Very Brief Thoughts on 5x18: Point of No Return

[moonshayde]

Here I go.



Just saying this now in case I forget to post later. It's a few days later and I'm still unsure how I feel about this episode.

Nice growth there for Sam and Dean. Awesome character driven episode. I'm still thinky on it. Maybe once my mind settles I can pick apart what I loved. Let's just say that I enjoyed the episode and characters, and it's left that thoughtful gaze that will last a while with me.

But here's the thing. I know a lot of people are rejoicing that the bros are together, but I don't buy it. LOL. I'm that skeptical these days. I think they took a HUGE step in repairing their bond, but with 4 episodes left? I have the feeling something bad is going to happen between them, especially with a Season 6 on the horizon. I'm not spoiled or anything, so I am not basing this on spoilers, just my gut. If we were heading for a series finale, I'd say they were done and now it was all about hammering it home. But I don't know. I think bad times are ahead and that they might have one finale split. We'll see. I hope I'm wrong!

Comments

[maureen-cohen.livejournal.com]

I actually think you're right, because from what I remember Kripke saying was that he wanted to get back to what the show used to be like for the sixth season. In order to do that, I think they're really going to break these boys down and tear them apart.

We're seeing signs of it already, Dean's no longer wearing his ring, his bracelet or necklace and Sam's ditched his bracelet. I think Dean's leather jacket and possibly his gun are gone too and possible (and hopefully not) the Impala. They're physically stripping them now slowly.

Let's face it, this isn't a happy show.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Nope. So yeah I figure they'll still have to go through even worse stuff and it will seem like they can't come out stronger, but they will. Eventually.

[maureen-cohen.livejournal.com]

Somehow, I think they'll part ways for a bit at the end of this season. It's kinda the impression that I'm getting from Kripke and co. Such a downer group, aren't they?

They like making these boys yo-yos of emotion. I kinda just hope that next season feels as good and fun to watch as the show did originally. I just have a funny feeling that we've kind of just reached the climax and we have only four episodes to deal with the devil, a horseman and so forth, so they're gonna be extremely heavy episodes. I just hope they don't feel rushed and like they're trying to get so much stuff done in such a short time.

[contrary-lady.livejournal.com]

I think you're right. I mean, wouldn't the writers want us to think that there's at least the chance that Sam and/or Dean will end up saying yes? I really hope they don't, but I'm sure we're going to be treated to a heavy dose of brotherly angst & will they or won't they say yes? dread.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Exactly. There has to be that threat still there. Some thing else has to go wrong to keep us wondering how? why?

[contrary-lady.livejournal.com]

Exactly! I can't imagine that the threat would be over this soon.

[aaronlisa.livejournal.com]

I think that you might be right. It just seems too easy that Dean and Sam have managed to repair everything between them.

Plus isn't there one more horseman to deal with? I find it hard to believe that they can wrap everything up in a nice little package in four episodes. And I don't think that they've actually have effectively dealt with Death.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

I agree. I think more stuff is going to be thrown at them and they'll be at the brink. But I do expect them to get through it somehow in the very end.

[aaronlisa.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be surprised if we have an ending where they are somehow divided even if the whole Heaven/Hell arc is wrapped up.

[superbadgirl]

LOL, I'm so used to being the Debbie Downer I'm not sure how to handle this, moonshayde.

I don't think you're wrong. I also don't think we were given enough time at the end to really gauge exactly where they are. Sam looked relieved at the end, but Dean looked ... kinda constipated. I would be loath to say there are many in fandom who don't know, deep down, that it ain't going to be so easy, but are so glad that the boys seem to be going in the right direction they don't care just yet. ;)

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Oh, not a Debbie Downer here. It doesn't bother me as I expect in the end, whether that happens or starts at the end of this season, or whether it's more next season, that they will eventually find peace with each other.

I just don't think it's now. I think they took an important step, but I just don't think it's enough to withstand some more crap thrown at them. In the end? Well, at the very end I expect it.

I'm just being a realist here ;)

[superbadgirl]

I know, I was just teasing. ;)

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Heh. Sometimes it's hard to tell online!

