Recap: “Lazarus Rising”
Time to meet the plucky psychic friend of Bobby’s, Pamela Barnes. She’s pretty damned cheery for someone who’s been asked to take the case of a man who just spent month’s in Hell and was pulled out by a mysterious force. Maybe it’s her cool Ramones t-shirt. It just makes everyone happy! She said the spirits are pretty darned confused by what’s happening too, so they’re going to do a seance to see who the being is that did this. Hmm, something tells me this isn’t going to go well. She’s too happy and it’s way too early in the episode.
Pamela is naturally a pretty hot thing, and you can’t blame Dean for noticing the “Jesse Forever” back tattoo that’s being flaunted as her shirt rides up. The man did just get out of Hell. She’s pretty flirty herself, so Dean naturally has to joke with one really smiling Sam, who also has noticed the hot chick. Hey, they’re men with needs. “I just got out of jail, so bring it,” Dean tells Sam, but Pamela also heard that! She says to Sam, “You’re invited too Grumpy.” Here I have to pause the TiVo, for Dean’s “You are NOT invited” sent me to the floor in laughter. All those keyboard taps you hear are the fanfic writers going wild writing that scenario.
Onto the séance, and Dean reveals the handprint on his shoulder. I was thrown by Sam’s reaction. He’s really distraught. Notice in the background how his eyes are fixed on Dean, with Dean responding with a “don’t look at me like that” stare. There’s nothing better than a long nonverbal exchange between these two that delivers a strong message. One of the many reasons why I love this show.
The séance begins, and on comes the TV with static. Uh oh. This isn’t going to end well. She’s not scared of Castiel. Lady, this overpowering force ripped Dean out of Hell and put him back into a rotting meatsuit without a scratch. You’re ready to challenge that? Watch out, for he might”¦too late, she presses on and her eyes burn out. Well that’s a lesson learned.
A diner, and its time for pie. As I eagerly watch with hopes of seeing Sam eat or Dean going spastic over the taste of the pie, my hopes are dashed when one of the demons joins them at the table. We haven’t seen the tough talking Dean in full form yet, so Kripke must be following his episode essentials checklist. The demon talks smart, but isn’t following through on the threats. There’s no retaliation against Dean’s taunting, even when he throws two punches, so he properly surmises they’re scared of whatever’s out there.
The brothers are so far from being on the same page. Dean doesn’t care about these demons and wants to find whatever pulled him out, where Sam’s single-minded focus is to get rid of them because they’re evil. A real switch from the first two seasons, huh? Dean, Sam tells you he’s been killing a lot of demons lately, and you dismiss it with the smart brother line? Aren’t you curious what he’s been doing? Careful, pick on your little brother enough and he’ll have you against the wall with one flick of the wrist. Younger siblings grow up so fast.
Sam sneaks out while Dean is asleep, surprising no one. This time though, he takes the Impala. We know things have changed, for he’s never done that before. Dean’s got his own issues anyway, and I wonder how did Sammy snag a motel room with so many mirrors on the ceiling? It’s the penthouse suite for cheap love nests. We naturally don’t think of such things until Dean is taking a bath in flying glass, but it did set up a cool visual effect.
Bobby rescues Dean and they ride in the Chevelle, while Dean calls Sam to berate him for taking his car. Sam’s staking out the diner, but he’s not going to tell Dean that. Dean’s going to trap the thing that pulled him out, but he’s not going to tell Sam that. Come on guys, work together! Dean pulls out the demon killing ginsu while proposing his plan to Bobby. Shouldn’t Sam have that, since he’s planning to kill demons? Wouldn’t that first on his mental checklist?
While Dean and Bobby go off to have a “beer” (I’m with Bobby, Sam should have been there), Sam goes into the diner to find more eyeballs burnt out and bloody knuckles. I picture the guys in special effects cackling in delight as they made masks for the black eyes. Their mission is most awesomely accomplished. Sam’s tackled by the girl demon, ala no eyeballs but still fighting, and I can’t help but thinking of Monty Python and The Holy Grail when the Black Knight tried to fight with no arms and legs. It’s only a flesh wound! She’s terrified by what she saw, proclaiming “it’s the end, were all dead”. Who’s we? Demons, humanity, the world? Sam tries to get more answers, but she toughens up and tells Sam to go to Hell. Oh boy, you shouldn’t have done that. You don’t want to see Sam when he’s angry.
