Recap – “The Curious Case of Dean Winchester”
Bobby comes in. “I see you’ve met John McCain there.” Wow, tons of old guy humor. Sam still wants to know what happened. Oh, this gets good. Older Dean starts. “Bobby’s an idiot, that’s what happened.” “Nobody asked you to play,” Bobby says. “Right I should have just let you die,” Older Dean counters. “And for damned sure nobody asked you to lose!” Bobby gripes. Sam gets the most adorable smile on his face. “It’s like Grumpy Old Men.” “Shut up Sam!” Older Dean and Bobby say in unison. How many Sera Gamble scripts have used “shut up Sam”? I’m thinking this is at least the third. Probably more. No matter, it always works.
Dean, now in full-on old guy mode, gripes more. He asks Bobby what the hell he was thinking. The guy was a witch. “He’s been playing poker since guys wore tights.” Bobby doesn’t think older Dean gets it. He does though. “You saw a chance to turn back the clock and get out of that damn chair. Pretty tempting. I can imagine-” Bobby jumps in, tells him he can’t. “You got me, I’ve never been paralyzed. But I’ll tell you something. I’ve been to Hell and there’s an archangel there wanting me to drop the soap.” You know, I’m with him, Hell trumps paralysis.
Dean, being the crotchety old fart he is, won’t stop. “Look at me. My junk’s rustier than yours. You hear me bellyaching, huh?” Sam says he actually is. Older Dean gets an uncomfortable look and groans. He sits in the chair and says he’s having a heart attack. Sam looks worried, Bobby rolls his eyes. “No you’re not.” “What is it?” Older Dean asks. “Acid reflux,” Bobby says. Dean’s learning the hard way, old guys can’t take bacon cheeseburgers very well. He mopes big time.
Bobby gets to the point. He asks older Dean if he wants to keep “emoting” or if they talk about his issue. Bobby theorizes it’s the chips. Dean recalls he slid the chips, Patrick did the magic number and Bobby turned “pretty” in a hurry. So the theory is the chips are magic. Bobby remembers every word he chanted. So they need to steal some chips. Dean wants to “Benjamin Button” himself back to burger shape. More acid reflux. Bobby thinks he should get some clothes on.
I said this in the review, but cool and sexy when done in the exact way by an 80 year old man becomes sad and pathetic. Case in point, older Dean answering the door. It’s the hot looking maid. He gets all flirty. The maid gives a cute little laugh. “You’re just like my grandfather. He hits on anything that moves too.” She calls him adorable. “And dangerous.” “Aww,” she says and laughs. Oh Dean, your ego is in for a bashing, isn’t it? Sam thinks it’s funny. So does Bobby. Dean just wants to go.
It’s a street scene and our three heroes are in a van! As in Bobby’s custom made handicapped van. I’m thrilled he’s adapting and that van is cool, but I already miss the Chevelle. I still want to paint it BTW Kripke! He’s driving, Dean’s in passenger seat, and Sam is in the middle. How much do you want to bet Sam’s on his knees? They watch Patrick, who walks out in the middle of the street in front of one fancy sports car. It hits him. Patrick plays hurt, waits until the guys goes for help, and then gets in the car and drives away. Dean smiles and admits he likes the guy. Also, some cool jazz piece is playing while all this is happening. You know, aside from cinema appreciation in college, I had jazz appreciation. That was my second favorite class. No, that’s not an answer for an interview question either. It’s an improvised piece, but other than that, that’s all I remember from that class to contribute to the analysis.
They follow the car to some high rise apartments, or a hotel, I can’t tell which. It’s called “The Statesborough.” They see Patrick leave. They go inside, the elevator is out. That leaves Bobby out. Yeah, I’m sure this guy has the penthouse suite. Sam runs up the stairs and Dean follows slowly behind. As he works his way up the stairs, Sam points out at the top that they’re only on the second floor. Come on Sammy, have some respect for the elderly. I can’t believe Dean is doing this at all. Eventually Sam emerges on the proper floor a little winded. A few seconds later Dean comes out and he looks like he’s ready to fall over and die. I’m shocked he hasn’t already. Considering the room number is 3701, that’s 37 floors (or 36 if they skipped the 13th floor). How is he still alive? He’s in remarkable shape for 80. I don’t know many people even my age and younger that can make that climb.
