Review - Supernatural 10x02 "Reichenbach" - Pick a Side.

You know I love Supernatural, I always love it, it’s always fantastic fun to watch, even when it’s breaking my heart. I love it. But you know that. 

Then every so often an episode comes along that reinforces for me exactly why I love this show so much. An episode that makes my heart keep racing for long after its finished. That makes me yell stuff at my TV. Talk in caps on Twitter. Clap my hands and yell out “OH MY GOD!” randomly to my empty lounge room. Yep, you know those episodes? Reichenbach was one of those episodes. Reichenbach was our show at the top of its game.

Last week, I mentioned how I didn’t feel engaged with the angel arc that was introduced in episode one of the season. Well scratch that. This week I damn well loved it. 

I love Hannah and the lessons she’s learning as she watches Castiel and how he so affectionately deals with humanity. As my friend said to me, she’s like season four Cas, baffled by the surprise in three-bean surprise, taken aback by the kindness of a stranger, touched by the interaction of someone fast becoming a friend and a hilariously precocious child. She stuck with Cas because she likes him, he’s in trouble and she wants to make sure he’s okay. As Cas said, it was a very human thing to do. Last week she was exposed to what humanity meant to some angels, this week she was slowly starting down a path of understanding. I loved every second of it. 

Just as I loved every second with Cas. Misha Collins has such a way of making me care deeply for his character. Cas has made monumental mistakes in the past. He’s made deals to serve his own best interests under the misconception of the greater good. He’s seen what such foolish deals can do, the devastation they can cause to his life and those around him. He doesn’t want to go down that path again. He doesn’t want to trade his survival on a bad decision. Just as he won’t let another angel die so he can live. He’s sad and tired and running out of time. But the options are not options for Cas, and I liked how steadfast he was in that decision. Of course, part of it is about him thinking he must pay pennants for his past digressions. He, like his friends the Winchesters, carries an incredible amount of guilt. I don’t see him as being a martyr, I see him as understanding that the paths open to him that would fix his problem, are paths that he’s no longer willing to take. Once he may have, but he has learnt that nothing good would come of it. He’s come a long way. I’m liking the hell out of this Cas.

Castiel’s interaction with the little girl was a delight. Very special snot maybe one of my favourite things he’s every said! And having Hannah watch him, having the helpful stranger point out to Hannah what a great guy he is, was lovely. Both these angels are on a path of discovery and I’m already enjoying their journey. I wonder where this will go? What will their relationship become? How will Castiel be saved? I’m interested. For the first time in a long time, I’m genuinely interested in the angel arc.

Seeing Metatron was a joy too. As much as I detest him for killing Dean, he is so fun to watch and Curtis Armstrong obviously has a blast portraying him. I’m glad that Cas managed to stop Hannah before she took Metatron at his very doubtful word. The fact that she was willing to go to such lengths was a clear indication of how much she cares for Cas. And now we know there is some of Cas’ Grace left around somewhere. Do you think Grace regenerates? Like if there’s only a little of Cas’ Grace, but when it gets inside him it repairs itself? Like how Salamander can grow back a leg! Somehow someone is going to have to come up with a plan to find that Grace and get it back into our fading angel. I love how Metatron was in a straight jacket by the way!

We found out more about Cole’s story. He’s a vet who has not only been damaged by what he went through at war, but also by what he went through as a child when Dean Winchester killed his father. Ever since he was 13 he dreamed of hunting Dean down. He took Sam in the hope he would lead him to Dean. Sam tried to connect with him, tried to tell him the truth about what’s out there in the dark…well now he knows, because he met it and had his ass kicked by it. 

I think the actor portraying Cole, Travis Aaron Wade, is doing a bang up job with this character. I’m interested in him. I want to know why Dean killed Cole's dad. Was he a monster and Cole didn’t know? How will this whole scenario work itself out? I mean, surely Dean won’t kill the son too…down the track somewhere. I can’t imagine that happening. Cole’s studying up on demons now, but somehow I feel like next time he meets Dean, that information may no longer be relevant to the problem at hand.

Crowley, as usual was delicious to watch and if it weren’t for Jensen Ackles’ masterful performance as Demon Dean, he would have stolen every scene. I don’t trust Crowley. Not one little bit. Has he really been put on the back foot by Dean’s unabashed disregard for the King of Hell? I had to wonder if this using Dean as his personal assassin was really what Crowley was keeping Dean around for…or was there more. Well, he obviously likes Dean a hell of a lot. I think he was more hurt/angry than angry/angry when Dean failed his first mission for his supposed King/buddy. But I can’t help but feel that maybe the landing on his ass and whatnot was all part of some elaborate ruse. Remember how he faked scared in front of Cain? Yeah, I don’t trust him.

Crowley now has the First Blade. I’m glad it’s out of Dean’s hands…but we know that man is going to be jonesing for it something shocking, and Crowley has it. I wonder if he’ll make a play with it to try and get Dean in line? Because with Dean retaining the Mark, the Blade will always be a threat to his humanity. I feel like it all went down way to easy. Way too easy. I feel like everything here was some kind of manipulation for another one of Crowley’s nefarious plans. He was keeping tabs on Sam. He knew he was close. Yeah, I don’t trust the bastard. Seriously though, “Lonely Girl” was the perfect music cue for a heartbroken Crowley! I laughed out loud. I’m laughing as I write this! Crowley gazing longingly at his old bestie and him having a grand old time, wearing cowboy hats…man, so funny. What this demon has up his sleeve will make me lose sleep…and what was the “something else” he needed to share with Dean? What was that? Troubling.

Which brings me to Dean. 

Where do I start! Let’s start with; I think this may have been some of Jensen Ackles’ best work. Simply outstanding. Out. Standing. His Demon Dean is everything I want and don’t want him to be. If we had any doubt as to how far down the demon track Dean has gone, we don’t anymore. He was calculating and cruel. Every little half smile, every smirk, every hollow laugh hammered home how twisted inside Dean is. He was magnificent in the best and worst possible way. I’m in love with him, and I absolutely do not want him to stay. Because the more damage Dean does now, the more he has to live with down the track.

