The Great Supernatural Rewatch Project - Faith
Aug 21, 2017 21:52:25 GMT -5
Mystique and onali like this
Post by luxshine on Aug 21, 2017 21:52:25 GMT -5
Faith is considered almost universally one of the best episodes of Supernatural, even now when most of season 1 is “early installment weirdness”. It is quoted constantly as one of the high spots of quality, one of the best acted episodes, and as the basis of a lot of canon facts about the brothers, specifically their bond and how both would do anything to keep the other alive.
It is a bit funny to remember that, at the time, it was a MoTW episode, that had absolute no bearing to the general season arc. How times change.
General stuff
Interesting that last episode, that was arguably an arc episode, had no “previously in Supernatural”, however here, in what we know a priori is a MoTW episode… we get a previously on. That ends with Sam being really clear on “I gotta find Dad, that’s the only thing I can think about.”
It will come to bite him in the ass.
Then, strange thing, we don’t start with our cold opening of a poor lamented unknown victim, but with the brothers in the middle of a hunt. A hunt that seems deeply personal to Dean, as he is not happy and wants “that creeper” to burn. Five seconds later we realize why. Whatever they are hunting, it’s grabbing kids, and by now we know that Dean does NOT like when kids are victimized. During the hunt, Sam is tripped, so Dean orders him to leave the house, to save the kids, and hunts the critter alone with a tazer. This is important, as they’re in a big puddle, and while Dean kills the monster, on doing so, he electrocutes himself too. Cue Sam finding him unconscious and that’s our credit card.
Chance scene to a worried Sam talking to a pair of cops about how they found the lost kids on the basement, and he gets the news that Dean suffered a heart attack that damaged his heart… in a really bad way. If anything, Dean has a month to live.
Sam doesn’t take the news well.
And here I am going to make a pause to say that I miss this kind of acting from Jared. He doesn’t give us much more than what is on the script, but what he adds –in specific, that his eyes constantly seem on the verge of crying, but he doesn’t, as if crying meant giving up and accepting that Dean won’t survive much longer. As long as Sam keeps a lid on his feelings, he can find a solution. All that is told with a look and a shrug. I really, really miss when Jared did that.
And then I wonder why the hell Allan Kroeker only directed THIS episode of the series.
Sam shallows and then goes to find Dean, who is looking really weak, changing channels and tryng to ignore the fact that he’s dying, telling Sam to go and take care of his car.
The silence, and the complete acceptance Dean has of his own death make the next scene wonderful. If I was doing this on you tube? I’d be silent because both Jensen and Jared bring their A game to this, and I do wonder why the hell they didn’t get an Emmy for this.
Finally, FINALLY after 10 episodes, we get the Sam a lot of people talk about when talking about Sam. In his bed, checking every single piece of research he can, leaving a message for John explaining what’s going on with Dean (a message that we know will go not only unanswered, but unacknowledged, harsh, John) and immersing himself in the life we know he dislikes, just for the sake of finding a way to save his brother.
THIS is the Sam we constantly find in fics, the Sam that we get sold in trailers. And I, for one? Love him. I just wish we saw more of him since, as I said, it’s the first real look we got at him in 10 episodes so far, and while I get that we can’t get Dean on the verge of dying every week, well, maybe we should see more of this Sam on other situations.
To Sam dismay, Dean checks himself out of the hospital because “he’s not going to die in a hospital where the nurses aren’t even hot.”
And here, again, I need to make a parenthesis because what is going on IS the seed of an argument that would pop up in fandom roughly 9 years later.
First, yes, Sam is right. Dean’s “laugh in the face of death” attitude is pretty see through. Problem is, what we are seeing is completely different from what Sam is seeing. We are shown –through dialogue, excellent direction and amazing acting – a man that is aware he’s going to die, is fine with dying… but doesn’t want to die alone and without his family.
Picture this: In the last two months, Dean has been forced to relieve a trauma that he’s been carrying since he was four, with no one even asking him if he’s all right. Not only that, but the woman he has in a pedestal due to his memories pretty much shoved him off and ignored him before committing suicide in front of him. Previous to that, thanks to a shapeshifter, he got all his insecurities and resentment at life put full frontal in front of his brother. AFTER his mom’s metaphysical suicide, he got brushed off by his father who abandoned him for Revenge, and almost abandoned by his brother too. Dean IS afraid of losing his family, yes, and the one thing he doesn’t want is to kick the bucket in a hospital room surrounded by people he doesn’t know.
Sam reacts as if all of Dean’s actions were empty macho bravado, the kind of macho bravado he is used to see in his brother, and tries to shrug it off as he usually shrugs it off because HE, Sam, is terrified of losing his family too. The one member that gave a crap about him, who took care of him when John wasn’t around, and who always has his back. So of COURSE he’s not listening to the plea of “don’t let me die alone” and instead is focusing on “no, I’m not going to let you die”
Both brothers are perfectly in character. Dean doesn’t care if he dies, but wants to be with his brother when it happens, and make sure that Sam will be ok alone. Sam doesn’t want Dean to die, and will move heaven and earth to make sure that that doesn’t happen. And that is amazing, that is perfect, that is the kind of thing we WANT our hero to do (And as I have said more than once, make no mistake, Sam is the textual hero of Supernatural)
Watsonian-level? There is absolutely NO problem with this scene.
Doylian-level… There’s one small problem. Just a teeny problem that of course was never thought of touched about because it’s a Real Life problem, not a Fictional writing problem. However, as it does make a tally for Sam, I have to explain.
When it comes to a patient that has been declared terminal, and said patient is still aware and in his sound mind as it’s the case of Dean, the ONLY person that can make medical choices is the patient himself. IF the patient decides he wants the doctors to try every single medical treatment that may or may not work –and can pay-, well, the greedy family member that wants to cash the will is out of luck (unless we’re in one of those shows where a detective shows up). IF the patient says “no, this is it, no more treatments, I just want to enjoy what I have left”, the doctor and everyone in the family may think it’s the worst idea in the universe, but they have NO right, legal or otherwise, to stop the patient. (This doesn’t apply if said patient HAS been shown to have a history of suicidal ideation, however, at this point of the series, Dean hasn’t shown that)
So Sam deciding “fudge that, my brother is not dying, get in the car we’re going to save your life”? AS noble and RIGHT as it is narratively speaking, would be completely WRONG and possibly abusive in real life. Because it is a clear example of Sam not respecting Dean’s boundaries and wishes (Which means, that yes, it will go on the tally even as I think Sam was RIGHT on not respecting Dean’s boundaries. Does that make sense?)
