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Supernatural - Soul Survivor - Review - "I Am My Brother's Keeper"

Oct 23, 2014

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Supernatural “Soul Survivor,” was written by Brad Buckner and Eugenie Ross-Leming and directed by Jensen Ackles (Dean). Ackles has become a good solid director and this is the fourth episode he’s directed. His style is very spare – no flashy shots, and feels like a much more experience director. Most importantly, he delivers great performances from the entire cast.

        Ackles has remarked recently that it gets harder rather than easier to direct as he learns more about what he doesn’t know. He also remarked that he spent more time on composition in this episode, and it shows. There’s a beautiful shot of Sam (Jared Padalecki) on the phone to Cas (Misha Collins) and you see Dean tied to the chair down a long corridor created by the open doors to the dungeon. Meanwhile, Cas is out in an open field, and you see a billboard with a star on it in the background. Both beautiful touches – dark versus light, emphasizing how trapped the Winchesters are with their past and each other.

Buckner and Ross-Leming have delivered some good episodes, but have also been known to completely ignore canon in the past, but this was a pretty solid episode. A quick shout out to Jerry Wanek and his production design team. The Bunker continues to be a beautiful set, but in this episode we have Cas and Hannah (Erica Carroll) stopping at a gas station called Lil’ Levi’s. The sign is beautifully done in the classic 50s style, but it is also a shout out to Ackles’ nephew Levi. The fandom has rallied around him, donating to the Dallas Buddy Walk every year – which you can do here, should you be inclined. This continues the tradition of Ackles including a family member in some way in each episode.

Of course, the centerpiece of this episode is Sam saving his brother. Likely for that reason alone, fans will make this a favorite episode. The episode cleverly weaves together a number of past elements and really brings a number of plot elements to fruition earlier than we might have hoped. In the past, I sometimes felt that Jeremy Carver might have rushed a plot element – after dragging it out – but “curing” Dean this quickly feels like the right move structurally for the show.

The episode examines the line between good and evil in a really interesting way. We know that Dean has really struggled with that line in the past. We see what Sam did – that we were teased with in the first episode of the season. As I surmised then, torturing a demon was nothing new for the Winchesters. However, not only telling someone about the ability to sell your soul to a demon but actually showing them how to do it? That is definitely crossing the line. As Dean says to Sam, “that line that we thought was so clear between us and the things that we hunt’s not so clear now, is it?” By making the stakes Dean’s soul, the show draws the viewer further into this dilemma. In the end, Dean kills Lester (David Nykl) but saves his soul – the soul that Sam had condemned to Hell – and saves the life of his wife. Dean has crossed a Winchester line by killing a human, but was it for the greater good?

Meanwhile, Cas and Hannah are also struggling with crossing a line. Cas is steadfastly refusing to kill another angel to take their grace so that he can live. Hannah is clearly falling in love with Cas – and emotion which it doesn’t appear he shares. He is focused only on the mission of saving Dean and catching the rogue angels. Crowley (Mark Sheppard), however, has other plans – and no problem crossing lines. He shows up and kills Adina (Jud Tylor) and gives her grace to Cas – who tries to stop him. Hannah simply watches as he takes Adina’s grace – she is willing to cross this line – even with the help of the King of Hell – if it means saving Cas. Crowley tells Cas that he’s saved him purely for business. He wants Cas to help Sam cure Dean. He tells Cas that he’s not sentimental, so if that means, killing Dean, so be it. Having Dean as a demon has caused Crowley nothing but problems.

Being besties with Dean has had ramifications for Crowley. I loved the scenes in Crowley’s throne room. Sheppard definitely brought his A-game for Ackles. Each of the subordinates are really great too. We see the one demon urge Crowley to finish Cas off – yet here Crowley is at the end saving Cas. Is Crowley also sentimental about the angel? I loved the one demon pitching himself as Crowley’s new wingman and Crowley dusting him. Of course, the demon who immolates himself is just bad for business, morale, and general subservience amongst Crowley’s ranks. Yet, we have Crowley clearly thinking nostalgically about his time with demon-Dean. And if he truly wasn’t sentimental and wanted to send a message, why not at least simply try to kill Dean? Why save Cas to save Dean?

