Recap – “Live Free or Twihard”
Dean follows Robert down a dark corridor. He surmises Dean must be starving and takes him to the refrigerator where all the stolen blood is. In a really cool shot from the back of the fridge, Robert pulls out a bag of blood for him. Dean maintains some amazing control here even though the blood is calling out to him. Yes, we figure all that out just by a pained facial expression. Dean tells Robert he’s okay. “I killed so many people on the way over here.” Robert decides now would be a good time to go through the key points of vampire orientation. “Yeah about that, company line is we just don’t kill people anymore. But you’ve got to tell me what that’s like.” Dean promises first chance he gets. Luckily, Robert will get to see it first hand! “I’ll show you myself,” Dean promises. There you are Dean! I love how being a vamp hasn’t totally ruined your killer wit. Of course Robert takes the bag of blood for himself and Dean looks so hungry watching him drink. Poor guy, this has to be killing him. That’s further accented by Dean’s POV from the back of the blood fridge looking in. He looks like he’s ready to pop any second now. What a great shot!
Robert and Dean pass other vamps in the hall, and I swear one of them is the same guy that played Luther the ghost in “Yellow Fever.” Robert claims they’re jealous because the recruiters get to bang all the chicks. Oh, so Dean has been recruited to be a recruiter. Good to know. Dean wants to know more but Robert tells him the big man will explain. Oh, you mean the big homoerotic vamp that looks like Animal the muppet? I researched, but I couldn’t find where this next set or location had been used before. I swore it was The Watchmen but I couldn’t find any evidence of it. I love this set, which looks like an old abandoned bank. The clock, the gated cubbies, the grandiose lobby with mosaic tiles, that’s what I took it to be. The old world gothic feel matches too. What a gorgeous setting.
Sitting at a desk typing bad poetry is the missing dumb chick from earlier, Kristen. She isn’t so enamored by this vampire culture anymore. Animal is standing over her shoulder, telling her what to type. “That stupid bitch will eat that up, she’ll be dying to meet.” Poor girl, what a harsh way to find out. He kisses Kristen on the head and she’s more repulsed than enamored. In the meantime Dean sees other young girls, probably the missing ones, in cages sucking on their own supply of blood bank blood. Kristen is told to get some more blood and then come back to do more. She passes Dean and her look screams “Save me.” Sorry sweetheart, too late for you. What a shame. This show often doesn’t sugarcoat.
“Thank goodness, I thought the hunter chopped your pretty head.” Yeah, well, if that hunter wasn’t his brother, he would have. Although, from what we also know, if the circumstances were different, he would have. Dean says he got away, and then plays dumb by asking what’s a hunter. You! Animal has a better answer. “You’ll see if he finds us.” Then he leans in with the coolest grin. “You’ll see him inside out.” That’s a good line. This is also where I wonder if Sam dies, or even Dean for that matter, will the deaths stick this time? Does Sam go back to Hell? It’s all so murky. I still think these two have some immortality left in them.
Dean tries to grin at the joke, but it’s clear he wants to rip Animal’s head off. Aww, still protective of baby brother. Animal gets to the important stuff, did he eat? Dean claims he did. Good he’ll need his strength. Dean wonders for what and Animal is surprised Robert didn’t tell him. Yeah, Robert isn’t the sharpest tool in the nest. Animal comes in real close and Dean notices his disregard for personal space. Homoerotic vamps will do that. “How old do I look?” Animal asks. Dean says about 33. Animal is flattered by that answer. “You’re off, by about six centuries.” Animal goes on with his brave new world speech. “These are the best days in that last six hundred years to be a vampire. Dracula, Ann Rice, please. These stupid little brats are so horny they’ve reinvented us as prince charming with a Volvo. They want a promise ring with fangs and I give it to them.” Another great line! That’s so scary, but in this universe, that’s exactly what I’d expect vamps to capitalize on. Good twist!
Dean asks about the cages. That’s until they’re compliant. I wonder how long that takes? Kristen didn’t look so easily swayed. “Eventually these girls will go out and fetch me boys like you and around and around we go.” The actor they got to play this Boris dude, Joseph D. Reitman, is really awesome. He plays this role so creepy but he’s not overacting. He’s truly scary. Dean pretends to be impressed, and asks Animal if it’s all him. Animal finds that laughable. “I just implement, make sure all of you fall in line.” In another awesome visual he points upward to the gorgeous stained glass ceiling up above. “It’s his, our Father’s.” Wow, all of this is giving me chills!
Dean wants more on “Our Father” and Animal likes that he’s a curious one. He moves in real close and makes all sorts of suggestive faces at Dean, making both him and me VERY uncomfortable. “In due time,” Animal says practically within kissing distance of Dean, whispering in his ear about taking the private tour. Ick! Poor Dean. This is way more than taking one for the team. Sammy, you are so paying for this. Dean gives one super uneasy “I thought you’d never ask” and Animal takes the lead, not before rolling his tongue. Yikes! Run Dean, Run!
