Seriously, What is Wrong with Sam?
The brothers are merging their various weapon stashes into the Impala’s trunk again and Dean stops their departure to question Sam. He remarks that Sam has seemed incredibly different since his return from Hell. He knows what it’s like to feel the lingering effects of being there, after all. But Sam dismisses his concern and insinuates that Dean simply isn’t as strong as he is to get over an experience like that. Oh, wait, he clarifies that ‘they’re different’. Which is the same thing.
Dean still looks troubled as they get into the Impala and the episode ends.
For the first time in a long time, we get a ‘Soon’- a collection of clips from, I believe, episodes 6.04, 6.05 and 6.06. We see Bobby, who returns in next week’s episode, along with Rufus, and remarks that monsters are starting to act very weird. We get our first peek at the vampire parody episode, which looks hilarious. And we’ll be seeing Lisa again, when Dean tells her he can’t bring his life home to her anymore. Dean also gets cursed with Truth – and tells Sam he has a few questions he wants answered (likely relating to his stint in Hell). There’s also a creepy moment where Dean tells Bobby there’s something wrong with Sam and Dean asks Sam if he still has his back. You can take a look at the sneak peek yourself here.
The Good Old Days
I don’t know what else to say except that after two weeks of a slow-build, we’re finally getting back on track with this episode. It feels like earlier seasons – the boys playing feds, the return of angels, the debate over whether there’s something wrong with Sam, even lingering questions over one of the brothers’experiences in Hell. While this wasn’t Edlund’s most memorable episode, there was his trademark goriness, as well as some awesome one-liners.
Sometimes I want to bang my head against the wall for how long this show has been serving up the question of ‘what’s wrong with Sam?’and the trust issues between the brothers. I mean, this has been going on for years. It puts a rift in their relationship, which really hasn’t been steady since season 2. The moment Dean made his deal, the brothers started drifting apart, even if they’ve come together at the most important times to deal with catastrophes. That’s not to say they don’t love each other – of course they do – but there’s just too much emotional baggage between them to go back to what they were before.
Thus, even though the age-old debate about Sam is exhausting, it’s also familiar. And I like familiar in this show. I like the brothers investigating cases and bashing angels. I like Cas and his frustration at Sam and Dean’s unfamiliar references. I also understand that we likely won’t have the Sam question resolved too quickly, so I’ve resigned myself to that. Still, I feel like we’re finally back on familiar terrain.
Also, SHIRTLESS PADALECKI CHIN-UPS! Yeah, my brain actually tuned out after that. I have no idea how I managed to write this review.
Final Questions
If Cas has been in Heaven for the last year, what the heck has been going on with his vessel, Jimmy Novak? Has he been chilling somewhere in a safe place? Living out his normal life only to get take over again? I don’t know why this is bothering me so much. Also, seriously, what about Adam?! Grade: A-
Check out promo photos for the October 15 episode, featuring the return of Bobby.
clarissa @ tvovermind.com
twitter.com/clarissa373
Follow Us
Sam should have hit Castiel in the face for ignoring him, I mean Sam proved himself over and over last season if he hadn't gone to hell there wouldn't be a heaven left for Cas to lead so pompously. He can get over himself. I really dislike that character.
And I am disliking everything they've been doing with the show so far. Sam was my favourite and they are ruining him so completely it's disgusting. If they did this to Dean there'd be an outcry but there are so few Sam girls who are sticking with this show because of what they are doing that nobody notices the fact that they are gutting this show from the inside out by doing what they're doing to Sam.
Stop leaving him to deal with till mid season and give us Sam back because this robot is making me turn off. He's not the character I watch this show for.
That's an interesting argument since the new showrunner, Sera Gamble, is a self-admitted SamGirl. I'm interested in seeing how they'll redeem Sam this season, because I think they'll have to given what's been going on in his character. But you're right, I think his last act in season 5 did redeem him.
Jimmy is dead I think….Cass is occupying an empty vessel.
Poor guy, if that's the case, but I think I agree with you. But obviously the guy's body has to be hanging around somewhere, if that's the case. Ew…
Frankly, I forgot to worry about what happened to Adam after the first couple of episodes (which is weird because I actually don't mind him). Glad someone else wondered what happened to Jimmy, though.
I don't know why, but I can't get what happened to Adam out of my head. If we never get the answer, then I feel like he was just a plot device. Which, okay, maybe have been the point, but they developed his character pretty well given the time constraints and I kind of figured he deserved better than to be thrown away.
Re: what happened to Jimmy: could it be something like what Ana did back in Season 4? Her own 'vessel' was vapourised, but she still took Ana's form when she returned, and when Castiel asked her why she chose to appear like that she replied that she was sentimental (or maybe nostalgic, I don't remember exactly). Also, in 'The Rapture' in Season 4 (which I haven't seen in about a year, so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong), when Jimmy offers himself up as Castiel's vessel in order to save his daughter, doesn't Castiel warn him that this time it would be forever, there would be no going back? As though Jimmy's conciousness was going to disappear or something. I don't know. Anyway, those are my thoughts on the 'Jimmy's body' theory. Though for all we know, he might have been like Raphael's vessel, sitting drooling in a nursing home somewhere.