Review for 5x05 'Fallen Idols'

[galathea]

In typical Supernatural fashion the angst heavy mytharc episode The End is followed by a more light-hearted monster-of-the-week type standalone with the obligatory brother development on the side. In short, exactly what I needed at this point. I really miss the typical S1 casefile episodes – the brothers alone in a random small town, siblings banter, research and Sam and Dean whumpage - a lot. Anyway, Fallen Idols by Julie Siege explores the effects of Sam and Dean’s ongoing trust issues on their working, as well as their personal, relationship in the wake of their tentative reconciliation from last episode and culminates in a major step forward towards healing. ♥ The episode has a couple of weaknesses, but I think the character development more than compensates for that.



Fallen Idols has a very strong S1 vibe, but it doesn’t feel like self-indulgent nostalgia or like a simple means to lighten up the tone, instead it serves as a contrast and a parallel to the present. Not only calls it back to the first time in the show where Sam and Dean tried to renegotiate their relationship as adults, but it is also an integral part of the story between the brothers in terms of showing what was good and strong about their relationship back in the early days – the fun, the way they complement each other’s skill sets, the emotional support – but also where it had weaknesses, i.e. the uneven distribution of power between them. Naturally, the latter is strongly reinforced as a result of Dean’s trust issues with Sam, which of course didn’t simply vanish, just because Dean realised that they are stronger together than apart.

In a way, Fallen Idols is a mirror to Good God, Y’all, with Dean trying to control his own fears and worries by controlling his brother, and Sam chafing against Dean’s authoritative stance, but this time the brothers resolve their situation in an open and rational dialogue, instead of Dean casually trying to play his fears off and Sam expressing himself in anger and violence. Ever since the beginning of the season the brothers try to establish a straightforward and honest communication between them, and even if that honesty involved some painful truths and hurtful comments on either side, the continuing dialogue between them is their biggest strength at the moment, and Fallen Idols is ample proof of that. ♥

Dean: "We need training wheels. You and me. As a team, okay? I really want this to be a fresh start. For the both of us!"

It’s not the first time in the show that the brothers find themselves at a fresh start in their relationship, in fact the show began with a fresh start between them back in the Pilot, where they came together as adults for the first time in their lives. Over the course of the first season Sam learned to see the person with hopes and dreams of his own in Dean, instead of the guardian and semi-parent of his childhood, and Dean, while still deeply protective of Sam, gained a new appreciation of Sam’s perspective. S1 was a constant renegotiation and re-evaluation of their relationship, a journey towards mutual understanding that was achieved by overcoming their preconceptions about each other, and while Sam’s need for independence still chafed with Dean’s need to be with his family, they managed to reach a new level of respect for each other. While the closeness the brothers regained during that re-evaluation process was only deepened by the tragedies that hit them over the next couple of years and even turned into a desperate co-dependency, their opportunity to use the forward momentum from S1 and grow into an equal relationship was severely undermined by the events that followed.

In S2 John once again burdened Dean with the sole responsibility for his brother’s life and he willingly accepted, because it was the role that he defined for himself anyway. And Sam, overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty of what was happening to him, looked towards his big brother as the last line of protection as well. Their traditional role allocation of protector/protected, big brother/little brother was firmly cemented over the course of the season. In S3 Sam was torn between two poles, on the one hand he tried to become more independent from Dean, as he felt the need to prepare himself for being alone, but on the other hand he wasn’t any more able to let Dean go, than Dean was able to let Sam go. His every action cemented his dependency on Dean rather than loosen it. In the end it was still Dean, who controlled the pacing of their development and actions throughout the season and made the final decision that Sam was not allowed to use his powers in order to save him. Overall Sam made some valiant efforts in S2/3 to rebel against Dean’s overprotecting, and at times overbearing, stance, and Dean tried to meet Sam halfway, trusting his decisions and treat him like an adult, but every crisis essentially threw them back into their old behavioural patterns.

In S4 though these patterns truly didn’t work anymore, leaving both brothers at a loss of how to deal with each other. Sam used what he perceived as Dean’s post-hell weakness to take control in their relationship, while at the same time surrendering his control to Ruby, thus yielding to the illusion of independence. In the process he lost his ability to compromise and listen to his brother. Dean on the other hand failed to adapt to the changes in Sam, clinging to an image of the Sammy he knew and contributing to their estrangement by alienating his brother. Sam had turned into someone he didn’t recognise anymore, and Dean had no idea how to connect to him and/or find a new balance with this stranger in front of him. Naturally this feeling of estrangement carried over into their situation in S5, and Dean’s insistence on doing a training mission is his attempt to relearn how to be with his brother again and give Sam a chance to do the same. Especially since their first attempt at working together in Good God, Y’all failed so miserably.

