Recap – “Appointment In Samarra”
Shattered glass. You know, I’m willing to bet Death just has to snap his fingers and the glass is put back together. He’s cool like that.
Death claims he’s busy and asks Dean to talk fast. I think Death is lying, he knows Dean doesn’t have much time. Plus he’s upper management, he shouldn’t have to lift a finger, except when he wants to eat pizza or a bacon dog. Don’t need to sweat cholesterol when you’re Death! Dean mentions he has something of his. Death however can read minds being God like and knows he’s talking about his ring. He acts all intimidating because it’s fun and reminds Dean it was a temporary loan. Dean tries to use the “You want it back” angle but Death already knows where it is. Come on Dean, try harder.
“Now that we’ve established that you have hubris but no leverage, what is it you want?” First, a cut back to the doctor and assistant, just in case we forgot Dean is dead. The monitor is still ringing flatline. Wouldn’t they want that off, or do they get off from that sound? Back to dead Dean, who gets to the point. Lucifer’s cage. Dean figures Death is one of the few people that can jail break it. God or Death, that would be my short list. Not people though Dean, massively powerful creatures beyond your comprehension. Anyway, Death plays coy. Dean tells him Sam’s soul is still stuck in that box. Death claims to have heard. Oh, he knows! He is the grand poobah of all souls, isn’t he?
Dean though decides since he’s going for broke, he’s going all out. He mentions Adam, their other brother, is in there too. “Dean, quit shuffling and deal.” Yeah Dean, you’re really short on time! You should be talking a mile a minute right now. Dean wants Death to get them both out. Death finds that interesting, but decides Dean really only wants to save Sam. “Pick one.” Another quick shot of flatlining Dean and the doctor watching. Back to dead Dean who finds the request unusual. Death makes it VERY clear. “Sam’s soul or Adam’s. As a rule I don’t bring people back. I might make an exception once not twice, so pick.”
Dean instantly picks Adam, saying that Sam is too much of a dick to save. Psych! I mean honestly, did anyone think the answer wouldn’t be Sam? The way I see it, is Adam is meant to be in that cage. Maybe he isn’t suffering as badly because he was willingly able to help Michael. Sam, well, he probably should be in the cage too, but since he’s partially out, something is afoul. Not the way it should be. So, Death might be willing to correct that situation.
Dean has time somehow to go into the other twist. Sam’s soul has been in there for a year and he understands it’s damaged. “Try fillet’ed to the raw nerve,” Death says creepily. Okay, that’s a bit more extreme than “damaged.” Good to know. Dean apparently has bigger balls when dead because he actually asks Death to not only pull it out, but to fix it! “Is there anyway you can hack the Hell part off?” Death stands up, says that’s the stupidest idea he’s ever heard and zap’s Dean back painfully to reality. Nah, Death is bored and likes games. Time to make the Winchester jump through hoops!
First we must see Dr. Robert and Beulah, who realize now is the time to revive Dean. They try the paddles a couple of times. No luck. Now back to Death, who is relishing over the idea right now of berating Dean for being a moron. “What do you think the soul is? Some pie you can slice? The soul can be bludgeoned, tortured, but never broken, not even by me.” Dean still believes though after all the crap he’s been through that there’s another way. Sure, but think about it Dean. Has one way ever proved to work out better than the other? It all just leads to different roads of crap.
Death does offer the alternative, because like I said, he’s bored and likes games. I think he likes Dean too. “I can’t erase Sam’s hell but I can put it behind a wall.” A wall? “A wall in his mind. A dam to hold back the tide.” Uh oh, I don’t like this. Death has to know this dam won’t hold. He has to know Sam Winchester never lets a mystery slide. Death instead reminds Dean how nasty the memories are and there’s no telling what they’ll do to him. They’ll push him to the rest of his life in a rubber room, that’s what!
