SUPERNATURAL- Through “Death’s Door”

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I took some much-needed time to decipher exactly how I felt about “Death’s Door” and how it will affect the rest of Supernatural’s seventh season going forward. It would have been irresponsible to throw myself into writing about an episode as potentially game changing as this one without having a full grasp on it. Furthermore, it would have been disrespectful to the memory of Bobby Singer; perhaps the most well loved character on Supernatural. He deserved a time of mourning. He will be fondly remembered and terribly missed.

I have been rather critical of this season thus far. There’s been way too much angst and not enough fast burning plots. The character development (sure let’s call it that) for Sam and Dean has been a mish mash of recycled material acting as a placeholder while the writers figured out what the heck the storyline for this season will be. As it stands, now that we’ve reached the midseason finale, we still don’t have a solid idea of where this season will lead us. This hasn’t been like prior seasons where we could forsee what the endgame would be (Season 1 was finding John Winchester, Season 2 was killing Yellow Eyes, Season 3 was dealing with Dean’s crossroad deal, and so on). At this point in time, all I can say for certain is Sam and Dean will fight the leviathans. That’s about the only solid goal that’s been built up. However, there is another way the show could, but I’ll get to that in a minute.

I absolutely adore Bobby, but I will be the first to tell you I’m glad he was killed off. To clarify, I simply mean it was a wise choice to not save him. I’d prefer he was allowed to live without ever being in danger, but that’s not the route the writers chose. They chose to shoot him in the head, and to me the only logical thing for them to do from there was to just let him die. Bobby died once before (Season 5 finale) and was brought back, so to do so a second time would have felt hokey. Not only did this episode give Bobby’s character closure (openly admitting he basically adopted Sam and Dean as his own children, thus becoming the father he never felt he could be), but allowed him to slip away while still managing to be useful one last time.

I enjoyed the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind approach to the old belief that your life flashes before your eyes before you die. It promised us a glimpse at Bobby’s dark past, showing us sides of him we’ve never seen. Taking a memory of Rufus along for the ride was a fun touch as well. And as great as this all was, it would have been garbage if not for the terrific (as always) acting abilities of Jim Beaver. He owned this episode, as he rightly should. Only a few scenes with Sam and Dean were sprinkled through out, and while they both gave great performances as well (the look in Dean’s eyes as he realized Bobby was gone was heart breaking), they couldn’t hold a candle to Bobby’s final confrontation with his parents and younger self. And of course Bobby saved his best memory for last, which just had to be a night watching movies with his sons.

Finally, Bobby’s death could serve as a catalyst to set the Winchesters on a fiery path of revenge. So far this season they’ve been a depressing couple to watch, as they were slowly cut off from the world and drowned in guilt and shame. But through losing the Impala and having to sleep in a dinky cabin, they still had Bobby. Without him, what do the Winchesters have to lose anymore? They truly have no one left to fight their battles for them, no one to help them shimmy their way out of a tough spot. They are on their own, and I can bet they’ll be pissed. First Castiel, now Bobby? You can’t tell me you don’t see a serious revenge story coming, right? That’s just the red hot fury this season needs to kick things into high gear. The boys have played it safe so far, but let’s see how dangerous they can be. That’s my wish for the new year; Dean and Sam looking for bloody revenge.

RIP Bobby Singer.

5 Comments

1. 

   SallyAnne

   December 4, 2011 at 10:21 am

   Agreed entirely. I am happy he died, it was a beautiful end and way to finish a fine character’s arc on this show. And the idea of Sam and Dean alone left to fight with literally each other being all the have left amps up the drama and gives them their fight back. I found it a brave move and I’m excited for what this’ll mean to our boys. Also the moment Jared touched his hand trying to make Sam hope it was a hallucination got the saddest moment for me. He wanted so badly for it to not be real. Just perfect.

   Reply
   • 

     Jeanabeth

     December 4, 2011 at 8:07 pm

     That moment with Sam touching his hand was one of my cry moments, so beautiful. That and Bobby’s “They’re my boys” comment to the Reaper – simple and perfectly delivered by Jim Beaver.

     I’m not at all happy Bobby’s dead – it breaks my heart – but I’m willing to ride along to see where the writers take this now that they’ve stripped the boys of all support.

     Reply
2. 

   Sp2

   December 4, 2011 at 12:18 pm

   Happy he died? I’m just not sure. I love Sam and Dean . . . and Dean’s character was stirring this week (the hospital employee that came about Bobby’s organs, his confrontation with Dick, the way he’s coping with all they’ve been through . . .), but I can’t see them making it without Bobby. Who do they call when they need something? Bobby. He’s the lore guy. He’s got the books. He’s an integral part of their work. I think that if Castiel doesn’t, somehow, make a last minute appearance to save him, they will have to replace him, and that’s tough.
   Having said that, I know that Castiel is dead, and that Bobby’s lasting death would add major gravity to the show. Nevertheless, the writers have suggested that Castiel’s story is not over, so . . .
   But, as you said, a bloody, revenge arc would be fantastic, but the writers have also talked about kind-of a monster of the week deal, haven’t they?
   In any case, thanks for your post, and I look forward to the second half of the season.
   Cheers

   Reply
3. 

   Betty Talley

   December 4, 2011 at 11:29 pm

   If Bobby is killed off (and I say IF) the writers are making a huge mistake. Bobby is the anchor of the storyline. Bobby is there to pull the guys out of the fire when it gets too hot. Bobby is the one who does all the research. Bobby is the one who knows more about what is going on then the boys do. Killing Bobby is foolish. I hope they are smarter than those out there who say killing him off is a good idea.

   Reply
4. 

   deeks

   December 6, 2011 at 4:25 pm

   I know the show is about Sam and Dean but I feel like without Bobby there is no show. If Bobby is gone forever then I want this to be the last season. I know you and others think this should be it for Bobby because of how beautifully it was done and it would be a waste if they brought him back by some miracle, But I want him back. They’ve made me sob tears of sadness (which is something that never happens) and completely destroyed me. They have to fix this. I don’t care if it takes away any sense of realism this show has.

   Reply