PigNaPoke
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Yes, it’s a huge shift, I give you that. But I don’t hate it. New creative team comes with some changes. I get that. And I was more than willing to give them a chance if that meant more SPN.
And if you look at the season as a whole, they gave us a lot of great episodes, in season six! Some real classics like Clap your Hands and Frontierland and French Mistake
I hated the weirdness between Sam and Dean at the beginning of the season, but it was clearly a plot point and I kept believing that they will find back together. Especially after Sam says right in the first episode of Season 6 that “it’s just better with you around”. So whatever was wrong with Sam at least didn’t mean he was willing to let him go.
I loved the addition of Lisa and Ben, the challenges that posed for Dean. His instinct to protect them, coupled with the paranoia of always expecting the worst case scenario. Those scenes were great in this episode and during the rest of the season! And something fresh and new to the show. Dean suddenly had somewhat of a new ally. She was patient and tried to give him the benefit of the doubt when he messed up and made the huge decision that SOME of Dean was better than none of Dean. Willing to give him the space he needed to make himself stay sane. I really enjoyed all that. Dean suddenly had unwavering support from another partner. That made up for a lot of the oddness with Sam.
The story line of Sam not having a soul was also really interesting to me and I thought they did an excellent job of trying to figure out what that actually means and how it would change Sam. And Jared did GREAT at portraying it.
This CASE however, wasn’t my thing at all. The baby stuff was kinda cute but also silly. The jokes were too obvious with the whole men don’t know how to deal with kids trope is TIRED. And the way we find out about Alphas is convoluted and kinda boring.
And I REALLY disliked the Campbells, however, Dean’s conflict with and distrust of them makes it interesting to watch and Mitch is so so good and easy to hate. LOL
The beginning of season 6 definitely feels like WE ARE DEAN! Confused and thrown out of our comfort zone, but determined to keep going and figuring it out. It’s unsettling and uncomfortable, but I don’t hate it.
His talk with Lisa at the end of this episode is wonderful. Open and honest, full of self-doubt, Dean is not “our” confident hunter right there, but he is BRAVE enough to let himself be vulnerable and admit to Lisa that he’s scaring himself and doesn’t want to be like his own father. He trusts her to understand OR send him packing, basically giving his fate into her hands. And then he’s surprised by her open-minded answer. LOVE THAT.
And I didn’t see the Impala montage as goofy. To me he looks proud of his car and relieved of not having to make an either/or decision. I didn’t read it as happy to be leaving his family, but as happy to get back to his purpose AND have a family to come back to. Big difference.
It’s almost like Lisa’s unquestioning support of Dean here replaces Sam in some ways. Or at least makes up for Sam’s LACK of support at the moment.
I will ALWAYS love and be grateful for Lisa! She is such great character and excellent depiction of a strong, capable, independent and caring woman! And SERIOUSLY gorgeous and kick ass. It must have been intense for her to have Dean home in such broken state at the beginning. She’s so patient and understanding. Glad that Dean had her to seek shelter at because without her, I am sure he would’ve just “hunt himself to death” out of grief.
I love the collage at the beginning of Dean’s OLD and NEW life! And you slowly see Dean seem at least comfortable and smiling, if not exactly enthusiastic about his current circumstances.
He’s watching out for people again – family – and trying to find a new purpose, but without losing himself or his skills.
And I LOVE the Bob Seger song under it all. I think that’s the first time we had Bob Seger music?
I do like the case Dean seems to be working and the way they keep making us guess, if it actually IS a case or if Dean is just overly paranoid.
Then we get the shock to see Azazel back. WHAT? Just to be killed by Sam. WHAAAT?
The episode does a very good job at putting us in Dean’s shoes! Totally thrown for a loop between Sam’s ODD behavior – so nonchalant about not immediately coming to see him, hunting with some strangers (family or not) – Samuel being back, other parts of Mary’s family still being in the business, BOBBY knowing Sam was back and not telling him. It’s a LOT to absorb and we get to experience that alongside Dean. His feelings of betrayal at the two people who are his family but kept him in the dark. The feelings of regret that something endangered his new family. The loathing at the entire situation. The temptation at what Samuel is offering with the hunting family. His insecurity of not knowing 100% what is the right thing to do right here. It’s all very palpable.
Bobby’s “don’t touch the décor, assume it’s all loaded” comment when Lisa and Ben get there is GREAT!
LOVE IT when Lisa tells Dean that he’s an idiot, basically ripping him a new one for seemingly giving up on her and Ben. Dean needs to hear that he IS worth her effort and love and that Ben is looking up to him and that he has a place there.
NEVER liked any of the Campbells and how they make fun of Dean for trying to live a more normal life! (The GOLF thing must have been a stab at JENSEN’S hobby, right? Because under NO circumstances would DEAN have picked up golf. LOL) And then we immediately find out that there is something else going on with Samuel and Dean’s suspicion at something being off is actually DEAD ON!
