Sunday July 28 - The CW held their promo shoot for their 2013 Fall campaign. Supernatural was invited including Jensen, Jared, Misha and Mark Sheppard. The CW posted some great photos and videos to mark the day! Can't wait to see the promo!
Monday, July 29, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Some Thoughts on Bobby's Return
So, you may have heard that Bobby's going to be back on Supernatural!
(Jim Beaver tweeted confirmation, and also posted some really funny episode loglines on Facebook. Check them out, if you haven't already!)
So there's a lot of talk about Bobby's death, ghost, re-death, and transfer from hell to heaven. I read some of the comments on the TVLine posting, and that prompted me to come over here and post a few thoughts.
1. Bobby's Death
I was as unhappy as anyone when Sera Gamble took Bobby away from us. As a writer, I could understand her narrative exploration. As a fan, I was all OH, COME ON! Leave us SOMETHING, geez! But "Death's Door" was so beautifully done, and Jim Beaver was as masterful as he was in "Weekend at Bobby's," so it left me of two minds, as so much of the last few seasons has. It also happened on Supernatural, where no one is ever gone for long.
2. Bobby's Ghost
A lot of commenters talk about how Bobby's character was "butchered" and how bad the whole ghost storyline was. I boggle. Can I tell you how excited I was when the beer was empty? And the book fell on the floor? And I screamed when Bobby appeared in that empty motel room. "Balls!" I thought they missed out on a great opportunity to turn their own mythology on its head. Bobby didn't choose to stay because of a need for vengeance, but out of love and a need to help the boys. Didn't it make more sense for him to *not* go all evil spirit? I guess there's something to be said for consistency...
3. Bobby in Hell
I haven't rewatched "Taxi Driver" yet, so I'm not sure my first impressions will hold up. Like many fans, I thought it felt a little rushed and that it was too easy to get into and out of Hell. But then after that, I had plenty of arguments for the opposite side of things. People reference how Castiel and a full team of angels had to battle their way to Dean. Well, Dean was a hot commodity with a LOT of demons determined to get their pound of (literal) flesh, and while Bobby surely had his demon enemies, he didn't have a higher purpose like Dean did (first seal and all). Plus, Alistair and Crowley are completely different kinds of demons. Alistair was...well, let's say passionate about his craft. Whereas Crowley was all business and scientific interest. And finally, the angels didn't have access to purgatory. They had to battle through Hell proper. So the ease of getting Bobby out is actually pretty logical.
4. Bobby in Heaven
Who can really picture Bobby relaxing in Heaven? He needs a purpose. I'm sure he's been chafing for a job ever since he got there.
5. Bringing Bobby Back
As many people as there are cheering, there are booing this development. Again, I boggle. What show are they watching, and why? Next to Sam and Dean (and an argument can be made for more than the boys), Bobby is the best-developed character on the show. And if they've come up with something new for him, I can't wait.
So, what do you think about Bobby coming back? Any theories about how/why it's going to happen?
Saturday, June 29, 2013
The Journal of Dean Winchester
Authors note: This is a work of fiction – obviously – and is intend to be taken as such. It’s just my thoughts on what Dean’s thoughts in season 8 might’ve been, if I could get into his head
-sweetondean
Entry 1
Im back. Topside. Land of the living. Benny was right, that son of a bitch. I’ll miss the bastard. Gotta be like this though... Good to see Sam alive and kickin’. Thank God. Was freakin’ out when he wasn’t picking up. Sam. Yeah. I’m trying hard not to… but damn it, unwritten Winchester rule, never give up on each other. Never. Guess he went on without me. Met some girl. Guess I should be happy about that? I dunno what to think. The Kevin thing, not cool. How could he leave him out there like that? I don’t get it. I don’t get the whole damn thing. We’ll find the kid and make it right, if he ain’t dead already, but Sammy seems…he’s not here or somethin’. Just tryin’ real hard not to be as mad as hell right now. Better try and sleep, in an actual bed. Things might seem clearer in the morning. Yeah right.
Man, nightmare. Monsters. Fighting. Same old, same old. Woke up sweating like a pig, no clue where I was. Then I hear Sammy breathing. Kid always was a noisy sleeper. Just gotta calm down. I’m back. Gotta remember, I’m back. I’m okay. It’s gonna be okay.
Well, found Kevin. Kid’s improved some. Turned into a good little fighter. Crowley’s still an S.O.B. Time we ganked that bastard once and for all. Turns out there's an actual tablet for demons. Tell's ya how to close Hell's gates. Could we catch that kind of break? Lock up the pit forever? Finally get rid of those black eyed sons of bitches. Man, that’d be somethin'. Sammy will back that. Yeah, Sam will be onboard for that…
Entry 2
I dunno know I even belong in this world no more. When did we blink over killing a bastard like Crowley? I don’t care whose meat suit he’s wearing. Kevin’s in the wind. Tablet’s gone. Sam’s got some bug up his ass about everything. Keeps drifting off, his heart’s not in it. I feel like the only one with his eye on the ball. Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m the one with the problem. Nearly killed that dude in the interrogation room. So close. Gotta bring it down a notch. I’m on edge all the time. Everything was so much easier in Purgatory. Kill or be killed. No hesitations. Maybe I fit better there…Maybe I shoulda stayed put.
Christ. Nightmare again. Cass…
Entry 3
Great. Sam wants to quit the life and go back to college. That kid is full of surprises. Thinks I’d be better off hunting alone. What? Since when has either of us been better off alone. He’ll come ‘round. Just has to get back in the saddle. He won’t walk away. God damn it, Sam.
Entry 4
Let the werewolf chick walk. Couldn’t very well gank her and leave Benny breathing. Sam don’t know that though. Gotta say he looked a bit confused. Hey, maybe she can make a go of it? Not her fault she got turned into a monster. Maybe she can go against type. Not follow those instincts. Not kill anyone. Wonder how Benny’s doin’. Hope the bastard's ok. And I do not say awesome too much.
Entry 5
Yeah that went about as well as could be expected. Sam meet Benny. Super. Now he’s even more pissed at me than before. Yeah, I shoulda told Sam about Benny, I know it, but it’s not like we’re caring and sharing nowadays. Half the time we're at each other throats. He walked away, he wants out, thinks I’d be better alone… Hey and Sam, just to add insult to injury, meet my buddy Benny, the vampire. Heh. Oh well, he knows now. Let the shit storm begin.
One night, just one night’s sleep please without tossing and turning worrying about Sam or Benny or Cass or all damn three of them. Jesus.
Entry 6
Just when you think shit can’t get worse you get possessed by an evil dick of a spectre. Awesome. Now I’m spewing crap even I didn’t know I was still pissed at. Except that not looking for me thing. That hurts like hell and I’m trying not to...but I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s gnawin’ on my insides. I know what Sam said, I know he said he was honouring some half-baked promise we made, but we don’t walk away. End of story. I keep expecting to wake up and be a brother down. I don’t even know why he’s here half the time. He sure don’t seem to wanna be anywhere near me. If it wasn’t for the whole locking up the pit, I’m sure Sam would’ve ditched by now. Ah well, guess I couldn’t blame him after tonight. He’s gotta know that’s not how I really feel, right? No one’s more important to me than him. Freakin’ fought for my life to get back here to him. Make sure he was ok. Look how that turned out. Everything’s screwed to hell again. Didn’t appreciate him threatening Benny either. God damn it. Garth looked good though. Was kinda nice to see the guy. Hugs and all. And he’s right, Sam’s all I got. I gotta try to let all this crap go. Gotta move past it. Son of a bitch got wise.
Entry 7
Cass is back. Thought I was going crazy. Then ‘poof’ the nerd angel returneth. Turns out I didn’t leave him behind. He stayed. What the hell. Sure didn’t seem like that in the moment. I felt him slip away. I couldn’t hold on. Turns out he didn’t want me to hold on. Don’t know whether to be happy to see him or slug him. Dragged him all through freakin’ Purgatory and he bails on me last minute. At this point, why am I even surprised. How’d Cass get back here anyway? Something’s not right. He just shows up? And he don’t remember how? I mean, it's great to see the guy, but I’ve been doing this long enough to know when something stinks. And now we’ve only got half a tablet. What’s a bet we got stiffed with the dud half. On the flip side, Sam’s still here. No sign of him checking out college brochures. And we've still got Kevin, nearly all of him anyways. I gotta put all this shit outta my head. Man, I just want to hunt. Is that too much to ask?
Entry 8
Freakin’ cartoon anvils. You live long enough, you see everything.
Entry 9
You know… they’re both alive and that was the plan.
Can’t sleep. He ain’t picking up the phone. Gotta go talk to him. He’s not gonna want to, but I need him to listen. If he’s gonna go, he’s gonna go. But not like this. I’m not leaving it like this, not after everything. I’m sorry Martin died, I am, but he brought it on himself. The crazy bastard shoulda left well enough alone. I’m not sorry Sam and Benny are alive. One of them would be dead for sure had I not... I’m not gonna apologise for making sure my brother and my friend don’t kill each other.
Had to stop for some caffeine. Almost at Kermit. Feel like crap. I’m so freakin' tired. I know I'm losing Sam. He's been only half here for a while. Gotta try and sort this out.
