Supernatural: And THAT'S why we're cat people
You can tear up that page of potential puppy names, Sam -- the answer is no.
Supernatural can expect a call from the SPCA after this week's episode, because we're guessing we're not the only ones who are now a little leery of the idea of adopting a large dog from a shelter. Plus, Sam confirmed that he is, in fact, a total schmuck now, but at least he's just as eager as we are to get our Sammy back.
Elected dogcatcher
Last week, we discovered that Crowley has been the demon behind the curtain, the one pulling the strings on Gramps' jobs. This week, we discover that Dean still isn't happy about it. This is hardly a surprise. Sam, on the other hand, doesn't seem too bothered by the idea of taking jobs from a demon. That's partly because Crowley promises to give Sam's soul back if they bag him an Alpha, and partly because Crowley makes it clear he can cause Sam great pain unless they do what he says.
The boys set out looking for a werewolf that seems to be terrorizing the not-so-good citizens of Buffalo. They zero in on a suspect, and Sam is ready to haul him off to Crowley, but Dean counsels patience. It's a good thing, too, because their prime suspect gets eaten by the wolf they're seeking. Except it's not a wolf -- it's the family dog. But that dog isn't a dog -- it's a Skinwalker, a being that can quickly shift from dog to man and back again without waiting for the full moon. Skinwalkers are just as vulnerable to silver, though, so at least the boys know how to kill it.
Good dog
Sam spies Lucky the pooch becoming an unlucky man, who then goes out to talk to someone. But Man-Lucky catches Sam's scent, so he shifts into dog form and scampers. Dog-Lucky gets hit by a car and taken to the vet, then the pound. That's where the boys find him.
The boys convince Dog-Lucky to come quietly, then get him to shift so they can interrogate him. Sam is basically contemptuous -- "Why shack up with a family? Is it a kinky thing? Do you like to play with your food?" -- but Dean gets it: Lucky genuinely cares about, and wants to protect, his family. That's why he was eating the hearts of anyone who threatened Mandy and her son, Aidan.
Man-Lucky was a down-and-out homeless guy when he was recruited to become a Skinwalker. He's part of a pack or at least 30, all of whom are posing as friendly pooches, infiltrating homes, and waiting for the signal to turn on their masters. Suddenly, we have another reason to prefer cats.
Bite the hand that turns you
Dean convinces Man-Lucky to lure the leader of the pack out into the open so they can take him out with a sniper rifle (despite Sam's objections that they should just snag the Alpha and turn it over to Crowley, even if that means 150 people get attacked by their family not-really dogs.) But things go wrong -- the pack leader knew something was up, so he grabbed Mandy and Aidan. He wants Man-Lucky to prove his loyalty by turning them right now.
Man-Lucky refuses, but that's when the boys come in shooting. Sam does the close-in shooting, while Dean is perched up high with the sniper rifle. Man-Lucky gets Mandy and Aidan to safety, then protects them from his pack leader. The leader manages to shoot him, but Dean takes him out before he can complete the kill. Sam is all set to execute Man-Lucky, but he gets away.
Not that it does him any good… Man-Lucky shows up at Mandy's house, and she's not happy to see him. Man-Lucky explains that his time with them -- as a dog -- was the only time anyone has ever been kind to him, treated him like family. Mandy is unmoved and sends him away. Man-Lucky changes to dog form and takes to the road. Poor puppy!
Confessions are good for the soul(less)
After all that drama, Sam and Dean have a heart-to-heart, and it's worth writing in full:
Sam>: I'm not your brother. I'm not Sam. All that blah blah blah about being the old me? Crap. Like, Lisa and Ben, right? I've been acting like I care about them. But I don't. I couldn't care less.
Dean: Is this supposed to make me feel better?
Sam>: You wanted the real me -- this is it. I don't care about them, I don't even really care about you. Except that I need your help, and you're clearly not going to stick around for much longer unless I give it to you straight. So…I've done a lot worse than you know. I've killed innocent people in the line of duty. But I'm pretty sure it's not something the old me could have done. And maybe I should feel guilty, but I don't.
Dean: Sam, get to the punchline.
Sam>: Look, I don't know if how I am is better or worse. It's different. You get the job done and nothing really hurts -- it's not the worst thing. But, I've been thinking, I was that other Sam for a long time, and it was…it was kind of harder. But there are also things about it I remember that…let's just say I should probably go back to being him. Dean: That's very interesting. It's a step.
Sam>: So?
Dean: We do what we gotta do. And we get my brother back.
So now we have our quest. Will the boys be able to pull it off?
Highlights, thoughts and odds and ends
It's kind of heartbreaking that Dog-Lucky had such a better life than Man-Lucky. We suppose he was, well, lucky -- he could have gotten a horrible family to live with. Or do Skinwalkers have better adoption interviews than many pet stores?
