5.18 - "Point of No Return" (SPN) - Revisited

[xwacky]

First of all, thanks to i_o_r_h_a_e_l for my newest icon. I refer to it as my "Sfumato Dean" because the effect of what she did to the screencap reminded me of the famous technique perfected by Leonardo Da Vinci. The icon is ideal for what I'm trying to say in this post because I feel the word (sfumato) can be used to described the tonality of this episode, and by that I don't mean the actual color and lighting of the scenes per se.

Like I stated in my previous post, what exactly happened here wasn't that clear cut to me. I appreciate everyone who answered my "burning questions" -- you all provided me with valid arguments supporting various thoughtful opinions. But in the end, the "contour" of what's happening with Dean (or even more extreme, what is Dean) remains hazy to me.

Perhaps at this point, it's better if I back up a little, and examine should we wish to see Dean and Michael become one and the same instead. To answer that, I think we need to determine if the unseen (in the present timeline) Michael is a protagonist or an antagonist first.

But my answer has been switched back and forth here. Instinctively I want to say Michael is an antagonist. Mostly because if he isn't, all this while Dean has been denying him would've been a waste of time then, not to mention the waste of innocent lives that could have been spared had Dean acquiesced early on. I really don't want to see Team Free Will's effort in "screwing destiny" end up being nothing more than an obstinate stubbornness, that in the end, they should have said yes all along.

Besides, when we did get to meet Michael briefly when Dean and Sam traveled back in time, we saw he was almost as arrogant as Lucifer. That alone is a marked difference between the archangel and his destined true vessel in my opinion. Then again, the archangel maybe a dick, but he's not here to win personality contest. From an objective point of view, Michael's end game is to stop Lucifer and the Apocalypse. That surely tips him over to the good side.

I maybe missing something vital here, I think the show hasn't clearly established the consequence(s) of Michael's manifestation. The Apocalypse is happening with or without Michael getting his vessel. With three of the Four Horsemen unleashed, people are dying anyway, Sam and Dean's friends and allies are dropping like leaves in the Fall, so the argument Bobby gave Dean that they must find an alternative besides Michael because not everyone can be saved if the archangel gets involved is not entirely sound IMHO. What did they all expect? That after Michael materializes, he's gonna massacre innocent lives? As far as I can tell, Michael's beef is with Lucifer alone. I doubt he would go after humans.

Perhaps the answer lies in the method in which Michael is using to defeat Lucifer then. I was under the impression Michael is vying for a one-on-one fight with the devil here (hence the need for a corporeal vessel). Perhaps it's like Team Free Will assumed, that the clash of the two supernatural powerhouses would inevitably result in the torching of half of the planet. I'm not quite sure how they derived this conclusion, but whether this is correct or not, like future!Dean said, it's still better than no planet at all. Because that's what they would get should they fail to come up with a timely solution other than involving Michael. At this juncture, I couldn't help remembering what future!Dean admitted to himself: I was cocky. Never thought I'd actually lose. But I was wrong. Dean, I was wrong! I'm begging you -- say yes.

The bleak world Dean saw in the future may or may not be Zachariah's machination, but the possibility of what future!Dean said cannot be ignored, especially now they are starting to exhaust their means of icing the Devil. Thus I found myself nodding my head when Dean told Bobby: You are not my father, and you ain't in my shoes. Ugly as these words are, they are still the truth -- Bobby is not the one bearing the weight of the decision that affects the fate of the world here. Further more, the distinction between the right choice and the bad choice for Dean is rather blurry at this point.

Another murky outlook here is what would happen to Dean personally should he accept Michael. It's apparent that Dean himself didn't think he would survive it, hence the "farewell tour" and the packing of his meager belongings (God, that scene ripped my heart out). But Michael did guarantee Dean's well being during their encounter, did he not? The fact John Winchester had all his faculties and wits remain intact after being "worn" by Michael surely suggests the archangel is capable of leaving his vessel unharmed. Then again, Michael didn't "wear" John to a fight with the Devil. So maybe there is that. Dean might've believed Michael can defeat Lucifer, but he didn't expect himself to come out alive from the showdown.

