SUPERNATURAL: When The Levee Breaks
May 8, 2009 by Nicole
First off, please forgive me for not recapping last week’s really interesting episode “The Rapture” – things were really hairy at my office and I was working crazy hours and totally exhausted. I’ll share a few thoughts though, before we move on to the gut-wrenching heartbreak of tonight’s emotional roller coaster:
- I kept thinking about how much Jared and Jensen must have loved filming such a Cas-heavy episode. They are always in almost every scene and they must have loved the break they got when Mischa had to step up and shoulder the hour.
- How much did we love seeing Cas-as-Jimmy, expressing real live emotions and speaking in a normal register? That was fun for me.
- Sam going vampire on that demon was crazy freaky to watch, mostly because Dean watched him do it. When he stood up with blood smeared around his mouth…hoo boy.
- The end of the episode, when Dean and Bobby lured Sam into Bobby’s panic room and bolted the door was pretty devastating, however I had no idea what was to come. Speaking of, let’s talk last night’s ep, shall we?
I have to start by giving very deserved props to Mr. Padalecki, who was all kinds of fantastic portraying Sam’s demon blood detox, complete with nightmare hallucinations. He got to interact with some of the show’s memorable guest stars, including Allistair, Mary and young Sam. Each of these imagined interactions (including one with an imaginary Dean) was torturous for different reasons, and we really got a sense of how much Sam blames himself for the path his life has taken and the losses he has suffered as a result. I was actually starting to fear that he was going to tie a bed sheet to the ceiling and try to end it all. I mean, really – how much can the poor kid take? Torture at the hands of Allistair, young Sam blaming him for screwing up his desire to be “normal” and allowing Jessica to die, Dean calling him a monster and saying “you’re nothing to me”…ouch. Jared was so, so good in that scene – the anguish on his face at hearing his brother dismiss him had me tearing up a bit, I’m not gonna lie.
Then there was the scene with Mary, in which she insisted that Dean was too weak to handle the situation at hand and that Sam would have to step up and take charge and not let his brother get in his way. Clearly something is at work driving the wedge between the two brothers further than it’s been so far. But who/what? At this point I’m looking at Cas (and other assorted heavenly beings) after seeing Cas release Sam from lockdown shortly after telling Dean that he was the Winchester with the power to stop the Apolcalypse. What gives Cas? What is the master plan already?? I’ve avoided spoilers so I literally have no idea what’s in store for next week (okay, I have seen the thirty second promo for the finale but there was so much going on that I’m still not really sure what to expect), but it seems like the angels need Sam and Dean both to fight, but to do so while at odds with each other. I figure since Cas had orders to free Sam, he was also somehow responsible for all of Sam’s perceived conversations while locked up. Of course I could be wrong, but that’s what I took away from it. I’m sure there are different opinions – please feel free to share!
We know that there are only two or three seals left to be broken, and Ruby (now that she and Sam are reunited) has informed Sam that Lillith is the only one with the ability to break number 66. Apparently, she is the very first demon created by Lucifer, and only “Lucifer’s First” has the power. Ruby’s been hot on Lillith’s trail and has located her “personal chef”, aka a neo-natal nurse who swipes babies for Lillith to feed on (gross). While Sam and Ruby make plans to use the chef to track Lillith, Dean locates them and tries to take her out. Something strange happened for me at that point: I found myself not wanting Dean to kill Ruby. I know she’s not a beloved character, but like her or not, she has helped the brothers out a LOT and I want to see her with them in the big battle. I’m not saying she has to live on throughout season five or anything, but I think her character deserves to at least see this season through to the end. Apologies to the (many) Ruby-haters.
Sam, after intervening and getting Ruby out of harm’s way, takes on Dean himself and the two engage in an all-out brawl. At first it was kind of exciting, but it quickly turned way too serious for my liking when Sam actually started to strangle his beloved brother. Oh my gawd, that was hard to watch. Even the clichéd line of “If you walk out that door, don’t you ever come back” had major impact for me because Dean’s sense of betrayal, shock and anger was so apparent.
To me, Sam is a very sympathetic character right now, despite the bloodthirst. He was pretty much pushed into this life, by virtue of the fact that he is a Winchester. On top of that, he was chosen as a baby and is in fact different from everyone else. He is trying to do what needs to be done, using the tools he’s been given, in order to help the cause that his family has always fought for. Now, the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been and he’s doing what he feels is necessary given the circumstances. His methods are questionable, but I don’t doubt his motives for a second.
To sum up, I have to give a shout out to the line of the week, courtesy of Dean – it was pretty much the only comedy in the hour, but it did make me chuckle quite a bit:
(Discussing his frustration over the angels with Bobby): “They come off like shady politicians from the planet Vulcan”.
Next week the turmoil continues with the finale of the most intense season of Supernatural to date. Are you ready? Part of me is really sad to see the season come to an end because it’s been so stellar, part of me is really nervous for what’s about to happen and another part feels that I need a bit of a break from all of the madness. Fear not though – we are in good hands next week. The Puppet Master himself, Eric Kripke, is the writer and director of the finale. Whoo to the hoo. At least we know we’re in for something spectacular. See you back here!
Nicole is neither a Sam girl nor a Dean girl, because taking sides isn’t fair. But if she had to pick, cool cars and music will always win her favour.
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Loved the recap. This episode killed me and Jared did a great job. Jensen too but the detox was brutal.
My take on Mary taking Sam’s side in his addiction is that it was the other side of Sam talking himself into believing he was doing the right thing. Drinking demon blood will help him kill Lillith so he is doing it all for the right reasons. The whole DT/addiction talk played well for me.
