Supernatural: Jump The Shark
My God, this show is going to send me into therapy. It hurts me and I love it.
I was spoiled for the premise of the episode. I knew there was a brother, and I knew there was a lot of discussion in fandom as to whether it was a real brother or a fake brother. I knew that the character wouldn't become a regular on the show. I spent weeks wondering how it would turn out, playing different scenarios in my mind.
I was not prepared for this.
I definitely bought the idea that John could have another son. No matter how much he loved Mary, I wouldn't expect him to remain faithful to her for the rest of his life. And once I saw the preview - where they teased that there was a son - I thought it was probably a real son. At that point, it would have been too much of a cheap bait-and-switch for the son to be just a trick. I know that lots of people around here have been saying that the "Jump the Shark" title was going to mark the point where the show actually *did*, but I had faith that this would be a good episode. Faith in the storytelling and the master plan. So I came in expecting to see a real Winchester.
I liked the kid. They didn't cast someone who was *too* pretty in order to pander to the audience. He had a life, college... As Dean argued that they keep him out of the hunting life to protect him I could almost see a future where the boys drove away leaving Adam safely behind. Maybe, I thought, Sam's little speech would work on Adam the same way that John's had worked on Sam. Maybe he'd rebel and decide to keep his normal life. I started to get attached.
Bad move. Don't I ever learn? Sera Gamble had a quote about things like this, right? Something about how we only get to meet background characers if we kill them? Yeah. Sigh.
I had certainly considered that the brother would be killed in this episode. The monster of the week could kill him. Sam and Dean would be guilt-ridden because they couldn't save him. Even before I met the character, I didn't like this scenario. Too much angst for the boys...as if they don't have enough already. I couldn't imagine a decent narrative reason for doing that to them. The story line that Kripke and Co. came up with was so much better.
And worse.
The fact that Adam was already dead before they even got to meet him is, strangely, one of the most profoundly sad and disturbing things that I have ever seen on this show. And I mean that in the best possible way...I was totally emotionally invested. I am so depressed right now...all for the sake of a one episode character. Pretty amazing, really. Sure, some of the things that the ghoul told Sam and Dean were true, but they didn't really get to know their brother through him. Such a lost opportunity.
All of my recent dreams for a little brother spin-off after SPN's fifth year finale have been dashed. Alas.
We had some great character development and some great details thrown in tonight, though. Sam and Dean realized what fandom has been saying for the past, oh, three years - that Sam = John. Sam even embraced it...he came to understand why John was how he was. It was nice to see that. Not that it was a comforting idea for he boys...it doesn't fix anything, but I'm a John fan and I like seeing it acknowledged that he did the best he could. He wasn't father of the year, but he loved his kids and he tried to do what was best for them.
I liked that Dean was so convinced that Adam was lying and that it was a trap. He was determined not to be suckered again like he was in "Long Distance Call." Yay continuity!
I liked that Sam took such enjoyment in telling Adam that hunting meant giving up on a real life. It made sense for him to be resentful.
I loved that Sam suggested that they ask Castiel to bring him back. I was asking my tv the same thing. All the same, I understood why they wouldn't and shouldn't.
I don't even usually write responses to Supernaural, but I had to get all this off my chest. Part of the mourning process, I guess.