Review of Episode 8×05: “Blood Brother”
by castiello

Overall: Very solid, I liked it a lot. I know last week’s ep wasn’t great, and that almost anything would’ve been an improvement, but I think I would have enjoyed this one even without that comparison. It was evenly split between the two brothers (always a smart move), we got more info about both Benny and Amelia, a bunch of monsters got decapitated, and Dean said the word “vampirates.” How can you complain about an episode like that?

Dean: Annoyed at Kevin continually outsmarting them (understandable), and taking it out a bit on Sammy (not nice, but realistic – we all know brothers get that way with each other). Dean defends his attack on Tiger Mommy, which is disheartening – it would be better to see him admit that it was a mistake. I got the feeling he maybe knows that it was, and is just too proud to admit it. If not, then he’s got some soul-searching to do. Dean, remember when you begged Sam not to kill old Yellow Eyes, when the demon was in John’s body? That’s how Kevin felt when you were about to kill his mom…

Where friends are concerned, Dean is still every bit as loyal as he ever was, leaving immediately to go to Benny’s aid. Flashbacks to Purgatory reveal Dean’s continued insistence that Cass come with them through the portal. The “friend thing,” as Benny calls it, seems to define Dean’s actions in Purgatory, as well as on Earth, so what went wrong? Why did Cass get left behind? The not knowing is torturing me…

Nice to see that Dean and comedy are still on great terms: Vampire…Pirates… Vampirates! (“Seriously? It’s like the third thing you say.” LOL). Also thought it was quite funny when he was trying to shush Sammy on the phone, and the off-screen decapitations were a riot—thud, pause, head goes flying.

The little non-verbal communication at the end there with Sammy was probably my favorite scene. The intensity as Sam realizes (I assume via Benny’s body temperature) that Benny is a vamp and begins to reach for a blade, only to have Dean give that tiny little head-shake. Powerful stuff.

Sam: Glad he stuck up for Kevin (and Tiger Mommy)! Hope he continues to try to pound some sense into Dean on that front. I actually thought, when we first heard that knocking sound, that Kevin was going to be there, just waiting for a moment alone with Sam. I can see why Kevin doesn’t want anything to do with Dean anymore, but Sam hasn’t really done anything wrong – if Dean were out of the picture, maybe Kevin would approach Sam for help?

But, alas, the knocking was a defective fan, which segued into Sam’s series of flashbacks. Turns out he was a maintenance man while Dean was gone! Interesting. I see that as more like something Dean would do – fixing things, tinkering with nuts and bolts. I’m sure Sam has a lot of experience at this, though  – he may not know his way around cars, but his family has been staying in crappy motels since before he can remember. He and Dean probably had to repair all kinds of appliances while John was out hunting. I do like that both Sam and Dean, during their “time off,” chose to do constructive things – Dean was a construction worker, building new houses, etc, and Sam was fixing broken appliances so they would work again. It’s like both boys had had enough of killing, so they both selected jobs that would involve creation, rather than destruction.

I liked Sam’s conversation with Amelia – how they were both kind of drifting and alone. Love that he was calling the dog “dog,” and how he said, “No, Dog – don’t bother the angry lady!” That was cute. Also liked his surprise that Amelia didn’t know the name of the manager’s son – to Sam, it is just natural to make this connection with other people, whether he is staying in town for one night, or a month. My main hang-up with his flashbacks and his storyline is that I still don’t buy him not looking for Dean. The more time that goes by without any form of explanation for this, the crazier I get. But, I think that is the writers’ goal this season – to really draw it out and make us wait for the answers we’re craving. As long as it is addressed in the end–in a satisfying, believable way–then I’m cool. But if it’s not addressed…cue rioting fans, complete with torch and pitchfork accessories.

Sam’s reaction to Dean alone in the vamp nest was great – clearly, Sam never stopped loving his brother. Coupled with the flashback about being alone in the world, Sam racing to Dean’s side seemed like Sam was very much afraid of losing Dean yet again…A stark contrast to the indifferent, independent Sam that Dean returned to in season four. And yet, season four Sam had tried desperately to bring Dean back before finally giving up and going after payback. This season’s Sam, as far as we know, did no such thing. Hmmm.

Sam’s reaction to Benny was fascinating – Sam was ready to kill, but stood down at Dean’s head-shake. Dean had already told Sam he was with a friend, and Dean and Benny arrived together on the boat, which would imply that Benny was “the friend.” So, did Sam think Dean didn’t know this guy was a vamp?

