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Contrary to my own expectations, the powers that be at Supernatural decided against giving us another light and fun Halloween episode in favor of testing the Winchester boys.
The episode starts with a woman bringing home Halloween candy. Her husband steals a piece and gets a mouthful of razors. I have to say, the shot of him disengaging the one embedded in the roof of his mouth was ten shades of horrible, but I imagine the ones he swallowed felt worse. Dean and Sam investigate and come across a hex bag, which means we've got a witch hunt. And not for just any witch. This one is about 600 years old and packing some serious artifacts into the bags, including century old burnt baby bones and ancient Celtic coins.
Halloween is right around the corner, which means parties. We see some teenagers pouting about the "lame" party they are at and gossiping about the "rad" party they will be going to on the 31st. Do kids still say "lame" and "rad", or is it retro?Either way, when a cheerleader makes bobbing for apples seem sexy, her naughty nurse friend decides to give it a shot. But when she does, she finds herself unable to lift her head from the water, which starts to boil. The boys show up to investigate and find another hex bag.
The cheerleader claims to have no idea who the previous victim was, so Sam hits the books. Which is where he finds out that the witch is making three blood sacrifices in three days in line with the final harvest of the Celtic calendar in order to raise Samhain. As a brief aside that I am certain no one but me cared about, if they were going to authentic Gaelic details, the pronunciation should have been 'sawin', as 'samhein' is actually old English. I am full of red haired ire! OK, not really. Anyway, if the witch succeeds in raising the demon Samhain, he will likely do some raising of his own and Halloween will no longer be about candy corn.
In an effort to find out who could gain access to the house of the first victim, Dean stakes it out. Which is where he finds out the cheerleader lied to him, as she goes up the steps to babysit. They dig a little deeper into Tracy's past and find out she was suspended form school for a violent altercation with a teacher. When they meet the teacher, I can see why. He's the sort of high school art teacher who wants to hang out with the kids and asks that they call him by her first name, "Don". He describes the girl as bright but disturbed, with a penchant for drawings depicting herself committing violent and gruesome acts and covering her notebooks in cryptic symbols. They show him an ancient Celtic coin from one of the bags and he confirms that the symbols match.
Back at the motel, Sam and Dean have company. Sam pulls a gun on Castiel until Dean introduces the angel, which leads his younger brother to take the lord's name in vain and then apologize profusely. He states that it's an honor to meet Castiel, but it's a sentiment that doesn't seem to be shared. Sam stands with his hand outstretched for so long I wonder if the angel is afraid to touch him. I may not have been too far off, because when he finally does, he describes Sam as "the boy with the demon blood". He reveals a hex bag in their room and then he introduces Uriel.
He calls Uriel a "specialist", but anyone in the know would likely call him an Archangel or "The Fire of God". Which is apropos, as Uriel states that the Winchesters have to leave town because he's going to lay the place to waste. It seems the raising of Samhain is another one of the 66 seals and they don't want it broken. The Winchesters are just as adamant about not allowing the angels to wipe out the whole town, but in a tense debate where Dean uses his life as a bartering chip, they win the chance to destroy the witch. But not before some dark comments are made toward Sam, warning him about using his abilities.
They get right to work, but Sam struggles with his disappointment in the angels demeanor, which has shaken his faith. Surprisingly, Dean tries to bolster his brother's belief by suggesting that maybe God hates Castiel and Uriel too and asking Sam not to give up based on a couple of rotten apples. Or, as he puts it, "Babe Ruth was a dick, but baseball is still a beautiful game". It's a short scene, but I think it illustrated perfectly the core of both the characters and how they support each other in a simple and elegant way.
Also elegant is the burst of insight Sam gets as he examines the charred bone, which could not have been burnt by fire alone. Don the art teacher has access to kilns and the hex bag didn't show up in their room after talking to Tracy, it was after talking to him. They break into his desk drawer and find all kinds of children's bones and they're sure they have their witch.
