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« Supernatural
January 25, 2007: Nightshifter
First thought after the episode ended: Sam and Dean are so screwed.
Second thought: I can't believe they finally used Styx's "Renegade" — that's a song that I've been waiting for them to use. It's one of my all-time favorites.
Third thought: They are so screwed.
Just when you think an episode is going to be a one-off or a stand-alone, Kripke and company go and create more story and add another nail-biting element that will surely continue for a while. And just when you think you're going to get an episode devoid of angst in favor of action, humor and scares, they manage to sneak some in. We learned that the feds have been tracking Sam and Dean for weeks now. Wow. Just wow. That special agent dude considers Dean a monster!!! Everything went wrong for Sam and Dean at the bank. How did they go from hostages into taking over the criminal end of the standoff? It was great to see things go out of control for the boys. Things snowballed to the point where Dean's going to have to watch his back carefully from now on. Sam too — after all, he's Bonnie to Dean's Clyde. Is this new development going to change the way they do things? Does it mean no more credit-card fraud and posing as cops, agents and the like?
The Previously: We got a recap of "Skin" and "The Usual Suspects" and then, no lie, they interrupted the regularly-scheduled "previously" in order to bring some late-breaking news from a local Milwaukee news station. Awesome.
Sam and Dean's disguises: There was so much uniformed goodness, wasn't there? The Men in Black monkey suits; the security-company outfits; and then the SWAT-wear complete with heavy machinery that they used to escape from the bank. Plus, we briefly saw the return of clean-cut Sammy (meaning hair out of his face) before he returned to the shagerrific 'do he sports week after week. And loved them whipping out their fake FBI badges at the same time.
Ronald Reznick: I really ended up liking this guy. He's one of those wacky conspiracy theorists who isn't far off from the truth. Except all his clues add up to a mandroid, not a shapeshifter. I don't know how many times the word "mandroid" was uttered in this episode, but each time was hilarious. When the SWAT team took him out at the bank, I was crushed. Almost as crushed as Dean. Love how Dean just let Ronald be Ronald — the guy needed that. To have an innocent go down like that had to kill Dean. But, hey, at least Ron died knowing that somebody finally believed his crazy theory. In a way, he seemed happy about finally being taken seriously. Meanwhile, I know Sam putting the smackdown on Ronald's conspiracies was his way of protecting him, a way of keeping him alive, but that was sad. It was kind of scary the way Sam went true-blue FBI there for a second.
The shapeshifter: I have to admit that I do have a small problem with the show revisiting the shapeshifter already, much like the show has already had a second vampire episode. I just would have loved to have seen some other monsters-of-the week before focusing on another shifter. But since we did get one — and another good one, too — how about that fight between Dean and the Sherrie-shifter? Pretty vicious, I'd say. And explaining that these shifters are able to shed their skin much more quickly than the St. Louis one was a nice touch, too. Maybe these creatures are continuing to evolve or something. I did get confused when the two Sherries were in the same vicinity, and the shifter ended up being the one who's throat had been sliced. I don't know, that scene threw me off a little bit.
The Winchesters vs. The Feds: So I knew that Dean was a wanted man, but this Special Agent Henrikson is gunning for him big time. He knows the way Sam and Dean were raised; he knows all about Big Daddy Winchester; he knows about their illegal activities. What he can't figure out is the supernatural element of the equation. As much as I enjoyed Dean calling BDW an ass last week, I loved hearing him call him a hero this week. That scene was kinda heartbreaking, what with Dean not wanting to hear the fed talk about his dad in such a poor light. Now I'm wondering exactly how many times we're going to see these guys catch up to the Winchester brothers again. They're going to have to be more and more careful. And not just Dean — Sam, too.
More incoherent thoughts:
— I love how Dean told Sam he liked poor Ronald and the 'okeydoke' bank security guard, as well.
— Loved Jared's expressions when Sherrie the hostage was going on and on about hero Dean. Hilarious.
— Kudos to "Nightshifter" writer Ben Edlund. He's quickly picked up the humor of the show.
