Was the Hellatus Worth It? Share Your Reactions on “Sam Interrupted”
It’s here! It’s here! Our 62 day ordeal is over!!! There’s no grander feeling than episode night, especially after a long Hellatus. So, settle in, unplug the phone, put the kids to bed and enjoy! Afterward, come back here and tell us what you think.
I have an announcement too! Robin Vogel, who’s been doing some great work with her Supernatural page at Moogi.com and at the TV Guide.com community (before they took those down), is going to start doing episode discussions and other things for us! I’m thrilled to have her on board. She wrote this little intro in anticipation for tonight. Welcome Robin!
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NINE WEEKS
–Robin Vogel
When you love a TV show as much as I do SUPERNATURAL, nine weeks–63 days–without a new episode, crawls along with the brutally slow cruelty of the Midwest winter of 2010.
I’ve read so much fan fiction, I’m not sure what’s canon and what isn’t anymore, but I do like the way some alternative universe writers have given the Winchester brothers much happier lives away from hunting, or kept both John and Mary alive.
One of the reasons I love this show so much is because the brothers have become real, wonderful, self-sacrificing young men to me, and I desperately want to see them happy. With them in Eric and Sera’s hands, we know that won’t be happening anytime soon, if ever. So seeing them given joyous endings in the hands of capable, sometimes brilliant fan fic writers soothes my soul. I’m aware that such stories are fairy tales, however, and we must return to the real world, Eric-and-Sera fueled episodes in which Sam and Dean are tortured, mentally, emotionally and physically, and I can’t wait! Especially since the wait for a new episode after the four-hanky “Abandon All Hope,†has seemed particularly lengthy.
Tonight, at long last, that wait ends. Despite my devotion to remaining spoiler-free, I couldn’t help watching a couple of clips that appeared on my computer screen requiring a mere click—they tease me so! I’m mostly human, I needed a fix of my show, don’t judge me! I’ve already laughed and gotten upset over what I’ve seen, and those were only brief glimpses of what’s to come! Oh, Sammy! Oh, Dean!
I watch SUPERNATURAL alone. If the phone rings, someone else must answer it. If the dogs bark, someone else must tend to them. If there’s bleeding, I’ll apply pressure to my own wound and tell anyone else to just apply pressure to theirs until 9:58 PM.
I’m a SUPERNATURAL addict, and my show is back tonight!
Robin ,welcome to our site! I’m very much looking forward to find out what you will offer – a lot of fun, no doubt!
This was sweet, thank you. It’s our favourite drug, Supernatural, perhaps I should have some more t-shirts made with ‘I’m on SPN and I don’t wanna come down’ (Hey, Randal, in for some more money to be earned?)…
Yes, I’ve also been sighing the occasional Oh Sammy, Oh Dean, more often than I would like to admit…. And right now I’m torn between being happy for you yanks to be able to indulge in the next episode in a few hours and my jealousy, since I have to wait till tomorrow. Perhaps I should have caught that plane to New York the other day… Oh, dang…
But I’ll be just as awestruck as probably y’all as soon as I’ve seen it, and I’m sure it’s going to be a great episode. The clips promised so much. So, until I’ve seen it I will have to find my cold turkey-status and not read any comments here, to keep away from spoilers…
Have fun, everyone, enjoy the end of hiatus and welcome back our show (have a drink on us Europeans, if you like, to ease our pain of waiting 😉
And, yes, the hellatus was worth it. We’ve done great. Here I’ve met some of the sweetest people and enjoyed the writing and the sometimes brain-free banter. We are a great bunch, indeed.
Cheers to you all! Love, Jas
Okay, let me just say that this episode blew ‘Family Remains’ out of the water! I quite liked this episde – off to make my review notes now! Our boys our back!!!!!
