Okay, this next scene is, well, how do I put it, deliciously disturbing? For one, anything that shows Sam strapped tightly to a table wins with me. Still, what they do to him, uck. Fake Mom has a knife and Sam comes to, realizing who he’s up against. Ghouls. They normally don’t feast on the living and take the form of whoever they feasted on last. Fake Adam comes in and reveals they get their thoughts and memories too. So that’s why he pulled the brother act so well.
Fake Adam carves a fresh slice into Sam’s arm, and Fake Mom starts sucking away. She notices his blood tastes different. Yeah, I think it’s called sulfur. It happens with all demon blood hybrids. Fake Adam brings up a good point while Fake Mom gets her fill of Sam blood. Sam uses the word “monster†a lot, and he doesn’t think he knows what it means. Fake Adam’s father was called a monster, and it was all because of what he ate. He never hurt anyone, living anyway, but the thing that killed him was a monster, John Winchester. You know, I’ll accept that argument. They’re right. He was also a shitty father, but we won’t go there.
Dean has setup a coffin under the skylight, breaks off the rail on the side and stands on the coffin while using the rail to break the glass. It works. He climbs up through the hole using the rail, and he’s off to save the day! Back to Sam, who isn’t faring so well. They’ve carved a nice hole in his side, and Fake Adam starts digging in there with his fingers. Sam cries out in pain. Fake Mom is monologuing, pointing out that she and her brother had to survive on their own all those years, but at least they had each other. Like Sam has had Dean. How touching.
They survived for twenty years graveyard after graveyard, and decided to move up to fresher meat. What a great place to start than with the people that killed their dad. They were a little sad to find John dead though, but at least they have Sam and Dean to kill now. Man, revenge really does go deep, doesn’t it? Actually, the reason why they have to kill them makes sense. “Revenge, it’s never over, is it Sam?†Fake Adam points out. That’s true, they’ll be hunted. That single minded mentality Sam comes back to bite you sometimes, doesn’t it?
They aren’t expecting Dean to arrive anytime soon, and they plan on feeding on Sam nice and slow. They then go for the real taunting, pointing out that Adam was a screamer and was still alive when they took their first bites. Oh, and he really was their brother. Way to twist that knife, literally! Fake Adam splits open Sam’s vein at the forearm, and Fake Mom does so with the other. Sam starts gushing blood. Yes, I’m shuddering. Sam cries out in pain and struggles, which only causes the blood to come out faster. A huge amount pools in a basin under him, and it’s gross. The camera keeps switching back and forth between Sam’s pained look while struggling and the blood dripping at a fast rate into the basins. Remember this for next week, for it’s important.
Dean arrives with the shotgun in hand and shoots Fake Adam, but Sam points out they’re ghouls, prompting Dean to point the gun at Fake Mom’s head and blow it off. Her headless corpse falls to the floor and twitches a little. Fake Adam attacks Dean as he tries to free Sam and while they fight, Sam continues to bleed in buckets. Dean, being the master at hand to hand combat he is, bests Fake Adam eventually and off camera bashes his head in with several repeated blows. Awesome! It’s always fun to watch when super vengeful Dean goes overboard during his kill. The repeated stabbing in “Malleus Maleficarum†was always my favorite.
Dean doesn’t have much time to recover though, for Sam isn’t looking too good. Sam weakly calls out, and Dean rushes over to help him. Dean frees him, grabs some cloth napkins, and helps a woozy Sam sit up. Sam is in extreme pain, and winces like crazy over his bloody arms. Dean wraps his wounds in napkins and tells him to apply pressure. Okay, I’m sorry, but shouldn’t an ambulance or rushing to the hospital be called for? It looks like he just lost a gallon and I’m sure just simple pressure isn’t going to stop the bleeding of wounds that bad. Sam thanks Dean anyway. “That’s what family’s for.†True, but Sam looks like he’s going to pass out any second now. He needs more than family. He needs a doctor.
Sam and Dean are where they were doing target practice earlier, and they’ve got a corpse wrapped in white cloth while Dean snaps some twigs. Sam looks like he’s recovered from his ordeal but we can’t see the bandages through his coat. He asks Dean if they should be doing this. Dean accepts the ghouls didn’t fake the pictures and Dad’s journal, so Adam was their brother. He sprays lighter fluid on the body, proclaiming he died like a hunter he deserves to go out like one. Hey, what are big brothers for?
Sam suggests they get hold of Cas and call in a favor, but Dean won’t entertain the idea. “No, Adam’s in a better place.†Dean lights the match and poof goes the corpse. I never tire of watching him do that. They both watch somberly among the heat and flames. This last part of dialogue is so good, I’m just going to transcribe it. It’s a heck of a way to end an episode.
Dean: You know, I finally get why you and dad butted heads so much. You two are practically the same person. I mean I worshipped the guy, I dressed like him, I acted like him, I listened to the same music, you were more like him than I’ll ever be, I see that now.
Sam: I’ll take that as a compliment.
Dean: Take it anyway you want.
Not a compliment! Sam, you’ve scared the crap out of him. Me too. Just when I think Dean couldn’t take anymore emotionally, he has to deal with this. That’s an episode! I’m strapping in for the final three, for the way things have been going for these guys, it can only get rougher.
I just love your photographic recaps Alice. The shots you choose just add a great dimension to the article.
Now, for the episode. I really liked this one. I also really liked Adam…well Ghoul Adam anyhow. We know the Ghoul had Adam’s memories but his personality is another matter. Maybe the real Adam would not be likeable at all. Oh well, I guess we’ll never know.
The one thing about this episode that has me scratching my head is why they bothered to lift the mattress off the frame. Earlier shots showed there was lots of room on the other side of the bed, why didn’t they just slide the bed over? It seems like such a silly thing to even notice but for some reason I noticed right away. Funny the things once notices.
I am really looking forward to your and Elle2’s thoughts on “The Rapture”.