Episode 4.11 Family Remains

SPN Georg

I know this is an episode that a lot of people forget exists (or really try to forget it exists). But for how truly terrible the rest of this episode is, that final scene with Sam and Dean under the bridge is *critical* to Dean’s character, and understanding the breaking point of s4, as well as Dean’s arc going forward. For like... the rest of the series. So yeah, I’m mad it’s at the tail end of an episode almost nobody rewatches because the rest of it is so terribly forgettable.

He didn’t just spent 40 years in Hell. He didn’t just break and get up off that torture table and pick up the razor and start torturing others to save himself. He *liked* it. He ENJOYED being the torturer, because it enabled him to let all that pain and suffering slide away, leaving him completely empty of feeling. Very demon-y. But also what he wishes he could feel again-- nothing at all. CRY WITH ME ABOUT DEAN PLS.

Also, this is the shortest episode of this podcast yet, for obvious reasons :’D

Things that may be of interest to listeners:

The Superwiki page for this episode

My tumblr tag for this episode (there’s only like 15 posts there)

But especially these four posts:

• Lizbob’s reply to someone asking about this episode being “bad”
• My June 2019 rewatch notes with Kripke’s quotes
• April 2017 rewatch notes
• a really nice shot analysis/appreciation by Lizbob

Casting sides for four members of the Carter family, the story arena (detailed outline presented to the network before writing began), and the Yellow Draft of the script

The wikipedia article about the X-Files episode “Home”

The CW Promo video for this episode

And a link to the X-Files/Supernatural crossover fic I wrote for gish 2022, in case anyone is into super meta with a side of crack fic :’D

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