Review | 7x23 | Survival Of The Fittest
Jun. 2nd, 2012 05:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
galatheaI think there is little doubt that Sera Gamble’s Survival Of The Fittest is the weakest season finale of the show to date, and I am sad to see one of the strongest writers for Supernatural go out in this manner. It is not that the episode is not entertaining; there are moments that moved me, there are moments that made me laugh, there are moments between characters I enjoyed – but none of those moments are actually about Sam and Dean. While I had prepared myself for a 'brothers light' episode these last couple of weeks, I thought that we would at least get something – a moment, a scene between the brothers that carries actual meaning and emotion. Alas, we are denied even that. If it was not for the truly evil – and unexpected – turn of events in the last five minutes, Survival Of The Fittest would have been an entirely unremarkable episode.
Unfortunately, Survival Of The Fittest leaves me with little to say about Sam and Dean, and it feels really odd to write a season finale review without having to analyse the complexities of Sam and Dean’s psychological conditions or the status of their relationship at this point in the story. Still, I enjoyed seeing the effortless teamwork and brotherly connection between Sam and Dean that has been prevalent in their relationship for quite a while now. There are some lovely moments between the brothers, like for example, their opening conversation in the car, where they bicker about the fact that Sam bases their search for the righteous bone on one of Dean’s lame jokes, or the moment later in the crypt, where Dean apologises to Sam for making one of his terrible puns about Sister Constance. I also love their puzzled reactions to the lack of thunder and lightning when they complete the anti-leviathan weapon or, on a more serious note, the mournful look they share after Bobby’s goodbye. ♥ I think, if anything, the display of solidity and unity between the brothers these last couple of months gives their enforced separation at the end of the episode even more impact. They are now at a point in their relationship where they have left most of their insecurities in regard to each other behind and allowed themselves to trust that, no matter what, they can always rely on their brother to be at their side – so having that one cornerstone taken away will undoubtedly leave them off balance and emotionally bereft.
Bobby: "I’m done. Go get Dick. But don’t do it because you think it’ll scratch the itch. Do it ‘cause it’s the job. And when it’s your time – go."
As was to be expected after Bobby’s violent possession of an innocent civilian in last week’s episode, Survival Of The Fittest brings his storyline to its logical conclusion. The episode effectively illustrates that Bobby has almost completed his transition into an angry spirit – in his refusal to release his human hostage or his near fatal assault on Sam there are barely any traces of the old Bobby left – and that he needs to be stopped, one way or the other. Now, while I would have loved for Bobby to be able to assist the brothers in their fight against Dick Roman and thus take revenge on his killer, I love it even more that his attack on Sam unsettles him to such a degree that he rather forgoes his vengeance than risk losing the last ties to his humanity. Bobby’s decision to move on before he can do any more damage not only spares Sam and Dean the grief of forcing their former friend to rest, it also allows the three of them to say their goodbyes and find whatever closure they might still need. Since I already mourned Bobby after Death’s Door, his goodbye here does not have quite the same impact as his initial demise, but I still felt moved by his last words to Sam and Dean, and his farewell is one of the few scenes in the episode that has emotional resonance for me. Overall, I think the writers handled Bobby’s ghost storyline reasonably well. It made for an emotional story and gave us some interesting insights into the ghost mythology of the show. Still, part of me is sad that the writers decided to culminate Bobby’s story in this manner instead of thinking of a believable twist that would allow the character to stay a part of the show. Ultimately, the story ended exactly where I feared it would, namely with Bobby forever lost to Sam and Dean (and us), while Castiel – the person who is indirectly responsible for Bobby’s death – gets to live and, no doubt, will be allowed to work his way back into the brothers’ good graces. And I resent that fiercely.
Castiel: "I destroyed everything. And I will destroy everything again. Can we please just leave it at that?"
Dean: "No. No, we can’t. We can’t leave it. You let these freaking things in. So you don’t get to make a sandwich. You don’t get a damn cat. Nobody cares that you’re broken, Cas. Clean up your mess."
