Review for 7x10 'Death's Door'

[galathea]

I guess it is fair to say that Sera Gamble’s script for Death’s Door is a love letter to the character of Bobby Singer, and the episode does what Supernatural does best, namely in depth exploration of the emotional landscape of its characters and the depiction of (dys)functional family relations. I think there is no doubt that Death’s Door is a stand-out episode of the show on all accounts – writing, acting and direction – and even though it leaves me grief-stricken, I cannot help but admire the writers for actually having the guts to bring the storyline they started in last week’s episode to its logical conclusion. The episode stayed with me for days after it aired, and I think that says everything about how much it affected me. ♥



From the beginning of the season I have been under the impression that, in terms of build-up and thematic direction for the characters, S7 is very reminiscent of S2, so I really should have concluded right away that Sam and Dean would lose their father figure at some point, especially since the possibility of Bobby’s demise has already been foreshadowed back in Hello, Cruel World. However, my mind refused to go there, because the prospect of Bobby’s death was just too painful for me to contemplate. Of course I tried to brace myself for the very real possibility of losing Bobby after he took a bullet to the head in last week’s episode – after all, that is not something a person just walks away from – but still, I was not quite prepared for his death and how deeply it would affect me. As far as emotional impact is concerned, Death’s Door ranks with all-time favourite episodes like In My Time Of Dying, No Rest For The Wicked or Swan Song for me, and that is mainly owed to Jim Beaver’s marvellous performance and Sera Gamble’s wonderfully layered and subtle script that, despite the heartbreak, made me smile at its lighter, (bitter)sweet moments between the characters. These past couple of years I often complained about the fact that death has lost all meaning in the show because characters just keep coming back from it, and that I have grown numb in regard to losing characters, but Death’s Door proved me very, very wrong, on both accounts.

Now, despite the somewhat open ending of the episode, I have no doubt that this is it for Bobby. The fact that the bullet destroyed the brain tissue that contains Bobby’s memories implies to me that he is gone, and even if he would somehow survive the physical trauma, the person we know should irretrievably be lost with his memory – unless Sam and Dean employ supernatural means to restore him, but, quite frankly, I cannot see that happening. The brothers know better by now than to try and make a deal with a demon and angelic intervention is not available to them at the moment. Of course there is always the possibility that Bobby refuses to move on and decides to stay around as a spirit, and I admit, I’m feeling ambivalent about that option. On the one hand, it is not fathomable that a hunter of Bobby’s calibre would choose to become one of the very things he hunted, and worse, that he would choose to become something his boys would need to hunt down and kill at some point in the future. It would be a truly tragic ending to Bobby’s story, and I would really prefer for him to find some measure of peace in the afterlife. On the other hand, we know that not all spirits turn malevolent. Mary Winchester’s ghost, for example, was not driven into madness, even though she spent over 22 years as a spirit, and she protected her boys till the very end. So did John’s spirit after he escaped a century of torture in hell, despite the fact that Sam and Dean had burned his body. So, I could easily imagine Bobby’s spirit protecting the brothers in a similar manner, before he decides to finally move on.

As much as I struggle with the prospect of a Supernatural without Bobby, I would be very disappointed if the writers would cop out and allow the character a miraculous recovery in the next episode. It would not only undermine the emotional impact of Death’s Door, but also negate the episode’s potential as a driving force for the rest of the season. I think it is imperative though that the writers make Bobby’s death count. I will be very cross with Sera Gamble & Co if they killed Bobby off for the shock value alone and without a good reason, plot-wise. From a story-telling point of view, Bobby’s removal from the brothers’ lives should provide Sam and Dean’s current character arcs with the much needed impetus towards change – although the direction of that change is still up to debate. I mean, losing Bobby at this point in their lives, after the massive losses they have already suffered and on top of their immense psychological problems, undoubtedly has the potential to push Dean over the edge and trigger a fatal relapse for Sam, thus resulting in a self-destructive downward spiral for the characters for the rest of the season. On the other hand, it could motivate the brothers to close ranks; it could give Dean the reason he needs to fight back and strengthen Sam’s determination to not let his condition get the better of him, if only to support his brother when nobody else can. So, ultimately my acceptance of Bobby’s death much depends on how the writers will use it in the upcoming episodes.

Mr Singer: "You break everything you touch."
Bobby: "Well, as fate would have it, I adopted two boys, and they grew up great. They grew up heroes."

