gave the mark to cain no longer retains it himself....
given that to be the case..which I kind of feel like it is , cuz otherwise how can the darkness be released according to death in the first place? then Lucifer is bad ....it has nothing to do with the mark, because he wouldn't be bearing the mark. he's just evil....that mark was gone and he continued to wreak havoc on humanity... I just don't imagine him being good. I don't know that even spn would go that far and change the basis of the very nature of the devil...
i still can't get passed why Lucifer would even care if the darkness was released...i know he fought it.. but given that i find it implausible that Lucifer has the mark....the release of the darkness really shouldn't matter to him one way or the other...unless he wants out simply to join forces with it..or he wants it destroyed so that when he feels he gets out he doesn't have competition...f or whatever reason...i don't think Lucifer would do anything out of goodness......
but you all make a good point about Lucifer once upon a time being an angel....the light bearer....
so what if Lucifer helps in a different way...
sam is faithful. he believes in God. he's good....he believes in the light at the end of the tunnel....he offered to show dean...as a matter of fact, the last three years it's pretty much been pointed out that Sam is in essence Dean's light...so to speak...
sam had to be born. sam is the true vessel of Lucifer...the light bearer....so perhaps that will tie into getting rid of the darkness...whet her it be destroying her or containing her once again....maybe the way in which Lucifer helps...is to point out to sam...or have it pointed out to sam....that it is light that conquers darkness....and it's up to sam .....and dean to be that light... that i could see would be where Lucifer plays his part....and actually in a good way....
but Lucifer actually turning over a new leaf....i don't know if i can buy into that....they'd really have to do a grandiose job of convincing on that.:D
what do u think?
if Lucifer had the mark originally, then the assumption I thought was that as he cursed man...he gave the mark to cain....Lucifer no longer bore the mark it was totally off of him. Otherwise, if it was simply transferred from Lucifer and he still retained it....then the darkness should never have been able to be released, because Lucifer is still alive and still retains the original mark...
so if the darkness is able to be released, doesn't it stand to reason that Lucifer, once he gave the mark to cain no longer retains it himself....
given that to be the case..which I kind of feel like it is , cuz otherwise how can the darkness be released according to death in the first place? then Lucifer is bad ....it has nothing to do with the mark, because he wouldn't be bearing the mark. he's just evil....that mark was gone and he continued to wreak havoc on humanity... I just don't imagine him being good. I don't know that even spn would go that far and change the basis of the very nature of the devil...
i still can't get passed why Lucifer would even care if the darkness was released...i know he fought it.. but given that i find it implausible that Lucifer has the mark....the release of the darkness really shouldn't matter to him one way or the other...unless he wants out simply to join forces with it..or he wants it destroyed so that when he feels he gets out he doesn't have competition...f or whatever reason...i don't think Lucifer would do anything out of goodness......
but you all make a good point about Lucifer once upon a time being an angel....the light bearer....
so what if Lucifer helps in a different way...
sam is faithful. he believes in God. he's good....he believes in the light at the end of the tunnel....he offered to show dean...as a matter of fact, the last three years it's pretty much been pointed out that Sam is in essence Dean's light...so to speak...
sam had to be born. sam is the true vessel of Lucifer...the light bearer....so perhaps that will tie into getting rid of the darkness...whet her it be destroying her or containing her once again....maybe the way in which Lucifer helps...is to point out to sam...or have it pointed out to sam....that it is light that conquers darkness....and it's up to sam .....and dean to be that light... that i could see would be where Lucifer plays his part....and actually in a good way....
but Lucifer actually turning over a new leaf....i don't know if i can buy into that....they'd really have to do a grandiose job of convincing on that.:D
what do u think?
Speaking of Matt I applaud him. He played John so well! I loved that scene! No wait, I loved EVERY scene!
This new monster is intriguing and a nice refreshment from the usual. The fight scenes were funny and great t o watch! I liked how they had to use coins before killing it too.
I'm still brimming with excitement over that episode! Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. I was thoroughly entertained every minute. This is definitely one of my top 5 episodes. What a treat compared to last weeks. Just wow..
Thompson forgot his own canon last night so I am not holding my breath that he will uphold show canon. In Metafiction Metatron gave Cas a pop culture upgrade. He should know about Orange is the new Black.
Yes Cain didn't lose the Mark when he transferred it.
Lucifer wouldn't gain by tormenting Sam because Sam was his best way out. Now that Sam is desperate, he knows he can trap him.