Castiel’s condition has obviously not much improved from where we left him two episodes ago. Through most of the episode Castiel maintains an escapist frame of mind, even though his frequent lucid moments illustrate that he is actually quite self-aware. While Castiel’s non-sequiturs are certainly amusing, I do share Dean’s frustration with the angel’s continuous attempt to abdicate from his responsibilities, and I am glad that Dean keeps calling him out on his behaviour and refuses to coddle him. Now, it is understandable that Castiel is hesitant to commit himself to yet another war. He does not trust his judgment anymore; he is afraid of making the wrong choices again and doing more harm than good, but to bury his head in the sand and allow his friends to put their lives at risk to fix his mess for him is the cowardly way out. I love Dean’s angry outburst when Castiel tries to justify his escapism by pointing to his past failures. Of course, Dean is not only talking about Castiel when he states that nobody cares that he is broken, but also about himself and Sam. Despite being psychologically damaged themselves, the brothers have been fighting Castiel’s war all season long, and nobody asked them if they felt up to it – and the same is true for the past as well. When Sam was crippled by guilt and despair in light of his own mistakes, he did not have the luxury to retreat from the fight, and when Dean came back from hell a broken man, the angels told him to stop whining and do what is expected of him. As long as they were useful, nobody ever cared if Sam and Dean were broken, and nobody ever allowed them a reprieve. Naturally, both brothers had moments where they wanted to give up, where they tried to walk away from the fight, but ultimately their sense of responsibility always outweighed those impulses. Maybe Castiel is right in his assumption that his resurrections are a form of punishment, but then he better starts acting on that insight and tries to do better. The fact that he agrees to help Sam and Dean after all is a first step in the right direction, but he still has a long way ahead of him.
Sam: "Where is Dean?"
Crowley: "That bone has a bit of a kick. God-weapons often do. Should put a warning on the box."
I admit, for me, the first thirty-eight minutes of the episode are largely overshadowed by the ending, not least because I felt completely blindsided by the last-minute twist of Dean and Castiel getting pulled into purgatory. It is really rare for the show to catch me off guard like that. Now, it is no secret that I am not fond of the brothers being separated, but that mostly pertains to a separation caused by an emotional divide between them. The current set-up, however, has a lot of potential for the positive kind of Sam-and-Dean separation angst, i.e. one that springs from being forced apart against their will, with both of them desperately longing for a reunion. The sheer potential of this situation for the brothers’ emotional arcs next season is mind-boggling, really. It is a great opportunity to show just how much Sam and Dean have changed these last couple of years and move them towards even further character growth. The last time Sam lost Dean, he fell apart and made all the wrong choices, but he is not the same revenge driven, angry young man anymore, who needed to prove to himself (and Dean) that he can be strong and independent – and that should reflect on his actions this time around. I would love to see Sam fighting for his brother’s return with a pure heart and a clear mind and, for once, being rewarded for his efforts. As for Dean, the last time he was pulled into another dimension, he lost a part of himself, so maybe this time he will be able to regain something. I mean, ever since his trip to hell, Dean has come to think of himself as a monster and maybe being trapped as a human in a place filled with actual monsters will allow him to reaffirm his own humanity. Moreover, being forced to actively fight for his survival could serve to break Dean out of his world-weary mindset and find a new appreciation for life. Obviously, living in such a hostile environment will leave its scars as well, and I would love for Dean to receive the care he needs from his brother once they are reunited. Basically, S8 could be the anti-S4, and that thought fills me with excitement for the next season.
Of course, like with all things, there is a flip-side, too. It would not be the first time in the run of the show that the writers create a promising starting situation and then never follow through on the potential. I certainly would not put it past the writers to ignore all of Sam’s character growth these last couple of seasons and just regress him to a variation of his S4 self or to subject Dean to a traumatic event, only to never really acknowledge the consequences for the character. Now, my main concern going into the next season is that the writers will focus on Dean and Castiel’s time in purgatory and allow them to bond over their shared adventures, while Sam is isolated or fraternises with the wrong people again. To be perfectly frank, if I have to watch the Dean-and-Castiel show for a significant part of S8, I am out. There are not many things that could make me stop watching Supernatural, but changing the core relationship of the show from Sam & Dean to Castiel & Dean, even for a limited timeframe, is one of them. That is not what I signed up for. So, I really hope that Castiel’s disappearing act at the end of the episode hints at the fact that he will not be Dean’s permanent companion in purgatory. I think it would not only make for a great parallel between the brothers if they are both alone on their end and need to rely on their wit and resourcefulness to find a way back to each other, but it would also complete this season’s theme of Sam and Dean losing everyone they depend upon – even each other. Moreover, being on his own will force Dean to draw on his own inner strength and abilities instead of leaning on Castiel’s powers, and I think that could serve to bolster his self-confidence.