All this is to make clear the difference between a literary choice that is right, and that we are supposed to cheer on, but would not work the same way if Dean and Sam were real people, at least not legally. Morally, we can argue until the cows come home if a person disrespecting a DNR order is right or wrong, especially if the patient survives with no ill consequence to themselves, but legally it’s wrong nonetheless (there’s a very good episode in House season 1 about the subject, btw)
Anyway… the brothers arrive to Sam’s “Specialist” which happens to be a faith healer… and that makes Dean angry. Really angry, and he feels betrayed. Is it because he thinks it’s a waste of time, or because he is afraid that Sam is setting himself up to disappointment? It’s a very interesting question. But it also gives us a conversation that pretty much sums up both brothers in the whole series and answers the great question: How can Dean be an atheist and at the same time be a hunter?
Dean is very clear –and will keep this steadfast attitude all the way up to season 11 it seems. If he DOESN’T see it, it doesn’t exist. Chuck is not part of Dean’s world view, while Sam apparently believes that the existence of evil must be the proof of the existence of Chuck because there has to be balance.
The theology argument gets interrupted by Darla, from Buffy (Sorry Julie Benz will always be Darla for me) and the blind preacher zeroes on Dean because he can hear Dean’s absolute disbelief on his powers. Despite Dean’s protests, the preacher insists that Dean should come up because the Lord picked him to be healed. Dean, under a LOT of protest, finally goes up the steps (this is important because it proves how, even when he doesn’t believe that the preacher is for real, he still thinks someone else should be healed in case it is true), and… to his surprise, he gets healed.
In a way that proves to him that there is something fishy, since he sees a dark figure behind the reverend.
Dean is healed, and gets a perfect health bill, which has Sam elated but Dean doesn’t look happy. Even less as the doctor tells them that, strange thing, the day before a healthy 27 year old man, just like Dean, had a heart attack and died.
Dean is very unhappy about this, but Sam, being Sam, wants to brush it under the carpet and leave. (There’s a bit more to that, but unfortunately, it goes under emotional violence. And I say unfortunately because I was really hoping this episode was free of that)
Since we’re not in the end of the episode, the brothers don’t leave. Sam goes off to research the guy who died, while Dean goes to visit the reverend and his wife, who tell them that the Reverend was cured of cancer due to prayer –even when he lost his sight.
AS they are about to finish the conversation, Dean needs to know why he was healed, in a tent full with believers that were waiting for the reverend. It is a very interesting convo.
It’s a very interesting thing because it is ominuous. It is a wonderful foreshadowing of the fact that, in three seasons time, we will know what is Dean’s important purpose, what is the job he has to do. His divine fate. It is a scene that has been quoted time and again when talking about how wonderfully planned Supernatural was during the first five seasons, and how the little clues to Dean’s Mytharc were there from the beginning.
The problem is… that’s not true.
Yes, with hindsight, we can say that Roy was hinting to the whole Righteous man/Servant of Heaven/Michael’s sword arc. We can even point that if Dean had died there? No seals would’ve been broken.
However, that’s because after season 3, Kirpke had to retool his plan due to the writer’s strike, and so, we’re using OUR confirmation bias to assure ourselves that this scene is important. But within the real original plan that we see in this first season, and the arc that goes from season 1 to season 3 (The psykids and Sam as the boy king of Hell), then it so happens that Dean’s mission is…
To protect Sam.
Which makes a LOT more sense given how the series has been constructed up till now, and how it will continue until the writers’ strike forced them to cut plots short.
On the “little things that Jensen’s acting added to Dean Character” this scene also gives us a very good glimpse to Dean’s sense of self. Or, better said, lack of the same. Dean doesn’t believe he’s worthy of saving, and that is something that will come to play many times later in the series.
While Dean is being told that he is important and not believing it, Sam realizes that the man who died when Dean was healed was “running away from something” and that the clock on the place froze at the exact time when the guy died… and Dean was healed. As much as he wants to deny it, Dean is right, and something is wrong.
Dean is leaving Roy’s house and he accidentally meets Layla and her mom. The mother is incredibly angry at Dean being around, especially because she feels that Dean got the miracle that Layla deserves. She has a brain tumor, and has less than six months to live. Again, an amazing acting job by Jensen, who doesn’t answer when Layla’s mom asks him point blank “Why do you deserve to live more than my daughter?”
(and we know, we just know, that he thinks the answer is I don’t.)
Dean returns to their motel, and Sam admits that yes, Marshall, the dead guy, died at the exact time that Dean was healed, and that it’s not the only case where something similar happens. Roy LaGrange is exchanging deaths. Which gives us another amazing scene by Jared and Jensen, and yet another glimpse of how the brothers see the same events from a different point of view, and we get a scene that is heartbreaking on both ends.
Dean is clearly and understandably upset that someone died in his place. Now, the text doesn’t say it but when we put it together with Jensen’s acting on the previous scene with Layla’s mom, we can see clearly that the whole intent here is that Dean doesn’t believe his life is more important than someone else’s life. Dean is not only angry because Roy is killing people, he is angry because since HE was healed, he was made an accomplice in his own mind. He should’ve died, and Marshall should have kept on living. And at the same time, we are seeing a clear example on how Sam DOES think that his life and the one of his circle of friends/family IS more important than the life of people he didn’t know, as first he tries to brush what he already knows its true with “the guy probably would’ve died anyway” and then justifies his actions with ignorance “I didn’t know”… but never apologizes, because from HIS point of view, since the end result was that Dean was alive… there’s nothing that needs an apology as if someone else had gotten healed, Marshall would still have died, and Dean would still be dying. So no apology needed, from Sam’s point of view.
(I am not placing judgment on which brother is right. I am only comparing how they both feel, and how we know this not only by the words they say, but also by the body language. Sam is shaking his head, looking to the computer where he has his proof and to Dean to make clear that he only cares that DEAN is still alive; Dean is angry and avoiding looking at Sam in the eyes. Because he is also ashamed because he feels that HE killed Marshall. It is an amazing scene, perfectly shot, and perfectly edited as it is intercut with scenes of Roy healing another person. I really wish we had more episodes directed by this guy)
And after an amazing montage to Don’t Fear the Reaper (on the DVD. On Netflix I have another song which ugh) we get our monster: a Reaper, and how Roy is controlling it, using a medieval cross.
Interesting that this is one of the very few times when we see the brothers not using John’s diary. Also, I wish I had that tarot that Sam has.
Dean suggests killing Roy, which Sam nixes immediately because Roy is a human being no matter what. They also realize they can’t kill Death (Ah, the irony), so Sam proposes finding the spell that Roy is using on the reaper, and destroy that.
Sam goes to Roy’s house during the service, trying to find the spell book that every dark witch has. He doesn’t find the book, but he finds newspaper clippings identifying the victims as immoral. To be precise, a gay teacher, an abortion rights advocate, and, although he is still alive, the guy who claims the church is a cult.
Small parenthesis here. I know that a lot of meta has been written about Supernatural’s PTB relationship with LGBTQ+ people and the lack of representation within the characters…they still have small little things like these where they make clear that being gay is good, and being pro-choice is good, and the crazy religious freak that is playing Chuck and trying to decide that they’re amoral is evil. It is a very, very subtle thing, but it is important. Sure, it does suck that the first canonically confirmed gay person in the SPN universe is someone who died BEFORE the episode aired but… at the very least we know gay people exist and are good in the greater scope of things.
