The Great Supernatural Rewatch Project - Bloody Mary
Apr 7, 2017 21:54:06 GMT -5
Mystique and onali like this
Post by luxshine on Apr 7, 2017 21:54:06 GMT -5
Ok, so am late again. Sorry. It's funny because even when these are already written, I still have to edit and well... Drawing Schedules are a bitch. (But if you want to visit the link in my sig.... both SG and I will be very, very happy)
Anyway, on to the rewatch!
General stuff
One thing I had completely forgot about the early seasons were the ‘previously on’. In this case, the fact that they reminded us every single episode that Sam DIDN’T want to save people because he had to find Jess’s killer. Sure, in context, in the actual episode, Wendigo, sounded bad, but without context?
looks even worse.
And yet, I’m pretty sure a lot of people don’t see anything wrong with Sam saying he doesn’t want to save people since the very next scene we see the brothers is when we see Sam’s nightmare so… it’s easy to understand why Sam is so focused on finding Jess’ killer. Besides, it’s not as if he’s ignoring people and not trying to save them so, it’s a slip easy to forget.
Speaking about the Dream… It continues the same question I asked in Wendigo:
Of course, we know Sam thinks it’s 'Why didn’t you protect me?’ instead of 'Why didn’t you tell me demons were real?’ but still.. it’s an incredibly good question.
But what I feel is more interesting is how the scene continues:
Sam says he doesn’t remember the nightmare. Which makes it weird that Dean thinks there’s something to talk about, but even so, Sam doesn’t remember what he dreamed. That’s why he was confused, and we're supposed to believe that he is telling the truth. Ok, so this opens a HUGE plot point (If Sam doesn’t know what is he dreaming, why doesn’t he want to sleep?) but it’s an interesting and sweet brotherly moment. Dean worries, but Sam doesn’t want him to worry.
We get to the morgue, and here? I have to say that Jensen has a great bit of non-verbal acting that gives one story within the episode, but a very different one when seen with hindsight. The dialogue goes as such, once Dean gets tired of the morgue tech:
While Sam is taking the money out of his OWN wallet, Dean frowns. And he looks really agitated once Sam passes the third bill. He’s angry at that. Of course, within the episode it’s 'money he won at a poker game’, and we know they have enough for their own, since they have the credit cards that they never pay so… why is Dean worried about Sam spending the money in Sam’s wallet? Well, we know that it’s money that DEAN earned, not Sam. Effectively, Dean is the one who is providing the money for the trip. And with hindsight? We know that Dean has known times when money is so scarce that he had to steal food (Bad Boys. And while that precise episode wasn’t even being dreamed by anyone, including Jensen, it’s quite believable thanks to early acting like this) and thus worries about the money. Tiny little thing, but it’s great to know that in some regards? the show does keep some continuity.
Still, as the episode continues we get more balance, with Sam starting the conversation with the witnesses, and more continuity, with Dean, all pretenses from Dead in the Water gone, is the one who makes the little sister comfortable. I loved that since it portrayed both brothers as very empathic, something that should be constant in the series, and not just in some episodes.
The Bloody Mary legend is interesting as a monster, but so far, it really underwhelmed me since let’s be honest, it’s a legend that hinges on people being stupid enough to say the name Blood Mary three times in front of the mirror. Don’t say it, and there’s no problem. I was even thinking that when Jill says it. And then… well, kudos for the series since they did manage to make Bloody Mary scary in the Jill scene, as the mirror effect was very well done.
After the commercial break, we go back to Sam’s dream… and to the first continuity snag of the episode. Because as I mentioned in the beginning, Sam didn’t remember his nightmares, as per his own words (and I refuse to believe he was lying, since when you just wake up suddenly? Sometimes it’s hard to remember your name), but this time? He clearly remembers. And he remembers enough to be annoyed that Dean is worried about him.
And thus, the secrets begin. But we will talk about that later.
Once again, the extra characters get to do a lot of the leg work, and that is nice. It also makes me wonder why we lost that part of the show, where we could have once scene wonders, like this Charlie (the original Supernatural Charlie)
Actually, it’s something I will have to touch again when we finish the season, since all the memorable secondary characters so far? Have been women. I miss that, Supernatural!
