Because after all this time, even supporters can’t understand or get it through their heads that with Dean, no matter how loud he is, he always betrays himself in the subtleties. It’s not in how he says to Castiel, “You were family once.” It’s in how he takes his coat and always keeps it with him. It’s not in how he says “Just kill him now!” It’s how he runs to Cas and quickly holds him up when Cas is ready to put the souls back in Purgatory. It’s not in how he calls Cas names, it’s how no matter what anyone says, he’s the first to jump to his defense. It’s not in how every time he dies, Dean says something like “Cas, you stupid bastard!” It’s in the fact that Dean is one pin drop away from bursting into tears in front of everyone every time.
The more I think I about it, the more I come to the conclusion this is probably the best scene Supernatural has ever featured. For once, the acting is extremely good. There’s a lot of things going on between those two, though most of what’s happening is conveyed through looks and gestures. Then, I think Edlund deserves all the praise in the world for creating a truly emblematic scene that manages to sum up the state of Dean and Castiel’s relationship at this point in the show.
Castiel is guilt-ruidden, it is obvious he has no words for what he feels needs to be said. So he tries a different approach by using a board game as a metaphor. And Dean gets it. He totally does, but there’s so much going on he cannot react the way Cas wants him to. Dean Winchester doesn’t do emotions, and this is all about the kind of chick flick crap he avoids like the plague. Castiel’s message is clear: “I AM sorry. It’s not much, it’s not enough, but it’s all I can give you. So now it’s your turn. Just offer me a tiny little piece of forgiveness, and I’ll be a little better. Maybe we can go back to the start, try again …”
It’s not entirely clear whether Cas actually expects Dean to apologize. I think he has every right to do so, though Misha’s comment on the issue was a little vague. What is obvious, however, is that rebuilding their friendship is something they can only do together. Castiel could redeem himself completely, and it would still be meaningless if Dean denied him the forgiveness he craves. Castiel will never forgive himself, but maybe he could learn to live with his guilt if only Dean came around.
In this scene, he doesn’t. It ends with him brushing the game off the table, destroying the metaphor Cas has so carefully set up. And then he leaves Cas to pick up the pieces. I think it is quite telling Cas actually does it the human way. Because he’s still caught in his own metaphor, and there’s no way all the mess he’s left behind could be cleared with one snap of his fingers, or a brush of his hand.
Castiel’s issues cannot be solved by any supernatural power in the universe. He can only heal the human way, by picking up all the pieces. It’s slow and it’s annoying, sure, but he doesn’t have much of a choice.
Figuratively speaking, I think the first piece was picked up and put back into place when Dean finally told Cas he’d rather have him, no matter how fucked up and broken. Maybe purgatory will have them pick up the pieces together. Which is why I’m really looking forward to see where season 8 will take them …
(On a side note, I really enjoyed 7x23, but it clearly lacked the finely tuned interactions and subtly conveyed emotions we saw in 7x21.)
You’ve basically said everything I’ve been thinking. I honestly have nothing to add to this. I also agree about 7x23. I liked but I think it’s impossible not to notice the difference in writing. Or rather, the difference in the way Castiel is written. I think it shows more than anything the way Ben and Sera view his character.
Yes! I think Sera’s take on the character is still pretty one-sided. Her goal with season 6 was to make Cas the villain, and nothing but. Though “The man who would be king” put his actions into perspective, it becomes quite obvious that for Sera, Cas has to redeem himself in every way possible. She neither acknowledges his good intentions, nor the other characters’ part in his downfall (especially Dean’s). So *her* Cas is pretty much reduced to his guilt. He’s miserable, and reduced to him craving forgiveness from the Winchesters. There’s not much agency inherent to Sera’s Castiel, he’s truly a tool handled by the Winchesters.
Ben’s Castiel, on the other hand, is a character in his own right. He is always granted a certain amount of control over what happens to him, meaning he’s allowed an existence outside the immediate Winchester-context. The “Sorry”-scene is an amazing example for Castiel’s agency.
Exactly, this is one of the reasons I feel hopeful about Jeremy taking over the show. He, like Ben, considers Castiel a character in his own right. While Sera has given us some nice Destiel/Castiel moments in her last two episodes I feel like she did it out if necessity rather than genuine interest in the relationship between those two and character on his own.
Agreed! While I don’t like the word “fanservice”, I think Sera actually felt she was forced to write something she normally wouldn’t have written. This is probably also true for the trench coat scene in 7x17 both Misha and Jensen apparently felt reluctant to act out on screen. While I disagree with the notion of male vs. female writing, I too think that a sappy scene isn’t necessarily a good scene. Personally, I was ok with what ended up on screen, as it rang true to both characters.
Sera has a bit of a tendency to convey emotions in the most extreme way possible. Ben’s writing tends to bit a tad bit more subtle, which is exactly what I love about it (though his 7x02 was clearly too much understatement …).
I’ve never felt that way about Jeremy’s writing. People tend to say that Jeremy’s Destiel is more cracky while Sera goes for more emotional scenes. I don’t really agree with this. Yes, Jeremy gave us some pretty funny scenes but I believe everything he did was made to explore the relationship between the two. We have Free To be You and Me, a whole episode which he used to establish friendship between them.
