Why? What is Robbie doing here?

Is it just simply a reference to the imprisoned feminine?

Piper in OITNB was imprisoned after she was enticed into crime because of being what she thought her lover wanted her to be. She then felt betrayed by her lover into an unjust imprisonment. The first season was all about her journey questioning who she thought she was, and perhaps concluding she wasn’t quite so innocent as she thought she was.

Or is he bringing Sam and the “imprisoned feminine” into association?

See butterflydm’s meta on the imprisoned feminine

So many themes of being hungry, worn out, and longing for more for Sam in this episode. Of experiencing intimacy, and feeling release and be succored by the encounter. But ultimately he wanted more than his partner wanted to give.

Why are there so many themes of perspective and POV these recent seasons? Why are we being drawn into feeling sympathy for The Darkness?

I keep thinking of Sam’s line about saving all of the people, even the ones who were killing because there was something wrong with them. This episode, too, was about saving the “monsters,” redeeming them and giving them peace.

Sleepsintheimpala points out that the need to break the chains that bind us, both literal and metaphorical, is an important theme this season.

Larinah pointed out that Sam was pictured flirting with yet another blonde woman at a cash register with key chains and poker chips All alluding to chains and keys and taking a gamble.

And so I wonder if we’re headed down a journey of the Winchesters trying to do things the old way. Fight the Big Bad of the season, but, ultimately, they learn to see things from The Darkness’ perspective.

And that the only solution isn’t about overpowering and imprisoning The Darkness, but the key to their problem is to take a risk, and save The Darkness, too.