In the first episode of the second season of Supernatural, the aftermath of the car crash is revealed, and the Winchesters all struggle with inevitability. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Supernatural.
Can I just state, for the record, how pleased I am that I have not only made it to the second season of this show, but that I have no problem continuing with it? When I began to mention publicly last year that I was going to eventually tackle Supernatural, I added a caveat: I’d only commit to one season in case I hated it. People were convinced I was going to despise it. I spoke about the incidents that took place, particularly last year, that helped define why I put the show on the Master Schedule and committed to watching… well, we’ll see. If it gets a tenth season, some kind person did the math and I’ll be finished with season nine of Supernatural as the tenth season is coming to an end, so TEN SEASONS OF THIS SHOW. Which would easily set the record for the longest single show I’ll have watched for Mark Watches. FASCINATING.
Anyway, it’s fun to be at this point of Supernatural not just because it’s some weird sort of accomplishment. (I’ve made it to the second season of plenty of shows IT’S WEIRD TO CELEBRATE THAT.) Season one, while very shaky at times (OBLIGATORY ALL-CAPS REFERENCE TO RACIST GHOST TRUCK, I WILL NEVER LET THIS GO FOREVER), gave me a good sense of what it was that Supernatural had done to millions of people, giving rise to a dedicated fandom that apparently loves yelling at these doofuses as much as I do??? That’s so validating, y’all. It’s just satisfying to see a show find it’s voice, and the last few episodes of season one were so on-point. “In My Time of Dying” is no exception, and the show has truly never felt better than this. The acting, writing, cinematography, and emotional devastation here just set the bar real high for the rest of season two, and that’s genuinely exciting to me! So, let’s get into the three main stories that unfold in the season two premiere:
Sam
I really think this is the start of a transformation of sorts for Sam Winchester. His role is reversed with Dean for most of this premiere, since he’s the corporeal of the two brothers, and that means that Sam is the one looking to protect Dean, not the other way around. Despite that Sam still argues with John a lot in this episode, it’s neat to see him take such an active role in being the rescuer, not the rescued. Which is not me ignoring the spate of episodes in the middle of season one where he saved Dean! It’s just that I think season one established that Dean was very protective of Sam, and I love that I get to see Sam viciously do the same in return.
I mean, even from the very beginning, he’s dedicated to his family. He pulls the Colt on the demon who crashed the semi truck into the Impala. He is the one who insists that they tow Dean’s totaled car, even when Bobby swears it’s not worth it. (HOLY SHIT, BOBBY IS BACK. Granted, it’s only for a couple minutes, but Bobby is back. More? Please?) When John appears lifeless and unwilling to do anything for Dean (OH NO I WAS SO WRONG ABOUT HIM OH NO) Sam is the one to seek out a possible solution, no matter how silly. This is about Sam refusing to give up, and I honestly think it mirrors Dean’s confession in “Devil’s Trap” where he establishes that he couldn’t do this without his family. Now, it’s Sam who realizes he can’t live without Dean. He can’t continue with family business if Sam, the only one who truly taught him how to hunt over the last year, is gone.
SERIOUS WINCHESTER ANGST IN THIS EPISODE.
Of course, there’s all the anger (some of it misplaced, some of it spot-on) that Sam lets loose on his father. The audience knows that John is up to something, but for Sam, this is John’s modus operandi. He cares more about the hunt than his family, and Sam refuses to let his father off the hook, even as his brother lays unconscious before them. It’s a little sad to me that when John finally admits that he hasn’t been the best father to his sons, it’s only to Dean. But I understand why it happened, and why Dean had to be the one to see his father in that state. Hell, let’s just talk about him.
John
First of all, Fredric Lehne is SO AMAZING as the yellow-eyed demon thing, whose name I still don’t know, so yellow-eyed demon thing it is. The dude is amazing on LOST and The X-Files, and this role is like nothing I’ve ever seen him in. HE IS SO BEAUTIFULLY CREEPY. Anyway, it was great to see John off on his own, brokering a deal to save his son, which IS PROBABLY A BAD IDEA. When do deals with demons ever turn out good? Never. Literally never. But for the moment, there is a bittersweet end for these characters. John, always hiding from Sam, continues to infuriate his son while trying to do something good for him. Like what we saw in season one, that has mixed results. Sam is routinely confused, and keeping information from him only makes him more furious. But there’s so much more at stake here than Sam realizes, and John relies on what he knows best to deal with it: He lies. He lies to Sam over and over again, and it’s kind of heartbreaking to watch. John may have his reasons for doing what he does, but that doesn’t mean they’re not flawed in some sense.
Still, I can’t ignore what he does here or the immense risk he takes here. I think it’s easy to imagine that both of John’s sons change his outlook after the events of the last season, because I don’t think the John Winchester of season one would have made a deal that meant that he wouldn’t be the one to kill the yellow-eyed demon. Isn’t that what he does here? He gives Dean the responsibility, and that’s a huge deal. Well, he also TELLS DEAN A SECRET. GODDAMN IT. YOU ARE EVIL, SUPERNATURAL. WHAT DID HE SAY? WHAT DOES JOHN KNOW? Ugh, now Dean knows it, too. UNFAIR.
Oh, Dean. Dean.
Dean
The writers cleverly keep Dean in this episode without relying on Jensen Ackles to just be an unconscious character in a bed, and I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I love that there’s an additional supernatural element to this episode that’s completely unconnected from what’s happening with John and Sam, at least to some degree. I mean, yes, this is all one story, but the reaper that comes for Dean isn’t because of the yellow-eyed demon, you know?
And while I may be totally wrong here, the more and more Tessa was on the screen, the more certain I was that the writers/casting folks were make some sort of subtle homage to The Sandman. In a lot of ways, Tessa felt like the Death of that series, a young, sympathetic guide for folks who are ready to move on. But was Dean ready to move on? Initially, not at all, and it’s an interesting parallel to Sam. We’re given two brothers determined to not give up, though for different reasons. Of course, it’s unbelievably haunting to know that what Tessa is offering – a chance to move on – means that he’d have to leave behind his father and brother, something he never really considered. Given what he told Sam in the season one finale about willing to do anything to save his family, I think this was a way for Dean to face the reality of what that meant. What if the best thing for his family was his own death? Not only that, but could he refuse to move on and become the very goddamn thing he and his brother hunted? HOW MESSED UP IS THAT?
I’m glad we don’t find out what Dean’s decision would have been. This is not the time or place for that, you know? Instead, he’s pulled back into his body, only to learn (I think???) that his father sacrificed himself for him. Well… okay, I suppose that’s absolutely speculation on my part, since there’s no confirmation on the screen, and I have no idea what it was that John told Dean before he went to give his life to the demon. I’m guessing it has to do with the secret surrounding Sam??? SOMETHING? I DON’T KNOW.
Already one episode into this season and I am a billion times unprepared. That includes being 1000000% unprepared for CRYING WINCHESTER FACES. TAKE IT AWAY. TAKE IT BACK.
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