Robin’s Rambles – Supernatural 7.15, “Repo Man”
Sam watches Marjorie exchanging a kiss with her Lothario. “I’m pretty sure this guy is the boring sort of chubby chaser,” remarks Luci. Sam calls Dean’s cell: “Leave your name, number and nightmare. . .” “Where are you?” asks Sam, scoping zero out here. Sam begins looking through all the paperwork again. “Not a good sign,” taunts Luci, “Hmm, I’m surprised you haven’t picked up on that yet–it’s right there in the Coroner’s report–yeah, uh huh, in this latest round of killings. . .our big girls had heavy doses of tranquilizers in their blood, but our demon’s strong enough to make Fat Betty do whatever he wants to, right, so why does he need the tranks? Think he’s got a bad back? Yeah, whatever is going on here, you know that demon isn’t coming back here to kill anybody.” Sam calls Dean again: “This is Special Agent Smith. . .” “That’s every cell phone Dean’s got,” Luci reminds him, “one of ’em should have picked up, right?–big brother’s probably dead.” “Shut up,” commands Sam, gathering up all the paperwork and leaving the table. “He said ‘shut up’ to me,” exults Luci, smirking that he’s finally gotten through.
Sam breaks into room 101. “That’s what I’m talking about, Sam!” says Luci–“Real interaction again–I miss that! The rapier wit–the wittier rape–c’mon, I’ll be good–I’ll even help you solve your little Nancy Drew mystery or whatever.” Sam looks under the mattress and searches the room. In the desk, he finds a cell phone scrambler. “Those are illegal,” says Luci, “maybe this has something to do with Dean’s telephone blackout.” Sam finds a fake bottom in one of the desk drawers, and inside, some paperwork. “Latin,” says Luci, “not suspicious at all.”
Walking down a dark street, Sam says, “I’ve never seen this spell before.” “No, but you’ve seen this type,” points out Luci. “A demon summoning–why?” asks Sam. “Why–to summon a demon, jackass,” says Luci, “stop looking at who.” Sam faces Lucifer. “What do you mean?” he asks him. “Look at the page,” says Luci. And together, Sam and Luci say, “You might know this handwriting.”
Sam breaks into the Wiccan Web. Lucifer is seated at the desk. He is struck on the head from behind by Nora. “Ay, caramba, mi cabesa!” cries Luci, cradling the back of his own head. Sam scrambles to his feet and disarms her of the candlestick she struck him with. “Nora, stop it! Calm down!” He shows her the paper. “Why did Jeffrey have a demon summoning–in YOUR handwriting?” demands Sam. “Nothing’s happening the way he said, the way he planned it,” she mewls. “What plan?” asks Sam. “You can’t help, you can’t change it”, she says shakily. “Hit her,” says Luci. She sits on the sofa. “Nora, tell me what’s going on,” urges Sam. “Shake her up, get this stupid cow to focus, she knows what happened to Dean,” pushes Luci. “Whatever it is,” says Sam, sitting on his haunches and getting right in her face, “whatever it is, you should be more scared of me, because I’m two inches away from you and I can make you talk!–do you understand me?” Nora begins to cry. “It’s my son–he has my son,” she sobs. “What were you thinking?” demands Sam–“why would you even help bring back a demon in the first place?” “Not the demon–Jeffrey,” she says.
