Review for 5x18 'Point Of No Return'

[galathea]

Sorry, the review for Point Of No Return took a bit longer than I thought it would, but I really didn’t want to rush through it just to make it in time for the new episode. The episode was simply too important for that, and I wanted to do its beauty and depth justice, or well, at least I tried to. I hope you all enjoy it, it’s my longest episode review of the season so far. :) I’ll probably be behind with my reviews for the remainder of the season, just so you know.

Point Of No Return by Jeremy Carver is the logical conclusion to the arc the writers steadily built up over the second half of the season, and it is beautiful to behold. I have been waiting for this episode all season long, as the brotherly relationship finally finds a new footing, after it was in a downward spiral for almost two seasons now. It’s not only all I ever wanted from Sam and Dean’s first steps towards a true reconciliation, but also exceeded my hopes for Sam’s redemption arc. And it all comes in the neat package of the first dramatic highlight of the mytharc, without ever losing sight of the characters. Fantastic! ♥



I know that there are fans who feel that Point Of No Return is sub-par in quality or simply not 'special' enough for the 100th episode, but personally, I couldn’t disagree more. I think the episode is perfect in all aspects that count. What could have been more perfect for Supernatural than to celebrate this milestone with the reaffirmation of Sam and Dean’s bond, using one of the most beautiful and profound gestures between the brothers as a starting point for their healing process? ♥ Furthermore, the underlying themes of family, faith and choice that run through the episode are recurring themes in the show since the very beginning and elegantly connect Point Of No Return to the past five seasons. Most of all though, I am grateful that the writers granted me my greatest wish and allowed Sam to rise to the occasion and catch his brother when he falls, thus creating a wonderful reverse parallel to Sam’s arc in S4 and truly redeeming his character. Around midseason I had honestly lost hope that the writers would make this happen, especially since they failed to expand on Sam’s story so often in the past, so this gift was really appreciated. I feel that by now I have made my peace with S5 as a whole, as the strong second half of the season managed to recapture the momentum that was lost earlier and drew me completely back into the story.

Sam and Dean take a beautifully poignant four-step journey throughout Point Of No Return, in which Dean hits rock bottom and is saved by a simple, yet tremendously meaningful act of faith on Sam’s part. ♥ I really love how the rest of the plot is woven around the strategically placed brotherly scenes, which build the thread that holds the episode together. Anyway, even though some of the conversations between the brothers are incredibly painful – unsurprisingly so, given that they face their issues head-on for the first time – I think it is important to keep in mind that both Sam and Dean are in very different mental places for most of the episode. With Dean being in a constant state of depression and Sam drawing strength from his faith, each brothers’ perspective/motivation is very subjective, and we need to look past the mere words that are spoken to catch the deeper meaning of what they say to each other.

The opening sequence where Dean packs up all of his earthly belongings – his leather jacket, his car keys, his favourite gun – is highly symbolic and tells us everything about Dean’s state of mind we need to know. Dean is giving up on himself, on who he used to be. He says later that he is tired of fighting who he is supposed to be and that’s exactly what’s demonstrated here, he gives up on being Dean, ready to become Michael instead. So, it’s no surprise that Dean’s quiet resignation turns into anger and biting sarcasm, when he is dragged off the path he already chose for himself, and he lashes out against everyone around him. Sam, on the other hand, is a rock in the stormy sea throughout the episode. His characterisation follows logically from 99 Problems, where he tried to keep Dean afloat, but failed. Sam comes after Dean to fight for his brother, not with him, and consequentially he reaches out to him time and again and doesn’t allow himself to be discouraged by Dean’s resentful attitude. In his newfound determination Sam steps up and tries to hold everyone together through sheer will, and in the process demonstrates the growth and maturity he developed this season.

Sam: "What the hell, man. This is it? You just walk out?"
Dean: "All you have ever done is run away."
Sam: "And I was wrong. Every single time I did."