Sam picks the lock and they go into the room. The décor is uh, old witch European. Dean finds a safe behind a board in the armoire. He calls it a “dime store model” and goes to open it. Except he can’t see the numbers. Sam pushes him aside. “It’s like Mission Pathetic. Watch out.” What do you have against old people Sam? Nah, Dean would have done the same in reverse. Sam opens the safe easily and they pull out the chips. Suddenly a woman catches them. It’s the woman in the bar. She holds out her hand and starts doing some witchy mojo torture on both the brothers. Patrick all of a sudden shows up and tells her it’s alright, they’re harmless. Um, yeah. Harmless.
Patrick tells them to take the chips. “They’re just chips, Einsteins, it’s showmanship. This may come as a shock but the magic does not lie in a pile of crappy plywood. Or in any phony abracadabra. It’s in the 900 year old witch.” Wow, he doesn’t look a day over 810. He tells them to score their years the old fashioned way, with Texas Hold ‘Em. I thought the old fashioned way was Blackjack. What do I know? Older Dean is ready to take him on again, but Patrick holds up the 8 of hearts. He asks older Dean to tell him what card he’s holding. Right, Dean can’t read it. Patrick points out if his eyesight is that bad, what about his memory? He’s not a murderer. Liar!
He’s interested in Sam though. Dean objects, and Patrick wonders if Sam isn’t much of a player. Apparently he likes to let Dean think so. Patrick sends Dean off, wishing him to enjoy the twilight of his life, but should have taken better care of his ticker. Like he thought he’d live this long! I’m sorry, but if I knew the end was coming, bacon cheeseburgers and beer galore! Patrick tells them they’re free to go, but he isn’t done messing with them. Oh those temperamental Irish. Dean’s situation is punishment enough, but he can’t let Sam leave without a small parting gift. He claps three times. Sam asks what he’s doing, but he’ll find out. Real soon. They’re leaving downstairs and his crotch starts itching. A lot. Like doing a pee pee dance a lot. Yep, he just gave Sam the clap. That’s just mean! Isn’t it more fun to catch that while getting some? He could have at least gotten Sam laid. Older Dean thinks it’s funny. Well yeah, Sam still has gotten the better end of the deal.
Hi Alice
Thank-you for the recap. Once again I love your witty take on these recaps.
I really enjoyed this episode, I thought everyone was amazing in there roles. I’m anxious for tonigts, but I’ll have to watch it Friday since I’ll be at work.
Thanks again.
Hi, Alice
Great recap, hilarious as usual (I esp. liked the whole son + golf = retirement -plan *smirk*).
I liked this ep too, it was funny and sad. I loved Patrick (the accent, the looks, the ambiguity) and the guy playing him was really good. I’m glad he didn’t die and hopehope we see him again.
I thought the Chad-Jared chemistry was a lot like SamnDean. Kudos to Jared for making it feel like it was. And I loved that Sam beat Patrick fair and square and now magic involved… just plain old intuition *snerk* I love even the lying side of Sam. Heck, I love all sides of him, and Dean too 😎
I LOVED Jensens little happydance, it was just cute and adorable and happy, and did I mention happy lol.
The Cliff guy was such a dick.. I hope the guys did rat his ass to his wife…or maybe she was better off, cheating moron (the guy, not her *g*). The way the olderCliff had been visiting that nice little establishment so regularly, I would have taken his years with pleasure, and then given him the clap on top… just kidding… but maybe not *shifty eyes*
The end scene was really sweet, glad that Bobby got some recognition from Dean, I agree, he is not useless.
I had few nitpicks too…
The whole Bobby miraculously getting to town (when boys were allready there) and finding the game before them and even playing and losing -bit was kinda stupid. They could have made it so that Bobby was allready in town, ’cause it felt a little like a set-up-job at that point.
Also, the dead guy in the beginning… If the buy-in (or what’s the official term, I dunno) was 25 (years) and he allready was 25, then why was he playing? An addict or what? He might’ve be doing it for someone else but I dunno… felt shifty to me.
And Chad don’t look like 80, so that was weird… But he was so dead-on Dean that I didn’t really mind it that much.
Other than that, I really liked this ep, a lot of good dialogue and snarky comments, and the tragic romance that ended. It was all good.
Hi Alice,
Great recap…and, of course, I LOVE the screencaps. I also LOVE stand alone episodes, and this is a good one. I love Chad Everett, but I still can’t see him as Dean…Sorry. I know almost everyone did, so I guess I have my eyeballs messed up! That was the only drawback for me.
