“How do I know you’re not lying,” Sam asks. Duh, you don’t. Demons, remember. Heck, the same is true for you Sam. It doesn’t change anything. “Sam, why’d you want the thing back? Satan’s got one juicy source of entertainment in there. I’d swallow a rag off a bathhouse floor before I took that soul. Unless you want to be a drooling mess.” Meg, who’s close up right now is not flattering because she’s still got black, spattered Hellhound juice on her face, has to agree. “Sam, I hate to say it, but he’s right.”
“Yeah right, I get it, thanks,” Sam says cutting her off. He’s had enough and tells Meg he’s all hers. Dean’s none too happy. “What you crazy, he’s our only hope.” “You heard him, he can’t get it, he’s useless.” Dean reluctantly accepts and hands Meg the knife. Meg grabs it with a grin like its Christmas. She turns to Sam and Dean. “You’ll let me back out, right?” Sam agrees, Dean doesn’t answer. She steps into the Devil’s trap. “This is for Lucifer you pompous little-” Crowley kicks her down. He easily grabs the knife and throws it up into the Devil’s trap. If it’s stone, how did it stay there? No matter, it does and it cracks the trap. Great Meg, good job.
“That’s better,” a freed Crowley says and flings Sam and Dean against the wall. Really? Season six and we’re still not past that? Especially Sam? Remember when he was unflingable back in season four? I’m disappointed, unless this is all an act by Sam. Who’s really in charge. Maybe. He pulls the knife back down with his mind and puts it on Meg. “You don’t know torture you little insect.” But wait, is that the sound of flapping wings? Remember Castiel? How the angel banishing sigil doesn’t last that long? Heck, it’s lasted longer than it should. Crowley turns around and Castiel is there to the rescue. “Leave them alone.”
“Castiel. Haven’t seen you all season,” says Crowley. Awesome! A meta joke. There haven’t been many of those this season. There hasn’t been much funny at all. “You’re with the calvary now?” A humorless Castiel tells him to put the knife down. “You that bossy in Heaven? Hear you’re losing out to Raphael. The whole affair makes Vietnam look like a roller derby.” Wait, Castiel has something in his hand. An old burlap sack. Crowley wants to know what’s in the gift bag. Cass pulls out a skull. “You are.” The bones again? Ah well, it works.
There is where I have this feeling that Crowley was setup. So who did it to him? I say it’s the real big bad. Dean looks confused. Sam’s expression is hard to read, since he’s freaking soulless and all. You know, there has to be consistency. “Not possible,” Crowley says. “You didn’t hide your bones as well as you should have.” Hmm, where did Cass find those? We’ll probably never find out what that means. Crowley takes time to clap. “Cookie for you.” Cass drops the bag, having no time for games. “Can you restore Sam’s soul or not?” Crowley snaps his fingers, releasing Sam and Dean from the wall. “If I can help out in any other…” Crowley says going into his salesman pitch. “Answer him!” Dean orders. Sam looks afraid, like the answer might be yes. Cass stoically waits for an answer. “I can’t.”
Wrong answer! Castiel doesn’t hesitate and lights the bag of bones on fire with one flick of his finger. Crowley quickly goes up in flames. Oh yeah, those are his bones. He turns to ash and Castiel puts out the flames with his hand. You see Sam and Dean, that’s the kind of power you need on your side. Which you have. With Sam’s powers. Sam and Dean look pretty alarmed by what happened. Maybe because Castiel didn’t show any mercy? Hard to say, but Crowley is gone. Too bad, I liked him, but wow, that was so quick and easy. What happened to him being the big bad? So he ends up being the less than menacing leader we saw in “Weekend at Bobby’s.” So, is there a big bad? Who rises now? I don’t know, this all doesn’t seem right. I still say Sam and Meg are working together and are part of the new group rising in the…West. By the looks, Sam is in charge. Maybe.
Dean goes over to inspect the carnage. Crowley is ash. Sam gets the knife, Meg disappears. Everybody wins! I especially like the view of the dead Parker Lewis. That really makes me happy. Dean gives Meg credit for being smart. Sam looks all around, like he’s expecting an ambush or something. Nothing happens. He’s really surprised. Was he ready to kill Meg or was he expecting a double cross? Did the plan not happen the way he thought it would go? Why is he showing some emotion here? Am I reading WAY too much into this? “I was going to kill her too,” Dean says turning to Cass. “I would have given you an hour with her first.” “Why would I want that?” Castiel asks. I guess you didn’t get that far with that porno.
The three are outside standing by the Impala. 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. I know but I’m not going to let that go until it’s explained what happened to them. That and the carvings on the boys’ ribs. It’s time for an Impala confessional. We haven’t had one of those in a while! What’s cool is it’s Castiel’s turn! “Crowley was right. It’s not going well for me, upstairs.” Dean offers, “If there’s anything we can do.” No, there isn’t. How could there be? Castiel bears his soul. “I wish circumstances were different. Much of the time, I’d rather be here.” Dean shows earnest support, because he has a soul too. “Cass, we know you’ve got a steaming pile on your plate. There’s no need for apologies. We’re your friends.”
Castiel shifts focus, because he really does care about both of them. “Listen Sam, we’ll find another way.” “You really want to help? Prison full of monsters. Can’t leave them, can’t let them go.” “I understand,” Castiel says and flies away. Hmm, another curious exchange. I assume he’s going to kill them all. That’s fine, but he so easily took that order from Sam. No discussion, no protest, no clarification. Am I really going nuts and reading too much into this? So much of this isn’t adding up. Not without a theory and more clues. I still say Sam and Castiel know more than they’re letting on.
“He’s right you know,” Dean says. “About?” Sam asks. “About your soul. We’ll figure something else out.” Nope, Sam says they won’t. Dean doesn’t think what Crowley said… “You heard what Crowley said, and I heard what Cass said. Putting this thing back in would smash me to bits.” Dean pulls the “we don’t know that for sure line.” Oh yeah, now Sam is mad. There he goes again, the soulless man getting emotional. Maybe it’s his time of the month or something? “You know what, when angels and demons agree on something call me nuts, I pay attention.”
“You say this now, after we practically died trying-” Sam interrupts. “Exactly! We almost got ourselves killed. How many times do we risk our asses for this? Enough’s enough. I don’t think I want it back.” Sam walks away. “You don’t even know what you’re saying,” Dean says. Oh Dean, don’t go there. He really does. “No, I’m saying something you don’t like. You obviously care a lot, but I think maybe I’m better off without it.” “You’re wrong. You don’t know how wrong you are,” Dean says. Man, he just can’t let go. Why the risk? Is this Sam really that bad? “I’m not sure about that.” Sam walks away. Dean yells at him to not walk away, but Sam keeps walking.
Wow, an ending of brothers parting that didn’t bust me up for once. Sam had every right to do that. It’s his life, his soul. I know Dean wants his old brother back, but why does he think that it’s worth the risk of a drooling mess? Of course I’m too bothered by all the inconsistencies in characterization and plot to come up with an answer for that one. Now that my brain is ready to explode, hope you liked the recap!
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 😆