Robin’s Rambles: “Mannequin 3: The Reckoning”
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Not only is Johnny blowing out cold air, but finds himself facing a deadly mannequin when Sam suddenly appears and grabs him. “Come on,” he says. He pours salt on the window and door sills and explains to Johnny, “That was a ghost, trying to kill you for being a dick!” Sam tosses him a rag to mop his bloody forehead. “You know what?” says Sam–“you’re lucky you’re the most suspicious interview of all time. I figured something like this would happen.” “Figured something like what would happen?” asks Johnny. “I don’t have time for the big speech,” says Sam quickly, “brass tacks, Rose is back.” “That’s crazy!” insists Johnny. “Look, you’re going to end up like your friends unless you tell me what you did to Rose,” says Sam. When Johnny is silent, Sam adds, “Do you want me to help you or not?” “It was just a stupid joke,” Johnny finally explains, “YOU play jokes!–it wasn’t that big of a deal.” Sam sits across from him. “What did you do?” he asks. “We made her think she had a secret admirer,” says Johnny. (Rose opens her locker and finds a rose inside. She sniffs it, smiling shyly, while behind her a group of co-workers smirk.) “I don’t think the girl had ever been asked out in her life,” says Johnny, “honestly, we thought she was just kind of pathetic–so we knew she’d take the bait. (Rose, who is really sweet-looking, and obviously smitten, finds candy in her locker, along with a note, MEET ME XO APARTMENT B, 426 MAPLE AVE.) “She was so excited,” continues Johnny. (Rose walks down a dank, dark hallway, opens the door and walks inside.) “Poor girl never saw it coming,” says Johnny. (What appears to be a man sits at a table for two set with candles. Smiling, Rose turns him around in the chair, only to find he’s a mannequin. Its wig falls off; it falls from the chair onto the floor. Several guys from work come out of hiding, laughing at Rose. “Rose, I think he likes you,” says Steve.) “It was mean,” says Johnny, “you know how it is when a group of guys get together, they act like jackasses.” (“Aw, don’t be like that,” teases Steve. “Come on, Rosie,” says Johnny, “it’s just a joke.” “Go to hell,” she says to their smiling faces, and walks proudly to the door, trying not to cry.) “It happened so fast,” says Johnny. (Steve grabs her arm and says, “Hey, you can’t take a joke, Rosie, seriously.” She pulls away, falls, and hits her head on a coffee table, splitting open her forehead, explaining the foreheads on all the vics.) “We didn’t mean for it to happen,” says Johnny, “but by then it was too late.” (Johnny starts to call the cops, but Steve stops him. “Are you crazy? We tricked her here–I grabbed her. It’s involuntary manslaughter at best, and that’s if they even believe us, you understand?”) “Steve said there was only one option,” says Johnny. (They dump her into a grave.) “I wish I could take it all back. I’m sure you do,” says Sam angrily. “I didn’t kill her,” says Johnny. “Look me in the eyes and tell me none of it’s on you,” orders Sam. Johnny can’t. “Look,” says Sam, “I’m not saying you deserve to die, I can help you. You have to tell me where she’s buried.” “In the woods,” supplies Johnny, “a clearing off Canyon Run Road.” Johnny stands when Sam does, but Sam tells him he has to stay inside the salt line–“Until I tell you you’re safe.” “Does this mean I stand here all night?” complains Johnny. “Consider it getting off easy,” says Sam.
