Playthings Review

In a very nice move on the part of the writers, this episode begins with the fallout from “Hunted”, focusing squarely on Sam’s reaction to Ava’s apparent murder of her fiancé. In fact, like so many episodes of this series, the scenario is designed to facilitate the exploration of Sam’s grief and guilt. The supporting story (in essence, a classic haunted house variation) manages to chart a parallel course.

The theme this week is self-sacrifice. In the first half of the season, Sam’s motivation has been slowly developing and evolving. Initially, it was simply a desire to take down the demon that killed his mother and Jessica. There were other influences and motivations at work, but they were at the forefront. By the end of the first season, it was clear that the situation had changed. Sam wanted to be a hunter, despite the chance to walk away. Now it’s becoming very clear: Sam is willing to sacrifice his happiness and freedom to prevent others like himself from destroying innocent lives.

With Ava’s apparent turn towards evil, Sam is no longer certain that his intentions will be enough to prevent his own slip into the dark side. If the core of his motivation is sacrifice for others, then his demands to Dean are the ultimate expression of that motivation. Sam would rather die than become a threat to the rest of the world. It puts Dean in a ever more horrible position, because he might have to make the choice on his own.

This is reflected in Rose’s sacrifice to save the rest of her family. She allows herself to become trapped in the house, forever a child, to appease her sister. On the whole, it’s unclear how long that will last. If the house is demolished, will Maggie and Rose be free? Besides, Rose didn’t look like she was particularly unhappy. The core idea, however, is the sacrifice that one sibling is willing to make for the other.

This being the midpoint of the season arc, there are some disturbing implications to the recent episodes. Nearly all of the signs point towards a dark turn for Sam in the near future, probably around episodes 14-16, if the typical arc structure applies. It could be a major turn, or just something that starts Sam down the wrong path. Whatever the case, the writers have set it up so openly that it would be a letdown if Sam wasn’t taken in that direction.

Speaking of direction, that was the one weakness of this episode. Some of the scenes worked well, but a number of key moments didn’t have the desired impact. Sam’s slow motion rescue in the final act is a painful example of overused slow-motion. Other scenes seem to be oddly edited, as if the director was trying for a more edgy style. Add to that some visual ideas straight out of “The Shining”, and it’s hardly a directorial showcase. Thankfully, the story and character work make up for some of the lost ground.