Standalone episodes are always a mixed bag with this show. You'll usually find an equal number of fans telling you that episodes like "Wishful Thinking," "It's A Terrible Life" or "Hollywood Babylon" were totally brilliant or a big mess. I thought they were all brilliant, but then again, I'm hardly an impartial fan. "The Curious Case of Dean Winchester" falls in that polarizing category of "brilliant-if-you-got-it." This is easily one of the more unique episodes on this show and it offers so many gems.
One major gem comes from the performance of Chad Everett as the 80-year-old Dean Winchester. He must really watch this show for he had Dean down perfect. Every last detail, the mannerisms, the griping, the flirting with the ladies, it's all down pat. What's funny is when all those Dean Winchesterisms are done by an 80-year-old version, it goes from sexy and swooning to cute but pathetic. But that's me getting the joke.
It isn't just Dean's mannerisms though. Chad's chemistry with Jim Beaver is just awesome. Sam might have joked "grumpy old men" but that's exactly what they were — two cranky old guys trying to out bitch one another over who's in the more pathetic circumstance. It's brilliant. In the end, the audience wins.
Speaking of poor Bobby, it's his despair that starts this whole mess. He's obviously not coping well with his new handicapped lifestyle, hinted at when Dean first asks on the phone how he's doing. "Well, I'm just weeping in my Haagen-Dazs, idgit." I would have dismissed that as Bobby being his regular cranky old self too. It's his desperate act of finding the poker game where the chips represent years instead of money before Dean that proves how not alright he is.
Then there's Sammy Winchester, that sly dog. Sam is tasked in a sense to clean up Bobby and Dean's mess and in the process we see a new side of Sam we didn't know existed. He's quite the scheming shark. Not that we're all that surprised either. Sam's always been a quick study and a great liar.
A Curious Case Indeed
Things get rather twisted when Dean goes back to the poker game and bets 50 years, instantly trading in 25 to get Bobby back to normal. Predictably, he loses, and enter 80-year-old Dean, who much to his dismay can't eat those bacon cheeseburgers anymore. The three crusaders in Bobby's new handicap equipped van (I'm going to miss the Chevelle) track down Patrick, the 900-year-old witch with the very sexy Irish accent, played brilliantly by Hal Ozsan. He won't let aged Dean or Bobby play for the needed 50 years to get Dean back to normal. He'll only let Sam do it. Dean and Bobby are both vehemently against the idea since it's perceived that Sam is by far the weakest card player of the three. Sam of course does nothing to correct this perception.
Article comments
1 - Jasminka
Alice,
what a funny and moving review â€" thanks a lot!!
Like you, I love this episode. Sera Gamble did it again: give us a multi-faceted story that holds the fine balance of being hilarious and deeply saddening and touching… The woman is a master. It is very much a Bobby-episode, as it is a Dean-episode and a Sam-episode.
I’m glad we finally get some more insight into Bobby’s mind-set. I’ve been wondering what might be going through his psyche. It’s been six episodes since the guy got stuck in that damn wheel chair. It was about time to see some of his soul here. Bobby has yet to realize that hunting is something that he does, not something that he is... not being able to run anymore does not change his personality, his character, his heart. But that is probably the hardest part to see, when he is so much identified with his self-image of being a hunter, which makes it next to impossible to find another calling. I love Bobby. Have I mentioned that I love Bobby?!
And Jim Beaver gives a remarkable performance. I had not expected less. That scene in the beginning, when he hangs up on Dean with that Haagen-Dazs joke, has depression written all over it â€" his flat voice, the broken down body language, the missing light in his eyes…
Zachariah’s words are still ringing in my ears: ‘Say no, and your friend Bobby will never walk again’… I wonder how heavily that sits on Dean’s shoulders. Had he said yes to Michael early on, Bobby would not walk through that pit of suicidal darkness. Are they both aware of that? Or are they suppressing it?
Although Dean would have gotten to that poker table in a heartbeat no matter what, I believe there might also be some kind of guilt in a corner of Dean’s brain that make him trade his years for his surrogate father.
Their relationship deepens even more through the course of the episode. From the ‘grumpy old men’ banter to their quiet, yet heartbreaking conversation in the end… Bobby is hardly able to talk… Again, Mr Beaver gives the kind of endearing performance that breaks my heart: you know how it feels when tears begin to well up, and you know that if you uttered merely one word, you’d be crying your heart out? There it is, wonderfully depicted by the wonderful Jim Beaver.