Hmmm – have to rewatch. Loved the boys & the acting crazy. Personally thought the wraith sucked – please pardon the pun. What was that? A cross between the siren (transfers something by saliva or touch – shows it’s true face in mirrors) and the ghoul (eats body parts, licks Sam) and maybe the changlings (also showed true form in mirror, sucked CSF from neck). Just a bit disappointed that they can’t invent a more original monster. Sam strapped to a bed again.
Even the rock names – who would not know Eddie van Halen? Maybe I waited too long and expected too much. Sigh…
I liked, but I need a rewatch. It isn’t what I expected, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I wonder if Sam’s confession at the end will go anywhere, or if this is the setup for showdown in Detroit.
Good episode. Love the fun parts, especially Dean’s Quid Pro Quo. (How did he do that with his lip?) ….and his ‘crazy pudding danceâ€, in the morgue ….leave it to Dean to come up with that idea. And apparently Sam is still in to the autopsy which was funny.
I wasn’t surprised the MOTW was causing all the craziness, but I did love how the boys handled it. Both faced a lot of there fears, got them out in the open, addressed them and decided to move on together. I think the most powerful scene was the end by the impala. Any one who thinks the boys aren’t back hasn’t been paying attention!
We did get additional info too….and interesting it was. First Dean really does think Sam was addicted, which means the Sam never told Dean what Ruby said. Second we see that Sam hasn’t forgotten what she did say, and now is starting to ask the right questions. And Dean is settling back into the leader role. What a step forward for both the boys!
The scene with the doctor was awesome, and the different reactions of the boys to Wendy were great. Loved Sam as a drunk… We need to see more of that!
I even think Martin will be okay now. He was great…he acted just like Bobby in focusing Dean when he needed it. What a team the three of them made. Hope we see more of him.
Off to watch it again! So glad the hellatus is over!
Robin, I don’t just ignore the phone during SPN, I unplug it…and the dogs get but to bed with a bone. NO ONE is allowed to disturb me during SPN! Welcome to the group. I look forward to your discussions.
Welcome Robin!
At least I wasn’t alone in reading fanfiction to pass the time. It didn’t help keep be as busy as I wanted and I was more antsy for the show to hurry up and come on.
Anyway my thoughts on Sam, Interrupted are a little mixed. I have to say I am happy to see the Apocalypse sort of kinda out of the way and the old hunting Demons/monsters was back up again. No angels and no Lucifer. Even though it was mentioned, the fact that it had no role at all was a nice breather and it felt like we were watching seasons 1-3 again. Although I couldn’t help but be a little bit upset of the lack of Cas, and Bobby. Sure it takes place weeks after Abandon All Hope, but what happened to Cas and Bobby during that time? MOTW was also a little weak, but then again nothing top’s Lucifer, especially after the last episode.
But it was nice to see the boys again, even more so acting differently than usual, them acting crazy turned out to be something I enjoyed, I mean we all wondered at some point if they were ever going to go insane with what they have been through these past 5 years. =( I was also happy they mentioned John, and even brought in a older hunter who knew him. Small but great.
Oh that was.. RIDICULICULOUS! After hellatus, I was rewarded with the pudding dance. I would give a weeks salary to see a full camera angle of the pudding shimmy. Who am I kidding? I’d sign over my house. 😎
Okay, much better clarity from the rewatch. On the surface, it’s another MOTW story in a peculiar setting. However, that final scene, it’s pretty tragic. Sam wants to deal with his issues. He’s probably wanted to for a while. He knows how serious they are. He wants Dean to deal too. Dean won’t. I really really wonder if that will get dropped or if it’ll come up later.
Oh, and next week’s promo, that so didn’t get me excited about it. I already had some huge reservations about that one. The promo made them worse.
um can i just say
PUDDING!!!!
i laughed so hard at that moment. But yes a good MoTW story and i really enjoyed it so much better than family remains.
Yes it was a MoTW story but it was a good place to look into the boys issues – Sam has come to a realisation about himself but Dean was also interesting if you think go back and look at the discussions she was having with the Dr he created in his mind it was a fascinating insight.
