Because That’s What Sam and Dean Would Do
by Sylvia Bond
Supernatural Episode Review – Season 5 – Episode 9
“The Real Ghostbusters”
When I first heard about this ep, that it would be about Sam and Dean at a Supernatural convention, I was a little freaked. You see, there are entertainer-based conventions where the point is to pay a lot of money, see your favorite Live and In Person, and then stand in line a lot so you can get your 30-second photo op and time enough to try and blurt out something memorable.
The costs involved with attending of this kind of event are phenomenally high; basic ticket prices run anywhere from $300 to $500, and then there’s airfare, hotel, food, and drinks, and the photo op that costs extra ($500), and suddenly you’re shelling out $2,000 for a two-day event. Now, if you’ve got that kind of money in today’s economy and that’s how you want to spend your time, fine.
Although, were there books like these, and a there was a writer like Chuck, i.e., approachable, and a smallish convention like the one in this ep, I might be tempted to attend. Since Chuck isn’t very famous, the price of admission would probably be $100 for the whole thing, food and lodging and airfare extra. The funnest part of the weekend would be in hanging around with like-minded people; except for Becky Samgirl, stay away from her, she is one crazy fan! I thought she was well played by the actress, Emily Perkins, who gave Becky just the right amount of wild-eyed and joyful, over-the-top fanaticism.
My one complaint, of course, is about the panels that were announced. A Dean-based panel but no Sam-based panel? What’s up with that? Why not have a panel on the “Psychology of Samhair” at the very least. And a panel about the homoerotic subtext in the books sounds fine, but some fans aren’t interested in that kind of discussion, and the convention should really have offered other theme-based panels that are not about sex, plus something about guns and ammunition, the uses and symbolism of salt, at least one “How to Write” panel, and oh, yes, let us not forget the ever-loving “Let’s Analyze The Dad as Parental Figure” panel.
These are the kinds of panels you would find at fan-based conventions, which are created for fans only. There are tons of them in cities all across the country, for every fandom that you could ever imagine. They are tightly run by fans that really missed their calling as professional event coordinators and convention planners. And no, the actors don’t show up and we don’t want them to, because that would spoil our fun. And boy, do we have fun.
They’re small events with usually less than 300 folks attending, they’re intimate, they’re well-planned, and heavily slanted to cater to the taste of the attendees. We drink, we talk, we drink some more, we might go on an excursion, we have tons of panels, we watch songvids, and then we talk some more. In short, these types of conventions are everything we do want and nothing that we don’t. And all of this for far less than $2,000, for four days of the most fun you will ever have, and the chance to hang out with people who think about things just the way you do. It’s the Church of Fandom where you commune with your peeps, except, yeah, there’s a lot more nekked nudity on the walls.
I can’t tell you how many times my editor has asked me to tell him what happens at these types of fannish conventions. “Write it up, we’ll do a piece,” he says. But since the motto is, “Whatever happens at the convention stays at the convention,” and since there’s no way I’m going to peach on my peeps, thusly I say no, each and every time.
So when I first heard about the Supernatural convention ep idea, I was afraid someone had peached. But, turns out, the convention in this ep is an entertainer-based type, and Show took what it could from what it knows about those kinds of events (rather a lot, it would seem, since the actors tend to participate in those) and maybe gleaned a little from online sources, but I’m glad to say that it looks like no one peached, and that fan-based conventions are still a sanctum sanctorum. Still safe. Still ours.
This particular convention takes place in a supposedly haunted hotel, which turns out to be actually haunted, natch. The unconventional conventionalists get to participate in a “probing and rigorous” Q&A with their favorite author Chuck Shurley, a.k.a, Carver Edlund, imbibe theme-based drinks (Yellow-Eyed Cooler!) at a bar that should have had a banner announcing it was “The Roadhouse” but didn’t (though the music seemed to be in keeping), and then participate in a haunted mystery game and follow clues and find the bones, and maybe even get a prize.
The fans who have come to this convention are dressed as their favorite character, or at least mostly. This means that there are a few attendees dressed in their street clothes, one Faux Bobby, one Faux Ash, a few fans dressed as Faux MOWs and about, oh, fifteen Faux Sams and fifteen Faux Deans. (Don’t quote me, that’s just a rough guess.) That’s the joke, see, all those Faux Brothers walking around, wearing the closest semblance to Sam and Dean’s garb that they can come up with, and taking on the attitudes, stances, behaviors, and language of their favorites. (And I won’t even begin to go on a diatribe about the fact that there were only 10 women present; at a convention like this, with the themes such as seem to be in place, there should be a lot more. However, the vagaries of book-based fandoms are something that I cannot talk to, so I’m just not going to start. One must pick one’s battles.)
