S09.E19: Alex Annie Alexis Ann

[Guest]

Sheriff Mills calls Sam and Dean after she kills a vampire who attacked a prisoner named Annie. They discover Annie was kidnapped by a family of vampires who use her as bait to lure in humans they can then feed on. Sheriff Mills tries to rescue Annie from her captors, but finds out the hard way that family always comes first.

[SueB]

It was a little jarring to switch gears back to MOTW, but as MOTW episodes go, I thought this was a winner. I did an immediate rewatch and feel like the episode was much better when my expectations were aligned. Kim Rhodes has really made a complete and complex character in her had a dozen or so episodes.

[LittleIggy]

Somebody remind me on how you un-vamp someone like Ann/Alex.

[2Old2BAFangirl]

Somebody remind me on how you un-vamp someone like Ann/Alex.

Grandpa Sam Campbell had the recipe for the vamp cure in his journal.  I remember you needed the blood of the vamp that turned you as well as some other ingredients.  They whipped up a batch of cure for Dean in S6, Live Free or Twihard ep.

I haven't rewatched the ep yet but I liked it overall.  I was convinced Jodi would die tonight so I'm very happy she made it through alive.

Dean going dark is awesome so far!  And I loved his comment to Sam about knowing Sam wouldn't have done it for him.  Jensen Ackles is just amazing.

[catrox14]

Okay, I thought this was a really weak episode especially so close the season finale

 

YAY that Jodie lived but I didn't think they used Sheriff Mills well at all.  I suppose I just have no interest in watching what was essentially two mothers fighting over the welfare of a child in my weekly dose of Supernatural.  Maybe I'm cold but I did not care what happened to Alex, Annie.  And as much as I like Sheriff Mills, the show is about Dean and Sam and I really disliked that they chose to have the final scene be Jodie especially given the final conversation between Dean and Sam.  Weird editing choice IMO. The pacing was weird and I hated the use of the shaky cam thing. 

 

But man I was really pissed off by that conversation between Dean and Sam towards the end.  What pissed me off was Sammy McJudgerson calling out Dean for seeming to enjoy killing a vampire and worse citing Dean calling it a bitch before killing him. Really Sam?  ( and show) after all these years of Dean (and Sam too) calling every manner of monster a bitch, a son of a bitch or a dick and then killing them it was never an issue.  But now it's somehow a sign that Dean likes killing? What? Maybe I'm a terrible person but I kind of HOPE that Dean enjoys killing monsters that kill and torture humans. It would be one thing if Dean was enjoying killing humans but these are monsters and yes it IS their job.  I was just dumbfounded at that bit of dialogue. 

On the plus side, HOLY SHIT DEAN!  He was all kinds of scary badass here. I loved him playing possum to lure in the one vamp that was draining Sam.  And freaking loved the way Dean made that vamp look him in the eye before killing him, with the NON-SERRATED edge of the knife.  That was just brute force. I literally shouted "HOLY SHIT, DEAN!".   And I loved Dean reminding Sam that he did what Sam wouldn't have done. HA!

So I'm just hanging my hat on the brilliance of Jensen making Dark! Dean a scary mofo. 

 

ETA: Oh crap. I just had a thought.  Dean was clocked by 2 by 4, which probably should have killed him.  Maybe this is just the first sign that he is now becoming immortal? 

Edited April 23, 2014 by catrox14

[AlliMo]

To be fair, Sam has fairly consistently been Sammy McJudgerson from pretty much day one, which is why Sam sucks.

[mertensia]

Dean's usually been a hugger when meeting old friends again or a handshake. He didn't touch Jodie- I suppose that's part of the MoC change.

How did Jodie know Cody was a vampire?

That killing was cold. That said, Sam, shut up.

Once again I am baffled that upon realizing that these are the Winchesters the monsters aren't leaving behind a nice fruit basket with an apology card and getting the Hell out of Dodge.

[DittyDotDot]

Once again I am baffled that upon realizing that these are the Winchesters the monsters aren't leaving behind a nice fruit basket with an apology card and getting the Hell out of Dodge.