I was torn about the last scene and I think they’re both right. Yes they need to deal with their issues and they’re both making their way to the root of those issues but when are they going to have time to deal with those issues they do need to be able to get up each day and carry on without breaking down. So Sam’s right in that that shouldn’t be denying their issues but Dean’s right that they have to keep going… i wonder where they go from this.
I have to say I love the moment right at the end where Dean says are you with me and Sam says he is. Beaten, broken and worn down they’re still in it together!
Golly. That was EXCELLENT. Of course, bias can show after being an avid fan and all and the hiatus. Anything would make me squeal.
However the ending was just a little disappointing as I don’t feel the mental issues were fully addressed like a few interviews had claimed. It kind of just brought them to the surface, said hi and told him to shove it back down.
I’m terribly excited for next week, no matter how cliche it may sound. Body-swap is classic.
😀
Body-swap thing makes more sense now. Apparently it takes Dean awhile to figure out Sam ain’t Sam, which would never be plausible…unless Sam’s just confessed to anger problems and the like, and could well be trying to turn over a new leaf?
Dean will probably think Sam is acting out of something, and let him be hoping he’ll get it out of the system. Body Swap episodes are like marmite either good or awful… I’m with holding judgement until I see it.
Lovely to see the boys back. Did not see Dean’s doctor being unreal coming and love being surprised like that (did not see that it was the nurse either so am completely out of practice!). Also loved the ‘I don’t have any elephant books line’ and Sam high was great.
The episode did have its issues though. I have to say I take issue with Sam and Dean leaving Martin behind and stopping for tea in the middle of an escape …really? In fact I think the last scene re-write in the TV Overmind episode review would have been a lot better (no offence to the actors who have to make the best of what they are given). Think that reviewer has a point about obvious writing:
Hey Writers of Supernatural! You are making us focus on the man behind the curtain rather than the great and powerful Oz. You’re supposed to be invisible!
Overall, reasonable episode. Could just be that any episode after that long a hiatus would have been an anti-climax. Either way, welcome back Sam, Dean and everything Supernatural 😀
Hey Robin..glad to have you 🙂
Ok..soooo..the only vids that have been uploaded up to this point are really, really low quality. I watched it anyway because I couldn’t hold on any longer, but I missed a lot of details. I’ll try my luck again tomorrow.
I’m a wee bit unhappy that they copy-pasted the FPB formula into this ep. Overall, its a hilarious, good ep, and I liked it, but its not making it into my hall of fame anytime soon.
There were so many golden moments…happydrunk!Sam, hulk!Sam, crazy!Dean. The scene where the boys first meet the doc, and the doc has to cancel his lunch hahah. Plus, I’m starting to think that it might not be a bad idea to see Sam repeatedly restrained/tied down/strapped to a table or bed :roll:: 😀
As for the angsty, emotional baggage stuff…I refuse to process them at this moment, unghf. More tomorrow after my rewatch. Right now I only want to savour the joy of getting the boys back 🙂
PUDDING!!!
Also… “…I desperately want to see them happy. With them in Eric and Sera’s hands, we know that won’t be happening anytime soon, if ever.”
ROFL…so true!!
Welcome, Robin!
I need a rewatch to more fully process the episode, but briefly, I’m nervous about what happened at the end between the boys. I’m really glad Sam sort of laid out his anger issue and everything because Dean usually can talk to him and make him feel better, at least a little bit. But I don’t think Sam bought it this time. He says he’s on board with Dean, and I think as far as actions go, he is, but emotionally, I don’t think he’s with him at all. Maybe not. I need to see it again!
Welcome, Robin, we are not insane, ask Jas, she’s a doctor.
Alright, I really really really really need to get DVR because this one (alright, they all do) demands rewatching.
Plus: Jon Gries!
Minus: Dabb + Loflin NOT having Jon Gries say “I don’t work well under pressure.” Where’s the Real Genius nod? Blasphemy.