Meanwhile, Castiel and Uriel have a brief argument. It seems Uriel doesn't think too much of mankind, which he dubs "mud monkeys" despite Castiel's warning that the slur is bordering on blasphemy. Uriel still wants to drag Dean out of town and blow the town off the planet, but Castiel tells him they know their "true orders" before asking him if he really wants to disobey. If the Morning Star taught them anything, it should be what happens when the proud take on the Throne! (5 points if you caught that reference).
The boys arrive at the first victim's house just in time to shoot Don in the back before he is able to plunge a knife into Tracy's chest. She babbles thankfully while Dean unties her, but the moment she's free she tosses out a hand and the boys hit the floor. It seems Don was her older brother and they had been preparing for tonight for centuries. She's grateful to not be the third sacrifice and summons Samhain herself. Sam smears Don's blood over his and Dean's face as the demon takes the body and makes his first order of business snapping Tracy's neck. He glances at the boys on the floor and walks right by and Sam explains that part of the Halloween lore is that the demon can't recognize those in masks. Smart thinking!
They follow the demon to the cemetery, where he plans on raising the dead. On the way, Dean asks Sam not to use his psychic abilities and to rely on the knife instead. Given the attitude of the angels, I would agree but Sam seems less convinced. Samhain gets there first and encounters the students partying, so he locks them in the mausoleum and wakes the dead within. The zombie's begin to break free of their crypts and one yanks a student inside, spurting out jets of blood moments later as the rest of the kids scream in terror.
The Winchester's arrive and Sam tells Dean to help the kids while he goes after the demon. Dean doesn't like the idea, but he obliges, freeing the teens and staying to fight zombies and ghosts. Sam follows Don deeper into the mausoleum and smirks when Don tries to toss Sam back with burst of light. They resort to brawling and Sam gets the knife into Samhain's arm. When the demon sees what the blade can do, he keeps away and Sam resorts to his demonic powers. Dean arrives just in time to see Sam defeat the demon, his eyes turning black and a spontaneous nose bleed taking effect as he does. The look at each other with fear in their eyes and I have to wonder how the angels will react.
Uriel confronts Sam, and it's not pretty. In fact the angel picks at the fact that their mother and his girlfriend were killed on November 22 and yet Sam still "brazenly" uses the power that contributed to their deaths. Sam tells Uriel that Dean was right about the angels, they are dicks. In a flash, Uriel is in his face, telling him that the moment he stops being useful he will turn him to dust. He also says Sam should tell Dean to get off his high horse and to ask him what hell was like. There is the sound of wings and he's gone.
Meanwhile, Dean is in the park with Castiel, who tells him their "true orders" were to do whatever Dean told them to, as a test. Dean figures he failed but boldly states he would go back in time and do it all over again if it meant saving the town and everyone it in. Castiel reveals that Dean is wrong about him, because he was praying they would save the town, he has doubts, he isn't sure what's right or wrong and he doesn't envy the decisions Dean will have to make in the next month or the weight God has put on Dean's shoulder's one bit.
There wasn't much in the way of funny lines and the only real comic aside was a husky kid dressed as an astronaut demanding candy and then egging their car when he got nothing. But the ending left enough intrigue to make up for it. What will happen in the next month? Why did Uriel tell Sam to remind Dean about his time in hell? Will Castiel join the Winchesters, forsaking his higher calling?
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Zap2it Twitter Talk 
I just don't trust those angels.
I have a hard time with the angels' attitude toward Sam. He's never been anything but a good guy, and it certainly isn't his fault that he had a drop of demon blood added to his own. So I guess he should have stood there, and let Samhain kill him rather than use his powers? It didn't appear to me that he enjoyed doing it! I guess I'm not liking the writers trying to push the "evil" Sam angle.
Oh, and I don't trust those angels either!
This is the first i have heard of "legend of the Seeker", Thanks to your web site, i will not miss it.
Wow, what a great episode! I thought it was going to be a funny episode too until i saw it had Castiel in it. Still, i really enjoy the darker episodes that are part of the big plotline. I've suspected since last year that Sam was turning evil or at least the evil within him was going to overtake him. Looks like that's going to happen and I can't wait to see what happens next! I forgot about the old English pronunciation of Samhain, but your right that it would have been more sensible for them to use that pronunciation. I can't wait to find out what happened while Dean was in Hell. Its supposed to be a gamechanger.