The end of the episode feels ominous. Having Dean basically send Sam away, actually letting him go AND offering him the Impala, because he feels more dutybound to Lisa and Ben right now is HUGE. Putting anything before Sam is new and BIG for Dean, but we can also clearly see that Sam is different and that Dean doesn’t know what to make of this new version and doesn’t feel the same connection to him at the moment. It’s heartbreaking seeing Dean ALMOST wave at Sam as he drives away, but letting his hand fall back down in the end.
I remember feeling uneasy watching the beginning Season 6 for the first time, but keep believing that there has to be an explanation and that Dean will find it.
And YES, this episode looked very different than season 1-5 SPN, more saturated colors, but I honestly thought it was intentional for THIS episode because Dean’s life was so different.
It only became clear later that this was apparently the “new look” the CW wanted for the show. Sad. I missed the grit and darker colors of early SPN, BUT I found the subject matter and tone was still PLENTY dark and scary, so I never disliked the show or season for the new look alone.
Of course, one of THE BEST episodes ever.
My favorite of it all being the Chuck monologue tying it all together. THAT collection of lines about the Impala and depicting Sam and Dean’s life with her is PERFECT and MOVING and the core of what we love about the show.
GREAT conversation between Dean and Sam right at the beginning. There is SO MUCH MORE unsaid stuff in there. It’s huge for Dean to pay Sam the respect to make his own decision. He admits that it’s no longer his right or responsibility to tell Sam what to do. He did the best he could to bring Sam up and protect him to this point and he’ll be there to keep fighting with him BUT it’s up to Sam to decide.
Then there is the way he says it’s been his job to look out for Sam but it’s also WHO HE IS. Implying that he doesn’t really know what to do or who he’ll be without Sam. Chilling truth here. He says “Maybe I got to do a little growing up too” meaning LETTING GO of who he sees himself being as Sam’s protector. That’s HARD to do and another huge sign of trust and respect to Sam.
All that is made so much more momentous because Dean had to find his way back to seeing Sam as trust worthy after the demon blood thing! BIG BIG stuff here in between the lines of this conversation.
This was where Mark Pellegrino was at his most chilling. So casual and logical but cruel. Not a caricature but really exciting to watch and scary.
Jared does a fantastic job in the conversation with himself! Very believably TWO different people. I just never understood the point Lucifer is trying to make when he goads Sam into getting “a little payback” for the way his whole life was manipulated. Why make Sam kill all of these demons in his brain?
Still hurts to watch Dean’s disbelief that Cas and Bobby have given up. But he keeps doggedly putting one foot in front of the other and NOT giving up. Love him so much!
I also think Dean HOPES that if he goes to Stull simply to be there for Sam, that he WILL die in the possible fall out of the big prize fight and NOT need to deal with life thereafter (aka without Sam).
Mistress Magda! HA! CHUCK. Funny that WE know he’s God….and God is up for some phone sex before the world ends. Sorry, I guess that’s blasphemy? But I don’t belong to that club.
It is SOOO HARD to watch Sam/Lucifer beat Dean up so badly in Stull Cemetery. I watched this episode soooo many times, but I am still flinching and working hard not to look away in this scene. UGH!
They did a good job making us believe how strong Lucifer is in Sam’s body by the ease in which he handles Dean and severity of Dean’s injuries. But I always always had to think about how SAM would feel inside his body without control to stop hurting his brother.
Tough conversation in the car between Dean and Cas. “You got what you asked for. No paradise. No hell. Just more of the same.” Well, not REALLY. Dean didn’t ask for nothing. He just didn’t want the world to end. He shoulda let Crowley negotiate FOR him with Death, I guess, Crowley would have drawn up some contract loop holes. Just kidding, of course.
But “what would you rater have: Peace or Freedom?” always bugged me. Why can’t there be peace IN freedom? Peace means you are bound in some way? Is Peace = Ignorance? And because they chose to save the world there cannot be peace? That’s a sucky end.
I wonder if Dean was supposed to be breaking down and crying when he arrives at Lisa’s? We all know Jensen CAN pull that out of his hat without trouble, but they made another choice here. I like how he’s skating on the very edge of a breakdown here, but doesn’t fully lose it. It’s effectively showing us HOW STRONG he really is and how important Sam’s wishes are to him.
I swear the first time I watched Sam reappear and look in on Dean’s new family without any expression, I thought he WAS Lucifer come back to earth. And then we sat around MONTHS without knowing. LOL. I don’t remember if we knew already that the show would continue?
Anyhow. EXCELLENT episode and exit for Eric Kripke!
Poor Dean. The amount of shit he has to deal with right at the beginning. His exasperation over Sam’s idea to jump into the cage. And that Bobby knew about that. And then finding out that Cas is out for the count right on the heels of that. Anyone else would crawl under the desk and start drinking. Of course, Dean drinks AND keeps fighting. 🙂
The phone conversation with HUMAN Cas in the hospital is HILARIOUS.
Glorious surveillance…lol…funny to see the boring side of hunting on occasion. I liked the static effect on the screens to disguise Pestilence!
