Recap – “Clap Your Hands If You Believe”
I think Sam is playing Dean big time. I keep waiting for the punch line, that this Sam is really some sort of demon that enjoyed the fact that there was an available human vessel in the pit. I keep waiting for the real Sam to pop out behind door number three or something like that. Either that or Sam has turned into a demon that fast on account of falling into the cage. Either way, I think he knows having sex with hippie chick while Dean is an alien probe toy is probably frowned upon but doesn’t care. That and he probably didn’t expect Dean to come back.
Sam moves on, asking Dean how they deal with the little green men. Research of course. “Got a century of UFO lore to catch up on.” Meanwhile, there’s a scary looking guy with a red cap staring at Dean from outside the window. Dean wonders what that guy’s problem is and Sam wonders what guy. “The guy by the window giving me the stink eye.” Sam asks if it’s the cop. Dean can’t believe Sam isn’t seeing him and turns to see he’s gone. Sam still isn’t sure what Dean’s talking about but Dean is just ready to go. “What’s wrong with you?” Sam asks. “Before I hit you,” Dean says. Yeah, Sam knows to avoid that.
Sam is talking to Dean on the phone, letting him know the library is closing up soon. Dean is at the motel on the computer with the multiple alien websites up on the laptop. Researching aliens is a lot like researching zombies, there’s way too much lore. “Everyone on the planet believes in UFOs and they will not stop writing books about it,” Sam says. “Yeah well at least books have punctuation,” Dean replies, and the site he’s on has more typos than something my 8 year old writes. It’s hilarious! Just goes to show you, any bozo can have a blog. Erm…yeah.
Dean decides they’ll dig through what they’ve got when he gets back and in a strange coincidence, David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” is playing in the background. I can’t think of a more appropriate song right now. How did they afford that anyway? I figured Bowie was closer to the Led Zeppelin echelon. Who knows, that could be this season’s classic rock budget right there. I’m going to go through this next part in detail, for I think it’s one of the best scenes ever done on this show, especially with the lighting. Everything is perfect, the acting, directing, cinematography, editing, set decoration, the works.
Dean hangs up the phone and as the song plays Dean realizes something isn’t right. The lights flicker and then go out, but the music keeps going. “Oh no,” Dean says. The bright light swipes by the window. “Not again.” Dean is worried. Suddenly the door bursts open and lets in the bright light, and it’s Close Encounters all over again. Dean braces himself and a little glowing ball of gold light emerges in the doorway. It also should be noted that because of the huge mural of the woods on the wall, it actually gives the impression an alien abduction is taking place outdoors.
Dean looks over at his weapons on the edge of the bed and thinks about it. He goes for them but goldenball is faster. Dean stops just short of the being and this is the part of “Space Oddity” that has the musical build up simulating a space ship blasting off. While that plays in the background Dean stoops over to take a good look at his visitor. In a slow closeup of sheer brilliance, golden light shining off his face, Dean stares down the bright light. Whatever’s he’s seeing is clearly perplexing. “Nipples?”
“This is ground control to Major Tom…” As that part of the song kicks in, the golden light with a high pitched “hiya!” smacks Dean good and he falls backward. Yes, I’m dying already. My daughter watched this scene with me too and she was rolling. Dean readies himself for more like its wrestlemania and manages to duck during the next charge. “…you’ve really made the grade. And the papers want to know who’s shirts you wear.” The light bounces around all over the place, getting in another good whack while Dean tries to avoid. Then Dean rears back toward the microwave. Yep, Dean sees the light coming toward him and opens the microwave door. No, he wouldn’t.
“…Now it’s time to leave the capsule if you dare…” Oh yeah, Dean turns on the microwave. Next thing is the bright light bouncing around inside screeching and sizzling. Dean holds on, shielding his eyes from the bright light and then “Boom!” No more bright light. Just black mess on the door. Dean’s reaction, “Ha ha!” Yes, he won one. The scene goes dark with the standard metal teeth chomp, but there’s a slight pause at the end. “Ping!” The microwave timer goes off. Oh that’s rich! It should also be noted they used that same “ping!” gag in “It’s A Terrible Life” after yellow shirt microwaved himself to death. Notice here though its ten times funnier.
Next scene starts with a view from the back of the microwave with Sam looking in, and it’s completely clean. “What?” Sam asks. Dean can’t believe he’s not seeing the blood, all the “blech”. We get what Dean’s seeing, and the microwave is all black with carnage everywhere. Back to Sam’s POV, it’s perfectly clean. Dean again points out it’s there. “Okay, let’s go with you see it and I don’t.” There’s Robo-Sam and his logical conclusions again.
Sam wants to know “What the Hell was it?” Dean fesses up, it was a little naked lady. Sam now is the incredulous one so Dean continues. “It was a little, glowing, hot naked lady with nipples. And she hit me.” Dean sulks over the last part. Sam looks at him blankly and says “I’m not supposed to laugh, right?” No Sam, but I am! And trust me I am.
Sam sees Dean’s anger and goes on, asking if this lady had wings. Dean wants to know why he would say that. Sam takes that as a yes. Apparently one of the “fringier” theories he ran across is what “crazy crystal lady” as yammering about. So we have crystal lady and hippie chick. I adore Mr. Edlund’s way with screwy nicknames. It’s not like I do that (shifts eyes suspiciously). Sam pulls up a page on the laptop. “What if these abductions have nothing to do with UFOs.” Dean doesn’t get where he’s coming from.
“Say these encounters have been going on for centuries not with extraterrestrials, with ultraterrestrials.” Then we get the full money shot, a trick that has been done by this show before and works so brilliantly every time. Dean sits down at the table opposite Sam, and they’re both right smack in the middle of the giant forest mural on the wall. The green floral chairs perfectly blend in, like they’re sitting among the bushes having an outdoor picnic or something. Yes, this was so distracting I had to rewind to go back and hear the rest of Sam’s theory.
“People call them space aliens now but they used to call them-” He shows Dean the page off the laptop. “Smurfs?” Dean asks. Sam obviously doesn’t get the joke. Fairies. Dean doesn’t buy it. Sam explains that the glowing lights, everything, it’s all the same stuff just under different skin. Dean still thinks the theory is crazy. “Hey, you’re the one that pizza rolled Tinkerbell,” Sam counters. Oh my God! Another pause the TV and laugh myself until it hurts moment. What a great line! Robo-Sam is funny Sam. Can he please keep this part of his personality when he gets his soul back? (I still say if!)
Sam thinks this is a good, for they have a lead. “A lead where?” Dean asks. Okay, Dean, you asked. Next thing they’re in crystal lady’s tiny mobile home. “Fairies,” she says with a big smile and a plate of cookies. “Brights and spriggins, bogarts and brownies, the little people have many names.” She sits down in the booth area opposite Sam and Dean that looks like something you see in a travel trailer. There’s a teapot at the table and they all have little teacups? Oh, again, this is so rich. Edlund is having a field day! You know he’s probably been waiting for this right moment to work in Sam and Dean and a twisted tea party.
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!