Alice’s Review: Supernatural 10.11, “There’s No Place Like Home” aka Two Charlies for the Win!
Wait, what’s this, a well-written, emotional, very entertaining Supernatural season ten episode? A Mark of Cain story that actually hit home??? Parallels that didn’t trigger a shower of falling anvils (although there was a drizzle or two). Be still my beating fan girl heart.
Yes, I know, my reviews have been laced with attitude lately, but that’s what happens when you care. My frustrations with “Supernatural” season ten have been well documented, so let’s just say you’ll get little of that here. “There’s No Place Like Home” had everything we desperately needed right now, primarily a resemblance to the classic “Supernatural” formula that I remember.
So where do I begin? For starters, there was actually a sci-fi plot! Yes, the whole Oz story started by writer Robbie Thompson last season was definitely more fantasy than sci-fi, but in this episode he toned it down and made it believable. I’m not a real savant of the Wizard of Oz lore, but I do recall there are adaptions where the Wizard of Oz is a tyrannical ruler, so that was the choice made here. I’m still skeptical that they find all these old Men of Letters when they were all supposedly wiped out, but for this story, I forgave it. Probably because I liked the old fart. The story was also focused and kept my interest the whole hour, something that I used to take for granted but now I welcome it with open arms.
But enough about all that, because “There’s No Place Like Home” was the return of Charlie. In this case, two Charlies! I’ll admit, I never liked the idea that she ran off to Oz in pursuit of a magical adventure. It was too out there for my tastes. I was very skeptical of evil Charlie returning based on the previews, but it turns out dark Charlie and good Charlie made an excellent parallel for Dean and his situation. In a sense, taking on the Mark of Cain was Dean unleashing his true darkness. He did that out of desperation to kill Abaddon, and what do you know, Charlie made the same deal with the Wizard to win the War in Oz. To quote Scooby-Doo, ruh-roh!
In this episode Dean starts channeling his inner Sam, eating healthy and keeping a sound mind and body regiment. He even gave up drinking! Except that mind wasn’t so sound (lack of alcohol does that to people). Temptations hit him at every turn, like when he retrieved his machete for the case. Bring on the tremors of extreme angst! When he almost drank at the bar though evil Charlie really hit him where it hurts. “You lied to yourself. It’s kind of your move.” Yet, how interesting was it that Charlie used the same line the end, but the delivery and intent of the line was different. It goes to show, delivery is everything.
So evil Charlie gets Dean, good Charlie gets Sam. It’s an interesting setup because both sides of Charlie get to play both sides of the Winchesters. Good Charlie and Sam got to be the enthusiastic research geeks at the Men of Letters cave (wasn’t it great to see that adorkable side of Sam again?). Since evil Charlie broke the key to Oz, they got the fun job and worked the history in attempt to restore the key. Enter the MOL history! Dean did the leg work on evil Charlie, forcing him to look at his dark side while going through the motions working the case. I kind of get it, who wants to go all out to protect the drunk driving bastard that was responsible for killing Charlie’s parents (real name Celeste) and ruining a young child’s life? His half hearted attempt was stifled by evil Charlie convincing him there’s good in her and she only wanted to talk to the guy, which makes sense. Dean desperately wants to believe that about himself plus he’s always had a soft spot for Charlie (that turkey wrap with kale didn’t help either). Too bad he forgot that Charlie was pure evil, aka the whole nature of the spell splitting out good and bad. Still, countering pure evil with pure evil was probably not his wisest move.
That’s when we hit the shocking part of the episode. Sam and Charlie were able to work their end successfully, aka good triumphing over evil. The good MOL man offered himself in sacrifice, and good Charlie managed to go against her nature and kill him to save Sam from an evil wizard choking. Unfortunately it did her no favors, because her evil side did the one thing no one should be doing right now, pissing off Dean Winchester. He went full throttle, not caring (or forgetting in his rage) that harming the one was harming the other. Luckily Sam showed up in time with a barely conscious good Charlie to remind him what he was doing.
And then that’s where I really fell in love with this episode. The emotional sucker punch. The two Charlies were helpless on the ground, each staring at the other, each accepting one side cannot live without the other. Felicia Day reminded us under no uncertain terms what amazing things she can do with material that lets her expand that emotional side. She delivered far and away the best guest acting performance of the season. Sam tenderly provides the ring from the dead wizard that merges the two sides together, and the staging of this effect is gorgeous. Often times over the top VFX and a weepy score comes across as cheesy and frivolous to the story but for some reason, it worked here. This all happens while Dean watches stunned and horrified over what he did, breaking my heart in two. While Sam embraced a newly restored but still wounded Charlie with a hug and emotional support, Dean kept a very cautious and mortified distance. I must say, there were glimpses of compassionate and sympathetic early series Sam in this episode. I so missed that. More please!
