#spn9.15

[incesthemes]

this is a completely deranged way to end an episode. by the way

[incesthemes]

while dean is reminiscing about the past with sam in #thinman, he avoids making too much eye contact, but when the story is over he says "good times" and looks over at sam as if seeking agreement—to see if sam feels the same way

this is such a soft, vulnerable look on him: a little betrayal of his insecurity and awkwardness as he fumbles through this new dynamic sam is enforcing. he doesn't know what's okay to talk about or what will set sam off. he needs sam's approval to continue forward because he's lost if he can't be sam's brother. wow yeah that doesn't hurt at all

[spnmonster]

Kudos to Jeannot Szwarc on direction of THINMAN and this scene in particular. This kill is so intimate and deliberately slow that there can no doubt how coldblooded it is. There's speculation about Dean's recent attitude on killing is the result of the Mark of Cain, and maybe there's some influence. Or maybe this is the result of a lifetime of pushing his feelings aside for the sake of duty, years tortured in hell and becoming a torturer and liking it, months of ceaseless fighting in purgatory ... this isn't an exhaustive list, just some highlights. And it isn't a new headspace for him really, but even shortly after his return from purgatory, he was seeing gray areas about monsters. Not anymore.

But to be honest, I have to question Sam's criticism of Roger and the deputy being killed. He said, they weren't monsters. They were just guys.  If "monsters" lives should be spared when they aren't killing humans, then monster isn't defined by their "race" so to speak, but by their actions. Why should humans be judged differently? If they are killling, as Roger and the deputy did, for enjoyment or sport, should they not be destroyed like a vampire or werewolf who feeds on humans?

Possibly, the question that Sam will eventually have to face whether he should kill his brother if he too becomes a monster. Dean may even ask him to as Sam did Dean in season two's Playthings: "You have to watch out for me, all right? And if I ever ... turn into something that I'm not ... you have to kill me."

[spnmonster]

I'm cautiously looking forward to tonight's episode. This is the last ep before a mini-hiatus, so I'm hoping that means there will be some movement forward between Sam and Dean. Not just a "get over it" hug it out scene or resolution, obviously, but something other than more bickering and drama.

I'd love some recognition from Dean that he was wrong, if not an apology, for going against what he clearly knew Sam wouldn't choose himself. I think it is just as possible, given Carver's love of conflict, that things could get worse before they get better however. Since we could get a cliffhanger for a few weeks, I think either is equally likely.

I'd like to get some more on the Mark of Cain and where Dean's storyline is going in that regard as well.

Thoughts?