Dean awakens, tied to a chair. Jeffrey has brought in the dog, who is drinking some water from a bowl. “Good, you’re up,” says Jeffrey. “No oneasked you to get involved–to save me, to save anyone–did you ever think maybe I loved being possessed?–I loved the connection, the power–and I loved him–love of my life, actually.” “You gotta be kiddin’ me,” says Dean. “He liberated me,” says Jeffrey, spraying lighter fluid into a cauldron, “started me on my true life’s mission.” “So you’re the one with the thing for all those women,” says Dean, “aren’t ya, Jeffrey?—you’re a serial killer.” “I was nothin’ before he found me,” says Jeffrey, “a shadow, too scared to do what I was brought here to do, too timid to live up to my true potential.” Jeff sets whatever is in the bowl aflame. “What happened?” asks Dean–“Red-headed mommy make you stuff birds and put on dresses?” “You shouldn’t trivialize other people’s pain,” chastises Jeff. “So a demon comes along,” says Dean, “runs co-pilot in your skull, teaches you how to kill–the list–that’s yours.” “For years,” says Jeff–“it was just a game I would play, I’d walk by one of them on the street, or see one of them on my mail route, there’s a sound that comes from their brains–you know that?–only I can hear it–like an evil little steam whistle–every time I saw one, I’d follow her–take down her address.” Jeff takes Dean’s DKK. “But I was never going to do anything. not till HE came along–he’s the one who saved me–and you sent him to Hell.”
“I kept tabs on Jeffrey after the exorcism,” Nora tells Sam, “even sent him care packages at the hospital, but he never responded, and then not long ago, he came to me–he seemed healthy, put together–except he wanted to know if there was a way to summon the demon back–he said he’d been doing research, it was mostly nonsense, but he was convinced it was possible.” “You really knocked the cork outta her piehole,” remarks Lucifer. “I sent him away!–I told him to get some more help!” wails Nora–“The next day, he called me, and he put my son on the phone–he had taken him from his dorm room!–I gave him everything–the ritual, the sigils–but he kept my boy–and then he sent me this.” She hands Sam a box containing her son’s ear! “He cut it off because the ritual didn’t work!” sobs Nora. “That demon gave up some serious state secrets,” says Sam, “would have earned a big lock-down in Hell–not so easy to bring him back up.” “Jeffrey didn’t care,” she says, “he told me to find out what went wrong or else.” She opens a big book. “So finally,” she says, “I found a summoning spell that would work, for sure, and that’s when he said I had another job to do–when you came, I was supposed to send you to Jeffrey–he left a trail of bodies to make sure of it.” Sam reads the ritual. “Blood of the exorcist?” he exclaims. “Strongest summoning I’ve ever seen,” Nora says, “it requires the blood of the exorcist who banished him–your brother–see?–it is all part of Jeffrey’s plan.” “Yeah, well, new plan,” says Sam–“tracking spell, Bavarian Egyptian, I don’t care, your choice, use the flesh of the body to find the body–and Dean.” She shakes her head, afraid. “Do you want the ear–or the kid?” demands Sam. “You’re giving me the chills,” says Lucifer, pleased.
Jeffrey has cut into Dean’s arm and is spilling his blood into a bowl underneath. “I like to think I know you pretty well,” says Jeff. “Yeah, how do you figure?” asks Dean, his voice raspy. “I watched you torture an innocent man to get out a demon,” says Jeff, “pretty charge situation, revealing, you guys talked about a lot of stuff, showed a lot of character, God, you were so desperate to fix the world back then. It killed you that people kept getting hurt and you just can’t stop it, or I should say it’s killed you, shouldn’t I?” Jeff has taken the bowl of Dean’s blood, placed it on the table, and dipped the knife into it. “You know what, screw you,” retorts Dean. “Hey,” says Jeff, “I was there, I was depressed, Dean, because HE was gone, I was a wreck, an emotional shell, a drunk–I was suicidal.” “I don’t usually endorse suicide,” says Dean, “but man, what stopped you?” “It was Alan, at the house,” says Jeff, “He was a really good rehab therapist. really helped me focus on my goals, my attitude, I hafta say, I really benefited from the whole program. A life well-lived comes from the structure of pursuit, of meaningful happiness. I realized I was nothing without my demon. Then I decided I had to get him back. I’ll be right back.” He has done several things with Dean’s blood and the knife, preparations. “Hey there, honey, come on,” he calls to the dog–“It’s a bitch of a recipe, you must admit.” “No,” says Dean, “Oh, you sick son of a bitch.” We hear the dog cry out and the thing that prevented her from gnawing at her stitches rolls away. (NO, EDLUND, YOU DID NOT KILL THAT CUTE DOG, EVEN IN YOUR SCRIPT! I HATE YOU!) Jeff returns and places the bowl over the fire, presumably with something of the dog’s in it now. (I am so sick and sad, I can’t stand this!) He recites Latin, his incantation growing louder and louder. His prisoner, Nora’s son, awakens and bursts through the chains binding him as if they were made of tissue paper. “Hello, Jeffrey,” he says, and his eyes turn black.
