And then the first scene set the mood – taxidermied rodents dressed up as Game of Throne characters. The episode was a weird mix of old-school Supernatural, Dr. Doolittle, The Matrix, and Men in Black. Going into this, the previews sounded like the dumbest storyline ever. Dean talking to dogs? But I laughed. (Dean barking at the mailman.) I cried. (Dean checking out the poodle. Bestiality? Again? Really?) Overall, I liked it despite some obvious critical points, mostly because of its simplicity. It was a refreshing change to just get back to Sam and Dean hunting a messed up, creepy monster – in this case a freaky-assed mega snake monster.
The Highlights
After reading some news reports, Sam and Dean head out on the trail of a freaky-assed mega snake monster, who we later learn is a chef with stage 4 cancer, who has started eating animal organs to take on their characteristics to postpone his death.Because Bobby is not around to act as deus ex machina, they call Kevin instead for some solutions, and he sends them instructions on an untested spell he read about in the Men of Letters archives from Intuit Native Americans who found a way to mind-meld with animals. Dean tries this spell so that he can speak to Colonel, an orphaned dog belonging to the first victim, who was a witness to two of the murders. He soon finds that he’s not only talking to dogs, he’s talking to all animals, and he adopts the behaviors and smell of a dog.
This is a world in which animals not only have a universal language, they also apparently speak telepathically, because Dean hears them when they’re not making any noise. Also in this world, dogs know things like chocolate isn’t good for them and mice know they have collapsible spines.
The Good
The dog being a Sam girl. [Correction: Apparently the dog was actually a Sam boy and had a male, not female voice.] The scene of Sam rubbing the belly was hilarious. I’m guessing that the dog knew which Winchester brother liked dogs.
Some of it was really funny. I found myself laughing through most of it. My favorite parts were Dean unwittingly playing fetch with Sam, and Dean trying to shoot the pigeon.
The Bad
Did I mention already that this sounded like the dumbest story idea ever?We saw the last shreds of Dean’s dignity stripped away when Dean started scratching behind his ears, presumably for the same reason dogs scratch behind their ears – because they have fleas. No, scratch that (no pun intended), the last of his dignity left when he started ogling a poodle.
We have a whole episode around dogs and no mention of Riot or Dean’s rules about no dogs in the car? Continuity, people, continuity.
Sam gets knocked out for the big action of the night. Wait! The writing team stole that from Adam Glass! The writing team, by the way, was Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder, back from some time away after writing a few season 6 episodes, including You Can’t Handle the Truth, Mannequin 3: The Reckoning, and My Heart Will Go On.
This premise screamed for brotherly teasing. You know Sam had some zingers floating around his head. Where were they in the dialogue?
Another convenient Zeke-save to prolong his stay in Sam.
The dog has better taste in music than Dean.
Matrix-style bullet dodging.
Unsolicited exposition from bad-guy Chef Leo, a.k.a. freaky-assed mega snake monster. He tells Sam why he can blend into walls even though Sam never asked and never even knew he had walked right past him.
Kitty eating is not cool. Ever.
I think the dog was a Sam boy...
ReplyDeleteI was relieved at the lack of teasing because that turns into, "Why does Sam hate Dean? Why is Sam mean to Dean?" and it just makes me get a headache.
I did think it was strange that Sam's fondness for dogs wasn't addressed (I don't mind the part about Dean and dogs not being addressed - he was going to let the dog ride in his car, as part of the case), but I will chalk it up to Ezekiel.
I didn't think the episode took away Dean's dignity. I actually had expected much worse. If I ignore the bestiality joke, Dean was generally in control of himself most of the time and we got to see him showing a soft side. He also showed smarts (the thing with the cap).
I thought this episode would be terrible and instead it was OK (the villain interested me much more than I thought he would - good work from Steve Valentine). I also liked the return to MOTW format and it worked well in that context. The episode moved along nicely and kept me entertained.
My pet peeves would be the vegan jokes (I'm not a vegan, I just thought they were forced), and I don't think they needed to have Dean reacting to another dead loved one.
You think the dog was Sam boy? Really? I was listening for that in the voice and it sounded to me like an older woman. It reminded me of the episode with Bela where Sam's "date" is an elderly woman. I thought they were playing off of that.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Sam teasing/ hate - I really try to stay away from a lot of the fandom for reasons such as that. If the show portrays Sam in a way in which he won't offend anyone, they'll write him not having opinions and not interacting with anyone - oh wait ...
About Dean's dignity - I think the fact that Dean didn't seem embarrassed helped a lot with this. Jensen did a great job at pulling this all off in a way that wouldn't ruin the character.
I'm not sure I understand what you mean about Dean reacting to another dead loved one? Do you mean if Sam had "died" again in the presence of Dean? If that's what you mean, then I agree.
Peter J4 is correct the Yorkie was a Sam!Boy. The voice for said Yorkie was provided by openly gay, southern comedian/character actor Leslie Jordon who is know for his voice and diminutive stature (he's 4' 11"). I recognized his voice right away and nearly p***ed my pants laughing.
ReplyDeleteThanks the info! I stand corrected.
ReplyDeleteNice review.
ReplyDeleteHow can I not agree with your 'good' as regards Sam and Dean. It's always nice to see them on the road, hunting on their own.
They make the show, their chemistry and bromance is exceptional, and is what has kept SPN on the air for nine, probably ten seasons. The secondary characters pale before them.
