Review: Supernatural, Season 6, Ep 17 "My Heart Will Go On"

Air date: April 15, 2011 9/8c

Rating: ★★★★★

Last we left the Winchesters and Bobby (Jim Beaver), Rufus had been killed by Bobby’s hand. It wasn’t Bobby’s fault; he was possessed by a demon, but that does nothing to alleviate his guilt over killing his close friend. Cue another grim episode. Just my thing.

Now, we see Bobby drinking and being surly with Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles). They’ve never seen Bobby like this so they do a silent “rock paper scissors” and stand there like fools, muttering platitudes. Mercifully, Bobby kicks them out because he doesn’t need to be “therapized.” This is good, because there is a job to do and people to save. It never ends.

Review: Supernatural, Season 6, Ep 17 "My Heart Will Go On" 1

Castiel (Misha Collins) tries to keep the brothers' lives out of Fate's hands

While a train whistle blows in the distance, we see Ellen (Samantha Ferris) go into Bobby’s house after the boys leave. It’s soon revealed that she’s his wife. If you recall, she died in season 5, along with her daughter, Jo. Immediately, you get the sense that something is not right. Thanks to Balthazar (Sebastian Roche), of all demons.

As the boys investigate a series of gruesome deaths in Chester, Pennsylvania, it becomes clear that the murders are related. They are connected to the people who should have died on the Titanic in 1912, but since Balthazar unsunk the ship, everyone survived (or, as Sam puts it, Balthazar “butterfly-effected history”). Thus, the Titanic is not a footnote in history. Fate (Katie Walder), as a prim librarian, is using her powers to wipe out the descendants of those people on the Titanic. She’s definitely got a thing for the Winchesters — she simply hates them. I guess when you’ve been around as long as they have, “hunting things and saving people,” you’re going to acquire an admirable bunch of enemies.

The storyline is all fine and good, except for the overabundance of pop culture references. It’s ridiculous how familiar the boys are with trivia. True, you do learn things in the most roundabout ways (as I do), but how is it possible that Dean is familiar with author Charles Bukowski, Ashton Kutcher in The Butterfly Effect, the Titanic film, and Celine Dion (OK, they’d know about Celine because of her hit theme song for Titanic)? How can they be so attuned to modern pop culture and be on the hunt as constantly as they are? The way I see it, you’d have to be somewhat involved in society, having normal conversations with folks. Whenever they interview people, it’s about murders and strange goings-on. They function on the fringes of society; they have to, because their concerns are more worldly and immediate. It’s just not plausible, and it really annoys me.

Not only that, but the reason Balthazar unsunk the Titanic is even more ridiculous. Get this: he hated Titanic! He “had a hate on for Billy Zane,” as Dean says. Really, I would’ve appreciated a more compelling reason for saving the Titanic. Balthazar is reduced to a joke, wielding his considerable power because he has a tantrum over a silly little film that is complete fiction. My mind boggled.

As reality happens, though, the Titanic has to sink. Balthazar has to get over his hate for the film and do the right thing. This means Ellen goes back to being dead. Only the brothers will have any memory of the “dream” they had of Balthazar and Fate. They do the wise thing, the merciful thing, and choose not to tell Bobby.

What I sort of liked, though, was the music. I recognized Blondie’s “One Way or Another,” which made me smile. The band was a big hit during my childhood. And, of course, the sappy Celine Dion song, which is the title, suitably so, of this episode.

Interestingly enough, I learned (not from this episode) that yesterday, April 15^th, was the 99^th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. If the writers got anything right, it’s their timing. Sure, the episode could’ve aired next year, but will Supernatural still be around?

Watch Supernatural Fridays at 8/9C on the CW.

[imagebrowser id=8]