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SPN: Jump the Shark
Spoilers ahoy.
So that went down pretty much as I was expecting, though my prediction was that Adam would be either dead or monstrous, and they managed to make him both, which was a really great trick.
But of course the whole episode wasn't about Adam, it was about John, and John's relationship to Sam and Dean. And as someone who loves John Winchester and used to delude myself that his parenting choices were not uniformly awful, it is a little depressing to find out that the constant moving from town to town was probably about more than just following the hunt or even protecting Sam; it seems now like it must have been a deliberate strategy to prevent the boys from forming relationships with anyone, since hunting is life, any connection is a weakness and just endangers the other people, so you have to cut them off and not look back.
OUCH. *Pets poor wee Sammy and Dean*
Of course, apparently John didn't live up to his own philosophy, at least when it comes to Adam, and I found all those smiling photographs of John, Adam's mom and Adam heartbreakingly creepy. And Dean asking about John taking Adam to a baseball game for his birthday? Ouch again.
The whole suddenly-appearing-brother, Cousin Olliver (HEE) storyline was totally worth it for the conversation Dean and Sam have after Sam tells Adam "hunting is life," though. Dean, vis-a-vis Adam, is still playing the same big brother role he always has--trying to protectSam Adam as much as he can, making it possible for him to have a normal life, while Sam really has become John, such a consummate hunter that hunting takes over his entire life and erodes even those relationships he does hold sacred. The writers didn't need to bang us over the head by having Dean, at the funeral, saying Sam and John were the same person; it was apparent from this scene. And it's so interesting that Dean might *not* be complimenting Sam when he says he's like John in ways Dean can never be.
And yet at the same time this is such a reversal of season 1, when Sam still had hopes of the return of normal life and Dean was the one who couldn't imagine life beyond hunting. He still can't, for himself, but he wants it forSammy Adam. Oh, my heart. And despite his extremely heroic efforts--his absolute refusal to give into Adam's destiny while Sam just accepts the fact that it's the curse of being a Winchester (another recurring theme of the season: Dean fighting the idea of destiny while Sam embraces it)--Dean ultimately can do nothing but give Adam a final gift: a hunter's funeral.
And so appropriately in an episode that was all about remembering John, we get a funeral scene that is an almost complete replica of John's own funeral.
Strangely enough, the ending made me wish that Adam hadn't died, even though for most of the episode I was *praying* he was a monster. And not just because he wasn't pretty enough to be a Winchester (seriously, though--as a Winchester, he really got cheated of the hotness gene the other three had) or for the Cousin Oliver factor, but because I couldn't see him being anything other than "meat," as Sam so graphically put it, if he actually survived the episode. He would have just existed to be a character-in-jeopardy, and probably have been killed by Lilith in the season finale. But the ending reminded me of how much they miss their dad, and would love some sort of continuing, tangible connection to him. And part of what I did love about the episode, too, was Sam getting to play big brother for a change and teach Adam things Dean no doubt taught him.
Oh, Winchesters, you really are cursed, by Kripke if by nothing else.
Edited to add: How did I forget two important Sam things? First of all, my reaction to Sam suggesting they raise Adam from the dead was "Oh yeah, because that *always* works out well for Winchesters." And second, I guess we have confirmation that Sam's badass mojo only works on demons?
Also, I've seen a bunch of people pointing out that not telling Sam and Dean they had a brother is another bad mark against John's parenting, which I guess makes sense--I wonder why that didn't bother me so much. Maybe because it fits with trying to protect Adam? And someone (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
elandrialore, maybe?) pointed out that if the kid first contacted John when he was 12, that would have been right after Sam left for college, so there's probably a reason (guilt) why John treated him differently. Which is a very good point.
So that went down pretty much as I was expecting, though my prediction was that Adam would be either dead or monstrous, and they managed to make him both, which was a really great trick.
But of course the whole episode wasn't about Adam, it was about John, and John's relationship to Sam and Dean. And as someone who loves John Winchester and used to delude myself that his parenting choices were not uniformly awful, it is a little depressing to find out that the constant moving from town to town was probably about more than just following the hunt or even protecting Sam; it seems now like it must have been a deliberate strategy to prevent the boys from forming relationships with anyone, since hunting is life, any connection is a weakness and just endangers the other people, so you have to cut them off and not look back.
OUCH. *Pets poor wee Sammy and Dean*
Of course, apparently John didn't live up to his own philosophy, at least when it comes to Adam, and I found all those smiling photographs of John, Adam's mom and Adam heartbreakingly creepy. And Dean asking about John taking Adam to a baseball game for his birthday? Ouch again.