But I’m so torn! Because everything about Demon Dean is so compelling I could watch him tearing up the place for hours. He toys with everyone like a kitten with a moth. Seeing how he was with the ill-fated Lester. Seeing him kill him like that, with that slight smile. It was chilling and wonderful all in one! That sounds so wrong, but it was such an amazing scene with such brilliant dialogue. Gosh. Tip for new comers…never call Dean Winchester a freak, whether he’s human or demon he will give you a beat down…or you know, stab you! Demon Dean smiles a lot more than Dean, but there’s nothing behind it but brutality. 

I loved when Dean turned on Crowley. Just pushed that bit too far. As he slowly spun around…his face! Dear Lord, that face. And then BAM! Crowley’s on his butt. Once again, Jensen…so good. Crowley was spot on with his assessment of Dean not knowing where he fits. Jensen did another fabulous job of making us not sure where Dean ends and Demon Dean begins. You can see Dean in there, even if it’s only in the way he talks. He is after all, still Dean. But he’s not wholly Dean, and he’s not wholly Demon. At least he wasn’t. But I definitely got the feeling that by the end, Dean did what Crowley suggested and picked a side. “I’m a demon.” That’s the first time we’ve heard him say it out loud. 

His face off with Sam may go down as one of my favourite scenes ever. Dean ice cold laughing at Sam passionate telling Dean that he will save him, that they will fix it. And Dean making fun of the puppy eyes! Stop! I can’t even imagine how hard that would’ve been for Sam to hear. I know how hard it was for me to hear. And then to learn that this was all Dean's choice. He wasn’t forced into the demon life by Crowley. He chose to go. He chose to embrace it. Ouch all around. And Jared's face. He killed it in this scene. Like Jensen, he's rocking it so hard this season. Every one of Sam's emotions dance elegantly on Jared's face. No words need. We understand the pain through his silence.

But the kicker was in the car, when Dean told Sam about how letting Cole live was the worst thing that he could’ve done to Cole. Icy. And then…just to make sure none of us could sleep that night, he said the Impala is “just a car” and implied at the horrors he will inflict on Sam. He will show Sam no mercy. I can’t help it, I love every single moment Demon Dean's on screen. Jensen Ackles is a master. He’s plays bad so good.

And Sam…I love this Sam so much. He will not give up on his brother and I love him for it. Passionately. He looks broken and tired and a physical wreck (helped in part by Jared’s actual injury and resulting weight loss), but he will not give up. And he stands toe to toe with his demon brother and comes out on the winning side…for now, because he’s got a bomb riding in the backseat of the car that's primed to go off as soon as it can slip the cuffs! It’s so scary. Way scarier than monsters of the week. This is downright terrifying! 

I can’t wait to see Sam cure Dean. I hope it’s him that does it. I’m looking forward to that a hell of a lot. I know some people are hoping Demon Dean stays around for a long time. Personally, I think we’ve got 1, maybe 2 episodes left with this character (though of course, I could be totally wrong). And even though I'm enjoying the hell out of Demon Dean, I think that will be okay. Because what do you do with this story? Have Dean as a full-blown demon roaming the country killing and maiming as Sam tries to save his soul? How does either of them live with the aftermath of that? Demon Dean is brilliant and I’m having a blast watching him, but really, the interesting thing is what comes after this. How will Dean deal with what he’s done? But more importantly, how will he live with the Mark of Cain. Will still need that kill? Will it have forever changed him? And how will Sammy deal with what he did to rescue his brother? How will they both deal with that? How will that effect them personally and their relationship? Will this be a fresh start for them as brothers – having now both experienced what it’s like to see the other side of the coin? These are the stories that I’m looking forward to seeing and having Dean being a demon for an ongoing period of time is not going to get us to the really juicy, deep, relationship stuff. So yes, I love the demon, I love every, single second of him, but it’s the story beyond him that’s going to be deeply satisfying.

I wanted to also mention a couple of technical things, beyond the amazing performances by the entire cast. The two fight scenes that bookended this episode were a masterclass in direction, choreography and editing. The way the scene with Dean at the bar and Sam and Cole in the barn were intercut. How the music was used. It was bloody brilliant stuff. The direction of this episode was stellar. The final fight scene between Cole and Dean was more like watching a dance than a brawl, it was so beautiful. And every lingering shot on Demon Dean’s face as his expression subtly shifted revealing his hand sent chills. I was particularly struck by Cole’s scream in frustration – that was a lovely touch from the actor.

The script was beyond delicious, with some of the sharpest dialogue we’ve seen in a while. Whether it was Dean’s cavalier and menacing comments or Crowley’s one liner retorts, it was sassy and packed a punch in all the right places. And it had the best pop culture reference I think the show has ever done… “What did you think was going to happen, huh? You just stroll up here and say, 'My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.' And I'd just roll over?” Quoting The Princess Bride. FOR THE WIN! Andrew Dabb gets all the awards for that one!

Reichenbach was Supernatural at its triumphant best. Everything about it sung. Every moment hammered home the dilemma of all the characters. Every harsh line out of Dean’s mouth cut us to the quick. Everything hurt so good! It packed so much into its 40 something minutes, but never once felt rushed. I think it was one of the best the series has done and for me, became an instant favourite. I couldn’t wait to watch it again…and again…and again. Bravo, Show. Bravo. I am so proud of you and so proud to be your fan.

Now, I can’t leave you on such a serious note…I mean, you must all be wondering…why hasn’t she talked about how hot Demon Dean was! It’s pretty much the talk of the town at the moment, right? People whose allegiance lies with other characters are even wobbling under the steely gaze of Demon Dean’s green/black eyes. Well, I’ll sum it up like this. After the episode, I asked the fandom on twitter if anyone else felt like they needed a cold shower after watching Reichenbach, and I wasn’t even being factious! Seriously, if I smoked, I would have lit one up! Personally I think this may have been the sexiest episode the show has ever done, and there was no sex and everyone was fully layered up! But hot damn! This episode smoked off the screen. Some of the dialogue and the way it was delivered…well, I could see the fan fiction writing itself. (Not by me though). And Demon Dean… Demon Dean. Yeah so, Demon Dean maybe the hottest creature ever to grace this earth. Pretty sure. Pretty damn sure. Yep, just when you think Dean can’t get hotter…Demon Dean comes along *fans self*. Thank you Jensen Ackles, you are a gift.