I like the boys being on the same page again. That’s what makes the brothers so good for me. Just seems they are more like the earlier years, but more experienced. I also like Sam being more practical…he was always too serious. Now, he seems to have decided to just accept what comes along and meet it head on. I always felt, this was what Dean had to do as an older brother. The dinner thing is a fate of little brothers. I can’t remember when Dean brought Sam food either, but if they are taking turns, I guess we are to assume he does.
I have to say, I’m not a fan of Manwitch (LOVE Deans labels this epi). Maybe he’s not malicious, but he doesn’t seem to care about the years he takes and those he kills. And yes, both Dean and Bobby broke their own rules about how to play poker. You don’t go in with emotional baggage! Dean was just so intent on saving Bobby and Bobby getting his legs back.
I really was taken aback at how Dean lectured Bobby. Don’t know why, just seems he lost a little respect for him, but like he said in the end, him and Sam don’t have many people left and he just can’t lose Bobby. That is VERY understandable.
Sam and his poker! The bluff was great. And yes, he kept his wits about him and didn’t lose it emotionally…at least not until he knew Dean was dying. Can’t help thinking that was NOT all bluff. At that point, Sam reminded me more of demon!Sam.
Anyone play poker? I don’t, but my brother says, the chips Sam cashed it were WAY more than 50 years worth. Course, that all flies out the window with Lucifer and Michael!
Highlights for me…Sam’s one-liners…glad he gets some occasionally, and Dean’s happy dance. Really need to find a video of that!
Alice, that was a great and hilarious recap. I was giggling and laughing all the way through it. Thanks so much for brightening my day.
Sam is a great pool shark, isn’t he? And he did learn it from the best. John. I suppose he was able to use everything he had learned from his dad, while Dean was so very upset with Bobby, that he got way too confident and lost spectacularly. And that gave us the awesome oldDean! Chad Everett was excellent in that role.
Loved the Grumpy Old Men exchanges. Yes, I really enjoyed this episode and am not apologizing for that.
Woe-is-me-Sam: after all the crap that he(they) have gone through in such a short period of time, I would fully expect a little doom-n-gloom coursing through the veins, mutilating the optimist along the way. 😎
The over-the-top edit: if used sparingly, why not? I think melodrama and its permutations often gets, er, dealt an undeserved bad hand.
I was glad to get some truly sympathetic villains and Bobby/Dean at all points was spectacular, grumpy old men or growing lady parts.
I seem to remember Dean bringing in the food one time when Sam was having a psychic episode. I’ll have to watch all the episodes again to make sure I’m not dreaming. What a chore! LOL
Giggle … Bad, wicked Alice … Counting screen minutes, as if!
Actually that made me think … You could install a Bro-ometer at the top of the page ( like that spiffy Hellatus countdown clock ) and help the excessivly-invested amoungst us stoke their grievences as to who’s sneaking more screen time … Or perhaps not, on second thoughts …
I really liked this one. Sam doing sneaky stuff for the home team was great, even if I was totally convinced he was going to lose the farm ( just colour me stupid ) and the grizzeling old geezers were priceless right up to Dean’s bit with Bobby at the end which left me sniffling into my keyboard ( for a change. In fact, that’s probably what’s been up with the computer lately … The poor thing’s water-logged )
I don’t know what to think about the Manwitch, he looks and sounds so tasty one wants him to have a soft side to match but I can’t help thinking that the letting the old chaps win thing is just a ruse to lure the young chaps in to be fleeced …
Hi Alice,
was this episode really that polarizing? If so, I’m at the pole of ‘I like it’. And I love your review, great work, indeed. I find your mix of text and those great screencaps irresistible, you always find them to suit your words dead on. Great fun to read and relish.
You bring up some interesting issues, and, like you indicate, the change in Sam that has become evident throughout the story moves me. I don’t mean to fuss, but I sometimes miss the ever hopeful young man he used to be. He has been through some significant changes in his attitude, but he’s returned to a mind-set that looks for redemption, not revenge, which is in its essence a hopeful stance.
I like to call him an optimist in the sense Peter Ustinov once described as: ‘In order not to be a fool an optimist must know how sad a place the world can be. It is only the pessimist who finds out anew every day.’