I think you are correct in that both boys need to be a part of the fight to stop Lucifer. It’s not just Dean, it’s Sam and Dean fighting each other. They both have to be there. I am trying to remember what Cas told Dean about how he could stop the appocolypse but I can’t remember. Guess I know what I will be doing this weekend!
Nice touch that Lillith eats babies BTW.
I am still not convinced that Ruby is all good intentions. Did she know that drinking demom blood would turn Sam into an addict? I think maybe she had some idea and left that little fact out. Maybe, just maybe she can redeem herself by dying while killing Lillith with the boys. But I don’t think that will happen. I think she will be some of the collateral damage next week.
I know it will not end well and after last years finale, I KNOW this one will kill me for the next four months, too. Kripke is evil but oh so talented!
I don’t hate Ruby, as many, many fans do. I have read many fan statements that they liked the old Ruby, but not the new one. All I remember from last year was that all the fans hating that Ruby.
On the other hand, I am not sure that Ruby’s motives are good either. I hope they are, even if it is only that she is jealous of Lilith and wants Lilith dead.
I am unspoiled, but I wonder if the angels’ plan is for Dean to kill Sam in the final battle. If it is, that won’t go well.
This has been a very good season.
Here’s what I think they’re leading up to.
Ruby’s motives aren’t benign. Not in any way. We know she’s got her own agenda, and we know she wants Lilith dead.
There have been several references this season to plans that various angels and demons have for one or both of the Winchester boys. Castiel mentioning Azazel’s “end game” with Sam, that crossroads demon refusing to bring Dean back and telling Sam that they’ve got things “right where they want them”, Lilith breaking the seals, Dean being the only one who can stop the apocalypse, etc etc etc.
Castiel told Dean that if Sam ingests enough demon blood to kill Lilith, Sam will become the next thing that Dean will want to hunt. From the preview for next week, it looks like ol’ Sammy has gone full demon.
And finally, there was that story Ruby told Sam about “Lucifer’s First”. And the way she told it. And the fact that she told Sam that he’s strong enough to kill Lilith.
So what’s going to happen?
I think we’re going to learn that Sam, not Lilith, is Lucifer’s First. Lilith is going to end up being seal #66, and Sam’s going to kill her. Ruby’s had Sam drinking demon blood so that he can become strong enough to do this, but there will be more to it than that.
Sam needs to be strong enough to kill Lilith because he’s then going to become the host for Lucifer.
This would explain a number of things in the series–Azazel’s plans for Sam (or any of the other kids he chose, Sam just happens to be the one who survived), John telling Dean that he might have to kill Sam, why Ruby wants Lilith dead (to bring about Armageddon), just to name a few.
Just my two cents.
Nicole, thanks for the great recap and posits on where this wild ride Kripe has us on is headed.
I have to say I am with John and Andrew. I think that Ruby’s only priorities are Ruby and Sam. Why Sam is important is still the mystery. For me, the way she described ‘Lucifer’s First’ left it open to the interpretation that it could very well be our boy Sam. YIKES if it be so! I for one am very curious to finally find out what Ruby’s end game is!
I am not a fan of the current actress portraying Ruby, but I didn’t like her in Wildfire either. However, since the first ep of this season, it has been pretty clear that this Ruby would be important to this season’s story arc. Ruby has been seducing Sam to the dark side with her body and the promise power. While, I actually liked Cassidy’s portrayal, I dunno that she could play the seductress believably after all the snark. The change in Ruby’s characterization is semi-believable as she was sent back to Hell for a few decades of re-education. I just wished SPN had kept the blond actress they used in I Know What you did Last Summer.
** As an aside, it has always surprised me that Dean wasn’t more altered after some 40 odd years — Just think about it! **
The other thing that has me in a tizzy is wondering what happens to Anna. Can she overcome the forced heavenly brainwashing, come back and bring our lovable Cas back, or is it all a red herring?! I’ll be on pins and needles til next week, that’s for sure…
Wow andrew,
you said everything that I’ve been thinking! There was talk about how Lillith won’t make it through this war, and I’ve been thinking since she said that that it would be Sam who would kill her and Lucie would take him over. It just feels like it would be incredible. Every since Sam’s been getting more and more powerful, it just felt like this is the way the story’s going to go.
I keep remembering what Azazel said to Dean, “My end game’s a hell of a lot bigger than that.”
Even though all of this craziness is going down, I really would love to see John WInchester played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan again. I haven’t seen the trailer for the next episode, but I know its going to kill me. Supernatural always finds a way to kill me in their season finales. The good thing is that the next four months will give me time to get all my friends hooked on the show.
Cas’s statement on serving heaven was pretty powerful.
Loved the recap. I’m an Australian hunting for spoilers (I know. I’m evil) but your comments got me thinking about Sam and how essentailly he’s had no control in his life. Azareal, his mother, Jessica. These all had nothing to do with him. They were just thrust upon him. Then Dean’s death was a sacrifice in exchange for his own life, and he never got a say in that either. But then there is that final scene “No Rest for the Wicked” in where Sam manages to scare off Lilith after Dean is killed. What’s with that? Is it ever explained? Is it his demon powers or something different?
But if it is his demon powers he used that would be the only time in his life where he’s had any control over the world around him. When he was able to take his life into his hands. Wouldn’t you use it? To take back control of your life in some small way?
I don’t remember how Ruby talked about the 66th seal exactly since I had my g/f trying to not let me watch,but didn’t it go something like…Lucifer’s big point is that humans are of more importance to god than angels so as a kind of a ha ha to god Lucifer would make a human so twisted that it would be a human….or that’s how i interpreted it…which Lilith is already a demon…and that sounds allot like whats happening to Sam.I honestly wish that ruby was on their side but i just really don’t think she is,i think she is breaking the 66th seal by turning Sam into a demon.
Would be a demon*** not human
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