S08.E15: Man's Best Friend With Benefits

[Demented Daisy]

James Frampton, an old friend of Sam and Dean, has become a witch. Now he's supposedly killing innocent people.

 

 

This episode never happened.  Can we agree on that?  Never.  Happened.

 

Otherwise, I actually have to talk about it and I have no interest in doing so.  

[DittyDotDot]

What episode are you talking about...I've never seen or heard of such an episode. Hmm, strange. ;)

[trxr4kids]

 

 

Otherwise, I actually have to talk about it and I have no interest in doing so.  

 I have no problems sharing my feeling on this topic. My dog is a 17lb mixed breed I adopted 10 years ago as a puppy. I wouldn't call him my best friend because she's not that much of a pain in the ass and doesn't need to be muzzled for check ups and shots. He does have his benifits though, he never lets dropped food go to waste and he acts rabid when solicitors and annoying religous groups come to my door.

 

This is the share your dog stories thread right?

[catrox14]

The sad part of this episode? It actually had some important Dean character development like him deciding Sam could complete the trials and he would support him. What fucking shit show of an episode.  For the love of gods why did they ever write this stupid fucking episode and attach some important plot points to it. Gods. 

[mertensia]

I still can't get over that everyone thought Dean was wrong for being weirded out.

[catrox14]

Right?? Like why wouldn't he be weirded. Not to mention allergic to cats. 

[SueB]

Salt & Burn it I say.

[AwesomO4000]

Haaaaate!

 

Not very informative of me, but I don't think this episode deserves informative. I've already given it more consideration than it deserves.

[DittyDotDot]

Still have no idea what you people are talking about. Nope, no recollection of it at all. ;)

[Goldmoon]

Getting off the popular train of thought here.  I thought that both Portia and James had good actors.  I didn't mind their story although the idea of a black woman calling a white man her master in these modern times?  WTF?  Did Dean really think that Sam was going to share the beauty in his bed?  Had they ever shared before?  Is it getting hot in here?  Now I need to see if there's fanfic that covers that.

 

I didn't care for the cat being deceptive and the dog being loyal. This is species-ist.  Who DIDN'T know that James' friend was the bad guy, though?  As for Dean having this revelation that he needs to trust Sam, he already did that in season five regarding Lucifer.  I am sick of the brothers acting like they don't like or trust each other.  I fear it will not really improve. 

[AwesomO4000]

Now I need to see if there's fanfic that covers that.

 

There is... but sometimes the shared "beauty" is... Castiel. So be aware of that. Make sure you find a non-slash version fanfic if that is not your thing.

 

I didn't care for the cat being deceptive and the dog being loyal.

 

And French (or at least with a French name). Yeah I hated that so, so much.

 

As for Dean having this revelation that he needs to trust Sam, he already did that in season five regarding Lucifer.

 

True, and I would agree, but then the beginning of this season happened with the whole thing with Sam not looking for him - so Dean felt betrayed / let down / like he couldn't trust Sam again and then to further the mistrust all the stuff with Benny happened and those two things messed all that trust up again. There had also been a lot of trust between them built in seasons 6.5 - 7, but in some ways, they kind of neglected that when season 8 started and sort of went for a more season 4 feel to the brothers' relationship. At least that's what it felt like to me. So maybe this was the end of season 5 re-do?

 

The sad thing is that I accidentally turned this episode on when it was rerunning on TNT right during this scene, and I was thinking "this is actually a pretty good scene, why do I not remember this?" and then I flicked the channel to get the episode title and figured out why I didn't remember it. Too bad really since I liked that scene a lot myself.

[Goldmoon]

There is... but sometimes the shared "beauty" is... Castiel. So be aware of that. Make sure you find a non-slash version fanfic if that is not your thing.

Oh, slash is my thing, but Cas belongs to Dean.  If Dean is sharing with Sam, it has to be someone else, male or female.  Is it wrong to think of Kevin or Samandrial in this context?  Jodi? Donna? Aaron?

[AwesomO4000]

Heh - I lean towards Sastiel, so in my version, Sam would be sharing with Dean ; ), though I've seen the other way around, and it works for me too. Women also work... I'm a Sam and Dean equal opportunity reader. (I have a potentially doozy of a one * like you are describing half written in my head using the characters from one of my fanfics - I've never written one like that before, but maybe someday I'll do it.)

