The WFB Admins’ Top 15 “Supernatural” Episodes List: #5
sweetondean’s #5
“In My Time of Dying”
Why: I love everything about this episode. I love the way it kicks off exactly where the season 1 finale left us blubbering, with our Winchesters all broken in their broken car. Sam yelling out “Dean”. The medivac chopper whisking them away. It gives me goosebumps every time.
“In My Time of Dying” reintroduces us to the reapers. We met our first reaper in “Faith” but that one was tethered to do bad work; Tessa is there naturally, doing her job, which happens to be Dean. I like the reapers and their boss Death.
We also get our first real good look at the YED in this episode, in the shape of Fred Lehne and he’s just as awesome as he should be.
“In My Time of Dying” is beautiful to look at. The lighting is spectacular, especially in the scene with Tessa and Dean where she is half in shadow the whole time, half in the light, half in the dark…I loved that, so appropriate for what she is – and Kim Manners’ direction is wonderful, lovely swirly hallways shots and 360 shots circling the boys and a lot of steady-cam stuff to make the action seem more urgent as we move the halls with Dean.
But mostly I love the episode for the Sam and Deanness of it. Their connection, even though Dean is unconscious and having an out of body experience, is palatable. Sam can just about hear him. The Hoodoo priest and laying mojo thing, the moment when Dean yells at the reaper and Sam feels his brother there, “I mean it felt like, like Dean. Like he was there, just out of eyeshot or something.” The way Sam just never, ever, ever gives up on Dean, never. No matter what, he’s going to try and find a way to help his brother. He has unwavering faith that Dean will recover, or Sam will find a way to bring him back. There is no other option for Sam and Dean knows it, because he sees and hears it all, “Thanks for not giving up on me, Sammy.” Sam’s world is crumbling around him, but he is strong and focused and thinking”¦.I love the brothers so much in “In My Time of Dying”, even just the fact that Sam screams for Dean in the car and the first word from Dean’s mouth when he “awakens” to his spirit state, is Sam *sigh*.
It’s also a really sad episode, Dean’s so desperate to stay and so sad at the idea of leaving his brother and father alone (he would have gone with Tessa if it wasn’t for the demon smoke, I’m sure of it). Sam’s so desperate to find away to help his brother – and John – well, I have a complex relationship with John! But in this episode, you know that everything he’s doing is to save his eldest son”¦even though it doesn’t look like it at the outset. All the angst between Sam and John in this episode, I always think Sam must have kicked himself around afterwards – and Dean, wandering around without his body, still trying to keep the peace between his dad and Sam, still trying to stop them butting heads, still trying to hold his family together”¦even when he finally comes to, still trying”¦gosh. Sam and Dean break my heart in this one”¦.again”¦
Of course, the whole thing is made even more tragic by John’s choice to share a certain fact about Sammy with Dean and basically lay at Dean’s feet the most awful of secrets and possible future choice. Damn him for doing that. What a dreadful thing to drop on your kid – especially as he knew he was done for. I often wonder, if Dean didn’t know and could never tell Sam, if Sam then never knew, would that have left them at a disadvantage as their destinies unfolded, or would that have prevented so much anguish for Sam and so much disunity between the brothers? Would they have chosen a different path to the end game? The knowledge that John shared with Dean coloured so much that came after it….would their choices have been different if they didn’t know, or would the evil sons of bitches still have pushed them in the direction they needed them to go? Would the secret been uncovered in another way? We shall never know, but when we found out the guts of what John whispered into Dean’s ear, well, I was pissed with him, those were his last words to his kid who idolised him and his kid who loved his brother more than anything in the world. Maybe they needed to know, but geesh.
The other thing of course is John’s self-sacrifice set in motion a chain of events that we’re still feeling the impact from. But I can’t be mad at John for that, he did what any parent would do, gave his life for his son. Of course, regrettably, it was an example set and followed by his children, this is where the Winchesters started screwing with the natural order”¦this is where it all started – well I guess it all started with Mary’s deal, but the boys didn’t know that then.
Favourite Quote: Easy, Sam to Dean: “Dean, you’ve got to hold on. You can’t go, man, not now. We were just starting to be brothers again….”
Favourite Scene: Not so easy!
The moment in the junkyard with Sam and Bobby is fabulous. Bobby doesn’t think the Impala is worth saving because there’s barely any of it left but for Sam, this car represents his brother and if there’s just a little hope to rebuild her he will”¦ “Listen to me, Bobby. If there’s only one working part, that’s enough. We’re not just going to give up on…” It’s okay Sammy; we all know what you’re really saying.
Even though it goes pear-shaped, I love the moment between John and Dean before John whispers in Dean’s ear. I love/hate that when John starts saying nice things to Dean, it sets off alarm bells in Dean’s mind – it scares him, because, it’s so out of character – how sad. But I do appreciate John telling Dean how proud he is of him, I’m glad Dean got to hear that – I wish Sam had heard similar words too.
And from a creative standpoint, the scene where Sam finds John on the hospital floor. The slomo vision, the miraculous coffee cup, the way there is only music and no other audio so Sam’s scream is silent and even more harrowing.