However, while Dean might have realised that they need to move their relationship to a new place - after all it was Dean who first stated in the season opener that they can never be who they were - it is obvious that he doesn’t exactly know how to get there. So, Dean tries to find the old familiarity in his relationship with Sam, by taking charge, re-establishing their usual division of work and falling back into their siblings banter, teasing his geek brother relentlessly. However, he tries too hard, and his trust issues undermine his genuine efforts to reconnect to Sam. In effect, Dean achieves the opposite of what he set out to do in the first place, instead of supporting their teamwork, he ends up endangering it. In The End Dean invited Sam back into the family business, but I think he wasn’t completely prepared to let Sam back into his life as well, the fear of getting hurt again understandably influencing his behaviour towards Sam. So, I think what comes off as Dean being controlling towards Sam throughout the episode is simply an expression of self-protection, because as long as he has their relationship under control, he can control the possible damage Sam might inflict. This time he wants to see it coming and be able to dodge if necessary, and I think it’s understandable that Dean feels the need to protect himself, after what went down between them in S4.

Sam: "All I’m saying is that, if we’re gonna do this, we have to do it different. We can’t just fall into the same rut."
Dean: "What do you want me to do?"
Sam: "You gonna have to let me grow up, for starters."

Unsurprisingly Sam calls Dean out on his behaviour, after trying to go with it for a while, even if he is visibly frustrated. While I think the set-up for their first confrontation, i.e. Sam catching Dean in the middle of a conversation with Bobby, where he seemingly blames Sam for the apocalypse, was handled pretty clumsily, I don’t think it was meant to be an objective look on Dean’s opinion about Sam, in fact, the end scene and all his statements in earlier episodes pretty much refute that. I think this was a deliberate shot from Sam’s subjective perspective, seeing Dean’s statement through the eyes of his own guilt and applying it to himself, instead of taking it as a general statement about their combined culpability or going with the just as likely assumption that Dean is talking about himself. Dean doesn’t correct his brother, unwilling to justify himself in front of Sam for the moment, and Sam lets it go, unwilling to force a discussion.

In the end though, the confrontation is drawn to the surface nonetheless, when Dean declares the case as closed, despite Sam’s valid observations that suggest otherwise, and tries to play the 'I'm in charge' card in order to get Sam to comply with his assessment. Now, while there have been many instances in the show where Sam and Dean negotiated work disagreements as equal adults and came to a consensus/compromise in the process, there have also been some instances where the real source of disagreement between the brothers has been Dean's attempt to deliberately treat Sam like a child and assume power of decision to coerce Sam into following his lead. Dean trying to pull rank on Sam in Fallen Idols is not the first time it happens, and it’s also not the first time that Sam puts down his foot against it - Scarecrow, Hunted, Bedtime Stories or Time Is On My Side come to mind. But in each of those instances where Sam called Dean’s decisions into question, he was either plain wrong, unreasonable and/or needed to come running back because he got himself, or his brother, into trouble by making his own decision. And S4 in particular was one long story of Sam’s decisions going astray without Dean’s grounding influence. As far as I recall Sam wasn't right even once, when he chose to go his own way, instead of listening to Dean. So, I think it was extremely important here that not only Sam proved to be correct, both in his assessment of their relationship, as well as in his appraisal of the case, but also that Dean conceded to his points later. Because if the writers really want to move the brothers into an equal relationship, they need to start and make Sam’s decisions and evaluations just as valid as Dean’s and give him ground to make a case for himself opposite his brother.

Anyway, Sam makes a couple of very valid points in his speech to Dean. Firstly, that their trust-building, like their teamwork, has to be a two-way-street. Sam is trying to make amends the only way he can, by opening an honest communication between them, letting go of his tendency to lie and go behind Dean's back and fighting at his brother's side for his redemption, but in order for that to work, Dean actually has to let him. That’s not to say that Sam expects Dean to forgive and forget or that he insinuates Dean’s feelings of mistrust are not justified, he explicitly states otherwise, Sam is simply trying to make a very important distinction: To rebuild their trust, Dean needs to allow his brother to prove himself to Dean on his own, and not because Sam tries to appease him. The latter is Sam reacting to Dean’s needs, while the first is Sam acting out of his own need to change, and over the long run that is the only way Dean can be sure Sam’s change is real, and not simply enforced by his wish to worm his way back into Dean’s affections.

