Recap – “Devil’s Trap”
Now for the special what I call “Sam and Dean’s Theme” that’s been played in the score throughout the series during the very dramatic moments. You know, Sam dying in Dean’s arms in AHBLP2 and the closing scene of “Swan Song.” It really makes me weepy when I hear it now. It plays as the Impala thunders along in the night and is seen parked outside a remote cabin in the woods. Needless to say, the mood is pretty somber.
Sam is worried they were followed. Dean likes their remote location. Sam takes this nice quiet moment to acknowledge to Dean he saved his life back there. Maybe, but he failed to stop the assault on the pretty. “So I guess you’re glad I brought the gun, huh?” Serve up that heaping dish of humble pie Dean! “I’m trying to thank you here,” Sam says. You know big brothers don’t give any room Sam. “You’re welcome.” See, that’s better.
Dean sees this as has opportunity to share his horrifying moment. Man, remember when these guys used to talk like this? It actually makes me weepy. Dean is coming to terms with the catch-22’s of demon possession. “Hey Sam, you know that guy I shot? There was a person in there.” Sympathetic Sam looks at him with the sorrowful eyes and tells him he didn’t have a choice. He knows, that’s not what bothers him. Then we get an up close look of Sam’s swollen hamburger face. I bust into sobbing. Dean luckily doesn’t look at his brother’s sorry state, and goes on with remorse that he didn’t flinch over killing that guy or Meg. Well duh, your family was in danger. Your priorities are in line. “For you or Dad, the things I’m willing to do or kill, it scares me sometimes.” Hamburger face tries to give an expression of sorrow, but the hideous destruction of pretty is still too distracting.
Enter John. Great, bust up a beautiful (not literally) brotherly moment. “You shouldn’t. You did good,” John says. See, there’s our clue! Good parenting just doesn’t fit here. Dean is surprised to hear that. Even Sam looks suspicious. John denies being mad, and even says he’s proud of him. The real John is inside screaming, “No I’m not you son of a bitch! Stop being a supportive father or so help me God!” John goes on further about how he and Sam get obsessed and Dean watches out for this family. Telling the truth is really blowing it here yellow eyes! Do you not know of family dysfunction?
Dean holds the colt and all cylinders start flying. He knows something is wrong. John orders again and now Dean is giving him the cold hard stare. Dean backs away slowly. Ooh, the tension is so thick you can cut it with a knife. “He’d be furious that I wasted a bullet. He wouldn’t be proud of me, he’d tear me a new one.” He points the colt at John and with a “if-looks-could-kill” glare says, “You’re not my Dad.”
Possessed John isn’t giving up just yet, insisting to Dean it’s him. Dean doesn’t believe him and keeps pointing the gun. Sam walks in and boy is he confused! “Dean, what the hell is going on?” Actually Sam, that sums it up. Not!John tries to convince Sam that Dean has lost his mind and Dean says he’s possessed. Sam wants to know why Dean is sure. “He was being a supportive father!” Then Sam jumps over to Dean’s side without hesitation. No, Dean makes it harder. He says John is different. Not!John tries more to convince Sam but come on, possessed by evil demon or not, everyone should know who’s side Sam is taking.
Then yellow eyes really screws up. He tells Sam “If you want to kill this demon you’ve got to trust me.” Sam suddenly tells Dean with his eyes he was right. Dean looks back with a “I told you he was different.” Yeah, John never told them to trust him either because they couldn’t! Sam slowly takes his place beside Dean. Not!John still won’t give up, acting all betrayed and hurt. “Fine, if you’re both so sure go ahead, kill me.” Right, no way Dean is going to do that either. Dean stares and then lowers the gun. “I thought so.” John looks up and he has yellow eyes! See Dean, you were right! Oh wait…
“We’ve been looking for you for a long time,” Sam says. “Well, you found me,” yellow-eyed John says. Enough of the small talk! Sam is perplexed about the holy water and yellow-eyes taunts it doesn’t work on him. You see, it worked on Alastair later. Maybe it has to be a lot. Sam gets all mad and gets pushed against the wall farther for his troubles. To think, Sam gets to do this to demons eventually. That had to feel sweet.
Yellow eyes goes over to Dean next. He boasts he could have killed him a hundred times that day but this is worth the wait. So he goes for the psychological torture. “Your dad, he’s in here with me, trapped inside his own meat suit.” He says hi, tear you apart, taste the iron in your blood, blah, blah, blah. No wonder he won’t kill Sammy, his blood tastes like sulfur. That must be nasty. Dean starts the swear to God talk, so yellow eyes rants about this being justice because of what Dean did to his daughter (Meg) and his boy (pounding on Sammy dude). Dean isn’t feeling the sympathy. “How would you feel if I killed your family?” Naturally Sam and Dean give him cold stares. “Oh, that’s right, I forgot, I did.” Oh yeah, Meg’s his daughter. “Still two wrongs don’t make a right.” So I guess Dean isn’t off the hook.
