Watercooler review of Long Distance Call from TV Guide online

[agt_spooky]

Morning, guys!

I'm rushing off to work, but wanted to quick post the watercooler review from Tina Charles over at tvguide.com for Long Distance Call.

I'll be back later with my own thoughts, but what did YOU think of the episode? Agree or disagree with what Tina said?

Supernatural

Episode Recap: "Long-Distance Call"

So at least we got to hear Jeffrey Dean Morgan, even though we didn’t get to see the late great Big Daddy Winchester. That’s something right? I figured we’d only be hearing him since the episode was called "Long Distance Call," but a girl could have a tiny sliver of hope. How crushing was it at the end when Dean had to admit to Sam that he was right, the BDW he was getting phone calls from really wasn’t BDW? It was some crazy soul-sucker who worked at the phone company. Having Dean admit to his brother he was really scared was pretty crushing as well. I don’t know about you, but it was nice to see Sam and Dean talking about the deal for an extended amount of time. I feel like the topic has been on simmer for the entire season. And now the show and these characters can’t avoid it any longer. Dean’s getting scared and he can’t hide it. Having him believe the caller was truly BDW, that’s not a move I really think he would normally make. I know he’s always had a blind spot when it comes to his dad, but I do feel he would have been skeptical if he didn’t have a death sentence hanging over him. It was difficult to see him instantly believe the caller was his dad and it was even harder to see Sam have to be the voice of reason because I wanted the caller to be John and I wanted them to really have a lead on the demon that’s holding Dean’s contract. Speaking of which…What did you guys think about Dean going after "Dad’s" lead? After all, at the time, he didn’t know it wasn’t real. I thought if he did anything to try and get out of the deal, Sam would die. Plus, at the end, Dean said he was the only person that could get him out of this deal. Again, if he truly believes that then he’s putting Sam’s life in danger. What’s changed? Don’t get me wrong, I’m hoping Dean takes a more active role finding a way out of the deal. What else we got in "Long Distance Call" was Sam and Dean arguing, teasing and investigating. Dean even had time to check out a girl. But seriously, leave it up to Dean to continue on with the family business even in the face of Hell. That was really good to see because that was so in character for him. He never was in this for revenge; he was in it to help people. And the case they were investigating was so well done and creepy. I loved seeing Sam help that teenaged girl with her "dead mom" calling and IM-ing her from the "beyond." He was really there for her and I loved seeing that, plus he got to be all heroic when he saved her little brother. Here’s the problem with a shortened season: it’s shorter so the writers had to come up with a way to let us know Sam and Dean have been trying real hard to come up with a way to save Dean. They had to condense six episodes of could-have-been action and story developments into a couple lines of exposition explaining that they’d talked to every professor, witch, soothsayer and two-bit carny act to figure a way out. We didn’t get to see any of this. That makes me very unhappy. Other thoughts: • Dean finally told Sam Ruby said she couldn’t save him. One secret out. Sam’s turn to pony up. • Was that the same college where they shot the "Tall Tales" episode? • Loved Sam getting tough with the crocata (I’m really not sure how to spell the MOTW. If anyone wants to clue me in, be my guest.). Loved that he got himself out of the situation. • I love how Dean knew the wife of the suicide guy in the beginning was withholding information. • Loved the red herring of Thomas Edison’s spirit phone. And that annoying tour guide reminded me of Bonnie Hunt in Dave. “And we’re walking…” • What exorcism did faux John really give Dean? • Sam actually drove a rental car. Wow. No need to wonder how Dean got to one location and Sam ended up somewhere else. • Loved Dean giving advice to the fly guy about the porn site. That was so Dean. • Sam and Dean ended up back in Ohio, Eric Kripke’s home state. Milan, Ohio really is the birthplace of Thomas Edison. • When the MOTW was talking about how everyone’s so connected but so have never been so alone, I thought of Pulse, that movie with Kristen Bell that’s based on a Japanese horror flick. All in all, I really liked this episode. There were nice Sam and Dean moments and conflicts; a good, creepy investigation and definitely a chick flick moment. It also stirred the pot for the two-part finale that starts next week. I hope you guys are ready, because I am. You know how "Long Distance Call" ended on a quiet moment between Sam and Dean? Well, I’m hoping nothing about the next two episodes