Subscribe
Previous Post
When next Thursday rolls around, you’ll want to make sure you have a crying towel on hand and a few friends to squeal to come 10:00 because the next episode of Supernatural is one of the best of the season.
The angels were kind to me this week, giving me the episode early – which was a boon because I won’t be able to watch it come Thursday. Believe me, though, I’ll be thinking of all of you because I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this one.
Look at Dean over there, all crushed and serious. . . .
SPOILERS AHEAD
But mostly just my usual teasing
ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK
It’s no secret to anyone reading this far that the next episode is about another trip back in time to see John and Mary when they were young and just starting out. It’s called “The Song Remains the Same” and it’s a terrific mix of action, angst and story.
This time Castiel sends both Sam and Dean back to the seventies to stop Anna who plans to pull a Terminator and kill Mary before she can give birth to Lucifer’s vessel (aka Sam). It’s a tough trip for Castiel since he’s working with only half a mojo and that means that the boys are pretty much on their own once they arrive.
Amy Gumenick and Matt Cohen reprise their roles as the young Mary and John and I enjoyed every minute of their time on screen. We didn’t see much of Matt in “In the Beginning,” but this time around we get to see a lot more and it works. Amy is both charming and tough as the troubled Mary Winchester, the hunter who wants to have a normal life. Needless to say, she’s less than thrilled to see Dean show up on her doorstep again. Now if she can only figure out why the tall one keeps staring at her like a puppy who needs a hug!
There’s not much time for humor in the story as Dean and Sam have to figure out a way to save their parents without giving away the whole truth. Demons are one thing, but even for an experienced hunter like Mary, time travel and nasty angels are a little hard to buy.
Unfortunately, Anna does the explaining for them, when she initiates a fight scene that had to leave a mark on a couple of the show’s expert stunt men! (Oh, and I had to laugh at how misleading this photo of Anna is — it’s not at all what it looks like.)
What really makes “The Song Remain the Same” work is that everyone is really only trying to do the right thing in their own wrong way. Anna wants to kill Mary so that Lucifer won’t have a vessel. Dean just wants to save his brother. . . his mother. . . his father. . . Mary wants to have a home and a family with the man she loves and Sam . . . well, he just wants to not be responsible for the end of the world. Small stakes, huh? Hardly.
Let me now take a moment to sing the praises of Jared Padalecki. Yes, really. You all know that I’m a Jensen fan – a “Dean Girl,” if you will – but Jared has one scene in this episode that made my heartache. (That’s a good thing in this case.) It’s Sam’s one chance to tell his father how he really feels about him, even if John doesn’t understand that’s what’s happening at all.
That’s followed up with a poignant Dean and Mary scene that rivals his “don’t get out of bed” speech from their last episode together. The quiet moments don’t last long, this is Supernatural after all, and that means the bad guys get one more shot at winning the war. Before it was done two big things happened – one made me gasp and one had me shaking my head in wonder of the scripted elegance.
There aren’t many shows that can keep you glued to the screen with nothing but two actors trading dialouge. Could have been two minutes. Could have been ten. No pyrotechnics, no special effects, no jokes. Just really good storytelling and that, my friends, is Supernatural at its best.
Watch Supernatural: “The Song Remains the Same” Thursday, February 4 at 9:00 on The CW.
Photo: David Gray/The CW ©2009 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
734 days ago
[...] again in Supernatural: “The Song Remains the Same.” I got an early look at the episode, so you can click here to read that. Some spoilers, obviously, but I don’t give much away. What I didn’t mention there is [...]
What can I say Jen? You’re just a better person than I. Oh wait…
Ellie, Samgirl and JP-booster Extraordinaire Alice Jester loved this episode too so I’m sure your Sammy is going to get lots of good stuff.
Also really? Another petition? That’s just what this idiotic fandom needs.
Sorry, I meant to add:
Even though Cynthia says she’s a Dean/Jensen girl, I’ve never seen her biased towards the character or the actor.
@Jen -
You’re criticizing muse for her generalizing, by saying:
“So because someone said something you didn’t like it’s okay for you to attack an entire portion of a fandom?”
Then you say:
“But Dean and his fans can do no wrong, so I guess I’m just spitting into the wind here.”
