Team Freewill is back! Once again this show, especially writer Jeremy Carver, manages to pack quite a bit into 40 minutes. To quote one of the writers on my website, “Point of No Return” is “flipping insanely awesome!”
For this very special 100th episode, themes that have driven the core of this show are brought to the forefront and delivered in mind-blowing fashion. One theme is the importance of family. This time, the family bond goes beyond blood, for Castiel and Bobby are there too, as well as a reluctant half-family member. Loyalty and heroism are explored too but come from different sources. Finally faith, which has been a dominant theme of late, gets its due as well.
The heart of this story rests in the heart of the series in general, the turbulent brotherly relationship between Sam and Dean. What makes this situation unique though is there’s a total role reversal from the end of last season. Sam is now the one who must step up and take control and the result is a big (and overdue) breakthrough for his character and the brotherly relationship.
The Breakdown
The opener is classic Supernatural. A dejected Zachariah shares “downsizing” stories with a “pig filthy” human in a bar. This episode may have been written by Jeremy Carver, but the grim humor in this scene has Ben Edlund written all over it. Zach bonds with the jobless man, but doesn’t seem to care too much when the guy’s eardrums explode and eyes burn out when his boss appears. Zachariah has a second chance and passes by the carnage while signing. Has he learned from his mistakes? Um, not really.
Meanwhile Dean sits alone in private agony in a motel room, pouring drinks and writing the farewell note to Sam. We all die a little as Dean somberly packs a box with what few belongings he has: his leather jacket, his gun, and the keys to the Impala. Luckily Sam can track Dean too, accenting the role reversal that takes place in the episode (nice touch of 100 on the motel room door too). Sam’s taking Dean’s disappearing act personally. “How could you do that?” he asks Dean with bitterness and hurt. Dean does what he can to discourage Sam, even throwing Sam’s similar behavior in the past back at him. Sam admits he was wrong and has to stop him. Dean alludes to their fight in “When The Levee Breaks,” for Sam isn’t hopped up on demon blood this time. Sam shakes it off because he has an ace up his sleeve. Enter one furious angel.
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Article comments
1 - Tiecg1
I really liked this ep. Great recap as always Alice. You really have a great enthusiasm.
You know, about the smile/wink from Dean to Sam in the Green Room -- I seriously had like a freakin' shallow moment seeing Dean do that; it flashed me back to the pilot because he looked ten years younger in that moment (both men normally look so worn out these days). It totally caught me off guard cause I was so into the tense storyline and wondering if we were finally going to see Michael or the brothers were going to actually die... then "that", and it was like seeing blood splatter on the camera lens (like "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid"/Children of Men... totally jarred me right out of the scene). In one moment Dean turned from some jerk who I was thrilled to see get beat up by Castiel (who rocked in this ep) to a younger, confident adorable Dean who I had been missing for quite a while now (possibly two seasons?) Brilliant acting by Jensen on his part.
The glue of the ep was Sammy though, who also reminded me of a season 2 Sam with all the emotional sensitivity but with a new brand of calmness under severe pressure. I still believe that Dean was trying to hurt Sam by telling him how he felt whether Dean meant it or not, just to push Sam away so he could have less guilt about accepting Michael. If Sam was demon-blood high, that would have pushed him over the edge, but Sam held it together. Yea for Sammy! (and kudos to Jared for his brilliant protrayal of lovable Sam).
2 - carlotspeak
I seem to remember this quote from somewhere: "If you can't live without me, why aren't you dead already?" LOL My viewing of Supernatural are no longer complete until I get to read your review ^_^ And the patience is paying off this week as usual. There were so many reviews for the 100 episodes, but I think your perspective about the episode and the family theme etc. was the best and most complete! Your own quote of Wal-Mart apocalypse is priceless too! I have a few questions of my own, may be because I am still a bit confused.
1) In the Song when Michael was expounding 'random acts of chance all lead back to the same (planned) destiny' - would not that include Zachariah's acts of mismanaging his own scheme over and over?
2) This is not a question but my personal tiny bitty disappointment at many kills the brothers did comparing to Castiel that I noticed. The way of old when heroes go into battle they challenge openly and kill each others. I can see the brothers must use deceptive ways a lot to kill monsters, and evils and so on, but it was the first time I witnessed Dean slaughtered an angel. It disconcerted me only a little bit. I know that it was the only way. And I was hoping (foolishly) that he would pushed his brother out of the room and stayed behind to explained his act to Michael instead of running away. I am glad to read your detailed review because it put things in a bit more perspective. No matter how malicious Zachariah was, it is hard to put aside the idea that he was not the angel of 'the Lord' ^_^ To see him did his surprise attack plus the way he stab Zack which I thought reserve for only bad things was not that easy.
3) =SPOILER Guessing= I think it looked like Adam had a visit with Michael back in the room. We should see development from it.
4) Last question: The end episode that you refer to in this review; would it be possible that that future vision is no longer valid? The colt? Sam and Dean not seeing each other for 5 years? Zachariah still alive? etc. None of these are no longer irrelevant.
I love the episode! Every quotes were great. Agree with the score. Thank you very much for your review!
3 - Huppy
Alice, I loved this 100th episode!
