Quick Reaction: 7x23 Survival of the Fittest

[hells_half_acre]

Okay, so, in a rare turn of events, I actually watched this episode twice in a row! (This has the added bonus of me getting the S7 timeline out faster...heck, I'll probably do it this weekend).

So, without further ado...



At first, I'll be honest, I wasn't sure what the heck to think about this episode...I don't think it was one of their stronger finales, but then, it does leave a LOT of things open-ended, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. On second viewing, I felt better about some stuff that I didn't feel good about the first time...but, let's try to begin at the beginning...

We have Dick and Crowley...we find out that Kevin DID translate the Word correctly for Dick, so there goes that wild-card. Dick wants to lock down Crowley's blood, and in exchange...Crowley will get Canada. You know, speaking as a Canadian...I for one welcome our new Crowley overlord. If he should be looking to take on a human mistress, I'd like to....well, you get the picture. Did you know that Canada has one tenth the population of the US? It's also very cold in the winter, so 90% of us live as far south as possible within the country. Basically, I'm saying that we have a lot of space up here....for demons...though, we'd probably annoy them with politeness.

I like Crowley's "Standard Rider"...it looks like it's in latin? It has very nice calligraphy, anyway.

Meanwhile, Sam and Dean are robbing some nuns graves...and here's where Dean's smarter than me (it's not hard), because at the end of last week's episode I was still trying to think "Who do they know whose righteous?" and I was only thinking about LIVING people...it wasn't until my lovely flisters (more than one of you) pointed out that they COULD just get some already dead person's bones that I realized I was an idiot. Thankfully, Dean and Sam are smarter than I. So, get thee to a nunnery! 

ETA: I love the story about Cas showing up naked and covered in bees...it made me think of Eddie Izzard "I'm covered in bees!" Heheheh :)

It's a gamble, I think, because who REALLY knows the heart of a dead person. But, they're taking a lot of gambles with this plan...

Meanwhile, Bobby is walking around in a pretty maid named Louisa.

We finally get to see which is stronger - a summons or a devil's trap. Turns out, it's the devil's trap...which makes sense, since demons could just have friends summon them away if they get trapped.
 
Cas and Meg show back up...I'm honestly not sure how I feel about Cas' crazy attraction/interest in Meg. It's very weird. I do, however, like the fact that Meg doesn't seem to really know whether she's made the right decision in getting her "weapon" attached to her.

I like Dean going out to speak to Cas while Castiel is in the car...and that moment Dean takes to gather his patience. Actually, there's a lot about Cas's interactions with Dean that I think are actually GOOD for Dean.

My friend (who DOES now about this sort of thing) informs me that they do not test cosmetics on monkeys in reality...because monkeys are VERY expensive to keep. So, the Supernatural-Universe must be different...just in case any  of you were suddenly wanting to free the monkeys from the cosmetics labs. :P

But anyway, the reason I say that Cas in this condition might actually be good for Dean is that Dean has to be much more obvious and honest about his emotions so that Cas understands. When Dean gets upset at the news that Cas' old garrison is dead and Kevin has been kidnapped, he yells (as Dean is wont to do), and Cas gets upset...and Dean actually calms down and admits "we're worried." And that's the thing with Dean, all emotions other than happiness are expressed through anger. It's actually, I think a problem with a lot of men - because if you think about it, the only emotions men are expected to display are happiness and anger - anything else is "gay" or "girly." But you know, that gets into the whole "how misogyny hurts men" thing which is an essay best written by other people....what I'm saying is that it'd probably do Dean a lot of good to deal with his emotions differently.

But, back to the show...

We get to see Crowley and Meg in the same room since S6, and it's interesting - because Meg actually seems more afraid of Crowley than she had been before. Also, we learn that Crowley really DIDN'T know about Cas still being alive...or at least, he's not revealing that he did. And he DEFINITELY didn't know that Cas is insane (arguably).

I do like the whole scene, with Castiel being Broken-Castiel and Sam and Dean making the "This is awkward but you do see the problem with him don't you?" faces to Crowley...but then when Crowley does start calling Cas crazy, Sam at least looks offended on Cas' behalf, and Dean changes the subject.

And Crowley double-crosses Dick, in what COULD be a double-bluff, and basically the boys really do just have to trust him. It makes me wonder though, how Crowley can get away with it...he couldn't have tampered with the contract, so maybe contracts aren't binding UNLESS there's a kiss? And Crowley just left off that part?

Oh, I should say...I really like Crowley's insult to Meg - the fact that she's boring and she lacks poetry. It's a brilliant insult and really pin-points the difference between Meg and Crowley exactly.

Meanwhile, Kevin is trapped in a room with a zombie girl. It's kind of heartbreaking when he asks her if she's a prophet...and then realizes that she's dumb as a post. As Kevin says, he really is all alone. Thankfully, Kevin's a vegan...and when he isn't panicking, he can use his brains for good. By the way, I love the look of disgust on the demon's face when Kevin says that he's a vegan. :P

The boys make the weapon, but there's no thunder or lighting or magic or anything to let them know whether it works or not...so, they really are going into this not even knowing if their ultimate weapon will work.

