Supernatural - Midseason Poll - Season 7 Final and Comedy Poll Run-Off

As we head into the final round for the best season 7 episode so far, we say goodbye to 2 great episodes: Hello, Cruel World and Slash Fiction (my personal choice). That leaves us with Death's Door and Meet the New Boss, also the two most voted in the preliminary round. An easy choice for me, but possibly harder for others.



In other news, we need a run-off vote for the Best Comedy poll. We hit a snafu in the numbers (not enough episodes if I cut it off at one spot, too many if I cut it off at another) so we need to do a run off of episodes that didn't get enough votes to qualify. The top 6 get into the actual contest, which will put us at an even 32 episodes. This contest will run for less than 24 hours (about 8:00 pm St. Louis time) so I have time to create the Best Comedy Episode poll and put it up by midnight tomorrow night. This will hopefully allow us to end the polls right as the hellatus is ending. Please pass the word and don't forget to cast your 2 votes.




Finally don't forget to nominate your favorite Supernatural song (nominations end tomorrow) and favorite song-to-scene (nominations end in 2 days).

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Supernatural - Midseason Poll - Season 7 Round 2 and Song Nominations

Yesterday saw a very easy vote for most people in our best season 7 episode so far poll. Today things will get a little harder for many. Four episodes are booted from the contest: Season 7 Time for a Wedding, Shut Up Dr. Phil, The Mentalists, and How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters. Four episodes survived: Death's Door, Meet the New Boss, Slash Fiction, and Hello Cruel World. So which two will survive to the next round? My bet's on Death's Door and Meet the New Boss, although that's not how I am voting. Voting will last 24 hours so pass the word.

Nominations for today will be best song-to-scene match. It is different from the favorite song competition. For instance, Carry on Wayward Son will probably win the favorite song poll, but unless people are including the previouslies, it really has no scene for the music to match. It wouldn't be a good candidate for this particular poll. What this contest measures is how well a song fits the scene on screen. Since some songs like Back in Black have been used more than once, please put the episode and then the song title when you go to nominate. For instance: Bloodlust - Back in Black or Nightshifter - Renegade. If you need a refresher on Supernatural songs (and let's face it - there have been a lot), try TuneFind - Supernatural or the TV IV. Nominations last for 3 days.

Also if you haven't kept up with SpoilerTV over the hectic holidays, don't forget to cast your votes for the remaining summer hellatus episode rankings. Round 4, round 5, and round 6 are still open. Also, you have 1 more day to nominate your favorite comedy episode. Favorite song nominations are open for 2 days. Thanks to everyone participating!






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Supernatural - Midseason Poll - Season 7 Round 1 and Song Nominations

Votes are in for favorite episode of season 7 so far and 8 episodes have advanced to the head-to-head. (The Girl Next Door and Defending Your Life did not make it in.) They are ranked in order of the number of votes received so things should get harder the farther we get into the contest, unless you already know your favorite of course. Each poll ends at midnight St. Louis time and it's one vote per IP address. Pass the word and don't forget that comments are lovely.








We are also gathering nominations for favorite Supernatural songs. This will be a straight up favorite poll so yes, Carry On Wayward Son is the odds-on favorite. Later on (like tomorrow probably) we will nominate songs for best use of a song to fit the scene. I would imagine things will be quite different in that poll. Nominations will last approximately 3 days and a complete song list for seasons 1-6 can be found at http://tviv.org/Supernatural/Music. If you have not nominated your favorite comedy episodes, you still have time. The diversity in the nominations so far have been surprising and a lot of fun. You can also still vote in the summer ranking polls for round 4, round 5, and round 6. Enjoy!

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Supernatural - Midseason Poll - Season 7 Poll and Comedy Nominations

Well votes are in for the big summer Ultimate Episode battle. Now we just have to wait for the remaining episodes from season 7 to air. (And also vote if you haven't voted in round 3, round 4, round 5, or round 6 yet.) To kick off the rest of the week before the winter hiatus ends, let's look at season 7 so far. Highest 8 episodes proceed to the head-to-head. The lowest 2 get booted from the contest. This poll is only open until midnight tomorrow so please vote your top 5 choices and pass the word. Oh and don't forget to spout off in the comments about them.



Also here is your chance to nominate five episodes for the best SPN comedy episode. The nominations will be open for 3 days and the poll will go live as soon as I can tally all the nominations. Have fun thinking of all the episodes that made you laugh.


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Supernatural - Midseason Polls - Part 6

It's the last round of the midseason ranking poll. (Sorry it is late.) We will pick up the last few after all season 7 episodes air. Thanks so much to everyone who commented and voted. Please don't forget to add your poll ideas in the comments area so we can get started with the nomination stages.

Polls still open for round 3 (closing soon), round 4, and round 5.

The plan: We will run the contest to see where episodes will rank over winter hiatus and the early part of summer hiatus. The top 100 episodes will be ranked by how they do in this contest. The bottom 49 episodes will go head to head to see which ones make it into the contest. The reason for this is that the brackets only work with 128 episodes. This will still allow each episode to go head to head to determine the Best Supernatural Episode.

Unlike the actual contest in the summer, preliminaries will be open for at least one week each. Everyone still only gets 1 vote per IP address though. Voting will be in 6 episode batches by order in which they aired and everyone can vote for 3 episodes per batch. Feel free to sound off in the comments about why you chose what you did.







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Supernatural - Midseason Polls - Part 5

As we head out of the emoangst fest that is season 5, I heave a sigh of relief only to find that choosing episodes in season 6 isn't always easy either. Besides round 3, there are no easy answers today. I do however toss 2, count 'em, two votes to Dabb & Loflin creations, the only time I've ever liked their writing. Of course Dean and Sam weren't in one of them much so that makes sense. Thanks to everyone who has voted and commented. This is the penultimate round so tomorrow will be the last of the preliminaries until the summer hellatus. Enjoy! Don't forget to add what other polls you would like to see for the remainder of winter hellatus. We've got to have something to keep us busy! :-)

If you haven't voted for rounds 2-5, there is still time. Round 2 ends tomorrow night. You still have a little time for round 3 and round 4.

The plan: We will run the contest to see where episodes will rank over winter hiatus and the early part of summer hiatus. The top 100 episodes will be ranked by how they do in this contest. The bottom 49 episodes will go head to head to see which ones make it into the contest. The reason for this is that the brackets only work with 128 episodes. This will still allow each episode to go head to head to determine the Best Supernatural Episode.

Unlike the actual contest in the summer, preliminaries will be open for at least one week each. Everyone still only gets 1 vote per IP address though. Voting will be in 6 episode batches by order in which they aired and everyone can vote for 3 episodes per batch. Feel free to sound off in the comments about why you chose what you did.













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Supernatural - Midseason Polls - Part 4

Merry Christmas SpoilerTV Supernatural community! I hope it has been a great day for you and yours. Sine the festivities have finished in my household I decided to post this a day early. Don't forget that you can vote for 3 episodes in each poll and that the poll stays open for one week. I did mess up the timetable for part 3 of the polls but it has now been fixed so you should still be able to vote in round 2 and round 3. For more details, read the plan below. As always thanks for voting and commenting and have a great Christmas day.

The plan: We will run the contest to see where episodes will rank over winter hiatus and the early part of summer hiatus. The top 100 episodes will be ranked by how they do in this contest. The bottom 49 episodes will go head to head to see which ones make it into the contest. The reason for this is that the brackets only work with 128 episodes. This will still allow each episode to go head to head to determine the Best Supernatural Episode.

Unlike the actual contest in the summer, preliminaries will be open for at least one week each. Everyone still only gets 1 vote per IP address though. Voting will be in 6 episode batches by order in which they aired and everyone can vote for 3 episodes per batch. Feel free to sound off in the comments about why you chose what you did.














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Supernatural - Midseason Polls - Part 3

We're off to a great start in our ranking polls. The first set of polls are finished while the second set have about 900 votes. You can still vote here for round 2. Today features the rest of season 3 and the start of season 4 episodes. It should get quite interesting from this point on. After we finish the ranking polls, we will do a set from season 7 so far and one for comedy episodes. If you have ideas for others, leave your suggestions in the comments section.

The plan: We will run the contest to see where episodes will rank over winter hiatus and the early part of summer hiatus. The top 100 episodes will be ranked by how they do in this contest. The bottom 49 episodes will go head to head to see which ones make it into the contest. The reason for this is that the brackets only work with 128 episodes. This will still allow each episode to go head to head to determine the Best Supernatural Episode.

Unlike the actual contest in the summer, preliminaries will be open for at least one week each. Everyone still only gets 1 vote per IP address though. Voting will be in 6 episode batches by order in which they aired and everyone can vote for 3 episodes per batch. Feel free to sound off in the comments about why you chose what you did.













