Sam turns the porn off while Dean does the questioning. Suddenly it occurs to me, how do they have a TV in an abandoned house? With cable? This place is a rundown mess. Anyway, Samuel, why is he there? It’s what Mary would want. He has a map. Whatever they bag ends up there. He’s only been outside the place. It’s a death trap. “Nothing gets in that Crowley doesn’t want in and nothing gets out, period.” Dean gives him a blank thanks. Samuel wishes they wouldn’t do this. That’s about the only honest thing that comes out of his mouth in this one. He goes to leave and Sam asks him to come with them. “I may be soft, but I’m not suicidal.” Hey, who said you were soft? He leaves without so much as a “good luck.”
Time for another perplexing scene! Sam, Dean, and Castiel come out of the abandoned house to meet the demon posse. Meg is so happy to see Castiel. “Remember me? I sure remember you Clarence.” Hee, I love that nickname. “Why are we working with these abominations?” Meg gets all flirty. “Keep talking dirty, makes my meat suit all dewy.” Love it! I always adored their scenes together in “Abandon All Hope.” These two really do have some smokin’ chemistry. It’s the angel/demon fantasy that porn is famous for.
Dean breaks up the lovefest and tells the posse they know where Crowley is. Meg wants them to tell her. Sam won’t since they’ll just leave them for dead. “You boys have serious abandonment issues, you know that?” Sam starts barking the orders, they’re going but together. “What I’m supposed to trust you?” Meg asks. Sam says no, he knows she’s not that stupid. Then Sam demands the knife. Meg won’t give it to him. “Do you want us to take you to Crowley or not.” So Meg strangely agrees. WITHOUT PROTEST. She realizes Sam is serious and gives it to him. Her look says it all, whatever he wants it for, its a good reason. It’s almost like she’s saying, “Anything you say boss.” They exchange one more look, with her now wondering what he’s up to.
Sam holds the knife and then sharply plunges it through bald headed goon. This stuns pretty much everyone. The other two goons try to react, but an uncorked Sam holds the knife up for them next. “You saw him. He was more interested in killing us than getting the job done.” Hmm, really Sam? Where did you get your conclusion from? Why are these demons scared of you? Maybe because you’re their leader, or Lucifer’s minion? “I just did all of us a favor.” The others step back and Meg complies without argument. Oh, they are all so in this together. It’s really obvious. Sam leaves. Meg protests about the knife. “You took this from us, I’m taking it back. We leave in one hour.” Yes, oh yes master. This is too weird. What’s even weirder, Dean and Castiel sharing malevolent looks with Meg, who’s back to being snarky with them. The snark that she wouldn’t give Sam because she was too freaking afraid of him. I’m surprised Dean and Castiel aren’t scratching their heads over Sam. Actually, Cass does see something’s not right, but that’s from Meg looking at him like he’s a hot piece of meat. Dean’s more interested in that than what just happened.
Okay, for those of us having major doubts, this next part doesn’t help. Sam’s at the trunk of the Impala grabbing a weapon. He looks at it like he’s channeling some major inner fury. There’s that hint of raging Sam! We missed you! Huh, for a guy that is soulless, he’s showing plenty of emotion in this one. I don’t think soulless means emotionless. It’s quite scary. I like it. It’s like he’s got a score to settle. He’s up to something!
Next shot is on Castiel, who’s quite somber. This is where I suspect Sam and Castiel are in cahoots. Either that or both had a talk about this earlier and Castiel decided to take on the task of convincing Dean. Although Castiel is a terrible liar. Maybe war has changed him. Maybe I’m wrong. Dean is packing stuff and telling Cass he could help. “I’m ambivalent about what we’re attempting,” Cass blurts. “Well breaking into the monster room at Gitmo is not exactly two for one at the champagne room.” Wow, that quote is out there, even for Dean. Castiel doesn’t even try to fathom the reference. “I’m not sure that retrieving Sam’s soul is wise.” Hmm, do explain.
“Why?” A perplexed but now interested Dean asks. “I want him to survive.” Dean needs more. “Sam’s soul has been locked in the cage with Michael and Lucifer for more than a year, and they have nothing to do but take their frustrations out on him. You understand? If we trying to force that mutilated thing down Sam’s gullet, we have no idea what would happen. It could be catastrophic.” “You mean he dies,” Dean says. “I mean he doesn’t,” Castiel clarifies. Ooh, the fate worse than death scenario. Not like they’ve ever done that on this show before (sarcasm!). “Paralysis, insanity, psychic pain so profound that he’s locked inside himself for the rest of his life.”