is quiet. I want loud, hardcore, pulse-pounding action, angst, scares and screams. I want it to be Sam and Dean versus the supernatural universe. I’m sure we’ll get something in the vicinity of awesome. One final thing and I know I’m a total geek for doing this but it’s May 2, Sam Winchester’s birthday. Happy B-day Sammy! (Yes, I’m totally aware that this is a character just humor me…) Favorite Lines: "So you two were talking about the case?" "No. We were actually talking about our feelings and then our favorite boy bands." "Since when does a phone guy drive a rental or wear a cheap suit?" "Dad?" "What did he sound like?" "Like Oprah. Dad, like dad. What do you think?" "What’s with the quote-y fingers?" "You’re my boy. I love you. I can’t watch you go to hell, Dean." (Again, words of love that came from a faux John. "Devil’s Trap," anyone?) "After everything, you’re still just going on blind faith." "Yeah, well maybe, you know maybe that’s all I got OK?" "I see they improved your face." "Right back at you." "Well pack your panties Sammy, we’re hitting the road." "My ass is too sweet to let out of sight." "I can’t expect dad to show up with some miracle at the last minute. I can’t expect anybody to you know? The only person that can get me out of this is me." "And me." "And me? What? Deep revelation, havin’ a real moment and that’s what you come back with? 'And me?'" "Do you want a poem?" "Moment’s gone. Unbelievable." ~~~~~ Ok, finally got a moment to jot down some of my thoughts about Long Distance Call. I really liked what Tina said about the episode and don't want to repeat too much of what she said. But, I, too, was hoping for a glimpse of JDM, especially when we saw the "ghost" of the dead mother in the computer monitor (I'll get back to that in a minute). I was hoping that John would appear as well. But alas... [sigh] God, I SO felt for Dean in this one. He wanted to believe SO badly that it really was John on the other end of the line and that his father was going to help save him. I wanna talk about the MOTW for a second. First, how did he make the ghost of the dead mother appear in the computer monitor?? Second, the way it...feeds, for a lack of a better word, kind of confused me. We see it kill poor Stewie and then immediately open it's mouth and suck out...Stewie's lifeforce or something. Ok, so far so good. But what about the people he asked to kill themselves? Was he lurking around somewhere, waiting for the person to die, then sneak in their house and suck out their lifeforce? That makes absolutely no sense. Like with the little boy, Simon. If the kid had gotten hit by that truck, there would've been people around immediately. How was this monster supposed to take the kid's body and suck out it's lifeforce? That part of the monster's M.O. just didn't make much sense to me. Oh, and how did this monster, pretending to be John, know all about Dean's deal?? And next - how the hell did Dean get out of that cop's house?? I mean, the guy's a COP and Dean broke in and beat the crap outta him. And the guy's just gonna let him go?? I don't think so. What did Dean do, hit him in the head with the gun butt again and then run? So now that Sam knows that Ruby can't help Dean, can we KILL HER NOW?? Please?? Because she's totally useless! I've just GOT to stop reading the script sides, because yet again I was disappointed. There's a hysterical bit between Dean and Stewie when they first meet him at the phone company. Did you all notice the action figures Stewie had all around? Well, this is the conversation: Sam pulls out a piece of paper with the wonky caller ID written on it while Dean checks out the action figures. One pair is in a particularly compromising position. DEAN: See you got the Silver Surfer in a pretty compromising position here. Who's this you got on top of him? STEWIE: Huh? Oh. Mephisto. DEAN: (disapproves) Mephisto. Interesting. Considering Surf kicked his ass, you'd think it'd be the other way around, wouldn't you? STEWIE: Uh... Before a full-on Comic-con breaks out, Sam jumps in... ROTFL! Wouldn't that have been fabulous?? Especially after the teasing about the porn sites on Stewie's computer. :-) Like Tina said, Dean isn't supposed to be doing anything himself to get out of the deal, or Sam will drop dead. Yet he took off to supposedly confront and kill the demon that holds his contract. And what if it had failed? Or what if the minute the demon saw Dean he made Sam drop dead? This was pretty damn reckless on Dean's part, IMO. I mean, I know he's scared and he's desperate, but this could've ended horribly if the situation had been real. Ok, enough rambling from me. I really enjoyed this episode, from hearing John's voice to the angst to the teasing. It pretty much had it all for me and I know this is one I'll be rewatching several times. Only TWO episodes left, guys. It's gonna be a wild ride, I can tell already. :-)