So the question is, after this encounter, how much does Dean believe he’s pure evil like evil Charlie? Can he ever learn to forgive himself? He looked awfully rough afterward at the bunker, so guilt ridden over what he did that he could only sit in the library and withdraw. Charlie was intimidated by Dean at the end, but that didn’t stop her from offering him forgiveness. Her offer to do research in Tuscany for Dean’s sake, despite what he did, is the big contrast between Dean and Charlie. She overcame what her evil self did and decided to make good of it. She still cares and knowing that she’s out in the world again to protect her adopted big brothers, it offers me comfort. Heart has been missing in almost all of these scripts, especially in characterization so when Charlie comes along and is nothing but pure heart, it’s hard not to grow attached. That Charlie is exactly what was missing in “Slumber Party” and I’m so glad she’s back.
What does it take for Dean to overcome and do good again? I suppose his situation is more dire than Charlie’s in that he has that mark on his arm overpowering his urges to kill. Charlie’s dark side probably isn’t so dominating. Then again, maybe she learned to control it long ago, since her early profile painted her and dark and dangerous. Maybe she was as bad as Dean at one point. Seeing poor Dean losing confidence in that library though, and somber Sam on the phone with Castiel unsure what to do next, it’s going to take more than Charlie’s faith and forgiveness to get these guys out of their deep hole. But yes, Dean’s moment of control of the tremors is a start (brilliant contrast shot to Dean earlier). He just needs a boost to get started. I’m dying to see that process happen though and not at the glacial pace that things have been moving this season. Something has to give and give soon. I want my boys back. Remember when it was all about hunting things and saving people?
Now, I’m not going to call the episode perfect. I still thought that the pacing was off at times, especially in the beginning when the story unfolded. Also, I thought Dean was a little too dumb and lackadaisical at times. I get he’s been distracted but even at his worst he’s usually sharper than that. Also, despite the fact that it was meant to show Charlie’s strength when it comes to moments of life and death, I usually don’t enjoy seeing Sam be yet again the damsel in distress. It’s a fall back that the writers use way too often, even if it was excusable in this case. There are also some examples of contrivance (like the MOL guy being alive) but considering it resulted in a fluid and enjoyable story for once, I can forgive this time.
Other thoughts
Can I say how much it thrilled me to see the guys doing actual research in the library at the MOL bunker? We’ve only ever heard up to this point that they’ve searched all the lore. It was refreshing to actually see it.
Dean driving a mini van again. Ah, the fond soccer mom memories of early season two.
Overall, I give this episode a B+. Given all the bad grades I’ve been dishing out lately, it’s something that Robbie Thompson can take knowing it still puts him at the head of the class. It’s a tough curve!

Alice Jester is the founder, editor-in-chief, head writer, programmer, web designer, site administrator, marketer, and moderator for The Winchester Family Business. She is a 30 year IT applications and database expert with a penchant for creative and freelance writing in her spare (ha!!) time. That’s on top of being a wife, mother of two active kids, and four loving (aka needy) pets.
Thanks for your review Alice. I too loved this episode (I just got done with my re-watch). I do look forward to Robbie Thompson’s scripts. I hope he gets to write one later in the season for the brothers. I think he has a fairly solid grasp on their characters and the relationship. I too love Charlie and have from her first episode. I hope she makes a return (hopefully with some vital info).
Thompson is a Charlie and Dean fanboy. He basically admitted in an interview a few months back that the only reason they showed Sam and Charlie ‘bonding’ was because of fan complaints that Sam never had friends and never bonded with anyone. Fans wanted Sam and Charlie to bond since they have so much in common and not just play the third wheel to Dean and Charlie again.
MEN OF LETTERS were wiped out by
ABADDON right
It is reaching the point where someone should find a roster of MOL members and start checking to see how many aren’t dead. They have the names of those killed by Abaddon, so anyone not on that list should be alive and kicking.