Dean enters Ben’s room, where he’s sitting on his bed, playing a video game. Looking over Ben’s shoulder, Dean says, “That’s ridiculous, plants could never kill a zombie.” “You think I’m going to say I’m sorry?” demands Ben. “Why would I think that–because you lied to get me here?” asks Dean. “It was an emergency,” insists Ben. “A date’s not an emergency,” says Dean. “It is if it’s the third one,” says Ben, “I watch TV, I know what that means.” So does Dean, who raises his eyebrows and runs his hand over his face. He sits beside Ben on the bed. “Your mom’s a grownup,” he says, “she gets to go out.” “Why don’t you come home?” pleads Ben, “can’t you just say I’m sorry and come back?” “I’m sorry, I can’t,” says Dean. “Can’t or won’t?” asks the boy. “Both,” says Dean. “So you hate Mom now,” accuses Ben. “No, come on,” says Dean. “So it’s me,” says Ben.” “Ben, stop it,” says Dean. “Whatever I did, I’m sorry,” the kid says desperately. “Listen to me,” says Dean, “you didn’t do ANYTHING, understand that? But one day you’ll get this when you’re older.” “Don’t talk to me like I’m six,” says Ben. “OK, fine,” says Dean, “it’s like this, then, just ’cause you love someone, doesn’t mean you should stay around and screw up their life–so I can’t be here.” “You think something will follow you home?” asks Ben. “No,” says Dean, “but I think my job turns me into somebody that can’t sit at your dinner table, and if I stayed, you’d end up just like me.” “Why do you say it like you’re so bad?” asks Ben. “Trust me, I’m not someone you want to aim to be,” says Dean. “Don’t I get a vote?” asks Ben. “No you don’t,” says Dean, “I’m sorry, Ben, but you see, this way, you got a shot at whatever life you want–pick one, pick five–because with me, there’s just the one road.” “You’re a liar, Dean!” accuses Ben. “Excuse me?” asks Dean, shocked. “You say family’s so important,” says Ben, “but what do you call people who care for you, who love you, even when you’re a dick? You know you’re walking out on your family, right?” Shaking his head, Ben looks away. Dean stares at him.
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Sam salts and burns the bones of poor Rose, calling Johnny after he tosses in the match. Tersely, he says, “It’s over, you’re safe–and Johnny, look at this as a new beginning–a lot of chances not to be a jackass.” He hangs up and stares down at the burning corpse.
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Heading back, Dean remembers three times Lisa opened her door to him–when he first went to see her and she was holding Ben’s birthday party, after Sam’s death, and just now, stunningly dressed for her date; the time she ran to kiss him after he saved Ben from the changelings and invited him to stay; joining him in bed when they were living together; a barbecue at their house during the same time period. He remembers meeting Ben at his birthday party, giving him a high five after helping him to get back his game from a bully, working on the car with him, looking in on him when he was sleeping. He recalls a busy morning serving eggs to Ben, and again, Lisa standing at the door, beautiful, dressed for her doctor-date. Brackets in time, beginning and end, of his life with Lisa and Ben. Dean drives the Impala back in big puddles of fallen rain.
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McOwen’s Irish Pub – Isabel enters with some of her work friends. “Love Hurts” plays inside. Johnny enters a door next to the pub that leads to an apartment over the bar. He sits on the bed and tells someone, “Jenny, hon, we’re leaving tonight, so pack up–just the essentials. All I want is for us to move on with our lives. I love you, you know that. It’s been really hard.” Taking off his cap, we see he has a bandage on his forehead–and is talking to and holding the hand of a mannequin dressed in a pink silk bathrobe! The beautiful, blond mannequin turns her head and looks at him as “Love Hurts” swells louder. Johnny’s eyes grow wide, and his breathing quickens.Â
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Editor’s comments: We’ve seen the Winchesters try and fail to save innocents before. I think of the second brother drowned on dry land in “Red Sky a Morning.” Sam tried to save Johnny, and it appeared he had succeeded, too, but Rose outsmarted him. Here we see Sam through Johnny’s eyes–a smart, knowledgeable, hardass, moral man who makes Johnny admit what he did and promise to help him, but only if he promises to straighten up and make this the first day of the rest of his life–kinda like what Sam himself intends to do.
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I felt terrible for Rose. She wasn’t ugly, just shy and introverted, someone who hadn’t ever been asked out on a date–which is why this trick was so especially cruel. That she died trying to leave the situation with dignity was the cruelest joke of all, and we see where the basics of her revenge–the cut forehead and murderous mannequins–came from. Rose never meant for her sister to die, but when she went after the Winchesters, Isabel got caught in the crossfire, and a ghost suffered a sad loss of her own. For the first time ever, a haunted organ transplant was brought up, along with its supernatural ramifications, and I kept thinking about Dean offering Sam the heart from that medical dummy.Â
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(I once told my five year old son I’d give him my heart if he ever needed it. Old enough to know that would kill me, he stared at me and said, “But then you’d die, Mommy.” “Better me than you,” I replied. I kept thinking Dean would give the same reply to Sam in this episode and teared up.)
