In the twelfth episode of the sixth season of Supernatural, DRAGONS? DRAGONS. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Supernatural.Â
Shit, this season alone has done some great shit in reinventing the mythology of other supernatural creatures. LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS.
Dragons? Dragons.
By the end of “Like a Virgin,” the writers don’t even bother to explain the big reveal we get in this episode: that dragons can disguise themselves as humans. And I kind of dig that because it suggests a greater world than the one we got to experience. How did these dragons survive for the last 700 years? Were there only three of them left? Do dragons eat people? Do they eat gold? Do they poop gold? Did I just get you to think about dragons pooping? Then I have succeeded.
Of course, it’s fun to see how these creatures are presented within Supernatural canon, and that means we get the brilliant scene where Bobby Singer, who has seen every manner of beast and spirit and demon and angel, tells Dean that dragons don’t exist. The characters make a number of jokes about dragons, referencing World of Warcraft and The Hobbit. Because how the fuck can dragons exist on top of everything else? It’s amusing to me that this is where these characters draw the line on what’s a tenable belief, and then, over the course of “Like a Virgin,” we watch them accept that what they used to belief was utterly wrong.
Still, it’s kind of weird that at no point do Dean and Sam act surprised that they’re fighting guys during that final fight sequence. I mean, there’s the problem with the dragon’s blood sword being shattered and too short, and then they don’t acknowledge that it’ll be a lot easier to fight dragons in their humanoid form. So does that mean we’ll get more dragons in the future? Because I would love if the show brought them back and explored their mythology. I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS.
Dr. Visyak
Okay, I’m also super interested in her character, but I worry we won’t see her again, since she served her sole need in the narrative. But what? Bobby and her had a romantic past? WHAT??? I want background on this, and I want it now. I would also like her to return because COULD YOU EVEN IMAGINE. She could be a consultant on all manner of medieval creatures, all of which are coming out of the woodwork BECAUSE OF THAT THING, WHICH I WILL GET TO, I PROMISE. She could also continually embarrass Dean Winchester. Y’ALL. There is a lot that I loved in this episode, but watching Dean make a fool of himself in front of Dr. Visyak multiple times was a treat. The majestic music! His goober face! IT’S TOO PRECIOUS.
Also, he tried to use plastic explosives INDOORS. Dean Winchester, that has to be the worst idea I’ve ever seen you have and then follow through. THERE IS NO WAY THAT DOOR HELD.
Sam
Oh, my heart.
I wanna start off by pointing out that when Dean discovered that he’d been lied to (in “You Can’t Handle the Truth”) he reacted by beating Sam until Sam was unconscious. Here, when Sam discovers the enormity of the lie that he has been told, he vows to right his wrongs, even though he arguably did not commit the acts he’s trying to rectify. He is barely angry, and he’s already trying to be a better person.
If this doesn’t demonstrate the main difference between Sam and Dean Winchester, then I don’t know what else does.
I did not think that Sam would be unable to remember the past year and a half upon waking up, but it made a lot of sense. His soul had a different experience while in Hell, and it stands to reason that Death would have shoved that and the past year and a half behind the wall in Sam’s head. Of course, now I’m worried. If the wall breaks (and let’s be real, it’s gonna happen because this show wouldn’t introduce it without making it happen at some point), does that mean that both sets of memories will exist at the same time in Sam’s head?
That’s a question for another time, though. I was endlessly frustrated by watching Dean selfishly try to prevent Sam from finding out what had happened to him, and it wasn’t just because he was being a hypocrite. That’s a part of it, though, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how many times he’d lashed out at Sam for doing this same shit. But I was worried about the fallout from the inevitable. As Bobby pointed out, there was no way that Sam wouldn’t eventually discover the truth. Bobby and Dean’s behavior was his first clue that something was off; then the déja vu hit; and then he tricks Castiel into stating the truth.
It was only a matter of time. I admire Sam so much because he could have easily just said, “Well, that wasn’t me, LET’S GO.” But he wants to take responsibility for what happened in the year and a half he was gone, and he wants to repair his relationship with Bobby and Dean. And that’s such a sweet thing to see happen because it’s perhaps the best sign that Sam is back. I must admit that, like Dean, I was absolutely ecstatic to see so many little mannerisms return in Sam’s behavior. OUR SAM IS BACK.
For now.
The Mother
I’m confused on a detail. If all the dragons needed to open the door to purgatory and summon Mother was a single virgin, why on earth did the dragons kidnap so many of them? I DON’T GET IT. I’m choosing to see that as a continuity/writing error because otherwise, the dragons were tormenting women for… no reason?
Huh.
That being said, I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE MOTHER. First mentioned by the Alpha Vampire (can he please come back too?), we now get to see who was the mother of all creatures destined for purgatory. She’s taken the form of the unfortunate woman who was sacrificed, and she’s back, and IT’S GONNA BE A BLOODBATH, THERE’S NO WAY AROUND THIS. Yes please. YES.
The video for “Like a Virgin” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
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