Another fantastic episode. My thanks to EVERYONE connected with this show. Brilliant jobs all around.
I am not sure why everyone wants Sam to stop using his new powers. I mean, he's killing demons. I would think that was a good thing, no matter where he got his powers.
Your reference was to 'Dogma'. And I also thought they mispronounced Samhain.
I wasn't sure if Sam's eyes turned black, I'm glad someone else saw that.
When the two angels were talking in the park, I thought at first they were talking about saving Dean, but when I watched it again, I'm kinda wondering if they might actually be talking about saving Sam. Maybe they were testing him too.
Another great episode. I can't wait to see where this story leads.
Loved it when Castiel threw it in Dean's face that he was hammer-like when he always followed his father's orders.
Interesting that calling the humans mud monkeys is almost blasphemous. LOL
Considering Sam is such a studier of the past and all the books on good vs evil it's strange to me that he is surprised at what angels are. Old testament angels were wreakers of all kinds of bad things - they are gods army who carried out his punishments. Sam should know that.
I let the show take some liberties here and there to ensure that all viewers will get the reference. The pronuciation Sawin does not have the recognition of Samhain, so it helped more people get what was going on without having to head to the Internet.
EPISODE REVIEW:
IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, SAM WINCHESTER
We were introduced to a new angel in this ep, Uriel. He calls humans mud monkeys and seems a lot less kind than Castiel, the ying to the latter's yang, I suppose. Dean sucked up candy like a vacuum cleaner, leaving empty wrappers on the Impala's pristine seats!
There was a nasty witch offing people, first Mr. Wallace, a husband and father via a piece of candy containing razor blades. We got a fascinating, gross view from INSIDE his mouth as blood dripped down, then he dropped to his kitchen floor and blood poured from his mouth. He died from a ripped up stomach. While Sam questioned the poor wife, Dean searched for--and found--a hex bag. Not just any hex bag, though--this one contained a 600 year old baby bone!
The second death was a pretty high school girl at a Halloween party, where Sam had to warn Dean with two words: "jail bait." Tracy, a blond dressed in a sexy cheerleader outfit, bobbed for apples, inspiring her friend Jenny to do the same. A supernatural force kept poor Jenny stuck and flailing in the water, which began to boil, and she, too, died. The Winchester brothers found a hex bag at that scene as well.
Researching, Sam realizes that this heavyweight witch is trying to raise the demon Samhain, something that can only be done every 600 years, and if that happens, Samhain will be able to bring back every single evil creature they've hunted--ghosts, demons, but not Leprechauns, to Dean's disappointment--and turn the world into a slaughterhouse.
Dean, scarfing candy in the car, spots Tracy going babysitting at the Wallace's house, but she had claimed she didn't know them! So she's the witch. They go to her school, and one mask in particular hanging from the ceiling brings creepy auditory memories to Dean. They meet Don, an art teacher, who explains that Tracy was suspended for her violent drawings with her in the middle of the action.
The brothers can't find Tracy, but, returning to their hotel, they do find Castiel and a stranger. Sam draws his gun at first, but when Dean tells him who this is, Sam goes fanboy and extends his hand eagerly. Castiel hesitates quite a while before accepting it, then finally takes it in both hands and says, "Dean Winchester, the boy with demon blood--I'm so glad you have ceased your extra-curricular activities." You can almost literally see Sam's face fall. This witch left a hex bag in the boys' room, which the angel took care of. The other angel, Uriel, is a "specialist," and they are going to have to destroy this little town of 1200 people because of the threat of Samhain rising, the breaking of another seal, and Lucifer coming to earth. The Winchesters must leave town! You're angels--have mercy! begs Sam. Dean says they'll just have to destroy the town with him in it, because he won't go. Uriel threatens to drag him out. Then you'll have to kill me, warns Dean, and God won't like that. Castiel agrees to let the boys try to kill the witch, but it must be done quickly.
The boys find the Impala egged by a chubby little boy Dean had insulted earlier and refused to give candy. "Astronaut!" shouts Dean, furious.
