Far Away Eyes’ Review, 7.20: “The Girl With the Dungeons and Dragons Tattoo”
She’s not fast enough, and as she opens the door she finds Sam and Dean on the other side. Afraid that they, too, are shape shifters, she attacks. They calm her and prove that they are not Leviathan by pouring borax on themselves—and have Charlie do the same. Once established that they are all on the same side, they start to talk.
Charlie is stunned that monsters are real and wants nothing to do with it. Even so, she can’t stand back and let the Leviathans take over the world, either. So, she volunteers to help the Winchesters get back the hard drive. Little do they know, they’ve put one of Dick Roman’s secrets at risk. She informs them that his email account is only accessible from his desk, and agrees that when she goes into destroy the hard drive she’ll also get them access to Roman’s email.
The brothers agree to walk her through it over the phone, knowing they have no chance to get inside without tripping the Leviathan’s radar. Charlie is brave, but not stupid. She realizes she is at risk, but she also knows the likelihood of her “seeing what’s on the hard drive” and living is low. Uncertain of how to get the courage to go in, Sam has to talk her through it. It’s an unconventional method, but it works.
He mentions Harry Potter and asks Charlie which one is her favorite. Hermoine is her heroine of choice—much to Dean’s chagrin. She was brave and stood her ground to protect Harry and Hogwarts—and she can, too. It works and Charlie goes in, sweeping past the front desk and on her way to Dick Roman’s office first. Unfortunately, a guard sits in waiting, and she needs a way around him.
This time, Dean steps up and coaches her through flirting with him—even if he is the wrong type and not a “girl.” Charlie, however, is too nervous, and as Sam starts to laugh in the background, Dean’s admonishment of “Stop laughing, Sammy,” flies right out of her mouth. Quickly, she has to cover and finds a way to set up a fake date with the guard—and a moment to powder her nose in Dick Roman’s executive office.
Once there, she hacks into his computer, learning that his password is simple, basic—and very un-Dick Roman-like. “w1nn1ng” is a “fail.” Once equipped with the knowledge, Charlie sends that to a flash drive and to Sam and Dean. Much like Dick’s acquisition of the hard drive threatened the brothers, their access to his email now threatens him.
“Nothing is safe,” indeed.
They know that a package is arriving—one that is tied to the digs they couldn’t figure out. Whatever he’s after, it must be important. Charlie gives them enough time to set up a swap, complete with the brothers going undercover to retrieve the true package. Once Roman receives the decoy, he knows he’s been had and puts his building on lock down.
Charlie is a sitting duck in the building, possibly facing Dick Roman’s temper and appetite alone—but she’s not. Bobby is with her, as his flask has been put in her bag so he could take part in the fight against Roman. There is no way he was going to let the brothers force him to “ride the pine.” He manages to weaken the glass, freezing it with his ghostly touch. It gives the boys a chance to get inside the building—but his anger spirals quickly out of control.
Bobby, furious upon seeing his murderer, flings one Leviathan aside—and into Charlie, breaking her arm. He then attacks Dick Roman, invisible. Roman is amused, stating that it “tickled” and that he wants to do this “monster to monster.” He doesn’t seem to realize that it is Bobby that has attacked him. Before Bobby can build into a full rage, however, the brothers escort the injured Charlie to their car—his flask with them.
The brothers make a get away, and then set up a trip for Charlie to go underground and away. She tells them that the way to thank her is to “Never contact me again.” They agree, and return to look at the contents of Roman’s package. It is red clay. It baffles both brothers why Dick Roman would want this.
Meanwhile, Dick Roman has lost his temper entirely, snarling at the pick up man that plucked the wrong suit case. He tells the man point blank that Sam and Dean cannot find out what that package means—and promptly eats the man for his failure.
Whatever it is, this item makes his existence and the Leviathan foothold on Earth not safe. He may have seemed nervous when Dean threatened him outside of Bobby’s hospital, but here he is genuinely afraid and desperate. Roman has no fear from humans, other monsters, or even other Leviathan. Yet, he is afraid of this clay—and the Winchesters discovering its secret.