Dean however is really desperate and likes the wall idea. You know, the idea sucks, but the alternative, which is living with a sociopathic brother, blows too. Dean is really screwed either way. I do think this is the result of dominoes falling ever since John made the deal for Dean’s life. In the Winchester’s case, it’s a massive million piece domino maze that never stops running. They really have hosed the universe. Tessa mentions it’s not permanent. Death concurs. “Nothing lasts forever. Well, I do.” Ha! Good one Death. You cad you.
Dean does a summary of what he’s heard, because he still strangely thinks he has time. “Okay, so that’s the choice, Sam with no soul, or Sam with some drywall that if or when it collapses he’s…done.” Dean tells him to do it. Ha Dean! Did you honestly think this was going to happen without a catch? Death naturally claims he never said he’d “do it.” Dean’s quite frustrated now, wondering what they’ve been talking about. Don’t you see it? Dean’s been playing the game “Fuck with Dean Winchester.” He’s quite good at these things. If you really think about it though, Dean started it.
Death says it’s his prize, if he wins the wager. Dean gives a very sarcastic “great” and in a frustrated tone wonders what’s the bet. Death, because he can, takes this moment to scarily point out who’s in charge here. He looks Dean square in the eye and says, “Don’t roll your eyes Dean, it’s impolite.” Oh yeah, that humbles him! Death goes on. When Dean goes back to retrieve the ring, he has to put it on. He gets to be Death for a day! “Are you serious?” Dean asks. “No, I’m being incredibly sarcastic,” Death replies. Dean, you’re extremely lucky you only got snark from Death there. He could have killed, um, Sam.
Dr. Robert is a little worried now, wondering if his 75 percent success rate is going to take a hit. He asks Beulah for some adrenaline. He injects it into the tube. Back to Death, who’s laying out the conditions. If Dean takes the ring off before the 24 hours are up he loses. “No soul for Sam, clear?” Dean agrees. “But why?” “Simple Dean, because-” Dean gasps for air back at Dr. Robert’s. Ha, I guess he has to find out the hard way. Dr. Robert lets out a thank Moses. I would have said “Thank Chuck.” Dean is upset, hoping he could have had five more seconds. “Son, you were gone for seven minutes,” Dr. Robert replies. Dean is surprised. “I was?” So Dr. Robert makes the most absolutely perfect statement of irony. “I thought for certain Death had you by the twins.” Ha, you don’t know the half of it doc. Death most certainly has Dean by the twins and more. Dean’s sigh as he falls backward pretty much confirms that.
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.
Hi Alice
I love your recap. Reading it was like TV in my head.
But one thing: Jon didn´t made the 1st deal, Mary did with YED to get John back and condemned Sam in doing so.
Hey Alice – loved your recap, as always. This was such a great episode. So happy that Sam got his soul back and looking forward to see the end result. Didn’t think it was going to happen though, so I was pleasantly surprised.
I think the most powerful scene in this whole episode and not a word was spoken, were the looks that Dean and Sam gave each other while Dean was looking through the Panic Room door. I also felt that right then and there Dean had decided that he couldn’t let this Sam live. He had to do what his father warned him about way back at the beginning of Season 2. If he couldn’t save him, he would have to kill him. And Dean had finally come to the point where he could no longer save Sam and he was bound to do the unthinkable. He had to kill this Sam because he would continue to kill innocents, and most likely, at some point, probably Dean as well. I don’t think that Dean would relegate this task to Bobby though. This would be something that Dean would HAVE to do. Yes, I felt very badly for Dean as well. To have to kill the one person you loved more than yourself. Truly heartbreaking. And so he goes upstairs to collect himself and mentally and emotionally prepare for the task at hand. Thankfully, Death appears and changes this course of action. Yay Death! I hope we see him again. I love him. Can’t wait now to see what happens in the new year.
Great recap for a great episode. This episode merits many viewings for all the stuff that happens without a word being spoken, as well as for magnificent snark from many of the characters. After six years, I am still astounded that these boys can make the most out-there events and concepts feel so real. I’m not sure even the holidays are worth having to wait for the next step in the journey!
