I'm still digesting and in need of a rewatch. I have half-formed thoughts about Sam and his role throughout the seasons. On one hand, yes, there's been a lot of "Something's wrong with him" from the second season onward, and even in the first he was angry and vengeful. But it's also flowed and rippled outward from a definite single source*. It's not like every season it's been "in what new way can we make Sam twisted and dark that is totally different and unrelated to how he was dark and twisted before".
On the other hand, that storyline has been playing out for a very long time now, and it feels played out and should be resolved and set aside.
On the first hand, ignoring all that has come before except for the very basic set-up that Sam had been in Hell with Lucifer in a very special cage, the idea that him being freed without consequences is ludicrous. That he's come back wrong is necessary for believability - for me.
aesc had an interesting question about the subjectivity/objectivity of the truths spoken [link]
*Azazel feeding his demon blood to 6 month old Sammy, Sam's fear that there was something dark inside him in season 2 because of that, Azazel's games leading to his death, to Dean's deal, to Dean's death, to Sam's inability to deal with that and drinking of demon blood, his trying to take control, do something good with something dark and overcome the monster he thinks he is/has inside him, which he does when he takes in Lucifer and jumps into the pit. And now the consequences of him being out of it, and how and why that happened. archie rants rather nicely about the sloppy execution of all this here [link]
God, I loved that and it broke my heart into a million pieces.
More later.
Heartbreaking was pretty much the takeaway for me, too.
And next week looks like more of the same! BOYS.
DCBB: The Emporium is utter crap, but Bodies From The Tracks is promising so far.
That moment when he says "It's been a really bad day" and passes his hand over his face? Completely desolation.
He just lost the longest and most important romantic relationship of his life. He's lost Ben to whom he has been a father figure for the last year. He's afraid of losing his brother. Yeah, he's had a bad day.
If the arc for the season is to get Sam's soul back, one has to wonder what Sam will be like with his soul returned, feeling everything that happened to him in hell. Talk about hurty.
I kind of hope that Sam getting his soul back is not the culmination of the season, but happens at least halfway through, or at the most three quarters of the way through, and the last half/quarter can be Sam&Dean back together fighting against the heavenly civil war/whatever --just together.
This D/C artwork is exquisite: [link]
It's undeniably them, although Dean's chin is too weak, and his profile is more convex, and Cas's is more swept back.
Oh, that is lovely, Juliebird!
I do hope it happens sooner rather than later. If JP likes to have his acting chops challenged, a severe PTSD'd Sam would certainly fit the bill.
I love both boys, but have a soft spot for Sam. (Sorry, Bobby, he's MY favorite.) I have to say while we've seen Sam grow and change through the years, Dean has been a constant force. That's not to say that Dean hasn't grown and changed, too; he most certainly has. But he's the true north for Sam and everyone else, imperfect but unfailing in knowing who he is. Dean is always Dean, and thank goodness.
I do so love my boys.
One thing: the Sam who sentence himself to hell to take down Lucifer was a Sam who had really grown - who worked with and consulted other people. Temporarily without his soul that is one hell of a regression. I hope when he gets his soul back he gets back all the progress he has made - with tremendous trauma from memories of hell and the way he acted while his soul was missing but not losing maturity he gained.
I hope Dean and Bobby recognize this too really recognize it, not just say they recognize it. I would hope for something along these lines:
Sam: "you know I remember everything I did. I remember deciding to do it."
Dean: "You ever known me not to notice when you did something wrong? This wasn't your fault. Your soul was missing. You still stayed one of the good guys. Too much end-justifies-the-means, but hey no soul. I know you remember doing these things. You can't help feeling bad about them. But it is no more your fault than if someone slipped you drugs or used a mind control spell. We're good. And I'm not just saying that. Look at my face: you can see I'm not faking it. You have nothing to be ashamed of. I don't expect you to feel that right away. You remember what you remember. But look at me and tell me that you understand that even if you can't believe it yet."