Lastly: Sam says all their friends are dead. So, then, what does that make Sheriff Mills – chopped liver with a sprinkling of onions? And what about the lady who helped them in Lawrence back in season one? Has Missouri been erased from the boys’ minds? Yes, most of their friends are dead, but there are still a few people on Earth who would come running to help the Winchester Boys at the first phone call. Let’s not forget about them.

Benny: We learned so much about him in this ep! I actually like him a lot more, now. I see him as different than Ruby because her agenda was so ultra-secret. Benny made his agenda pretty clear from the first meeting with Dean: “I want to ride you out of this place.” Benny’s unhappiness about partnering with Cass was also very clear, yet Benny respected Dean’s wishes, and even helped save Castiel’s life when he had every motive not to.

Turns out Benny lived a lot like Lenore and her nest – he made the switch to donated blood (her vamps lived off of animals), which meant he lived in peace with his girl, Andrea. This is the type of vampire Sam (and maybe even Dean) would have let live, even back in the old days. That makes Dean bringing him back to Earth more reasonable. Dean did not believe Benny would hurt anyone (though there were clearly a few lingering doubts–when Benny said “I messed up” you could tell from Dean’s reaction that he thought Benny just ate someone…). Benny’s plan for vengeance against the vamps that killed him (and killed/turned his girl) was completely justified, and I was glad Dean chose to support him. I could feel Benny’s heartbreak about what had happened to Andrea, and how there was no way to change her from the monster she’d become. Rough stuff.

We got some interesting new factoids on vampires – apparently they can be injured by other vamps, to the point of needing assistance. I thought only dead man’s blood was capable of weakening a vampire that way. We also found out that vampires feel a certain reverence for the one who turned them. I don’t think we saw this when Dean got turned in season six, though maybe it only takes effect after the first feeding. I still expected Dean to mention his own experience as a vampire. Interesting that he didn’t – maybe this is something they already spoke of in Purgatory? Whether Benny knows it or not, I think one tiny part of the reason Dean was able to accept his friendship is because Dean knows what being a vampire is like. He’s been there, and he hasn’t forgotten.

Benny’s best moment in this ep, by far, was the flashback where he saved Cass. Though he had every reason to let the angel die, and could’ve easily made it look like he just couldn’t get there in time to help, Benny chose to kill the Leviathan (awesome special effects on those black, gooey fellas, btw) that was attacking Castiel. This earns Benny some major points with me (even though, as we saw with Ruby, actions are not always what they seem).

Castiel: How great is it to see this guy? Even if it’s only in brief flashbacks, I’ll take what I can get. In this ep he seemed resigned, depressed even – but he was still remaining with Dean and Benny, and there was no indication of them splitting up any time soon. By the end, even Benny seemed on board with the plan. So, how did Dean get from “All three of us are going through the portal, or we’ll die trying” to leaving his winged buddy behind? Inquiring minds want to know.

Amelia: I liked her better in this one. She seemed softer, more relatable. I’m curious to know how she ended up all alone. Her lines about Sam being creepy and army surplus-y were funny, and I thought she and Sam had good chemistry together. I can get behind Sam’s relationship with her, as long as we learn that he did try to find Dean first. That’s a must. I’d also like to know, whenever the show gets around to it, why Sam and Amelia are no longer together – some fans think Dean called Sam after re-entering the world from Purgatory, and that’s what made Sam leave her. Definitely a possibility, but there’s also a chance that it had nothing to do with Dean’s arrival. What else would prompt Sam to leave the life (and the girl) he loved so much?

Overall: Heads flew, the dog continued to be adorable, Sam found out about Benny, we found out more about Amelia and Benny, and the brothers shared some intense, emotional moments. Supernatural, it looks like you’re back on track. (Just keep the flashbacks coming, okay?)

Review of Episode 8×04: Bitten
by castiello

It’s always hard to evaluate an episode that doesn’t focus on either Sam or Dean. Supernatural is so much about these two characters and their journey, that most of the people in my family don’t even call the show by name: my dad (who has only seen a handful of episodes) refers to it as “The Two Brothers,” while my mom simply calls it “The Boys.” (“Let’s go watch ‘the boys!’”) So, when Sam and Dean are minimally featured in an episode, it’s almost like watching an entirely different show. Could be a great show, or a terrible one, all depending on the strength of the storyline and the performances. Here, I think it fell somewhere in the mediocre middle ground.