The episode started with the brothers in great peril, caught almost in the spider’s web to be finally devoured. Dick Roman literally had all the tools at his fingertips to systematically eliminate Sam and Dean from the chess board in one fell swoop. Their reinvention of their identities, frequent safe houses, and treasured possessions such as the Impala would have been his.
As Charlie accessed the information, it would have been easy for her to follow her first instinct and hand it over without looking at it””but the thing that truly makes her the “one in a million” that tripped Roman’s interest—is the thing that might be the beginning of his downfall. Curiosity. Charlie was curious. It’s what makes her good at hacking and deciphering complicated encryption. It’s what gives her the drive to keep at it, even when it seems hopeless. It’s what makes her not just good, but great.
“Nothing is safe.”
For Dick Roman, this is more true than ever. His mistake wasn’t in monitoring Charlie much better—or not having another Leviathan become her. Even he admitted that a clone wouldn’t be as good as she is—and he doesn’t know why, even though he asks about that “spark.”
It is that spark that makes humans dangerous to Leviathan. While they may turn vast numbers of the population into a general food source, too many Charlies—and Sam and Deans—exist to resist. Humanity’s inquisitive nature is what allows us to create amazing things such as the Pyramids. It gives us the power to shape our world through technology. We can create other worlds through story. Humans have the ability to innovate and adapt—our inquisitive nature leads us to unlock puzzles, no matter how tiresome or trying they can be. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but for humans it gives us the leg up to make the next big discovery.
Roman has also made the fatal mistake in underestimating humanity. He assumes that people will go quietly into the slaughter houses with big fat smiles on their faces. What he fails to understand—despite seeing it first hand in Charlie—and multiple times through Sam and Dean—is that humans do not quit. For every dope that ends up falling into his clutches, there is a Charlie that is a “one in a million” resisting authority and questioning everything.
The package that Sam and Dean now possess might be the weapon they need to destroy Dick Roman. The tables turned on the Leviathan boss by episode end, and his desperation made him give into anger easily. It could make him careless—leaving the brothers the opportunity to attack and win.
Enjoyed your review. Agreed with most of it. I do think Sam and Dean need to be a little less judgmental and unforgiving with Bobby and the anger he showed against Dick Roman.
So far, Bobby is doing a very good job and the guys need to acknowledge Bobby’s struggle.
I’m glad you liked my take on the episode.
I don’t think Sam and Dean are judging too, too much. I think they’re scared and worried for Bobby. He did get pretty violent, and while it’s justified on some level, I think they’re afraid he’ll become very angry and not be able to control it and return to his normal self. I sense fear and apprehension on their parts.
I suppose we’ll see where this goes soon, I hope!
Thanks again!
With stealing the clay whatever, the boys have successfully gone from being an annoying little blip on Dick’s radar to a major hiccup in his plans . . . I mark that as a win for the boys right now, even though they don’t know why it is special yet.
And in this war with the Leviathans they don’t have too many wins, just the Borax and the decapitation so the more the merrier.
As for the way the boys are treating Bobby, I see it as both worry and fighting their natural instincts. Although they know he’s around, they both went on high alert when the lights started flickering at the cabin. They are naturally leery of ghosts. Even on that one with the lady ghost that they helped move into the light (I think season 2), Sam did all of the coaching and talking to her – you could tell that Dean was very uncomfortable in the situation.
Excellent episode 🙂
I’d count getting that package a huge win for the boys, too. Dick really lost his temper when he realized they had it, so that implies to me that he wanted it so it couldn’t hurt him. Either it banishes him and the rest back to Purgatory, or it can kill them. Either way, he knows it’s dangerous for them to have it and figure out what it’s about.
I agree with you on their feelings about Bobby. Trained as they are, and having faced tons of ghosts, they know that ghosts don’t see things the same way as the living do, no matter how they feel about those they left behind.
Yes, that was in season 2. Sam most certainly was the one that did the most coaxing. It has to be hard for both sides, knowing the nature of things and the training they’ve had for sure. I just hope they can work something out that is best for them and for Bobby.
Lovely review!
