RhymePhile's Rat Race

I wanted to point out a few of my favorite moments from last night's season finale of Supernatural, highlighted with screencaps shared from oxoniensis




First, YAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY I'm so glad it has been renewed for next season. If they would have left it where it ended last night I could have lived with it (reluctantly), but as things are, I'm really looking forward to a third season of demon-hunting and angsting. Speaking of...

Here are some of the scenes that struck me as particularly powerful from last night's ep. I would have had more, but the firewall here in work went up before I could get more screencaps. Bitches!

I liked the slow pace to the opening. We had Sammy's body just lying there, Bobby is at a loss at what to do, and, to his credit, Jensen Ackles looking like hammered shit in these scenes. Bravo! There have been a lot of tears this season, hasn't there? Man. Not that I'm complaining -- both actors were getting the feel of their parts (heh, not like that, dirty minded Flist) in the first season, so despite loving the show I didn't feel as though it resonated as deeply as this season. Of course, that had a lot to do with the story arc and many painful scenes.

Ackles has really rocked it this season. He's played so many scenes subtly -- trying as Dean to remain stoic and tough -- yet Ackles has a way of letting his vulnerability come through to make Dean seem, well, less like an arrogant asshole. I'm not dumping on Padalecki; Ackles just had much more to do this season, and he did it well.

The scene below is an example of this...he's sitting there talking to his dead brother's body about how he's done everything he can, but he still failed. He has this overwhelming responsibility, not just in protecting his brother, but because his father gave up his own life for Dean's. It's a burden that's been thrust upon him, and in this scene he's essentially admitting that he's unworthy of the sacrifice his father made.



It's in a sadly ironic Winchester tradition, then, that Dean decides to make a deal with a demon to restore his brother's life. At least he gets a year -- John didn't get much time at all. As screwed-up as Dean's reasoning is, it is true that he was supposed to be dead already. As John gave his life for Dean, so does Dean give his life for his only brother.

The scene below when they arrive at Bobby's is notable because of the simultaneous reactions: Bobby's to Sammy standing there; Dean's look of obvious guilt; and Sammy's complete and utter ignorance to what his brother has done to damn his own soul. I love the look that passes over Bobby's face in that moment, because he knows right away what Dean has done.



The scene that occurs just after the one above is my favorite in the entire episode. It gets to the heart of what Dean really feels about himself, which, if we didn't know already, is not much of anything. The moment is very telling because it explains in just a few lines how truly despondent Dean has been over the past few months, and how he's little more than a walking shell -- a ghost, if you will. It shows he never really recovered from his brush with death. The guilt of his father's death has made him lose himself.

Bobby is clearly distraught with Dean's decision to offer up his soul. But what's most interesting here is that Bobby is the one to wonder why Dean thinks so little of himself. His hand on Dean's cheek is a touch of fatherly concern, but it's also like he wants Dean to realize he is worthy, whether Dean believes it of himself or not.



Of course, the conclusion of the episode finds John coming up out of Hell to help his boys one last time. What I loved the most about this scene, aside from the obvious emotional aspects, is that John didn't -- or wasn't able to -- speak. He was forced to tell Dean with only a look that he had no regrets about giving up his soul for his son. He had to convey that no matter what Dean thought, Dean was worth it. Out of everything else that happened in the episode, that struck me as the best and most emotional moment. I hope Dean was able to understand that unspoken moment as much as the audience did.




Obviously I'm more of a Dean than Sam fan. I dig the dark, tortured characters I guess.

I look forward to next season!