The stake-out...I wonder if they're still in touch with Charlie, or if Sam just learned some skills off Charlie while they worked together the last time. Sam definitely doesn't know where she is...but, for reasons that I'm sure I don't need to explain, I like the thought of Charlie being out there somewhere emailing Sam occasionally.

Bobby! Sam has a great memory for petite brunettes...I wonder why that is? :P

I didn't talk about Dick's doppleganger plan...but, yeah, it's quite ingenious. He KNOWS they only have one shot.

I do like how it's Sam that goes to stop Bobby...I do feel like this show gives a lot of interpersonal moments to Dean, and very few to Sam. We know a LOT about Dean's relationships, but we don't know that much about Sam's...besides his relationship with Dean anyway. And Dean might be Bobby's favourite, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't love Sam...so him beating up on him REALLY shows how far from himself Bobby has gone. And in a classic move...Sam gets strangled.

But, it seems that Sam shares at least PART of Dean's secret superpower (ie. the ability to help people fight against possession)...or it really is just a matter of Bobby seeing his reflection and realizing that he's CHOKING HIS SURROGATE SON! Jeez.

So, they get Louisa to a hospital - yay! 

And then Dean yells at Cas - because they really do need his help. And...yes, some of what Dean says is a little brutal - I'm mainly thinking of the "no one cares that you're broken!" line...and when Cas flies away, I really wasn't expecting him to come back, but it seems that part of Cas must have already decided to help or at least, not leave. Someone has to make the sandwiches, after all.

Then comes Bobby's second death...and this is what really confused me about this episode, because what was the point of Bobby if he doesn't play some crucial role in Dick's defeat? Why bring the character back as a ghost if it's not even going to be a crucial storyline? But then, on the second watch, my friend pointed out that we don't actually KNOW where ghosts go when you burn them...so, maybe Bobby's story isn't actually over yet.

Uh, I forget where it fits in (yes, I know I watched the episode twice, but come on!)...but Dick's introduced a coffee-creamer that will kill off short skinny super-smart people. I'm not sure why chicky-poo had to be naked to demonstrate it, but whatever. I do know that my waif of a little sister used to drink every single coffee-creamer on the table when she was toddler...so, yeah, that'd be an effective way to kill at least her...when she was a baby anyway....and that's a cheery thought. 

Dean finally goes to retrieve the Impala...who was apparently waiting in a barn for him. The whole conversation with Castiel is a good one. Mainly because I was worried that Dean had forgotten his speech over Rufus' grave, but it appears that he hasn't...if Dean dies, blanket forgiveness all around....and I think Castiel needed to hear that there was hope. Because if Dean is willing to forgive in death, he's more than likely willing to forgive in life too. Also, I think it helped that Dean did begrudgingly accept that Castiel didn't want to fight...he wasn't going to force him, or guilt him into it, and he could have...he could have kept the same tone as their fight the previous day, but he didn't.

So, Castiel helps...and the plan?

The plan is to let Meg drive the Impala....and yeah, wow. You know the Winchesters believe that they're on a kamikaze mission when...

Especially when they let her DRIVE IT THROUGH A SIGN! I have a feeling that wasn't part of the plan...also, Sam has to back that thing out of there!

Dean, Sam and Cas sneak in the back...and Sam goes to rescue Kevin, while Dean and Cas start tracking down Dicks. (hehehe.)

I'm glad Kevin is still alive...I really like him. I also like that he wants to blow up the lab...and I like that he asks by saying "please" and giving Sam the puppy-eyes of doom...how does it feel being on the other side of the puppy-eyes of doom, Sam?

Dick's in the lab and Dean and Cas find him there. I like the bluff. But here's a tip, guys, when someone starts PULSING, you RUN, you don't just keep standing close to them...

And this brings us to the end of the episode...Dean and Cas are gone and Sam is alone. Crowley takes Kevin and orders Sam to clean up the rest of the levis and prevent them from organizing...and...yeah...Sam is alone.

Dean is in purgatory with Cas. Sucked there in Dick's death-throws. He's trapped with everything he's ever killed along with things that existed before time began...and he's there with Cas, who I don't think will leave Dean unprotected, but I also don't think he's sane either. What's more...and, this is the most important part to me...Dean is there in his NEW LEATHER JACKET! Oh god...how is that jacket going to survive?

Okay, seriously though...this is bad.

And what I mean by "this is bad" is "this is extremely interesting."

Dean has now been in the three sections of the afterlife. Does this mean anything for the character mythology? Dean's been The Righteous Man, he's been on the road to becoming a demon...he's been a vampire, and he's been bitten by The Mother of All...and he's now in purgatory. 

Sam is still on earth...alone. Sam NEVER does well alone. Not only that, Sam has to kill as many levis as he can. He has to destroy Sucrocorp and basically all of Roman's industries...he has to make the food supply safe again....and he has to do all that while knowing that his brother and his angel friend are, essentially, dead - trapped in the afterlife. And it's not just a matter of going to Wyoming and opening  a devil's gate...the door to purgatory isn't as easy to open, and to do so would be to undo what his brother just died for.

