By John Keegan
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After taking a break from the fallout of John’s death for the past couple of episodes, the writers snap right back into familiar psychological space in this installment. Since the series doesn’t like to leave plot elements by the wayside, the previous episode is not ignored. Dean is now present in local and federal crime databases, and that makes the job a little harder. Logically, one would expect that fact to become more important over time.
In this case, however, the story quickly turns back to the idea of deals with the devil. As many noted after the season premiere, the Brothers Winchester are smart enough to realize that John’s death was linked to Dean’s miraculous recovery. Dean already voiced his suspicions, but now they face a situation where Dean is tempted by the possibility of changing the state of play.
This season continues to excel at using urban legends as a conduit for character study, and this episode is no different. The supernatural aspect is simple: a deal with a demon gives you 10 years of whatever you desire, but in the end, the hounds of hell come calling. It doesn’t hurt that the demon comes in the form of a gorgeous young woman, eager to seal the deal with a kiss (at the very least).
Sam is intent on saving people from the choices they’ve made. Even if they summoned a demon and knew what they were getting into when they did it, Sam wants to give them a chance to escape the consequences. The underlying thought process is questioned but never really exposed, but it might have something to do with the fact that Sam has a personal understanding of what it means to be caught in the middle of a demon’s intentions.
Dean, on the other hand, feels guilty over the fact that John sacrificed his life (and perhaps even his soul), making a deal with a demon in the process. Dean transfers a lot of his own self-loathing onto those who happily benefited from the intervention of a demon, only to balk at the cost. Given how much guilt runs through his veins, it’s no surprise that he would be tempted at the thought of “correcting” his father’s “mistake”.
I like how those emotions were left unresolved at the end of the episode. Sam is aware of how deeply scarred Dean is, and he’s also aware that Dean is standing on the edge of a cliff, capable of making some very stupid decisions if pushed too hard. Add that to Sam’s ongoing worries over his own stability and nature, and the Brothers Winchester still have plenty of issues to overcome.
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