Supernatural: Heartache

Happy Winchester Wednesday, Hunters! You know, these days just do not come often enough. Am I rude to demand more than once a week? They’re just always the best days. This one was especially great with a super fun episode directed by the amazing Jensen Ackles. Considering how Dean heavy this episode was, our guy really had his hands full. There were some really gorgeous shots and I’m not just talking about the close-ups he chose to do of himself. He helmed the first Monster of The Week of the season. A case not centered on the Word of God. It’s becoming more and more evident each year, what a talent he has behind the camera as well as in front of. Great job Director Ackles!

The episode, entitled “Heartache,” held deeper meaning than just the MOTW MO, though. There was the ever more present Grand Canyon of gaps between what Dean wants and what Sam wants. When the stills were released for this episode, I honestly thought we’d be seeing a lot more of the “Sam who hit a dog”. But what we saw was enough. Amelia doesn’t appear to be the bitch we were first introduced to. She even had a surprise birthday picnic for Sam. And it made me think. Does Dean ever do anything special for Sam’s birthday? I can’t imagine he ever ignores it altogether. And I am definitely not saying that the relationships are interchangeable. But it breaks my heart that this is probably the first time since Stanford that anyone made a big deal of Sam living another year. I can imagine the brothers are usually content with just making it one more day. A day out in the park with a pretty girl and a cake is more than likely not something Sam ever thought he would get to experience.

Dean, on the other hand has never been happier. He even bought a helpful-in-hunting app for his phone. The guy with the tape deck. “I know where I’m at my best and that is right here, driving down crazy street, next to you.” Just guessing that Sam didn’t feel the same made me feel as if Cacao himself was ripping my heart from my chest. From day one we were notified. Dean wanted to hunt, wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, and he wanted his brother to do it with him. Sam, though? Sam just wanted a normal life. I feel that we, as an audience, gave up on him ever getting that, just when he did. Because he could never go back. Could he? The look on Dean’s face when he learned that Sam had applied to college again was not far off from the look he got when he found out that leaving Dean was one of Sam’s best memories. Confused. Hurt. Wishing he was seeing something else. Right there with you Dean.

The episode wasn’t 100% feels, though. A few other notes and quotes:

• Jogging in jeans? Even for a monster that seems ridiculous.
• Dean’s little boy excitement over a case makes me want to give him pie.
• Dean wouldn’t eat bananas from a gas station, does Sam think he’d be at all interested in organic apples?
• PAPA ACKLES!!!!! He is fantastic. I sure hope Jensen had as much fun working with him as we did watching him. So wonderful to see his face again after seeing him in Dallas. Though, I guess this was technically before that. I’m dizzy.
• The boys are very tan. It’s almost as if this episode was filmed right after they finished their summer vacations. Or something.
• Thor references two episodes in a row. Someone has a favorite movie.
• Dean has made less disgusted faces at the insides of monsters than he made at that green juice.
• This dude with the gibberish is kinda scary. “K’uhul ajaw, Cacao, shi-jiiy” Thank you Jim Michaels!
• BARF! I just threw up in my mouth a little watching Miss Thang eat that heart.
• The heart eating? Surprisingly less disgusting than the “Skittles-Pox” commercial that followed. Nasty.
• Did we always know that Sam was a sports fan or is this brand new information?
• Sad that we didn’t actually get to see Buffy’s Mayor. He fits right in on this show.
• A little Oedipal action doesn’t seem to bother Dean. Weird.
• Dean is a kid in a candy store in that strip club. “Smell that?” “You’re gross.” Some things never change.
• I can only imagine Jensen’s direction: “Ok, now get on me. Really straddle me good.” Very beautifully lit and shot, though.

So, friends. We have 7 days to ponder the possible future of Sam and Dean leading separate lives (*sob*) and 7 days to get excited about next week’s Paranormal activity/Chronicle type episode. This one looks scary and we haven’t had one in a while that made me want to watch from under the blankets. Is it too much to hope for some Purgatory thrown in there? Really dig those Dirty Dean flash-backs. Don’t forget to share all of your brilliant thoughts and feelings with me in the comments!! You guys know how I like it!

Photos Courtesy of The CW