Or even better yet, stop talking and kill them. Seriously, shut the hell up and you may survive an encounter with the Winchesters.

 

I thought is was a really slow and uninteresting episode...more of the same stand-around-and-talk that they seem to like as of late. Personally, I am not finding this Dark Dean story very interesting or appealing, but I think Jensen is really enjoying it so I let him have it. I'm so tired of vampires, they seem to be everywhere anymore and I've never found SPN's take on them to be particularly more interesting than anyone else's--same goes for werewolves. I miss the days when they brought us new clever twists on old monsters. They did elicit a smile out of me when Jodi climbed into the back of Baby though--not many female characters get this honor--you go girl!  And I was glad to see that not only did Jodi survive, but she's also not the friendly neighborhood monster now.

 

 

But man I was really pissed off by that conversation between Dean and Sam towards the end.  What pissed me off was Sammy McJudgerson calling out Dean for seeming to enjoy killing a vampire and worse citing Dean calling it a bitch before killing him. Really Sam?  ( and show) after all these years of Dean (and Sam too) calling every manner of monster a bitch, a son of a bitch or a dick and then killing them it was never an issue.  But now it's somehow a sign that Dean likes killing? What? Maybe I'm a terrible person but I kind of HOPE that Dean enjoys killing monsters that kill and torture humans. It would be one thing if Dean was enjoying killing humans but these are monsters and yes it IS their job.  I was just dumbfounded at that bit of dialogue. 

 

ETA: Oh crap. I just had a thought.  Dean was clocked by 2 by 4, which probably should have killed him.  Maybe this is just the first sign that he is now becoming immortal? 

I thought Sam was choosing his words very carefully there--it's not that Dean enjoyed it, he was showing off and having far more fun than Dean usually would. Killing monsters is a means to an end for Dean, he does it to save lives and help people while getting to let off a little steam himself--he's never been proud of it before or not felt the weight of it. I didn't see Sam as judging him for killing a monster, but was concerned at how un-Dean like he did it.  Not saying that I cared for Jared's performance much, just that Sam didn't seem all that judgy to me, just concerned.

 

As far as the 2x4--to be fair, they both get hit in the head and thrown up against and through things that they should never survive all the time. I wouldn't put too much stock in the idea that it means anymore this time than it did when Dean got thrown at least 40 feet, through a window and up against a wall in The Song Remains The Same and got up like nothing ever happened. (I was watching this episode the other night and my first thought was "how did that not kill Dean.")

[Mcolleague]

I suppose I just have no interest in watching what was essentially two mothers fighting over the welfare of a child in my weekly dose of Supernatural.  Maybe I'm cold but I did not care what happened to Alex, Annie.

I actually thought this episode and Alex's welfare tied in well with the emotional arcs this season. It highlighted some of the themes they are addressing, like getting away from a toxic environment to save yourself (Sam), and the implications of grooming/conditioning in childhood on agency and culpability in adulthood (Dean). The message overall seemed hopeful, Alex was redeemable despite her past actions - it had a message that "you can always choose to change" instead of "I'd rather die than continue making mistakes/experiencing guilt" (which applies to both brothers). It was a MOTW episode, but I actually enjoyed it and was pleasantly surprised by the complexity of the message. Or maybe my standards are just really low now, since that Thin Man "parallel", which made me want to tear out my hair. 

Edited April 23, 2014 by Mcolleague

[SueB]

 

I thought Sam was choosing his words very carefully there--it's not that Dean enjoyed it, he was showing off and having far more fun than Dean usually would. Killing monsters is a means to an end for Dean, he does it to save lives and help people while getting to let off a little steam himself--he's never been proud of it before or not felt the weight of it. I didn't see Sam as judging him for killing a monster, but was concerned at how un-Dean like he did it.  Not saying that I cared for Jared's performance much, just that Sam didn't seem all that judgy to me, just concerned.

