Supernatural: The X-Files meets the Brothers Grimm
Dean attempts to wrestle a plot point into submission.
This episode of Supernatural seemed to be less about the plot than the interaction between the brothers. That's not a bad thing: we happily chortled our way through the episode, and wrote down plenty of lines. But it's not one that's going to stick with us, you know? What about you?
The Truth is … on another show, actually
Let's dispense with the plot quickly: After a young man is taken from a cornfield in a burst of light, most of the town is convinced that aliens are at large. The boys know better, of course -- the last time they encountered UFOs, it was the work of the dearly departed Trickster -- but their assumptions are shaken when Dean himself is snatched. He experienced a bright white light, beings that were too incandescent to look at, the sense of being drawn toward a table of some sort… what else could it be?
Well, resident crazy lady suggests this is the work for fairies -- you know, Tinkerbell and her ilk -- but the boys dismiss this out of hand. Then Dean himself is assaulted by a tiny, glowing, bewinged, naked lady that no one else can see. Maybe this fairy thing isn't so weird after all.
We've got deep thoughts and great quotes after the jump -- read on!
After getting some info from Crazy McFairychick (you can strike a deal with fairies by offering bowls of cream, they like snapping up firstborn sons, they don't like iron or silver, then tend to be OCD when confronted with anything countable) Dean realizes he's being stalked by a fairy and Sam goes to confront the likely source of the fae infestation. Dean is tricked into committing what looks like a hate crime (helpful hint: beating up a guy while screaming "take that you fairy!" is not the way to go), and Soulless Sam is left to take care of the banishing the bad guys. He's briefly tempted by a leprechaun who promises he can get his soul back, but he prevails, and the guys go their merry way. The end.
Sam Uncensored
The real story, however, is how Soulless Sam acts now that he's no longer trying to pass as Old Sam. All of a sudden, he's reminding us of all those a-little-bit-off characters on TV today -- Brennan from Bones, Goren from Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Monk, House… the list goes on. But it's pretty darn funny, so we'll ignore the similarities for the moment.
Soulless Sam doesn't self-censor -- he tells Crazy McFairychick that she's bonkers, and we appreciate it. When Dean calls and screams that he's in a potential alien-abduction situation, Sam doesn't panic -- he warns Dean that there may be "a butt thing" in his future, then orders another beer. And after he does as much as he can to find Dean, he decides that sitting in the dark angsting isn't the way to go, so he picks up a hippie chick and gets busy. Hee!
Dean decides that he has to be Sam's conscience, since Sam is completely out of touch with what's appropriate. But here's the thing -- when Sam is left to his own devices, and encounters the leprechaun who tells him he can get Sam's soul back, Sam declines to make the deal. He says it's because he realized that deal-making never works out well, but we're not so sure. On some level, does he still know right from wrong, and even if he's not ruled by emotions, does he care about Dean? Dean fears it means Sam is going back on wanting his soul again, but we prefer our happier interpretation.
But Sam does set up an interesting conundrum -- does having a soul mean suffering? And that's good…. because? We're not sure he's convinced that getting his soul back is the way to go. Heck, when he puts it that way, we're not sure we want a soul sometimes. It sounds a lot like Damon's explanation that being a vampire means you get to flip the switch that makes you not care. Sometimes, that sounds like a good thing. And let's face it, Damon seems to have a lot more fun than Stefan, and Sam is currently having a lot more fun than Dean.
Quotables
This wasn't a plot-heavy episode, but they didn't skimp on the quotes. Some of our favorites:
Crazy McFairychick: Of course it's not UFOs. It's fairies!
Dean: Fairies. OK, well thank you for your input.
Sam: What, flying saucers not insane enough for you?
Crazy McFairychick: What newspaper did you say you worked for?
Sam: If you want to add glitter to that glue you're sniffing, that's fine, but don't dump your whackadoo all over us. We'd rather not step in it.
