‘Supernatural’ Aftergasm: Sam vs. Dean, Round 1

Last night’s episode of Supernatural will probably go down as one of the most important in the show’s history. It marked a turning point in the relationship between Sam and Dean, the moment when their fears and anger and rage boiled to the surface. We can blame the Siren on the epic battle between the Winchester brothers, but the underlying feelings were real.

The Siren made them fight, but I don’t believe the Siren also forced them to say the things they said to each other. Dean said Sam has changed and that he’s keeping secrets and doing things behind his back. Sam accused Dean of being weak and unable to face the truth about what they have to do. When you look deep inside the boys, nothing they said was a lie.

First, it’s important to examine the circumstances. The Siren had the ability to take the form of whatever its target most desired. In an episode full of strippers, for Dean, the thing he most desired was a guy who loved 1967 Chevy Impalas and classic rock. The person Dean wanted most was a little brother just like him.

This doesn’t necessarily mean Dean doesn’t like Sam, just that Sam doesn’t completely fulfill Dean’s needs for brotherly love. After all they’ve been through, Dean has an emptiness in his life that Sam does not and can not fill.

That brings us to the fight. It’s true that Sam has changed. He’s hiding his conversations with Ruby and hiding the fact that he still uses his powers. Sam isn’t the sweet younger brother any more, he’s been changed by everything he’s seen over the past four seasons, not the least of which was his brother dying and going to Hell.

Similarly, Sam was right about Dean. He prefers to hide from the truth as exhibited by his massive amount of alcohol consumption following his escape from Hell. He refuses to accept that they’re in a battle not just for their lives or other people’s lives, but for humanity and goodness itself. Dean isn’t willing to do whatever it takes to win, and in that respect, he truly is a weaker hunter than Sam.

“Sex and Violence” may have ended with Sam and Dean driving off after saying everything was fine, but it obviously wasn’t. Their encounter with the Siren brought some very ugly truths to light, and while they may try to bury it, the truth is still out. Neither brother can take back what was said, and though they may pretend this never happened for a while, it will come back.

There will come a day when Sam and Dean have to face the harsh reality of this fight, and when that day comes, there will be no need for a Siren to stir up a battle. They’re headed down a long, dark road, and the only way for it to end is when one brothers wins and the other brother loses. The only question is: which Winchester will prevail?

How much does Dean love Sam?

Completely (87%, 20 Votes)
Mostly (9%, 2 Votes)
Somewhat (4%, 1 Votes)
A little bit (0%, 0 Votes)
Not at all (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 23

Source: buddytv.com

Feb 06 , 2009 • Posted By Melanie • Filed Under: Reviews, Supernatural • 8 Comments »

8 Responses to “‘Supernatural’ Aftergasm: Sam vs. Dean, Round 1”

NaturalSuper Says:

February 6th, 2009 at 8:08 pm

I believe that Dean had won the verbal and physical part of this fight. What he said wasn’t meant to hurt Sam but point out how Sam has horribly changed. Sam seemed more mean in what he said to Dean. Sam has changed so much that I used to love both brothers but now I can’t wait for the ultimate showdown between Sam and Dean and for Dean to win. I believe in the moment of a battle Dean IS willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. I do believe though that when it comes to Lilith and possibly Allistair that he is so scared to go up against them because of what they put him through – which is understandable. The part of this episode that pissed me off was the verbal part of the fight scene where Sam said all Dean did was whine about torturing souls in Hell. When he said ‘Boo Hoo’, I wanted that knife Dean threw to have actually hit Sam. How could he say something like that after what Dean had been through and that he went through it because of a deal Dean made to save his life? Something tells me Dean would probably do it all over again to save Sam’s life even though at this point, I don’t know why!! I guess I could say that now I’m completely just a Dean-lover because what happened last night and what was said by Sam was the last straw of scenes throughout this season that showed Sam has changed not for the better. He’s a little more like Dean but all of Dean’s flaws and none of his many endearing traits. I know they’re suppose to battle each other or something over the last 3 episodes of this season so all I have left to say is – come on season 5 and come on DEAN!!!!!
Nina C. Says:

February 6th, 2009 at 9:53 pm

I think Dean and Sam have almost switched places in a lot of their characteristics. I always was more dean than SAm. Dean just never seemed to appreciate his brother enough and now I think it’s come to like in a ugly, ugly way. Great episode!
Melanie Says:

February 6th, 2009 at 10:31 pm

I’m a bit disappointed about the episode. I thought of an actually heavier fight, than what I’ve seen. I didn’t want them to kill each other. But I’m sure both had more things on their chests to get out.
NaturalSuper Says:

February 6th, 2009 at 10:56 pm

I never thought Sam appreciated Dean. Dean seemed to love Sam more than Sam loved Dean. I have no doubt Sam did love Dean but not as much and I definitely don’t think Sam appreciated everything Dean sacrificed for him and their family. The fight scene was everything I was expecting. I knew it was to get certain things but not everything off their chests because if it were bigger, where would they go from there. If it were too big, the season finale won’t have the same impact because they would be just rehashing what was said and done in last night’s episode. I was very happy with the fight scene and the episode. I’m sure people would disagree with me but I hope when the show ends, one brother survives. And if it is Sam that goes dark side, I hope it’s Dean that survives and afterwards he still hunts a little but begins to have that normal life he’s been craving and never got to have. Sam had his normal life while in college, now it’s Dean’s turn.
Melanie Says:

February 6th, 2009 at 11:22 pm

I’m hoping for a better end, something unexpected. Like all demons can’t live without Lificer and the world will be saved when Dean with our without Sam’s help kill him. I want them to get out of the hunting thing. I want them what they are dreaming about. A normal life.
Plus, I don’t want one brother to die. I don’t want to choose sides or anything similiar. Although I know it would make the show more dramtic driven. I guess, we have to wait and see what comes along. Perhaps, Kripke surprises us with a 6th season!
CJ Says:

February 7th, 2009 at 8:51 am

OF COURSE DEAN LOVES HIS BROTHER, THAT’S WHY HE’S SO WORRIED ABOUT HOW MUCH HE HAS CHANGED. HE FEELS HE’S EMBRACING HIS DARK SIDE AND THAT’S WHAT DEAN IS AFRAID OF. SAM TRULY BELIEVES FOLLOWING RUBY AROUND AND GOING AFTER LILITH IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO IF IT MEANS HE CAN SAVE PEOPLE. SAM WANTS TO PROVE TO EVERYONE ESPECIALLY DEAN BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY TO HIMSELF THAT HE IS NOT EVIL. I HAVE TO SAY WHEN THE SIREN REVEALED HE TOOK ON THE BODY OF THE FBI DUDE, IT WAS ONE OF THE COOLEST MOMENTS OF THE SHOW. I REALLY LIKED THIS EPISODE, ONE OF THE BEST THIS SEASON. OH YEAH…AND I SURE DIDN’T MIND SEEING JARED’S AMAZING BOD AGAIN. HE SURE IS A BIG BOY!
Deanna S. Says:

February 7th, 2009 at 11:35 pm

I didn’t really like the episode that much!! I mean even though it has always been dark in the show in some aspects but its always been funny at the same time, and now their losing the funny aspect of the show. I belive that during the fight, they didnt want any of that stuff to come out, but at the same time they still meant every word that they said. I mean with what sam said to dean was just heartless in my opinion, ever since dean died sam changed for the worse. What dean said to sam I think it was him being the over protective brother that he is, that he doesnt want sam to get way deep into his evil side that in the end there is no way for him to come back from it, dean just doesnt want to lose his brother!! Basically i just really hope they can somewhat go back to being the sam and dean that we all know and love, instead of them being in there dark place which is really depressing!!
NaturalSuper Says:

February 8th, 2009 at 12:22 am

Deanna, considering that I read that Sam will be going to the dark side or coming close to it by the end of this season, the more intense episodes will probably have close to the same tone as the last few but there are one or two episodes left that I’ve read about that will have definitely a laugh factor to them. I welcome this darker tone though because considering where this season is going, you can’t have all these light-hearted episodes and suddenly a complete 180 dark turn at the end. I think they are ramping up the tension nicely for the season finale but I do miss the Sam and Dean we all know and love. Maybe by the end of the series, Sam and Dean will be more like brothers again……but I wouldn’t completely hold my breath for it if they are going the route of Sam becoming evil and Dean having to get through to him to save him. It will more than likely come down to Sam Vs. Dean. Or they could go the unexpected route and make Dean turn evil.

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