Sam was wonderful, keeping it together, dealing with two unhappy and difficult brothers, and providing the leadership in the episode. He never let his anger get the best of him, although his exasperation did show when Adam disappeared.
I think Dean really did mean what he told Sam in the panic room--that he didn't trust him to say no to Lucifer. Seeing Sam as Lucifer in "The End" really shook up Dean, even though we now know that "The End" will never happen, since Sam and Dean are together and they already know the Colt won't work against Lucifer. And Sam had hurt Dean last year, with his dishonesty and following Ruby's advice. But mostly, Dean didn't have any faith in Sam because Dean didn't have any faith in himself.
But Sam, with his renewed strength, did have faith in Dean, and showed that faith and love. Dean, in not wanting to let Sam down, found the faith in himself he had been lacking.
Zach was a great character and Kurt Fuller portrayed him wonderfully, but it was so satisfying to see Dean kill Zach. Loved it!
I was really glad to see Adam back. Once they introduced a third brother in JTS, I was on-board with the idea--it made sense that John could have another child. So I was sorry that Adam died before he ever met Sam and Dean. I think Jake did a good job with the character, and I hope we see Adam again, even on a recurring basis.
The one who needs to find his faith now is Castiel. We have seen him disillusioned (DSOTM and 99 Probs), and in PONR, Castiel went from angry to without hope. I look forward to his return from the outfield and his learning what happened in the green room. Faith is contagious, and if Sam and Dean have it, then Castiel should also find it.
4 - Baronius
This episode really bothered me. I just feel like every possible sentence with the words "trust", "doubt", "mistakes", and "family" has already been uttered, and this episode didn't add anything. If anything, it set us back a few episodes by wiping out the whole "Dean has doubts" storyline. I dunno, I'm probably just still ticked off that the show is going to have a sixth season, which kind of makes the remainder of this season pointless.
5 - carlotspeak
Haha: Can't help imagine Baronius as 'the Hookman' in The Real Ghostbusters, and me as Becky yelling at him from the back row of the room. Sorry, dear friend. Just kidding you. LOL
6 - Baronius
Carlot - Sigh. I never planned on becoming an internet troll! Every time I see someone complaining about a show they watch, I think "just stop watching it". I think I'm done with the show at the end of this season. It's had some great moments, though.
7 - maguie
Hi Alice your review excellent as always.
I loved the entire episode. but I have a quesion I don't know if you could answer me, you said that the letter that Dean wrote was for Sam, are you sure? cause in other site someone said that the letter was for Bobby, that he or she read that Dean wrote: "for me that makes you a winchester" or something like that, but I tried to read the letter and I couldn't understand anything.
8 - Alice Jester
Thanks everyone for the comments! I'll answer the questions to the best of my ability! Warning, SPOILERS!!
Carlotspeak - Wow great point. I wonder if Michael knew that Zachariah was doomed to fail. He had to have known about Zachariah's short sightedness. I'm still hoping we hear more from Michael before the season is out. I know (SPOILER) Gabriel will be back, so maybe he'll say something.
There must be something more to Dean being able to kill Zachariah. I'm still holding judgment there. Another SPOILER - I heard Adam will be back by the end of the season too. Only because Jake Abel was listed as a guest star. So yes, Adam's story probably isn't done either.
Is the events of "The End" still valid. Oh yes. Very much so. Dean had no idea what led up to those developments. As far as we know, Dean said no, Sam said yes and that's all that needs to happen. Of course Sam and Dean didn't part ways and Dean killed Zachariah, but remember the angels still believe "all roads lead to the same destination." Freewill vs. destiny. There's still much more of that to play out!
Baronius - Sorry for your disappointment. I've had that happen to me with other shows. Sadly, I have had to walk away. I'm sure it can't be that much worse sticking around to see how this all plays out this season. After all, you've put in this much time! The sixth season is a restart. This apocalypse arc will end this season.
Maguie - Supernatural wiki has parts of the letter on their breakdown of the episode (supernatural wiki is the best fandom resource out there). Since I wrote the review, more has come out about it. The letter is definitely for Castiel, Bobby, and Sam. Each paragraph is for each one of them.
9 - Marianne
i agree with all the comments and your review. I think that Dean was so broken inside that he was being cruel with Sam to send him away, to not have to feel any more guilt for saying yes to michael. if Sam would hate him then yes wouldn't be such a difficult answer. I loved how Dean smirked at Sam it reminded me of playful badboy Dean and how he killed Zachariah (by the way why is Dean killing everyone? Zachariah, yellow-eyed demon, the whore? and Sam only killed Lilith which lead to Lucifer rising. Sam needs to kill a bad guy, Dean had killed too many already). I still don't get how can Dean kill angels if only angels can kill angels and why his eyes become so white (which was awesome). By the way did anyone notice that when Michael was about to come and everything started shaking and that noise came, SAM AND DEAN COVERED THEIR EYES BECAUSE THE NOISE OF MICHAEL COMING DOWN HURT THEIR EARS, BUT ADAM DIDN'T EVEN FLINCH? HE JUST LOOKED UPWORDS, HE DIDN'T EVEN COVER HIS EARS. REMEMBER WHEN JIMMY COULD HEAR CASTIEL'S TRUE VOICE? MAYBE ADAM COULD HEAR MICHAEL too