 

(* Let's just say it involves a friend with benefits of Sam (who is half-demon, Sam not the friend), Dean helping out, and Castiel borrowing the friend with benefits' body, with her - and Dean's - consent [she and Castiel already accidentally have a sometimes mind communication connection, so she's used to the angel by then] to be with Dean. In other words, it's pretty naughty. The original is a pretty f$%#'d up, half crack-fic fanfic * already - mostly because Jesse, the antichrist is involved, and it's in the spirit of that f$%#'d up episode, so the porn version is really f$%#'d up.)

 

* I really have to finish that thing. I'm working on it.

 

Is it wrong to think of Kevin or Samandrial in this context?  Jodi? Donna? Aaron?

 

Most definitely so, so wrong. ; ) I'll be in my bunk.

 

 

Wow, this episode somehow became much less sucky. Well, not really, but this made it much less so.

[sarthaz]

Wow, this episode somehow became much less sucky.

Ban him! :)  I just hit this one on my TNT rewatch, and I fell asleep. That's not a figure of speech -- I literally fell asleep in the middle of this massive shitfest.  I'm still in shock -- I mean, I know this is probably the worst episode of the series, but still ... I fell asleep!  During Supernatural!  On another forum, I once saw this episode (that doesn't exist) described as a "shitty backdoor pilot for Witchcop and Doglady".  Sounds about right.

[catrox14]

SHUNNNNNNNNNN. SHUNNNNNNN

[AwesomO4000]

Oh, but porn * makes everything better - just ask Dean. ; ).

 

* I generally prefer smutty fanfic to Japanese animated porn, but hey...

Edited April 17, 2015 by AwesomO4000

[catrox14]

My problem isn't the smut. I love me some good smut like the next gal.  But this episode...SHUNNNNN

[AwesomO4000]

My problem isn't the smut. I love me some good smut like the next gal.  But this episode...SHUNNNNN

Oh I totally agree. My comment was from sarthaz quoting my above post - hee.

 

The only reason I said "Wow this episode suddenly became much less sucky" was because the commentary had turned into a porn-y discussion (admittedly mostly my fault), so I was teasing. No porn-y discussion and this episode would still be totally sucky and definitely worth a shunning. Actually, it still is, but the smutty discussion at least was a bright spot for me. Hence my comment. I wasn't seriously saying the episode got better, because that would be an impossibility.

[Demented Daisy]

On March 11, 2015 at 6:40 PM, AwesomO4000 said:

 

Quote

I didn't care for the cat being deceptive and the dog being loyal.

 

And French (or at least with a French name). Yeah I hated that so, so much.

I had forgotten that his name was Phillippe Le Chat -- which literally translated means "Philip the Cat".  *eye roll*

[DittyDotDot]

Like I said, literal seems to be the way Carver rolls. Eye roll, indeed!

[RulerofallIsurvey]

I got really behind on commenting, so trying to get through a few eps tonight.

So - wow, not a lot of love for this episode.  Huh. Well, I actually didn't think it was too bad (yes, I'm weird like that) - except for that cringe worthy speech from Sam about Dean not trusting him right in the middle.  Geez.  That was bad.  In fact, that alone drops this ep to almost the bottom.  Almost.  Citizen Fang/Torn and Frayed was still worse for me.  Otherwise:

• I thought the beginning with Sam outside the motel room telling Dean how she just showed up and wanted her belly rubbed and could she just stay the night (typical Sam and dogs) - only to have the dog turn into a woman - was cute and funny.  
• I probably never would have even thought about the familiar being a black woman and calling a white man her master had I not read it in one of the comments.  I did think it interesting that the familiar "chooses" it's master.  I had a stray cat adopt me a couple years ago.  Hm...  Both "masters" were men though - boo.  Why no female "masters" with a male familiar?  And can I have one who looks like Chris Helmsworth?  Please?
• I wish they would have explained the lore a little more - like why don't all witches have familiars?  Or did I just miss it?  And do male witches have to wear black eyeliner?
• Yeah, Phillipe Le Chat was rather obvious.  I did yell "Salem!" at the tv when he turned into his cat form though.  It would have been funny to hear the actor's voice who played Salem (From Sabrina the Teenage Witch) coming from him once he turned into his cat form.  
• So Phillipe had to do what his master told him because it was a direct order.  Obviously, this show does not understand cats at all...
• James looked tiny next to Dean and Sam.  He's probably not even really that small.

