In the twenty-first and penultimate episode of the fourth season of Supernatural, Bobby and Dean agonize over whether or not to keep Sam locked up. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Supernatural.
That sounds like the author’s summary in a fanfic, doesn’t it?
Trigger Warning: For passing mentions/discussion of addicting and interventions.
Lord, this hurts. I think that “When the Levee Breaks” highlights both the best qualities of the Winchester brothers while ruthlessly exploiting their own flaws and issues. And all of this is rooted in the big mystery of season four: Who is right? Are the angels doing the right thing? Is Dean really fated to end the apocalypse? If that’s the case, then is what Sam’s doing wrong? And what sort of “wrong” is it? It might be morally wrong, but practically right. And where does Ruby play into this? Is Dean’s assertion that Ruby is clearly manipulating Sam correct?
It’s hard to put this all together specifically because we’re in the dark. Initially, though, it’s clear that Sam’s addiction to demon blood has a physical and mental affect on him that’s brutal. He suffers from vicious and realistic hallucinations that have a physical toll on his body. That suggests that the demon blood within Sam really is changing him in some way, but… how much? Is Cas correct in stating that eventually, too much demon blood will irrevocably change what Sam is? Even if that’s not the case, I still don’t know how Sam could ever beat this. How does he get rid of something that’s always been a part of him?
But I suppose that’s a question to be answered far in the future. For now, “When the Levee Breaks” focuses mostly on the experience of Sam’s intervention. While Dean and Bobby listen to Sam’s agonizing screams, doing nothing to stop them, Sam’s hallucinations essentially take on the form of his own subconscious. It’s actually fascinating to view his experience through this lens because it’s a chance for us to understand his thought process. First, he sees a vision of himself as a kid, and his own guilt and disgust is brought out of him. Sam has spent so much of his life wishing he were normal, and so his subconscious makes sure to remind him that he is incredibly far from normal. He’s about as far as he’s ever been, and there’s no turning back. But notice how Sam argues with himself about practicality. He insists that the life he imagined for himself all those years ago was impractical. He had to grow up! This plays in perfectly with his conversation with his “mother,” who represents Sam’s need for validation. Well, it’s partially that, and I think you could also read the experience as if his mind was justifying his choices. It fits that this form of thought takes the physical form of Sam’s mother because that’s what Sam needs in this moment: He needs his mother to tell him that she is proud of him and that what he’s doing is right and good.
But is it possible that the demon blood within Sam is manipulating his own thoughts? The hallucination of Mary tells Sam that Dean is the weak one, sowing the seeds of the violent discord that is to come. I’d say that this, combined with the Dean hallucination, definitively turn Sam against Dean, or they at least set things in motion. So… is that the blood? Can the blood act independently within Sam’s body? I DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW THIS WOULD WORK. But I don’t trust Sam’s visions to give him the most sound advice. And really, the concept of trust is very important to the overall story in “When the Levee Breaks.” Ultimately, that’s Dean’s problem with Sam and Ruby. He can’t truly and completely trust his brother, which… yeah, it’s sad. I agree with Ruby. They’ve come so far over the years, and just prior to their biggest battle yet, they’re torn apart. Which is mighty convenient?
ARRRGGGHH THAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THIS. As much as I want Sam to find happiness and to achieve validation from actually saving the world, there is so much evidence that this is part of some master manipulation by… maybe Ruby? I’m not sure of that. She behaves oddly in this episode when she’s with Sam, and I agree with Dean regarding her excuses for being gone for so long. They don’t feel real or believable, but at the same time, she’s given Sam too much. It doesn’t make sense to me. If she’s working for Lilith, then how can pushing Sam to kill her ever work in Lilith’s favor? We learn in this episode that Lilith herself has to break the final seal, so if Sam can kill her, then the final seal will NEVER be broken. SO???????? That seems like a good reason to believe Ruby, as shady as she might be at times. BUT I DON’T KNOW???? And given that there are very few seals left (possibly only one), I imagine I’ll find out the truth in the next episode, BUT THIS IS NOT COMFORTING AT ALL. It’s really not, and the writers are MESSING WITH ME. Now I’m on display for the whole fandom to watch me squirm and try to figure this out, and it’s cruel.
I want the best for these two and for Bobby as well. Bobby’s no fool when it comes to saving the day, and I suspect that he is concerned that Sam and Dean are being split up on purpose. Well, it’s also important to acknowledge that his love for the Winchesters influences his decision-making, but I also think he was right to implore Dean to do whatever he could to bring Sam back safely. Splitting them up? That’s just impractical, isn’t it? They need to be together for the final battle against Lilith.
So yes, I am COMPLETELY FUCKING CONFUSED as to why Castiel frees Sam from Bobby’s room. I don’t get it at all. Clearly, Cas was going to tell Dean something important, and clearly whatever that was has a huge bearing on what’s happening in the present. But I don’t understand how Sam being free is a good thing for the angels. They have stated multiple times that Sam’s use of the demon blood is bad! SO WHY THE FUCK WOULD SETTING HIM FREE BE A GOOD IDEA? Why is Cas so complacent about letting Anna be captured? What in the name of God (literally LOL) is going on?
I don’t understand, y’all. There are too many pieces to this puzzle, and now the pieces aren’t even in the same room anymore. When Dean finally tracks down Sam and Ruby, everything goes to shit so much faster than I could have imagined. It’s not just a rapid breakdown, but a brutal one. Ignoring Bobby’s advice, Dean is quick to belittle Sam, to put Sam on the defensive, and to guarantee that Sam will react poorly to anything he says. Seriously, it’s like Dean’s worst qualities – namely his ego/his pride – are put on full display for is. At the same time, Dean is certain that what Sam is doing is horrible, and so his actions are rooted in this deep, abiding respect and love for his brother. It certainly doesn’t seem that way on the surface, but I do think he loves Sam so much that he’s willing to be a jerk in order to convey it. Sort of. Because then this argument nosedives into awful territory after Dean calls Sam a monster (echoing the horrible hallucination Sam had earlier of Dean) and Sam looks like a giant bull when he’s all angry and shit? Dude, you’re not helping the whole claim that you’re inhuman. You’re not!
But Sam’s rage is rooted in the fears and insecurities we saw play out during his demon detox, and it makes sense that he, too, would overreact like Dean does. They’re both raw, damaged people, who are desperate and frightened, who are facing the end of the world, who have both died for this ridiculous and dangerous job, and it just gets worse. Worse worse worse WORSE. And then there’s that silly line? Okay, look, I was making jokes because everything hurt and my feelings were a mess, but then I couldn’t stop thinking about this? They’re in a hotel room, and Sam’s not ever going to come back there, Dean, because it’s a hotel. That’s how they work. UNLESS THIS WAS A META LINE BECAUSE THEY USE THE SAME SET FOR ALL HOTEL ROOMS. Oh god, this is how I handle adult emotions, isn’t it? IT IS.
Just… what a mess. This is the set-up for the finale. THIS ISN’T OKAY AT ALL.
The video for “When the Levee Breaks” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
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