Carry On My Wayward Heroes

[xwacky]

Damn, Zachariah is Dick Chaney for the angels!

I knew there was something fishy about what Dean was supposed to stop.  For the longest time, I, along with everyone in the show and watching the show assumed it was the Apocalypse.  But the events of last week's episode threw huge doubt in my head.  I started to wonder if these angels were even trying to avoid the looming Armageddon at all.

After all, Uriel was a prime example of the existence of angels who worshipped Lucifer.

Turned out Zachariah is even worse.  Oh, he's no chum of the Fallen Angel.  Not satisfied with the mere incarceration of the devil, he wants Lucifer killed once for all.  He wants it so bad, he doesn't have any compunction at sacrificing millions and millions of innocent lives as the price.  What a Dick!

As it is, Zachariah, the quasi "dirty politician" is confident his army has the winning advantage to annihilate Hell's troops.  Thus he's all but eager to bring about the epic war.

This revelation explained so well of what happened so far, of the angels' cryptic announcements and confusing behaviors.  I was wondering why did the angels raise Dean from Hell if they didn't want to stop Lucifer from rising.  Zachariah's little confession here at last made it clear why Dean is so crucial to them.  They weren't kidding about Dean having work cut out for him:  turned out he is the nemesis of Lucifer!  Now, that's pretty cool!

But that's not why Dean was my BIG hero last night. First of all, he was awesome because he proved he is a better man than his daddy ever was, with a little nudge from uncle Bobby of course.  I don't think I need to repeat the awesomeness of Bobby here.  The man is wise to be sure, and he luvs the boys, especially Deeeean!  With the rumor of the impending death flying around preceding the episode, I'm really glad Bobby didn't meet his maker last night.  My aversion to Bobby's death had nothing to do with my love for the character though.  I never had any problem with watching a beloved supporting character die (i.e. John's death in In My Time of Dying).  But as finale goes, I want it to be all about the BOYS!  No other character should be allowed to steal their dramatic thunder.

Getting back to Dean, in the beginning he was understandably upset with Sam walking out on him.  "It's like a déjà vu all over again!" Dean says.  I almost choked with surprise.  Ha!  I expressed the same sentiment in my last week's review (shamelessly pats self on the back)!  I disagree with Bobby it was John's cowardice that drove Sam away.  It was pride.  Fortunately Dean is the one person who has the humility to let go of it in order to hold on to the one he loves.

When he made that heart felt call to Sam, with voice catching at certain places, my heart ached and sang.  "I'm sorry," he says.  Right there, he was made of Win for being able to recognize his mistake, and readily apologize for it!

Now that Dean made his move, the proverbial ball was in Sam's court.  Unfortunate for him though, he had a little demon bitch by his side to mess things up.  When Sam finally played Dean's voicemail (his reluctance here a clear sign he was no longer sure of what he was doing), and the sincere message morphed into hateful spiels, I couldn't suppress my groan and guessed it was all Ruby's doing.  Die bitch die!  I was not kidding when I said the only thing that would ruin this episode for me was if she lives pass it!

I couldn't summon proper sympathy for Sam at this point though.  I felt he was in this predicament because he made a series of bad decisions.  Sam could not have been manipulated if he hadn't bought into what Ruby said in the first place.  What did Ruby say to him that was so attractive?  From the time she appeared, she's been telling him he was the wonder boy, the big hero who's gonna save the world.  Sam latched onto it like bees to honey.  Right here I see pride reared its ugly head.  Like father like son, Dean was not wrong when he said Sam was more like John than he could ever be!

Once again, Dean's rejection, even if it was only perceived, became Sam's undoing.  He succumbed to drink more demon blood again; this time consciously took the life of an innocent girl while doing it.  Sam knew it was wrong and still chose to do it, thus completing the final transformation.  It was heartbreaking to see Sam came to this.

I could not talk about this episode without mentioning Castiel.  Because it was with him came my favorite Dean moment.  Apparently, all of Dean's pains and sufferings didn't escape Cas's notice one bit.  And it obviously "pained" him too!  Did he confess a part of the reason he "toed his boss's line" was due to his wish at seeing Dean being released from all that?!  I love it when Dean in return, looked Cas in the eye, and resolutely declared the angel could take the promise of peace and paradise and shove it up his "lily white ass."  Dean vowed in no uncertain terms he would rather take his pains and guilt thank you very much just so he could have his Sammy, even as-is!  How could my heart not swell up at hearing that?!

