Welcome to season 13! Who’s ready to wallow in meta despair with us?

Dean’s Emotional Arc

Dean began the show as a dutiful son, motivated by his devotion to his father, and his father’s revenge-fueled quest to avenge Mary’s death. He would later approach the monster-hunting as fate, legacy, a calling, a hero’s task, or a cross to bear. He’s flirted with the concept of being a hero. Certainly it was something he saw in his dad for many years and something he sees for himself from time to time. Now, it’s “just a job.” It’s straightforward, no bullshit. The joy and romance are entirely removed from Dean’s hunting experience now that Castiel is dead and his mother is (according to him) dead. Grief has cut out the childlike joy that’s always been such a delightful dimension of Dean.

All About Beginnings

The season opens to Metallica’s “Nothing else matters” - a poignant tune, and significant for more than just its lyrical meaning. Dean started out in season one connected to Metallica - before Supernatural found its musical identity in classic rock. Starting the episode with Metallica really brings the focus in on Dean. Pair this with Dean’s dream/vision while he was knocked out by Jack (of his mother burning on the ceiling) and we get the sense that the narrative is coming full circle with these two references to the first episode. While we thought we had closure over Dean’s mom’s death after Azazel’s death, we may be led to expect some additional closure regarding Lucifer. After all, it was Lucifer’s desire for escape that caused Azazel to create his little army in the first place. Dean’s mission as a hunter, in many ways, began with the loss of his mother. Season 13 is tying back to that original mission, and hopefully will build off of that. The show’s arc “Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time.”

Jack’s Powers Profile

• Glowing eyes
• Glowing healing ability
• Sonic scream
• Ability to highly manipulate his body / rapid aging
• Powers manifest instinctively when threatened

Factions in Heaven

Another possible theme we may continue to see is the continued existence of factions in Heaven. The two angels present two views as they look at Castiel’s body. One side implies that Castiel deserved to die and humans are garbage and the other insists that Castiel deserved better and humans are worthy of respect. Heaven may not be a uniform enemy even though Hannah - Castiel’s more recent ally - is dead.

Jack

I really liked Jack’s portrayal. He’s shocked, confused, and easily joyful. (See: candy.) His thumbprint is nothing - straight lines, a blank slate. HE’S a blank slate and we’ll be toying with the nature versus nurture arguments as we move through his storyline. He says at one point that his powers don’t feel entirely like him - like that piece of Lucifer in him is almost an outside force that he’ll have to contend with in the future.

Speaking of outside forces, I wonder about this line: “I remember when the bad woman burned. I remember when the universe screamed.” He never gave a straight answer about being able to open the universe rifts. I wonder if there’s more to that puzzle. What if it wasn’t Jack - or wasn’t entirely Jack - that opened those rifts? Why is the universe screaming?

As far as Jack and Castiel goes, I am beside myself with glee for Dad!Castiel. They’re both aliens plopped into Earth before they’re ready. And they both have the capacity for deadpan humor. “I’m on a chair. On the floor. On planet earth.” Yes, give me several hours of Castiel and Jack’s observational humor, please.

Regarding the prophetic vision Castiel was given by Jack…last season I speculated that Castiel lied to Kelly about the vision he’d received. Surely Castiel wouldn’t be so gullible as to be swayed by a vision of a world without pain or suffering. Wouldn’t Cas know that was impossible without curtailing free will? However, at the funeral Jack hears Sam say that he wishes that the people they lost end up in a place without suffering. Jack, at this stage, is drinking in EVERY last detail. He already seems to look up to Sam. I think the seeds of the “pain free” world may have been planted by Sam in this first episode.

Keep reading

Dean Winchester every day – 66/326

Supernatural 4x06//Yellow Fever