The one drawback to wrapping up a number of story threads is it leaves me a little unclear of where we go from here. Cas tells Dean that things between Heaven and Hell seem reasonably back in order and that he can take a break. Crowley seems busy with the day to day running of Hell – which is boring to us as well as him! Not the scenes we see in this episode of course, but surely not what Crowley’s storyline will be this season, especially given that Sheppard is now a regular. Of course, the episode ends with the appearance of Rowena (Ruth Connell) – a new demon in town – or at least in Tulsa. When I first saw her red hair, I immediately thought that we somehow had Abaddon (Alaina Huffman) back. So, we would seem to have a new big bad for the season, who will no doubt cause trouble for both Heaven and Hell. One thing I would really like to see this season is a better integration of the plot, rather than the Winchester plot and the Cas/Crowley plot. Let’s get them all working on the same page.

There are two things that don’t really get resolved in this episode. What is the effect of the Mark of Cain going to have going forward and how much of demon-Dean was really Dean? Dean clearly resisted becoming human again, unlike Crowley who reveled in the return of his emotions. Cas says to Sam, “Only humans can feel real joy but also such profound pain.” This is something we’ve seen Dean struggle with since season four. Sam tells Cas that after he feeds Dean, he’s going to get drunk – the standard Winchester way of tamping those emotions down.

        When Dean re-emerges, his first words are concern for his friends – “You look worried fellas” – and while Sam welcomes back his brother and smiles and Cas also smiles, Dean does not look particularly happy. This is perhaps my favorite scene of Padalecki’s in the whole episode – the love for his brother is just so clear on his face. Ackles is also amazing in this scene as you clearly see that Dean is really back just from his expression as he looks up and looks discomfited - is it shame that crosses his face? Dean’s first concern when talking with Cas in the aftermath is that Sam wants a divorce. Once again, he’s caught up in the co-dependent relationship, and his first concern appears to be Sam’s acceptance. And I have to ask what he was looking at when his brother welcomed him back…

We see that Hannah is starting to be influenced by emotions the longer she is in her human vessel. She pushes for Cas to steal someone’s grace and insists that his preference to die for his principles is meaningless. Cas’ reply is that “sometimes enough is whatever you have.” Is this his way of telling her that he doesn’t feel the same way or getting her to accept that he only has enough energy to solve the two problems in front of him. I’m waiting to see how Cas will handle Hannah’s attachment to him. He is clearly pushing her away, trying to get her to focus on their mission while he thinks he’s dying. That hasn’t really changed as this stolen grace will also falter, but surely he will understand her attachment due to his own for the Winchesters. He certainly gives Hannah reason to hope by telling Adina to kill him but let Hannah go.

The brothers bond is sorely tested in this episode, but it’s the airing of grievances that has been needed for a long time, and using demon-Dean to do it, was perfect. However, was demon-Dean saying what was in the darkest part of Dean’s heart or was he saying the things that would wound Sammy the most? He definitely was trying to get Sam angry – and it worked. Demon-Dean tells Sam that he tried to get as far away from him as possible, but was that for himself or to protect Sam and give Sam what he said he wanted for most of last season? Even demon-Dean seems to think that Sam doesn’t really want to be with his brother. Demon-Dean tells Sam that his very existence sucked the life out of his life, but haven’t we seen in the past that Sam is what gave Dean purpose? And as we should all know by now, demons lie.

There’s a nice moment when Sam visits Dean’s room and looks through his family pictures, reminding himself of who his brother really is. Was anyone else troubled by the mold-free piece of uneaten pie that must have been sitting there for some time? Nice touch, but a continuity problem… Regardless, this scene is nicely paralleled by demon-Dean kicking open the door and it giving him pause – this after all was the home with his brother that he had claimed. The final scene in the bunker is Dean looking at the same photos – and then hiding them before letting Cas come in. Dean is already hiding his feelings again.

During the cat and mouse game that Dean and Sam play, there’s a beautiful shout out to The Shining and Jack Nicholson breaking down the door with an axe. Sam begs Dean to let him finish the treatments. It’s because Dean is so close to being back to human that he was able to get out of the demon-handcuffs and walk out of the devil’s trap. Dean tells Sam that he doesn’t want to be cured, he likes the disease. When Sam finally gets Ruby’s knife to Dean’s throat, he taunts Sam to do it. Sam has said repeatedly that they should let each other go. Dean has seen what Sam is capable of – though he still resists accepting that Sam is doing these things only for Dean and wouldn’t for anyone else – so for me, it’s clear that Dean both wanted and expected that Sam would kill him – for Dean, a fate better than having to live with his feelings.