That's my take too.  It doesn't seem reasonable to me to judge Sam for being unconcerned and then judge Sam for being judgey when he's showing concern.  I may have preferred he phrase it a different way -- like LESS oblique Sam, how about more to the point like "since the MoC you seem to be a bit more bloodthirsty Dean, I'm concerned."  But this was Sam concerned IMO. 

 

 

It was a MOTW episode, but I actually enjoyed it and was pleasantly surprised by the complexity of the message.

Well said Mcolleague on your whole analysis.  I think it was spot on.  I REALLY like Bob Berens' writing in this episode. 

[catrox14]

I rewatched the episode again last night trying to figure out if I missed something and why I was so bothered by Sam here. 

 

Why are they attempting to tie Dean's descent into darkness with the MoC with using his go-to demon insult of choice? Are they trying to tell us that Dean has really been a monster all along considering Mama Vamp called Jodie, our heroine of the episode, a bitch too?  Of course IMO "bitch" and "dick" are used because it's the few words the network allows since they can't use "asshole" or 'fucker".  But why have Sam focus on that word?  I don't think it was a throwaway line at all.

 

Upon rewatch of the scene when beheads the vampire and then thinking back to Sam reading about Cain and Abel, the Blade Runner and THINMAN episodes when he saw Dean kill and have that crazy look in his eye when he had the blade and he was trying to get through to Dean, I thought in all those situations it was more"Sam is afraid OF Dean" vs "Sam is afraid FOR Dean". 

 

If he's afraid OF Dean killing him, then I can better understand him attacking Dean, the man, vs Dean's actions because of the MoC.  If Sam thinks Dean is only using the word "bitch" because Dean now is enjoying killing more than before, well then Sam doesn't remember that aspect of his brother from all these years. If it's an aspect that has bothered Sam all along then Sam is a flat out hypocrite because he's done the same thing, (see Ruby, Lilith, and the vengeance tour in Mystery Spot) with both using the word "bitch" and enjoying killing.

 

Sam could have just as easily said to Dean, " Dude. You beheaded that vampire with your own brute strength! What the hell?" and maybe also mention to Dean 'BTW, man, you get a blank look in your eye now when you kill and it's pretty scary" but instead he goes with 'Why you calling the vampire  a bitch" as a marker of Dean now enjoying killing instead of telling Dean what he's seeing when Dean is in the killing mode. IMO, that was a terrible writing choice that made both Sam and Dean look worse than either have been in general during the show.  

 

Dean's error in judgment was thinking that Alex couldn't be saved considering how long she'd been doing that with the family.  I don't think that error was necessarily a sign that Dean doesn't care about humans and only cares about killing.

 

At least so far anyway. 

Edited April 23, 2014 by catrox14

[2Old2BAFangirl]

I liked the episode well enough, it was okay - but, I hope the guys have had enough time off now so we see more of them in the next episodes.  I know that won't be the case for 9x20 because it's the backdoor pilot thing but I watch Supernatural to see Dean, Sam, Cas and Dean. (I really like to see Dean)  The last couple of eps have been fairly Winchester light, IMO and as good or okay as they've been, I miss the boys.

I will say I am very happy to see Jodi live to see another day.  I was pretty convinced they would kill her off this time - she's pretty much the only one still out and about with Charlie gone and Garth being a werewolf.  I'm always happy to see Jodi, it doesn't seem like the boys need to be dumber when she's around so she can be the hero.  She plays well with others.

Dean killing the vamp with that dead, scary look in his eyes was awesome to me.  I also liked his snarky remark to Sam about knowing Sam wouldn't have done the same for him. 

Sam's comment to Dean about enjoying the kill a little too much actually didn't bother me.  I don't think Sam knows what the hell to do about the changes he's seeing in Dean.  Normally, he would probably discuss a problem of this nature with Dean, I think he's a little lost on what to do about it without anyone to bounce these issues off.  I think this while still fully furious with Sam for the things he said to Dean in The Purge.  As much as I don't like Sam right now, I still believe he loves his brother.  In my head, Sam isn't scared of Dean (yet, probably) but scared and worried for Dean. I have to hold onto that hope because I'm a huge, freakin' sap and I need the brothers to love each other and stick together.  The way things have been going, I won't be surprised if I'm very wrong and Sam meant what he said to Dean but I will be disappointed.

