Preview and Episode Discussion: "Mannequin 3: The Reckoning" (6.14)
Thursday, 17 February 2011 21:34 | Last Updated on Thursday, 17 February 2011 21:57 | Written by Sablegreen | 
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Preview 6.14, “Mannequin 3: The Reckoning”
The ending of last week’s episode was something of a shocker, depicting Sam’s dark history of murder and his visit to the fires of Hell, and once again the anguish Dean has over losing his brother. But this week, we see both boys back to normal and hopefully for good this time.
Dean and Sam are back on an investigation, but for those, like me, looking to find out more about the alphas, the bad-ass Mother of All, Purgatory, and Cass and the civil war in heaven, this doesn’t appear to be our week. Still bad things are a foot, and Dean and Sam are once again in our homes, fulfilling our need for the weekly Winchester fix.
No question the most discussed event for this episode is the return of Lisa and Ben (played by Cindy Sampson and Nicholas Elia). Whether you like or dislike the Dean/Lisa relationship, it is being revisited this week. And from the sound of the spoilers, Ben is the one who calls Dean, without his mother’s knowledge. On the pretense that Lisa is in trouble, Dean leaves Sam on a case alone and rushes to Lisa’s aid. One spoiler is from an observer who was on the set while the episode was shooting. Seems Dean is standing at the door of a house when it is opened by a stunningly dressed Lisa. After a brief exchange between the two, Lisa is heard yelling, “Benjamin Braeden, get your butt down here!” Oooops!! If this observation is to be believed, seems Ben is more interested in Dean than Lisa, and he has certainly gotten over the Vampire!Dean image he last saw. Whether Lisa has or not, remains to be seen.
When this actually happens in the episode is a mystery, but both the trailer and promo shows both boys starting and finishing the case….or a case. The official description indicates a ruse is involved which Sam investigates alone.
As for the MOTW, ghosts appear to be on the agenda. Ghosts that like to inhabit dolls, or specifically mannequins. The promo shows Dean and Sam investigating a murder at a mannequin production warehouse, when they come across their prime suspect; yep…you guessed it, a mannequin… at least that is the theory Sam comes up with based on EMF readings he picks up from a bunch of disembodied limbs and such. YUCK! And this seems to be the second death in the case, the first occurring three towns over at a college lab containing an anatomy dummy.
Dolls’ coming to life is one of my most irrational fears. I blame “Child’s Play” for that. I have never been able to look at a single doll since that movie without extreme trepidation. I always imagine their eyes are following me. And mannequins, especially naked ones with missing limbs posing in unnatural angels in shop windows and stores are soooo creepy. And to have a warehouse full of those things….DOUBLE YUCK!
In case you are not familiar with the title inference, “Mannequin” (1987) was an eerie movie about a mannequin (Emmy) who came to life possessed by an ancient Egyptian spirit. Emmy was portrayed by the actress Kim Cattrall, hence Dean’s reference to the movie when he says… “I don’t like the way Kim Catrall’s looking at me!”
Dean, quite understandably, is freaked out by the idea of possessed mannequins, and well he should be!
What else do we see in the clips for this week? We see a very serious Sammy saying, “It’s not over,” and a freaky mannequin looking at a surprised man who turns out to be the second victim.
Also the scene of the driverless impala chasing Dean is back this week. Seems the mannequin is not the only object the ghost can possess. And it wouldn’t be the first time the impala was possessed either. Dean’s baby, haunted by the ‘Lady in White’, chased both boys across a bridge in the Pilot episode. That was a great scene. If this chase can come close to that one, it would be a winner.
Dim lights
And I think it would only be fair, if this time Sam ended up in the mud!
The official synopsis: “DEAN RUSHES HOME TO CHECK ON LISA — Ben (guest star Nicolas Elia) calls Dean (Jensen Ackles) and tells him Lisa (guest star Cindy Sampson) is in trouble. Dean leaves Sam (Jared Padalecki) to investigate a case alone and rushes home to rescue Lisa, however, he’s not prepared for what meets him at the door. Meanwhile, Sam discovers the men that were murdered were all a part of a cruel practical joke played on a female co-worker who went missing. Written by CW Publicity
The episode was directed by Argentinian Jeannot Szwarc. Though new to “Supernatural” he has directed fourteen “Smallville” episodes, and numerous episodes of “Fringe”, ‘Grey’s Anatomy” and “Heroes”. He has also direct films such as “Somewhere in Time”, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”, and “Enigma”. Writers Eric Charmelo & Nicole Snyder have written one other “Supernatural" episode, 6.06 “You Can’t Handle the Truth”….the episode that marked the end of Dean and Lisa’s relationship. Interesting they should pen the return episode for Lisa and Ben.
The guest cast (IMDB) includes: Cindy Sampson (Lisa Braeden), Nicholas Elia (Ben Braeden), and Nicholas Carella (Steve).
Sadly, no episode or BTS photos were released. (We’ll have to wait for the lovely screen caps Alice puts up.)
Where the show expects to take the Dean/Lisa/Ben relationship is anyone’s guess. It had all the indications of being a done issue before the holiday hiatus. I have always liked the idea of Dean and Lisa, and if done in the right context, could add another layer to Dean’s character, and Dean has made no bones about loving Ben. We already know Ben has an interested in following in Dean’s footsteps, in being a hunter, and while a father/son bond between the two has been hinted at in past episodes, SPN has not been to kind to those relationships. Will this episode close a chapter in the life of Dean Winchester, or start a new one….intriguing possibilities for sure. For me, I would like to see the relationship between Dean and Ben continue. It would be refreshing to see an interest in Dean’s life besides Sammy.