Unlike his brother, Dean never paid attention to petty revenge, or grandiose goals.  Instead, he always knew when everything all said and done, it's the family, the loved ones, the people that's what counts.  I can't express enough how much I love him for that!

It took Dean literally and figuratively turning his back on Castiel for the angel to spun into action.  I was amused at seeing Cas forcefully shove Dean against wall, all the while covering Dean's mouth with his hand.  No, Kripke wasn't making a kinky slash here; at least I don't think so.  At last Cas came through for Dean, and sent his Dick of a boss away so he and his charge could escape.  Gotta love a rebellious Cas!

This is where the big reveal of the episode occurred.  Cas informed Dean Lilith isn't the one to break the seal, she Is the seal!  I had pretty much guessed it weeks ago, but it was still cool to have my theory and suspicion confirmed.

Cas took Dean to the one person who knew where Sam was.  And he turned out to be Chuck!  What does a prophet do when he realizes the Apocalypse is coming?  The answer is he uses his entire savings to order himself 20 prostitutes to last him till the end!  Ha-ha, nobody can accuse Kripke not having a sense of humor.  The look on Dean's face when he overheard Chuck on the phone was PRICELESS!  Jensen Ackles is so awesome it hurts (my sides).

Chuck blurted Cas and Dean were not in this story.  Does this mean the prophecy has to be rewritten now that they have involved themselves; or does it merely foreshadow Dean cannot change the outcome of Lucifer's Rising no matter what he does?  The appearance of an archangel on the heel of Cas and Dean's arrival was interesting.   Clearly Cas and Dean did nothing to threaten Chuck, so it came to reason the archangel was coming for the two of them instead.  Did the archangel come to stop them, or aid them?  Cas was convinced the formal was true, so he sent Dean to where Sam was, and stayed to face off his superior.  Castiel is a much lower ranked angel; he has no hope to win this kind of standoff.  Since we know Misha Collin is coming back next season, therefore it is certain Castiel survived this encounter.  This most likely means the archangel didn't come to stop Cas and Dean in my opinion.

At Saint Mary, the convent in Ilchester, Maryland, Lilith is waiting for Sam in her bridal gown.  She smiled at her sad faced servant and told him she's going to save the world.  Then Sam showed up.  I love the camera shot of Dean in the Hallway, face caught between light and shadow, looking towards the unfolding scene before him.  Ruby's diabolical half grin when glancing back at Dean telegraphed her cunning natural.  She slam shut the double door leading to the altar, cutting Dean off from his brother.  I also love the sound effect here.  For several seconds, all Sam and audience could hear were his brother's voice calling him.  That almost was enough to stop Sam.  But Sam was already a changed man, thus fate cannot be stopped at this point.  I gasped when inky blackness filled Sam's eyes.  He swiftly killed Lilith with a blast of his power.

The image of Lilith's streaming blood forming a circular "doorway" on the marble ground was really really cool.  "You did it, Sam," Ruby proclaimed, finally revealing her true evilness to Sam.  Sam was shocked at how easily he played into her hands.  But really, he was the only one who didn't see it coming.  "You poisoned me with your blood," Sam accused.  But "You didn't need the feather to fly Dumbo."  Ruby informed him.  "It's the choice you made...you had it in you all along!"

Ohmigod, dreams_of_honey, I can't believe how right on the mark you were during our little discussion prior to the finale!  Pat yourself on the back 'hon.  You said, and I paraphrase, it wasn't the Demon blood Azazel put inside him that led Sam toward the dark side.  It was the choice he made!

My second favorite part of the episode came when Dean stuck Ruby's knife in her evil self with a little help from Sam by holding her in place.  I can't begin to describe how cool Dean looked at doing that, all the while declaring he doesn't give a flying crap about the last seal being broken, he just wants her DED!  For all Dean cares, the world may come to an end, but nothing should stand between him and his Sammy!

My favorite part of the hour is when Sam looked Dean with his sad puppy face and told him "I'm sorry."  Just like that, in a flash, Sam is redeemed in my eyes.  Show, I love you!

