The Development of Sam’s Quests
Over the seasons, Sam has had many quests to fulfill. They’re all different, but they all have similarities, and in these similarities, Ive seen a pattern develop, and maybe even play itself out. In Season 4, Sam takes on a quest to kill Lilith. He leaves Dean to fulfill it, and Dean tells him “If you walk out that door, dont you ever come back!” Sam leaves anyway, but Dean shows up at the end to try to save him. Things dont work out as planned but Dean gets Sam back Season 5, Sam leaves Dean on a quest to put Lucifer back in the cage. Sam says “if I go through with this, and triple Lindy into that box, you know Im not coming back” Dean very reluctantly accepts this, but shows up at the end to help him. .With Dean’s help, Sam is able to finish this quest, and lands Lucifer back in the box. Dean fully believes Sam wont be back. (of course he does though YAY!) Season 8, Sam takes on a quest to close the gates of Hell, and go through the Trials to do so. At the end, Dean leaves Sam to finish the last Trial alone saying “If Im not back in 8 hours, finish it, no questions asked” And Sam accepts this. Dean comes back at the end to stop him, and save him from death
Season 11 Sam takes on a quest to talk to Lucifer in Hell. Dean leaves him and tells him not to do anything until he gets back. Sam ends up going without Dean because Dean wont answer his phone (because hes with Amara) but Dean comes back in time to help Sam when Lucifer attacks him. But finally in S12, Sam goes on a quest to take down the Brits, Dean tells him to go alone, and tells him “You come back” and Sam says “I promise” This is the first time Dean doesnt show up to help Sam, and yet Sam completes the quest on his own, and comes back. Dean says “Im glad your back man” and hugs him. I dont know if the writers noticed this pattern of separating the brothers while Sam does his thing, having them talking who is coming back,, and having Dean come help him finish ( or stop) and then this last time allowing Sam to finish successfully and come back on his own without Dean’s help, or if it was a happy accident, but it stands out profoundly to me. I dont want to say that Sam doesnt need Dean, because he does, Dean needs Sam too, he even told Amara this, but its not due to incompetency on either part, but for support. Sam was visibly pained when faced with the decision to either continue to work with the Brits to take on Lucifer, or to sever ties and finish them off. Im sure he would have loved for Dean to have come and give him a hand, but he was left alone to decide on his own. He made the choice, it didnt kill him, and he came back. I hope its not a new thing that they boys are separated more, but Im glad we got to see that Sam doesnt NEED Dean’s support, but he wants it. We did a full 180 from “Dont you ever come back” to “You come back” because not coming back, is no longer an option
