Only six more days left!

[layne67]

'Dead Man's Blood'. The first of the three SPN episodes that deal with vampires. The episode that John came back and they joined forces hunting, just like old times.

This is when Dean has left for the funeral home to get the dead man's blood. Sam is alone with John in their motel room. He's pacing around, looking worried, because Dean's taking a long time. "I should go help." And on top of that, he's alone with his father, and I don't think he's comfortable with that, without Dean to act as a buffer. John's watching him, and he seems to decide something.


"Sammy. I don't know I've ever told you this, but the day you were born, you know what I did? I put a hundred bucks in a savings account for you. I did the same thing for your brother. It was a college fund, and every month I put in another hundred dollars until -- "

Sam's listening raptly to John saying that he has never intended that his sons to live the way they did. And that after their mother passed, all he could see was evil everywhere. He wanted to keep his sons alive, and somewhere along the way, "I stopped being a father."


John says they're too different, but Sam disagrees, saying that they have a lot more in common than just about anyone.


That's when Dean comes back with the dead man's blood and Sam looks visibly relieved that Dean's back.


I love this scene first and foremost because Sam was so obviously concerned that Dean was late. He was not used to being away from his brother and he probably had wanted to go with Dean. But I guess John ordered Dean to go alone, and of course Dean obeyed.

The second reason why I love this scene is the talk that Sam and John had while waiting for Dean. I love John here. I think this is the first time that I really understand what John was all about. He knew Sam was worried, so he tried to calm him down by telling him about the college fund, putting some humour in it at the end when he said that he ended up using the money to buy ammo. He tried to explain why he had to do what he did, and I think Sam understood. This is the only time that we see Sam and John having a father and son talk, and I think they bonded when they realized that they actually have a lot in common. Something that Dean knew already, and it was probably the main reason why they didn't get along, they were so alike - both stubborn and determined, leaders, both of them. And John called Sam "Sammy" without getting his ears bitten off!

Superb acting by JDM, and Jared, too. One brother worrying about the other brother, and a quiet moment between a head-strong son and his equally head-strong father. Amazing scene in its quiet intensity.

Seven

Caps from here and here.

Comments

[tj-smartz.livejournal.com]

See this is what I love about this count down. Seeing the different scenes that have *stuck* in each others mind. I love this scene but I would never have thought of it for my top ten.

Amazing scene in its quiet intensity.

Yes, it really is.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

The one thing that really stuck to my mind was Sam worrying about Dean. The Sam-John talk came later, after I've watched the show a few times . It really made me go all wibbly and fizzy and giddy to see Sam so worried about Dean. I do believe that he would have gone after Dean if Dean didn't turn up when he did.

[dev-earl.livejournal.com]

Oh, I ADORE the moment the both of them laugh at the ammo line. Dimples galore! ♥

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Aahh, now we know where Sam got those oh-so-adorable dimples from!!

[melyanna-65.livejournal.com]

I bet you're counting the hours! Just like I did when The Tudors was about to be broadcast in Italy!

It's a sort of sweet torture!

*hugs*

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Yes indeed, Mely my love, yes indeed!!!!

[leelust.livejournal.com]

Oh, i like this scene. Truth is i thought you'll choose previous scene when Dean asks his father about that phone call in Faith. But this one is good too. I'm not a Sam fan and i was touched. It starts as tension scene and end up as released and almost homy. And you're right - it was first attempt of John not to justify himself but try to explain... It must've been said w/o Dean cos it's Sam-John talk but i was sad Dean didn't see them talking as father and son.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

It starts as tension scene and end up as released and almost homy.

Exactly. John certainly knew what to say to release the tension. I wish Dean could see Sam and John bonding, too, because it would have made him so very happy to see his father and his little brother laughing with each other instead of fighting the way they usually do when they're together!!