Layla gets finally chosen to get healed and Dean, despite the fact that he obviously wants her to live, tries to stop her because he knows that her getting healed means someone else will die. She is confused, and ignores him because she knows how important is her health for his mom.
Still, Dean and Sam are heroes, and while Sam tries to help the latest target even as he doesn’t see the Reaper chasing him, Dean manages to stop the healing in time by yelling FIRE on a crowded room. Smart thinking from Dean, even as he looks horribly pained by the situation. However, that doesn’t work, as the Reaper is still there because it’s not Roy who controls the Reaper, but his wife who completely ignored the fire alarm. Still, Dean stops her, and manages to save the target.
The original Reaper, by the way, is really creepy.
Roy’s wife doesn’t press charges against Dean –apparently she acted as if he was a thief- but threatens Dean very plainly. At the same time, Layla looks horribly disappointed as she realizes Dean stopped her chance to get healed.
Dean and Sam realize that Sue Ann has gone off the deep end and believes herself an avenging angel and have to stop her soon as Layla is getting healed in a private ceremony that night. And Sam is now firmly on the side of “we are not letting more innocent die”
Again, amazing acting on both parts. You can see that Sam is worried about Dean’s state of mind, and that Dean is 100% honestly blaming himself for the fact that Layla is not going to get healed while he was, and that is not just on the text. And you can see that Sam is now feeling bad that he put Dean in that position, and yet he is keeping to what he knows is Dean’s moral center instead of suggesting that they wait until Roy heals Layla before stopping his wife.
As they realize that Sue Ann is not in the tent, Dean sends Sam to the house and acts as a distraction, since there are cops around. Sam finds the altar, and a bad omen, as it seems that Sue Ann has decided that Dean does not deserve the gift of life and has put him as the new target of the Reaper. The woman is clearly insane, as she has decided that she is the one who has the mission to punish the wicked.
Sam destroys the altar, but gets trapped in the cellar, as Dean comes face to face with the Reaper again since Roy is trying to heal Layla. By the way, I do feel bad about Roy, who is honestly just trying to help people.
Dean doesn’t run away from the Reaper, and is started to get killed which is quite hard to watch since it ties with the fact that the whole episode, Dean has been on the edge of not wanting to be alive, when Sam reaches Sue Ann and destroys the cross that kept the Reaper at bay. The Reaper, being free, decides to go after the one who bound him and kills her (unfortunately, he doesn’t heal Layla. Pity, as I really liked her)
Back on the motel, Dean is still feeling as if they didn’t do the right thing when Layla comes to visit because Sam gave her their hotel room. Layla is not healed, and they talk about Sue Ann’s death and how Roy is coping with the loss, and then Layla surprises Dean because she tells him that she is ok. Her faith is not shaken, as she believes in Chuck, even if there’s no miracle that will save her. Dean says goodbye telling her that even if he doesn’t pray, he will pray for her. (Incidentally, this means that no, it is not true that the first time Dean prayed in a situation where he felt he couldn’t help someone was for Sam in season 9, as it was for Layla, in season 1)
And with Layla’s sad smile, the episode ends.
Violence
No physical violence, which is great, we are still pretty clean in that regard.
Emotional Violence
Full disclaimer time. I was 100% sure this episode wouldn’t need an emotional violence subtitle, as it is well known that it is one of the episodes where we see the brotherly bond in full force. And yet…
When Dean discovers that someone died while he was getting healed, he gets really serious, and this convo happens:
Now, there are a lot of problems in this scene, so lets go one by one. First, from the beginning of the scene, even before we knew that Dean was now healthy, Dean was not happy. This tells us that it is not the first time he tries to tell Sam something was wrong at the faith healing. Then, Sam IMMEDIATELY goes to the one explanation that, in their line of work, is never acceptable “It’s just a coincidence” and follows with “who cares, lets go, you are alive” in a way that completely dismisses Dean’s worries. And while I totally get Sam being happy that his brother is alive, the way in which he dismisses the rest is troublesome as it is recurring with him and goes back to the “leaving innocents” problems. Once Sam’s wishes are met (in this case, save Dean life), the rest is not important, not worth of notice.
Still, so far, this is not emotional violence. The emotional violence comes later, when Sam, point blank, tells his brother that no, he’s seeing things, he can’t be right, the expert, the smart one, the powerful one, is Sam. Which is classic putting down, and is something that, unfortunately, has become a pattern with Sam as, out of 10 episodes we’ve analyzed, he’s done so 16 times. Seriously, it’s a good thing we don’t have a canon or text evidence of intent, because this is starting to look worrisome.
Only good thing is that by this point, Dean is pretty fed up with that, as he does something he usually doesn’t do unless Sam uses Mary or John as a weapon, and that is to defend himself. Still is a bit sad that we see that Sam doesn’t believe Dean, even shakes his head and laughs as if what Dean was saying was completely absurd… when not 5 episodes ago, Dean went with him to check something that had absolutely no supernatural clues because it was for a friend of Sam, and later agreed to go back to Lawrence because Sam had a dream.
Secrets, Lies (and their consequences)
No secrets on this episode. There is a small lie by omission on Sam’s end, when he tells Dean they’re going to see a specialist and thus makes Dean believe they’re going to a doctor, but it’s not really a lie. And it gets solved in the exact same scene that was introduced.
Speeches and Apologies
There’s a very weird part of the dialogue when Sam realizes that Dean was right, and I am only putting it here because I have talked before of the strange habit the writers have of leaving Sam’s apologies very, very ambiguous, or, worse, perfunctory.
So… Sam said he was sorry. But he never answers the question Dean asked. Is he sorry because he didn’t believe Dean? Is he sorry because Dean was right? Is he sorry because Marshall Hall died? Is he sorry because the fact that his brother is alive came at the cost of someone else life?
Well, we know that no, he is not sorry that his brother is alive at the cost of Marshall’s life, as he does say that the guy was going to die anyway. And we know that he’s not sorry that Dean is alive, period (Which is really good). But then… why is he sorry FOR?
Of course, we can imply he is sorry because he doubted Dean… except that later when they’re arguing reapers, he still doubts Dean. That is not the actions of a person that is sorry for doubting his brother on the first place. And we can imply that he is sorry because he knows Dean will not like the fact that Marshall is dead. Hell, we can even imply that he is sorry because Dean will be mad.
The problem is that we don’t know. And it could have been solved by a simple sentence before or after the Marshall Hall line. Either “you were right, Marshall Hall died at 4:17”, which would make clear that he is sorry for his doubts, or “Marshall Hall died at 4:!7, please don’t blame yourself”, that would make clear he is sorry for how his brother will take the news. Without either –or something similar- we end up with yet another perfunctory “I’m sorry” that in the end is completely meaningless and not a real apology.