While Charlie is getting herself haunted, the brothers find Mary. This is interesting as it’s a true team effort. Dean does the hard legwork, by extending the search to the whole country, while Sam is the one who makes the intuitive leaps to figure out Mary’s M.O. I can’t tell how much I love this, since it’s the kind of thing that was sold to us as the series: TWO brothers working together. It’s such a pity that it’s not something that common. I don’t want to make yet another counter but… it really hope this becomes the norm before the series breaks the bond in season 4.
Anyway, once Charlie calls them again, and they get confirmation that Mary goes after people with guilty secrets, it’s time to make a plan. I am wondering if the fact that Charlie told them the secret would’ve been enough to save Charlie, but the show doesn’t go there. Instead, it goes for a talk in the Impala ™
This is the first important thing. Dean, right here? Goes into protective mood immediately. And right now in the series is not a red flag since we haven’t seen it before, but with hindsight, this is part of a long pattern of 'make Sam feel safe’ from Dean. And of course, Dean taking blame for things that are not his fault.
Here, Dean is starting to get anxious. He doesn’t want Sam to face Mary, and that’s final. So he starts grasping at straw, pointing that no, Sam doesn’t have any secrets.
Another interesting thing is that Dean is considering doing something else, even if it makes Charlie live in danger because he doesn’t want to put Sam in danger. It’s a tiny thing, a bit of foreshadowing to Dean’s line about being afraid of the things he would do for the family, but it’s really interesting to see. He doesn’t quite suggest that they abandon the hunt -Dean has never suggested to abandon a hunt in the middle of it- but he is not happy. And Sam knows how to manipulate his brother, by mentioning that if they don’t do it? More people will die.
So, Sam gets his say.
Now, I don’t blame Sam. He IS right. They HAVE to stop Bloody Mary. But it IS an instance of Dean caving to Sam’s wishes, and we were counting those.
In the store, they separate because it’s very, very important that Dean doesn’t hear what Bloody Mary says to Sam, but I think it’s very important because it’s one of the very few times that the narrative will blame Sam directly for something:
Now, this is very important: These are NOT Sam’s thoughts. It’s what Mary translates as Sam’s guilt. Does he really believe that? Probably, but we don’t know either way. And here? This is the big hook for the Mytharc of season 2, the psychic kids storyline. Sam’s big secret that we have to deal with when we get to the Secret section.
Despite Sam’s best intentions to be the hero, he’s in no shape to fight Mary so it’s a good thing that Dean comes back from his cute comic relief scene in time to put a crowbar to the mirror, and for Mary to do her Samara impersonation (Seriously, it’s in the script, but it didn’t need to be. It’s quite obvious)
And here we get to another of those horrible moments that will keep people asking questions at conventions forever. Because while we know Sam has a secret -and now we know what the secret is-… both brothers seem affected by Mary. They both fall to the floor, and Dean’s eyes start to bleed. Until Dean gets the bright idea of fighting Mary like a medusa.
Question is: What was Dean’s secret?
And is a question that HASN’T been answered, or touched ever again. A dropped plot point, and a first one for Dean (One could argue that it’s due to Dean’s guilt over not saving every single person he comes across, but that was not Mary’s M.O. Mary went for people who HAD caused the deaths, not people who hadn’t been able to prevent them)
And so the episode ends with one of those big wham quotes that I’ll touch in the secrets section, and Sam seeing Jess’ ghost on the street.
Violence
Another episode without Violence between the brothers! We’re on a roll here! And with this, we officially loose the chance of saying it happens Often as we break the 50/50 barrier.
Emotional Violence
The micro aggression thing is starting to become a problem with Sam. When we have Sam giving money to the morgue tech, I already talked about Dean’s reaction, but I didn’t touch upon this exchange:
We don’t see Sam’s face when he says 'You won it in a poker game’, but we can see his posture, his exasperated sigh. He’s clearly saying 'no, you didn’t earn that money, it was part of a fun thing you like to do’. Which, given what we know later of how they make money… it’s pretty much telling Dean that what he does, is not a real job.
