This episode was the debut for new writer Robert Berens, and you know what? He did a really, really good job for his first episode. Were there some problems? Yeah, a few. But overall, it was great and he seems very promising.
The beginning of this episode was charming, yet somewhat bittersweet. Castiel trying to mimic the other men in the store was funny, and I’m still really glad that it wasn’t done to make fun of him. That’s something they’re doing really well this season: gently teasing Castiel for his not understanding human traditions, but not being mean about it. They’re really trying to showcase how this is affecting him, and it’s very realistic. The bittersweet part comes from him not being very good at it, but still trying his best, which is essentially what his character is all about, isn’t it?
Over at the bunker, we have Sam and Dean putting Kevin down for his weak translations of the angel tablet. This is another example of something to fuel Kevin’s anger and resentment. I’ve read some meta predicting that, at the mid-season finale, Kevin will break and either betray or turn against the Winchesters in some way, and I can definitely see that this is a strong possibility. Even though Dean says that he’s family, they still look down on him and treat him like a child.
Kevin is still clearly furious at Crowley for everything he’s done to his family – that was evident in the scene where he gave his blood. Speaking of which, Crowley injecting himself with the blood near the end of the episode was very interesting. I thought at first it was Sam’s blood (since it’s purified), but someone else pointed out to me that because Kevin’s a prophet, his blood will already be pure. But why would Crowley want to have the humanization? I’m guessing it has something to do with regaining control over Hell and taking down Abaddon; perhaps a sacrifice will come into play. Whatever the case, I seriously doubt it’s about Crowley getting in touch with his softer side. That may be the subtext, but it’s going to mainly involve the myth arc,
Also: his call to Abaddon was very humorous, while also being revealing. We now know that most of his followers have turned on him and gone to support her in his absence, and while he is still technically King, she’s really in control now. I also whole-heartedly agreed with Crowley; you can’t run Hell based on chaos and torture alone. There has to be some sort of structure, some politics and business involved. They need to come to a happy medium, because both strategies are good, but neither work on their own.
Okay, now on to the part all the fangirls REALLY care about: Dean and Cas.
I think their scenes this episode were PHENOMENAL, some of the best we’ve ever had. Berens writes a wonderful Castiel, giving him a dry humor that fits him to a tee. I really feel that, in terms of characterization and dialogue, he’s going to be the new Edlund. It was a nice touch having Dean sitting on the Impala and watching Cas through the window, as it paralleled season 6’s “The Man Who Would Be King” when Cas stood by, invisible, and watched Dean rake leaves. In both scenes, one of them gazed at the other, unnoticed, as the other did something very normal. For Dean, it was tending to his house; for Cas, it was selling something to a customer. The only difference is that Cas didn’t want to trouble Dean from the start when he watched him; he only wanted Dean to be happy. Dean went ahead and bothered Cas, not deciding to let Cas be normal until the end of the episode.
Their first encounter together is awesome; I love that, even though Dean ridicules Cas for working in the gas station, Cas continues to have pride in his job. And you know what? He really SHOULD. Here’s this being that has just lost his entire life; he’s undergone a species change, for Chuck’s sake. He’s lost, confused, and lonely, and his best friend has told him that he can’t come live with him. He’s completely on his own, with no money, food, or shelter.
But somehow, he manages to get a job, and he really is GOOD at it, and what’s awesome is he’s TRYING to be good at it. He’s really putting his best into everything that he does, and it completely shows. He’s doing pretty well for himself, considering the situation. It’s also a sort of psychological therapy for his character; last year, he told Dean that he felt so guilty over all the destruction he caused, he wanted to commit suicide. This is someone who feels that he can’t do anything right, that anytime he tries to be helpful, he just messes up. But now, he’s doing something right, he’s helping people, and they’re not ending up dead. Even if he’s just nuking their food, it’s a big step for him, and it will be very healing.
