Back at the motel, Sam shows Dean the spell he thinks the first victim used (based on the ingredients he found in her bedroom). The first victim summoned Veritas, the goddess of Truth. Sam says they need to figure out how to get rid of her before she causes Dean to kill himself too. Dean assumes Veritas is disguising herself as Ashley, the local TV reporter, so the boys settle in to watch hours upon hours of footage of her. Sam finally sees a dog barking harshly at Ashley (dogs not liking Veritas, who was a cat person). Sam is also wearing a t-shirt and I can see his biceps, so a lot of stuff could have happened beyond the obvious in this scene, but I was too distracted to pay attention. How’s that for the truth?
The boys head to Ashley’s house, which is gorgeous, by the way. They dip knives in dog blood and head in. Inside, the find the mutilated bodies of some of the victims. Veritas, now dressed in more typical Grecian garb, knocks the brothers out.
The Cold, Hard Truth
When they awaken, they discover they’ve been tied up (oh boys, how many times does that have to happen before you start planning ahead?). As Veritas pulls out the dentist’s tongue to eat, Sam quietly tries to cut through his ropes with his hidden knife. She confronts the brothers about being very good liars. She tells Dean to tell the truth and asks how he feels about Sam. Dean admits that he wanted to kill Sam in his sleep, but feels better about him now. He says that he was kidding himself thinking he could have a family and leave hunting, that he’s really just a killer. Now he wonders if Sam is just like him.
She moves onto Sam, asking how he feels about reuniting with Dean. He says that their lives are hard, but they look out for each other and that’s what’s important. Veritas is shocked to discover that Sam is lying and has no idea how he can lie to her. She asks Dean “what is he?” and Dean is just as confused when she says Sam isn’t human. Sam finally cuts through his ropes and attacks Veritas. Dean gets free a moment later and goes after her. Both boys manage to stab and kill her and the Dean turns his knife on Sam.
Sam insists that he’s Dean’s brother. When Dean demands answers, Sam admits he let Dean get turned because he knew there was a cure and believed Dean could take care of himself. He also flat out admits that since he’s returned from Hell there’s been something very wrong with him - he can’t feel anything. But he doesn’t know what’s wrong with him and he needs help. Dean puts down his knife and then attacks Sam, wailing on his face right up until the end credits.
The Nature of Souls… and of Brothers
My fellow editor, Jon, and I have been discussing Sam’s lack of a soul for a little while now. He’s upset by this turn of events, because he doesn’t really subscribe to what I like to call the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer Theory of a Soul’s Worth”. Jon’s belief is that the soul and the self -or personality - are one and that one cannot exist without the other. Put more clearly, he doesn’t like what’s happening with Sam because, in his view, Sam could not exist (walking around, having his memories, being alive) without his soul. I don’t necessarily disagree, but then I also pointed out that this was a television show (about the supernatural, for crying out loud), and he grumbled but said he would get over his anger shortly.
In some respects it is strange that Sam can exist without his soul, and that he can acknowledge that something is very wrong with him. On the other hand, it’s an interesting twist on the story (even though I’m sure most of it figured it out), because the question remains whether they can retrieve Sam’s soul and make him whole again.
On a side note, I want to address what Lisa said about Sam and Dean’s relationship. A lot of people on the show says that the brothers’ relationship is unhealthy. I don’t agree. I think that the way the brothers love each other is probably the most pure expression of love you can have. It’s what they do with that love that makes their relationship slightly unhealthy - sacrificing themselves for each other, for example. And yet, can you really say that being willing to die for someone is unhealthy? Isn’t giving your life to save someone you love one of the most loving acts you can commit? Call me fatalistic and morbid, but I believe it is.
Yes, the brothers are very dependent on each other, but that’s a product of their upbringing. They spent most of their lives being taught by John that family was the most important thing. They grew up in close quarters with few to no friends and with each other as their constant company. How could that not make them dependent on each other (especially for Dean, who believed the “family above all” mantra even more than Sam)? Dean derives his worth from his ability to love and protect those he cares about. From being needed. Sam is much more independent, but you can’t deny that he loves his brother (well, when he has a soul). So for Lisa to suggest that Dean can never be happy around Sam would suggest that their love could never heal the ever-growing rift between them. Yes, they’ve lied to each other and done horrible things to each other throughout the course of the series. But in the season 5 finale, Dean vowed to stay with Sam to the bitter end, and it was their love for each other that allowed Sam to bury Lucifer in order to jump into Hell. I believe there’s a way to heal their relationship, even if they don’t forget the things that have happened to them over the years. That’s the ultimate goal I want to see happen this season after so many years of the widening gulf between them.