Other than this? This is a pretty tame episode in general. In fact, I’m only counting this because it’s a micro aggression. And since all of this started because of a long argument because of the way both brothers relate to each other, they have to count, as much as big showy shouting matches do.
Secrets, Lies (and their consequences)
Oh, the secrets really start here, with Sam’s stubborn refusal to reveal to Dean that he has prophetic dreams.
The fact that we the audience, hadn’t seen any indication of those dreams doesn’t matter (Except, well, in plot pacing elements. Seriously, it’s like Sam’s powers only appear when it’s plot convenient) but now we know he has them. And he won’t tell Dean for no other reason than:
This is incredibly important for the future. Right here, we have just come out of a case where secrets kill people, Sam is feeling guilty because his secret caused the death of his girlfriend -if we believe what Bloody Mary told him- and yet… he won’t share the secret with Dean. Why? For no reason, really, except that he wants to have privacy because it’s something he deserves.
Leaving aside the fact that in the future we will learn that Sam doesn’t like when people keep secrets from him, we still have the question, Why would Sam risk someone else dying due to his secret? Dean is not going to judge him openly (although he will, in season 2, call him a freak a couple of times), Dean won’t try to kill him (In fact, he will defend him from other people trying to kill him, like Gordon). And Sam hasn’t even researched on his powers. So one wonders why does he want to keep it a secret from Dean.
Important thing, we know Dean has a secret because his eyes bleed too. Sam saw Dean’s eyes bleeding, so Sam knows that to. He doesn’t ask about it, he doesn’t turn it around on Dean (e.g. “Well, you were affected too and you don’t see me demanding to know your secret”, or “First you tell me your secret, then we’ll see”) although that could be because Dean would call his bluff. Or because the writers have no idea what Dean secret was. Either way, the end result is that it looks as if Sam doesn’t care if Dean has a secret -and as I said, we know that Sam doesn’t react well to Dean keeping secrets. (A Very Supernatural Christmas; Season 8)
So Sam has a secret that he won’t share and in which the whole series hinges for now, so that goes for the Secret count. Dean has a secret, true, but no one will ever remember that again so that one goes for the dropped plot points count.
Speeches and Apologies
While not a huge speech or an apology, Sam has a very nice moment at the end with Charlie, when he says:
It’s beautiful and just the right thing to say. My only problem is that after three episodes of Sam being more of a bull in the china shop with witnesses, is a bit weird that his first true empathic moment with a victim of the week comes not because he can put himself in her shoes, but because SHE is living something that parallels his current situation. That is something the writers will repeat over and over again, and it’s weird since in order for Sam to be truly empathic, he should be empathic with all witnesses, not just with the ones he can identify immediately.
Still, he is saying the truth. And he says it in a very truthful way. Sam is very good with words.
Final Tally
The numbers do not change much in this episode. In fact, they stay pretty much the same except for the microaggressions in Sam’s side, which are starting to look like a character trait, rather than an accident created by circumstances. Not a single punch thrown, not a single yell or scream. They haven’t fought, argued or tried to kill each other. I miss this kind of episodes, even with the microaggressions. There’s also the fact that Dean doesn’t press Sam to talk. So that’s one count for Dean respecting Sam’s boundaries again.
The only really worrisome thing, is the way in which the actual plot goes. Yes, on a first view, the fifth episode sounds like a perfect place to introduce Sam’s powers. The problem is? They will be forgotten for a long, long time and won’t appear again until the plot calls for them. And we have the idea that Jess is in hell, that was not mentioned despite being a worry for Sam last episode, and of course, Dean’s forgotten secret and we can see that yes, the dropping plotlines problem was quite old in the series.
