Saving things....the family business

"Bloodlust"

"Metamorphosis"

Collective thoughts over the episodes regarding Sam's potential decent into darkness. Or, honestly, I know there's a way to make this into a logically connected post. I think it was after reading that there are two episodes in which Dean punches Sam that I became interested in the connections between those episodes: Bloodlust and Metamorphosis. What was the purpose in the punch and was it received the same way?

I think it was all about Dean's frustrations with not being able to see Sam's point of view. They think differently, and Dean wants Sam to always see it his way. And when Sam doesn't, Dean secretly fears this is a part of Sam not wanting him, not needing him, potentially abandoning him. I mean, in "Bloodlust" Sam was: "No, we can't listen to Gordon, we can't do this or that." And in "Metamorphosis": Dean was the one saying. "why do you need me to help you hunt demons, you have Ruby". Either way, Dean was afraid Sam wouldn't need him.

Push push push Dean! You'll be the one sending Sammy down the dark path!

Dean tells him if it’s supernatural, they kill it, it’s their job. Sam says no, they’re job is hunting evil, and these things aren’t evil. It takes Dean much longer to come around to this way of thinking. But by "Sin City" he's starting to be more accepting of differing POV. Is this because Sam recognizes the supernatural in himself?

"Playthings" 2.11

"Dean, promise me..."

"Heart" 2.17

"I will do this, because she asked me to, and when the time comes,
you must be strong and do the same for me."

"Heart" 2.17
"Why can't there be a choice?" That's what you're thinking, but by season four Dean, you've changed your tune back to early season two's 'supernatural we hunt it....' DEAN! You're not Gordon! Stay sane!!!

THE JUDGEMENT FACES:

"Bloodlust"

"It hurts me to see you so angry and cold."

"Metamorphosis" 4.04

"If I didn't know you, I'd hunt you!"

THE REACTINS TO THE JUDGEMENT:

"Metamorphosis" 4.04

"That means, God doesn't like what you're doing."

"Dean, you actually enjoyed killing." [I don't think God approves]

Dean! You came back from the dead! You ARE a supernatural being! Stop listening to others (listening to Gordon was dumb and you learned that) and listen to your heart. You've always known what's best for Sam. You'd know if he were evil.

Search your feelings! You know this to be true!

And you know Dean, that there is plenty of good in him.

My Brain Hurts!

After viewing the latest Supernatural episode a few days ago I've been making my usual round of reading posts and opinions. And now my brain hurts! While the first 4 shows have helped answer many questions, they've created more.

Now we know Sam's got evil inside him. Okay, but what exactly does that mean? Is he the anti-Christ? Lucifer's vessel? Stronger than Lucifer? Can he overcome it?

We know he has powers: so are the powers inherently evil? WAs he born with them? What exactly did the blood feeding do? Was Gordon rigth? Why did Gordon decide he was not just a monster, but the anti-Christ? Is it better to use powers that are humane, even if they are demon given? What has Ruby taught?

Sam's honesty: Sure Sam shared a bunch with big bro', but what's he still hiding? What other nifty powers can he use? If Ruby was gone for part of the four months, what was Sammy up to besides drinking heavily.

The Bromance: Holy God, the bromance is even more stoked this season!!!! Just kiss each other...all right! These two are so frikin co-dependent it's crazy! Dean's fear of abdonment and Sam's need for approval. OMG! Will Dean's overbearing big bor' routine drive Sammy away as it did briefly in "Scarecrow"? Sam's used to making his own decisions and deciding on the hunts (notice it was Travis calling in Sam's help in "Metamorphosis" and Dean agreeing to go where Sam directed. Will we get more of "you're bossy...and short" this season?

That pain in the ass angel! Will Cass plant ideas into Dean's head or offer him "choices" that have no good options. "I can send you back to hell." kinda makes you a little more obedient. Of course that reminds me of Ruby's likely fear that Sam will send her back to hell. So we have two lap dogs for the opposition. Yeh...just great.

See why my brain hurts?

Eternal Sabbath

So this is Akiba-kun or Shuro from the manga Eternal Sabbath by Fuyumi Soryo. I happened upon this manga while searching online and I was instantly drawn in by both the detailed artwork and the story line.

I've included Akiba here because he fits in with the theme of the tortured soul who has little control over circumstances of his life.

Akiba was a genetic experiment, "grown" in a lab and subjected to scientific tests and upbringing. He had no family and no one he could trust, and yet, he remained a good person.