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Instead of just telling Ben he was afraid something evil would follow him home (which is highly likely), Dean chooses to give the kid bullcrap about the wrong person sitting at his table and that he fears Ben would turn out “bad” like him. I was SO glad Ben called him on the issue of family that Dean harps on all the time! Dean is a hero and Ben knows it. “Trust me, I’m not someone you want to aim to be,” says Dean. “Don’t I get a vote?” asks Ben. “No you don’t,” says Dean. PLEASE! Does Dean really STILL have a low opinion of himself after six years? Grow up, Dean! We know and you SHOULD know you have saved the world and are a great guy!
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I see Dean’s bittersweet montage of Lisa and Ben as their final hurrah. I could be wrong. But I think (and hope) Lisa does the mattress mambo with Doc Matt, marries him, and he turns out to be the perfect husband for her and father for Ben. They both deserve it. Dean has Sam.
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When Sam enters Johnny’s apartment to find “Jenny” sitting on the sofa and Johnny dead, he calls Dean, gets his “other, other cell” and leaves a message: “It’s not over. Burning the remains didn’t stop her. She’s got to be hooked to something else. I’m going to head to the sister’s now–call me.” Sadly, he looks down at Johnny one last time.
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At Isabel’s, Sam looks through one paltry box of Rose’s things. “So this is it?” says Sam. “I gave most of her clothes to the Goodwill,” says Isabel, “she didn’t have much.” Noting medical textbooks, Sam asks about them. Isabel’s enrolled in Great Falls! Sam remembers the medical lab and the murderous dummy there, then the killer mannequins at Isabel’s workplace. “So let me guess,” says Sam, “you were at the chem lab AND the factory this week?” “Well, yeah,” she says. Sam thinks of the bar, the mannequin, Johnny. “Did you happen to stop by a bar called McOwen’s last night?” asks Sam. “Everybody from the factory goes there,” she says, “I stop there maybe three times a week. Why?” Sam stands, thinking. “So this is all about you,” he says. “What is?” she asks. “The murders,” he replies, “your co-workers. . .your college’s janitor.” “You think I could do something like that?” Isabel asks, alarmed. “Nononononono, but I think you’re at the center of it,” says Sam. “Me? How?” she asks. “What are you wearing of Rose’s?” he asks–a ring? Her bracelet? Her baby teeth in a locket, what?” “You’re scaring me,” she says. “Just think,” commands Sam, “please, what do you have of Rose’s that you carry with you?” She huffs humorlessly. “What?” asks Sam. “The only thing I have of hers is a part of me,” says Isabel, “when I was 16, she gave me one of her kidneys.” “Her kidney?” repeats Sam. “Yes,” says Isabel. “You’re kidding,” says Sam. “Will you please tell me what this is about?” she asks. “Yeah,” Sam says, “but I’m going to need you to go with me.”Â
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Dean drives up in the Impala and Sam in what must be Isabel’s car, where she sits shotgun. “So is that the girl with the haunted kidney?” asks Dean. They talk out of her earshot. “Yeah,” says Sam. “Just when you think you’ve seen it all,” says Dean. “What do you want to do?” asks Sam. “We can’t exactly burn the thing, she kind of needs it,” says Dean. “Well,” says Sam, “she can’t just walk around with it, with that spirit attached, it’s going to use her to get close to anyone it wants revenge on–it’s not gonna stop killing.” “What are you suggesting, that we cut it out of her?” asks Dean. “And then what?–leave her in a tub of ice with a phone taped to her hand?” asks Sam. “Maybe we should call Dr. Robert,” suggests Dean, “he might have some leads on some non-haunted black market replacement kidneys.” “He works out of a butcher shop,” Sam reminds his brother. “It’s pretty clean, you’d be surprised,” says Dean. “No, I think we have to go hoodoo,” says Sam. “Hoodoo?” says Dean–“that’s more of a Band-aid, not really a cure.” “It buys us a minute,” says Sam. “All right, Louisiana it is,” says Dean. Isabel, who has gotten out of the car, chuckles, “Voodoo? What the hell are you talking about?” “Actually, it’s HOOdoo,” says Dean, “it’s a little different.” “Hold on, Isabel,” says Sam. “You’re not Feds,” she accuses. “Let us explain,” says Sam. The Impala starts up by itself. “No, no way!” protests Dean. “That’s impossible,” echoes Isabel. “Nononononono,” says Dean, “she possesses sex dolls, this is not a sex doll!” (Dean’s private sex doll?) The Impala’s headlights flash on. “Hey, you leave my Baby alone, she’s got nothin’ to do with this!” yells Dean.