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 / 2
Times Dean has been caught in a lie : 0 / 0
Times Sam has been caught in a lie: 0 / 0
Times Dean has hit Sam in anger: 0 / 1
Times Sam has hit Dean in anger: 0 / 0
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: 0 / 3
Times Dean forced Sam to do something : 0 / 0
Times Sam forced Dean to do something: 0 / 0
Secrets kept by Dean: 0 / 1
Secrets kept by Sam: 1 / 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 / 0
Times Sam has apologized with words to Dean : 0 / 1
Times Dean has respected Sam’s boundaries and/or rules: 1 / 4
Times Sam has respected Dean’s boundaries and/or rules: 0 / 0
Times Dean has made fun of something Sam does or has: 0 / 2
Times Sam has made fun of something Dean does or has: 1 / 11
Times we focus on Dean’s needs: 0 / 0
Times we focus on Sam’s needs: 0 / 1
Arc episodes dedicated to Sam: 1 / 2
Filler episodes dedicated to Sam: 0 / 1
Arc episodes dedicated to Dean: 0 / 0
Filler episodes dedicated to Dean : 0 / 1
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 : 1 / 1
Sam’s Dropped Plotlines : 0 / 1
Anyway, on to the rewatch!
General stuff
One thing I had completely forgot about the early seasons were the ‘previously on’. In this case, the fact that they reminded us every single episode that Sam DIDN’T want to save people because he had to find Jess’s killer. Sure, in context, in the actual episode, Wendigo, sounded bad, but without context?
DEAN
This is Dad’s single most valuable possession everything he knows about every evil thing is in here. I think he wants us to pick up where he left off. You know, saving people. Hunting things. The family business.
SAM
No. I gotta find Jessica’s killer.
This is Dad’s single most valuable possession everything he knows about every evil thing is in here. I think he wants us to pick up where he left off. You know, saving people. Hunting things. The family business.
SAM
No. I gotta find Jessica’s killer.
looks even worse.
And yet, I’m pretty sure a lot of people don’t see anything wrong with Sam saying he doesn’t want to save people since the very next scene we see the brothers is when we see Sam’s nightmare so… it’s easy to understand why Sam is so focused on finding Jess’ killer. Besides, it’s not as if he’s ignoring people and not trying to save them so, it’s a slip easy to forget.
Speaking about the Dream… It continues the same question I asked in Wendigo:
JESS
Why, Sam? Why, Sam?
SAM
No!
JESS bursts into flame.
JESS
Why, Sam? Why, Sam?
Why, Sam? Why, Sam?
SAM
No!
JESS bursts into flame.
JESS
Why, Sam? Why, Sam?
Of course, we know Sam thinks it’s 'Why didn’t you protect me?’ instead of 'Why didn’t you tell me demons were real?’ but still.. it’s an incredibly good question.
But what I feel is more interesting is how the scene continues:
DEAN
Sam, wake up.
SAM wakes, confused. He sits up and looks around. He’s sitting shotgun in the Impala, which is parked in front of a large building.
SAM
I take it I was having a nightmare.
DEAN
Yeah, another one.
SAM
Hey, at least I got some sleep.
DEAN
You know, sooner or later we’re gonna have to talk about this.
Sam, wake up.
SAM wakes, confused. He sits up and looks around. He’s sitting shotgun in the Impala, which is parked in front of a large building.
SAM
I take it I was having a nightmare.
DEAN
Yeah, another one.
SAM
Hey, at least I got some sleep.
DEAN
You know, sooner or later we’re gonna have to talk about this.
Sam says he doesn’t remember the nightmare. Which makes it weird that Dean thinks there’s something to talk about, but even so, Sam doesn’t remember what he dreamed. That’s why he was confused, and we're supposed to believe that he is telling the truth. Ok, so this opens a HUGE plot point (If Sam doesn’t know what is he dreaming, why doesn’t he want to sleep?) but it’s an interesting and sweet brotherly moment. Dean worries, but Sam doesn’t want him to worry.
We get to the morgue, and here? I have to say that Jensen has a great bit of non-verbal acting that gives one story within the episode, but a very different one when seen with hindsight. The dialogue goes as such, once Dean gets tired of the morgue tech:
DEAN
I’m gonna hit him in his face I swear.
SAM hits DEAN on the arm. He steps in front of DEAN and opens his wallet and pulls out some twenties. He lays a few of them, at least five, down on the MORGUE TECH’s desk. The MORGUE TECH picks up the money.