Sam knows how hopeless everything can appear, and he faces it. I think he’s trying to do whatever he can to be delivered from his own demons… I’m very curious about what the writers will have in store for him. Okay, I’m done having my I-love-Sam-moment. ..
Though he has some great scenes, really. I totally agree with you – giving Sam the clap without the fun of getting laid, was a mean move of endearing bastard Patrick. Come on, when was it the last time the man had sex? And the poker game he puts up was a wonderful study of bluff and serious care.
I don’t think that Sam didn’t panic at all when he heard that Dean would have but a few minutes left (and old Dean’s only word, as he gets that heart attack, is Sam… that really got to me. In his moment of imminent death, Sam is all Dean thinks about).
And Patrick confronts him with issues Sam himself voiced in an episode not so long ago – that he needed Dean to allow him to grow up. That he’s done sitting at the ‘kiddie table’. I think the Irish bloke touched a soft spot, and perhaps he is indeed psychic to some extent…
Jensen moved me to the core in his scenes with Jim Beaver. It’s pretty clear how scared Dean is to perhaps lose this second father, after Bobby gambles away those years. He hasn’t many to spare anymore, as Bobby already is middle aged.
You ask whether they had not had that talk, yet, you know the stick-a-gun-in-my-mouth talk. I don’t think they have. To actually admit that the idea of suicide is whirling around in your head takes a lot of guts and an amount of despair that needs time to build. In the beginning Bobby probably still hoped that some angel or the boys would lay some mojo on him and change his situation. It must have dawned on him by now that he might die in that wheelchair.
I agree that this is not an episode that contributed a whole lot to the myth-arc here, but I liked it nonetheless. Jensen got a few days off (and I hope he enjoyed them), we were given a fine performance by Chad Everett, and some sweet and strange jokes, and – this time – a Gaelic ritual.
I haven’t found an episode in this season so far that I would file under ‘I don’t like it’. To me it seems as if the show is gathering momentum… which is exiting… ‘oh, goodie’
Bye, take care, Jas
Sablegreen,
hi, I don’t think that Dean lost any respect regarding Bobby. Judging from my personal point of view – when someone tells me to consider suicide, I think it calls for a lot of respect, because it shows a huge amount of trust – to reveal such a shadow about oneself…
I think Bobby trusts the boys immensely, else he surely would not have let those words slip from his mouth… Dean is doing the right thing here – take it seriously and thereby entrusting Bobby with his own fear of losing him…
What a moving scene that was…
Love, Jas
oh, sablegreen, grammar-trap got me – I meant of course ‘when someone tells me that he would consider suicide’ not the other way around…
It’s the middle of the night, and my brain is pretty much dead… 😕
Bye, good night, everyone, sweet dreams, Jas
Jas, I read your reply, and realized my paragraph about Bobby and Dean was confusing. Sorry…I’m at work, and didn’t make sure I had my head on straight.
I didn’t mean the lecture at the end of the show. That one was VERY respectable and moving and totally appropriate. I meant when Dean first saw Bobby leaving the game. I really was startled when Dean called Bobby an idiot. Just seemed disrespectful given Bobby’s age. …just my old fashioned ways.
Alice,
Great recap as always. I do love your wicked, wicked ways with the recap commentary. This was fun and touching and all that is great about SPN…without too much scary either.
Great job at the recap…
Another wonderful recap, Alice! I always think it would be such fun to watch an episode with you because of your witty commentary.
Great recap Alice! I’m still giggling about your comments. I would love to be watching an episode and earing your comments on voice off, something tells me it would be fun 🙂
Loved Chad Everet as old Dean and is interaction with Jim (definitely Grumpy Old Men) and Jared was great. The old chick in Titanic? Seriously Dean? You actually saw Titanic? I prefer Sam’s Emperor Palpatine (yes I’m a Star Wars fan). And after all the laugh I end up in tears with that talk between Dean and Bobby, but it’s ok, in fact I think that Bobby needed that.
Loved the screencaps too, Sam as very beautiful smile doesn’t he? And Dean too, loved that happy dance and that smile!
I can confess with every bit of shame I never even realised Sam was faking panic and all that. Ah. I guess I was too into the episode to even look at it thoroughly, but everyone caught on, which makes me feel like an ‘idjit’. Then again, I saw it once. But is that really an excuse? :roll::
Patrick is one of the best guest stars. Seductive, I would gave played all my years for him! Handsome, intelligent, and empathizing when need be. What’s not to love?