Supernatural (Episode 10x09) | Midseason Finale

*(Spoilers ahead)*
'The Things We Left Behind'... and oh aren't there many. The Supernatural Season 10 mid-season finale dealt with the darkness that the Mark still causes Dean to feel, Cas reuniting with Jimmy's daughter Claire, and the relationship between Crowley and his mother. The episode brought about things that would come into play as we move into the second half, especially the Mark. I recently wrote a blog post about a theory regarding the Mark, which you can view here, and of course it's only a theory, so I'm not saying that it's going to happen, but it brings about an idea that I've been thinking a lot about lately. The idea of family was definitely prominent in this episode, more than it has been in others this season, and that was interesting to see, as well.

The reunion between Castiel and Claire was definitely... awkward, if that's what you want to call it. After talking to Cas for a little while and him agreeing to help Claire get out of the juvenile prison, she seemed to loosen up a little bit. We didn't know what occurred from when Jimmy officially left his family to now until Claire told Cas. The fact that her mother left her is so disappointing to hear. It's so nice that Cas still wanted to help her out, and when that failed legally, he did it illegally. I really appreciated Misha doing Jimmy's voice when speaking to the head of the prison about gaining custody over Claire. That was a really nice touch. Him taking his turn at parenting on some level, even if it was so small, was so sweet. All he was doing was trying to help her, but Claire's a stubborn teenage girl with a few tricks up her sleeve, including being fully aware of how to swipe a wallet, and having somewhat of a family of her own already. He just wants to know that she's safe. She was still hostile towards him and it's completely understandable. He took her dad away from her, and even when he did, she continuously prayed to him every night, and he didn't do anything, but I hope she's eventually able to forgive him. She's definitely wasn't in a safe family environment at all, and even after everything she said to him, he still wanted to keep her safe. Unhealthy family dynamics seemed to be a theme.

There was a slight parallel between Claire defending Randy and Dean defending John, however, it turned more into a contrast as the episode went on. Randy was willing to give up Claire, sell her to the sharks. In order to what? Get money? John Winchester, even if he wasn't the greatest, never did that to his children. The major parallel was between Claire and Dean's situations. The story of Dean's first adventure when he was a teenager, although it did have an underlying of being an event that could have ended badly for him, pointed out that his father saved him. He was intoxicated, drugged, by women in the club in New York, the first time he ever had gotten drunk, as clearly pointed out by Sam. The room started to spin, he didn't know what was going on, it wasn't the good kind of drunk, but his father came in and saved him. Although not specifically stated, it's assumed that these women had plans to rape him, to take advantage of this teenage boy who had no idea what was going on. This drew an obvious parallel between them. Claire was about to be sexually assaulted, but Cas came in and saved her, alike to the way John saved Dean that night back in New York. The parental figures coming in to protect and save their children from danger.

It drew a contrast to Crowley's father who wasn't present in his life. He didn't feel cared for, or even loved, by his mother who was. She tried to sell him off for pigs, but even though she wasn't the best parent, he still can't bring himself to kill her, because she's exactly that, his mother. The only family he has left.

There was finally some truth spoken by Sam and Dean about their Dad that we haven't heard in a while. He wasn't perfect, he wasn't father of the year, but they loved him with everything they had. He was still their Dad, even if he wasn't the greatest one out there. It was nice to hear them say this out loud again.

Dean laughing like a dork at the Three Stooges. That was something I needed to hear. Sam's face when he saw the mark slightly broke my heart because he was both worried and scared about his brother, which only proved to be a valid feeling. Dean and Cas' scene, I've seen so many times before the episode actually aired because it was the sneak preview, but it still made me tear up. The fact is that Dean still felt that darkness, is still haunted by dreams of going dark side, and he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he did go dark side again, pains me to see, but also intrigues me to see more of Jensen getting to play that character. We only got a small taste of him in the past, so to get more episodes with him is something I'm looking forward to watch.

The episode was going well, not too bad emotions wise, until we hit the 50 minute mark, having only 10 minutes left to watch. Dean's nightmare became real. There were a lot of things that hurt about those last 10 minutes, like Dean going dark side, which I'm so excited to see again, and Sam rushing to his brother's side, wanting desperately for it to be what he had to do. At the same time that it was painful, I'm so thrilled to see what's to come.

Honestly, I wasn't necessarily super impressed with the episode, but I think it definitely opened the door to the second half, which was what it needed to do and definitely seems to be the more intense half of the season. Everything that's happened previously with Dean, him eating a lot, the dating app, fixing his car, constantly wanting a new case, has all been part of him trying to be Dean, to be himself, not what the Mark made him. He's trying to grasp onto whatever there is that's left of himself, trying to avoid at all costs what the Mark will make him become again. It's been his distraction.

I really love that the family dynamic and family bond is a major theme this season. I think it's definitely something really important that the show addresses. After all, Sam and Dean are hunters because it's the family business. How the Mark's going to be overcome, how Dean's going to deal with it, the return of Charlie, more of Crowley and Rowena, more of Sam and Dean, more of Team Free Will, the relationship between Cas and Claire. What the second half brings will be interesting and I can't wait for it. Until January 20th.

[Also, little side note: having the guy that lives in the house Claire went back to after leaving Cas wearing a Weiner Hut uniform brought back memories of Samandriel and I wasn't prepared to be reminded of him, so it definitely hit the heart a little bit because I loved his character so much despite being in a small number of episodes.]