Akiba's genetic manipulation gave him some powers. He can read minds, and also alter thoughts. He is more durable and self healing than the common human and is capable of living to 200. Being able to read thoughts makes him have skewed social skills because he doesn't have to wonder what others think and go about the typical route of learning about people. Until he meets Mine, a scientist whose mind he can not read.

The nemesis in this tale is Isaac, the clone of Akiba, and one who has embraced evil. In Akiba we have one path, and in Isaac the other. This is a moral tale, a love story, and a tragedy.

It's an adult manga, not dirty, but not for kids either.

4.o3 "In the Beginning"

This was truly a show of heartbreak. Allow me to begin:

Well, Mary made a deal. Castiel says the D word (Destiny) and we find out why Dean has no grandparents.

Slowing down…Dean learns Mary is a hunter from a hunter family. John, is a civilian, “about the farthest thing from a hunter.” Mary tells Dean.

Castiel tells Dean you have to stop it. Dean doesn’t know what at first, but eventually deducts that he needs to stop Mary from making a deal. He’s too late! Castiel whisks him back to the future and tells him that he couldn’t have stopped it anyways, it was destiny that the demon would feed Sam his blood, but what Castiel doesn’t know is for what endgame…for what purpose.

We learn that Azazel was “cultivating” potential psychic kids by gaining the permission of the parent in a ten year deal. He apparently was creating many of these deals so he could find the best one. He sniffs at Mary and is very turned on by her sent. It seems all demons can smell souls, for later on he smells Dean to see if he is the psychic kid, he can tell Dean is not. Which brings to mind the demon waitress saying she could smell Sam’s soul.

I may have to concede that Sam wasn’t born with powers. The episode wasn’t clear. Azazel said he was creating the deals to later create psychic kids, so it’s hard to say if it was the blood baptism that granted powers or not. We’ll still have to wait on that.

What we do know is Mary did not have powers. But her soul had a certain appeal to it.

Now Dean knows what happened November 2, 1983. He doesn’t even know that Sam is privy to this info.

And we all know why Mary said, “I’m sorry” to Sam way back in season one. Ah, Kripke! You’ve planned it out so well.

I don’t think Sam’s name is spoken in the entire episode with the exception of Dean saying: “Sam, wherever you are, Mom’s a babe.” In the scene with Azazel, Dean doesn’t speak Sam’s name and Azazel just says, “you have a brother?” Later, in the hotel room Castiel glances at Sam’s empty bed, Dean’s eyes follow and they talk of Sam without saying his name.

And of course we now know when the Impala came into John Winchester’s life! And yes, the girl got more screen time than Sammy who was conspicuously missing from the bookends of the episode. I didn’t notice his absence during the back to the Future trip. The time in the past and my curiosity over how much would be revealed made it speed by even faster than the premiere! And I know my favorite damned character will be back, but if I think too hard on it I do feel a little empty without Sam, a little less complete.

Finally, despite his physical presence, this episode was all about Sam. It was how evil came into his life (via his mother’s desperate deal), how hunting destroyed the gentle nature of John Winchester in a way Vietnam even didn’t, pulling both boys into the hunting life their mother wanted so badly to escape; how Azazel’s actions were not to be prevented, and how prophetic John’s words to Dean were, echoed by Castiel.

“Your brother is headed down a dangerous road. So stop it. Or we will.”

Oh Castiel....so that's what you met by you have to stop it? And the show ends with TBC. Oh, thanks a lot.

The waiting is the hardest part!

Dumb Speculation

I suck at Speculation! Suck, I tell ya. But I'm gonna do it any ways....


Somehow, Mary's family made a mistake, a mistake that could destroy Sam. It's said that the actions are heartbreaking. All I can think is that Mary's family could only guarantee the safety of one child. Maybe Mary and John tried to only have one kid, so he'd be safe, but Sam came along anyway. And Mary was sorry, because only one boy could be under the angels' protection.


But why would that crap happen?


Tomorrow I get the feeling we might find out.


Until then I can only speculate that Mary's dad maybe made a deal with a demon (why?) that lasted 10 years. It's 1973 in the episode and Sam was born in 1983. We know the demon grabs Mary, but why? Can Mary see angels in their true form?


I also get the feeling that John was a normal guy caught up in Mary's crazy world, could there be more to why he isn't good enough for Mary? Could she have Sam's powers?


I still think psychic kids are born with gifts. I think the demon interferred or tried to take control with the blood baptism.


I think no matter what the story is Dean and Sam (but Dean especially) will say Fuck Destiny! He's my brother. I'm praying that love wins and saves the day as it has in some of my favorite stories: A Wrinkle in Time and Star Wars.

So...will it be the Highway to Heaven?

or..the Highway to Hell