While watching “Bitten,” I found myself comparing it a lot to the episode “Ghostfacers,” mainly because of the hand-held cameras, and the general lack of brotherly goodness. I know a lot of people were disappointed with “Ghostfacers.” I myself was less than thrilled when it first aired, but mostly because we had a major storyline that year (Dean going to Hell, Sam trying to save him) – plus a writer’s strike that drastically shortened the season – and the episode “Ghostfacers” didn’t seem like a great use of one of the last four eps of the season. That said, when I watched it again a year or so later, I did have a better appreciation for it. There was a bucketful of humor in that one, plus a few genuine scares (watch it alone, in the dark, and you’ll see what I mean) and some heartfelt emotion.

“Bitten” seemed to lack many of the elements that made “Ghostfacers” work. There wasn’t much humor – just a few lukewarm one-liners about Sam and Dean’s “office romance,” and one pretty funny quip that real FBI agents would not say “awesome” that many times. (And yes, Dean, you do say it that often, but please don’t stop – it’s adorkable!) The scares were kinda lacking, too (there should have at least been a “jump” moment here or there). But I think what this episode needed, more than anything, was some emotional resonance. Supernatural has had episodes with low Sam/Dean involvement in the past – stories that were more about a different character than either of the brothers: “Ghostfacers,” “Weekend at Bobby’s,” “The Rapture,” and probably a few more I’m forgetting. The difference is that we had at least met the Ghostfacers prior to having an episode focused on them, and we already cared about both Bobby and Castiel well before either of them stepped front and center for their episodes.

In contrast, we had never met the three students in “Bitten” before. And, while it is possible to introduce new characters and have the audience quickly begin to care for them (look at Ronald in “Nightshifter,” or Molly in “Roadkill”), it’s a difficult thing to pull off, dependant on both excellent writing and some serious acting skills, and in this case, at least for me, the connection didn’t happen. I didn’t feel like we got to know any of these kids very well. The relationship between Michael and his girlfriend seemed rushed – we saw them meet and flirt, then in the next scene they were sleeping together! I know it was a documentary, and not every single moment was shown, but still…if you’re going to show them meet, then show them fall in love. Otherwise, just have the relationship already established and don’t waste time on the meeting scene.

Another quibble: As with most hand-held camera “movies,” I have a hard time believing that people would still be holding onto the camera – much less pointing it in the right direction – during some of these events. I know some of the cameras were planted/stationary, and that helped, but not enough.

There was some cool stuff about werewolves introduced in this ep. If I understand correctly, anyone within four generations of the Alpha Werewolf is considered a “pureblood” werewolf. A pureblood can change into a wolf at will, is not controlled by moon phases, and does not black out or completely lose control during the shift. That is an interesting tidbit that could be put to good use in fanfiction.

More werewolf notes: This is the only time the show has done werewolves since season two’s “Heart.” Our lycan friends were mentioned–but never shown–in season six, and personally I was kind of glad. Werewolves are my absolute favorite supernatural creatures, and, fittingly, “Heart” is one of my favorite episodes of the show. Through wonderful writing and acting, the audience made a connection with Madison right along with Sam, and when the ending inevitably came, I found myself crying right along with Sam and Dean. That was actually the first (though definitely not the last) episode that made me cry. The storyline in “Heart” so beautifully mirrored the boys’ arc for that season: Sam’s fear of turning evil, Dean’s promise to kill him if he did…

“Heart” was Supernatural at its best. “Bitten,” unfortunately, was not.

I was a little more emotionally engaged by the werewolf teacher – more experienced actor, giving a stronger performance – but he was hardly in it. I wanted to know more about his story, how he kept himself in control for so long (and what eventually made him snap) but we didn’t get that story. Instead, we got a story about three college students making a (sometimes boring) documentary. I appreciate what the writers and actors tried to do – third-wheel jealousy as a motive for extreme actions, love as a motive for protecting a murderer – but it just didn’t quite land.

As far as Sam and Dean’s limited appearances: enjoyed every single one of them! The final scene between the brothers, for me, was the real “money” scene. Sam, as usual, wants to let the girl werewolf go – she can control the change, she hasn’t hurt anyone, and she plans to survive off of animal hearts. Sam then looks to Dean, fully expecting an argument – but Dean doesn’t give one. Instead, much to Sam’s surprise (but not the audience’s), Dean agrees: “Let’s give her a chance.”