Edited April 23, 2014 by 2Old2BAFangirl

[bluebonnet]

I rewatched the episode again last night trying to figure out if I missed something and why I was so bothered by Sam here. 

 

Why are they attempting to tie Dean's descent into darkness with the MoC with using his go-to demon insult of choice? Are they trying to tell us that Dean has really been a monster all along considering Mama Vamp called Jodie, our heroine of the episode, a bitch too?  Of course IMO "bitch" and "dick" are used because it's the few words the network allows since they can't use "asshole" or 'fucker".  But why have Sam focus on that word?  I don't think it was a throwaway line at all.

 

Sam didn't focus on the "bitch".  He used the entire statement "look at me bitch" when talking to Dean about it.  It didn't even appear that it was all about the 'snappy one-liner', but about the entire scene that Sam was questioning. They didn't choose the best dialogue for this Sam and Dean scene, but I got the feeling that they were leading up to Sam pointing out that Dean is different.  Jodi ended up interrupting and whatever Sam was going to say after "yeah, but" got forgotten or left for another time.  The audience realizes that there is something different about Dean, and especially about the way he kills.  We've seen him enjoy his job plenty of times but this is quite different.  I think the point the writer was trying to make is that Sam is also noticing what the audience is noticing.  

[mertensia]

Yeah that bit of dialogue was not the best written but what I got out of it is: "Dean you're not you. This kind of worries me." I wish they'd just let him say this but God forbid a Winchester just say something outright.

[DittyDotDot]

I enjoyed this episode far more on re-watch than I expected to. Still find all the yammering by momma and trucker-hat vampire while no-talky vampire stood by and skulked annoying, but I guess I was properly prepared for it and was able to ignore it this go-around. If nothing else, I adore Jodi and am always pleased-as-punch to see her.

 

Anyway, really got drawn into the early part of the episode. Sam, Dean and Jodi talking about the case in the police station and having to stop due to other cops walking by was a nice little touch. I also really love how they were kinda trying to deprogram Alexis/Ann in the early part of the episode. Robert Berens did a nice job finding these little unusual moments to exploit. I also am pleasantly surprised the details of vampire lore he remembered...vampires are trackers and once they get your scent they have it for life and stuff like that. Plus, I appreciate the simplicity of his plotting. Sometimes these writers get so caught up trying to be cute that they end up confusing plot with story; it seems Robert Berens understands the difference.

 

There's a nice almost creepy feel to this episode too. They grounded the story and the look of the episode so it has some actual scary moments in lieu of the normal laughable levels of gore. It also has a little grime and atmosphere that's been lacking in recent years, which is never a bad thing, IMO. It lags a bit in the middle, though and could've used a bit more pizazz at times, but overall find it a good solid episode for S9.

 

Personally, I find Dean's "look at me bitch" kill laughable and rather over-the-top, but I do think Jensen did a good job, throughout the episode, showing how Dean is becoming more hard edged and bloodthirsty. His whole demeanor and the way he carried himself a little straighter and stiffer--nice subtle work there Mr. Ackles. I think if Sam hadn't taken notice of the change in Dean it would've been a bit hard to swallow. I didn't think the dialogue was that bad, I thought it was good in showing that Sam was really struggling to find the right words so as not to poke the bear.

 

The good to end on: Woodchipper!

[Goldmoon]

I was expecting to hate this one and I really liked it.  The actress who played Mama Vamp was awesome.  The only thing I really didn't like about it was the title, but I guess that is to point out the identity confusion of the guest teen, and perhaps the identity crisis in my hero, Dean.  As uneven as this season has been, it has had some great guest characters.  I hadn't realized that Dean was using the non-serrated edge of his machete.  I will have to watch that scene again.