Thanks, cuz this ole gal’s HEAD HURTS. :D:p
[quote] When he almost drank at the bar though evil Charlie really hit him where it hurts. “You lied to yourself. It’s kind of your move.” Yet, how interesting was it that Charlie used the same line the end, but the delivery and intent of the line was different. It goes to show, delivery is everything. [/quote]
Hmm, does that mean that Charlie really does think that Sam holds Dean back?
I guess it could be both good and bad.
Well Albatross Sam holds Dean back from going completely dark and becoming an embarrassment again, doing things that Dean will eventually spend forever man angsting over and from being ‘free’ as Charlie put it .But he also holds Dean back from living the life he wants to lead, a less burdened one, one that isnt cursed, where he can ‘free’ to not have to worry about Sam/fix Sam/clean up ‘Sam’s messes’. Its interesting how both Charlie and Demon Dean who were both essentially still them selves but the ‘free’ versions of themselves have both mentioned how Sam holds Dean back, is a burden, needs to ‘man up’ etc. The writers seem to be working on a these here in regards to Sam’s role in Dean’s life and maybe are addressing common complaints from Dean fans about Sam. To me it just comes across as never ending Sam bashing which is disturbing coming from the writers and show runner who decide who Sam is and what he does. There is more than just a hint that perhaps Carver and co dont really like Sam.
I think they missed a real chance here. At the end when Charlie said to Dean that he had something to help him…being a Winchester, I think what she should have said was Sam because he’s been there and he can help you deal.
Episode was okay. This is the first Charlie episode that I liked.
Nice review, Alice. I agree with you for the most part. This was an entertaining episode and I didn’t have too many issues with it. I liked it much better than the Oz episode with Charlie. I love reading other people’s insight into the parallels because I can’t always see what they’re trying to get across. In this case, I think you’re right, but I’m also wondering, like others, if they’re making a point about Sam as well. He’s so GOOD in this episode and we saw that Charlie had to fight her good side to save him, and that the good MOL man had to sacrifice himself in order to save his bad side from himself. Foreshadowing? I hope, in a way, that’s the case, because as much as I LOVED Sam in this episode, I do want to see him going full balls to the wall to save Dean.
I’m also loving that Dean is still being honest about how not alright he is to Sam. For the first time in forever (Frozen moment), I’m empathizing and feeling Dean. It cracked me up that he was trying healthy ways to keep the MOC in check, and that being more like SAM, (healthy eating, better habits, no drinking), was his way of doing it. Like he was actually acknowledging that Sam has overcome and kept his own darkness in control and he admires that. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but I’d like to think that Dean realizes that.
On the other hand, it did sort of tick me off that there were multiple opportunities for Sam to help Charlie relate to having a part of her running around wreaking havoc and the guilt associated and nothing was mentioned. Just a few lines, very in-character for Sam btw, and it would have made perfect sense. It was almost like an elephant in the room for me. The only bright side is that Dean didn’t make a snide comment about it either, so points for that at least. They also tend to make the both of them dumber around Charlie, which is annoying. I can sort of understand Dean wanting to believe Charlie’s dark side was being honest with him about just talking to the man because he still hadn’t grasped just how bad she was and maybe didn’t really want to believe she was so bad, but telling her about Sam and good Charlie was stupid. It’s also ridiculous that Sam needed Charlie’s help in hacking the bank records because we’ve known he knows how to do things like that since the first season. Maybe she’s faster at it, but walking him through is kind of annoying. I also think it was quite the plot device to have Dean be the one keeping the guy safe and confronting Dark Charlie when both boys are worried about Dean being off by himself and losing control. Someone on tumblr pointed out that it appears that Robbie Thompson heard it when people complained about Dean always being the one to bond with Charlie so he had Sam doing it, but at the same time, he really didn’t have any meaningful dialogue with her, so oh well. Felicia tweeted that they cut a scene in the Impala with her and Sam talking about her relationship with Dorothy. Maybe they talked about what was going on with Dean too. Typically, whatever thoughts or feelings Sam might have had about anything going on, it wasn’t relevant to the story they’re trying to tell so……But on the up side, there were a couple of brief conversations with CAstiel over the phone that at least showed some inner thoughts. At this point, I’m taking what I can get.
I have more hope for this season now and I’m actually looking forward to where they’re headed, so that makes me happy.
