Supernatural: Team Free Will vs. Everybody
We're so smitten with elements of the episode that we're tempted to just transcribe it... but we'll restrain ourselves. (Mostly) Here are some of our high points:
Meet the parents, part 1
Dean had already gone through the discombobulation of meeting his parents when they were young, so he dealt with the time travel pretty well. But how heartbreaking was it to see Sam meet Mary for the first time? He has no real memory of his mom (except when she was an anti-poltergeist flame ghost), so seeing her young and vibrant and alive.. off. No wonder he spent most of the time with tears welling up.
And then there was Sam talking to John after the monster was out of the bag. John was livid that Sam had been raised a Hunter. "Who the hell does that to a kid? What kind of irresponsible bastard lets a child anywhere near... you could have been killed!" And yes, the John = Bad Dad element among us was thrilled and amused that even John was anti-John.
There's more after the jump -- read on!
But check out Sam's response -- which we can't resist quoting in full.
I used to be mad at him, I used to hate the guy, but now, I get it. He was just doing the best he could. And he was trying to keep it together in this impossible situation. See, my mom... she was amazing, beautiful, and she was the love of his life. And she got killed, and I think he would have gone crazy if he didn't do something. Truth is, my dad died before I got to tell him that I understand why he did what he did, and I forgive him for what it did to us, I do, I just... I love him.
Sob!
Meet the parents, part 2
Even better for us was getting to see the John and Mary we came to know as they developed. We saw John react to forces he couldn't control, and he was pissed -- at monsters, at Mary, at the boys, at the whole damn situation. But he wasn't going to cower -- he would do everything he could to protect the people he love. That even included letting Michael ride him.
And Mary, she was amazing. She was horrified that she let her kids become Hunters, but more than willing to kick ass when the time came. When she stabbed Anna with the crowbar, we didn't know whether to wince or cheer. And she refused to let her kids not exist, no matter what the consequences.
Destiny vs Free Will
Both Anna and Michael were calm, rational, and sure of themselves. They made clear arguments -- Anna knew that the Apocalypse wouldn't happen if Sam wasn't around for Lucifer to wear. Michael knew Dean would have to give in, because that was the only sensible suggestions. How could they disagree?
But our boys don't buy the orderly arguments. It's more complicated than anything anyone says. It may be easier to give in to the pull, but Sam, Dean and Castiel -- Team Free Will -- "have to believe that [they] can choose what [they] do with [their] unimportant little lives," as Dean says. They're fighting against everything to hold on to that, and that's what's going to save humanity from destruction . This is what stands between us and annihilation -- "One ex blood junkie, one dropout with six bucks to his name, and Mr. Comatose over there." Chilling -- yet strangely heartening at the same time.
Of course, we did have one big old problem with this episode: The premise. It contradicted what they've already determined, that the past is immutable. Dean couldn't change the past when he went back before, so why did they think Anna would be able to do so? Do angels get a "Get out of space-time continuum conundrums free" card? Do the rules of inevitability somehow not apply to them? Because if so, that seems like cheating. And if not, this episode, while heart-rending, was a tease.
Comments
hella XD 'teamfreewill watch out, destiny we´ll kick your asses hard HA! XD. Now i could use a beer ;)
no
really honest seriously XDD
one of the best episodes season 5 till now.... well done guys <3
Posted by: Stefanie Terjung | February 27, 2010 3:38 PM
First things first, the episode was outstanding , brilliant & just hhhhhhaaawesome!!! I mean the oneliners alone ;)
A few more were, Sam: “Cas,what do you think”
Cas: “ No,she’s… Glen Close”
Sam: “Is he alrite”
Dean: “What do I look like DrAngelmedicine women” Teehee!
As for the premise, I think the concept of time travel in itself is so convoluted & mind boggling that one cannot find easy answers or any answers for that matter, there are several theories which are contradictory to each other, like the Butterfly effect, where if one storyline diverges at a seemingly minor event in past, it leads to two significantly different outcome in future (therefore implying that past can be changed)& then there is Grandfathers paradox where it is believed that if one tries to time travel in past & kill his own grandfather, before he meets his biological grandmother, so that he is never born, he wont be able to, which sorta implies that the past cannot be changed...& now my head hurts.
So, in this show I wanna believe none of those theories apply. The higher order angels think they can change past, so Anna tried that & lower grade/emancipated angel like Cas are sorta intimidated by the magnitude of her powers & is threatened by it. But their very very senior archangel Michael does not authorize Anna’s plan & hence she is turned into Angelkebab.OR Cas was right all along & "All roads lead to same destination" & Anna just didnt get the memo.