MORGUE TECH
Follow me.
I’m gonna hit him in his face I swear.
SAM hits DEAN on the arm. He steps in front of DEAN and opens his wallet and pulls out some twenties. He lays a few of them, at least five, down on the MORGUE TECH’s desk. The MORGUE TECH picks up the money.
MORGUE TECH
Follow me.
While Sam is taking the money out of his OWN wallet, Dean frowns. And he looks really agitated once Sam passes the third bill. He’s angry at that. Of course, within the episode it’s 'money he won at a poker game’, and we know they have enough for their own, since they have the credit cards that they never pay so… why is Dean worried about Sam spending the money in Sam’s wallet? Well, we know that it’s money that DEAN earned, not Sam. Effectively, Dean is the one who is providing the money for the trip. And with hindsight? We know that Dean has known times when money is so scarce that he had to steal food (Bad Boys. And while that precise episode wasn’t even being dreamed by anyone, including Jensen, it’s quite believable thanks to early acting like this) and thus worries about the money. Tiny little thing, but it’s great to know that in some regards? the show does keep some continuity.
Still, as the episode continues we get more balance, with Sam starting the conversation with the witnesses, and more continuity, with Dean, all pretenses from Dead in the Water gone, is the one who makes the little sister comfortable. I loved that since it portrayed both brothers as very empathic, something that should be constant in the series, and not just in some episodes.
The Bloody Mary legend is interesting as a monster, but so far, it really underwhelmed me since let’s be honest, it’s a legend that hinges on people being stupid enough to say the name Blood Mary three times in front of the mirror. Don’t say it, and there’s no problem. I was even thinking that when Jill says it. And then… well, kudos for the series since they did manage to make Bloody Mary scary in the Jill scene, as the mirror effect was very well done.
After the commercial break, we go back to Sam’s dream… and to the first continuity snag of the episode. Because as I mentioned in the beginning, Sam didn’t remember his nightmares, as per his own words (and I refuse to believe he was lying, since when you just wake up suddenly? Sometimes it’s hard to remember your name), but this time? He clearly remembers. And he remembers enough to be annoyed that Dean is worried about him.
SAM
Why’d you let me fall asleep?
DEAN
Cause I’m an awesome brother. So what did you dream about?
SAM
Lollipops and candy canes.
DEAN
Yeah, sure.
Why’d you let me fall asleep?
DEAN
Cause I’m an awesome brother. So what did you dream about?
SAM
Lollipops and candy canes.
DEAN
Yeah, sure.
And thus, the secrets begin. But we will talk about that later.
Once again, the extra characters get to do a lot of the leg work, and that is nice. It also makes me wonder why we lost that part of the show, where we could have once scene wonders, like this Charlie (the original Supernatural Charlie)
Actually, it’s something I will have to touch again when we finish the season, since all the memorable secondary characters so far? Have been women. I miss that, Supernatural!
While Charlie is getting herself haunted, the brothers find Mary. This is interesting as it’s a true team effort. Dean does the hard legwork, by extending the search to the whole country, while Sam is the one who makes the intuitive leaps to figure out Mary’s M.O. I can’t tell how much I love this, since it’s the kind of thing that was sold to us as the series: TWO brothers working together. It’s such a pity that it’s not something that common. I don’t want to make yet another counter but… it really hope this becomes the norm before the series breaks the bond in season 4.
Anyway, once Charlie calls them again, and they get confirmation that Mary goes after people with guilty secrets, it’s time to make a plan. I am wondering if the fact that Charlie told them the secret would’ve been enough to save Charlie, but the show doesn’t go there. Instead, it goes for a talk in the Impala ™
DEAN
You know what, that’s it. {He pulls the car over.} This is about Jessica, isn’t it? You think that’s your dirty little secret that you killed her somehow? SAM, this has got to stop, man. I mean, the nightmares and calling her name out in the middle of the night—it’s gonna kill you. Now listen to me—It wasn’t your fault. If you wanna blame something, then blame the thing that killed her. Or hell, why don’t you take a swing at me? I mean I’m the one that dragged you away from her in the first place.
