Preview and Episode Discussion: Family Matters (6.07)
Spoiler alert!!!!!
In this episode, the Campbell family is back and teaming up in a hunt with the brothers. But that is just part of the story.
“Family Matters” pretty much picks up where last week’s show left off. After the ass-kicking Dean gave Sam, it seems that big brother doesn’t waste any time in calling upon their friendly neighborhood angel to see if he knows what is wrong with Sam. And if Cass can’t get a handle on Sam’s problem, Sam is not high on Dean’s ‘I’m going to let you live’ list. (A cute description of Cass on Twitter this week called him ‘the angelic medical practitioner’.)
Sam owns up to making some pretty bad decisions lately, including the one where he just ‘forgot’ to tell his brother that he hasn’t slept for over a year. He confesses his total lack of feeling to Dean and admits he believes something is wrong with him. (One has to wonder what his first clue was.) He also did asked for help…which he gets…Dean Winchester style.
Sam truly seems confused more than anything, but the whole situation shouldn’t really strike him as odd. Exactly what did he think would happen? Dean would just say “oh, okay, that’s cool Mr. Sociopath; let’s just get on with hunting”? Ah, how many ways can you say, Nope!
Cass is going to lay some painful mojo on Sam, the same mojo Sammy was very indifferent about when Cass performed it on Aaron a few episodes back, you know the search around in someone’s chest while they scream their head off to check on their soul’ thing. Now, however, the shoe is on the other foot, and whether Sam still thinks this is a good thing or not, really isn’t an issue. Dean isn’t giving Sam any options.
As for what Cass discovers? Sam’s soul is gone. And if that isn’t bad enough, Sam’s being ‘soulless’, makes him a ‘perfect animal’ for those at war. (Hummmm, I can only assume he’s talking about heaven’s civil war, and Raphael’s desire to re-start the apocalypse. YUCK!)
Sam’s lack of feelings doesn’t stop the brothers from hunting however, although Dean forewarns Sam he is on a very short leash. When Sam realizes Samuel has a lead on the alpha vampire, an ancient and savage monster named Richard, the brothers join the Campbell clan on a hunt. It’s then that Dean begins to suspects Samuel might be up to something more than just killing monsters. Dean doesn’t trust his grandfather or cousins, but Sam doesn’t feel the same way.
That changes, however as both brothers end up in confrontations with the Campbells. Eventually Dean and Sam have to decide to follow Samuel or kill him. Yea, trust and families just don’t go hand in hand in the Winchester world, huh.
Whatever happens on the hunt, things don’t go as planned, and between the alpha vamp and Samuel’s secret, the boys have their hands full. (So cool for us!)
Have to say here that either Cass heals Sam’s injuries, or a lot of time passes before the hunt, because Sam looks pretty darn good in the photos released for the episode. I especially like the long shot of him with the impala, would love to get him to autograph that one someday!
The official synopsis: DOES SAMUEL HAVE A SECRET? Dean becomes suspicious of Samuel’s motives, but Sam isn’t sold on the idea that their grandfather is doing anything wrong. The brothers go along on a hunt with Samuel and the other Campbells, but things go terribly awry. Written by CW Publicity
Guy Bee directed this episode, and it’s not the first one he’s directed for the series. He also directed “Asylum” in 2005. The episode was written by Andrew Dabb & Daniel Loflin.
The cast (IMDB) includes: Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins, Mitch Pileggi (Samuel Campbell), Corin Nemec (Christian Campbell), and Jessica Heafey (Gwen Campbell).
Photos from the episode are below. An absolutely beautiful one of Sam and the impala!
The preview clip and trailer videos for the episode are below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXEjXN3Bz_k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfgbgGCFEs4
And Canada’s Space channel released their trailer and preview clip today, and yea, the promo is very informative. If you haven’t seen them, both are below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLr9YV22HtE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kZRddErhbU
I really hope the MOTW part of the episode is fast paced and riveted with action, because from the brother’s relationship stand point, I suspect we will get a lot more questions than answers.
Happy viewing everyone! Come back and tell us what you think!
How do we know that Dean is saying “I’ll watch your every move” to Sam? Since he’s so suspicious of Samuel and company, he could be saying these words to any of them.