With all the Faux Brothers crowding around, Show yet again pushes us perilously close to breaking through the Fourth Wall, which seems to be a trend this season. This trend of shout-outs to fans and fannish activity (such as the question one fan asks as to why Sam and Dean keep losing their weapons and why said weapons aren’t on a bungee cord) or in-jokes about other current books or TV has gotten a little old. Though, in this case, I would say that it was very effective, because the realism of coming close to the Fourth Wall without breaking it was maintained all the way through: For all her conniving to get Sam and Dean at the convention, at no time does Becky introduce the boys AS Sam and Dean.
As well, the other conventionalists, even in the face of Sam and Dean’s skill and experience, and even when Dean tries to tell the Faux Dean and the Faux Sam that he really is Dean, the possibility of Sam and Dean being real is denied and even laughed off. Sam and Dean remain in the shadows, incognito, but certainly not unhonored nor unsung, even though the whole convention is about them. Well, it’s about Chuck Shurley and his fans’ admiration for his work, but mostly it’s about the fans coming together to celebrate their heroes, Sam and Dean. And this they do with amicable passion, and varying amounts of skill.
Throughout the episode, I kept laughing, even though I didn’t want to, because it all felt rather too close to home. Like the bit where all the Faux Deans and Faux Sams, dressed as Faux FBI agents as part of the role-playing game, flap out their Faux ID badges with serious, intent expressions on their faces. I mean, it was funny to watch, and was meant to be so, I think, because who in their right mind would spend so much time and energy to role play their favorite character? Uh, count me in, raising my hand here. I once met a friend at the airport dressed as Willie Loomis from Dark Shadows, so I really can’t be poking fun at anyone else, because then I’d be poking fun at myself. Or, isn’t that a sign of maturity that you can laugh at your own foibles?
Except it’s sometimes hard to see them. For example, there was the time I was joining a group of fans to share a van to travel to a fan-based convention. The woman who was organizing the shared ride gave us her cell number, the coordinates at the airport where we were to meet the van, and wrote to us that she would be waiting for us there, and that we would easily recognize her because she would be dressed as Sam Winchester. (She could have run an Army battalion with the mad, organizational skills that she possessed.)
Completely forgetting my own earlier Willie Loomis jaunt, I was like, say what? Because a) Who the heck would dress as their favorite character, and b) Who the Hell was Sam Winchester? I know, right? Go ahead, laugh. I’m laughing myself, especially since who am I to judge this woman’s passion? In retrospect, I can honestly say that she had that costume down to the last detail, which, since it was Sam in his early days, was a frayed jeans, t-shirt, and flannel shirt combo. And her hair was messy, too, in just the right, artful way. Later, I apologized to this woman for casting aspersions (and stones) and to thank her for being, really, my first introduction to one of my favorite characters.
Cleverly meshed with the main story is the second plot, which is the one where Sam and Dean hunt down the real ghost, which in this case is an evil orphanage matron and four of her young charges, who are currently wreaking havoc and scaring the locals. And either the matron killed the boys, or the boys killed each other, and it almost doesn’t matter, because the events in the past allow us to see Sam and Dean at their best, and to see the Faux Sam and the Faux Dean reflect our boys in a series of marvelous mirrored scenes that deftly weave the lives of the Faux Dean and the Faux Sam together with the Real Brothers.
First up, there’s the bar scenes. Just when Sam and Dean have figured it out about the convention, and just when they think it can’t get any weirder, a pair of Faux Brothers walks by, and in their best Sam and Dean voices, repeat the conversation from the end of “Croatoan” which is where Dean finally tells Sam that if he can’t save him, he’s going to have to kill him. It was, I’ll admit, rather disturbing to see and hear a painful conversation being used in a role-playing game. I mean, can you imagine what it would be like to have your life played around with like it was a game?
But if it was disturbing to me, it drives Sam and Dean straight to the bar for a drink. Deans tip back a shot of Jack and makes the requisite “I’ve just had a drink of hard liquor” face (which never gets old, no, not on a face like that). Later, after the graveyard dig, in a mirrored scene, we see Faux Dean do exactly the same thing for exactly the same reason. But by the time the Faux Brothers have their drink, they’re not just acting as Sam and Dean, they’ve begun to embody what makes the Real Brothers tick: they dig hard, they drink hard, and they live hard.
Then there’s the Hunt itself. Sam and Dean quickly figure out that there might be a real ghost on the loose. Faux Sam and Faux Dean espy what the real Sam and Dean are doing, follow the real clues that they think are fake clues, and try as best they can to stay in character. Faux Sam has a weird, growly voice which I wouldn’t take to be anything like the real Sam’s voice at all, but obviously, this is the way this fan has internalized it, so he must be allowed to do that. He keeps popping in and out of character as well, so the Faux Dean enjoins him time and again that they are “Sam” and “Dean” and it’s only fun if they remain firmly entrenched in their personas.