[leelust.livejournal.com]

John certainly knew what to say to release the tension
Cos he knew his son well... it's small moments i so like in this show that indicate how characters related - we didn't see John much and we hear different opinions if him from his sons and now we were able to see how good as father John was (how bad as father he is we already see before). And again as in Shadow we saw how similar John and Sam are... the reason they fight so often.
I wish Dean could see Sam and John bonding,
The only thought that calms me down is that if Dean saw them together like that it'd be even harder to him to raise his gun on John in 222... of course he knew then that it wasn't his father but seeing scenes like this makes you softer and it's not good when your enemy is so merciless.

[willoweese.livejournal.com]

"But I guess John ordered Dean to go alone, and of course Dean obeyed."
I actually wondered if it was Dean's idea to go alone - the vampires had their scent, I'm betting Dean would have been worried that they might track them down and Sam could get hurt?

"I think this is the first time that I really understand what John was all about."
This was definitely the case for me. This scene was one of my inspirations for the fic I wrote from John's POV.

It's a simple scene, with a definite complexity (if that makes sense), and a wonderful choice, Layne :)

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Louise!

I think it probable too, that it was Dean's idea to go alone, and I love it that Dean's that protective of Sam. But Sam's a stubborn bugger, and I think he'd go no matter what Dean said if really wanted to. But with John giving the orders, no way Dean was going to let Sam go with him. We know how it was with Dean when it came to John.

[willoweese.livejournal.com]

That's true, I hadn't thought about it like that, but I think you could be right :)

[ala-tariel.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I don't remember these scenes. *runs quickly*

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Go watch it again! The whole episode is amazing and worth a second, third or a twentieth viewing!

[ala-tariel.livejournal.com]

I guess this episode is going to "what to watch next" list. :))

[chloe-amethyst.livejournal.com]

You write so eloquently about this scene. It's one of my favorites too. So much tension at first you could cut it with a knife, both with Sam's worry over Dean and his discomfort at being alone with Dad. And Dad does such a good job in the only way he can to reach out and connect with Sam, and Sam picks up on the connection finally. You're so right about Dean always knowing the two of them are so alike, yet Dean is always in the middle trying to keep the peace and make a family.

*smooch*

[layne67.livejournal.com]

I love it that John took the trouble to connect with Sam. I kind of hated him in 'Something Wicked', leaving his two small kids like that, letting young!Dean be in charge of his little brother. But he redeemed himself here!

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Great scene. I've been inspired to go back and watch the first season again, since you started putting up these posts. I watched "Faith" yesterday, trying to get a handle on the fic I'm hoping I can write. Then I watched "Home." I'd forgotten how intensely emotional that episode was. Jensen played it so well, all the way through, especially the phone call to his father, pleading with him to come and help if he even got the message. And Jared! When their mother came to protect them, the look on his face was enough to break my heart.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

I watched "Faith" yesterday, trying to get a handle on the fic I'm hoping I can write.

Oh honey, you have no idea how happy that makes me feel. You could see how dilligent Sam was when he was looking for Dean's cure. And Casey has cured lots of people, I'm quite sure at least one of them would write about his experience on the internet, and I'm sure Sam would have found it. Maybe it's the girl reporter, perhaps? Hee, I could kind of see Dean hitting on her, if they went and see her to ask about Casey ;DD

Hee, 'Home' is next on my Top Ten scenes!

[i-o-r-h-a-e-l.livejournal.com]

Sam was so obviously concerned that Dean was late

Oh, my heart...

[layne67.livejournal.com]

My heart, too, baby, my heart too ...

[majblomma.livejournal.com]

Oh god, honey, you seem to find all these gems. You bring them into a light I've forgotten all about. You should make posts about ALL your favourite parts because I love to read your thoughts. Yeah, I'm selfish like that and no, it's not a demand. ;P

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Omg the non-spn people on my flist would probably filter me out if I talked about ALL my favourite parts, because I would be spamming you guys morning, noon, afternoon, evening and night!

Thank you Cecilia, you made my day with this!!!

[ellie-fo-20.livejournal.com]

oh how i miss papa winchester. :(

i totally agree with you on how john and sam are so much alike, exactly why they butt heads

is it thursday already?

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Sam may not look like John much, but he sure does get his temperament from his father!!!

Thank you, Ellie :))