Skin
Initial Overview:
The incest crack cocaine episode. I didn't take any notes on this because I was too busy going crazy. I've linked some other people's metas and thoughts that I agree with in my stead.
Notes:
- Ciel Incesthemes posts on 2.11
- Ciel Incesthemes neocities page on 2.11
- A Sam Meta post from the spn-heavy-meta community on livejournal.
- Another livejournal post on A/B/O dynamics as they appear in the episode. This one is very interesting as it uses the A/B/O labels as a tool to examine the boys' roles in their quote-unquote "pack hierarchy" rather than just sexual dynamics. The comments are also well worth a read.
Some general assumptions: the gothic hotel is a commonly used motif in horrors that pervade incest stories. It has every hallmark of gothic horrors, from the past closing in on the future to the claustrophobic spaces it hosts. The use of these themes in Playthings contributes to the overall air of emotional incest to the point that it is regarded in most Wincest-focused circles as the quintessential Wincest episode. Not only does it use its surroundings, atmosphere, and storyline to heighten their uncomfortable closeness, but it also throws the ongoing character struggles into a sickly relief, compounding them rather than offering an out. In the most talked-about scene of the episode, Sam pries from Dean the same promise that started the season-- a directive from John ordering Sam's death should he get out of control. The conversation offers a valuable insight into Sam's actions in the prior episode as well as a new light to view him in through the rest of the season. Sam, as we find out, does believe in his freak nature, that he is guilty of the deaths of his loved ones simply because he exists. While this has been true about Sam through the show to this point (think Bloody Mary, Hunted, Croatoan) it is now apparent that his desire for deliverance in the form of punishment can only be executed through Dean. Meanwhile, Dean himself continues to be tortured by the last burden John placed upon him, and seeing Sam admit that he fears the same as John, it confirms Dean's fear that he tries to keep hidden from Sam, and because of this exposure he has to work twice as hard to maintain the image of Sam that he cultivates, that being innocence.