Entry 10
Sam’s here. Benny’s gone. I had to walk away from him. I just gotta believe he'll be ok. But if it’s Sam or Benny? If it's come to that? No contest. Haven’t told Sam yet. Good on him for not pushing it anymore. I appreciate the hell out of that after everything. Didn’t think about how that text would affect him. Just wanted him out of danger. In hindsight, maybe not the smartest move I’ve made. Had to give Sammy a choice. I’ve been hanging on too tight and it ain’t working for either one of us. Had to let him go if that’s what he wanted. He needed to make that call himself. He couldn’t go on like that. We couldn’t go on like that. We haven’t gone through everything we’ve gone through to wind up hating each other. I don’t know what’ll happen next. But for now, my brother's here and we’re focusing on the job.
Can’t sleep. Cass is playing on my mind. Something’s up. That whole coming back and not know how thing, that whole thing with Alfie. Something’s not right. We can’t trust him right now, not until Sam and me figure out what the hell is going on.
Screw it. Who needs sleep anyway. Car could always do with a wash.
Entry 11
Things I thought I’d never see: Sam all painted up charging across a field with a sword above his head. That was fun. We had actual fun. I feel ok for the first time in I don’t know how long. When was the last time the two of us laughed so hard? Felt like little kids again. Felt good. Probably shoulda told him he still had some paint on that ugly mug of his before I sent him into the Gas ‘n Sip for coffee. Oh well, the bruise on my arm will be worth it just to see his face. Great to see Charlie again. She’s grown on me. Good to talk to. Bit hard to talk to Sam when it’s about Sam. Times like that I miss the hell outta Bobby. Gonna have to come clean with Sammy that I may have said we’ll be at the next big whatever it’s called. We got a kingdom to defend! Ha!
Entry 12
Men of Letters. A grandfather we never knew. My head hurts. Add another dead Winchester to the list. Dad always talked about his father like he was some deadbeat that walked out on him and his mom. Guess now we know the truth. He didn’t walk out. He died saving us. I wish dad knew that. Wish we'd known that. What would’ve happened if Henry hadn’t left that night? We’d not be raised hunters? Would we even be born? Time travel, man. Screws with your melon. Guess Henry turned out to be okay after everything. Would’ve been good to get to know him some, learn from him. He seemed to know a trick or two. Sorry he had to go out like that… Dunno what I think about this whole legacy thing. Who would’ve thought Mom’s family was the brawn and dad’s the brains. Think I saw Sam’s eyes light up. He’s always been a little geek. A giant geek. Heh. Good to see the kid look half happy. Things are definitely on an upswing in that department. Wonder if that hideout is still standing? Now that'd be interesting.
Entry 13
Someone pinch me. Not only is the Men of Letters lair still standing, it’s friggin’ awesome. How it’s working I dunno and don’t care. It is and I ain’t complainin’. Sam’s in his happy place, surrounded by books and god knows what. I swear the kid’s eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw all the damn books and files and crap. I just had a shower the likes of which I’ve never known. The water pressure. Not some dank and moudly motel room trickle, but real power, man. And hot. Coulda stayed in there all day. Did get a bit wrinkly. Heh. Not only that, there’s weapons up the ying yang and a freakin’ shooting gallery. Who the hell were these guys? How the hell did we get so lucky? I keep expecting to wake up any minute. Probably screaming. God bless you Henry Winchester, wherever the hell you are.
Golems. Necromancer Nazis. Secret Societies? How about a good ole fashioned ghost hunt, just for kicks. Jesus. Our lives keep getting weirder. Though, Aaron was kind of ok, smartass, but ok. So was the big guy, for a dude made of clay. A dude made of clay. Yep. And now we’re back in the batcave, warm and toasty and Sam looks almost happy. Hell I think he nearly smiled. Somethin’s gotta give. We don’t get this lucky. Ever.
My own room. I can’t remember ever havin’ a room. I guess I did, back when I was little. I don’t remember though. It feels good. Feels good to have somewhere to put all my crap. Keep it nice. Somewhere mine. Jesus, Winchester, you’re turning into a freakin’ woman.
Entry 14
What is wrong with me? Can’t I do anything right? All I had to do was one damn thing. Kill a hellhound. Instead Sam has to step in and save my sorry ass and now he’s doin’ these freakin trials, whatever that means and I don’t want that to happen with every part of my being. I wanna puke. Everything I touch turns to shit. It was not supposed to go like that. I don’t want Sam to go through any more crap. He’s gone through enough. This one was on me and I failed. I freakin’ failed him. Again. Jesus.
I can’t freakin’ sleep. I keep running it through my head. How that bitch knocked me down. I keep playin’ it over and over. Figuring what I coulda done different. What’s it matter. I blew it. I know Sam gave me the speech about him and me getting to the light or somethin’. God love him for believing in that, optimistic son of a bitch. I just know I gotta watch out for him now. We dunno what’s next, what these trials are about. I gotta make sure he gets through this because I ain’t livin’ with the alternative. Not again.
Entry 15
Hey, I’m about as open minded as they come, but what the hell was that with James and his familiar. Sure she was hot as a chick, but, she was a freakin’ dog. Literally. I mean, the mind boggles and not in a good way. Whoa, I gotta get that picture outta my brain. That’s just not right. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Witches. Skeevy.
Entry 16
Somethin’s not right with Sam. He’s off. Not himself. Not since the first trial. He’s hiding something. Acting cagey. I can tell. After all these years I can tell when the kid’s lyin’ to me. Not only that, he’s getting scared. Startin’ to doubt himself. I ain’t gonna push it and I ain’t gonna listen to his, I might die doin’ it, bullshit either. Both of us can’t be thinkin’ that way. I dunno if it was the right thing to do, reaching out to Cass. We dunno where he is, what he’s doin’. But I got nothin’ and no-one else to turn to. I need help now. I need help lookin’ out for Sam. We’re gonna be up to our elbows in this thing and we have no clue what’s comin’ down the pipe. Cass didn’t answer. I dunno if he even heard me. I dunno if he even gives a damn. We had 2 minutes of things lookin’ up, then back to wading through this life of crap. Whatever happens, one thing I know for sure. They ain’t takin’ Sammy.
Entry 17
I think I’m gonna freakin’ lose it man. Lies and more lies pilin’ up all around me. I wanna freakin’ hit somethin’ or someone or I dunno what. Sam’s sick. The trials are breaking him in ways Cass don’t even understand. Cass is gone, again. He blows in, beats the snot outta me, steals the angel tablet. He was being controlled? I knew I smelt somethin’. Don’t make it hurt any less. He’s gone now. He made his choice. He don’t trust me. Just… No more. No more. How much are we supposed to take? How much am I supposed to take? How much is my brother supposed to take? When is it ever gonna be enough? WHEN YOU BASTARDS? I just gotta focus on one thing right now and that’s Sam. That’s making sure we…he, gets through this trials shit in one piece. Cass is on his own road and I can’t be worryin’ about him no more. Not for now anyways. At least Sam has come clean with me. Finally. At least I’ve got that. I’ve got that.
I’ve been lying here tossin’ and turnin’ for hours. What part of me actually thought I could sleep? This thing. It’s getting outta control. We got Crowley on our ass, angels on our ass. Nobody to turn to. Cass is gone. Even freakin’ Meg is gone, which isn’t a bad thing…though she had moments of usefulness, when she wasn’t killin’ everyone we love. On second thoughts, good riddance. Sam’s coughing up blood. And that’s just after the first trial. What’s the next one gonna do to him? I should be doin’ this. Me. Not Sam. I don’t want him to suffer no more. Man. Stop acting like a whiney girl, Winchester. Nut up. We’ve faced crap like this before. We’ve beat down worse. We can do this. Just focus.
Well, firin’ off a few rounds in our own personal shooting gallery certainly took the edge off. That 50 year old scotch didn’t hurt none either.
Entry 18
If that proved one thing to me, it proved I was right. You can’t live normal and live hunter. The two don’t mix. It’ll get ya killed for sure. Mind you, that Victor dude was a nutjob. Hope Krissy makes it. She’s a good kid. Sam’s not firin’ on all cylinders. No way those dudes get the jump on him under normal circumstances.
Entry 19
This waiting sucks. I’m freakin’ useless. Sit here wringin’ my hands waiting, while Sam does the hard yards. Pathetic.
God damn it. God DAMN IT. I’m sorry Benny. I’m sorry man. You didn’t deserve that. But thank you. Thank you. I hope it’s not all for nothin’. God damn it please let him have found Sammy. I can’t have him stuck in Purgatory. Both of us shouldn’t have to go through that shit. Please. Anyone who’s listening. Just, please.
I lost a good friend tonight. But I got my brother back. And Bobby, Bobby’s where he belongs. I hope the old man’s happy up there. He deserves it. Benny’s back in Purgatory. He don’t deserve that. Though Sam thinks maybe he wanted it that way. Maybe. I dunno. I dunno. All I know is I cut my friend’s head off. He sacrificed himself for me. For my family. Didn’t hesitate. I couldn’t burn his bones. If it wasn’t for Benny, I dunno I’d even be here. Maybe one day he’ll crawl his way back out and I can thank him proper. He’s a tough son of a bitch. A good friend. A good friend.