Dean still thinks denial is a river in Egypt. They don’t know this for sure. He could be fine. Cass admits he could be, but he “sincerely” doubts it. In other words Dean, THE ODDS SUCK. Dean still is clinging onto hope, just like Samuel was doing earlier. “Well if he’s not fine, you fix him.” Cass doesn’t know where to begin. “Then you figure it out Cass. I mean come on, the guy’s a freaking replicant. He needs his soul.” No Dean, you need his soul. At least that’s what Cass says with his eyes. Poor Dean. He can’t let go, accept that the Sam he knows is dead. Just like Samuel. They are a lot alike. I know, he also recognizes that Sam’s soul is suffering and needs to be saved, but wow, what a pickle.
Dean won’t give up. “Look we get it back, and if there are complications then we will figure out how to deal with those too.” “Of course,” Castiel says, realizing sadly he’s not getting through. “Or we fail.” Yes, there’s that too. Dean walks away and oops, Sam is standing right there in the other room listening to the whole thing! He looks really pissed. It’s just me, but it’s possible he knew Castiel was going to say something and he’s pretty mad right now that Dean won’t listen. I’d be pissed too. It’s not Dean’s choice. Even if he was hearing that for the first time, I still think his anger is geared toward Dean. I’m not saying Dean is wrong, but he should be talking with Sam about it.
Outside the prison and wow, electricity and everything. Again one of those “abandoned” places with full services. Except plumbing. Dean notices it’s pretty quiet. Cass knows better. He can feel it. Cass tells them to meet him at the side door. He goes in and lets them in easily. Both Dean and Sam notice that was a little too easy. They’re going in anyway, because that’s what crazy ass Winchesters do.
Great recap!
I enjoyed the episode, but it left me with so many questions. “Sam as the Big Bad” does seem plausible, especially with the promos for this season & the hints dropped in this episode, but I am very much hoping that it is another misdirection from the writers. I was not expecting Crowley’s demise for quite awhile yet, but it proved that he was indeed just a used car salesman trying to act like the boss when the job was actually above his pay grade. I do wonder if he will find Purgatory after all now that that is where he’s probably been sent.
I suspect that Mary is in Purgatory too, since she sacrificed herself (or at least her spirit or soul) to save her boys from the malignant spirit in “Home”.
As much as I dislike Samuel for betraying his grandsons, I get that he pretty much has tunnel vision in his quest to regain his daughter no matter the consequences. The same goes for Dean when it comes to getting back the Sam that was his little brother. The next family reunion is not going to be pretty.
Sam certainly did appear to show emotion & some of the old Sam rage & real concern for Dean in this episode. I wonder, if over time, he could refashion his soul on his own without getting back what is supposedly left in the cage. Maybe just by being with Dean, who has such love & loyalty in his own soul….okay, that’s pretty sappy but just a thought. It hurts my heart to think of Sam’s soul being tortured in the cage, & I think that’s why Dean can’t let go & agree with RevenantSam’s decision to not want it back.
And I still want to know what became of Adam.
So many questions… I’m keeping hope that the show does have some good answers coming for us. That’s what I want for Christmas!
I must admit I lost focus slightly after you started going on about naked Sam and so possibly missed the finer points of your reasoning but I do reckon that you’re reading too much into what’s really just uneven writing … There, now next week it’ll all fall into place with a resounding clang and I’ll feel like a complete prat. Here’s hoping! 😉
Hi Alice
Another enjoyable recap. I just love your wit.
You definitely bring up a lot of questions and concerns for this season.
Is it just inconsistency in the writing or is it all leading to some elaborate plan.
Is Sam the big bad and has been from the start? For me I hope not. I’m not a fan of the idea at all.
I do wonder if the writers were given free rein on how they interpret being soulless and that’s why Sam shows emotions/concerns in some episode and not in others?
I am anxious to see what this weeks episode brings, hopefully they will at least give us a hint of Hope that things are going to get better with the brothers. Otherwise the Christmas Hellatus will be Hell.
I have to give it to Sera. She certainly has everyone’s head spinning. I guess if you want to take over an existing story and make it your own, you have to stir things up a bit. Get everyone out of their comfort zone so new paths can be set.
I just wish the brothers relationship hadn’t been targeted, it kind of made Swan Song seem that it was all for nothing. Plus after two seasons with their relationship being tampered with, I really wasn’t wanting to go through a third season of it again.