I do have a hard time with all the sickness scenes, though, so I forward through those. YUCK. The actor is great, though.
I always forget that CAS is the one that actually overpowers Pestilence and cuts the finger off. Yay, Cas!
LOVE Crowley in this episode. He is at his most snarky and petulant. HEHE. SO MANY good one liners!
The conversation about the Crowley/Bobby kiss didn’t age well with Bobby being SO outraged over the kiss, BUT I still love that Crowley actually took a picture.
Never noticed the UGLY shirt Sam’s wearing when he has the talk with Dean in the garage. It has glowy red snaps and some weird flower pattern. Yikes.
I love the scene where Crowley gives Bobby the use of his legs back. There is so much tension at first and they’re all stuck in such dire outlook of the future, but in that one tiny moment Sam, Dean and Bobby all look SO HAPPY and awestruck – it’s lovely.
Any scene EVER with Julian Riching’s Death in it are favorites of mine! He is soooo dammed great and the way he and Jensen play off each other is such a treat to watch. It all starts with the pizzeria scene in this episode, of course, and sets the tone perfectly for their later “relationship”. Dean never loses his respect and slight fear over dealing with DEATH while at the same time trying to keep his bravado showing. It’s delicious to watch Jensen bring that to life so convincingly. Through HIS reaction we are never left forgetting how powerful Death really is.
One of my favorite Bobby lines ever is also in this episode “Highkicks – Fair. Boobs need work.” HAHA
The last line of the episode is stupid….”What are you afraid of, Dean? Losing or losing your brother?” Well. DUH. Whaddaya think?
Anyhow. GREAT episode otherwise.
LOVED early Crowley!!! He was so much more British in his dialogue with things like “fancy a fag and a chat” and such.
Mark S. is so fun to watch in his character choices, speech patterns, gestures. A real delight.
And he has such great dialogue and the perfect way to deliver it. The fact that “they ate my taylor” is so much more important than the burnt down house….lol.
He is SO DEVIOUS!! And completely unapologetic! Love him so much.
Glad to see Eric Jonson as Brady. He was Whitney on Smallville for all of season 1 and 2 and I really liked the actor. He was totally sweet, earnest and square in Smallville as Lana Lang’s boyfriend and he’s so evil here. Nice job.
LOVE the scene with Sam and Bobby on the phone! It’s a rare moment of total open conversation between them. Sam lets himself be vulnerable in asking for Bobby’s opinion on his plan, before even alluding to Dean about it, and Bobby is immediately and wonderfully “fatherly” protective.
I thought the most important insight in this episode was the interesting twist with Brady being part of Sam’s past and how demons were placed around him to plant game pieces and keep Sam on track! And the fact that Brady is the one who killed Jessica was particularly hurtful. (There’s a lot of iconic Sam slanted “cat eye look” in this episode. HAHA. Poor guy’s constantly pissed or suspicious) GLAD that Sam’s view of the bigger picture won out over his impulse to kill Brady at the first encounter!
GODS, I wouldn’t use water from the GRIMEY sinks Sam and Dean keep using!! YUCK.
I LOVE the moment where Dean catches the coin and Sam barks “I TOLD you” and Dean does the funny little body wiggle and says “Well, good for youuuu.” Too funny.
The hellhound standoff and fight is AWESOME!! I hope they’ll talk about HOW that was done in the SPN Then and Now podcast when they get to this episode!
The scene with Sam killing Brady is a little superfluous to me. I like that Dean lets Sam have some revenge on the demon on Brady, but we don’t learn anything new in the scene and it drags on too long.
Bobby and Crowley together are also great fun to watch! I am not crazy for the idea that Bobby would agree to sell his soul to Crowley for Death’s location….but then we don’t know yet what selling your soul does to you.
Even though not much happens in this episode, I really enjoy it because of all the Crowley time!
PNP
CRAP….ok, writing my review again….I typed it here and hit submit and it kicked me out. GRRR.
I always LOVED this episode for the distinct SPN way to deal with the Judeo-Christian religion’s arrogance by throwing most other pantheons in the world at it! HA!
Kali’s speech says it all and makes a brilliant point! Everyone else has been on this planet longer! There are BILLIONS of people believing in other religions! By those pure facts Christianity is NOT superior to any of the older religions.
Of course, then we see that none of the other religions have it all figured out either. Their gods are just as flawed and vulnerable to human emotions like jealousy, power hunger, deceit, need for approval and so on and prone to bad decision making. Still, I appreciate the effort they put in to avert the apocalypse (and thank the writers for coming up with this).
Really enjoyed the little montage giving us a quick clue as too how some of these gods are. I thought the guest actors chosen were very good and brought their roles to live convincingly. (Although, Odin REALLY ought to have only ONE eye! It’s important.)
The actress playing Kali was appropriately cold and terrifying! Very scary.
It’s also hilarious how she cuts down Dean’s advance without even looking and with only one word “NO”! Although…..judging by later action from Gabriel with her….maybe she’d found Dean very interesting if he’d not taken no for an answer. LOL.
