Supernatural Episode Recap: "Yellow Fever

Supernatural Episode Recap: "Yellow Fever"

by Tina Charles

The brothers investigated the deaths of men who seemingly died of fear. A victim was a 44-year-old man who had a heart attack. One problem. The autopsy revealed his heart was healthy. All roads led to a ghost sickness, and guess which lucky Winchester got infected? Dean. As a result, Sam took charge of the case of the week, while his brother got scared of pretty much everything under the sun. At the end of "Yellow Fever," we were treated to an impromptu karaoke-style performance that just about stole the show.Not sure where to begin, because there were so many things to like. It wasn't as funny as I thought it was going to be. Nor was it as scary as I thought it was going to be, but all in all, it was a pretty solid episode. The brothers were together just about the entire time, which I totally loved and have been waiting for pretty much all season long. We've gotten so much of the boys separated. Even in "Monster Movie" they were apart much of the time.There was a bit of a role reversal in this one. Sam took the lead. He had to make sure Dean was all right. Much like in "Bad Day at Black Rock" when Dean had to leave Sam behind for his own good, Sam had to pretty much do the same. And just like in BDABR, Dean got in trouble anyway despite being "safe" in the confines of the hotel room. Only difference was Sam never got to burst onto the scene and utter a really cool line like "I'm Batman." Sorry, Sam.Bobby and Sam shared some scenes together. Nothing emotional like Bobby and Dean scenes are frequently. But it was nice to see the two of them work together. I'm a fan of anytime Jim Beaver's part of the action. He only got to come in at the end, but I'm not going to complain.A fearful Dean yielded some results that totally contradicted what he said in the previous episode, "Monster Movie." Back in MM, Dean told Jamie now that he was back from hell he realized that what he did for a living was a gift. That he considered it a "mission, a mission from God." Add a seriously large amount of fear to the situation and he's ready to give things up. He's questioning every facet of their lives. He brings up all the ways he has annoyed Sam, and even a way Sam has annoyed him. Who knew Sam was gassy? Too much information, if you ask me. It was funny that he was saying these things, but it was sad too. How much of it did he really mean? I kind of liked thinking that he left the doubts about what they do behind.I wish we had seen more of his hallucinations. The little bit of Yellow-Eyed Sam we got was logical and scary. Of course Dean's biggest fear was that Sam was going to go all big and bad. And as for seeing Lilith, that seemed a little more real to me than just a hallucination. Are we really to believe he remembers every single second of what happened to him while he was in hell? If he does, he's been doing a fan-freakin-tastic job of covering it up. The little demon also revealed that four months is like 40 years in hell. If that's true, I shudder to think of everything Dean went through while he was down in the pit. I'm totally surprised he's not laying in a fetal position in some white room somewhere.It was like opposite day when it came to Dean. The character we've come to know and love isn't afraid of anything. He understands the responsibility that comes with the job. He understands the kind of life he's forced to live because of it. He doesn't always like it, but he understands it. In "Yellow Fever," he questioned the use of fake names and fake badges. The boy was frightened of heights, driving fast, cats, Yorkies, everything. Poor Dean. That high-pitched scream he gave when the cat came out of the locker was hilarious.Other thoughts• Sam and Dean borrowed from Aerosmith to become Agents Tyler and Perry.• They totally showed the beginnings of an autopsy. One slice into a cadaver and I'm totally grossed out.• I liked the slow build-up of Dean's fears.• The EMF made a return. I know we caught a glimpse of one in "Are You There, God? It's me, Dean Winchester." Before that, when was the last time we saw the boys actually use one? Anytime the EMF is around I flashback to Season One. And that's a good thing in my book.• Why does this show have fascination with d—ks? They like to use that word. And they like for those type of guys to get their comeuppance. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Dean's not one. He's not.• Dean possibly dying from the ghost sickness didn't have much of an impact when you know the guy has already been resurrected from hell by an angel.• Anytime we get a little bit of Jared acting all dark side I'm all for it. More, please.• A symptom of the ghost sickness was the scratching of the arms. That was gross.• In the past we've gotten an inebriated Sam in "Playthings" and "Sin City." This time around, we got a small dose of drunken Dean at the police station. • I think Sam missed his calling. He always makes a good federal agent.• Did Bobby drive the Impala? Awesome. And the man speaks some Japanese. Wow.• The monster they chained up to the Impala and dragged until he disintegrated was originally a nice guy. It sucked that he had to relive his painful death all over again.• Sam handed Dean food and he didn't eat it. Wow. Never thought that would happen.• Dean's keeping secrets again. He didn't tell Sam what he hallucinated.• It seems to me like Dean's going to have to deal a lot with his fears this season, just not in such a less than subtle way. He's going to have to deal with what happened in hell. He's going to have to deal with what is going on with Sam and his powers. He's going to have to deal with being faced with things that will cause him to change everything he's ever believed in.Final ThoughtsUsually I sum up my feelings about this episode here, but not this time. I have to discuss the little treat Supernatural gave us at the end of the episode. The scene that aired during "Yellow Fever" had Dean air-drumming to Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger." That is, until Sam tapped on the roof of the car, thereby ending Dean's "jam session." For one take, however, Jared didn't feel the need to tap on the car and what happened was just awesome to behold. Jensen lip-synched away complete with impromptu choreography that involved sliding out of the car; getting on top of the Impala; playing air leg guitar and scratching much like Dean Winchester would in "Yellow Fever." The bonus was you could also hear Jared laughing in the background. This is reason number 600 why I love Supernatural. What other show would do something like this? Kudos to Jensen for letting the powers that be air something that usually would be saved for the DVD. It was goofy, but completely adorable and I loved every second of it.Favorite lines"Hell, we were Gamecocks. (Dean laughs) That was our softball team's name. They were majestic animals.""Am I haunted? Am I haunted??!!!!""Don't be scared of Donny, he's a sweetheart. It's Marie you gotta look out for. She smells fear.""Dude, you're going 20.""And?""That's the speed limit.""What? Safety's a crime now?""Hey, where you going? That was our hotel.""Sam, I'm not going to make a left-hand turn into oncoming traffic. I'm not suicidal. Did I just say that? That was kinda weird.""Let's do this!""I'll man the flashlight.""That was scary. What?""You're a d—k too.""Apparently I'm not.""How you feeling?""Awesome.""I don't want to be a clue.""These badges are fake! What is we get busted? We could go to jail!""Where's Dean?""Uh…home sick.""Those are real obviously. I mean, who would want to pretend to be an FBI Agent, huh? That's just nutty."