Five Torches (Out of Five)
Warning: This review contains spoilers for the “Sympathy for the Devil” episode of Supernatural.
A fascinating new villain in Lucifer. More hilarious “Wincest” humor. A terrific continuation of the Dean/Sam conflict.
Readers of this site know that I think that Supernatural is one of the best (and most underrated) shows on television — and that the last season was the series’ best so far (by far).
If last night’s fifth season premiere was any indication, it looks as if the show is continuing its winning streak.
There are so many things I loved about last night’s episode that it’s almost difficult to know where to begin.
For one, how great is it that Lucifer can’t lie — or chooses not to (or is maybe lying about the whole “can’t-lie” thing)? No wonder people believe him — he’s the only one telling the truth! A great twist on a classic villain.
Then there’s the show humor. The one-liners were top-notch, as usual — when Dean is asked to be the Archangel Michael’s “vessel,” he says he doesn’t want “life as an angel condom.”
But the character of Becky may have set a new standard for the show’s hilarity. She’s a geek who writes “Wincest” incest fantasies involving the “characters” of Sam and Dean (even if it’s only Sam she truly loves).
“I know the difference between fantasy and reality,” she tells one character about her online fantasies.
“It’s all real,” she’s told.
“I knew it!” she immediately says breathlessly.
Now that’s funny! Hell, just the notion that she’s “Samlicker81″ is subtly funny — as if there are 80 other “Samlicker”’s! (There may very well be!)
Has there ever been another show that has so successfully acknowledged viewers’ response to a show — while at the same time mocking and satirizing that response, even while incorporating it into the storyline? Xena’s vaunted “lesbian subtext” was wonderful for its time, but Supernatural is taking the joke much, much further. It’s hard to overstate just what a risky choice this is — but also how wonderfully it seems to be paying off.
Of course, ultimately what made the episode so strong is exactly what made season 4 so strong: the dramatic conflict between Sam and Dean. In season 4, they both chose very different paths on whether or not Sam should embrace his dark “demon” side, even if it was for a seemingly “good” end. In the end, that irreconcilable conflict drove much of last season’s tension.
“Sympathy for the Devil” did exactly what a season premiere should do: it acknowledged that the conflict still exists, but then took it some place new and even more interesting (rather than ignoring it or cavalierly resolving it, as many shows do — as if a new season is an excuse to do a “reboot” rather than a continuation of characters we know and care about).
Sam really betrayed Dean last season. And Dean isn’t close to being over that yet.
How did they tell us this? In a very clever bit of misdirection, where Dean pretends to have gotten over it, and it’s Bobby who can’t forgive. On some level, of course, we knew this wasn’t consistent with either character and in the end, we learn the truth: Bobby had been possessed by a demon when he said he couldn’t forgive Sam. In truth, there is nothing Sam can ever do to lose Bobby’s unconditional love.
But Dean? In the episode’s final scene, we learn what we subconsciously “knew” all along: Dean can’t just forgive and forget. “I don’t think we can ever be what we were,” he says bluntly. “I don’t think I can trust you.”
And there, in a nutshell, we have the fascinating conflict, the emotional arc, that will no doubt drive this whole season: how do you ever trust someone again after they’ve betrayed you in such a fundamental way?
(That makes them sound exactly like a romantic couple, doesn’t it? Perhaps the insinuations of “Wincest” are more true than we know! But, in truth, sexual infidelity is nothing compared to what Sam did to Dean last season.)
My one concern about the episode? It was so perfectly pitched that I’m worried that the whole season can’t possibly measure up.
Similar Posts:
- Episode Review: Dean Tries to Get the Angel Castiel Laid!
- SUPERNATURAL Episode Review (5-7): I Refuse to Believe That Dean Couldn’t Still Pick Up Girls, Even at Age 85
- SUPERNATURAL Episode Review (5-14): Two Brilliant Scenes!
- SUPERNATURAL Episode Review (5-6): Sam and Dean Consider Giving the Anti-Christ a Good Spanking
- SUPERNATURAL Episode Review (5-13): Sam and Dean Go Back to the Future
![[Bloglines]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/bloglines.png)
![[Digg]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Fark]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/fark.png)
![[Google]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[Squidoo]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/squidoo.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Technorati]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/technorati.png)
![[Twitter]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
![[Windows Live]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/windowslive.png)
![[Yahoo!]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/yahoo.png)
![[Email]](http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
Thank goodness we’re only going to be a few weeks behind the US screenings down under.
As for fandom’s influence, TPTB on “Xena” actually included fandom’s idea of subtext in the show with the characters of Xena and Gabrielle. And episodes like “Deja Vu All Over Again”, “Soul Possession” and “Send in the Clones” were TPTB’s (perhaps misguided) attempts at proving their love and appreciation for their fans.
I may have missed something, but I’ve never seen any hints of “Wincest” between Sam and Dean on the show. Not that I would really want to either. Unless they establish Sam as being adopted (which I actually thought might have happened after that revealed his mum’s deal with the yellow-eyed demon (adoption being her way of avoiding the contract)).
BUT, surely they can’t ignore the Dean/Castiel subtext for much longer. They need to ditch any incorporation of Wincest and start building up Dean/Castiel! Sam can end up with whatever meat-sack Ruby is currently inhabiting.