“Dean Winchester, as I live and breathe–again,” says the demon after rising from the chair. He goes over and hugs Jeff, who asks, what are you doing? “Thanking you,” says the demon, dancing him around a little. “This half dead piece of crap coming to me,” says the demon, “We had a very special time together, didn’t we, Jeffrey? It warms my heart to see you haven’t forgotten what I’ve taught you, you’ve built on it–you captured a Winchester–you, Jeffrey, my pupil.” Jeff is smiling happily. “I don’t wanna be your pupil,” insists Jeff, “I wanna be yours.” “I’m done with you,” says the demon, drawing back from Jeff–“I’m finished–you can do everything now, all on your beautiful own.” “No,” protests Jeff. “No,” repeats the demon, and slaps Jeff to the floor–“we don’t do no, remember, Jeffrey?” Dean smiles at him. “Keep sawing at your ropes, Penelope Pitstop,” says the demon, “We can dance standing up if you want!” “So this is what you do?” asks Dean–“Find postal workers, make ’em go postal?” “A talent scout, that’s all,” brags the demon, “Looking for the next generation of superstars, before they get to Hell.” On the floor, Jeff moans and shakes his head. “Like Jeffrey here–he had all the raw material, just bubbling in there–all I had to do was loosen the lid on his jar, show him some practical know-how.” “What about the kid?” accuses Dean. “This one?” asks the demon, pointing to himself, “I don’t think there’s much to work with, no natural gift–I’ll probably burn this meat off on my way to Vegas.” Sam shows up and begins beating up the demon. Dean frees himself from his ropes just as Sam gets thrown across the room. The demon gets stuck on his way towards Sam, looks up–Devil’s Trap. “YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!” the demon says through gritted teeth. Nora enters. “You let go of my son!” she demands. “Where do you keep comin’ from?” asks the demon. Jeff heads toward the demon, Dean fires two bullets into him. Nora begins the exorcism. “I’ll be back, you know,” vows the demon, “back in black.” “Aw, go to hell,” says Dean.
Nora finishes up the necessary Latin, sending the demon back to hell. Nora gathers her son into her arms. “Mom? he says. “I got you,” she whispers, “I got you, baby.”
Hotel room – Dean collapses facedown on the bed furthest from the door. “So,” says Sam, “Jeffrey was just pretending to be the victim, way back in that farmhouse, during the exorcism, he was just. . .acting.” “He was a psychopath,” says Dean, “that’s what they do, all the time is act, act like they’re normal, not balls-to-the-walls crazy.” “You going to sleep?” asks Sam. “Damn straight,” says Dean, “screw consciousness.” Beside him, Lucifer taunts, “No nap for you, Sammy.” Sam presses his thumb squarely into his palm. “Aw, come on, don’t do that,” says Luci, “let’s talk, I always enjoyed our special little chats–don’t you wanna talk?” Sam presses harder into his palm, closing his eyes tightly. “Look at that–something’s definitely different now, isn’t it?–you let me in–you wanted me, partner–so you think you can use your little tricks to banish me, like that? He snaps his fingers. NO! I do believe I’ve got you, bunk buddy. Got my finger wiggling around in your brain pan.” In his mind, Sam is surrounded by flames, like in hell, burning. Lucifer is laughing at him. “Come on, Sam, say it with me now: GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM!!!!!” The flames are in Sam’s eyes, the flames are everywhere. . .