But i was thinking that, angel Anna got killed in 1978,so what happens to Anna Milton born in Ohio 1985!Does that mean she will lead a normal life, or she wont even be born, or she will lead a life & her choices & decisions will lead her to same outcome, which reinforces the destiny stance….anybody wanna help me out here!
I think all the time travels in this season, future or past, advertently or inadvertently ,are to show the boys that their fate is sealed & their destiny is invariable.
I was happy to find the reason why the boys (mainly Dean) were THE chosen ones, & the reason seemed plausible, coz Claire Jimmy's daughter in The Rapture had also inherited it from Jimmy.
Posted by: Rich | February 8, 2010 1:41 PM
I was really looking forward to see this episode, and it show me much more then i expected.
I loved it.
For me was the most heartbreaking moment when Dean and Mary were talking (about letting her sons to be a hunters and all that), and there was also the moment where Dean and Micheal were talking.
The best scene was where dean and Sam were sitting at the back of the car :))
Posted by: Dunja | February 8, 2010 9:33 AM
That episode was amazing, it brought me back to why I loved Supernatural so much in the first place.
Loved all the scenes and it was so heartbreaking when Dean told Mary he was her kid and how Mary was devastated that he became a hunter. Sam and John scene was amazing too. It must've been hard for Sam to hear that, knowing that future John becomes the total opposite of everything that past John believed in.
Apart from the heartbreak, the fight scenes were INSANELY KOOL. kicked ass! I especially loved the Mary v Anna showdown. We got to see Mary kick some more ass and her knife skills are amazing!! Michael coming in and burning Anna. Omg that was amazing too. Props to the special effects people of Supernatural. The flames expelling from her eyes was really well done!!
On another note, that problem where destiny cannot be changed - somehow Anna could? I guess the rule doesn't apply to angels, technically. In 418 "Monster at the End of this Book" Cas could've easily flew Sam out of the room and he would've never met Lilith which would be in direct violation of Chuck's vision. But he chose not to because of that divine prophecy, etc etc. Also in 422 Lucifer Rising, Chuck said that Castiel and Dean weren't supposed to be there and with Cas' power, he was able to send Dean over to the convent.
So angels probably do have the power to change destiny. They have the power to, although archangels (like Michael and Raphael) will do anything in their power to prevent that from happening (ie killing Anna, and killing Cas respectively).
Loved the episode ^^ hopefully Supernatural continues the momentum they stirred up with this ep
Posted by: jess t | February 7, 2010 9:23 PM
This episode was awesome...I loved the talk between Sam and Young John...And I have to say Young John is so hot he can give Sam and Dean a run for their money.
Posted by: Samsun | February 7, 2010 8:58 PM
TSRTS was a great episode, but I had the same problem with the premise that you did. In fact, I've been wondering about that ever since I found out what was coming. I hope they address the issue and don't just sweep it under the rug.
But overall I loved it. Everyone did an impressive job, but Jared was just amazing. I'm so glad he got to meet Mary and talk to John and I can't wait to see what Team Free Will does next.
Posted by: kelios | February 6, 2010 4:12 PM
That first poll asking which scene was my favorite was kind of like asking which child is my favorite. FYI.
There is so much about this episode that I adore. In fact, every single second was just pure gold. You hit the nail right on the head when you said you wanted to just transcribe the damn thing.
One of my absolute favorite moments in the episode (that's a pretty substantial list) was the look Dean gave Cas as he silently pleaded with him to say that killing Sam wouldn't fix anything. It was such a small moment, but to me it really stood out. The fear and desperation in Dean's eyes - how terrified he was that he'd lose Sam - was heart-wrenching. I missed that love between the brothers. And I finally think it's coming back.
Speaking of which - Sammy!!! He was actually considering killing himself to stop the Apocalypse in the beginning of the episode. To be honest, I wouldn't expect anything less from him, but it still tore my heart apart. Not to mention later in the episode when Dean and Sam were willing to not even be born if it would stop the Apocalypse. Those two are the epitome of heroes.
I. LOVE. THIS. SHOW.
The writers of Supernatural are GENIUSES. I'm constantly blown away by their sheer brilliance. Thank you, Kripke and Co. You are the reason I can even get through the week sometimes.
Posted by: Megan | February 6, 2010 1:51 AM
Completely loved the episode. Team Free Will is so going to kick Team Destiny's ass!!!
Posted by: Melanie | February 5, 2010 6:30 PM
I loved it. We had three scenes that were just heartbreaking - Sam & John and Dean & Mary and Sam, Dean & Mary.
Posted by: Linda | February 5, 2010 4:49 PM