"It doesn't matter what you are. It only matters what you do."

[llywela]

This week has been crazy - absolute bedlam. And it isn't over yet.

Therefore, this recap isn't as polished as I'd like it to be - there just hasn't been time this week. So there is probably a lot more meta in the episode that could be teased out...but I seem to have found plenty to say anyway, as usual. *G*


"This is my choice."

Screencaps found at Screencap Paradise, marishna and oxoniensis

Comments

[galathea-snb.livejournal.com]

They have a prisoner, a demon-possessed man (…) What I find intriguing about this exorcism scene in the beginning is that it shows exactly what Sam has to fear from his powers. The demon easily goats Sam into acting out of anger. Sam may have the best intentions in mind when using his powers, but it’s very easy to distract him or play on negative emotions of his'. How long until Sam crosses a line with his powers and acts out of revenge, anger or with the intent to kill rather than save? If it is this easy for a low level standard demon to get a reaction out of Sam, how simple would it be for a demon who knows exactly where to hit him?

Oh man, that cap where Ruby smiles down on Sam is creepy. The pure undiluted satisfaction and delight in her expression is unsettling. I think maybe people are wrong to bash Cortese for her acting as Ruby, I still think that it is very likely that the changes in her are indeed lead by her motivations and less by the new actress.

Does she (Ruby) care about the life of the man she is helping? I sincerely doubt it. I think it’s utterly clear that she doesn’t give a damn about the victim. Remember 'Jus In Bello' where she slaughtered her way through the demon!possessed crowd into the police station and then had the nerve to make that obnoxious quip about brain matter in her hair? Not exactly caring, is it? Her soft stance here is clearly directed towards Sam.

Travis knew to contact Sam on a number we know he has had for less than 5 months. I think it is entirely possible that he tried to contact Sam, found the number disconnected and contacted Bobby instead. We know that Bobby practically knows everybody in the hunter circles. In any case Bobby could have given him the number, rather than Sam himself.

"Yeah," Dean fervently nods. Ah, Dean and his stomach. Man, I kind of had this suspicion that Dean’s fast answer to Travis question if they have ever been really hungry was more an allusion to the fact that there had been times when they were kids, where they had to go days without food, because John came back late from a hunt or didn’t leave them enough money. :(

Sam immediately objects to his use of the phrase 'this guy', pointing out that the man has a name: Jack. Heh, they have the same conversation in 'Bugs', where Dean always says ‘spider boy’ and Sam repeatedly tells him that his name is Matt. *g*

You know, I really get the annoyance a lot of people have for the anvils in this episode, but I do feel that the episode took us a step further with Sam and Dean. Sure, they had similar arguments before, but it was always as a hypothesis, never directly about them. The way the episodes reflects back especially on issues they already had in S2, highlights Sam’s change from S2 to S4 perfectly. Overall the excellence of the arguments between the brothers made it easy for me to just forgive the anviliciousness of the plot. :)

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Hi, hon.

What I find intriguing about this exorcism scene in the beginning is that it shows exactly what Sam has to fear from his powers. The demon easily goats Sam into acting out of anger.
And this is one of the reasons why Sam using his powers scares me as much as it scares Dean! It can go wrong far too easily, and Sam may not even realise until it is too late. And on the one hand it bothers me that Sam can't seem to make right choices on his own - I'd like his stab at independence to be a little more successful! But on the other hand, it is very in character for Sam to resolve on a course of action and follow it blindly - and it does make for nice, juicy angst and meaty plotlines!

that cap where Ruby smiles down on Sam is creepy.
Totally! To me, that image sums up everything about her current approach with Sam - and her satisfaction at how well it is working.

I think it’s utterly clear that she doesn’t give a damn about the victim.
Utterly clear based on what we understand of her character and history - not so much based on a superficial reading of the scene. She's a good actress, is Ruby, most of the time. But her underlying personality still shines through in unguarded moments.

I think it is entirely possible that he tried to contact Sam, found the number disconnected and contacted Bobby instead.
But we aren't told, so it is kind of left hanging as a plot hole, because the backstory on Travis isn't terribly important - he's more of a plot device than anything.

suspicion that Dean’s fast answer to Travis question if they have ever been really hungry was more an allusion to the fact that there had been times when they were kids, where they had to go days without food
I wondered much the same thing, but Dean's fervent response doesn't strike me as stemming from a particularly bad memory. Could just be that he has come to terms with that part of his past - or he could just be thinking of all those hunts where they have to eat on the run.

I really get the annoyance a lot of people have for the anvils in this episode, but I do feel that the episode took us a step further with Sam and Dean.
I do feel that this is an important episode, with all the big reveals, bringing the brotherly conflict out into the open and establishing more ongoing development trends. But it is heavy-handed enough that I had to mention the anvils here and there! LOL

[galathea-snb.livejournal.com]

Hey there! *hugs* I am terribly bored at work today. LOL

Sam can't seem to make right choices on his own. Hm, I don't know about that. Sam's choice to leave for college or his choice to not kill Jake for example were good and right choices, even if the consequences of those choices lead to suffering. I think that the show makes a good point in showing that Sam was pushed further and further ever since the finale of S2. It seems that no matter how hard Sam tries, circumstances always work against him. It's what makes his story to damn tragic. :(

But it is heavy-handed enough that I had to mention the anvils here and there. Never anything wrong with pointing out the weaknesses of an episode. I did that myself. It just didn't hinder me to enjoy the episode, while other fans obviously had more problems to get past the anvils.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

I meant just lately, about Sam - that seems to be the message this season is giving us, that he was pushed over the edge and turned the wrong way. Makes for better TV, I suppose, than Sam learning to live with his grief!

[galathea-snb.livejournal.com]

ROFL yeah well, Sam coping and learning to live with his grief and moving on in an entirely healthy way would kinda end the show I suppose. *lol* We have been heading towards this plot ever since the beginning I guess, it would be kind of anticlimactic to avoid it. ROFL