Final Tally
Curious thing. Kirkpe has said that this is his favorite Supernatural episode, going as far as to say “It’s when I first realized what the show was capable of. Here’s this episode about: Is there a Chuck? What’s meant to be? And is there free will? And is your life worth the cost of someone else’s life? It’s a metaphysical and moral study of the boys’ universe. There’s so many different places the show can go and so many tones. That’s been really fun to do.”
Thing is, this clearly proves that the commonly repeated idea that he had a five year arc planned is a myth. Because if he never thought about the existence of Chuck in the Supernatural universe, then the whole Apocalypse war between Heaven and Hell couldn’t have been planned. And it’s really funny that all those questions came from a Dean-centric Monster of the Week episode as it proves that he allowed writers to play around and experiment with Dean, the sidekick, while he took care of Sam’s episodes, as they were the important ones.
Another interesting thing to note is that this episode is written by Sera Gamble and Raelle Tucker. It is interesting because in interviews and external material, Gamble was a very vocal Sam fan, with a lot of bias on whom she sees as the hero, yet her name is on some of the best Dean episodes. At first, I thought it was because PR is not show running and maybe her extreme Sam love was just for show, but then… well, Faith is considered one of the best Dean episodes (And it is usually in line as one of the best episodes of the series) and it was written IN cooperation with the same person that gave us Dead in the Water (explaining the continuity of Dean’s love for children, even if we’re being sold sometimes that Dean dislikes children), Nightmare, Salvation, Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things, Hunted, Roadkill, and another Dean classic Episode “What is and What Should Never Be”.
This led me to believe, that as Faith has been critically acclaimed as a great episode for every character involved… that Sera IS a Sam fangirl, but works very well when tempered with a writer that loves Dean. We’ll see if that is true with future episodes penned by her and if they were penned in a team.
Other than that, man this episode was surprising. Especially in the end tally.
Numbers (or the TL;DR summary)
(Episode/Total so far)
Times Dean has lied to Sam or to a loved one: 0 / 0
Times Sam has lied to Dean or to a loved one: 0 / 3
Times Dean has been caught in a lie : 0 / 0
Times Sam has been caught in a lie: 0 / 1
Times Dean has hit Sam in anger: 0 / 1
Times Sam has hit Dean in anger: 0 / 3
Times Dean’s lies or secrets have caused someone’s death: 0 / 0
Times Sam’s lies or secrets have caused someone’s death: 0 / 1
Times Dean has abandoned (Or wanted to abandon) a hunt in the middle for his own needs: 0 / 0
Times Sam has abandoned (Or wanted to abandon) a hunt in the middle for his own needs: 1 / 6
Times Dean forced Sam to do something: 0 / 0
Times Sam forced Dean to do something: 1 / 6
Secrets kept by Dean: 0 / 1
Secrets kept by Sam: 0 / 1
Times Dean has blamed Sam for something: 0 / 0
Times Sam has blamed Dean for something: 0 / 1
Times Dean has apologized with words to Sam: 0 / 2
Times Sam has apologized with words to Dean : 0 / 1
Times Dean has respected Sam’s boundaries and/or rules: 0 / 6
Times Sam has respected Dean’s boundaries and/or rules: 0 / 0
Times Dean hasn’t respected Sam’s boundaries and/or rules: 0 / 0
Times Sam hasn’t respected Dean’s boundaries and / or rules: 1 / 9
Times Dean has made fun of something Sam does or has: 0 / 4
Times Sam has made fun of something Dean does or has: 1 / 16
Times we focus on Dean’s needs: 0 / 0
Times we focus on Sam’s needs: 0 / 0
Arc episodes dedicated to Sam: 0 / 4
Filler episodes dedicated to Sam: 0 / 5
Arc episodes dedicated to Dean: 0 / 0
Filler episodes dedicated to Dean: 1 / 2
Arc episodes dedicated to both brothers (or to none) : 0 / 1
Filler episodes dedicated to both brothers (or to none) : 0 / 0
Dean’s Dropped Plotlines: 0 / 1
Sam’s Dropped Plotlines: 0 / 1
It is a bit funny to remember that, at the time, it was a MoTW episode, that had absolute no bearing to the general season arc. How times change.
General stuff
Interesting that last episode, that was arguably an arc episode, had no “previously in Supernatural”, however here, in what we know a priori is a MoTW episode… we get a previously on. That ends with Sam being really clear on “I gotta find Dad, that’s the only thing I can think about.”
It will come to bite him in the ass.
Then, strange thing, we don’t start with our cold opening of a poor lamented unknown victim, but with the brothers in the middle of a hunt. A hunt that seems deeply personal to Dean, as he is not happy and wants “that creeper” to burn. Five seconds later we realize why. Whatever they are hunting, it’s grabbing kids, and by now we know that Dean does NOT like when kids are victimized. During the hunt, Sam is tripped, so Dean orders him to leave the house, to save the kids, and hunts the critter alone with a tazer. This is important, as they’re in a big puddle, and while Dean kills the monster, on doing so, he electrocutes himself too. Cue Sam finding him unconscious and that’s our credit card.
Chance scene to a worried Sam talking to a pair of cops about how they found the lost kids on the basement, and he gets the news that Dean suffered a heart attack that damaged his heart… in a really bad way. If anything, Dean has a month to live.
Sam doesn’t take the news well.
And here I am going to make a pause to say that I miss this kind of acting from Jared. He doesn’t give us much more than what is on the script, but what he adds –in specific, that his eyes constantly seem on the verge of crying, but he doesn’t, as if crying meant giving up and accepting that Dean won’t survive much longer. As long as Sam keeps a lid on his feelings, he can find a solution. All that is told with a look and a shrug. I really, really miss when Jared did that.
And then I wonder why the hell Allan Kroeker only directed THIS episode of the series.
Sam shallows and then goes to find Dean, who is looking really weak, changing channels and tryng to ignore the fact that he’s dying, telling Sam to go and take care of his car.
The silence, and the complete acceptance Dean has of his own death make the next scene wonderful. If I was doing this on you tube? I’d be silent because both Jensen and Jared bring their A game to this, and I do wonder why the hell they didn’t get an Emmy for this.
Finally, FINALLY after 10 episodes, we get the Sam a lot of people talk about when talking about Sam. In his bed, checking every single piece of research he can, leaving a message for John explaining what’s going on with Dean (a message that we know will go not only unanswered, but unacknowledged, harsh, John) and immersing himself in the life we know he dislikes, just for the sake of finding a way to save his brother.
THIS is the Sam we constantly find in fics, the Sam that we get sold in trailers. And I, for one? Love him. I just wish we saw more of him since, as I said, it’s the first real look we got at him in 10 episodes so far, and while I get that we can’t get Dean on the verge of dying every week, well, maybe we should see more of this Sam on other situations.