It’s sweet how Dean is hanging on to the believe that they cut a lucky break with this swanky and awesomely retro hotel for as long as he can while Sam is suspicious all along. I mean, who DOESN’T love a pie buffet and chocolates on your pillow? (“Please let it be tomato soup.” Hehe)
Later, I LOVE Dean’s bravado in standing up to a room full of gods and the way we can clearly see how terrified Dean is to do it, but how he completely believes it’s the only way to at least try to get out of the mess. At the same time Sam gives him the gigantic eyeroll, but we also see with him that Sam’s scared for Dean. GREAT acting on both sides.
There are a lot of fun twists and turns in this episode! Very enjoyable to watch, even for the umpteenth time.
I think it’s one of RSJ’s best episodes! He really shows a lot of different layers to his character here. Love his snark, his confidence, his way to try to play both sides, but there are also softer moments when talking to Kali and later Lucifer. Really nice!
The scenes between Gabriel and Lucifer are very impactful. Both actors must have had a blast playing these. I am STILL shocked every time that Lucifer DOES kill Gabriel in the end.
Lucifer’s entrance is great, brutal and indifferent, and although I don’t like that Lucifer is automatically more powerful than all the older gods, I can understand that it would be the case on U.S. territory where Christianity reigns (as misguided as it so often is).
I also always loved that the big reveal regarding the Horsemen’s rings and Lucifer’s cage is delivered by Gabriel inside the Casa Erotica video!! How very appropriate for the Loki personality of Gabriel and a brilliant way to make sure Dean actually listens.
I have to admit that I never watch the very end of this episode anymore! Pestilence’s arrival on the scene and his contamination of the gas station is JUST TOO GROSS for me.
PNP
AMAZING Episode!!!
SO much happening, it’s hard to believe it’s only 45 minutes.
Yeah, JBB, that scene at the bar where Zachariah is bitching about work like a normal human with very relatable complaints is PERFECT. He complete disregards for anything but himself is so clear on display and brilliantly portrayed by Kurt Fuller. So much fun to watch him being the arrogant ass he is.
TOUGH scene between Sam and Dean in the beginning. Dean still in giving up mode, Sam won’t let him. Dean giving him shit about running himself and daring him to try and stop him when he’s “not all hopped up on demon blood.” But I also think that this scene clears the air a little and I like that Sam admits that he was wrong for many times he ran away.
OOFTA, the scene between Dean and Bobby (and Sam) is another doozy! Dean’s all itching to get to say yes and at least save as many people as he can by letting Michael ride him, reminds me of Sam in season 4 being all convinced that only he can save the world by letting the demon blood give him strength…. Shame that Dean can’t see that in this moment and remember that it’s never boded well for them to have an outside influence dictate their actions.
Him snarking at Bobby that he’s not his father is a low blow, but shows how on edge Dean truly is here. But it still stings majorly! And the way Bobby responds with showing them the gun and single bullet and telling Dean that he’s only hanging on because Dean has demanded that he wouldn’t give up is the PERFECTLY chilling counter! WOW.
I love how they show us Cas’ strength by the way he pulls Adam out of his grave with one hand. It’s awkward and funny, but also reminds us that Cas has great power.
I remember watching this the first time I had hope that maybe NOW the three brothers would have a new start and get to know each other for real a little. But we immediately find out that the angels have gotten to him already and tainted his perception of Sam and Dean. SO SAD!
I did always find it a little annoying that Adam was THAT gullible! Him buying the whole promise the angels made to him about seeing his mom again seemed very childlike to me. I wish the writers would have given us some nugget of knowledge how Adam might have been brought up in a religious household to give this some believability for me. BUT Jake did a great job playing Adam and making him seem both younger that the age he was supposed to be by this naiveté and older that his age in his demeanor. Hard to pull off.
It’s a little funny how Dean seems to be feeling insulted by having been moved on from! HA! He didn’t want to be an angel condom….then he wanted to say yes….and now THEY don’t want him anymore and he’s pissed about THAT.
HEARTWRENCHING scene in the Safe Room between Dean and Sam. UGH. Understandable that Dean feels still betrayed and hurt and scared Sam’s gonna make a wrong decision again, but MAN…harsh words “I don’t believe in you.”!!!
But I LOVE that it’s not deterring Sam from still having ALL the trust in Dean and telling him so in that later Safe Room scene when he uncuffs Dean. Both scenes have so much honesty from them, even if it’s harsh to hear, it’s refreshing and the only way they can function together successfully.
Good balance between those two scenes.
Another great scene is when Cas finally snaps and gives Dean a piece of his mind that he rebelled for him and gave everything up for him and that he expected better! Dean needed to hear that. Needed to know that someone as powerful as Cas had the faith in him to be able to stand up to Heaven, even if that believe is currently called in question.
Great twist to find out that Zachariah only every needed Adam as BAIT! WOW. Adam only ever gets screwed in this show. Poor guy.