Nightmare. Blood everywhere. Benny’s head rollin’ at my feet. I’m so sorry, man. I’m so sorry…
Entry 20
That Charlie, she’s a good gal. Smart. Lippy, but smart. She can hang around as much as she likes. But hey, I ain’t lettin’ go. Not of her and certainly not of Sam. Never. I’ve let go of too many. No more. Sam ain’t in a good way and now’s when I need to make sure I’m beside him every step. But I gotta trust in him. That he can do this. He can’t do it without my believin’ in him and he shoulda not have to. So, we’ll do what we gotta do and Sam will finish the trials and we’ll do this damn thing together. Like we always have.
Entry 21
Oh Sammy. I didn’t know man. And I’m sorry I didn’t know. I’m sorry I never saw. I shoulda. My little brother always felt different. What was the word he used? Not clean? Did he always feel it? Poor kid. I dunno if these trials are actually purifying his blood or what or if that was the sickness talkin’. I’d love to believe that demon crud is getting stripped outta him once and for all. For him. So he could get some peace. But right now, I more worried they’re freakin’ killin’ him. He looks like shit, he’s not eating, feverish, talkin’ about I don’t know what. It’s killin’ me to see him like this. Knowing I can’t do nothin’ to help. ‘Cept keep him fed. Try keep his strength up. Just got one more trial to get through. Just gotta keep him alive through that. We’ve got Kevin. We’ve got both halves of the tablet. We’ve got God’s secretary for Christ’s sake. Now, we just gotta cure a demon. Cake walk. Heh. Not real comfy having Cass under the same roof as us. But Sam insisted. I wanna trust him. Don’t know I can ever forgive him…
Entry 22
Time for Crowley to die is long past. Son of a bitch. How many he gonna kill? We can’t let this happen. We gotta think up a plan and fast. I gotta keep Sam focused on the end game. He’s sick and shaky. Sarah hit him hard. Hit me hard. We can’t let that red-eyed bastard win. No way that’s happening on my watch. We regroup and we bring him down. It’s long overdue. We got all we need to make this happen. And we got each other and Charlie was right, there’s pretty much nothin’ we can’t do. Hey man, we stopped the Apocalypse. I should be saying this to Sam…
Yeah. Sleep. Ha. Runnin’ it through my head over and over. Gotta get this right. It’s a good plan. We just gotta lie to the King of all liars. Hey, I can do that. If we can get him there. Get him locked down. It’s all on Sam. I dunno what’s gonna happen. But…it’s our best shot.
Cass, man. What the hell. Gone again. The dude’s like a ghost...
Entry 23
This is it. Big day. The day we lock them all up once and for all. For our mom, for dad, for Ash, for Ellen and Jo…for us.
He’s gonna be ok. He’s gonna be ok. He’s gonna be ok…….
Thanks so much for indulging me and reading this...as always, I appreciate the hell outta your support!
Entry 1
Im back. Topside. Land of the living. Benny was right, that son of a bitch. I’ll miss the bastard. Gotta be like this though... Good to see Sam alive and kickin’. Thank God. Was freakin’ out when he wasn’t picking up. Sam. Yeah. I’m trying hard not to… but damn it, unwritten Winchester rule, never give up on each other. Never. Guess he went on without me. Met some girl. Guess I should be happy about that? I dunno what to think. The Kevin thing, not cool. How could he leave him out there like that? I don’t get it. I don’t get the whole damn thing. We’ll find the kid and make it right, if he ain’t dead already, but Sammy seems…he’s not here or somethin’. Just tryin’ real hard not to be as mad as hell right now. Better try and sleep, in an actual bed. Things might seem clearer in the morning. Yeah right.
Man, nightmare. Monsters. Fighting. Same old, same old. Woke up sweating like a pig, no clue where I was. Then I hear Sammy breathing. Kid always was a noisy sleeper. Just gotta calm down. I’m back. Gotta remember, I’m back. I’m okay. It’s gonna be okay.
Well, found Kevin. Kid’s improved some. Turned into a good little fighter. Crowley’s still an S.O.B. Time we ganked that bastard once and for all. Turns out there's an actual tablet for demons. Tell's ya how to close Hell's gates. Could we catch that kind of break? Lock up the pit forever? Finally get rid of those black eyed sons of bitches. Man, that’d be somethin'. Sammy will back that. Yeah, Sam will be onboard for that…
Entry 2
I dunno know I even belong in this world no more. When did we blink over killing a bastard like Crowley? I don’t care whose meat suit he’s wearing. Kevin’s in the wind. Tablet’s gone. Sam’s got some bug up his ass about everything. Keeps drifting off, his heart’s not in it. I feel like the only one with his eye on the ball. Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m the one with the problem. Nearly killed that dude in the interrogation room. So close. Gotta bring it down a notch. I’m on edge all the time. Everything was so much easier in Purgatory. Kill or be killed. No hesitations. Maybe I fit better there…Maybe I shoulda stayed put.
Christ. Nightmare again. Cass…
Entry 3
Great. Sam wants to quit the life and go back to college. That kid is full of surprises. Thinks I’d be better off hunting alone. What? Since when has either of us been better off alone. He’ll come ‘round. Just has to get back in the saddle. He won’t walk away. God damn it, Sam.
Entry 4
Let the werewolf chick walk. Couldn’t very well gank her and leave Benny breathing. Sam don’t know that though. Gotta say he looked a bit confused. Hey, maybe she can make a go of it? Not her fault she got turned into a monster. Maybe she can go against type. Not follow those instincts. Not kill anyone. Wonder how Benny’s doin’. Hope the bastard's ok. And I do not say awesome too much.
Entry 5
Yeah that went about as well as could be expected. Sam meet Benny. Super. Now he’s even more pissed at me than before. Yeah, I shoulda told Sam about Benny, I know it, but it’s not like we’re caring and sharing nowadays. Half the time we're at each other throats. He walked away, he wants out, thinks I’d be better alone… Hey and Sam, just to add insult to injury, meet my buddy Benny, the vampire. Heh. Oh well, he knows now. Let the shit storm begin.
One night, just one night’s sleep please without tossing and turning worrying about Sam or Benny or Cass or all damn three of them. Jesus.
Entry 6
Just when you think shit can’t get worse you get possessed by an evil dick of a spectre. Awesome. Now I’m spewing crap even I didn’t know I was still pissed at. Except that not looking for me thing. That hurts like hell and I’m trying not to...but I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s gnawin’ on my insides. I know what Sam said, I know he said he was honouring some half-baked promise we made, but we don’t walk away. End of story. I keep expecting to wake up and be a brother down. I don’t even know why he’s here half the time. He sure don’t seem to wanna be anywhere near me. If it wasn’t for the whole locking up the pit, I’m sure Sam would’ve ditched by now. Ah well, guess I couldn’t blame him after tonight. He’s gotta know that’s not how I really feel, right? No one’s more important to me than him. Freakin’ fought for my life to get back here to him. Make sure he was ok. Look how that turned out. Everything’s screwed to hell again. Didn’t appreciate him threatening Benny either. God damn it. Garth looked good though. Was kinda nice to see the guy. Hugs and all. And he’s right, Sam’s all I got. I gotta try to let all this crap go. Gotta move past it. Son of a bitch got wise.
Entry 7
Cass is back. Thought I was going crazy. Then ‘poof’ the nerd angel returneth. Turns out I didn’t leave him behind. He stayed. What the hell. Sure didn’t seem like that in the moment. I felt him slip away. I couldn’t hold on. Turns out he didn’t want me to hold on. Don’t know whether to be happy to see him or slug him. Dragged him all through freakin’ Purgatory and he bails on me last minute. At this point, why am I even surprised. How’d Cass get back here anyway? Something’s not right. He just shows up? And he don’t remember how? I mean, it's great to see the guy, but I’ve been doing this long enough to know when something stinks. And now we’ve only got half a tablet. What’s a bet we got stiffed with the dud half. On the flip side, Sam’s still here. No sign of him checking out college brochures. And we've still got Kevin, nearly all of him anyways. I gotta put all this shit outta my head. Man, I just want to hunt. Is that too much to ask?
Entry 8
Freakin’ cartoon anvils. You live long enough, you see everything.
Entry 9
You know… they’re both alive and that was the plan.
Can’t sleep. He ain’t picking up the phone. Gotta go talk to him. He’s not gonna want to, but I need him to listen. If he’s gonna go, he’s gonna go. But not like this. I’m not leaving it like this, not after everything. I’m sorry Martin died, I am, but he brought it on himself. The crazy bastard shoulda left well enough alone. I’m not sorry Sam and Benny are alive. One of them would be dead for sure had I not... I’m not gonna apologise for making sure my brother and my friend don’t kill each other.
Had to stop for some caffeine. Almost at Kermit. Feel like crap. I’m so freakin' tired. I know I'm losing Sam. He's been only half here for a while. Gotta try and sort this out.
Entry 10
Sam’s here. Benny’s gone. I had to walk away from him. I just gotta believe he'll be ok. But if it’s Sam or Benny? If it's come to that? No contest. Haven’t told Sam yet. Good on him for not pushing it anymore. I appreciate the hell out of that after everything. Didn’t think about how that text would affect him. Just wanted him out of danger. In hindsight, maybe not the smartest move I’ve made. Had to give Sammy a choice. I’ve been hanging on too tight and it ain’t working for either one of us. Had to let him go if that’s what he wanted. He needed to make that call himself. He couldn’t go on like that. We couldn’t go on like that. We haven’t gone through everything we’ve gone through to wind up hating each other. I don’t know what’ll happen next. But for now, my brother's here and we’re focusing on the job.
