Every episode this season has had something to offer in terms of overall theme. I’ve come to realize I needed to reconcile with the show, shut up, sit back and enjoy the ride. Even with all its flaws, it’s still one of the most thematically solid TV shows ever, and it stands up to much of the written fiction out there too.
Season Five has seemed disjointed when taken piece by piece, but I’m a big picture thinker. So now that we’re 2/3 of the way through, I thought I’d comment on the themes each episode presented and how they relate to the overall myth arc.
5.01 Sympathy for the Devil
Dean will not say yes to Michael even if Sam is in peril. If Michael wants his vessel, he’ll have to be creative.
5.02 “Good God Y’all
The Horsemen of the apocalypse can be stopped.
5.03 “Free to Be, You and Me”
Lucifer is an angel. He must play by their rules and ask Sam’s permission to use him as a vessel. There are angels like Raphael that are convinced God is dead and they’re on their own. Seemingly emotionless, they actually ache to be returned to a state of peace that they once had with their Father in Heaven.
Episode 5.04 “The End”
The future is always in motion. Destiny can be changed by changing the expected outcome. When Dean Winchester is involved, things don’t go as planned.
Episode 5.05 “Fallen Idols”
Following old patterns and adhering to ways of thinking that have not worked in the past will continue to fail in the present. There is more to changing destiny than just being stubborn. Sometimes you have to come up with a new way of doing things, break the mold, and move forward.
5.06 “I Believe the Children are our Future”
Belief is everything. The truth shall set you free.
5.07 “The Curious Case of Dean Winchester”
Sam will “gamble everything for love” and take enormous risks if he can save Dean. The ever present number four emerges. Sam holds 4 fours in his hand. A 1 in 4,165 chance in Texas Hold Em (and if you add up those digits it’s 16: 4 squared). Number Four? Why the four brothers of course: Dean and Sam and Michael and Lucifer.
Episode 5.08 “ Changing Channels”
“Play your roles” screams Gabriel. The archangel draws the parallels of the four brothers for Dean and Sam.
Episode 5.09 “The Real Ghostbusters”
Things aren’t always to be taken at face value and sometimes it takes an outsider to show you this is true.
Episode 5.10 “Abandon all Hope”
You can’t fight angels the usual way. Dean learns painfully that the Colt doesn’t work on Lucifer. Lucifer attempts to woo Sam by drawing parallels between them. “He said I was a freak.” Wonder, did God also say: “If you walk out that door, don’t you ever come back”?
Episode 5.11 “Sam, Interrupted”
Be careful your enemy doesn’t use your greatest weakness against you. Sam’s greatest weakness in his opinion is his anger, but remember the words of the Trickster in “Mystery Spot”. Dean’s your weakness, and the bad guys know it too.”
Episode 5.12 “ Swap Meat”
The vessel and the soul are two parts to a whole. Couple this with Sam and Dean’s disembodied adventure during “Death Takes a Holiday” and just maybe there is the potential that Sam and Dean are more than the sum of their parts.
Episode 5.13 “The Song Remains the Same”
Perfect title. You can’t change the past, events that have already been put in motion will remain. Most importantly, Michael loves his brother, and loves to draw parallels between himself and Dean. [Sound at all familiar to the technique of someone he knows?]
Episode 5.14 “My Bloody Valentine”
There is a Divine Plan and the brothers Winchester are stuck right at ground zero. Powered up Sam is scarier than Lucifer, and it’s 2-0: Winchesters versus the Horsemen.
Season Five has seemed disjointed when taken piece by piece, but I’m a big picture thinker. So now that we’re 2/3 of the way through, I thought I’d comment on the themes each episode presented and how they relate to the overall myth arc.
5.01 Sympathy for the Devil
Dean will not say yes to Michael even if Sam is in peril. If Michael wants his vessel, he’ll have to be creative.
5.02 “Good God Y’all
The Horsemen of the apocalypse can be stopped.
5.03 “Free to Be, You and Me”
Lucifer is an angel. He must play by their rules and ask Sam’s permission to use him as a vessel. There are angels like Raphael that are convinced God is dead and they’re on their own. Seemingly emotionless, they actually ache to be returned to a state of peace that they once had with their Father in Heaven.
Episode 5.04 “The End”
The future is always in motion. Destiny can be changed by changing the expected outcome. When Dean Winchester is involved, things don’t go as planned.
Episode 5.05 “Fallen Idols”
Following old patterns and adhering to ways of thinking that have not worked in the past will continue to fail in the present. There is more to changing destiny than just being stubborn. Sometimes you have to come up with a new way of doing things, break the mold, and move forward.
5.06 “I Believe the Children are our Future”
Belief is everything. The truth shall set you free.
5.07 “The Curious Case of Dean Winchester”
Sam will “gamble everything for love” and take enormous risks if he can save Dean. The ever present number four emerges. Sam holds 4 fours in his hand. A 1 in 4,165 chance in Texas Hold Em (and if you add up those digits it’s 16: 4 squared). Number Four? Why the four brothers of course: Dean and Sam and Michael and Lucifer.
Episode 5.08 “ Changing Channels”
“Play your roles” screams Gabriel. The archangel draws the parallels of the four brothers for Dean and Sam.
Episode 5.09 “The Real Ghostbusters”
Things aren’t always to be taken at face value and sometimes it takes an outsider to show you this is true.
Episode 5.10 “Abandon all Hope”
You can’t fight angels the usual way. Dean learns painfully that the Colt doesn’t work on Lucifer. Lucifer attempts to woo Sam by drawing parallels between them. “He said I was a freak.” Wonder, did God also say: “If you walk out that door, don’t you ever come back”?
Episode 5.11 “Sam, Interrupted”
Be careful your enemy doesn’t use your greatest weakness against you. Sam’s greatest weakness in his opinion is his anger, but remember the words of the Trickster in “Mystery Spot”. Dean’s your weakness, and the bad guys know it too.”
Episode 5.12 “ Swap Meat”
The vessel and the soul are two parts to a whole. Couple this with Sam and Dean’s disembodied adventure during “Death Takes a Holiday” and just maybe there is the potential that Sam and Dean are more than the sum of their parts.
Episode 5.13 “The Song Remains the Same”
Perfect title. You can’t change the past, events that have already been put in motion will remain. Most importantly, Michael loves his brother, and loves to draw parallels between himself and Dean. [Sound at all familiar to the technique of someone he knows?]
Episode 5.14 “My Bloody Valentine”
There is a Divine Plan and the brothers Winchester are stuck right at ground zero. Powered up Sam is scarier than Lucifer, and it’s 2-0: Winchesters versus the Horsemen.