Dean: OK, we're done
Sam: The only thing you're missing is a couple dozen cats, sister!
Sam: What do you want me to do, fake it?
Dean: Yes. Absolutely, fake it. Fake it 'til you make it.
Sam: What happened to you wanting to be all honest?
Dean: Hey, you want to be a real boy, Pinocchio, you've got to act the part.
Sam: I was faking it, Dean. Ever since we got back on the road together. It's frickin' exhausting!
Dean: All right, but until we get you back on the soul train, I'll be your conscience. Okay?
Sam: So you're saying you'll be my Jimminy Cricket?
Dean: Shut up. But yeah, you freaking puppet. That's exactly what I'm saying
Dean: But do not engage with, maim or in any way kill Brennan. In fact, I don't want you making any judgment calls all together.If anything happens, call me.
Sam: You know, Jimminy, I was on my own for a whole year. I did fine without you.
Dean: I don't want to know your definition of fine.
Dean: Holy… UFO, UFO!
Sam: Whoa, dude, stop yelling. You're breaking up. I didn't catch that last part.
Dean: Close encounter! Close encounter!
Sam: Close encounter? What kind? First, second?
Dean: They're after me!
Sam: Third kind already? You better run man, I think the fourth kind's a butt thing.
Dean: Empathy, Sam, Empathy!
Sam: So, you've been hunting UFOs for over three decades and you have no concrete data and zero workable leads. Have you considered the possibility that you suck at hunting UFOs?
Patchouli girl: What were they like?
Dean: They were grabby, incandescent douchebags. Good night.
Patchouli girl: Too soon, ok.
Dean: I was abducted and you were banging patchouli.
Sam: I didn't think she smelled that bad.
Dean: I had a close encounter Sam… and I won.
Sam: You're on the case, and your brother gets abducted by aliens.
Dean: Then you do everything you can to get him back.
Sam: Right, you do. But what about when there are no more leads for the night? Are you supposed to just sit there in the dark and suffer, even when there's nothing that can be done in that moment?
Dean: Yes! You sit in the dark and you feel the loss.
Sam: Absolutely, but couldn't I do all that and have sex with that hippie chick?
Dean: No!
Sam: It would be in the dark.
Dean: No you couldn't, because you would be suffering, and you can't just turn that off for the night.
Sam: Why not?
Dean: Because if you had a soul, your soul wouldn't let you.
Sam: So you're saying having a soul equals suffering.
Dean: Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying.
Sam: ...So you're saying suffering is a good thing.
Dean: I'm saying it's the only game in town.
Sam: Everyone on the planet believes in UFOs, and they will not stop writing books about it.
Dean: (looking at a blog) Yeah, well, at least books have punctuation.
Dean: It was a little naked lady, okay? It was a little glowing, hot, naked lady, with nipples and...she hit me
Sam: I'm not supposed to laugh, right? (Dean punches the wall.) Right, okay, sure.
Highlights, thoughts and odds and ends
- Nice X-Filesian opening credits!
- We love how no one understood exactly what the boys were getting at when they talked about "hunting" UFOs and "forcefully interacting" with fairies.
- We know that Sam is now unencumbered by regret, angst, and other things a soul brings. But does that really mean that his libido is in overdrive? Why is he suddenly checking out everything in a skirt? Why is he suddenly being so season-one Dean?
- We loved Dean frying the assaulting Tinkerbell in the microwave. We were less thrilled with him leaning in to ogle her nipples. When a small, glowing, flying lady is hovering in front of you, commenting on her unclad bosom seems like missing the forest for the trees.
- "Pewterific" may be our new favorite adjective.
- Mr. Brennan, the original abductee's dad, summoned the fairies, and is feeding them gallons of cream. If his grandmother told him enough stories to gamble that fairies were real, he also should have paid enough attention to the stories to realize that dealing with fairies rarely works out well for the mortal.