The biggest problem with the Sam and Dean and their ‘relationship’ that we saw in 11.04 is that it no longer fits this show or these characters. It was like a 50 year old trying to squeeze into a pair of jeans that fit them when they were 15. He/she might get into them but It’s awkward, it’s uncomfortable and it both looks and feels wrong. That’s what the show was trying to do here, squeeze season 11 Sam and Dean into characters they’ve grown beyond. I think what we saw in episode 11.04 are the Sam and Dean and their relationship as many fans want them to be, not what they have grown into, or have been shown to be, over the past 7+ years. They have to work to get back to that early season familiarity and comfort with each other, and up to 11.03 they hadn’t even started.
It was so frustrating, but at this stage completely expected, to see that, once again, the ‘honesty’ was so one-sided. And considering how Dean completely shut Sam down when Sam did tell him, I totally understand why Sam didn’t rush to tell him, and doesn’t rush to tell him things. It’s interesting that Dean seemed more pissed that Sam didn’t tell him he was infected (he pointed this out this twice), than concerned that Sam was infected in the first place.
Add to that, too much of what the show were trying to sell in this episode has been systematically destroyed over the past few seasons to such an extent that to try and force it back to what it originally was just feels wrong and cheap. The ‘Goodnight jerk. Goodnight bitch’ scene was particularly bad considering how the word ‘bitch’ has been used in recent years, as a term to shut down, belittle and demean. The expectation from Dean that he’d get sex turned skeevy in the episode with the ex porn star. The Impala as ‘home’ for Sam would have been a lovely idea had the show not constantly emphasised that the Impala is Dean’s, and Dean’s solely. It’s not their car. It’s certainly not Sam’s car. Dean drives while Sam shuts his cakehole. Dean lays down the rules as to who and what Sam can and cannot have in his car. We’ve seen Dean react badly to any attempt from Sam to personalise the car, and react violently to Sam taking the car. On many occasions when the Impala was sitting idle in the garage or out in front of a motel Sam left it there and took a different car. Sam is a guest in the Impale, yet we’re meant to believe that he considers it ‘home’??
I’d had a small bit of hope when Jensen Ackles said they would talk about the pas,t that they would address some of the past events that led them to where they are now. But no, the past was that they dream about their dead parents. Wow, original! Was this to serve as a reminder to the audience that ‘family’ is meant to be at the heart of the show? Except it’s not any more because even ‘family’ has been distorted into something horrible over the past 3 seasons.
That was my biggest issue with this episode, the dishonesty and laziness of it. We’re inexplicably back to the way things were in the early, early seasons with absolutely no effort put into showing the journey as to how they got there. I get that people, and the show, want to just move on, but how does that apply when the show ignores things that happened late last season (Dean putting Sam through a mock execution, wishing him dead and on the pyre etc) and something Sam said that Dean didn’t like is still being dragged up a year and a half after it was said?? The show are very selective with what they choose to move on with (i.e. Dean messes up, move on quickly. Sam messes up, stay with it) , and most often it’s doors they’ve opened that they have no clue how to close, so they always resort going with the the tried and tested ‘pretend it never happened’.
One interesting thing was Dean’s comment to Mrs Markham about how you’d do anything for family but ‘…..not if it costs too much’. This could be (a) Dean slowly getting on board with Sam’s mentality that they need to stop doing things to ‘save’ each other that costs others or (b) Dean thinking that what Sam did to save him in season 10 cost too much, so Sam, his thoughts, ideas can’t be trusted going forward. Hope says option (a). History says option (b)
In relation to who Sam was speaking to in the car, most probably Lucifer. The MOC is still very much in play, so while Sam thinks God is talking to him, the ‘Abel wasn’t talking to God. He was actually talking to Lucifer’ therefore Cain/Dean had/has to kill him storyline still applies. Dean is more associated with the Darkness (via the MOC) Sam is more associated with the Light (Lucifer the Lightbringer). Add to that, the show loves to give Sam hope and the idea that he’s worthy only to then tear it away and remind him of just how tainted and unworthy he actually is.
But with all that said, this non-communicati ve nonsense regrettably seems to be the new normal. So if my only choices are: A. a return to the old affectionate, teasing, caring dynamic between the brothers, even if it has happened suddenly and magically by their forgetting everything that's happened between them, and B. a continuation of the dynamic of seasons 8-10, in which the brothers often seemed to dislike each other, and took actions that seemed totally out of character- I'll choose option A. Half a loaf is better than none!
