On further review: 13.19, "Funeralia"

[caranfindel]

Sometimes I have to sit and think about this episode. About this scene.

I have to think about Sam, anxious but defiant. As he always is.




And then he's not defiant. Then he's just anxious. Frightened. And vulnerable.





And how, in the past, we've seen him face his oncoming death with a sneer. How we've always know his last words were either going to be Dean! or fuck you, asshole.

But not this season.

In season 13, he's been in this position twice. At the monster auction, he didn't plead, he barely struggled, he just closed his eyes when the gun was held to his temple. And in this episode, he did plead with Rowena. After all, they have a connection. For once, it seemed like he might have a chance of talking someone out of killing him.





And maybe he's less willing to die this year? Maybe, with Jack and Mary, he feels like there's more of an upside to him being alive? Particularly with Jack, maybe he feels like he's needed by someone who needs protection and guidance in a way Dean doesn't?




And when Rowena's plan fails, and she has to face her loss, he has sympathy for her. For the woman who just tried to kill him. Because he's Sam Winchester.



All I know is, I think about this scene a lot. And not just for the obvious reasons.



Although those obvious reasons are, well... they're glorious.

(And yes, it turns out his last word was Dean. I think about that a lot, too.)


(Screencaps from Home of the Nutty, edited by me.)

Comments

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

Ruth Connell was asked at the con this weekend about that scene and whether the tearing of the shirt was supposed to be sexy...she said it was done because flannel doesn't conduct electricity...

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

Ooooh! I like that. But let's face it, it was ALWAYS gonna be sexy.

[juliasets.livejournal.com]

I asked that question! I meant for it to be a little funny. Obviously it was scripted, but what a perk of the job!

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

You're doing the lord's work, dear!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Ok, now I've done ogling the many stills showing Sam's pecs, chest hair and tattoo - I clearly need to rewatch this episode as I've totally forgotten what on earth was going on.

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

Given the pecs and the chest hair and the tattoo (and you forgot the THROAT), does it even matter what was going on?

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Probably not, but you've been serious and meta'd so now I need to know!

[marciaelena.livejournal.com]

I rewatched this episode last night because of this post. It was a pretty solid one. Even the angel stuff was less annoying than usual. But yes, the best (and most important scene) of the episode was this one. I do love scared/defiant Sam, and I love his compassion for Rowena. And when the pretty is this pretty, well... ::fans self::

And of course, the fact that his last word was Dean when he died a couple of episodes later just kills me. I think about their deaths a lot, how dying is not as easy for them as they make it sound sometimes, but how watching each other die is a million times worse, no matter how many times they have to go through it.

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

It *is* a good one, isn't it? I didn't rewatch it but I did go re-read my recap. And yes, either of them would rather die themselves than watch the other die, and that's one reason why I love them!

[marciaelena.livejournal.com]

Agreed! There are lots of reasons why I love them, but that's one of the top ones. Oh, Sam. Oh, Dean. <3 The way they love each other is truly epic and devastating.

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

I can't stop watching that last gif (what he is doing with his tongue?!)

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

Let's watch it a few (hundred) more times and try to figure it out...

[gidgetgal9.livejournal.com]

Love your thinky thoughts!

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

<3

[lira-chimera.livejournal.com]

Love this series of images and the gif but especially love your take on Sam. I love both the brothers (and Cas, too) and feel that you can't have one without the other but Sam... he's just very special to me and not just because he's pretty. In fact, that has little to do with it. His courage despite being almost constantly abused in some way or another is just heart breaking. And inspires courage in me, too. And I sure do need that these days.

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

Yes, all of this.

[lira-chimera.livejournal.com]

<3

[juliasets.livejournal.com]

Rando just showing up to say: this episode was everything. I love what they did with Rowena in Season 13. I love that Sam got to be right to trust someone (for once). Their interactions were so wonderful. The revelation that Sam will be the one to ultimately kill her? Sam's determination to change fate for her? His compassion for her situation? Rowena not wanting to kill Sam? Everything about them, I love it.

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

Yes! I hope TPTB don't drop the "Sam is fated to kill Rowena" storyline. And the fact that Sam was right to trust her, since she ended up saving their asses, is heartwarming and also needs to be remembered.