Not only that, we also have to worry about what Crowley might be planning...is he fine with the status-quo? There's a power vacuum in heaven, they're several Hunters down on earth, and Crowley's sitting pretty in his reign over hell.

And how will Dean survive until he's rescued? HOW will Dean be rescued? Furthermore, as I hinted at earlier...WHO is he trapped with? Is Lenore in there? Madison?....Gabriel? Is killing angels like killing with the Colt? Are they dead dead, or do they go to purgatory? Presumably, since Crowley and Cas didn't know where purgatory was in the beginning of S6, we have to assume that Dean cannot be rescued from purgatory by angels. Castiel says that "we have to get out of here", but can they? There's a flow of souls between heaven, earth, and hell...but how does purgatory work? Humans become monsters, or monsters breed, and when they die they go to purgatory...and is each monster born a new monster-soul, or is there an outflow off souls from purgatory as well?

Personally, as much as I've called the boys dumbasses for splitting up in the past...I do actually like it when they're apart, because it makes for very compelling story. Mainly, because it's always these two guys who want desperately NOT to be apart, even when the separation is their decision.

What I'm saying is that although I don't think this finale was one of their strongest finales...it's still left me VERY intrigued for what might happen in S8. If the writers play their cards right, it could be a very interesting season.



As usual, let me know what I missed that you desperately want me to talk about!

I'll miss these posts! It sounds like I'll be waiting a good 5 months before I'm able to make another one. Hello Summer! Whatever am I going to do with all this free time? 

Comments

[ramblin_rosie]

The thing about the "No one cares if you're broken" line is... how many times has that been said to Dean? By *Cas*, in particular, though more in deed than in word? He got zero recovery time to deal with Hell and with finding out about Mary's deal; he got precious little recovery time after John's death, Bobby's death, RoboSam wrecking his fragile attempt at a civilian life, losing Ben and Lisa for good, and Cas breaking Sam and opening Purgatory. I'm not sure any recovery time would have prepared him to face Alastair in "On the Head of a Pin," and he had barely recovered from that when Zachariah zapped him and Sam into Sandover!verse to force him back into the game. (I'm sure a similar tally can be made for Sam.) Dean's never had the luxury of being given time and space to work through his guilt or grief, unless you count The Year That Wasn't. Is it any wonder, then, that he would snap at Cas for demanding that luxury when the world's about to drive off the cliff *again*?
[/rant]
I am glad they started moving toward forgiveness, though. I know that whole mess had to have been killing Dean.

Meh end to the season, I felt, but BOY, that ending is intriguing! I have to know what happens now!! I'm holding out hope for Dean's few monster friends--Lenore, Madison, maybe even Amy and his Amazon daughter--and Gabriel, plus maybe Anna and Balthazar and any hunter ghosts who might be in there, riding to his rescue. It would be interesting if Cas hasn't just bopped off to be crazy elsewhere but has in fact gone to summon the cavalry. Sam's in quite a pickle, too; I foresee calling in Garth and Jodi at minimum, since they're about the only backup he has left. And there are quite a few wild cards, too: Kali, Death, the fairies, the Upstairs Roadhouse, Jesse... I'm sure I'm forgetting someone. Carver seems to be the king of the mytharc, though, so we can but hope for good storylines to come.

Edited to correct pronoun confusion... it's after 4 AM, sorry.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

The thing about the "No one cares if you're broken" line is... how many times has that been said to Dean? By *Cas*, in particular, though more in deed than in word?...

VERY good point. We get caught up in Castiel's woobie puppy-eyes, but you are quite correct. Basically since Dean was five years old, no one has cared that he is broken! And in particular, as you point out, On The Head of a Pin is very much an entire episode of Castiel telling Dean that although Cas is SAD that Dean is broken, they don't have time for it. :P

So, yes, good point. I agree completely. It doesn't make it less harsh to hear, of course, but it's very true that if anyone deserves to tell Cas that no one cares that he's broken - it's Dean!

It seems like you and I had similar reactions! I'm VERY intrigued as to where Carver's going to go from here.

[raloria.livejournal.com]

I love your reviews. You know that, right? :)
In fact, I wish this one was a Google Doc so I could leave comments after each paragraph. :P

Btw, you're not the only one who was thinking the bone of a righteous person had to be someone living. I was thinking the same thing and then show comes up with this more convenient angle. Duh!

I'm worried about the boys, of course. Never like it when they're split apart, but like you, I realize it's a great way of storytelling. I'm fine with them being apart, as long as it doesn't last too long. Actually, based on the fact that Jensen's announced that he's directing the first episode of Season 8, I'd say they'll probably remain apart for an episode or two. I'm basing this on the fact that it's often easier on Jensen if he isn't in a lot of scenes in the eps he directs (though that didn't happen this season). Anyway, I'm interested in finding out how Sam figures out what happened to Dean & Cas and how he goes about getting them back. And I feel the same way about Dean's jacket. OMG We can't let that gorgeous jacket be torn to shreds!!! Come to think of it, I don't want Dean torn to shreds either! Eeep. Hope he's got a knife on him at least. Dean's always armed. ;)

Oh, btw...Sam & Dean's names were on the scroll Crowley and Dick used for their deal. I thought that was cool. ;)

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

I love your reviews. You know that, right? :)
In fact, I wish this one was a Google Doc so I could leave comments after each paragraph. :P

Awww, thank you! I almost want to accommodate that wish...but then we'd never get anything done, would we?