The whole suddenly-appearing-brother, Cousin Olliver (HEE) storyline was totally worth it for the conversation Dean and Sam have after Sam tells Adam "hunting is life," though. Dean, vis-a-vis Adam, is still playing the same big brother role he always has--trying to protect
And yet at the same time this is such a reversal of season 1, when Sam still had hopes of the return of normal life and Dean was the one who couldn't imagine life beyond hunting. He still can't, for himself, but he wants it for
And so appropriately in an episode that was all about remembering John, we get a funeral scene that is an almost complete replica of John's own funeral.
Strangely enough, the ending made me wish that Adam hadn't died, even though for most of the episode I was *praying* he was a monster. And not just because he wasn't pretty enough to be a Winchester (seriously, though--as a Winchester, he really got cheated of the hotness gene the other three had) or for the Cousin Oliver factor, but because I couldn't see him being anything other than "meat," as Sam so graphically put it, if he actually survived the episode. He would have just existed to be a character-in-jeopardy, and probably have been killed by Lilith in the season finale. But the ending reminded me of how much they miss their dad, and would love some sort of continuing, tangible connection to him. And part of what I did love about the episode, too, was Sam getting to play big brother for a change and teach Adam things Dean no doubt taught him.
Oh, Winchesters, you really are cursed, by Kripke if by nothing else.
Edited to add: How did I forget two important Sam things? First of all, my reaction to Sam suggesting they raise Adam from the dead was "Oh yeah, because that *always* works out well for Winchesters." And second, I guess we have confirmation that Sam's badass mojo only works on demons?
Also, I've seen a bunch of people pointing out that not telling Sam and Dean they had a brother is another bad mark against John's parenting, which I guess makes sense--I wonder why that didn't bother me so much. Maybe because it fits with trying to protect Adam? And someone (
elandrialore, maybe?) pointed out that if the kid first contacted John when he was 12, that would have been right after Sam left for college, so there's probably a reason (guilt) why John treated him differently. Which is a very good point.
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Ha! Yes. That! (I am in agreement with the rest of your post, too--but with the state my brain is currently in, I feel most at home singling out the truth of Adam's lack-of-hotness gene. *g*)
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And those were my exact words when Sam said, "Hey, let's raise him!" Uh, Sam, could you get more creepy?
Wow, what a painful ep. I adored it. And am flailing in anticipation of next week's ep.
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You're right that Dean's speech at the end was as much about himself as it was about Sam--and it's so interesting how their roles have shifted; now Sam's the one idolizing their dad and Dean, by implication, has become critical of him.
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I totally said that as soon as he walked in the diner too...no way he can be a Winchester - he's just not pretty enough.
And I did wonder if Sam got whacked with the Ghoulish shazamm or something with the whole - "We could bring him back" deal. *shakes head* That was just so wrong and...well just NO Sam you know it will just end in tears and a smartass Demon coming out with lines like "And round and round the Winchesters go"
And yeah - this was possibly the grossest episode of the season I believe. And there was way too much lingering on all that blood flowing out of Sam for it not to have some relevance in the near future. I was kind of hoping they were going somewhere with it after She-ghoul stated his blood tasted different. But nah...just one of those tortuous tittilating lines they like to throw in there for us to stew about.
But all in all I loved it. I'm convinced Dean just picks scissors all the time so Sam doesn't have to go into the tunnels of doom (it's all part of his hidden genius)and yes - even after 40 years in hell and way too many years hunting monsters he can still do petulant man-child with the best of the lines "But I'm hungry now" LOL!!
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Oh, and you reminded me that I forgot to comment at all about the opening scene, which I thought was cute as hell. Nice to know Sam maintains the oral hygiene even when they're sleeping in the car, and Dean falling out and being all hungry was hilarious.
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The writers didn't need to bang us over the head...it was apparent from this scene
I don't know. I felt that scene was less about Dean's and the audience's revelation as it was about bringing the fact to Sam's attention. And the line, "Take it any damn way you want." was just... man.
I was surprised at how much I liked this episode. I was truly frightened in parts (I watched most of it through the gaps in my fingers), and I was truly moved and disturbed at the deepening of character and family drama. And the Sam 'bleeding out' all his demon blood... I am REALLY curious to see how that affects him--if at all.
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Yeah, that's a good point. Boy, Dean really isn't hero-worshipping his dad anymore, is he?
I was more grossed out than frightened in a lot of this, but I agree that the creep factor was quite high. And I wonder if losing all that blood means Sam's going to need to visit Ruby more often?
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I did think this ep was excessively gory, though.
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I did have to hold my hand up to cover my view of the TV when his blood was dripping into the bowl.