Next week we get more! We get to see the episode Jensen directed, including the cat and mouse scenes between Sam and Demon Dean in the hallways of bunker. I can’t wait. Whatever the outcome, I can’t wait. I really can’t. I’m wishing my life away for a new episode!

Season 10 has come at us with such power. Season 10. Season. 10. Just… This show.

Let me know your thoughts and as always, thanks for taking the time to read mine.

-sweetondean

The Light on Spoilers, Heavy on Squee Preview of Supernatural 10x02 “Reichenbach”

Gosh. Here we are already at episode 2! It only seems a minute ago we were all anticipating the start of the season! And seeing as we were all left with a jaws hanging with how 10x01 ended, let's get to 10x02 mighty quick!

THEN

Dean and Crowley are howling at the moon...kinda. Well Dean is howling at karaoke! And drinking, a lot, and doing that thing with the thing with the local bar waitress! He's also hiding out from his brother and definitely embracing his new life as a demon.

Sam is desperately searching for the missing Dean, who, initially he thinks is being worn as a meatsuit, until he discovers his brother is actually alive. But before he can get to Dean, he's waylaid by a dude called Cole, who was hoping to use Sam as leverage against Dean, who he has some big time issue with. Miscalculation! Fandom is left reeling as Dean explains, Sam got himself into the mess, he can get himself out. He's not going to save his brother, he doesn't care (*tiny voice* but, but, Deannnnnnn it's Sammy!) However, Dean does promise to kill Cole the first chance he gets.

Cas' Grace is fading fast and he's staying in a sleazy motel room and coughing up his guts! When Hannah shows up at his door, he closes his gown and hits the road with her in her mission to get Heaven back on the right track...it doesn't go according to plan!

Crowley has, like so many of us, fallen hard for Dean Winchester! He's also playing Dean, or grooming him, or who knows what, but it's something! Unbeknownst to Dean, he's putting demons in Dean's path so Dean can kill them to control the Mark. Or so he says. I have a feeling his true intent is yet to be seen!

NOW

Gulp! Shit's about to get real! Again!

Let's take a look at the synopsis!

“Reichenbach” 

CROWLEY TELLS DEAN THE MARK NEEDS TO BE FED — Crowley (Mark Sheppard) notices Dean (Jensen Ackles) is becoming more and more aggressive. Dean tells him that’s the side effect of being a demon, but Crowley knows it’s something more - the Mark of Cain needs to be fed. Meanwhile, Sam (Jared Padalecki) is captured by Cole (guest star Travis Aaron Wade), an angry man who blames Dean for his father’s death years ago and wants revenge. Cole tortures Sam, hoping he’ll tell him where Dean is hiding. Hannah (guest star Erica Carroll) sees how weak Castiel (Misha Collins) is becoming as his grace continues to fade, so she makes a bold choice and asks Metatron (guest star Curtis Armstrong) for help. Thomas J. Wright directed the episode written by Andrew Dabb (#1003).

"Reichenbach" has another stellar team driving it, with Thomas J. Wright at the helm, who has directed 8 episodes of Supernatural, including last season's finale, (*wibble*) and Andrew Dabb at the pen, who has been with the show since season 4 and whose episodes have become fan favourites.

So Metatron...we meet again! YOU KILLED DEAN! YOU BASTARD. Oh sorry... Can Metatron help Cas? Will he? What will be his deal if he chooses to help? This sounds like a highly dangerous angle to take! 

Wait, you know what, I'm actually going to get straight to the promo...because there's stuff in the promo that's not mentioned in the synopsis that I hope is in the episode!

"Whatever I want" Oh mannnnnnn. I feel Crowley is about to see the real Demon Dean Winchester! And he's not going to be quite as friendly as he's been. And sorry...but the way Dean says, "Whatever I want" is SMOKIN'! Guh!

But let's talk about the Sam stuff. Eeeeeep! And Eeeeeee! And Eeeeeek! I'm so excited for Sam and Dean to come face to face. Even though it looks so very hard to watch, I can't wait to watch! Geesh, Show! Look what you've turned me into! Yeah, looks awesome. Dean is so cold and flat and Sam is so determined - and all broken with that sling, man that really amps up the vulnerable doesn't it? I have all kinds of feels watching this promo. Like. All. Kinds.

We know that episode 3 is the big bunker showdown, so I wonder how we go from here - to there? And I wonder how Sam gets away from Cole! Not that I doubt his skills for a moment. And does Cas drop everything and come to assist? I mean, half broken Sam and barely an angel Cas...doesn't sound like much of a match for amped up by the Mark super-dooper demon Dean! I repeat... Eeeeeep! And Eeeeeee! And Eeeeeek!

By the way, Dean was smart to travel with his own fog machine. Nothing says bad guy like a good cloud of fog to emerge from! :D

Okie dokie....the sneak peek!

Sweet Lord of the Rings! Those black eyes are so wrong and bad and wrong and SO GOOD! Phew! Is it warm in this sneak peek?!

I don't trust Crowley. I wonder what else is going on. What's he up to.  I'm pretty sure this is more about controlling Dean. Leave him be and he goes all uber Demon and Crowley will have no way of containing him and his evil awesomeness. I mean imagine if he ended up with that red zapping power that Cain had!

But I think Crowley is about to come a cropper in his friendship with Demon Dean. And by that I mean land on his butt...see above! :D He may have the warm and fuzzies for their buddy road movie, but it sure don't look like Dean does.

I want Dean back to being Dean, but damn am I going to enjoy this Dean in the mean time! I mean... LOOK AT HIM!

Also, did you notice that along with a tiny umbrella, Crowley's drink has a tiny trident. Clever, Show.

I'm as excited about this episode as I was about the first episode of the season. I think I'm going to be like this until we get through the 200th episode. So you better get used to my squeeing! As hard as it is to watch Dean be so uncaring, it's something we've not seen from him before and I'm already enjoying the hell out of it for that reason. Also hotness reasons. And I'm loving this Sam. All, I'm not leaving my brother alone out there, Sam. It's delicious!

If you missed my review of last week's episode - yes I wrote one - you can read it here.


Hang on to your feels everyone, the bumpy ride continues!

Let me know your thoughts and theories!

Have fun! And enjoy the episode!
-sweetondean

Review: Supernatural 10x01 "Black" - Sinners and Heartbreakers.