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The Impala takes off, heading toward Dean, who has splintered off from the other two. Sam tries to urge Isabel inside her own car to keep her safe, while Dean, shouting, “I’m so sorry, Baby!” runs, directing the car toward an empty storefront, diving out of the way as it smashes noisily through glass, brick and metal. Sam comes tearing toward him. “You all right?” he asks. “Yeah,” says Dean, “I’m good–you guys?” Isabel starts to say she’s all right, but she’s not–blood spurts from her mouth and a giant piece of glass protrudes from her belly. Taking deep breaths, she stares at them as they kneel beside her fallen body. Rose’s ghost appears. “I’m sorry,” she says, “I didn’t mean for this.” Isabel takes a few last gasps of air and falls back, dead. Rose goes up in flames, gone for good.Â
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Amidst the corpses of dead cars at Singer Salvage, Dean works on Baby, restoring her to health after she saved his life. Sam brings him a beer. “How’s she look?” he asks. “Considering she got hijacked by poltergeists, it could be worse,” says Dean. “What exactly did we do back there, Sammy?” asks Dean, dejected. “I’m not putting it in the win column, either,” says Sam. “We saved a few dicks and we killed an innocent girl,” says Dean, “I got a heartbroken kid and a woman who’s so pissed at me. . .I see what you mean about facing your past, it’s awesome, thanks.” “Dean,” begins Sam. “All we do is make a mess,” laments Dean. “That’s not true,” says Sam, “we do save lives, now and again.” “Yeah, I guess,” says Dean, “I’m just tired of all the bad luck, you know?” “One,” says Sam, “bad luck is kinda the job description, and two, it’s not all bad. Really, look at me–at least Satan’s left the building.” “Yeah–it’s the little things,” smirks Dean. “And I have a soul because of you,” says Sam, “I never thanked you for that, did I?” “That’s all good, man” Dean assures him. “Well, thanks,” says Sam. “You’d have done the same for me,” says Dean. “I mean it,” says Sam, “look, we keep our heads down, keep swinging, we’ll lose some, hopefully we’ll win more, and, I don’t know, anyway, for what it’s worth, I got your back.” Last time, when RoboSam said that, Dean clearly didn’t believe it, and his face was dark and cold. This time, however, Dean answers, “Yeah, I know,” his face alight with hope. His little brother is back–and Dean’s got him.Â
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The camera pans back, showing Sam, Dean and the Impala together, happy, and for the moment, safe.Â
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Editor’s comments: YES, OK, I teared up at the end! That was as close as the brothers came to saying “I love you” to each other. The music was appropriately sappy, too.Â
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What was with that mannequin that killed Johnny? He talked to her like she was a real girl. Didn’t he notice she was a mannequin? I felt like I missed something there. Did Rose turn his girlfriend into a dummy? Please explain, because I was completely confused.
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So Rose gave Isabel her kidney, and now Rose is a dead, vengeful spirit. Despite the fact that Sam torched the rest of her, that kidney is still fueling ghost Rose’s rage. What to do? Sam and Dean are prepared to take Isabel to Louisiana for a Hoodoo Band-aid–until sis Rose accidentally kills her. This was a unique situation, one I would have liked to see come to a conclusion in LA. Hopefully, something similar will happen and we will. I felt terrible that Isabel died; it was unfair that she was killed because of her sister’s revenge against others.
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The show began with Dean giving Sam a pep talk, and ends with Sam giving Dean one. The latter is depressed because of the impossible and depressing Ben/Lisa situation and the lopsided way this case turned out. Sam tells him they just have to forge on through as they always have–at least he’s free of Satan! He assures him “I’ve got your back.” This time, Dean knows he means it, that it’s coming from the depths of his little brother’s restored soul. Whatever has happened to them, they are brothers again, a team, and, with the Impala as their home, they will fight the supernatural together.
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If you get the impression I loved this episode, I did. I loved last week’s, too, even though I forgot to say so. I’m loving the second half of season 6 a whole lot so far.
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QUESTIONS: Â
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1. What did you think of this episode, despite the silly title? I was expecting a funny ep, but this was more tragedy than anything. Yeah, nay or middling for you?