They drive, a disillusioned Sam complaining that he's been praying to ****s all this time. Don't give up, urges Dean, maybe they're just a couple of bad apples. Sam holds the tiny, blackened baby bone in his hand. Stop fingering your bone, orders Dean. (Best line of the night!) Sam realizes only a kiln could get a bone this burnt, and they head back to the school and Don, where they find ***orted baby bones in a locked drawer.
Uriel and Castiel sit on a park bench, ****ering. Uriel calls trick or treaters mud monkeys, and Castiel chides his partner for blasphemy: Dean has potential, he may succeed, it's out of our hands. You know our TRUE orders, are you prepared to obey?
Sam and Dean go to Don's home and find him performing a ritual while Tracy, gagged, is tied up, hanging from the ceiling. Don is about to stab her when the boys shoot him dead. Oops, SHE's the witch, he was her pain in the *** brother who was about to make HER the third sacrifice. She sets them rolling on the floor in agonizing pain, then goes over to perform the ritual Don had begun. Sam swipes Don's blood from the flood then quickly covers his face, then Dean's, in it.
The cement floor cracks open and the black smoke of a demon rushes out and into Don's dead body. He rises, his eyes wide and blue, kisses Tracy, tells her she's aged, snaps her neck, sneers, "*****!" and walks right past Sam and Dean. The blood looked like masks to him, says Sam, I gave it a shot. "You gave it a shot?" asks Dean is disbelief.
Samhain walks amongst the trick or treaters, his vision obviously blurry. In the Impala on the way to the cemetery, Dean gives Sam the demon-killing knife, reminding him not to use his powers this evening. The same kids from the previous evening are having a Halloween party in the mausoleum. Don lurches over and locks them in, then begins to release all the ghoulies from their crypts. The same boy who enjoyed watching the girls bob for apples at the previous party is hauled into a tomb and bloodily killed. The others begin to scream but can't get out--until Dean blows the lock away with his gun. The kids rush out and Dean rushes in, leaving Sam to fight Samhain alone. "Bring it on, stinky," says Dean, brandishing a weapon, to the first ghoul who comes at him.
Samhain first tries the "raygun stuff" on Sam, who tells him "That doesn't work on me." They battle fiercely, punching. Dean offs two ghoulies, then finds himself with a disappearing female ghost. That's it, I'm torching everybody! he declares.
Sam manages to burn Samhain's arm with the knife, but it's lost on the floor. As the demon advances, Sam uses his mind mojo, concentrating so hard, his nose begins to bleed and he holds his head as if in pain. (And it appeared that his eyes turned black, but I wasn't sure.) Dean watches his brother send the demon out of Don's mouth to its death. The body drops to the floor, dead. Sam and Dean stare at each other for several long moments.
Hotel room - Uriel reminds Sam that November 2nd is the anniversary of Mary's and Jess' deaths--and HE brazenly used the power Azazel gave him, despite two warnings not to! The demon would have killed me--and Dean! Sam reminds him--you're a ****! One word and I will turn you to dust! Blasts Uriel--and tell your brother to get off his high horse--ask what he remembers from hell. (Sounds like poor Sam got the nasty angel!)
Playground -- Castiel explains to Dean that his orders were to follow Dean's orders, a test to see how he'd perform under battle conditions. I failed, says Dean, but would make the same call if you sent me back in time--these kids are still here because of me and Sam. I WANTED you to save the town, says Castiel, these children are my father's works of art--I am not a hammer, I have doubts, he admits. Over the coming months, Dean will have more decisions to make, and they won't be easy--I don't envy you having to make them.
Extras: This episode had Sam's name in it, and it seems to me poor Sam was disillusioned in learning that the angels he prays to aren't the beautiful creatures of his beliefs. Is it possible that's one of the reasons he chose to use his power on the demon, or was it as simple as the fact that he had dropped the knife and it was mind mojo or death?
I wanted to see the boys talk afterwards. Did Dean understand why Sam used his power? Uriel clearly didn't, or didn't care--it sounded as if he preferred Sam to die rather than use his powers. To hell with that! I mean, what do these angels want?
