Recap – “All Dogs Go To Heaven”
Okay, I’m going to do my best to be upbeat about this one. I’ve got all my familiar vices nearby and I’m surrounded by pictures of puppy dogs, lollipops, unicorns shooting rainbows out of their butts, sweet fuzzy soft kitties, and Sam’s bad hair days. Anything to forget the fact that each time Sam is a soulless jerk, a part of me dies inside.
First off, the incredibly short teaser. Unknown older man talking on a cell phone in a parking lot in Buffalo. Meet our red shirt. From the black and white perspective of the thing in the bushes stalking him, we’re dealing with some type of an animal. The guy had it coming anyway after spouting words like “peepee” and “poopie” in the phone. Plus he lives in Buffalo. That says a lot right there. You know the drill. Growling, screaming, blood spatter. Dog food.
This week’s shattered glass title card represents my patience with this soulless storyline. In a million pieces. Still, happy smiles people, happy smiles.
Sam and Dean are at a barbeque place. I must say I’ve traveled all across country and eaten at many barbeque places, including the supposed primo ones down south, but none beat the City Barbeque chain right here in Columbus. The best ever. Watching this scene pretty much made me go out on a run. Judging by Sam’s disgust over his cole slaw, Fat Mack’s Rib Shack just doesn’t compare.
Dean is on the phone to Bobby, demanding yet “another way.” Give it up Dean, Bobby is a lot more thorough than that. You’re screwed. “If Crowley thinks we’re just gonna-” Then he’s interrupted by Crowley, who’s right behind him. Those demons and angels and their surprise greetings. I want that power. I think I’ve said this before, but it would give me a cool mystique at work. They would certainly know who I am, that’s for sure.
“Is that Bobby Singer?” Crowley asks. “Give him a kiss for me.” Hee, Bobby’s never going to be able to live that down. Mark Sheppard talked a bit about that kissing scene at the Chicago convention. He had a lot of fun joking about scenes where he has to kiss another man.
Dean hangs up on Bobby while Crowley takes his seat next to Sam, who’s dropping the fork gesture indicates he’s not hungry now. You know, that would have been a great gag this season. Soulless Sam ends up chowing down, eating everything in sight with vigor like Dean. Opportunity lost I guess. Crowley indicates there’s good news, he has a job for them. So, we’ve got to go through the obligatory “Dean hates every bit of this” part of the conversation. Dean takes his seat with his BBQ. “I’m gonna say this once. You can take your job and shove it up your ass.”
Crowley asks Dean if that’s any way to talk to his boss and Dean claims he isn’t, throwing in a “dick bag” at the end. Oh, how original. Come on Dean, you’re less delusional than this. Crowley goes through the whole “we’ve been through this” stuff and we have, but Crowley’s insults are so much better. “Quit clutching your pearls. You’ve been working for me for some time now, Sam here longer.” I do love this Crowley’s penchant for seeing the drama queen in these guys. Sam brings up they didn’t know, but that’s just splitting hairs at this point. “Like it makes a difference to you. You’d sell your brother for a dollar right now if you really needed the soda.” That’s the sign of an effective boss. Know your employee’s work habits. Right now, he’s got Sam pegged.
Crowley tries to go on with the assignment but Dean blurts out no. “I’ve done some shady stuff in my time but I’m not doing this.” Wake up Dean, you’re chewing too much scenery here. Crowley bets 10 quid that he will and proves it my touching the back of Sam’s hand. Next thing part of it’s burning and sizzling away all nicely and that’s an effective management tool. Why couldn’t he do it to Dean though? He’s being the belligerent jerk. If I were Dean I’d ask “great, what else can you do to Sam?” No instead Dean gets all shocked and worried as Sam writhes his hand in agony. Sorry, been done before. Dean should have seen that coming by a mile.
“You like pain Sam? You like Hell? You need to stop thinking like this is some kind of deal. This is a hostage situation you arrogant little thug. I own your brother. Do you understand me.” Again, if I were Dean at this point, I’d get up say “he’s yours” and walk away. I know he can’t, but it’s not like Sam is doing him any favors these days. Dean quiets down and Crowley snaps his fingers, taking away that nasty third degree burn on Sam’s hand. Fantastic, all that’s left is the residual pain. Kind of a nice metaphor for this crappy situation, huh?
