The boys go to Brennan’s Watchworks. Mr. Brennan is apparently the father of the missing Patrick from the teaser. It’s established Patrick is the first to disappear. “First to be taken,” Brennan says. He’s not cooperative though and assumes Patrick won’t be coming back. Sam and Dean try to ask why but he gives the excuse that it’s bleak after 72 hours. Patrick has been missing for weeks and they can’t help him. Dean leaves their card and they move on. Brennan waits until they leave and then asks a nearby watch if that’s alright. It turns in what I assume is a “yes.” Okay, he’s up to something.
Sam and Dean conclude he’s up to something, so Sam gets to watch the watchmaker (Ha! I made that up. Too bad they didn’t use it) while Dean checks out the crop circle. Dean gives explicit instructions though. “Do not in any way engage with, maim, or kill Brennan.” He doesn’t want Sam to make any judgement calls at all. “You know Jiminy, I was on my own for a year. I did fine without you.” “I don’t want to know your definition of fine,” Dean answers. Yeah, I don’t either, but Sam does bring up a point. He did go on that whole year without Dean. Was it Samuel keeping him in check, or is Sam playing Dean here. Curious question.
Dean in the dark goes into the crop circle with a flashlight, the Impala lights and engine still going. Dean’s phone rings and it’s the same ringtone from season two. I like continuity, but Dean needs to change with the times. “The only thing this guy is up to is alcoholism,” Sam says. He wants to go talk to Brennan, especially since Dean thinks he’s hiding something. The Impala turns off. Uh oh, I think Dean has other issues. While Sam asks what’s going on Dean pulls out his gun. Dean sees the same phantom being in the corn and then rising up from the corn in the sky is the bright light. Oh yeah, Dean is freaked. “Holy-“
Dean backs away and then runs into the corn in a panic. “UFO, UFO!” He shouts into the phone. Sam couldn’t make that out. “Close encounter, close encounter!” Dean shouts next. Now Sam is interested, but in a more curiously fascinated way than actual concern. “Close encounter, what kind, first, second?” He keeps drinking his beer. “They’re after me!” Dean shouts. “Third kind already? You better run man, I think the fourth kind’s a butt thing.” “Empathy Sam, Empathy!” Dean reminds him. Bwah, mustn’t laugh at Dean’s ordeal. But that’s so funny! This is the comic relief this weirdo version of Sam should be used for. Then Sam flags down the waitress and orders another beer. “They still after you?” He asks casually. Man, what did Dean do to deserve this? He should be calling Bobby or Castiel instead. Dean runs but eventually the bright light does catch up with him. Dean drops down the phone, pulls out his knife and challenges what’s out there. It doesn’t do any good, for he disappears in a flash of light. Sam can be heard on Dean’s dropped phone asking what happened. Sam hangs up, takes his beer from the waitress and checks her out with a leer. He can look for Dean later. This is hysterical but so wicked. Did we expect anything less?
I noticed when doing the photo gallery for this episode, there were many amazing shots done by director John Showalter. A ton of home runs. All of the scenes in the cornfield have been remarkable, like the corn swaying in just parts when the so called spaceship shows up, but I love the approach in this scene. It starts with the low camera angle from the ground panning through the corn stalks on the ground, then it catches Dean’s lit up and ringing phone. There’s a thin trace of light coming from a path nearby and we see the two feet approaching the phone. Then the hand reaches down and picks it up. As the phone goes up there’s Sam. But the shot goes over top of Sam now and shows the aerial view of him walking off into the corn in the dark. The corn is lit up, but the path he’s taking is not. It’s so delightfully spooky. I’m not sure why I appreciated that approach, but I did.
What I appreciate more, this next scene of “no bullshit” Sam on his own among the alien conspiracists at their base camp. There’s the familiar ringtones of them trying to make contact, a la Close Encounter of a Third Kind, but the notes are just varied enough where they don’t have to pay royalties. How savvy show. There are RVs everywhere, a poster of where UFO sightings have been around the US, a whacked out old school bus decorated with hippie aliens (which must be hippie chick’s bus) and people all around with cameras and telescopes talking shop. Sounds like my kind of campout.
Sam examines the crazy and comes up to The Doctor, I mean Wayne Whitaker Jr, who’s at a table reading. He doesn’t waste time getting the conversation started. “So they’re real, UFOs.” Wayne Whitaker is happy to boast “the truth is out there.” You know that had to be mentioned. Soulless Sam is hardly daunted. “Okay, you’re the expert. How do I get them?” Mr. Whitaker isn’t sure what Sam is asking. “Well, you hunt E.T.s, I need to know how to get them,” Sam explains. “You and me both,” Whitaker says with a laugh and hands him a flier.
Sam reads the four or so pages in front of him, suspecting right off the bat that since it’s not a thick book it won’t tell him much. While he’s doing that a hippie chick from the whacked out bus catches interest in the hot guy asking about aliens. I don’t blame her one bit. Back to Sam, who is definitely irritated. “This is it?” Wayne Whitaker gives him a line about how 30 years of eye witness accounts speak for themselves. Sam isn’t looking for proof. “My brother was abducted, so I’m pretty good on the whole proof part.”