Then there’s the graveyard dig. Sam and Dean pretend to be following the same fake clues as the Faux Brothers, but they’re actually following the real clues, which are, oddly, a whole lot like the fake clues, and yeah, it’s twisty like that. Even more fun is the fact that the Faux Dean insists that the Faux Brothers get to be Sam and Dean, so the real Sam and Dean end up being called “Rufus” and “Bobby.”
Along the way, the Faux Brothers continue their post-Dr. Ellicott conversation, with Faux Sam going on about how the Faux Dean is daddy’s little soldier, and the Faux Dean taunting Faux Sam to actually pull the trigger. This completely annoys Sam and Dean which made me laugh, even though I felt empathy at the boys’ discomfort having their private sorrows bandied about like this, but seriously, it was set up so well, it was hard not to.
Finally Dean’s had enough with being mocked, and he’s pissed as hell as he tries to explain that they are not fans, and that he thinks “the Dean and Sam story sucks. It is not fun, it is not entertaining. It is a river of crap that would send most people howling to the nuthouse. So you listen to me. Their pain is not for your amusement. I mean, you think they enjoy being treated like circus freaks?”
His face beautifully says it all, and reflects his confusion as to why anyone would want to BE a Hunter, because the fans at the convention seem to have all of the details and none of the reality. It’s kind of fun to watch him vent his frustration about the fact that Chuck the Prophet is making money off of his misery and that fans seem to be making light of the same, and turning what he’s suffered and sacrificed into a jaunty, weekend romp. It’s not fair, and he’s pissed off, and rightfully so. I enjoyed the rant very much, and especially the flash and fire in Dean’s eyes.
Everyone ends up at the graveyard, where they are going to dig up and burn the bones of the evil matron, and the Faux Sam and the Faux Dean get a good and gritty taste of what it’s like to truly be a Hunter. By my calculations, it would take either boy around five hours to dig up a grave, plus the prize, the bones at the bottom of the just-dug hole, aren’t the fun, clean, glow-in-the-dark kind you can get at Target, but instead are the dirty, crumbly-with-ug-is-that-brain-tissue kind of bones. Add that to getting attacked by a real ghost, and the hard reality of being a Hunter whaps the Faux Brothers right in the face. Not that they believe any of it, of course, but the fact that they continue not to believe is what helps maintain the integrity of this ep.
Soon everyone gets trapped in the hotel, and the threat of being attacked by a real ghost and/or ghosts lurks around every corner. After the first dead body shows up, Sam and Dean go into action by herding everyone into the conference room to keep them safe. As they make their plans, the Faux Brothers come up and offer to help, even though they are terrified.
When Dean angrily asserts that this isn’t make-believe and wants to know why they would want to help, I could tell you what the Faux Dean was going to say even before he said it: “Because that’s what Sam and Dean would do.” It’s certainly a dig at fans for internalizing characters to the degree that we would be braver than our own selves, but it’s a gentle mocking, and again, pushes the Fourth Wall without breaking it. And then there’s this marvelous dolly-in for a close-up of Dean’s face as it finally hits him what effect his life could have on others. It’s a beautiful moment.
Amidst the ruckus of tricking the little ghost boys, the Faux Brothers head out to the graveyard on their own, and again, we see the mirror pattern: same graveyard, different graves, as each guy has to dig up the grave of a little kid. Faux Sam is having a very hard time, going a little emo, complaining that digging graves is hard and that he’s going to throw up. The Faux Dean bolsters his courage by telling Faux Sam that he’s not going to throw up, which is a conversation much like what the Real Brothers would have.
So here’s what I thought was interesting about what all these mirrored scenes meant. All you have to do is take away the Hollywood-Beautiful faces of Padalecki and Ackles and replace them with the Everyman look of the actors that play the Faux Brothers, and you can really see the underlying dynamic of Brothers Winchester.
And I’m a dyed-in-the-flannel Samgirl, as you all know. But when I wasn’t distracted by the Pretty and the Sparkly, I could see something a little more educative and revealing. Here goes: The Faux Dean is the instigator in the action at the convention. He leads the way in what, when, where, why, and how. He is the main protagonist of the pairing. Faux Sam, is also a protagonist, but not the instigator, and could be termed the foil or the sidekick, but I kind of saw him as Faux Dean’s satellite.
Since there were so many mirrored scenes (see above), I began to see that my Sam (MINE!) might also be Dean’s satellite, his foil. This kills me to even think it, even though I know that foils and sidekicks and satellites are very important. Okay, mark your calendars already. But how can I be blamed for not seeing it before when there are faces like that to be gazed at?