That said, Dog-Lucky watching Mandy showering? Seriously creepy. And yes, like Sam, our first thought was that dog obviously hadn't been fixed.
Crowley interrupts Dean while he's on the phone: "Is that Bobby Singer? Give him a kiss from me." At least this time, he didn't whip out the cell phone pic of them locking lips.
Sam, describing what kind of Feds they are to a local cop: "We're specialists, they call us in to answer the questions of mouth-breathing dick monkeys." He's really working that win-friends-and-influence-people vibe, isn't he?
Dean apparently agrees with us on the Sam-as-psychopath tip. When Sam tells him that, if he were in Man-Lucky's situation, he'd totally double-cross them, Dean replies "Thanks Dexter, that's reassuring."
Are you glad that Sam stopped pretending that he was his old self, or do you find him infinitely creepier now? This may be a hangover to the Truth episode -- Dean asked for it, and now he's getting it, whether he likes it or not. Ouch.
What do you think? Is Sam redeemable? Will Crowley really turn over Sam's soul? Are you planning on replacing your toothy pets with harmless goldfish? Talk about it in the comments!
Comments
I love Supernatural, always have. True this season is very different but I still won't miss a show. As for Sam, I hate him right now. I've always loved Dean and whining Sam has gotten on my nerves at times but, since he came back he is just pissing me off. He's always been a little creepy but now he's a nightmare. Poor Dean, who was "the good guys" vessel had to spend 4 months in Hell and yet, Sam gets yanked right out. That's bull. Anyway, I kind of want Sam to remember a bit of Hell when he gets his soul back. Only so he gets his ass in line and start watching his BROTHER'S back for a change.
Posted by: Linda from NY | January 14, 2011 9:25 PM
Supernatural this season hasn't been doing so well but I've been faithful to the series so I guess I'll watch it from start to finish. Really hope that this season is the last though. I dare not hope for a repeat of Smallville with Supernatural.
Anyway my thoughts on this episode
Storyline was average and all in all it was a forgettable episode. I want to see the unforgettable episodes and maybe the team could mix in the angelic civil war into the mix. The only one so far that I've been thoroughly interested in was the return of Castiel and that the nukes of heaven are loose. Why can't Supernatural focus more on that? It's way more interesting and that could be the main storyline tying everything together.
One problem I have a serious issue about Crowley pulling Sam out of Hell and Samuel down from heaven (btw I still think Samuel was unnecessarily brought back). DUDE it takes several angels to bring Dean back from hell and it takes only one demon to pull someone out of Lucifer's cage? That's bull. they can't suddenly make Crowley a big bad ass demon like that. AZAZEL said that demons can't ressurect people unless a deal is made "red tape it'll drive you nuts" I HATE HATE HATE that Crowley can just bypass these rules - he's still a demon! he's not an angel! at least angels have the mojo for something like that if the order is given. Crowley can be the king of the idjits down in the pit, but it still doesn't mean he has the juice to pull someone out of Lucifer's cage. I seriously dislike the Supernatural writers who made a simple 'okay crowley did it' just to answer the question of who brought Sam back.
I was hoping for a more engaging mystery rather than just blaming it on God or some punk ass demon. If Kripke we running the show I'm pretty sure he wouldn't let the fans down like this! I'm so unhappy with it just being Crowley that I'm not sure what to think of the rest of this season. I'll try to finish it just because - but I don't know what's going on with Supernatural.
I guess this is what happens when the creator leaves his vision in the hands of others who don't know how to uphold the Supernatural legacy.
:'( I'm dying here. I love our boys but I need great storylines and writing to go on!
Posted by: Jess T | November 19, 2010 1:30 PM
I still think the writers are holding out on us this season, and big surprises are in the offing. I don't know what is going to happen in the final eps before the hiatus, but I'm hoping that we'll get a bit of hope and a sense that the brothers' relationship is heading back to what we knew and loved in previous seasons.
Love, Robin, Editor, SUPERNATURAL, www.moogi.com
Posted by: Robin Vogel | November 18, 2010 4:24 AM
Sera Gamble has tanked Supernatural. Why hasn't she been demoted or fired yet? I thought season 5 was bad with it's promise of a glorious apocalypse which never had any decent flare to begin with. But Season 6 has definitely gone down in history as the worst season of Supernatural. That terribly all time lowest ratings of the series from last week proves that.
Posted by: JJ | November 16, 2010 2:10 PM
Its interesting the most how you can relate the main Skinwalker called "Lucky" as Dean. I mean Lucky and Dean both were taken in by a single mother to a son and they have been both treated better then they ever have been in their life.
I am wondering if we will see Sam get his soul by this season, maybe its going to have some major cliffhanger as the season usually does of what happens next.
Posted by: Joseph Balaich | November 15, 2010 11:14 AM