It was a long hiatus. And then we kind of got spoiled!

We had an amazing retrospective special, looking at the last ten years of our magnificent show. With Kripke, Bob Singer, The Carver and the boys, along with Misha and Mark, reliving memories and waxing lyrical about what they think makes our show so special. It was amazeballs. I may have cried. Alright, I did.

Then we had the season 10 premiere episode, which was made even more awesome because it was accompanied by randomly hilarious tweets by our twitter newbie, Jensen Ackles! I was at work. Freaking out. Luckily his tweets were so obtuse they didn’t spoil me! Because I couldn’t resist the lure of looking at them! Who can resist the lure of The Ackles!

By the time I got home I was positively salivating! I switched everything off and switched myself on to absorb the glory of a brand new episode of my favouritist show and I prepared to get punched in the feels. I was excited, I couldn’t wait, and yet somehow I was dreading it. How Supernatural!

But the most important thing… I wasn’t disappointed! OH MY GOSH, so not disappointed.

Episode 10x01 “Black” was a very personal season opener. We took at long, hard, and sometimes unsettling look at where our central characters are at, with the emphasis being, of course, on the Winchester brothers. There was no big bad, unless you count the big bads living inside our guys! There was no obvious mythology. It was just about Sam and Dean and Cas and Crowley. And in that way, the episode allowed us to catch up with these characters we love so much, without worrying about getting a whole lot of new. All we had to do was worry ourselves sick about these guys! And worry I did! Supernatural is at its best when it allows its characters to have rich external and internal lives and for us to bask in both. “Black” gave us this. And it was a cracker.

For many of us, it was the plight of Sam and Dean Winchester which had us champing at the bit for this season to get underway!

When we last saw Dean, he had those damned black eyes! That was not so much the thing that left me practically catatonic for 5 months, it was the other thing. Dean was also dead.

When we last saw Sam he was desperately trying to summon Crowley, unaware that just down the hall, Crowley was spiriting his not so dead brother away.

Who Dean was going to become in his afterlife life, under the influence of the Mark of Cain and possibly Crowley, had been much teased. I felt like we got an unprecedented amount of chatter about Demon Dean from the cast and writing team. Everyone seemed helluva excited! Me amongst that everyone! And when we first got a glimpse of this new incarnation of Dean, it was fantastically squeeworthy! He was singing karaoke. In fact…it’s worse than that (or maybe better), he was singing Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy”…..which was actually kind of appropriate because it’s so TRUE! Guh!

I freakin’ loved Demon Dean…but probably not for the reasons you think. Sure, the singing, shagging, pantsless, carefree – as in not giving a shit kind of carefree – Dean had a lot of charm but it was the weird blurred line between what was Original Dean and what was this new Demon Dean that I found fascinating.

When we were told this would be Dean on steroids, they weren’t kidding! Many of the aspects of Dean’s personality were there. The boozing, the chicks, the violent edge, the who-the-fuck-do-you-think-you’re-talking-to attitude, the angry, hurtful comebacks…it was just that those were turned up to 11 and everything else was on mute! He truly is a demon/human hybrid. Maybe we should call him Hybrid!Dean!

But as I watched this new carefree Dean Winchester, I was struck by how sad this situation really is. This man who has cared so much, who has carried so much guilt, so many burdens, the weight of the world on his shoulders for so long, is now free of all of that, but at the cost of his humanity (at least, most of it). Part of me thought, well it’s good that he’s getting a break from all of the crap I guess, but most of me thought, a-wahhhh!

Watching Dean drink himself into a stupor… yikes. There’s something so sad about Demon Dean. As fun loving as he was on the outside, his emptiness on the inside made the fun seem so false. The thing with Demon Dean is, he’s supposed to be having a great time, a blast, drinking and sleeping around and annoying fellow bar patrons, but to me it didn’t look like fun at all and he didn’t look like he was particularly enjoying it. The drinking looked like he was drowning something out or drowning something within himself. All his actions still spoke of self-loathing. Demon Dean is not as carefree and he wants us all to believe. Poor baby.

I found myself wondering whether he was feeling anything. Crowley specifically told him that he was throwing Abaddon fanboys at Dean to ensure the Mark of Cain got fed and that Dean didn’t go full blown demon – though I think the scenario is more likely, to ensure Dean remains demonic – remember Cain could give up The Blade and live a good life - and there were moments when I wondered, if he’s not full blown demon, is there still some Dean left inside Dean.

When Anne Marie rebuffed him and gave him a pretty spot on piece of analysis, Dean didn’t shrug his shoulders and blow off her diatribe, nope…he did what we’ve seen Dean do in the past, he let loose with the most hurtful thing he could think of in retaliation for her stinging him. But who was he really condemning, himself or her. His disdain for himself still seems palatable, particularly in that moment. 

I did feel like Dean may have liked Anne Marie –maybe - just a little - at least as much as capable right now. He was obviously not a selfish lover, I mean he did that thing with the thing (tell me what it is!) and though he warned her not to get too attached (that could just as easily have been Original Dean speaking), he was still pretty light with her. He seemed almost touched when she bought him water, and when drunk and vulnerable, he asked her to go away with him. It was when she rejected him that he lashed out. But then when she left…he looked pretty sad about the whole thing. Demon Dean is a conundrum!

And like Dean, it seems Demon Dean can’t stand to be alone. But whether he was truly craving companionship, or simply just there, Dean’s relationship with Crowley seemed to be a bit of a one sided affair. These too have become such a joy to watch as they banter back and forth. But here it seemed pretty clear; Crowley has become a little too fond of Squirrel…to the point where I think it’s clouding his judgement as to who this Dean really is! Crowley cares (he does just want to be loved, after all), but Demon Dean most definitely does not. The imbalance in the relationship was super obvious when Crowley was trying to talk Dean into taking demon life a bit more serious and help out with ruling Hell. “Pass”. Fat chance, Crowley! Crowley is trying to manipulate Dean and I’m pretty sure Dean’s knows it, but just doesn’t care enough to care.