[sarthaz]

This is a good episode, but on rewatch, all I can think about is how terrible Jody's hair looks.  Remember when she was cute?  Kim Rhodes is a beautiful lady, but this episode (and that atrocious hair) makes her look 100 years old.  Yes, this post is more superficial than supernatural, but Bloodlines is on next, so I need something to distract me from the upcoming festival of shit.

[RulerofallIsurvey]

I really like Sheriff Mills.  She's bad-ass, without being a Mary Sue.  And I really like her interactions with the guys.  I wouldn't mind seeing her on the show more.  Not a regular.  Semi-regular would be cool though.

• What no hug when they first rolled up?  I'm disappointed after last time.
• The bantering is too cute.  The head in the trunk is so Winchester.  Also love how Jodi pulls them back in line.
• The vampire family with a Mother as the leader was a neat twist.  And their kidnapping a child and 'raising' her and using her as a honey trap was downright diabolical and creepy.  But of course Annie/Alex would go along with it.  That's all she's known since she was 8.  Geez, Dean.  Back off.  
• Sam lost like two quarts of blood and he's okay a couple hours later?  Is that even physically possible?  I guess we've got precedence for 

Spoiler

Red Meat

• I did enjoy Dean throwing the "I know, you wouldn't have done the same for me" back in Sam's face.  Damn, I'm getting to be a real bitch about Sam.  I blame the hair.  I really do.  It's horrifically bad this season.

Overall, I did enjoy this ep.  This is one I could watch again.  

[DittyDotDot]

Unlike the previous episode, this episode gets better every time I watch it. This show is so weird that way for me. 

On 8/10/2016 at 8:40 PM, RulerofallIsurvey said:

I really like Sheriff Mills.  She's bad-ass, without being a Mary Sue.  And I really like her interactions with the guys.  I wouldn't mind seeing her on the show more.  Not a regular.  Semi-regular would be cool though.

From your lips to TPTB's ears! I love Jodi and think she adds an interesting perspective to the show. It's cool how she's a nube to the supernatural, but isn't all weirded out by it all nor completely incompetent.  Plus, Kim Rhodes has great chemistry with both Jared and Jensen. I wouldn't mind seeing her more than once or twice a season. 

[bettername2come]

I love Jody the vampire slayer. Excuse me while I laugh at Kim Rhodes killing a character named Cody. I always have mixed feelings about the show's vampire mythology, but the nests holding people captive and the vampiric Stockholm syndrome is a creepy piece of mythology. I like the bus ticket agent who tried to cover for Alex. I like when ordinary people do the right thing on this show. It's comforting. I love Jody. I love that she has faith in the boys in the beginning. I love that she stands up to them when they don't trust Alex. Mrs. Bennett from Heroes is awesome as Vampire Mama. She needs to be in more stuff. I love Jody telling off Vampire Mama. Okay, vamp calling Dean "the short-haired one" amuses me far more than it should. I like Jody figuring out why Vamp renamed Alex, and Jody admitting that she was using Alex as a replacement for her son. "Don't watch this, sweetheart." I like Alex. She saves Jody, she cares about her family, she cares about people getting killed, she tries to have better manners at the end. All around decent character. 

On 4/27/2015 at 1:59 PM, sarthaz said:

Yes, this post is more superficial than supernatural, but Bloodlines is on next, so I need something to distract me from the upcoming festival of shit.

What?! Crap, I'm going to bed. 

[Hanahope]

Dean has always enjoyed killing monsters.  It didn't seem moreso than other times.

Always nice to see at least some of the boys crew remain alive. 

And the boys again get caught.  It's becoming a pattern.

[The Companion]

I really like Jodi but don't like the Supernatural version of vampires, so it was a bit of a wash. I did love her trunk full of dead vamps. I also liked how, at the end, she offered to be whatever Alex needed. 

The Mark of Cain continues to have its effect. Honestly, i would watch externally induced drama like that 99 out of 100 times over the pure internal angst, so it wasn't too bad.