[quote]For the first time in forever (Frozen moment)[/quote]
Ah man. When I read that, sylvia, I totally sung the words in my head! My three-year-old niece is totally rubbing off on me. 😀
‘I think you’re right, but I’m also wondering, like others, if they’re making a point about Sam as well. He’s so GOOD in this episode and we saw that Charlie had to fight her good side to save him, and that the good MOL man had to sacrifice himself in order to save his bad side from himself. Foreshadowing? I hope, in a way, that’s the case, because as much as I LOVED Sam in this episode, I do want to see him going full balls to the wall to save Dean’.
Actually this supports the sudden emphasis on Sam being a goody two shoes and what Carver has been saying about Sam and how he will apparently go about saving Dean. I think it makes perfect sense that Sam will have to give up his good side/sacrifice it/give into his dark side to save Dean. I wonder if Carver might surprise us by leading this season into a reboot of Sam’s original season 3 storyline. Sam goes dark to save Dean from the MOC rather than from hell leading us into a pretty interesting season 11 for Sam.
I guess there was some great dialog between Sam and Charlie that got cut. I would love to see the writers “cut” of some of these episodes. Just to see if it alters the story, enhances it or takes away.
And to Jo1027 I thought that was exactly what Charlie was going to say. Since the theme seems to be family it did look like the perfect opportunity to remind Dean he isn’t alone.
I admit I’m concerned that this is the first step in Dean is so strong and wonderful he can overcome the Mark on his own and Sam becomes even more irrelevant.
Funny, I think just the opposite. [Surprise, surprise :)]
This ”WOE IS ME” is tiring. JMO
Agreed Percys. When it comes to Sam, he needs Dean to save him at every turn. But does Dean need Sam? Nope Dean will be awesome enough to save himself. So what is Sam there for again?
Sam is there for Dean to mock and be the butt of Deans jokes.
I enjoyed the episode because I like Charlie and Felicia Day but in all honesty it was incredibly anvil and contrivance heavy. Charlie split into two personalities, one good and one evil, while Dean fights his own inner struggle with good vs evil with the MOC. Dr. Jeckell and Mr. Hyde anyone? Good Sam goes with good Charlie, while evil Charlie and MOC Dean are paired. The dumbing down of the brothers to further the story. Another long lost man of letters who himself is split into the two personalities. Dean again put into a situation where at the end of the episode he is pushed into losing control. I saw that coming a mile away. Another human kill that is blown off but Charlie who actually was responsible for the kill forgives Dean for going MOC. No mention of her killing someone.
Robbie Thompson didn’t further any storylines, apparently didn’t have to deal with the ensemble cast but did write another decent Charlie episode and Felicia Day was a damn good evil Charlie and Sam actually got some dialogue and useful screen time. Alice, with all due respect, I think your grade was a little high. JMO
Prix, do you think they are DUMB-ing Down SPN?
Anvil talk has been prevalent since HUNTER HERIOC at least.
Nola, I think maybe JC and his writers are just not as smart, clever or the caliber of past writing teams. JC wrote some good episodes but he was under the tutaledge of Kripke and other writers at the time.
Prix. This really bothered me too; about the murders I mean. Charlie is now a murderer and Dean is a mass murderer. Hell, so is Sam for that matter but it’s not even mentioned as a concern in a “let’s make sure we cover our tracks” kind of way??? Improbable, unrealistic and lazy. Ignoring the logical conclusions and aftermath of the story you are constructing is beyond lazy. It’s totally inconvenient to the story that Charlie and Dean committed murder so they are just ignoring that??
RT is making me dislike Charlie a little bit more with every episode. The unrelenting Mary-Sueishness of her character and the complete dumbing down of Sam and Dean every single time… If you can’t write your character in the way you want her perceived without having to bring down Sam and Dean (and everyone else who might be within her sphere of awesomeness) then that is just lazy, convenient writing. I was really hoping for better from him this time. So much wasted potential. Apologies to anyone who really liked this episode. It’s sad. Mostly I just watch for Sam and Dean scenes anymore, as the secondary characters are barely cutting it. I remember exciting, memorable well written characters in the past. Why is it so hard for Show to write them now? Hanna was boring, I’m still waiting to see where Rowena goes, Cole is fine but who knows what is going to happen there. Claire? Nope. Kate? God no. Cas needs a strong storyline which hopefully will happen 2nd half now that Hannas gone, and Crowley is meh since Dean was turned back. This soap opera ensemble might actually work if it wasn’t such a disjointed mess. I’m hoping now that tgey are finally tying the storylines back to the Winchesters that things are going to get better. My question is why did it take so long? I still can’t shake the Cas/Hanna roadtrip snoozefest out of my head. Misha deserved so much better. Write Sam stronger. Take Dean darker. Take some risks man! It’s Season 10!!!!!!!! Sorry for the rant. Just stream of consciousness. I got started and like Dean, I couldn’t stop myself. 😉
I also liked the episode. First I’d like to state that ‘I hate kale.” It’s not fit for human consumption.