Dean actually realizes this is his one and only shot at using the dead man’s blood, otherwise he becomes this vampire’s bitch. He pulls out the needle, rears back and oops, a drop of blood in one very eloquent and detailed shot falls to the floor. This is superior film making right there. Just that detail alone adds to the suspense tenfold. Animal hears that pretty easily (stupid vamp power hearing) and has Dean in a headlock within no time. He forces the needle out of Dean’s hand and gives his wicked laugh. Oh no, Dean!
But wait, what’s happening? Animal looks up at “his Father” and hears whispers. He’s mesmerized. He lets go of Dean and drops unconscious to the floor. Dean watches all the other vamps fall too as the words continue. Guess what? Dean’s the last to fall. It must go in order of those turned. Face plant on the ground. This next bit is so trippy, I don’t know how to possibly describe it. I’ll do my best though!
A bald black man is standing outside an old country estate. Looks English to me, or German, or who knows. I don’t get the impression its US. Blood drops running through veins, white crosses in a graveyard, desks at school (?), young girl, body, a map of Chicago with the greater Aurora, Illinois area circled. More flashes, black man in the field, Dean on the ground, crosses, and back to the estate. A young girl is outside having a tea party. She’s serving her doll blood. Ew. Back to Dean and then a fertilized egg is splitting. Hmm, twins? Sure enough, one girl is there in a pretty blue dress and a bow in her hair, then her twin in the same outfit appears. One girl has vamp fangs, then the other. This is someone’s acid trip, I know it!
Great recap, Alice, as usual! This was such a dark episode that I didn’t know what to think when it was over. I’m still processing but can’t wait for next week when hopefully the truth will out!
BTW, Dean was say a Jewish toast when he drank the cure – L’Chayim – which means “To Life”. Very apropos, don’t you think? 😉
Very nice recap – I enjoyed reading it.
A small quibble. 😛 I thought the password to the girl’s computer was “Lautner”. Sam typed in that name as the password, and while he was waiting for that password to fail, he asked how “Pattinson” was spelt (in anticipation of typing “Pattinson” as his next attempt). However, “Lautner” worked.
Reading your recap reminded me of how heartbreaking this episode was for Dean – being turned into a vampire and thinking he was going to have to be cut down, having to say goodbye to Lisa (again !) and nearly drinking her in the process, and of course, discovering how Sam betrayed him and allowed him to be turned.
Thanks, Rose, for explaining the toast. 🙂
Hi Alice
I so love your recaps…and this one I’m sure was definitely a hard one to do.
I burst out laughing when you referenced that Boris looked like Animal from the Muppets….so true…all he needed was a set of drum sticks and a chain around his neck and waa laa it would be him.
I have to say aside from the drawn out beginning and Sam’s character annihilation it was a really good episode. It was creepy and dark and I loved the camera effects and of course Jensen was fantastic. And I loved the building that the nest was in aswell. It did look like an old Bank or maybe an old Train Station.
Now before you get on me about my comment on Sam. I am keeping my fingers crossed and deeply hoping/believing that Sera will do good by Sam and a acceptable, redeemable, forgivable, anythingable answer will be provided soon. And that we will get our brothers back and finally move on from this story line.
I am still very curious as to why and by whom both Sam’s were resurrected and how they crossed paths. And I am also looking forward to more on the Alpha story line.
I do have one little nitpic as I mentioned in Elle2’s review, I don’t see how Dean saw Sam smirk. From the filming stand point Dean’s eyes were shut at the time. He may of caught a glimpse of Sam standing there but could not of seen the smirk.
Thanks again Alice for the great recap.
Thanks for the recap, Alice. It’s especially good handy given that I couldn’t bring myself to watch it a second time. I’m waiting for (another) Sam redemption before I rewatch.
Some really good observations here and some quintessential Supernatural moments; making the cuddly, hairy dude the head vampire honcho, 21st century vamps, projectile vomiting, Dean trying to jibe Sam into resurrecting Sammy and Sam all work, work, work.
I was thinking about the turning (as it shall from hence forth be known…) (1) If Sam wanted a hunter on the inside, why not himself? Maybe, given his propensity for blood, he doesn’t trust himself and (2) He felt Dean was more honourable and thought he’d never take human blood. Turned out he was right.
I don’t know though, maybe I’m just having a ‘glass half full’ day but looking at the screencaps and looking at Sam’s face while watching Dean being turned, I don’t think he planned for it to happen. He’s got a bit of the WTF face going on. However, now that it HAS happened, why not use it to your advantage? Still doesn’t take away from the fact that he didn’t try to stop it though.
While I’m not happy (cos I’m quite sad) about Sam, I am intrigued, very intrigued AND invested, very, very invested.