Can’t sleep. Cass is playing on my mind. Something’s up. That whole coming back and not know how thing, that whole thing with Alfie. Something’s not right. We can’t trust him right now, not until Sam and me figure out what the hell is going on.
Screw it. Who needs sleep anyway. Car could always do with a wash.
Entry 11
Things I thought I’d never see: Sam all painted up charging across a field with a sword above his head. That was fun. We had actual fun. I feel ok for the first time in I don’t know how long. When was the last time the two of us laughed so hard? Felt like little kids again. Felt good. Probably shoulda told him he still had some paint on that ugly mug of his before I sent him into the Gas ‘n Sip for coffee. Oh well, the bruise on my arm will be worth it just to see his face. Great to see Charlie again. She’s grown on me. Good to talk to. Bit hard to talk to Sam when it’s about Sam. Times like that I miss the hell outta Bobby. Gonna have to come clean with Sammy that I may have said we’ll be at the next big whatever it’s called. We got a kingdom to defend! Ha!
Entry 12
Men of Letters. A grandfather we never knew. My head hurts. Add another dead Winchester to the list. Dad always talked about his father like he was some deadbeat that walked out on him and his mom. Guess now we know the truth. He didn’t walk out. He died saving us. I wish dad knew that. Wish we'd known that. What would’ve happened if Henry hadn’t left that night? We’d not be raised hunters? Would we even be born? Time travel, man. Screws with your melon. Guess Henry turned out to be okay after everything. Would’ve been good to get to know him some, learn from him. He seemed to know a trick or two. Sorry he had to go out like that… Dunno what I think about this whole legacy thing. Who would’ve thought Mom’s family was the brawn and dad’s the brains. Think I saw Sam’s eyes light up. He’s always been a little geek. A giant geek. Heh. Good to see the kid look half happy. Things are definitely on an upswing in that department. Wonder if that hideout is still standing? Now that'd be interesting.
Entry 13
Someone pinch me. Not only is the Men of Letters lair still standing, it’s friggin’ awesome. How it’s working I dunno and don’t care. It is and I ain’t complainin’. Sam’s in his happy place, surrounded by books and god knows what. I swear the kid’s eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw all the damn books and files and crap. I just had a shower the likes of which I’ve never known. The water pressure. Not some dank and moudly motel room trickle, but real power, man. And hot. Coulda stayed in there all day. Did get a bit wrinkly. Heh. Not only that, there’s weapons up the ying yang and a freakin’ shooting gallery. Who the hell were these guys? How the hell did we get so lucky? I keep expecting to wake up any minute. Probably screaming. God bless you Henry Winchester, wherever the hell you are.
Golems. Necromancer Nazis. Secret Societies? How about a good ole fashioned ghost hunt, just for kicks. Jesus. Our lives keep getting weirder. Though, Aaron was kind of ok, smartass, but ok. So was the big guy, for a dude made of clay. A dude made of clay. Yep. And now we’re back in the batcave, warm and toasty and Sam looks almost happy. Hell I think he nearly smiled. Somethin’s gotta give. We don’t get this lucky. Ever.
My own room. I can’t remember ever havin’ a room. I guess I did, back when I was little. I don’t remember though. It feels good. Feels good to have somewhere to put all my crap. Keep it nice. Somewhere mine. Jesus, Winchester, you’re turning into a freakin’ woman.
Entry 14
What is wrong with me? Can’t I do anything right? All I had to do was one damn thing. Kill a hellhound. Instead Sam has to step in and save my sorry ass and now he’s doin’ these freakin trials, whatever that means and I don’t want that to happen with every part of my being. I wanna puke. Everything I touch turns to shit. It was not supposed to go like that. I don’t want Sam to go through any more crap. He’s gone through enough. This one was on me and I failed. I freakin’ failed him. Again. Jesus.
I can’t freakin’ sleep. I keep running it through my head. How that bitch knocked me down. I keep playin’ it over and over. Figuring what I coulda done different. What’s it matter. I blew it. I know Sam gave me the speech about him and me getting to the light or somethin’. God love him for believing in that, optimistic son of a bitch. I just know I gotta watch out for him now. We dunno what’s next, what these trials are about. I gotta make sure he gets through this because I ain’t livin’ with the alternative. Not again.
Entry 15
Hey, I’m about as open minded as they come, but what the hell was that with James and his familiar. Sure she was hot as a chick, but, she was a freakin’ dog. Literally. I mean, the mind boggles and not in a good way. Whoa, I gotta get that picture outta my brain. That’s just not right. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Witches. Skeevy.
Entry 16
Somethin’s not right with Sam. He’s off. Not himself. Not since the first trial. He’s hiding something. Acting cagey. I can tell. After all these years I can tell when the kid’s lyin’ to me. Not only that, he’s getting scared. Startin’ to doubt himself. I ain’t gonna push it and I ain’t gonna listen to his, I might die doin’ it, bullshit either. Both of us can’t be thinkin’ that way. I dunno if it was the right thing to do, reaching out to Cass. We dunno where he is, what he’s doin’. But I got nothin’ and no-one else to turn to. I need help now. I need help lookin’ out for Sam. We’re gonna be up to our elbows in this thing and we have no clue what’s comin’ down the pipe. Cass didn’t answer. I dunno if he even heard me. I dunno if he even gives a damn. We had 2 minutes of things lookin’ up, then back to wading through this life of crap. Whatever happens, one thing I know for sure. They ain’t takin’ Sammy.
Entry 17
I think I’m gonna freakin’ lose it man. Lies and more lies pilin’ up all around me. I wanna freakin’ hit somethin’ or someone or I dunno what. Sam’s sick. The trials are breaking him in ways Cass don’t even understand. Cass is gone, again. He blows in, beats the snot outta me, steals the angel tablet. He was being controlled? I knew I smelt somethin’. Don’t make it hurt any less. He’s gone now. He made his choice. He don’t trust me. Just… No more. No more. How much are we supposed to take? How much am I supposed to take? How much is my brother supposed to take? When is it ever gonna be enough? WHEN YOU BASTARDS? I just gotta focus on one thing right now and that’s Sam. That’s making sure we…he, gets through this trials shit in one piece. Cass is on his own road and I can’t be worryin’ about him no more. Not for now anyways. At least Sam has come clean with me. Finally. At least I’ve got that. I’ve got that.
I’ve been lying here tossin’ and turnin’ for hours. What part of me actually thought I could sleep? This thing. It’s getting outta control. We got Crowley on our ass, angels on our ass. Nobody to turn to. Cass is gone. Even freakin’ Meg is gone, which isn’t a bad thing…though she had moments of usefulness, when she wasn’t killin’ everyone we love. On second thoughts, good riddance. Sam’s coughing up blood. And that’s just after the first trial. What’s the next one gonna do to him? I should be doin’ this. Me. Not Sam. I don’t want him to suffer no more. Man. Stop acting like a whiney girl, Winchester. Nut up. We’ve faced crap like this before. We’ve beat down worse. We can do this. Just focus.
Well, firin’ off a few rounds in our own personal shooting gallery certainly took the edge off. That 50 year old scotch didn’t hurt none either.
Entry 18
If that proved one thing to me, it proved I was right. You can’t live normal and live hunter. The two don’t mix. It’ll get ya killed for sure. Mind you, that Victor dude was a nutjob. Hope Krissy makes it. She’s a good kid. Sam’s not firin’ on all cylinders. No way those dudes get the jump on him under normal circumstances.
Entry 19
This waiting sucks. I’m freakin’ useless. Sit here wringin’ my hands waiting, while Sam does the hard yards. Pathetic.
God damn it. God DAMN IT. I’m sorry Benny. I’m sorry man. You didn’t deserve that. But thank you. Thank you. I hope it’s not all for nothin’. God damn it please let him have found Sammy. I can’t have him stuck in Purgatory. Both of us shouldn’t have to go through that shit. Please. Anyone who’s listening. Just, please.
I lost a good friend tonight. But I got my brother back. And Bobby, Bobby’s where he belongs. I hope the old man’s happy up there. He deserves it. Benny’s back in Purgatory. He don’t deserve that. Though Sam thinks maybe he wanted it that way. Maybe. I dunno. I dunno. All I know is I cut my friend’s head off. He sacrificed himself for me. For my family. Didn’t hesitate. I couldn’t burn his bones. If it wasn’t for Benny, I dunno I’d even be here. Maybe one day he’ll crawl his way back out and I can thank him proper. He’s a tough son of a bitch. A good friend. A good friend.
Nightmare. Blood everywhere. Benny’s head rollin’ at my feet. I’m so sorry, man. I’m so sorry…
Entry 20
That Charlie, she’s a good gal. Smart. Lippy, but smart. She can hang around as much as she likes. But hey, I ain’t lettin’ go. Not of her and certainly not of Sam. Never. I’ve let go of too many. No more. Sam ain’t in a good way and now’s when I need to make sure I’m beside him every step. But I gotta trust in him. That he can do this. He can’t do it without my believin’ in him and he shoulda not have to. So, we’ll do what we gotta do and Sam will finish the trials and we’ll do this damn thing together. Like we always have.