Excellent episode, 10 for sure. We had a demon possess someone who LIKED being a demon, that is very unusual. We had the return of Lucifer, and unfortunately, Sam let his guard down and let him in, and now it looks like Lucifer it back in Sam’s mind, all the way in, and what is going to happen to Sam now? Will Dean realize it, see how troubled his brother is? He didn’t notice anything in this episode, but they were very busy, and in much of the investigation, separated. I’m worried about Sam, I really, really am.
Questions and comments:
1. I loved this episode, except for what happened to the dog. I love animals, and although I know nothing REALLY happened to the dog, I really found this a hard ep to take. How did you all feel when Jeffrey obviously killed that poor dog, even off camera?
2. It was fun having Mark Pellegrino back as Lucifer, and it provided a certain amount of comic relief, if watching Sam being tortured is funny to you. It isn’t to me. How do you feel about his scenes with Sam? He was helping him, in his twisted way, yet I felt he was trying his best to draw Sam into a web, like a spider. And his reference at the end to “bunk buddies”? Reminded me of what he and Michael were doing to Sam in the pit, raping him. There was that other reference, very sexual, too.
3. Can you imagine someone finding being possessed by a demon a GOOD thing?
4. How great was it seeing the Impala again? I didn’t realize how much I had missed her until I saw her in this episode!
5. What was your favorite thing about this episode? Least favorite?
6. On a scale of 1-10, rate this episode.
Thank you. I didn’t read it, but I will now. I am depending on your recap because of my language. I don’t understand all of their conversations!!
Thanks again!! Especially with this episode I waited such a long time for this!
Hi Robin, thanks for the detailed recap!
1. I felt terrible for that poor little dog. It deserved a better master.
2. Lucifer was creepy and enthralling. He managed to seem sincere in wanting to be acknowledged and terrifying in his easy approach to horror. I freaked a little at the forked tongue. Poor Sam. I felt bad that this is what he has dealt with for months.
3. You know, I wondered if they would ever do a scenario like this. I actually wondered if they would do it with Crowley’s host, if he had to leave it temporarily. Crowley has good taste and plenty of power, I could see someone getting used to that. This was much more twisted, though, and Ben Edlund justified the “talent scouting” marvelously.
4. Hope to see more of her!
5. Least favorite was easily the death of the dog. Everything else, top notch.
6. I’d call it a 9.
[quote]Nora begins the exorcism. “I’ll be back, you know,” vows the demon, “back in black.” “Aw, go to hell,” says Dean. [/quote]
Hit the rewind on this several times but I [u]think[/u] he says “They’re back, you know. Back in black”. Anyone else? Any thoughts on who “they” would be? I would assume “back in black” would refer to the leviathons.
BTW…my name is Jaime and I’m a Supernaturalholic…and until now, just a lurker. Really enjoy reading everyone’s thought provoking comments. Adds a whole new level of enjoyment to an already out of control obsession! Thanks for sharing!
Welcome to the fandom fold, Jaime! You might be right about the quote, I’m not sure. Anyone else want to weigh in on this one?
Love,
Robin
Great recap! 😀
Two things…Dean was sharpening the knife in the farmhouse, not Sam. Also, Dean was holding the DKK on Jeffrey and Sam splashed him with holy water.
1. I loved this episode, except for what happened to the dog. I love animals, and although I know nothing REALLY happened to the dog, I really found this a hard ep to take. How did you all feel when Jeffrey obviously killed that poor dog, even off camera?
I totally agree with you. I really hated the dog being killed even off camera and for that alone, Jeffrey deserved to die. Poor defenseless puppy!
2. It was fun having Mark Pellegrino back as Lucifer, and it provided a certain amount of comic relief—if watching Sam being tortured is funny to you. It isn’t to me. How do you feel about his scenes with Sam? He was helping him, in his twisted way, yet I felt he was trying his best to draw Sam into a web, like a spider. And his reference at the end to “bunk buddiesâ€? Reminded me of what he and Michael were doing to Sam in the pit, raping him. There was that other reference, very sexual, too.
