‘Supernatural’ Aftergasm: Halfway to the End of the World

Between the douche bags, magic tricks and gay S&M sex dungeons, the major storyline this season on Supernatural actually moved forward last night. Ruby showed up to inform Sam (and us), that Lilith has now broken 34 of the seals, putting her past the halfway point to raising Lucifer.

It was a significant moment for the season, and perhaps even more important, it put Sam back in the driver’s seat. While the brotherly dynamic is what truly drives Supernatural, the first half of the season focused largely on Dean. This isn’t a criticism since he was pulled out of Hell by an angel, which needed a lot of explanation.

But now we see Sam’s role in this. Instead of stopping a seal from being broken and going off to have a beer like Dean, Sam is getting proactive, even though it’s taking him down a dark path. He has already made some unpleasant decisions, but killing Lilith is the ultimate choice.

Yes, she’s pure evil, but it’s actually just a demon possessing the body of a little girl, and to kill the demon would most likely mean killing the little girl. Even with the fate of the world hanging in the balance, that is not a simple thing to do.

This marks the second episode in a row that ends with one of the Winchesters revealing their darker sides. Last week, Dean confessed to enjoying torturing people in Hell. Now Sam agrees to kill a little girl. It’s getting harder and harder to call them heroes.

As for the episode itself, as much as I was tickled pink by the constant use of “douche bag,” I must be honest: this is the second episode in a row that I’ve been disappointed in. I named Supernatural one of my favorite shows of 2008 because almost every episode was brilliant and worked on several levels.

However, 2009 has started off rather weak for Supernatural. “Family Remains” and “Criss Angel is a Douche Bag” were both fairly sub-par stand-alone episodes that were only saved by the brief moments at the end when they wrapped up the case and had a scene about the larger storyline of the season.

I’m hopeful that Supernatural will find its groove once again. Maybe we’re just in the mid-season slump, when all the great ideas the writers had over the summer break are used up and they’re holding back on the big story points for the end of the season, so now the show is biding its time.

Which 2009 episode is the best?

They're both sub-par (60%, 3 Votes)
"Family Remains" (20%, 1 Votes)
They're both great (20%, 1 Votes)
"Criss Angel is a Douche Bag" (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 5

Source: buddytv.com

Jan 23 , 2009 • Posted By Melanie • Filed Under: Reviews, Supernatural • 5 Comments »

5 Responses to “‘Supernatural’ Aftergasm: Halfway to the End of the World”

NaturalSuper Says:

January 23rd, 2009 at 11:15 pm

I’m sorry but Sam’s character is beginning to infuriate me. That last scene just made me get angry. I know he’s thinking he’s doing the right thing but I feel like he’s just going to get himself killed by the angels for going down this path, which is something Castiel and Uriel said they’d do if he continued down that path, or by what Ruby gets him into. I don’t hate or love the Ruby character. I’m kinda on the fence about her but I just feel there is an alterior motive. I know for a fact that Dean will probably be very angry he’s doing this. Maybe that’s why Eric has them blow off some steam toward each other in the episode ‘Sex and Violence’ when they’re suppose to fight each other. Sometimes I wish that if Sam’s character is suppose to become evil that it is something that is like a split second change, not something gradual because I like it more when the brothers get along and show solidarity in support of each other. Sam’s actions are more than sometimes very withdrawn from Dean (eg. last scene of last night’s epi) this season and I’m getting more frustrated with that character. Nothing will ever stop me from missing this show because it’s the best show on tv with great writing, great acting, and two of the coolest and sweetest actors out there today, but I hope we get down to where everyone’s loyalties are because I’m getting antsy about all the secrets and how less connected the brothers seem to be!!
NaturalSuper Says:

January 23rd, 2009 at 11:20 pm

I said in my last posting ‘ Nothing will ever stop me from missing this show…’ but I meant ‘Nothing will every make me stop watching this show…’. Sorry about that!! Hahaha!!
Melanie Says:

January 23rd, 2009 at 11:49 pm

I totally support your comment. Sam is getting way too much into his own business. Sometimes I wonder if his story with Ruby will lead us into a possible spin-off?
Anyway, I’m missing this worried Sam. I miss his “Dean…” sentences, his annoyed face when Dean is doing/saying something stupid, I want this research loving guy back!
Sam became so much colder than Dean has ever been on the show. Somehow they switched roles. Like the good cop, bad cop thing
NaturalSuper Says:

January 24th, 2009 at 12:27 am

I know the characters have to evolve and role reversal isn`t so bad until it seems to mess with the brotherly relationship. Thanks Melanie for agreeing with me and I miss the Sam that seemed to give a damn about his brother. I know he still does but it doesn`t come off the way it used to. I hope the fight they have in `Sex and Violence` gets some things said that have to be said and maybe they`ll oddly come out of it more connected than ever!!
NaturalSuper Says:

January 24th, 2009 at 1:11 am

I just realised that Sam didn`t even bother to tell Dean about Lilith breaking 34 of the Seals. What is up with that! Even though Dean doesn`t like Ruby, even though they had a couple cooperative moments through `I Know What you Did Last Summer` and `Heaven & Hell`, I`m sure Dean would like to know info like that!! WTF!!

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