I agree completely with you… there are so many gems in this episode… Wonderful Chad Everett… yeah! Great actor! There isn’t a second I wouldn’t believe that he is Dean. It all fits. And the Irish witch Hal Oszan is just adorable, a fair guy with a slight twist, which is a nice change from the bad, bad witches we’ve encountered on planet Supernatural.
Sam gets some great one liners here for once… from ‘mission pathetic’ to ‘emperor palpatine’… and, actually, I wasn’t really surprised by the fact that Sam is a fine poker player. I wouldn’t be surprised, either, if the writers sat him down at a chess table (which arises from my heartfelt wish of wanting to engage Sam in a game of chess…). I liked that he won the game fair and square (even though some fans thought this lame and unrealistic). He kind of Forrest-Gumped his way through this poker game.
There is indeed more to the man than meets the eye. But we have known that from the first episode, haven’t we? Can’t wait to find out what else is to be found beneath that handsome exterior.
Plus… he got to save Dean for a change, and thereby Bobby. Who knows what both grumpy old guys would have tried… (did you notice that Dean’s first and last word when the heart attack hits him is Sam?).
Perhaps Sam’s capability of bluffing might get useful in the future course of the season, who knows? Perhaps he will end up playing chess in the end… there’s a song by Chris de Burgh ‘Spanish Train’ and a line in it ‘and far away on some recess, the Lord and the Devil are now playing chess. The devil still cheats and wins more souls, and as for the Lord, well, he’s just doing his best’ … kind of reminds me of Sam/Lucifer every time.
The more controlled reaction to Bobby’s death-wish Sam showed is required. He is the only one left who can do something to change the situation, as both other guys are too old to get into a fight (of fists or of wits). He needs to be functional, controlled. Panic would not help. It’s very much my kind of reacting: when a situation gets out of hand, I usually remain controlled in order to get it solved somehow. The panic kicks in later. Useful in a crisis.
What also struck me were the various tragedies we meet in this episode. There’s Bobby’s impossible situation. Dean learns the hard way how it feels getting old, including acid reflux and bad sight. Sam, again, almost loses his brother.
And then there is the classic tragic love story of the witch and his woman. It’s like Dracula and Mina…. He will have to stare down immortality alone. That really touched me. Couldn’t hate him, after all ‘I am a nice guy’…
Can’t wait for the next episode. From what I’ve read about it, one part of me is freaked, and the other keeps asking ‘is it Thursday, yet?’, though for me watching online in Europe it will be waiting till Friday…
Gosh, again, this got so long… So sorry. Thanks a lot for reading. Blessed be, Jas
2 - Elle
Another fabulous review, Alice! I agree with everything you said - this is one of my favourite episodes to date. All the elements worked really well to make a fantastic installment.
I am very jealous that you've previewed this weeks episode, especially since I won't be able to watch it live. Now, during the lecture I have Thursday night - instead of paying attention, I'll be agnonizing over what is happing in SPN world. This Thursday night class thing? Pure torture, I tell you!
3 - Sablegreen
Hi Alice,
Loved the review. Too bad we can't get a video of Dean's happy dance. Maybe CW will release that some day. That was great! I was kind of disappointed that the boys hadn't address more of Bobby's issues before this. I just assumed that had done before now. Guess you can never ASSUME any thing with Kripke.
4 - elle2
Finally, I found time to jump over here and read your review...just in time for the next episode (with about 24 hours to spare)
I did like this one quite well, that is after I watched it the second time. I've learned not to dismiss this show without a good chance to rewatch and simmer and for me that's what this eppie needed. I went from ho hum to whee hee after the second time.
Chad had great chemistry with Jared and Jim and he played his scenes exactly how I would see Jensen playing them so it didn't seem like a different character at all.
At first when they were casting this I wondered why they wouldn't simply age Jensen, makeup can easily do that...of course that was before Jared had a large chunk of an episode off thus finally affording Jensen an opportunity to get some rest.
With casting like this, I have no issues with either of the leads getting some rest, they do fab. work.
So often this show uses other people and/or situations to mirror one of the regular's situation and this ep. was no different, it took Dean's instant aging to show in effect what Bobby was going through. The sudden, change your life forever impact of being well and whole and strong to suddenly weak and hurting and (in Bobby's case) incapacitated was shown quite well through old/Dean and gave him some much needed insight into what and how Bobby was feeling and handling it.
This will join all those other polarizing eps that I continue to love...but then I love each and every episode (even Red Sky, Mag 7 and Bugs get rewatches from me)
Thanks, Alice.