Then there was also Dean’s face when Crowley told him he’d just spoken to Moose. Dean quickly turned around and there was no way you can tell me he wasn’t just a little bit interested. Sure, maybe he was worrying that Sam was hot on his heels and he was going to have to split – not that he did, he just kept drinking and sung more karaoke! But Dean most definitely sat up a little straighter when Crowley dangled that one in front of him. (Seriously though, I can’t wait until he punches Crowley in the face!)

All these moments were what made Demon Dean so delicious for me. It was the not knowing. The not knowing where Dean ends and Demon Dean begins. It was smart writing, but an even smarter performance from Jensen. If you didn’t look too close, it seemed like Dean simply having a wild old time…and then it didn’t.

But it’s the final scenes of Dean in the car, talking to Cole on the phone and disregarding his brother’s safety; that showed how truly chilling this new Dean is. And if we had any doubt as to how far removed he is from the man we love; this scene put those doubts well and truly to rest. He was frightening.

I wasn’t surprised Dean didn’t go to help Sam. Why would he? For a start, he no longer cares, right? But also, there’s the fact that he knows Sam is trying to find him and “fix” him, and why would Dean want to be fixed? Why would he want to go back to what his life was before – full of darkness and guilt – when he can live this life, doing what he wants when he wants, with no responsibilities or regard for others (soooo sad). It totally reminded me of Soulless Sam, when Dean tries to explain to him that humanity = suffering and Sam was all, why the hell would I want that then!

What did surprise me was that Dean answered the phone. I was surprised by his comments to who he thought was Sam, that he’d left a bar tab open for him. This wasn’t exactly angry and hostile! I was surprised that he bothered to ask if Sam was dead or alive. Straight off the bat, when he knew Sam had been taken; it was Dean’s first question “Is he dead?” All of this gave me a little bit of hope that something of Dean continues to live, buried deep inside – which is maybe why Demon Dean is not quite as happy-go-lucky as he outwardly seems.

When he told Cole that there would be no trade, no nothing, just the 100% guarantee that somewhere down the road, Dean would kill him, the viewer was left to surmise, was Dean saying that because Cole was threatening to kill Sam - or because Cole was after Dean? I was left wondering again…how much of Dean was still in Demon Dean?

I think it was wonderful that the audience was left to make its own decisions around the motivation behind some of Dean’s behaviour and whether Demon Dean is still affected by just a pinch of the humanity that makes Original Dean who he is. The whole thing was damn well delicious. I loved it. LOVED IT!

But nothing. Nothing ever. Nothing ever in forever and ever and ever, could really prepare me for Dean not caring if Sam lives or dies. Nothing. Like. Ever. Admittedly, Dean does know Sam is perfectly capable of taking care of himself – but that cold, dead stare out the car windscreen… Geesh! It will haunt me (until the next episode).

Oh Sam. Sammy… My God, he went from terrifying to so tragic in the space of minutes. The opening scenes as he tortured Dar, show how far down the slippery slope Sam has already gone. By the way, someone pointed out to me that he was not torturing Dar with the demon knife. Interesting. That face of his we were left with just before the new title card. Eeeek! Scary Sam is scary!

We’ve see Sam go darkside on the hunt for Dean before, in “Mystery Spot” and to a degree in, “I Know What You Did Last Summer”, but what was a little different here was that Sam was not only laser focused on finding his brother, he was also so obviously heart broken and destroyed. Oh my God, he was so sad and every time I saw him I wanted to reach out and hug him! When he’s sitting with his broken shoulder, pouring over his laptop and notes… ugh. When he rings Cas all excited because he thinks he’s found a clue… uggggh. When he goes to the Gas N’ Sip and sees the black eyes of his brother looking back at him from the CCTV… UGGGHHH. When he finally gets a hold of Crowley. OH. MY. GOD. Crowley knew exactly what to say to Sam…outside of the epic burn about hitting another dog (did anyone else feel like that was some kind of acknowledgement from the show?). Crowley knew that talking about Crowley and Dean’s friendship, everything that he now has with Dean that Sam no longer has, was like jabbing a hot poker into the gapping wound that’s Sammy’s heart. The way Jared played that whole scene was amazing. I wasn’t sure if he was going to cry, scream or throw-up, the emotion was so real, the pain on his face, so damn real…I literally grabbed my chest.

And the way Sam stood in Dean’s room and read the note that Dean left him on the pillow! *wibble* How many times do you think he’s read that note? And he put it back again…still all folded, just how Dean left it. Oooooooooh! My cries!

I said I was going to count how many times Sam said “my brother” in this episode (I didn’t because I’m lazy), because he said it over and over. I LOVE THIS SAM. He was smart with the phone tracer thing (though maybe Crowley was smarter…bastard) and he was 100% focused on getting his brother back, no matter what it took.

But he looks so broken in his sling... Sammy you’re really hurting my heart big time!

Of course, the thing that's massively interesting about what Sam is going through and doing right now, is it’s pretty much a mirror of what Dean went through and did at the beginning of Season 9. Okay, Sam’s not trying to shove an angel into Dean, but at this point, I wouldn’t put it past him. But what Sam is doing is disregarding Dean’s wishes in an attempt to save him. He’s not listening to Dean’s “It’s better this way”, he’s not paying attention to Dean’s “Sammy let me go” note. He's doing what Dean has always done, anything he can to save his brother – no matter what.

On the other side of town – or wherever he is – Dean is experiencing something that Sam has experienced over and over; what it’s like to lose the ability to control who you are. Dean did not ask to become a demon, he did not ask to be brought back to life, this was something that happened to him because someone else, or something else, took control of the situation above Dean’s wishes. Something that’s happened to Sam numerous times.

These boys are walking in each other’s shoes and I think this is going to go along way to building a bridge of understanding between them. I like this more than I can put into words! It makes me all trembly with anticipation! Squee to infinity and beyond!

The only part of “Black” that left me a teeny bit flat was the angel story.

I like Cas. I care for him. I want him to be okay. Last season’s arc for Cas was wonderful and it made me care for him more than I have since probably season 5 – definitely season 5. But the arc they opened with for him this season, for me, felt a tad slow and didn't light me on fire.

For a start, I found it a tad bewildering. I wasn’t sure why Cas wasn’t speaking up on behalf of Fishing!Angel. Cas understands choice. He understands free will. He values both. He feels emotions. He understands humanity (mostly). He loves humanity. He’s learned from us (for good and bad). But when Fishing!Angel was stating his case, Cas was surprisingly mute. I wanted Cas to back his play, but he didn't - at least not straight away.