Tee-hee: When I read your response to Junkerin above, I chortled – I went on at length in my show blog this time about just how extreme a violation of the natural order the Winchester brothers are! If you want to read, it’s here: http://bardicvoice.livejournal.com/71754.html
Fun recap! Not so fun hellatus … can’t wait for 28 Jan!!
Thanks for all your lovely articles over the past year, Alice; I love coming here to WinFamBusiness, and just wish I could do it more often. Happy holidays!
Just to be redundant Alice, I loved your recap!
I like how you help out a depressing episode (not that it wasn’t awesome) by giving a humourous slant to it.
Yes, Dean was left with no choice at all but to kill his shell of a brother. So glad Death has taken an interest in the boys and came through. That would have finished Dean no doubt, and probably he would have finished himself afterwards. Can’t have that!
Such a long wait for the next episode when we see the real Sam for the first time this season.
And Mary (Bardicvoice) I just want to tell you how much I enjoy your reviews and have enjoyed them for a few years now. You always make sense of everything and bring it all into perspective. So thanks to you for that. 🙂
The guys may be an affront to the natural order, but I wouldn’t want it any other way! It is hard to imagine the past 6 years without the Winchesters in my life. In this holiday season, I am thankful for this show & these characters, & all of you wonderful people who are as crazy-obsessed with this show as I am! Merry Christmas!!
P.S. Great recap Alice! I think I didn’t breath during that stare-down between the brothers at the panic room door; that moment really got to me too.
my english is not enough to post my thoughts, but i am a devoted reader.. thanks alice and all for the wonderful articles and for this amazing place! buon natale e felice 2011 😉
What would make an episode I love even better?
The recap by Alice. 😀
It has been a long time since we began an episode with one of the boys in the middle of doing something, we have no idea what is going on and have to figure it out as we go.
Also, we tend to forget that John was doing this a long time ago and it is nice to see Sam and Dean rely on one of John’s contacts. It keeps John’s memory alive, even four (five) years after his death.
Just a side question. Alice, who goes on a tour of a cereal factory??? I rather go to a chocolate factory. 😆
Honestly, if Dean had sent a ‘goodbye’ letter to the Soulless One, do you think he would have cared? When Dean was being ‘abducted by aliens’, all the Soulless One was interested in was a little nookie. 👿
When Death is bored, he hangs out with his new BFF Dean Winchester, how cool is that. 😀
SUPERNATURAL is such a cool show, that it’s secondary characters are a lot cooler than the main characters on most mainline shows. Also, what other show can bring back dead characters and nobody thinks that is strange.
Plus, what other show can bring back characters from three or four years ago, and makes fans cheer. No other show. 😀 😀
Let me go out on the limb and ask you Alice, If they created a fan club for Death, would you want to be the president? 😆
‘Dean instantly picks Adam’ 😆 I think that when Death told Dean to pick, all the fans said ‘DAH’ 😆
When it comes to Sam’s well being, Dean’s balls are as large as watermelons. 😆 😆
‘Desperate times’, I like that even though Sam and Dean aren’t seeing eye to eye (for now), they still think on the same wavelength.
The Soulless One obviously never really cared about Dean, all he cared about was himself. That is why Bobby never stood a chance against him. He was going to do whatever it took to keep his soul out. Dean had no choice, after the Soulless One went after Bobby, John’s words finally came true: save Sam or kill him. The Soulless One could not be allowed to live as is. I think that when Death showed up, Dean was steeling himself to kill Sam. If that had happened, I think that Dean would have then just told Bobby to leave the room, and Dean would have taken care of the Soulless One and put a bullet into his own head.
Usually Bobby’s scenes are the ones played for the comedy, but in this episode, Dean’s scenes are the funny ones, with Bobby in the serious life and death scenes.
I love the ‘Dead like Me’ vibe, I got from the scenes of Death!Dean. Dean had to know that it was too easy to last and that the job was going to get tougher.