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with Point Of No Return right from the start, as I didn’t really expect Sam to catch up with Dean at the beginning of the episode already. I was convinced that the brothers would spend the majority of the episode apart and that Sam (and Castiel) would reach Dean in the nick of time and turn the situation around somehow. Obviously, I vastly prefer this set-up in which Dean is confronted with his questionable decision to give into Michael and forfeit his fight against the apocalypse by Sam, Bobby and Castiel. I was incredibly pleased with the fact that Sam so effortlessly tracked his elusive brother down, thus proving that he knows Dean just as well as Dean knows him. In the past it has always been Dean who used his knowledge about Sam to find him, whether he wanted to be found or not, so it is nice to see that the opposite holds true for Sam as well. Dean’s almost shocked expression at seeing Sam in his motel room suggests to me that he either didn’t expect his brother to care enough to go through the trouble of finding him or that he had tried to cover his tracks and thought Sam wouldn’t be able to follow him to his current location.

In any case, I don’t think we are supposed to take the brothers’ first argument about Sam’s tendency to run out on Dean at face value, instead it’s important to keep in mind where each brother is coming from in that moment. Ever since their shared walk down memory lane in Dark Side Of The Moon, Dean is stuck on an overwhelming sense of betrayal where Sam is concerned. The hurtful reminder of the past pulled Dean’s unresolved trust issues to the surface and as a result he lashes out at his brother. It’s noteworthy though that Sam and Dean mean two very different things when they talk about 'running away' here, because while Sam is talking about Dean giving up, Dean is talking about Sam walking away from him. Dean simply twists Sam’s choice of words to express his hurt. Now, obviously walking out on Dean is not all Sam ever did in difficult situations. He stayed when Dean went into a violent tailspin after John died, he stayed when Dean repeatedly tried to push him away in the year before his deal came due and he stayed when Dean harshly told him off for using his powers, just to name a few examples. And even the fact that he sometimes selfishly chose to go his own way didn’t necessarily pose a problem in itself, after all, Dean explicitly expressed his pride at Sam’s ability to go after what he wants. Dean is just in no frame of mind to take all that into account and look at the situation more objectively.

Similarly, I don’t think that Sam suddenly believes that he is generally wrong for wanting independence and control over his life or that he was wrong when he walked away from his family to follow his dreams. In Dark Side Of The Moon, however, he realised for the first time that the way he went about achieving those dreams – walking away without a second thought about Dean’s feelings, not staying in touch for years – unintentionally hurt Dean and made him feel rejected and unloved. I think that realisation has also been the last push Sam needed to fully understand how much he hurt Dean, personally, by his actions in S4. While he freely admitted his guilt in bringing on the apocalypse several times, he had been unable so far to openly acknowledge how badly he treated his brother, not least because the magnitude of his failure was too overwhelming for him to face. So, I think that by admitting that he was wrong here, he simply translates this new insight into action, i.e. that it is okay to want a life/make decisions of his own, but that he doesn’t need to hurt the person closest to him in the process. Furthermore, Sam’s apologetic reply to Dean’s accusation shows that he is well aware that Dean simply strikes out like a wounded animal here and that to fall into a defensive stance at Dean’s attempt to hurt him, would simply alienate his brother further. The fact that Dean falls silent – clearly surprised by Sam’s admission – shows that Sam hits the right note here.

This is also the first time ever that Dean alludes to Sam’s attempt to kill him in a violent rage back in When The Levee Breaks - by reminding Sam that this time he isn’t hopped up on demon blood and will not be able to easily overpower him. Dean expressed his personal hurt, disappointment and loss of trust in Sam on various occasions after their reunion in Lucifer Rising, yet he kept quiet about this one incident, presumably because the memory is just too painful to address. It’s heartbreaking that Dean clearly expects a repeat of their vicious fight here. I love though that Sam doesn’t take the bait and stays calm, waiting for Castiel to knock his brother out instead. It’s worth noting in this context that not once Sam allows himself to be goaded into anger or physical violence by Dean’s attacks throughout the episode, no matter how hard his brother comes down on him. And that’s an impressive development for Sam, who just admitted to his huge anger management issues in Sam, Interrupted. Personally, I think that it is Sam's intense focus on helping Dean which allows him to move past his own issues and control his anger.

Dean: "I don’t believe."
Sam: "In what?"
Dean: "In you. I don’t know what it’s going to be, demon blood or some other demon chick, or what. But I do know they are going to find a way to turn you."

