Samuel closes the opening, Dean takes a few seconds to fume, and then the goons come to take him away. They take him right by Samuel, who just needs to die now. Sam hears this and plots his next move. Oh, but first, let’s see naked Meg on the demon torture table. So let me get this straight, we get naked Ruby and naked Meg but not naked Sam? Where is the fairness in this? Christian will be the master of ceremonies this time. He rolls up his sleeve and says Crowley wants to know…everything. He can carve it out of her. This is a student of torture douchebag. Good luck breaking her! “Whatever makes you feel like a man,” she says. He has the demon killing ginsu? Man, they delivered that to him fast.
Sam paces around his cell, leans against a padded wall, and after some contemplation crouches down, looking very worried. He rolls up his sleeve and bites into his one very ripped arm. Oh, what are you doing Sammy? Are you finally going to use those powers we know are there? Please, please? I know, it’s just a setup for something else. (Kicks couch in disappointment).
Next Dean gets thrown into the torture room, complete with loads of blood and icky body parts. There’s blood on curtains hanging around and I swear this is just a well lit version of Dr. Ellicott’s room from “Asylum.” Anyone know if this was filmed in the same place? Dean sees a decapitated corpse nearby. Probably that alpha shifter. Two guys are thrown in the room by the goon and judging by their ragged appearance they’re being held prisoner too. Dean makes a prison rape joke, because he’s all about appropriately timing things. “Alright, alright, Shawshank’s a great flick, but let’s skip the shower scene, huh?” “Look breakfast,” one says to the other. Ruh-roh!
The door opens in Sam’s cell, they’re coming for him next. “What did you do with my brother?” He asks, crouched down on the ground, hiding his bleeding arm. Goon #1 says he’s about to find out since he’s going to join him, but the goons are frozen in their tracks. A drop of blood falls on Goon #2’s forehead. They look up not too far from them and see the Devil’s trap above, drawn in Sam’s blood. Some wondered how he could reach that high, but it’s not that high up. He’s a tall guy, I could see him do that. Sam smiles and ooh, how creepy. It’s an evil sort of thing with his teeth covered in blood. That’s up there with “Wait your turn” from “My Bloody Valentine.” I love creepy Sam!
Dean fights off the two guys attacking him. He knocks down one and jumps another. “I freaking hate ghouls,” Dean says. Oh, so that’s who they are. Sam runs through the dingy hallway, calling out for Dean and looking genuinely worried. You know, like he used to be back in the day when he actually cared about things. He hears the commotion coming from one of the rooms. Dean fights more and Sam busts in the room, busting the doors open with impressive force and ease. Then he goes over to a nearby pipe, pries it off the wall easily (hmm, maybe Sam is super amped up from his own blood?) and beats the crap out of the ghouls with it. Actually, swift headshots, which is all that they need to take out a ghoul if you remember your continuity from “Jump The Shark.”
Back to Meg, who is crying out in pain on the table. She stays tough, telling Christian he’s sticking “that thing in all the wrong places.” We aren’t actually seeing what Christian is doing. Just squishy sound effects. Yes, once in a while we get to use our imaginations. Christian notices she was squealing and flaunts the bloody knife. “Knock yourself out,” Meg says. “It’s a host body, some girl from Sheboygan. Moved to LA to be an actress. It’s probably not the worse thing that ever happened to her.” More carving, more screaming, and then Meg laughs. Christian stops and wonders what she’s laughing at. I’ll tell you what, at the Totally Bad Ass Moment of the Week! Suddenly Dean snatches the knife from Christian and boom! The demon killing ginsu goes right through him. Christian sparkles. “Dean Winchester’s right behind you, meat sack.” Meg happily says. He falls to the ground. That was so awesome!!! I’m so happy Dean finally got to gank that prick. Bye bye Parker Lewis. You lost! Sam arrives, letting them know the obvious, they should go. Dean unstraps Meg, because he’s a gentleman as well as a cold blooded awesome demon killer. Of course he snarls at her in the process, but she’s probably liking that.
Sam and Dean share a quick look of pleasure. Now they’re having fun! Dean pulls out the knife and they ready themselves for confrontation in front of Crowley. Crowley wonders if that was really necessary since he just had his suit dry cleaned. You’re in a torture chamber full of…ghoul scat. You expect to stay clean? How many prisoners have thrown feces at you? Anyway, Sam’s blow knocked Crowley right under the Devil’s trap. “So, to what do I owe the reach around?”
Enter Meg who’s oh so smug! “Crowley,” she says. “Whore,” he replies. Hee, he got that right. She makes a fist and Crowley starts spitting blood. “The best torturers never get their hands dirty.” Yeah Crowley, take note. “Sam wants a word with you,” Meg says. I guess she’s got his attention. “What can I do for you Sam?” Duh, soul. “And here I just thought you grew some balls Sam.” Ha, now that’s funny. About time Meg lightened up around Sam. “Well?” Sam asks as they give him the stare down.
“No,” Crowley says. Dean sicks Meg on him and she does the fist thing again. Crowley drops to the ground. “I can’t,” Crowley says. “Can’t or won’t,” Sam clarifies. “I meant can’t you mop-headed lumberjack.” Oh boy, another nickname for the Sam nickname list! I swear I have enough for an article during Hellatus. “I was lucky to get this much of you out. Going back for the sloppy bits, no way. I’m good, but those two in there, no way.” So, Crowley is just a used car salesman after all. All talk and no substance.
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 😆