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2. What did you think of the MOTW? Maybe I’m getting jaded, but I wasn’t scared or grossed out. I found the guys who set Rose up worse monsters. Human monsters are the worst!
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3. What do you think of the whole Dean/Lisa/Ben situation? I explained my POV.Â
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4. Sam and Dean seem very tight now, perhaps too tight. Will they ever let anyone else into their world but each other?  Is that even possible any longer, or was Lisa right?
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5. What did you think of Rose and Isabel vis a vis Sam and Dean?
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6. Were you impressed by Sam’s ability to handle a case alone? Do you think he’s going to be able to avoid scratching that wall in his head for long?
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7. Do you have any idea what plan the brothers had in mind in LA for Isabel and hoodoo?
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8. How did the ending of this episode make you feel? Â
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I liked the episode too. As for Johnny and the “Jenni” doll. It was one of those realdolls. I think Johnny saw her/it as a real person. And he called Rose pathetic.
Does it mean one month in cage is around 280 years..so if it is true then i think time moves slower as you go inside (inner circles) hell.Good to see Dean’s life with the braedens was addressed and it still looks unresolved i still hope Dean (also Sam)has a family with Lisa or another women ..well atleast with someone he wants to share atleast some very important parts and truths of his life which he did not do with lisa.For me Sam’s hope of having family is jinxed because of the wall…
Here are my responses to your questions:
1. I liked the episode. I didn’t come into it with any expectations except wanting to know that Sam was okay after scratching the wall.
2. The MOTW was creepy to me, but I’ve always disliked mannequins and their eyes. To me they seem to follow you around.
3. I hope this isn’t the end of the Dean/Lisa/Ben story. By that I mean that the brothers are getting older and let’s face it, it’s time to see them involved with others. I think it will add an extra layer to their relationship plus I like to see Dean and Ben together. It really seems to be a real “father and son” relationship.
4. I think I already responded to this above, but I would also like to state that Sam needs someone too. Maybe Sarah from Season 1? I really thought they were good together.
5. Rose and Isabel versus Dean and Sam. Hmmm, the sisters seemed to be similar, but the brothers have a more in depth bond. Not totally the same type of situation.
6. I was impressed by Sam’s ability to act alone. At times, it felt like a part of !roboSam was there, but that Sam was in charge, if that makes any sense.
7. Since my understanding of Hoodoo is that it is more of a spiritual and magical religious experience where Christian beliefs are interwoven, I think I also would have liked to see this followed up in Louisiana. The plot fell flat with this. Maybe it can be explored further in the future. I mean Dean in the Pilot was in New Orleans before he left and went up to Stanford Univ. to get Sam and look for their Dad. So, he should have a great deal of knowledge on this subject.
8. Overall, I felt good about this episode. It wrapped up some of the loose story lines, but not all. I think it would have been better if they had been working on a case that indirectly had something to do with the “mother of all” monster. The “victims” were scum bags who I didn’t feel sorry for in the least and the poor sisters ended up paying such a big price for those guys being such losers.
1: I loved the episode. I always love when Dean and Sam are having some of their brotherly moments, and this episode sure had so right from the beginning. I was heartbroken with Dean in the opening and it gave me flashbacks to when Sam died in AHBL and Dean was holding his dying brother in his arms.
2: The MOTW was okay, but that’s it. I hate scary doll movies ’cause they always manage to freak me up and yeah the dolls in this episode were creepy too, but I too think I’ve seen enough episodes or horror movies to get scared. The case wasn’t that fascinating, but I loved anything else.
3: I liked the idea of Dean living with Lisa and Ben – with Sam out of the picture. But now that he’s back, I can’t imagine Dean living anywhere without Sam. And I felt really bad for both Ben and Dean in their conversation, and I think it was sad Dean got the “You’re walking out on your family”-speach especially since Dean did so to be with Sam, who happens to be his family.
4: Yeah, the brothers are tighter than ever which is pretty understandable. Dean lost his brother, got him back without a soul and then fully back and is now determined on keeping his brother safe and protect him. Sam was possessed by the devil, went to hell and returned, and now needs his big brother more than ever. And if anyone can help Sam through this, it’s Dean. I’m not sure if they’ll ever be able to let anyone else into their lives. At least not for quite a while anyways.
5: I too think the sisters’ relationship reminded of Sam and Dean’s and what they’re willing to sacrifice for each other. (And Robin, the talk you had with your son about the heart touched me deeply.)