The first panic room scene between Sam and Dean, where they effectively hit rock bottom, is incredibly painful. Sam asks Dean for total honesty and Dean complies, telling Sam in no uncertain terms how deep his brother has fallen in his estimation. Sam’s plea for Dean to rethink his position and close ranks with him, instead of sacrificing himself to Michael, falls on deaf ears though, unsurprisingly so. Still, Sam’s attempt to appeal to Dean’s loyalty here makes sense, because if he learned anything from last year’s debacle, it’s that turning his back on his brother was his greatest failure, and it cost them both dearly. So, it’s only consequent that he tries to keep his brother from making the same mistake. To Dean, however, Sam’s objection is insubstantial, because a union formed without trust is ineffective, and trust is the one thing Dean is unable to give to Sam at the moment. That they are stronger as a team only holds true as long as they are both equally invested to make it work, after all.

Now, when Sam and Dean reunited in The End, Dean’s main argument in favour of staying together centred around the realisation that they keep each other human. His trip into the future showed him that Sam’s presence in his life grounds him and keeps him from turning into a cold-hearted bully. It also convinced him that, in return, his grounding presence in Sam’s life will prevent his brother from surrendering to Lucifer. The simple truth of that realisation has been undermined, however, by the recent events. In My Bloody Valentine Dean witnessed how easily Famine was able to use Sam’s addiction against him and cause him to relapse. Rationally he might have understood that Sam had no real choice in the matter, but seeing his brother under the influence of demon blood, again, deeply unsettled him. Sam had told him several times that he was afraid of not being able to withstand another temptation, but the confrontation with Famine really hammered that point home. In the end Sam’s good intentions and Dean’s efforts to keep his brother safe didn’t amount to much.

Furthermore, in Dark Side Of The Moon Dean concluded from Sam’s memories that his presence in Sam’s life had never been enough to keep his brother from doing what he wanted to do anyway, and consequentially he lost the faith that he has any real influence on Sam’s decision to say yes to Lucifer either. With the perception of Sam as weak and himself as inconsequential, he came to the conclusion that Sam surrendering to Lucifer is inevitable. Maybe even more devastating though is Dean’s calm resignation at the prospect of stopping Lucifer in Sam’s body. Where once killing Sam would have been Dean’s worst nightmare, he now accepts it as part and parcel of his decision to surrender to Michael. He might still harbour the hope that Michael will kill Lucifer before he ever gets to wear his brother’s resolve down, but ultimately he is now prepared to go through with fratricide in order to save the world. Now, technically, Dean would not be the one who delivers the killing blow himself, but by agreeing to serve as Michael’s vessel, he does agree to Sam’s potential death as well, and he is obviously aware of that fact.

Unsurprisingly, Sam is deeply hurt by Dean’s accusations. The fear of being too weak to withstand Lucifer is eating away at him ever since Free To Be You And Me and the reassuring fact that he has Dean (and Bobby) at his back has been the only thing that kept him going so far, he admitted as much in 99 Problems. Although it was painful to watch, I loved how their conversation here showed a reversal of their positions in S4, where Sam dismissed his brother as weak and incapable of stopping the apocalypse, and Dean tried to convince Sam that only together they can stand strong. Sam is given a bitter taste of his own medicine here, and it’s the only moment in the episode where Dean actually manages to get under his brother’s skin and momentarily shakes Sam’s calm determination. In a wonderful contrast to Sam and Dean’s vicious fight in When The Levee Breaks though, where Dean also hit Sam at his most vulnerable point by deliberately calling him a monster, Sam responds with retreat instead of attack here and simply walks away from Dean. He knows that he has no one to blame but himself for Dean’s loss of trust in him, and it’s obvious that earning that trust back is not achieved by any amount of words at the moment.

Dean: "Either it’s a trap to get me there to make me say yes, or it’s not a trap and I’m going to say yes anyway. And I will. I’ll do it. Fair warning."
Sam: "No you won’t. When push shoves, you’ll make the right call."

The second panic room scene is set up in a beautiful juxtaposition to the first one. Where the one tears the relationship between the brothers into shreds, the other starts the mending. And talking about mending: As someone who is addicted to hurt/comfort moments between the brothers, the first thing I noticed in that scene was that apparently Dean had been cleaned up from his previous fight with Castiel and that Sam was with his brother when he woke up. I thought the obvious implication – that Sam had tended to his wounds and then held vigil at his side until he regained consciousness – was really poignant, especially in light of Dean’s later almost apologetic admission that he let Sam 'rot' in the panic room when he went through his detox, twice. I always mourned the fact that we didn’t see if Dean cared for his brother in the aftermath of their confrontation with Famine. His confession here that he didn’t, shows to me how much Sam’s relapse unsettled him. He wasn’t really able to deal with it. In any case this little detail really sets up the whole scene, which ultimately is all about healing between the brothers, nicely.