- Nice touch, having the crazy UFO hunter being the leprechaun who started the whole thing. However, we're not sure we're ready to buy that leprechauns are the crossroads demons of the fae.
- We loved that a Redcap was stalking Dean. If you know your fairy lore (and of course we do), you know that these guys are bad-ass enforcers that shouldn't be crossed.
- We also liked how Sam was able to improvise, spilling the salt to distract the leprechaun long enough to complete the banishing incantation.
- Being able to pronounce Latin is one thing, but being able to pronounce Gaelic? Impressive!
- Were we the only ones thinking that the writers really seem to enjoy poking the bear this season? Having Dean yell about fairies -- and having it be justified -- seems like a direct response to criticism among some fans that the guys don't deal well with homosexuality. Or are we over-thinking it?
What's your take on the ep? Talk about it in the comments!
Comments
Let's be honest, who didn't start off this season biased now that Kripke is no longer steering the boat? I think we were all ready and set to bulldoze over it, mostly out of fear we'd see our negative predictions realized.
So far, the season isn't bad in my opinion, but neither is it great as it has left me disappointed for a few times already. The strong build up for the Vampire Alpha, for instance, only to dispose of him almost ridiculously easily was a total let down. Soulless Sam is not a bad addition, but it really is the last time they can use this 'hostage' situation. I know it's the best trick in the book as it works everytime to get to the boys, but as a viewer, I'm starting to get a little irritated by it. This is not a bad thing in itself. My irritation sets forth the desire to wait for the moment when the boys are back in power with great anticipation. Possibly backed up by Cas.
There should be something left to want. To fulfill. A good series answers to this in the right time.
I'm not giving up on the series yet, for in my book it has massive, and I mean, massive, credit to burn, and I realize I still find it worth watching.
Secretly I enjoyed the fairies being able to do things, or at least giving the impression of that, Angels can't. I, for one was also incredibly annoyed at the way for instance, Kali was represented, how is it that she was so powerless? It was almost unbearable to watch. (I'm not a Hindu, or a Christian, but this struck the wrong cord with me)
Posted by: Gen | December 3, 2010 9:08 AM
I've just watched the entirety of Supernatural in the last six months, (the largest part - seasons 3-5 - in the last two months). I am finally caught up. (Yay!)
After reading several people comment that "Supernatural is gone" and "Dean's the only hero now," I have to say, from perspective of having freebased the super-concentrated version of the show, that Supernatural is NOT gone; but yeah, for this season so far, Dean IS the only hero...because Sam is essentially *missing.*
SoulessSam is not Sam, this is true. He is like the...well...not the *evil* twin, but the True Neutral twin of Sam. DarkSam was still Sam, but RoboSam is not.
The genius of this is that they've removed half the main characters WITHOUT removing half the main cast. Meaning that they can shake up the show's formula, play with some different kinds of character interaction for a brief time, reestablish what is important about the guys' relationship by showing precisely what its absence is like, and all without forcing Jared to take a long unpaid vacation from the series. This is a temporary situation here, y'all. Sam IS coming back, we're just having the "It's a Wonderful Life" version of a World Without Sam.
The bad part is...we love Sam and miss him. But the good part is, we get some alternately disturbing and hilarious role reversal, with Dean forced to be the pair's "heart" for a while (thus reminding him, and us, why having angsty, sensitive Sam around really is a GOOD thing - admit it, you've thought he was a wet blanket at least once before, you know you have)...and allowing Jared Padalecki to have a blast playing what is, essentially, an exaggerated parody of Dean's favorite facade - you know, the "Insensitive Badass Snarkmaster" camouflage he uses to protect his true self. (I can almost SEE Jared going "Yay! I get the all the best lines for a change!" as he snarks up the landscape).
Come on, isn't seeing poor Dean forced to be the tactful and sensitive one at least a little bit funny? Doesn't it renew your sense of just how vital Sam's presence is to the show? Doesn't it make you seriously ponder the nature of what exactly a soul is and what more there might be to us than our hardware and software?