That teacher made one scary demon--those eyes just bored into you!
Once again, we had some incestuous stuff going on--the witch kissed her brother (at least the bodies did).
Dean and candy. Nothing deters him. Even the possibility of razor blades in his stash!
With all that urgency to find the witch, they still had the Impala cleaned. Natch!
All the supporting players did a terrific job here, especially Tracy and Don. I always loved teachers who asked us to call them by their first names, but that didn't happen until college.
Baby bones -- ick! Blood and razor blades -- ick! Blood on faces -- ick!
Astronaut kid -- hilarious, especially Dean dissing him that he didn't need more candy.
EPISODE REVIEW:
IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, SAM WINCHESTER
We were introduced to a new angel in this ep, Uriel. He calls humans mud monkeys and seems a lot less kind than Castiel, the ying to the latter's yang, I suppose. Dean sucked up candy like a vacuum cleaner, leaving empty wrappers on the Impala's pristine seats!
There was a nasty witch offing people, first Mr. Wallace, a husband and father via a piece of candy containing razor blades. We got a fascinating, gross view from INSIDE his mouth as blood dripped down, then he dropped to his kitchen floor and blood poured from his mouth. He died from a ripped up stomach. While Sam questioned the poor wife, Dean searched for--and found--a hex bag. Not just any hex bag, though--this one contained a 600 year old baby bone!
The second death was a pretty high school girl at a Halloween party, where Sam had to warn Dean with two words: "jail bait." Tracy, a blond dressed in a sexy cheerleader outfit, bobbed for apples, inspiring her friend Jenny to do the same. A supernatural force kept poor Jenny stuck and flailing in the water, which began to boil, and she, too, died. The Winchester brothers found a hex bag at that scene as well.
Researching, Sam realizes that this heavyweight witch is trying to raise the demon Samhain, something that can only be done every 600 years, and if that happens, Samhain will be able to bring back every single evil creature they've hunted--ghosts, demons, but not Leprechauns, to Dean's disappointment--and turn the world into a slaughterhouse.
Dean, scarfing candy in the car, spots Tracy going babysitting at the Wallace's house, but she had claimed she didn't know them! So she's the witch. They go to her school, and one mask in particular hanging from the ceiling brings creepy auditory memories to Dean. They meet Don, an art teacher, who explains that Tracy was suspended for her violent drawings with her in the middle of the action.
The brothers can't find Tracy, but, returning to their hotel, they do find Castiel and a stranger. Sam draws his gun at first, but when Dean tells him who this is, Sam goes fanboy and extends his hand eagerly. Castiel hesitates quite a while before accepting it, then finally takes it in both hands and says, "Dean Winchester, the boy with demon blood--I'm so glad you have ceased your extra-curricular activities." You can almost literally see Sam's face fall. This witch left a hex bag in the boys' room, which the angel took care of. The other angel, Uriel, is a "specialist," and they are going to have to destroy this little town of 1200 people because of the threat of Samhain rising, the breaking of another seal, and Lucifer coming to earth. The Winchesters must leave town! You're angels--have mercy! begs Sam. Dean says they'll just have to destroy the town with him in it, because he won't go. Uriel threatens to drag him out. Then you'll have to kill me, warns Dean, and God won't like that. Castiel agrees to let the boys try to kill the witch, but it must be done quickly.
The boys find the Impala egged by a chubby little boy Dean had insulted earlier and refused to give candy. "Astronaut!" shouts Dean, furious.
They drive, a disillusioned Sam complaining that he's been praying to ****s all this time. Don't give up, urges Dean, maybe they're just a couple of bad apples. Sam holds the tiny, blackened baby bone in his hand. Stop fingering your bone, orders Dean. (Best line of the night!) Sam realizes only a kiln could get a bone this burnt, and they head back to the school and Don, where they find ***orted baby bones in a locked drawer.
Uriel and Castiel sit on a park bench, ****ering. Uriel calls trick or treaters mud monkeys, and Castiel chides his partner for blasphemy: Dean has potential, he may succeed, it's out of our hands. You know our TRUE orders, are you prepared to obey?