John raised his boys to hate all things supernatural, and Dean soaked up that lesson like a brand-new mop. But now, Dean has a bond – maybe even a true friendship – with a vampire, and it seems to be changing his view on monsters in general. Dean, maybe for the first time, is thinking more like Sam always has: in shades of grey. Is this the end of “Shoot first, ask questions later”? And what will Sam have to say when he learns about the reason behind Dean’s post-Purgatory change of heart?

That, I’m looking forward to. More episodes with low Sam/Dean involvement? Not so much. This episode was a semi-intriguing experiment with some cool moments, but not one I’d be particularly interested in viewing again. I’d much rather watch “The Boys.” They’re what I tune in for.

Review of Episode 8×03: Heartache
by castiello

Overall: Our first stand-alone of the season – yay! I actually liked the storyline of this one—the whole organ donor/Mayan warrior/heart-eating stuff. It fit together nicely, and I like that they mentioned the professor guy who helped with the Amazon women last year (Nice subtle flicker of emotion from Dean, at the mention of the case that involved his monster-daughter). I also liked the Betsy character in this ep—her story was touching (in a weird way) and her performance was emotional. Good stuff. There was gore and humor and one Sam flashback (I need way more of these), plus the boys talked about their futures, just like the old days. Once again, it felt like a genuine episode of Supernatural, and I think it was Jensen’s best directing job so far (he’s getting better with experience). That said, however, I do have a few bones (already salted and burned, I swear) to pick with this episode, and the season thus far.

Dean: Dean is still on a warrior high from Purgatory. He is in love with the hunt, happy to be doing it, and happy to have Sam by his side. It’s nice to see Dean this way—very reminiscent of season one. (Both boys, actually, seem to have come full circle, but more on that when we get to Sam.)

What I’m not so thrilled about is the continuing hypocrisy Dean exhibits towards his little brother—I’m still not seeing how Sam choosing a normal life with Amelia is any different than Dean choosing a normal life with Ben and Lisa. There were still monsters out there, killing people and committing all sorts of atrocities, while Dean was playing house for a year in Cicero, Indiana. Why is it acceptable for Dean to take a break, but not for Sam? I kept expecting Sam to bring this up (and defend himself a little!), but then I remembered that Dean said he’d break Sam’s nose if Sam ever mentioned Ben and Lisa again. So, I guess Sam is just respecting Dean’s wishes (and trying to keep an intact face) by not bringing Dean’s “other family” into the argument. Still, Dean could have some self-awareness. Dean shouldn’t be mad that Sam settled down – Dean should be mad that Sam (apparently) settled down without even trying to find out what happened to Dean and Castiel! That’s a legitimate issue I would have no trouble backing Dean up on, and maybe that’s what the underlying issue is – he’s just expressing it as annoyance that Sam temporarily gave up hunting (and wants to do so permanently).

Sam: Lots of interesting things going on with him in this one. The progression of his character is fascinating to track. It seems as though, like his brother, Sam is returning to familiar, “season one” territory. Sam wants to have a chance at “normal.” He wants to give up hunting and go back to school, like he wanted to do for most of his life. He is willing to do this one last mission (find Kevin and banish the demons), but then he’s done. This is so much like the first season, it’s almost identical: Sam was willing to go along with Dean to find their dad (and take care of the demon that killed Mom and Jess), but after that, he planned to be done with hunting.

After John died, of course, Sam went through some changes—partly out of guilt, he re-evaluated his life and decided maybe he did want to hunt. The brothers were so wounded and grief-stricken in season two, they relied on one another more than ever, and there wasn’t much talk about separating in the future. Then Dean sold his soul, and Sam’s main focus for the next year was saving his brother. We also saw Sam begin to harden as he braced himself for Dean’s death. By this point, Sam seemed entrenched in hunting—there were no thoughts of giving it up, just of how he would continue to hunt (and survive) without his brother. And then the worst happened: Dean died, and Sam became the cold-blooded hunter we glimpsed in Mystery Spot. The sweet, sensitive Sammy we all knew and loved was gone, replaced by a demon-blood- and power-addicted hunter whose superiority (and derogatory attitude towards his brother) were hard to watch.