Btw, you're not the only one who was thinking the bone of a righteous person had to be someone living. I was thinking the same thing and then show comes up with this more convenient angle. Duh!

Haha, yay! Great minds think alike and fools seldom differ. ;)

I wonder if Jensen is directing the premiere, or if he's just directing "the first episode back" and they are once again filming out of order...that being said, it'll still be one of the early episodes, and it'll still (probably) be Dean-lite, so your speculation is still solid. I'd be happy with that... as you say, it's sad when the boys are apart, but it's great story-telling to watch them fight their way back to each other.

It's going to be a long summer!

Oh, btw...Sam & Dean's names were on the scroll Crowley and Dick used for their deal. I thought that was cool.

I did notice that! I had meant to mention it. I love the fact that they're on his "standard rider" - like, they are such nuisances that their names are built into every contract now. :P

(edited because I said "I wonder if Dean is directing the premiere"...haha, you can tell it's nearly 4am. Dean directing would be a fantastic meta episode though ;P)

[raloria.livejournal.com]

Hee! I caught that. Thought it was cute. :P
Not sure Dean directing would be so good. Look at how he did at acting! LOL

It's going to be a very long summer, especially if they don't come back until October. Ah, well. I've got plenty to keep me busy. :P

I've heard they resume filming on July 10th. Poor Jensen. He's not going to get much of a break at all. But we love seeing him direct and he seems to love it, so it's all good in the end.

And I'm rambling. Can you tell I'm sleepy?

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Haha, you were not as sleepy as I was...as soon as I made that amusing mistake, I took it as a sign and went to bed. :P

Every time Jensen talks about directing, he seems happier and happier about it - so I don't think he minds going back early too much. :P I'd be interested to see what episode they give him. I think he's a strong enough director to do the premiere, but I guess it just depends how much time Dean gets in the script.

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

WHERE WERE THEIR NAMES?!?!?

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

When they cut back to Crowley and Dick the first time after seeing the boys, there's a shot of the document. It talks about the united states (but in latin...federation Americae, or something) and then it talks about "Sam & Dean Winchester"

[raloria.livejournal.com]

On the contract Crowley was going over with Dick. There was a close-up of the writing and you can see their names.

I'll be posting a picspam of caps from the eppy soon, and it'll be in there. ;)

[dairygirl.livejournal.com]

I was disappointed in this finale but then again, I have become disenchanted over the season. I recall reading something earlier this year about the finale reaffirming the bond between the brothers. Separating them into two realms is not bond reaffirmation!

And Bobby, I agree his role in this whole thing seems overplayed with no real resolution. EIther he was going to have a hand in Dick's demise or he wasn't. None of this showing Bobby as an angry ghost who possesses people and attacks surrogate sons. Yes, his fate seems final but he could have been removed from the storyline a lot sooner.

The finale does leave lots of ends open: The head of the Leviathans is gone but the rest are still on earth, Sam is alone without any allies, Dean is in Purgatory with half-baked Cas, Crowley has Hell and Kevin the Prophet in hand, Heaven is empty (Purgatory may be Hell adjacent but Heaven may be the new Purgatory?) and there is the legacy of Dick (Processing in Wisconsin, beta testing in Ohio, etc). The Dick Roman plans will not be easy to dismantle. Plus it sets up several people that will return in the next season.

Regarding Sam's comment about Charlie: Because he and Dean were trying to spy on SucroCorp, I assumed that once she hacked into the network, she gave them the capability to spy anytime.

Regarding Sam alone: I thought from Sam asking Crowley where Dean was that he had no clue. Crowley just answered about standing too close but that does not immediately say "Oh, Dean's in purgatory" or is there something I missed?

Regarding Cas: I am really liking the new Cas. While he was not able to discard the overcoat, I like his new philosophy, the wisdom he imparts and I have to think Misha is enjoying the change to this character.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Yes, this season really hasn't been their strongest. I always felt that S3 was the weakest season previously, but it may have just been replaced. :P There were a lot of good ideas in this season, they just weren't executed to their full potential (except, arguably, for Bobby's first death.)

And I agree about Bobby. At this point, I think they should have given him the heroes farewell after 7x10 and left it at that. As it stands now, his ghostly presence did not add enough awesome...but, as I said, it could just be that his storyline isn't over yet. Mind you, I won't really know how I feel about that until it happens...or doesn't happen.

Regarding Sam's comment about Charlie: Because he and Dean were trying to spy on SucroCorp, I assumed that once she hacked into the network, she gave them the capability to spy anytime.

Yeah, you are probably right. Ah well. I just liked Charlie. :P

Regarding Sam alone: I thought from Sam asking Crowley where Dean was that he had no clue. Crowley just answered about standing too close but that does not immediately say "Oh, Dean's in purgatory" or is there something I missed?