But, I promise I’m not giving you the whole episode, my favourite scene is the one with Sam and Dean and the talking board. I adore Sam’s reaction when they can finally communicate, “It’s good to hear from you, man. It hasn’t been the same without you, Dean,” and I adore that when they finally figure out what’s going on, Sam’s determined to find a way to stop the reaper.
Sam: A reaper. Dean. Is it after you?
If it’s here naturally, there’s no way to stop it.
Dean: Yeah, you can’t kill death.
Sam: Man, you’re, um,
Dean: I’m screwed, Sam.
Sam: No. No, no, no, um, there’s gotta be a way.
There’s gotta be a way. Dad’ll know what to do.
Bless him.
Oh and one last thing, Dean in a tight white t-shirt, drawstring pants and (very dirty) bare-feet – sorry – I had to mention it, because it’s spectacular.
Ok…so there it is, we’re in the TOP 5! Woohoo! Number 4 tomorrow…stay tuned!
I agree with all of these choices! I love, love, love In My Time of Dying for all the reasons mentioned. The wigi board scene between Dean and Sam, when they were finally able to communicate, is my favorite, too. I also love Tessa. I was so excited when Tessa showed up again in season 4 and Dean remembered her!
Great episode choices for the Top 5!
Love, love, love all these episodes. Both AVSC and MS are also on my top 15 – and IMTOD is not too far down the list – makes my top 20. Thanks again for these lists., it is so much fun to share them with you and remember such great episodes!
OMG, Sweetondean we are so in sync with this one. I just finished watching it again for the trillionth time a few hours ago. (including the commentary)
You hit every highpoint of this episode. It is as close to perfection as it gets. Kim Manners and Serge (DP) did an amazing job on the visual of this episode. The light, the dark, the shadows and reflections all combined make this a masterpiece.
This episode makes you forget the dysfunction in Asylum and Scarecrow between the brothers and realize beneath it all they love each other.
Sams:I’ll keep trying as long as you keep fighting… you can’t leave me…gets me every fudging time.
Dean: Thanks for not giving up on me Sammy
Dean: My families in danger, my brother he can die w/out me. My corpse is going to rot in the ground and my family is going to die.
The look on Deans face when he finds out how angry spirits are born…they can’t let go and you are about to become one. (oh he needed a hug at that moment).
When I watch that scene I always wonder what he was going to say if the demon smoke had not arrived.
The scene between John and YED, is beyond description. I can recite every word of it.
In the commentary version, Jensen and Kim both comment on the acting of all 3 characters in the last scene. Jensen and Kim also comment on the fact JDM made everyone cry during the last scene.
It is heart breaking to watch Sam start a fight w/dad and in a few minutes dad dies. Oh how I wish John had just said I love you instead of “I made some mistakes…I don’t want to fight ok” then sends Sammy off to get caffeine. (guess that is I love you in Winchester speak)
Johns talk to Dean is sooooooo heartbreaking in so many ways. As you mentioned Deans reaction to his dad’s compliments is to cringe (emotionally) and to say you are scaring me. What did John do to these poor kids over the years?
How dare John drop that secret on Deans shoulders.
Deans rant in Hunted 2/10 is so spot on. “I wish to god he had never opened his mouth, I wouldn’t have to walk around with this screaming in my head all day.”
This pick is perfect for #5, can’t wait to see the pick for number 1.
yes!yes and YES…::DDDD
I swear, “In My Time of Dying” was #16 on my list. Normally I do Honorable Mentions when I’m doing these lists solo, but with all of us doing this I scrapped the Honorable Mention this time. So thrilled it made someone’s list, because it’s so worthy of mention. So true with lots of these episodes on sweetondean’s and Ardeospina’s list so far.
Only 4 more lists to go!
Now you’re cooking with gas! These 3 all fight to be number ones in my list.
Your numbers 5 and 6 are each and every one in my top ten at least.
Sammy giving the amulet to little Dean and then Dean coming through the door wearing it to find Sam has given him his last Christmas? Wibble wibble! The connection between the brothers is so very obvious and endearing. And Fred Lehne is an awesome Azazel!
And those pagan gods were awesome and hilarious at the same time.
So very much to love in Mystery Spot. Everything just perfect writing and direction and acted.
Kim again directing In My Time and boy, do we miss that guy! He grabs you and drags the emotions out of you whether you want it or not!
And the Christmas episode is the first one I actually paid attention to and from then on became a veritable slave to the show, which continues to this day. I thank God I was so tired of the mushy Christmas shows that I embraced the idea of a horrific Christmas one. And look what came of that? I inherited two boys who became as beloved as my own family had been and delights and hurts and fills the huge gap they had left.
I tried for a top list and failed (when I actually tried it, with an excel sheet and everything, I found I had 67 episodes in my top 15).
So:
Mystery Spot is my favorite episode.
Monster at the End of this Book, The French Mistake, Born under a Bad Sign and Point of No Return are all at number 2.
I don’t usually watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Family Remains, Criss Angel is a Douchebag or After School Special (those last three are consecutive episodes I just noticed), Red Sky at Morning or Fallen Idols. The Mentalists actively annoys me.