You know what, that’s it. {He pulls the car over.} This is about Jessica, isn’t it? You think that’s your dirty little secret that you killed her somehow? SAM, this has got to stop, man. I mean, the nightmares and calling her name out in the middle of the night—it’s gonna kill you. Now listen to me—It wasn’t your fault. If you wanna blame something, then blame the thing that killed her. Or hell, why don’t you take a swing at me? I mean I’m the one that dragged you away from her in the first place.
This is the first important thing. Dean, right here? Goes into protective mood immediately. And right now in the series is not a red flag since we haven’t seen it before, but with hindsight, this is part of a long pattern of 'make Sam feel safe’ from Dean. And of course, Dean taking blame for things that are not his fault.
SAM
I don’t blame you.
DEAN
Well you shouldn’t blame yourself, because there’s nothing you could’ve done.
SAM
I could’ve warned her.
DEAN
About what? You didn’t know what was gonna happen! And besides, all of this isn’t a secret, I mean I know all about it. It’s not gonna work with Mary anyway.
I don’t blame you.
DEAN
Well you shouldn’t blame yourself, because there’s nothing you could’ve done.
SAM
I could’ve warned her.
DEAN
About what? You didn’t know what was gonna happen! And besides, all of this isn’t a secret, I mean I know all about it. It’s not gonna work with Mary anyway.
Here, Dean is starting to get anxious. He doesn’t want Sam to face Mary, and that’s final. So he starts grasping at straw, pointing that no, Sam doesn’t have any secrets.
SAM
No you don’t.
DEAN
I don’t what?
SAM
You don’t know all about it. I haven’t told you everything.
DEAN
What are you talking about?
SAM
Well it wouldn’t really be a secret if I told you, would it?
DEAN
{looks surprised} No. I don’t like it. It’s not gonna happen, forget it.
SAM
DEAN that girl back there is going to die unless we do something about it. And you know what? Who knows how many more people are gonna die after that? Now we’re doing this. You’ve got to let me do this.
No you don’t.
DEAN
I don’t what?
SAM
You don’t know all about it. I haven’t told you everything.
DEAN
What are you talking about?
SAM
Well it wouldn’t really be a secret if I told you, would it?
DEAN
{looks surprised} No. I don’t like it. It’s not gonna happen, forget it.
SAM
DEAN that girl back there is going to die unless we do something about it. And you know what? Who knows how many more people are gonna die after that? Now we’re doing this. You’ve got to let me do this.
Another interesting thing is that Dean is considering doing something else, even if it makes Charlie live in danger because he doesn’t want to put Sam in danger. It’s a tiny thing, a bit of foreshadowing to Dean’s line about being afraid of the things he would do for the family, but it’s really interesting to see. He doesn’t quite suggest that they abandon the hunt -Dean has never suggested to abandon a hunt in the middle of it- but he is not happy. And Sam knows how to manipulate his brother, by mentioning that if they don’t do it? More people will die.
So, Sam gets his say.
Now, I don’t blame Sam. He IS right. They HAVE to stop Bloody Mary. But it IS an instance of Dean caving to Sam’s wishes, and we were counting those.
In the store, they separate because it’s very, very important that Dean doesn’t hear what Bloody Mary says to Sam, but I think it’s very important because it’s one of the very few times that the narrative will blame Sam directly for something:
Reflection
You never told her the truth—who you really were. {SAM is now falling towards the ground.} But it’s more than that, isn’t it? Those nightmares you’ve been having of Jessica dying, screaming, burning—You had them for days before she died. Didn’t you!?! You were so desperate to ignore them, to believe they were just dreams. How could you ignore them like that? How could you leave her alone to die!?! You dreamt it would happen!!!
You never told her the truth—who you really were. {SAM is now falling towards the ground.} But it’s more than that, isn’t it? Those nightmares you’ve been having of Jessica dying, screaming, burning—You had them for days before she died. Didn’t you!?! You were so desperate to ignore them, to believe they were just dreams. How could you ignore them like that? How could you leave her alone to die!?! You dreamt it would happen!!!