No, you didn't miss anything. I'm not sure if Sam's made that leap in logic to think that Dean is in purgatory. Crowley just said that those god-weapons "have a kick"...and that could just mean that Dean and Cas are dead...BUT there are no bodies...so, Sam MIGHT put it together quickly that they were taken somewhere. But yeah...we don't know how Sam's mind is going to work.

Regarding Cas: I am really liking the new Cas. While he was not able to discard the overcoat, I like his new philosophy, the wisdom he imparts and I have to think Misha is enjoying the change to this character.

I kind of like the new Cas too. Mind you, I tend to like every incarnation of Castiel. The writers have a fundamental problem with Castiel, because it's REALLY hard to write around a character that powerful...all the character variations they go through, I think they're constantly trying to find a way to diminish him without making him completely useless. I think it's a testament to Misha's acting that each variant of Castiel is believable and sympathetic.

[alessandra-c.livejournal.com]

well yeah- now when j2 mess with him he doesn't have to keep aa straight face

[nerthus.livejournal.com]

That was my first reaction, as well to Dean just STANDING THERE like an idiot after he'd ganked Dick; I was yelling at my tv, "MOVE AWAY,IDIOT, CAN'T YOU SEE HE'S GONNA 'SLODE EVERYWHERE?!!" Sigh...maybe it wouldn't have made any difference, but Sam was also in the lab and HE didn't get sucked into Purgatory. Lame plot devices, making Dean (and Cas, by the same token) look stupid yet again just so they can easily have them sucked into season 8's main story arc, ha.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think they could have just as easily have Sam standing outside the room - and Dean and Cas start to run towards him, but then get sucked back...but, I guess that's a directors call? I know there were tables in the way, so maybe they had no where to run to. Who knows! I think they could have choreographed that scene a bit better...or perhaps had Dick's death happen a little quicker...like maybe only one pulse and then 'splode.

[katsheswims.livejournal.com]

I agree that it wasn't a strong finale. There were good points and I'm really intrigued about where they will go next season.

"Dean is there in his NEW LEATHER JACKET! Oh god...how is that jacket going to survive?" I had the same thought while I was freaking out about Dean being in purgatory, and monsters and past enemies will be out to get him! I wonder if Dean can die in purgatory? He went there body and soul. Does he need to eat? I can't imagine he won't get caught a few times. If he's fatally wounded will it kill him? Can he be turned into a monster there? Also there is no alcohol there, so I imagine he's going to go through unintended detox. It will be pretty bad.

And Sam is ALONE out in the world. The only one really left is Jody Mills (Sheriff).

I'm really looking forward to next season.

[katsheswims.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I think Crowley could get out of the deal because there was nothing to say he couldn't break it-he just wouldn't get the promised Canada and being left alone.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Oh, good point!

[percysowner.livejournal.com]

Absolutely, and after seeing Cas break HIS deal with Crowley, I suspect Crowley was pretty certain that Dick would simply not hold up his end of the bargain anyway.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Very true! There was a precedent!

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

All very good questions about how Purgatory works when you go there body and soul...does he need to eat? If he doesn't need to eat, maybe his body enters some sort of stasis - in which case he doesn't have to worry about detox. I have a feeling that they'll go that route, since they've pulled back on addressing Dean's drinking lately.

Sam has Jody, Garth, and Charlie...but Charlie is probably not in touch, so really, he just has Jody and Garth. Although both those characters are awesome, they are not at the same skill level as Sam. Which means that really, Sam IS alone. We haven't seen Sam alone for a very long time...and a lot has changed since the last time we saw him alone. So, yes, should be interesting! I really hope they explore it to it's full potential.

I'm really looking forward to next season too. :)

[(Anonymous)]

I think Bobby may have ended up in Purgatory. That's the only explanation for the vengeful spirit subplot that makes sense to me. Also I think this means that once a human soul is corrupted in any unnatural way (dodging their reaper and going vengeful, being demon-ized in hell, or being turned into a monster like a vamp or wendigo)will up in Purgatory.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

I agree.

Except for the being demon-ized in hell bit, since that turns humans into demons and then they're domain is hell. Otherwise, werewolves, wendigos, vengeful spirits...probably all end up in Purgatory.

I really hope that's where Bobby ended up anyway - otherwise the subplot in the later half of the season was completely pointless. :P

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

"What I'm saying is that although I don't think this finale was one of their strongest finales...it's still left me VERY intrigued for what might happen in S8. If the writers play their cards right, it could be a very interesting season."

This. Exactly!

When Dick offered Crowley Canada I immediately thought of you :)

I agree with your thoughts about the Dean and Cas interaction--Dean had to dial it down to get anywhere with him, and that takes me back to how he angrily just told Cas to listen to him in season 6, and how that didn't work.

Oh, you came up with lots of possible allies for Dean to find in Purgatory! I can add one more--Prof. Visyak (not my original idea, though, borrowed from someone else.)

Sam could pull together Jodie, Garth, Charlie, and Becky to be his Scooby Gang...or not :) He is really screwed, though, because he doesn't have any idea where Dean is.