Redemption came in season five, when Sam showed remorse for his behavior in season four, and the brothers (after a brief separation) worked together as a team to stop the apocalypse. In this season, Sam got a taste of “normal” in the episode Swap Meat, and declared that he wanted nothing to do with it. “That kid’s life sucked,” Sam said, indicating that he would much rather be hunting than living some boring, ordinary existence. However, Sam’s version of Heaven said otherwise: As the afterlife experience revealed, Sam’s happiest moments are the snatches of normal he got in his lifetime—Thanksgiving dinner at a girlfriend’s house, and the time he ran away and adopted a dog. There is no Dean – or John – in Sam’s Heaven. So, to me this indicates that deep down he still wanted normal, but given the circumstances – the world was ending, and Sam (whose fate was tied to Lucifer’s) likely wouldn’t survive the final battle – Sam chose to bury these feelings and embrace the life he had, since it was all he would ever live to know.

But, Sam did survive, after all. His soulless self chose to hunt solo (no surprise there – soulless Sam would have no interest in a family, normal or otherwise), and then his re-souled self chose to continue hunting with Dean. Though Sam may have been longing for normalcy again at this point, there was no real indication of it—he seemed mostly focused on redeeming himself for his soulless actions, plus helping Dean deal with an ongoing monster/angel/demon crisis. Then season seven came, with a new crisis: Leviathan. That, and Sam had mental stability issues, courtesy of the devil. Both of these things likely put normal off the table for the foreseeable future.

Now, though, the Leviathan seem to be under control. Sam’s mentally stable, and normal is—quite possibly—within reach. But not for the first time–Sam keeps saying that with Amelia, he experienced something he never had before. This bothers me because he had a life at college, with Jess, that I would consider pretty close to normal. For four years, he turned his back on hunting and studied pre-law. He had a live-in girlfriend and college buddies.

If, in last night’s ep, Sam had said, “I found something I haven’t felt since Jess,” then I would have no problem with it, but it feels like the writers are kind of ignoring that part of his history. I know for Sam it’s been a very long time since college (seven years of show, plus two year-long time-jumps, plus a couple hundred Tuesdays in the Mystery Spot (and another sixth months following the Wednesday when Dean died), plus about eighteen months (or about 180 years, Hell-time) of his soul being in Lucifer’s cage)—okay a REALLY, REALLY long time…But still, I think Sam would have to have some memory of his time with Jess.

My only other issue with Sam (and his current desire to stop hunting) is that we still don’t know why he didn’t look for Dean. I need for the progression of events to be believable, in order for the emotions to ring true. I can believe that Sam drove off in a panic after Dean disappeared. However, at some point not too long after that, the Sam I know would have pulled himself together. He’s a bookworm, so he would’ve started doing research on God weapons to figure out what happened to Dean and Cass. Sam would’ve called Sheriff Mills and gotten her help checking for unconscious John Does who might’ve turned up at nearby hospitals right after the blast. Sam would have contacted angels and even demons, trying to gain information on what had happened to his brother and Castiel. Then, if and only if Sam’s research determined that Dean and Cass were either dead or irretrievable, Sam might have believably given up the search and settled down with Amelia and Riot (cute name).

So far, the show is not portraying the events this way, and it’s a disservice to Sam’s character. I still have hope that flashbacks will reveal that there’s more to the story than Sam’s told Dean so far, but the hope is starting to fray a little. I did like the flashback in this ep, with Sam’s panic at not knowing where Amelia was, and the sweet little moment with the birthday cake (though I don’t believe for a second that it’s his first cake–surely either Dean or Jess (who baked cookies to welcome him home after only two days away) would have celebrated Sam’s b-day with some form of cake–even if it was just a hostess cupcake with a match stuck in it).

In all honesty, I like the idea of show coming full circle—of Dean wanting to hunt and be with Sam, and Sam wanting to go to school. I think this could be a great arc for the final season (if that’s what this is), finishing with Dean accepting Sam’s decision and letting him go his own way, and Sam finally getting the life he always longed for. I just can’t get past the Sam-not-looking-for-Dean thing, and until they explain it in some reasonable way that’s true to Sam’s character, I can’t quite embrace where his character is now. And I want to! I really, really want to feel the show like I did in the old days, when the bad moments hurt like they were real…

I hope we can get there again. In the meantime, I’ll hold out hope for more flashbacks, more explanation, and more brother-moments (because those are the heart of the show).