The scene in the car, where Dean is giving Cas advice, I didn’t like initially. Not because it wasn’t funny; it was hilarious. But for me, as a Destiel shipper, it felt too bromantic for me to really enjoy. The guy giving his best friend tips on how to woo a lady; that is the very definition of straight. However, after listening to what other people had to say and rewatching the episode, I came to the conclusion that there was literally no other way for that scene to play out. Dean doesn’t take relationships and one night stands seriously; to him, it’s just having fun. There’s no reason for him to not want his friend to have that sort of fun, and Cas really did need the help. It would have been wildly out of character for Dean to be jealous or angry that Cas was going on a date. Also, Cas really did look terrible in that vest. Plus, the punchline of the joke was that Dean couldn’t let Cas go on the date because he didn’t look good. Everyone, including casual viewers, thought (even for a millisecond) that Dean would say something ELSE in that moment directly after “I can’t let you do this.” There was this pause, with Cas staring expectantly, and everyone was thinking at the same time, “Does he mean what I think he means?” And after the next line started, we all, again, simultaneously said, “I thought…for a second…never mind.” Still; they did acknowledge it, even if it was only subtext. But it got the idea in people’s heads, which is what’s important.
Like most people, my favorite scene of the episode was when he was singing to the baby. It was so, so adorable! Here you have this gruff, muscular man, singing the theme song of an 80’s tv show to a little baby in a deep, off-key voice. If you look up the definition of cute in the dictionary, that scene will be there. It was awesome. Plus, the scene it lead into (his heart-to-heart with the little girl) was, again, bittersweet. He felt empathy towards her; being shoved into this human world without any knowledge of how things work there, and then having expectations thrust upon you to learn immediately how to act like a normal person. But Cas is trying to learn, which is what makes him so great.
What was very, very powerful in the episode was Cas not hesitating a second to plunge the blade into the angel. He could have; there was a possibility he would have paused, considered the option of a painless death, to lift all his guilt and hurt and troubles away – but he didn’t take it. Even though he’s in a tough situation, he still wants to live, and he still wants to help people, which I think is incredible.
Now, let’s talk about Nora. Personally? I thought she was brilliant. Her purpose was to tell him something he should have been told long ago: Too much heart is not a problem; it’s what makes him a good person. He’s always had the idea drilled into him that his compassion for others is what caused his downfall. It’s the reason all his problems have occurred. And while that may be true (somewhat), it’s NOT a bad thing. He’s finally beginning to understand that his love for humanity, and his drive to help people are what makes him so special. Also: Nora definitely thought he was gay. No straight, available female looks at a man like that, who is incredibly attractive and sweet and a hard worker, and thinks, “Wow, what a great friend!” She obviously was interested in him romantically at first, but after she said “Where have you been all my life?” and he responded with an uncomfortable look, she came to the conclusion that he didn’t play for her team. This is evident when she then says, “You’re not like the other sales associates; there’s something different about you.” She also saw him constantly talking quietly with Dean, who dropped him off at her house, and then came to pick him up. Now, in ordinary circumstances, having your babysitter say that his male friend, a stranger to you, gave your baby some medicine would ring alarm bells in your head, but if she thought Dean was Cas’ boyfriend, it would be completely fine. So, in my opinion, Nora thought Cas was gay, which is why she didn’t pursue a relationship with him.
Lastly, the final scene. This was very, very sad, as we finally saw Dean realizing that the only way to keep Cas safe was to have him stay out of all the stuff going on – which meant him living a normal life, away from Dean. This is, of course, not true, but it’s definitely in Dean’s nature to assume that everyone is better off without him, and he assumes that Cas will be happier living like a human and not being around Dean. His face at the end is heartbreaking, as is their little wave goodbye. Cas seems to have lost some of his spunk in doing his daily routine, as he now realizes that he should be out there, doing everything he can to help the angels.
In all, this was a very good episode. My only problem was the pacing. It felt a bit too…stretched. There wasn’t enough action; it was a bit too much talking, and the easy way they killed the villain didn’t do it for me. Slumber Party had this problem too. Still, the characterization and dialogue was spot-on, and overall, I really, really enjoyed it. Next week we seem to be getting back to Supernatural’s roots; it’s a scary episode! Hallelujah.
The Professional Fanwarrior 