(no subject)

Sep 13, 2006 10:01

This was the first time I'd rewatched the episode, and there was a lot to love. I do adore the episodes that shine light on the Winchester psyche.



So, right off the top there's the bit at the gas station where Dean is filling up the Impala and Sam is checking his email. Dean taunts Sam about lying to his friends and says it 'sucks' but 'is easier' to just not keep up with anyone once you leave town. Sam accuses him of being anti-social. (Meanwhile, I can't help but think, 'poor woobie lonely!Dean)

Perhaps the best part of the gas station scene (to my mind) is when Sam announces he has to go to St. Louis to help Rebecca and Zack. Dean protests at first:

Dean: St. Louis is 400 miles behind us, Sam!
Sam: ::pleading/demanding stare::
Dean: ::totally caves::

Poof, they materialize in St. Louis. I'm a little 'eh' on Rebecca. I think the actress' affect was off somehow, although I can't describe it any better than that. Too high-pitched, too something. I dunno. Anyway, once she got into describing the situation with her brother it was better, but every time she was talking with Sam about missing him I found her performance jarring. That quibble aside, I do like how Dean keeps giving Sam shit about lying to his friends. It's the sort of needling that siblings give each other - I'm not gonna drop the subject! I'm not gonna drop the subject! Is this bugging you? - and also because I see it as Dean proving to Sam that the two of them are not that different, that Dean's antisocial behaviors are hardwon and serve a purpose. They help him get the job done while maintaining a degree of anonymity.

Cut to random business man. Dude, there was some great horror-movie camera work going on in this episode, namely the angles that make you think something is watching. And even though you are on edge and you know something is there, holy shit does it scare you when you finally see it. Or, you know, it scares me anyway. The whole scene where the guy comes home to find the bloody handprint, and then his bloody wife tied to a chair, and he hears something in the house and goes to investigate...jesus christ, that was white-knuckle time.

Back to the boys discussing Zack's case. They logic themselves into investigating the back (because the camera caught Zack going in, but not coming out and the police aren't looking for an exit because they think they caught the culprit inside) and I'm left with a wee logical quibble of my own. If the camera caught 'Zack' going inside at 10:00 PM, why didn't it *also* show him going inside after midnight? This minor annoyance aside, I enjoyed watching our heroes think about the case, finding clues, and deciding that the bad thing must be moving around in the sewers. It's so detective-y and besides, they're hot when they think. It makes them look all competent, plus brothers working together = yay!

When they go down to the sewers to do some investigation, there's some more great character-building exchanges. Dean tells Sam, 'you lie to your friends because if they knew the truth about you they'd freak' or something like that, so now I naturally want to see the story where Dean tells a friend and they, you know, freak out. (I'm a Dean girl, I'm all about the snarky guy in every fandom, seriously, it's a weakness. I can't help myself. That maybe explains why this simple line makes me think, awwwww, woobie!Dean! Because it totally does.) Anyway, Dean says 'it would be easier if...' and Sam interrupts him to say, 'if I were like you?'

Meanwhile, they shine their flashlights around, discover a hideous mass of something yucky and decide the shapeshifter is shedding each skin. They agree that this is disgusting. Then, when I am least expecting it, Sam turns to look at Dean and holy shit, there's a fucking shapeshifter right behind him. I admit that I jumped and shrieked, even though I've seen the episode before.

The boys give chase. I have just this to say: Sam, could you possibly look any more sketchy than you do running on the street, with one hand under your hoodie so obviously clutching a gun? Maybe if you really put in some effort you could look more sketchy. Hey, I know! What if you pull a stocking over your head and *then* go running around on the street with a gun? Or maybe you could start randomly mumbling about the apocalypse being nigh, that might work. Let's be honest, though, you'd have to do something really spectacular to look more sketchy than you do in that moment. Two points from house winchester for poor planning and distinct lack of street skilz.

When Sam and Dean meet back up I love that Sam has not one teensy iota of doubt that the shapeshifter is not his brother. Yay, Sammy for not being fooled! Boo, Sammy for getting cold-cocked even when you are on your guard. Seriously, what was up with that? You do look good when you're all hurt and tied up, though, so I guess I'll forgive you.

