Review: Supernatural 7.04 Defending Dean

Because you're worth it.

7.04 Defending Your Life was written by Adam Glass and directed by Robert Singer. Adam was the writer for Mommy Dearest, Like a Virgin, All Dogs Goes to Heaven and Two and a Half Men, and Supervising Producer for tons of other Supernatural episodes.

I'll get to the point. I don't care so much for the Egyptian God storyline. Supernatural isn't known for using costumes, their approach in the wardrobe department is very modern -- even Evil Santa wears a simple cardigan, Baldur wears a suit and no angels wear wings, and Clowns are Clowns. I am not sure if Osiris fits into the Supernatural-urban-legend norm. But then again it's Supernatural, the sky's the limit. I do like the ghost dog idea and the fact Sam watches The Good Wife!

Guilt, is a very important element of the show and it is this week's theme. I've been thinking about the whole guilt thing. But you know what, enough is enough... I am going to turn this around and call it -- supernatural bullying. I have enough of these monsters and supernatural creatures giving Dean shit.

Dean is a hero, his life is all about saving people, hunting things, protecting his little brother. Dean has been carrying a lot of crap on his shoulder since he was five! Supernatural things like monsters, creatures and spirits have been bullying Dean forever -- Famine, Zachariah, YEDJohn and DemonDean basically said to his face, "You're nothing. You're worthless." They, and others, said things to devalue my hero. It doesn't matter how strong you are, stuff like that really messes your mind. We don't live in a perfect world, there are more bullies than heroes. They will always find a way to push you and kick you when you are down, just to make themselves feel more superior and important. That's pretty much how I feel after I watched this episode.

Dean feels crap most of the time, he has a hero syndrome -- he just doesn't think he is awesome! Dean's heart is pure. Why? Because Dean is selfless, he is not a bully. He helps people unconditionally. He never ever has any agenda or evil plan to harm people. Dean doesn't kill for thrills, he doesn't kill to survive, he doesn't kill to make himself feel important. He kills supernatural things because they harm people, they may have a reason or two sometimes, but they kill people. If you're a human and you kill humans for whatever reasons, you go to jail. If you're not a human and kill humans, you get Dean Winchester.

Dean reminds me so much of Jack Bauer -- everyone he'd ever loved or known, died in bad situations. Was it Dean's fault that Jo die? Was it his fault that John die? Was it his fault that everyone die? No! They died because Kripke liked killing off characters! Oh wait.. what? As for Sam, how hard was it for Dean when he had to prevent anything bad from happening to Sam, especially after John told Dean that if he couldn't save Sam, he had to kill him? How hard was it to see Sam to go dark side, and Dean felt helpless for not being able to do anything? Even if Dean didn't 'dragged' Sam back into the hunting life, everything would still happen. Dean isn't the other guy who was killed by the ghost dog, he isn't those dicks in Yellow Fever, and he certainly isn't those jerks in The Benders. Nobody should judge Dean the way they judge anyone else. Dean feels guilty because he cares about what he does, he feels crap because he still has a heart and it's a big one.

So, Osiris, dude, you shut your pie hole!

What I LOVE about this episode is the Dean and Jo moments. It's no secret that I am Team Jo. I have always loved their on-screen chemistry on the show. Jo wasn't exactly a love interest (I know this comment is debatable) and her character certainly had the potential of being a love interest but It wasn't like that. I think the right words were used to summarise Jo's feeling for Dean -- Jo idolised Dean, and she has a massive crush on the guy. (Who doesn't? Right?) I love how much Jo had matured as a character and how much Alona Tal has grown as an actress. She was so so good in this episode, Alona totally nailed this! Her compassion and sorrow were seriously moving. Her scene with Dean was so amazing, I wished she'd never left the show and continued to be there for Dean and Sam.

I am all Dean! I will always defend Dean... like, he jumps I jump. And sometimes, I almost feel like this.. when it comes to the nuts and bolts of character development of Dean Winchester, they should leave it to Eric Kripke, Sera Gamble, Ben Edlund and Jeremy Carver. Don't let anyone else to 'have a go'. If something isn't written perfectly, people will get the wrong idea. Long time fans get it, even if something isn't crystal clear, we always get it. But other fans/ viewers won't get it, they see what's in front of them.. they'll be like, "Oh is Dean is a killer?" Oh shut up! I mean, why is that even a question?

I shall conclude with this: Certainly some very important Dean scenes should have been written better under the pens and fingers of Andrew Dabb and Daniel Loflin, like the death of Amy Pond, I get why Dean has to do it, I get why this secret is killing him, but the scene, the secret and the situation could have been designed better to get the message across to the viewers. Adam Glass did an ok job with Defending Your Life, but it should be more meaty if you know what I mean?

The Dean stuff requires much attention and justice. I know why I am defending Dean, not only because Osiris is a load of crap, I know Dean deserves better. I know Dean is not a bully. I know Dean is a hero.

And do I even have to explain further when it comes to Jensen Ackles's performance? Give the man an Emmy already!!

Next week, 7.05 Shut Up, Osiris! Oh.. sorry.. it's 7.05 Shut Up, Dr Phil, featuring Buffy's Charisma Carpenter and James Marsters. Is it just me or do you secretly wish Joss Whedon was the writer and/or director of this episode?