The only point I kind of disagree about is the impala. Yes, it is very much, and always has been, Dean's car. And everything you describe about that is true. But Sam, too, has spent the equivalent of years' worth of hours in Baby; he's spent countless nights sleeping in that car, and eaten countless meals, and whenever Dean has been taken away, he has kept Baby as his. The way Dean asserts his ownership and control over Baby reminds me of how I am with my kids. On occasions when I've been annoyed that they have damaged our house or refuse to clean their rooms, and they argue that I shouldn't care, I've told them that this is MY house so they follow my rules. Of course this is still their home in every way, and I'm certainly not saying otherwise. So that's how I view the impala situation. It might be very much Dean's car, but it is both of their homes.
Jensen has mentioned quite often that his role has been of big brother and the most recent one he stated that he sees the boys as an equal partnership...a nd I don't doubt that at all....One should take into consideration what the role of big brother might entail. It could mean different things to so many, but the one popular belief among the elder to his sibling is that they're the oldest and they know what's best...and sometimes that's actually the case. Now Dean's role of big brother is a bit more convoluted, because unlike a lot of siblings...in this case Dean actually raised his brother due to absent parents. While dean believes whole heartedly and has absolute faith in his brother's abilities, Dean will always look at his brother as his responsibility, one to look out for (as sam does for dean) for the very fact that all they have is each other. Dean will carry a parental role because, though he is only Sam's brother, his job was dual...both as brother and parent. It stands to reason why Dean has a do as I say not as I do mentality...as most parents do. My mother smoked when she was young, she smoked when I was a kid...I used to hide her cigarettes...bu t yet she told me never to smoke..it's bad for you....now that's a blatant call of hypocrisy right there....I never smoked...but mom did...dad still does...why do they tell me not too...well because they love me..and smoking is bad...and they don't want me sick...ever...D ean has often and much to my annoyance displayed moments of hypocrisy....so metimes, as with his selling his soul, he did it out of sheer love for his brother...and sometimes it was more like just because I do the wrong thing doesn't mean you should too...and sometimes, as in the case with benny...it was about not being able to face one's own monster.
That's basically what season 8-10 has been about....carver took a different approach to show, one that many people didn't and still might not care for. He took the approach that had the boys deal with their own personal feelings of self loathing...the monster within them..
dean's self loathing has a been a major character flaw, as well as sam's, since show began. it's been an issue that has been brought up, even explored a bit, but never resolved...carv er took the opportunity to resolve...or at the very most face these issues....deal with them...and with that start the season of change...which is where we are now. change isn't always instant..it takes time...but it's happening and we saw it in this eppy.
dean broke in purgatory. he became the monster he believed himself to be. he killed and was content. He became besties with a monster who had no qualms about dean's actions...had sam been in purgatory, it's my steadfast belief that while they would've had to kill, dean still would've remained human..he wouldn't have been able to feel free to enjoy it...sam wouldn't have allowed it..sam keeps dean human...it's why dean goes to such extremes to keep sam with him...he cannot let him go. ....dean was forced to come to terms with what he became in s8..it's why he was so angry with sam for not saving him...not because he suffered, but because he didn't. Dean's denial continues in his need to believe benny to be the exception to his own monster rule...yet when sam asked why benny was breathing free air..dean noted..people change...he was referring to himself and what he'd become. The denial continued when Dean tried to convince himself that benny was trustworthy...h e even deluded himself into believing martin had it coming...as bobby noted...dean(sa m) went off the rails. Dean pushing sam away, to the point where sam made dean an ultimatum seemed to be Dean's realization point...because down deep, dean's love for his brother is stronger than anything...he broke away from benny and went back to his usual denial mode...and he did everything he could to feel like himself again...from dressing up and larping to wanting to do the trials to atone for what he'd become....and for awhile it seemed to work for him...until sam almost died.....
there aint no me if there aint no you...truer words were never said...because for dean, without sam he's not a good person...he's not worthy....witho ut sam he's back to being the monster he believes himself to be...so he takes drastic measures to keep sam....and i'm not saying love has nothing to do with it...it has everything to do with it....dean loves sam and a big part of why is because sam keeps him human, but not the only part. Season 9 and season 10 has basically been about the boys fighting their inner demons..their own monster within....the self loathing and the belief that they're not worthy....talk about battling the darkness...but that's in essence what had to be done...in order to battle the darkness and win, maybe it was necessary to battle and win their own darkness' within.
