Quick Reaction: 5x20 The Devil You Know

[hells_half_acre]

To make up for the past two weeks of watching the East Coast feed - this week I had to watch the West Coast feed and then wait a half an hour before I could get on the internet. Good news is that my Mum is visiting! Yay! I have already apologized for being antisocial this evening and watching the show and then jumping on the internet and ignoring her....

So, the Devil You Know - the title alone could refer to 3 characters in the episode. Count them...it's intriguing.

How did we start off? Driving East in West Nevada? No, in a lab "testing" the Croatoan virus, which is going to be distributed as a Swine Flu vaccine. Good to know that I'd be safe from the Croatoan virus!! Woot! Finally being allergic to flu vaccines pays off! (in a fictional universe).

Crowley shows up in the back of the Impala - Anna style, with even worse affects. Turns out he's been listening in on all the Winchester's conversations - love the way they word "and the things I've heard" line...it's vague enough for those Wincest fans out there. That's the kind of fanservice I like - open to interpretation. The 100th episode's "erotically codependent" was a little obvious.

Crowley wants the boys to trust him - and Dean does. Sam is APPALLED! I LOVE Crowley's line to Dean to "call off your dog!" in reference to Sam. Nicely done. But dudes! Sam totally stabbed the seat of the Impala!! Not cool Sammy!

Crowley's got a hit out on him and wants to join Team Free Will. So, let's see here. Team Free Will is:
1)An ex-blood-junkie
2)A dropout with $6 bucks to his name
3)Mr. Comatose
4)RollerBobby
5)The Gabester
6)Dubious!Demon

So, Dean is trusting a demon even though he got all mad at Sam for trusting a demon...ah the hypocrisy of sibling-relationships. THEN, to top it off, when Crowley just wants Dean to come with him on the mission, Dean LEAVES SAM! And Sam even says "Dude! Doesn't this remind you of when I left with Ruby and you got all uppity, but you were right because she was a demon and completely screwed me over?" (Is it still paraphrasing when you make it much much longer?)

But Dean leaves, and Crowley sends him upstairs ill prepared and he gets the shit-kicked out of him That's not cool Crowley

So, we get our demon-boy, who doesn't have a name besides Brady or was it Bradly? I can't remember now. Anyway, I'll call him Brady. As it turns out Brady is an old friend of Sam's, and I like how as soon as Crowley mentions that Sam and him have a history, Dean pulls the car over and demands answers...and I like that he then tries to show Sam the same faith Sam showed him. And much like Dean, Sam seems to not deserve that faith, but then pulls through.

Oh, but I missed Sam's conversation with Bobby - asking about how he controlled his body while possessed, and floating the idea of controlling the devil. I like that Sam brought this up, because I'm sure it's speculation that's been floating around out there...so, very interesting that Sam's debating it too. I wonder if anything will become of it? Hmmm.....

Bobby makes a good point about Sam not being able to control himself though...now,people have criticized the show for suddenly saying Sam has "anger management issues" when he's never appeared to have anger-issues before. To those people I say: Please go back and watch Dead Man's Blood and In My Time of Dying...plus, you know, there's beheading Gordon, strangling Dean...that sort of stuff.

Susie made a good point when Sam locked Dean in the bathroom with the chair. I believe the conversation went:
Susie: Like that could hold Dean!
Me: Haha, no kidding, I mean it's DEAN!

But whatever. Sam manages not to kill anyone, and Crowley gets the leverage he needs...and then we get HELL HOUNDS! I love how Dean recognizes them first - awesome stuff. Crowley shows back up with his bigger Hell Hound and we get an invisible dog fight! Show can't get in trouble for animal cruelty if there aren't actually dogs!

Once they're clear, Dean lets his own dog loose on Bradly...and Sammy goes to town. I REALLY love Dean's line about "You demons, the angels, you just don't get it...WE'RE the ones you should be scared of"...then Brady gets his speech about Sam being just like a demon, and I like how Sam just says 'Interesting theory" and stalks off...Dean looks disturbed by it, but I wasn't. After all, if Sam was so demony, why did YED have to send Brady to make sure Sam wouldn't turn out too mild-mannered?

That being said, I'm sure you guys all know how hot slightly evil good guys are...so, I don't mind if Sam's an abomination one bit.

Finally, Crowley gives Bobby a visit...and needs him to make a deal, even though he promises to give his soul right back. Is S6 going to be about saving Bobby?

Interesting that the episode was mainly just a set-up for the final two episodes. That's a LOT of ground left to cover in two episodes, folks....


So, thoughts?

Comments

[claudiapriscus.livejournal.com]

If Bobby actually falls for that...I'm going to frown mightly at my TV screen, that's what.