I also fear that the writers will maintain Sam and Dean’s separation for a considerable part of the season. Now, obviously the separation has to last for a while so the writers can explore the ramifications of the brothers’ predicament or else this cliffhanger would be completely pointless. In the past, the writers often chose to leap forward in time instead of exploring the effects Sam and Dean’s separation had on them individually – like the year Dean spent with Lisa and (soulless) Sam worked with the Campbells, or the four months Sam spent alone when Dean was in hell – but I hope they opt for a different approach this time around. However, I am not sure I will be able to sit through half a season without any brotherly interaction, so I hope the situation lasts no longer than four or five episodes, tops, before Sam and Dean are reunited and can move on to the aftermath of their experiences. Lastly, if I have to once again endure a separation between the brothers, I want at least for Sam to be the one who gets to save Dean this time around. Alternatively, I could live with Dean finding his way out of purgatory on his own or both brothers contributing to the solution from their individual end, but if Castiel gets to save the day, I will be furious. For now, I am going to focus on all the fantastic possibilities this set-up could open up for Sam and Dean’s emotional arcs next season, because if I allow myself to dwell on all the ways this could ruin the show for me, the next five months will be hell.
What else is noteworthy:
(1) The interaction between Crowley and Dick Roman is one of the humorous highlights of the episode for me. Their back and forth during their contract negotiations is simply hilarious. By the way, I find it especially amusing that Crowley’s standard rider explicitly includes Sam and Dean Winchester. Obviously they are important enough nowadays to be part of every demonic contract! Anyway, as I already suspected, Crowley decides to double-cross Roman despite his offer to give the demons Canada as a consolation price, and unsurprisingly Roman anticipates just that and takes his own precautionary measures to prevent Sam and Dean’s attempt on his life, namely by making a couple of additional Dick Roman copies. While Dick’s strategy makes for a rather interesting last-minute complication – I would have been seriously disappointed, had he not have had an ace up his sleeve – I think the brothers’ break-in at Sucrocorp is accomplished way too easily, even with Meg creating a diversion and taking some of the guards out. Dick knew that Sam and Dean would be coming for him, so it is really unfathomable that there is so little security in place. I mean, Sam simply walks in and rescues Kevin without meeting a single leviathan guard, and Dean and Castiel conveniently corner Dick in a laboratory with only a lab assistant standing in the way. I really expected something a little more exciting for the final confrontation with Dick.
(2) While I liked Kevin well enough in Reading Is Fundamental, I found a whole new level of appreciation for the character in the finale. Especially his refusal to just save himself when Sam comes to his rescue surprised me positively. Kevin’s insistence that they have to destroy Dick Roman’s laboratory to prevent a genocide of slim people demonstrates an inner strength and courage I did not expect after his timid reaction to the revelation that the supernatural exists. It is impressive, really. Kevin’s world has turned topsy-turvy in the blink of an eye. He was thrust into a horrible situation and even though his initial reaction was to reject the position forced upon him and to return to the presumed safety of his old life, he now finds that he cannot turn a blind eye to the evils he has seen these last couple of days – and I find that commendable. However, I fear the fact that Kevin is abducted by Crowley at the end of the episode does not bode well for his well-being. I can only guess that Crowley wants Kevin for his prophetic abilities, and I doubt he will be particular about the means with which to 'motivate' Kevin to cooperate with him. I just hope the writers will not forget to address Kevin’s fate next season – just like they seem to have forgotten about poor Adam.
In conclusion: As far as season finales go, Survival Of The Fittest leaves a lot to be desired. Honestly, the lack of emotional impact and true suspense makes for a rather underwhelming viewing experience. In and of itself the episode is entertaining enough, but I have simply come to expect more from Supernatural finales these last couple of years. However, the cliffhanger creates a lot of anticipation for the upcoming 8th season, and I guess that is something at least. Now we have an unusually long hiatus in front of us – almost five months, as The CW’s fall program is scheduled to begin in October this year, instead of September. Supernatural has also been moved to Wednesdays, which is a tad inconvenient for me as a European viewer, since I won’t get to see new episodes before Thursday evenings then, but I guess I will have to manage somehow.