As for the Souless Sam thing going on too long...to be perfectly Dean about it: "Dude. It's episode SIX." Be patient, people. They Have A Plan. This season only seems random and chaotic because we haven't seen the underlying connections yet. Haven't seasons 1-5 convinced you that the writers never do stuff just for the hell of it?
Oh, and Dean wasn't *oggling* the fairy's nipples...he was *boggling* that she had them (or that he could actually make them out at that scale, whichever).
One last item: having the Fae be comparable in power to the Angels and Demons is totally mythologically sound, and makes up for last season's total diss in the devaluation of the non-Judeo-Christian Deities. Having not just dead pantheons, but *still living* ones (like the Hindu) be relegated to a sub-Cupid-level of weaksauce weakness (and a Purple People Eater level of monsterhood) was seriously disappointing. Restoring the Fair Folk to serious badasses is a step in the right direction.
Posted by: ShinyAeon | November 27, 2010 11:11 AM
Like I said, I watch season 6 for the lulz. It's funny and all (admittedly I laughed really hard too) but its just not as heartfelt as it was back in 1-5. Of course that has to do with Soulless Sam but at this point, Sera Gamble isn't patching up the brother's relationship, she's breaking it into smaller pieces.
And I'm not the only disappointed fan out there. In years past, my high school buddies and I get together to watch Supernatural every Thursday night despite Friday tests, and we have always loved the show. Right now I can only chat with them through email since we're all in college, but we all got the same feeling. We look back on the early seasons and feel a subtle but strong connection with it even though it was a monster of the week thing like how it is now. Without Kripke it seems like the show is just not making that much sense or connecting with the fans anymore.
They got the humor still with the horror (that's a good sign) but it does take more than that.
Many fans like me are disappointed at how Sera Gamble and writers are handling this season. Crowley suddenly becomes powerful enough (just cuz he's king of hell) to pull Sam out of Lucifer's cage (major emphasis on Lucifer's cage) and I JUST can't accept that. Azazel said demons can't bring people back UNLESS a deal is made. I hate how that portion of the mythology is ignored. And I really dislike how Crowley is made king of hell when i think he was mainly brought in just to help the boys in some tight spots in season 5. He has no mythology or lore behind him and I WONT accept that he's more powerful than Yellow Eyes, Lilith, or even Alastair for that matter.
And the angels! In this ep they can't even best leprachaun magic. To add in that tidbit about getting Sam's soul that way was an interesting twist, but writers have to keep in mind how much they are downplaying the warriors of heaven in the process.
There have been highlights in this season I'll admit. (lolz at the twilight parody, the FiGHT THE FAiRiES, the shapeshifter baby) but that's somewhat superficial stuff. The introduction of the Alphas was a novel idea, but please don't tell me they are going to find the alpha for the werewolf, the rugaru, the ghoul, the etc etc. It's more or less just monsters we've seen before just more powerful. We need something to tie everything together. Having ten episodes of soulless Sam is dragging it out waaay too long.
More than anything there are a lot of plotholes in this season and it seems like the writers aren't thinking it through. I still love Supernatural and I will always reflect back on it being my #1 favorite show for five years. Unfortunately, it's nearing the hiatus and it still hasn't picked up momentum. It's hard to face, but it's true. Supernatural just isn't the same anymore - er let me rephrase because I like to have characters/storylines change/evolve, but it still has to retain the original spark it had in the beginning.
I remain faithful to this awesome series, but I just have to point out that it's just not as good as it used to be.
Posted by: Jess T | November 24, 2010 12:58 AM
Loved every minute of this episode. Jensen and Jared were awesome. Some of the best comedic lines ever! Enjoyed the break from the very very heavy episodes this season
Posted by: Nitewoman | November 23, 2010 4:46 PM
Contrary to all the negative fan comments about Supernatural that I have read this year, I too, am loving the season so far.