Sam and Dean go to Don's home and find him performing a ritual while Tracy, gagged, is tied up, hanging from the ceiling. Don is about to stab her when the boys shoot him dead. Oops, SHE's the witch, he was her pain in the *** brother who was about to make HER the third sacrifice. She sets them rolling on the floor in agonizing pain, then goes over to perform the ritual Don had begun. Sam swipes Don's blood from the flood then quickly covers his face, then Dean's, in it.
The cement floor cracks open and the black smoke of a demon rushes out and into Don's dead body. He rises, his eyes wide and blue, kisses Tracy, tells her she's aged, snaps her neck, sneers, "*****!" and walks right past Sam and Dean. The blood looked like masks to him, says Sam, I gave it a shot. "You gave it a shot?" asks Dean is disbelief.
Samhain walks amongst the trick or treaters, his vision obviously blurry. In the Impala on the way to the cemetery, Dean gives Sam the demon-killing knife, reminding him not to use his powers this evening. The same kids from the previous evening are having a Halloween party in the mausoleum. Don lurches over and locks them in, then begins to release all the ghoulies from their crypts. The same boy who enjoyed watching the girls bob for apples at the previous party is hauled into a tomb and bloodily killed. The others begin to scream but can't get out--until Dean blows the lock away with his gun. The kids rush out and Dean rushes in, leaving Sam to fight Samhain alone. "Bring it on, stinky," says Dean, brandishing a weapon, to the first ghoul who comes at him.
Samhain first tries the "raygun stuff" on Sam, who tells him "That doesn't work on me." They battle fiercely, punching. Dean offs two ghoulies, then finds himself with a disappearing female ghost. That's it, I'm torching everybody! he declares.
Sam manages to burn Samhain's arm with the knife, but it's lost on the floor. As the demon advances, Sam uses his mind mojo, concentrating so hard, his nose begins to bleed and he holds his head as if in pain. (And it appeared that his eyes turned black, but I wasn't sure.) Dean watches his brother send the demon out of Don's mouth to its death. The body drops to the floor, dead. Sam and Dean stare at each other for several long moments.
Hotel room - Uriel reminds Sam that November 2nd is the anniversary of Mary's and Jess' deaths--and HE brazenly used the power Azazel gave him, despite two warnings not to! The demon would have killed me--and Dean! Sam reminds him--you're a ****! One word and I will turn you to dust! Blasts Uriel--and tell your brother to get off his high horse--ask what he remembers from hell. (Sounds like poor Sam got the nasty angel!)
Playground -- Castiel explains to Dean that his orders were to follow Dean's orders, a test to see how he'd perform under battle conditions. I failed, says Dean, but would make the same call if you sent me back in time--these kids are still here because of me and Sam. I WANTED you to save the town, says Castiel, these children are my father's works of art--I am not a hammer, I have doubts, he admits. Over the coming months, Dean will have more decisions to make, and they won't be easy--I don't envy you having to make them.
Extras: This episode had Sam's name in it, and it seems to me poor Sam was disillusioned in learning that the angels he prays to aren't the beautiful creatures of his beliefs. Is it possible that's one of the reasons he chose to use his power on the demon, or was it as simple as the fact that he had dropped the knife and it was mind mojo or death?
I wanted to see the boys talk afterwards. Did Dean understand why Sam used his power? Uriel clearly didn't, or didn't care--it sounded as if he preferred Sam to die rather than use his powers. To hell with that! I mean, what do these angels want?
That teacher made one scary demon--those eyes just bored into you!
Once again, we had some incestuous stuff going on--the witch kissed her brother (at least the bodies did).
Dean and candy. Nothing deters him. Even the possibility of razor blades in his stash!
With all that urgency to find the witch, they still had the Impala cleaned. Natch!
All the supporting players did a terrific job here, especially Tracy and Don. I always loved teachers who asked us to call them by their first names, but that didn't happen until college.
Baby bones -- ick! Blood and razor blades -- ick! Blood on faces -- ick!
Astronaut kid -- hilarious, especially Dean dissing him that he didn't need more candy.