And Sam is still very important, and critical in a way that the Moon is to the Earth. (Even though Dean is the “Sun” in most of these analogies, just go with me here.) Without the Moon, the Earth would not have life as we know it, and, perhaps more important, we wouldn’t have all those poems and songs and paintings, which are all part of the human story. (Sure, there’re tides and weather and tectonic drift to think about but who cares about that when there wouldn’t be any August Moons, or Full Moons, or Silvery Moons?)
We would die without the Moon, just as Dean would die without Sam; Dean might be the hero, but he’s said it himself: “I can’t do it alone, and I don’t want to.” Luckily for us and for him, he doesn’t have to. Even though Sam might be relegated to Guest Towel status a bit more than I’d like, the brothers are definitely attached at the hip and will remain so until death do them part. And just so you know, Sam is still my favorite. He is the Moon to Dean’s Earth, and the Earth has a bigger orbit than the Moon, yes, but I’ve ways preferred the moonlight, just as I’ve always preferred the Pauper to the Prince.
Later, in the dénouement, Dean tries to tell the Faux Brothers that he really IS Dean Winchester. The Faux Brothers laugh at him, of course, because everyone KNOWS fictional characters aren’t real. However, I firmly believe that when you invent a character or believe in a character, in another alternate universe, they are real, and suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune in a way that reflects what we do to them here, in this universe.
And then, to make it all better, the Faux Dean, just an ordinary-looking guy, lays it all out when he says, “I’m not sure you get what the story is about.” With passion glinting tears in his eyes (and, truly, a knock-it-out-of-the-park delivery), he explains it. A fan’s life is feeding fish, and paying bills, and repairing copy machines, selling stereos, and getting excited about a $50 dollar gift certificate to a steak house, and living quiet lives of desperation, with only two weeks of vacation. “But to be Sam and Dean,” says Faux Dean, “and to wake up every morning and save the world, to have a brother who would die for you, well, who wouldn’t want that?” In another beautiful, dolly-in, we get to see Dean really start to get it. As we fans have gotten it, as we fans have always gotten it.
Because really, Sam and Dean’s lives, though dirty and messy and often unpleasant, actually mean something. And in putting on Dean’s Coat and Sam’s Hoodie, fans put on the skin of their heroes, and embody those attributes that they’ve internalized to the point where they can step up to the plate and affect lives, and live in the moment, and be brave. In short, by being their favorite characters, fans push back the boundaries of their mundane worlds and become something more. And it’s not just about being braver or smarter or more handsome, it’s the love of these characters, and characters like these, that helps us not disappear into our own void.
If Show wants me to think that they’re did this ep for laughs, they didn’t. And if Show wants me to think that they don’t get it, what it means to be a fan, they’re acting an awfully lot like they do. Show can continue to mock, either gently or hard, but I think I get it now.
In the tag, there’s a cute scene where Becky and Chuck announce that Becky loves Chuck now, based on the earlier, slow-mo hero scene where Chuck rescued Everybody. Naturally, Becky Samgirl, being the fickle thing that she is, quickly transfers her affection from Sam to Chuck. Which means that, rightfully, she should now be called Becky Chuckgirl, but that doesn’t have quite the same ring, does it.
Sam plays it up with good humor (and with beautiful comedy, courtesy of Padalecki) pretends to be heartbroken and barely able to manage. While at the same time, Sam, still on the job, manages to figure out that Becky Chuckgirl’s rambling about Crowley is actually a clue about where to find the Colt. (Not to mention the fact that he allows her her pleasure at being able to share what she knows with her erstwhile crush; what fangirl could want more?) And lastly, we have an over-the-roof-of-Dean’s-beloved-Impala Dither (yes, dither!) after which the boys drive off through the greensward. Together. Be it ever so.
Sylvia Bond is a ten-year technical writing veteran with too many degrees under her belt to count. She lives in Colorado, but does not ski, preferring instead to spend her money and time at the annual Great American Beer Festival, taking road trips across the United States, and reading historical fiction from the comfort of her fluffy green arm chair. She has been involved in fandom since 1993 and been writing fanfic since approximately 1993. What she finds most amazing about fandom (besides the open heartedness of fans and the sheer amount of creativity) is how visible fandom has become. “In my day,” she says, “we had to hide behind P.O. boxes to get fanfic. But nowadays, people wear t-shirts that shout their affiliation and share their shiny toys on the internet.” It’s a wonderful world.
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Sylvia Bond is a ten-year technical writing veteran with too many degrees under her belt to count. She lives in Colorado, but does not ski, preferring instead to spend her money and time at the annual Great American Beer Festival, taking road trips across the United States, and reading historical fiction from the comfort of her fluffy green arm chair. She has been involved in fandom since 1993 and been writing fanfic since approximately 1993. What she finds most amazing about fandom (besides the open heartedness of fans and the sheer amount of creativity) is how visible fandom has become. "In my day," she says, "we had to hide behind P.O. boxes to get fanfic. But nowadays, people wear t-shirts that shout their affiliation and share their shiny toys on the internet." It's a wonderful world. 