Now, this is very important: These are NOT Sam’s thoughts. It’s what Mary translates as Sam’s guilt. Does he really believe that? Probably, but we don’t know either way. And here? This is the big hook for the Mytharc of season 2, the psychic kids storyline. Sam’s big secret that we have to deal with when we get to the Secret section.
Despite Sam’s best intentions to be the hero, he’s in no shape to fight Mary so it’s a good thing that Dean comes back from his cute comic relief scene in time to put a crowbar to the mirror, and for Mary to do her Samara impersonation (Seriously, it’s in the script, but it didn’t need to be. It’s quite obvious)
And here we get to another of those horrible moments that will keep people asking questions at conventions forever. Because while we know Sam has a secret -and now we know what the secret is-… both brothers seem affected by Mary. They both fall to the floor, and Dean’s eyes start to bleed. Until Dean gets the bright idea of fighting Mary like a medusa.
Question is: What was Dean’s secret?
And is a question that HASN’T been answered, or touched ever again. A dropped plot point, and a first one for Dean (One could argue that it’s due to Dean’s guilt over not saving every single person he comes across, but that was not Mary’s M.O. Mary went for people who HAD caused the deaths, not people who hadn’t been able to prevent them)
And so the episode ends with one of those big wham quotes that I’ll touch in the secrets section, and Sam seeing Jess’ ghost on the street.
Violence
Another episode without Violence between the brothers! We’re on a roll here! And with this, we officially loose the chance of saying it happens Often as we break the 50/50 barrier.
Emotional Violence
The micro aggression thing is starting to become a problem with Sam. When we have Sam giving money to the morgue tech, I already talked about Dean’s reaction, but I didn’t touch upon this exchange:
DEAN
Dude, I earned that money.
SAM
You won it in a poker game.
DEAN
Yeah.
Dude, I earned that money.
SAM
You won it in a poker game.
DEAN
Yeah.
We don’t see Sam’s face when he says 'You won it in a poker game’, but we can see his posture, his exasperated sigh. He’s clearly saying 'no, you didn’t earn that money, it was part of a fun thing you like to do’. Which, given what we know later of how they make money… it’s pretty much telling Dean that what he does, is not a real job.
Other than this? This is a pretty tame episode in general. In fact, I’m only counting this because it’s a micro aggression. And since all of this started because of a long argument because of the way both brothers relate to each other, they have to count, as much as big showy shouting matches do.
Secrets, Lies (and their consequences)
Oh, the secrets really start here, with Sam’s stubborn refusal to reveal to Dean that he has prophetic dreams.
The fact that we the audience, hadn’t seen any indication of those dreams doesn’t matter (Except, well, in plot pacing elements. Seriously, it’s like Sam’s powers only appear when it’s plot convenient) but now we know he has them. And he won’t tell Dean for no other reason than:
DEAN
Hey SAM?
SAM
Yeah?
DEAN
Now that this is all over, I want you to tell me what that secret is.
SAM
Look…you’re my brother and I’d die for you, but there are some things I need to keep to myself. {SAM looks out the window and sees Jessica in a white dress on the street corner standing next to a light pole, as they turn the corner she disappears behind the pole, and we don’t see her again.}
Hey SAM?
SAM
Yeah?
DEAN
Now that this is all over, I want you to tell me what that secret is.
SAM
Look…you’re my brother and I’d die for you, but there are some things I need to keep to myself. {SAM looks out the window and sees Jessica in a white dress on the street corner standing next to a light pole, as they turn the corner she disappears behind the pole, and we don’t see her again.}
This is incredibly important for the future. Right here, we have just come out of a case where secrets kill people, Sam is feeling guilty because his secret caused the death of his girlfriend -if we believe what Bloody Mary told him- and yet… he won’t share the secret with Dean. Why? For no reason, really, except that he wants to have privacy because it’s something he deserves.
