The next installment in our hunt for the devil sees Mary leading the charge only to be sidelined by her sons in this technologically advanced world. Plus we’ve got a mini buddy-cop B-story for Castiel and Crowley.
Mama Winchester fits in so well. The scene in the kitchen, jamming to rock music in the Impala, down to the time-period appropriate musician alias… That off-hand comment about long hair being grabbed by the bad guy turning into a quip against Sam’s long locks? Perfect. That boy should be doing shampoo commercials, I swear. But it just goes to show that this family dynamic, although unusual for two guys who grew up without a mother, really works.
Castiel’s search for Lucifer looks a lot like a hunt. He uses what he’s learned from shadowing the Winchesters…but he’s still adorably clumsy at it. Agent Beyonce? Castiel hasn’t gotten the musical name alias down yet. What’s up with the comedic riffs in the soundtrack for the Cass/Crowley scenes? It’s cute at first but overplayed and doesn’t fit with the rest of the tone of the episode.
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The baby crying leading to the couple’s death in the intro is reminiscent of many an urban legend – and true story – of innocents being led to their demise by a fake baby cry. Also, that doll is seriously one of the creepiest things I’ve seen on this show. Creepy dolls to me are what clowns and spiders are to other people. Well, at least I don’t have to worry about any reports of them in the news, huh? Can’t say the same about the clowns…
If you’re wondering why Mary cut her hair in the beginning of the episode, it’s a classic motif used for illustrating character change or great trauma. Mulan cuts her hair before riding off to join the military. Lana cuts her hair on Smallville before going all dark and moody. Jennifer Lawrence cut her hair after The Hunger Gamesbecause damn that girl can pull off any look she tries. But I digress.
Hair – especially to women — is a personal thing. Doing a drastic change like this usually seems to indicate a great need within the character to reflect her current situation, or to transition from innocence to badassery. It’s a common motif because it’s a non-destructive yet obvious physical sign to indicate internal change.
Mary is trying to get over the extreme culture shock of being in a future time in a new world – her babies all grown up, her love gone and the world of hunting still haunting her. This cutting of hair shows Mary has control over one thing – her appearance. Plus it probably is helpful to avoid being caught by the bad guy, but we all know that was just an excuse to explain her new ‘do to the boys.
The ending scene found Mary saying her goodbyes. She continues to feel out of place and out of time here. It’s hard not to feel the pain of her sons watching their mother, so recently reunited with them, willingly leave. There’s Dean, trying so hard at Mary’s departure not to cry. Sam is so visibly affected by the grating sound of the gate as Mary exits Hunter HQ that he practically jumps in his skin.
Mary will probably take a siesta for the next episode or two. For now, we’ll see our boys on a potential filler-episode, dealing with the repercussions of Mary’s absence. Castiel, Crowley and Rowena should probably team up to find Lucifer, now that he lost his last awesome vessel.
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This new season has been impressing so far. Hopefully we won’t lose the awesomness of Mary and Lucifer prematurely.
