First Impressions: 5.16 Dark Side Of The Moon

[raloria]

A little late, but I found myself procrastinating about reviewing this eppy. Don't know why, really.

With each of these reviews I'll include 2 cropped caps from the episode. One of Dean and one of Sam. I decided to do something different and make them b&w.

Consider these fanart. If you take either of them, please give credit. :)










Since I've got my comm spn_westcoast to monitor and discuss the episodes as they air with other viewers, I don't get to take notes during the initial showing anymore. These notes were made during my 2nd viewing of the eppy.

Note: "==============" signifies a commercial break.


Recap: New voice-over line from Bobby about how many times the boys have died (heh), boys dying various ways, Cas is going to find God, Cas takes Dean’s amulet, Sam gives Dean the amulet.

Lots of bottles and beer cans....
I’ll admit I already watched the clip of this a week before it aired, so I knew all about how the boys died this time. It’s still a shocker to watch.
I question how the boys even let 2 hunters get the drop on them, but let’s move on...
Walt and Roy...coincidence that those are the famous Disney brothers names....and ABC, a Disney company has SPN’s biggest competitor? Hmmm....
They’re there for Sam and certainly don’t hesitate in filling him full of buckshot. Ouch!
Yeah, you really don’t want to leave a pissed off Dean Winchester behind to hunt you down....but then he has plans to come back and hunt you anyway, so how is this a good idea guys?
I love Dean’s defiance. He’s not afraid to die, he just wants to get it over with. The tension of the scene is awesome, btw.

OMG one of my favorite past SPN songs! *squees*
It’s so fitting for this scene, too. :)
Dean “wakes up” in the Impala...he gets out, finds young Sammy with an armload of fireworks and assumes this is all a weird dream.
They start firing them off in an empty field and Dean remembers it as an event from the past.
Love the hug that young Sammy gives him....awww! That little lopsided smile from Dean saying how much he’s missed that kind of love from Sam, of being his big brother.
Sam sets off the rest of the fireworks and the music kicks in again and we’re treated with a rare happy, peaceful moment between the brothers. Dean’s smile is wide and genuine. It’s great to see him so happy. What used to be.....*sigh*
Then young Sammy and everything disappears and Dean’s alone again in dark.

We see him back at the Impala where he hears Cas’s voice coming from the radio...heh, it’s Caspala! *g*
Cas tells him this isn’t a dream and Dean remembers what happened.
Dean: “I’m dead.”
Castiel: “Condolences.”
Dean: “Where am I?”
Castiel: “Heaven.”
Dean: “Heaven? How’d I get to heaven?”
Aw, Dean....he still thinks he’s unworthy.
Right away he’s worried about Sam. Cas wants to know what he sees in front of him. It’s a road, so Cas tells Dean to follow it, that it’ll lead him to Sam.

Cool star/sky effects...kinda reminds me of Quantum Leap’s vision of the future. The music is slightly futuristic and similar as well.

Dean shows up at a big house in the middle of nowhere.
Inside, Sam’s having a Thanksgiving dinner with a young girl and her family.
She’s got her eye and hand...heh...on Sam. :P
The brothers catch up....Sam’s surprised he’s in heaven because he’s “done a few things”. It’s nice that Dean answers right away that Sam thought he was doing the right thing. That’s a big step for him. They realize they’re reliving favorite memories and Dean questions this Thanksgiving as a great memory for Sam. Sam counters that it was his first real Thanksgiving instead of the bucket of chicken and dad passed out on the couch that they usually had.
Next thing they know the house is shaking and things go dark....uh oh.
It passes and Dean decides it’s time to try and reach out and contact Cas again, via a radio. Instead he shows up on the TV...cool.
Dean: “Cas. Hey, so I found Sam, but something just happened. There was this weird beam of light.”
Castiel: “Don’t go into the light.”
Dean: “Okay. Thanks Carol Anne.” LOL
Cas says it’s Zachariah, trying to return them to life because they can’t say yes to Lucifer and Michael if they’re dead.
Sam says great and is all ready to go home, but Cas has a job for them. They’re behind the veil and this is a chance to go and find an angel named Joshua. Turns out he talks to God.
Castiel: “Please. I just need you to follow the road.”
Sam: “What road?”
Castiel: “It’s called the Axis-Mundi. It’s a path that runs through Heaven. Different people see it as different things. For you, it’s two-lane asphalt. The road will lead you to the garden. You will find Joshua there. And Joshua, can take us to God. The Garden. Please, hurry.”
Dean’s all set to go on this quest but Sam questions him, surprised that Dean even believes in God. Dean says this is their last hope.
They walk outside and there’s no road, only woods.
Back inside and Dean’s looking around everywhere, including a closet where he finds an old toy racetrack that he remembers from his childhood.