* * *
And, as usual, some final thoughts about the past season: In retrospect, S7 is somewhat of an odd season. In terms of individual episodes, the season has been quite remarkable, really. I mean, with the exception of Time For A Wedding and Reading Is Fundamental, I truly enjoyed every episode – some more than others, obviously, but still. In fact, S7 has an unusually high quota of episodes that I count amongst my favourite episodes of the entire show, like Hello, Cruel World, Death’s Door, Repo Man and every single episode that was penned by Robbie Thompson. The majority of episodes in S7 is character driven and, compared to previous seasons, there is a more intimate, personal feel to the stories that are told. Moreover, the brothers’ conflicts are grounded in simple human drama – there is no dark destiny looming over them and nobody’s humanity is called into question – and, despite the fact that both Sam and Dean struggle with their individual issues, the relationship between them becomes progressively more companionable, emotionally open and mature. So, on that account, the season ranks as one of the best Supernatural seasons for me. However, if I look at the coherency of the narrative as a whole and at the pay-off to the characters’ emotional arcs, S7 flounders badly. Now, the season has an absolutely fantastic first act (exposition), followed by a solid build-up in the second act (complication), but in the third and final act (resolution), the storytelling falls apart almost completely. There is a clear break in the narrative of the season from The Born-Again Identity onwards. The episodes become more plot-driven, the exploration of the brothers’ issues comes to a sudden standstill, the focus shifts almost entirely to secondary characters and the tiresome angels & demons storyline makes a return. Basically, the third act of the season is out of step with the rest of it and, as a result, all the built-up from the first two acts remains either unresolved or is abruptly brought to an end.
Let’s take the main character arcs for example. Sam and Dean’s emotional arcs in S7 mainly explore the psychological damage they suffered as a result of everything that has happened to them over the last couple of years. In Dean, we see a man who struggles to find purpose in a life that has long lost its meaning for him. He suffers from depression, drifts into alcoholism and is slightly withdrawn from the people close to him. However, ultimately, Dean’s arc comes to nothing; there is simply no resolution to his various problems. After The Born-Again Identity, his issues vanish into thin air, and even though I concede that Sam’s recovery would have a positive impact on Dean’s psychological state, it is not enough to explain his complete turnaround. The lack of a true catharsis or epiphany that would mark a breakthrough in Dean’s psychological condition is simply jarring. Besides, I think Dean’s storyline deserves a resolution that is not entirely tied to Sam’s arc. Talking about Sam, his post-cage storyline in S7 is, hands down, my favourite Sam arc of the show. In Sam, we see a man who desperately tries to stay in control of his life even though his own mind is failing him. Throughout the season, he devotes all his energy and self-discipline to his fight against his mental health problems, not least to provide stability and support for Dean, until he buckles under the pressure and succumbs to his trauma. Unlike Dean’s storyline, Sam’s does have a resolution of sorts, but unfortunately it sacrifices internal story logic for a 'miracle fix'. After The Born-Again Identity, Sam’s post-cage storyline comes to an abrupt end, and even if I put my issues with the specifics of the resolution aside, the complete absence of a follow-up addressing Sam’s psychological status or the state of his damaged soul is just as jarring as the lack of resolution to Dean’s storyline.
As for the rest of the season, I think Bobby’s arc is probably the only self-contained storyline of the season, with a clearly defined beginning, middle and end, and some of the most emotional moments come from Bobby’s story for me. However, if I look at the bigger picture, Bobby’s death does not seem to serve a particular purpose. Sure, it adds a personal motivation to the brothers’ hunt for the leviathans, but it has no real impact on the narrative and it does not provide forward momentum for Sam and Dean’s character development either, and as such I feel it was pointless to kill the character off. Castiel, on the other hand, has long overstayed his welcome for me, but that is hardly news. So far, I am not particularly impressed with Castiel’s redemption arc. In fact, his refusal to face the consequences of his actions does little to improve my opinion of him, but since the season leaves his storyline rather open-ended, I am hesitant to pass my final judgment about the consistency and/or effectivity of his redemption arc just yet. With regard to the mytharc, I think the leviathans are probably the most fun villains the show has ever had. They may not be particularly menacing, but I love how organised, smart and adaptable they are. Personally, I find the leviathan shenanigans quite amusing, and the whole corporate power theme gives the mytharc a distinctly different tone than usual, a lighter, more modern one. So, I am glad that the season finale left the option of further encounters with the leviathans open. Last but not least, I love the season’s exploration of the thin lines between hunters and monsters, good and evil, nature versus nurture. It not only allows for some very personal stories about Sam and Dean, harking back to their individual biographies and highlighting their different characters and temperaments, but also presents some interesting moral issues – and that is very reminiscent of the earlier Supernatural years.
All told, despite my frustration with the way S7 veers off course with the overarching storylines in the last quarter of its run, I cannot deny that I love the majority of its episodes, and if it had made good on its initial promises, it would probably have ended up as my second favourite season. As it is, the weak closing act does impact its ranking and, ultimately, it probably comes in at the fourth place. Looking back, I think S6 and S7 work pretty well as an extended epilogue to the first five seasons. They explore the aftermath of the events that have shaped Sam and Dean’s lives and illustrate their struggle to find a new footing – and I think that is a perfectly valid approach to a post-apocalypse scenario. However, if the show wants to stay fresh and exciting in S8 and beyond, the writers need to start building towards something new. They need new recurring characters, new storylines and, most importantly, a new mytharc that is centred on the brothers Winchester. The fact that the mytharc had barely any personal connection to Sam and Dean is definitely one of the weaker points of these last two seasons.
