Thoughts on "Dark Side of the Moon"
Apr. 6th, 2010 08:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
slowlyunfoldingsome random thinky thoughts from last week's Supernatural episode, "Dark Side of the Moon."
Sam gave Dean an amulet for Christmas when they were children. Dean loves it immediately, and it never without it. Earlier this season, Cas asks Dean if he can borrow it as a means of locating God. Apparently, the amulet is quite powerful being God radar. Bobby had given it to Sam indicating it was 'special.' (Another point for Bobby as God? Hm. Would God need a vessel? or would he/she have their own form?)
During DSotM, the brothers are thrown into their 'happy' memories. Dean discovers that all of Sam's happiest memories are when he is away from the family, or pretending to be part of a 'normal' family. Dean interprets Sam's desire not to be a part of the Winchester family as a wish to be away from him, not just from their father. Meanwhile, Dean's happiest memories are with Sam, or specifically, with making Sam happy, or feel like a kid. Dean has been more of a father to Sam than either one is able to admit. Dean managed to have a fragment of a normal childhood before their mother's death. However, Sam has never had that grounding. He has only known dislocation and the chaos of having a demon hunting father as 'normal' childhood. Regardless of how much young Sam knows about their father's true passion, and why they moved around all the time, he had to have figured out that their lives were not usual, or normal.
God is taking a time out & won't do anything to help the Winchesters & Cas stop the apocalypse. After hearing that God wants them to 'back off' from looking for him, Cas gives Dean his amulet back by saying he doesn't need it anymore. Cas is losing whatever remains of his faith in God. Being able to feel and express anger shows how far Cas has fallen. The amulet was the last tangible memento of his faith that God would be on their side & help them set the world to rights. (If God is on our side, who could be against us?) Dean takes his amulet back from Cas when it is handed to him, but throws it into the garbage can and walks out of the hotel room after Cas. Sam remains in the hotel room, immobile. He doesn't move toward the door, or to the garbage can to retrieve the amulet. (he better.)
Dean refusing to accept his amulet back shows his solidarity with Cas & the loss of what little faith he had managed to muster in God. Dean is also throwing away his childhood bond with his brother Sam by throwing out the amulet. The relationship between Dean and Sam has been deterioriating as adults, especially after Sam's cavorting with Ruby & being tricked into starting the apocalypse. Sam knew along that Ruby was stringing him along, but didn't really care. A part of him needed her to take care of him after Dean went to Hell.
Dean and Cas are becoming brothers. Sam is going to get frustrated & jealous with this dynamic. I imagine Sam will take off eventually as it is his pattern to run from the family when things get tough. It's the Winchester way to ignore emotions and drive through to the next fight. When Dean was a child (although adult in the memory of being a child), he is wearing a t-shirt that declares "I wuv hugs." Something that a mom would make you wear. I can't imagine any little kid actually wearing a t-shirt like this outside the house unless they were very small & couldn't read. In the memory, Dean comforts his mother after fighting on the phone with their father. He easily hugs her & says the right thing to cheer her up.
The irony is that Dean is starting to yearn for his own family, but Sam is 'past that point in his life.' This is the same Dean that is freaked out by suburbia, but Sam believes it to be 'normal' and the right way to live. Perhaps Dean is starting to create his own family now with the people that he has been looking for his whole life.
(I don't mean sexy times with Cas either you perverts.)
What struck me was that both Dean & Sam were going to retain their memories 'this time' after returning from Heaven. Both have died numerous times, but I was reminded of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, when Mary is made aware of this whole other life she has lived & been forced to forget. The capriciousness of human emotions is that they are ungovernable. Mary was starting to fall in love with Dr. Mierzwiak all over again & repeat the cycle of love & loss. It is a cruel that Dr. Mierzwiak erases Mary's memories of falling in love with him & starting an affair. She won`t have learned anything from her relationship with him. With her memories erased of their romantic relationship, he is able to keep her as an employee, and placate his wife. In short, Dr. Mierzwiak gets both cookies, until Mary is set straight about her procedure.
You can't consent to something if you don't have a memory of being asked.
Which brings up the question of consent for Dean & Sam as vessels for Michael & Lucifer, respectively. If either one says yes, to what extent would they be able to exert control or influence on Michael or Lucifer? Bobby was able to break through a demon possession, which I haven't seen anyone else have the ability to do.