Excellent blog as always, Alice. GREAT catch on Mary saying “Angels are watching over you, Dean”!!! Keep these reviews coming! Lindsay http://www.SupportSupernatural.com
Thanks, and I’m impressed you made it through all that! I looked at it forward, backward, upside down and sideways though, and couldn’t figure out how to make it shorter.
Awesome blog, Alice! Thanks so much for forwarding it to me to read. Your wit has me laughing in each of your blogs and this was did too. I’m impressed by your insight and tying Lazarus Rising back to season one episodes. Wish I’d had the same insight, but it sure has me thinking now about Mary’s and Roy LeGrange’s comments. Can’t wait for the second episode tomorrow night.
Hi Alice, I stop by to let you the link you asked about. It’s in romanian so It will be impossible for you to understand…But since you asked here it is: http://www.tvblog.ro/serial/supernatural/ -it’s the page for Supernatural. I write as Maviky and I have done only 2 articles and 2 reviews so far…but season 4 just started so I’ll have a lot to work. Since is my first experience so far I don’t know if I’m good ar anything but I have passion and desire to learn:-) Anyway, I just wanted to say I really appreciate your work and can’t wait to read your next review.
The music used in the impala is sung by Jason Mann and Jensen Ackles. It’s a song they did together called “Crazy Love” I learned while attending his concert at the Supernatural “eyecon” convention in Florida last year. He and Jensen are friends and he told of how it became the music used in that scene,a joke kind of with it being a love song and all. They sold the single at the convention too and it was adorably titled J&J
It’s easy to miss going by that song alone but Jason Mann has a very strong and beautiful voice.
Actually, it’s Reminders by Jason Manns. He sent out a bulletin from his MySpace page when Lazarus Rising aired. The only reason I know this is because I get them.
The J&J Crazy Love duo is awesome, however, as is all of Jason Manns music. I have all of his stuff (which isn’t much at the moment, but more is coming) and I must say, I almost prefer his live stuff over his studio recordings. His voice is wonderful. I highly recommend listening to a few all the way though (which you can do on afore mentioned MySpace page).
That’s odd since my three daughters and I heard Jason Mann tell the story in person about “Crazy Love” being used in “Lazarus Rising” at the convention. Perhap’s it was a slip of the tongue and Jason said the wrong song title but I do know at least one of my daughters heard him say the same thing I heard because we happened to be talking about just this a night or two ago.
I love Jason Mann’s voice but I’m not that crazy over the song “Crazy Love” lol but me and a lot of others bought the single CD for the reason it was used that episode.
That’s odd since my three daughters and I heard Jason Mann tell the story in person about “Crazy Love” being used in “Lazarus Rising” at the convention. Perhap’s it was a slip of the tongue and Jason said the wrong song title but I do know at least one of my daughters heard him say the same thing I heard because we happened to be talking about just this a night or two ago.
I love Jason Mann’s voice but I’m not that crazy over the song “Crazy Love” lol but me and a lot of others bought the single CD for the reason it was used that episode.
I think you’re right Tigershire!! After carefully listening to the music in that scene in “Lazarus Rising” and even with it being a short clip it doesn’t sound like “Crazy Love!” I’m not as informed as you are on his music I was simply taken aback by the beauty and strength of his voice. And oh lord Jason Mann and Steve Carlson should definitely do a full CD together. Their voices together are magic,I was lucky enough to get to see them do one song together at the convention!
Thanks for the clarity!
So sorry Alice Iforgot to say what a wonderful review this was. You were dead on about this incredible episode and I couldn’t agree more this 4th season opener was so much better then the previous seasons.
Ah “The Magnificent Seven” oh it makes me sad just thinking of what could have been done with that episode. The brillance of this concept with the seven deadly sins escaping hell and walking this world in the flesh!