Unfortunately, Survival Of The Fittest leaves me with little to say about Sam and Dean, and it feels really odd to write a season finale review without having to analyse the complexities of Sam and Dean’s psychological conditions or the status of their relationship at this point in the story. Still, I enjoyed seeing the effortless teamwork and brotherly connection between Sam and Dean that has been prevalent in their relationship for quite a while now. There are some lovely moments between the brothers, like for example, their opening conversation in the car, where they bicker about the fact that Sam bases their search for the righteous bone on one of Dean’s lame jokes, or the moment later in the crypt, where Dean apologises to Sam for making one of his terrible puns about Sister Constance. I also love their puzzled reactions to the lack of thunder and lightning when they complete the anti-leviathan weapon or, on a more serious note, the mournful look they share after Bobby’s goodbye. ♥ I think, if anything, the display of solidity and unity between the brothers these last couple of months gives their enforced separation at the end of the episode even more impact. They are now at a point in their relationship where they have left most of their insecurities in regard to each other behind and allowed themselves to trust that, no matter what, they can always rely on their brother to be at their side – so having that one cornerstone taken away will undoubtedly leave them off balance and emotionally bereft.
Bobby: "I’m done. Go get Dick. But don’t do it because you think it’ll scratch the itch. Do it ‘cause it’s the job. And when it’s your time – go."
As was to be expected after Bobby’s violent possession of an innocent civilian in last week’s episode, Survival Of The Fittest brings his storyline to its logical conclusion. The episode effectively illustrates that Bobby has almost completed his transition into an angry spirit – in his refusal to release his human hostage or his near fatal assault on Sam there are barely any traces of the old Bobby left – and that he needs to be stopped, one way or the other. Now, while I would have loved for Bobby to be able to assist the brothers in their fight against Dick Roman and thus take revenge on his killer, I love it even more that his attack on Sam unsettles him to such a degree that he rather forgoes his vengeance than risk losing the last ties to his humanity. Bobby’s decision to move on before he can do any more damage not only spares Sam and Dean the grief of forcing their former friend to rest, it also allows the three of them to say their goodbyes and find whatever closure they might still need. Since I already mourned Bobby after Death’s Door, his goodbye here does not have quite the same impact as his initial demise, but I still felt moved by his last words to Sam and Dean, and his farewell is one of the few scenes in the episode that has emotional resonance for me. Overall, I think the writers handled Bobby’s ghost storyline reasonably well. It made for an emotional story and gave us some interesting insights into the ghost mythology of the show. Still, part of me is sad that the writers decided to culminate Bobby’s story in this manner instead of thinking of a believable twist that would allow the character to stay a part of the show. Ultimately, the story ended exactly where I feared it would, namely with Bobby forever lost to Sam and Dean (and us), while Castiel – the person who is indirectly responsible for Bobby’s death – gets to live and, no doubt, will be allowed to work his way back into the brothers’ good graces. And I resent that fiercely.
Castiel: "I destroyed everything. And I will destroy everything again. Can we please just leave it at that?"
Dean: "No. No, we can’t. We can’t leave it. You let these freaking things in. So you don’t get to make a sandwich. You don’t get a damn cat. Nobody cares that you’re broken, Cas. Clean up your mess."
Castiel’s condition has obviously not much improved from where we left him two episodes ago. Through most of the episode Castiel maintains an escapist frame of mind, even though his frequent lucid moments illustrate that he is actually quite self-aware. While Castiel’s non-sequiturs are certainly amusing, I do share Dean’s frustration with the angel’s continuous attempt to abdicate from his responsibilities, and I am glad that Dean keeps calling him out on his behaviour and refuses to coddle him. Now, it is understandable that Castiel is hesitant to commit himself to yet another war. He does not trust his judgment anymore; he is afraid of making the wrong choices again and doing more harm than good, but to bury his head in the sand and allow his friends to put their lives at risk to fix his mess for him is the cowardly way out. I love Dean’s angry outburst when Castiel tries to justify his escapism by pointing to his past failures. Of course, Dean is not only talking about Castiel when he states that nobody cares that he is broken, but also about himself and Sam. Despite being psychologically damaged themselves, the brothers have been fighting Castiel’s war all season long, and nobody asked them if they felt up to it – and the same is true for the past as well. When Sam was crippled by guilt and despair in light of his own mistakes, he did not have the luxury to retreat from the fight, and when Dean came back from hell a broken man, the angels told him to stop whining and do what is expected of him. As long as they were useful, nobody ever cared if Sam and Dean were broken, and nobody ever allowed them a reprieve. Naturally, both brothers had moments where they wanted to give up, where they tried to walk away from the fight, but ultimately their sense of responsibility always outweighed those impulses. Maybe Castiel is right in his assumption that his resurrections are a form of punishment, but then he better starts acting on that insight and tries to do better. The fact that he agrees to help Sam and Dean after all is a first step in the right direction, but he still has a long way ahead of him.