He puts the car on the track, runs it around and the boys are in a different house....and dressed differently. In fact, as Sam adorably points out, Dean is wearing a t-shirt that says " I Wuvs Hugs” LOL! Boys!
Dean recognizes where they are...they’re home.
Mary then appears in the doorway, asking Dean if he’s hungry.
Awww....boys.

====================

Mary is fixing a PB&J sandwich for Dean and can’t hear Sam. Aww...Dean guesses that this isn’t Sam’s memory, which makes sense, since Sam was a baby in this time period.
Sam’s ready to get back to looking for the road, but Dean wants a little time with Mom. Awww...So sweet when she ruffles his air and the little smile he makes.
The phone rings and from the sounds of it, it’s John. Dean recalls this moment, that their parents were fighting at the time and John moved out for a couple of days. Sam’s surprised, assuming they always had a perfect marriage, but Dean points out it wasn’t perfect until Mary died.
She hangs up and Dean goes over and hugs her, saying that John still loves her and that he loves her and will never leave her. Awww....*dies from the sweetness* Love these scenes!
She calls him her “little angel” (how fitting!) and Dean walks back over to Sam who’s just realized how long Dean’s been “cleaning up Dad’s messes”.
They get back to searching around the house and Sam finds an old postcard for Route 66 which then morphs into....

A motel room, complete with a golden retriever Sam knows as his dog, Bones.
Dean finally puts together that this is Flagstaff. Turns out Sam was on his own for 2 weeks. It’s a happy memory for him, but certainly not for Dean.
Dean: “You ran away on my watch. I looked everywhere for you. I thought you were dead and when Dad came home...”
Sam: “Dean, look, I’m sorry. I never thought about it like that.”
But Dean’s done and walks out the door.
Sam says a quick goodbye to Bones and follows him.

They walk out to a dark night, an empty road, and a run-down house.
Sam takes one look at the house and appears to recognize it right away, but he doesn’t acknowledge this to Dean when he questions him.
Then Dean remembers...it’s the night Sam ditched him and Dad for Stanford.
Dean: “This is your idea of Heaven? Wow. This is like one of the worst nights of my life.”
Sam: “I can’t control this stuff.”
Dean: “Seriously? I mean, this is a happy memory for you?”
Sam: “I dunno...I mean, I was on my own. I finally got away from Dad.”
Dean: “Yeah, he wasn’t the only one you got away from.”
Sam: “Dean. I’m sorry. I just...”
Dean: “Nah. I know, you didn’t think of it like that.”
Sam: “Dean...”
Dean: “C’mon! Your heaven is somebody else’s Thanksgiving. Okay? It’s bailing on your family. What do you want me to say?”
Sam: “Look, man...I never got the crusts cut off my PB&J. I...I just don’t look at family the way you do.”
Dean: “Yeah, but I’m your family.”
Sam: “I know-”
Dean: “I mean we’re supposed to be a team. It’s supposed to be you and me against the world, right?
Sam: “Dean...it is.”
Dean: “Is it?”
Suddenly a spotlight descends on the boys and they run off into the woods, hiding behind a log.
It’s Zach alright. He’s impressed by them running from an angel in Heaven.
He turns on the daylight and continues with his litany of taunts.
Zachariah: “You’re on my turf now, boys! And by the time I’m through with you, you’re going to be begging to say yes!”
The boys take off again....and then Zach’s in front of them.
They turn around, and run into....a Mexican wrestler????
He motions for them to follow, scrawls some figures on the door of an old shed and they all head inside....