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Supernatural - Midseason Polls - Part 2

OK folks, the SpoilerTV 2011 TV awards are over and congratulations to Supernatural, Jensen Ackles, and Jim Beaver on their wins. Now it's time to get back to our pre-summer hellatus episode ranking. So break out those season 2 DVD's and choose your top 3 picks in each round. Don't forget to leave a comment. For more info on how the polls will run see below. Happy voting!

The plan: We will run the contest to see where episodes will rank over winter hiatus and the early part of summer hiatus. The top 100 episodes will be ranked by how they do in this contest. The bottom 49 episodes will go head to head to see which ones make it into the contest. The reason for this is that the brackets only work with 128 episodes. This will still allow each episode to go head to head to determine the Best Supernatural Episode.

Unlike the actual contest in the summer, preliminaries will be open for at least one week each. Everyone still only gets 1 vote per IP address though. Voting will be in 6 episode batches by order in which they aired and everyone can vote for 3 episodes per batch. Feel free to sound off in the comments about why you chose what you did.













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Supernatural - 7.08 - Season 7, Time for a Wedding - Recap

Warning - I hate Becky. Along with Missouri Mosley, she's the most irksome character to grace Supernatural. In fact since she's had more screen time, she officially surpasses Missouri, making her all-time most irritating. (I reserve the right to change my mind if they bring Missouri back like they threaten.) However, even more than my distaste for Becky is my utter disdain for writers Dabb and Loflin. It's rare they write a decent episode much less one I like. Thus, my opinion going into this episode was at rock bottom. I'm glad because I liked it better than many. It won't make my must rewatch list but it wasn't the worst episode ever. That honor still goes to Bugs. In fact, it might not even be the worst episode this season. Of course that would require a rewatch so it will remain a mystery.

Previously - Dean wasn't coping, Dean lied to Sam about Amy, I hoped no one would mention Amy again, Dean and Sam argued about Amy, Amy was a drain on the season, Sam left, Dean and Sam worked together in Psychic USA, it was gory, Sam rejoined Dean, Sam understood why Dean killed Amy, Chuck wrote Supernatural books and remains unforgiven for introducing Becky to SPN, Becky takes 2 minutes to annoy everyone, Becky crushed on Sam, Sam tried to avoid Becky - poor Sam.

In Las Vegas, Dean hits on a strip-club waitress working her way through grad school. Good for her. Dean smiles. "This is my I-dig-smart-chicks look." Dean digs chicks period - smart, dumb, blonde, brunette, really any woman into him. Nice to see this Dean back. Waitress asks about Dean's story. "You came in here acting like someone shot your puppy." Dean snarks, "Well things are looking up now that your shift's over." She smartly avoids deflection so Dean explains that a friend has a younger brother whose "cannon's a little loose. You know, his reactor blew awhile back. It's not good. My friend, he's uh, kind of been sitting, waiting to see if he goes guano." Waitress thinks the brother has but nope. "The kid's all reasonable now considering he's crazy." Dean backtracks on crazy but if you hear/see Lucifer talk to you, it qualifies as crazy. Well, except when a skanky demon tricks you into raising Lucifer so he really is walking and talking. On Supernatural you have to specify. Dean calls Sam's recovery a miracle but gripes that he is taking a "granola-munching hike in the desert by himself" during their annual Vegas trip. Perhaps this is good Dean. Except they just spent 10 days apart because of Amy. Maybe it's Sam's way of cooling off still. If so, I applaud it. Waitress: "Maybe he just needs some time alone. We all have to face ourselves sometime." Dean agrees and she says, "Wasn't talking about him." I'm immediately suspicious this will lead to another Dabb and Loflin right turn into character assassination and anvil-dropping. After all, every time they write the brothers they end up unsympathetic and out-of-character. I don't need a Dean introspective that leaves him looking like a jerk or imbecile, a Dabb-Loflin specialty. Sam texts Dean to come to 348 Twain Ave in a suit. As the waitress walks away, she says, "See. Baby bro needs you after all." My eyes roll hard as I mentally prepare to get through this episode.

348 Twain Ave ends up being Little White Chapel, home of the 24 hour drive-up wedding window. Ha! I wonder if they have a celebrity discount. Dean walks in hesitantly since there's no obvious crime scene, drawing a gun when lights flicker. The music is suspenseful and if you didn't see previews, you'd expect anything but….Sam opening the door with a pink boutonnière. He has Dean put the gun away and pushes him near a piano. Dean: "I thought you were off becoming one with the land or some c**." Sam puts a pink boutonnière on Dean with what looks even after a second glance like a paperclip. Dean questions; Sam responds, "Apparently pink is for loyalty." I don't think that's what he meant, Sam. Dean guesses wedding crashers in pursuit of a siren. Sam counters he's in love and getting married. Dean and I both give the "say what" glare but Sam wants congratulations. Dean manages, "What?" They are interrupted by the wedding march and a veiled bride. Dean looks on in confusion. I brace myself for…..Becky. The bane of Supernatural meta. Dean is stunned, Becky is happy, and we get the most awesome title card ever. A wedding cake bursts into Leviathan goo with a hurtling plastic bride and groom. Fantastic! Best part of the episode.

We open to Becky holding Sam's wedding-ringed hand while Dean blathers about Becky asking permission to marry Sam. Makes absolutely no sense. He bites back words to ask how this fiasco happened with a fake smile on his face. Sam exposits dinner and a wedding. Nothing fishy about that. Dean: "I guess I'm all caught up." BWAH! "You know what, ignoring everything, have you forgotten the average life span of your hook-ups?" Becky overexcites that she knows about Sam's exploits from reading about them in the Supernatural books. I'm suddenly more squicked out by this than any gore ever shown. Yuck! She says she's going into their marriage with open eyes and like Dean, I feel sick. I can't take a whole episode of Becky. Sam falls on the "seize the day when good actually visits them since the past shows it won't last the episode" philosophy. Normally I'd jump on a bit of fun but Sam's been love charmed and it won't end well. Dean: "OK Dead Poets Society, fine." Ah, Dead Poets Society - I'd rather be watching that. Dean wonders if Becky's even human and she assures him they ran all the tests. "See, not a monster. Just the right girl for your brother." Um…can't even comment here. Preacher hands Becky the bill and she leaves to pay. My stomach thanks her. Dean freaks out: "Really? Superfan99?" Sam explains that Becky's really sweet beyond her obsessive uberfangirl tendencies and he regrets treating her badly. I beg Dean to cold clock Sam and smuggle him out. Dean finds Becky's appearance during their annual Vegas week suspicious; Sam thinks it's kismet and calls Dean paranoid. I feel extremely sorry for Sam because this love potion has to come with a killer hangover. Sam: "How about this? Becky and I are going to go up to her place in Delaware. Um, why don't you try to wrap your dome around it? Get a little supportive. Then give us a call." Sam joins a joyous Becky as she tweets her new status. Dean calls Bobby with the update before heading to Delaware to figure out what the heck is going on.

In Pine Creek, Delaware, Becky stops at a restaurant where her 10 year reunion is being planned. Becky seems a lot younger than 28 to me. She interrupts Jocelyn, obviously the high school mean girl, to RSVP. Jocelyn sucks so Becky rubs Sam in her face as Jocelyn goes into visible heat in his presence. I snicker. Becky earns a wee bit of sympathy right until she tweets her victory and I sigh again. She hugs a handsome black man named Guy who is shocked but excited about the wedding, then blanches in humiliation as Becky over shares about the erotic horror section of the local book store. I feel his pain. I didn't need to hear that info either. Guy is into event planning and black magic, slipping Becky a bottle of what I presume is love potion. I guessed as much but it's nice to have confirmation. (Aside - Rain doesn't do Becky's split ends any favors. HDTV is wonderful but it's murder on hair issues and acne cover-up. Sometimes I'd rather not see all these details.) Dean pulls up to the restaurant while Sam and Becky pull out. I guess brother lowjack still comes in handy. However I'm surprised neither Sam nor Becky see him pull in. He's not exactly subtle about it. Perhaps it's the potion. Dean enters the restaurant and pulls out John's journal which obviously did not get toasted in Bobby's house explosion. A newspaper mentions a lottery winner's freak accident death and everyone's immediately suspicious. Maybe it's not just the love potion.

Later, Sam waits to eat take-out chicken dinner as Becky enters in a teddy. Sam compliments her while I frantically tweet, "Please do not make me watch Sam and Becky have sex!" Several in Twitter-verse agree as the world's supply of brain bleach dwindles instantly. Luckily, Sam's drug wears off as Becky asks "Sammy" what's wrong. That's wrong! Sam asks where he's at and freaks as Becky kisses him. Into a champagne glass she pours potion that looks amazingly like the anti-vamp stuff Dean threw up in LFoT, forcing it down Sam's throat. I throw up when Sam says he feels better "now that I'm with you." It's instinct though since Becky isn't near as annoying as usual this episode. Still more annoying than virtually any other character in SPN history but not "please thrust an ice pick in my brain to relieve me from the torture" annoying. I'm shocked and sniff my water to make sure I'm not potioned. I think I'm fine. But then again so does Sam. Luckily we switch to Random Guy at batting practice, or Next Victim. I'm surprised we're only 12 minutes into the episode. Feels like 30. A generic hooded guy whose posture screams "I wish I were as awesome as the villains I see in the movies, but I can only muster emo-kid" looks on. He twitches his hand and the automatic pitcher goes wild, breaking the bat and offing the batter. I don't feel sorry for the guy because he gets up and looks right at the machine. Seriously, haven't you heard of duck and cover or crawl away? It makes a particularly gruesome shot though when the ball punches right into his face and blood splatters on a camera we didn't know was there. Hooded smiles cheesily. I officially think he's lame.

