Oh my. The moment we’ve all been waiting for, for months, finally arrived with “When The Levee Breaks.” It’s Sam vs. Dean, with the fate of the world in the balance. And the tricky bit … I’m not sure who to root for. Upping the tension, post-reprimand Castiel is a new wild card, Ruby is back in the picture, and 63 or 64 of the seals have now been broken. It’s all leading up to the big season four finale next week, and the stage is certainly set. As Bobby put it, “Armageddon is nigh.”
Crazy episode, right? It was a bit different. The thing that came to mind for me was the frequent, episode ending, Sam and Dean moments. This episode was like one great big moment. And that’s a good thing. The demon detox was especially good, as we got to see all of the fears and feelings that Sam has been packing around illustrated so well, including another appearance of Christopher Heyerdahl. None of those things were particularly surprising. He thinks he’s doing the right thing, and the tensions between him and Dean have been evident for weeks now. Still, watching it all play out made for some fascinating television.
On Dean’s side of the crazy, it really does all come full circle, no? As ever, it’s all about protecting Sam, and Dean is willing to do anything to do just that. Anything else would have been shocking. But then, that gets right to the real question. How does one protect Sam at this point? Clearly, Castiel has his own mysterious marching orders that are not in Sam’s best interest. How surprising was that reveal? It leaves me pondering the angel angle in all of this. You can make a case that Castiel is setting Dean up to have no choice with Sam. While at the same time, apparently, setting Anna up to get an ass-reaming of her own.
And then there’s Ruby. It’s a long and ongoing debate as to whether or not she is playing the long con, and I took this week as more evidence for that. She said to Sam, “It’s sad that things have gotten this bad between you two.” That was followed by what I would describe as a very questionable, and knowing, smirk. Given Castiel’s warning that the amount of blood required to kill Lilith will change Sam for good, is it possible? This whole time Ruby has been the inside man recruiting Sam? I’d kind of hate it if it turned out that way, but at the same time be pretty impressed with the patience it took.
It just leaves me with so many questions heading into the big showdown next week. Logic seems to dictate that the final seal will not be broken, which is probably really bad news for Lilith, Lucifer’s first. But what will it all mean for Sam and Dean? Will Sam ‘change’? Will season five kick off with the brothers at odds? How will the prophet factor in? These are the kind of questions that tell you the season has worked. I can’t wait for the finale.
Clacked by Brett Love 
on May 08, 2009 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
I think the actress change for Ruby was intended to show her dark nature. Katie Cassidy was too pretty and perky to pull off evil. This chick screeches underhanded dirty deeds.
Dean is going to have to realize that his true calling is to protect the world, and not his brother. I think this has been sneaking up on him since he has come back from Hell, but he really wants to see his brother safe. That seems like a fight that take seasons to remedy.
When Sam strangled Dean and said “you don’t know me, you will never know me,” I’m thinking, duh! Sam would never hurt Dean like that. He’s really losing Sam, and the demon is taking over.
I’m concerned about losing the wit that I love on the show, so I hope as they progress with the dark stories and battle ready brothers they are able to find a way to include humor. It’s not the same show without it.
I’m pretty sure the actress change for Ruby was a cost-cutting measure–Katie Cassidy, as a veteran recurring regular, would have been entitled to more than what the CW wanted to pay her. At least, that’s the story I heard.
This whole time Ruby has been the inside man recruiting Sam? I’d kind of hate it if it turned out that way, but at the same time be pretty impressed with the patience it took.
This is the *only* conclusion I want to see. If Ruby turns out to have been a demon with a heart of gold all along, with no ulterior motives other than being in love with Sam, I would have to quit this show. That’s just lazy, crappy storytelling.
Logic seems to dictate that the final seal will not be broken, which is probably really bad news for Lilith, Lucifer’s first.
I’m not entirely sure Lilith *is* Lucifer’s first. The way Ruby worded that whole story was ambiguous enough to allow Lucifer’s first to be Sam. I would not be surprised if this whole time Sam has been set up to become Lucifer’s human host, and if *that* was Azazel’s endgame all along.
Wow amanda… that really makes a lo of sense, good catch!
I can’t belive that the season in almost over!!! :)
Amanda, I whole-heartedly agree with you about Ruby. If she turns out to be “the demon with a soul”, I will throw Seasons 1-3 in the trash and never watch the show again.
But there are a few things bugging me about Lilith and Ruby. I agree that she is not the first. She considers Sam her competition and they cannot kill each other, yet. Now, here is something that I have struggled with; why would Sam EVER be able to kill Lilith while remaining immune to her? That is not very sporting of the writers, is it? How would Ruby’s blood be STRONG enough to make him more powerful than Lilith herself, especially if she is Lucifer’s first? Another problem I have is the connection between Ruby and Lilith. Ruby has been able to walk RIGHT through a line of 30+ of Lilith’s minions, on several occasions no less without being touched. Huh? Last but not least, why has (Ruby) always relied on fighting instead of using demonic powers. Why? Who REALLY is the first, Ruby or Sam OR what is INSIDE Sam? Also, what if Ruby has been in cahoots with Zachariah from the beginning?