All in all, this was a powerful episode that aired a lot of the feelings that have been brewing for so long. Now we just have to hope that we get one more scene in which the brothers really acknowledge it and don’t hide behind it was the demon talking. Certainly, when Sam tells Cas that he just wants to get drunk, that isn’t a promising sign, and when Cas tells Dean to take some time for himself, Dean’s face clearly shows that the last thing he really wants to do is spend time alone in his head, thinking – and feeling.

What did you think of the episode? Will you miss demon-Dean? Did you find this a satisfying conclusion to the arc? What are your theories on the rest of the season? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

About the Author - Lisa Macklem
I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Forever, Defiance, Bitten, Glee, and a few others! Highlights of this past year include covering San Diego Comic Con as press and a set visit to Bitten. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.

28 comments:

  1. Even after 10 years this show still manages to bring tears to my eyes...

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  2. love the show been following it since the start
    did not know Sammy was director good info and was the red head a red eye demon ?
    and oh yeh Sammy don't let your brother out of containment `BAD IDEA`

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  3. I really enjoyed the episode and the demon arc in general. Carver has stated that there will be NO "big bad" or "end of the world" plot this season but that we will of course see regular baddies sprinkled throughout. Also was strongly hinted that Crowley would be replacing Dean with another "partner in crime" and I believe that red head chick will be it.

    Carver wanted to make it clear that this season is about repairing the Sam/Dean relationship as well as personal journeys for all of the characters. To me it sounds like season 10 will be different then previous seasons in terms of what to expect. I'm both excited and nervous but so far I'm enjoying the road trip!

    Don't care for the Castiel/Hannah story at all. Castiel is a lot more interesting when sharing banter with the brothers and working together. Along with his friendship with Dean which has been almost non-existent in recent seasons.

    I really hope they do something interesting with Crowley. To early to say! I'm excited for season 10 and can't wait for the 200th which is coming up really soon. :)

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  4. It was Dean directing - that's Jensen Ackles. Sam is played by Jared Padalecki.

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  5. oh my bad good show thought and dean still needs to stay in the room at least for awhile

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  6. Very nice review, Lisa.
    I really enjoyed this episode, aside from the Crowley and Cas/Hannah scenes. I thought they slowed the momentum down of Sam and Dean, which is what I wanted to see most of all. Still, as you rightly pointed out in your review, they are revealing of the characters, where they are, what their mindsets are, what their struggles are. They do serve a purpose.
    I think what overjoys me about the first three episodes so far this season is the absolute conviction of Sam to find and save his brother. After those terrible things last season said about not being brothers anymore, I think it is quite purposeful that in every episode so far Sam has said the word brother and has been absolute in his focus on Dean to everyone and with everyone. Yes, that moment Sam sees Dean and not Demon Dean again is fabulous. Good for Jared to give it such open warmth and joy, and good for Jensen to let the camera hold Jared's face in that moment and nothing else.
    While the next episode looks to be a straight-up hunt, there are some teases out there from the writer on his twitter account as well as some other hints from interviews that there will be some bro moments sprinkled throughout. I don't need half an episode of hugging and beer bottle clinking, but a few shared moments would be great.

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  7. I don't have the words to express my complete and utter disappointment with this episode. I feel that all of the potential for S10 was flushed down the stool. I also think that the whole DDean story wasn't a Dean story at all; rather it was a way for Carver to redo Sam not looking for Dean in S8 and to provide TPTB with some summertime hype so the viewers would tune in for S10. I am ashamed of myself that for the last six years, I kept hoping that I wasn't just being baited and it turned out that I was, but this year I really fell for "The Year of the Deanmon." How stupid I am.

    So, Carver assures us that even though DDean is gone, the MoC will remain. Well, let's see. A big old bear hug could subdue the mighty Dean Winchester, bearer of the MoC, the giver of special powers. Cas bear hugs Dean and gets him back in the chair to be cured. Does that mean the MoC no longer grants special powers to its bearer? Does that mean the MoC is worthless unless worn by a demon, which Dean was not before he died and was resurrected, but his strength and reflexes were being enhanced?
    The MoC was ignored, only barely mentioned in last night's episode, so I'm going with MoC = no significant story (or read that as another season of a story about the same danged ‘feelings’). Hello, status quo. You were not missed.

