(S02E20) It's been a strange week of coincidences on television. Bones and CSI both did alien episodes while Heroes and Supernatural both featured what if stories. Having now watched all four of those, "What Is And What Should Never Be" was my favorite of the bunch. Credit the lions share of that accomplishment to the ever improving Jensen Ackles.
Supernatural is very much a team affair, and Jared Padalecki usually holds his own, but this was the Dean show. The episode got off to a great start with the opening. I wasn't sure what to expect when the boys started talking about the djinn. It's a character that has made a lot of appearances in a host of sci-fi and fantasy movies and tv over the years. This was one of the better representations. Given what this creature does, it had the perfect creepy look to it.
I was thrown by the eventual outcome of what the djinn was doing with Dean. I didn't catch on to the whole suspended in fantasy land so the djinn can suck the life out of you idea until it became pretty obvious. I was looking for Dean to hunt down the djinn and stop it, in order to reverse the spell. Really, I think either of them could have worked, but the way they did it worked out the best because of the final decision scene.
With all of those characters making their case for why Dean should just stay with them and be happy, it presented quite a dilemma for him. It is a tough life that Dean and Sam lead. And they have sacrificed a lot in order to help others. The recurring question of why do we have to sacrifice so much is an understandable one. Having his mother there made it a gut-wrenching scene.
It put the viewer in a position that was similar to Dean as well. At this point in the Supernatural saga, we all feel for Dean, and we root for him. The idea of him catching a break, winning, getting to be happy, is a good one. But all the while we are rooting for him to get that piece of happiness that he desires, we know that he can't. His is a different path. And it's something that he knows too.
That final battle with the djinn was pretty good, if a little quick. That's understandable though, because the meat of this story was in the look at what could have been. It was a well crafted story that did a good job of balancing some fun stuff with the heavier issue of just what the Winchester lot in life really is. We had the Dean that was so excited about things just being normal that he couldn't wait to mow the lawn. And there was, once again, the Dean that loves to eat. That all contrasted nicely with the Dean that was worried about the ghosts he was seeing. The same Dean that started looking up past hunts to see the effect that his new found happiness was having on others. The recreated scene from the pilot, where Dean sneaks in to Sam and Jessica's place, was another nice detail.
It was great to see Mary (Samantha Smith) again, as well as Jessica (Adrianne Palicki, Friday Night Lights). In addition to those two, Carmen (Michelle Borth) made a nice addition to the family. The reveal at the end that Carmen was the girl in the El Sol beer ad was a nice explanation for where she came from. It didn't change the fact that her scenes with Dean were great. I particularly liked the exchange where Dean asked, "How'd I end up with such a cool chick." To which, Carmen replied, "I've just got low standards."
My favorite part of the episode though, was the conversation that Dean had with the departed John. In the fantasy world where Mary never died John is still a huge influence on his boys. It was a great scene to watch, performed fantastically by Ackles. It was a reflective moment that was much more about coming to terms with the answer that he already knew, rather than asking the question. That just narrowly beat out the heart to heart Sam and Dean shared after it was all over.
Overall, this was an outstanding episode. It was the perfect way to end the regular season. The playoffs start next week as team Supernatural kicks off the big two part season finale that should answer some of those questions we have been pondering all season about Sam, the demon, and the coming battle. We'll head into that adventure full steam ahead as this one gets a 7, out of 7.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-04-2007 @ 9:33AM
Ed Venture said...
Who's the blonde on the right?
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5-04-2007 @ 9:34AM
radwimp said...
agree with the outstanding. supernatural is really hitting the season finale stride... can't wait to see how it turns out.
it was fun at the beginning, to see dean acting as though he was normal. but the fact that dean & sam wouldn't get along if it wasn't for the tragedies is sad, but definitely true.
jensen was awesome. whether it was at the grave, the heart to heart with sam, or the look in his face when he had to choose between reality or the dream, he was extremely impressive. he's improved so much as an actor since the time i first saw him on dark angel.
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5-04-2007 @ 9:52AM
Brenda said...
