I sat at the keyboard for a while Thursday night, jaw hung open, unable to type a single letter, not exactly how to review this episode. Sure, “Time On My Side” was pretty shocking, but the preview for the next week’s season finale was what did it, turning me into an official mess until then. I eventually could only type expletives like "Wow!", "Whoa!", "Holy @#$*!", and then I screamed my fool head off and found I couldn’t type that.
After a while, and another rewatch, I found the frame of mind to go on. But before I do, I need to get out of the way a happy announcement. In my previous articles about the online Supernatural fandom, I mentioned a fight by fans in Bulgaria to get Supernatural shown on TV there. I received word this week that the pilot episode aired there on May 7, and now Bulgarians get to experience the same joy we do. Congratulations to everyone at Supernatural BG Fans for their successful efforts.
On With The Recap
This episode should have been called “There Ain’t No Happy Ending.” When Rufus candidly spoke those words to Dean, they hit me like a ton of bricks and judging by Dean’s reaction, I’d say they got to him, too. This episode was all about bad endings, but delivered that notion in such a creepy and disturbing way that left me huddled in a corner for a while thinking about puppies and rainbows.
Oh Dean, how do I wonder about all the crap in your head right now. Live or die, you’re doomed. We got a powerful reminder of the eternal torment awaiting him by the second scene when they were interrogating the demon. “A few of us will be at the meet and greet for Dean Winchester.” I was every bit as unnerved by that as Dean was. Later, he leaves Sam behind, accepting after Sam’s defiance that from now on Sam must fight his own battles. Every facial expression conveyed his worry, his uncertainty, but ultimately his trust. At least one of them is showing a sign of letting go. Then, again with more agonizing facial expressions, we see every word that Rufus told him hit way too close to home. “We all got it coming.” Ouch. Finally, after leaving Bela, he accepted the inevitable. He was screwed. All that was left to do was save Sam and get rid of the evil creature while he still could. There ain’t no happy ending.
Damn you show, how dare you make me feel sympathy for Bela after I’ve been pleading for her all season to be gutted like a fish. I didn’t see her having a demon deal coming. I should have given all the clues, but I didn’t. Thank you Sera Gamble (this week’s writer) for giving us something that believably explains her rotten behavior all this time. Ten years of thieving and procuring items just to find something that might save her own soul or protect her. After all that though, she couldn’t save herself, which sets up for next week what has been hinted for several episodes now, its all but hopeless for Dean. Why didn’t she ask Sam and Dean for help? That’s where the implied sexual abuse as a child fits well, too. Children who experience that sort of trauma end up with big trust issues. There ain’t no happy ending.
Article comments
1 - vichi
hi, the episode was really good. Creepy but good. And you are doing a fine job with your reviews. Thank you very much.
Greetings from Roumania:)