Supernatural 3x15 "Time Is On My Side" SPOILERS

[startrekwatcher]

I thought it was a good entertaining outing.

I liked Bela and never understood the hate she got. That said, I had no problem with how the writers resolved her arc on the show. In fact, I really liked it drawing on "Crossroad Blues" continuity. If there was one thing I would have done differently--had more of Bela and developed her a bit more. As it stands, it sort of felt like a rush job by briefly throwing in the flashes to her childhood. Too bad Dean never understood the real reason Bela had her parents killed. And it explains how she got into the occult and tracking objects. She was most likely looking for a way out of her deal. It would also possibly explain why she was willing to help Gordon although based on this episode it seems that Lilith didn't ask her to help eliminate Sam/Dean until after she stole the colt which was in "Dream a Little Dream" which would have been after "Fresh Blood".

I also must say the show had some effectively creepy or even disturbing moments sprinkled throughout. There is just something so viscerally unsettling about demented doctors using their medical knowledge to do harm in the most twisted ways or seeing certain medical procedures depicted on screen(lobotomies, shock treatment). The sight of him cracking open the jogger's chest and extracting his heart while fully alert and capable of pain was one of those instances(Nice use of the heart rate monitor too). I also thought the scene of Sam strapped with his eyelids forced open and the doctor caressing his arm reassuring him that despite being blinded he should survive was another well-done scene. Brrr. Overall the episode was very successful with creating a creepy atmosphere.

I liked Rufus and the episode did take a good step forward in making the reality of Dean's days being truly numbered truly hit home. Up until now it didn't seem as urgent. Hopefully, next week can go all the way.

We also learned that Lilith is both the new power trying to fill the power vacuum left by YED who wants Sam dead and the one holding the contract on Dean. That is interesting. I wonder if that was the plan all along or because of the shortened season they decided not to try to have two different players in two different threads so they decided to have them dovetail. It is interesting because she had the contract on Dean before Lilith had been released and before YED was removed from the picture.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

They had to scale back a lot of story because of the strike. The network's really got a tight hold on any specific spoilers for the finale. It looks to be a major tearjerker. The only tidbit that's gotten out is that Jim Beaver said Ackles got so into character he was crying for days in between takes. He couldn't lift out of his mood. Interesting.

 

[DS9Continuing]

Okay, seen it. Gotta go with the crowd and say it ruled.

I too appreciated the callback to "Crossroads Blues" with the use of the hell hounds. Although I did feel also that things were a bit rushed regarding Bela's characterisation. We've only just begun getting to know her, and she's gone. Can't be helped, I guess.

If I'm interpreting it right, Bela had her parents killed because they (or at least her father) were sexually abusing her, am I right? Just checking.

Yeah, I also think that the two "big" demons thing was artificially shoved together into just one big demon. But if she was around 10 years ago to deal with Bela, then presumably she's been out and about in the world since then. She wasn't released from hell in AHBL.

So I read Lilith like this - she must have been a fairly big deal already, since holding all the contracts of anyone who ever sells their soul for gain is a fairly big responsibility. And yet Azazel aka YED must have been an even bigger deal, somehow able to keep Lilith under heel. Maybe she was, like, Number #2 Demon. Now that Lilith is the biggest bad left (not through any action of her own, btw, but only because the Winchesters took Azazel out), she wants to also get rid of Sam simply because he was the one Azazel intended to take over after him.

Right?

 

[mswood]

That girl wasn't possessed by Lilith, but by another CRD. They possess whoever will appeal to the person they want to make a deal with. Lilith just holds the contracts, we never hear that she makes the deals.

You can tell by the red eyes.

So we don't have any evidence that Lilith was out before the devil's gate was opened. WHich would explain if she was still in hell why she would bring Sam back, and after she is free and YED is dead why she wants Sam dead.

I am curious when they did decide to use Lilith as the big bad, since there is I believe two references using male adjectives to describe it. Or it could have bee simple misdirection by the writers to shock them when we se it being a female demon that likes to take the form of little girls.

I loved this episode, one of the ones I think is an absolute classic.

 

[DS9Continuing]

That girl wasn't possessed by Lilith, but by another CRD. They possess whoever will appeal to the person they want to make a deal with. Lilith just holds the contracts, we never hear that she makes the deals. You can tell by the red eyes.

Okay, valid point.

I also meant to mention Rufus. I liked the character, but more than that, I liked the idea behind the character. Just when Dean's at his lowest point, trying to find any way out of going to hell, this guy comes along to tell him that even if he does get out of it, things ain't necessarily going to be better. That he's pretty much screwed either way, just because of the life he's chosen. But then, he didn't really choose it, his dad chose it for him. Just more reasons to hate the bastard.

I didn't mind the inclusion of Bela because I thought she was a good foil for Sam and Dean; sort of an Anti-Hunter because she knew what was out there, but didn't give a rat's arse and was only out for herself. I kind of felt sorry for her at the end of her arc. I'm sure if she'd known then what she knew at the end, she'd have never made the deal with Lilith. But she still wasn't a very nice person.

I never had a problem with Bela really. I guess that she was always looking for something to get her out of the deal - that's part of what got her into the wheeling-and-dealing - she'd make any deal to get out of it, just like Sam was willing to. It also explains why she kept bumping into Sam and Dean all over the place - she was hoping they would find a way out of her problem for her.

It's like Garak, the Boy Who Cried Wolf. She couldn't just ask for help - she's lied and double-crossed too many times. A very sad end.