Supernatural “Regarding Dean” was written by Meredith Glynn and was directed by John Badham. This episode continued the season’s apparent jaunt down memory lane as we re-visit witches and a “Benjamin Button” scenario for Dean (Jensen Ackles). Of course, the twist on this old favorite is that instead of having Bobby (Jim Beaver) to rely on to help break the spell, they have Rowena (Ruth Connell). In fact, this episode is choke full of “memory” pop culture references from the
Regarding Henry nod of the title to
Finding Dory and
Memento.
There’s plenty of humor to go along with the drama of Dean slowly losing his memory, including another nod to earlier season Dean – the “good time womanizer” – and we get a return of “disapproving, health-watch” Sam (Jared Padalecki). The post it notes were a particularly nice touch as they subtly multiplied. It’s hilarious at first but gains pathos as the episode progresses, and Dean must rely on them more and more. It’s an interesting reflection as well on people who live with a loved one’s struggle with Alzheimer’s.
In addition to all the other little throwbacks, we get Dean gorging on not one but two gigantic plates of waffles – at Waldo’s – because Dean is the
Finding Waldo in this scenario. We also get Dean geeking out over “devil baby mama drama” as a tongue twister. And at first, it seems like Dean’s memory issues are just another symptom of his hangover. But completely not remembering Elka (Lindsay Winch) starts to seem a bit odd.
Not remembering which key started Baby – and then crashing her!! – and finally not even remembering his own name finally pushes Sam over the line from annoyed – but concerned over Dean’s over-indulgence – to truly concerned.
Dean at first refuses to believe he’s been hexed. Dean also doesn’t want Sam to call Mom or Cas – but why not? Couldn’t Cas reverse a spell and heal Dean’s memory? Of course, this highlights once again the problem of having a deus ex machina at their disposal.
Sam calls Rowena, and she’s clearly quite tickled to be in Sam’s contacts. We’ve seen her want to be part of their team in the THEN scenes, and she’s tried to form or join covens before. It seems to be natural for witches to want to be in a group. And this theme of Rowena actually wanting a family is a big part of this episode. Given her history of being a terrible mother to Crowley, this seems a bit out of left field, but also sets the ground work for an upcoming episode.
The bar scene with Elka is hilarious. I loved when Sam suggests that Dean was roofied and Elka is finally sympathetic – but Dean is also, “really” and Sam just flaps his arms at him – like “Dude? Can’t tell her it’s a witches spell” and Dean has forgotten that too… Dean finds out that he was amazing on Larry – and with Elka – and is disappointed that he can’t even remember having an epic night!
The security footage at the bar leads them to Gideon (Justin Turnbull). Dean learns that he can shoot a gun and that monsters are real! I loved his excitement. And then Sam’s reflection on how weird it is for him to be giving Dean “the talk.” It’s nice to see Dean recapture the joy of the job and being “heroes.” And he’s so excited that their best friend is an angel. And he’s excited to see a dead guy, but Sam points out that killing the witch who cast the spell is supposed to cure Dean – and it clearly hasn’t.
Naturally, Gideon wasn’t acting alone. And the theme of family runs throughout the episode. Catriona (Tirra Dent) and Boyd (Vincent Gale) discover the body, and Catriona is desperate for revenge. Dent did not impress me at all, and this is Boyd’s third time on the show. While Boyd turns in an excellent performance – even hampered by Dent, it would seem that the show needs to think about casting a wider net for guest stars.
Sam only wanted intel from Rowena – not a housecall – but she show up anyway. Naturally, she has an ulterior motive. She knows the Loughlin’s and they’re the only ones versed in the Celtic magic of the glyphs. Dean has no memory of Rowena and comments on her hair – she asks if they have to fix him! It has to be nice not to be hated on sight. While Rowena and Sam try to find a way to break the spell, Sam distracts Dean with
Scooby Doo. Rowena breaks it to Sam that eventually Dean will forget how to swallow and breathe – and he will die.