— À la "Skin," the opening segment ended on Dean and then flashed back to reveal how in the world Dean got into so much trouble. Well, this time it actually was Dean and not the Dean look-a-like.
— Yea to funny and flirty Dean!
— Juan-dolls and mandroid batteries — gotta love Ron. Except when he was touching the shifter skin. Ewww!
— Way to take out those SWAT guys, Sammy.
— The thing that Dean used to kill Sherrie shapeshifter is still in her, complete with his fingerprints. Not good.
— Sam and Dean escaping to "Renegade" was just too cool.
Favorite lines from Nightshifter:
— "You're a true patriot, you really are. Why don't you write down your number there for me, that'd be good."
— "Freakin' cops." "They're just doing their job, Dean." "No, they're doing our job, only they don't know it so they suck at it."
— "I like him. He says 'okeydoke.'"
— "Hello, freak!"
— "Just don't shoot anybody, especially us."
— "You working for the mandroid?" "We're not working for the mandroid!"
— "I'm not just going to walk in here naked."
— "Help him manage? Are you insane?"
— "Look I know this isn't going the way we wanted." "Understatement!"
— "Hi Ron."
— "And yes, I know about Sam, too — Bonnie to your Clyde."
— "You've got no right talking about my dad like that. He was a hero."
— "We are so screwed."
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Jan 26, 2007 4:57 AM
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I really cannot get enough of this show. Wow. They got away! But they're still so, so screwed! That ending, with "Renegade," was simply magnificent. But what does this mean for our boys? The bank robbery left at least a couple of bodies behind, so their faces have to be plastered all over national news. And Dean's last words tell me this isn't something they're just going to drop.
You pretty much said everything I was thinking, down to even the "Hi, Ron." And I laughed every single time they said "mandroid." Laser eyes! Ha!
When the FBI agent came in and took over, I thought it'd turn out he was a Man in Black. Holy crap was I wrong.
I gotta say though, I really don't mind the revisiting of creatures, especially if they do something new with them. This way, when seasons 4 or 5 come around (and they will, right??), they won't all be rerun-monsters or crazy, made-up, let's-top-the-last-one creatures.
I wasn't too confused by the two Sherries. It is cool how the creature could pretty much do anything to itself sans silver and not die - but I did wonder how it got the girl's (or a girl's) undergarments. And is it wrong that I laughed at the way Dean was about to stab the real Sherrie?
All in all, another great episode. Dude, I love this show!
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Jan 26, 2007 5:20 AM
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I have a conspiracy theory on getting Sherri's undergarments.
Maybe the shapeshifter first changed into Dean, seduced the real Sherri in one of those back rooms and then stole her undergarments. Then shifted into Sherri. You know when they asked her to come out of the vault that last time, she was very hesitant. Any girl would be against being alone with someone who just stole her underwear! lol I'm just kidding!!
Also, it was pretty smart of the shapeshifter to pretend to be the dead Sherri. I mean if they hadn't taken the real SHeri to where her body is, she wouldn't have freaked out like she did and fainted and they wouldn't have been unsure of which one was which.
Also, how are the Feds going to explain the 2 sherri's now? I mean, when the ask the real one if she has a twin, she will say no and doesn't that tell them something fishy is going on?
Anyways, loved the episode!
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Jan 26, 2007 6:21 AM
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Thanks, Tina, for another great recap!
This show keeps surprising me. After all the interviews with Kripke about tying up loose ends, etc., when I read that this ep was going to revisit the shapeshifter I really thought that maybe something would happen to somehow clear Dean of the St. Louis charges. Instead, they are *so screwed.*
But I do wonder how the Feds are going to explain the 2 Sherries and all the gooey shapeshifter crud on the floors of the bank. Someone is going to have to examine fake Sherrie's body (which they probably didn't do with fake Dean as he was just another bad guy shot while committing a crime). So maybe something good can come from all this, if someone cares to really look. Maybe they should contact Diana in Baltimore and ask her to look into it?
And I, too, loved the use of Renegade! This show just keeps getting better and better. And how about the previews? Amazing.
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Jan 26, 2007 6:52 AM
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What a wild ride!!