ANOTHER every greater twist to see Dean actually has a plan…or maybe it just occurred to him, like he later says to Sam, but we are fully let to believe that this is IT. Dean is back to being desperate to save his family and willing to do anything. Well, he had told Sam he would say YES, but Sam and we didn’t REALLY believe that, did we. That whole scene is such a rollercoaster of emotions until Dean looks at Sam and fucking WINKS!!!! HA!
OUR DEAN IS BACK! Snark in the face of impossible odds, check! Brave action with split second’s notice, check! Putting family first, CHECK!
Stabbing the surprised Zachariah in the head! YES!
And the last scene in the car is also wonderful. Really making me believe that Dean has had an attitude adjustment and is back in the saddle.
LOVE that he gives Sam the acknowledgement that he’s a grown man and deserves some respect, but that Dean is still his big brother and always will be. AAAWWW.
I LOOOOVE THIS SHOW!!! SO SO SO GOOD!
PNP
Very good episode….and I HATE it. LOL
The story is interesting and scary and ominous and seems very very real. Looking at a community of “believers” led by a false prophet and the fall out from that has not lost its punch or significance even now. Or maybe especially now, when anything from a crooked politician like Trump to some nameless, faceless hate-sayer on Twitter to some brainless Tic Toc influencer is enough for HOARDS of people to run after them and preach their crap without thinking or research or even applying a shred of common sense.
Watching this episode reminds me of all that’s wrong with TODAY’s world. That said, it’s great TV because exactly that same reason.
The guest stars are as always very well cast! Pastor Gideon and Leah are both believable.
I HATE the episode, because I HATE seeing Dean like this – hopeless, disinterested, going through the motions without any clear goal in sight. UGH! Coming directly on the heels of the visit to Heaven and the realization that no help from on high is to be expected, Dean seems to have given up trying. The difference here to me is that Dean isn’t desperate. We’ve seen him desperate and sad and cornered and still snarky and ready to punch something until it’s over. But here he’s – EMPTY. Out of gas and disengaged and THAT we haven’t seen from Dean Winchester and it’s impactfully awful!
It’s also painful to watch how Sam is trying so hard to get Dean’s head back in the game. Get him some motivation back and make him understand that they are not out of moves.
Sam is impressive in this episode to me because he’s carrying all the weight in a way. I love how he at first seems to be ready to buy into the community sense, the hunting with back up etc, but quickly becomes suspicious and starts to see it for what it is.
Dean is no real help right now. Then he has to wrangle a drunken Cas into a semblance of himself (SUPER FUNNY SCENES! Love both Jared and Misha in this) and try to convince the Padre to kill his own daughter. And then he watches helplessly when Dean runs away. Poor Sam, he really had a shit load of heavy crap on him this episode.
It’s also really interesting how killing the Whore of Babylon, which can only be done by a true servant of heaven, seems to be the thing convincing Dean to give up on Team Free Will and say yes to Michael. In a way it seems like a further giving up. It’s not a way to take action but to give over control to someone else. VERY UNLIKE Dean Winchester.
And of course his “good bye” scenes with Lisa are absolutely heartbreaking. Both actors are stellar in these moments. The way Cindy makes us see how happy Lisa is to see Dean with a tentative, very controlled, but no less intense joy; then we can clearly feel the desperation to keep him there (Take the damned beer, Dean!) and the quiet but profound sadness when she realizes this isn’t a reunion but a good-bye; it’s ALL BRILLIANT! She is so real and relatable in this role and it all plays beautifully off the depth of emotions we are used to seeing from Dean.
Some of my favorite – sad – moments in the whole series here! And I love that they DIDN’T kiss here. It made the unfulfilled hope even more palpable.
Yeah, GOOD episode but very difficult to watch for me.
PNP
The first scene is masterful right out of the gate! Dean recognizing the hunter’s voice is so very very “Dean”, and he turns on the charm, trying to talk them down. The way they blow Sam away is so very violent. If anything, I would expect a bit more of a complete panic response from Dean and you can see the desperation in his face, but I think he needed to lose it a bit more here than he did. And then they kill him too. Reasonable reason though; no, you would not want Dean on your ass after killing Sam. You’d be a dead man yourself then, no doubt.
I thought it was PERFECT that Dean DOESN’T lose his shit when Sam is shot. To me it is absolutely chilling that Dean is so calm. He’s clearly pissed that this happens right then, but he also immediately seems to believe that “this is it” for him as well. His composure here is showing that to me. Now Sam’s dead, Dean is outgunned and doesn’t see a way out, so his natural response is to want to die as well, not to be left alone in the world. When Roy tries to reason with Walt (or was it the other way around?) to leave Dean alive, Dean goes on it offensive and taunts him, egging him on to kill him, instead of finding an argument to leave him alive.
It is heartbreaking but also quintessential Dean to me.
PNP
WELL….I should’ve guessed….Clowns, creepy or otherwise are not for me….ever.
I didn’t hate the case, though. I thought it had interesting elements and a high creep factor.
Of course, then there were also dumb parts.
Like the local library having a book about the American Lore of the Carnival?! Unlikely. But then they always find exactly what they need….which is still annoying.