Comments

[riveryklown.livejournal.com]

I'm gonna have to go see it again cause I was so pumped up to see the ending and if it was really John it all went by in a bit of a blur.
Ok, the reason why doing this wouldn't hurt Sam is because he's going after the main man himself. It's do or die. (Except for how it's not but Dean doesn't know it :) )

I'm gonna stop watching the damn promos and listening to the spoilers cause all they do is lead you in the wrong direction. I SO wanted the phone to ring at the end and for it to be John and like, everyone else was a fake but not him.

Now I wonder what's up with the spell? Can it be used or is it a lie?

But the episode seems like a really cool blend of banter/humor, MOTW, brotherly love, the main arch and horror (holy mother of that little girl I'm gonna cover my screen every night). I'm gonna really love it one day, when everything with Dean is sorted out and he's safe and... you know, killing something. Right now though it's a grate on my nerves. Though a loving one :)

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

Sorry for the late reply!

Ok, the reason why doing this wouldn't hurt Sam is because he's going after the main man himself. It's do or die

Ah, so instead of trying to take the...backdoor approach, shall we say, by finding some kind of loophole, a ritual, etc, to get Dean out of the deal, if Dean actually kills the demon contract holder himself then Sam's still protected?

I SO wanted the phone to ring at the end and for it to be John and like, everyone else was a fake but not him

Argh! I would've killed for that! Just for Dean's sake, you know? I mean, even after the end of Dream a Little Dream, when Dean's buried feelings about his father explode out, he truly still loved the man, and the look on his face when he answered the phone showed that.

Now I wonder what's up with the spell? Can it be used or is it a lie?

Well, I'm not sure exactly WHY the crocotta would give Dean a real demon-killing exorcism. Did he do it because he needed Dean to believe it was really John, to lure him to the house? Otherwise Dean wouldn't have gone? We'll have to see if the exorcism reappears in the next two episodes!

But the episode seems like a really cool blend of banter/humor, MOTW, brotherly love, the main arch and horror

It really was a great blend, but like you, I want Dean's deal to be in the past and the two of them just back on the road again, blasting ghosts with rock salt. :-)

[nanashi-sama.livejournal.com]

Alright, two possibles for you.

On the crocotta's feeding habits - what if the communication with its victims is more than a lure? Something that 'hooks' onto the souls, so that once the body is dead, the crocotta can pull the spriit/lifeforce/whatever right where it wants it. Since Stewie never got any messages from his 'dead relatives' his death had to be face-to-face for the feeding.

How Dean got out of the cop's house - I'm wondering if he could have gone for broke and started rambling about getting a phone call from his dad - his murdered dad - saying it was a demon that killed him, and it would be at this house at this time, and he had to use this ritual to stop it from killing anyone else 'and I know it sounds crazy, but I just... I wanted to believe it was him.'

*shrugs* Maybe so, maybe no.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

Alright, two possibles for you.

Ok, lay 'em on me. :-)

Something that 'hooks' onto the souls, so that once the body is dead, the crocotta can pull the spriit/lifeforce/whatever right where it wants it.

Yeah, yeah, that makes sense. It's gotta be something along those lines, since the crocotta wouldn't be right there when the other people killed themselves. Unlike Stewie, like you pointed out. Heh, seemed kind of a shame that the crocotta had those wicked looking teeth, but just sucked the lifeforce out of the person. I thought it was gonna EAT poor Stewie!

I'm wondering if he could have gone for broke and started rambling about getting a phone call from his dad - his murdered dad

You know, I guess it could actually be that simple! I just kept thinking he beat the crap out of a COP in the cop's house, not stopping to think that the cop himself also got a phone call from a dead relative and could easily believe Dean telling the same story.

[kultiras.livejournal.com]

Well MotW did say he had read their emails in addition to old voicemails, etc.

So, I guess that's how he knew about the deal. You know Sam was emailing people left and right trying to find a solution.

And no idea about the welching clause. That baffles me too.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

So, I guess that's how he knew about the deal. You know Sam was emailing people left and right trying to find a solution

Ah ha! Good point! I totally forgot the MotW mentioned that. Ok, that's one plot hole filled in. Thanks! :-)

And no idea about the welching clause. That baffles me too

Yeah, Kripke's playing fast and loose with the details of the deal he concocted, me thinks.

[andromakhe001.livejournal.com]

And next - how the hell did Dean get out of that cop's house?? I mean, the guy's a COP and Dean broke in and beat the crap outta him. And the guy's just gonna let him go?? I don't think so. What did Dean do, hit him in the head with the gun butt again and then run?

To me this is probably one of the easiest things to explain about this episode(not so much the OOC'ness or the plotholes with re: to MOTW:). The man had gotten a phonecall from his dead daughter, there's no reason he wouldn't believe Dean had gotten a call from a dead loved one as well. He might not know what to make of it but he'd know what happened to him, so there isn't any reason he wouldn't believe Dean saying something like "I got a call from my dead father saying his killer would be here and this is what I had to do"

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

so there isn't any reason he wouldn't believe Dean saying something like "I got a call from my dead father saying his killer would be here and this is what I had to do"

You know, I guess it could actually be that simple! LOL! I just kept thinking he beat the crap out of a COP in the cop's house, not stopping to think about the phone call the other guy had received as well. Duh! :-)

[dairwendan.livejournal.com]

My whole review is here as usual.

But I'm seeing a widespread wish that John had really been John. Maybe Kripke or Carver thought that would be too formula, or too cliche, but I don't think any of us were shocked that it wasn't John. We would have been far more shocked, as well as pleased, if it really had been John.