Sam: "Where is Dean?"
Crowley: "That bone has a bit of a kick. God-weapons often do. Should put a warning on the box."
I admit, for me, the first thirty-eight minutes of the episode are largely overshadowed by the ending, not least because I felt completely blindsided by the last-minute twist of Dean and Castiel getting pulled into purgatory. It is really rare for the show to catch me off guard like that. Now, it is no secret that I am not fond of the brothers being separated, but that mostly pertains to a separation caused by an emotional divide between them. The current set-up, however, has a lot of potential for the positive kind of Sam-and-Dean separation angst, i.e. one that springs from being forced apart against their will, with both of them desperately longing for a reunion. The sheer potential of this situation for the brothers’ emotional arcs next season is mind-boggling, really. It is a great opportunity to show just how much Sam and Dean have changed these last couple of years and move them towards even further character growth. The last time Sam lost Dean, he fell apart and made all the wrong choices, but he is not the same revenge driven, angry young man anymore, who needed to prove to himself (and Dean) that he can be strong and independent – and that should reflect on his actions this time around. I would love to see Sam fighting for his brother’s return with a pure heart and a clear mind and, for once, being rewarded for his efforts. As for Dean, the last time he was pulled into another dimension, he lost a part of himself, so maybe this time he will be able to regain something. I mean, ever since his trip to hell, Dean has come to think of himself as a monster and maybe being trapped as a human in a place filled with actual monsters will allow him to reaffirm his own humanity. Moreover, being forced to actively fight for his survival could serve to break Dean out of his world-weary mindset and find a new appreciation for life. Obviously, living in such a hostile environment will leave its scars as well, and I would love for Dean to receive the care he needs from his brother once they are reunited. Basically, S8 could be the anti-S4, and that thought fills me with excitement for the next season.
Of course, like with all things, there is a flip-side, too. It would not be the first time in the run of the show that the writers create a promising starting situation and then never follow through on the potential. I certainly would not put it past the writers to ignore all of Sam’s character growth these last couple of seasons and just regress him to a variation of his S4 self or to subject Dean to a traumatic event, only to never really acknowledge the consequences for the character. Now, my main concern going into the next season is that the writers will focus on Dean and Castiel’s time in purgatory and allow them to bond over their shared adventures, while Sam is isolated or fraternises with the wrong people again. To be perfectly frank, if I have to watch the Dean-and-Castiel show for a significant part of S8, I am out. There are not many things that could make me stop watching Supernatural, but changing the core relationship of the show from Sam & Dean to Castiel & Dean, even for a limited timeframe, is one of them. That is not what I signed up for. So, I really hope that Castiel’s disappearing act at the end of the episode hints at the fact that he will not be Dean’s permanent companion in purgatory. I think it would not only make for a great parallel between the brothers if they are both alone on their end and need to rely on their wit and resourcefulness to find a way back to each other, but it would also complete this season’s theme of Sam and Dean losing everyone they depend upon – even each other. Moreover, being on his own will force Dean to draw on his own inner strength and abilities instead of leaning on Castiel’s powers, and I think that could serve to bolster his self-confidence.
I also fear that the writers will maintain Sam and Dean’s separation for a considerable part of the season. Now, obviously the separation has to last for a while so the writers can explore the ramifications of the brothers’ predicament or else this cliffhanger would be completely pointless. In the past, the writers often chose to leap forward in time instead of exploring the effects Sam and Dean’s separation had on them individually – like the year Dean spent with Lisa and (soulless) Sam worked with the Campbells, or the four months Sam spent alone when Dean was in hell – but I hope they opt for a different approach this time around. However, I am not sure I will be able to sit through half a season without any brotherly interaction, so I hope the situation lasts no longer than four or five episodes, tops, before Sam and Dean are reunited and can move on to the aftermath of their experiences. Lastly, if I have to once again endure a separation between the brothers, I want at least for Sam to be the one who gets to save Dean this time around. Alternatively, I could live with Dean finding his way out of purgatory on his own or both brothers contributing to the solution from their individual end, but if Castiel gets to save the day, I will be furious. For now, I am going to focus on all the fantastic possibilities this set-up could open up for Sam and Dean’s emotional arcs next season, because if I allow myself to dwell on all the ways this could ruin the show for me, the next five months will be hell.