Mary running into the tent without John was STUPID. There wasn’t a need for it either. John was just down the next aisle. She just doesn’t behave like an experienced hunter to me.
The gang was out of town, right? They were at a motel after all. So, HOW did Millie find them so easy in the middle of an empty field?
I didn’t mind the tension between John and Mary. I thought some of her arguments about how John uses their new relationship as a happy distraction from his anger and grief issues was valid to me. Even though, the context about how that is like the clown case was very labored.
Drake looks damn good!
I did find Lata’s terror trying to get away from the clowns and her freaking out in the clown car FUNNY!
I also enjoyed that it was Carlos talking the kid into facing reality and breaking the spell! That’s normally Lata’s job…but she was preoccupied…screaming. LOL.
I didn’t like that after the spell is broken the gang all casually checks in with each other, but no one checks immediately on the kid! Sam and Dean would’ve done so!
The Rowena story line was VERY dubious to me. For one, I really enjoyed Ada so far, because she was capable and resourceful but this episode she seems so timid and incapable somehow. I didn’t like that.
Since when can Rowena just appear and vanish at will? Where did she come from? Or WHEN did she come from? She said she needed the demon in the Bonsai to get information about her son. So that means she must have come from the future, because she only found out about Crowlely having anything to do with Hell in SPN season 10, right? When after that did she not know where Crowley was? Or is she looking for Crowley after his death in the AU? She did use purple magic here, which she only got after her Unbinding, correct? Which was Season 13 right after Crowley’s death.
Anyhow, we won’t know, I guess, but that made her popping up unsatisfying to me. Sure it’s nice to see Rowena, but without a proper tie in to the SPN show, it seems like just another “fan service” cameo.
And, of course, she had the convenient answer….sigh.
The witches “club” or whatever that was felt gimmicky and uninteresting to me. For one everyone in there looked like in a 1920’s speakeasy….why? And the makeup was so Cabaret to me, it distracted.
They could have come up with a better way to introduce Rowena. She was obviously looking for Ada (and the demon)…..no need for the elaborate plot line of a witches poker game. And IF you go that way, than make it MORE over the top….like them playing for something bizzarro, like kittens or whatever.
Also, do the MoL warded doors keep out witches? I guess so?
OK, now they have a weapon against the Akrida Queen that costs Ada a piece of her soul? SIGH…..kinda boring to me….because “been there, done that”! Didn’t turn out so good for Jack.
Still overall I enjoyed this episode more than I thought I would from the previews.
PNP
WOW….uhhhm….well, this certainly didn’t do CRAP to tie up any loose ends!!
I am very sad to say that this was just a lack luster episode of TV. All of the other characters were either acting wooden or plain uninteresting. And Mary pretty much disappeared in this one.
The only character that seemed REAL was Millie. And John had some glimpses of being interesting when he outsmarted the Akrida Cop in the interview by revealing he paid attention and had actually figured out some things on his own.
Other than that….it was a sadly boring episode.
And if they are trying to give us another Sheriff Jody in Betty….it ain’t working!
We also didn’t get any further with the Akrida story arc. And the “Akrida-Cop” character was SUPER annoying to me!!
And the “reveal your darkest secret” story line made NO sense to me and I highly doubt that a story about Lata’s Indian heritage full of awful cast prejudice really resonates with the general American audience?! I mean, YES, it’s tragic and totally wrong, but would the target audience for this show truly GET that? (sorry, I don’t want to sound condescending!!! And please correct me if I’m wrong)
I also felt like Carlos, who was IN it with Lata, had more focus on getting out of that freezing place than actually LISTENING to Lata’s pain and then….what’s the point??? He was supposed to be the anchor and friend in her darkest space….instead I felt the over arching “it’s not your fault” theme was thin and not heart-felt.
TOTAL MISS to me. Sorry. I didn’t feel it at all.
It’s making me very very sad that a team including Jensen and Robbie would think THIS is compelling TV?!
PNP
Another STELLAR episode and show-and-tell of all SPN can be. Funny and sad, packed with new lore and info and giving great new insight into our main characters. It spans the full scope of emotions and I love it for that.
SO MANY iconic scenes in this episode – fire work in the field (SO beautiful), a visit to the road house in heaven (yesssss, ASH! And Pamela), Dean throwing the amulet away (knife to the heart)…
It’s also a really short episode – only 40 minutes – but seems so much longer.
SOLID argument by Roy that you don’t want a pissed off Dean coming after you for the rest of your life!!! And of course, Dean taunts him with the “when I get back…” I wonder if he actually WAS that confident that he wouldn’t stay dead?
LOVE the way we figure out WITH Dean where he is! Cas’ instructions are hilarious! “Don’t go into the light.” “Thanks, Carol Ann.” hahaha.
I LOVE all of Dean’s memories we get to see.
And although Sam’s good memories seem to be everything BUT of his family, I never bought that this was actually what Sam’s heave really would look like. To me it always was a manipulation of Zachariah to drive a wedge between Sam and Dean.