I read a comment somewhere (I forget where now) where the person questioned the need for Charlie, specifically, to decode the encrypted drive of Frank’s. That why, when earlier in the season the Levi’s had Chet doing work like that, would they now need someone like Charlie; a non-Levi. I think the answer is right here in your review. Her spark! Because I also think Frank has that same type of spark and I would bet that even if the Leviathan tried to clone him they still couldn’t decode the drive…which is why I fear that Frank really is dead. But my point is that Frank, and Charlie, are one in the same; computer geniuses, but with that added flair. That additional something that makes them unique and one of a kind. And I kind of love this little twist on the Levi/cloning mythos.
I’m nervous for Bobby – and completely understand why Sam and Dean acted how they did. He’s a ghost. 99% of their ghost experiences were not good. I think their concerns are very valid. I hope Bobby doesn’t turn vengeful – but it’s a very, very real possibility.
Thanks!
Thanks! I’m glad you liked my take.
I agree. Dick even told her that if he cloned her and put every nugget in her head into the clone’s it couldn’t beat HER. The real deal always wins.
We know that they cloned Sam and Dean, but that wasn’t to “beat” them as much as it was to corner them. They lost against the real Winchesters, too.
To me, what will give the boys and humans in general an edge over the Leviathan is there is too much spark in us to just simply take what they’re doing and be happy. Charlie and Frank are great examples. They questioned everything and poked at it until they had it figured out. That can’t just be cloned and away we go.
Considering how upset Dick got that Sam and Dean possess this clay indicates to me he KNOWS they’re much the same as Charlie. They’ll figure it out and use it against him.
I do agree that Frank had that “spark” that can’t be cloned. However, when someone is cloned the Leviathan’s get all that person’s memories. If the Levi’s cloned Frank they wouldn’t need to “break” the encryption, because they would remember his passwords, and how it was encrypted. They would also know the information on the Winchesters that Frank had in his head. They would know where Baby is stored because Frank knows that. When Sam and Dean were cloned the clones didn’t have the spark, but Levi!Dean knew exactly how Dean felt about certain foods and Levi!Sam saw Lucifer 24/7. All this gives me hope that Frank faked his death and is in hiding. At the very least, I don’t think he was killed by the Leviathans and I think he left no useable DNA traces in his camper.
I understand the boys concerns about Bobby, but I also realize that Bobby acted as a ghost pretty much the way he would have acted while alive. He broke the window so the boys could get in and he held of the Leviathans so they could get Charlie out. Yes, Charlie was hurt in the fight, but I’m certain there has been accidental collateral damage even when hunters have been alive. This doesn’t mean that is okay, I just think it isn’t proof that he isn’t, either.
I agree that Frank had that spark. I’m also beginning to think he might not be dead, either.
I think they do pick up on facts, memories, insights, but they never truly gain the whole picture when they clone someone. I think that’s partly why Roman is so invested in finding out what that is. He kept asking about it, hinting at it.
And I think you’re right on many levels about Bobby. He most certainly acted as he would alive, even if he did give in a bit into his anger at the end when facing head to head against Roman. If he had been alive, I think he would have apologized. He still might, even if it’s not to Charlie herself.
I’ll be curious to see how they play this out, honestly, on all fronts.
Yeah I guess my point was that even if Frank were cloned there would be other safeguards in place on the drive that would prevent it being easily accessed by someone who wasn’t the 100% human Frank…memories or not. Since he’s perfectly aware of what the Levi’s can do it makes some sense there’d be super-duper security in place. Just an idea!
In the end I do hope Frank really faked his death because I really liked him (and I really love the actor so I want to see more of him!).
You make a good point about Bobby…though I guess I would argue that as a ghost his ability to control his emotions is compromised…? lol. I don’t know. Guess we’ll see. 🙂
As paranoid as Frank is, I can’t help but think he put false info on that one and there might be one with the real deal out there. He’s too worried about Big Brother not too.
I also think you’re right. Frank Vs LeviFrank would end as the Real Winchesters Vs LeviWinchesters did. He’d outsmart his counter.
