Bravo, Jared and Jensen! I hope that working to exhaustion to nail these roles was worth it in the end. We are certainly gracious.
Everything Else
One other scene made me cry as hard as the Sam/Mary scene. When Bobby pulls the shotgun on Sam and Sam calls his bluff, I held my breath during the entire drama, not knowing how this would play out. I just about died when Sam tells Bobby he's not going back and moves the barrel of the shotgun to his heart, challenging Bobby to shoot while both of them tear up. This is also another great display of Sam's instability as he grabs the gun and knocks Bobby out. I love his regret over what he did, throwing down the shotgun in frustration before driving away. This Sam and Bobby showdown lives up to everything we could have imagined.
Things aren't going well for our resident angel either. Castiel is torn apart by his own internal conflicts when ordered to release Sam from the panic room and when he turned in Anna and her voice of reason over to other angels. Interesting to see how that's gonna play out.
Ruby really duped Sam with the Lucifer's first demon story. What she described, how Lucifer “twists and tempts a human soul into the very first demon," that sounds like Sam, not Lilith. Sam, so blinded by revenge (or what he's justifying as justice now), makes the jump to Lilith. Methinks Ruby is setting up Sam to break the final seal. They didn't leave out the Lilith legend about eating babies though. I'm bothered now, thanks for that!
The honeymoon suite? That's awesome that for once Sam steals a nice car and stays in a nice room. Funny how Dean figures out anyway he'd do the opposite.
Notice how Bobby is drinking whiskey? I guess there's something about Winchester brother strife that pushes him off the wagon.
I wish we could have actually seen Rufus Turner. I guess there are already too many guest stars in this episode.
As far as character development goes, this episode earns an A+++. The episode as a whole gets an A, knocked down only for some weaker paced Sam/Ruby scenes in the hotel room. Season finale next week. I'm already warming up my curses for Mr. Kripke.
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Article comments
1 - Emma
Great review Alice, I agree this episode was intense and showed just how far our little Sammy has changed. It showcased Jared's talent and Jensen played off of him perfectly. I wasn't as shocked when Sam knocked Bobby out (I was sure as Hell mad though) but not surprised. He's a junkie needing his next fix. The twitches and uneven breathing in the motel room showed that perfectly. I agree that I think Sam is Lucifer's First not Lilith. Ruby is a manipulative bitch and is playing Sam like a fiddle.
Dean was heart breaking as usual and he looked like a trapped animal when he made that deal with Cas and the angels- he did it for Sam. Even with all the lies and secrets and demon's blood turning his brother into a M word Dean still gave up everything for him.
I was shocked that Cas let Sam out. He is really conflicted by the orders he's been given. Nice to see that all that "ass reaming" in Heaven didn't completely take hold, there's still some of 'our' Cas in there somewhere.
The hallucinations were fantastic. I agree completely with your analysis. Something else people picked up on was the way each of those characters were portrayed: Alastair was bathed in golden light- probably to show Sam what he could become. Little Sam was pale, dark and very washed out- maybe to show how much of this sweet innocent child he has lost, as it slowly dies. Mary wasn't her normal angelic self either, she was portrayed as a bloodied human. This was interesting because she has been put on a pedestal by the Winchester men all series and Sam sees her as a human, but I guess that helped with the human emotion she gave Sam, something he needed. And of course, then there was Dean. This scene has me in tears. Jared was amazing. He really knows how to work those puppy dog eyes of his. Dean attacked him right in the heart by calling him a monster and I've always said Dean represents Sam's conscience, this scene seemed to prove that. Sam knows what he's turning into but his tunnel vision, and the demon's blood is clouding his mind and moral compass. He's willing to sacrifice himself and his humanity in order to exact revenge, oh excuse me, we're calling it justice now. He's losing the battle, let's just hope Dean can bring him back before they loss the war.
Em
2 - tina
Wonderful review Alice.I cant say anything you havent and the boys acting was phenomenal esp Jared and to finally get inside Sammys head was so heartbreaking but it showed how damaged he has been since losing Jessica.
Just fantastic.
3 - elle2
I love your opening bit here, especially about how this cannot be taken at face value. Repeat viewings are critical and that is part of what makes it so phenomenal. As expected the pre-season finale is awesome and sets the stage for not only the finale but for next season. They've been sprinkling in some things between The Rapture and now this and to be sure next week.
I'm really, really, really, really hoping Eric answers some questions and gives us a glimmer of hope...that may be too much to ask for since last year he killed Dean and showed us a sobbing Sam and a tortured Dean so no doubt he's looking to up the ante this season. Argh!
I really like how Sam's story which has been subtle but building all season long exploded here. It's not that different from Dean finally admitting he wanted to be saved from hell and then finally realizing that he had to pay the price...that took time to come about as well.
I'm still a mess over all that happened here and will be reading your review again and again to gather my thoughts more. As I've done before, I'll likely spend some time trying to figure out where and how it all gets put to right...I have faith though that damaged, frayed, dented and torn it can be put back together...heck, we saw the Impala brought back from almost total destruction...right? Anyone? Help?????
4 - vichi
oh, once again you did it! amazing review Alice! I loved the episode and Jared was excellent in that one. Jensen always is but now was Padalecki's time! speechless now...
5 - Baronius
Very interesting interpretation of the Lilith/Lucifer story. I hadn't thought that it might represent Sam.
6 - Andrea
Your reviews are awesome. I thought it was the saddest episode ever. Never imagined to see the boys fighting each other like that. Yet it was intense and powerful. Jensen usually gets the most attention for his performances but Jared was particularly outstanding in this one. He made an incredible job as the tortured and addict Sammy.