We transition at an odd angle, looking up at Dean and his waffle iron wedding present. (snicker) Deans hands it to a surprised Sam. "Me being supportive. Congratulations to you and the Missus." Ha! Dean points out special features of said waffle iron but he has as much of a clue as I do. Not all waffles come frozen in a box? Who knew? He's more clear about the case where people's dreams come true (lottery, Major Leagues) only to die the next week. Becky and Sam already know. They thought crossroad demon but the timetable's wrong. There's an impressive and neat Wall of Death opposite a Supernatural book poster starring shirtless hunks, which makes me squirm and snicker. Dean questions Becky's involvement in the case. "I don't know what kind of mojo you are working but believe me I will find out." Sam points out Becky's his wife; Dean points out Sam's royally screwed. "You married Becky Rosen." How sad that this is now canon. Becky claims they're happy, but Dean points out that marrying Sam is Becky's version of winning the lottery or making it to the majors. Good point. Sam wants Dean to accept them, but Dean counters, "Or maybe she is part of it because for whatever reason, you're her dream. If you really do care about her, I'd be worried because people who do get their little fantasies or whatever seem to end up dead pretty quick." I'm for continuing the pattern but Sam responds, "You know I went after her, Dean. Maybe that's what's bugging you." Dean stops. Sam: "That I'm moving on with my life. I mean, you took care of me and that's great but I don't need you anymore." Ouch! Guess Dabb and Loflin decided to massacre Sam's character this time. At least he has an excuse. Dean shakes his head and leaves. Oops, spoke too soon. Dean is a jerk to Bobby on the phone when Bobby suggests he get another hunter to help him on the case. I really can't stand Dabb and Loflin.

Panning in on a preteen's notebook…..um, Becky's notebook that says Sam hearts Becky repeatedly, I hear "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" over and over again in my head. Becky has serious psychological problems. She sniffs the ink leaving a splash of red marker on her nose. Hmm, maybe close-ups of split ends are on purpose. Sam licks his thumb and wipes the marker off her nose. It's sweet but weird. As is his present of his and hers fake ids. I guess it's small things that make a love-potion based marriage work. Becky reads about a salesman's rapid ascent to CEO while Sam peruses the notebook. I'm sorry, but love potion or no, that has to freak him out. Sam instead finds it "beautiful," but I give him leeway because he looks just as spooked as I was before managing to spit the word out. Kudos to Jared! Even Becky's stunned into silence. They plan to "pretext" the CEO. I'm not sure what that means but they're using their new fake ids. Dean on the other hand meets his new partner Garth at the reunion restaurant. He slurps a milkshake and says he expected Dean to be taller. I wonder if this is the Garth Bobby mentioned in WaB. "No, Garth, not me the FBI, the real FBI! How are you still alive?" Odds are neither Becky nor Garth make it through the episode. One can only hope. Apparently Bobby is dealing with a nest of Leviathans in Oregon. Huh? Why wouldn't the brothers be there? This makes the least amount sense of anything this episode. Garth: "He said you'd be all surly and premenstrual working with me." Bwah! Dean scowls and focuses on the case while Garth checks out Marmaduke. I second Bobby's opinion of him.

Dean dresses in a spiffy sweater vest for the interview while I wonder if he's been potioned too. Garth is in a hideous brown tie and vinyl jacket. He must not hunt often. A witch snaps at a receptionist as Sam and Becky leave. Garth calls the situation awkward, Becky awkwardly glares at Dean scrunchy-faced, and Sam eagerly compliments Becky's interrogation skills before awkwardly asking about "scrawny guy". Dean: "Temp." BWAH! Funniest line of the night. Not relying on Becky's hunting skills, Dean and Garth begin interview #2 only to find sales guy doesn't know anything. Garth: "No offense. We were just wondering if you got here by nefarious means." Dean shoots him the death glare and he backtracks. "I didn’t mean, of course, corporate backstabbing. I'm sorry. I meant more like, uh you know, black magic or hoodoo." BWAAAHHH!!! Garth may be stupid but he's entertaining. He can stick around a bit. Dean laughs it off and asks what he felt like when his dreams came true. SalesGuy says, "It's not my big dream." Woah, back the truck up. He was happier in sales but the witch yelling at the receptionist is his wife and the anvil of finding bragging rights through your husband's success comes crashing down. In all honesty, I won't cry any tears if she dies either. SalesGuy: "Honestly, I haven't seen her happier." If that's her happy, I'd move when she's mad. Yikes! Sales Guy wants to resign but it would kill his wife. Get it? "Kill her." That wasn't too subtle was it? Didn't think so. They warn Witch of her untimely death but she threatens to call security. Garth confirms Dean sounded aggressive. I confirm that subtlety left the building ages ago. There's a reason Sam usually handles this part of the case. Speaking of, Sam worries about the job but Becky placates him as she texts about the honeymoon. Sam and I wince in pain as the background music hits shrill. Becky's screwed since the potion leaked all over her bag and none is left.

Witch barks at a chauffeur while Unhooded beams. He hand twitches as a huge chandelier falls. Luckily, Dean yanks Witch to safety. The chauffeur and I do not thank him. Unhooded scoots as Witch exposits her crossroad deal and I wonder why she traded her soul for her husband's career. Hasn't she heard of successful men leaving their wives for other women? Someone as plainly ambitious as she is should ask for her own success. Makes no sense again. Garth: "What kind of demon deal is this. Timeline's wack!" Witch freaks about demons; I'm utterly bored by her surprise. What did she think happened? Garth has a plan. Stash the girl, find Sam, and be home for America's Got Talent. I'm good until the last part. He tells Witch, "You'll be living with a triracial paraplegic sniper until this all blows over." Ha! While Dean ponders Garth taking charge, Becky frantically calls Guy who doesn't answer. Guess we know who the demon is. Sam winces in pain but when goes to call Dean, Becky brains him with the waffle iron. My tweet - "Well the waffle iron came in handy. Too bad it was used on wrong person." Sam wakes pants-less in a cabin I originally compared to Misery, but really looks nothing like it. He's tied to a bed with fishing sheets and likely has a terrible headache. Worst of all, Becky gets in his face and starts waving her fingers while yelling about concussions. It would be awesome payback if he vomited on her right now. Becky claims she's helping. I question her sanity again. Sam yells for his freedom. Thankfully Guy video chats and interrupts the awkward scene. Becky talks elixir and her ideal honeymoon. Like Sam, I want to leave here. At least there's no consummation going on. Becky: "Everything feels weird now." Now? Just now? Really? Guy agrees to meet her in one hour.

When Sam confronts Becky about love potions, she calls it "social lubricant;" Sam calls "roofie." I'm with Sam. She says he's happy with her, but the patented Sam scowl and bondage beg to differ. Sam claims Guy is killing people but Becky won't hear it. Becky: "No, he's just a wiccan. Wiccans are good like Glinda of Oz." Sam and I share a puzzled look. Sam: "You're not this stupid, Becky." The circumstances prove that statement untrue. Becky's an utter moron. Becky: "Whatever's killing people, it's something else." Sam: "It's never something else? When are there ever two crazy things in town at the same time?" How about now? Guy and Becky both qualify. Sam tries to get an unusually thick-brained Becky to understand she's next on the hit list. I find Becky really annoying and hard to watch, but even I don't think she's as stupid as portrayed here. Normally, I regret the Supernatural female curse, but today I might cheer out loud. Bah! She's the idiot supreme. Becky calls Guy her friend but Sam counters, "He's your dealer." Very true. Becky claims he can't be manipulating her because he gives her the elixir free. She even buys that the potion won't work unless Sam actually cares for her. The sooner she leaves the screen the faster my headache will cease. Sam: "So you think I love you?" Becky: "Deep, deep down." Nothing's that deep on earth sister. Sam demands her to untie him but Becky gags him so he can work through his emotions. My emotions are crystal clear. I hope Becky dies so I don't have to sit through her again. Unfortunately, we're running out of time and I'm not sure even these writers will kill off the person who metaphorically stands for the most extreme part of the fandom. I wouldn't want to get on their bad side either.

