Recap – “The Third Man”
They’re back at the motel, going through the sheets. Sam mentions these are three of the most popular forms of an Egyptian plague. “Yeah, but these guys (holding a jar of the locusts) ate their way out of a cop’s melon. I don’t quite remember that in the King James.” Maybe it’s in the New International Version instead. Living Bible? Sam did find the Christopher Birch story. A kid shot in the face by three cops. Guess who? The dead ones. They all filed the same report. Sam theorizes that maybe Ed was right, God has something against crooked cops. “So we’re listening to the guy with a bug in his custard? That’s the theory you want to go with?” Oh Dean, I love your way with words. I’ve said it before, but I’ll never stop being happy about it.
Sam explains himself a little better, Angels got to have something to do now that they’re post apocalypse. It’s interesting, Sam turns out to be more than right! Dean suggests they call Cas. Yay, I’m already getting so excited over the idea of seeing Castiel again. We’re 14 minutes in and no sign yet. Where are you Cas? Sam is exasperated over that idea. “Dean, I tried. It was the first, and second, and third thing I did as soon as I got topside. Son of a bitch won’t answer the phone.” Sam sounds really bitter about this.
He should be, but still, this isn’t normal Sam attitude. He normally broods silently.
Sam gets all exasperated, even pinching his nose. “So, what, you like him better or something?” Castiel isn’t in the mood to explain, but since Sam asked. “Dean and I do share a more profound bond.” Eye roll from Dean! These three just have everything down so perfect when they’re in a scene together. It’s intuitive anymore. Cas turns to Dean somewhat apologetic. “I wasn’t going to mention it.” Ha! I’m really laughing here. You always win with awkward Cas.
Dean steps in before the angel shoots himself in the foot anymore. “Cas, I think what he’s trying to say is that, he went to Hell for us, I mean he really took one for the team, remember that? And then he comes back without a clue, and you can’t take five freaking minutes to give him some answers?” Castiel defends that he would have answered if he had answers. They have no idea who brought him back from the cage or why. “So, it wasn’t God?” Sam asks. Like Castiel would know. Needless to say, they haven’t seen God. The whole thing remains mysterious. “What the hell does that mean?” Sam asks. “What part of ‘I don’t know’ escapes your understanding?” Castiel says sharply. Ooh, touchy, touchy.
Castiel angrily tosses the jar of locusts at Sam. “Sam, Dean, my people skills are rusty.” He even uses the quoting fingers when saying that! This keeps getting better. “Pardon me, but I have spent the last year as a multi-dimensional wave length of celestial intent.” Hahahahahahaha! Please, talk amongst yourselves while I take another pause. Angel on the edge humor. (Wipes tears from eyes). Okay better. Castiel appeals to their common sense, they do not want that weapon down there or more people will die. They’re a little less belligerent now.
Dean and Sam go back to the case, looking for motive. Sam shows the common link, an outraged father of a dead son. Next thing that outraged father is in his living room, reading about the dead cops in the “Easter Eagle.” Catchy title! His young son comes in asking him how many times he’s going to read that. His father tells him to go out and play. Back to the father on the couch and suddenly we hear angel wings. The camera pans out and Sam, Dean and Castiel are standing right in front of him! “Cas, a little warning next time,” Dean says. The dad freaks that these three strange guys appeared from nowhere in his living room.
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.