“Free to be you and me” is a wonderful episode about two outsiders forming a nerdy, but in every way adorable friendship. And it shows Dean actually opening up to someone who’s not family. Being funny doesn’t make an episode shallow; same is true for “Changing Channels”, which actually is a pretty emotional episode, also with regards to Gabe and his family issues.
I also liked how “The end” actually followed up on what we saw in “Free to be you and me”. Season 5 has a great feeling for pacing and character continuity, something seasons 6 and 7 are lacking entirely.
“Point of no return” is one of my favourite Castiel episodes. Castiel is and has always been a flawed character, but that’s what makes him so interesting to watch. Cas without a personality is just a tool.
So yeah, I have pretty high hopes for season 8
Oh yes, me too …
The more I think I about it, the more I come to the conclusion this is probably the best scene Supernatural has ever featured. For once, the acting is extremely good. There’s a lot of things going on between those two, though most of what’s happening is conveyed through looks and gestures. Then, I think Edlund deserves all the praise in the world for creating a truly emblematic scene that manages to sum up the state of Dean and Castiel’s relationship at this point in the show.
Castiel is guilt-ruidden, it is obvious he has no words for what he feels needs to be said. So he tries a different approach by using a board game as a metaphor. And Dean gets it. He totally does, but there’s so much going on he cannot react the way Cas wants him to. Dean Winchester doesn’t do emotions, and this is all about the kind of chick flick crap he avoids like the plague. Castiel’s message is clear: “I AM sorry. It’s not much, it’s not enough, but it’s all I can give you. So now it’s your turn. Just offer me a tiny little piece of forgiveness, and I’ll be a little better. Maybe we can go back to the start, try again …”
It’s not entirely clear whether Cas actually expects Dean to apologize. I think he has every right to do so, though Misha’s comment on the issue was a little vague. What is obvious, however, is that rebuilding their friendship is something they can only do together. Castiel could redeem himself completely, and it would still be meaningless if Dean denied him the forgiveness he craves. Castiel will never forgive himself, but maybe he could learn to live with his guilt if only Dean came around.
In this scene, he doesn’t. It ends with him brushing the game off the table, destroying the metaphor Cas has so carefully set up. And then he leaves Cas to pick up the pieces. I think it is quite telling Cas actually does it the human way. Because he’s still caught in his own metaphor, and there’s no way all the mess he’s left behind could be cleared with one snap of his fingers, or a brush of his hand.
Castiel’s issues cannot be solved by any supernatural power in the universe. He can only heal the human way, by picking up all the pieces. It’s slow and it’s annoying, sure, but he doesn’t have much of a choice.
Figuratively speaking, I think the first piece was picked up and put back into place when Dean finally told Cas he’d rather have him, no matter how fucked up and broken. Maybe purgatory will have them pick up the pieces together. Which is why I’m really looking forward to see where season 8 will take them …
(On a side note, I really enjoyed 7x23, but it clearly lacked the finely tuned interactions and subtly conveyed emotions we saw in 7x21.)
You’ve basically said everything I’ve been thinking. I honestly have nothing to add to this. I also agree about 7x23. I liked but I think it’s impossible not to notice the difference in writing. Or rather, the difference in the way Castiel is written. I think it shows more than anything the way Ben and Sera view his character.
Yes! I think Sera’s take on the character is still pretty one-sided. Her goal with season 6 was to make Cas the villain, and nothing but. Though “The man who would be king” put his actions into perspective, it becomes quite obvious that for Sera, Cas has to redeem himself in every way possible. She neither acknowledges his good intentions, nor the other characters’ part in his downfall (especially Dean’s). So *her* Cas is pretty much reduced to his guilt. He’s miserable, and reduced to him craving forgiveness from the Winchesters. There’s not much agency inherent to Sera’s Castiel, he’s truly a tool handled by the Winchesters.
Ben’s Castiel, on the other hand, is a character in his own right. He is always granted a certain amount of control over what happens to him, meaning he’s allowed an existence outside the immediate Winchester-context. The “Sorry”-scene is an amazing example for Castiel’s agency.
#Dean never ignored his ‘nerdy’ baby brother #because for Dean #the only reason Dean is ‘cool’ is because Sam thinks he is
omfg
I used to like Johnny Depp A LOT, and I still enjoy looking at him. However, I was lucky enough to gain some insights into the writing and filming process of “Pirates of the Caribbean 3”, and since them, I have to admit I cannot bring myself to admite him as a person that much anymore. He interfered with the script in a way that ruined the whole movie, turning his own character into a ridiculous clown and distorting the message of the entire series into something I cannot agree with.
It’s obvious he tried to make amends with the fourth installment of the series, but by then, the damage was already done and I couldn’t bring myself to like the character of Captain Jack Sparrow as much as I did after “Pirates of the Caribbean 2”.
There’s a fine line between a funny character and a ridiculous character. Tim Burton is usually extremely good in walking that line (or in making Johnny walk the line), but left on his own, Johnny relies to much on his own sense of humour which certainly isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Personally, I also get the feeling he sometimes lacks empathy for the character he plays, which makes it hard for people to identify/relate.
When I compare the way in which Johnny used to talk about Jack Sparrow, and the way Misha Collins talks about Castiel, I think empathy is actually what makes all the difference.