I think the following exchange between Sam and Dean is one of the most profound brotherly moments in the show. Despite Dean’s hurtful words earlier, Sam steps up to his brother and offers him his hand, figuratively speaking. In his calm conviction that when push comes to shove, Dean will make the right choice, Sam expresses his faith in Dean’s integrity. Sam makes an enormous wager here, because if he is wrong, he loses it all, his brother, himself and probably half of the world’s population. Dean tells Sam in no uncertain terms that he believes surrendering to Michael is the right choice, and Sam has no better solution to offer to refute Dean’s claim, so he stakes it all on the fact that Dean has never let him down and trusts that his brother will not start to do so now. Sam stated in 99 Problems that Dean is the only person he can count on, and he now puts those words into action by placing his trust in Dean without expecting anything in return. In the most dire situation, Sam takes a leap of faith in his brother. ♥ The simple beauty of that gesture lies not only in the fact that Sam offers that faith although he knows that Dean does not reciprocate it, but also because it starts the healing process at the exact same point where Sam broke his brother’s trust in the first place. After all, last year Sam withdrew his faith in Dean when he needed it the most, now he gives it to his brother when he expects it the least, and he leaves it up to Dean to take it or leave it.

And then Sam goes one step further and reinforces his message by calling on his familial bond with Dean. "You’re still my big brother," Sam reminds him. He not only puts his faith in Dean’s integrity as a person, but also in the strength of their brotherly bond – again, despite the fact that Dean does not reciprocate that faith – and that visibly comes through to his brother. I don’t think Sam’s words here are about deliberately retreating into his little brother role to appease Dean, no, this statement is all about reminding Dean that, no matter what happened in their past, Sam still believes in them as family and always will. It’s the perfect approach to his brother’s scepticism, too, because Dean equals family with loyalty and love - which is exactly what Sam offers with his deceptively simple statement. Twice this season Dean’s faith in Sam’s commitment to him has been severely undermined: First in Fallen Idols, where Sam told Dean that one of the reasons why he chose to go with Ruby was because he didn’t want to feel like Dean’s 'kid brother' anymore, and while Sam was talking about power balance back then, Dean undoubtedly heard yet another rejection. And then again in Dark Side Of The Moon, where Dean only saw rejection in all of Sam’s memories, no matter how much Sam tried to tell him otherwise. Now, Sam tries to build a counterbalance to those moments, and again, he leaves it entirely up to Dean to accept it or not.

Sam takes an enormous step forward on his road to redemption here. He deliberately moves past the anger and self-righteousness Dean accuses him of earlier and lays himself bare in front of his brother, offering nothing but honesty, love, loyalty, and trust, without asking Dean to return the favour. It’s not only an act of faith, but also an unspoken, but genuine apology for his betrayal of their brotherly bond in the past year. Sam said 'I am sorry' many times over the course of the season, but only by acting on his regret does he prove that he truly understands where he went wrong in the first place. Sam learned from his past mistakes and uses his remorse as an impetus towards personal growth and maturity. It’s the kind of character development I always wanted for Sam, and I think he deserves it, too. I just hope we get to see more of this Sam in the future. ♥

Sam: "So, what changed your mind?"
Dean: "Honestly, the damndest thing. I mean, the world’s ending, the walls are coming down on us. I look over to you and all I can think about is, this stupid son of a bitch who brought me here. I just didn’t want to let you down."