Overall, I was satisfied with this episode. We got several moments of humor and, while most of us probably suspected what was wrong with Sam, the storyline progressed to the point where he readily admitted he has a problem and asked for help. The question is how Dean will proceed.
clarissa @ tvovermind.com
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"So for Lisa to suggest that Dean can never be happy around Sam would suggest that their love could never heal the ever-growing rift between them."
I don't think that's necessarily what she was suggesting. I think you're correct that much of Dean's self-worth is derived from his ability to protect those that he loves. That was, in my opinion, one of the driving forces for him staying with Lisa and Ben. They needed him. I think the point Lisa was trying to get across is that the job is perpetually putting Sam in danger, some of which Dean cannot protect him from. But knowing Dean the way we do, he is of course going to try. But he's also trying to be what Lisa and Ben need him to be and those two lives are just incompatible. I also agree with you that sacrificing yourself for someone you love is the greatest expression of love you can show, BUT Sam and Dean go to the extremes. That is what's unhealthy. As a whole, I liked this episode. I'm glad we're finally getting some movement on fixing the boys' deteriorating relationship because it's been like the giant pink elephant in the room all season.
I thought there would be more inquiries and explanations about why Sammy isn't Sammy, but I guess it will trail off until the end of the season. I was not prepared for this. I still hope and believe that he's lying, although it would make sense for Sam to act the way he does with his soul lost and all, because without it the guy is just brains and muscles. And now it also makes sense the thing that he said in the first episode, that he wanted Dean around because he got more involved in the case, so he was trying to connect somehow with his human side.
So what doesn't make sense is his connection to the rest of the story, and I mean the alphas. there has to be some sort of connection between him, Grandpa and alphas and I just don't see it now. And why the hell would he keep this kind of secret from Dean, knowing that he would have figured it out eventually. I don't know, maybe he is some sort of doppelganger that can't feel and thinks that he is the real deal.
Yes, Sam's obvious desire to go after the alphas IS strange. I wonder if the reason might be one of the following: (1) Grandpa is actually the one who wants to go after the alphas (for whatever reason – because I DO believe he's shady) and got Sam into it, or (2) whatever brought Sam back told him to go after the alphas. Maybe there's a third explanation: that Sam is power-hungry and wants to go after the alphas in order to…I don't know, maybe take over the monsters?
None of these explanations really jive with me, but I do get what you're saying. The soul thing I can buy a lot easier than coming up with an explanation for how the alphas fit into the overall storyline.
As for WHY he kept the secret from Dean – technically I guess he didn't. In the season premiere he did mention to Dean that he didn't feel bad that Dean's neighbour was going to be killing and sort of suggested to Dean that he found this weird, but Dean didn't really seem to pick up on it. If there's another explanation here, I don't know what it is yet.
I get the whole unhealthy part, but I don't know, it's the whole point of the show. I want Dean to have a family and for Sam to be around, and for them to get along really well, but that would just make for a very boring story. they were in this together from the beginning, it just wouldn't make sense for either of them to want to escape this life anymore, knowing that it will hunt them for the rest of their lives and whatever they do they need each other.
For your editor Jon – there is a belief that the body with out a soul is a very intelligent animal and the human animal is by nature a predator only a soul allows us to be more because it allows us to empathize beyond ourselves. So the thought is that Sociopaths especially serial killers are lacking a soul because they lack empathic ability. I think this the theory that Sera and the writers are using as a basis for Sam in Supernatural
Zaz
I've heard of that theory about souls before and I don't necessarily disagree with you. I think Jon's point is more about how to actually separate the soul from the body. We talk about someone being soulless (like sociopaths, as you mentioned), but do they really not possess a soul? Is it something tangible? Like the bright flash of light last season in Supernatural?
In any event, it's an interesting debate that goes beyond the show for sure.
I agree with what you're saying. But in all truthfulness, it doesn't matter if editor Jon likes this "soul theory" situation or not. If the show dictates that's how a soul works (within the context of the show) then that's just how it is on Supernatural. There's no way to prove it, on the show, or in real life anyways, so the argument is really moot.
Btw, the episode was really good, and I'm really enjoying this season so far!
Ha, just noticed I wrote "in all truthfulness", lol.
Ha! I'll be sure to tell Jon that his opinion doesn't matter at all :)
In any event, you're right. The show has decided to go this route. On the other, Jon is still a very dedicated fan of Supernatural and we talk theories all the time. Of course, our personal biases and thoughts are always in the back of our mind when we watch television or do anything – that doesn't make it less enjoyable.
I am enjoying the season too! I admit, it felt a little off in the beginning, but the last few episodes have been very good and it looks like it can only get better. I'm just really interested in seeing the brothers repair their relationship!