I actually like that there are still members of MOL around. I think it makes for good story telling and could be used in the spin-off. Maybe there are other descendants around like Sam and Dean that they could run into in the future.
From your lips, to CHUCK’S ears.
TPTB are you listening………
bueller……bueller…..
This is in response to PERCYSOWNER. I too had wanted Sam to save Dean, after all the fighting between the boys in second half of season 9. But really this new set up is perfect. Dean is his own worst enemy as we know. In order for him to be fully redeemed he does need to save himself. Not because he is all so wonderful/ perfect but because he is seriously flawed. He is self loathing and his self worth is dependent on who loves him…. and how much he can give of himself to those he loves (he is self- sacrificing. ) Although Dean does love others, Sam is his focal point… he needs Sam to love him and he will give anything and everything to Sam. This love is flawed because Dean does not yet love himself and it is desperate at times and dependent. That’s what got him into this MOC mess. Dean loves Sam so much he saved him at all costs… he pushed too much; upending the natural order…. (Sam’s possession by Gadreel…. resulting ripple effect including Kevin’s death). Sam knows Dean went to far and tries to tell him this and by answering Dean truthfully that no he, Sam would not go that far to save Dean.. This is normal and it is because Sam is healthier. (Unfortunate for us and Sam that the writers did not make this easy to see). But Dean in his tunnel vision sees it as Sam not caring for him…. Sam does not love him so he turns to the MOC and kamikaze mission. If Sam simply saves him then Dean knows Sam loves him but he never gets to the part where he loves/ accepts himself. So Dean himself has to get into this fight against the MOC to fully overcome it and be a healthier person and break the cycle of hating himself. Sam is never never irrelevant in Dean’s world nor in this MOC story. Sam is actually the center. Sam is the reason Dean went blotto on the MOC. (No fault of Sam’s) And if Dean does help save himself which I think he has to…. it is because of Sam. Sam searched for him, used people to find Dean, believed in his brother enough to face Deanmon with a broken arm…. brought Dean home, brought him back from the pit of darkness of Demonhood, forgave Dean for going darkside and almost killing him. Sam stands by Dean now 100%; no snide remarks just faith in him every day. And who is Dean listening to and emulating to help himself- Sam! It is Sam’s wisdom of telling Dean to take control and how does Dean start to do that? By acting like healthy Sam… eat right, abstain from alcohol, do the research. Why does Dean choose this starter path to self preservation …. because Dean does not know where to begin to save himself and he really turns the corner by acting like Sam. Dean has to help Save himself to get to redemption but please do not think Sam is irrelevant…. he is now Dean’s rock and guide.
Oh, this is awesome, spnlit, thanks, and what I’ve been thinking, too. Maybe Sam isn’t necessarily going to go the epic, in-your-face route to save Dean (though I would still love to see him do eventually), but he saves him by being Dean’s reason for saving [i]himself[/i]. His, well, Stone Number One.
Spnlit – interesting observations!!!!!!!
I actually spent almost this entire episode thinking “Now, there’s the show I know and love.” Last week, I was more than a little disappointed. I felt like the whole 3-piece Cas, Crowley and Winchester adventure just wasn’t working,and I think I even said at one point that in my less-than-pleased reaction I thought the episode made it glaringly obvious that Sam and Dean are the heart of the show, even thought I certainly love Cas and Crowley anyway. But if an episode made it even more glaringly obvious to me, it was this one. Sam and Dean were for the most part at the centre of the action, with no big side stories to distract me from the one I really wanted to see. I love this show to death, and always will, but “There’s No Place Like Home” certainly showed me that Sam and Dean lie at the heart of that love, and nothing’s going to change that.
I felt this episode was one of the best of S10 so far. I’m concerned for Sam though plot wise as he seems to be as ppl have put it “background noise”. When it was Sam being the main focus earlier seasons Dean to me didn’t feel like he was shoved to one side, shadowing the other. I do hope there’s a swift twist in this season for Sam to give him more focus.