Okay, how much do I love the next scene where the shapeshifter sorta download's Dean's thoughts and starts spilling to Sam in order to hurt him, but as far as I'm concerned the shapeshifter's monologue is a personal gift to me:

He’s sure got issues with you. You got to go to college, he had to stay home. I mean I had to stay home. With dad. You think I didn’t have dreams of my own? Deep down I’m just jealous. You have friends. You could have a life. Me, I know I’m a freak and sooner or later everyone’s going to leave me. You left. Hell, I did everything Dad asked me to and he just left me too. No explanation, no nothing.

Awwww, poor woobie Dean. Also, I desperately want to know what his dreams were. In Devil's Trap we learn about him wanting to be a fireman (and oh, god, that one hurts when you think about him daydreaming about saving his mom) and earlier Papa Winchester talks about wanting Dean could have a hom, suggesting maybe that is one of Dean's secret dreams, but seriously, what did Dean want to be when he grew up? When did he give up on those dreams and why? These are the thoughts that keep me awake at night, or would if I weren't so darn tired.

Cut to the creepy scene where shapeshifter!Dean starts puttin' his smoove move on Becky. Go with your gut, girl! Feeling freaked out? Pay attention to that feeling!

Back to the sewers where Sam frantically tries to get free and then hears Dean's voice from across the room. Dean makes a LOT of geeky pop culture references throughout the season, and here it is a Star Trek reference. Sam says, "He didn’t just look like you, he was you. Or he was becoming you. Its like he was downloading your thoughts or something." and Dean asks, "what, like a vulcan mind meld?" Me: *heart*

Dean gets himself free and goes to cut Sam loose. Sam's talking - I forget what about - but Dean quietly says, 'Hands.' to tell Sammy to not make any sudden moves near the sharp object. Something about that soft warning was incredibly touching. Awww, boys who love each other and can communicate in one-word sentences.

Dean storms through the streets, swearing to 'find that handsome bastard' and exact some revenge. Sam trails after him, feebly protesting 'we don't have any weapons.' Dean is not to be put off, though, particularly after the insult of the shapeshifter driving his car. Snarky Dean and brotherly banter make my little heart sing.

Sam gives himself up to the police in order to buy Dean some time. Sam hisses a warning to Dean not to go into the sewers alone. Cut to Dean, going into the sewer by himself. Dean, how are you so competent and yet so stupid? Good god, man, wait for back up!

Cut to Dean finding Rebecca, and Sam having drinks with 'Rebecca.' Watch out, Sammy! (I think to myself. But it is too late, 'Rebecca' cold-cocks him with a beer bottle and he flops over onto the couch.) He wakes up to find himself tied up and 'Dean' planning to torture him for a few pleasurable hours before killing him. That kinda shit can ruin a good car trip, you know?

Anyway, Sam gets all badass on the shapeshifter and is holding his own while the shapeshifter grunts, 'even when we were kids I could always kick your ass.' Yeah, 'Dean.' Maybe that's because you were four years older and when you're a kid four years is a huge difference developmentally speaking. Maybe you shouldn't be all bragging on how you could kick a four-year-old's ass when you were eight. Or a twelve-year-old's ass when you were 16 or whatever. Maybe that's nothing to brag about. I'm just sayin'.

Despite the fight starting off good, the shapeshifter gets the upper hand and starts throttling Sam. Sam is choking for breath, struggling to get the thing off him. Just when it starts to look dire for our hero, real!Dean arrives to save the day.

There's an interestingly tense moment when Dean stares at himself, and then he pulls the trigger and hits himself twice in the torso. He and Sam both stare at the dead 'Dean' like they're looking at a future they don't want to think about. Rebecca runs to Sam to see if he's okay.

The best part of the last scene is when the boys are in the car on their way out of town.

Dean: Sorry, man. I just wish things could be different. I wish you could be joe college.

Sam: You know, deep down, even at Stanford I never really fit in.

Dean: That’s because you’re a freak. Well, I’m right there with you.

Sam: Yeah, I know you are.

Duuuude. They love each other! It's them against the world! One for all and all for one or something! I'm a sucker for that.

To sum up: woobie! Also, I <3 Sam-n-Dean.
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