Sylvia, lovely review, as always. I missed the last several, not due to a lack of appreciation for your writing, but out of a rather apathetic outlook on Show itself. It just didn't move me to discuss it in anyway, positive or negative. Somehow that hurts more than when they tromp all over my feelings.
I was dreading this episode, half convinced this would be the point where I would have to throw in the towel and tell them to have a nice life and I'm very sorry Ackles and Padalecki but even you are not enough to keep me here. Show's past attempts at nudging the Fourth Wall have come across, to me, as more like wrecking balls through it, and left me with a distinct and unpleasant feeling of being laughed AT, not WITH.
This episode though, was completely different. An excellent balance of good humored pokes at fans, with equally good natured pokes at themselves. Becky the insane Samgirl still grated on my last nerve, and until they choose to present a Deangirl of equal levels of insanity I'll continue to take that as their comment on the portion of fandom they most love to abuse. And really, if they were paying as much attention to fandom as they like us to think they are, they'd realize that crazies are found in equal numbers on either side of the Winchester fence.
But the rest of the episode was so good that I couldn't even let that bother me too much. I loved, as you pointed out, that they refrained from setting this at a big entertainment type con (though they would have been hard pressed to do that if they'd wanted to, since the books aren't terribly popular in Show's world) like the type their fans tend to attend most. I know there are fan run cons out there in this fandom, but I don't think they're as widely attended. I was afraid they'd use this as an opportunity to make offhand comments on the type of fandom that attends cons, and in truth, they did, but their comments were mostly pretty positive in the end. I think the lack of female attendees at the show's con may have been a way to avoid hitting too close to home. The events I've been to have been almost strictly female audiences with very few exceptions, so by making this audience mostly male, it gave them a little more distance from the real fans, and a little more room to poke fun. Maybe?
I loved, loved, LOVED that this episode felt old school. Sam and Dean. Saving people. Hunting things. No angels. No Bobby (I dearly love the man, and Jim Beaver is made of awesome but they've leaned a bit heavily on that outlet of late). A funny, endearing and entertaining assist from some of the would be Monster chow and bam! Problem solved. When I turned off this episode I felt like my Show was back. This felt good, it felt right, and it reawakened the fangirl in me that had just about nodded off out of boredom and neglect.
I can't say I love or agree with your Sam as satellite theory though. I didn't particularly see it that way. I saw Faux!Dean as the leader, sure. He made decisions, called the shots and was generally Deanlike. But he wasn't content to do things alone. He wanted his Faux!Sam right there with him, and he wasn't happy until he was. Faux!Sam reminded me of earlier seasons Sam, in that he was content to follow, not because he wasn't capable of leading if he had to, but because he was allowing Faux!Dean to lead (though real Sam was mostly doing that out of habit, and chafing at it as well; then again the faux brothers weren't really brothers, and thus didn't have all that baggage to cart around). A satellite isn't capable of leading the point it orbits. It follows its proscribed route because it must, because that's all it is capable of. Sure, as you pointed out, it controls its anchor to a degree, but it will always be the follower. Sam is not a born leader like Dean is, and he would never be quite as good at it as Dean is, but push come to shove, without Ruby in the picture to muddle things in an already grief addled brain, Sam could lead. So I like to think he's just a bit more important than that. But mileage does vary.
Cons are awesome, both large and small. The best big con I ever went to was Celebration III, the Star Wars con in Indy in 2005. It was a mix of con types. You had the stars there doing autographs and such like at the big entertainment cons, and you had the panels and competitions and fanbased things like a smaller con would. It was great. And in regards to the Supernatural cons, good luck thinking of something to say in the photo ops. I ran away from Jensen in mine at the con in Vancouver. *facepalm* He's sweet as can be but lord did he intimidate me. Bolted straight around him and went to Jared. That's me, the spazzy fangirl.
About the cons…I've been to actor-based cons, and I've worked actor-based cons, so I know what it feels like from both ends of the spectrum. So I'm not knocking either type of con, just trying to clarify the different types and what made them work for me or not. I've been the, I don't know what you'd call it, the food and drink getter, or the "standing behind to make sure over eager fans jump on anyone for a hug when the actor's not ready" or whatever, and I've seen how anxious fans can get, or how demanding, or how worked up, or how shy, and how that affects the actors. I think that actor-based cons are too stressful to be enjoyable, but I've been there, and paid for that, and then I just stopped.
I mean, I can totally sympathize with your running away; the first time I met Mr. Ackles, my mouth fell open and no words came out. Can you imagine? Me without words? The second time, my mouth fell open and I couldn't shut up. I'm sure I left no impression either time of any note…..But yeah, the whole experience is overwhelming and with as much pressure and stress as there is in the world, do we need more? Okay, sure, it comes in such a beautiful package….