Death’s Door offers a wealth of backstory on Bobby, which gives us a lot of interesting new insights into the man. Now, the reveal that Bobby has grown up with a violent, abusive father, who hit his wife and son on a regular basis, is not exactly surprising, after all, the leviathan Chet in Slash Fiction already hinted at a very difficult history between Bobby and his dad. However, the fact that Bobby killed his father in order to save his mother from yet another beating and then unceremoniously buried him behind the shed is a rather shocking revelation, especially considering how young he had been at the time. And I can’t help but wonder how Bobby and his mother managed to cover up Mr Singer’s disappearance without raising suspicion, especially given that Bobby’s mother obviously condemned her son’s actions. The fact that Bobby bitterly comments to his younger self that this was the moment he learned that people are not always grateful when they are saved, suggests to me that Bobby’s relationship with his mother had been irreparably damaged by the events of that fateful night. This insight into Bobby’s childhood certainly puts some of his past statements about family into perspective. For example, Bobby’s harsh lecture in Lucifer Rising, where he pointed out to a despondent Dean that family is supposed to make him miserable and that no matter how badly Sam hurt him, he should try everything to save his brother, takes on a completely new meaning with Bobby’s family history in mind.

Similarly, Bobby’s 'you are not a person' speech just last episode, where he told Dean that he is not cut out for a normal family life, is now revealed as a projection of his own issues/insecurities where family is concerned. In fact, it opens an interesting new parallel between Bobby and Dean. Both are family men at heart and yet their life experiences led them to believe that they can never allow themselves partnership and fatherhood, afraid that they are inevitably bound to repeat their fathers’ mistakes. However, while Dean purposely tried to live his dream with Lisa and Ben and failed – which, ultimately, only substantiated his worst fears about himself – Bobby denied himself and Karen the dream of a family, only to find himself inadvertently saddled with one anyway, when John and his boys stumbled into his life. And he took Sam and Dean into his care without a second thought, overcoming his own fears in the process without even noticing it. Now, in his last moments, Bobby is finally able to admit to himself that his father had been wrong; he does not break everything he touches. He certainly did not break Sam and Dean, on the contrary, Bobby’s love helped shaping them into the caring young men they are. By the way, I don’t think that Bobby’s realisation about his own worth as a father at all diminishes John’s position in Sam and Dean’s life. I don’t think it is primarily about what having Bobby in their lives meant for the brothers, but about what having Sam and Dean in his life meant for Bobby. I guess it is fair to say that Sam and Dean saved Bobby from becoming a lonely, embittered misanthrope. As the leviathan Chet stated, despite the tragedies in his life Bobby has hope, and I think Sam and Dean are the reason why.

And since I mentioned John, the revelation about Bobby’s family background in Death’s Door reinforces my original theory that the infamous falling-out between John and Bobby was rooted in a dispute about John’s questionable parenting decisions. Given his own history with an alcoholic father, Bobby would have reacted sensitive to any of John’s actions that reminded him of his old man, and considering John’s rather harsh regime with his boys, he and Bobby probably clashed on a regular basis. The heated phone call between Bobby and John, after Bobby took a ten year old Dean to the park instead of following John’s orders and train him with the rifle, is probably a good example for the general tone between them, at least where the topic of the brothers’ upbringing was concerned. John clearly did not appreciate Bobby encroaching on his role as Sam and Dean’s parent, and given his hot temper, it is easy to imagine that he just snapped at some point, resulting in a rift between the friends. That would explain why the brothers did not seem to be particularly close with Bobby back in Devil’s Trap, even though they clearly felt comfortable around him. It suggests to me that they had not seen each other in a while. I think it is not unreasonable to assume that Devil’s Trap was the first time Bobby spent some time with both brothers as adults – he certainly had not seen Sam for at least five years, and it is unlikely that Dean would have called on him while Bobby was at odds with John – so it would be natural for them to act somewhat reserved around each other at first. A reservation they quickly overcame in the months that followed John’s death, where they not only renewed the family bonds they forged when Sam and Dean were kids, but deepened them. ♥

I guess it comes as no surprise that Bobby’s favourite last memory – an ordinary movie night with his boys – is also my favourite moment of the episode. Sam and Dean’s good-natured argument about Chuck Norris versus Jet Li or the brothers’ bickering about the best movie snacks – I totally have to agree with Dean on the liquorice, by the way – are just wonderful to watch. ♥ We are not often gifted with happy, domestic moments between Sam, Dean and Bobby and that makes these moments even more precious, to the audience as well as the characters. I mean, given the bleak violence of their every-day lives, it makes sense that a simple, almost mundane moment like this is the one that stands out. In the end family, love, happiness, that is what counts, while the big, save-the-world moments leave no real echo behind. The moment Sam and Dean just fade into nothingness, indicating that now even this last memory is lost to Bobby, is just absolutely heartbreaking, and the way Bobby’s look lingers on the spot where they vanished, like he just can’t let go, kills me every time. All that remains is for Bobby to decide if he wants to stay or go with the reaper, and I think at this point, with no memories left, that is not really a question at all. But I guess only time will tell.