I agree with you that the talk they had should've been about what they've been through these last few years....and I can't really lay the blame on Robbie for not getting it, because I think carver has the last word on what is said or not said...I mean it was Robbie after all who wanted to include the scene of why sam really hit that dog but he wasn't allowed. Robbie did give us what we needed though in a way he was allowed to write it.
I have always agreed that the reason that sam keeps things from dean is mostly due to dean's reaction to them. Dean doesn't always handle things the way he should. Carver had Sam say that the boys needed to change.....and change isn't instant...it's a step by step process....and the scene in the car was part of those steps...that's important...tha t's the maturing relationship that the boys are starting to have. sure on the outside they've grown, but inside for the most part their actions have been the same...now there's a different feel to it... Sam didn't tell dean he was infected because he didn't want dean dropping everything to save him. He was thinking of the innocents. I don't think he told dean after that because of the vision, which sam didn't mention I feel because he didn't quite understand what it meant. Most think Dean is keeping his darkness/bond bit of info from sam for similar reasons...he's not sure what it means so why freak out...I also think it's like if he says it out loud to Sam then it's real..then he has to deal with it....and while Sam is more prone to accepting change and actually changing....dea n knows he has to which is a major step, but it's not so easy for him...I think what's important here is that Sam had his second vision and told dean right away...no fear of what dean would think or say as he had in the past...dean's reaction was different in a way this time around too...he didnt' make sam feel like sam was a freak, he didn't use words like weirdo.....he listened, he took it in and I don't think he blew them off....yes he denied that they could be from God...but I think that's more a personal issue Dean has. He's not really a big fan of the man upstairs...so it's pretty standard Dean SOP to instantly believe that God wouldn't help. Sam has always had faith. In this respect they have always differed, but who knows, maybe God will fool Dean this time...I got that Dean was upset that Sam didn't tell him he was infected...and here dean is not telling sam an important piece of info...so I have to ask myself...who is dean really upset with right now? sam or himself? the whole feel of the conversation felt mature and strong as compared to the past. even though the confession was onesided...I think it's more to do in regards to habit...sometim es bad habits are hard to break. dean not telling sam could very well have to do with the fact that it's freaking him out. it's this nugget of fear planted in his head by the darkness and he doesn't want to deal with what it could mean and yet there it is...it's not going to go away...it's going to manifest in his behavior and then he will spill to sam..look as much as I want dean to change his bad habits instantly, it's not realistic and with some things it may not happen at all....sometime s a person is what he is...luckily for dean he has sam who understands that....and it think after all sam's been through, he does understand now. The walk in ea. other's shoes was important...the y now seem to get the other's perspective now...even in the conversation in the car....it felt like dean knew why sam didn't say anything about being infected and though it hurt a little he didn't get upset..he didn't dig into his self loathing and twist sam's actions around...he took it for what it was and accepted it....that's change...
it's early still, only four eps in....i'm going to give dean the benefit of the doubt and believe in him and his ability to change some of those bad habits...but it's going to take time. he'll tell sam soon enough...and I'm sure sam will take dean's secret much the way dean did....but again, at least I know sam 's not going to beat himself up thinking dean didn't say anything because he doesn't trust him...that he thinks little of him....at least I know that's done with...and that is a significant change ..and that I feel as though we have started to see.
i'm not denying that the boys still have to work on changing some of those old habits...but what's different this time around is that they are...they're taking the steps of change...there is a different feel than there was from the past...but I think the point is that they're trying to get back to the way it was prior to constantly having to save ea. other...but they're doing it differently...n ow I feel as though they're relationship is much stronger...they 're much wiser and they're acknowledging the need to change.....