“Your brother was abducted?” hippie chick asks jumping into conversation. Sam confirms. “Oh my God,” she says, as if this is a horrible thing for Sam. “It’s fine, I’ve had time to adjust,” Sam blankly answers. “Did it happen when you were kids?” She asks. “No, like half an hour ago,” Sam says matter of factly. He’s not done yet with Whitaker though. “So, you’ve basically been hunting UFOs for three decades and you have no concrete data and zero workable leads.” Wayne tries to explain but gets nowhere. “Have you considered the possibility that you suck at hunting UFOs?” Now this is how you play soulless Sam. He’s hysterical!
Your recap was a lot of fun, and so was the episode. I got a lot of laughs from roboSam in this one. He was so childlike and just a wee bit mean. Don’t like the mean uncaring Sam at all, but this one was amusing. And poor frustrated Dean was a hoot also. Poor baby! But I still hope to get the real Sam back sooner than later. This one can be just a funny guy, but the real one is beloved.
Jensen and Jared are just so awesomely good at the comedy together. Amazing! I bet they had a lot of fun doing this one.
Thank you Ben Edlund for clearing the depressing cloud for even a little time. Depressing back next episode I believe. 🙁
Loved Robert Picardo and like you Alice, he was my favourite character on “Voyager”.
Sorry Alice, but even another great recap from you, could not make me like this episode. I have read all the recaps, reviews and comments on this episode, and I have not changed my opinion. 🙁
But, it did have some funny moments. I liked Sam’s line to Whitaker, that he sucked at hunting ufo’s. I also smiled at Dean’s pride in escaping the aliens. Then there was tickerbell vs microwave oven. 😀
New math:
no soul + no sleep = no hangovers.
sorry Alice, Dean Winchester does not have ‘a bad day’. He does not run away from anyone, unless he has ‘yellow fever’. 😉
I remember seeing Robert Picardo on ‘China Beach’. The only ‘Star Trek’ I like is the original series. Never watched ‘Next Generation’, or any of the other branches. I like my ‘Star Trek’, the way I like my Coke: CLASSIC. 😆 😆
Alice, I loved this episode, and your recap brought it right back to me. A lot of funny stuff.
I can’t remember where I read this, but I thought they abducted first born sons to “serve AS” Oberon (so they would be servicing Titania), and I think that’s what Crystal lady said. But yes, Sam said “service” which I thought was funnier than if they said the same thing.
I think you’re right that Sam understands a lot more than he letting on, and he’s playing with Dean (but only so far…) He went for a whole year with no one really suspecting (even Bobby and Castiel) that there was anything wrong with him. I think he acts the part the people with him want him to play. So with Samuel, he’s the best hunter and family is important, just what Samuel wants. That act didn’t fly with Dean at all, and Sam doesn’t know what Dean expects from him, so he’s all over the map.
I don’t think the “no soul=no emotion” equation is right. Sam obviously feels some emotions, just not deep ones. I’m looking forward to getting closer to the “definition” of the soul, Supernatural style, because I don’t think they’ve told us everything yet.
Great recap, but still this episode fells like 90% of Season 06 just lackluster and a former shadow of Supernatural.
In a few days episode 10 will be aired and were are we now?
Exactly where Swan Song left us, Sam is back and somthing is wrong with him. Gee, now even the dumbest viewer must have gotten it, right?
Of course Dean is also totally OOC, but does anyone even care?
Inconstencies and sloppy writing that sums up Season 06 so far, and I’m loosing faith that this will ever change.
It has become an endless frustration to watch season 6, and I’m watching the show since the pilot aired.
No idea what is so funny to slowly destroy anthing that worked so well in the past five years, but someone down the line is getting kicks out of it, it seems.
Have fun Ms. Gamble, while ratings continue to drop.
I am abit mystified why Sera came up with this sl for Sam? again I feel at times has if Swan Song never happened and they just carried on with Sam in the wrong/bad/oh no what is Sam doing/ lying, betraying, he is mean to Dean sl they peddled for Two Seasons .Only this time lets but a different slant on it by having Sam have no soul but it is still the same thing being played out .
I am trying with this Season because I like Sera and what to give her a chance and this episode had its moments .
(comments deleted by Alice). For shame! Attacking other posters is the number one rule violation on this site. Let’s focus on the recap, shall we?
Alice, on this Thanksgiving weekend, I give thanks for your wonderfully, wickedly, witty recaps! They always give me a chuckle and a chance to relive the episode from a slightly different perspective. Which is a good thing, in my books!
Cheers, Rose 😉
Ooooh Alice, I love it when you narrate! Perfect timing on this recap. It staved off the withdrawal symptoms incurred during the Thanksgiving (which I don’t even get to celebrate!!!)
The more I see (or read about) it, the more I like it. It works well as a standalone, and as part of the larger storyline.
And only 5 more ‘sleeps’ to another episode! (whistles merrily)
Heh. I thought this was a classic. I could stand a lot more RoboSam played for laughs. I sort of hope we see the Doctorchaun again, too ( please, someone come up with a less crap nickname, and quick! ) as his backdoor skills could be handy when Crowley wriggles out of his end of the deal ( Come on, you KNOW he will weasle and welch, you just know! ) 😀
I enjoyed this ep,it brought some definitely needed light relief. But I still don’t get why Dean has been ignored in his character for this long – He’s sad, then he’s happy but confused about Sam, we get it ! (Sorry if the questions have already been answered, I’m in the UK) But I have to say, I like soulless Sam it is a bit refreshing!
But, I’m still very glad they kept Crowley – the best baddie since YED!