Sam: "Dean, listen, we need to brace ourselves."
Dean: "Why?"
Sam: "Because it’s real."
Dean: "What do you want to do? You want to hug and say we made it through it when Dad died? We’ve been through enough."

Sam and Dean’s different reactions to the emotional distress resulting from Bobby’s shooting are very in character. As was to be expected, Dean is not dealing well with the possibility of losing Bobby, and his fear mainly manifests itself as anger and denial. In his encounter with the hospital administrator who approaches him about organ donation for Bobby, as well as in his confrontation with Dick Roman Dean is visibly on the edge of losing his self-control, and when Sam tries to talk to him, Dean pushes his brother away, unwilling to face the reality of the situation. It is all very reminiscent of Dean’s emotional tailspin in the aftermath of John’s death. As for Sam, where Dean is all boisterous action and restlessness, Sam is quiet and immobile, as he is inwardly trying to prepare himself for the worst. His attempt to get Dean to acknowledge that Bobby’s imminent death is real strikes me as particularly meaningful, mainly because of Sam’s distinct choice of words. I mean, nowadays the accurate perception of reality is a daily struggle for Sam and matching his own reality to Dean’s is undoubtedly part of what keeps him stable. Dean is his stone number one, after all. So I think that Dean’s refusal to 'confirm' the reality of their situation leaves Sam somewhat off balance. The way Sam insistently starts to press into his hand when Dean angrily walks away from him – indicating another onslaught of hallucinations – is very telling in that regard. In that context, I think it is worth noting that Sam has been using his 'reality check technique' more often these last two episodes, and I can’t help but wonder if the stress of the last couple of weeks finally caught up with him and started to affect his condition adversely.

In any case, Sam and Dean’s final moments with Bobby at his hospital bed are incredibly poignant. The way Sam takes Bobby’s hand and quietly says his goodbyes to him really tugs at my heartstrings. I think the difference to Sam’s final moments with John in In My Time Of Dying is especially noteworthy here. Sam spent the last moments with his father trying to pick a fight, and the fact that he never had the chance to make things right with John weighed on him for a very long time. It was only when he was given the opportunity to express his understanding and love for his father – albeit to his younger version – in The Song Remains The Same that he was able to achieve the closure he needed for his own peace of mind. Now, Sam does not have the same difficult history with Bobby that he had with John, and I don’t think that there are any unresolved feelings between them, but it is still important to him to voice his gratitude and love for Bobby, just in case it is his last chance. And that is a very consistent character trait for Sam. The way he expresses his heartfelt thanks to Bobby here mirrors Sam’s similar attempts to express his thanks to Dean before they walked into potentially lethal situations in Salvation and No Rest For The Wicked, just in case they did not make it out alive. Then as now, Dean is obviously unwilling to follow his brother’s example, and I think part of him feels that saying his goodbyes equals giving up and accepting loss as inevitable – and that is just not an option for Dean. Anyway, Sam and Dean's immense relief when Bobby rouses from his coma is palpable, but the hope of a recovery is short-lived, as he just about manages to pass on his strategic information about the leviathans before he crashes again. There is nothing but love in Bobby's expression when he calls his boys 'idjits' one last time, and it is obvious that he finds closure in these last moments with Sam and Dean. I can only hope the brothers did, too.

What else is noteworthy:

(1) Since I have been entirely unspoiled for this episode, Rufus’ presence came as a very pleasant surprise for me. I absolutely love the dynamics between Bobby and Rufus – I always see a senior version of Sam and Dean in those two grumpy old men – and I would totally tune in every week to watch the adventures of Singer & Turner, monster hunters extraordinaire. Speaking of, I love especially that the episode offers a glimpse into their time as hunting partners, with Rufus acting as Bobby’s mentor, showing the younger man the ropes. ♥ It’s not entirely clear, however, what exactly Rufus represents. He does not seem to be a simple memory, as he mostly acts as an independent entity within Bobby’s mind, offering advice and insight Bobby himself does not seem to possess, at least not consciously. So I will go with the theory that Rufus is a manifestation of Bobby’s subconscious that is designed to guide him out of the coma, not unlike Robin, Sam’s dreamscape companion in The Man Who Knew Too Much.