When Ronald got shot I was really upset. I really liked him and wasn't expecting it. I like how it was done, how it went silent. Actually a lot of the episode didn't go as I thought it would....
The ending was awesome!! They *are* so screwed. At frist when I saw the bodies I wondered if they had figured out a way to fake their deaths or something.
Next week looks good too.
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Jan 26, 2007 7:05 AM
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The Previously: We got a recap of "Skin" and "The Usual Suspects" and then, no lie, they interrupted the regularly-scheduled "previously" in order to bring some late-breaking news from a local Milwaukee news station. Awesome.
Thanks for explaining that. I got confused and thought what a weird jump cut that was. Makes sense now.
I totally agree, excellent ep! Poor Ron. I though Sam was absolutely right to try and get Ron out of it because he just didn't know what he was doing.
What does the FBI hunt mean for dear Sammy? If they ever overcome the FYED, will it be possible for him to return to a "normal" life? Even without his wanted status, with all he's been through and is about to go through, can he?
LOVED the way they edited Renegade around the final scenes. Having the verse play out as they head to Metallicar, then just hearing the beats of the song as they sit in the car and realize the amount of caca they are in, and then having the chorus belt out like that as they drive away! AWESOME!!
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Jan 26, 2007 7:35 AM
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tina, I didn't even read your re-cap, but I couldn't get to work  fast enough to log on and say this:
How hard do Kripke & Co. ROCK?! To use "Renegade" at the end like that and the editing, too?!
I grinned and cackled like a fiend while singing along ...
Okay. Whew. I'm going to read the re-cap and the comments and then watch it again online ... what a great one! My husband got so involved, he almost forgot that he volunteered to go pick up one of the kids from their martial arts class!!!!
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Jan 26, 2007 8:02 AM
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Thanks for the recap, Tina!
When they interrupted the previously for the news report, I knew that we were going to be in for a wild ride... And what a ride it was! wow. Loved. this. episode.
We are so screwed. Of all the lines from last night that one has stuck with me because it so completely describes their predicament. Can't wait to see how Kripke gets them out of this one... 
Did anyone else notice that when FBI Agent Henrickson said there was a monster in the bank that they cut to Sam and not Dean!?
And, what the heck with Henrickson acting the way he was acting? His actions totally bugged me. The way he took over and was all gung ho to get Sam & especially Dean was just suspicious in my book. And, how did he find Sam and Dean in the first place? That is what bothers me more than anything. There was no indication that Sam and Dean were in that bank and yet FBI guy shows up and knows they're there? I just think something is up with this guy that is probably supernatural in origin - anybody else want to ride on this train of thought?
OMG! Just had a thought - what if this is the YED's way to go after Dean? A lot of us think that Dean is Sam's salvation from becomming evil. And frankly I've been wondering why Dean hasn't constantly had a demon-sized target on his back throughout this season. But maybe he has and we just didn't know it - until now.  ">
So many great scenes in this episode. Is this the first time we've seen Dean in flirty mode this season? Everything from the editing to the writing to the acting was awesome. Laughs, action, suspense, angst, and a whole lot more. Great episode!
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Jan 26, 2007 8:06 AM
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Loved this episode. Tina, you recapped it perfectly. My mind is a jumbled mess of thoughts.
I am normally very good at anticipating where shows are going but the whole show was a mystery to me. From when Sam busted Ron's theory to the end when they summed everything up with "We are so screwed."
Just another episode that makes me love this show even more!
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Jan 26, 2007 8:06 AM
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Spooooooooooooon! Now this is my kind of episode! That was all kinds of awesome. No demony mytharc angst to bog it down.
This episode was very well done. I think a few shots had a very cinematic look/feel to them. As for the undergarment thing, I know a lot of people who work in offices or wherever, where they keep extra clothes where they work. So, that's not a big deal really. I thought having the shapeshifter pull the fakeout and turning out to be the Sherri with her throat cut was a nice twist. I mean, I figured it out pretty quick but didn't catch on right away.
I think they did a pretty good job of keeping you guessing during this one. Who the shapeshifter was. How in the hell Dean and Sam were going to get out of this one and so on.