Entry 21
Oh Sammy. I didn’t know man. And I’m sorry I didn’t know. I’m sorry I never saw. I shoulda. My little brother always felt different. What was the word he used? Not clean? Did he always feel it? Poor kid. I dunno if these trials are actually purifying his blood or what or if that was the sickness talkin’. I’d love to believe that demon crud is getting stripped outta him once and for all. For him. So he could get some peace. But right now, I more worried they’re freakin’ killin’ him. He looks like shit, he’s not eating, feverish, talkin’ about I don’t know what. It’s killin’ me to see him like this. Knowing I can’t do nothin’ to help. ‘Cept keep him fed. Try keep his strength up. Just got one more trial to get through. Just gotta keep him alive through that. We’ve got Kevin. We’ve got both halves of the tablet. We’ve got God’s secretary for Christ’s sake. Now, we just gotta cure a demon. Cake walk. Heh. Not real comfy having Cass under the same roof as us. But Sam insisted. I wanna trust him. Don’t know I can ever forgive him…
Entry 22
Time for Crowley to die is long past. Son of a bitch. How many he gonna kill? We can’t let this happen. We gotta think up a plan and fast. I gotta keep Sam focused on the end game. He’s sick and shaky. Sarah hit him hard. Hit me hard. We can’t let that red-eyed bastard win. No way that’s happening on my watch. We regroup and we bring him down. It’s long overdue. We got all we need to make this happen. And we got each other and Charlie was right, there’s pretty much nothin’ we can’t do. Hey man, we stopped the Apocalypse. I should be saying this to Sam…
Yeah. Sleep. Ha. Runnin’ it through my head over and over. Gotta get this right. It’s a good plan. We just gotta lie to the King of all liars. Hey, I can do that. If we can get him there. Get him locked down. It’s all on Sam. I dunno what’s gonna happen. But…it’s our best shot.
Cass, man. What the hell. Gone again. The dude’s like a ghost...
Entry 23
This is it. Big day. The day we lock them all up once and for all. For our mom, for dad, for Ash, for Ellen and Jo…for us.
He’s gonna be ok. He’s gonna be ok. He’s gonna be ok…….
Thanks so much for indulging me and reading this...as always, I appreciate the hell outta your support!
-sweetondean
sweetondean is Chief Editor and a writer for The Winchester Family Business
For all the latest Supernatural info and article links, follow The Winchester Family Business on Twitter at @WinFamBusiness
Photo design (c) sweetondean 2013
For all the latest Supernatural info and article links, follow The Winchester Family Business on Twitter at @WinFamBusiness
Photo design (c) sweetondean 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Women Of Letters Half Hour Supernatural podcast
It’s here! The Women Of Letters Half Hour is podcast - A podcast dedicated to all things Supernatural and the SPN fandom hosted by me - sweetondean (AKA @AmyinSydney) and Jules from Superwiki (@SuperWiki).
In Episode #1 we talk about the Season 8 finale and the "I'm sending Supernatural a damn fruit basket (postcard)" campaign.
In Episode #2 we talk about Dean's amulet, it's signifigance to the brothers, to the story and to the fandom and how to vote in the Teen Choice Awards.
In Episode #3 we talk about the recent Australia Supernatural convention, All Hell Breaks Loose 4.
In Episode # 4 we talk about the nature of family in Supernatural.
In Episode #5 we talk about Cass and the angels.
In Episode #6 we talk all about Conventions with plenty of great tips to help you get the most out of them!
In Episode #7 we talk Comic-Con spoilers.
In Episode #2 we talk about Dean's amulet, it's signifigance to the brothers, to the story and to the fandom and how to vote in the Teen Choice Awards.
In Episode #3 we talk about the recent Australia Supernatural convention, All Hell Breaks Loose 4.
In Episode # 4 we talk about the nature of family in Supernatural.
In Episode #5 we talk about Cass and the angels.
In Episode #6 we talk all about Conventions with plenty of great tips to help you get the most out of them!
In Episode #7 we talk Comic-Con spoilers.
Theme music courtesy of Skyhooks - yes this is the Aussie Supernatural podcast you didn’t know you were waiting for!
You can find the Women of Letters Half Hour here.
You can also find us on iTunes. Please leave a rating and review - it'd mean the world to us!
If you want to send us feedback or ideas for future podcasts, our email is wolspn@gmail.com
Thanks
-sweetondean
Monday, May 20, 2013
I'M SENDING SUPERNATURAL A DAMN FRUIT BASKET (POSTCARD) CAMPAIGN
Well Supernatural season 8 is over and as we wait (im)patiently for season 9, why not let the creative team behind Supernatural know how much you enjoyed the season and how much you appreciate their hard work.
We give a lot of love to the team in Vancouver, but the team in L.A., the writing team, often don't get quite as much love!
This past season several of the writers have joined twitter and have gleefully chatted to us and taken our happy tweets and our not so happy tweets in their strides.
The writers are already back to work, hard at it in the writer's room, planning out where season 9 (and beyond) will take us.
So now is the perfect time to inundate them with postcards of thanks and let them know how much we appreciate the work they do on the show.
So without further adieu introducing the:
I'M SENDING SUPERNATURAL A DAMN FRUIT BASKET (POSTCARD) CAMPAIGN
Remember when Dean said he felt like sending Death a damn fruit basket for putting up Sammy's wall? Well we can't all send fruit baskets from around the world, but we can send fruit basket postcards!
Imagine how fun it would be for the Supernautural creative team to receive hundreds of fruit basket postcards!
There've been several designs already created for you, which you can grab from below or individually via this photobucket link or as zip file here or you may like to design your own fruit basket postcard, the choice is yours! Then you can either make the designs into your own postcard by hand or produce into a postcard via a postcard site. There are several online, just do a google search.
So why not join in and let the people who create the best show in the world know how much we appreciate and love them! Go forth and send fruit basket postcards!
-sweetondean (AKA @AmyinSydney)
I'M SENDING SUPERNATURAL A DAMN FRUIT BASKET (POSTCARD) CAMPAIGN
Writting team: Jeremy Carver (Showrunner), Ben Edlund, Adam Glass, Robbie Thompson, Andrew Dabb, Daniel Loflin, Jenny Klein, Brad Buckner & Eugenie Ross-Leming (team).
c/o Holly Ollis
Warner Bros Television
4000 Warner Blvd
Bldg 140.Burbank, CA 91522
U.S.A.
If you'd also like to send postcards to the Vancouver team, here is their address
Supernatural Films Inc.
8085 Glenwood Drive
Burnaby, B.C.
V3N 5C8
Canada
We give a lot of love to the team in Vancouver, but the team in L.A., the writing team, often don't get quite as much love!
This past season several of the writers have joined twitter and have gleefully chatted to us and taken our happy tweets and our not so happy tweets in their strides.
The writers are already back to work, hard at it in the writer's room, planning out where season 9 (and beyond) will take us.
So now is the perfect time to inundate them with postcards of thanks and let them know how much we appreciate the work they do on the show.
So without further adieu introducing the:
I'M SENDING SUPERNATURAL A DAMN FRUIT BASKET (POSTCARD) CAMPAIGN
Remember when Dean said he felt like sending Death a damn fruit basket for putting up Sammy's wall? Well we can't all send fruit baskets from around the world, but we can send fruit basket postcards!
Imagine how fun it would be for the Supernautural creative team to receive hundreds of fruit basket postcards!
There've been several designs already created for you, which you can grab from below or individually via this photobucket link or as zip file here or you may like to design your own fruit basket postcard, the choice is yours! Then you can either make the designs into your own postcard by hand or produce into a postcard via a postcard site. There are several online, just do a google search.
So why not join in and let the people who create the best show in the world know how much we appreciate and love them! Go forth and send fruit basket postcards!
-sweetondean (AKA @AmyinSydney)
I'M SENDING SUPERNATURAL A DAMN FRUIT BASKET (POSTCARD) CAMPAIGN
Writting team: Jeremy Carver (Showrunner), Ben Edlund, Adam Glass, Robbie Thompson, Andrew Dabb, Daniel Loflin, Jenny Klein, Brad Buckner & Eugenie Ross-Leming (team).
c/o Holly Ollis
Warner Bros Television
4000 Warner Blvd
Bldg 140.Burbank, CA 91522
U.S.A.
If you'd also like to send postcards to the Vancouver team, here is their address
Supernatural Films Inc.
8085 Glenwood Drive
Burnaby, B.C.
V3N 5C8
Canada
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Review: Supernatural season 8 finale: 8.23 "Sacrifice"
Oh Sam and Dean, how you can rip my heart out and in the same moment fill me with hope. I felt like I’d been waiting 4 seasons for that conversation. Through all the mistrust, the walking away, the fights, the angry words, I never once doubted that a powerful love was always there, but I still longed to hear them tell each other just how much they mean to each other…because they both needed to hear it…as did we.
But I’ve jumped ahead. You know, I think “Sacrifice” may be my favourite finale ever. I can’t remember ever being so completely surprised with where a finale took us. Not only that, the emotional ruin I was left in was a good one, one that filled me with optimism.
But I’ve jumped ahead. You know, I think “Sacrifice” may be my favourite finale ever. I can’t remember ever being so completely surprised with where a finale took us. Not only that, the emotional ruin I was left in was a good one, one that filled me with optimism.
One of the wonderful things about “Supernatural” is that all the characters are so profoundly human, even the non-human ones. The same emotions that rule us, rule them, for good and bad. It means that we can connect like we do. It means that we can feel sympathy for characters like Crowley for instance, as he went through the changes being brought on by the demon cure, as he yelled out that he just wanted to be loved, as he asked Sam, no Moose, but Sam, where to start asking for forgiveness as he bared his neck for the final injection.