I prefer the little cons, the fan-based ones, where there are no lines and just a room full of fannish women (and some men) who are just dying to hear your theory on why what type of tires the Impala runs on makes a difference on how well Sam sleeps sitting up – and how it's important to Dean to get the RIGHT kind, so Sammy CAN sleep sitting up. And that's just at the bar, it doesn't even begin to go into the kinds of discussions you get into in the panels!
And about the satellite, I think we are saying the same thing….Sam acts as Dean's satellite, until he's got nothing orbit around, and then he makes his own orbit. I should have added that, because you are right. I think I've said this in other reviews, that when Sam's alone, without Dean, he rises to the occasion.
Actually I always thought they chose to make her a rabid Samgirl because they were making fun of the perception of Dean always getting the girl.
That's an interesting point. I think I think the same thing, but from a different angle – that they made her a Samgirl because it seemed the least likely thing, not because they were making fun of the perception – although that could be there too.
No time for a longer post, but I loved this ep. As mentined above, no Bobby or anyone else to deflect attention away from Dean and, specifically, Sam. I loved that Dean was reminded that much of what their lives is about is the Brother Thing. And he got it. Let's hope Kripke lets him keep it. Oh, and the Chuch Hero scene was awesome.
No kidding. It was nice to have them be the main focus, and even when they weren't on screen, it was still about them. And oh YES, the Brother Thing; Dean being reminded of that is huge!
I liked the Chuck the Hero scene too, mostly because I like slow mo (when judiciously applied) and it made Chuck realize that he had something to offer, not just his writing. I loved the moment when he snapped at the crowd, "Somebody salt this door!" Because you know at least ten of them if not more were packing salt and knew how to use it!
In short, by being their favorite characters, fans push back the boundaries of their mundane worlds and become something more. And it’s not just about being braver or smarter or more handsome, it’s the love of these characters, and characters like these, that helps us not disappear into our own void.
You said it all and said it brilliantly here, Syl, and that's the reason I love both your review and SUPERNATURAL itself! I often wonder why Sam and Dean mean so much to me, why what happens to them is so damn important when they aren't even real people. It's because their existence has helped me not to disappear into my own void. I don't want Kripke to kill them off because it would be as if he's killing one of my brothers, someone I love and care about as a real person.
I'm sure you're aware that a great many folks in fandom hated this episode passionately. I can't understand why. I considered it a love letter to the fans.
I had the immense pleasure of seeing Jensen and Jared again at Chicago Con this past weekend. What a trip! I was wearing a new t-shirt that said WATCH SUPERNATURAL/THURSDAYS/9PM/ON THE CW/BETTER THAN SEX! When I had my individual photo op with Jensen, I held my arms out so he could read the shirt. He said, "That's my girl!" He put his arm around me and smiled, big time, as did I. When I had my photo with Jared, he loved the new shirt, too, but that photo was ruined because the photographer caught me with a stupid expression on my face and didn't call me back to re-shoot. Even though I had some trouble with the "guards" at the Con, both Jensen and Jared signed the back of my t-shirt while I was wearing it. Jared signed first, not leaving a hell of a lot of room for Jensen to sign, but Jensen managed to fit his name in–and both signed more neatly than usual, too! I have a really nice souvenir of this Con, and I'm overjoyed!
I wish we hadn't had so many humorous eps in succession, but I suspect this week's will be quite somber, and then we have an extra-long hiatus, aka hellatus, which is going to feel like Dean's 40 years in hell. After that, I suspect we won't be laughing much during ANY ep until the fifth season comes to an end.
Syl, I completely agree with you about this episode, and encourage you and your readers to check out my synopsis/review of the ep over at moogi.com.
Love, Robin
Robin, I had no idea that other fans didn't like the ep, or if they did; I don't read other reviews until I write mine, just to keep it clean – I prefer to write on a blank slate. But I can see why they didn't like it, depending on how they viewed the idea of the boys at a convention. I mean, it's a convention about Chuck and his books, which Sam and Dean happen to be in, and nobody believes it's them, and they all think it's a game. Which is a clever way to hide the truth and what makes this way of doing it so very appealing. If Show had gone and had the fans start chasing after Sam and Dean, well, then it would have gotten silly!
I'm really glad that you liked that paragraph, in particular, I thought that was what the whole ep was about. At least for me, other people's mileage might vary. And I've always thought that about fandom, and Show might not be talking about that at all, but about halfway through writing this review I came upon the idea of what the Faux Dean was saying – what I've been saying all along (at least to myself) that there are some actors, I think, who don't get it, who don't understand how powerful fandom can be.
