I’m taking time here to point out how much I’m enjoying Sam assuming the role of leader of this group of misfits. This is the leader Sam was meant to be, and he makes us proud through the entire episode. It’s a shame to see him avoid such qualities in season three. He’s really hot like this, just like his brother.
Oh damn, the roadhouse burned down, Ash is crisp toast. I’m so shocked. Next Ava is scared, Lily is rightfully dead, and I'm realizing this episode is loaded with plenty of filler.
This next scene is one of my favorite parts. Andy finds a way to get through to Dean, using his highly developed mind control abilities to send visions. I need that power! Maybe it’ll get my kids to behave and the hubby to take out the trash. He uses a receipt Sam gives him, signed “D. Hasselhoff”. Oh, come on, what happened to the rock star aliases? The Hoff? Anyway, Dean is hit with a vision, clutching dearly onto the Impala for support, and addresses Bobby’s strange look by claiming, “I’m not some psychic”. So, he gets hit with a bigger vision. Hee! Too bad Sam wasn’t there to tease him about being psychic. This time he sees Sam and a bell. “That was about as fun as getting kicked in the jewels.” Now he knows how Sam feels.
Luckily Bobby knows about Cold Oak too, and they’re off. Good thing they just happened to be in South Dakota. In the meantime, Sam and Jake bond, and here we see how bad an actor Aldis Hodge is. I didn’t believe any of the angst or the tension the script was trying to convey. He even made Jared seem flat, making me appreciate what Jared and Jensen do together. They feed off each other. These two sucked the life out of one another.
We get more Sam and Ava bonding, and gasp, I’m bored. Normally I would welcome this tender side of Sam by melting, but now, I’m just waiting for something to happen. I didn’t have to wait long! Sam drifts asleep, and poof, there’s yellow eyes. Jared and Frederic Lehne do feed off each other. The hatred bubbling to the surface within Sam is haunting, and the yellow-eyed demon is deliciously evil as he tells Sam his disturbing plan with glee. This is survival of the fittest, and only one gets out alive. That winner becomes The General. That’s all? Shouldn’t he throw in some steak knives too?
Article comments
1 - Elle
First, I have to again express my love of your reviews! I clap my hands with glee when I see a new review.
I agree with your assessment of this episode - the subpar supporting acting detracted from the episode but the end....there are no words. Reading your review has made me want to go back and watch the episode again - if for nothing else than just for the Jensen parts - he's brilliant and could probably create chemistry with a cardboard box. I too first saw this episode on DVD (thank goodness! - I also saw the season 1 finale on DVD and I just about died in the 6 hours I had to leave my DVD player and go to work before finding out what happened in season two, which, fortunatly, was on hand) and I can't imagine having to wait until a new season to see how it resolved itself. All in all, Part 2 was my favourite, as I said - Jensen fan here. I can't wait to read your review!!!
2 - LindsayW
First, thank you very much for the Support Supernatural plug.
Second, thank you for a fantastic, balanced review. I cannot wait to read your next one!
3 - vichi
Indeed, I agree with you about this episode. I just saw AHBL 1 and 2 and I love the ending part of the first episode and adore the first half part of the second. Jensen never cesse to amaze me.I am a Dean fan all the way but I have to say that I love Sammy too and I cried when he died.
Can't wait to read your next review and hope you have the time to do one for IMTOD too.