Secondly, Sam rightly points out that how they were before never really worked and got them into this mess in the first place. As mentioned before, there have been a few instances in the show where Sam fought Dean’s tendency to assume parental authority over him, one example would be Bedtime Stories, where he comes right out and says the Dean isn’t Dad and can’t order him around, but it’s the first time that either of them identifies the child/parent dynamics in their relationship as the root of their problems. Dean’s first instinct, to protect Sam at the expense of his own needs, is not only detrimental to Dean’s well-being, it also robs Sam of the opportunity to grow into a man of his own. Just like Dean didn’t grow into a man of his own as long as he accepted that John treated him like a child, instead of an adult. Of course that doesn’t stop Sam from making his own decisions, but as we have seen many times, it always forces him to work against Dean, i.e. going behind his back or walk away, instead of working with him, which would benefit both of them a lot more. I think Dean’s decision in Good God, Y’all to go against his first instinct to save Sam and stay with the helpless townspeople instead, shows that he is already on his way to rethink his priorities, now he only needs to translate that into his every day interaction with Sam.

The only line out of Sam’s speech that didn’t sound quite right to me was Sam claiming that one of the reasons he chose to be with Ruby was to get away from Dean, mainly because I think it was pretty clear that originally Ruby served as a (weak) substitute for Dean, when Sam was grieving his dead brother. Even when Dean was back, Ruby gave Sam what, in effect, he wanted from his brother, namely support and trust. So, it wasn’t that he wanted to get away from Dean, he wanted for Dean to approve of him, and that’s not the same as independence. While his wording 'it made me feel strong' suggests that he realises that being strong was an illusion fed to him by Ruby, I am still not entirely convinced that he completely understands that he simply traded one dependency for another in S4. Sam might have felt like the one who called the shots, but in reality it was Ruby who was in control, and I think Sam still needs to own up to that.

I also really loved Dean’s direct reaction to Sam’s impromptu speech. Instead of defensively shutting down or insisting on a my-way-or-the-highway rule, he genuinely tries to make things with Sam work by keeping the communication open, and that confirms for me that his earlier behaviour was more of an automatic response to his own fears and worries, rather than a deliberate means to punish Sam. While Dean never loses sight of his own position, freely stating that he isn’t able to simply get over his trust issues, he not only gives Sam the opportunity to explain himself, he also actively encourages Sam to come up with alternatives that will allow both of them to move forward. There’s just a new level of maturity in all of their conversations here that I find deeply satisfying.

Sam: "Maybe I am on deck for the devil. Maybe same with you and Michael. Maybe there’s no changing that. But we can stop wringing our hands over it. We gotta just grab onto whatever is in front of us, kicking its ass and go down fighting."
Dean: "I can get on board with that."
Sam: "Okay. But we’re gonna have to do it on the same level."
Dean: "You got it."

The final scene of the episode was absolutely perfect! ♥ I think it was really important that the show finally made a clear stand on the fact that both brothers are equally responsible for the apocalypse – although I still really want Castiel to admit to his own culpability too – and showed that neither brother lays any blame at the other’s doorstep. I really loved that Sam automatically defends Dean, when he points out that he broke the first seal, and Dean just as automatically defends Sam on breaking the last one and both realise that there was no way for either of them to know where Sam’s pursuit of Lilith would end them. They were both responsible and they were both played, but Sam is right, the only thing they can do is to own their guilt, move past it and work on cleaning up the mess they made. Sam is echoing Dean’s fake moral boosting speech to Bobby in Sympathy For The Devil here, and it makes me happy that they are back to the 'us against the world' headspace. Saving people, hunting things, the family business! ♥

As a side note: I know there has been a huge debate in fandom over the question if Dean told Sam about being the first seal, and personally, I always assumed that was the case, it didn’t even cross my mind that he wouldn’t have. Ever since Dean’s confession in Heaven and Hell, he has been a paragon of truth and opted for honesty with Sam every time, even when it became glaringly obvious that Sam himself didn’t reciprocate that honesty, heck, maybe especially because Sam didn’t reciprocate it. So, Dean telling Sam about Castiel’s revelation at the end of On The Head Of A Pin was a given to me, not least because he was extremely beat down, and I can’t imagine that Sam didn’t pick up on that and asked him right away what was wrong. And in the following episodes Dean clearly acted like someone who didn’t have anything to hide or he wouldn’t have confronted Sam so openly about his actions, for example in The Monster At The End Of This Book. Anyway, I was glad that Fallen Idols finally confirmed that Sam knew all along and put that particular fandom discussion to rest. Oh, and just for the record, I think the conversation between them suggests that Dean told Sam about his adventure in the future as well, particularly Sam’s statement that 'maybe there’s no changing that.'