I’m not saying that Sam didn’t FEEL like he wanted a better family SITUATION than the one he got and that because of that he enjoyed some rare glimpses into other people’s “perfect” lives or have some freedom from the hunting life but I don’t believe that those are Sam’s happiest memories!! Like the night he went to college…might have been a short lived triumph to “get away” but there is no way that is a happy memory.
I completely understand why Dean feels so hurt by all of this, but I also wish Dean would cut Sam a little slack here. After all, they already know that angels are douchebags and messing with them at every chance they get. And they ran into Zachariah enough times to know that he only has his OWN interest at heart! So it isn’t a big stretch to imagine that they are being fucked with here again.
And when you look at Dean’s memories, they aren’t all pure happiness either. When Dean remembers the fight between mom and dad, that would have been scary for a kid. Sam’s observation about how long Dean cleaned up after dad is very poignant. Jensen’s ability to turn into “little boy” mode is incredible.
GODS I miss Ash!!! He would have been such great back ground character to show up every once in a while. SIGH. But at least we get him here and he is GLORIOUS in his “Ashness” (“Bud, blood and beer nuts – best smell in the world.”) and pivotal. THANK YOU, Andrew Dabb!
I remember Chad Lindberg telling the story at a con that it was JENSEN who taught him how to shotgun a beer. LOL
LOVE the comment Ash makes about heaven being “like Disneyland, only without all the antisemitism”. And Roy and Walt (Disney?) being the ones who shot Sam and Dean. HAHA.
Pamela is trying to sell Dean on saying YES to Michael came out of left field for me, but I was happy she found peace and I love the fact that she TAKES a kiss from Dean and confirms that her fantasy was true.
Mary turning mean and then into YED is creepy and Sam Smith is actually doing a pretty good job here. And Kurt Fuller is amazing!
INTERESTING that Joshua says that God is on earth! So, was it implied here already that Chuck is God?
This scene is SO tough to me because you see Dean’s hope for help and Sam’s belief in God crumble into rubble before our eyes.
And when Castiel just stands there almost catatonic in his disbelief, it’s heart-breaking. Unfortunately, I totally get being so deeply disappointed in your father !!!
HAAATE that Dean felt it necessary to let go of the amulet at this particular point – giving up on hope for a solution of the mess they are in AND giving up on Sam for a moment. Believing Cas that the amulet is worthless. So so sad.
Still, with all the pain at the end, it’s an AMAZING episode and so impactful to watch. To me we are left with the feeling of doom overwhelming hope for the first time in the series because DEAN is at that point of hopelessness and it’s scary and it’s GREAT story telling.
PNP
Totally agree, JBB!
This one never made much sense to me either and I didn’t love the “zombie” angle.
It’s interesting to find out more about Bobby’s love, but I didn’t want it to be so sad. Seeing Bobby so vulnerable and begging the guys not to kill her, is heartbreaking.
I love the intro of Sheriff Jody and Kim is SO GREAT and making Jody feel so real, straight from the start. Such tragic situation for her character and I loved the interaction between Sam and Jody all through the episode starting with when he takes the burden of killing her son off her.
You make a great point about Jody already knowing more about Bobby. I think you might be right!
Bobby says that the Sheriff hated him until 5 days ago when the dead started rising all over town. So my thought was that Jody and Bobby at least connected over their dead loved ones being back? And that might be how she found out more about Bobby as a hunter?
I do like how confused Sam and Dean are at the beginning when Mr. Thompson confesses to be dead and to have killed a guy.
I did remember watching this for the first time and when Bobby comes into view at first I thought “wow, they cleaned up his appearance” – lol.
I do like how Sam and Dean become the voice of reason here and Bobby the reluctant nay-sayer. It’s almost like a role reversal.
I always have to laugh at the line of “Awesome. Another Horseman. Must be Thursday.” HA
But the rest of the story seemed forced and far fetched….even for SPN.
PNP
I forget every round of rewatching how great this episode is! Truly SCARY. Straight from the start!
That couple literally devouring each other is so creepy and sets the stage immediately to high stakes.
OOOH that red and green swirly wallpaper in the motel. Strong choice.
First view of Dean sitting in shirt and loose tie with his feet up on the table….HOT.
Hehe, Unattached Drifter Christmas.
When they meet the Cupid Dean’s reactions are ALL hilarious. The distaste on his face when the naked angel is standing in front of him. LOL And when he punches him and almost breaks his hand.
I know that the stuff the cupid says about Mary and John needing to meet and Sam and Dean needing to be born and how John and Mary couldn’t stand each other at first now goes directly against what we are seeing on The Winchesters, however, I never liked that notion here ever. The whole idea that Sam and Dean were “manufactured” never sat well with me. And it isn’t really pursued later into the seasons, so the statement here kind of hangs in the air alone.
Famine is sooooo incredibly creepy. They chose the perfect actor and I love how the character is made to look so frail and weak when he wields such terrible power. The threat of being completely out of control to reign in your impulses is terrifying and they made that very palpable in this episode and visually effective – like the guy sticking his hands into the deep fryer and his skin peeling off. The carnage at the Biggerson is awful.