Review of Episode 8×02: What’s Up, Tiger Mommy?
by castiello

Overall: Very solid—even more so than the previous episode. I’m comparing this season a lot to season six (the last time someone new took over), and so far it’s comparing favorably. This actually feels like Supernatural, whereas many episodes at the beginning of season six did not. That’s not to say they were necessarily bad episodes—they just didn’t match the tone and format I had come to expect from the show. Sera Gamble seemed to take a while to find her show-running groove. The vibe I’m getting from Jeremy Carver is that he has a strong vision for the season, and he’s confident in his approach—both very good things.

Dean: Wow—lots of interesting stuff for Dean in this episode! This was the first time I’ve ever watched him threaten/torture someone and seem like he was really enjoying it. When Dean tortured Alistair in season four, Dean was clearly miserable—his heart was not in it one bit. When Dean tortured demons in season six, interrogating them for Lisa’s whereabouts, he was serious about his business and obviously knew what he was doing, but never seemed to take any joy in it. But in 8×02, when they showed the flashback to Dean interrogating a creature in Purgatory, there was this light in his eyes, this reverence as he handled the knife…I felt like we finally got a glimpse of what he was like as Alistair’s apprentice in Hell. Some powerful acting from Jensen.

As far as present-day Dean—he was fierce in this one. I like how they inter-cut the two interrogation scenes, and how shocked Sam was at Dean’s violent methods. I, for one, totally agreed with Dean that they should leave Kevin’s mom alone. She was safe where she was, and Crowley had no reason to harm her. I thought Dean should’ve stood his ground, and Sam should’ve backed him up. However, then we wouldn’t have gotten to meet Tiger Mommy, who totally rocked the episode!

The main thing for Dean in this one, besides his ultra-sharp, extra-violent Purgatory instincts, was Kevin’s statement that Dean uses people until he doesn’t need them anymore, and then just lets them die. While this statement isn’t exactly correct, there is some truth buried in there, and I don’t blame Kevin for what he said (especially considering Dean almost slit Tiger Mommy’s throat). People around the Winchesters do die in horrible, bloody ways. This isn’t Dean’s fault or Sam’s fault—it’s just the nature of the job.

However, Sam and Dean (particularly Dean, in this ep) do seem to view some people as more expendable than others. Remember good old “Devil’s Trap,” the season one finale? Sam had the chance to kill Yellow Eyes right then and there, but wouldn’t because it would have meant killing John, too. So tonight, if Crowley had been inside, say, Bobby or Poppa Winchester or even Sheriff Mills, I don’t think Dean would have been prepared to kill any of those people the way he was prepared to kill Ms. Tran. When it’s a stranger, it’s easy to put the good of the many over the good of the one, but when it’s family, saving the family member takes priority. Is this a good thing? I don’t know. I think Sam and Dean do need reminders sometimes that strangers have families, too, and that lives are destroyed whenever an innocent person is killed, no matter who that person is.

Sam: I loved him in this episode! He was sweet, sensitive, sentimental Sammy, whom we all adore. He was kind to Dean at the end (I love it when they’re nice to each other). Plus, he really rocked the awesome charts using Thor’s Hammer and doing that clever reverse exorcism. Cool stuff, and some great lines, too: “Where’d you get the five eighths of a virgin?” LOL. No flashbacks for Sam this time around, but I’m hoping maybe next week. As long as the writers keep the focus of the episodes split pretty evenly between the two brothers, then the fandom as a whole should be pretty happy. I remember in season four, when it seemed like Dean was getting more focus, and the Sam fans were NOT HAPPY. That was the first time I had ever heard fans speaking negatively about Dean—even making fun of him and calling him a jerk–and I was traumatized! I think the writers learned something back then, and hopefully that lesson stuck: Both boys have fans. Both boys need to have their own storylines (and episodes devoted to these storylines) in order to keep the fans happy. No good can come from favoring one brother over the other!

Kevin: Very cool, and lots of fun as always (loved him whimpering through getting his tattoo). I understood his desire to see his mom, but Sam and Dean really shouldn’t have caved on that front. There is a reason why the most emotionally-involved person shouldn’t be in charge of making certain decisions. I definitely could appreciate why he bolted at the end—I probably would have done the same thing, considering how badly Sam and Dean’s plan went wrong. The only question for me would be: If it was possible to memorize the tablet (or at least what Kevin had already identified as the most important passage: how to banish demons) then why didn’t Kevin memorize that part as soon as he ran away with the tablet, before he stashed it away?