Everything else is in the middle 🙂
I love this show …
You’re a braver person than I am, I can’t even bring myself to try! 😀
Yes, normally I love writing lists. This was too hard! Most episodes have at least a few unmissable scenes even if the episode as a whole isn’t great.
Even Fallen Idols – if you don’t ever watch it you don’t get to see the acknowledgement between the guys that Sam isn’t actually entirely responsible on his own for the start of the Apocalypse. There were a whole bunch of Supernatural beings misleading both him and Dean (and Dean had some responsibility too).
But the rest of that episode? No.
Love “In My Time of Dying”! That episode was on the bubble, in my top 15, and then it wasn’t – but definitely in the top 20. I am in complete agreement that he would have gone with Tess. Loved the scene when Dean got angry and smashed the glass because Sam and John were fighting once again! Sam insisting to Bobby that they keep the Impala, and yes, everything else you said too.
I have a love/meh relationship with “Mystery Spot”. I loved most of the episode, and found Dean’s multiple, gruesome deaths side-splittingly funny. (I think my favorite was the piano smoosh.) I also liked watching Sam work out who was behind it all, and was ecstatic that it was the Trickster. Then… meh. I was really disappointed in the end, because to me it felt like a too far of a stretch. Did Dean really die or was it an illusion for Sam? If he died, then Dean was being tortured and torturing in Hell the whole time, yes? They’ve established that’s what happens when you die before the bill comes due. Or was it time travel? And what was the motivation again? Learn how to live without Dean? No, I just didn’t buy it, personally. Too bad, because the rest of the episode is genius, and I wish they’d found a better way to tie it into the mythology. But I’m honestly glad their choices resonated with other fans more!
My #5 episode is “Wishful Thinking”. Solid, hilarious episode featuring a giant teddy bear and some of the best acting I’ve seen from a kid. Her exasperation at being called “Little Girl” was priceless, as was the attempted teddy bear suicide scene. Loved when Dean helped out Todd after the wishes were reversed. As a bonus, we get the scene where Dean admits to Sam that he remembers Hell. What else can I say? Lots. But I’ll stop now.
“Are we-? Should we-? Uh- Are we gonna kill this teddy bear?” – Sam
Hah – it’s funny you say that about the scene with the piano (it’s actually a desk I think) in MS, that makes me laugh out loud every time I see it, it is done so perfectly!
I don’t have the same issue as you do with the end though. The ‘Dean’ in the episode is just a construct of Trickster. Dean’s view of the last day was the only interaction he had with any of it. None of the deaths or the hell stuff happened to him. The events happened to Sam because he remembers that they did.
Mystery Spot is not only funny but really it is pivotal to the plot later on. Trickster broke Sam before he was done. He fundamentally changed him by ‘killing’ Dean over and over and by forcing Sam to see what life would be like when Dean was gone.
We will never know for sure, but Sam might have made different decisions that were more moral and less pragmatic if he hadn’t had the six months of turning into the hunting machine he became. Even in the next episode – Jus in Bello – Sam is shown to be different when he is willing to let Nancy be sacrificed for the survival of everyone else. Pre-Mystery Spot Sam wouldn’t have done that.
I like Wishful Thinking too. (Because I am a bad person) I think the puff of stuffing that blows out of the teddy bear’s head when he shoots himself is hilarious 😀
Interesting perspective on the end of “Mystery Spot” – it makes more sense if you consider everything an illusion of the Trickster, even the ensuing several months. Though I still have questions about the time that elapsed, and what the ‘Real Dean’ was doing… or maybe no time actually passed at all, more like a dream constructed by the Trickster. That seems plausible, but they didn’t execute that in a way that satisfied me. Of course, when I say that, I mean it’s only in my top 30 episodes, which is still an impressive rank!
I also never saw it as a turning point for Sam – an influence, perhaps, but not pivotal. I guess I saw Sam, and John too for that matter, as being more pragmatic from the beginning. Both Sam and John seemed to have an underlying “ends justify the means” philosophy, whereas Dean seemed to be of the mind that “some means are off-limits no matter what the ends are” (until recently, of course). To be clear, I don’t mean to judge one philosophy or the other, although this show has actually got me rethinking my own perspectives on this philosophical debate. I only mean to say that I would have expected Pre-“Mystery Spot” Sam to consider sacrificing one if it meant saving all. [And if Ghost Henricksen is to be believed, then in hindsight, Nancy might have been better off being sacrificed as opposed to tortured by Lilith. On the other hand, Ghost Henricksen is not to be believed. I’m an optimist.] Uh… this rant and it’s just to explain that the development of Sam’s character in “Mystery Spot” didn’t have the same weight to me. But as you said, we’ll never know! 🙂
Yeah, it was probably not a piano. I might be confusing that with every cartoon I’ve ever seen. And yeah, we are the WORST for laughing at Disturbing Dean Deaths and Ouch-in-the-Head Sad Teddy Bear Suicides!!! LOL!
“In My Time of Dying”, I so love that episode, I thought it was Kim Manners’ finest episode of SPN. I do miss him. 😥