3.14 Long-Distance Call
Air Date: 1 May 2008

DEAN GETS A CALL FROM HIS FATHER — Dean (Jensen Ackles) is stunned after he receives a phone call from his dad (guest star Jeffrey Dean Morgan) who tells him he has a solution to get Dean out of his deal. Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean fight because Sam is skeptical that it is really John on the other end of the phone and warns Dean not to listen to him but Dean disagrees and sets off on his own path to follow his father’s orders. Charles Beeson directed the episode written by Sera Gamble (#314).

Don’t forget to check out the other Long-Distance Call Spoilers, as well as the insights from this episode’s writer, Sera Gamble.

Post from: Supernatural Scoop

I thought this was fascinating, and just another pile of evidence of why Supernatural is one of the top dramas on television. Eric Kripke has led us, inch by inch, into Ruby’s little world. First, we had no idea who this crazy, Sam-stalking, demon-killing knife wielding woman was. Then, she reveals she’s a demon. Now, in Malleus, we find out how she came to be the demon that we know today. We also know –or so we think- why she wants to help the boys so much. She has really become the more likable character over Bela. Katie Cassidy’s acting is spot on for this role, too.

[Spoiler alert...]

So, like I was saying, I find Supernatural’s new take on demon origins very interesting. It’s similar to Buffy, in that many (or even all) demons are said to be former humans who made a deal. In Buffy, Anya had become a demon at the call or favor of a higher-order demon, D’Hoffryn. Ruby, we now know, gained demon status, after being a witch who served a demon. According to the story, all witches gain their power from a demon. It was unclear whether there are many demons who empower witches, but I would almost assume so. Now, we know that Ruby was a witch in the time of the plagues, and was granted demon status by the demon she served.

The best part, though, is Ruby’s explanation of what happens in Hell. She seemed to imply that some demons develop as humans cast into the darkness. After a while, they forget what it was like to enjoy life. They forget being human. All that’s left is a shell that can only think of evil. This came when she warned Dean that this was his fate. He was doomed to Hell, if he doesn’t find a way out of his deal. Once there, he’ll lose all of his humanity, and become just another one of the evil beings that he has spent his life fighting. This is a bigger deal, now, knowing that Dean’s not only losing his life, but losing all of his humanity.

Interestingly, though, Dean’s dad, John Winchester made a similar deal to save Dean’s life, just the year before. When he returned in the finale of Season Two, he didn’t seem to have lost his humanity. Did he not go to Hell, like Dean is supposed to? What does this mean? I’m going to have to re-watch some episodes and piece this together.

Besides John Winchester’s continued humanity, Ruby reveals, in contrast to her fervent warnings to Dean, that she still remembers what it’s like to be human. What is up with that?

There is definitely too much to figure out in three more episodes.

What did you think of Ruby and all the extraordinary revelations about her, demons, Dean, and evil? Discuss it in the comments below.

Post from: Supernatural Scoop

Kevin Smith is very talented. I enjoyed Dogma, Mallrats, and Clerks, but I don’t tend to crave watching them over and over again, though. So, I await “Reaper” with guarded optimism.

Bret Harrison stars as Sam Oliver, a young college dropout and home improvement store employee who discovers, on his 21st birthday, that his parents sold his soul to Satan. Now, the dark lord comes to inform Sam of his new career, returning escaped souls back to Hell. Of course, the first jumper is a very muscular firefighter, who can wield fire as a weapon. Nikki Reed (Thirteen), Tyler Labine, and Ray Wise (24) also star.

Personally, I think this could be funny, but I’m afraid that it might not be the stuff of an entire season of mirth and entertainment. My “Shawn of the Dead” loving me would love to be proved wrong, though.

What do you think? Will it be a hit? Will it be hunted down and sent back to Kevin Smith’s basement?

Post from: Supernatural Scoop