Whether or not you Larp or Cosplay or even own a leather jacket, or sneakers like Starsky had, even if you own not even a single trinket nor picture, there's a lot of weight behind our love and passion for a particular show, be it SPN or Rat Patrol. A fan finds, and then connects, and then grows. Fandom changes you, forever, and even if you leave it, you cannot turn your back on it. Anyway….the boys are cute, and the actors' hearts are in the right place for going to conventions and giving fans a little bit of their time. I'm glad you had a good time, and got to wear your shirt! And they signed it!!! Whoot, whoot! Those are some damn fine memories, woman!
I couldn't get through the first third of your article. Was this supposed to be a review or a sales pitch/bragging sesh about your exclusive little club? If you're going to follow tangents, at least learn to keep them engaging.
Exclusive club? What exclusive club?
This is a pretty good clue that you don’t get it. The fandom, I mean.
List of things I treasured from this episode
#1 – As a fan girl, I am beyond happy that Supernatural has lasted long enough to poke fun at itself and its fans. And, as a fan girl, I can understand why I obsess over Sam and Dean with every part of my being. Supernatural is real to me and I care deeply about these two brothers. As fans, we just ‘get it’ and Sylvia, what you said about the void and the fans, was right on target.
#2 – The return of the magnificent Rob Benedict. I have such a crush on Chuck! His outtakes, at the end, were a hoot. In a perfect world, Chuck and the Trickster would be in every episode.
#3 – Dean’s ranting! I didn’t realize how much I missed him being enraged about something. It has been awhile since we witnessed him reacting like that and it was a joy to behold. He has such fire and passion when he is riled. Dean is a man a few words so when he gets worked about something and it really hits close to home…he really lets loose. “The Dean and Sam story sucks. It is not fun, it is not entertaining. It is a river of crap that would send most people howling to the nuthouse. So you listen to me. Their pain is not for your amusement. I mean, you think they enjoy being treated like circus freaks?”
#4 – Dean’s smile, when he was standing next to his car….waiting for Sam. That smile on his face, spoke volumes. I wish I knew exactly what he was thinking but we all know he was thinking about Sammy.
#5- “He sells stereo equipment. I fix copiers. Our lives suck. But to be Sam and Dean…to wake up every morning and save the world… to have a brother who would die for you… well who wouldn't want that?"
#6 – The graveyard scene. A throw back to the older seasons. Yet another thing I truly missed. Sam and Dean make digging graves so unbelievably appealing and incredibly sexy. I love it when they just ‘take charge’ of the situation!
#7 – Panels I would have loved to have seen
‘Why the Winchester boys make cleaning guns sexy’
‘How to say I love you ‘Winchester Style’
The Ins and Outs of the Winchester Family Business’
‘How to pose as fake FBI agents and get away with it’
#8 – Sam’s reaction when Becky told him their time together was over. OMG! The look on his face was hilarious!
#9 – "If you really want to publish more books, I guess that's OK with us." "Wow. Really?" "Not really. We have guns and we'll find you." "Ok. Ok. No more books." #10 – The return of super fan girl Becky. Now I would like to think that I would not ‘be’ her if I ever met Jensen or Jared, in real life, but my obsession holds no bounds, so there is no telling how I would react.
#11 – The return of an old-fashioned, creepy ghost story. I was actually, on the edge of my seat, when the disturbing children were getting ready to scalp our Winchester boys. I am so happy it didn’t happen because Sylvia, Sam just wouldn’t be the same without his hair.
#12 – "Yeah, how original. Supernatural bringing in more creepy children!"
#13 – “Real enough for you?”
#14– We got a tidbit about the Colt!!!!
to be continued…. Joan
#1 I disagree completely! I’m tired of them poking fun at fans, at themselves, at anything. I don’t mind a bit of humor to break up the angst, but sheesh! Enough already! Show me some emo, some whumpage, anything!
#6 Couldn’t agree more. We need more scenes like this, STAT! We need them digging and sweating, and lighting things on fire. Preferably with their shirts off.
#7 I love your panels! Except the first panel would have an adjunct title: “How the Winchester boys make ANYTHING look sexy!”
#12 Fans complain. I complain. We all complain endlessly. Why do we complain? Because its in our nature to do so? I think if they were more naked more often, I’d be complaining a whole lot less…..
Until next time!
testing…..
I loved this episode!! I found It had just the right contrast between humor and seriousness. I found myself laughing out loud, but also worrying about and sympathising with, the boys. For example Deans 'Their pain is not for your amusement' speech. I loved that moment, and also when fake Dean made real Dean see all the good things about his life
Every fan has wanted to tell Dean that for the last 4 seasons, so thanks for doing it for us, fake Dean! And like Joan mentioned above, the last bit with Deans smile when he was waiting for Sam pretty much sumarised how I felt about the episode! amazing! haha well this was quite a pointless comment, but I felt the need to ramble on about how much I love show. I've been so busy lately, I haven't had time to read your reviews Sylvia, but I just read the last 3 to catch up 
All were great and really insightful as usual, so thanks for making my life much more Supernatural orientated then it is already 
The cons you were talking about sound great…I wish there were some like that in Australia…I'm so far from all the action! Oh and another positive about the ep: there was not one single angel! life is good.