[claudiapriscus.livejournal.com]

I think you're probably right, I'm resigned towards it, in any case.

I've not really enjoyed the way they've handled it this season - not the boys being at odds or having issues or whatever, I don't mind that- rather, it's the way it seemed to be kind of like a dead horse that they'd pull out to flog at random junctures and then forget about again.

My impression is that they like milking it, but for whatever reason, are disinclined to let it be resolved or to give it the long, simmering, development that it'd take to really nail it. So we've been stuck in some bizarre angsty-and-familial equivalent of the make-up/break-up cycle so beloved by sitcoms.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

They did a really good build up last season. As much as last season hurt, I saw the problems growing and growing. I think this season I expected not just the fallout, but to see them mending their relationship. So I did expect ups and downs, some denial and some outbursts, but not they way we've had it.

So I've been a little disappointed, but I still do expect payoff in the end. I'm not angry or upset. I don't know what will happen yet and I do have faith they'll pull through. It's just I do have some criticisms along the way, LOL.

Still love the show though.

[claudiapriscus.livejournal.com]

Me too. If I don't enjoy the direction a show or book series takes, I simply stop following it.

I'm just disappointed in this season. Season 4 did have an excellent build-up. I mean, a few missteps maybe, but all in all it was pretty cohesive and consistent.

I keep waiting for this season to start going somewhere. I'd expected ups and downs too, but the ones they've done have been so- all or nothing, and in a vacuum to boot. There's been very little sense of development through out the whole season. It's like they have frequently recurring bouts of brotherly angst, but these bouts clear up as quickly as they appear, and are just as quickly forgotten.

I guess the whole season has been like that, because it could also be said about the apocalypse.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

I think so much has to do with faking it. Dean and Sam were dealing with the fallout early this season, and then they started to mend fences without really hashing out their issues. We had bits of it, but it was like they were going through the motions and trying to convince themselves they were working together again.

And I think it has a lot to do with monetary reasons. I don't think they could afford to go all out. Ideally, this season would have been action packed. So that's part of the problem.

I also expected the brothers to be more aggressive to stop the apocalypse. More active than reactive. But they weren't and at least I can understand why.

And finally, I think it has to do with cancellation. I think Kripke had a long term plan, even if it wasn't perfect, and then had to shorten it with cancellation fears. Once they were renewed and renewed and renewed, he had to restretch it out.

At leats, as a series, when we look at it as a whole, it's one of the more coherenet series out there.

[claudiapriscus.livejournal.com]

I'm not so sure about that. (Don't get me wrong, I love it anyway). I guess it depends what you are comparing it too. I will say this though: for whatever reason, it's one of the few shows I can think of that hit some of its highest notes in the latter half of its run.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

It's fine if you don't agree with me. We all have our opinion after all :)

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

I agree with pretty much everything.

There was some nice growth for the boys here.

Yeah, I was left at the end thinking, "wait, that's it?" I couldn't believe that it's that easy. I mean, we still have a few episodes to go in the season and who knows what could happen. I'm really hoping that neither of them will say yes in the end, but something might still happen to cause that. And they still might split in the end.

Whatever happens, I just want them back together for season 6. That's all I ask. :)

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Me too :)

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

It was a damned good ep - and yeah, I've had several posts myself trying to untangle my various thoughts on it.

I'm with you - something bad is going to go down - but I believe it will be with Sam this time - and since Dean broke once...yeah.

*HUGS*

[anna-sg1.livejournal.com]

I think bad times are ahead and that they might have one finale split. We'll see. I hope I'm wrong!

Exactly the same thing my sister and I thought after watching this ep.

IMO it wouldn't make sense if the two of them didn't have some kind of face-off in the finale because, in a way at least, the whole storyline of 5 seasons was building up to that... And we haven't even seen Lucifer wooing Sammy, yet. For real, I mean. I'm not counting that one talk they had. And Lucifer seems pretty sure Sammy will say Yes.

Hell, Dean almost caved. Sam could, too. Almost cave, I mean. :)

What they need is daddy Winchester to come back and smack some sense into both of them. :)))