I really hope the writers honor the difficulty set up by last season on the challenge of opening Purgatory, not a handwave so Sam can just do it easily. Another borrowed thought--Death helped the last time. Wouldn't a scene between Death and Sam just rock?

What are we going to do with ourselves until October?!?!

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Ooo...Prof. Visyak! I had forgotten about her! :)

This really is an opportunity for them to bring back some people...if only briefly.

I hope the writers take full advantage too. I know back in S4, a lot of people felt cheated out of a Sam-rescues-Dean-from-hell epic adventure. I think this could satisfy that craving, since they no longer have any angel-allies and, besides Garth, Sam is not on Earth with anyone who is at his skill level.

Though, as you point out, there's always Death...a scene between Sam and Death WOULD rock...but, I think it'd only rock if Death only gave Sam information, not if Death solved the problem completely.

What are we going to do with ourselves until October?!?!
Write a novel? Finish my knowledge-timeline? visit my mum? For some reason, I don't think I'll be too bored. Though, I WILL be writing my own S8s in my head all the while I'm sure. :P

[lusciniate.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I', sorry that I am using your posts to put in order my own thought.. and then picking at some detail you have written there..
But this is a part I have actually heard/read more than once after the episode and now I am starting to doubt what I actually saw:
The plan is to let Meg drive the Impala....and yeah, wow. You know the Winchesters believe that they're on a kamikaze mission when...
Especially when they let her DRIVE IT THROUGH A SIGN! I have a feeling that wasn't part of the plan...

While I was watching that part I was 100% sure that there was Sam and Dean in the car because of this:
A picture (http://pics.livejournal.com/lusciniate/pic/0000t873)
And then when Meg (only Meg) got out. There is that moment when they crash through the sign, when they could have swapped, but shouldn't we then kind of like see at least another shape in the car? or Castiel and Meg were lying on the floor/bench/in the trunk during the awesome ride..

Okay, I don't remember where I was going with all that. But if Meg was the one driving - where did the other shape go?
__

Have to agree that this might not had been the best finale (but logically they all can't be the best, or else "the best" loses its meaning), but it will definitely be interesting to see how are they going to use this new "playground".

Apart from that - thank you for all 7th seasons reviews :)

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

I noticed that on the rewatch too. I was trying to figure out if there were two heads in the front seat for the WHOLE drive or just the beginning of it. Dean and Sam seemed to be in the car when they rammed the gate at Sucrocorp...but then, did they get out BEFORE the sign or after? That's what I was trying to determine.

But it could be possible that Dean drove his car through a sign and then slipped out another door...for some reason though, I'm thinking they switched drivers around the corner somewhere and it was only Meg in the car when she hit the sign.

Have to agree that this might not had been the best finale (but logically they all can't be the best, or else "the best" loses its meaning), but it will definitely be interesting to see how are they going to use this new "playground".

Yeah, haha, me saying that it wasn't the strongest finale they've had is actually a kind of compliment, because it just means that they've had a LOT of awesome finales that are hard to compete with. This episode was still better than 95% of TV. :P

Apart from that - thank you for all 7th seasons reviews :)

Thanks for reading!! :)

[alessandra-c.livejournal.com]

10 bucks says that bobby is there with Dean and Cas- after all didn't the reaper say something bout ghosts becoming monsters when Bobby refused to pass on?

Do you think they'll do another time skip before season 8- like in season 4 where dean was in hell?

and how can Dean survive in a world of monster when he's got no holy water iron or silver to defend himself with?

I'm brimming with questions!

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping Dean at least has a knife in his boot. :P

And very good point about what the reaper said to Bobby...also, remember when he attacked Dick Roman in the Charlie episode? Dick said something about Bobby being a monster now too!

If they're smart they'll do a summer-skip, like they did in S4...or a montage to show time passing or something. When they don't do that, they tend to mess up the timeline (as you'll see when I post the S7 timeline).

That being said, I kind of hope they don't do too much of a skip, because I'd love to see me some Sam-alone angst. ;)

I think we're all brimming with questions! Which means that although the finale wasn't the strongest finale they've ever had - it certainly did it's job right!

[farfadine.livejournal.com]

and here's where Dean's smarter than me (it's not hard), because at the end of last week's episode I was still trying to think "Who do they know whose righteous?" and I was only thinking about LIVING people...
I thought that, Dean being a righteaous man, they were going to have Cas extract one of his bones (his femur or tibia and then making a new one grow)...

The final part of the final was really great (not that the rest of the episode was bad) and I think it really open a lot of possibility for great stories.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Well there's an idea! Haha...sadly, I think once Dean stepped off the rack in hell, he no longer qualified as a righteous man. :(

I'm definitely looking forward to season 8 :)

[farfadine.livejournal.com]

I knew there was a catch I didn't think about...
And I'm looking forward season 8 too!!!

[morganlucas41.livejournal.com]

I liked reading your post, and I agree with a lot of it! I liked the finale overall.

I do love your idea that Bobby might be with them in Purgatory. Though they've raised the question several times, they've never really said where ghosts go when they get salted and burned. So Bobby really might be in there, which would be great. Especially since I, too, was wondering what the point was of him coming back as a ghost at all, since he was put down before the big fight.

