We’ve wanted answers for two years and we get them all in one episode!
9.9
This episode is a shocker, a ton of information dropped casually in a 5 minute conversation! It takes a while to process afterwards and even longer to realise the implications.
The biggest questions of the series answered!
- What was Yellow-Eyes doing to Sam? Now we know why Sam was immune to the demon virus. Then again, the demons didn’t know that, ‘Croatoan’ was a test to show if the children would be. Question is – did this give them powers, enhance existing powers or just mark them somehow?
- Why did Mary have to die? Mary had some sort of connection with the demon! What the…?! Again he says he killed Mary because of ‘wrong place, wrong time’ which is what he said in ‘Devil’s Trap’ too. An odd thing to say when he killed many other women exactly the same way! Was Mary special to him somehow? Here’s a freaky thought – could Sam have been chosen *because* he was Mary’s son? (Could he be the YED's son, not John's?!) This also explains 'Home' where Mary apologised to Sam and we never understood why. She was apologising for *this*!!
- Why did Jess have to die? We always thought maybe Jess died as a warning. Never occurred to me that it was to prevent Sam becoming a civilian! I always figured the demon *didn’t* want them hunting him, not that he was deliberately grooming Sam! Yellow-Eyes really creeps me when he starts saying ‘Sammy’ and how Sam is his favourite! It matches his behaviour in ‘Devil’s Trap’ – his warmth toward Sam and his complete lack of interest in Dean.
- Why did some of the children have nursery fires and some not? If the demon got interrupted, he killed and that started the fire; if not interrupted, he would finish with the baby and leave and no-one would know he was ever there. This explains episode 20 too – Dean’s wish was specific, that Mary never died. To accomplish that wish, the demon could never have picked Sam, or the alternate Sam would have had visions too, which he didn’t.
- How does a person like Sam become a monster? Sam, Dean and John’s fear was that somehow a switch would get flipped inside Sam and he’d turn. Here we learn the truth – Yellow-Eyes puts them in a situation where they must become monsters to survive. The horrifying transformation of Ava was just so wrong. A person as sweet and innocent as Sam who now thinks it’s fun to kill. If Ava is capable of these powers, that means Sam probably is too. The demon commented how he wanted Sam honing his skills and ability – Sam is the only one who hasn’t! Almost all the others have learned to control their ability with impressive results where Sam has shied from his completely, because of the misconception about his turning evil. Imagine what Sam could be capable of!
- What is Yellow-Eyes’ plan? Man, were we wrong! But he did admit he planted false information so we shouldn’t feel bad. That ‘other generations’ comment worries me, the only nursery fires Ash found was connected to our psychics so what does this mean? And that comment about already having an army? “Or I will soon.” What are we talking about, mass possessions?! The most fascinating thing he said was definitely that he only wanted just one – a leader, a soldier to lead his army. Now he’s always favoured Sam and Sam is a natural choice given his training, but why does Yellow-Eyes want a Human leading his army?
The fascinating conversation with Yellow-Eyes also illuminates something else – it confirms Sam’s worst fears, that everyone he loves is dead because of *him*. Now we’d already figured that out but from Sam’s obvious horror, our boy was in denial.
Great to see Ava and Andy again, I liked them both before and Ava as a killer was a shock, the way she just turned off the tears when Sam confronted her! Andy didn’t deserve to die like that. Lily and Jake, both interesting characters with fascinating powers – both powers which would impress the demon.
Now, the way they all were taken, Jake from Afghanistan, Sam from the diner where Dean’s radio switched off in reaction to whatever they did, Lily from San Diego – are the demons able to teleport? They would have had to physically be there though, the people in the diner had their throats slit – which is their trademark. And speaking of people dying – what did Ash know that was so important that someone would kill him?! I liked Ash and that is seriously an ugly way to die. The roadhouse is gone, pity but it had become a hotbed of tension about Sam anyway. Wonder if Bobby knows Ellen? Tactically, taking out the Roadhouse is a brilliant move in addition to stopping Ash. And how Sam got taken was awesome and chilling. Very cool!
Another first - not often that Sam is wrong but boy, was he off about why Lily was killed! But he didn’t know then that the demon didn’t want them all so his assumption was a natural one.
Last thoughts: The ghost town is very cool – and Dean gets his first vision! Now he knows how Sam feels!
Last but not least – the death of another Winchester. Off the bat, I know they’re going to fix this, for several reasons: 1) I will hunt Kripke down like a dog if my Sammy is really gone, 2) Sam’s the main character, you can’t kill him, and 3) I haven’t heard anything about Jared leaving the series. I can see why Jake would go after Sam, from a soldier’s point of view it’s a logical move but rather team up than commit murder! Especially of someone who has been protecting everyone and even saved your life! Talk about ungrateful! The fight was impressive and no surprise that Sam didn’t kill him, Sam’s just not a killer, but he should have given what happened next. All that effort for Dean to find him just to watch Sam die. Beautifully written and acted but Heaven help Kripke if Sam’s really dead! Dean’ll find a way to bring him back.
The way Sam died was just devastating. He beats Jake, shows his superior goodness and doesn't kill him, hears his beloved brother's voice echoing in the dark... and Jake stabs him in the back like a complete coward!! Imagine how Dean felt seeing that! It broke my heart how Dean just kept talking even when Sam's body went limp and then cries out his name! Have I mentioned how awesome these two actors are?!
Since they got all the questions out of the way here, obviously the last episode is going to be even more traumatic. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is guest-starring and in the photos, Dean has the Colt! Can’t wait!