6: I knew Sam would be able to handle a case on his own, and he did so very well. You could tell he had his heart and soul in it unlike Robo-Sam. And I loved the fact that he called Dean every time he’d figured something out.
I hope Sam will avoid scratching the wall for a while, but I’m sure something will happen that cracks the wall even more. Maybe next time it happens without Sam intentionally scratching the wall. I do hope he’ll listen to Dean this time though, cause last time was scary!
7: I have no idea. But they would probably have figured something out.
8: The ending made me tear up as well. I just love the brotherly moments, and I loved how Sammy this time was totally honest when he said to Dean he got his back. I think it meant the world to Dean to hear his little brother say those words, and also thanking him for bringing his soul back. Dean has probably missed hearing these things from Sam. Even when he claims he doesn’t like the chick-flick moments, I’m sure that he loves it every time Sammy opens up his heart to him. And yeah, the ending scene was definitely the closest thing the brothers come to tell each other “I love you”.
To answer your question about Johnny’s doll: Some people have a fascinating for dolls as a real boy- or girlfriend, and treat them that way. I’ve watched documentaries about it, where they’re trying to make them look as real as possible and some even have sex with their dolls (which really disgusts me, I gotta say.) I think that’s the case with Johnny’s doll-friend.
And great review Robin, I was with you all the way. 😉
1. What did you think of this episode, despite the silly title? I was expecting a funny ep, but this was more tragedy than anything. Yeah, nay or middling for you?
I didn´t expected a funny ep, till it was mentioned here. For me the ep was depressiv and sad.
2. What did you think of the MOTW? Maybe I’m getting jaded, but I wasn’t scared or grossed out. I found the guys who set Rose up worse monsters. Human monsters are the worst!
Well I wasn´t scared of them. It was fun to see Dean talk about them.
3. What do you think of the whole Dean/Lisa/Ben situation? I explained my POV.
I hope the story arc is finally over. Thinking about the talk between Dean and Ben maybe Dean dosen´t see them as family?
4. Sam and Dean seem very tight now, perhaps too tight. Will they ever let anyone else into their world but each other? Is that even possible any longer, or was Lisa right?
I would like to see them together with someone. But not right now they need some time for themself.
6. Were you impressed by Sam’s ability to handle a case alone? Do you think he’s going to be able to avoid scratching that wall in his head for long?
I think Sam did verry good on the case alone. And hopfully after seeing/beeing in hell and remembering it he is able to leave the wall untouched.
7. Do you have any idea what plan the brothers had in mind in LA for Isabel and hoodoo?
No
8. How did the ending of this episode make you feel?
Depessiv!!!
1. What did you think of this episode, despite the silly title? I was expecting a funny ep, but this was more tragedy than anything. Yeah, nay or middling for you?
I was unsure at first, leaning toward disappointment, but on second viewing, I find it to be one of my more favored episodes of the season.
2. What did you think of the MOTW? Maybe I’m getting jaded, but I wasn’t scared or grossed out. I found the guys who set Rose up worse monsters. Human monsters are the worst!
I thought that was the point. I thought that Rose was not really the MOTW, but rather it was the brutality of playing and toying with one’s desires. I think Rose was a victim of the MOTW.
3. What do you think of the whole Dean/Lisa/Ben situation? I explained my POV.
I think LISA/BEN were as fictional as the doll relationships in the episode. They were Dean’s dinner date. I think they were replacements and Lisa recognized it, as did Dean. Ben was a victim of this MOTW.
4. Sam and Dean seem very tight now, perhaps too tight. Will they ever let anyone else into their world but each other? Is that even possible any longer, or was Lisa right? and 5. What did you think of Rose and Isabel vis a vis Sam and Dean?
I’m answering these together. I think that the Rose/Isabel storyline is more poignant on rewatch because of its parallel to Sam/Dean. The theme is symbiosis versus parasitism. The show has fully committed to the dysfunction of the brothers’ relationship. One can’t live without the other. They may not share a literal organ, but let’s just say they share a life.
6. Were you impressed by Sam’s ability to handle a case alone? Do you think he’s going to be able to avoid scratching that wall in his head for long?
I think that Sam’s ability to do a case alone has been a theme since season 3, after Mystery Spot. He’s capable of doing it on his own, successfully, just not happily.
