Houses of the Holy Review

 

This episode picks up on the implications of the previous installment, though some of the more obvious consequences are glossed over in the interests of keeping the show intact. For one thing, the Impala should be a huge liability, given how distinctive it is, and Sam shouldn’t be any less recognizable as a target after being identified as Dean’s accomplice.

All that said, this episode (despite being largely stand-alone in nature) shifts back into the tried and true territory of character development. As usual, the writers manage to follow through on a minor point of interest from earlier episodes and make it a major cause for consideration. In this case, it’s the role of religion in the lives of the Brothers Winchester, and to a lesser degree, in the lives of the hunters as a whole.

Dean takes a strong atheist stance on the whole business, which is quite consistent with his previous philosophy. It may be more strongly stated in this episode, but that could be a function of his stress level regarding Sam. After all, if Dean doesn’t believe that there’s anyone else out there to grant divine intervention, then it all comes down to him to save Sammy. And that’s a tough road to travel.

In essence, Dean approaches the world in the classic atheist sense: if nothing we do matters, because there is no divine plan, then all that matters is what we do. Under this philosophy, our choices and intentions should be devoted to making the best condition for the living and those to follow. Dean sacrifices his own normality and happiness for the sake of everyone else’s ability to live without fear. It’s a profound concept for the character, and it aligns strongly with Sam’s personal philosophy.

Sam’s religious side, however muted and off-screen, makes perfect sense under the circumstances. He needs to believe that there’s something out there willing and able to help him resist whatever the demon will drive him to do, despite the fact that there’s little to no proof for that belief. This religious background also gives his overall sense of compassion a deeper context. He would be a lot more concerned about his methods and the implications of their choices, because for him, there would be a price to pay in the afterlife.

If the episode had ended with just this level of disclosure, it would have been worth it. Instead, it serves as a starting point to something more intriguing and potentially devastating for Dean. He didn’t really understand why Sam needed to believe, and so he was more than happy to press his point of view. The end effect is that Dean, because he was right, gave Sam reason to question his spiritual safety net. Should Sam fall into the thought that he has no support, and nothing stands in the way of his destined descent, Dean just help to kill Sam’s hope for redemption.

The effect on Sam was so profound that Dean’s interpretation of possible divine intervention comes across as less substantial in comparison. Sam’s faith seems almost dashed by the events of the episode, while Dean seems to grant only a possibility of something unusual or divine. This disparity is possibly due to the somewhat mundane nature of the rapist’s death. It was strange, certainly, but nothing so profound that it would lead someone to believe in God. Even so, if it is equally profound for Dean, then it might give him enough spiritual reinforcement to deal with Sam’s destiny.