Where the masked avenger removes his costume to reveal...
“Buenos dias, bitches! Welcome to my blue heaven!”
It’s Ash and in the Roadhouse!!!!!!! :D

=======================

While the boys marvel at the Roadhouse’s perfect re-creation, Ash gives them some beer and points out up here there’s no hangovers.
Ash lays out the workings of Heaven for them....there’s not just one Heaven. Everyone has their own personal Heaven.
Ash: “See, you gotta stop thinking of Heaven as one place. It’s more like a buttload of places all crammed together. Like Disneyland, except without the Anti-Semitism.”
Sam: “Disneyland?”
Ash: “Hmm-mm. See you got, Winchesterland. Ashland. A whole mess of everybodyelselands. Put’em all together...Heaven. Right? At the center of it all, is the Magic Kingdom...the Garden.”
Dean: “So everybody gets a little slice of paradise?”
Ash: “Pretty much. A few people share. Special cases, whatnot.”
Dean: “What do you mean special?”
Ash: “Aw, you know...like...soulmates.”
Awww....yeah, the boys may not be soulmates in the normal sense of the word, but they do have a mighty close bond....even when it appears to be broken. ;)
Ash goes on to point out that because of his skills, he’s able to visit other people’s heavens....like Johnny Cash and Andre The Giant. Heh.
Ash is soooo cool! :D
So how did he find the boys? He’s got his own angel scanner...listening in on the angels speaking Enochian.
Ash: “I heard that you were up. ‘Course I had to come find you....again.”
Dean: “Again?”
Ash: “This ain’t the first time you’ve been here. I mean, you boys die more than anyone I have ever met.”
Dean: “Really?”
Ash: “Aw, yeah. You don’t remember. God! Angels. Must’ve Windexed your brains.”
Sam asks if he’s found Ellen & Jo and poor Ash didn’t even know they were dead. :(
At least they went down fighting...
He has been looking for John and Mary though, but hasn’t found them yet.
He does have someone that wants to see the boys though...
Pamela!!!!!! :D

Sam hangs out with Ash while he scans the angels discussions and Dean talks with Pamela.
She slaps him on the head for getting her killed and he admits it’s probably less than he deserves.
Dean: “If it makes you feel any better, we got Ash killed, too.”
Ash: “I’m cool with it!”
Dean: “He’s cool with it.” Hee! Love Ash! Never change, man.
Dean’s worried that there’s some resentment, but Pamela’s good, she’s happy in her Meadowlands paradise.
But Dean points out it’s not real, it’s like Memorex and real is down on Earth. The angels are running the show and being in your own private heaven must be a lonely way to spend eternity. Pam points out it’s better than the basement and while it’s not real, it’s close enough.
She also knows that Dean is set to be Michael’s meatsuit. She’s not against it...maybe it can be a good thing. If people die, they get to come to Heaven.
Ash finds a shortcut to the Garden and the boys are set to go...

Ash warns that Zach will be watching all avenues to the Garden.
Pamela says goodbye to the boys....she hugs Sam.
Dean gets special treatment....a kiss!!!! *guh*
Lucky Pamela!!!! \0/
Damn! That was sweet!
Ash is pretty sure he’ll see them again. Heh.
They go through the door and...

They’re back home. Uh oh.
Mom is there again, but the boys don’t have time and things get ugly real fast as Mary is not so nice this time.
She wants to tell Dean how it was the night she burned. Her stomach bleeds and she starts in on Dean....how she never loved him, he was a burden to her.
Her eyes flash yellow. Eeek!

=======================

The room turns green and the windows are bricked up. There’s no escape.
Mary keeps on, about how she died....her flesh bubbling, her skin burning....
Dean just wants to get away....but he can’t.
She points out how everyone leaves him....mom, dad, even Sam.
The problem isn’t them....it’s him. Ouch!
Zach! Of course. Sam is pissed, but soon the boys are held back by some angels and Zach starts nibbling on Mary’s neck. Eeeeewwww! So wrong!
The boys can’t even bare to watch.
He snaps her away and starts punching Dean. Owie! Love Sam’s reactions...like he feels those hits himself. *loves the boys*
He goes on about how he was employee of the month forever, had respect and everyone would avert their eyes when he walked past. Then he was assigned them and he can’t deal with the trouble they’re giving him. “Everybody’s laughing at me! And they’re right to do it.”
He doesn’t care if they say yes or not.
“It’s personal now, boys. And the last person in the history of creation you want as your enemy is me. And I’ll tell you why? Lucifer maybe strong, but I’m...petty. I’m gonna be the angel on your shoulder for the rest of eternity.”
They’re then interrupted by a gentle, older man who says he needs to speak to the boys. Zach, tries to blow him off, but Joshua says that it’s God’s orders and he’s pretty set on “that whole wrath thing”. Heh. Zach and his goons disappear.

