Brief recap: The episode begins with a classic Supernatural murder scene. This time an old man gets poked by a big ol' back hoe type machine. The poke was not gentle, shall we say? The story is a classic Supernatural episode with a nostalgic twist. We find out that Dean stole food and was put in a boys' home when he was 16. The guy who ran the home, Sonny, is a man who looks strikingly like Sam Winchester at age forty and after a few months sabbatical in the forest. The home now is kind of in disrepair with a few smartass bullies and one small kid, who is the one being bullied. This would be Timmy, with whom Dean bonds.
The episode is threaded throughout with flashbacks to Dean's time at the home and how he was a star athlete, boyfriend to a local girl, and had dreams of being a mechanic. Anyway, the main story centers on finding a ghost that's haunting the boys' home and after a few false leads, we find out that it's the creepy kid's mother. Apparently she is anchored to him in some way that we have not been told about previously in our Supernatural ghost lore, but I've long since given up on tracing the show's mythologies.
The episode ends with Timmy telling his mommy to leave everyone alone and in a beautiful special effect, her burned ghost skin falls away and becomes beautiful again before disappearing into smoke. The final act reveals that Dean was getting ready to go to his first school dance when John, the very bad father, shows up and takes Dean away. Sonny offers to fight to keep him there but after seeing Sam in the Impala, Dean chooses to leave with his family. The current Sam thanks Dean for all that he's done for Sam, but Dean, being Dean, shrugs off the emotion and they drive away.
1. Mother's ghost special effect was awesome. Kudos VFX.
2. The actor playing young Dean did very well. Nice emotion.
3. Great classic Supernatural feel to episode. Old school feelings.
4. The AMULET!!!!
5. Kevin Parks' direction was wonderful. He has a beautiful grasp of shot and angle. I love his eye.
Things I didn't like:
1. Sorry but I thought it was a grievous emotional retcon for Dean. Dean loved that life and to pretend like he wanted normal is just a travesty and mocks the pilot. Dean IDOLIZED his father and I am hard pressed to think a pre-season one Dean would allow anyone to say bad things about John. Sorry, that's how I feel.
2. The continuing character assassination of John Winchester.
3. What was Robin's point? She was our mini-Amelia.
4. No Zeke popping out when Sam is choking? Seems discontinuous. In the words of Klum, "You're either in or you're out."
Theories of the Week:
1. I really don't have any. It was a MOTW episode and did little for the mytharc.
2. Still not sure on ghost mythologies.
3. I think we're in Oz and Zeke is the Wizard.
Share your thoughts, speculations, and other feelings below.