I`ll be over here, drinking tea, and pondering stuff.
Sam gave Dean an amulet for Christmas when they were children. Dean loves it immediately, and it never without it. Earlier this season, Cas asks Dean if he can borrow it as a means of locating God. Apparently, the amulet is quite powerful being God radar. Bobby had given it to Sam indicating it was 'special.' (Another point for Bobby as God? Hm. Would God need a vessel? or would he/she have their own form?)
During DSotM, the brothers are thrown into their 'happy' memories. Dean discovers that all of Sam's happiest memories are when he is away from the family, or pretending to be part of a 'normal' family. Dean interprets Sam's desire not to be a part of the Winchester family as a wish to be away from him, not just from their father. Meanwhile, Dean's happiest memories are with Sam, or specifically, with making Sam happy, or feel like a kid. Dean has been more of a father to Sam than either one is able to admit. Dean managed to have a fragment of a normal childhood before their mother's death. However, Sam has never had that grounding. He has only known dislocation and the chaos of having a demon hunting father as 'normal' childhood. Regardless of how much young Sam knows about their father's true passion, and why they moved around all the time, he had to have figured out that their lives were not usual, or normal.
God is taking a time out & won't do anything to help the Winchesters & Cas stop the apocalypse. After hearing that God wants them to 'back off' from looking for him, Cas gives Dean his amulet back by saying he doesn't need it anymore. Cas is losing whatever remains of his faith in God. Being able to feel and express anger shows how far Cas has fallen. The amulet was the last tangible memento of his faith that God would be on their side & help them set the world to rights. (If God is on our side, who could be against us?) Dean takes his amulet back from Cas when it is handed to him, but throws it into the garbage can and walks out of the hotel room after Cas. Sam remains in the hotel room, immobile. He doesn't move toward the door, or to the garbage can to retrieve the amulet. (he better.)
Dean refusing to accept his amulet back shows his solidarity with Cas & the loss of what little faith he had managed to muster in God. Dean is also throwing away his childhood bond with his brother Sam by throwing out the amulet. The relationship between Dean and Sam has been deterioriating as adults, especially after Sam's cavorting with Ruby & being tricked into starting the apocalypse. Sam knew along that Ruby was stringing him along, but didn't really care. A part of him needed her to take care of him after Dean went to Hell.
Dean and Cas are becoming brothers. Sam is going to get frustrated & jealous with this dynamic. I imagine Sam will take off eventually as it is his pattern to run from the family when things get tough. It's the Winchester way to ignore emotions and drive through to the next fight. When Dean was a child (although adult in the memory of being a child), he is wearing a t-shirt that declares "I wuv hugs." Something that a mom would make you wear. I can't imagine any little kid actually wearing a t-shirt like this outside the house unless they were very small & couldn't read. In the memory, Dean comforts his mother after fighting on the phone with their father. He easily hugs her & says the right thing to cheer her up.
The irony is that Dean is starting to yearn for his own family, but Sam is 'past that point in his life.' This is the same Dean that is freaked out by suburbia, but Sam believes it to be 'normal' and the right way to live. Perhaps Dean is starting to create his own family now with the people that he has been looking for his whole life.
(I don't mean sexy times with Cas either you perverts.)
What struck me was that both Dean & Sam were going to retain their memories 'this time' after returning from Heaven. Both have died numerous times, but I was reminded of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, when Mary is made aware of this whole other life she has lived & been forced to forget. The capriciousness of human emotions is that they are ungovernable. Mary was starting to fall in love with Dr. Mierzwiak all over again & repeat the cycle of love & loss. It is a cruel that Dr. Mierzwiak erases Mary's memories of falling in love with him & starting an affair. She won`t have learned anything from her relationship with him. With her memories erased of their romantic relationship, he is able to keep her as an employee, and placate his wife. In short, Dr. Mierzwiak gets both cookies, until Mary is set straight about her procedure.
You can't consent to something if you don't have a memory of being asked.
Which brings up the question of consent for Dean & Sam as vessels for Michael & Lucifer, respectively. If either one says yes, to what extent would they be able to exert control or influence on Michael or Lucifer? Bobby was able to break through a demon possession, which I haven't seen anyone else have the ability to do.
I`ll be over here, drinking tea, and pondering stuff.