When Chet turned into Bobby back at the cabin, he seemed oddly unable to pull up the name of Browning. It was there, in Bobby’s mind, and yet he had to be TOLD about it. That might be a clue, too.
[quote]
When Chet turned into Bobby back at the cabin, he seemed oddly unable to pull up the name of Browning. It was there, in Bobby’s mind, and yet he had to be TOLD about it. That might be a clue, too.[/quote]
OH!!! I love this. 🙂 Now I kind of hope it does end up meaning something.
It’s something that’s nagged at me since that episode. Like, if he can rifle through and know all of Bobby’s memories, why does he need to be told about Browning? He even knew about the death of Bobby’s father, evidenced by his comment about the relationship between them being a bunch of scorpions.
Makes me wonder, clones are never as good as originals, if perhaps they can gain the knowledge and information, yet not utilize it as effectively.
That’s true. So even if they had Frank tranversing his mind with his many mental health issues could be problematic.
I wonder if there is stuff they could pull from the boys or Cas as well. Dean’s brain is pretty gin soaked as well. Heaven knows that Sam has mental issues. And Cas is an Angel.
I wonder if they’ll bring back LeviSam and Dean to figure them out more, but I doubt it at this stage.
I think it’s interesting that they would try and work with what Cas knew. We know from Chet that they learned initially the Winchester’s patterns and such.
Interesting that you mention the mental issues. I think it might have something to do with things. Too hard to zero in on the info they want most.
I don’t buy that Frank knew where Baby is. Why would Dean tell a paranoid nutcase something like that during his weekly phone call to Frank…and Dean has stated many times that he thinks Frank is completely nuts.
I’m not too worried about whether or not the brothers treated GhostBobby badly, because I don’t think that Bobby will be cut out of S8. I feel like the tension of ‘will they or will they not burn the flask’ nothing more than manufactured drama. He’ll either stay the GhostBobbySue he is or be brought back to life once again. Either way, I don’t care, as the show has pretty much ruined Bobby’s character for me. If he’s in; fine. If he’s out; fine.
I found the episode to be a politically themed little sister fanfic story that one might read off FanFiction.Net; not a real SPN episode. The best line in it, for me, was Dean complaining about the brothers sitting in the van while our heroes send in a 90# girl to do their jobs.
Those are interesting points. I don’t know if all that information in that hard drive would have been accurate. I also wonder, on some level, if false information might have been put on there that has now been erased.
Thanks for the comments.
UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE, I SAY FRANK FAKED HIS OWN DEATH. AND CHARLIE MAY BE A CHUCK TYPE FORCE. (SHE HAS A SPARK THAT DICK CAN NOT CLONE)
MY SHORT WISH LIST IS 1) DICK HAS GOT TO STAY AROUND WITHOUT BEING A THREAT. HE AND CROWLEY BELONG IN SCENES TOGETHER.
2) FRANK IS ALIVE & WILL BE A PART OF THE SHOW
3) SEASON 8 WILL BE MORE DEAN & SAM CENTRIC. MORE BROTHERLY CONNECTIONS. AND FRIENDS. SOME SORT OF CORE COMFORT. NOT HAVING EVERYONE DIE ON THEM.
LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THANKS
Thanks for the comment.
I’d like to see some of those things, too. I guess we’ll have to wait and see. I do like the idea of Frank sticking around, too.
I DONT KNOW IF U ALWAYS ANSWER ALL UR GUESTS, BUT I LIKE IT. THE REASON I HAVE NOT COMMENTED ON EVERYONES REVIEWS OF THE SAME EPISODE IS NOT U BUT ME. =)))))))))))))) DONT WANT TO REPEAT MYSELF.
BUT I CAN READ HOPEFULLY & ADD SOMETHING NEW. I USUALLY READ ONE OR TWO REVIEWS FROM HERE, AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS.
I AM ACQUAINTENCES (sp?) WITH SABLEGREEN AND ALICE BUT I FOUND IF I COMMENT ON THE PREVIEWS, WHICH IS WHAT SABLEGREEN DOES, THEN I WOULD BE REPEATING MYSELF.