The brothers’ reconciliation act comes to a close in Zachariah’s green room, where Dean faces his moment of truth. The intention to go through with his surrender to Michael is written all over Dean’s face – he feels he has nothing left to give, but this one little 'yes' – but then he takes one last look at his brother, and that one look changes everything. Upon seeing the disbelief and disappointment in Sam’s eyes, Dean realises the magnitude of the personal betrayal he is about to commit, not only a betrayal of Sam’s faith in him, but also a betrayal of his own values and beliefs, and he just can’t do it. Instead he grabs the lifeline of faith his brother offered him earlier and pulls himself back from the brink, turning a surrender into a victory in the process. ♥ Again, I love how this crucial scene is set up as a reverse parallel to Lucifer Rising, where Sam stood at the crossroad of a similarly heavy decision, but Zachariah and Ruby managed to circumvent Dean’s desperate attempts to throw his brother a lifeline (the apologetic phone call, following Sam to the convent), thus ensuring that Sam saw no other way than to go through with his decision to kill Lilith.

The heart-to-heart talk between the brothers at the end of the episode is a wonderful epilogue to the journey they took in this episode. Sam took a huge risk when he trusted his brother to make the right choice, but in the end Dean not only validated Sam’s faith in him, they also came out of the whole ordeal stronger and with a renewed sense of brotherhood. Furthermore, Sam’s mature actions throughout the episode finally allowed Dean to let go of his mental image of Sammy, the child he raised and looked out for all his life. Only this time it is without wistfulness or resentment on Dean’s part. On the contrary, he is proud of the person Sam has become – a person, Dean can have faith in and trust in return. And I think only now Dean has truly forgiven Sam for his actions in S4. In Sympathy For The Devil Dean told Sam that there is nothing he can do to make Dean forgive him, but here and now Sam proved him wrong. ♥ A burden has been lifted from Dean’s shoulders, that much is visible already, not only in his determination to bring Castiel and Adam back, but also in his decision to take action, instead of simply reacting to Lucifer and Michael’s moves. Sam’s genuine and pleased smile at seeing Dean’s new resolve is a beautiful sight to behold. ♥

In conclusion, I really love how the final resolution to the question of faith in Supernatural is presented here. When it comes down to it, all that matters is that Sam and Dean have faith in one another, and that’s what will ultimately save them. Remember, back in Houses Of The Holy, when Sam was crumbling under the burden of his 'destiny' he told his brother: "You’re just one person, Dean. And I needed to think that there was something else watching, too. Some higher power, some greater good. And then maybe, I could be saved." Now, upon realising that in the end it really just needs that one person’s faith and determination, the brothers come full circle. ♥ I don’t think the writers could have found a more perfect turning point for the character arcs this season. While Sam and Dean had some genuine brotherly moments since they reunited in The End, those moments never really felt earned. After these last six episodes, however, it finally feels right for them to move on from the past and rebuild their relationship with a better understanding of who they are as individuals and as brothers. This isn’t over though, to acknowledge the issues between them doesn’t mean they are dealt with. That will take time, but at least they are on the same page now.

Adam: "We may be blood, but we are not family."

I know that a considerable part of fandom has a problem with the simple existence of Adam’s character, but personally, I enjoyed the new dynamic he brought to Sam and Dean’s established siblings patterns when he was introduced in Jump The Shark. So, I was happy to see him back here, especially since Sam and Dean were finally able to meet the real Adam, instead of the ghoul that impersonated him at their first encounter. And the difference is indeed striking. Instead of the somewhat naïve, but charming young man, who was eager to connect to his brothers and join the family business, the real Adam wants nothing to do with Sam and Dean. He presents a fascinating combination of the brothers’ different character traits: On the one hand, he shares Dean’s dry sense of humour, cocky behaviour and love for burgers and beer, as well as his sense of loyalty to the only real family he knew, i.e. his mother. On the other hand, we can see shades of a young Sam in the pride Adam takes in his independence and in his angry resentment against his absent father. As Sam states later, he fits right in with the Winchester family.

Adam’s unexpected presence affects both brothers, although in different ways. Dean suddenly finds his role as Michael’s vessel challenged, just as he decided to succumb to his destiny even, and he is appalled at the prospect. This particular fight is his responsibility, Dean accepted that long ago, and the thought that his innocent half-brother would be forced to take the bullet for him, just because he was too stubborn to surrender to his destiny, is unbearable for him. It’s very much in character for Dean to rather sacrifice himself than an innocent, family or not, and for once Zachariah’s assessment of Dean’s reaction to his ploy proves to be correct. For Sam, Adam’s presence poses a different personal challenge, as a younger sibling suddenly forces him into the role of a big brother. But unlike in Jump The Shark, where Adam was a willing and compliant younger brother to Sam’s big brother, Sam now finds himself confronted with a rebellious and resentful youngster, who constantly questions him. It’s a wonderful call-back to Sam and Dean’s interaction in early S1, where Dean tried to convince Sam of the importance of family loyalty and Sam threw resentment and anger back at him.