Hypocritical much, Jen?
“You can slant it however you want, but another person’s actions don’t justify your own.”
Maybe you should take your own advice.
If a confessed Dean-girl says it’s about both brothers – rest assured that Sam only has about two scenes. Otherwise it would have been an all Sam episode.
Since the big reveal eems to be all about Dean, this might be the episode that throws Sam out of the mytharc all together. That is my guess. It’s finally revealed that it has bee all about Dean from the beginning.
I can only hope that this show goes onto a possible s6 without Padalecki. Let this show become the Angels on the Run starring Ackles and Collins as Michael /Dean and Castiel.
Someone set up a petition!
@ muse -
So because someone said something you didn’t like it’s okay for you to attack an entire portion of a fandom? Wouldn’t a rational and less juvenile response to the person who said that be the more intelligent response? The person who posted above you that you so neatly justify your aggressiveness with, was talking about the show, not attacking other fans. You were the one who chose to tear into the portion of fandom that you obviously hate. But Dean and his fans can do no wrong, so I guess I’m just spitting into the wind here. You can slant it however you want, but another person’s actions don’t justify your own.
Thanks for the stroke Jen.
By the way, did you see the post right above mine? The one I was responding to from “A”?
Here let me quote it for you:
“Another Dean-cries-with-his-mother scene? Excuse me, but I’ve seen that already. In fact, I’ve seen the time travel episode already! Nobody can beat a dead horse like Kripke, I guess.
I wish he and his team of mediocre writers would come up with some new materials (or, at least write the re-hashed materials better), and fast, because I’m losing interest at a rapid pace.”
By your definition, there is more than one troll around here. But of course, just like Sam can do no wrong apparently his fans are perfect in all ways too. If I see hypocrisy, I’m going to call it. Sorry if that offends you. :D
@ muse –
I gotta say, I don’t see anyone sounding bitter or whiny in here except you. I have a feeling you’re just trolling to stir people up, in which case you’ll probably count this as an ego stroking victory. Eh, have it however you want. I’m not stirred up. Just tired of crap like this mucking up this fandom.
@ Ashley –
I don’t think Anna knows what she wants. For that matter, what is Anna hoping to accomplish? Didn’t that first time trip that Dean made prove that you can’t change the past? But since Sam and Dean both get to go back this time, I’ll take what I can get and try not to give myself a headache with the time travel paradoxes. I don’t think we’re ever going to straighten out the whole “Jared is NOT Sam, so quit punishing Jared for Sam’s problems” issue though. I’m not inclined to give up, just saying I don’t think it will change.
Pfft, and I completely forgot what I came here to comment on. Everyone’s worried about WHY Anna chose that timeline, or why she’s going after Sam and not Dean, and I’m curious too, but we’ve seen that, a lot of the angels WANTED the apocolypse, to start over again. Maybe she WANTED the apocolypse, but thinks if Lucifer doesn’t have a vessel, he can’t win. So maybe that’s why she wants to just get rid of Sam. *shrugs*
I just got more and more mad reading this page. First of all, Cynthia, your article is brilliantly written and you are completely awesome for sharing with us. But the last 10 comments or so…*shakes head* Are we serious here?! Oh my GOD! I completely totally agree with Jen, cuz it DOES seem like lately, there has been A LOT of Jared bashing on behalf of what his CHARACTER does, and I don’t think that’s fair AT ALL! And I seen a comment about Kripke and his mediocre writers writing the same stuff…SERIOUSLY?!?! That’s one of the reasons I lOVE Supernatural, is because of the different variety of stuff! It’s always different, and if there is something familiar in there, it means something is going on. Like some clue or sign as to what’s coming. THAT was an idiot comment! >:( And for the ‘never-satisfied Samgirls with their Deanbashing’? That’s all I SEE lately is Dean girls ranting and whining about Sam!
