Supernatural (Episode 10x11) Recap

Since these go up within a short period after the episode, I was thinking of deeming them 'Rapid Recaps'. I actually didn't know what I was expecting from the episode tonight, but I was definitely thinking something interesting with Charlie and a lot more about Dean and the Mark.

I love that the episode opened with Dean trying to be healthy like Sam, because let's face it, we all know that that would never happen, so it gave me a good laugh. Also, Evil Charlie calling Sam and Dean "Groot and Rocket" is actually not too far off for nicknames. I mean, Sam is huge, like Groot.

The fact that the real, good, Charlie came back saying "What's up bitches" made me so happy. I love her character so much.

The entire Evil Charlie, Good Charlie thing was something I liked. They were the same person, only Evil Charlie has all the bad, and Good Charlie has all the good. I had a few theories for this episode, and this was one of them. So I'm glad they went the evil Doppelgänger route. It's something we haven't seen much of on the show, and it allows them to do something I'm going to talk about next.

So many parallels were being made between Dean and Charlie. From lines from Sam saying that you need to accept that the dark side is apart of you, you can't lock it away forever, to Dean saying, Evil Charlie isn't who she is, just a twisted part of her. Everything in this episode applied to both Charlie and Dean in different ways. Charlie's darkness in this case was external, while Dean's is internal. The parallels aren't subtle, but they're there, and apply to him so well.

Dean's struggles with the Mark were also very prominent this episode within his character himself and outside the parallels. His hands shaking when he was holding the blade, as well as them shaking when he looked in the mirror only showed the effect it's still having on him. Especially when he was fighting Evil Charlie, he completely lost himself in punching her, and the look on his face after he saw what he did, and the blood on his hands only added to the fear he has of losing control. The pain on Dean's face is literally the pain I feel whenever I see him feeling like that.

There was also a quote, by the Wizard of Oz, "You know what happens to heroes? They die." I really hope this is foreshadowing, though chances are it is, so we'll see if these words come true.

The last scene between Charlie and Dean where she said she forgives him, and Dean said he doesn't forgive himself. So much pain. I love their relationship so much, especially the way Dean calls Charlie "kiddo". I also loved the Sam and Charlie bonding going on during this episode. Those encouraging words that she had, saying that he's a Winchester, and then Sam saying that she's right, that Dean can do this, THEY can do this. I love this show's brotherhood so much. The main thing that was trying to be conveyed from the characters to both Dean and Charlie, as well as to the viewers, is that you need to accept your entire self. That darkness that you have, that everyone has, is part of you, and it helps make you, you. If you eliminate it, the good suffers. You need it to be who you need to be. Charlie's settled with being balanced, now Dean has to accept his darkness and be balanced, too.

I think whether or not you enjoyed tonight's episode relies on what you think of Charlie's character. I personally love her character, so I really enjoyed it, but if you don't like her character, you may not have liked it as much as others. The parallels weren't subtle, which makes them less fun, but nonetheless it had a good message. Next week looks so good, especially with Teen Dean. I'm pretty sure fans have written about Dean being a teen again while Sam was his normal age now, so it'll be interesting to see what the writers themselves came up with. That's all for Supernatural until then!