Thanks again for the great recap.
Alice,
I liked the recap, as for the direction of this season, still not sure.
Great recap though.
For some reason, I’m laughing at myself over this recap today. I remembered when I interviewed Sera Gamble a couple of years ago a debate was going on at this site over what Jeremy Carver meant for Mystery Spot with “Pig in a Poke.” We had these wild theories circulating over all the hidden meanings. Sera speculated (correctly I might add) that Jeremy just thought the name was funny.
So yes, I’m probably being extremely guilty of reading way more into this that what’s there. But, speculation is fun! Who knows, one or two of these observances might actually amount to something.
Hi Alice, Great recap!!!
When Crowly died I was 😮 honestly didn’t see that coming I thought he was the big bad of the season.
You know I don’t think Sam and Meg are working together but I hope, it would be interesting cause after the episode ended it felt like was the season finale of the “mini-serie” supernatural, cause now what?? Crowly is the one that wanted to know about the purgatory Crowly was the big bad or at least they made us believe that, and now he is dead, and I truly think Sam is going to recover his soul in the ending of next episode 6×11 Appointment in Samarra or in the begining of 6×12.
(Dean thanks Cas: “If it hadn’t have been for you…†You’d still be okay because Sam would have kicked in those powers he insists on hiding ) facepalm 😀
Yes that is what I have thinked since I knew Sam doesn’t have his soul, if Sam was drinking demon blood when he had a soul now that he is souless with more reason, maybe he does and that’s why he could untied himself in family matters :D,, now you are: :roll:: 😀
Thanks Alice for the recap I enjoyed, love your recaps
I was never a fan of the Sam as the big bad, and I’m still not. But, Alice, you sure brought up some points to ponder. There’s too much to be “inconsistent writing”, especially since if it was, I doubt it could get past Jared. They have to tell him something about his motivation, he can’t play it completely blind, so there must be something, a bigger picture, that we don’t get yet.
I wonder if the demons are expecting Sam to step up to the plate? Remember in season 3, the demon’s big plan was Sam was to be the General, after the demise of Yellow Eyes. Maybe analytical RoboSam is playing this to his advantage, because he even seemed to have something going with Christian (may he rest in pieces). Just a thought…
I really love the snark you add to your recaps (fits the tone of the show). One thing in this episode that I expected you to make fun of was Crowley using a BABY MONITOR to monitor the baby shapeshifters! I just burst out laughing every time I see it. With all the grunge and disgusting stuff on that set, there’s the pristine new baby monitor. What fun!
You think Pig in a Poke was fun (I remember that interview as well) they must be laughing themselves silly at the wild thoughts going on now that Episode 15’s title has been released (and yes, those into Wincest or man on man relations are really very hopeful. The person who brought up Blazing Saddles and the end is more dead on since the TV Guide article tells us that there is an upcoming episode that will do just what the ending of Blazing Saddles does…still, one must wonder at how much of our speculating makes them grim, grimace and outright guffaw!!
Nice episode!But i hated cas kissing meg 😡
I am a little late to reading this, but as always Alice, a great recap.
Dean may not be happy with Soulless Sam, but no one hurts Sam and gets away with it. Gramps is a dead man and he doesn’t even know it.
Powerful. bad ass Cas, what is there not to love. 😀
I agree, where have Sam’s powers disappeared to?
Crowley isn’t this season’s big bad. After last night’s episode, we can assume that Sam (yeah! :D) isn’t the big bad either. Could it be a re-bodied Raphael, Balthazar, or maybe someone (something) we haven’t met yet?
Cannot wait for your recap of last night’s great episode. 😀
Exactly, Dean and Bobby no longer could trust Sam. Sam went after Bobby with no ‘superego’. What if the next spell required the heart of a blood relative? Sera and Co. took Sam to his lowest and darkest moment, they had no choice but to give him back his soul and then deal with those consequences.
Great job at reviewing the episode, let me think about a lot. I think the longer Sam is out of hell, the more his soul might come back, hence the reason he’s starting to have feelings? I don’t know. But the reason why Sam was pushed into the wall was because he hasn’t drunk any demon blood. What you should be really asking is how did they make that second demon trap?? 😮
Ah also, maybe Cass showed no mercy to and finished off Crowley so fast was he knew he had to get back to heaven fast and didn’t want to waste anymore time XD 😆