I think Sam and Adam’s heated discussion about their childhood experiences is especially fascinating, as both make wrong assumptions about one another’s lives, based on incomplete information and a limited perspective. Sam (and Dean) had concluded that Adam got the better end of the deal of John’s parenting, simply because John made an effort to give his illegitimate son a shot at a 'normal' life. In reality, however, John’s sporadic appearances in Adam’s life only served to emphasise the fact that, ultimately, John left him and his mom to fend for their own. Similarly, Adam, who lacks any insight into Sam and Dean’s complicated childhood, simply concludes that John’s more permanent presence in the brothers’ lives must have been a blessing for them – an understandable conclusion, after all, he only got to know John, the father, but not John, the drill-sergeant. I really love Sam’s tentative attempts to show Adam a different perspective, which is in keeping with the fact that he made his peace with John in The Song Remains The Same. Even when at one point he emphasises that it was worse to see John all year, than to not see him at all, I think he simply talks from the perspective of his younger self.

In any case, I suspected pretty much from the start that Zachariah raised Adam from the dead as bait for Dean, mainly because Castiel explicitly stated in On The Head Of A Pin that the righteous man who started it, is the only one who can end it, and as such Dean remains the only option, despite Adam’s connection to John’s bloodline. I would have been seriously disappointed if the writers would simply have brushed over that crucial story point. I was really surprised that neither Sam and Dean nor Castiel brought it up, when they discussed Adam’s place in Zachariah’s plan.

Castiel: "I rebelled for this? So you could surrender to them? I gave everything for you. And this is what you give to me?"

Right from the beginning of the episode it is clear that Castiel is filled with anger and rage, his disappointment with Dean’s decision to say yes to Michael is written all over his face. He barely speaks to Dean and even when he does, his tone is hard and/or sarcastic. Dean’s surrender, so hot on the heels of God seemingly turning his back on him, destroys the last of Castiel’s resolve. First he lost his faith in heaven and then his faith in God, and every time one of the pillars of his faith crumbled away, he placed a little more of it in Dean, until Dean was the only one left he could hang onto. So it’s not really surprising that Castiel takes Dean’s surrender as a personal betrayal, and in his anger he is blind to the fact that Dean simply broke under the burdens and expectations placed on him and had nothing more to give but his surrender. Dean is no longer able to support Castiel’s faith, because he has no faith left in himself. Castiel’s inability to deal with the frustration and disappointment that accumulated over the last couple of months leaves him bitter and resentful, and in the end it unloads in a violent outburst against Dean. Even when Castiel takes a great personal risk and makes the effort to help Sam and Dean with their plan against Zachariah, his heart isn’t really in it. He just wants it to be over, he doesn’t know how to go on without faith.

That all being said, I can’t help but feeling frustrated at Castiel’s continuing lack of self-reflection and inability to take responsibility for his own actions, putting all his issues squarely on Dean’s shoulders instead. He already stated in Good God, Y'all that he rebelled for Dean, thus laying the consequences of his own decisions at Dean's feet, and it bothers me that in all the time they spent together since, Castiel has still not learned to take responsibility for his decision to rebel. Additionally, he has watched Dean's downward spiral into hopelessness with his own eyes, yet he is unable to comprehend the depth of Dean's despair, instead he only sees his own needs and Dean's failure to meet them. His lack of compassion for his friend's struggle here is disconcerting, as is his act of vicious violence against a man who is already down. Their current situation is to no small degree a result of his own personal failures, and I lost all hope that Castiel will ever acknowledge that. One of the main themes of the season has been redemption and taking responsibility for your past actions, and Sam and Dean both have been struggling with those issues all season long, while Castiel shows no sign so far that he moves in a similar direction. And moments like in this episode, where he takes out his frustration on Dean and displays a bitter and resentful attitude against the only person who has tried to be there for him ever since he lost his own heavenly family, simply convey a lack of personal growth that annoys me. Especially since he seemed to take first steps towards a greater self-awareness in The Song Remains The Same. I really hope that once Castiel reunites with Sam and Dean, he moves past his anger and learns to find strength in himself, instead of expecting it from others.

