Recap – “The Real Ghostbusters”
Sam and Dean discuss theories. Let’s assume the boys were playing Cowboys and Indians. “LARPing as Cowboys and Indians,” Dean says. “Whatever,” Sam says before going on. Oh come on Sam, take a second to enjoy the joke. They scalp Leticia’s son, she goes nuts and kills them. Now there are three bloodthirsty brats in the building and Leticia was the only one keeping them in control. That is until they torched her. Oops. They need to get back to the cemetery and torch the kids’ bones. Sam, because he’s so good at this, states the obvious. “How, we’re trapped. We don’t even have our guns. The ghosts are running this joint and they’re only scared of one thing.” That gives Dean an idea.
Next they’re talking with fake Leticia Gore. Dean appeals to her nature as an actress. “I work in a Hooters in Toledo.” Ouch! It’s bad enough working at a Hooters but in Toledo? **shiver** Sam tries next to convince her, guaranteeing her safety. Then fake Sam and Dean show up. They want to help. Dean provides instructions to Sam before talking to them. “Just give her the puppy dog thing, okay?” Hee! Okay, I’m busted, for I’m guilty of using the Sam puppy dog comment lots! But I’m not the only one. Sure, it’s in fan fiction, but still. Dean tells fake Sam and Dean no. This isn’t make-believe. They know, they’re terrified, but if all these people are in trouble they got to do something. Why? “Because, that’s what Sam and Dean would do.” He’s got you there Deano!
Back to Chuck, who’s holding his own. “No, there’s really no such thing as a Croatoan virus down there. Uh, you really should see a doctor.” Okay, I’ve never read that one on the boards. Good comment! Hooter waitress enters the room upstairs. She doesn’t want to do this. Dean peeks around the corner and tells her he’s got her back. “Trust me, this is going to work.” Then Dean goes back to where he was with the best “this is so not going to work” expression on his face. Both Jensen and Jared are rocking the nonverbal expressions in this one. She calls out for the boys. She’s doing a far better acting job now than she did before. Maybe she has what it takes to get out of Hooters. At first there’s nothing, and then ghost boys show up.
Back to Sam and fake Sam and Dean who are trying to push the front door open. The scene goes back and forth to fake Leticia convincing the boys to open the doors, putting the fear into them while Sam and the other fakers make some headway with the door. Fake Sam slips out. Back to fake Leticia who’s doing a great job until her cell phone goes off. What a great ring tone! It’s got this modern catchy dance vibe. My ringtone is the theme song to The Simpsons which is awesome too otherwise I’d want that one.
Fake Dean slips out just before the door shuts on real Sam. No one else is getting out. The ghost boys stare down fake Leticia with a homicidal glare, so Dean calmly comes in and tells her to run. He then squares off with the boys with his iron stick. Who hoo, you can tell he’s itching for a fight.
Back to fake Sam and Dean at the cemetery, who are learning that digging graves is hard work. “Oh my God,” fake Sam says. “Supernatural makes digging graves seem so easy. It’s not though. I’m going to throw up.” Then fake Dean talks sense into fake Sam. Yes, the parallels are a bit much at times, but this is pretty good. Back at the inn Dean gets tossed around and loses his iron poker. Just as the boys are about to take him, Sam shows up and does that gigantic ghost zapping swing he’s so good at. Then Sam gets tossed and the weapon goes flying.
Back to Chuck, who’s really dying now. Everyone is pretty bored. Even Becky is wavering a little. He fell in love at 16, lost his virginity and Becky’s expression says it all. TMI. Hotel clerk goes to leave. He’s had enough. He opens the door despite Chuck’s warning and breaks the salt line. Suddenly blond homicidal ghost boy is there complete with knife. Then Chuck comes to the rescue and with full Six Million Dollar Man sound effects takes out the boy with the mike stand. Brilliant! For once, a parody of another show. This of course get’s Becky’s attention. Chuck takes charge. “I said no one leaves dammit! Now somebody salt this door.” Becky is in lurve!
Dean is now on the floor with one of the ghosts overpowering him. Back to fake Sam and Dean, who have the pile of bones but can’t get the lighter to light. “How come Dean always light this thing on the first freaking try!” I know, reality sucks, doesn’t it? Back to Sam now, who is also thrown to the ground overpowered. The knife inches closer to Dean. Then the same thing happens to Sam, which really bothers me because the mop of hair is in jeopardy. Do what you want with Sam, just leave the hair alone! Back and forth a few more times and then ghost boys go poof! We see fake Sam and Dean sadly watching the bones burn. Aww, those guys got to be heroes. That’s pretty cool. I grew to like them throughout the episode. Meanwhile, the real Dean picks up the iron poker. “You know, maybe that guy’s right. Maybe we should put these things on a bungee.” Sam doesn’t think it’s a half bad idea.
The aftermath. It’s daytime, police are there, the body is being rolled out, the witnesses are being interviewed, and Dean is with the fake Sam and Dean. “I got to hand it to you. You saved our asses back there. Thanks.” They most certainly did. Don’t you forget it! Then it occurs to him he doesn’t even know their names. Fake Sam is Barnes and fake Dean is Demian. Uh oh, the two guys from TWOP that are always busting Kripke’s balls. I haven’t checked to see if they’re flattered or offended. Given their negativity, it’s likely the latter. They ask Dean his name. “Dean. The real Dean.” He’s really serious but both guys laugh. Dean lets them laugh and thanks them again.
Loved it, Alice! It’s like watching this episode all over again, with some fine, little comments… talking about fun… Thanks for the beautiful Impala line up… gosh I love that car… as Christmas is approaching: can I have one?