What an amazing performance. Mark Sheppard has always sunk his teeth right into Crowley and given that character and the scenery around him, a damn good chewing. But I would never in a million years have thought he could make me actually feel sad for Crowley, make me actually see that there was once another side to the demon, something long ago lost, but maybe still lying dormant deep within.
Having said that, part of the great joy of Crowley is that he’s an evil bastard! I’m assuming with the trials incomplete, he will go off and lick his wounds for a while (once he gets out of that chair) and then revert to his former glory and be back, black hearted and red-eyed as ever!
I think we pretty much all picked that Metatron was not what he seemed. Of course, I didn’t think he was a pissed-off whiney douchebag! Honestly, these angels and their temper tantrums! You were mean to me so I’m going to kick you all out, because I can! I’ll look forward to this one getting his comeuppance next season.
The aftermath of the spell masquerading as the angel trials was completely unexpected. Every single angel sent hurtling to earth in a spectacular, fiery pyrotechnic display. I totally did not see that coming!
And Castiel has lost his grace, because he was a dumbass…again! Oh Cass. You know, I’m just going to say it…Cass has broken heaven twice. Remember when he said this in “The Man Who Would Be King” ….”but I was so full of confidence, of mission. I see now that was arrogance...Hubris...” Um. What’s changed exactly. Yeah, I know his intentions are always good, but you would think after the whole Crowley/Leviathan thing, the angel would get a clue. Awww I feel mean. I'm just totally exasperated! At least he finally had the sense to ask Dean for his help…terrible timing and part of me was like, why the hell should he drop everything for you now? But then, this is Dean we’re talking about. For a moment I thought Dean was going to say screw you and for a moment I was like, what the hell is Dean thinking…but, it became pretty clear pretty quick that story wise, Dean needed to be in proximity of the angel tablet, because it was going to give him something imperative to do with Sam and the trials.
Now Cass is human or rather, a powered down angel. What exactly is that going to mean? Will the other angels know that he unintentionally assisted Metatron with following through on his evil master plan to take over Heaven and will they hunt Cass down because of it? I’m assuming that part of Cass’ redemption will be ousting Metatron and returning the angels to Heaven. I hope he gets the opportunity to do this, as he really needs a win! Maybe then, that will be the end of the angel storyline because the balance will finally be restored.
It did pop into my head, that they do have one powerful angel left that still has his mojo intact. Michael. Of course, getting him out of the cage without setting his brother free is probably something that would be impossible to achieve. But it’s food for thought. There may also be clues on the angel tablet, but surely Metatron would be all over that!
Ok, back to what I was saying earlier….
Oh Sam and Dean, how you can rip my heart out and in the same moment fill me with hope. I felt like I’d been waiting 4 seasons for that conversation. Through all the mistrust, the walking away, the fights, the angry words, I never once doubted that a powerful love was always there, but I still longed to hear them tell each other just how much they mean to each other…because they both needed to hear it…as did we.
As Sam poured his heart out to Dean I couldn’t help but see a little boy (in a very large body). One who always looked up to his older brother, one who had been… “Following you around my entire life. I mean, I've been looking up to you since I was four, Dean. Studying you, trying to be just like my big brother.” We know, because Sam told us, that he’s always felt like he wasn’t pure, we know because Sam told us, that he looked up to his brother, we know because Sam told us, that he always felt like a disappointment to his father, “You know what most dads are when their kids score a full ride? Proud. Most dads don't toss their kids out of the house.” But we didn’t know, at least not for sure, because Sam’s never told us quite so completely, how all of this affected him, how all of this undermined his confidence in himself and who he is or how it made him think Dean saw him.
Jeremy Carver told us that season 8 was all about perception and here, with Sam and Dean was the most important element of it. Two brothers so close that they can’t see each other. Two brothers misunderstanding each other at every turn and too bull-headed to talk about it…until at their weakest, most vulnerable moment, where they have no other way forward but to reach out.
Dean loves Sam fiercely; I’ve never doubted that for a moment. But it’s that powerful love that translates into powerful hurt. He is wounded as deeply as he loves. When the one person he loves the most lets him down, he lashes out with angry words. This is how he reacts. Dean is painfully human and tragically flawed. In this raw and gut-wrenching conversation between the Winchester brothers, Sam finally tells Dean how much those words cut him to the bone. Every time Sam has let Dean down, Dean has let him know in no uncertain terms and Sam has then attached all of that to all of his other insecurities, about not being pure, about not being good enough for his father, about not being the brother he thinks Dean wants. There Sam’s hurt festers, just like Dean’s hurt festers.
In season 4 things started to go pear-shaped for the Winchester brothers. Sam fell in with Ruby and lied about the demon blood. Dean lied about Hell. This is where all the big secrets really started. The brothers seemed to drift apart, come back together drift apart over and over. In season 5 they tried to make it work, but Dean couldn’t let go of what he saw as Sam’s betrayal – choosing a demon over his own brother. Then Dean realised that his brother was more important to him than anything, that they’re all they’ve got, but more than that, they “Keep each other human”. For a brief shining moment, it looked like maybe the brothers could find a way to be brothers again. At the very end, as they stood on the precipice of the apocalypse, they stood united. Then Sam threw himself in the pit and one brother was no more. In season 6 Sam had no soul. This wasn’t his fault and he shouldn’t be blamed for it and it’s hard to say that Sam should have told Dean something was wrong, even though he knew something was, because he didn’t have a soul, so why would he think to tell Dean? That one could go around and around and around! But Dean was deeply injured by Sam both physically through the vampire thing and emotionally through the vampire thing, which ended any chance of a relationship he might have had with Lisa and Ben. Maybe Dean shouldn’t have hung on to this hurt like he did, but it was pretty epic, it’d be hard to let go of something like that, who here is that perfect and Dean’s far from perfect. Season 7, it wasn’t so much that there was any specific angst between the brothers, it was just that it was all kind of gloomy and oppressive and they were so far away from where they once were, I wasn’t sure if what they once had was even retrievable. There was still the love, you could see it in little ways, or in epic ways as when Sam was on the verge of dying from sleep exhaustion…but…
I think one of the main issues was that neither task at hand in seasons 6 and 7 felt particularly personal in nature. They didn’t feel like it was life or death for the brothers. Season 6 even finished with a cliff-hanger that rested with another character, something I always saw as a colossal error.
Then in season 8, the lens was turned back on to the Winchesters; this was once again their story. It was rocky, but anything good is hard earned. As the season moved on, I started to see method to what initially appeared to be madness. These two had to get to a place where they wanted to be together, where they needed each other again and that wasn’t going to come easy. Nothing wonderful ever does. Everything needed to be stripped away before it could be rebuilt. Like starting from scratch.
I never had a problem with how season 8 started, because I trusted that the reason we were being forced to face such a confronting storyline would be made clear as time went on. The season finale gave me that reason and I don’t know that without the Sam not looking for Dean pain, we could have ended up where we did or if it would've felt so significant if we did - for me anyway.
We may never know exactly what brought Sam to the decision not to look for Dean, only that, as he said, he didn’t know Dean was alive and didn’t know where to look. I always chose to take Sam’s explanation on face value, assuming that Sam tried to move on with his life after a calamitous loss which made his world implode. But each time it was raised, Sam didn’t want to discuss it. When Dean first returned and asked about Amelia – “There was a girl”, Sam said, “There was. And then there wasn't. Any more questions.” But the defensive way he said any more questions, sounded more like, I’m not answering any more questions. When Meg asked Sam about not looking for Dean, Sam said nothing, when Bobby asked Sam about not looking for Dean, Sam said nothing. For me, this wasn’t Sam not being given the opportunity to talk about it, it was about Sam not wanting to talk about it, because it was written all over his face, he felt awful. If you feel shitty about something, generally speaking you don’t want to discuss it. In hindsight, I even think it was written all over his face in the first episode. He thought his brother was gone and it turns out he wasn’t… How horrible would that feel?
But through all the hurt and insecurities which erupted as anger and mistrust, the brothers still chose to put those things behind them, or at least on the backburner and stick together. As the personal nature of their quest turned very personal, they began to cling to each other. That old bond, that powerful love of theirs started to show itself again. Season 8 was the first time in a long time that I felt maybe the Winchester brothers would be okay…because though they’ve always stuck together in the past, even when they wanted to walk away from each other, this time around, they chose to stick together. The Universe (and Carver) threw roadblocks in their way, in the form of other people, in the form of other choices, but they still chose to move forward together, even at the loss of those other people in their lives. That was their first shaky step, and it grew from there.
So we find ourselves with the brothers face-to-face in a tiny, damp church. Sam is on the verge of death and a huge question hangs in the air… Why shouldn’t he die for the greater good…
“If you finish this trial, you’re dead Sam.”
“So.”