Tiger Mommy: She was by FAR the best part of the episode! Stole the whole show, as far as I was concerned. I loved her sitting there, tough as a boulder, while she got her tattoo. I love that she took so much of what happened in stride, and was determined to protect her son no matter what. I especially love that she bid her soul—what a mom! I’m so glad she survived the episode, so she can perhaps come back and rock again. Everything about the actress’ performance and the writing just made this gal impossible not to love.

Crowley: His “smoke” is reddish—I never noticed that before. Great lines and great performance, as always. I didn’t realize he didn’t have a soul—I thought the black (or in his case, reddish-black) stuff was the demon’s soul, all tarnished from being in Hell. Crowley used to be a human, so he did have a soul at one point. Maybe by now it’s all burned away? Interesting. In any case, I love that’s why he lost to Ms. Tran—she was willing to give up everything, and Crowley, of course, was not. To him, everything would probably be his position and/or his power, and I can’t see him giving up either of those things for any reason. Maybe when his kingdom freezes over…

Benny: Only in flashbacks this time around. He seemed loyal to Dean and helpful, but we know he needed Dean at that point. We’ll see how things play out, now that they’re both walking free.

Castiel: Okay, by far the most traumatic part of the episode—particularly the final flashback. I have no idea what was going on, but it seemed like Castiel was screaming for help and Dean left him behind. That’s what it looked like. We got a nice reunion scene between Dean and his angel, a reasonable explanation for why Castiel abandoned Dean in last season’s finale, a pledge that Dean would not leave Purgatory without his winged buddy…and then we got the last scene. Bad. Very bad. Let’s hope there’s an explanation that does not make me hate my favorite brother.

Final thoughts: Good stuff. I’m intrigued, entertained and a little horrified. I want to know what did happen and what will happen, and I’ll definitely tune in to find out. Keep up the good work, Season Eight!

Review of Episode 8×01: We Need To Talk About Kevin
by castiello

Overall: A solid ep. A few new elements and characters were introduced (second tablet, Amelia, Benny, and the dog (yes, I’m counting the dog as a new character—he’s cute!)). It felt well-balanced, though—not over-stuffed, like the season six premiere, when it seemed like the writers were just throwing tons of stuff at the screen, hoping some of it would stick. The pacing here was good, and the storyline that was set in motion (a way to potentially lock up all demons forever) was epic enough to last the whole season, and would even make a good wrap-up for the series, if this happens to be the final season (I’m spoiler-free, so I have no idea if that’s been decided yet).

Dean: Loved his “arrival” back on Earth, scaring the crap out of a couple of campers. I figured it was him, so I wasn’t particularly worried for them. He did seem totally like he just came out of a war zone–shell-shocked, covered in blood and dirt, and completely on edge. I wondered what was wrong with his arm. Then they showed it pulsing and glowing and I thought Castiel was inside it somehow, but I couldn’t figure out why Cass’ (or Jimmy’s) remains would be on Earth. And then…Out popped Benny the Vampire! And they hugged and everything. Benny called him “Brother.” Very interesting.

I thought the reunion with Sam was pretty great. There was a certain comedy to it that worked for me, because we’ve been here SO many times. Back in season four, the “brothers reunited/back from the dead” scenes were still genuine tear-jerkers, but at this point, it’s almost ridiculous. The fact that the show acknowledged this with a bit of humor really made the scene shine.

Dean is an all-business, rarin’-to-go hunter in this ep, which fits the life he led in Purgatory. I loved the scene where he was looking into the vending machine at all the candy bars. Like Benny said, “So many choices…” Really, the main thing I didn’t like about Dean in this episode was his judgmental attitude toward Sam. How is what Sam did with Amelia any different than what Dean did with Lisa? It’s the same situation, so Dean’s attitude didn’t make sense. The only thing I agreed with Dean on is that Sam should’ve made some attempt to locate Dean/get Dean back before giving up and choosing the normal life. It was a little hard for me to believe that Sam would not do this, and I hope that, through flashbacks, this behavior will be explained.

Sam: He seemed kind of meek in this episode. Softer and more domesticated, much like Dean in early season six. The way he stroked the dog was very sweet. In the opening scene, he appeared to be trying to sneak out in the night, and yet his girlfriend, Amelia (Is she the veterinarian they showed later? It was dark, I couldn’t see her face that well), was awake and aware of him leaving, but did not try to stop him. If they had broken up earlier that day, why was he leaving in the middle of the night? I hope they show more flashbacks to illuminate this situation—how the relationship developed, why it ended, and whether it was a coincidence that it ended right when big brother Dean came back to Earth. (Sam DID have psychic abilities, once, remember?)