Hi Chook!
How are you? I wondered where you were. I am glad you are okay! I completely understand ‘being busy’, as you well know. I missed out on several months of Winchester joy because work took over my life. But, things are better now. I am glad you enjoyed this episode. I thought it was so much fun. But, I am ready for my world to be turned upside down again….(see below)….I want darkness!
Take care, Joan
until next time…
Part 2 -
Closing thoughts
Sigh, I do so take pleasure in the light-hearted episodes. And, I am so afraid this is the last time we will see Dean smile or Sam laugh in a LONG, LONG time. But, as much as I enjoy rejoicing in seeing our Winchester boys happy, now is the time to get serious. I want to see pain and suffering….on my TV screen again. So, here is my open letter to Kripke.
Dear Mr. Kripke;
I love you, you know I do. But, I am beginning to lose patience. I like when you balance the lighter fare with the darker fare and when you ‘gift’ us with the awesomeness of ‘Changing Channels’ and ‘The Real Ghostbusters’ back-to-back, it is hard for me to complain. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but there has been more lightness than darkness lately and Dean and Sam are facing the apocalypse. Are you trying to lull us into a sense of false security? As much as I enjoy the light-hearted Supernatural episodes I am so ready for the return to gloom and despair. I want to see progression in the apocalyptic storyline. I want to be punched in the stomach. I need to see gut-wrenching scenes…played out on my television screen. I desire to hear secrets spilled. I am yearning for revelations to be unveiled. I want to see tears and hear screaming. I want to throw things at the TV screen. I want to yell, cry and be scared out of my wits. I want Sam and Dean to be thrown into turmoil. I long to see them ‘pushed to the brink’. I want to see blood spilled. I am craving episodes that will make me think. I want ‘Supernatural’ to make my head and my heart hurt. I want to see our boys with bruises and cuts. I want them to be united as brothers should be and I want to see them ‘fight the good fight’. I want them to conquer all that is evil and save the world. I trust in you so please don’t let me down.
Your fan,
Joan
PS. I know nothing about this week’s episode, because as always….I have been avoiding spoilers….even yours Sylvia
! However, if the title of the episode is any indication of what is to come, I believe I am going to get my wish.
Hi Joan Amen to your message to Mr.Kripke . Much as I loved episodes such as Bad Day at Black Rock, Tall Tales and Changing Channels, I loved All Hell Breaks Loose, Heart, Born Under a Bad Sign and When the Levee Breaks much more. And that just to mention some. As for enjoying the boys' pain, well, I've never been happier than hearing to Dean's speech to dead Sam or witnessing Sam's painful symptoms at the pacnic room. Call me crazy! But yes, let the dark episodes come with all the brotherly angst and shows of affection that we appreciate so much. .
Hi Andrea!
Thanks so much. You are not crazy cause if you are then I am also.
I just love it when our boys are battered and bruised….and I thoroughly enjoy any scene in which they are sewing up their wounds.
Joan
Dear Sylvia!
It is Thursday!
Are you excited? I honestly couldn’t bring myself to watch your spoiler video but I know, in my gut, that tonight it going to be awesome!
Joan
I am beyond excited! Don’t worry about not watching the spoiler video, it totally didn’t give anything away, but yes, sometimes it’s better not to be spoiled. And as long as the ep is about the Winchester boys, how bad could it be?
Best Regards,
Sylvia
You are so right! As long as the ep is about our Winchester boys then all will be right with the world.
I hope my list will be great next week cause I love when you comment on it.
Take care, Joan
Your lists are always good, even when I don’t comment on them; when I read them, they make me smile.
Sylvia – I wanted to thank you publicly for your passionate reviews/recaps of this show. If it wasn’t for your enthusiasm, I probably wouldn’t have given it another look after I had already given up after the first four episodes of season one.
It’s now my favorite show currently running. And after tonight’s (11/19) emotional episode, all I can think is
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL JANUARY 21st 2010 FOR THE NEXT NEW EPISODE?!”
You are more than welcome! it’s always nice to know that I’ve drawn someone into my mad passionate love for Sam and Dean and all that is whacked and Winchestery. Plus, there’s something very evocative about the kind of journey the boys are taking, even aside from the fact that they’re very, very pretty boys – their hearts are in the right place, trying to do the right thing, in the face of the worst adversity. You can’t help but want them to succeed.
And yeah, that’s quite a delay! It’s like (*counts on fingers*) eight weeks? Heck, it’s not like they don’t already have this ep in the can!! But it looks like a good ‘un, right up my alley. : D