Holy crap.

[caranfindel]

Okay, so check this out...

Guys? This painting in the background? Of a severed head that resembles Sam Winchester? I don't think it's a coincidence.



I am unspoiled so if you already know what's going to happen, don't tell me.

(Screams silently)

ETA... Okay, it looks a hell of a lot like Sam on my phone, but I accept now that it's Medusa. Y'all are so calm and sane and shit. :-) I still want to call it foreshadowing.

Comments

[cassiopeia7.livejournal.com]

But that's Medusa -- after Perseus got done with her. While it is VERY interesting blocking, I'm not sure how we could compare any of Sam's current predicament to Medusa.

*bites nails anyway*

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

Whoever it really is, on a tiny iphone screen it looks a hell of a lot like Sam, like they're telegraphing what's going to happen to him. Dean has already cut off one person's head. No, I'm not really worried he's going to decapitate Sam. But I do think this is foreshadowing of what he's going to attempt, or be ordered/compelled to do.

[septembers-coda.livejournal.com]

The severed head appears to be Medusa. Does that freak you out more, or less, or fit in with what you think's going to happen?

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

See above.

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

I thought at the time perhaps it meant something, but maybe it's just for the cool way it looks as Magnus is approaching Sam with the knife.

[monicawoe.livejournal.com]

My first thought was - but that's Medusa! Come on Sam's hair is looking rather nice this season! ; )

That being said, I absolutely think this season is heading towards Dean attempting to kill Sam, and here's why: Sam has not (to our knowledge) replaced his anti possession tattoo, right?
So what two demons could stand to gain something from possessing Sam?
Which one is Dean most interested in killing?

It's gonna be painful as, well, Hell, but I do think it's possible Dean will stop himself before Sam is actually dead. (Much like what we saw in Swan Song, only reversed)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

It was possibly foreshadowing what was about to happen to the Magnus guy. Headless! The painting there is absolutely deliberate. I also thought Dean looked like he might actually have a go at Sam with that blade - not this time, but definitely in the future.

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

I agree with Ash48 about the choice of painting being deliberate.

Here's a short stab at analysis:

Medusa was a Gorgon. According to Ovid, she and her sisters were beautiful. She was raped by Poseidon and Athena turned her hideous so that people turned to stone when they saw her. Theseus got a special shield from Athena so he could view her in a mirror to kill her by beheading. Then, he carried her head as a weapon before giving it to Athena to place on her shield.
--http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medusa

So part of the myth is about power, and powerful artifacts, and who has the power. In one way, being Medusa is a curse -- but in another way, no one can rape you if you can turn them to stone. Medusa is considered a symbol of women's rage.

The painting really drew my eye in the episode and I've been pondering it for a while. Of all Cuthbert's paintings, it's the one that was most prominent.

So, most obviously, Cuthbert surrounded himself with weapons -- and got beheaded. He also was super creepy and pretty much demonstrated his willingness to rape Dean. And Dean was in fact the face of rage in this ep.

What's interesting is that it was Sam framed by the Medusa -- not Dean. Perhaps it's a way of showing that Sam is not unaffected by what's done to Dean.

I think too, it's just about the First Blade. The weapon they are trying to use is incredibly dangerous. It's an instrument of rage. It may deal out destruction that is unearned -- like Athena turning Medusa into a monster -- was that to punish her or protect her? Will having the Mark of Cain be a protection, or is it making Dean a monster?

Yeah, I absolutely think they deliberately used that painting and intended all these overtones. Set Design is one of the most intentional aspects of SPN!! It's NEVER a coincidence!!