Dean curses at him, but Sam wants to know why he killed Mary and Jess. Yellow eyes tells Dean Sam was going to ask Jess to marry him. He was shopping for rings and everything. Then he gets to the good part. “Because they got in the way.” Sam asks in the way of what. “My plans for you Sammy. You and all the children like you.”

Alice Jester is the founder, editor-in-chief, head writer, programmer, web designer, site administrator, marketer, and moderator for The Winchester Family Business. She is a 30 year IT applications and database expert with a penchant for creative and freelance writing in her spare (ha!!) time. That’s on top of being a wife, mother of two active kids, and four loving (aka needy) pets.
As you know Alice, I love your recaps, but there is something special about the retro ones, maybe its because we are so familiar with these episodes, it`s like revisiting old friends, rediscovering all the tiny nuances and details therein.
What made this one great was that it`s one of my favourite episodes, it is one I watch a lot,in fact I watched it earlier this week and could probably recite the entire script ( obsessed Moi!! Perish the thought).
It has so many scenes I love and it also gave us the introduction of our beloved Bobby, is that not reason enough to call it special? For me this was one of the key episodes for Dean, here, he grew up and came into his own and, as you say, he was such a bad ass but utterly wonderful too. I think Jensen was fantastic here. About him not being killed like in SFTD and SS that was a great theory! I am still, like you, waiting for the explanation on the whole true servant of heaven stuff and why he could kill the Whore of Babylon. It also gives all the doubters out there a reminder of his character, how sad to think when you watch this of everything he, and Sam, have had to face since then but he may be battered but he is still standing and still fighting
It was also good the see the interaction with John and I think this explained a lot, offering a much deeper insight into both boys characters, the fact that they knew he was not himself because he was actually being nice and supportive speaks volumes, sorry Yvonne but it does, not knocking JW I know he did love his boys really but we have to agree to disagree on his parenting skills.
Cannot wait for your take on IMTOD as this was my `first one` and holds a very special place in my heart, thanks again Ju
Never stop the retro-recaps, Alice! I just love them – and this is one of my ever favourite episodes. There is so much in it, tragedy, humour, love, anger, despair, well, let’s say, the best of good tv drama.
And this piece of yours brought all the moments I love back to me (not, as if that was necessary, really, as I know this episode quite well – I hear you, Julie -).
you rock. Jas
Where oh where is the classic car humanity!!!!
This was excellent, Alice, so glad you’re planning to finish this three-part retro-recap.
There was so much goodness in this episode as well as a few bits of not-so goodness with some continuity issues (demon smoke, holy water and salt lines) still, very cool. So I’ll just hand wave at some of those things or as you have done, point them out and then go with mystical fairy demons…yeah, that’s why.
I also noticed that Dean has three times now been on the receiving end of near death by a demon possessed loved one (well, Lucifer wasn’t a demon, fallen angel possessed loved one there) and each time be it John, Bobby or Sam has been able to take control and change the course of the action. I think it has everything to do with love (the power of love! HAH) which is what enabled Bobby, John and Sam to take back control.
Ahhh, what a chick-flick moment that is too.
Great recap. I’ll be looking forward to the third and final installment during the upcoming winter hellatus (not that I’m wishing that upon us any early than need be)
A retrospective historical recap. What could be better on a snowy Wednesday afternoon?
Ok, must check my ‘awesome episode’ checklist and see how this episode rates.
Angst moments aplenty – check
Meg (the original and best!) – check
Brothers fighting for the common good – check
John – check.
John being shot – check.
John looking sad – check.
John being a dad – check.
John on the floor = check
JOHN TIED TO A FREAKING BED!! – (Needs to lie down for a wee bit…) Um, check
John with chest hair -check (Hey, it’s there, ok)
Latin – check
Awesome Bobby – check
Smartassery to demons – check (God, I love hearing that!)
Sam and Dean dressed as firemen – check (I never realised this was a fantasy of mine until I saw the boys shimmying out of those uniforms…)
Ah lads, this episode was great. A+ times a squagillion.
Alice, keep lashing these out, please and thanks….
Love retro recaps! Awesome as usual. This episode is near the top of my all time favs list. The Dean and Meg showdown, with Sam and Bobby to boot! Dean at his badassery (spellcheck says it’s not a word, but I like it) best. Sam with the Latin and floppy hair. Bobby’s first appearance. John. What more can I say, other than I LOVE this show. Like ya’ll didn’t know that already. And Alice I’m with you. Dead people, fine. Dead animals, not so much. I was relieved in Family Matters when it was dead dudes not dogs. Go figure. I am looking forward to the third installment. 😀
I loved this retro recap Alice. This is one of my very favourite episodes ever! It had everything! But most of all it had the brothers together. Loved the way Sam moved to side with Dean when John was being a good parent. Also Sam stepping over his father to go to Dean who was bleeding on the floor. That’s the way I wish for them to be and have been missing now for more than 2 years.
