Having never been exposed to the show Supernatural before, it came across to me as a surprisingly fresh take on the concept of "fate" and "predestination" that are so often thrown into the mix of fictional stories such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, True Blood, or even Harry Potter. While all of these tales follow the theme that ones fate simply cannot be avoided, Supernatural really delved into how fate can have different interpretations as well as the idea that one does in fact have some sort of power over his own destiny. When Chuck tells Sam that he is doomed to be seduced by Lillith that night and thereby destroyed, both he and Dean are convinced that this gloomy fate is inevitable and cannot be reversed. However, as Sam continues to gain confidence in his own actions and decides to face Lillith instead of attempting to flee, the prediction is apparently reversed by Chuck's appearance and the conjuring of an archangel who destroys Lilllith. However, Liam's comment in class about how maybe Sam and Lillith's violent confrontation could be what the prophecy meant by "sinking into passion" and therefore fate did in fact prevail. This ambiguity of whether or not the root of the story is in favor or contra-to fate's role reminds me of the same sort of ambiguity that exists in An Occurrence at Owl Creek surrounding whether Peyton's vision is purgatorial or whether it actually occurs within the snapshot after his feet leave the bridge and before the noose tightens around his neck.
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