What else is noteworthy:
(1) The interaction between Crowley and Dick Roman is one of the humorous highlights of the episode for me. Their back and forth during their contract negotiations is simply hilarious. By the way, I find it especially amusing that Crowley’s standard rider explicitly includes Sam and Dean Winchester. Obviously they are important enough nowadays to be part of every demonic contract! Anyway, as I already suspected, Crowley decides to double-cross Roman despite his offer to give the demons Canada as a consolation price, and unsurprisingly Roman anticipates just that and takes his own precautionary measures to prevent Sam and Dean’s attempt on his life, namely by making a couple of additional Dick Roman copies. While Dick’s strategy makes for a rather interesting last-minute complication – I would have been seriously disappointed, had he not have had an ace up his sleeve – I think the brothers’ break-in at Sucrocorp is accomplished way too easily, even with Meg creating a diversion and taking some of the guards out. Dick knew that Sam and Dean would be coming for him, so it is really unfathomable that there is so little security in place. I mean, Sam simply walks in and rescues Kevin without meeting a single leviathan guard, and Dean and Castiel conveniently corner Dick in a laboratory with only a lab assistant standing in the way. I really expected something a little more exciting for the final confrontation with Dick.
(2) While I liked Kevin well enough in Reading Is Fundamental, I found a whole new level of appreciation for the character in the finale. Especially his refusal to just save himself when Sam comes to his rescue surprised me positively. Kevin’s insistence that they have to destroy Dick Roman’s laboratory to prevent a genocide of slim people demonstrates an inner strength and courage I did not expect after his timid reaction to the revelation that the supernatural exists. It is impressive, really. Kevin’s world has turned topsy-turvy in the blink of an eye. He was thrust into a horrible situation and even though his initial reaction was to reject the position forced upon him and to return to the presumed safety of his old life, he now finds that he cannot turn a blind eye to the evils he has seen these last couple of days – and I find that commendable. However, I fear the fact that Kevin is abducted by Crowley at the end of the episode does not bode well for his well-being. I can only guess that Crowley wants Kevin for his prophetic abilities, and I doubt he will be particular about the means with which to 'motivate' Kevin to cooperate with him. I just hope the writers will not forget to address Kevin’s fate next season – just like they seem to have forgotten about poor Adam.
In conclusion: As far as season finales go, Survival Of The Fittest leaves a lot to be desired. Honestly, the lack of emotional impact and true suspense makes for a rather underwhelming viewing experience. In and of itself the episode is entertaining enough, but I have simply come to expect more from Supernatural finales these last couple of years. However, the cliffhanger creates a lot of anticipation for the upcoming 8th season, and I guess that is something at least. Now we have an unusually long hiatus in front of us – almost five months, as The CW’s fall program is scheduled to begin in October this year, instead of September. Supernatural has also been moved to Wednesdays, which is a tad inconvenient for me as a European viewer, since I won’t get to see new episodes before Thursday evenings then, but I guess I will have to manage somehow.
And, as usual, some final thoughts about the past season: In retrospect, S7 is somewhat of an odd season. In terms of individual episodes, the season has been quite remarkable, really. I mean, with the exception of Time For A Wedding and Reading Is Fundamental, I truly enjoyed every episode – some more than others, obviously, but still. In fact, S7 has an unusually high quota of episodes that I count amongst my favourite episodes of the entire show, like Hello, Cruel World, Death’s Door, Repo Man and every single episode that was penned by Robbie Thompson. The majority of episodes in S7 is character driven and, compared to previous seasons, there is a more intimate, personal feel to the stories that are told. Moreover, the brothers’ conflicts are grounded in simple human drama – there is no dark destiny looming over them and nobody’s humanity is called into question – and, despite the fact that both Sam and Dean struggle with their individual issues, the relationship between them becomes progressively more companionable, emotionally open and mature. So, on that account, the season ranks as one of the best Supernatural seasons for me. However, if I look at the coherency of the narrative as a whole and at the pay-off to the characters’ emotional arcs, S7 flounders badly. Now, the season has an absolutely fantastic first act (exposition), followed by a solid build-up in the second act (complication), but in the third and final act (resolution), the storytelling falls apart almost completely. There is a clear break in the narrative of the season from The Born-Again Identity onwards. The episodes become more plot-driven, the exploration of the brothers’ issues comes to a sudden standstill, the focus shifts almost entirely to secondary characters and the tiresome angels & demons storyline makes a return. Basically, the third act of the season is out of step with the rest of it and, as a result, all the built-up from the first two acts remains either unresolved or is abruptly brought to an end.