You want Dean to do something, don’t tell him it is ‘destiny’, because he will just do the opposite of what you want him to.
Does Bobby only have one closet in that whole house? Even though, it now has a handy nearby trapdoor. 😀
Hey Soulless One, Bobby did not get old and grizzly by being stupid. 😀
It all comes back to ‘what am I supposed to do’, and it always end with a death or near death of a Winchester.
Alice, I agree completely with you, at the end hearing Sam yell, I felt bad for Dean and Bobby. You know that Dean was dying inside hearing Sam yell, but he had to be strong knowing that this would bring his Sammy back.
Goodbye Soulless One, don’t let the door hit you in the ass as you leave. 😀 😀
I’ve said it before, I LOVE THIS EPISODE, and I love this recap. 😀 😀
Reading your reviews are fun. I mean really fun. All kinds of excitement and love for the SPN is breathed into these, and reminds me all over again why I love this show.
Getting rid of RoboSam and getting back SoulSam was my one wish before hellatus set in. As such, I’m not feeling the fever as usual. Sammy is back, in one form or another, and this pleases me.
Now I’m going to break my resolution (again) and speculate a bit. It’s not a new idea, I’ve read it from some other commenter’s, but I think that Sam may not have been as flayed as we’re being led to believe. Why?
Well, it’s 90% wishful thinking. I don’t want SoulSammy to have been made the torture toy of two arch angels. 9% comes from the writers not taking the path they’ve hinted at (in this case screamed) in the past. Though they have been (often) known to take the path they tell us they will take. Dean going to hell for instance. How many actually believed it when the show told us again and again that there was no way out of the deal for Dean? Umm, right, trying to sell my theory here, not undermine it. Onward.
The last 1% of my speculation comes from what little we know about Michael. Sure, it makes perfect sense that he’d involve himself in a furious and eternal beat down of SamSoul. I buy it. BUT…yes, but. What little we know of Michael (other than the fact that he’s a destiny driven dic) is that he characterizes himself as the good and obedient son. It is who he is, how he defines himself. Lucifer rebelled and became the bad son, and therefore Enemy Number One.
Now, quite suddenly and unexpectedly, Michael finds himself in hell’s cage. Well blast! Major suckage. Now what? He’d probably be more than willing to throw Sam on the rack, but that was doubtlessly Lucifer’s first move. Maybe, just maybe Michael decided to protect Sam (and Adam) just to keep himself differentiated from Lucifer. “You are the bad son, I am the good son. This is my Father’s creation and I will protect him from you because that is all I have left.†Micheal seemed pretty dead set on the idea that he and Little Bro were supposed to duke it out. Why wouldn’t he carry that determination with him into the cage?
Now, I can’t imagine, if this is the case (oh how I hope!), that it would be any picnic for Sam (and Adam) to find themselves in the midst of a tug-o-war between two powerful and absolute creatures. But it certainly beats the alternative.
This theory, as weak as it is, would open up a whole new set of angst for Sammy. I mean, we all know (or I could be assuming, sorry if I am putting words/thoughts in others mouths) that Sam is going to scratch at that wall. So the wall comes down and he recalls Michael battling madly to keep him from Lucifer’s clutches. (I’m picturing a sort of angel-esque Gandalf moment of “YOU SHALL NOT PASS?!†happening.) Which would turn Michael into a sort of protector/big brother/battle buddy for Sam. Now I’m getting way ahead of myself, but I’m not wanting Sam to have spent the past…what would it be? Well over a hundred hell-years, being worked over. I just don’t want it to be?!
And this ran long again. I need to learn how to write in Cliff Notes.
Thanks again for the review Alice!
Yvonne, I think you may be on to something. Nobody knew what went on inside the cage except for Lucifer!Sam, and Michael!Adam. I like the idea of Michael deciding that enough is enough, and putting himself between Lucifer and Sam’s soul & Adam.
Even though it may be wishful thinking, even Death thought that Sam’s soul was a wreck, that is why he came up with the whole ‘build a wall’ idea.