[DittyDotDot]

11 hours ago, RulerofallIsurvey said:

So - wow, not a lot of love for this episode.  Huh. Well, I actually didn't think it was too bad (yes, I'm weird like that) - except for that cringe worthy speech from Sam about Dean not trusting him right in the middle.  Geez.  That was bad.  In fact, that alone drops this ep to almost the bottom.  Almost.  Citizen Fang/Torn and Frayed was still worse for me.  Otherwise:

TBH, my dislike of this episode is mostly due to it's not really feeling like an episode of Supernatural than anything else. It generally takes a lot to offend me and I actually think they were trying to be somewhat subversive with this episode. Not that I think they were successful, but it's kinda how the Horrible Duo rolls. I think they fancy themselves as philosophers in a way.

It's funny because this is the first in a line of S8 episodes that almost feel like they could be backdoor pilots. They have Sam and Dean in them, but somehow are just off the mark enough in tone and all to feel like they aren't Supernatural. It's almost like the show wasn't sure what to do with itself and wasn't sure what it wanted to be anymore. 

Edited July 1, 2016 by DittyDotDot

[Dobian]

My problem with this one is this whackadoodle lore this show sometimes creates.  So now you have a whole secret community of witches who hang out at an upscale Rat Pack era lounge.  And anyone can become a powerful witch, even some cop who decides to take it up, because...reasons.  I also agree that this didn't feel like an episode of Supernatural at all, it was like watching an old episode of Charmed.

Edited July 25, 2016 by Dobian

[sarthaz]

"Oh no -- I have to run out the door.  I'm going to miss the 10am TNT episode. :("

*Turns on TNT and this shit is on*

Bullet dodged ...

[Hanahope]

Yeah I wasn't that happy with this episode for many reasons.  The plot wasn't that good, the whole familiar roles seemed wierd even without the 'benefits' part. Definitely seemed like a filler episode.

[bettername2come]

Oh, no. It's this one. I mean, I like Christian Campbell. He's way better than the fictional equivalent and he was in some random-ass made-for-TV movie with Richard Karn years ago that I always liked, but he could've used a better plot.  The concept is deeply uncomfortable. I don't like Sam and Dean calling Portia hot. She's a dog. 

Sigh. Find the good. 

1. "I always found Curly's work a bit obvious." "They're Stooges! They're supposed to be obvious."

2. "The guy saved our lives once, it's not like he-" "Saved our lives?"

3. Jared is great with dogs. And Sam is adorable trying to make excuses for having a dog in the hotel room. Let him have a dog, Dean! He'll take care of it! They can get a Great Dane who helps them solve mysteries. 

4. Dean being flustered but trying not to be rude regarding the witch/familiar sex. 

5. "Oh, well, that's a confidence builder. Anything else I should know before I become some disembodied thing, completely at his mercy?"\

6. The flashy blue glowing eyes and flashbacks when the witch got into their heads look cool.

7. Portia liking Sam and Dean trying to convince her he likes dogs. 

8. "I trust you, Sammy."

Edited August 11, 2017 by bettername2come

[Wayward Son]

I’m gonna go against the grain and say I like this one. It’s far from the best on the show, but it certainly beats the trash that is Blood Brothers, Bitten, Citizen Fang, Torn and Frayed and of course 

Spoiler

The Great Escapist.

At least Sam and Dean felt like Sam and Dean and it didn’t establish character damaging retcons into the mix. 

 

What I enjoyed about the episode 

- James and Portia: They were both portrayed by great actors who had genuinely chemistry with Jared and Jensen. (I don’t mean that in a shippy way just they bounced off each other well) 

- The opening scene namely the exchange about the Stooges and Sam’s horrified looks as he heard the impala arrive back. 

- The witch killing potion. 

[RulerofallIsurvey]

17 hours ago, Wayward Son said:

I’m gonna go against the grain and say I like this one. It’s far from the best on the show, but it certainly beats the trash that is Blood Brothers, Bitten, Citizen Fang, Torn and Frayed and of course 

  Reveal hidden contents

The Great Escapist.

At least Sam and Dean felt like Sam and Dean and it didn’t establish character damaging retcons into the mix. 