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  8. All I can say...when Sammy thought his brother was dying as a demon he wanted to stop. To keep him alive (ugly cry) kill me now. I love them, I love Dean tried to kill him w/a hammer and Sam totally understood it wasn't him. I love it all. Cas...you look terrible.. Cas please please please don't leave yet...keep monitoring the situation

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  9. Ah - that makes sense then about Rowena. Carver also promised a more mature relationship between the brothers last season, so hopefully he delivers this season. I'm sure we'll get something good with Crowley - of course, it's pretty fitting that Hell is boring for him too as that's the Hell he's created for others with his endless lines....

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  10. Thanks. I think that this season so far has indicated that the writers are doing their best to give the fans what they want. Jared and Jensen also teased lots of great bro moments to come at the convention in Toronto. Jensen is a very generous actor by all accounts, so it doesn't surprise me that he would also be a generous director. Of course, it's unlikely that he did the final editing as he is usually busy shooting the next episode when other directors would be in LA editing - there is an editor listed at the end of the episode....

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  11. While I'm afraid that I share your scepticism, I think I can help make that final scene more bearable. Dean was weakened by the blood treatment - maybe that affect the MoC too? And Cas had just recently been re-juiced. We don't often get to see his eyes burn with the blue-angel-fire, so I think that was a good indication that he was close to full power. But, yeah, given the amount of strength he had to resist Abaddon and kill her last season, that does seem a bit questionable... Maybe, however, it's actually possessing the first blade that gives him the super powers? I do fervently hope, however, that they don't just go back to mopey, depressed, drunk Dean....

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  12. Cas really needs to just sit down and have a very long talk with Dean.... right? I have a feeling Hannah is going to continue to not be a fan of the Winchesters - I wonder if Cas made her stay in the car or she refused to get out....

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  13. This ep was chilling and exciting, nothing was wrong with this ep, but the way they went with the storyline, opened a whole bucket of plotholes, or easy escapes!
    1. What's the problem of Cain? The poor thing could just ask MoL to purify him! I'm sure they'd be able to off him too if he wanted to!
    2. Again and again I think there was numerous much easier ways to put Abaddon out, why exactly did they go after the first blade?!
    3. DDean (a demon with the MoC, not any demon) was ridiculously weak at the face of holy water and demon handcuffs. He couldn't even fight Sam like a human in the previous ep!
    4. Seems we're going to have the angry Dean of S9 back, effects of the mark, but did they forget they added that little twist of Dean physically becoming damaged if he doesn't kill, in the finale?!


    I can go on with my disappointment at how easily and fast the whole dilemma was fixed. No additional strategy and plan, no clever planning,... it was a pretty anticlimactic ending for the 'year' of Deanmon!! I just hope there's a little more mystery about the whole thing and Dean's strange reaction to the cure.
    But I liked Sam showed he loves and cares for his brother. I really liked when he took one of the photos with him, it's like he's accepting his feelings about Dean. Also I'm glad Dean thanked Cas and said he was glad to have him back. I'm glad too ;)


    Good review Lisa, thanks. I wouldn't be worried about wrapping the storylines. Last season we had heaven and hell being a mess and the earth becoming the play ground of every high power, but instead of solving them, we had the merry MOTW eps. Fortunately we'll have them w/o the brotherly angst this year :))

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  14. You know I'm terrible about actually getting involved in the fandom these days (though your reviews are always fantastic to read) but I have to put in my two cents here since this episode has basically solidified that while I might watch the episodes at some point, my Tuesdays will be spent with Agents of Shield during this timeslot from here on out.

    Wow was I disappointed. Not only in the episode itself, but for the entire season.

    When the finale for season 9 happened I was genuinely excited for the first time in years. The things they could do with Demon Dean! I had really enjoyed RoboSam when he didn’t have a soul, and it made me appreciate how much I'd missed the real Sam when he returned. So I was excited to have something similar happen for Dean.

    That lasted less than 3 episodes. Year of the Deanmon, huh?

    What. A. Waste.

    I am utterly uninspired to watch any more of this season. Sure, the mark could kill him again and make him a demon again; and Cas's grace will dwindle over time again since it isn't his; but that doesn’t fix that they went, BOOP, Cas is fixed, and BOOP, Dean is fixed too! All in one episode with absolutely no sense of danger or suspense.

