Can't believe I'm new episode-less for ANOTHER Saturday. So I'm now doing a selective rewatch of certain episodes.
One of which is 5.21 Two Minutes to Midnight. I picked it because I just really have a great fondness for Death's epic entrance. I don't know how many times the character of Death has been immortalised on film or television footage and I can't say I can recall any portrayals of Death in all my TV and Film viewing history (I do love him in the novel Good Omens) but I wouldn't hesitate to venture that this scene here in this episode is the best introduction of the character of Death EVER!
One thing I've noticed about this episode that just makes me laugh is my youngest dog Savvy's reaction to Death. The music started playing - the O'Death song? And she's looking intently at our big wall screen and then as soon as the car comes along she's standing up, still staring, hops off the couch still keeping her eyes on the screen and then as soon as Death emerges from the car she's OUTTA there! Savvy has decided Death is not to be trusted at all. And I thought maybe it was the car or the music (that low hum right?) but turns out whenever Julian Richings is on the screen she skedaddles! I love it. If I happen to speak to Julian one day I'll let him know that his performances in the show not only impact on humans but also canines.
I have to upload some pics to illustrate my fondness and to distract me from Swan Song - why am I rewatching this???? This whole episode just makes me ache no end. Anyway screencaps from homeofthenutty.com
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Also one more observation. Fandom always speaks of Dean's crippling lack of self worth. What about Sam's crippling lack of self worth? I would go so far as to say that Sam at times (most of the time) feels just as unworthy as Dean when it comes to the value of his own life.
Dean, more than once has wanted to turn his back on it and just give in to the inevitability of it all. He wanted to say yes to Michael, he wanted to quit hunting the Leviathans, he has seemed on a few occasions overwhelmed with the futility of it all, perfectly understandable really. Sam is usually the one to bring him back. Which is how it should be.
But Sam to me seems to be more of a locked box/vault when it comes to his own self doubts, less transparent than Dean's self doubt which is plain to see and like an open book (Remember Famine? Dean being empty inside) and leaves him vulnerable in a way. Sam I think buries it most of the time, covers it with his relentless dedication to get the job done. He reveals it to Dean from time to time but other than that he definitely pushes that one down. He is much more matter of fact about it though than Dean. I get the feeling that Dean's Self Doubting armour could have chinks in it that can be worked on by friends and family but Sam's? Impenetrable. No chinks in that whatsoever. And I think this has allowed him to do the things he's done - when he killed demons with his mind etc. Perhaps in a way Sam has a functional lack of self worth going on. Dean's self doubt is crippling (and heroic at the same time) but Sam's self doubt has enabled him in his life, allowed him to accomplish the seemingly impossible. Once again it just seems to affirm how much these two complement each other. Here endeth my musings on a Friday night while I distract myself from the Stull cemetery scene.
One of which is 5.21 Two Minutes to Midnight. I picked it because I just really have a great fondness for Death's epic entrance. I don't know how many times the character of Death has been immortalised on film or television footage and I can't say I can recall any portrayals of Death in all my TV and Film viewing history (I do love him in the novel Good Omens) but I wouldn't hesitate to venture that this scene here in this episode is the best introduction of the character of Death EVER!
One thing I've noticed about this episode that just makes me laugh is my youngest dog Savvy's reaction to Death. The music started playing - the O'Death song? And she's looking intently at our big wall screen and then as soon as the car comes along she's standing up, still staring, hops off the couch still keeping her eyes on the screen and then as soon as Death emerges from the car she's OUTTA there! Savvy has decided Death is not to be trusted at all. And I thought maybe it was the car or the music (that low hum right?) but turns out whenever Julian Richings is on the screen she skedaddles! I love it. If I happen to speak to Julian one day I'll let him know that his performances in the show not only impact on humans but also canines.
I have to upload some pics to illustrate my fondness and to distract me from Swan Song - why am I rewatching this???? This whole episode just makes me ache no end. Anyway screencaps from homeofthenutty.com
Also one more observation. Fandom always speaks of Dean's crippling lack of self worth. What about Sam's crippling lack of self worth? I would go so far as to say that Sam at times (most of the time) feels just as unworthy as Dean when it comes to the value of his own life.
Dean, more than once has wanted to turn his back on it and just give in to the inevitability of it all. He wanted to say yes to Michael, he wanted to quit hunting the Leviathans, he has seemed on a few occasions overwhelmed with the futility of it all, perfectly understandable really. Sam is usually the one to bring him back. Which is how it should be.
But Sam to me seems to be more of a locked box/vault when it comes to his own self doubts, less transparent than Dean's self doubt which is plain to see and like an open book (Remember Famine? Dean being empty inside) and leaves him vulnerable in a way. Sam I think buries it most of the time, covers it with his relentless dedication to get the job done. He reveals it to Dean from time to time but other than that he definitely pushes that one down. He is much more matter of fact about it though than Dean. I get the feeling that Dean's Self Doubting armour could have chinks in it that can be worked on by friends and family but Sam's? Impenetrable. No chinks in that whatsoever. And I think this has allowed him to do the things he's done - when he killed demons with his mind etc. Perhaps in a way Sam has a functional lack of self worth going on. Dean's self doubt is crippling (and heroic at the same time) but Sam's self doubt has enabled him in his life, allowed him to accomplish the seemingly impossible. Once again it just seems to affirm how much these two complement each other. Here endeth my musings on a Friday night while I distract myself from the Stull cemetery scene.