Yes, my favourite seasons are 1, 2 and 3 and I’m hoping that some day that warm feeling will return during an episode. Please please please! Bring them back together older but wiser and caring about each other like in the first 3 seasons. I don’t think Dean ever lost that feeling, but Sammy needs to get that back as soon as possible.
I agree with you Alice in thinking that Dean IS a true servant of God for all your reasons. Something he could never believe himself with all his low self esteem but is true nonetheless.
Looking forward to more of your retro recaps. 🙂
Alice, I know I’ve said this before but I LOVE your recaps! They are so much fun to read, especially in retrospect. I forgot how good this episode was and oh, that brotherly relationship, how I miss it.
What I do remember vividly was the absolute shock I felt when the truck hit the Impala. I think I just sat there in stunned silence, mouth gaping, while the credits rolled. And I did not have the luxury of having the season 2 DVD beside me. No, I had to wait through an agonizing summer for the show to (hopefully) return come the fall. And thank God it did! 😀
I became a fan of this show during the summer between the third and the fourth season. I saw all the episodes in two weeks. And I remember this episode very well. It is until now a top in my top list. A thin line to the excellence. And this moment I cherish, although the drama, this moment when Dean said to his father, “Dad, don’t you let it kill me” and the “please”. I remember this moment as the moment I became a Jensen Ackles’ fan forever. Until now, I was in a very special trip with this show. I can say now why and when this show is special for me, every week of my life since then. A very emotional, self-learning(is it a word ? I don’t know) trip. I will be grateful to all of them for that, eternally. I could write for hours about the feelings and the pure entertainment, and the meanings and I stop to write now because I feel like I ramble. But yeah, a very good episode with the mother of all the cliffhangers in it. It’s a great idea to review old pieces, it’s a good memory !
This episode is a win for me simply because John is in it…even if Yellow Eyes is possessing him for most his screen time. All the other excellence is huge bonus material.
And Julie, have I ever said John’s parenting skills were admirable? The guy did the best he could, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t make some rather huge, constant and awful mistakes.
I’m aching to go into a “this is why I love John” expose, but am (admirably I think) restraining myself.
Oh, and Tim the Enchanter, I am in fervent agreement. John tied to bed causes massive weakness and needamomenttocomposemyselfness. Papa Winchester…um. I’ve said it before but it doesn’t hurt to reiterate, I love the boys (and am still beginning the lean toward Samgirl), but I’ll be a Johnwoman for life.
Alice, don’t you sleep???? 😀
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS 😀 😀 😀
The days of bad-ass Dean, puppy-eyed Sam speaking Latin, Daddy Winchester, the intro of Bobby. 🙂 🙂
Is ‘latinating’ a real word? 😆 😆
C’mon, Bobby is pretty too. 😆
The Sam and Dean love was front and center during this episode. I love your first picture on page two, of the two of them together. Remember when they would have whole conversations without saying a word.
I agree, ‘Rumsfeld’, is a big ass dog that could either rip your face off with one bite, or drown you with one lick of his tongue. You do not name a Chihuahua ‘Rumsfeld’. 😆
With SUPERNATURAL, the real enjoyment in re-watching the earlier episodes is that you now know how all the pieces fit together. I have been watching this wonderful show since the beginning. When the Impala was hit at the end, it was all WTF WTF WTF WTF. I knew that everybody had to live, but it was painful to wait til the end of September to find out how.
I didn’t have your wonderful 😀 😀 website to go to spend the summer Hellatus. But now I am grateful to have you and all your wonderful writers. 😀 😀 😀 Just want to thank you for all your hard work.
OK, ‘chick flick moment’ is over, is it Friday yet?
Meg returns. 😉
I would love to find a Chihuahua once by the name of Rumsfeld. So wonderfully absurd.
:lol:, Jas
I loved this. The Salvation/Devil’s Trap/In My Time of Dying threesome is one of my favorites on the show. It’s almost like one really long episode in three parts.
It’s always fun to go back and watch old episodes after knowing what happens later. Like it’s always been funny to me how little they know about demons in S1, when their lives are pretty much run by demons for the rest of the show.
This cracked me up btw: “Yellow eyes steps backward, closes his eyes, looks up and suddenly Dean is screaming in agony. Sam is yelling “No!’ in the background because he’s always been under the illusion that it helps.”
😀
Hi Alice
I will always love your recaps especially with your comedic style.
I had missed Salvation and Devil’s Trap when it originally aired due to my work schedule and VCR issues. So I didn’t suffer the summer hiatus that year like the others as I had no idea what had transpired. However I was able to catch In My Time of Dying when it aired and was so overwhelmed by that episode.
I have to admit I do favour seasons 1-3 over Seasons 4 & 5. That’s not to say season 4 & 5 was not spectacular. I just missed the strong brotherly relationship and banter that deteriorated during those seasons.