Recap – “The Third Man”
Balthazar is ready to vamoose, but suddenly Dean and his lighter have other plans. “No time like the present.” Balthazar is standing in a ring of holy oil. Silly sucker. Don’t these angels know how to look for that by now? Dean lights. Balthazar isn’t happy anymore, calling Dean a hairless ape. You angels need to come up with more pet names for humans. Pookie is good. Dean delivers the ultimatum, take his marker off of Aaron Birch’s soul. Balthazar defies, so Dean calls Sam, who has more holy oil. “Unless you like your wings extra crispy, I’d think about it.”
Balthazar tries to appeal Castiel, mentioning what he did for him in Heaven, but Castiel cuts him off. “I believe the hairless ape has the floor.” Great line! My favorite of the episode. Balthazar agrees and does some little motion, then claims the boy’s soul is his own. Dean won’t stop there, wondering why he’s buying up human souls anyway. “In this economy? It’s probably the only thing worth buying. Do you have any idea what souls are worth? What power they hold?” Ooh, that’s interesting. I wonder if this is a major clue to what’s happening this season. It’s a war over souls. Of course it could be nothing too. Dean looks at Sam, and Sam has this blank look on his face. I wonder if that means anything. Maybe not.
Balthazar insists Dean release him. Dean isn’t so agreeable. “Suck it ass clown, nobody said anything.” Ass clown? I love that they used that term on this show. Lord knows I say it a lot. Castiel fans the holy fire with his hand. Dean can’t believe that. “My debt to you is cleared,” Castiel tells Balthazar. He thinks that’s fair enough and leaves. Dean tries to yell at Cas, presumably for doing that right when they were getting to the good part, but then Cas disappears too. I wonder if that means Castiel is trying to cover something up, or has figured out what’s happening and doesn’t want Sam and Dean involved. I wonder if that plays into why Sam was brought back. Dean isn’t happy. “Freaking angels, come on!” Yeah angels, what up?
Dean is rooting through the junked up trunk of the Impala, trying to make room for Sam’s things. Dean didn’t realize how much junk he had, Sam gripes he’s picked up some stuff along the way. Some stuff? You had a whole arsenal in the trunk, didn’t you? Then again, a 67 Impala trunk is way bigger than a trunk of any modern car. Sam puts a bag in and finds a mask. It’s Ben’s Halloween costume. “Wendigo?” Yep. Sam’s impressed. “Accurate.”
They walk to their respective sides of the car and Dean sees his opportunity. “Are you okay?” Sam claims he’s great. Dean isn’t seeing it. “Really, because there’s a few times you’ve got me wondering.” “Come again?” Sam asks. Dean wants to know where he was when Cas was torturing that kid. Sam claims he was there, but Dean thinks he was the only one “raising a card.” Sam goes into backtracking mode. “I was with you, but I don’t know, we needed the intel.” “Yeah I know but we tortured that kid to get it. I just didn’t get the feeling that you even cared.” Because he didn’t! He can’t care, or he’ll be in a fetal position on the floor. Sam gives the most unconvincing “You’re wrong” I’ve ever heard.
Dean looks at Sam, his suspicion is only worse. “Man, I’m just trying to figure this out, because something’s different with you. You know that.” Now Sam agrees there. Sam’s cop out though is he’s been hunting non-stop for the past year, so that’s what’s making him rough around the edges. Dean knows avoidance when he sees it. “Yeah I get that, but I don’t think I’m getting the whole scoop.” Neither are we Dean, neither are we. “You went to Hell Sam. And believe me, I know what that does to a guy.” Sam shifts into full fledged denial mode. “To you. You know what it does to you. It tortured you. I think it still does. But Dean, I’m okay.” I think “okay” means something totally different in your world Sammy.
“So, you’re saying what, that you’re stronger than me?” Dean asks. “No,” replies Sam, “Just saying we’re different.” I’m also looking at Sam’s shirt during this exchange. It’s like the burgundy colored version of The Paisley Peril. I know we’ll never see that shirt again (sob) but so far his new wardrobe has some interesting pieces too. Anyway, that observation is blowing the whole point of this heart-to-heart ending. Heart-to-heart meaning Dean is pouring his out there and Sam is crushing it. Sam ends the conversation there and gets in the car, unable to look Dean in the eye. Dean shakes his head and man is he disturbed. Oh great, another unsettling ending. Beautiful shot of the Impala by the river as he gets in though. That’s something.
That’s a recap, albeit a belated one. Back to normal schedule this week.
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.