Leaving aside the fact that in the future we will learn that Sam doesn’t like when people keep secrets from him, we still have the question, Why would Sam risk someone else dying due to his secret? Dean is not going to judge him openly (although he will, in season 2, call him a freak a couple of times), Dean won’t try to kill him (In fact, he will defend him from other people trying to kill him, like Gordon). And Sam hasn’t even researched on his powers. So one wonders why does he want to keep it a secret from Dean.
Important thing, we know Dean has a secret because his eyes bleed too. Sam saw Dean’s eyes bleeding, so Sam knows that to. He doesn’t ask about it, he doesn’t turn it around on Dean (e.g. “Well, you were affected too and you don’t see me demanding to know your secret”, or “First you tell me your secret, then we’ll see”) although that could be because Dean would call his bluff. Or because the writers have no idea what Dean secret was. Either way, the end result is that it looks as if Sam doesn’t care if Dean has a secret -and as I said, we know that Sam doesn’t react well to Dean keeping secrets. (A Very Supernatural Christmas; Season 8)
So Sam has a secret that he won’t share and in which the whole series hinges for now, so that goes for the Secret count. Dean has a secret, true, but no one will ever remember that again so that one goes for the dropped plot points count.
Speeches and Apologies
While not a huge speech or an apology, Sam has a very nice moment at the end with Charlie, when he says:
SAM
Charlie? {Charlie turns around} Your boyfriend’s death…you really should try to forgive yourself. No matter what you did, you probably couldn’t have stopped it. Sometimes bad things just happen.
Charlie? {Charlie turns around} Your boyfriend’s death…you really should try to forgive yourself. No matter what you did, you probably couldn’t have stopped it. Sometimes bad things just happen.
It’s beautiful and just the right thing to say. My only problem is that after three episodes of Sam being more of a bull in the china shop with witnesses, is a bit weird that his first true empathic moment with a victim of the week comes not because he can put himself in her shoes, but because SHE is living something that parallels his current situation. That is something the writers will repeat over and over again, and it’s weird since in order for Sam to be truly empathic, he should be empathic with all witnesses, not just with the ones he can identify immediately.
Still, he is saying the truth. And he says it in a very truthful way. Sam is very good with words.
Final Tally
The numbers do not change much in this episode. In fact, they stay pretty much the same except for the microaggressions in Sam’s side, which are starting to look like a character trait, rather than an accident created by circumstances. Not a single punch thrown, not a single yell or scream. They haven’t fought, argued or tried to kill each other. I miss this kind of episodes, even with the microaggressions. There’s also the fact that Dean doesn’t press Sam to talk. So that’s one count for Dean respecting Sam’s boundaries again.
The only really worrisome thing, is the way in which the actual plot goes. Yes, on a first view, the fifth episode sounds like a perfect place to introduce Sam’s powers. The problem is? They will be forgotten for a long, long time and won’t appear again until the plot calls for them. And we have the idea that Jess is in hell, that was not mentioned despite being a worry for Sam last episode, and of course, Dean’s forgotten secret and we can see that yes, the dropping plotlines problem was quite old in the series.
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 / 2
Times Dean has been caught in a lie : 0 / 0
Times Sam has been caught in a lie: 0 / 0
Times Dean has hit Sam in anger: 0 / 1
Times Sam has hit Dean in anger: 0 / 0
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: 0 / 3
Times Dean forced Sam to do something : 0 / 0
Times Sam forced Dean to do something: 0 / 0
Secrets kept by Dean: 0 / 1
Secrets kept by Sam: 1 / 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 / 0
Times Sam has apologized with words to Dean : 0 / 1
Times Dean has respected Sam’s boundaries and/or rules: 1 / 4
Times Sam has respected Dean’s boundaries and/or rules: 0 / 0
Times Dean has made fun of something Sam does or has: 0 / 2
Times Sam has made fun of something Dean does or has: 1 / 11
Times we focus on Dean’s needs: 0 / 0
Times we focus on Sam’s needs: 0 / 1
Arc episodes dedicated to Sam: 1 / 2
Filler episodes dedicated to Sam: 0 / 1
Arc episodes dedicated to Dean: 0 / 0
Filler episodes dedicated to Dean : 0 / 1
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 : 1 / 1
Sam’s Dropped Plotlines : 0 / 1