What else was noteworthy:

(1) I loved the tension filled confrontation between Bobby and Dean. In the last couple of years Bobby has become one of Dean’s steady rocks to lean on, and he genuinely came to think of him as family and as a father figure to whom he looks for support and guidance. However, his recent loss in faith where family is concerned, and his disillusion with father figures in particular, unsurprisingly affect his stance towards the older man as well. And I think the fact that Bobby lied to Dean and rejected him in favour of his dead wife just a couple of weeks earlier, only amplifies Dean’s resentment here. Dean and Bobby’s short exchange also calls back to their conversation at the end of The Curious Case Of Dean Winchester, only with reversed roles. Back then it was Bobby who told Dean that he can’t possibly know how it feels to be in his shoes, while Dean tried to persuade Bobby not to give up, if only for Sam and Dean’s sake. Now, Bobby forcefully reminds Dean that he keeps the promise he gave Dean every single day, simply by living on. The fact that he expects Dean to return the favour is unspoken, but clearly implied. ♥

(2) I have seen a couple of fevered speculations about Dean’s ability to kill Zachariah with Castiel’s angel-killing blade, given that Uriel once stated that only an angel can kill other angels. Now, personally I think that like with a lot of other information given to us by angels, it is by no means a reliable truth, even if Uriel himself believed it to be. We know that Uriel nurtured a superiority complex of Lucifer’s proportions, so it’s not unreasonable to think that he simply dismissed the possibility of a lowly 'mud-monkey' being able to defeat something as glorious as an angel. Furthermore, throughout the last two seasons there have been several moments that suggest that Uriel was wrong. For example, back in Are You There God? It’s Me, Dean Winchester Castiel firmly believed that his brethren had been killed in a battle against Lilith’s demons. When Sam suggested to kill the angels in Heaven and Hell, Anna didn’t refute his request, she simply stated that they don’t have the right weapons at their disposal. And in Abandon All Hope Castiel supported Dean’s plan to kill Lucifer with the Colt, which would have made no sense at all, had he been convinced that Dean would fail on account of only being human. So, overall I don’t think there is any real significance to Dean killing Zachariah here.

(3) Talking about Zachariah: I think it was about time that Zachariah got his comeuppance, still, I will miss the petty angel and his elaborate schemes to teach the Winchesters a lesson. I think he was one of the best villains of the show, unapologetic, unscrupulous and just the right combination of sarcastic wit and menacing evil. Kudos to Kurt Fuller, who brought this character to life and made him fun to watch whenever he was on the screen. By the way, I am curious to see if now that his lackey is 'eliminated', Michael will take his place. I think it would make sense for Michael to become a more prominent part of the story, he is one of the main players in the apocalypse, after all.

(4) I think it is interesting that Zachariah points out to Adam that Michael has already foreseen that this is the very night where Dean gives in and the angelic plans finally come to full fruition. The fact that he is proven wrong here, tells us everything about Lucifer and Michael’s confident claims that Sam and Dean’s destiny is unavoidable. Prophecy and angelic clairvoyance are obviously not infallible.

(5) A while back it has been confirmed that Jeremy Carver picked up a new project – the US remake of the fabulous UK show Being Human – and I am really unhappy about the prospect of losing Carver on Supernatural. He is one of my favourite writers on the show ever since he joined in S3 and he wrote some of my absolute favourite episodes, like A Very Supernatural Christmas, Mystery Spot or In The Beginning. Even if his plots haven’t always been the most logical ones, his characterisation for Sam and Dean has been poignant and spot-on throughout, which even made silly episodes like Changing Channels bearable. I just hope that his contract (and time) allows him to work on both shows simultaneously. Carver leaving Supernatural, on top of Sera Gamble taking over as showrunner, which will probably leave her less time to actually write episodes, would shift the balance for S6 to the less solid writers, and admittedly, I am a tad wary of that.