To Sam dismay, Dean checks himself out of the hospital because “he’s not going to die in a hospital where the nurses aren’t even hot.”
And here, again, I need to make a parenthesis because what is going on IS the seed of an argument that would pop up in fandom roughly 9 years later.
SAM
You know, this whole I-laugh-in-the-face-of-death thing? It’s crap. I can see right through it.
DEAN
Yeah, whatever, dude. Have you even slept? You look worse than me.
SAM
(Helping DEAN to a chair)I’ve been scouring the Internet for the last three days. Calling every contact in Dad’s journal.
DEAN
For what?
SAM
For a way to help you. One of Dad’s friends, Joshua, he called me back. Told me about a guy in Nebraska. A specialist.
DEAN
You’re not gonna let me die in peace, are you?
SAM
I’m not gonna let you die, period. We’re going.
You know, this whole I-laugh-in-the-face-of-death thing? It’s crap. I can see right through it.
DEAN
Yeah, whatever, dude. Have you even slept? You look worse than me.
SAM
(Helping DEAN to a chair)I’ve been scouring the Internet for the last three days. Calling every contact in Dad’s journal.
DEAN
For what?
SAM
For a way to help you. One of Dad’s friends, Joshua, he called me back. Told me about a guy in Nebraska. A specialist.
DEAN
You’re not gonna let me die in peace, are you?
SAM
I’m not gonna let you die, period. We’re going.
First, yes, Sam is right. Dean’s “laugh in the face of death” attitude is pretty see through. Problem is, what we are seeing is completely different from what Sam is seeing. We are shown –through dialogue, excellent direction and amazing acting – a man that is aware he’s going to die, is fine with dying… but doesn’t want to die alone and without his family.
Picture this: In the last two months, Dean has been forced to relieve a trauma that he’s been carrying since he was four, with no one even asking him if he’s all right. Not only that, but the woman he has in a pedestal due to his memories pretty much shoved him off and ignored him before committing suicide in front of him. Previous to that, thanks to a shapeshifter, he got all his insecurities and resentment at life put full frontal in front of his brother. AFTER his mom’s metaphysical suicide, he got brushed off by his father who abandoned him for Revenge, and almost abandoned by his brother too. Dean IS afraid of losing his family, yes, and the one thing he doesn’t want is to kick the bucket in a hospital room surrounded by people he doesn’t know.
Sam reacts as if all of Dean’s actions were empty macho bravado, the kind of macho bravado he is used to see in his brother, and tries to shrug it off as he usually shrugs it off because HE, Sam, is terrified of losing his family too. The one member that gave a crap about him, who took care of him when John wasn’t around, and who always has his back. So of COURSE he’s not listening to the plea of “don’t let me die alone” and instead is focusing on “no, I’m not going to let you die”
Both brothers are perfectly in character. Dean doesn’t care if he dies, but wants to be with his brother when it happens, and make sure that Sam will be ok alone. Sam doesn’t want Dean to die, and will move heaven and earth to make sure that that doesn’t happen. And that is amazing, that is perfect, that is the kind of thing we WANT our hero to do (And as I have said more than once, make no mistake, Sam is the textual hero of Supernatural)
Watsonian-level? There is absolutely NO problem with this scene.
Doylian-level… There’s one small problem. Just a teeny problem that of course was never thought of touched about because it’s a Real Life problem, not a Fictional writing problem. However, as it does make a tally for Sam, I have to explain.
When it comes to a patient that has been declared terminal, and said patient is still aware and in his sound mind as it’s the case of Dean, the ONLY person that can make medical choices is the patient himself. IF the patient decides he wants the doctors to try every single medical treatment that may or may not work –and can pay-, well, the greedy family member that wants to cash the will is out of luck (unless we’re in one of those shows where a detective shows up). IF the patient says “no, this is it, no more treatments, I just want to enjoy what I have left”, the doctor and everyone in the family may think it’s the worst idea in the universe, but they have NO right, legal or otherwise, to stop the patient. (This doesn’t apply if said patient HAS been shown to have a history of suicidal ideation, however, at this point of the series, Dean hasn’t shown that)
So Sam deciding “fudge that, my brother is not dying, get in the car we’re going to save your life”? AS noble and RIGHT as it is narratively speaking, would be completely WRONG and possibly abusive in real life. Because it is a clear example of Sam not respecting Dean’s boundaries and wishes (Which means, that yes, it will go on the tally even as I think Sam was RIGHT on not respecting Dean’s boundaries. Does that make sense?)
All this is to make clear the difference between a literary choice that is right, and that we are supposed to cheer on, but would not work the same way if Dean and Sam were real people, at least not legally. Morally, we can argue until the cows come home if a person disrespecting a DNR order is right or wrong, especially if the patient survives with no ill consequence to themselves, but legally it’s wrong nonetheless (there’s a very good episode in House season 1 about the subject, btw)
Anyway… the brothers arrive to Sam’s “Specialist” which happens to be a faith healer… and that makes Dean angry. Really angry, and he feels betrayed. Is it because he thinks it’s a waste of time, or because he is afraid that Sam is setting himself up to disappointment? It’s a very interesting question. But it also gives us a conversation that pretty much sums up both brothers in the whole series and answers the great question: How can Dean be an atheist and at the same time be a hunter?
DEAN
I mean, come on, Sam, a faith healer?
SAM
Maybe it’s time to have a little faith, Dean.
DEAN
You know what I’ve got faith in? Reality. Knowing what’s really going on.
SAM
How can you be a skeptic? With the things we see everyday?
DEAN
Exactly. We see them, we know there real.
SAM
But if you know evil’s out there, how can you not believe good’s out there, too?
DEAN
Because I’ve seen what evil does to good people.
I mean, come on, Sam, a faith healer?
SAM
Maybe it’s time to have a little faith, Dean.
DEAN
You know what I’ve got faith in? Reality. Knowing what’s really going on.
SAM
How can you be a skeptic? With the things we see everyday?
DEAN
Exactly. We see them, we know there real.
SAM
But if you know evil’s out there, how can you not believe good’s out there, too?
DEAN
Because I’ve seen what evil does to good people.
Dean is very clear –and will keep this steadfast attitude all the way up to season 11 it seems. If he DOESN’T see it, it doesn’t exist. Chuck is not part of Dean’s world view, while Sam apparently believes that the existence of evil must be the proof of the existence of Chuck because there has to be balance.
The theology argument gets interrupted by Darla, from Buffy (Sorry Julie Benz will always be Darla for me) and the blind preacher zeroes on Dean because he can hear Dean’s absolute disbelief on his powers. Despite Dean’s protests, the preacher insists that Dean should come up because the Lord picked him to be healed. Dean, under a LOT of protest, finally goes up the steps (this is important because it proves how, even when he doesn’t believe that the preacher is for real, he still thinks someone else should be healed in case it is true), and… to his surprise, he gets healed.