Once upon a time, I think Dean may have backed this play; he did at the end of season 5. But this is a man who has grown through epic loss and now knows there are some things more important than beating the bad guys and that something is Sam. The brothers, alive, together can do equal amounts of good as one dying for one cause. But beyond that, Dean needs Sam and he may not have told him that and he sometimes may have not shown him that, but he does and he always has and he needs his brother to understand…
I watched in awe as my boys stood face-to-face, anguish etched into their lovely features. Dean’s heart visibly breaking, Sam’s heart visibly broken. Years of sorrow rising to the surface and spewing out in pained and desperate words…
Sam:“You want to know what I confessed in there? What my greatest sin was? It was how many times I let you down. I can't do that again. What happens when you've decided I can't be trusted again? I mean, who are you gonna turn to next time instead of me? Another angel, another -- another vampire? Do you have any idea what it feels like to watch your brother just –“
Dean:“Hold on, hold on! You seriously think that? Because none of it -- none of it -- is true. Listen, man, I know we've had our disagreements, okay? Hell, I know I've said some junk that set you back on your heels. But, Sammy...come on. I killed Benny to save you. I'm willing to let this bastard and all the sons of bitches that killed mom walk because of you. Don't you dare think that there is anything, past or present, that I would put in front of you! It has never been like that, ever! I need you to see that. I'm begging you.”
It was a long time coming and when it happened, it felt so good.
Sam asked how he could stop, because it was inside him. He wasn't just talking about the trials... He was talking about everything. Then Dean wrapped his brother’s hand and pulled him into a hug and told him to let it go brother, let it all go. He wasn’t just talking about the trials... He was talking about the hurt and he wasn’t just talking to Sam, he was talking to himself.
And there they stood, two brothers, each other’s stone number one, finally being honest with each other. Together, because that’s where they want to be.
Yeah, I cried…I may or may not be crying now.
For a season where one of the main criticisms I saw was that Sam had no voice, I feel like I know Sam better than I ever have. I’ve seen him in a new light in season 8. Someone whose hope still burns like a tiny candle inside of him, someone who has learned from past mistakes, someone who has carried a torment deep down since he was a child, someone who yearns for his brother’s love just as much as his brother yearns for his. I see a strong man and yet so broken, so like Dean…
And for the first time, I feel like maybe Sam can be happy driving down crazy street next to his brother.
In the end, I saw the sacrifice as not Sam or Dean but what they will sacrifice for each other, the chance to put the creatures that destroyed their family behind locked gates forever, because if they did, it would destroy the only family they have left.
I said in my preview and to just about anyone who would listen, people on twitter, people at work, strangers walking past me on the street…all I wanted from this season finale was the brothers, alive, side by side, ready to face whatever new catastrophe befalls them …and I got that. There they were, just the two of them, huddled together, hanging on to each other, leaning against their home on four wheels as the sky fell around them. I owe Carver a damn fruit basket.
“Sacrifice” was beautiful written, with excellent pacing, breath taking performances from all concerned - once again, Jensen and Jared were riverting - visually STUNNING – those falling angels – absolutely surprising and set up a corker of a story for season 9, oh and no-one I really cared for died (sorry Naomi, you took too long to come good). We now have a plethora of characters to pepper through the Winchester’s lives and there was even visit to an old friend’s car-yard…Bobby was in this finale, even though he wasn’t. I thought that was a lovely touch.
When Jeremy Carver took over as show runner of “Supernatural”, he said that for him, he always saw the brothers and their relationship as the centre of this story. His past episodes have illustrated that again and again. I feel like JC lived up to his promise for season 8, allowing the brothers and their relationship to take centre stage once more.
As we roar towards the end of this beautiful journey (not the imminent end, I’m thinking another 2 years – season 10 or bust), season 8 and the road we took makes me feel like we may end this series where we started off…2 brothers, together, driving the back highways of America in a shiny black Chevy, saving people, hunting things, the family business. And that’s all I’ve ever wanted.
Okay, that’s me out for season 8. On a personal note, I want to thank everyone for the encouragement. It’s been my first full season writing for The Winchester Family Business and helping Alice and Ardeospina out with admin duties and I’ve had a blast. Occasionally I hit a rough patch, but it was always your enthusiasm and unbridled support for me that has made me pick myself up and plough on with my glass perpetually half full.
(Freckles!)
I’ll be seeing you through hellatus. We’ll get through this stupidly long break between seasons together, just like the Winchester finally are!
Thanks everyone!
-sweetondean
sweetondean is Chief Editor and a writer for The Winchester Family Business
For all the latest Supernatural info and article links, follow The Winchester Family Business on Twitter at @WinFamBusiness
For all the latest Supernatural info and article links, follow The Winchester Family Business on Twitter at @WinFamBusiness
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Review: Supernatural 8.22 "Clip Show"
One week to go, people. How’d that happen? The last 2 weeks have got us fully locked and loaded for heaven knows what, because seriously, I have no idea where this is all going! This week’s “Clip Show” took us on a crazy ride, one that raised plenty of questions and filled me with both awe and dread. Sam and Dean and Crowley and Abaddon, Cass and Metatron and Naomi…how will it all come together and who will survive?
We kicked off in the bunker. How I love the bunker. I’m holding hope that it survives into season 9 because I know that the crew love it and I know it cost a lot to build, so I’m praying JC leaves it be for budgetary and shooting convenience reasons! Oh and also because it’s awesome, beyond awesome and I feel like we’ve only seen a fraction of it.
So the brothers brought Castiel back to the bunker for him to recover from his tabletectomy and Crowley/Naomi beat-down. Obviously the bunker is not warded against angels. They need to sort that out pronto. Ward it against everything I say.
When Cass looks like a broken child, I can’t help but feel bad for him, but, unpopular opinion time….I was kind of glad Dean told him off. It’s starting to feel like there's been too many passes for our angel friend. The one thing that Dean holds above everything else is loyalty and Cass has done many things to push Dean to where he now is. Dean has forgiven Cass over and over. For the lying about pulling Sam out of Hell, for teaming with Crowley, for breaking Sam’s wall and sending his brother mad, for the whole Leviathan mess. Not only that, Dean stayed in Purgatory longer than he needed to and risked death by Leviathan bomb and other monsters attracted to the Serif, because he wanted to get Cass out, because he wouldn’t leave his friend behind. Then Cass repays Dean’s fragile faith by not showing any faith in him, by not trusting his friend, by not talking to his friend and by not asking his friend for help. I know Castiel’s heart is always in the right place and in taking Sam’s crazy he tried to make amends for hurting Sam and he's still trying to make amends for what he did under the Leviathan influence and I’m sure that Dean and Cass rebonded in Purgatory, yet…here we are again. Same old, same old. Another sorry. I'd be peeved with him to.
I'm not saying Dean is faultless, good Lord, far from it and part of all the characters of Supernatural’s great beauty is their flaws and their desire to do good and how human they all are in the mistakes they make along the way. But Cass just keeps making the same mistakes over and over and the Winchesters keep getting caught in the crossfire. When will the angel learn and when is it ok for the brothers to say, enough. I would have said enough a long time ago. Sam and Dean are way better people than me.
I’m not hating on Cass here, I hurt for him when he makes these errors of judgement, I hurt for him when he tries to make amends and fails and I hurt for him when he looks like a lost and sad kitten! He comes from a world where he has never had to face the kind of choices that he has to face now and that must be hard. But he’s been in the Winchester’s world for 4 years and he’s been down this road enough times to know nothing good ever comes of going off and doing his own thing, not once and the first thing he should do is put his trust in his friends. Surely that would be the one great lessons a relationship with the Winchesters would teach. Trust and loyalty are important. Talk to Sam and Dean for goodness sake, if only for the reason that they have a lot more life experience in dealing with bad people and could offer insight. But noooooo. The angel simply never learns and it’s frustrating.
I don't know how the Castiel and Dean relationship will be healed, maybe it won’t, maybe it will never be what it was, but another one of Dean's great attributes is his ability to forgive those he loves...eventually...(he can also hold an epic grudge), so maybe there's hope for their friendship. I'd like to think there is. I did appreciate that Sam tried to smooth things over; that was such a Sam thing to do. Like when he went and prayed to Cass when Cass thought he was God. But Sam never forces his brother’s hand. He will say, be easy on Cass he’s one of the good guys, but he will leave it at that and let Dean stew on it and work it through himself.
I think Sam probably sees a lot of himself in Cass. I see a lot of similarities in them; in their thoughtful natures, in the struggles they’ve both had, in the mistakes they’ve both made when only wanting to do the right thing. I’ve always thought that was part of the reason why Dean was drawn to Cass, because there’s a lot of Sam in Cass and maybe that’s why he’s been willing to try and forgive him in the past. They have so few people; maybe it’s worth putting hurt aside to keep those you love close. Because like I’ve said over and over, if Dean didn’t love Sam and Cass so deeply, he wouldn’t be hurt by and disappointed in them so completely. It’s the love that makes it hurt the most. So it all falls onto Dean and whether he can put the latest betrayal behind him…or whether Cass owns up to and learns from his mistakes and brings the brothers into his latest personal drama.
Have I lost all the Castiel fans out there?
Have I lost all the Castiel fans out there?
While we’re on Castiel making mistakes…Metatron. Who wasn’t screaming at Cass through their TV? NOOOOO! NOT AGAIN! GO BACK TO THE BUNKER! All of sudden I have a bad feeling about Metatron. He went from a pencil pusher, secretarial angel hiding out from the world, to wanting to take over Heaven, complete with inside information about Naomi? Um ok. He's either full of crap and way more important than he said - like archangel important - or Naomi has already got to him. Whatever, but it feels like he has ulterior motives and his own thing going on and of course Cass fell for it all hook line and sinker. CASSSSS!!! (With 3 exclamation points). When will our trench-coated angel learn? And when is it ever ok to rip someone's heart out? Just sayin’! Isn't it interesting that the trials to close the gates of Hell are all about doing things that can lead to good, kill a hellhound, save an innocent soul, wash a demon clean of sin, but the first angelic trial is ripping out someone's heart! That in itself makes me suspicious. Without the tablet, how do we know what Metatron is saying is even true? Do you think they cut the Nephilin’s heart out after Cass stabbed her in the neck? I’m not sure the first trial was even started or completed. I must admit to finding that all a tad unclear.
