SPN 5.1 "Sympathy for the Devil"

January is finally here. And January means no more wallowing in all the crap that I've been through the past couple of years. It means happiness, and focus, and dedication to my personal projects. It means that Supernatural is back in my life.


So I'm pretty sure that I've watched this episode three times and every time it's like the first time. Even now, five minutes later, I'm fuzzy on the details. I remember hilarious lines and wacky-fun happenings, but it's murky at best.


I was thinking of giving you all an actual walk-through review, but that's just not my style, kids. Let's just talk about the character development-y things, kay?

• Bobby's "Stuff your sorrys in a sack, mister"

What is FASCINATING to me about these two scenes - the first being when Bobby tells Sam that he's a douchebag preteen asshole that caused Armageddon and the second being Bobby telling Sam that he's family and can always come back - is Dean's FACE! It is literally the same expression in both scenes. He never flinches. There's no movement, no emotion. It's like for the first time Dean is (maybe not enjoying) but actually allowing Sam to go through emotional torture and punishment. No rushing to little brother's defense. No emotional reaction, merely watching and observing. This is not a Dean-norm. He's Mr. Man of Action guy. And I'm not trying to make everything about Dean (even though, if you've read any of my reactions to this series you know that I think everything is about Dean), but the repeated scene, the repeated reaction, the camera's attention to Dean's inaction... all important stuff people.

• Sam's constant puppy-face

Is puppy-like. Does this kid ever learn to vocalize without sighing?

• Angel-condom

"You simpering wad of insecurity and self-loathing? No. You're just a human, Dean. And not much one of them." 

I love this quote. That is all.

OH! And Castiel is my hero. 
He's also Dean's hero. THIS. This is good stuff, people. THIS is why I love Dean.

• Guilt, Dean's got it too - oh wait, you didn't catch that? Yeah, that's the point.

All of Sam's insecurities are always aired out, talked over, put "under the microscope" - people have to encourage him after they beat him down. Dean? Oh boy does he have guilt. He knows he's the first seal. Is he telling anyone? Is he going up to his baby brother with puppy eyes and saying "sorry for existing, guys"? Does he blurt out "sorry for selling my soul so that you could live and ending up in hell and torturing people and becoming the first seal"? 

No.

Why? 

Damon Salvatore can tell us: "You brood too much. My actions, I own them. They belong to me."

Damon and Dean... they're like long-lost blood brothers. They aren't about to put their problems on the shoulders of others.

It's also like what Dean complained about (re: Sam and John and their "I'm such a martyr" crap) - there's a fine line between selflessness and selfishness.  For Dean, this line is negligible. He knows that being the martyr is selfish, that wanting Sam to live is more about his own problem than Sam's. 

Being sorry =/= saying sorry. Saying sorry means that you are expecting forgiveness. Difference between Dean and Sam? Sam believes he's worth forgiving, and he'll force that sack of sorrys down your throat until he feels better about himself... even if that means putting his self-worth on the shoulders of others. Dean does not. He's not about to ask for forgiveness - what good would that do? It would make someone else feel guilty for not wanting to forgive.

Which is why I'm so proud of him at the end, for not giving in to Sam's selfishness. Sam is untrustworthy and Dean doesn't need to feel guilty for not trusting him. He does, you know he does. But he FINALLY has gotten the clue that maybe he doesn't need to.

My hope for the season: 

- that we see a continued progression in Sam's powers sans drug-addiction (let's just NOT dwell on the sex/blood/women/drugs metaphor right now, kay?)

- that ALL the scenes involve Dean and Castiel. 'Cause that's a ship I can get behind.

- that Meg gets a better host and is interesting again

- that Jo comes back and kicks everyone's ass for leaving her in the dark

- that Dean has at least ONE moment of happiness, one moment sans self-torture

- Jared Padelacki learns to act

Favorite Boy: Dean. Why is this even a section? Dean is always my favorite
Rating: 3.5/5 - there's good stuff here, but Sam just grates


Roomie's Favorite Boy: uh... Dean. Is that an actual question?
Roomie's Rating: 3/5 - not the greatest, in hindsight - what it's leading up to... it's just ridiculous