While Castiel and Bobby more or less saw Dean's willingness of accepting Michael as a form of surrender, of giving up, Sam saw it as a sacrifice, thus reinforcing the notion that it wouldn't bode well for Dean should he become Michael's "prom dress".

So what now? Could Lucifer be defeated by mere mortals with the aid of one rogue angel? Or maybe Team Free Will need help from higher power? Would there be a showdown between Michael and Lucifer? In the forms of their respective vessels? This episode answered none of these questions, yet it made me more curious than ever about what's going to happen. I have no doubt the myth arc progressed further here, and I'm almost positive there are repercussions to what Dean has done in this episode, I'm just not sure what those are yet.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

You know, I don't think we're suppose to know what is happening with Dean. I'm guessing Kripke has us exactly where he wants us right now.

I never saw this as Dean quitting or giving up--I saw it as more him choosing the lesser of two evils. He knows that, whatever he decides, millions of people are going to die. Does he let them die and have Lucifer rule those who are left, or does he let then angels? Neither side can be trusted, but Dean knows first hand what hell is like...

I'm very nervous as to how the season is going to end, though.

I do want to say that I agree with everything you've said here, and, as usual, you said it way better than I ever could.

mick

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Those are excellent points that you brought up there and I sincerely and fervently hope that the writers will deliver, one way or another. Oh to have Kim Manners back on the team *weeps*

I'm VERY keen to see Michael in Dean but it's more because I'd love to see what Jensen's take on him would be like. But with how 5.18 ended, I think it's quite unlikely that's going to happen now. Michael would probably use Adam, and for some reasons I could picture them all working together - Sam, Dean, Castiel and Adam!Michael, with Michael probably not getting his full powers since he isn't in his true vessel.

And it would sadden me if Michael turned out to be as much of a dick as Zachariah :(

[ckll.livejournal.com]

coughbecarefuloftheanonymouscough

You're right about Michael and we still have some questions about it and i still woner if Dean said the yes.

[anastdean.livejournal.com]

I love your new icon and you know I loved the episode, hope the new one is as great as this one.:))
Wishing you a lovely day my friend:)

[i-o-r-h-a-e-l.livejournal.com]

First, you're very welcome. I'm glad you like the icon and thank you for the elaboration of Leo Da Vinci.

Second, wow. This is so insightful and deep. This makes me think and thus, feeling confused, too.

I will only say that, being a muslim, this series is actually so Islamic. Heheh. That's only imho, you know, please don't take it that other muslims will think the same way. It's just that in our teachings, we are taught to never simply give up to our destiny. We are supposed to fight for our best and only when we do that and get what we get, then we can say that that's our destiny. I'm not saying that we're supposed to defy an archangel, though, for we're supposed to believe that they are God's creatures with a task and they are not bad beings.

Thus comes my confusion about this show. :) But this: Or maybe Team Free Will need help from higher power? I think I tend to believe that now. Seeing that Dean has begun to have particular abilities.

Again, awesome thoughts, dear. Looking forward to more.

[dreams-of-honey.livejournal.com]

Gosh, lots of wonderful questions and musings here. What I've always got from this is that neither side offers up a happy ending for humanity. If Michael won then the Angels would take claim of planet earth turning it into their very own paradise. Where we fit into all this can only be assumed by the way the higher ranked Angels speak of humans. I have a feeling the "Maggots and monkeys" would probably not fair well in their paradise on earth. And of course if Lucifer won then it would obviously be hell on earth for everyone! Either way we're screwed!

I really like the twist that the only option now is to send Lucifer back to his cell. I've always wrestled with this idea, cause I could never understand how you could kill the devil. It completely tips the balance of good vs Evil and that has just got to have major repercussions. No one kills the devil! It just can't be done. I do hope however that there is something special about Dean and they don't simply just trick Lucifer back downstairs. There's more to this and it's going to be exciting to see how this all ends and get some questions answered.

Oh and your icon is gorgeous! ♥