Crowley tells Dean to smile and I swear a sarcastic smile from Dean would have been a perfect response. He does those so well. He’s been too grumpy these days. Crowley repeats the deal, bag him an alpha, he’ll let Sam have his soul back. Liar! Although, one twist could be that once Sam does get his soul back, he’ll be actually worse off. All that pain of being in the cage will surface and who can control that? Speculation here of course. Right now anything would be better than the vacancy we’ve got now. Sam asks if alpha vamp isn’t good enough for him. “Best mind where you poke your nose, if you want to keep it.” I swear, something between Sam and Crowley here still isn’t right. I swear there’s more between them that what’s being let on. That’s a gut instinct thing.
Crowley gets to the case. Businessman, chest ripped open, heart missing, blah blah, werewolf. Dean, who isn’t up on the latest, knows the lunar cycle isn’t right. Sam knows better, for six months ago he and Samuel got one on the half moon. Funny, I remember Samuel mentioning that to Dean in the season opener. Short term memory loss, huh Dean? Crowley even jokes that turning on the full moon is so “’09.” Sam backs him up. “Things have been out of whack for a while I guess.” “Yeah, I guess,” Dean answers, looking at his completely out of whack brother. Now there’s that biting sarcasm. Why aren’t you using it on Crowley?
Anyway, their mission is clear. “Bag the howler, bring it home to papa.” Crowley disappears in a flash and Dean drops his face into his hand. You know, the kind of thing he does when he’s totally in over his head. So that sets up the next scene, the brotherly heart to heart, er um, sort of, in the Impala. This is the one scene I’ve wanted all season and I ended up with a “be careful what you wish for.”
I already knew I had a warped sense of humor, so I’m not surprised that I’ve been enjoying a snarky Sam who get to say things we might think but not dare say. Plus, Jared’s never looked better, not a bad hair day yet!
Hi Alice , picking up a subtle vibe that you found this recap a little tricky.
Can I have a geek out moment , I think that Holt and Wilson are in fact members of a pretty obscure early `70s British band `Warhorse`. They were a bit in the Deep Purpleish mode.
There were some pretty hard bits to watch in this one and I have already rambled on about it after Jas` article but briefly, again I cannot understand how some people find Robosam funny I find his comments cold mean and cruel. I thought the dog who `played` Lucky was absolutely beautiful ( and so are your adorable kittems) and the last shot of him wandering off alone was so sad.
Now to be totally shallow , thank you for the sleeping and sniper shots, they were very much appreciated, and I dont think I will be alone there 😀
Still keeping the faith it will all be Ok in the end !
I just hope that now Cas is big boss with extra powers when we do eventually re unite Sam and soul he has the clout to wipe all the bad memories away – I know what show have I been watching — no chance, but I am happy with my vain little delusion . thanks again Ju
Loved the recap, Alice.
Loved the idea of a (r)ejecter seat in the Impala. 😀
Not loving the soulless Sam.
Now that he has stopped pretending to have feelings, he has become a major dick.
I wanted a happier end for Lucky. Maybe a car passes by and picks him up.
What I really want is Sam to get his soul back and spend the rest of the season feeling some major guilt.
Here’s an idea: time travel Sam from season three to now, and let him kick soulless!Sam’s ass. 😀 😀
I too loved your recap Alice. And everything you wanted done to Sam I can remember yelling at the TV. Bite him Lucky! Shoot him Dean! And I love your idea of Dean smacking him on the nose with a newspaper. You were so in sync with me that I laughed all the way through reading your recap. Its either that or keep weeping over robo/Sam.
I too don’t find any of his snark or remarks amusing in the least and his “I don’t care about you” was the lowest.
I found Lucky utterly endearing in comparison with robo/Sam and his mean cruelty. I was wishing Dean could send Sam away like Mandy did to poor Lucky. Is this thing that Dean has wasted his life with raising and protecting and loving what is left of his Sammy? It cannot be. I won’t believe the writers would rip down that awesome relationship forever. There has to be a pay off in the future. Just hope it doesn’t last all season as I can’t take much more depression watching it.
I like nancyL’s idea. Bring season 3 Sam back to kick this soulless/Sam’s ass. Somebody kick his ass, please! 👿
I’m thinking this was the most difficult recap you’ve had to write yet, eh Alice? I was definitely bummed out by the end of this show and Sam’s callous remark about how he didn’t care at all about Dean really did me in. But that said, I’m feeling a more optimistic that we’ll have our re-souled Sam back in the not too distant future from a tweet that Jim Beaver made on Twitter. Faint hope on the horizon…
On a trivia note, I was happy to see Canadian actress Janet Kidder in the role of Mandy. She is the niece of Margot Kidder (alias Lois Lane of the Superman movies).
In the meantime, chin up. We got that reprieve we were all looking for in “Clap Your Hands if You Believe”!