I loved that Sam and Dean had to retreat to the bathroom for their “brother moment.” Once again, we see Dean a bit philosophical – “after everything, this is what nails me.” Sam says it’s not going to happen – as they always do. Of course, Sam had to tell Dean his whole story first. Ackles and Padalecki manage to keep the well-worn scene infused with emotion.
Sam leaves the bathroom and tells Rowena that he’s seen his brother die before – oh so many times in “Mystery Spot” – but seeing him slip away like this might be the worst. A horror faced by so many families with love ones with Alzeimer’s. The show does a good job of moving from the comedy to the drama and pathos. Rowena emphasizes that they need the grimoire. Sam realizes that’s her angle, so he won’t let her come with him, leaving her with Dean because he can’t bring him either.
Ackles nails the scene in the bathroom as he tries to give himself a pep talk. The scene is beautifully interspersed with Sam and Rowena’s conversation. Every time we return to Dean, he has lost a little more of himself, and the devastation is clearly legible on his face.
Rowena tells Dean about being chased out of Britain by the British Men of Letters – funny she’s never mentioned them before… She is also clearly upset by how the Loughlins treated her. Rowena remarks that it’s a real gift not to remember all the horrible things you’ve done. Rowena tells him he’s a killer – but then she takes pity on him when she sees how disturbed he is about killing people – and tells him that he’s done it all for the greater good. It’s interesting that even as he loses his memories, his feelings about things remain essentially unchanged.
Connell is actually quite good in this scene. When she gets a director who reins in the over-the-top delivery, I enjoy her performances much better. She confesses to Dean that she’s done horrible things but that she told herself that it was ok, it was just the price of power and that’s what matters. But then she met God and his sister. And they were the two most powerful beings in the universe and they were squabbling over power, and she thought how could there be any hope for me? Dean wants to know why she’s telling him – and he’s utterly confused. And she tells him because he won’t remember!
Sam is supposed to get the translation so that Rowena can cast the spell. He finds Catriona and holds a gun “with witch-killing bullets” on her while on speaker phone to Rowena. Of course, he’s no match for two ancient and powerful witches. So it’s Rowena and Dean to the rescue.
Dean wakes up in Baby and finds two notes from Rowena – telling him she’s gone to save his brother and “stay.” Of course, Dean isn’t going to obey that one. And then he finds post-its in a different color and handwriting – clearly from Sam – directing him to open the trunk and which bullets and gun to use. Best part? The gigantic “NO!” on the grenade launcher.
It’s hard not to feel badly for Rowena when Catriona is so utterly dismissive and cruel to her. It’s satisfying when Rowena gets the first hit in, but she’s also clearly out-magic-ed.
Dean arrives just in time to save Rowena by shooting Catriona. Sam tries to dissuade Boyd from casting a spell to swap Sam’s soul with Gideon’s. In the end, he manages to over power him and the two fight. Boyd runs out with Sam in hot pursuit and Dean has his gun on both on the stairs – he’s clearly not sure who to shoot, so Sam clarifies “Brother! Witch!” Dean makes the shot and gives Sam the thumbs up – it’s hilarious.
Rowena and Dean perform the spell without Sam in the room, so when they are coming down the stairs, Dean pretends not to know Sam again – and then lets him in on the joke – which Sam deems “not funny!” Dean remembers riding Larry, but when Rowena tries to subtly see if he remembers what she told him, he says it’s all a blur, he really doesn’t remember anything from when he was hexed… Sam stops her from taking the grimoire. But he concedes that they owe her one.
The brothers share a classic over the car moment. Sam confesses that at first he was jealous of how happy Dean looked at being relieved of their heavy burden. But Dean clarifies that it wasn’t just the crap that got lost. It was everything. It was them, it was what they do, all of it. Dean doesn’t want to give up their past just to be happy. And then, in what can only be seen as fan service to make the fans happy, we’re treated to a montage of Dean’s best moments in the show intercut with him riding Larry. I’m waiting for the gag reel in which I’m betting we’ll see everyone riding that bull!
This episode certainly had some good moments, providing a nice vehicle for Ackles to stretch his comedic legs a bit. It was also nice to see Connell get to be more than comic relief. What did you think of the episode? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