Posted by: C | November 23, 2010 2:21 PM
In contrary to Jess T; I am enjoying season 6 a lot, and I think "Clap your hands" is the best episode ever! Mr. Edlund is the most talented director/writer. If he ever leave Supernatural, there would be real horror for fans.
Posted by: Carlotspeak | November 23, 2010 10:21 AM
This episode was a whimsical delight! I found RoboSam to be obnoxious in last week's episode, but hilarious in this one (plus I was happy to see him get some in the form of pretty, buxom hippie chick, too). Remember the good old days, when Dean was happy to see his little brother getting it on?
There are a lot of mysteries in this season, and I'm eagerly awaiting the answers to the Alphas, Crowley, Samuel, and when/
if Sam will get back his soul. Sure, I miss the wonderful brotherly relationship Sam and Dean had, but I know it will be resurrected eventually, and until then, I'm just enjoying the ride! It's still the most unique TV show on the air and I will follow it to the very end!
Posted by: Robin Vogel | November 23, 2010 9:19 AM
Thing we should be asking is Sam exist anymore? AltSam has become a completely separate enitity from Sam Winchester. So, finally after searching out someone he can mold into hisimage especially after lossing his chance with Ben, Dean finally has a Sam lookalike whom he can train to be what he wants.
Course, Alt Sam isn't too keen on 'suffering being theonly game in town" and saying 'wussified crap" as Dean says.
Posted by: Amy | November 23, 2010 9:13 AM
Ben Edlund is a god. I laughed so hard during this episode that I had tears streaming down my face. Robo Sam is a riot.
I'm loving season six. I was afraid I wouldn't, but I do. What an unexpected treat. The season 1 supernatural that I loved isn't gone. It's just allowed its characters to grow and change.
Posted by: burgundy12 | November 22, 2010 11:24 PM
The Supernatural I knew and loved from season 1 is gone. I now watch season 6 for the lulz.
Like I said somewhere else, there's nothing pulling Supernatural together - it's simply as the writers put it. Chaotic.
Monsters going crazy, heaven's civil war, hell's always having a civil war. there's just nothing tying everything together anymore. soulless sam is a jerk and i think i've lost all compassion for him. dean is the hero of supernatural and him alone at this point. it should be the two of them but nope, just dean.
i laughed really hard while watching this episode but i was not happy that the writers keep pulling out crap that saying fairies and that crap have the power to pull souls back from hell. sure they have magic but COME ON like sam said - i doubt you have the mojo to do what angels cant. if they keep doing this, angels and demons will be on the bottom of the power slushpile for the supernatural. i just cant buy that because demons were so effing evil and rotten to the core, that it should've been the number one evil (hopefully it still is i really cant tell anymore) and angels should be even more powerful than them but have their own crap they need to fight out.
i loved supernatural - i pretend it ended at season 5.
btw i have to mention - WHY DOESNT ANYONE MENTION ADAM?? doesn't it hurt to know that sam got brought back but their brother is still stuck in hell for eternity? i mean its not a major focus point, but i am apalled that it did not even get mentioned in the beginning eps of this season.
too many flaws and gaping plot holes in this season. maybe i should get hired as a person to read over their screenplays to tell them that they are missing so much detail and not making supernatural a show that keep you on the edge of your seat anymore.
i miss you kripke :(
Posted by: Jess T | November 22, 2010 5:51 PM
I don't think Sam's sex drive is being overdone, I think that he feels no emotions. At all. But like Cas said, he's all good with the physical sensations. Something tells me that orgasms have little to do with emotions.
Posted by: Lucy | November 22, 2010 4:13 PM
One shout-out that I haven't seen mentioned is the watch-maker's name, Brennan. Walter Brennan starred in the Disney movie "Darby O'Gill and the Little People", a movie about....leprechauns.
Posted by: Nina M | November 22, 2010 1:35 PM