I was pretty shocked to see Ronald bite it but I'm glad they did that. He was a likeable enough character to make you really feel it when they offed him. It just added to the severity of the situation that Sam and Dean were in and it really amped up the tension. I liked the way that scene was shot, with the slow motion and muted sound. Very nicely done.
Jensen was fabulous as always. His reaction to Ronald getting killed and then his reaction to the FBI dude talking about his dad. Awww.
Poor Sam, stuck in the vault listening to a Dean fangirl. lol. It was nice to see him kicking some SWAT team ass and I thought it was a nice touch having him walk up on Dean like that after he killed the shifter. I was so caught up in things that I didn't realize it was Sam at first. I was expecting some Dean kicking SWAT ass when we came back from the commercial break and then when they were just gone, I had my "duh/ a ha!" moment and realized that it was Sam who walked up on Dean over Sherri's body. And, yay, now our boys have SWAT uniform's to add to their collection. lol.
I absolutely loved the ending. I knew they had to whip out "Renegade" at some point. I've been waiting for that one and they used it perfectly. I loved the way the music stopped and Dean said; "we are so screwed". Ain't that the truth, brother. Their demeanor was spot on. I'm glad there was no bravado or snarky comment about getting out of that incredibly sticky situation. Things have taken on a whole new, very serious, light. Sam assaulted two swat guys and is in just as much trouble as Dean now. They are both on the radar.
I really, for once, don't have any complaints!
Also, my husband actually watched this one all the way through. lol. Last week he watched up until Sam's drunk scene and that was all she wrote. The husband does not care for the Sammy angst (he thinks Jared/Sam is too whiny). That ALWAYS sends him to the other room to find something else to watch. So, yay Ben Edlund. You get extra points for that! lol
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Jan 26, 2007 8:09 AM
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Read the re-cap and the comments thus far - missed the first few minutes and didn't even realize they were in Milwaukee!!! that's my hometown -
and I have to agree with those who thought the FBI guy was a hunter, too - but no. And crap. Holy big mound o'crap!!!!!
This episode was the PERFECT blend of humor, action and scary stuff ... I think I shouted "NO!" at the tv when Ron got shot ...
Okay - I'm off to watch it again online just for the closing scene alone!
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Jan 26, 2007 8:12 AM
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Any other X-Files fans there who saw Ronald and thought of Jose Chung's resident fangeek: "Roswell! ROSWELL!"? I liked him and didn't want him to die. His face when he realized somebody believed him was great.
Then the suit-and-tie cop showed up and darn it all if he didn't remind me of Mulder. And Ronald sticks his hand in the shapeshifter skin, and I'm thinking "I think it's bile." "How do I get it off my hand without betraying my cool exterior?"
Freaky ep - I had a pretty good idea the negligee Sherri was the shapeshifter after the other girl fainted but I still jumped when she grabbed Dean's throat. Then I started to wonder if an autopsy on the fake Sherri would reveal anything odd. In other words, can any of that clear Dean and Sam?
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Jan 26, 2007 8:25 AM
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Okay, I have to say I really, really liked this episode. I have my issues with the myth arc story, and, in my opinion, the lack of Dean storyline, so I loved that they got back to doing a great, action-filled, tense standalone (that is tied to other standalones <g>.
On my list of Season 2 favorites, this episode is tied with Crossroad Blues for second favorite episode (In My Time of Dying is still my # 1 episode for this season). The ending alone makes this episode, but there was so much more to it:
- I loved seeing the guys as FBI agents and Dean getting the jewelry store clerk’s phone number.
- I loved that the writers showed Dean does have brains when showing him using the underground sewage blue prints and overlapping it on the map of the area where the robberies took place
- the “okey-dokey” comment
- Dean checking out the bank teller’s butt on camera
- Dean telling Sam to let him talk to Ronald because Ronald doesn’t like Sam, Ronald telling Sam that he doesn’t like him, and Sam’s response.
- The look on Sam’s face when Dean offers himself as a hostage and later in the vault when Dean locked them in.