Ha! Dean and Castiel, huh?
You’re right, of course, about the Xena fandom eps (my bad!). I was referring more to the “lesbian subtext” that viewers PERCEIVED in early seasons, and that the creators then actually WROTE INTO the show. How meta!
No, I’m definitely not arguing there is ACTUAL “Wincest” in the show. But increasingly, with the characters of Becky and the “prophet,” they’re bringing the fandom INTO the show’s storyline, in a way that it seems like even Xena didn’t do (except for an occasional ep).
I could be wrong — maybe Xena did do it more. But I still think it’s a terrific/risky/bold/interesting/hilarious choice for this, or any, show to do.
I think it certainly “blurs” the line between reality and fiction. Being set in the “present day”, it’s something that Supernatural can do better than “Xena” (although they managed it to a degree with the likes of Minya in “A Day in the Life” and pretty much all of “The Play’s The Thing”).
If Supernatural were to acknowledge fans of Sam and Dean *too* much in the show, I could see it as possibly working against them. At least for me it would somewhat destroy the “fiction” of the show if they kept relating to real-world fandom. It’s definitely a kind of “breaking the fourth wall” kind of thing that could be widely loved and well received (most likely) or it could turn some viewers off (least likely).
And at the end of the day, it may also come down to how well it’s received by the fans. I know some Xenites took great offence at the “stereotypical” fans portrayed in “Send in the Clones”, but I thought those characters were quite amusing and not in any way intended to accurately represent the fans who TPTB acknowledged varied widely.
Brent, I was up really late and my brain just couldn’t help doing what I do: think/analyze and fall in love with the complexity of this show. I even had to compose a long post about it at my blog. (this behavior is how I ended up with an essay in IN THE HUNT). ::G:: I must be a writer or something.
I totally agree with you, this season opener was the best episode in a series of amazing episodes. The writers definitely kicked it up another couple of notches.
LOVED the return of Castiel, Warrior Angel!! How’s that mythology again? Died and rose from the dead to save humankind???
::sighs happily::
I think it was also interesting that Cass insinuated how “someone” put Sam & Dean on the plane, and “someone” brought him back from the dead. And the look of nerves and horror on Zachariah’s face as a result.
So maybe God’s back in the building?
Oh yeah! Was gonna write about the great/intriguing opening, but I ran out of space (and time)!
Absolutely freaking awesome!
Vampire Diaries was pretty good, but seriously paled in comparison after such a kick-a** Supernatural. I knew it would but Supernatural was so on that nothing could compare.
To sum up last night: Vampires and Demons and Lucifer, Oh my!
All I can do is say “DAMN YOU HARTINGER”.
I hired Season 1 because you were saying it’s so good and now I’m hooked. I sat and watched 7 episodes in one sitting.
Ha! Truly sorry.
lol There’s a slight whiff of insincere in that sorry Brent
As soon as I saw David Nutter’s name on the first episode’s credits I realised it was a lost cause.
Excellent review Brent! Despite the complexities of the show, I love that it’s ultimately about love, trust and family. That final scene with Dean and Sam broke my heart. I was proud of Dean for finally being able to walk away from Sam, but I was still so heart broken for Sam even though I know he has much to atone to. It doesn’t mean that they love each other any less though.
I enjoyed how Jensen and Jared portrayed their characters in that scene - Dean feeling betrayed, Sam’s guilt. It was very subtle yet obvious. I know it will be a slow process to get the brothers to where they were before (perhaps even the whole season!), but that will just make it all the more satisfying.
thank you!
I know there were some fans that were offended by the “Becky” portayal– the joke was funny the first time (Monster at the End of the Book) but the overuse and exaggeration is making it seem intended less as funny and more as mean-spirited.
It almost seems as if Kripke is trying to drive some groups of fans away this season, what with some of the spoilers that have come out and poking at the fans with sticks.
I loved the premiere. The final scene was heartbreaking and Jared Padalecki’s puppy eyes made me cry like a baby.
My only complaint is that the writers seem to think that Sam was the only one responsible for starting the apocalypse. It’s like they forgot that Dean broke the first seal and everybody wanted Lilith dead. The angels in s4 were like “Lilith broke two more seals, we have to stop her”. Sam thought he was doing the right thing. And when Sam begged Dean to join him to kill Lilith, Dean said no and called him a monster. I’m not saying Sam didn’t do anything. But they both did many mistakes and betrayed each other.
Well … yes. But keep in mind that Dean was tortured in hell by demons, the people who Sam aligned with, for 57 years (or something).
I mean, the fact is Sam DID sign up with evil beings — the people Sam and Dean are supposed to KILL.
Awesome review! I completely agree with you that Sam betrayed Dean in the WORST possible way. However, I look forward to Sam redeeming himself and building back Dean’s trust in him.
P.S. Loved the fangirl.
Okay - two thirds of the way through the first season and already I don’t like Sam. And if there’s Wincesting to be done, for me it would need to be Pappa Winchester and Dean
Sam is a jerk in the first couple of seasons (and not quite as dreamy). Then he goes to hell and, well, the character gets more appealing. You’ll see.