    Also, Sam and Dean have both torn into each other plenty before while under some strange influence; this was nothing new or exciting for me. Just goes back to how they shouldn't even be in a situation where those things need to be said (everything that happened with Gadreel, and Sam not wanting to be brothers anymore, not the Demon Dean part), because I would have liked for them to both have GROWN over the years. But since (in my opinion) they haven't, they seem to just rehash plot points over and over.

    Needless to say, Jensen's amazing acting just isn't enough. His directing was great, the acting all great, but the writing, at least for me, was not. Maybe it's a fakeout and they have something awesome planned, but such a waste of a great opportunity with Demon Dean is too much for me to want to watch more.

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  15. Carver also said that this season was going to be more "witchy." And Rowena is a witch, a lot of people are speculating that she is in fact Crowley's mother, since they sought out an actually Scottish actress for the role.

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  16. Everyone gives Buckner and Ross-Leming, but they actually aren't that bad of writers. People just can't get past "Route 666." And I'd say there track record with canon isn't bad, people like to cite them making rogue reapers, but that isn't a canon violation, it's building on the mythology.

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  17. They also are responsible for Man's Best Friends With Benefits, which had all sorts of issues for me (black woman wears a collar, calls her witch Master, sleeps with him even though she is a part time dog), and I'm No Angel (Reaper angel take over woman's body uses it to have sex without the woman's consent with a man she brings into her home, gives food and shelter and then asks for sex). They have written some serviceable episodes and some fairly good ones. I just don't think they are strong enough writers to handle a pivotal episode where Dean is turned human again. Just MHO.

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  18. "Man's Best Friend with Benefits" is frustrating because if you really look at the episode, Portia is a pretty strong female character, it's just that gets hampered by two dumb things. Though I don't see how the sex was an issue, she seemed o be the "domme" of that part of the relationship..


    "I'm No Angel" does bring up a question about consent, and what's the line in what can be done to person that willing let themselves be possessed (I'm taking the Reaper's word that the girl allowed herself to be possessed, there's no reason she would lie about that). It's like I don't the people possessed by angels didn't think their bodies would be used to go around and kill other people, be they human, angel or demon. So the question is, a persons lets an entity willing take over their body, does that mean it's no longer their body?

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  19. The Mark and the First Blade work in conjunction, though. The Mark on its own just amplifies bloodlust, so demon Dean that close to humanity may not have had the strength to break free from Cas.

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  20. I actually really like Route 666. Taxi Driver stomps on a lot more than Reapers - and MBFWB is just dreadful....

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  21. I know I was answering the question.

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  22. i also thought the redhead at the end was abaddon, i thought jensen did an amazing job on this episode both on and off-camera

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  23. Thanks! My concern is with pacing. I actually like the long arc storytelling. But Carver seems to pack a lot of information into a handful of episodes at the beginning and the end of the season rather than drawing it out over the whole season. Lots of great points here, btw!

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  24. I was NOT happy at all with turning Dean into a demon, and I have to say, this episode turned me around on it. Dean desperately wants to not feel - that was a nice throwback to Heaven and Hell in Season 4 - so I was glad to see that. I think that Carver's real weakness is in pacing over 22 episodes. We get story jammed into the first and last 3 episodes. However, as I've said elsewhere, if we are just going back to depressed-drunk-Dean, no thanks. And from your lips to ANYONE's ears - let the two brothers actually grow! FYI - I also review Agents of SHIELD.... ;)

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  25. Check out:http://www.supernaturalwiki.com/index.php?title=File:Familyaffair.png
    Ackles Niece Valerie and brother in law Gino were demons and the young man acting as Crowley's assistant was one of Mark Sheperd's sons, Max

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  26. Well, I totally get it if you didn't like the Demon Dean idea from the start, I just thought it was a great opportunity, and if they were going to do it anyway, why not do something special with it? But wow do I agree, if he just goes back to depressed alcoholic Dean, I will be especially disappointed. Come on growth! And ooo, I'll have to check out your Agents of Shield reviews. I am in love with it. :-)

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  27. My personal fanfiction is that Sam went into Dean's room and ate a piece of pie. He just forgot to clean up. I really loved this episode. I'll let the pie slide.

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