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As for your 'bad'. I mostly agree with that too.
We didn't need another dog story.
The monster wasn't particularly interesting and he talked too much.
The brothers are warriors against evil who carry a backload of issues between them, and while I enjoy a touch of humour in an episode, I dislike it when either of the brothers are made to look stupid and Dean did here.
While I get that some might find these episodes amusing, to all intents and purposes this is supposed to be a sci-fi horror drama not a comedy hour.
No dogs int he car.
Yep, but these writers have never heard of continuity, so no surprises there.
As for the previous eps they penned. 'You Can't Handle the Truth' and 'My Heart Will Go On ' are two of my favourites, so they are capable of putting out a good episode if they want.
The 'zeke usage is geting to intolerable levels now. Soon he'll be doing odd jobs around the bunker too!
As for the dog mystery, I doubt the writers themselves knew, it was just thrown in to show how 'cool' they were.
As for your other nit-picks, they are all valid.
Conclusion, the ep wasn't quite as bad as the summary gave to believe, but the Winchesters are capable of giving us so much more; all we're getting now is sit-com level stuff.
The whole episode was about Sam having been taken over by Zeke in the same way colonel did Dean and long term will lead to a Chef Leo situation. Sam likes vegan food and wouldn't say Eskimo and would happily tickle the Yorkie. Sam adores dogs. Sam is nolonger just Sam he is Zeke.
ReplyDeleteHmm I wish I could ask my half-bred shitzu dog that!. I think that dog could of said "we are just better then you"?. I wish we heard what he had to say, I'm just as annoyed as Dean!.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great episode overall. Sam always the one to haveto pat dogs and Dean showed his softer side which was different but nice.
I really found this eppy adorable :)
Hi :)
ReplyDeleteI haveto say at first the dog episode put me off guard but I like it alot. The most annoying thing at the moment is Zeke and I think I'm a little bit of a grump about it!. Its probably because I like the healthy and unpossessed Sam we know..well medically that have been different. Now that I can humanely relate to lol.
Personally I want Zeke out, however if he is still a good egg I don't mind having him around. But Sam might.
I like some of your points, some didn't but good to hear your views.
In this ep Dean was almost a parody of himself, not just the dumbness, but the whole, I hate vegans, wearing sunglasses inside, etc. Dean has a real reason to hate dogs, having been mauled to death and dragged down to the pit by hellhounds. Like you mentioned, it would be GREAT if show recalled continuity, the fans certainly do.
ReplyDeleteI didn't really see any dumbness from Dean in this episode. Which scenes came across to you that way? He was the one who picked up on clues early on (even before he mind-melded with the dog).
ReplyDeleteThey always do these tired jokes with Dean, but at least at the end he realized the vegans were good people.
I do wish they'd brought up the hellhounds but I don't think Dean associates most dogs with them. I guess he went along with this for the case and then began to like the Colonel.
I'm glad you liked the episode. I mostly did too. The thing about writing these reviews is that I'm forced to look at it a little too closely, and some episodes really aren't meant to be looked at closely.
ReplyDeleteYou think the parallel means the Sam/Zeke part will lead to a Chef Leo situation? How do you see that happening?
ReplyDeleteI actually didn't think Dean looked stupid. The only thing along those lines that bugged me was how quickly they were to trying this mind-melding spell not knowing the consequences. Mind-melding with a dog is serious stuff. They didn't know if it could be reversed or what side-effects would happen. They used to try these dangerous stunts when there was more at stake (usually the life of someone they cared a lot about), but in this case it was just to solve another MOTW case.
ReplyDeleteThis show is definitely pushing the zeke story too much. It's not credible that Zeke is being forced to use his powers in every episode.
Yes I see where you come from. Sometimes I'm like that for the sake of proving something to myself or a good debate. But 99% is just me watching because its so awesome.
ReplyDeleteAlways like your reviews! :)
Sam becoming Zeke is an interesting angle. There's a lot of different directions they could go with that. Although for the sake of argument and continuity, Jimmy didn't seem like he was becoming Cas in seasson 4. Hmmm.
ReplyDeleteNor is it credible that Sam hasn't realized that something is going on.
ReplyDeleteHow many times does he have to black out before he understands?
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I just get the impression that the writers are stringing it along as far as they can before they give us the big reveal of Sam finding out, but that's just going to be an anti-climax at this point.
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It reminds me of the Sam not-looking fiasco last season.
Everyone, critics includes, were waiting for some big explanation; was it caused by Naomi, Crowley, a spell, the mystery man in the shadows? In the end it was nothing.
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This 'zeke thing feels much the same. "Much Ado About Nothing"
Maybe he does only want to heal Sam out of the goodness of his heart, and there is no ulterior motive.
I don't mean Zeke is evil. Leo became the things he ate just as Dean became a dog. Sam is becoming Zeke. Dean actually kinda says it at the end....it takes you over. The problem isn't Zeke being a bad person/angel but that his feelings and thoughts are overwhelming Sam. Dean didn't like dogs and the dog that Dean melded with him was the opposite of Dean's personality. We are being shown that you can both empathize and be influenced by the thing that 'possesses' you. That is Dean's temptation and dilema. Zeke is good but Dean is allowing him to consume Sam and Sam has no knowledge or choice about it. Zeke is Dean's Ruby.
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