In conclusion: Point Of No Return was the pay-off to a two season long storyline in which the brothers’ relationship was slowly eroded from the inside out. It picked up on many relevant plot strands that ran through the show for the past five seasons and brought them to a logical conclusion. I really couldn’t have wished for a more beautiful resolution, and while I think that the brothers still have a long way to go, I am now hopeful for their future. I just hope that the last four episodes pick up where Point Of No Return left off, allowing the brotherly relationship to grow and heal from hereon. ♥

And in case anyone still has doubts, this is definitely my favourite episode of the season so far. I think that the triumvirate of Dark Side Of The Moon, 99 Problems and Point Of No Return has been absolutely amazing. It certainly managed to redeem this season for me.

* * *
Did you know? The S5 companion gives us the letter Dean writes at the beginning of the episode. Here is what it says:

Sam and Bobby,

Given what’s about to happen, I’ll be surprised if this package ever finds you but if it does, I want you both to know that what I’m doing isn’t about giving up. John taught us better than that. This is about time, we’ve run out of it.

Left the Impala in Cicero. Where I’m going we don’t need roads. I know you’ll look after her for me. Bobby – you’ve taken more for the team than anyone could ever ask. That makes you an honorary Winchester in my book.

Sam, you’ve told me once that you pray every day. Not sure if that’s still true. Probably isn’t. But if it is, give it one last try for me. And Sammy – one Winchester lost to this fight is enough.

Comments

[labseraph.livejournal.com]

Ah, lovely. I read the whole thing in one go with a huge grin, nodding all the time.I agree with most of your points and I really like that you pointed out ...

... Sam (and Dean) had concluded that Adam got the better end of the deal of John’s parenting, simply because John made an effort to give his illegitimate son a shot at a 'normal' life, when, in fact, John’s sporadic appearances in Adam’s life only served to emphasise the fact that in the end John left him and his mom to fend for their own. Similarly, Adam, who lacks any insight in Sam and Dean’s complicated childhood, simply concludes that John’s more permanent presence in the brothers’ lives must have been a blessing for them – an understandable conclusion, after all, he only got to know John, the father, but not John, the drill-sergeant.

I thought that bringing Adam into the picture threw a fabulous monkey wrench into the whole game. I love it that they didn't make it into a cutesy three-Winchesters-in-the-Impala thing; the whole interaction felt real and resonates with the deep emotions they harbour.

However ...

I can’t help but feeling frustrated at Castiel’s continuing lack of self-reflection and inability to take responsibility for his own actions, putting all his issues squarely on Dean’s shoulders instead.

If you were to consider that Castiel had spent thousands of years as an obedient angel, answering to a voice of authority and following a set of rules, this is not surprising. When he lost faith in God and decided to throw his lot with Dean, he wasn't expecting to be failed like he was before. He was used to a leader who did not give up, did no wrong and most importantly, did not fail. As much as he is fascinated and has a basic understanding and appreciation of humanity, he forgot that humans are frail and have lapses.

But I agree with you that it is all proceeding towards a magnificent climax; I am fearful of what they had in store for the remaining three episodes. I find myself seeking spoilers when I used to be quite a spoiler-phobe and all because I am at the edge of my seat awaiting for the culmination.

[galathea-snb.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed the review, as I am quite happy with it myself. *g*

The whole interaction felt real and resonates with the deep emotions they harbour.
Exactly! Adam's presence brings so many interesting facets to Sam and Dean's relationship, simply because he is a blood relative. No other random character could ever serve in a similar capacity.

If you were to consider that Castiel had spent thousands of years as an obedient angel (...)
I do consider that. As I stated in my review, I completely understand where Castiel is coming from, and I don't find his behaviour surprising. That doesn't mean though that I have to like it. Castiel shows no compassion for his 'friend' here. He beats a man who is down already, simply because he cannot handle the consequences of his own decisions. I mean, he witnessed Dean's downward spiral with his own eyes and still isn't able to comprehend it, only seeing his own needs. I think it bothers me so much because the main theme this season is all about redemption and taking responsibility for past failures - both Sam and Dean struggle with this all season long, while Castiel shows no sign of comprehending his own failures. I find that very frustrating. /sigh

I find myself seeking spoilers
Heh, I am the opposite. I don't want to know anything about the remaining three episodes. Usually spoilers contain information that are taken out of context and can be very misleading. I know I would only worry myself sick over stuff that might not even come true. Nah, better to stay unspoiled. LOL