Anyway, in the end Dean overcomes his fears and takes a leap of faith in his brother, and that demonstrates real strength and personal greatness to me and is in accordance with Dean’s personal growth these last couple of episodes. He lets go of his guardian role towards Sam and accepts him as an equal partner. I think that Dean’s instinct to protect Sam will never go away, just like Sam will always reciprocate that protective stance, but they can change how to deal with that instinct. And then Dean makes the ultimate gesture: He offers Sam the keys to the Impala! ♥ In a mirror of last episode’s gesture, where he offered Sam the demon-killing knife, thus inviting him back into the hunt, he now welcomes Sam back into his life. The last, and only, time Dean offered Sam to drive out of his own volition was way back in Wendigo, it was a gesture of comfort then, but nonetheless a gesture that said 'we’re in this together now' as well. Four seasons later, Sam and Dean are a lot older, wiser and sadder, but they are finally in the position to finish the development they started back in S1. Beautiful! ♥

I don’t think that this was the end of the development between Sam and Dean, they still need to put their new relationship to the test and work through their trust issues to find a new balance. I don’t think that everything is forgotten and forgiven, but it’s the right start. What is missing so far though is a Sam centric episode, that gives him room to demonstrate his own personal growth. The focus of the last couple of episodes was mainly on Dean’s (fantastic) character development, while Sam was primarily allowed to deal with his addiction so far, and I think now that Dean gave him the room to prove himself, I really want to see exactly that, Sam showing to Dean that he can act as a responsible adult alongside his brother. I hope we get that in the next couple of episodes, not least to have a better balance between the brothers again.

What else was noteworthy:

(1) While I think the wax museum storyline was fun and even a bit creepy – I’ve always found wax museums unsettling – the main shortcoming of the episode plot was that, unlike most other monster-of-the-week episodes in the show, it didn’t make an effort to reflect or deepen the emotional plot around the Winchester brothers. In the end both plots stand alongside each other, but don’t communicate, and that is disappointing, given that Julie Siege proved with Criss Angel Is A Douchebag that she can do much better in that regard. As a horror story the plot wasn’t original or surprising enough to stand on its own and would have vastly profited from a deeper connection to the characters, in the end it was an underwhelming backdrop for the actual story between Sam and Dean.

(2) Despite the fact that Dean tried too hard at times, I really, really loved the brotherly banter between Sam and Dean. I very much missed that in S4. Sam being unimpressed with James Dean’s car, while Dean completely geeks out about it, Dean needling Sam about being a fan of Gandhi and his face when he realises the mileage he’ll get out of Gandhi being a 'fruitarian' - wonderful. I love that Sam’s first real grin emerges at Dean being humiliated by a Paris Hilton look-alike, and although Sam’s face is blood splattered, Dean doesn’t even bat an eyelid, and I also love the genuine amusement Dean gets out of the absurdness of their case. And although there is a lot of tension between them throughout the episode, the usual easiness in their physical interaction was mostly back, complete with their usual lack of personal space. ♥

In conclusion: While Fallen Idols certainly wasn’t the best standalone in the history of this show, it at least provided the starting point from which Sam and Dean can finally make real progress towards an equal partnership. While it won’t be easy to shake off the decades of habitual role allocation between them, I look very much forward to where they take their relationship from here.

[Addendum May 2010]
Fallen Idols is one of those episodes that I came to truly dislike in retrospect. I enjoyed it well enough the first time around, and although I felt that the characterisation for Sam and Dean was problematic, I dismissed those problems in favour of putting a positive spin on the theme of the episode. I mean, when I first watched Fallen Idols, I thought it would be the first step on the way to a genuine reconciliation between the brothers, and even though addressing their equality issues was not necessarily the best or the most logical way to start, I still believe it was a valid issue between Sam and Dean. Now, if the episodes that followed had continued with an open dialogue between the brothers, if they had addressed the multitude of other complex issues that lead to their estrangement in S4, the characterisation problems of Fallen Idols would have had little relevance. However, since the brothers' reconciliation arc came to a complete standstill for a considerable part of the season, the problems with Fallen Idols are blown way out of proportion. In effect, the episode throws a bad light on both Sam and Dean – Dean is irrational about the case file and uncharacteristically spiteful, and Sam comes off as unsympathetic to Dean’s trust issues and his arguments are way too simplistic. These impressions could have easily been corrected in a couple of in-depth character/brother studies in the following episodes, instead the characterisation derailed even more from here on out, until the writers found a new footing around late midseason and started to work on a brotherly reconciliation arc in earnest.