Hannah I got.  I liked her last season, but this episode, hmmm not so much! But I understood her motivation. She wants the anarchy in Heaven and the killing of angels to stop and the only way she believes that can happen is by everyone towing the line.

I’ve always said that the show introduces too many random angels. Fishing!Angel and his girlfriend had purpose in setting up Hannah’s and Cas’ differing positions and introducing these concepts to Hannah, but I hardly knew ‘em, so when one died and the other split, I could give two shits really...

Though what was interesting to see was that Cas did the kill, when Cas actually agreed with him - which was a fascintating problem for Cas to face.

I feel like this arc could possibly have been better served if introduced in episode 2. Let Cas’ fading Grace and how he's struggling with that, and his relationship with Sam and his concern for Dean take centre stage initially. To be honest, I would have preferred to have seen Cas lying around in his robe coughing, than have to scratch my head over why we care if Hannah is getting nauseous on car trips! Which was a little odd.

I did enjoy the conversation between Hannah and Cas in the car, post the incident with the angels. I liked what Cas said and that you could see that Hannah was mulling that over and I can see that going places.

But hey…it’s just the beginning and I’m more than willing to wait it out to see. And you know, I'll own that I'm always most interested in the Winchester's story.

Not that this tiny bump took anything away from the episode for me. I totally dug “Black”. It had so much yummy goodness to chew on! The plight of our four main characters and their struggles with who they are, or who they are becoming made for some fascinating storytelling. Sam and Dean were particularly compelling as usual, and I can’t wait to see how the rest of this all plays out. How each one of them deals with the choices that they’ve made that have led them to just a hint of what we’ve seen so far. Like I said, Supernatural is at its best when it allows its characters to have rich external and internal lives, and this was some of the best character work I’ve seen on the show for a while.

Just a couple of other little things I’d like to mention. 

As much as I found Demon Dean sorta sad, I can’t deny seeing him play foosball, sing karaoke, being partially naked after doing that thing with the thing (TELL ME!), forgetting his pants…I can’t deny all that was not only awesome, but damn well sexy as hell. Jensen looked like he was having blast! And I appreciated the hell out of every moment of it.

Big props to Gas ‘N Sip guy! He made the most of his small role. The way he said “Did I do a field interview? No.” made me want to high-five him!

I'm interested to find out more about this Cole dude and what exactly he holds Dean responsible for - and how long he'll be alive!

What happened to Sam's shoulder? I wondered if we'll find out. I joked that it must have happened in Omaha, because it felt that mysterious!

The Road So Far was brilliant. Pat Benatar? YEAH BABY! “You're the right kind of sinner to release my inner fantasy” COULD THAT LINE BE ANY MORE PERFECT?

And the title card… LOVE! It’s so pretty!

Next week’s episode looks petrifying and fabulous! Sam and Dean face off! AND I CAN’T WAIT!

OMG OUR SHOW IS BACK! IT’S BACK WITH A BANG! IT’S BACK AND IT’S AWESOME AND I’M SO HAPPY I’M YELLING!

What did you think? Did you like the episode?

Thanks for reading!

-sweetondean

Bonus Demon Dean doesn't care

The Light on Spoilers, Heavey on Squee Preview of Supernatural 10x01 "Black"

It's been 5 long months. 5 very long, arduous months! But we hung in there and got through it together. And now... HIATUS IS OVER. IT'S OVER, GUYS!

Welcome to the first preview of Supernatural Season 10. Doesn't that have a hell of a ring to it? Season 10!

Okay...here we go!

THEN

Dean died.

DEAN DIED

DEAN DIED!

Then this happened.

This has been such a hard hiatus!

Yes, Dean died. Metatron killed him. He died in his Sam's arms, while telling his brother he was proud of them. I cried buckets of tears.

Sam took his brother back to the bunker and laid him to rest in his bedroom. And while he was away, trying to summon Crowley to fix what he helped set in motion, Dean awoke. With black eyes. The Mark of Cain will not allow Dean to die. Unbeknownst to Sam, his brother is now a demon.

Meanwhile in Heaven, Gadreel sacrificed himself to allow Castiel to escape Heaven's prison and trick Metatron into revealing what a dick he was. Metatron is now in prison. Heaven is under the control of Cas and his followers and Castiel's stolen Grace is fading, fast.

And that my friends is where the humdinger of a season finale left us!

With Amy in state or mourning the likes of which she's never experienced for a fictional character!

Dean Winchester died... and it broke my damn heart.

NOW

OH MY GOD SEASON 10 IS FINALLY HERE!

Let's take a look at the synopsis for 10x01.

"Black"

DEAN IS LIVING IT UP AS A DEMON WHILE SAM HITS ROCK BOTTOM IN THE SEARCH FOR HIS BROTHER  — Dean (Jensen Ackles) is a demon and running amuck with Crowley (Mark Sheppard) while Sam (Jared Padalecki) tries to figure out what happened to his brother.  Meanwhile, Castiel (Misha Collins) is dealing with his diminishing grace.  Robert Singer directed the episode written by Jeremy Carver (#1002).  

As has become tradition, the season opener is written by showrunner, Jeremy Carver and this season, Bob Singer is once again at the premiere episode's helm. It's the dream team!

So we finally get to see Demon Dean. Also known as the Deanmon. Yucking it up with Crowley. Singing Karaoke and picking up chicks! Weeeeee!

We don't get to see Sam discover his brother missing, because we pick up a short time later, with Sam already on the hunt for the missing Dean.

Check out the first of the sneak peeks. A very focused Sam, going to any lengths to get information on Dean's whereabouts!

This plays into what we've been told about this season examining who the real monster is, Sam or his demon brother. A theme that Supernatural has played with since the beginning. What constitutes a monster. Sam goes to extremes by the looks of things. I wonder how he'll deal with the personal fallout down the track?

I can't wait to see this Sam. Even if he does get dark. Because he gets dark for a damn good reason. And seeing him look for his brother with this ferocity is going to be such a treat!

Meanwhile... Dean is off howling at the moon...and getting laid!

This is probably the best sneak peek ever in the history of forever. What am I talking about?! IT IS the best sneak peek ever in the history of forever! 

