Recap – “The Third Man”
It’s another Edlund goodie (and man are there goodies) and once again, there’s so much to cover! Let’s not waste any time getting started.
Well look at Dean getting frisky with his woman in suburbia. I still think these two are so cute together. I wonder how many mornings like this Dean actually got. He’s sleeping, shirtless but mostly covered 🙁 and Lisa is all over him. He accepts the lovin’ and after some tender kissing he’s all over her in no time! It’s so sweet, so sensual, so…a dream. He wakes up disconcerted in the Impala. Oh dude, that’s harsh.
HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!!! WHAT THE HELL IS THIS??? Have I died a sweet, sweet death???? That’s…that’s bare backed Sam Winchester doing push-ups! They’ve got this techno music going in the background that only adds about ten thousand to the hotness factor. I love that the best screen shot I can get from the push ups has “Misha Collins” along his back. It’s like Misha owns him or something. Maybe he does. Next Dean stretches (fully clothed) by a pond. Back to more Sam push ups. And I do mean back, because I’m hitting rewind about 800 times. I go on, for Sam is now doing sit ups. They seem effortless too. He isn’t even breathing hard. I don’t mind, for I’m too distracted by the ripped chest and arms. I feel so dirty.
Dean stretches more, and couldn’t he have at least been jogging with a wife beater? There’s Sam breathing hard. Better. Dean drives away in the Impala. Sam is…HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!!! Pull ups? On a pipe from the ceiling? View from the back? Up and down effortlessly? Tell me “Grey’s Anatomy” viewers, has McDreamy ever done this? Yowsa!
A hot chick comes in and likes her view. My view is pretty darned good too. Sam stops what he’s doing and drops about an inch to the ground. Yep, still freakishly tall. The girl tells him not to stop on her account. Yeah Sam, DON’T STOP. Sam gives her this weird, almost malevolent sort of smile and tells her he’s done. I don’t think he’s talking about the workout though. Chances are the way he’s ripped he does this in motel rooms all day long. She comes up to him all sultry and I love this view of her from the ceiling just over the top of his head. I think it’s supposed to highlight how much taller he is. Robert Singer is directing this one and I like his style. The camera pans slowly down and around Jared. He’s towering, that’s for sure.
She calls last night a “high point.” Sound like she never gets to mount tall guys. Sam smiles and says good. Okay, manliness is justified. She gives him a sultry stare like she’s trying to read a book but only has blank pages. She knows he needs to start his day and asks when he said he was heading out. Sam only gives her this really strange (for Sammy anyway) creepy leer with a half smile. Plus perfect hair. How does he do that after a workout? You see, he is off. I really can’t describe his behavior other than I want to walk over to him, tap him on the skull and see if Sam Winchester is home.
She gazes back, not daunted at all by his creepiness. She probably digs the danger vibe. “Damn, you know how to play that mystery card.” Whew, at least that part has never changed. She turns to leave and he clears his throat. Out of the pocket of his tight jeans he pulls out a couple of bills. A hooker Sammy? What happened to not paying for sex. Right, you’re different. Actually, that kind of makes sense. Whatever inhibitions he had before just don’t matter anymore. He’s been to the cage in Hell. Once that happens, time to throw caution to the wind.
Girl comes over and takes her money with a smile. “I almost forgot.” Yeah, right. You were just looking for that excuse to come back later. Sam is no dummy. Morally bankrupt, but no dummy. Sam is still looking at her really weird in a way that’s creeping me out. This either is really Sam or he’s doing one good job of playing out a mysterious stranger fantasy. She hands him a piece of paper. “Next time, you can call me on my night off.” Hee, you’ve done something to impress her Sam. She knows you’re special. Either that or you’re REALLY great in the sack. I go with both! Sam looks at the number and gives her an uncertain “Okay.” See Sam, you’re not a repulsive creep.
She leaves and Sam’s cell phone goes off. We can see close up now how sweaty he is. Man, I swear this is going to trigger the massive coronary. How many hours do you think Jared had to film this in the studio shirtless? Sam walks over to the phone, crumples up the paper and throws it in the trash can. No intimate relationships for him. He just needed to get off. Man those are some low riding jeans. That’s almost full frontal! That shot leaves very little to the imagination. Yep, those are definitely heart palpitations on my end.
Dean wants to know why he’s there. Why a case of course! Dean is curious how, since it’s been like a day and a half. “I like to work,” Sam says. Gee Dean, remind you of anyone after his return from Hell? “Family Remains” anyone? That should be your sign. No, instead of saying he understands Dean gives a sarcastic “apparently.” “Glad we hashed that out,” Sam says not liking big brother’s tone at all. He tells Dean to call him when he rolls into town and abruptly hangs up. Dean is a little thrown back, asking “Who died and made you boss.” Um, Sam did, remember Dean? Big hole, triple lindy, cage in Hell? Ring a bell?
Alice Jester is the founder, editor-in-chief, head writer, programmer, web designer, site administrator, marketer, and moderator for The Winchester Family Business. She is a 30 year IT applications and database expert with a penchant for creative and freelance writing in her spare (ha!!) time. That’s on top of being a wife, mother of two active kids, and four loving (aka needy) pets.
Great recap for a stellar episode !
I (mostly) like your choice of pics also, although I have to say that I thought there were perhaps a tad too many of Sam (just look at the first page ! :P)
A quick thought –
I thought it was a nice link between how Dean could tell from a phone call that Ben was lying, and how he could also tell that Aaron was holding back on the fact that he sold his soul for (part of) Moses’ Staff.
Dean appears to be quite an expert on when kids are lying. 🙂
Great recap for a much better episode.
Love badass/mysterious Sam, Jared is really bringing this season. I love how Sam is different yet there’s a hint of the Sammy we all know and love under the surface. Cant wait to see more of his story unfold.
