Number nine, number nine, number nine, number nine... yeah, just messing.  So, ready to see what the brain trust has come up with today?  As usual, we're all of different choices, but we're all in agreement that all these episodes rock.  Do they line up with your choices? 


Alice's #9:  

"Home"


 

Why?:  I must confess, there's a lot of season one I won't watch.  It's not a bad season, but it's really light compared to some of the things that happened in later seasons.  It feels rough to me.  Plus I find Sam's bangs distracting.  However, there is one season one episode I will watch again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and one more time (yes, "Tall Tales" reference).  That's "Home."  I absolutely love this episode.

When I went through the DVDs the very first time (having found the show in season three), come the moment that I finished with "Hookman" and "Bugs," I was about ready to give up on this show, or at least jump straight to season two.  Then I saw "Home" and was sucked right back in, like I was with the Pilot.  This is truly the first episode of the series that not only gave the Winchester brothers deeply emotional material, but sold it in a major way.  It seemed to be the point where everything finally came together. 

The amazing score, done by Chris Lennertz, is one of the best of the series and really brings out all the big emotional beats.  The premise is gold, coming home again for the first time since the fire.  It wasn't just the house that was wounded, the brothers were as well.  Dean was haunted by the memories of losing his mother and his desperate call to his father for help marked the first real sign of deep vulnerability with his character.  Sam was haunted by changes inside of him, namely the premonitions and psychic dreams.  They scared him.  Even though he was having these dreams in "Bloody Mary," he still chose to keep all that secret.  This time, he couldn't ignore it and had to come clean with Dean.  No, big bro didn't take it well.

Once the boys arrive and realize that Sam's psychic dream is true and something supernatural is in their old house, watching their emotional struggle over what's happening is such a powerful change from the previous episodes when they attacked the case with their usual flair.  Here they try, but realize there's a bit more to this.  Dean even tells Sam how he carried him out of the house the night of the fire.  Wow, that never came up before?  It must really hurt Dean that bad for him not to say anything for 22 years.  

Eric Kripke did in this script what miserably failed in "Hookman" and "Bugs." He made it scary.  This was a real thrilling ghost story and the fact that this time it was personal made it that more compelling.  The real genius though was the character Missouri Mosely, a genuine psychic who not only established there were two spirits haunting their old house (one being a very evil poltergeist), but that Sam actually had some very powerful abilities.  That's why the ending scene with John was so significant, why were they manifesting now?  John wasn't coming out of hiding until he found out.  After the major surprise of Mary's ghost appearing a few scenes before, seeing John was the other big "gotcha" that no one saw coming. 

Favorite Quote: 

Dean: Dad? I know I've left you messages before. I don't even know if you'll get 'em. But I'm with Sam. And we're in Lawrence. And there's somethin' in our old house. I don't know if it's the thing that killed Mom or not, but, I don't know what to do. So, whatever you're doin', if you could get here. Please. I need your help, Dad.

...wibble...

Favorite Scene:  This scene happened in season one and I still tense up and get a teary when I think about it.  Sam is trapped in the house by the poltergeist and getting tossed around like salad in the kitchen.  Dean is out of his mind trying to get in and uses an axe to furiously chop his way through the front door.  Dean arrives just in time to defend his baby brother from the burning ghost, but suddenly Sam can tell who it is.  The flames clear away and it's Mary Winchester! 

She's exactly like she was the night of the fire, wearing the white nightgown, all ghostly and heavenly.  Both boys are completely stunned, and the emotional impact is huge!  Dean wells up, and Sam cries when he talks to his mother for the first time.  She smiles at them both and then her smile fades in front of Sam.  "I'm sorry," she tells him.  "For what?" he asks?  Guess what?  We don't flipping find out until the early part of season four!!!  Talk about leaving the fans hanging.  The only consolation was when the reveal did happen, it wasn't disappointing.  Then Mary takes on the poltergeist in defense of her sons and they both burn away.  No!  Mary!

Actually, there's another scene that kills me just as bad (you knew I wouldn't stop at one).  It's the very end.  Dean looks at photos of them as children that Jenny found in the house (no one noticed them before?) and a despondent Sam sits on the front steps.  "What's happening to me?" he asks Missouri.  OMG Sammy!  It's amazing in retrospect what's yet to come for him.  It makes me cry just thinking about it. 

...wibble...

(On Page 2, Ardeospina's #9)