(2) In retrospect, the little moment in Slash Fiction, where the leviathan Chet reveals Bobby’s dream of pursuing a relationship with Sheriff Jodie Mills once the immediate crisis is over and maybe move into a little cabin in the woods with her, is incredibly saddening. Bobby may have survived longer than the average hunter and he may have lived a very meaningful life, but he still had so many plans for the future; plans he postponed time and again because there was always another crisis that had to be dealt with, and now he will never get the chance to live those dreams. And talking about Jodie, I hope that Sam and Dean will tell her about what happened to Bobby. It has been obvious that Jodie reciprocates Bobby’s feelings, and I have no doubt that losing Bobby, just when she had opened herself to the possibility of a new romantic relationship – she lost her husband and son not long ago, after all – will hit her hard.

(3) I love Dean’s angry confrontation with Dick Roman. I especially like how he takes advantage of his knowledge about the leviathans 'lay low' strategy and openly threatens him, knowing that Dick cannot retaliate without drawing attention to himself. In that context, I can’t help but wonder if exposing the leviathans to the public eye could be the key to undermining their world domination plans. Of course that action would radically change the world as we know it. I doubt that the writers will go there – especially since they already set up the mystery of Bobby’s numbers as the key to defeating the leviathans – but a world where monsters are common knowledge and hunting becomes a respectable profession would certainly be an interesting option to explore in an 8th season. Anyway, Dean’s determination in his confrontation with Dick nurtures my hope that Bobby’s death will give Dean a reason to fight back. Dean may never have been motivated by revenge before, unlike John or Sam, but if it allows him to overcome his depression, I am all for it.

(4) I may sound petty, but the fact that Bobby – just like Rufus, Lisa, Ben and Sam – is now another casualty of Castiel’s plan to open purgatory, effectively ruins any chance that I will react favourably to the angel’s (potential) return to the show later in the season. The majority of the personal losses the Winchesters suffered these last couple of months are linked to Castiel’s misguided actions in S6 and that makes it very difficult for me to look at the character with sympathy, no matter how much he might regret his actions. The prospect of Castiel working his way back into Sam and Dean’s good graces, while Bobby is forever lost to them, fills me with overwhelming resentment. Of course I would not put it past the writers to keep themselves a backdoor open – especially if the show is renewed for an 8th season – and allow Bobby’s body to survive on life-support, so Castiel would be able to heal him later as part of his redemption arc. While that would probably soften my current resentful attitude where the angel is concerned, it would still feel like a cop-out. I might change my mind on the matter later, but at the moment I would rather prefer if Castiel and Bobby do not return.

(5) I absolutely love the cinematography of the episode. Bobby’s non-sequitur journey through different memories, the way people and objects just keep fading out of the picture, lights shutting down, blank book pages, blurred photos, empty cupboards and drawers – it all serves as a constant subliminal reminder of the harsh reality of Bobby’s brain dying. It is obvious that the director visually references the wonderful movie The Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind here – Bobby even mentions it in the episode – and I think they could not have chosen a more fitting inspiration for the visual style of Death’s Door.

In conclusion: Death’s Door is an immensely touching and loving farewell to the much beloved character of Bobby Singer. ♥ The episode not only gifts us with some wonderful family moments between Bobby, Sam and Dean, but also adds many interesting layers to Bobby’s character and that makes it even harder to let him go. I am only comforted by the fact that the episode is a truly momentous send-off for the character, just as he deserves. Besides, we all know that just because a character is dead, it doesn’t mean that we never get to see them again. Bobby will be back, one way or another, maybe as a spirit, a memory or a hallucination. Anyway, we are only ten episodes into the season and Sam and Dean have literally lost everyone and everything they ever loved – Castiel, Bobby and both of their homes, i.e. the Impala and Bobby’s house. They are truly on their own, with an all-powerful enemy close on their heels, and I think this is the ultimate test of the brothers’ ability to carry each other through a crisis. The current situation can either make or break Sam and Dean, and I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.

Looking back at the first half of S7, I can honestly say that I loved it. In fact, I have not been this enamoured with a Supernatural season for a very long time, and if the second half matches the first, it could end up in my Top 3 seasons of the show. Sure, there have been some less than stellar episodes along the way, and I think the Amy storyline could have been handled in a more satisfying manner, but overall the season convinces with a clear direction, a good pacing, an intense focus on the characters and an entertaining mix of drama, humour and action. I enjoy the 'back to the roots' feeling of the season in particular, especially since it does not feel like it is bought at the expense of continuity from the previous seasons. On the contrary, the weight of the past six years is tangible in almost every episode, not least because the current psychological issues of the brothers are all linked to their burdensome past. Obviously the overall Sam-and-Dean-ness of the season is a great delight to me as well. The brothers may fight and bicker, but there is always an underlying sense of togetherness and affection in everything they do and that carries on well from their relationship in the second half of S6. I love Sam’s post-cage issues and Dean’s depression storyline and for the first time in a long time I truly love the mytharc as well. I am immensely looking forward to what the second half of the season has in store for us.