I agree.  I found it far from the most egregious of the series.   

Edited October 23, 2017 by RulerofallIsurvey
most. I meant most

[Iju]

On 3/11/2015 at 2:35 PM, Goldmoon said:

Getting off the popular train of thought here.  I thought that both Portia and James had good actors.  I didn't mind their story although the idea of a black woman calling a white man her master in these modern times?  WTF? 

why not? if that brings up bad memories for yourself, that only proves they need to keep doing this. we need to let go of the past, so much so that when something like this DOES happen, it means nothing. 

On 8/10/2017 at 10:31 PM, bettername2come said:

Jared is great with dogs. And Sam is adorable trying to make excuses for having a dog in the hotel room. Let him have a dog, Dean! He'll take care of it! They can get a Great Dane who helps them solve mysteries. 

honestly, both of them need a dog. it would be cool :)

and of course one of the best lines:

"Oh, by the way, got to hand it to you. It's been 15 hours since Portia mentioned her night with James, and not one bestiality joke out of you."

[hypnotoad]

Quote

I didn't care for the cat being deceptive and the dog being loyal. This is species-ist.  Who DIDN'T know that James' friend was the bad guy, though? 

I just watched this as I make my way through all the seasons and wow ... I did not like this episode. I like the actors playing the witch and the familiar but beyond that? A big uggh from me. And yes it was painfully, painfully obvious who the bad guy was going to be. And yes I hated that of course the cat stuff irritated me.

Season 8 has been a tough slog and episodes like that do not help. Oh one positive at least Same and Dean aren't still being complete bitches to one another. Yay?!?

[The Companion]

So I finally made it to the generally hated and much maligned episode that never happened. I imagine it has been a bit like watching a slow motion train wreck for all of youas I approached it 😆. I feel like I have been too negative lately for a show I am enjoying, so perhaps some perspective. Thanks to an unreasonable binge of this show, I have been dying for some pie. It is Christmas Day and I bought two gorgeous pies: a chocolate pie and a caramel apple pie with walnuts. I bought them a little early because I am so excited for pie, so I refrigerated them. After Christmas dinner, I went to get the pies. I could almost taste warm apple pie. I opened the drawer in which they were tucked awsy only to discover that the packaging for the turkey had broken open during the freezing process and leaked during the defrosting process. The pies were covered in raw turkey juices and could not be salvaged.

This episode was slightly less painful than that. 

My unpopular opinion a few episodes ago about some sort of misinterpretation of what the audience wants because of the significant female share seems particularly applicable here. I can only assume we were supposed to sigh at the romance of FORBIDDEN LOVE. Nevermind that the prohibition seems to be set based on a huge inherent power differential. Nevermind the bestiality angle. And just ignore the fact that nobody in the making of the episode said: hell no, we are not going to have an African American woman call a white man "master." 

There were probably some decently important character moments and I suppose it is good to know the witch weapon works (if only they had tried it with proper ingredients in Shut up, Dr. Phil, perhaps they could have already confirmed it).  I actually probably hated less than the premiere of this season, but I definitely won't be rewatching this one tomorrow. 😆

[ahrtee]

1 hour ago, The Companion said:

I actually probably hated less than the premiere of this season, but I definitely won't be rewatching this one tomorrow.

Really?  8.1 was, IMO, annoying (especially to Sam fans) but at least it resolved the cliffhanger, set up the next half of the season (even if you didn't like where it went) and had some good Purgatory/Dean scenes.  This one was boring, outright offensive in oh, so many ways, and had no redeeming qualities to me at all.  I couldn't even turn off the sound and just watch the pretty.  ☺️

[ILoveReading]

This always felt like an unofficial back door pilot to me.

[The Companion]

7 hours ago, ahrtee said:

Really?  8.1 was, IMO, annoying (especially to Sam fans) but at least it resolved the cliffhanger, set up the next half of the season (even if you didn't like where it went) and had some good Purgatory/Dean scenes.  This one was boring, outright offensive in oh, so many ways, and had no redeeming qualities to me at all.  I couldn't even turn off the sound and just watch the pretty.  ☺️

I think I would say I hate 8.1 more because of the wasted potential and the fact that we have to continually revisit the terrible choices made by the writers, while this one can be largely disposed of. But it may also be that I knew this one would suck, while I was taken by surprise at the 8.1 suck.