Recap – “Clap Your Hands If You Believe”
Dean’s walking down the street and sees the guy from earlier, the red capped man, watching him from the other side of the street. Dean turns, the man turns, and they mimic each other step by step. Those tricky fairies. Dean gets a little freaked by this and while I’ve heard accusations that he’s out of character here, I’m letting it slide. He could just be having a very bad day.
Brennan opens up to Sam, telling the whole story. He supported his family for 30 years making the watches. It’s the only thing he knew how to do. Then Parkinson’s disease set in so he can’t work. He remembered how his grandmother told him fairies were real and got desperate. He had a book of hers so he did the spell in his office two months ago. A man appeared, saying he was a leprechaun. Brennan just wanted his hands cured, but the leprechaun said he would do better. He would make him successful, get him a crew of workers, blah, blah. Also, you have to really give Sam credit for sympathetically listening here. Yeah, it’s inconsistent, but I liked seeing it. He’s faking it very well.
So what was the catch? What did they want in exchange? “A place to rest. To take the fruit and the fat of the land.” Brennan said yes, admitting he wasn’t thinking. Sam has to ask, what was the fruit and the fat? Why his first born of course. Except they didn’t stop there. They’re taking others as well and won’t stop. Sam insists there’s a way to reverse the spell. There is, in Brennan’s shop in a safe. They won’t let him near it. He can see the fairies too, which helps with the plan.
Back to Dean, who’s having his own issues. The faster he walks, the faster the red cap fairy is keeping up. Now Dean is really nervous, and the weird close up of his face as he walks down the street is an interesting creative choice. I actually like it, but again, character thing. Dean heads into an alley and the fairy is right behind him. Dean hurries up and ducks around a corner, waiting for the fairy to come out. So, it just happens to be a coincidence that the person who comes out instead is a well dressed dwarf. Dean tackles him and wrestles down the struggling man, calling him a fairy. Spectators gather including the man’s horrified family. Once Dean hears a stunned little girl call out “Daddy? he stops, realizing a big mistake has been made. The dwarf gets up. Oops, I think Dean just made a huge faux pas. Saying he was kidding will so NOT cover this.
It just so happens Sam and Brennan come out to the bar at that time, Sam tries to call Dean, assuring Brennan his brother will help. Oops, spoke too soon! Dean is being hauled away in handcuffs. Sam shouts out, trying to find out what happened. Dean can’t explain. “What am I supposed to do?” Sam asks. An iconic line is born. “Fight the fairies! You fight those fairies!” Dean is pushed into the squad car. The cop slams the door on him, for he and the deputy don’t appreciate the racial slur. Sam and Brennan watch the whole spectacle with a “WTF?” expression and back to Dean screaming one last message from the cop car. “Fight the fairies!” Oh yeah, he’s lost it. So have I.
Dean is in the jail while the sheriff talks to him. He doesn’t understand what kind of hate crime this was. Dean insists it wasn’t. “I mean, if this gentleman was a full sized homosexual, would that be okay with you?” It’s so funny the misunderstanding here. On Twitter the night this episode aired, “#fightthefairies” trended #4 worldwide there for a while. Suddenly, gay activists were trying to explain to their followers that it wasn’t a gay slur but a slogan for a TV show. I’m not sure if Ben Edlund had that in mind, but he sure should claim credit for that now. The mayhem his little joke caused went beyond his wildest dreams.
Dean gets himself in more trouble by saying that he doesn’t hate any sized person or any sized gay guy. The sheriff has to mention the man he attacked isn’t gay, but is the District Attorney for the county. He runs quite a tight ship. Dean tries to compliment the guy but acknowledging that he’s done well for himself considering…”these tough economic times.” Yeah, the sheriff didn’t buy that cover up either. “Son, you are all kinds of messed up.” Dean would probably agree with you there. The lights go out and Dean ends up having a lot of time to kill.
Next Sam and Brennan enter his workshop. Brennan sees the passed out fairies from having a bit too much cream, but Sam doesn’t. They go to the back room, Sam holding a shotgun for cover. Brennan pulls the book out of the safe, recites the spell. You do realize Brennan is toast, right? Sure enough, a big stake goes right through his heart. That’s what happens when you have a guy covering you that can’t see the fairies. Except this fairy lets Sam see him. Guess who? The Doctor, I mean Wayne Whitaker Jr.
“You, you’re the leprechaun?” Sam asks, shocked to see him. Come on Sam, it makes perfect sense. Wayne apologizes for the mess, but Brennan went back on his deal. Sam mentions he wasn’t too specific about the deal. “I told him there was a price. Once we come, we come to stay.” Sam sees the ploy, they take the first borns and watch as people cover up the abductions with all that UFO crap. “Which you help encourage, naturally.” Sam actually appreciates this diabolical thinking. Yeah Sam, this is what soulless creatures do.
Sam claims his cover is blown now. Wayne doesn’t see how. Brennan is dead and Dean is theirs. He’s been to the “ranch” and everything. Sam claims there’s him, but Wayne knows Sam can only see him if he lets him. Wayne disappears and Sam stays on alert with shotgun. Sam boasts about his very quick reflexes, but Wayne is more curious about something else. He pops into view again. “You’re not like the rest of them, are you?” “Nope,” Sam replies. “I could see that right off. You’re missing a certain piece, right in the center. Ain’t ya?” Sam tries to deny, but Wayne has his leprechaun advantages. Either that or he’s been watching the 8 episodes this season.
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!