Then when Sam pokes holes in the wall (and we all know that he will) and memories of Hell leak out, they won’t be as painful as everyone said that they would be.
Is it January 28th yet??????????
I thin the’ll be painful, yes (just for the drama), but Sammy will find that he’s more resistent than he thought, because Death mentioned the strength of souls.
BTW, how are you supposed to scratch something that is inside your mind??
Oh my, sorry for the typing mistakes. 😳 My English is not wonderful, but it’s not THAT bad either. 😯 I guess I’m just too excited for my own good.
Thank you for this very enjoyable recap. 🙂
I love Sam to pieces but I want Sam went through to be real no matter how hard it is. One reason is in times past on the show Sams trauma has been fobbed off . What Sam did has to mean something , he ended up Souless because of that sacrifice . Now he is whole again and I DONT want another fob off by the show. It is heartbreaking to think of Sams soul being in there and suffering but it would be a change for people to be heartbroken on Sams behalf . I would not be impressed if the show after what they have established and honestly I dont think Michael would be the slightest bit interested in protecting Sam that they turned round and did something different .
I dont’ think Michael is so much protective and kind. He’s basically a d*ck, like almost all the angels we have known, he thinks only to fulfill the “prophecies”. And he’s an archangel, the “most powerful and terrible force of the universe”, so I guess his wrath is not something to be dismissed easily.
Now, we know he wanted, with all of his strenght and heart and mind, to battle with Lucifer, to kill his little brother and to establish the heavenly (= God’s, in his mind) victory once and for all, even if this would cause a “disruption on global scale”, just to quote an (in)famous author.
BUT this has been stopped. HE has been stopped. So, in his mind, Heaven’s (God’s) victory has been forbidden to happen. And WHO is the responsible for that? Sam Winchester, of course (and Dean too). Somehow I don’t think Michael is too happy for that. Somehow I don’t think that his thoughts about Sam, down there in the Cage, are all of care and protection.
Sam Winchester provoked the WRATH of TWO ARCHANGELS. TWO, not just one. HIs time in the Cage mustn’t have been a pleasure holiday.
Oh dear, it seems that I have managed a miscommunication. My apologies! I never meant to posit that Michael was not angry at Sam or that he wasn’t a dic or that he has suddenly turned into someone nice. No. Nononono! Eee gads!
My 1% speculation rests on him being in need to keep his identity as a ‘good’ son. The only avenue now allowed for him to do this is to act differently than Lucifer. Michael has two roads left; 1.anger/revenge against Sam 2. Anger/fight against Lucifer. In this case, he may choose one above the other. I wasn’t thinking of him as wanting to protect Sam, but foil Lucifer.
‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’.
Ah, blimey, Alice, I am soooooooooo late to this! It was a great joy again to read your recap. I am too sleepy right now to put any coherent thoughts together, so I’m just going to leave it at that: it calmed my mind, I think finally I can find sleep in a night that’s been chasing away any chances of sleep at all so far (just to be sure: I don’t mean that your recap bored me to sleep, eh? ;-), ah, but you know that!)
Cheers, Jas
Hot diggity nancyL, well said. Now where and how can I get my hands on the “how to make a point in under 10 words” manual that you’ve put to such lovely good use? 🙂
@Yvonne
No problem! I was just underlining my view about Sam’s time in the Cage. But it’s just MY view… 😉
Gah, late again, bloody holidays … This is probably rubbish but I’m wondering if the show’s going to pull a Buffy on us and it’ll turn out Sam’s soul wasn’t in the cage at all but somewhere a rather less fraught ( although by the sound of it Heaven’s a bit of a demiliterized zone at the moment … ) I know Death, Crowley, Old Uncle Tom Cobbly and all said that’s where it was but the man said Trust No-One … Hmmn?
@Brynhild
And I’m thinking that your view will be the right one. Mine is me just over-excersizing my protective instincts over the boys. Haven’t they been through enough? I mean really. 🙂