On the up side, Jensen Ackles gave one of his most devastating performances ever, as Dean wrestles with his need to inflict vengeful pain on his enemy and his fear of becoming his enemy.
Ackles could have gone over the top in many scenery-gobbling ways, but to the credit of the actor and director Mike Rohl ("Folsom Prison Blues"), he didn't. Not even once. Ackles was fiercely restrained and ferociously committed, and it was stunning. Truly.
And even with tubes in his nose and cameras in his face, Ackles brings the pain, while Misha Collins' most-excellent Castiel brings the pathos. "Then you're screwed," Dean says, while the tears in his eyes say, "But not as screwed as I am."
On the up side, Jensen Ackles gave one of his most devastating performances ever, as Dean wrestles with his need to inflict vengeful pain on his enemy and his fear of becoming his enemy.
Ackles could have gone over the top in many scenery-gobbling ways, but to the credit of the actor and director Mike Rohl ("Folsom Prison Blues"), he didn't. Not even once. Ackles was fiercely restrained and ferociously committed, and it was stunning. Truly.
And even with tubes in his nose and cameras in his face, Ackles brings the pain, while Misha Collins' most-excellent Castiel brings the pathos. "Then you're screwed," Dean says, while the tears in his eyes say, "But not as screwed as I am."