Here’s some food for thought. I did a little (and I mean little) reading on the concept of a soulless man. One thing I found that was fascinating, the idea that a soulless man is really one of the walking dead. So, does that mean he’s not human? He’s not alive? I can’t wait to see how they approach this one.
As for the soul search performed in Aaron, it’s not like Sam alone is responsible, is it? Castiel performed it and for all Dean’s objections, he did nothing to actually stop it. So the three of them were involved, not only Sam.
According to Veritas, Sam isn’t human, but according to Cass, Sam is physically fine.
I really want to see what prompts Dean to let Sam out of the chair. I hope the writers do more than just ‘okay let’s give Sam another chance’ sort of thing. I think it should be more involved than that. Although Sam really sinned more by lies then actual deeds, look at how much damaged he had done with those lies, how easy it was for him to tell them, and how well he took to manipulating people….including his brother. He only admitted his state when he had no other choice. Maybe Cass casts some good mojo on Sam too…something to keep Sam form doing the ‘ends justifies the means’ thing. I can’t see how they can work effectively together otherwise. There really isn’t a ‘brotherly bond’ to rely on anymore…at least none that I can see.
Yep…this episode will be interesting. Hope they come out with something more than just a missing soul as Sam’s problem. Otherwise, it’s going to be a looooong season.
AndreaW – as for Sam being completely responsible, no he wasn’t. Cass was going to get to the bottom if it just becasue heaven and a civil war were on the line for him. Even if both boys had objected, I don’t think Cass would have stopped. But Sam didn’t object…he was totally on board with it, and did stop Dean from helping Aaron. Sam felt it was totally justified and that’s what was not good.
I’m not saying it was good. Of course it wasn’t. But if Sam felt it was justifed, so did Castiel. Both considered that the ends justifed the means. As for Dean, he probably woudn’t be able to stop Castiel but he could have pushed Sam aside and tried harder. What I have a problem with is that Sam’s part is always the one highlighted.
Besides, if he doesn’t have a soul, he doesn’t have a moral compass either. According to the previews, he’s not even a man. So to what extent he can be held responsible? It’s open to discussion.
Sam is highlighted because he’s the one who broke society’s rule. You protect the young, the helpless, the innocent; you don’t hurt them or allow them to be hurt. Dean tried and whether he could have tried harder is not what people will contemplate.
Sam’s eerie easy at manipulating people for his own purpose is a BIG no-no in society. Control is a big issue with people…always has been. So yea…Sam is not high on anyone’s ‘Poor Sam’ list right now. And that’s the way the powers-that-be want it.
Well, if it’s the way the powers-that-be want it – and that’s pretty obvious judging by the new promos – I won’t insist. Mine is a lost cause.
My only question is: you act according to your feelings. But if you feel nothing about the young, the helpless, the innocent, or whoever, if you don’t care about them, how are you supposed to act?
Just to muddy the waters a bit … Sometimes you have to do stuff you’d really, really rather not in order to get where you want to be … When my son was tiny he had an operation on his eye after an accident, afterwards we had to put antiseptic cream on the stitches twice a day. It stung like hell ( I tried it … It bloody hurt ) He used to scream the place down. It was pretty grim, but a septic eye would have been far worse. What I’m getting at is that sometimes the ends justify the means.
On a totally shallow note I can’t wait to see Grandpaw Eyebrows and his crew come to grief, I love it when a plan goes horribly wrong! 😈
I have to admit, I loved “Dr” Castiel. “Has he had a fever?” Sam: “Are you diagnosing me?” “How have you been sleeping?” hee, hee.
It’s the old double standard again…big surprise.
If it was torture the first time, it’s tortue this time. How Sam feels about it as he is the victim the second time is irrelevant. The common denominator both times are Cas and Dean. Dean protested, and fandom joined in, how wrong it was, regardless of the circumstances Now Dean is all for it with the extra torture of not putting the person to sleep as Cas did the kid. But it’s okay now because its okay with Dean.
Sam is NEVER on many people’s poor Sam, list and rarely on it for the majority.
Alice, I should have said that, and I’m sorry I didn’t.
That’s why I visit this one, and should only visit this one, but I’m a masochist and get so angry with the Sam hate and double standard that has just gotten so old in so many places that I’m overly defensive.
Yes, absolutley Sam would do the same thing in Dean’s place, my point is he would be wrong too. Sam was wrong in the prior ep and Dean is wrong in this one. It can’t be wrong and then right.
