Previous Supernatural episodes with children in them were pretty brilliant. One in particular that I really loved (and, from what I read on fan discussion boards, so did many other fans out there) is season three's "The Kids Are Alright." Seriously, who could forget the adorable little guy who made many hope he was Dean’s son?
Oh wow, how fantastic that episode was. And I still think that child is Dean’s, but that’s just me.
The episode opens up to a sight many parents must see on Thursday nights: a young girl, Amber, is sitting late at night in a dark living room, engrossed in what she is watching on the screen. She hears a noise, gets up to investigate, while everyone is screaming at her not to open it, and while the sight is horrific — a child with blood on his head — Amber just sighs.
Whaaaat?
Her babysitting charge is playing yet another trick on her, and she isn’t fooled by it, sending him quickly up to bed. Then a dog outside starts barking, and the last we see of Amber (alive) is when she draws the curtains closed after peering out in the hopes of figuring out why.
The parents come home, and the TV isn’t working anymore. Amber is sleeping on the couch – then again, perhaps not, as the horrified father touches blood on her head, of which a whole side is gone. Eww.
I know I don’t usually go in depth into the actual events in each episode, but there was something about this opening scene that I really liked. The overall ambiance, perhaps? The lighting? The filming? The acting? The relative simplicity of it? I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I figured it deserved some space.
It seemed pretty obvious early on in the episode that the main discussion here was going to be about children and choices. Most people would agree that children grow up a lot faster nowadays than they used to. Adults are extremely uncomfortable with the idea, treating it as if it were a bad thing, and doing everything they can to delay adulthood and the era of responsibilities. Which probably explains why so many young people in their 20s act like they are still teenagers.
In any case, those of us who live in North America and Europe often forget that most children in the world have huge responsibilities at a very young age. Even more interestingly, we forget that a mere 100 years ago, children right here were given huge responsibilities at a very young age.
Article comments
1 - Nitewoman
Great review on the ideas and thoughts the episode brought up. Liked your comments on how much smarter kids are than adults give them credit for. I think Jesse is going to make the right decisions, he was smart to tell the demon to shut up because he wanted to hear what Sam and Dean had to say. I agree Sam's redemption might just take place through Jesse. I don't think we have seen the last of him, or I sure hope not.
2 - Sahar
I think Jesse definitely has the potential of making the right decision - but I think if he actually does it depends a lot on who he encounters in the coming weeks. Kudos to his adoptive parents though - it's probably because of them he's isn't all dark.
Thank you for reading and commenting :)