So maybe this is what they're planning? I would love it if they are!

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

I'm really hoping that's the direction that they go with Bobby - otherwise, I'll be pretty pissed off with his storyline :P

[(Anonymous)]

Hi, secret lurker here! So, I read these every week, and I usually agree with most of your comments, but I don't say anything. I just wanted to interject here on the issue of Dean being armed in purgatory. We know he had a knife (the one he used to behead labworker!leviathan) when Dick exploded - he tucked it back into his belt. So, since he was still wearing the same clothes and everything, we can probably assume that he has at least that very large knife with him. So there is hope!

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Hello secret lurker!

Good eye! Phew. Well, I'm glad that Dean at least has a knife then. A knife and an slightly insane angel are better than nothing!

Thanks for putting my mind just a little bit at ease for the long months to come. ;)

[4422shini.livejournal.com]

Good episode review!

Is it me, or have the last few episodes (or so) felt like they have no beginning or ending and no resolve? What I mean is, they're just a series of events to get us to this point (maybe too many talking heads?).

I think that's what I've disliked so much about this season, it doesn't have the same story flow that previous season have had....

...Or whatever. Maybe I'm imagining this. But there's been something about that lead-up that's left me :\ instead of :DDDDDD

At least they left on an interesting cliffer, they can now get on with it and have a new plot line, yaaaaay!!!

I agree that this was not a strong finale (again, with the just a series of actions that led to the finale action- no emotional or epic buildup). But, I am judging pretty harshly. This show has given us such good finales over the years, that I have very high expectations.

Woohoo, Dean's in Purgatory! You know, when we found out about the Cas and Purgatory plot in S6, I thought Sam and Dean would get sucked in. Turns out my predictions were half right and only 23 episodes late!

I like the idea of the boys being forceably separated. Especially considering how still not okay Sam is (or, he is in my head, goddamnit!). Seeing them come back together will be cool. They haven't ever spent more than an episode apart, so it'd be cool to see them spend a significant amount of time apart and not have a '4 months later...' style.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Is it me, or have the last few episodes (or so) felt like they have no beginning or ending and no resolve? What I mean is, they're just a series of events to get us to this point (maybe too many talking heads?).

It's not just you. The pacing has been off this season, and this episode DID lack the emotional resonance that SPN usually excels at. I think it very much was a race to get them to this moment, and we'll get the emotion in the opener to S8..but that being said, if the pacing had been better, it wouldn't have been like that.

But, I am judging pretty harshly. This show has given us such good finales over the years, that I have very high expectations.

Yes, this is how I feel too. The show is sort of a victim of itself, because we know just how awesome it can be...so even when it's still good, or even great, we sit around saying "but it wasn't awesome!" :P

Woohoo, Dean's in Purgatory! You know, when we found out about the Cas and Purgatory plot in S6, I thought Sam and Dean would get sucked in. Turns out my predictions were half right and only 23 episodes late!

You're a genius! Hahaha...seriously, that's cool, even if you WERE 23 episodes late. ;)

I like the idea of the boys being forceably separated. Especially considering how still not okay Sam is (or, he is in my head, goddamnit!). Seeing them come back together will be cool. They haven't ever spent more than an episode apart, so it'd be cool to see them spend a significant amount of time apart and not have a '4 months later...' style.

I agree completely. This may not have been Supernatural's strongest season, but I think it's set up S8 with a LOT of potential (especially if we explore the bit about how Sam CANNOT POSSIBLY BE OKAY! :P) I'm really hoping that they give us more room to breath next year - faster paced action, does not necessarily mean better show. I want to wallow a bit in the misery of separation so that we can feel all the feelings, before any miraculous returns occur.

[marlowe78.livejournal.com]

Hey there
I liked this episode, though as someone pointed out, it lacked a certain.... pizazz. It was still a good one, at least for me who adores the poetry that was written into the character of Crowley. He so damn interesting-evil, where beings like the YED were just plain evil and had a "plan". Crowley has NO plan that goes beyond "always do what suits Crowley best". And that's SMART.
And also nice to watch. And weirdly sexy ;-)

And Crowley double-crosses Dick, in what COULD be a double-bluff, and basically the boys really do just have to trust him. It makes me wonder though, how Crowley can get away with it...he couldn't have tampered with the contract, so maybe contracts aren't binding UNLESS there's a kiss? And Crowley just left off that part?

I think he could get away with it because Dick didn't care one little bit. The whole scene with Dick was a "con Dick Roman into believing that you believe his deal-offer"-thing.
I saw Dick as smart, but too cocky. He thought he could just offer something like Crowley a country to keep (which, no offence to Canada, but would have been a little boring, in the end, for someone of Crowley's calibre. After all, what kind of evil gains could he get from ONE country?) and make the demon happy....

And I bet he didn't intend to keep even that. He betrayed the deal with the Vamp, why keep it with a demon, who he thought was a pathetic excuse for evil anyway.
uhm.... I just realized something.

If we follow the lore of Supernatural, Leviathan were put into Purgatory because they were so powerful and evil. So... what does it say about humanity that our Fallen are actually able to outsmart them?