‘Dean in the episode, so it won’t be the Sam show you want.’ YOU are a seriously mistaken. You’ve got that soooo backwards. If you are a fan of Supernatural AT ALL, than you would know 80% of stuff is about DEAN! And how great ‘The Dean’ is. Sam AND Jared for that matter, doesn’t get NEARLY enough credit. Why can’t we like both, or if not SHUT UP about it, and be fricken POLITE! And a lot of the Dean girls are viscious too! Not only will they talk about their higher than thou Dean, but they’ll completely DOWN Sam and Jared, as if he were trash. Kripke has created monsters I swear. Deangirls pick on Samgirls, Samgirls pick on Deangirls, I guess that’s just the way it’s gonna be.
Thanks for this. I was realy not excited for this episode for some reason, but this upped the anticipation. Can’t wait for the Sam and John scene.
I have never noticed any particular bias on this site, in favor of Dean or Jensen or his fans.
But it is good to know that JP is finally stepping up. I thought he gave of some of his worst performances of the series in these last two episodes.
“Let me now take a moment to sing the praises of Jared Padalecki. Yes, really. You all know that I’m a Jensen fan – a “Dean Girl,” if you will – but Jared has one scene in this episode that made my heartache. ”
I think that passage right there might be a sign of the real apocalypse. Jared catches so much crap for what the writers make Sam do, which somehow translates into unwarranted bashing of Jared himself that it makes me sick. Nice to see someone who is in a position to reach more ears give the poor guy at least a positive mention. I can’t wait to see what that scene is.
Mediocre writers , well if you don’t like SPN that much ,, why are you still watching the show ? I don’t watch shows that I don’t like , I don’t understand , feel free to leave !
I’m a Dean’s girl to death but I am glad for Sammy that he will meet his folks , and I am not fed up with Dean ‘crying for’ his mommy , the guy loves his mom , as Sammy lovfes her … Dean wants to save everyone , like usually ! He always want to save everyone , he tols it in Sam, Interrupted . Poor baby .
And I agree : more Cas ! But I think we won’t see him much . There is a lot of things in th ep. Sammy meeting young Mary & John , stopping Anna etc , so I guess not so much of Cas and no Dean & Cas scenes , snif snif . I wouldn’t call Cas a regular , he appears too little !
Anyway , wait and see , I haven’t seen the ep. and not Thursday for sure being an European but more this week-end , it sucks …
Thank you Cynthia !
Oh goodie, here come the bitter, never-satisfied samgirls with their Deanbashing. What a shocker. You’re bitching and complaining even when you’ve been told that this episode is going to give you what you’ve been whinging about for 3 years – scenes where Sam gets to interact with his parents. But hey, Dean is in the episode so it won’t be the Sam Show that you want. And yet poor Kripke still keeps trying to please you at the expense of the quality of the show.
Another Dean-cries-with-his-mother scene? Excuse me, but I’ve seen that already. In fact, I’ve seen the time travel episode already! Nobody can beat a dead horse like Kripke, I guess.
I wish he and his team of mediocre writers would come up with some new materials (or, at least write the re-hashed materials better), and fast, because I’m losing interest at a rapid pace.
I just don’t understand how she’s only there to stop Sam being born. She’s clearly gone back in time before Dean was born as well, which means neither one of them is going to be born if Anna succeeds, so why the emphasis about stopping Sam being born. If she kills Mary, Dean’s not going to be born either.
Also it’s quite clear from Sam, Interrupted(not to mention numerous other episodes) that Dean blames himself for breaking the first seal so it’s not just Sam that feels bad about starting the Apocalypse.
I think the arc angel Michael is supposed to be in this episode to, maybe he channels verbally through young John and finally gets to talk to Dean ?
Glad too that after 5 seasons , poor Sam gets to stare at his mom Mary.
This episode sounds awesome to me, and I’ll watch it if it’s Dean centric OR Sam cetric. I’m a dean girl but…Kim, Dude, a real fan would watch ALL of the episodes…
Thanks you Cynthia for posting this, I didn’t know about some of this! So, they did change the title then? Grr…you are so lucky that you got to see this!!
I sincerely apologize justcurious if I misunderstood. Not that it excuses my jumping to conclusions but I am ultra sensitive and overly defensive and protective when it comes to any hint of Sammy bashing. There’s been so much illogical hate aimed at this character,an archeotype I adore when played by the right actor (right after Michael Shank’s Daniel Jackson )it’s hard for me to keep a level head.
Sorry once again!