I absolutely love this show and last night's was pretty interesting. Smallville followed by Supernatural makes my Thursday night's viewing! Both shows rock! As for the blonde on the right--that is Jessica (Adrianne Palicki)--Sam's girlfriend who was killed the same way his mom was in the beginning episodes.
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5-04-2007 @ 11:32AM
vacelts said...
I love that even in the fantasy world, Dean still has the car!
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5-04-2007 @ 3:00PM
AJ MacReady said...
Wow. Can't say enough about this show, it just continues to improve upon itself, which ain't easy. Dean's "are you kidding? I'd LOVE to mow the lawn" was hilarious and touching all at once, for him to be so thrilled at the chance to do something mundane like yardwork instead of saving the world all the time was awesome.
Overall, this ep was really moving if you are invested in the characters (as I am) and their lives. A couple times I thought I was going to tear up, and immediately felt like an even bigger wuss than alternate Sammy.
It's kickass to see a series where the individual episodes are story driven, yet the overall show itself is so character driven. We could use more of that on TV.
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5-04-2007 @ 3:55PM
Alllan said...
Brett, I agree, this was a definite 7 -- Emmy material writing all the way. And like you, I was very pleasantly impressed by Jensen's acting. That kid is good.
AJ (5), you are right on the mark: the lawn mowing scene was a wonderful touch.
This show's team just keeps building strength from one episode to the next.
Gosh, I hope it gets renewed.
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5-04-2007 @ 4:34PM
cathie said...
Jensen won me over even more with this episode. He proves that there's so much more to Dean than a wise cracking, smart ass tough guy. I love the look of joy in his eyes when he was being normal and relishing the moments of happiness. This show knows how to push my buttons and get me all teary eyed! When Dean sees his mom, and is talking at his dad's grave, beautiful moments. Again too they manage to pick the most perfect rock songs to highlight what's going on!
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5-04-2007 @ 4:41PM
Brett said...
Allan, we still have to wait a week and a half or so to get the official word on renewal, but I think things are looking good for Supernatural. The numbers have been steady, and with both the Gilmore Girls and 7th Heaven ending, I think this show is safe.
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5-05-2007 @ 5:32AM
las6 said...
Man, I never thought I'd say this but Supernatural is really becoming my favourite show this season. I simply hated the first season... just having two characters and no continuing storylines seemed a bit stupid, imo.
but man, the last couple episodes have been Highly entertaining. They seem to have a fresh take on things and combine drama with humour pretty well. I just wish that next season they add at least one female to the cast. ;)
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5-05-2007 @ 5:07PM
Mandee said...
What a pity that so few people are responding to this terrific show. Ultra-lame 24 gets, like, 1000 postings, while this show gets -- under 10? Yikes.
Come on fans, lets' talk up this fantastic program. Post on other sites, like 24 and Heroes and Jericho, and let people there know this is one killer series!
By the way, compared to our Dean, Jack Bauer comes across as a muddled, bi-polar, ethically challenged nerd. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
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5-06-2007 @ 7:10PM
Josh said...
This episode was very similar to "Field Trip" of the X-Files, where Mulder hallucinates a a reality while his body is being digested.
Still, this episode of Supernatural hit all the right notes, and was well done.
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5-07-2007 @ 7:07AM
Trina said...
This is one of the best episodes i've seen on Supernatural for a very long time, probably on par with 'Born Under a Bad Sign.'
I love how the dynamics change from one world to another- in reality Dean and Sam have been brought together by the loss of their family, but in the Djinn's reality Sam is very detached and bitter towards Dean for the things he's done to him throughout their lives- stealing prom dates, snitching ATM cards etc.
Dean's entire family seems so shocked by his genuine warmth and ecstacy at the fact that everything has returned to normality, and Dean's mortification when he realises that it's his mother's birthday in this world is priceless- he looks as if he's about to throw a tantrum. xD
I agree, Jensen Ackles has blossomed into an extraordinary actor since the Pilot and you just need to watch episodes like this one or In My Time of Dying to see that... well done eric kripke, 10/10!
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