At Guy's 10-year crossroads reunion, Becky learns she's an utter fool. Guy says no more freebies. Becky: "But I thought we were besties." No one over 21 should use the word besties. Guy: "Oh honey, that is so depressingly Becky. I mean it's…you're so pathetic it actually loops back around again to cute." While I disagree that Becky's at all cute, I love your snark Guy. Becky offers a personal check but Guy wants her soul. I wonder if souls hold a person's personality because if so Guy might get the worst of the bargain. He red eyes so yep, crossroads demon. "Bingo bango" Ha! Crossroad demons love a good reunion. Everyone is so depressed and jealous they sign anything. One reason why I avoided my last one. That and the horrible 70's disco music they played at the previous one. Shouldn't reunions play either current hits or the music playing when you were in high school? Becky confronts him about the dead people but he claims "unfortunate accidents." She wants a guarantee a piano won't fall on her head if she agrees. "I'm not stupid." Again, the evidence clearly points otherwise. Guy tells her she's special. "Hey, I wasn't thrilled to see that your hubby was Sam freaking Winchester. I mean if he knew that I was here talking to you, he'd probably…" Becky: "Kick you’re a**." Guy: "Yes, and I'm very protective of my a**. It's one of my best features." How Crowley! It explains the awkward handshake when they met. He offers Becky 25 years, no mislaid pianos, in exchange for a blissed out Sam and absolutely no mention of his name to the Winchesters. "No one gets a deal like this Becky. Not kings. Not popes. I snap my fingers and Sam will love you for the rest of your life." I couldn't take 25 years with Becky so she may want a no suicide clause on Sam's part. Instead she asks for a drink. I'm reminded that Dean hasn't had anything alcoholic all episode. Hmmm. That's encouraging.

Dean and Garth break into Becky's apartment with Garth waving a gun. I'm offering Guy a 2 for 1 special. Take them both. Dean rolls his eyes and then shakes his head at Sam's wedding picture. I recoil at the huge orange and coral flowered wallpaper. That's hideous! Dean flips through the mail while Garth mentions @superbeckyrosen has 11 twitterers. Huh? Tweets? I take it Dabb and Loflin wrote this in September because coincidentally her profile has a list of tweets mentioned in the episode. She gained a whole lot of followers though since that time. Garth mentions one tweet in particular, "Going on romantic trip with hubster. 3 exclamation points. Guess she got excited." You have no idea Garth. Mysteriously, the hubster comment is missing from the actual Twitter account. I find it funny she has a Route 666 poster over her mirror. Did people like that episode? Perhaps it's Dabb and Loflin's reminder that we could be watching it and to stop complaining about this one. Only Route 666 had some really funny one-liners in it. This one not so much. Dean picks up a picture of Becky at the cabin. "That look romantic to you?" Garth: "Oh hell no. But I got this thing about fish. Dead eyes man." Neither Dean or I know how to take this comment so moving on. The back of the picture adds details and it's off to the very aptly named Loon Lake we go.

Alas we do so with Becky, lamenting the reunion is ruined since she can't show Sam off. "Not that anyone actually knows who you are. Supernatural's not exactly popular." Sad two ways. Supernatural, this episode withstanding, deserves far better ratings. But also, what was she going to do? Introduce her husband as a fictional character in a book? She'd look crazier than she already is. Sam mumbles his unhappiness through the gag but Becky rambles on with her head on his chest. I eye roll with Sam. Shut up, Becky! She bashes herself and relates with Sam's "character arc about being a freak." Becky: "Honestly the only place people understood me was the message boards. They were grumpy and overly literal but at least we shared a common passion. And I'll take it you know." Let's pause and wonder if Dabb and Loflin speak for all SPN writers here. We are a grumpy lot. That I'll give them. Does this mean the SPN staff takes all our complaining and vocal bashing because they share our passion? Perhaps I'm being overly literal? I'll take Sam's huge sigh and eye roll as a yes. Becky rubs Sam's chest to his disgust and talks about dating Chuck. Guess it's hard when your ex disappears. "I think I intimidated him with my vibrant sexuality." Yep, I bet that's why Chuck dumped you. Go with that. "I just want someone who loves me for me. Is that too much to ask?" Perhaps asking the guy you've bound and gagged is the wrong audience. She removes Sam's gag. "If you want somebody to love you for you, maybe don't drug them." That would be a good start. Becky: "But I want you…" Egads, she sounds like a toddler pitching a fit in a toy store. Perhaps growing up would be a good start. Sam: "Becky, you're better than this." Really? Evidence? Bah!

At the post-reunion party place, Guy joins a drinking Becky and while the writers want me to believe she's selling her soul to keep Sam forever, I am immune to the blatant twist. Besides, even I would stop watching if I had to deal with Becky in the Impala every week. The camera pans in closely to Becky's face for no discernable reason. She tightens her jaw and attempts to look determined. Guy goes to "seal the deal with a kiss" when Becky torches the carpeting to reveal a circled pentagram. Hello demon trap. Um, why didn't the rest of the rug catch fire? Just because there is accelerant on one part doesn't means the non-accelerant part remains uncharred. Dean, Sam, and Garth enter. Garth: "Blueberry vodka. The answer to all life's problems." I feel cheated out of a Dean and Sam reunion but Guy's funny so okay. Becky annoyingly gloats about her awesomeness before putting herself in a corner where she belongs. Guy: "Dean Winchester. This is really thrilling. Hey, can I have your autograph?" Huh? Dean unsheathes Ruby's demon killing knife. "Sure. I'll carve it into your spleen." It's an awkward line and awkwardly delivered for once. Dean questions how he's cheating his victims out of years. "I'm not a cheater. I'm an innovator. It's called a loophole you moron." Now I'm confused. I thought the deal protected you from "accidents". Isn't that how Dean could be so reckless season 3? He couldn't die until the year ended. Pondering prevented by the sudden appearance of Hooded who throws our heroes halfway across the room. Down flies the knife, while Guy berates Hooded for his tardiness. Guarantees his death. Dean goes for the knife but Guy's already there. Good thing he has backup holy water and a memorized exorcism. Too bad Guy chokes him before he can finish it. Sam wakes in time to face Hooded and tells Becky to run. Run for the knife and make yourself useful. Hooded does his version of Sam's Hand of Ipecac and that's 2 Winchesters choking if you're keeping track. The screen is.

Finally, Becky ganks Hooded which only leaves Guy. Sam breathing is a plus. He tosses Dean the knife and suddenly we're in a stand-off. Dean: "How many deals you got cooking in this town, Madoff?" Dean demands he call off all 15 "or I'll cut my own little hole in your throat." What does that even mean? Guy curses and at first I think he fears Dean's threat. Then I realize the episode took a right turn toward awesome. As in Crowley awesome! Is it possible for him to save 36 minutes by making the last 6 fabulous? Not even Crowley can do that, but he tries. Dean echoes Guy's curse. Crowley: "Sam, Mazel tov. Who's the lucky lady?" And she is lucky because it appears she will escape the killed female curse in Supernatural. After all the wonderful female characters they killed in the last 7 years, I call foul. Either kill Becky now or Sheriff Jody gets a 2 year pass. Becky: "You're Crowley." Crowley: "And you're…Well, I'm sure you have a wonderful personality dear." Yikes! So cold and yet so funny. Dean vows to "Columbia necktie your little friend here" if Crowley moves closer. Crowley: "Please, don't let him get off that easy." Crowley may look uncharacteristically scruffy but he knows the score. Hooded apprised him of their dealings. What a dead idiot! Crowley: "I only have one rule. Make a deal. Keep it."

Guy calls loophole but Crowley cuts him off. "There's a reason we don't call our chits in early. Consumer confidence. This isn't Wall Street. This is hell. We have a little something called integrity." BWAH!!! Good to know hell is more trustworthy than bankers and brokers. Crowley calls Guy a "stupid, shortsighted little prat" and tells Dean to hand him over and he'll cancel all the deals. Dean asks what will happen to Guy and we all know it will be diabolical but creative. I almost feel sorry for him. He had snarky potential. Crowley calls it a fair trade but Sam wants to know the catch. Crowley: "Years of demons nipping at your heels. Haven't seen one for months. Wonder why?" Dean: "Well we've been a little busy." Crowley wants the Leviathans gone and gave demons orders to avoid the Winchesters. He doesn't have useful info about ganking them but he mentions LeviaBoss. "You met that Dick yet? Smuggest type of goose since Mussolini. I hate the b***. Squash them all please. I'll stay clear." Dean and Sam exchange looks and Dean demands the contracts be voided first. Crowley snaps his fingers. Guy is not happy with the arrangement as they both poof out and Garth chooses this time to rejoin the living. I find it an unfair trade. "What did I miss?" Only the best part of the entire episode. Crowley makes everything better.

