Recap: “I Know What You Did Last Summer"
Friday, 21 November 2008 18:41 | Last Updated on Sunday, 30 January 2011 21:21 | Written by Alice Jester | 
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Ah, the polarizing episode. I love recapping these. The episode that sharply divides the fan base between “loved it” and “hated it”. I understand the “hated it” part. After all, Dean was relegated to supporting character and there was probably way more Ruby than people would have liked. I also understand the “loved it”, because that’s me. Ruby had to be there, for its not like Sam could pull himself out of that rut. He was too far gone. There were so many great little details on this one, so prepare for the long recap.
For those keeping score, Sera Gamble is the writer, so we know Sam is getting squeezed through the ringer. The director is Charles Beeson, who seems to have found a groove with this one. Guest actor is Julie McNiven (Anna), who apparently is on Mad Men (yes that show is on my list of programs to check out when I have time). Other guest actor is Mark Ralston (Alastair) who looks great for being so powerfully evil.
Its religious overtones galore and I love it. Once the “Now” fades from the screen, we see Anna, gaze lost upward, and the bright lighting of the room giving the aura around her an angelic feel. Remember though, this is also supposed to be about “Revelations” (the little known translation anyway), so chances are she’s not about to give us warm fuzzies.
Anna has good reason to be disturbed. For one, she’s in the exact sanitarium used in “Houses of the Holy” down to the white furniture, lamp, pure white walls, and of course white top. I’ve been to a couple of sanitariums (for business!). They’re grey and dingy. The only white you see is the pale faces of people that haven’t been outside in years.
Back to Anna, she’s nuts, but she’s not. “The end is coming. The apocalypse,” she warns. “Like in the bible?” The sane yet crazy therapist asks. “Kind of, I mean, same bottom line.” See, they’re doing they’re own thing! “Lucifer will bring the apocalypse…Smoke em if you got em.” I know that last line’s been used several times before, but I wonder if Sera pulled if from where I remember it, Spaceballs.
She hears more whispers, and she wisely doesn’t say what she’s listening too. More doom and gloom talk, and it’s interesting from the audience point of view because we know she isn’t nuts and we think the therapist is off her rocker. Yeah, welcome to our world. She’s a regular apocalyptic encyclopedia though, for there are 600 possible seals and no one knows what 66 Lilith is going to break. That’s why she can’t be stopped, the angels are losing and why we’re gonna die. Oh come on, ye have little faith in the great Sam and Dean Winchester? You know, the guys that are going to save the world?
Interesting how Anna can see the demon faces (like Dean) and has telekinesis (like Sam). Whatever she is, she uses her power to get the hell out of there, which is what either of the boys would have done. I’m still waiting for the day when Sam caves into all his dark powers and pushes locked doors open with his mind. A girl can dream, can’t she?
Sam and Dean hustling pool? Sam plays the drunk ringer? He’s that good at pool? Wow, and here we were always led to believe Dean was the shark. The money is lost though as Ruby is spotted. I can’t listen to what Ruby is saying, because I’m too distracted by the white horses hanging above the bar. Shouldn’t they be like unicorns or the winged horse Pegasus or something like that? Curious looking shot from the floor to show off that strange bar lit by the bright blue lights.
Dean still hates Ruby and doesn’t believe her, while Sam is hanging on every word. They’re off in the Impala to check it out and Dean doesn’t like it. Sam isn’t pleased with the attitude. “You got something to say, just say it.” “Oh, I’m going to say it, this sucks.” Don’t hold back Dean. He’s pissed Ruby gave the tip. This exchange here is priceless and nothing is better than these brothers at each other’s throats. “I come back and you’re BFF with demon.” Sam, since he’s always so direct with answers, says she helped him go after Lilith. “Well thanks for the thumbnail, real vivid. You want to fill in a little detail?” “Sure Dean, let’s trade stories. You first, how was Hell, don’t spare the details.” Ah, bickering brothers. It’s going to be a long 3 day drive!
It’s the first of several flashback scenes and each one of them is a gorgeous character examination of our poor tortured Sammy. Six months earlier and Sam’s at the crossroads. It is our assumption that this is taking place shortly after Sam and Bobby buried Dean and Sam took off. I still want to know why Sam buried Dean in Pontiac, Illinois, but I’ll tuck that away for now.
A desperate Sam digs in the ground with his bare hands, but something about his uncoordinated movements and struggle to do this tells us he ain’t right. The camera moves from Sam’s hand in the ground to his face, and we see the whiskey bottle in the middle of it. He staggers up and takes a drink. We got it, drunken Sammy.
The camera goes for the overhead shot, and just like with Lazarus Rising with Dean and the cross, we see Sam’s shadow along with the crossroads post. He’s a man at the crossroads in his life, literately and figuratively. Nice effective visual that I’m sure no one noticed. The directing on this was top notch, as was the camera work.
Sam waits, as is normal with these things, and it’s incredible what flashes on his face in this next sequence. First the focus in on those lost puppy dog eyes. He’s desperate and so close to falling apart. Still no demon, so that quickly turns to impatience and an outburst of anger. Sam after all is an angry drunk. The demon appears, Sam squints his eyes barely able to focus and staggers over, just in case we haven’t picked up on the fact he’s drunk. Said demon is a man in a suit this time. That alone tells me Sam ain’t getting his deal, because we know they aren’t kissing.
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Comments
Being an actress in present-day Hollywood must be so difficult, so I don't want to focus on criticising the individual. But as a (possibly subconscious) message to those watching, it seems a bit unhealthy.
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