Your Con account is hilarious, and I’m there with you – the cut to Sam and Dean during that scene makes it worthwhile and wonderfully funny. But – do Americans really think Germans talk like that? I haven’t heard that kind of accent before, and I live among Germans (though I am of different origin), for my ears he sounded more French than German (he was annoying nonetheless).
Sam-tini?! Really? Oh dear… I’m feeling sick…
It’s great how they throw in the differences to the LARPing fans, as they are mostly geeks, insecure boys, I liked the girl’s line ‘you’re not afraid of women’, damn straight he isn’t. I’ve never really understood why some guys get afraid of a pretty woman, but I’d have to be a man to get that, I suppose. I missed that suave look on Dean’s face, he didn’t have much time to put it on lately… give me some more flirting Dean…
‘I like fake Dean. He’s demented but not delusional’, have I ever mentioned I love your use of wordplay and alliteration? Great job!
I agree with you – we should enjoy the light stuff before the ‘major downers’ kick in. I still hope for the occasional fun episode, come on who could stand twelve heavy chapters, I’m going to run out of Kleenex. I do hope to see Jensen and Jared in comedies; their timing is indeed impeccable, as their body language comes so organically. Rolling on the floor? Yep. Really liked this episode. Really liked fakeSam and fakeDean and that they became the true heroes of this episode while being sweet and simply good guys.
Hey, first days of the hiatus have already passed – this will be going fast… and January 21st will be here sooner than we think…
;-), Jas
I feel i should point out that Barnes on TWOP is actually a woman pamela barnes i believe. Read Demians review of this episode his outrage is amusing!
Alice you just made my day!
Great recap (6 pages, yey!) as usually, I felt like I was seeing the episode all over again. And the comments you add are wonderful, you manage to get me laughing every time!
Great screencaps too, the boys faces during the all episode were really priceless, and the Impalas!
I’m pathetic, I was determined not to spoil myself but it’s all gone to pot in spectacular fashion now … :roll::
I’m looking on it as a taster for the real thing!
Alice I like your recap. I liked the episode too. It had a happy ending, which is rare in Season 5 – even an ep like Changing Channels didn’t have one.
I thought the Leticia Gore actress’s comment on the 17 fake Deans was that they were all wearing “MacGyver” jackets, and that this was a nod to Jared’s Young MacGyver pilot.
I hope Mr Winchester Family Business doesn’t get as far as page 3 on this one!
I remember the episode being quite comical, but this really brought it back (an apocalypse is a powerful thing, no?)
At least they didn’t use a first/last name combo. Geddy and Lee? Angus and Young? I bet Neil Peart and the estate of Bon Scott were quite pissed.
I absolutely loved Chuck’s answers, so matter-of-fact. He really doesn’t want this gig but given that Sam and Dean are living it, sympathy’s a bit harder to come by and I can, er, sympathize. Of course, by the end, fake Dean sets him straight.
Hey, Jasminka, most of us guys don’t look like Jensen or Jared, thus, dorky loser neuroses. 😎 And, yes, that was a stereotypical German as done by an American (you should check out the SNL Hanz and Franz sketches for even more), but yeah, I can see how that would come across as almost French.
I think the ultimate lesson of this episode is that, show runners, *always* hire an obsessed fan to nitpick continuity and offer helpful suggestions.
Great recap Alice. Thanks for the line of impalas and Dean’s smile at the end. Also all of Sam’s bitch faces and the gun-shooting-throat-slashing shot. Your right, they should do comedy.
I also noticed fake Dean was wearing the real amulet the first time I saw it. I was screaming at the TV, Dean GRAB IT! Kripke could have gotten a fake amulet too! I didn’t need to see someone else wearing it! 🙁 Here I’ll say DAMN YOU KRIPKE!
In the end, when Sam and Dean were both being…er…scalped….Sam called to Dean for help. That was something the s4 Sam would not have done, but the Sam of seasons past would. Again an indication that the brotherly bond is as strong as ever. I felt bad that Dean didn’t jump up and help his brother, and when the next shot showed Dean, I thought he was going have a surge of adrenalin, dissipate his ghost, and get to his brother…but instead the fake duo came through. Which was cool to see also. But what else could you expect, after all…. THEY HAD THE REAL AMULET……OF COURSE they are going to be heroes… how could they NOT be! Kripke, give that back to Dean!!!! 👿
Fun recap Alice!
I too would like Dean to get his amulet back. But where have his ring and bracelet gone to? Did Cas take them too? LOL. Did Jensen just forget to put them on for the last couple of episodes? How will he open his beer?
I did enjoy this episode and kudos to fakeDean and fakeSam to being real heroes. Becky is annoying, but then she is supposed to be so I’m OK with that. Poor Chuck! How is he going to put food on his table now?
Perhaps the archangel will provide for him.
yes hilary love sam dean
Alice I love your recaps!! They always find a way to make me laugh 😀
Jensen and Jared’s faces throughout this episode where hysterical and I’m so glad you put pics of them in here 😀
Fake Dean and Sam really grew on me too throughout this episode. Especially at the end when fake Dean gave real Dean the little speech and then totally freaked Dean out by admitting that fake Sam was really his partner lol hahaa. Really great episode this one I think.
Hi Randal, I took a glimpse at the Hand and Franz clips (those I could look at, unfortunately some videos are not available to us not living in the US) you mentioned – hilarious, really, not exactly representative, though, as the imitate Schwarzenegger, right? Oh dear, the man comes from an Austrian region called the Steiermark, I believe, and the dialect there is (for my ears, sorry Arnold) on of the most annoying in Austria… Any Austrians out there, don’t kill me – I adore Vienna a lot! Lived there for a while, studied there for a while. Absolutely loved it…
Oooops, Jas