Since a married Sam can't be on the road, we fast forward to annulment. There's a paper trail the Leviathans can follow. How exactly does a dead man get married/annulled anyway? The whole thing screams of a loophole bigger than Guy's. Flo obviously left for an early Thanksgiving break. Becky stalls by saying, "It wasn't all that bad right?" Sam glares while I realize I've wasted 2 hours of my life watching this and at least 8 hours recapping it. I glare at the screen too. Sam reluctantly thanks her for saving his life. Becky: "So? I'll see you again?" Oh for the love of my sanity, I certainly hope not. This is why you needed to die. Argh! Why fail me at this crucial juncture, Supernatural Female Curse? Sam also wants as far away as possible and Becky finally signs. I'm not sure why Dean and Garth are there witnessing the whole thing. Nothing they sign will be valid without a notary. Perhaps they are concerned she'll drug Sam again. Sam takes pity on Becky because he's a good guy. He tells her she's a good, energetic person, not a loser. He advises her to be herself and "the right guy will find you." How sweet! I'd tell her she's lucky her stalking butt wasn't in jail and if she ever came near me again, I'd cold clock her. Garth grins at Becky vying to be her one and only. Pray they never have kids. They smile at each other but Dean puts his foot down. "No. No!" I don't know which of the two he was protecting. Maybe it was me.

In Random Alley, the Winchesters and Garth part ways. Dean: "Well buddy I gotta say man, you don't suck." Again with the Winchesters saying things blatantly untrue tonight? Garth: "Thank you. That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me." Aw, that really sucks but I still hope not to see you again. He launches at Dean in a hug that moves beyond aw into awkward. And stays there…and stays….until finally backing off. He drives off while the brothers sit on NotImpala's trunk. I miss you Impala baby. Sam: "Awww, you make a fwiend." Bwah! Dean: "uh uh." Sam: "Look man when I was all dosed up , I said some c**." Dean: "What? You mean she wasn't your soul mate?" Ha! Sam: "Shut up. I mean I do need you watching my back. Obviously." Dean: "Yeah, when crazy groupies attack." Sorry, I find that funny even if some fans took offense. Sam: "You know what I mean." Dean: "You know, I gotta say man, for a wack job you really pulled it together." Sam: "That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me." (snickers) Both the brothers smile and I am one happy fan. A NotImpala chat with snark and smiles. Yippee! Sam: "Look don’t be too impressed, man. It's still a Denver scramble up here. I just know my way around the plate now." Dean: "I'm just saying it's stupid to think that you need me around all the time. You're a grown up." Sam: "Right." Dean: "You're a hike in the desert hippie douche grown up." Sam: "Dude, I was camping. You camp." Except wasn't it established in Wendigo that they both hate camping… Dean: "Yeah whatever, hippie." Sam: "You know what though. Seriously, it might be nice." Dean: "What?" Sam: "I mean you've basically been looking out for me your whole life. Now you finally get to take care of yourself. About time, huh?" Sam enters the vehicle. Dean: "Yeah, right." He nods but that long pause and hurt look shows how unsettled he is. He may have made progress in letting Sam be an adult but he's a long way from being able to let go.

In the end, I did not like this episode but I didn’t hate it with a fiery passion like I thought I would. Becky is still the most annoying character in Supernatural history but she wasn't quite as intolerable as I feared. However, she does not get better on rewatch so I doubt I'll sit through this one again over hiatus. I had issues with the writing, but it's Dabb and Loflin so I am predisposed to dislike it - not an impartial judge of their work. In this one, I disliked their portrayal of Sam but until the end he has the elixir excuse and it's doubtful anything in this episode will carry to other ones. At least I hope it doesn't. I've had my fill of Becky Rosen for at least 5 more years. I do expect to see Garth back. One because he was quirky and fans seemed to positively respond to him. Plus, he's someone they could kill without consequences - always a good thing. Also, DJ Squalls is currently unemployed now that Memphis Beat was cancelled. Here's hoping he finds a permanent job soon. And not on Supernatural.

Grade: Better than I expected. I didn't expect much.

Best scene: If it weren't for Becky, I'd say the initial wedding scene. However, I'm going with Crowley followed by the NotImpala chat.
Best surprise: Crowley of course
Biggest gratitude: I didn't have to watch Becky and Sam having sex. Not enough brain bleach in the world!

Next up: the Jersey Devil, Leviathans, and hunters. Oh my!

Screencaps by Home of the Nutty

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Supernatural - Midseason Polls - Part 1

It's the Supernatural midseason hiatus and you know what that means. It's time for fans to make their own fun. Last summer on SpoilerTV, we did the ultimate Supernatural episode poll. It was successful but some people rightly pointed out that it couldn't be considered the ultimate episode if not every episode went head to head. So to rectify the matter this summer all episodes will have a shot at winning the ultimate crown, even Bugs. However, because there will be 149 episodes by the end of season 7 we have to start ranking episodes now.

The plan: We will run the contest to see where episodes will rank over winter hiatus and the early part of summer hiatus. The top 100 episodes will be ranked by how they do in this contest. The bottom 49 episodes will go head to head to see which ones make it into the contest. The reason for this is that the brackets only work with 128 episodes. This will still allow each episode to go head to head to determine the Best Supernatural Episode.

Unlike the actual contest in the summer, preliminaries will be open for at least one week each. Everyone still only gets 1 vote per IP address though. Voting will be in 6 episode batches by order in which they aired and everyone can vote for 3 episodes per batch. Feel free to sound off in the comments about why you chose what you did.













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Rant - Just Venting so Move Along

Every once in a while I come across something on the internet that changes my life. Yes, that sounds dramatic but it does. Last year that something was SpoilerTV. I found it last summer during the Best Show Competition. Soon I became more addicted to SpoilerTV than the TV shows it highlights. I spent a lot of time on the site and became the #1 commentator, which of course means I spent way too much time there. I loved the community, especially the Supernatural fans who visited there. I made some friends through the site who I am close to and found a group of people who could discuss the show rationally without devolving into brother fights and flame wars. Anyone who follows Supernatural online knows how hard that is. In short, I loved SpoilerTV instantly and it's still the only community of its kind I have found on the internet. I also felt nurtured in its environment and encouraged to write. I had stopped writing years ago and forgot how satisfying it was. I wouldn't have this blog today without SpoilerTV and for that I am grateful. It is a lot of fun to spew my ideas, get feedback from others, and experiment with words and style again. To be sure, I owe SpoilerTV a lot and have tried to actively support it.

However, I have found my joy in SpoilerTV waning in the last months, mostly because of the Badgeville program they have implemented. Don't get me wrong. I think it is great that they have increased web hits and publicity. I am ecstatic that the site is growing because I know how beneficial it can be. I'm just incredibly irked that the comment section has to be affected because of it. It used to be that SpoilerTV had some of the best discussion on the web. When people commented, they usually had something funny or debatable to say. Regardless, they enhanced the conversation. Now SpoilerTV is riddled with people leaving "Thanks" and "Can't wait" comments that are obviously posted to earn the 4 Badgeville points and add absolutely nothing to the conversation. As I have complained monthly in 140 characters or less on Twitter and have probably irritated my followers with my comments, I turn here to vent in order not to go off on someone. If you are reading this, it's your own fault for listening to my whining.

On SpoilerTV there is now a list of who has the most Badgeville points and that's great. However, when I looked at the list and tried to compare who is on it with the comments posted, only 2 people have the same name for Badgeville and for Disqus. Therefore, I could only really use these 2 as my example. Looking at each of their last 20 posts I found that one person had an equal number of posts that were meant to generate conversation and those that are toss-offs (thanks, can't wait - type comments). The other posted 17 toss off comments and only 3 comments that added to the conversation. It's this that is making me irritated with SpoilerTV. When looking at a random array of pages this week, I found that almost every single one had the toss-off "thanks" comments and some had only these. To be fair, certain shows were worse than others and most of the post-episode threads contained at least some meaty comments. Now I know I can ignore the toss-off comments and just go to the meat, but it is rapidly becoming my biggest pet peeve and you know how little those make sense. Perhaps it is because I am so used to finding good conversation at SpoilerTV that opening a thread only to see toss-offs for points irritates me as a waste of time. Maybe it's because people are being blatant about commenting for points in that they are stating in their posts that they don't watch the shows they are commenting on. Maybe it's because almost every thread starts with a toss-off comment, which starts me off in a bad frame of mind when I do wade through comments to find someone who wants a discussion.

In the end, I find that going to SpoilerTV now inevitably makes me cranky at someone and therefore, I spend less and less time on it. It's a shame because I really miss it like ghost cravings of something that used to be a constant presence in your life. It's worse because I haven't found another site that lets me talk about a variety of TV shows and still has people who remember that behind an icon is a real person with feelings. I honestly wish that SpoilerTV would stop using comments as part of the Badgeville program. Then people could still earn points for watching, FB liking, tweeting, etc. but it wouldn't be detrimental to the quality of the site. It would be the best of both worlds. At first I thought things would settle down once the newness of the program wore off, but it is actually getting worse and that's a real shame. I miss all the great conversations I had on SpoilerTV. I miss making new friends through those conversations. Maybe I just miss the magical place SpoilerTV has been for me since the summer of 2010. I hate to see that go away.