The boys made up, but Lucifer is still coming.  The night ended in a blinding white light while the brothers' hands twisted in each other's clothes, each clinging onto the other for dear life.  No I don't think Kripke is making wincest story here.  However I wouldn't put it pass the "bastard" toying with certain viewers here either. ;)

The most gratifying aspect of this season finale for me is it ties up all the loose ends of the season neatly, but still manages to throw in new questions and mystery for the next season.  All hail to Kripke, the evil!Genis who wrote and directed the episode.  I have to say he really knows how to make Dean look pretty!

I'd be upset if next season doesn't start at the very second this one ended.  I want to know what happens next, damnit!

Lastly, I want an icon of the Azazel possessed Priest with text that says "Blah Blah Blah". *g*

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

You know, I have been waiting to read your thoughts on this episode. You said exactly what I thought about Sam and his choices, yet you say it so much better than I ever could. I agree--it was his choices. After reading many posts at many different sites, I felt that I was in the minority in that I didn't really feel for Sam when he got the fake message. He got himself to that point, and even then he still had a choice, and he still chose to have Ruby kill the nurse. He was waffling about it beforehand, which let me see the old Sam, let me know he was still in there, yet he still told Ruby to do it. I've always felt that pride was Sam's big flaw, and it played big time into his story and choices. I did feel for him in the end, though, when he apologized, and I saw the old Sam back, but I do wonder about him in season 5. Is he really sorry, sorry enough to stop with the blood-sucking and to own up to all his choices, or is he (the writers, really) going to explain it away with the demon blood? I really hope it's the former and not the latter.

However, whereas your favorite part was the very end, mine was when Dean killed Ruby. He stabbed her, then twisted, and twisted again, while Sam stood there and held her!!!! I've NEVER liked the character and have wanted to see her gone since season 3. I have replayed that scene a couple of times now--RUBY IS DEAD!!!!

So, now I'm guessing that not only will the boys be running from the angels, but from Lucifer as well (especially if he knows Dean's role).

mick

[julie-lee90.livejournal.com]

The catylist for Sam was Deans deal and what Dean put him through .Yes Sam was caught up but what were you expecting after seeing your brother ripped to pieces in front of you? you people expect too much from Sam you talk and act as if that boy hasnt been damaged by anything.
You accept Deans behaviour but attack Sam for his . Dean isnt mr perfect either and takes some fault in what has happened.

As for revenge what do you think Dean and John were doing all those years ? . Sam hhad to deal with the impossible a mum that made a deal that condemned him a brother who made a deal without ever stopping and thinking about the consquences to his brother, losing his Jessica , Madison .Living without Dean for 4mths heck Dean didnt survive for 2 days.So yes Sam wanted revenge but he also believed he was doing the right thing . I am sorry you and otheant perfection from Sam and the boy cant give it to you but please dont paint Dean as if he hasnt screwed up or made mistakes .

[evening-spirit.livejournal.com]

Oh, X, how I love your brain! The worst thing in all this is that I'm incapable of such thinky thoughts, so I can't add much apart from gushing over how I love reading this.

Well, okay, I have one thought, about the Archangel. I think he's coming, because Dean and Castiel messed up with the prophecy. Archangel is there not as much as to protect the prophet, but to protect the prophecy, and Dean's and Castiel's free will just messed up with it big time! Which I LOVE! Free Will FTW. I don't believe in Destiny and I'm so glad Kripke doesn't go with the Destiny storyline all the way. There is such a thing, but we are capable of fighting our destinies.

I loved Ruby's death scene, but mostly because of how the boys did it TOGETHER (did I say it to you already? Team Winchester?), not just because the character is dead. I didn't like her, but mostly because she wasn't capable of making me feel anything. And I loved both apologies. Oh, BOYZ!

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's a lovely recap!

One thing, who does Zachariah want as their leader once Lucifer is dead? Himself?

[dreams-of-honey.livejournal.com]

Wow your review is made of win!

*pats self on back* And you deserve to do the same! ;-)

I really like what you said about Sam and his pride. I think you're on to something there. In metamorphosis Sam said he wanted to make something good out of the evil inside of him, but considering he was adding more and more to that evil, it makes you wonder why he would do it? Saving the world and wanting revenge just isn't enough. There was a need there, which Sam wanted to scratch.

Dean was amazing, he is such a hero in my eyes! Dean, please don't ever change!