7. Do you have any idea what plan the brothers had in mind in LA for Isabel and hoodoo?
Seance? Contact Marie Laveau?
8. How did the ending of this episode make you feel?
Like it’s setting up for “The French Mistake” and how fictional relationships are often the most dangerous kind….
Hi Yume,
I have to preface my response with a disclaimer: I tend to go back and forth on the brothers’ relationship. It changes for me from week to week. Some weeks I agree with you, that they can be without each other, but then I will see another episode and that hope is dashed.
I was quite harsh with the doll analogy – I do think that time has established the relationship. However, I do think that the dolls are not so much about the replacement value but about how someone (Johnny?, Dean, Rose, Lisa, Sam, etc.) ends up having a relationship not so much with the other person but with his/her expectations of the other person. I think Lisa is incredibly prescient about this when she asks Dean, “What do you want from us?” That’s the question…not what do I want, but what do you want? I think that’s why Dean finally had to let go; I think he realized, and this is my reading, that what he wanted was a relationship that was stable, secure, and always there, even in his absence, but that would be unfair to Lisa and Ben. I don’t think he’s afraid of Ben becoming like him, i.e. a hunter, but like him in that he has allowed his life as a hunter to dictate his intimacy with others. I hope that makes sense…I feel like I digressed. So yes, the doll metaphor, for me at least, provided a metonymy for that problem for these characters?
I liked your comments and agree with what you said. In particular I enjoyed your comments on Dean/Lisa/Ben situation. I hope this isn’t goodbye for them. Dean needs Lisa and Ben to keep him sane and because of them realize that in spite of his life & the horrors he knows, he is a good family man and he deserves to have a life. I really hope Ben’s words and all his memories of his time with them cause him some guilt so that he rethinks this stupid idea of his. Why can’t he have them and Sam too. Maybe even Sam can find a life
[b]1. What did you think of this episode, despite the silly title? I was expecting a funny ep, but this was more tragedy than anything. Yeah, nay or middling for you?[/b]
Yay for me. A good mix of closure, fun and angst. Anything involving moving mannequins is going to raise an eyebrow or six but as with last week, for me, the MOTW was secondary.
[b]2. What did you think of the MOTW? Maybe I’m getting jaded, but I wasn’t scared or grossed out. I found the guys who set Rose up worse monsters. Human monsters are the worst! [/b]
Mannequins don’t scare me. They can’t move their elbows or knees for feck sake. How can they walk or stab? Just push them over. They’d be like beetles, they won’t be able to get back up!
I found the model is the science lab creepier, mainly because when I saw the hooks and chain protruding from his back I immediately thought of the hooks and chains tethering Dean in Hell.
Similarly, as he didn’t have skin, I was reminded of Casitels words about the state of Sams soul and my mind started wandering….
[b]3. What do you think of the whole Dean/Lisa/Ben situation? I explained my POV.[/b]
I really enjoyed it. I hope Dean now realises that family is what you make it so Dean has one hell of an extended family. It’s not solely the blood that has bonded Sam and Dean, their actions and choices also make them family.
I also hope that Dean realise that’s he’s worth more to people than what he does. He’s wanted because of who he is.
[b]4. Sam and Dean seem very tight now, perhaps too tight. Will they ever let anyone else into their world but each other? Is that even possible any longer, or was Lisa right?[/b]
Cripes, I dunno. A part of me is saying they won’t let anyone else in. Too much has happened to them, things they couldn’t possibly share with others so they’ll always have that dependency on each other. I mean, Dean loved Lisa but I don’t believe he told her the full truth about himself or his life.
Though at the same time, the part of me that wants Sam and Dean to have some semblance of ‘normal’ (I’ve come to loathe that word) when/if they leave hunting hopes that they do (let others in).
[b]5. What did you think of Rose and Isabel vis a vis Sam and Dean?[/b]
Sam and Dean aren’t girls. Neither are they seamstresses (though they do stitch skin…)! Um, they were siblings, one was protective, the other shy. Apart from that I’m not seeing much of a similarity (though I admit I’m not trying too hard.)
[b]6. Were you impressed by Sam’s ability to handle a case alone?[/b]
I didn’t really give it that much thought because I’ve always worked under the assumption they could work alone. Plus, it was only a typical salt and burn (I say that like it’s soooo easy!) Both boys have handled cases on their own before, and handled them well. They choose to work together, I don’t think it’s because they’re incompetent etc.