The preview clip and trailer videos for the episode are below
Happy viewing everyone! Come back and tell us what you think.
For all the latest Supernatural info and article links, follow The Winchester Family Business on Twitter at @WinFamBusiness
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Comments
Of course, what I am most anxious about is the Dean/Lisa happenings. I am a big Dean/Lisa fan and am very afraid that this could spell the end of their relationship. I hope not, although I know there are many out there that hopes differently. No matter what, I'm still very anxious. Especially after reading something on another site stating "Of course, Lisa being in trouble may be the least of Dean's worries. It appears that there may be a special "surprise" waiting for him back "home." Of course, this little tidbit got my mind wandering and speculating all over the place, and even more anxious and nervous than before. Oh man, is it SPN time yet? Can't wait!!!!
About the Dean/Lisa/Ben storyline. I love it and I want it to go on. Actually did since Ben's birthday party. What I think about the plot for the coming ep about Lisa. Well guess she is pregnant. Now fandom don't chop my head off. There is a reason for it. I believe Supernatural is a cult show and a lot of cult shows get somehow a sequell or a spin off. Like Buffy/Angel or the king of cult shows Star Treck. But the only way the writers can keep a door open for a sequell a few years after our beloved SPN stops is if our boys have some descendents after all the whole show is about family and the Winchester blood line.
I also am thinking that this series is coming to a point where the TPTB have to be thinking about how they want to end the series. In what place and condition will they leave Dean and Sam? I have my own thoughts and theories in respect to that, irregardless, they most likely need to be directing the show to that end point, and I think or hope, that somehow Dean's relationship with Lisa and Ben will play a role in that end point. Time will tell, and tonight's episode will definitely give us an idea as to their thoughts and direction.
Anything I have ever read or seen from the spoilers/teasers have all led me to believe that Ben's emergency was the fact that Lisa is most likely dating someone or in a serious relationship. Which sounds more plausible.
Seriously these fan made rumours are just ridiculous, talk about a show killer?!
Personally think this is the last we'll see of Lisa and Ben, all signs are pointing to a nice little fluffy yet angsty end for this rather boring story arc.
Sorry, I won't say much more. Can't be the buzz kill.
It's the end that bothered me. Sure, Sam was encouraging and Dean needed to hear it, but there was just something about this ep that was clunky in the execution. Sure, the brothers lost one but they've been in a bad luck tailspin for a while now. I need more time to think about it, but initial reaction is that it all didn't pull together for me.
Granted I didn't hate it but something felt off.
That line sums up the whole show, doesn't it? I personally love Ben, and I wouldn't say I dislike Lisa, so I actually kind of enjoyed this filler episode. The mannequin bit actually creeped me out for once (dummies hold a special fear in my heart), which was nice since I've become desensitized to this show. I think the last time I winced was the communal cannibalism in MBV.
I liked the ghost angle and the kidney aspect of how she was able to travel from one location to another. It reminded me of After School Special.
The mannequins were pretty creepy and I found Johnny/Buddy’s so call girlfriend extremely disturbing.
I liked that they started the episode where they had left off in Unforgiven, however I was surprised Sam wasn’t more freaked out and confused when he came too.
I also liked the brotherly moments. I hope they can continue being direct and honest with each other.
The Dean/Lisa/Ben saga was pretty sad. I really believe Dean wants to have a life with Lisa and Ben, but some how feels he doesn’t deserve them and that he would be putting them at risk. Plus I think he knows he could never give up on the hunting world and on Sam.
I do feel sorry for Ben in all this. It’s one thing for Dean and Lisa to decide things should end and to cut off all communications, but expect Ben to accept that when he obviously loves Dean, it somehow doesn’t seem right. I hope they can work something out.
I did have a couple of issues with this episode.
On my first watch I thought Isabelle had stabbed herself to stop Rose, but after the second watched I believe it was just an accident, a random shard of glass had hit her. This is where I think the production team drop the ball, I don’t see how such a large piece of glass could of hit her like that since the shot only showed small pieces falling over the Impala not shooting out. Also I thought the only way for a ghost to burst into flames and be gone for good was by salting and burning all the body remains. I don’t see how by Isabelle just dying was enough to put an end to Rose’s ghost.
It was a little all over the place, in spite of the parallels drawn between Sam and Dean on the one hand (dealing with our past) and the brothers and the sisters on the other hand.
Still, I liked the little things.
I liked how it had no answers, just "lose some, hopefully win some more".
No clean endings, neither for the ghost-story nor for Ben and Lisa.
No real answers, just life as it happens - the Winchester variety of course.
I loved the brothers back together, and the way they communicate now, and how those scenes were done.
We have seen so many conversations between them, but J2 still manage to keep them fresh.
I loved Sam making a real effort to be there for Dean and acknowledging what Dean had done for him - I agree Dean desperately needed to hear this.
I enjoyed seeing new sides of both Sam and Dean.
Dean as a father, as a partner, yeah we´ve seen it, but not this way, especially not with Ben.
I liked the effort he made to be honest and open, with Lisa and even more so with Ben, even though it hurt.
He is still growing, all the time.
As for Sam, I enjoyed seeing the still awesome hunter, who can still tell he is being lied to by a witness, and who will speak his mind to same witness who turns out to be a major dick (maybe picking up some things from RoboSam? Those experiences must be stored somewhere in his body and brain as well, a kind of physical memory) - only now he shows him compassion and does everything he can to help him.
I wouldn´t really call this a filler, to me it was more of a vehicle to further develop the brothers´ personal stories, as individuals and as a family.
It won´t make my personal Top Ten, but I liked and enjoyed it.
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