One of my favourite parts of the episode was Abaddon. Isn’t she a peach? Oh, I’m enjoying her. I really hope she survives the finale to sass another day! I did not like that the boys were dumb and left her on her own though, clawless or otherwise. That was a stupid mistake and I hate when the writers make the brothers do dumbass things like that. Put the chair in a damn devil’s trap as a precaution for heaven’s sake! I guess with the devil's trap bullet in her head, they’d never think that the demon would “Thing” her way out of there. Great scene. I can just see that scene being pitched! “And then she mind powers her severed hand out of a box and it makes it’s way over to her, goes into her mouth and yanks out the bullet.” Score! But yes, stupid boys, you’re better than that.
So if Abaddon sticks around and manages to dethrone the “salesman”, would that make her the Queen of Hell and if so, as she was Knighted by Lucifer himself, do you think her first order as Queen would be to unlock the cage? This is why I think Abaddon and her possibly sticking around could be super interesting. But, I don’t want it to be at the expense of Crowley, though seeing the King brought down a notch or two would be fab!
I'm glad to see Crowley finally flexing those villainous muscles of his. He's sometimes at risk of being all snark and no action, but he's turned the evil up to 11 and I like it! I always love me the bad guy (and the bad boy…) and this season, I finally see Crowley as a great big bad. He’s sort of just been an irritation before this, that thorn in the brother’s side, but he’s never felt to me as evil as he should, until now. The dude is E-VIL! This was Crowley at his worst and his best.
Why no one has thought of using the Winchester's surviving victims against them before is beyond me. It's really all they have; the knowledge that what they do is saving lives and for that reason it's all worth while. Strip them of that and you strip them of the essence of who they are and why they put up with this crappy, bleak existence. It's a clever move that gets them right in the hurty bits.
I'm so loving how the books have come into play this season. Id’ never considered how they’d put the Winchesters at risk before. But ALL their secrets are in there (Dean's full frontal in there, man). They really need to do something about them! Because if Crowley can discover a use for them, any bad critter can.
As part of Crowley’s renewed vigour in attacking the brothers, this week we saw a bunch of returning characters. Nods to the past have been a theme of this season and one that I’ve enjoyed immensely.
Tommy from “Wendigo” was collateral because he was the first victim they had a personal relationship with. I loved the exploding head! The VFX this year have been epic.
Jenny Klein from “Shut Up, Dr. Phil”, umm, well, she was post Chuck's disappearance, so I'm choosing to assume that Crowley's minions researched farther a field than just the books. Crowley did say that the brothers leave a mark on the towns they blow through, so maybe the minions are looking into the brother's various connections. Anyone can be traced I guess. I’m sure, just as the brothers find cases via reports on the net, the minions can find those reports too and follow through to see if Sam and Dean were involved. That’s how I’m working this one in my brains anyway...
Of course, it was Sarah who was the important victim because that took a blow at Sam and at his heart and shook his belief in pursuing the trials above everything else. She was the first girl Sam really had any kind of feelings for immediately after Jess’ death. I bet she’s someone who’s flicked through his mind on and off, wondering what ever happened to her, if she’s well, married, kids? She was married with a kid, which makes her death even more tragic and powerful. But if you’re going to hit someone where it hurts, you have to take a decent stab at it and if you think back at all those the brothers knew survived, Sarah was definitely one that would go straight to both the brother’s hearts. So sad death, yes…but one I could see the reason for (from Crowley’s viewpoint). It’s made Sam wonder, is what they're trying to achieve worth all this death? Who else needs to die? If their job is saving people…shouldn’t they stop what they’re doing, to save people? Because we know Crowley won’t stop. Way to shake the guy’s resolve.
Crowley's monologue as the boys frantically searched was a cracker...that scene had me on the edge of my seat. Poor Sarah on the floor gasping, Sam and Dean rushing around, throwing furniture in their wake, the utter desperation of it all as Crowley droned on…
“What's the line? "Saving people, hunting things. The family business." Well I think, the people you save, they're how you justify your pathetic little lives. The alcoholism, the collateral damage, the pain you've caused... The one thing that allows you to sleep at night - the one thing is knowing these folks are out there. Still out there. Happy and healthy because of you. You great big bloody heroes. They're your life's work and I am going to rip it apart. Piece by piece. Because I can. Because you can't stop me. Because when they're all gone, what will you have left?”
Brilliant. The whole scene was brilliant.
I also liked what Sarah said to Sam; that he’d changed, that he seemed more focused and grown up and that he seemed like he knew what he wanted. I agree, that’s how Sam looks to me too. I love it when the brothers hear something like this from someone outside of their immediate circle (of 2). It was a super sad scene with Sam and Dean just staring at the dead Sarah and the bloody hex bag was in the phone all the damn time. Crowley is an utter bastard (I love him).
This cleansing of the demon thing, I think it’s cool (and creepy) but here’s what I’m wondering...if the demon gets cleansed then what happens? Does the demon hang out with the real person inside the meat suit? Bit cosy! I was scratching my head at this. Maybe because they’re all warm and fuzzy after a good exorcism bath, the demon does the polite thing and smokes out? But how brilliant would it be if the brothers could master this little technique. How many lives would be saved if they could make all the demons in the world nice and save the person they’re possessing in the bargain? I’m assuming that the brothers are going to eventually have a light-bulb moment and realise that maybe Sam’s blood is the purified blood they need to finish the trial, seeing as Sam was just saying he feels like he’s being purified and seeing as that’s exactly what they need. They’ll get there eventually…sometimes they’re a little behind the rest of us.
I liked “Clip Show” a lot. I was fully engaged for the whole hour. I thought it was a great set up for the finale. I liked the personal touch of bringing back past victims and undoing the brother’s good work. That’s one thing that has rocked about this season, that the task at hand is so personal. To make this season's quest personal to the brothers was smart. I think that's one of the things the last 2 seasons lacked; that personal connection to the issue at hand. But this is about as personal as it gets. Locking up Hell, a place both brothers have spent time and locking up demons, beings that have caused the brothers pain ever since they were children. Let's throw the possibility of locking Heaven into the picture, because the angels have been pretty bothersome since they entered the Winchesters lives! Then making it physically devastating for Sam, which becomes devastating for Dean. It's all such good stuff.
So, we're left with Sam starting to waver (poor thing, all this on top of feeling like crap) and Dean holding firm. Dean asking his brother if he’s with him, saying they’ll “Kick it in the ass” (awww), as usual, saying that they stay on point and keep to plan. I think they're going to sit down at that super cool map table and nut out a new strategy. But without snacks...because Dean never got to the shops and Castiel got distracted...
Next week I'm wondering what the landscape will look like after the dust settles. Will Sam be cleansed or will he have to sacrifice the chance to be a "real boy" in order to stop the evil powers-that-be doing whatever they're going to do. Will Abaddon take down that snotty salesman and crown herself Queen? Will Cass remain on the outs with the Winchesters, as once again he follows his own agenda? Will we discover what’s really up with Metatron and will someone finally angel blade Naomi? Because she needs to die in a blinding white light! I'm totally baffled by where it's all going, what's going to wrap up and what isn’t and where we kick off season 9. But my one hope is that no Winchester dies and no Winchester disappears, because we've all been there and done that. I'm for them standing side by side in the aftermath, together, ready to face whatever catastrophe befalls them as the outcome of their latest attempt to do good for the world! Because the Winchester's relationship is the heart of this show and that heart is beating strong again and I like.
Next week I'm wondering what the landscape will look like after the dust settles. Will Sam be cleansed or will he have to sacrifice the chance to be a "real boy" in order to stop the evil powers-that-be doing whatever they're going to do. Will Abaddon take down that snotty salesman and crown herself Queen? Will Cass remain on the outs with the Winchesters, as once again he follows his own agenda? Will we discover what’s really up with Metatron and will someone finally angel blade Naomi? Because she needs to die in a blinding white light! I'm totally baffled by where it's all going, what's going to wrap up and what isn’t and where we kick off season 9. But my one hope is that no Winchester dies and no Winchester disappears, because we've all been there and done that. I'm for them standing side by side in the aftermath, together, ready to face whatever catastrophe befalls them as the outcome of their latest attempt to do good for the world! Because the Winchester's relationship is the heart of this show and that heart is beating strong again and I like.
Oh, and the MoL Batcave has a dungeon, “Finally”. Oh Dean, just when I think I can’t love you any more.
As always, thanks for reading and I’ll see you next week for the… FINALE!!! (with 3 exclamation points) DA-DA-DUMMMM!
-sweetondean
sweetondean is Chief Editor and a writer for The Winchester Family Business
For all the latest Supernatural info and article links, follow The Winchester Family Business on Twitter at @WinFamBusiness
For all the latest Supernatural info and article links, follow The Winchester Family Business on Twitter at @WinFamBusiness
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