Plus: Jared and Jensen. Been said 14.8 billion times, but bears repeating. Who out there can emote the full range of human expression without saying a word? And then when they do, not need another 14.8 billion words to do so?
It’s easy to pretend to be crazy, it’s another to have us believe it. It’s easy to say you’re angry, it’s another to have us believe it’s really eating you up from the inside.
Plus, addendum: the fact that Jensen *really* sold the “c’mon little brother, you HAVE to be with me on this” and the fact that Jared sold, with the slightest waver, that he was. Maybe. Are you sure? I don’t know. Are you? These guys are fucking incredible.
Even more plus: you knew it was coming (especially if you saw the preview clips) that they weren’t going to lie to the doctor, but they played it wonderfully, seamlessly moving, bit by bit, from it being comic to being serious. “How do you wake up every morning?” “I don’t know.”
Minus, sort of: the MOTW. I dig the idea of the wraith, the actress wasn’t bad, but it really did remind me of Sex and Violence. But episodes grow or weaken after repeated viewings, so it’s impossible to give a final grade, but hell, even a “clunker” like Family Remains had some excellent moments and this more than did. But man, poor Martin, unable to shove all the lunacy down and bury it.
Man am I glad the have the show back! Like most SPN there is a lot to love. A somewhat random and frivolous Top 5?
5. Old School scary in places
4. The boys in scrubs
3. Dean: I can’t step on any lines.
2. The whole scene where the convince the DR. they are nuts.
1. Pudding!
To dig deeper I need a rewatch.
I didn’t care for the scene at the end. It seemed forced when they needed to get the heck out of there. It seemed abrupt and slightly off character. My one of my issues was Dean shutting down Sam with the “you have to bottle it up” bit. While that is true of Dean he does exactly that – he has never asked Sam to do that. See any number of episodes in season one where Dean tells Sam he needs to talk about Jess and not bottle it up or it would kill him.
Overall however – the Boys are back! I’m happy.
Brenda, I thought about that, then suspended disbelief and rationalized that the Impala was *really* far down the road, and since it was a non-violent offender mental hospital, perhaps there are fewer orderlies for fisticuffs. 😎
I think the deaths of Ellen and Jo are going to have long-term effects on them “shutting down” emotionally, knowing the task at hand. They figure, if they start grieving (for them, for their parents, for Jess, and on and on, years of buildup), they won’t be able to stop. Even Bobby, all but broken, kept Dean going over the radio last time out.
I’m sure there will be ample opportunities to move one or both of them close to cracking in the final 11 episodes of the season. Just my half-cent.
Don’t get me started on obsessive happy fan disorders… 😈 Jas
You know, I’m not sure I ever want to make an appearance on your psychologist’s couch. 😎
Hey all, I’m a lurker but I just had to chime in here. I took a completely different take on that last scene. It was Sam who stopped and I think he was half a mind to go back. He was acknowledging he has a problem, one that is dangerous. He almost killed that doctor (an innocent) in his rage without realizing it. The look on his face when Martin stopped him was horror. You could see when he was talking to Dean that he’s scared of himself and he was desparately trying to communicate that to Dean. I don’t think it sounded much different than their conversation at the park where Dean and Sam parted ways for a little while. I think if Dean had agreed with him, he would’ve turned around and went back to the hospital.
Dean’s reaction to Sam’s reveal at that moment was impatience but also fear. He wanted to get as far away as possible from that hospital and the feelings he’s so desparately trying to bury. In his mind, he and Sam do not have the luxury to wallow in their grief and guilt and despair. I would even go so far as to say he believes such allowances are selfish. But when he said, “are you with me,” I heard “are you running again?” I think Sam heard that too. There was some anger and frustration in his face there after that, which he was physically struggling with. I think his agreement at the end seemed like a “of course I’m with you. How can you question that? But you’re not getting this. You’re not getting me.”
I think this is something that’s going to come up again. I will be very surprised if Sam’s anger issues aren’t dealt with again and may actually be a key component to him saying yes to Lucifer.