I love how all the signs that something is wrong even with Sam and Cas are slowly creeping up. It’s very subtle until it’s not.
Poor Sam. I am glad he did say that Famine got to him! He could’ve tried to hide it. He looked so beaten when he told Dean, though. We could clearly see how much he hated to disappoint Dean.
I don’t buy what Famine is saying to Dean how his effect bounces off Dean because he is already dead inside. Dean is one of the most passionate and deep feeling people ever, he is NOT dead inside. I tend to believe it’s what DEAN said, that he’s just “well fed” and that’s why Famine can’t get a hook in with him. He’s too full of everything and there is no room for a hunger to catch on. Just because you don’t CRAVE something doesn’t mean your empty.
I think Famine just knows what to say to Dean to make him doubt himself and have a chink in his armor.
Yes, Dean is scared and overwhelmed standing against impossible odds. Only a fool wouldn’t be. But he is NOT dead inside.
“Americans are like a swarm of locusts in stretchpants.” HAHA. Sadly true for many.
I agree, JBB, Dean’s never ending snark in the presence of beings he has no chance fighting is WONDERFUL and inspiring. He will not and cannot just be meek and quiet! I love that so much. He won’t hide and he won’t show weakness, even when he knows his chances are slim to none to get out of a situation….there IS always a chance.
And it also makes the contrast to Dean being truly scared, like when Sam took out Famine with his mind, and at a low point, like at the very end of the episode, so much more stark and effective.
Great episode.
Okay! This one was REALLY good, I thought.
Interesting start, reminiscent of old SPN episodes. Dark and mysterious. Clearly from the past.
So, the Akrida had a run at the world in the 50’s? And might have wiped out the MoL?
To me the way this episode split our core four into pairs and had them working the case from two angles really worked. It focused on how the characters operate differently! Each pair of them really made an impact in their specific way. Each pair worked well together.
It seemed cohesive as an overall story even though what they dealt with was very different. We were about to get more specific impressions about each of the characters than if all four are together and vying for our attention!
Mary FINALLY seemed a little more natural and real to me in her interactions with John and the way they work on the case together. She’s less brash and more thoughtful. She wasn’t just bossing people around but had to think and act on her own. For the first time it actually gave me an impression of experience and poise under pressure and not just a petulant, frazzled teen. I liked Mary in this episode!
John is adorable and his smiles reminded me of SAM. And I really like that he is more observant and less “action first” in this episode. He made great use of his strength, but not as a blunt instrument. He felt like an actual HUNTER in this ep and not just the new kid on the block.
The banter between Carlos and Latha at the beginning was FUN and felt like real friends would rib each other. Also love the comment of Carlos’ about his perfectly proportioned shoulders. HA!
The two of them worked their end of the case in a very empathetic and gentle way and it was still effective. I loved the more gentle, but not silly or overly dramatic Carlos. He was warm and caring but still resourceful and smart.
And Latha wasn’t just a human computer archive this time but had actual PRACTICAL use of her knowledge and made it work. Love that. She also seemed less lofty and more grounded when helping Roxy discover her memories.
I had HIGH hopes there for a second we would finally see the BRITISH MOL be of use and without second agenda…..NOPE…still sadistic, selfish, torturing weirdos….AND not even British. HA! Nice twist. I did like that whole story.
HHHMMM, kinda lack luster motel room Roxy was hiding in. Not up to SPN standard! We need Jerry Wanek for THAT!
Catching the Akrida Cop was a little too easy…but at least Mary and John were working well together.
I LOVE a good Gollum story, but here it was a little too convenient. And why did it “ooze” or bleed when John hacked at it with a blade? I loved the SPN Gollum SO MUCH because the way they made it seem so clearly like he was made of wet clay.
Still, it was an enjoyable monster “guard” for the MoL bastard. And I had to laugh at the “damn covid mask”!! Pretty good idea to make it more difficult to get the scroll out of its mouth. HA. And I also applaud the innovative way to get rid of the scroll by decapitation with the heavy crematorium door and then setting it on fire! Nice touch and different from what we have seen in the past.
Why would Dean drive the Impala in the past? John doesn’t own her yet…
NICE job by the actress playing Roxy, the Radio DJ!
Interesting point on what one would do for love!!
However, the leap to “that never be us” implying LOVE between Mary and John was not working for me. As we said before….they were uneasy friends and suddenly jumped to LOVE??? NOPE. Still feels like I missed watching a couple of episodes in between at least!!
Quite possibly one of my favorite episodes this season!
UGH, the END, though didn’t work for me AT ALL. I JUST don’t like when SPN universe butts up against law enforcement!!! I didn’t like it on SPN, I don’t like it here. Hunters have PLENTY on their plates already. I just don’t need the “reality” of getting the authorities after them too. To me that’s a waste of good SPN story time.
Oh well, aside from that I really enjoyed the episode!!!