BTW.You can never have too many pictures of Sam. I heard we may have more nekkid Sam before Christmas too. Yay!
Still rooting for the Dean/Lisa/Ben storyline to be over soon and I’m still thinking episode 5 will mark the beginning of the end of that arc, it’ll be over in 6 (just a hunch). Then maybe we can get to the real issues at hand like Sam, the Campbell’s, gods stolen weapons. Most of all we really need to get back to the brothers relationship and cut down on the fan servicing-I like more to my Supernatural than just Dean with a kiddie every week and Sam getting his kit off (even if I really appreciate the latter).
Hi Alice,
I think I better clarify – I wasn’t implying that Sam and Dean should get equal pictorial exposure !
I just mean that as an individual sharing the same gender and marital status as Jensen and Jared (and on top of that we have 3 young kids – it’s too bad the missus does not think it’s a good idea to start them on a horror television series just yet :P), I guess I was not prepared for the onslaught, on a single page, of so much … er… Sam exposure 😛
That being said, I appreciate that many other readers will enjoy your layout on page 1 more than I did, and personally, the Sam skin onslaught did not (for me) detract from your excellent and enjoyable recap. 🙂
Before I start I have to say, I really love reading your reviews and not just because of the comprehensive or enlightening nature of them but because they are so freaking full of joy!! You seem to find delight in everything new and old that’s shown and that’s great because it reflects in your writing (goes for all the writers on here!).
At a time when a lot of other places are moaning or complaining about the ‘direction’ of the show etc, to be able to read someone who is still entranced with the show… well, an rud is annamh is iontach (what’s rare is wonderful) so thanks.
Maybe I’m being overly optimistic (it’s contagious!) but I’m seeing flickers of old Sam everywhere I look. That ‘okay’ when the lady was walking out was one such moment. It makes me believe more and more that this whole hard exterior is something Sam has chosen to put on, that he’s not actually ‘soul less/damaged/Lucifered up etc. Also, as you said, Dean is the key. In many regards, I think Sam is scared of the effect Dean will have on him so at times, will be colder towards him, hence some comments that sound harsh eg ‘Better for everybody’
I think, up until the very end of the episode, Dean was more content than he had been in a long time. He had his brother, his angel, a case, Sam back in the Impala. He had everything he wanted right there; they might be somewhat different, but it was better than nothing (am happy for Dean!)
Mr. Angel, sir. Good to see you back. Re: Castiels revelation. I think not only was Sam hoping it was God, but he’s absolutely terrified that it’s not. If the angels didn’t do it and God (probably) didn’t do it, then that just leaves one other team, and they play downstairs…
I know most people probably cheered at the loss of Sams car but I think it was more than a car for Sam. It represented his independence. In it, he was just Sam, the Hunter, no background etc but in the Impala, he’s also Sam, the little brother, and with Sam’s need to not let his emotions get away from him, being so close to Dean, in his ‘home’ on a constant basis, I’m sure he feels it could be a pretty risky place for him to be.
I think it’s kind of a Winchester family mantra that they ‘don’t talk about it’. Sure, show off the scars etc but anything of a mental or emotional nature doesn’t matter. There’s now a part of me thinking that maybe Sam wasn’t physically tortured in the Pit (don’t know why) but I’d say they ‘ouched him in the head sad’ fairly good. This could be another reason why Sam says he ok. Physically, he’s fine and the psychological stuff doesn’t count because it’s just his head.
Just in relation to the bigger picture comment. I wonder if, when Lucifer was perched in Sam, Sam got any insight into what Lucifer had planned. This could explain why torturing the kid didn’t faze him. Sam knows what could happen, so he can’t afford to think about the smaller man. This only ‘seeing the bigger picture’ Sammy both excites and saddens me….
Love the recap Alice, great job, as always. Also appreciate of your little insights, although conservative republican, really?
I agree with Tim the Enchanters assessment of Sam’s torture. I also don’t think it was a mostly physical torture like Dean’s. (Although I think Dean’s was mostly physical with a some mental torture thrown in for good measure.) I am of the feeling that Lucifer’s cage in Hell is set off from the rest of the demons, so Sam’s time in Hell was spent with Lucifer in his head, which brings me to believe that his torture was all mental, and that Luci was really working him over similar to how he spoke to him in Swan Song. So, however long Sam was down there, he had Lucifer constantly ragging on him and that, I am sure, really did a number on his psyche (not that Sam wasn’t already psyche damaged with all the years of facing the demon blood crap).
I loved the beginning sequence of Dean and Sam and how different their lives are now after this past year. Sam and a prostitute – who would have thunk, but he does indeed look hot. I loved it that Dean was dreaming about Lisa. And As for Dean/Lisa/Ben – it looks like something will be happening in that story line in 6.05 and 6.06 and I am so wanting this story line to continue for Dean. We can still have the brothers story line front and center, that is what SPN is all about. But a show and characters cannot continue to grow and evolve without changes, and continuing to have Lisa and Ben in Dean’s life, and Sam’s as an offshoot of that (not central but still have a presence in his life) will be a chance for these two characters to grow as individuals and learn to not be so codependent on each other. That they can become more equals. I think it’s an important part of their maturation.
I hope they bring back Demore Barnes as Raphael. I cannot accept anyone else period. He is the only angel that comes close to what i would imagine the warrior angels of Supernatural should be like, not wimpy like Gabriel, dirty like Balthazar or child like and lost like Castiel. Even though i liked them, i still was disappointed with them. And Demore Barnes voice is just the coolest and most powerful voice ever. And come on, he is the only angel who has lightning for wings.
I would rather see his return than Balthazar. And he knows how to do fight scenes better than all his opponents.