[b]7. Do you think he’s going to be able to avoid scratching that wall in his head for long?[/b]
Ah no. The more he thinks about not thinking about it, the more he’s thinking about it. (I don’t know if actively searching for memories will work though, don’t they generally come on their own?) I think the wall will come down some day and I’ve too many scary thoughts in my head about what that could be like when it does happen.
[b]8. Do you have any idea what plan the brothers had in mind in LA for Isabel and hoodoo?[/b]
Not a clue. Less than not a clue actually. I’m not privy to hoodoo happenings. I’m going to go with Fr. Ted here and say that a good Mass will fix everything, from possessed kidneys to speeding buses….
[b]9. How did the ending of this episode make you feel?[/b]
Delighted that the boys are back on track, despite the poignancy of the realisation of [i]another[/i] downside to hunting. The poor boys are finding it harder and harder to find valid reasons to stay hunting but they’re too invested at this stage to pull out. It’s good though because it’s been a long time since they were that close and on the same page.
I’m a little disappointed that Deans venture into the ‘white picket fence’ life is at an end. Dean’s determination that he is not worthy of it is as heart wrenching as Sam’s ‘I’m the least of all of you’ back in Season 5.
I’m thrilledl that Sam thanked Dean for returning his soul. In the midst of despair it’s possibly the only thing that would make Dean feel better and it’s so typical Sam that he’d do it!
Thanks Robin for allowing the ramble (again).
1. What did you think of this episode, despite the silly title?
In a lackluster season, this episode was middling for me.
2. What did you think of the MOTW?
I liked the MoTW story. Not scarey, but creative. The kidney seeking flying glass shard was a writer’s cheat, but in visiting Horror 101, I’m okay with cheats sometimes.
3. What do you think of the whole Dean/Lisa/Ben situation?
The writers never committed to an epic love story between Dean and Lisa, and now they haven’t committed to ending it. I thought the episode made it very clear that Dean is supposed to be madly in love with Lisa (i.e., the reason for the ‘most favored character montage). I’ve always hated this direction, because Lisa/Ben story has no place in the SPNverse, and they never will. Yet, I see that Sera is never going to turn loose of these two characters she loves. It’s just a matter of time before they are abruptly plopped back into the story like they were in 99 Problems. Besides absolutely turning Dean into a really boring wuss and leaving him as depressed as he was in S5, I see no reason why they were ever included. It just seems to me that S6 started with the potential of unlimited creative storytelling, and this is what we got.
4. Sam and Dean seem very tight now, perhaps too tight. Will they ever let anyone else into their world but each other? Is that even possible any longer, or was Lisa right?
Oh, I expect to see Lisa again at the end of S6 if the show isn’t renewed, or at the end of S7 after Sam is killed off and Dean can return to the family of his choice.
5. What did you think of Rose and Isabel vis a vis Sam and Dean?
I’m sure there was supposed to be some connection here; but, honestly, I couldn’t get past the horrible music in the episode enough to think about it…and I don’t think I care much to give it any thought. I really liked the two actresses that played the sisters, though.
6. Were you impressed by Sam’s ability to handle a case alone? Do you think he’s going to be able to avoid scratching that wall in his head for long?
I think the question would be, can Dean handle a case by himself. Sam is the best hunter on the planet and has been hunting alone for a year. No reason to think that he couldn’t do a case.
The wall? Either he’ll scratch or this is will be a dropped plot until they hear about a S7. There’s the meta episode, a western episode and then on to Heaven’s civil war, so I don’t know that they have much time for wall scratching this season.
7. Do you have any idea what plan the brothers had in mind in LA for Isabel and hoodoo?
Not a clue, and I don’t think the writers had one either.
8. How did the ending of this episode make you feel?
Not good. The episode was depressing, but more than that, I didn’t think Dean really bought Sam’s, “I’ve got your back.” Perhaps he did, but I thought Dean look was pretty much the same as in Twi Hard when Sam said it. I could be very wrong about that, though. I just don’t think they are back 100% yet and, honestly, at this point, I don’t know why they both don’t just call it quits. I’m not seeing any driving plot that gives them a reason to continue hunting now that Sam’s soul is back and Dean really doesn’t want to give Lisa up.