Review - Supernatural 10x21 "Dark Dynasty" - Goodbye our Queen

Charlie is dead and that’s as sad as hell. So very sad. But like many before her, she sacrificed herself so the Winchesters – or in this case, Dean Winchester could live. Like the two men she loved and called brother have done, she chose to sacrifice herself for family. And as she stood facing down death, knife in hand, knowing that her final choice would probably save Dean’s doomed soul, her ultimate act of brilliance, of genius, of strength, became an act of selfless heroism. She did for a man she had grown to love, what she knows he would have done for her. Charlie is a hero.

I wanted to start off this week by getting that off my chest and making it clear that this is how I feel.  By making it clear that this is how I see Charlie’s death. And I think to say, or to conclude that she was only killed because of her gender diminishes not only that death and the focus and power we were witness to her mustering in the final moments of her life, but also who she was as a character. She was more and deserves to be remembered as more. She was Charlie Bradbury, she was brilliant, and damaged, and intricate, and loving, and funny and so many other things. She was a character many of us related to, I related to her, but she was much more than simply a representation of me, or of my fandom, because once again to say that was all she was, and that was her sole reason for being, diminishes her.

Did she die to progress the Winchester’s narative? Yeah, I’m sure she did. Just like every other character close to Sam and Dean who has died before her. Because this is the story of the Winchesters, and no matter who the other characters are, no matter how much we love and adore them, no matter how much they may become personal favourites, they are satellites in the Winchester Universe and their stories circle, intersect with and are ultimately driven by the journey of Sam and Dean Winchester, because that is where this story starts and ends.

Charlie Bradbury wove her way into the Winchesters' hearts and lives...and in the end, she chose family, and isn't that kinda the point?

“Dark Dynasty” was once again all about families, and it had me on the edge of my seat from the first moment – probably because I was expecting Charlie to die, but also because of the damn lie that was festering and hanging over Sam’s head. Every time Sam said Dean was getting more out of control, I thought to myself, “No Sam, it’s you who is getting more out of control!”

As we’ve seen in the past when Sam has been focused on saving Dean, he loses himself. This time around, he’s not sleeping, he’s sneaking about, his lies are getting harder to cover, his judgement is getting worse and worse – bringing Charlie in, no matter the good intention behind it, no matter the angelic security he installed around her, when he knew her connection to the Book of the Damned and the fact that she was already being hunted, put her in further danger. 

It was only a matter of time until Dean caught on to Sam’s deception. He was already getting suspicious. Cas and the one-armed Styne just accelerated the process.

When Dean finally confronted Sam I think I stopped breathing for a moment. Man, Sam’s worried and “Oh God, he knows” face, Dean practically growling, waiting to see if Sam would come clean, pushing on, practically taunting Sam…his “Sam you answer that so help me” when the phone rang…holy cow that man can be terrifying. Big ups to Jensen and Jared for that scene, it was damn well amazing.

The rush to Charlie’s aide – I knew by that stage they were going to be too late, I just knew it – but when they found her – well by now I had stopped breathing. Sam’s reaction was so visceral, it’s one of the best things I’ve seen for ages – he nearly threw up. After everything they’ve seen and done, seeing Charlie like that, was too much for even Sam Winchester to stomach. And Dean’s plaintive “Charlie?” broke me. I sat and stared at the TV for quite some time after the episode finished. It was a hard damn ending. One of the hardest.

This is what the brothers lying to each other does. It’s more than the damage it does to their relationship; it’s the collateral damage to the people who trust them that is the real price. Sam for Charlie, Dean for Kevin.

But it's also important to remember the real culprits. Eldon killed Charlie, Gadreel killed Kevin. That's where the blame truly lies.

But I have to say – other than the yelling in the bunker, I felt like it was a different Sam and Dean we saw here. The confrontation was angry and frantic sure, but Sam telling Dean that Charlie loves him, that they all love him was so very unexpected. And I loved it so much. Dean Winchester has been told he’s loved a lot this season – we know he’s heard it, I hope he had his ears on this time too. I can't stand the thought of another emotional rift between them - I feel like we've worked so hard to get to a place where the brothers seem like they actually like hanging out together!

Outside of Charlie, and the lying – which I’m so glad is over and I’m so glad Dean knows everything now, I dug the Styne reveal – even if when one-armed Eldon said Frankenstein, I couldn’t help thinking, FRANKENSTEEEEN! (Really, if you haven’t seen Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, you should!) But that aside, I thought oooooo, I didn’t see that coming! I like the introduction of this other supernaturally connected family. I wonder if they have a form of Doc Benton’s science going on – but better, because they don’t look all weird and stitched up!  Well I guess Eldon’s tummy didn’t have the finest work!

The thing with the Stynes, which makes them so very different to the Winchesters, is that with the Stynes, their loyalty and sacrifice comes via fear, ambition and pride, where as with Sam and Dean, it comes via love and devotion. And that right there is the winning difference.

I think the Stynes are in deep shit. Dean Winchester is going to go Mark of Cain on their preppy clad asses and they’re not going to know what’s hit them. Arrogance and pride can be blinding and I think they’re about to be side swiped by one very angry, immortal man.

It was good to have Crowley back in the mix, and damn if I don’t love that hamster witch! I love that Crowley still has her in her little cage and that he apparently speaks rodent! I want to know whose name is on that piece of paper and what happens next for Crowley – I must admit I fear a little for his life – whether at Sam’s hands or at Rowena’s.

I’m also fearful for Cas’ life. The whole “what’s your purpose now” thing makes me worry that his purpose may well be linked to Dean’s survival. He’s going to feel horribly guilty about Charlie. Though it’s not like he could simply zap to her side, he would have to have gone in the Cas-mobile and as he had no idea where she was, unless she was actively praying to him, how would he find her? And as Charlie and Cas had only just met, she probably didn’t know the ins and outs of how to contact an angel.

I did wonder when Rowena said that she read Charlie from the get-go did she read more than just who Charlie was, but also what was going to happen to her? She put it rather succinctly that loving the Winchesters would be Charlie’s undoing. That was the moment I knew they’d kill Charlie, when I saw that clip in Carver’s preview. 

I’ve grown to like Rowena. She’s less annoying and far more interesting now and I’m just waiting for the big reveal of what’s up her epically draped sleeve – because I’m pretty sure she’s been playing Sam to get her hands on something in that book.

Yeah, I thought “Dark Dynasty” was a cracker, even though the ending was brutal. It upped the stakes another notch and still left me wondering where the hell we’re heading. And by wondering, I mean panicking!

And yes, Charlie died, and sure, I wish she didn’t. And I sure don't underestimate the impact that has had on a lot of people who love this show. I liked Charlie, and she meant a lot to all of us in different ways. I will miss her and her wonderful personality, and I will miss what she brought to and out of Sam and Dean – that honest mirror she held up in front of them, and the gentleness she brought out in them. And of course, I will miss Felicia Day. But if Charlie’s death means that Dean lives to fight the forces of evil another day, I’m pretty damn sure Charlie would be cool with it. We’ll just have to wait and see how her sacrifice plays out - because we don’t know what’s coming next, we don’t write this story and we can make assumptions and predications all we like, but until it’s happening before our very eyes, we don’t know.

Anyway as Sam said last week, in their line of work, death isn't always goodbye.

Here’s hoping.

Peace out, Charlie.

-sweetondean