- Sam's silent shout when Ronald got shot
- Dean’s reaction to dead Ronald – loved Jensen’s facial expression
- The fact that the FBI knows all about Dean’s and Sam’s backgrounds and family history? Not good.
- Dean saying John was a “hero”, especially considering he called him an “ass” in last week’s episode (gotta love the love-hate relationship between parent & child)
- The FBI agent saying Sam was Bonnie to Dean’s Clyde…too funny.
- The scene when the look-alike bank tellers were in the same room – the boys’ total confusion as to which was the shapeshifter, the whole “what the hell” looks on their faces – too funny.
- Both boys’ fight scenes were nice to see…that shapeshifter chick had to die – she kicked Dean in the family jewels!
As far as the knife sticking being left behind in the shapeshifter with Dean’s fingerprints? At that point, I don’t think it mattered. Even if Dean had taken the knife with him, there was still a dead body left behind (and at least one other one somewhere else in the bank) and I think the FBI, especially since Agent Hendrickson seems to be after them, would still have operated under the assumption that it was Dean & Sam that had committed the murder.
What can I say about the ending? I think I have a new screen saver! That last shot was amazing - when they pulled the ski masks off of their faces and Dean says “we’re so screwed”? Jensen was spot-on with the delivery of that line…and boy, did they both look good! The song was perfect, too.
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Jan 26, 2007 8:26 AM
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Wow. I can't believe how good last night's episode was. I mean, they've all been so damn good this season, but with Night Shifter they managed to take up another notch. I know they want these episodes to be like miniature horror movies, but this one was more like a freakin thriller/actioner, and I loved it. I don't even know where to start - Dean was in such fine form at the beginning, flirting, checking out hiney. And Sam, well, the whole slicked back hair thing kinda threw me, but once he was back to his normal lovely shaggyhaired goodness, I loved that he was so forthright about Ron - I love hardheaded Sammy. And then of course we finally got the disguises that have been seriously lacking this season.
And then without warning, things got seriously out of control and intense. Loved it. I don't know how the FBI knew so much about the boys whereabouts - had Agent Henricks seen the news footage of Dean outside the bank when he talked to him?? Seriously, I know I say this every week, but my heart broke a little bit more when Henricks said those things about John to Dean - he was so quiet but so defensive of his Dad's memory, it hurt just to watch.
I thought the shifter stuff was well handled - liked that the person I immediately thought was the shifter, Sherry, turned out not to be the shifter, if you know what I mean. Very clever. And we got to see both Dean and Sam engage in some serious hand to hand combat, which is always a treat. I'm with whoever mentioned that Dean made a serious mistake when he left that letter opener in shifter-Sherry's chest. Seriously, I hope to god someone intelligent does an autopsy on not-Sherry, because surely, a shapeshifter's corpse would look different from a normal human's?
And yes, they are so screwed. Agent Henricks is obviously gunning for Dean in particular, and ain't going to just give up the chase. What a freakin brilliant way to end an episode - I guess somewhere along the way I missed out because I'd never heard Styx's Renegade before, but I have to say that whoever picks the music over at Supernatural is a genius. Sigh, so much more to say, but I'd better stop before I write a novel.
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Jan 26, 2007 8:36 AM
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WOW! And I say again WOW!
First off let me say, Deborah54, I totally agree with you on the theory of the 2 Sherries and all the extra skin. I am wondering how they were gonna explain that away.
Also notenufTV, you were on about that agent. It was almost as if he was taking it peronal with his intensity to get Dean and Sam. Can't remember the blogger who mentioned that the scene shot to Sam after that agent mentioned there being a monster in the bank but it does raise new issues. Is there a branch of the government who are aware that there are more things between Heaven and Hell? Do they know about the Demons and the like? Do they know about Hunters? Because in most shows that deal w/an element of Demons or the 'unexplainable' There is always some agencey that is perfectly aware of the truth. I.E Buffy.
What is up w/that Agent? He really has it out for the boys? Too many questions, too many possible answers. I can't wait for the rest of the season to unfold.
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Jan 26, 2007 8:53 AM
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