My issue with Sam's anger issues is the way that the show relatively recently tried to portray them as this random thing out of nowhere, not originating in any of the particularly sucky moments of his life, and thus ominous. I never had a problem with Sam having RAGE. Who wouldn't, considering his life? That right there is a pretty good reason to hold one hell of a grudge against the world at large.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Huh, see I didn't think the show was portraying them that way...but maybe I'm crazy.

And yes, I will also frown mightly at my TV screen.

[claudiapriscus.livejournal.com]

it was sometime this season. Sam had an epiphany that he was always angry, and though he claimed to have excuses for it, they were just that, that the anger was some dark thing.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Oh, well, I knew that...I guess I didn't really care, or think that they played up the "dark thing" too much.

[mattheal.livejournal.com]

4)RollerBobby
5)The Gabester
6)Dubious!Demon
AHHAHAHAH! Nice!

Yes, Sam has always had anger issues, but it got so much worse in season 3 with Ruby pushing him to be ruthless in preperation for Dean's death. S4 is definitely when his anger started getting out of control.

That being said, I'm sure you guys all know how hot slightly evil good guys are...so, I don't mind if Sam's an abomination one bit.

Yeah, I don't mind admitting I was trying not to drool on my screen.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't mind admitting I was trying not to drool on my screen.

Yeah, if my Mum and little sister hadn't been in the room, I would have made a very inappropriate moaning noise. :P

[kairia.livejournal.com]

Talking of Mr. Comatose, where the hell is he?

And I like that he then tries to show Sam the same faith Sam showed him
Heee, I went all "AWWW, DEAN" when Dean said he trusted Sam.

Crowley was marvelous. From "the things I've heard" to the "lovers against the siege of Satan" - he was a saucy minx and I'm desperately hoping he won't end up dead -_-

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

You're an A:TLA fan too!?! AWESOME!

Sorry...that was off topic.

Yeah, it was apparently a Ben Edlund episode (I am notorious for not paying attention to opening credits)...and man, I'm a fan of Edlund's episodes.

Lovers against the siege of Satan! I had forgotten about that! Brilliant. I'm really hoping that Crowley doesn't end up screwing them over epically - I want him to actually be fully on their side. Right now I'm really worried that he's got some sort of grander scheme cooking...that being said, he'd be a formidable enemy...

[kairia.livejournal.com]

YES! HELLO FELLOW FAN =D

(I am notorious for not paying attention to opening credits) Haha, me too. I don't know who came up with Crowley but it was genius.

I wouldn't mind if Crowley did become an enemy, demons are supposed to be untrustworthy after all and after Ruby's betrayal, it would be odd if Crowley didn't betray them. I just want more Crowley :D
Yeah, IF Bobby says yes, I've a horrible feeling Crowley won't give his soul back ;_;

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Yeah...I mean, they do need some set-up for S6...it'd make sense if yet another demon screwed them over somehow. That being said, I also think it'd be really cool universe-wise to have a demon that DIDN'T screw them over.

But Crowley would definitely make a formidable opponent, seeing as how he's a hell of a lot smarter than them.

[mzbrar.livejournal.com]

Well we know that Crowley in curently "invested" I think that he does want lucy out of the picture (that just might be on earth though) but will try and trick the boys some way or another....possible to get back into lucifer good grace(if thats even possible.

K so dont kill me for this but did Dean seem a bit .....i dont know wimpy or weaker in this ep.? there was just something off about him or was that just me ??

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

It wasn't just you (and I'm certainly not going to kill you)...I wouldn't use the words wimpy or weaker, but he did strike me as being far less confident than he normally is. Usually Dean is confident about everything he does - even when he was all depressed and wanting to say yes, he was confident that his decision was the right one. In this episode, he seemed...unsure of himself to the point where he appeared weak.

And yes, I just think Crowley is killing two birds with one stone - helping the Winchesters get rid of Luci, and also tricking them into something that will benefit Crowley (and screw over the Winchesters) after Luci is caged again.

[mzbrar.livejournal.com]

Less confident! that what it was! I wonder if it was ment to be a part of the plot line ( supernatural NEVER does anything for no reason)

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

I figure it had to have been a conscious choice. Not just Supernatural, but Jensen never does anything for no reason. I figure it's either to explain why Dean was willing to follow a demon's lead (very ooc for him, as Sam pointed out), or it's to show that although Dean made that decision, he is not confident that it is the correct one - yet another sign that Dean is in over his head with this apocalypse stuff.

I'm looking forward to this Thursday to see if it continues, or if he gets his confidence back, or what happens...only two more episodes left!

[mzbrar.livejournal.com]

ugg I know!!I cant wait to see the season finaly but at the same time it means that were gona have to with till sept to see the boys again:( guess i'll just have to make due with your fics;)

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Ha, well, that's why I decided to start posting the week after the Season finale! I know it's a poor substitute, but it also gives ME something to do during the summer...