Yes, I know I always hone in on Sam for my analyses, but it’s hard not to when he’s my favorite character. This episode was really interesting in regards to Sam and his storyline, but before I even get into that, I went to talk about the title.
“Breakdown”
There are multiple ways this title can be looked at.
It’s a direct reference to the fact that people are literally getting broken down and taken apart by a human so that their organs can be sold to monsters.
Since this episode did a good job of getting into Sam’s emotions and getting more into his head it can be seen as referencing a break down of Sam’s psyche so that the audience can better understand him.
It can also basically refer to the fact that Sam is broken down at this point, he’s tired, he’s depressed, and the way his life is, with all the negative things that happen to him and the people around him, has just gotten to him. That façade he had put up in the first half of the season has essentially broken down.
Since I have a ton of thoughts about this the rest of my write-up of Sam’s storyline in this episode is under the cut.
I fucking swear if Rowena becomes a danger to anything besides Lucifer because of that spell–because SAM made an empathetic decision–I am going to be so righteously pissed.
This whole thing better not blow up into something that’s “Sam’s fault” because he actually gives a shit about people. That’s what the fuck I am saying,
Yeah, Ive been worrying about that too. If it happens, not only will it be “Sam is wrong because he cares” but also “Sam is wrong because he’s been victimized”. Ive already seen some posts saying that Rowena “played” him in the car scene. I just. Please dont do that, Show.
If anything, it should be the reverse – Rowena owes Sam now for freeing her, and by the rules of classical fairy-tale magic Sam should be rewarded down the line for his compassion.
However it goes, Sam wasn’t played; what he says at the end about hunting Rowena down if necessary makes it clear that he knows the risks, evaluated them, and decided it was the right thing to do in spite of them. (And it’s a bit similar to what he said back in “The Scorpion and the Frog” about dealing with the demon and then killing him, which worked out as planned?)
Jack, listen, Asmodeus tricking you, Dean, none of that is your fault. I think that after everything that’s happened, you’re probably scared to use your power, and me pressuring you certainly isn’t helping.
Rowena: How do you deal with [your memories of Lucifer]? Sam: I guess I don’t…deal with it. Not really. I mean… I’ve pushed it down and I… The world kept almost ending, so I keep pushing it down. I don’t know… I don’t really talk about it. Not even with Dean. I mean, I could. You know, he’s listen, but… It’s not something I really know how to share. Even if you do get the book. Even if you do get your power back, it won’t matter. You won’t ever be able to change what happened. You won’t be able to change how helpless you felt. Or how helpless you feel. You’re still going to get scared… and that feeling… that feeling never goes away. Rowena: Never? Sam: Never.
Backup bloh 