Sam didn’t seem to give in to the guilt trip Dean tried to send him on (which is nice—it shows Sam had made peace with his decisions), and yet was reasonably willing to rejoin Dean and pick up the hunt for Kevin. I’m definitely curious to see where Sam’s head is at right now. I think we need more flashbacks, and I’m hoping we get them. The flashback to bringing the dog into the vet was brilliant—I loved Sam’s desperation and devastation: everyone he ever loved was taken from him…and then he hit a dog. You could feel how hitting the dog was the last straw, how close to the edge he was, how badly he needed one thing that he could actually fix. It showed a great contrast to the calm, at-peace present-day Sam we saw for much of the episode, and reminded me of the episode “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” which helped me reconcile an emotionally-disconnected season four Sam with a Sam who had just lost his brother. These time jumps are difficult for my brain to handle, and the more flashbacks we get explaining what shaped the boys’ current emotional states, the better.

One final note about Sam: It was interesting that Dean, who’s been fighting non-stop in Purgatory for a year, couldn’t beat his demon without help, and yet Sam, who was completely out of practice, vanquished his demon with little-to-no difficulty. I’m not sure what to make of this, whether it was some kind of statement that Sam is a more natural/better hunter, or if I’m just reading too much into an action scene. Given the storyline, it would have made more sense if Dean just totally beat the crap out of his demon and then went to help Sam, rather than the reverse.

Crowley: He still calls Sam “Moose.” How can you not love this guy? =) Glad he’s back, as always, and I’m even more glad the focus is back on our old, familiar nemeses—the demons. Season six’s “monsters behaving badly” arc didn’t work for me, and the Leviathans have always seemed just a little bit cheesy to me. Demons can say funny things (like “meat suit” and “I’m wearing a pediatrician”) and still be pee-your-pants scary. The Leviathans, for me, somehow crossed that fragile line and became more silly than menacing. I’m not sure why, but if they are out of the picture and demons are back front and center, I won’t be complaining.

Kevin: Is it just me, or does he rock even more this year than last year? I always loved him and the innocent nerdy-ness he brings to the show, but he was off-the-charts awesome in this episode. It’s clear how much he’s learned, and how much he’s grown, and I’m glad he’s got an important role to play this season.

Amelia (??): I get the feeling she’s the vet, but I’m not sure. If she is, then I have a problem with some of the things she said to Sam. It was clear from Sam’s distraught state (and the fact that he brought the dog to a hospital) that he did not mean to hurt the dog. Not many people intentionally hit dogs on the road. Her guilt trip did not ring true, and I didn’t find it realistic that a vet would try to force someone who had just hit a stray dog into adopting the dog. I think it was supposed to come across as tough love, but it didn’t work for me. And I’m NOT one of those girls who hates any potential love interest for one of the brothers. I loved Jess, I loved Sarah, I loved Jo, I loved Lisa. Heck, I even liked Ruby and Bela. Right now, though, not that impressed with vet-lady. Hope that changes through more flashbacks and a better understanding of her character. Also, if Amelia is not the vet, then I apologize to her character!

Castiel: What the heck happened down there? Where are you? We need you back! I can’t survive a season of this show without my favorite angel…

Benny: Oooh, one of my favorite parts of the show, and definitely the most intriguing thing about the episode for me. Dean has a secret Hell-Buddy. Or rather, a Purgatory-Buddy. They hugged and everything. I always wanted a storyline where somebody Dean really bonded with in Hell (like a brother-bond, not a torturer-victim/master-pupil bond, as he had with Alistair) came up to Earth as a demon and interacted with Dean. I wondered how those types of Hell-bonds would play out once Hell was no longer a factor. And now we get to see a very similar storyline involving Purgatory, so I’m mega-excited. Dean let this Benny dude go, likely knowing full-well Benny is going to eat the first person he meets. So un-Dean-like. I need to see more of what they went through together, and how this bond formed. Keep the flashbacks coming!

Final thoughts: Dean: I love you but stop guilt-tripping Sam. Sam: I love you but please explain why you didn’t try to find your brother. Crowley: Never change. Kevin: Keep rocking. Castiel: Come back. Benny: Tell me more. Vet-lady: Be nicer. Dog: Stay.