Some parts were funny, but at the same time, it was very disturbing. As for the “bunk buddies” and all the other references, I don’t know if Lucifer really was doing that in Hell… at least not in an actual sense. I can totally see Michael and Lucifer using Sam as a punching bag for the rest of eternity. Similar to Dean, he would magically be whole again, just in time for them to start all over again! I just don’t see Michael condoning that behavior from Lucifer since they both shared the cage with Sam and Michael did have a different view point than Luci. Also, Adam is still in the cage. He’s got to going through the same punishment, too.
3. Can you imagine someone finding being possessed by a demon a GOOD thing?
Nope, definitely not a good thing. Only an evil/deranged person would think this is good at any level.
4. How great was it seeing the Impala again? I didn’t realize how much I had missed her until I saw her in this episode!
I’ve missed her a bunch although I’m glad that TPTB have finally sunk a good chunk of money into her. She needed it. Oh, I thought it was a nice touch to see Dean wearing the ring and amulet necklace again. The wardrobe dept. did a good job. I’ve always liked that purple plaid shirt of Dean’s and Sam looked great too! He had his hair parted in the middle instead of off slightly to the side.
5. What was your favorite thing about this episode? Least favorite?
Favorite things for me:
Seeing the Impala, ring and amulet
Seeing BadAss Dean and Sam working together
Dean killing Jeffrey
Another win for the Winchesters!
Least favorite:
No brainer…the killing of the puppy! I hate cruelty to animals plus my dog was adopted from A Dog’s Life so that was a double whammy for me! I love my shelter dog, Dexter!
6. On a scale of 1-10, rate this episode.
Another no brainer…This was a 10! I loved this episode and have added it to my must-see again and again list!!!
Thank you, rmoats, for correcting my Dean/Sam errors. I do that often, but usually catch my mistakes. Ts hard to keep track sometimes.
I meant to mention the return of our beloved necklace around Dean’s neck; wasn’t it fantastic to see that again?
Also, the title of this ep has more than one meaning–the demon takes possession of Jeffrey, and Jeff wants to be re-posessed. Lucifer re-possessed Sam’s mind in this ep, a terrible thing.
The more you watch these eps, the more you learn.
Love,
Robin
1. The dog scene didn’t bother me at all, because we all know that animals aren’t really killed, and the scene was used to make Jeffrey totally non-redeemable. Once the act was done, we all knew Jeffrey was a goner.
2. While Mark P. does a terrific job, I don’t find him as intimidating as some of the other big bads over the years, and I much prefer Crowley’s character and Mark S. to Luci. My preference only. I think that’s because Sam is just dreaming Luci up in his head…Sam’s mental illness story. The important point is that Sam’s story has no connection to the Levi’s (the mytharc) at all, which means Sam has to be healed…somehow…otherwise it’s pretty unbelievable that he can remain a hunter. In fact, during this episode, I was wondering why in Heaven’s name, if this is an indication of what Sam has been experiencing since the beginning of Ep. 3 with his hellvisions…why is Sam driving and carrying a gun? How is that possible?
Oh, sorry. Back to my point. Sam either has to be healed or he’s permanently certifiable, so I see no other option other than him being somehow magically healed, which takes all mystery out of Sam’s story. Furthermore, it appears there are two big arcs going on this season: Sam’s mental business and the Levi, neither connected to the other, and it’s getting late in the game to begin wrapping these up. One or the other, I fear, is going to be neglected, just like so many of the multiple storylines were last season, and the Levi story holds the mystery. Solely my opinion.
The other more important point of Sam’s Luci-visions is that Sam’s story is not connected to the Levi’s (the mytharc) in any way.
3. What I liked about this story was taking something that happened off-screen and building an episode around it. I think that technique adds real depth to the SPNverse and story. I know when Dean talked about taking two Velata out on his own in AiB, it sure perked my curiosity and I wanted to know more about it. Here, they took something the brothers did in S3 and built a whole episode around it and it worked really well for me. I’d like to see the writers do more of this in the future.