Supernatural - 7.07 - The Mentalists - Recap

Note - I am tired of brother wars and just tired all around so here's my take in a nutshell. Dean is right. Sam is right. They both disagree. That's okay because for once the writers allowed them to both be mature about it and I am eternally grateful for that. I live in hope that the next episode doesn't destroy this blessed truce. Now if only the fandom would call one.

Previously - Everything is about Amy. I'm glad she's dead. Now I wish she would die.

In a hokey séance with all the trappings, a woman asks about Uncle Danny. Candles glow, wind blows, puppies play in heaven, and spirits knock. A medium with Ouija board plays on her emotions while a disgruntled man wants answers. Uncle Danny hid some papers and he wants their location. Money's at stake. As Hokey and Grumpy touch the planchette, lights flicker and even Hokey is worried. This is not part of her act. "Maybe Danny didn't like the question." Ha! The fireplace wooshes and dies while lightbulbs burst. Believer scolds Grumpy but Hokey's a goner. Death by planchette through the throat. AWESOME!!! The title card splat brings us Dean and his carry out from Fat Mack's Bar-B-Q Rib Shack. Flo's joining us this evening - score! The bag even has the same pig as the sign in All Dogs Go to Heaven. Dean checks his messages but no call from Sam, so small time jump. He lowjacks a vintage Dodge in terrible condition but more manly than the bunny stickered mess last week. The front seat is covered in a month's supply of fast food wrappers with fuzzy dice on the mirror. "Geez, have some pride." Ha! An obnoxious DJ informs us two mediums died in New York's Lily Dale, "the most psychic town in America." And we have a case. (Side note - I notice Dabb and Loflin on the credits here and dread watching the episode go to hell in a handbasket. I needed to look more closely since they only produced, not wrote it. Thankfully.) At Hokey's home business and crime scene, Dean actually wears gloves. Wow! He finds a tape recording of wind under the table complete with volume control, a button on the chair so the curtains move, and a knob for knocking. Guess Uncle Danny didn't stop chasing Sadie in heaven to give Grumpy clues. (Nice shout out to Jared and Gen's dog.) Dean: "Oh spirits of the further, am I going to win the Powerball? (knocking sound) I'm going to be rich." Bwah! Too bad no one's around to appreciate it.

Lily Dale is bigger than expected and you can't go 3 inches without stumbling over a psychic. A sign announces their annual Psychic Festival but Grandma Goldy, aka Hokey, won't be there. Watch out, other sign people. Dean enters the Good Graces Café where the daily special is "You!" and the soup is State of Bliss. Not Dean's kind of place. Even I'm getting ill from the goodwill. Host: "You get a free affirmation with every order." Huh? Um, ok. Bwah! Dean is speechless. He decides to try the taco joint until he hears Sam talking on the phone and heads over to Sam's dismay. "You always wear a suit to get your palm read." So, Dean's going for the avoidance strategy. Don't think it'll work. Dean chats about high EMF readings, but Sam is silent. He's still ticked; he has a right to be. Dean says Hokey didn't have the mojo to summon spirits and real psychics are rare. Shout out to past episodes. Ah Pamela I miss you. Ugh Missouri, I hope you're dead. Dean asks how Sam's been, as Host takes his order. "You are a virile manifestation of the divine." He's like a creepy, walking fortune cookie. Dean: "What the hell did he say to me?" Basically, New Age speak for "You're hot," Dean. Sam starts to speak but Dean rudely interrupts him. He's trying to avoid Sam's words, but that won't solve anything. "We're both here, alright. The odds of either one of us leaving while people are still dying out there.." He gestures zero. "You might as well bite the bullet and work with me on this one." Sam doesn't know if he can. Dean: "I'm not asking you to open up a can of worms. OK, I'm not even asking you where the hell you've been for the last week and a half." Sam says good to Dean's shock. Um Dean, you realize he's royally ticked right? "I'm just saying let's try and stop the killings. That's it." Sam agrees.

A woman does a double take; Sam assures her they aren't the serial killers. Dean: "No those depraved killers got put down like the dogs they were. Us on the other hand, we're completely harmless." OK! Thanks Flo for remembering they were the object of a country wide manhunt a few days ago. ScrewLoose gushes, "I can see by your energies you are completely gentle." No psychic points for you. Nikolai Lishin, Russian spoon bender, interrupts. Since he was on the Psychic Festival poster and has talked with Dean and Sam, I put his odds of surviving equal to a unicorn walking down the street. Possible but just barely. He thinks hard at Sam's spoon and leaves. Sam refocuses on the case, and what do you know, poster child #1 (Imelda Graven) was the first victim. "She was brained by her own crystal ball." I'd bet on the unicorn before Nikolai. Dean notices that Hokey and Imelda wear the same necklace and Sam explains that Imelda left it to Hokey in her will. Cursed object? Great throw back to earlier seasons! I like it. Sam puts sugar in his coffee when his spoon bends. "He broke my spoon." BWAH!!!!

The brothers interview Hokey's granddaughter Melanie together. She goes the fake psychic route minus set dressing. She reads people instead. "It's just less woo woo, more body language." I like her; she says woo woo. She reads the Winchesters as having worked together a long time, but Sam is ticked and Dean is stressed. "It's not brain surgery." Agreed, the brothers radiate tension. Hokey was a believer, Melanie's not, Dean says he has an open mind, and Sam harumphs. Bet Melanie's mind is more open in 30 minutes. If she lives through it. The necklace is at the Emporium so we head there. The owner, Jimmy Tomorrow (sigh) says emporium; I say pawn shop. He's brilliant too. "You're looking for something." Maybe I should head to Lily Dale to try my hand at palm reading. He calls the necklace the Orb of Thesulah. Say what? A Buffy /Angel reference? 2 weeks late is better than nothing. Jimmy claims it's very rare, which Dean correctly assumes means pricey. "Well in that case, we'll be taking the state's evidence discount." Ha! Sam says it's a murder investigation, "and we'd like to personally thank you for not obstructing." But Jimmy isn't keen to let it go and grabs Sam's wrist. "You know I give personal energetic readings." Creepy. Sam and I can't leave there soon enough. Jimmy states Sam is angry and dealing with loss. He gives Sam his card. I understand Sam's mad - no reason to keep reminding me. Outside Dean says Jimmy "went a little Mentalist" on Sam. Nice catch, Wilson. The reference went completely over my head. Dean asks what the orb of Thessulah is and I raise my hand. "I know. Pick me." Sam's answer is funnier. "I know one thing. It's made in Taiwan." BWAH! "A fake around here. Imagine that." Dean says the medium killer is still out there and we pan on Nikolai's face. Should have bet on the unicorn. He dumps silverware on a coffee table, waves his hands, and bends a fork, which magically straightens itself. Lights flicker, cutlery stands on its own, and Nikolai falls flat on it. This episode has some cool deaths.

On the scene Dean snarks, I laugh, Sam doesn't. Yikes! Sam introduces Dean to the sheriff as Agent Bourne. Better than Agent Smith. The sheriff is delightfully deadpan. "It's a weird one. Chest full of cutlery." I love guest stars who play cops on this show. Still, I'm skeptical he doesn't mention they look like last week's serial killers. I guess Flo's on a snack break. The tip line has 46 calls. Most popular theory? "It's a tossup between a ghost and some sort of ogre that only attacks Russians." Bwah! Dean: "Policing Lily Dale sounds fun." Sheriff: "It's either this or Los Angeles." (Possible Mentalist reference) Ha! I love this sheriff. Sheriff claims it's not all "spirit monkeys". Nikolai had a death vision "cutlery and all". So did Melanie's grandma, who left voice mail predicting her own death. A cold room means ghosts. Melanie freaks that they believe in ghosts. Dean: "Yeah see there's fake woo woo c** and there's real woo woo c**." Dean says ghosts are practically normal. She thinks X-Files but Sam admits they aren't Feds. Melanie: "I need a drink." Dean: "I support that." I laugh but hope Dean remains drink free. The writers oblige. Outside, they theorize that ghosts travel via crystal ball. "Woah, that means that every storefront in town has a ghost satellite dish." Hee. Plus summoning spirits is big business there. Dean: "Yeah dude but most of these guys can't even call a taxi." Love the one-liners! Kudos writers. Sam retorts that someone must be the real deal. Dean is less than excited about Lily Dale. I am less than excited that Sam wants to split up although it makes sense given the long suspect list. Sadly, Melanie's fake psychic friend gets her own death vision after bilking a customer worried her brother is going to jail. She tells the customer not to fret since "family is a pain in the a** anyhow." The anvil of brotherly discord has dropped on my head so many times I have a fractured skull. Perhaps Supernatural can spare a fake insurance card? My stomach hurls as she cheesily thanks the spirits right until she says, "Now will that be cash or credit?" BWAH!!! But glowing white eyes kill the mood. Jamaican Phony will die at 2:00 by strangulation.