So, yeah that’s my two cents here. Keep up the good work all, I do so love this site.
First off, the ep. I liked it. Ok, I liked it A LOT. It gave me few laughs and made my heart ache, that’s the right kinda eppie for me *heart*
I hope the end scene gets revisited or you know, has some kinda impact later on. I liked the desperation in it, the way they’re slightly falling apart under the pressure. I’m twisted that way *smirk* I want to be (and am naturally) heartbroken for them, they’ve been through hell (actually and figuratively) and the final rest is still miles away. I don’t feel that they are back together again, maybe they can never be… Now THAT would be heartbreaking 🙁 But I have hope, and “hope’s kinda the whole point”, right? 😉 The MOTW was a little *meh* for me when she was revealed. I liked the suspense right up until that. But the boys (THE BOYS ARE BACK!! yyyyaaaayyyy!! ok, done now) were great, all their scenes were wonderfully interesting and stirring. I liked Martin too, boy was he a truly tragic guy *sniff*
Overall, the eppie was great. I really liked it. I can’t stop saying that. 🙂 Did I mention that I liked it LOL
Second, welcome Robin!! 🙂 *waves*
Ooo..a de-lurker! welcome to the party Jeannine
I still need to rewatch that scene, because I missed some bits. But you brought up some good points..Dean’s basically afraid and Sam is basically one unhappy puppy. Those boys have issues..phew…
I really liked this episode. I found it interesting that the hallucination of the Dr showed us that Dean is pretty self-aware. He gets that he has problems. But, until the last minute, she was also pretty understanding. On the other hand Sam hallucinations were all pretty much accusing him, and Dean led the pack. Sam still worries that Dean is going to reject him. I do think a lot of these issues were covered in previous episode…a lot…but whatever. I still enjoyed it. The t-shirts helped a lot.
Now the end scene I am pretty much pretending didn’t happen. Because that has to be the worst advice ever. Repressing all that rage is not how you stay out of the nuthouse, it’s how you end up there, and frequently under maximum security.
The boys are back!! Yay!!!
Hi, Jeannine! I’ve tended mostly towards being a lurker too, but everyone here is so welcoming that I feel comfortable speaking up every now & then. I agree with your take on the final scene too. Both boys are acknowledging that they have some deep problems, & I think Sam did consider going back to get help for his anger issues. Dean, however, is repressing his issues again for the sake of “the job”; he just doesn’t have time to deal with it. But there’s never going to be a good time to deal with it, considering what lies ahead.
A friend & fellow fan came up behind me at work this morning & said “pudding!” I’m still smiling hours later!
Dawn
Real Genius? Oh my God Martin is Lazlo! Randal you ROCK. I loved that movie growing up 🙂
Am really interested in the comments on the last scene – Randal your appreciation of the nuanced performances and Jeannine, Supernarttu about Dean trying to deal with the fact that while he knows repression is not healthy (hell, he just met his own subconscious who was pschologically abusive AGAIN) he is desperate as they do not have “luxury” with the backdrop of the End of Days.
And I think while Sam instinctively hated that Dean is orders him to suck it up, he knows that it is a valid (if shortsighted) Winchester coping mechanism to ‘get up in the morning’. And the fact that Dean follows up his order with the question ‘are you with me?’ showed Sam that Dean is struggling too but that they are in this together. I think the request and the response show that the boys and relationship are more mature. Rather than ‘because I said so’ vs. ‘you’re not the boss of me’…
Looking forward to seeing you on the site Robin…come on in the water is great.
Oh and a trans-Atlantic YES for the fact that THE BOYS are back in town!
P.S. Can I add my name to The-Appreciation-of-Winchesters-in-Tshirts-and-Scrubs Brigade. Thank ye kindly.
Welcome Robin!
Welcome ex-lurkers! This is the only site where I share my thoughts about Supernatural, Dawn, you’re right, here is a friendly bunch of people.
