In the fourteenth episode of the eighth season of Supernatural, Kevin Tran makes progress on the demon tablet, giving the Winchesters their next step in closing the gates of Hell. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Supernatural.
Trigger Warning: For gore/blood.Â
WELL, HOLY SHIT, EVERYTHING GOT SO REAL, Y’ALL.
I really feel like this is the first episode that makes me excited for the mythology of season eight, at least in terms of the whole episode. I loved the introduction of Naomi, I thought the tablets and the war with Crowley were a nice touch, but it’s the personalization here that makes this a lot more meaningful to me. LET’S DISCUSS.
KevinÂ
I’m worried, y’all. I now know why dean’s behavior seems, at times, rather forceful throughout “Trial and Error.†He’s rough with Sam and careless with Kevin, all because he feels like they’re as close as they’re gonna get to ending the demon presence on Earth. Which I understand! I don’t think the writers have sold this idea poorly. It’s clearly a meaningful thing for the Winchesters. But Dean’s treatment of Kevin Train is disturbing because Dean views Kevin less as a person and more as a means to an end.
You can see that throughout the episode, of course. And I think it’s also important to note that Kevin is well aware that he’s been working so hard that he’s prioritized the translation over his own physical and mental health. I don’t want to place blame on Dean where it doesn’t belong. Kevin wants this to be over just as badly as Sam and Dean, perhaps more so because he has no interest in ever continuing this line of work. That doesn’t mean Dean should push him to take… well, whatever it is that’s supposed to give him “pep.†The symptoms Kevin has are TERRIFYING. And I’m so worried that once he’s done serving a purpose within this narrative, he’ll be gone. I JUST CARE ABOUT KEVIN TRAN A LOT, I REALLY DO.
Hellhounds and Crossroads
There’s a fun mystery within “Trial and Error,†and it’s one of those scripts that tricks us into expecting a certain outcome. We go into the Cassity family farm believing that Alice most likely made the deal with a crossroads demon and that she’s the easiest way for the Winchesters to kill a hellhound. And then, five minutes later, Carl is dead, and THIS IS ALREADY DERAILED. This aspect of the episode is entertaining because it’s like a whodunnit mystery, and every goddamn time, I was wrong. I EVEN THOUGHT I HAD ELLIE FIGURED OUT. Christ, y’all, I was so certain that her forward nature with Dean was a distraction to keep him from hunting the hellhound. BUT NOPE. NOPE. She was the one who made a deal – with Crowley, that is, HOLY SHIT – in order to save her mother.
Of course, the biggest twist was saved for the end.
Sacrifice
This episode outright acknowledges the fact that one of the Winchesters always seems to face some horrible whenever they’re up against a Big Bad. It’s true! Dean knows this, and he’s ready for it. But I think to understand Dean’s motivation for making himself the sacrificial lamb in the trials, you have to take account his time in Purgatory. Dean’s experience there shaped who he is at this point in the series. It’s that purity of the hunt. It’s the way Dean felt more alive when he could focus solely on what he did best. And while some of that is subtext or maybe even a headcanon, Dean comes right out and tells Sam that he wants to do the trials because he can’t see a light at the end of the tunnel. Whew, was I ready to hear that?
NOPE.
Dean is a self-sacrificing character, though, and I can’t say I was utterly surprised by this turn. It still hurt to watch because it’s hard to see someone devalue themselves. Dean truly believes his only value to the world is through hunting and dying. He can’t see himself contributing any other way! So when Kevin reveals the first Trial to close the gates of Hell, Dean knows that he has to be the one to do it. He knows that Sam found a life outside of hunting with Amelia; he knows that Sam could probably do it again. So he throws himself upon the grenade, knowing that if he succeeds – even if he dies – he can give his brother the light at the end of the tunnel.
EXCEPT HOLY SHIT, SAM IS THE ONE WHO KILLS THE HELLHOUND AND HE HAS TO DO THE TRIALS AND I AM NOT READY FOR THIS. Like, we’re talking maximum Winchester angst here, y’all. Even if Sam wants to succeed and survive, that doesn’t mean he’s going to. So where does that leave Dean? He can’t be the one to sacrifice himself because Sam’s already completed the first trial. Sam has to go through with this. Dean wasn’t prepared for this outcome, and to be honest? I have no guess as to how he’s going to deal with this. (Poorly? Probably poorly at first.) But what I’m hoping from this is that Dean will eventually support his brother. That is what’s going to keep Sam alive. Well, and he’s on the box for season nine, BUT I DIGRESS.
This is such a great development. Can we also keep the Men of Letters headquarters around? Domestic AU Dean is in full effect, and I never want it to end.
The video for “Trial and Error†can be downloaded here for $0.99.
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