Enter Dean and Melanie. There's no trace of accent when she says, "Phony lawman, huh?" Dean: "Yeah because nobody can relate to phony around here." Ha! She explains her vision and doesn't want to die. Dean says they'll figure it out. I can't figure out why these psychics don't leave. Luckily, Phony tapes her sessions and they see the ghost on computer slow-mo. Dean tells us the ghost gives people visions. I'm suspicious. Why tell people you're going to kill them, then give them time to prepare? Even in the spirit world it makes no sense. Melanie points Dean to the Psychic Museum, where a tour is in progress. Sam scowls at the ectoplasm display; I laugh as the guide says, "Walking, walking" in the background. Loved the tour guide in Long-Distance Call. ("And we're walking, walking. And we're not touching that.") In the Hall of Sibling Acts, watch out for flying anvils. It's like lethal dodgeball in there. Annie was super busy this episode. Guide: "Never ended well for the siblings….the strain of working together, maybe just being around each other all their lives." The one exception was a homosexual couple posing as the Campbell brothers. Egads! Get me out of here before I'm comatose. They get a hit with the Fox sisters, founders of Lily Dale. Kate was troubled and had death visions. Margaret wasn't as talented. "She didn't have her sister's charisma, but she looked after Kate. Sometimes one's true gift is taking care of others." Really show? You want me comatose? Bah! They get cemetery info and I'm as ready as Sam is to leave. Dean goes to join him, but Guide grabs his wrist and gives him a message from Ellen. "She seems quite concerned about you. She wants to tell you, pardon me. If you don't tell someone how bad it really is, she'll kick your a** from beyond. You have to trust someone again eventually." You tell him spirit Ellen! Guide reminds him of the gift shop as Dean is left befuddled. I empathize.

Outside, Dean wants to talk but Sam is cemetery-focused. That's a role reversal anvil flying your way. Dean is tired of just the facts and Sam reminds him he agreed to it. Dean: "No we agreed to work the case. We didn't agree for you to be a d** the whole time." Sam's flabbergasted and even after watching this 3 times I'm not sure how I feel about it. "You're p** ok and you've got a right." Sam: "Yeah, damn straight." Dean: "But enough's enough." Sam: "Says who? Look, I'll work this damn case but you lied to me. And you killed my friend." He starts to walk off. Dean: "No, I put down a monster who killed 4 people and if you didn't know her, you'd have done the same thing." Sam: "I did know her, Dean." Dean: "Yeah which is why you couldn't do it. Look I get it. There's certain people in this world, no matter how dangerous they are, you just can't." Sam: "Don't pull that card. That's bull. Look, if I've learned one thing, it's that if something feels wrong, it probably is." Dean: "Usually, yeah. Killing Amy was not wrong. You couldn't do it so I did. That's what family does. They do the dirty work and I would have told you eventually once I knew that this whole waving a gun at Satan thing was a one-time show. I think it's reasonable to want to know that you're off the freakin' high dive Sam. You almost got us both killed. So you can be p** all you want but quit being a b**." Dean walks off as Sam's jaw twitches.

[My take: I both fret over and celebrate this scene, mostly since they are both partially right. Still, even with both sides together it doesn't feel like the whole truth. Dean says Sam has every right to be angry and he does. Dean lied to him numerous times. It's even worse because he harped at Sam for not telling about the hellucinations earlier in the season. Sam wasn't right about hellucination hiding and Dean wasn't right about Amy lying. Both brothers know lies get you what you need in the hunting world but they have ample proof it doesn't work in their relationship. If lying was the heart of this conversation, then the solution is simple. Dean needs to apologize profusely and sincerely and vow to never lie to Sam again. Sam needs time to build trust in Dean again. However, this conversation seems to debate whether Dean was right to kill Amy or not. I'm not even a little bit objective about this. Amy needed to die for reasons I shared ad nauseam in the Girl Next Door recap. For this, I celebrate the conversation because it allows Dean to explain why he killed Amy.

My first objection is Sam calling Amy his friend. He knew Amy maybe a couple hours as a teen and maybe another hour as an adult, where he had a knife to her throat a good portion of the time. Yes, it was an intense few hours but there's no indication they kept in touch. Sam needed to save Amy because she saved him and he saw himself in her plight. That's not friendship. That's overidentifying. He was desperate to save Amy because he saw her as a person taking control of her life when her nature fought against it. For someone hearing Satan in constant surround sound that's a real comfort and hope. He wanted to believe she could make it because then maybe he would make it too. That's a natural reaction and there's no faulting it, but it does leave you blind to the person's circumstances and nature. The truth is if Amy felt her son was threatened, she would kill again and it wouldn't matter who was standing in the way. She used their brief history as a shield but it wouldn't stop her from killing Sam if she thought Jake was in trouble. I firmly believe Sam's reaction is less about Dean killing Amy than it is about him killing the hope Sam had in Amy. She represented a piece of control he had in a dark time and now it's gone.

That however does not imply that Dean was wrong to kill her to me. I agree the brothers take turns doing dirty jobs for each other. Dean felt Sam's judgment about Amy was clouded by his current predicament. I agree. I also agree that sometimes family has to step in when someone is incapable of doing things themselves. It's part of being family. However, I do not under any circumstances believe lying to Sam was the right thing. Yes, Sam was too close to the situation but letting him find out by accident or through another does him a great disservice and threatens the brother relationship when Sam needs Dean most. Dean fears Sam is walking the high dive with no water below and based on the warehouse scene, that's a valid concern. However, it doesn't give him the right to treat Sam like a child. Dean was perfectly capable of logically laying out his reasons here. Why couldn't he do that in the motel? It would be a hard conversation and probably wouldn't end well, but it was the mature thing to do especially after asking Sam to be honest with him. To lie to Sam was absolutely hypocritical and he knew it. The proof is in his reaction. My real concern with this scene though is that once Dean clears the air he walks off. He was mature enough to tackle a tough topic and call the elephant in the room, doesn't give Sam time to react? To counter him? That's the same chicken move that got them both in this mess to begin with and calling someone a b** is hardly conducive for continued conversation. In fact, I rooted for Sam to punch Dean right here. If nothing else, it would be a tension breaker. If this is where the episode left the brothers, I would have been royally ticked. Thank goodness for the end scene.]

Apparently righteous anger doesn't outweigh saving people so the brothers work a little salt and burn together. Love it and the aerial shot accompanying it! Don't see many of those. Sam breaks open the coffin, puzzling over the same issue I have. "I get why she's killing people. I just don't get why she's warning them." The obvious answer - she's not killing. As every anvil is labeled family dysfunction it must be her sister. Suddenly Kate materializes in the graveyard, pushes Sam down, and tells Dean, "Listen to me. Why isn't anyone listening?" Yep, she's warning people, but try a less cryptic way next time. Perhaps showing them their future death isn't the best way to get someone to trust you. Like we say in elementary school, use your words. Dean: "You don't get a vote." He flicks his lighter but it doesn't work. Instead Sam lights a match and goodbye ghost, right through Dean. If this was supposed to be a lesson in how neither brother listens in crisis mode, it went completely over my head at first. I was too happy to see the brothers work in tandem on a common goal after their fight. Perhaps that anvil missed me but don't worry, Dean's phone call to Melanie saying the ghost is gone brings its own foreboding. 27 minutes in and the fake psychic friends decide to go to Melanie's house. Really? You all should be halfway to New Jersey by now. I feel a bit better when Melanie tells her friend to stay with her for awhile, but that relief ends when they pick up her friend's things right at 2:00 am. Could you tempt Fate harder? I swear there are gold threads around somewhere. You couldn't have stopped at a gas station for a toothbrush on your way home? Sometimes PiP's on this show deserve to die. The clock strikes, the ghost appears, and Melanie calls Dean frantic. Sam takes the phone from Dean and tells Melanie to get salt. Alas, they run out of salt, Melanie goes down, and Camille can play fetch with Sadie. Dean comforts a distraught Melanie while the brothers exchange looks.

The next morning it's Dean who's distraught. "We should have known that whole good sis-bad sis story was just showmanship c**. Oh and it turns out that Kate was just trying to warn people about her evil b** sister and we burned her bones. So that's gone." Thanks for the recap Dean. Writers, the plot's not that complicated. We got it. Sam refocuses Dean before the guilt train drops from the sky. "All we can do now is go stop her." Dean says that's not good enough and for once the brothers agree. I sigh. Melanie comes down the stairs and Sam asks, "Can we talk about this later?" I'm excited that he plans on a later. Melanie nicely tells them to leave and I'm frankly stumped by that one. Does she want to die? They look at her with guilt and pity but explain Margaret is still out there and she tells them the only target was Camille and that Margaret is sadistic. We already knew that too. Next up, a daylight salt and burn. Yikes! The brothers really are shaken up by this ghost. Dean starts shoveling. "I feel naked doing this in the daylight." Sam plays look out and agrees. Then they switch places. Dean: "Alright Mags, my lighter's juiced this time." Hard to believe it wasn't last time, but whatever. It doesn't matter since Margaret's bones are missing. Taking someone's bones is used in binding magic, according to Sam. "Great psycho ghost b** on a leash." There's a live person behind this and I naturally suspect Melanie. After all this story is ripe with family issues.