In a way that proves to him that there is something fishy, since he sees a dark figure behind the reverend.
Dean is healed, and gets a perfect health bill, which has Sam elated but Dean doesn’t look happy. Even less as the doctor tells them that, strange thing, the day before a healthy 27 year old man, just like Dean, had a heart attack and died.
Dean is very unhappy about this, but Sam, being Sam, wants to brush it under the carpet and leave. (There’s a bit more to that, but unfortunately, it goes under emotional violence. And I say unfortunately because I was really hoping this episode was free of that)
Since we’re not in the end of the episode, the brothers don’t leave. Sam goes off to research the guy who died, while Dean goes to visit the reverend and his wife, who tell them that the Reverend was cured of cancer due to prayer –even when he lost his sight.
AS they are about to finish the conversation, Dean needs to know why he was healed, in a tent full with believers that were waiting for the reverend. It is a very interesting convo.
DEAN
Why? Why me? Out of all the sick people, why save me?
ROY
Well, like I said before, the Lord guides me. I looked into your heart, and you just stood out from all the rest.
DEAN
What did you see in my heart?
ROY
A young man with an important purpose. A job to do. And it isn’t finished.
Why? Why me? Out of all the sick people, why save me?
ROY
Well, like I said before, the Lord guides me. I looked into your heart, and you just stood out from all the rest.
DEAN
What did you see in my heart?
ROY
A young man with an important purpose. A job to do. And it isn’t finished.
It’s a very interesting thing because it is ominuous. It is a wonderful foreshadowing of the fact that, in three seasons time, we will know what is Dean’s important purpose, what is the job he has to do. His divine fate. It is a scene that has been quoted time and again when talking about how wonderfully planned Supernatural was during the first five seasons, and how the little clues to Dean’s Mytharc were there from the beginning.
The problem is… that’s not true.
Yes, with hindsight, we can say that Roy was hinting to the whole Righteous man/Servant of Heaven/Michael’s sword arc. We can even point that if Dean had died there? No seals would’ve been broken.
However, that’s because after season 3, Kirpke had to retool his plan due to the writer’s strike, and so, we’re using OUR confirmation bias to assure ourselves that this scene is important. But within the real original plan that we see in this first season, and the arc that goes from season 1 to season 3 (The psykids and Sam as the boy king of Hell), then it so happens that Dean’s mission is…
To protect Sam.
Which makes a LOT more sense given how the series has been constructed up till now, and how it will continue until the writers’ strike forced them to cut plots short.
On the “little things that Jensen’s acting added to Dean Character” this scene also gives us a very good glimpse to Dean’s sense of self. Or, better said, lack of the same. Dean doesn’t believe he’s worthy of saving, and that is something that will come to play many times later in the series.
While Dean is being told that he is important and not believing it, Sam realizes that the man who died when Dean was healed was “running away from something” and that the clock on the place froze at the exact time when the guy died… and Dean was healed. As much as he wants to deny it, Dean is right, and something is wrong.
Dean is leaving Roy’s house and he accidentally meets Layla and her mom. The mother is incredibly angry at Dean being around, especially because she feels that Dean got the miracle that Layla deserves. She has a brain tumor, and has less than six months to live. Again, an amazing acting job by Jensen, who doesn’t answer when Layla’s mom asks him point blank “Why do you deserve to live more than my daughter?”
(and we know, we just know, that he thinks the answer is I don’t.)
Dean returns to their motel, and Sam admits that yes, Marshall, the dead guy, died at the exact time that Dean was healed, and that it’s not the only case where something similar happens. Roy LaGrange is exchanging deaths. Which gives us another amazing scene by Jared and Jensen, and yet another glimpse of how the brothers see the same events from a different point of view, and we get a scene that is heartbreaking on both ends.
DEAN
Wait, wait, wait. So, Marshall Hall died to save me?
SAM
(looking upset) Dean, the guy probably would’ve died anyway. And someone else would’ve been healed.
DEAN
You never should’ve brought me here.
SAM
Dean, I was just trying to save your life.
DEAN
But, Sam, some guy is dead now because of me.
SAM
I didn’t know.
Wait, wait, wait. So, Marshall Hall died to save me?
SAM
(looking upset) Dean, the guy probably would’ve died anyway. And someone else would’ve been healed.
DEAN
You never should’ve brought me here.
SAM
Dean, I was just trying to save your life.
DEAN
But, Sam, some guy is dead now because of me.
SAM
I didn’t know.
Dean is clearly and understandably upset that someone died in his place. Now, the text doesn’t say it but when we put it together with Jensen’s acting on the previous scene with Layla’s mom, we can see clearly that the whole intent here is that Dean doesn’t believe his life is more important than someone else’s life. Dean is not only angry because Roy is killing people, he is angry because since HE was healed, he was made an accomplice in his own mind. He should’ve died, and Marshall should have kept on living. And at the same time, we are seeing a clear example on how Sam DOES think that his life and the one of his circle of friends/family IS more important than the life of people he didn’t know, as first he tries to brush what he already knows its true with “the guy probably would’ve died anyway” and then justifies his actions with ignorance “I didn’t know”… but never apologizes, because from HIS point of view, since the end result was that Dean was alive… there’s nothing that needs an apology as if someone else had gotten healed, Marshall would still have died, and Dean would still be dying. So no apology needed, from Sam’s point of view.
(I am not placing judgment on which brother is right. I am only comparing how they both feel, and how we know this not only by the words they say, but also by the body language. Sam is shaking his head, looking to the computer where he has his proof and to Dean to make clear that he only cares that DEAN is still alive; Dean is angry and avoiding looking at Sam in the eyes. Because he is also ashamed because he feels that HE killed Marshall. It is an amazing scene, perfectly shot, and perfectly edited as it is intercut with scenes of Roy healing another person. I really wish we had more episodes directed by this guy)
And after an amazing montage to Don’t Fear the Reaper (on the DVD. On Netflix I have another song which ugh) we get our monster: a Reaper, and how Roy is controlling it, using a medieval cross.
Interesting that this is one of the very few times when we see the brothers not using John’s diary. Also, I wish I had that tarot that Sam has.
Dean suggests killing Roy, which Sam nixes immediately because Roy is a human being no matter what. They also realize they can’t kill Death (Ah, the irony), so Sam proposes finding the spell that Roy is using on the reaper, and destroy that.
Sam goes to Roy’s house during the service, trying to find the spell book that every dark witch has. He doesn’t find the book, but he finds newspaper clippings identifying the victims as immoral. To be precise, a gay teacher, an abortion rights advocate, and, although he is still alive, the guy who claims the church is a cult.
Small parenthesis here. I know that a lot of meta has been written about Supernatural’s PTB relationship with LGBTQ+ people and the lack of representation within the characters…they still have small little things like these where they make clear that being gay is good, and being pro-choice is good, and the crazy religious freak that is playing Chuck and trying to decide that they’re amoral is evil. It is a very, very subtle thing, but it is important. Sure, it does suck that the first canonically confirmed gay person in the SPN universe is someone who died BEFORE the episode aired but… at the very least we know gay people exist and are good in the greater scope of things.