Let’s take the main character arcs for example. Sam and Dean’s emotional arcs in S7 mainly explore the psychological damage they suffered as a result of everything that has happened to them over the last couple of years. In Dean, we see a man who struggles to find purpose in a life that has long lost its meaning for him. He suffers from depression, drifts into alcoholism and is slightly withdrawn from the people close to him. However, ultimately, Dean’s arc comes to nothing; there is simply no resolution to his various problems. After The Born-Again Identity, his issues vanish into thin air, and even though I concede that Sam’s recovery would have a positive impact on Dean’s psychological state, it is not enough to explain his complete turnaround. The lack of a true catharsis or epiphany that would mark a breakthrough in Dean’s psychological condition is simply jarring. Besides, I think Dean’s storyline deserves a resolution that is not entirely tied to Sam’s arc. Talking about Sam, his post-cage storyline in S7 is, hands down, my favourite Sam arc of the show. In Sam, we see a man who desperately tries to stay in control of his life even though his own mind is failing him. Throughout the season, he devotes all his energy and self-discipline to his fight against his mental health problems, not least to provide stability and support for Dean, until he buckles under the pressure and succumbs to his trauma. Unlike Dean’s storyline, Sam’s does have a resolution of sorts, but unfortunately it sacrifices internal story logic for a 'miracle fix'. After The Born-Again Identity, Sam’s post-cage storyline comes to an abrupt end, and even if I put my issues with the specifics of the resolution aside, the complete absence of a follow-up addressing Sam’s psychological status or the state of his damaged soul is just as jarring as the lack of resolution to Dean’s storyline.
As for the rest of the season, I think Bobby’s arc is probably the only self-contained storyline of the season, with a clearly defined beginning, middle and end, and some of the most emotional moments come from Bobby’s story for me. However, if I look at the bigger picture, Bobby’s death does not seem to serve a particular purpose. Sure, it adds a personal motivation to the brothers’ hunt for the leviathans, but it has no real impact on the narrative and it does not provide forward momentum for Sam and Dean’s character development either, and as such I feel it was pointless to kill the character off. Castiel, on the other hand, has long overstayed his welcome for me, but that is hardly news. So far, I am not particularly impressed with Castiel’s redemption arc. In fact, his refusal to face the consequences of his actions does little to improve my opinion of him, but since the season leaves his storyline rather open-ended, I am hesitant to pass my final judgment about the consistency and/or effectivity of his redemption arc just yet. With regard to the mytharc, I think the leviathans are probably the most fun villains the show has ever had. They may not be particularly menacing, but I love how organised, smart and adaptable they are. Personally, I find the leviathan shenanigans quite amusing, and the whole corporate power theme gives the mytharc a distinctly different tone than usual, a lighter, more modern one. So, I am glad that the season finale left the option of further encounters with the leviathans open. Last but not least, I love the season’s exploration of the thin lines between hunters and monsters, good and evil, nature versus nurture. It not only allows for some very personal stories about Sam and Dean, harking back to their individual biographies and highlighting their different characters and temperaments, but also presents some interesting moral issues – and that is very reminiscent of the earlier Supernatural years.
All told, despite my frustration with the way S7 veers off course with the overarching storylines in the last quarter of its run, I cannot deny that I love the majority of its episodes, and if it had made good on its initial promises, it would probably have ended up as my second favourite season. As it is, the weak closing act does impact its ranking and, ultimately, it probably comes in at the fourth place. Looking back, I think S6 and S7 work pretty well as an extended epilogue to the first five seasons. They explore the aftermath of the events that have shaped Sam and Dean’s lives and illustrate their struggle to find a new footing – and I think that is a perfectly valid approach to a post-apocalypse scenario. However, if the show wants to stay fresh and exciting in S8 and beyond, the writers need to start building towards something new. They need new recurring characters, new storylines and, most importantly, a new mytharc that is centred on the brothers Winchester. The fact that the mytharc had barely any personal connection to Sam and Dean is definitely one of the weaker points of these last two seasons.