Sam suggests calling Bobby but lo and behold, the brothers figure out the motive on their own. Love that! Dean picks up the Psychic Festival flyer. "Hey Sam, you know why I'm not going to spend my money at the Annual Lily Dale ESP Festival and hot dog eating contest this year?" Because you know they're all fakes and you can't use fake credit cards anymore? Just a guess. "Because all of the headliners are dead." That too. Apparently our demon friend Envy has moved to the astral plane. Hokey wrote a book. Imelda was on the Nate Berkus Show. (Had to Google him. He had an interior design psychic on his show. Who knew psychics specialized?) Melanie fills in the blanks; Camille was next in line for the spotlight. Unfortunately, Melanie moves to the head of the line now. Meanwhile Sam heads to the Pawn Shop Emporium with a list of items he presumably got from Bobby. Jimmy asks why him. Sam: "I'm kind of doubting they sell ashwood altars at the Gas n Sip." I kind of wonder if America has Gas n Sips. Midwest folks are partial to QT. Jimmy pulls out a handwritten ledger to get Sam an address. I guess psychics don't need computers. Back at Melanie's, Dean makes up for Camille's lack of salt. The plan - Dean and Melanie stay in the salt circle until Sam burns the bones. I'm nervous about Plan A ever since Jo froze the window and shattered the salt line. Melanie asks if burning bones causes ghosts pain. Neither Dean or I thought about that but he says probably. If we get guilt about ghost pain out of this, I'm dropping anvils on the writers' heads. Melanie: "Good." Guess not. I worried for Dean's safety here even though it's a natural response.

The day must have flown since it's night as Sam pulls up at the address. Is it in New Jersey? He kicks open the door, gun at the ready only to find….a Lamaze class. BWAH!!! @_FallingSlowly_ suggested Gen should have been there. I would have died! The woman running the class is none other than ScrewLoose from the café so we are still in Lily Dale. Sam: "You're not a necromancer?" ScrewLoose: "This is a Lamaze class I swear." Ha! Bet she thinks Sam has a screw loose. He leaves awkwardly as we both figure out Jimmy controls things. Glad you're not evil Melanie. Sam uses Jimmy's business card to track him down while Margaret's face pokes through Melanie's window. Yikes! At Jimmy's, Sam finds an altar and picks up the requisite skull. Color me not shocked when Jimmy comes up behind him and plants a pistol in his neck. Guess Jimmy doesn't use a gun much. I learned from Dean in Everybody Loves a Clown that this makes it easy for the person to get the gun, which Sam does. Sam dumps the altar releasing the binding spell, but Margaret and Jimmy have a twisted love thing going fueled by envy and crazy. They both had real talent overlooked because of their lack of showmanship. Now that's overidentifying! Margaret blows out the windows at Melanie's and bye bye salt circle. Dean: "Dammit, I hate when they do that." She enters the circle and tosses Dean. Luckily Melanie is ready with iron and Dean with a sawed off. They remake the salt circle in the kitchen but this time Margaret takes out the floorboards. "Oh, sorry handsome." The gun jams so it's iron chains next.

Flipping back, Jimmy whines about people not appreciating him and how he can't afford Lily Dale anymore. Shut up, Jimmy. Alas, he is talented so the gun flies back to him. Sam tries to reason with him about killing innocent people but he's a psychopath. "I live in squalor because I can't put on a show like them." That justifies killing them? How about acting lessons, idiot? Sam realizes the bones are in the bedroom. I realize Jimmy cannot shoot to save his life. When Jimmy looks back at his bedroom, Sam pulls his gun. A second later, the world is freed from one more psycho moron. Good thing because Margaret's kicking the stuffing out of Dean. I'm creeped out by the implications of Sam finding Margaret's bones in Jimmy's bed. This is as creepy as the mannequin scene last year. Melanie chokes, Dean wakes up and Sam salts and burns Margaret's bones in Jimmy's bed. Goodbye Margaret, hello block fire. The bone thing isn't any less creepy in the daytime at the Good Graces Café when Sam recaps for Dean. "I can't believe he was boning her." Sam and I can't believe he said that out loud . Host asks if they need anything else. Dean: "Just a refill and if you affirmate (sic) me, I'm going to punch you in the face." BWAH!!! The guy's face is priceless but there will be no affirming today. "I can't wait to get out of this freaking fortune cookie." Aw, I like this episode far more than I thought I would. Melanie enters. Sam: "I'm gonna, uh, do something outside." Ha! Melanie says thanks and Dean says there's no need. Is he channeling his inner Bobby here? He's upset he didn't save Camille, but Melanie explains that he didn't kill Camille. I hope Dean gets that too. She notices Dean and Sam are doing better and the second half of the episode highlights that. Melanie: "Wish we'd met on a better week." Dean: "I wish I had better weeks." Aw. They chat about maybe meeting again but a palm reading can't clear it up and I would find it extremely odd if they did. She's not psychic, doesn't hunt, and I doubt she's a big source of information so what's left for her to do.

Dean meets up with Sam packing his things in NotPala's trunk. This is a good sign. Sam: "I figured we'd take one car." I like this plan. Dean: "Works for me. You still want to break my face." Nah, that scene has passed. Sam grins. "Not at this moment. You know what, um, you were right about Amy and if she was just any monster, I'm not sure I could have let her walk away. I don't know. I mean, I'll never know." I'm happily floored by the chance of a mature brother conversation on their differences. Do not blow this Dean with humor. "So what are you saying?" Sam: "What I'm saying is I get why you did it. You were just trying to make sure no one else got hurt. But here's the thing, you can't just look me in the face and tell me you're fine. I mean you're not sleeping, you drink for the record.." Dean interrupts, "Oh here we go" and I have an intense desire to kick him. DO NOT BLOW THIS DEAN!!! Sam: "Look whatever, last one to preach I know, but just be honest with me. How are those the actions of someone who knows they did the right thing?" Awesome Sammy. Just awesome. Do not stop until you get an answer. Dean: "You want me to be honest?" Sam: "Yeah." Dean: "I went with my gut and that felt right. I didn't trust her Sam. Of course ever since Cas I'm having a hard time trusting anybody. And as far as how I've been acting, I don't know. Maybe it's because I don't like lying to you. You know, it doesn't feel right. So yeah, you got me there. I've been climbing the walls." Hmm, is something else going on Dean? The side look down doesn't feel right and I don't want any more surprises. Please let that be only guilt. Sam: "I know how that is." Dean nods. Sam: "But hey, if I learned one thing from that museum, sibling acts are tough." Dean: "Uh. Don’t compare us to that hall of crazy. We're like poster kids of functional family life compared to that." Dean I tried not to compare but all those anvils left a deep impression in my cranium. Sam: "That's a low bar." Ha! So true! Dean: "Well hey, grading on a curve has gotten me past everything since kindergarten so don't knock it." Sam agrees as the brothers enter NotPala healthier and maybe a bit happier. I know I'm a whole lot happier now that they've talked about Amy like adults. Sam: "I still want to know how the guy bent my spoon." Dean: "Forget it Sam. It's Lily Dale." The brothers smile together and they're off.

Review - After a second watch, I decided I really like this episode. It's strengths outweighed it's weaknesses, which are more annoying than insurmountable. The end all and be all is the brothers back together again. Yes, it was too simple and I don't think we're done with their trust issues. I have a feeling these will chase us the entire season. However, I'm greatly relieved by this new step toward maturity they've taken and I swear if the writers ruin it next episode I'm going ballistic. They've finally gotten to a point where they can have differences and be annoyed and still communicate in a healthy way. It better last. I also thought the humor was spot on this episode. The one-liners flew and reminded me of season 1 wit. In fact much of the episode did, showing that new kids, Ben Blacker and Ben Acker, obviously did their homework. Love how they respected the show enough to do so. The ghost story, salt and burns, actual investigating, smart brothers, and even Melanie all brought me back to a time when Supernatural was simpler and yet the relationship itself has never been more complicated. I like how the story didn't overshadow the characters. A complicated plot line would have lessened the punch so I'm glad they took this road. Still I hated the return of Wincest throwaway lines; they need a good salt and burn. I also have a problem with all that anvil dodging. Otherwise it's in the win column. So far season 7 is shaping up to be better than seasons 4, 5, and 6 for me.

Grade: B

Next week - Sam heads down the aisle and I fear Becky's return more than any Leviathan to ever escape Purgatory.


Best surprise: The brothers talk honestly and maturely about the Amy situation. (And the Bens wrote the episode.)
Worst surprise: Freaking Wincest line.
Most important scene: Brother fight outside of the museum. (Yes I know it's crazy not to pick the end scene.)
Best death - Planchette in the throat
Best line: "He broke my spoon."

Other great lines:
"It's just less woo woo, more body language."
"We'll be taking the state's evidence discount."
"Their spirit monkey said so."
"If you affirmate me, I'm going to punch you in the face."


Screencaps by Home of the Nutty

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