Jeannine, I second that thought, that Sam maybe thought of going back to the hospital – I had the exact same feeling. He definitely is aware of his problems and wants to deal with it. I also think that Dean is fully aware of both of their problems as well. But, as we learned in this epi, Dean is scared. That’s why I think he urged Sam to repress his issues and go on – Dean is afraid to deal with their problems. They are like a super-volcano before eruption, and they just can’t afford to let that happen.
That Pudding-gag is so Dean! I was so glad to see the “old”, quirky Dean again – on the surface, and the soft, puppy Dean inside. Yes, you read right, puppy Dean. Adoreable!!!
Oh, one more thing: Winchester boys in T-shirts – bring it! 😛
I had mixed feelings about this one. Had some great moments but just didn’t come together well for me … my feelings are similar to those for “IBTCAOF” and “Real Ghostbusters.” Some of the humor worked for me, some of it didn’t (I’m probably the only fan who did not respond to “Pudding”, feels like there’s something wrong with me, like saying you don’t like puppies). I had other issues besides the humor but I think that’s enough of my little black cloud… There may be something to be said for watching the show on DVD, just plowing through episodes that don’t quite work for me and getting on to the next one.
I did absolutely love Jon Gries as Martin, though, and liked the uptick in tension in the guys’ relationship. I’m curious to see where they’ll go with the characters.
Wow, finally I’m human again… Ah, a therapist’s histrionics…. Gosh, I’ve had such a long and super-tough day that I hardly believed I would actually watch that episode tonight.
Loved it. Loved it. There were some minor things (well, the wraith wasn’t exactly my cup of tea) but all in all I thoroughly enjoyed the episode.
Yeah, Dany, you did beat me on watching this episode, indeed! Ha! Well done, hehehe…. Hm, which Winchester would I love to see on ‘my couch’? Easy: most of all Sam, but I’d be hardly able to be objective. Then again, not so easy. Dean always moves me to the core. Ah, I’m greedy. Give me both. 😉
Both tell basically the same story, but each has other issues behind it. And to unravel that is a passion that really captures me ever again. It boils down to self-esteem issues, you know. The way both conceive of themselves. I’d love to help them sort all that out.
When I get stories like that, I sometimes have to cancel my lunch (and today my supper, too), it’s too late now to eat anything (almost 2 am over here and my stomach is snoring already). You know within a professional view, I would have to think of psychosis if the told me of trench coat wearing angels… But personally, I believe in paranormal phenomena… Perhaps I should commit myself.
P.S.: Did the show have to make amends for their Katie-Holmes-kidnapped-by-an-evil-cult pun in the second season’s episode ‘No Exit’? Whatever reason was there to put that Tom-Cruise comment into it?
Best always, Jas
First, thanks for the warm welcome to Alice’s incredible site! I’ve been surfing here for the past couple of hours and am very impressed and thrilled to be in the company of such accomplished, excellent writers.
I have long championed SUPERNATURAL, both on my bosom (for those of you who have seen my WATCH SUPERNATURAL t-shirts both in person at the cons and on the net), and in print. Those who ask, “What’s SUPERNATURAL?” get the lengthiest, most glowing description of a TV show EVER. Have I turned any into fans? Perhaps. But I’m sure I’ve turned a few into runners–far away from me!
I am really enjoying all your comments. I have a long, rambling description of 5.11 elsewhere here, and I hope you will check that out and comment, too. It was a great episode, not on par with “Abandon All Hope,” but that’s the kind of ep I call SPECIAL, and very few SUPERNATURAL shows reach that high a caliber for me.
I also have a page on http://www.moogi.com, where I synopsize each episode on a scene by scene basis, pull out touchstone products, topical references, clothing, actors and add commentary and questions. Please check it out if you have a chance!
Once again, I appreciate the very warm welcome and look forward to your comments every week. The brothers are back (I can’t call them boys anymore, Jensen and Jared don’t like being called that, I heard), and this writer is THRILLED!
Love, Robin 😀