I'm excited to see Demon Dean and what Jensen does with him. It'll be fun to see Dean let down his hair - or let it grown out a bit anyway - even if it is because he's a demon. Having seen Dean go through such tough times, to see him let off some steam, regardless of the circumstances, is going to be fun. Having said that, I will look forward to the return of our beautiful, soulful Dean when he finally shakes the demon off.

We did get a promo too - but this spot includes more than the first episode - it includes the first 3.

How damn exciting is it? Huh? HUH?!

We don't know much about Cas, except what the synopsis tells us. His Grace is fading and without stealing new Grace, Cas will die. Bit of a sticky wicket that one!

And Crowley will be finding out, life with Demon Dean is not going to be the buddy movie he was hoping for!

I wonder if we'll get a CHCH promo? If we do it'll go here!

Gosh it feels good to be back. OUR SHOW IS BACK! HOORAY!! I'm so excited for this season. I'm all of a quiver!

In celebration of the awesomeness of Supernatural and the end of hiatus, here's a fabulous fanvid!

Enjoy the first episode, guys! 

-sweetondean

The Journal of Dean Winchester - Season 9 Part 2

A work of fiction - by sweetondean
(warning for language)

Read Part 1 here



Entry 10

It’s better this way. It’s better that I leave him alone. I don’t know he’s ever gonna forgive me. Why should he I guess. I knew he was never gonna be happy with what I did. It’s cool. He’s alive. That was the goal. And the angel is gone. I don’t know what damage it’s done to Sammy. I don’t know how much he remembers. But he’s alive. I know he thinks the cost was too great, but that wasn’t his fault, none of it was his fault, and hopefully… one day… Now I’m gonna hunt down that Gadreel bastard. Hunt him down and make him pay for everything. Trickin’ me, taking Sam, but mostly for Kevin. Oh, kid. I shoulda trusted you and told you what was happening. You were my responsibility, and I let you down. Crowley’s right. Everyone around me winds up dead. Easy fix. I ain’t gonna let anyone around me anymore. That way the only person that winds up dead is me.

Entry 11

I’ve stooped to a new low. God, what is wrong with me. Working with Crowley. If it gets the job done… at least that’s what I tell myself. I feel dirty. And now I have the Mark of Cain. The Mark of Cain. Jesus Christ. I dunno what it means but if it helps me to kill Abaddon, hunt down Gadreel, put a stop to Metatron…who cares. Means to an end. Time I put right everything that I’ve made wrong. I’ll admit it though, I feel sick inside. Looking at this thing on my arm, not knowing. What’s it gonna do to me? What’s this terrible burden Cain spoke of. I mean, looking at him…seeing what he could do. What’s this thing gonna do to me? About now I could really do with some help. About now I could really do with the MoL library. But that would mean calling Sam, and I just wanna leave him alone and keep him out of this mess. Probably wouldn’t pick up anyway. I’ll see what I can find out. Wait for Crowley to find this First Blade. God, just writing that feels so wrong.



Entry 12

Garth’s a werewolf and Sam and me ain’t brothers no more. Fuckin’ great. I can’t believe he said that. Man, above everything else, we’re family. I know I screwed up, I know right now he hates me but… I guess after all these years of me draggin’ him through the muck, he’s finally done with me. Can’t blame him. But he’s all I got. We’re all we’ve got. I always thought that would mean something. I mean, it’s the most important thing isn’t it? Isn’t it? Maybe it’s not. At least, not to Sam. I know he’s pissed but… We ARE family, damn it. It does mean something. Doesn’t it? I dunno. Guess I just pushed him too far. I’ve seen him angry before, but not like that. He’s never said anything like that before. Not brothers? Still, here we are back at the bunker. We ain’t talking, but at least he’s here. It’s so freakin’ awkward. I’d laugh if I could muster the energy. Maybe I can make it right with Sam somehow. I dunno. I dunno why he got back into the car in the first place. I dunno what he wants. Nothing makes any kind of sense anymore. And Garth’s a werewolf! Well, I hope he’s happy. Maybe he’s got a chance to have some kind of decent family life. Lucky bastard. Man I’m tired.



Entry 13

Everything I’ve ever believed in. Everything I’ve ever trusted in. Gone. Fine. You won’t save me if I’m dying. You don’t wanna be brothers. Fuckin’ fine. Screw it. I’m tired and done and I just want to kill Abaddon and get it over with and Sam he can go his own way, because that’s obviously what he wants, I ain’t gonna stop him if that’s what he wants. I thought I knew him. I thought we’d always have this one thing. Each other. Each other’s backs. Always. Apparently not. I’m done trying to make sense of any of it. I WOULD do it again. If I had the choice for him to live or die, I’d always choose live. If that makes me a selfish bastard, so be it. And don’t fuckin’ tell me I only ever sacrifice if I’m not the one being hurt. What the fuck? Okay. Whatever. I’m not gonna sit here wringing my hands. Screw you.


Jesus Winchester, why you shaking? Man, I feel weird. Gotta bring it down a notch. Gotta calm down…

Entry 14

What a screwed up life. Well at least we got Linda out safe. I’ll never be able to make it up to her though. I’m the reason her kid’s dead. At least Kevin’s with his mom again. If he can’t get to Heaven, at least that’s something. I hope we can work this whole thing out before he goes vengeful. We need to get him and all the other spirits outta the veil to where they belong. Or we’re gonna have a lot of pissed off ghosts on our hands! And Sammy just storms off. We promised the kid we’d try. He promised the kid we’d try. Yeah, okay. Guess not.



Entry 15

Oh man. Now Harry and Ed. What the hell is even happening. Everything’s upside down. I hope they can work it out. Though seeing them and knowing where me and Sam are at... Yeah, good luck fellas.


Can’t sleep. Keep thinking about that dude I ganked. He was a murdering bastard. He deserved it. But it felt too good. I enjoyed it. I’m not gonna tell Sam. Ha. Not that he’s talkin’ to me anyway. Yeah. But I dunno. It felt real good. Sliding that knife slowly into his chest. Made my blood pound in my ears. Think I better keep that to myself. I’m angry. Just gotta try to calm it down.