Layla gets finally chosen to get healed and Dean, despite the fact that he obviously wants her to live, tries to stop her because he knows that her getting healed means someone else will die. She is confused, and ignores him because she knows how important is her health for his mom.
Still, Dean and Sam are heroes, and while Sam tries to help the latest target even as he doesn’t see the Reaper chasing him, Dean manages to stop the healing in time by yelling FIRE on a crowded room. Smart thinking from Dean, even as he looks horribly pained by the situation. However, that doesn’t work, as the Reaper is still there because it’s not Roy who controls the Reaper, but his wife who completely ignored the fire alarm. Still, Dean stops her, and manages to save the target.
The original Reaper, by the way, is really creepy.
Roy’s wife doesn’t press charges against Dean –apparently she acted as if he was a thief- but threatens Dean very plainly. At the same time, Layla looks horribly disappointed as she realizes Dean stopped her chance to get healed.
Dean and Sam realize that Sue Ann has gone off the deep end and believes herself an avenging angel and have to stop her soon as Layla is getting healed in a private ceremony that night. And Sam is now firmly on the side of “we are not letting more innocent die”
SAM
That’s Layla’s car. She’s already here.
DEAN
(nodding sadly) Yeah.
SAM
Dean…
DEAN
You know if Roy woulda picked Layla instead of me she’d be here right now. And if she’s not healed tonight she’s gunna die in a coupla months.
SAM
What’s happening to her is horrible. But what are you gunna do? Let somebody else die to save her? You said it yourself Dean, you can’t play Chuck.
That’s Layla’s car. She’s already here.
DEAN
(nodding sadly) Yeah.
SAM
Dean…
DEAN
You know if Roy woulda picked Layla instead of me she’d be here right now. And if she’s not healed tonight she’s gunna die in a coupla months.
SAM
What’s happening to her is horrible. But what are you gunna do? Let somebody else die to save her? You said it yourself Dean, you can’t play Chuck.
Again, amazing acting on both parts. You can see that Sam is worried about Dean’s state of mind, and that Dean is 100% honestly blaming himself for the fact that Layla is not going to get healed while he was, and that is not just on the text. And you can see that Sam is now feeling bad that he put Dean in that position, and yet he is keeping to what he knows is Dean’s moral center instead of suggesting that they wait until Roy heals Layla before stopping his wife.
As they realize that Sue Ann is not in the tent, Dean sends Sam to the house and acts as a distraction, since there are cops around. Sam finds the altar, and a bad omen, as it seems that Sue Ann has decided that Dean does not deserve the gift of life and has put him as the new target of the Reaper. The woman is clearly insane, as she has decided that she is the one who has the mission to punish the wicked.
Sam destroys the altar, but gets trapped in the cellar, as Dean comes face to face with the Reaper again since Roy is trying to heal Layla. By the way, I do feel bad about Roy, who is honestly just trying to help people.
Dean doesn’t run away from the Reaper, and is started to get killed which is quite hard to watch since it ties with the fact that the whole episode, Dean has been on the edge of not wanting to be alive, when Sam reaches Sue Ann and destroys the cross that kept the Reaper at bay. The Reaper, being free, decides to go after the one who bound him and kills her (unfortunately, he doesn’t heal Layla. Pity, as I really liked her)
Back on the motel, Dean is still feeling as if they didn’t do the right thing when Layla comes to visit because Sam gave her their hotel room. Layla is not healed, and they talk about Sue Ann’s death and how Roy is coping with the loss, and then Layla surprises Dean because she tells him that she is ok. Her faith is not shaken, as she believes in Chuck, even if there’s no miracle that will save her. Dean says goodbye telling her that even if he doesn’t pray, he will pray for her. (Incidentally, this means that no, it is not true that the first time Dean prayed in a situation where he felt he couldn’t help someone was for Sam in season 9, as it was for Layla, in season 1)
And with Layla’s sad smile, the episode ends.
Violence
No physical violence, which is great, we are still pretty clean in that regard.
Emotional Violence
Full disclaimer time. I was 100% sure this episode wouldn’t need an emotional violence subtitle, as it is well known that it is one of the episodes where we see the brotherly bond in full force. And yet…
When Dean discovers that someone died while he was getting healed, he gets really serious, and this convo happens:
DEAN
That’s odd.
SAM
Maybe it’s a coincidence. People’s hearts give out all the time, man.
DEAN
No, they don’t.
SAM
Look, Dean, do we really have to look this one in the mouth? Why can’t we just be thankful that the guy saved your life and move on?
DEAN
Because I can’t shake this feeling, that’s why.
SAM
What feeling?
DEAN
When I was healed, I just…I felt wrong. I felt cold. And for a second…I saw someone. This, uh, this old man. And I’m telling you, Sam, it was a spirit.
SAM
But if there was something there, Dean, I think I would’ve seen it, too. I mean, I’ve been seeing an awful lot of things lately.
DEAN
Well, excuse me, psychic wonder. But you’re just gonna need a little faith on this one. Sam, I’ve been hunting long enough to trust a feeling like this.
That’s odd.
SAM
Maybe it’s a coincidence. People’s hearts give out all the time, man.
DEAN
No, they don’t.
SAM
Look, Dean, do we really have to look this one in the mouth? Why can’t we just be thankful that the guy saved your life and move on?
DEAN
Because I can’t shake this feeling, that’s why.
SAM
What feeling?
DEAN
When I was healed, I just…I felt wrong. I felt cold. And for a second…I saw someone. This, uh, this old man. And I’m telling you, Sam, it was a spirit.
SAM
But if there was something there, Dean, I think I would’ve seen it, too. I mean, I’ve been seeing an awful lot of things lately.
DEAN
Well, excuse me, psychic wonder. But you’re just gonna need a little faith on this one. Sam, I’ve been hunting long enough to trust a feeling like this.
Now, there are a lot of problems in this scene, so lets go one by one. First, from the beginning of the scene, even before we knew that Dean was now healthy, Dean was not happy. This tells us that it is not the first time he tries to tell Sam something was wrong at the faith healing. Then, Sam IMMEDIATELY goes to the one explanation that, in their line of work, is never acceptable “It’s just a coincidence” and follows with “who cares, lets go, you are alive” in a way that completely dismisses Dean’s worries. And while I totally get Sam being happy that his brother is alive, the way in which he dismisses the rest is troublesome as it is recurring with him and goes back to the “leaving innocents” problems. Once Sam’s wishes are met (in this case, save Dean life), the rest is not important, not worth of notice.