I think that the crocotta used the telephone and computer to make a connection with a specific person. Once that connection was made, he was inside that person's mind. That is why the wife of the guy who blew his brains out for Linda didn't hear anything when she got on the phone. The whole conversation was going on in the guy's mind. Since he contacted Lainie through her computer, he could control what she saw on the monitor, I'm betting that if anyone else came in they would only see her replies, not 'her mother's' posts and definitely not her mother.

I have no idea how he was supposed to eat the soul's of the people he had contacted over the phone or computer unless the soul would (for want of a better expression) 'follow the mindlink' to him?

I'm afraid I disagree that it was reckless of Dean to do what John said. Because John told him he had a way out for both of them, meaning Dean and Sammy, so he trusted that John wouldn't lead him to do something that would hurt Sam.

I thought back to Devil's Trap the same as you when John told Dean he loved him. I was hoping SOOOOO much after that that it would be the real John!! But no. *SIGH*

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

My whole review is here as usual.

Great review! I have to agree that this did absolutely nothing to further along the plot line of Dean's deal. Oh, and since I had five fangirls over to watch that night, and we were kinda chatty, I totally missed the Herman Munster thing! I rewatched LDC last night and this time I heard it. :-)

We would have been far more shocked, as well as pleased, if it really had been John

Exactly. I knew deep down it wouldn't really be John but I just kept hoping that Kripke and Co. would prove me wrong. Blast them for not doing it!

The whole conversation was going on in the guy's mind

Oooh! Interesting thought! So if Dean had given Sam the phone he wouldn't have heard John.

I have no idea how he was supposed to eat the soul's of the people he had contacted over the phone or computer unless the soul would (for want of a better expression) 'follow the mindlink' to him?

Yeah, see, that whole thing didn't make any sense to me. I mean, the crocotta said he used to wait in the woods and whisper to people, then kill them. But it was face to face, so it would be easy for him to suck out their souls. But to do it...long distance? That was a plot hole to me!

I'm afraid I disagree that it was reckless of Dean

I wouldn't call it reckless, but more of desperation, and since he really thought it was John, why wouldn't he do what his father said?

I was hoping SOOOOO much after that that it would be the real John!! But no. *SIGH*

I was really, really hoping for a phone call at the very end, from the real John. :-(

[tracys-dream.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping Ruby is evil and will soon show her true colours and then somehow kill Bela. Please?

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

LOL! That would be pretty awesome!

[duffy-99.livejournal.com]

There did seem to be an awful lot of plot holes in this one, and I was very confused by the MOTW. But I didn't even notice because I was so excited that my show that I love was back! The boys were back! There were emotions and *everything*! I was so disappointed at last weeks show, that it just made me love this one so. damn. much!

This is definitely one I'll watch again. All the Sam and Dean parts of course, but also the part where Dean gets all tough with Stewie and makes him look up the number *right now*. Oh Dean, I love it when you use your dom voice! :-)

Oh, and Dean's face when he thinks John has called him? Looked just about twelve years old. Oh Dean, you break my heart!

I see that I haven't mentioned Sam. This could perhaps be because I have not yet recovered from the Va Va Va VOOM pics of JP in the TV Guide last week. I still get a little week thinking about them...

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

There did seem to be an awful lot of plot holes in this one, and I was very confused by the MOTW. But I didn't even notice because I was so excited that my show that I love was back!

LOL! I know what you mean! That's why it took me till the next day to go "but wait..." :-)

There were emotions and *everything*! I was so disappointed at last weeks show, that it just made me love this one so. damn. much!

Yes, totally! It's one that I'll be watching again and again over the long summer ahead of us.

Oh Dean, I love it when you use your dom voice! :-)

ROTFL! That's awesome. *g*

Oh, and Dean's face when he thinks John has called him? Looked just about twelve years old

Yeah, even after the end of Dream a Little Dream, when Dean's buried feelings about his father explode out, he truly still loved the man, and the look on his face when he answered the phone showed that.

This could perhaps be because I have not yet recovered from the Va Va Va VOOM pics of JP in the TV Guide last week.

Oh. My. GOD. That boy should never be allowed to wear anything more than a tank top ever again! Smokin'!

[simonesa.livejournal.com]

What exorcism did faux John really give Dean?

I just keep thinking about what was said in a previous episode about how demons don't necessarily have to be lying. Like what you also mentioned above about how the demon knew about Dean's situation. Maybe the exorcism is legit and might actually work.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

Maybe the exorcism is legit and might actually work.

I vaguely remember seeing somewhere on LJ that people looked up what Dean was saying in Latin, and that it is real, but I don't think it was an exorcism, though. Some other kind of invocation of some type, I believe. Rats! I wish I could remember where I saw the translation!

[simonesa.livejournal.com]

I think in the episode that he and Sam discuss the spell and that Bobbie told Dean it was just an ordinary exorcism. Maybe it is nothing. Probably making much ado about nothing.