Wow! A lot of answers tonight.
A lot to absorb, will definitely will need a re-watch.
Sam is soulless which we knew from the previews.
Samuel has his soul in tacked however is working for Crowley. Probably agreed to work for him or made a deal to get his wife Deanna back once he was done his task. Look like he was looking at a picture when Sam and Dean first came into his office.
Crowley freed Sam! I still find it hard to believe that just because he took over the running of Hell or King of Hell gave him the powers to free Sam.
Kind of a dirty trick to leave Sam’s soul in the cage for insurance. Makes it seem he had full intentions of putting back Sam once he got what he wanted from him.
I do believe Sam wasn’t aware that of these arrangements. I don’t believe the real Sam (with a soul) would of approved/agreed.
Christian is possessed by a demon.
So no one has commented yet? Wow, I thought I was running behind everyone because my $!#@ hubby held up our DVR playback this evening while he took a phone call, and then decided to do maintenance on my laptop that kept me from giving prompt feedback.
Okay, me first then. I didn’t hate it, didn’t love it. My problem is now my mind is swirling with questions. Yes, I was stunned over Crowley’s involvement. Me thinks we really don’t have the whole story here. I definitely need a rewatch. It wasn’t what I expected, that’s for sure. That’s okay, for it was a good setup episode, but I gotta play connect the dots. At least the brothers are finally on the same page!
Hee, Christian was a demon. No wonder he hated Dean! That makes me feel better that Sam probably didn’t tell him about Dean’s role as torturer.
(I see Karen beat me by minutes. Cool, I hate being the first one!)
Interesting, but good. Thought there would be more to the brothers interactions after last week. Kind of anticlimatic, but at least they are back on the same side. Hope they stay there.
Thought it would be a lot longer before we found out who got Sam out of hell too. Guess Dean sould have burned those bones when he had the chance. What a twist!
I loved the subtle shift in Dean’s character after he learned Sam’s soul was missing; he was still pissed but worry seemed to soften his anger toward his brother. we got a glimpse of the protective Dean we’ve missed. Yay.
Loved too that he called Robo-Sam on ‘having no instincts.’ The Winchesters run on gut instinct and, without a soul, it makes total sense Sam’s spidey senses would be wonky, if not AWOL.
Nice twist with Christian being possessed, and Rick Worthy as the Alpha Vamp was uber creepy.
Dr. Cas – awesome. Loved his little snarky dig at Dean – and that he’s really ‘as big as the Chrysler Building.’ Hee.
And it does my heart good to see the brothers working as a team again.
Answers (or at least some)— check
episode that had me glued— check
Brothers back on the same page—- CHECK!!!!
Hot diggity! Ok, so Sam is still soulless, robo Sam. Still a jerk. Still not to likable. BUT ❗ he chose to follow Dean’s lead. I’m getting strange visions of Jiminy Cricket and the song “Let your conscious be your guide” zipping through my head.
It appears that RoboSam has chosen Dean to be his new moral compass. Not an ideal situation by far and talk about the weight on Dean. And I want those puppy dog eyes back dammit! But they are a team again! A weirdly messed up team, (even more so than usual) but more season to come.
Ok, so Christian was a demon, that does explain a lot. I still wanted to see Dean punch him though. Dirty, mouthed piece of…
Anyone willing to join my “kill Crowley” rallying cry yet? No?
Any ideas on what made Grandpa deal with Crowley? The return of his family maybe? The return of his family to heaven?
Cass snark=Win
Lastly, I’m trying really hard not to be devastated that Samsoul is still in agony in the cage. I feared it, but was hoping…oh show. Why?
Yvonne, your last point (about Sams soul still being in the cage) is a little surreal to think about.
So conceivably, Sam’s soul could, at this very moment, be going through the same kind of torture that Dean’s soul did, for over 120 years, despite the fact he’s walking around topside.
That’s a little…. ow
Man is it next Friday yet?! I was literally on the edge of my seat thru this whole episode. Loved take charge Dean. And that exchange between him and Christian was great! I loved Sam in this episode also, soul missing and all. Jared did a wonderful job! Oh yeah, I’ve watched this episode 5 times already….does that mean I need to get a life and seek physiatric help?! 🙂