I WORSHIP THIS SITE & IT IS THE ONLY ONE I BELONG TO, ALSO THIS IS PROBABLY MY LAST FANDOM. I LOVE TO WATCH SHOWS BUT THIS IS MY FIRST AND PROBABLY LAST ONLINE FANDOM, AND I CHERISH IT.
THANKS FAR AWAY EYES. YOU GUYS ROCK !!!!
I try to, yes. I like to foster discussion if I can by having my reviews posted. It’s only fair to reply to those replies.
I’m glad that it makes your experience with the show that much more enjoyable.
Hi Far Away Eyes
Lovely thoughtful write-up. I really enjoyed this episode. It had such a good, solid vibe. I think Walkin’ On Sunshine” was a perfect song for Charlie. It’s bright & fun & bouncy, just like her. And she was, as she stated, having a great week…. until she met the Winchesters.
I loved the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, and I loved all the little homages to it — the yellow scooter (Lisbeth drove a motorcycle, but the scooter was perfect for Charlie), and Lisbeth was bisexual and Charlie was lesbian. It was just who she was. I really appreciated the matter-of-fact way she said the problem with the guard was that he wasn’t a girl. It actually made Charlie so much more believable and authentic.
I also think that Sam & Dean couldn’t help but be scared by what Bobby did, because they couldn’t actually see him, or hear him. We, the audience, knew what he was thinking and doing because we were privy to that information. We saw him controlling his vengeful impulses, pushing the guy out of the way to try & protect Charlie. They didn’t see any of that, only the final product, which looked pretty bad. Yes, they’re basing their opinions on circumstantial evidence, but it’s really the only option open to them.
I was a tad surprised that Sam had flipped again. This episode he was back to thinking Bobby was a problem. (Last week he was all for looking for a way to work with Bobby.) Although, I did kind of interpret that scene as Sam being really afraid and once again, looking to his big brother for guidance and to say “Everything’s fine. Everything’s going to be okay”. Dean’s done that for him most of their lives. He really needs that reassurance now, when it concerns Bobby. And I think Dean gave that reassurance by saying Let’s deal with the clay tablet first, and then start worrying about what to do with Bobby. Meaning, let’s give ourselves time to think calmly and not act rashly.
Finally, big hint from Charlie “The really evil ones always need a special sword to kill them”. Mark my words, there will be writing on that tablet. Perhaps ancient Enochian. It will outline the ancient way to kill Leviathan, and it will probably involve a sword. Remember the dragon killing sword?
Thanks!
Pragmatic Dreamer
Thanks for the comment.
Interesting take on the Bobby situation. Put in that context, I think you’re absolutely right. Sam is afraid and looking to his big brother the way he always has. I think they saw what they’ve seen in other ghosts, and you’re right, we saw Bobby’s thought process up to the attack on Roman. They didn’t, so they think it’s him going vengeful. I’ll be curious to see if they let the brothers in on that at some point.
I loved Charlie, personally. She sucked me right in, and Day sold me on this character. She didn’t want to be involved, and yet she stepped up to the plate when necessary. I haven’t read the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, but reading your response I want to. Charlie was a delight on the show and “Walking on Sunshine” is most certainly going on my SPN play list in the future in honor of her.
I like the idea that her comment about a special sword has more meaning than an off the cuff remark. I don’t know if it’ll be a sword, but there will be something with that artifact that will be the key to finding some weapon that kills Roman and other Leviathans. It’ll be interesting to see just what that is.
Thanks again for the comment!
NO SNUB TO ANYONE ELSE, PLEASE RELAY THIS MESSAGE.
I HAVE REARRANGED MY REVIEWS. like yal give a frak.-)))
I WILL READ MORE REVIEWS FROM THIS SITE ESPECIALLY FOR THE LAST 3 EPISODES.
PRETTY SURE OF A SEASON 8. JENSEN SAID HE WOULD LOVE A SEASON 11 JUST TO TELL SMALLVILLE SUCK IT. hahahahaha younger people =)))))
ANYHOO ON WITH THE NEW. LATER GATORS. THANKS