Still, so far, this is not emotional violence. The emotional violence comes later, when Sam, point blank, tells his brother that no, he’s seeing things, he can’t be right, the expert, the smart one, the powerful one, is Sam. Which is classic putting down, and is something that, unfortunately, has become a pattern with Sam as, out of 10 episodes we’ve analyzed, he’s done so 16 times. Seriously, it’s a good thing we don’t have a canon or text evidence of intent, because this is starting to look worrisome.
Only good thing is that by this point, Dean is pretty fed up with that, as he does something he usually doesn’t do unless Sam uses Mary or John as a weapon, and that is to defend himself. Still is a bit sad that we see that Sam doesn’t believe Dean, even shakes his head and laughs as if what Dean was saying was completely absurd… when not 5 episodes ago, Dean went with him to check something that had absolutely no supernatural clues because it was for a friend of Sam, and later agreed to go back to Lawrence because Sam had a dream.
Secrets, Lies (and their consequences)
No secrets on this episode. There is a small lie by omission on Sam’s end, when he tells Dean they’re going to see a specialist and thus makes Dean believe they’re going to a doctor, but it’s not really a lie. And it gets solved in the exact same scene that was introduced.
Speeches and Apologies
There’s a very weird part of the dialogue when Sam realizes that Dean was right, and I am only putting it here because I have talked before of the strange habit the writers have of leaving Sam’s apologies very, very ambiguous, or, worse, perfunctory.
DEAN
What’d you find out?
SAM
(speaking quietly) I’m sorry.
DEAN
(throwing his jacket on the bed and approaching) Sorry about what?
SAM
Marshall Hall died at 4:17.
What’d you find out?
SAM
(speaking quietly) I’m sorry.
DEAN
(throwing his jacket on the bed and approaching) Sorry about what?
SAM
Marshall Hall died at 4:17.
So… Sam said he was sorry. But he never answers the question Dean asked. Is he sorry because he didn’t believe Dean? Is he sorry because Dean was right? Is he sorry because Marshall Hall died? Is he sorry because the fact that his brother is alive came at the cost of someone else life?
Well, we know that no, he is not sorry that his brother is alive at the cost of Marshall’s life, as he does say that the guy was going to die anyway. And we know that he’s not sorry that Dean is alive, period (Which is really good). But then… why is he sorry FOR?
Of course, we can imply he is sorry because he doubted Dean… except that later when they’re arguing reapers, he still doubts Dean. That is not the actions of a person that is sorry for doubting his brother on the first place. And we can imply that he is sorry because he knows Dean will not like the fact that Marshall is dead. Hell, we can even imply that he is sorry because Dean will be mad.
The problem is that we don’t know. And it could have been solved by a simple sentence before or after the Marshall Hall line. Either “you were right, Marshall Hall died at 4:17”, which would make clear that he is sorry for his doubts, or “Marshall Hall died at 4:!7, please don’t blame yourself”, that would make clear he is sorry for how his brother will take the news. Without either –or something similar- we end up with yet another perfunctory “I’m sorry” that in the end is completely meaningless and not a real apology.
Final Tally
Curious thing. Kirkpe has said that this is his favorite Supernatural episode, going as far as to say “It’s when I first realized what the show was capable of. Here’s this episode about: Is there a Chuck? What’s meant to be? And is there free will? And is your life worth the cost of someone else’s life? It’s a metaphysical and moral study of the boys’ universe. There’s so many different places the show can go and so many tones. That’s been really fun to do.”
Thing is, this clearly proves that the commonly repeated idea that he had a five year arc planned is a myth. Because if he never thought about the existence of Chuck in the Supernatural universe, then the whole Apocalypse war between Heaven and Hell couldn’t have been planned. And it’s really funny that all those questions came from a Dean-centric Monster of the Week episode as it proves that he allowed writers to play around and experiment with Dean, the sidekick, while he took care of Sam’s episodes, as they were the important ones.
Another interesting thing to note is that this episode is written by Sera Gamble and Raelle Tucker. It is interesting because in interviews and external material, Gamble was a very vocal Sam fan, with a lot of bias on whom she sees as the hero, yet her name is on some of the best Dean episodes. At first, I thought it was because PR is not show running and maybe her extreme Sam love was just for show, but then… well, Faith is considered one of the best Dean episodes (And it is usually in line as one of the best episodes of the series) and it was written IN cooperation with the same person that gave us Dead in the Water (explaining the continuity of Dean’s love for children, even if we’re being sold sometimes that Dean dislikes children), Nightmare, Salvation, Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things, Hunted, Roadkill, and another Dean classic Episode “What is and What Should Never Be”.
This led me to believe, that as Faith has been critically acclaimed as a great episode for every character involved… that Sera IS a Sam fangirl, but works very well when tempered with a writer that loves Dean. We’ll see if that is true with future episodes penned by her and if they were penned in a team.
Other than that, man this episode was surprising. Especially in the end tally.
Numbers (or the TL;DR summary)
(Episode/Total so far)
Times Dean has lied to Sam or to a loved one: 0 / 0
Times Sam has lied to Dean or to a loved one: 0 / 3
Times Dean has been caught in a lie : 0 / 0
Times Sam has been caught in a lie: 0 / 1
Times Dean has hit Sam in anger: 0 / 1
Times Sam has hit Dean in anger: 0 / 3
Times Dean’s lies or secrets have caused someone’s death: 0 / 0
Times Sam’s lies or secrets have caused someone’s death: 0 / 1
Times Dean has abandoned (Or wanted to abandon) a hunt in the middle for his own needs: 0 / 0
Times Sam has abandoned (Or wanted to abandon) a hunt in the middle for his own needs: 1 / 6
Times Dean forced Sam to do something: 0 / 0
Times Sam forced Dean to do something: 1 / 6
Secrets kept by Dean: 0 / 1
Secrets kept by Sam: 0 / 1
Times Dean has blamed Sam for something: 0 / 0
Times Sam has blamed Dean for something: 0 / 1
Times Dean has apologized with words to Sam: 0 / 2
Times Sam has apologized with words to Dean : 0 / 1
Times Dean has respected Sam’s boundaries and/or rules: 0 / 6
Times Sam has respected Dean’s boundaries and/or rules: 0 / 0
Times Dean hasn’t respected Sam’s boundaries and/or rules: 0 / 0
Times Sam hasn’t respected Dean’s boundaries and / or rules: 1 / 9
Times Dean has made fun of something Sam does or has: 0 / 4
Times Sam has made fun of something Dean does or has: 1 / 16
Times we focus on Dean’s needs: 0 / 0
Times we focus on Sam’s needs: 0 / 0
Arc episodes dedicated to Sam: 0 / 4
Filler episodes dedicated to Sam: 0 / 5
Arc episodes dedicated to Dean: 0 / 0
Filler episodes dedicated to Dean: 1 / 2
Arc episodes dedicated to both brothers (or to none) : 0 / 1
Filler episodes dedicated to both brothers (or to none) : 0 / 0
Dean’s Dropped Plotlines: 0 / 1
Sam’s Dropped Plotlines: 0 / 1