Ok, sorry, back to topic.

Crowley and Dick.
Well, Crowley could outsmart Dick because he KNEW Dick wouldn't keep the deal. So he didn't even have to have a loophole-less contract and make it airtight, but he only had to make Dick BELIEVE that he wants a loophole-less contract. Dick wouldn't keep it, which is why he also wouldn't pay enough attention to it to find the loopholes.

Also, the longer the contract, the easier to break it. If he'd really wanted an unbreakable contract, he'd have written "The Leviathan *insert name* gives the demon Crowley the country of Canada plus inhabitants in exchange for not giving the Winchester-Brothers his blood."

I love that Dick got shot down by his own ego.

Bobby! Sam has a great memory for petite brunettes...I wonder why that is? :P

Hee, good point. Hadn't thought of it that way ;-)

And...yes, some of what Dean says is a little brutal - I'm mainly thinking of the "no one cares that you're broken!" line...

Dunno how you exactly meant that sentence, but I'm just saying what I thought about that:
Yes, it was harsh, but... really? He's right! Not that no-one cares - obviously at least Sam cares, and I bet Dean does, too, in a way. But he and Sam had to battle SO MUCH SHIT these last years, and NOBODY cared what it did to them.
Dean was in Hell? Who cared once he was back.
Sam fell into the cage? Who cared/noticed he had no soul?
Sam got his soul back? Who cared that Cas destroyed the wall?

I'm not saying that was fair, not at all. It wasn't, but the boys did what I think John taught them: you make a mess, you clean up after you.

So it might be harsh that Cas is broken, but ducking your head and hoping someone else (aka DeanandSam) will make it right again is not the way. So yeah, as much as I agree that it was harshly said, the point HAD to be made. If there's some oldCas inside this one, he'd maybe remember that HE was one of the people who pushed and pushed Dean (and Sam) further and further, asked more and more of them even though they SAID they couldn't do it anymore, didn't want it any more.
If anyone had a right to say it, Dean and Sam were the ones.

[marlowe78.livejournal.com]

But then, on the second watch, my friend pointed out that we don't actually KNOW where ghosts go when you burn them...so, maybe Bobby's story isn't actually over yet

O_o I never thought about that... Huh, interesting. It would mean, though, that Sam's completely alone (except for maybe Garth and maybe Charlie (big maybe) ) while Dean has Bobby-ghost AND Cas with him?
Ok, he also has the whole of near-evil with him... hmmm.. But interesting idea!


What's more...and, this is the most important part to me...Dean is there in his NEW LEATHER JACKET! Oh god...how is that jacket going to survive?
Well, at least he's dressed sharply! Maybe it'll help?

I very much agree on the "interesting setting for S8"-part! I hope we'll get some info on life in Purgatory, and who is there and how its there and all that. It's definitely a little better than Hell, considering Dean can move around and more-or-less fight back.

Also: will Dick be there?

I'm honestly intrigued, and yeah, it wasn't a very VERY strong finale, but it wasn't so bad, I think.

"Bad" was after s3! I felt like ripping things apart, and I was lucky since I just had to put on the next episode which was already available ;-)

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

I never thought about that... Huh, interesting. It would mean, though, that Sam's completely alone (except for maybe Garth and maybe Charlie (big maybe) ) while Dean has Bobby-ghost AND Cas with him?
Ok, he also has the whole of near-evil with him... hmmm.. But interesting idea!

As much as I feel for Sam - I think Dean is in greater need of allies at the moment. :P

Well, at least he's dressed sharply! Maybe it'll help?

Maybe the monsters are like me? "Guys guys! Leave him alone! You'll ruin his jacket! And wouldn't that be just a sin. Let's stand around and appreciate the look of him instead of eating him, okay? Cool."

When I watched S3's finale, I only had to wait about a month and a half for S4. BUT I had the preview clip from SDCC so I knew that Dean got out first thing. I guess this year if they show a preview clip, it'll be from whatever episode Jensen is directing. I'm wondering if I want to be spoiled or not... :P

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

I agree. Crowley is a great character - a really properly smart and relate-able villain.

And also, I agree with the reasons why it was so easy for Crowley to break the deal - seeing as how Dick never meant to keep it either. And I love how Dick's overconfidence really was his undoing.

Yes, it was harsh, but... really? He's right! Not that no-one cares - obviously at least Sam cares, and I bet Dean does, too, in a way. But he and Sam had to battle SO MUCH SHIT these last years, and NOBODY cared what it did to them.

Yes, I think it was rambling_rose above who pointed out that basically On The Head of the Pin is Castiel saying the exact same thing to Dean through actions instead of words. And I think that's the only thing that tripped me up here. For some reason things seem less brutal when they're displayed through actions instead of words...at least, certain things, anyway. But yeah, Dean definitely deserves to say this to someone else for once.

And it's true that when Cas tells them about Kevin and then immediately starts going on about how he feels so much better now that it's THEIR problem instead of HIS problem - well, it doesn't work like that. You can't just pass on your problems to other people and not help. That's why no one likes their managers at work. :P