“Dean hangs up and Sam arrives. Oh yeah, tender moment over. Sam wants to know what he’s stoked about, but Dean moves onto the case. Six girls have gone missing in seven days which is definitely unusual for the area. “And cute,†Dean says, noticing the pictures. Sam finds that amusing. “Ice cream comes in lots of flavors Sam.†Hmm, interesting joke considering he just got off the phone with Lisa.”
I think the above exchange represented a brotherly moment … of sorts.
Sam’s questioning what Dean was so stoked about is rhetorical, as Sam saw him on the phone and easily guessed that it was Lisa. That is, Sam is teasing Dean about the latter’s acting like he’s in love.
Dean’s “ice cream” quip is an attempt to deny it, which Sam knowingly brushes aside.
***
I wasn’t quite as overwhelmed by this ep as you — although I did think it was very good. I think it would’ve worked better if the Kristen story had remained more in the foreground of the plot. After all, they were initially planning to rescue her. Having to gank her should’ve been a little less offhanded.
Alice, Alice, Alice — I was so much like you with this episode.
Happily watching until THAT occurred! After I finished yelling, hyperventilating and whimpering, the show was over and I couldn’t tell you what the rest of it was about until I watched it again with a broken heart, but knew what would happen so it wasn’t such a complete shock the second time.
How Sam can be redeemed is absolutely beyond me right now, and perhaps Dean beating the crap out of him won’t cure Sam, it sure will make me feel better, and maybe Dean too. This must be fixed soon, and better than just another “I’m sorry Dean” as that got old some time ago.
I’m hoping right now that that isn’t Sam in any way whatsoever. I don’t want to have to see Sam and remember how he used to be and isn’t any more. Just can’t forgive him for that if it really was him.
The second time I watched I discovered the badass mofo that Dean still is. LOVED how he went through the whole nest and rested with his boot on Boris’ severed head. Woot!!!! 😈
Jared loves to play the bad guy, but I hope he realizes how awful it is to watch a once beloved character disappoint in every possible way. I want to love Sam again and have the brothers close again and trusting completely each other. Right now I wouldn’t trust Sam to pick up dinner. Sam’s gone off on Dean about not letting him be an adult. He doesn’t deserve to be after this episode. If he is not kicked out of the Impala he should be kept on the shortest leash available. Hope this is not dragged on too long! 🙁
Even so, can’t wait till the next episode, and that is the point of it all, I guess. Riveting and unbearably hurting for our beloved boys!
Great recap/review. It was an awesome episode. Loving how the new writers and directors are bolder and are doing new things this year.
I really was not liking Sam after this episode, (and I consider myself a Sam girl) but now I am having compassion for him. :cry::
Alice, I am getting this vibe that you enjoyed the beatdown that Sam got from Dean. 😀
Great recap.
Were the new vamps stupid before they were turned or did they get stupid when they became vamps? If you see someone coming at you with a sharp knife why do you keep walking to them??? 😀 😀
I like Daddy!Dean, giving advice to the children out there. But I love Vamp!Dean even more. 😀 He is a badass, and can take out a whole coven of vamps within minutes including their big hair leader. (and that is without drinking a drop of blood, he should give some lessons to Stefen Salvatore) 😀
I think that Vamp!Dean would have wiped the floor with Vamp!Gordon.:D
I was waiting for Sam to come to Dean’s rescue, but the MoFo was just standing there. WTF WTF WTF
Poor Dean, having to deal with the super senses of being a vamp and an a**hole of a brother. Even when Dean is cured, all Sam wanted to know was details about the coven. WTF. (I was saying that alot during this episode, they should have called this episode ‘WTF Sam’.)
When Dean was watching Lisa in her bedroom, I had a flashback to the Pilot, when YED was standing over the crib, also when John was in the hotel room in ‘Shadow’.
Grandpa gets a cookie for yelling at Sam. 😀 Sam WTF
Love the stupid ‘rhymes with witch’ who wants Dean to help her when he sees her in the lair. She changed her mind about being a vamp, too late.
Is it just me, or are there no good little girls in SUPERNATURAL? All the children that have been victims are boys, but the girls are evil. Can anyone think of a girl that was in danger? Just thought of one, Tyler from ‘Playthings’, but she did have an evil imaginary friend (who was a girl).
I urge everyone to go to zimshan.livejournal.com/225640.html, she talks about how season 6 Sam is different. It is called ‘The Enigma which is post-Hell Sam’. She wrote this last Friday afternoon, before ‘Truth’, but after seeing ‘Truth’ and seeing the previews for next week, her picspam makes even more sense.
It is like when Dean took the crowbar to the Impala, he started and couldn’t stop until his arms got tired.
He started beating on Sam, when Sam didn’t try to defend himself, then Dean just got crazier because that really did mean that Sam was empty inside. ‘Cause if you don’t even care about yourself then how can you care about anybody else.