So far, that is where I am with Dean. Yes, he is hardened—but he’s been tempered in a terrible fire. To my mind, it didn’t start in Purgatory. Dean knows exactly how Kevin feels because he too was torn between his personal need to save someone and his hero’s responsibility to save the world. His personal arc has always had these two impulses at odds with each other, coming to a head in season five.
In that season, Dean’s personal hell came to pass—he had to not only allow, but actually help, his little brother destroy himself in order to avert mass destruction. The personal cost of being a hero is horrific—but Dean had to pay it, as, of course, did Sam. Having faced the pain of helping his little brother throw himself into Hell to be tortured by Lucifer for eternity, Dean knows how to focus on the big picture even when there is a personal price to be paid. Kevin has just started down his fateful road. Sam and Dean have travelled it for a long way.
But the side of Dean that is protective, that reaches out to people, is still there to stir his conscience—and to prevent him from turning into the kind of monster Gordon became even before he was turned into a vampire. Being able to see the big picture is necessary for Dean, but not at the expense of cutting him off from his humanity. I suspect his arc this season will explore how Dean finds a balance between the two.
I’m loving the start of this season so far. I’d love to hear what you think!
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Article comments
1 - Tina
Actually I disagree we didnt follow Sam's pov in season 4 and alot did lose sympathy for him but thats another story.But I do agree with Dean it is different and we will not have a problem understanding where he is coming from .Sam on the other hand is different so it remains to be seen what Jeremy Carver,s idea is.
Thanks for the review Gerry.
2 - Pooj
As long as they show Castiel in every episode I don't care what story line they follow...
3 - a
They aren't going to show Castiel in every episode; he's only scheduled to appear in 8 out of 23.
4 - Gerry
Hi everyone! Lovely to see you here.
Tina, I take your point that everyone reacts to story lines in their own way. I had no problem keeping sympathy for Sam in season four, because we got to see why he made the decisions he did and he always was trying to do his best. He had flaws which Ruby manipulated, but everyone has flaws.
I am looking forward to seeing where Carver is taking Sam this season. I'm a little surprised with where we are starting with him, but then I've been surprised with Supernatural before. I think Carver has already addressed some issues I had with the storytelling last year, so I'm not rushing to any judgements over Sam.
Pooj, as a commented, Castiel is so far only supposed to appear in 8 episodes, though that could change. It's great to see him back!
5 - Marie
I am not liking this season so far...I think that they are making Sam out to be a douchbag when he is not. He would have never just turned tail and not looked for Dean. This show is not all about Dean...it is the relationship between the brothers that I fell in love with and right now I see none of that in this season. I worry this arc is going to ruin my favorite show for me.
6 - Gerry
Hi Marie, I think many people share your surprise that Sam didn't look for Dean. I do myself.
However, I'm a long way from looking at Sam as a douchebag. I think we'll get many more looks at Sam and his headspace and how that affects his relationship with Dean.
I hope the season picks up for you. I think Jeremy Carver is bringing a lot to the table, so my hopes are high.