I feel like that's what Robbie was trying to point out here...and I feel like he did a great job of doing just that. ;)
I agree with samanddean with sam regarding the impala as home. perhaps that's why he doesnt' consider the bunker as anything more than where they work....because for sam, who has spent his life in that car...now we got a glimpse as to what they do in the car....well for sam, that is home....thought that made perfect sense. ;);)
One thing about their relationship that doesn't actually bother me much is the secret-keeping. As Yellow Eyed Sam said, we all keep secrets sometimes. It only bothers me when the sole purpose of having a brother keep a secret is to gin up conflict. For example, when Sam secretly continued trying to cure Dean last season it made no sense. He's a grown man and he should have just said "too bad, Dean, I'm going to keep looking for a cure til my last breath." What would Dean have done? That kind of contrived secret-keeping makes me crazy. But it actually doesn't bother me that they are, at least temporarily, concealing from each other the things that have happened to them this season. Like you, I think there are legitimate reasons for this. Dean is still probably trying to wrap his head around what happened, what his visions mean, and he probably worries about Sam's feelings. After the lengths Sam went to to save him, what if it's an out of the frying pan into the fire situation? And as far as Sam, there were several credible, justifiable reasons for hiding his infection, including the fear that Dean would abandon the baby to come back and save him. Also, not everyone who is told that they have a fatal illness immediately tells all of their loved ones. Sometimes they just need to first process it themselves, or they do not feel that they could cope with the reaction, or they just want to spare the feelings of the loved ones. Same with Sam's visions, as you beautifully pointed out in your post. There were legitimate reasons to delay telling Dean. Moreover, I don't think Dean's reaction to the info in this ep was extreme or over the top. I would have been shocked and upset if my sister informed me that she had been diagnosed with a terrible illness but waited to tell me about it until after she was cured. And I would feel that way even if I had been guilty of keeping secrets from her. It's human nature. Well, my nature anyway.:) So the secrets the brothers have kept this year have not bothered me at all. TPTB just better not make it a bone of contention between the brothers, because then hypocrisy comes into play, and we've had more than enough of that.
I do agree with you that there's a different feel to their relationship than we've seen the last couple of years, and I am most certainly happy about it. PLEASE let it continue!:)
No, he did it because he didn't want to be alone. It was pure selfishness on his part and he admitted it in AHBL.
Like you, I don't see the progression that it would take to get from last season to this one. In addition, to me the Impala represents everything that's wrong between the brothers. I know I'm going to get flamed for that but I don't care. That's how I see it.
Not for me but it was nicely directed
Goodness... it's not the Sam show folks. Take the fan fiction somewhere else.
SARAH Nick. You're dreaming, Nick. But it doesn't mean this isn't real.
NICK Sarah?
SARAH I'm not your wife, Nick. I'm an angel.
NICK An angel?
SARAH My name is Lucifer.
NICK Sure. Naturally. Um... Could you do me a favor there, Satan, and remind me to quit drinking before I go to bed?
LUCIFER I'm here because you're special, Nick. There's very, very few people like you.
NICK Is that so?
LUCIFER You're a vessel—a very powerful vessel.
NICK swings his legs off the bed.
NICK Meaning what, exactly?
LUCIFER I need to take control of your mind and your body. To be honest, it'll probably be unpleasant for you. But it is necessary.
NICK Okay, look...if it's just the same to you, I think I'd like to wake up now.
LUCIFER I told you—this is real. Don't be afraid. This is your choice.
LUCIFER sits on the bed next to NICK.
LUCIFER You need to invite me in.
NICK Even if this is real—which it's not, but assuming it was...why the hell would I do something like that?
LUCIFER You people misunderstand me. You call me "Satan" and "devil", but... Do you know my crime? I loved God too much. And for that, he betrayed me—punished me. Just as he's punished you. After all, how could God stand idly by while that man broke into your home and butchered your family in their beds?
NICK swallows, not looking at her.
LUCIFER There are only two rational answers, Nick—either he's sadistic, or he simply doesn't care. You're angry. You have every right to be angry. I am angry, too. That's why I want to find him—hold him accountable for his actions. Just because he created us doesn't mean he can toy with us, like playthings.
NICK If I help you...can you bring back my family?
LUCIFER I'm sorry. I can't. But I can give you the next best thing. God did this to you, Nick. And I can give you justice. Peace.
NICK How do I know you're telling the truth?
LUCIFER Because, contrary to popular belief, I don't lie. I don't need to. What I need...is you. Nick, I need you to say yes.
NICK remembers the empty baby rocker, the blood pouring from the crib, the empty crib.
NICK Then yes.
Lucifer may have been totally up front, but as we know there's more than one vessel....and he totally chose the most broken man he could find, who just lost his wife and infant child....he clearly took advantage of this man's trauma and heartbreak....a nd conveniently laid the blame of God....for the act of an evil human being. So what he did was worse. Praying on this man the way he did for his own selfish and maniacal reasons...
Michael did much the same thing to dean in the song remains the same...he was flat out honest with dean...laying it all out there..going on and on about raising Lucifer, taking care of him like no other, loving him but obeying his father's orders because he's a good son...sound familiar? Michael, much the same as luci, took advantage and clearly used manipulation in order for dean to say yes, again like luci, for his own means...and clearly the well being of humans wasn't in the picture from either....
Lucifer and Michael were no different than ruby in way...but at least ruby gave sam some good sex.....:D
Both dicks, both manipulators... ...both making promises that I doubt either one would've kept.