Entry 16

What’s happening to me? I don’t know what’s happening to me. When I held that blade. Nothing else mattered. The power that rushed through me felt so good. Strong. Unstoppable. I’m still shaking a little from the rush. I’ve not been feeling right for a while. Edgy. Angry. I just thought it was something to do with what was going on with me and Sam. But now I know. It’s The Mark. It’s changing me. I can feel it. Something inside. And The Blade. I want it. I want it bad. I want it in my hand right now. I want to feel that power surge through me again. I want it. Oh God. What’s happening. If it wasn’t for Sam talking me down. All I could hear was blood, and then Sam’s voice. Sammy’s voice. It’s probably a good thing Crowley took The Blade. But man, I want it.



Entry 17

I’m falling apart. What’s wrong with me. Why am I hanging around Crowley. He can help us that’s why. Help us get to Abaddon. Is that why? I don’t trust him. Not one bit. But he’s pretty much all I got right now. He gets it. Gets me. What the hell am I saying! I gotta get some sleep. When was the last time I slept? I’m bone tired. But I’m not tired. Not even the booze is knocking me out. And I’m giving it a good nudge. I dunno what’s happening. I should tell Sam. I’m worried. But would he give a damn? Keep forgetting, we just work together, nothin’ more, right? He’s worried too though. I know that. I can see it. He might not be saying it. But I know that kid. He’s worried. He should be. Something’s not right. This thing on my arm is doing something to me. I can’t stop thinking about The Blade. Abaddon. We gotta find Abaddon. Sam’s on board now. We kill her, things will be different. I wanna drive that blade right through her. That’s gonna feel real good. God that’s gonna feel good.

Entry 18

We nearly had Gadreel. We nearly had Metatron. I dunno how we’re gonna beat that bastard. He just blew out the holy fire. He’s more powerful than we thought. I’m worried.


Still not sleeping. Just lying here feeling my fists pound into Gadreel over and over and how good it felt. Lucky I didn’t kill him. I wanted to. Man I wanted to. I could nearly taste his blood. I feel stronger than I’ve ever felt. Crazy strong. Powerful. Angry. I’m so angry. Sam’s worried. Cas is worried. I’m worried. No, I’m scared.



Entry 19
Look at me bitch? I pushed that blade through that vamp’s neck like it was butter! And it felt good. The rush. It’s like I needed it. Needed the kill. I felt calmer after I killed the vamp. Better. And I know that can’t be good. I tried to brush it off with Sam. I was being honest. We shouldn’t feel bad about killing evil sons of bitches. But I ain’t foolin’ Sammy and I ain’t foolin’ me. I'm on the edge of being out of control. Push me too far? I dunno what I’d do. I think Sam’s so worried he’s forgetting how mad he is with me. Ha. That was one screwed up case. We were lucky to get Jody out alive. Christ, we were lucky to get Sam out alive. Look at me bitch. What the hell.



Entry 20

Chicago is run by monsters? Kinda explains some stuff. Hope that Ennis kid does okay. We’d have stayed and helped, but we’ve got bigger fish to fry.

Entry 21

She’s dead. Abaddon’s dead. And then some. I’m glad Sam didn’t see the half of it. I moved the damn Blade with my mind. I’m glad he didn’t see that. Real glad. The bitch couldn’t stop me. I was stronger than she was. There was nothing that could stop me. I lifted her off the damn ground. I’ve never felt this strong. I’ve never felt this kind of power. I like the feeling. I feel good. Better than ever before. When that Blade’s in my hand. I feel calm. It blocks out the noise. The anger. I feel clear. I know what to do and I know how to do it. Like The Blade talks to me.  Without it, I’m on edge all the freakin’ time. The Blade makes me feel…whole. Yeah. Next we take down Gadreel and Metatron. For the first time, I actually feel like we can do this. Scratch that. I can do this.



Entry 22

I’ve stopped sleeping all together. I know why now. It’s the Mark. I know that. I’m different. I’m changing into something. I don’t know what. I don’t know what I’m becoming. I’m changing into something, someone I don’t want to be. But if it’s the means to the end of Metatron and Gadreel? So be it.


I’m sorry about Tessa, I am. Not my fault though. She killed herself. That’s not on me. And now, it’s just the 3 of us again. Me, Sam and Cas. But I’m calling the shots. And the sooner they come onboard with that the better for all of us.


I COULD HAVE KILLED HIM. WHY DID THEY STOP ME! Gadreel was standing in front of me. I knifed him, and they stopped me. They actually believed his shit? COME ON! Now they’ve locked me up. If Sam thinks hiding The Blade from me is gonna stop me, he’s got another think coming! Oh God, I think I’m gonna throw up. Oh yeah, I’m gonna throw up.



Entry 23

This is it. Last chance. I do it alone. That way if I go down, it’s just me. I have The Blade. I have a shot. I’ll get Sam out of the way somehow. He’ll fight me on that one, but I’ll make sure he’s safe. I know he’ll be pissed. Again. But as long as he’s safe… If Cas and Gadreel can do their thing in Heaven… maybe I can get the job done. If I die trying…well that’s probably for the best. I don’t know what I’m becoming. But whatever it is, it’s not who I want to be. The Mark wants me to kill. This is it. My one chance. Time to take Metatron down. See you on the flipside…

This is Sam… 
I never knew Dean kept a journal. How did I not know this? I found it on the floor by his bed, as I lay his body down… I don’t think I’ll read it. At least not now. I just wanted to… What? Finish it for him? Yes. Finish it for him… Dean is dead. I couldn’t save him. I couldn’t get to him in time. He died in my arms. My brother died in my arms. He told me he was proud of us. Oh God. I’m so proud of him. So proud of who he was. I hope he knew. I don’t think he did. That will be my one great regret. That maybe Dean didn’t know just how important he is…was…IS to me. I’m so proud of you Dean. Of everything you were. Of how you raised me. I’m so proud of you. And I’m proud of us too. So proud of us. This isn’t right. You shouldn’t have died like this. After everything. You shouldn’t have. You shouldn’t be dead. This wasn’t your fault. You didn’t start this. Crowley started this. He knew what would happen to you. HE KNEW. Damn it, Dean. No. I know you said it was better this way, but no. NO. I’m not letting you die like this. No. Crowley got you into this, he can fix it. He can fix it…



The Journal of Dean Winchester - Season 8