The boys are soon in the Garden....cool!
Joshua says people see what they want to see here. For the boys it’s the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. Heh.
Mostly God talks to Joshua....not the other way around.
God’s on Earth, but Joshua doesn’t know where or what he’s doing.
Joshua thinks God can sympathize with him, gardener to gardener and that He’s lonely.
Sam asks to give a message to God, but Joshua says God has one for them...”Back off”.
He already knows what they have to tell him, what the angels are doing, about the Apocalypse, “He just doesn’t think it’s his problem”.
We get confirmation that God put the boys on the plane and saved them from Lucifer and that he brought back Castiel. He also grated them salvation in Heaven, despite what Sam’s done.
Joshua: “He’s finished. Magic amulet or not, you won’t be able to find him.”
Dean: “He could stop it. He could stop all of it.”
Joshua: “I suppose he could, but he won’t.”
Why does He allow evil in the first place? Joshua says you could go nuts asking those questions.
Joshua: “I know how important this was to you, Dean. I’m sorry.”
Dean: “Well, forget it. Just another dead-beat dad with a bunch of excuses, right? Well, I’m used to that. I’ll muddle through.”
Joshua: “Except, you don’t know if you can this time. You can’t kill the Devil and you’re losing faith...in yourself, your brother...and now this. God was your last hope. I just...I wish I could tell you something different.”
Sam questions his honesty, but Joshua says he’s rooting for them.
It’s time for the boys to go home....but this time God wants them to remember and with a flash of light....

=======================

The boys gasp back to life in the motel room, still bloody. Ewww.
Sam asks Dean if he’s alright.
Dean: “Define alright.”

Dean calls Cas and he’s there as the boys pack up.
Poor Cas. He looks totally defeated now. :(
That’s one pissed off angel....”You son of a bitch. I believed in...”
He turns around to the boys and tosses the amulet back to Dean, saying he doesn’t need it anymore and that "It's worthless”. Ouch! Again! Sheesh Cas.
Sam tries to stop him, but Cas disappears.
Dean is very quiet...and looking down at the amulet.
Sam: “We’ll find another way. We can still stop all this, Dean.”
Dean: “How?”
Sam: “I dunno, but we’ll find it. You and me...we’ll find it.”
Awww...Sam’s so determined and desperate to get through to Dean.
But Dean picks up his bag and silently heads for the door. He stops right in front of it and holds the amulet above the waste basket.....you can hear Sam hold his breath....then Dean drops it in. OMG Noooooo!!!!! :(
He walks out the door, leaving a stunned and heartbroken Sam.


I've actually got a lot of theories and ideas about elements of this eppy, but I think I'll save that for a separate post. ;)

Loved, loved, LOVED this eppy! Sure there were a few questionable parts, such as the hunters sneaking up on the boys after their drinking binge. Some have also brought up that Roy & Walt left the bodies there and should have salted & burned them. For one, I'm thinking in reality Sam & Dean were only dead a few minutes. Time is different in Hell, so it's safe to assume the same would work in Heaven. Second, they probably wanted to get out of there in case people at the motel came to investigate about the noise (which is another plot hole, but let's ignore that one, shall we?).

Brilliant performances all around and it was so great to see Ash and Pamela again! Proof that you never really die on SPN, they just need to figure out a way to bring you back. :P I loved how much the boys learned about each other through their memories in Heaven. It wasn't easy, for either of them, but I think they gained a lot through it, especially Sam. By the end of the episode, Dean is truly defeated and for once Sam gets it. He's seen it throughout their journey in Heaven and I think he's really put all the pieces together. It's time for him to give Dean reason to hope again. I love how the show keeps reversing the rolls of the brothers.

Lots of emotions running through this episode, but none so painful as that final scene with Dean dropping the amulet in the trash! Ouch! I'm glad so many of us think that Sam dug it out of there and will hopefully return it to Dean at a later date. I have to believe that. It's too painful not to. That necklace is not just a piece of jewelry, it's a symbol of the bond between the brothers and the fact that Dean so easily threw it away is telling. He really has lost all hope. So I hope Sam can turn him back around and do some patching of their relationship before it's too late.

I would count this episode as one of SPN's best ever. It packed a lot of information, answered some questions (hello? Lost?), and gave us a lot of insight into the brothers. Meanwhile, the show keeps tearing out our hearts. Makes me wonder how we'll ever survive the episodes to come!