I have to admit, I had my doubts after watching the first time. It wasn’t until after a re-watch the next day that this episode earned its favor with me. Maybe because the second time through I could sit down and actually pay attention to details. I should have learned by now that the only way to watch a Supernatural episode is to put the kids to bed, shut the dogs in the laundry room, unhook the phone, and shush the hubby.
“Long Distance Call” has many merits, but all in all, its purpose was to prepare us for what’s to come in the final two episodes of the season. Fans were online very quick to point out massive character and plot inconsistencies, but on careful examination most of this episode made sense. In coming up with an analysis, I found this episode would better benefit from a different format. Instead of rehashing the episode like I’ve done previously, I’m going to list what I liked, what I disliked, and what things I need to keep in the back of my mind when watching the last two episodes of the season.
What I Liked
Jeremy Carver still owns me. Why? Because I still don’t think there’s a better writer on the team for putting words into the brothers’ mouths. I have been dying all season for Sam and Dean to call each other out about their constant lies, and five minutes in I got my wish. It was every bit as great as I imagined, even complete with patented Sam Winchester bitchface. It’s wonderful that Dean finally admitted to Sam that Ruby told him she can’t save him. Sam seemed pretty angry about that. It sucks when the shoe is on the other foot. Right, Sam?
We have a Crocatta that’s gone high tech. What a great premise, especially to someone in the tech field. Dead loved ones calling on the phone? Phantom IM’s on the computer? Ghosts on webcams? That was pretty freaky. Even when John Winchester called, you knew Sam was right, but like Dean, you wanted it to really be him.
Once again, we got several great lines and humorous bits. The tour guide was pitch perfect (And we’re walking, we are walking, we’re walking, and we’re not touching that and we’re walking…). Also, the slimy phone technician in the phone company basement gave us another great continuity shout-out, bustyasianbeauties.com from “Tall Tales.” He also had one of the episode’s best lines, “That’s what happens when you mess with the phone company, dillweed!” just before taking a baseball bat to the skull. Ah, the price of gloating.
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Article comments
1 - Patty
I love your reviews! I am with you. On the first viewing, it was hmmmm. I watched it again last night and enjoyed it much more. I wonder if Sammy seems on unresponsive to Dean is because he knows what he can become now after Mystery Spot and doesn't want to go there. I still think the Trickster is somehow connected to Dean's deal. Like he is "working" with/for the good guys. He admitted he liked the boys in Tall Tales and he could have just killed them both outright but he didn't. OK, he killed Dean a hundred times in MS but I think he was trying to make a point. I still think there is a hint in there of things to come in there somewhere and I can't wait to see the final two episodes!
2 - Megan
I have to disagree with you about Sam. I don't like this uncaring version of him. Nor do I want the brotherly relationship that I came to love ruined just for the sake of darkside Sam.
3 - strangelove
I, like you, am also confused at Sam's cold response to his brother's obvious frustration and I don't know if it was part of the acting or the directing, but I didn't feel Sam cared whether it was dad or not, he just wasn't going to deal with panicky Dean because he "knew" it couldn't be John. How? We don't know, since at that point, they didn't know if it was really loved ones calling or another reason.
I also thought that Sam's response "huh..hello?" to Dean's heartbreaking request about what to say if John called back was unbearably callous. Sam was not a likable character in this episode till the end, and mainly because of Dean's lightning up the moment. I didn't see any layers in Sam that he was worried about Dean all the while he was telling Dean that it wasn't John and therefore he was going to go and talk to Lainie.
I found it also disturbing that he showed more patience and caring for Lainie than he did for his own brother.
As for the welching clause, per John, he told Dean that he had a way of getting Dean out without putting Sam in danger. So Dean wasn't going into this blind, he figured it was worth a try knowing that Sam would still be ok.
4 - Emily
I'm not sure what you meant about Dean not caring about the clause. "John" pointed it out because it knew that Dean would only go along with what it was saying IF the clause would be rendered useless, thus showing that Dean was concerned about potential invoking of the clause and that even this thing knew it.
Sam's behavior on the other hand I find completely confusing. He acted like he didn't care about what Dean was going through at all, like he had better things to do than worry about this. This after a year of Sam complaining that Dean wasn't acting like he cared enough about the fact that he was going to Hell. Then, when Dean acts like he cares, Sam suddenly isn't interested.
5 - Alice Jester
I found this meta article that attempts to explain Sam's actions in this episode. It's a very interesting and well thought out analysis and might explain some of the points I was having issues with. Anyway, it can be found here
As for Dean not showing concern about welching on the deal, it goes back to the blind faith thing he has in John. He wasn't just risking himself, but Sam as well. I just thought he'd be more concerned about that. It wasn't a huge sticking point with me in this episode though, but I'm curious to see if this will be an issue as they get closer to the end of the contract.
6 - Alexia Kriniti
I will not agree that Sam wasn't a likeable character in this episode. Dean is desperate as he is running out of time and he can't find a solution! He is ready to accept anything-even the impossibility of his father calling him. He's in a condition so characteristic of people who have lost any hope and they are scared. Sam cares for his brother, as he always did, but he tries to remain calm, not to loose his ability to think clearly and he also tries to talk some sense into Dean as not to believe so easily this “long-distance call”, not until they find out what is happening. Once again, Sam keeps the balance between the two of them. Sam wants to investigate very carefully this case, just to protect his brother from another trap, that's why he considers it very important to talk to the girl! Scared and desperate Dean misinterprets his brother's intention and he thinks Sam doesn't care for him anymore, another sign of his despair! However, Sam still means well and his only concern is to help Dean. Dean realizes that in the end.
P.S. It’s the very first episode, we see one of the two heroes, and more particularly Sam, driving another car and not the Impala (we will see Sam in another car also in the ep. “Time Is On My Side”).