4. I barely saw Baby. When she comes back for real, there better be some fanfare connected to it…a great song or a Dean reformation.
5. Favorite scene: Perhaps my favorite was Jeffrey and Dean’s talk about life since his possession (although I must admit that I sure liked that awful, awful room they were staying in). The Jeffrey actor was terrific, and I liked Dean’s empathy, while still giving the impression that Dean truly believes everybody and everything he has touched, he has tainted and that his life has been a waste. Along with Jeffrey’s performance, I thought JA matched Dean’s feelings perfectly. Just an all-around well-acted scene.
Least favorite: The Wiccan lady showing up and reading the exorcism. Didn’t buy that Sam would bring her with him or that she needed to read the exorcism, since both Sam and Dean know it by heart. Also did not like the unexplained devil’s trap.
Rating: Probably a 9. I thought it was the strongest episode of the season and BE always, always has the brother’s characterizations down pat. Nice twists and turns, and very good concept for a story. Anytime the Impala is missing, though, points are shaved.
Hi Robin, I thought about the devil trap too but then there are a few times that the boys distract the monster so the others could act. I noted that Dean start asking the demon more question and he didn’t release himself from the ropes earlier. My guess is during those times Sam find some ways to create the devils trap.
Or when Jeffrey was actually doing the incantation. Why Sam didn’t stop Jeffrey? Probably, he wasn’t what’s happening as Dean & the boy are still tight up. Best defense would be preparing the trap first.
Second theory is Jeffrey is the one who puts it there. It does seem illogical but seeing that Jefferey is also possessive, he probably set the traps to keep the demon for himself. That would explain all the other writings on the windows & walls.
Third theory is the best one. I think the writers are just lazy to figure out everything. 😆
Ooopss..not Robin, Ginger. :-*
Dear Robin: Thank you very much for this article. Haven’t seen the epi yet, but am very, very intrigued.
Another thing I can say? That last picture you posted of Sam? For me, that’s the most beautiful picture of Sam I have ever seen. It’s not physical beauty am referring to, though. Look at the face, the haunted eyes. Perfect! Great job, Jared!
Looking forward to JA’s Dean, too1
FInally saw the epi. Yeah, beautiful. Am just disturbed by one thing: this Luci thing–any hint the SPN people are reviving the mytharc of Sam as Luci’s condom? For a fianl showdown?
1. I loved this episode, except for what happened to the dog. I love animals, and although I know nothing REALLY happened to the dog, I really found this a hard ep to take. How did you all feel when Jeffrey obviously killed that poor dog, even off camera?
I loved Dean’s reaction, “Oh, you sick bastard”. Yeah, exactly. I know it’s just for show, but I felt bad for the poor little thing. Ben Edlund loves to push those enveloppes, doesn’t he?
2. It was fun having Mark Pellegrino back as Lucifer, and it provided a certain amount of comic relief—if watching Sam being tortured is funny to you. It isn’t to me. How do you feel about his scenes with Sam? He was helping him, in his twisted way, yet I felt he was trying his best to draw Sam into a web, like a spider. And his reference at the end to “bunk buddiesâ€? Reminded me of what he and Michael were doing to Sam in the pit, raping him. There was that other reference, very sexual, too.
Love Mark Pellegrino, he so owns that role, no one else could embody it with such a sick sense of humour. Loved when he stuck his tongue out! And he was helping Sam find Dean because he knew that that would open the door.
3. Can you imagine someone finding being possessed by a demon a GOOD thing?
Hell no, unless you are one sick human being, like Jeffrey was. But demons looking for the stars of tomorrow (meaning serial killers) was chilling.
4. How great was it seeing the Impala again? I didn’t realize how much I had missed her until I saw her in this episode!
When is she coming back!!! She better have a great song to accompany her return.
5. What was your favorite thing about this episode? Least favorite?
I loved this episode from beginning to end, obviously, the puppy being sacrificed was my least favourite, but I understood why.
6. On a scale of 1-10, rate this episode.
Absolutely a 10.