SN: 3-15 "Time is On My Side" Review

Whoa. This episode was just whoa. The line between good and evil is totally blurred. It’s downright scary. Sam and Dean don’t think twice about burying an immortal man alive forever. Sam toys with the idea of making Dean and himself immortals even if it means turning into the monster they’ve just buried alive. Bella made a deal with a demon and her time is up. Well, actually that’s not that bad... Bella was getting on my nerves. And Sam and Dean now know who holds Dean’s ticket; the creepy Lilith. Whoa.

Erie, Pennsylvania: Two guys come out of the Cristal Spa & Racquet Club. Guy1 asks if Guy2 wants to go for a drink. Guy2 says that he’s got to be up at the crack of dawn. He’s got a crabby old broad that wants the works. He adds that he’ll need a forklift to get it all back up. Nice plastic surgeon. Guy1 says all that work to shave 15min off their faces. Guy2 replies that staying young is a brutal business. They split up and Guy2 goes to his car. He’s puts his bag in the trunk when suddenly he’s pushed in and the trunk is closed. He yells for help. A gloved hand picks up his keys.

Hospital: A guy staggers in dripping blood on the floor. It’s Guy2 holding his bloody hand over his stomach. The nurse asks to see what happened. When Guy2 hesitates she assures him that it’s nothing she hasn’t seen before. He removes his hand from his stomach and she screams.

Unknown location: A demon is tied to a chair and holy water is poured on him. He yells. Sam and Dean interrogate him. Demon says that he doesn’t know anything. Dean makes him drink the water. Dean angrily demands that he tell them who holds his contract. The demon looks like he’s ready to talk. He says your mother. Dean starts to threaten him. Demon says that what they’re doing to him is like a flea bite compared to what’s coming if he talks to them. Demon adds that they can do what they want; the only one he’s scared of is the demon holding Dean’s ticket. Sam starts the exorcism chant. Demon tells Sam and Dean to send him back to Hell; he says that when Dean gets there he’ll be waiting for him with some pals who are dying to meet and greet Dean Winchester. He laughs maniacally. Sam continues the exorcism as Dean looks on.


Later: Sam talks to someone on the phone. He asks if they ran the prints twice then says to chalk it up to lab error. He says that he’ll inform the lieutenant and hangs up. Dean comes in having buried the demon’s human body. He asks what Sam the phone call was about. Sam replies that it’s about what they read in the paper the other day. Dean guesses wrong; then guesses it was about the guy who walked into the ER with his liver tripped out. Sam says that the body was covered in fingerprints. He says that the fingerprints match a guy who died in 1981. Dean guesses it could be a walking dead or walking killing dead. He wonders why Sam is interested in zombies. He says that Sam’s been on soul saving detail for months then 3 weeks out he’s interested in zombies. Sam says that Dean was gung-ho to hunt; he was doing him a favor. Dean says that he doesn’t mind hunting zombies. Did Sam sidestep the question?

Morgue: The coroner confirms that the body was intact but the liver was missing. Dean asks if the doctor happened to notice any teeth marks where the liver was ripped out. The doc asks to see their badges. They take them out. The doc says that that they are cops and morons. Dean replies that they are very smart. Oh, Dean. The doc ignores Dean. He says that the liver was not ripped out. It was surgically removed by someone who knows their way around a scalpel. He asks if they read his report. Uh oh. Dean glances at Sam and replies that the report was riveting – a real page turner; delightful. Oh, Dean. The doc asks if Dean is done. When Dean replies yes the doc begs them to go away. I’m surprised he doesn’t have them thrown out.

Sam notes that the use of a scalpel puts a hole in the zombie theory. Dean quips it’s a zombie with skills; Dr. Quinn Medicine Zombie. Ha! Sam thinks they’re on the wrong track. They should be looking for survivors instead of corpses. He thinks it’s not zombie lunch; it’s organ theft.


Hospital room: A patient tells Sam and Dean that he spoke to the cops and he doesn’t want to talk about it anymore. Sam tells him it’ll only be a couple of questions. The patient reminds Sam that he just got his kidney stolen and he’s tired. Dean says it’ll be quick. He asks if Patient wants to get the guy. Patient asks if it’ll get back his kidney. Nice guy. What about the other potential victims, dingdong? Sam asks what the last thing the guy remembers is. He says feeding the meter; he was knocked out from behind; he woke up strapped to a table; then the worst pain imaginable; then he passed out and woke up in a motel/hotel in a bathtub full of ice. Huh? Why save this guy’s life when the other guy was left to die? Dean asks if Patient remembers what attacker looked like or any room details. Patient replies that something’s coming back to him – getting his kidney cut out of his body. Everyone’s a comedian.


At the hotel, Sam looks at an article on suturing procedures on his laptop while Dean eats a hamburger. Sam has a theory. He says that the guy’s incisions were sewn up with silk which was the suture of choice in the early 19th century. It was problematic though as patients would get massive infections and the death rate was high. Doctors did what they could to keep infections from spreading and one way was maggots. Dean reminds Sam that he’s eating. Sam continues. Maggots work because they eat bad tissue and leave good tissue. He says that when the patient was found his body cavity was stuffed full of maggots. Dean reminds Sam again that he’s eating. He adds that it sounds familiar. Sam replies that it’s because Dean’s heard it before; when he was a kid. Sam shows Dean their dad’s journal.


Doc Benton, a real life doctor who lived in New Hampshire was obsessed with alchemy especially immortality. In 1816, the doc abandoned his practice and wasn’t heard from for 20 years. Then people start showing up dead or missing an organ or a hand. Dean adds that whatever the doc was doing kept on working. Whenever something wore out, he’d replace it. Eww. Dean remembers that their dad hunted Benton and took his heart out. Sam figures the doc plugged in a new one. Why does the doc need to plug in a new heart if he’s able to live without one? Dean asks where the doc did his killing. Sam replies that the Doc liked dense forest with access to a river or stream because it’s where he liked to dump the bile, intestines and fecal matter. Sam smiles; pretty sure he’s completely grossed his brother out. He asks if Dean lost his appetite yet. Dean hesitates for a second and then takes a big bite of his hamburger. I hope this scene wasn’t shot multiple times with JA eating and eating and eating while they discuss maggots and bile. Eww.

A jogger runs in the dark, foggy night. He stops to take a breather and checks his heart rate on his watch. Suddenly he’s attacked from behind with chloroform. When he opens his eyes, he’s strapped to a table. He looks around and spots a jar full of maggots. A man wearing a dirty surgical mask comes into view holding a scalpel. He cuts into the jogger’s chest. Okay this is seriously gross. The guy yells and begs. He watches as his still beating heart is surgically removed from his chest. The heart monitor on his wrist goes to zero beats per minutes.

The Erie Motel: Sam and Dean look at a map. Sam points out an area with old hunting cabins that have been abandoned for years. Dean is raring to go. Dean’s cell phone rings. The phone call is important as the scene blocking is odd as the camera focuses on the cell. Bobby tells Dean that he’s got a beat on Bella. Rufus Steamer was a hunter turned hermit. He called Bobby to say a woman got in touch to buy some stuff. She has a British accent and went by the name Nina Chandler. Dean says that she’s used that alias before. Bobby says Canaan, Vermont and suggests Dean takes a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue.



Dean starts to put his jacket on and pack. He informs Sam that they are going after Bella. Sam wants to follow up on the case they are working on. He tells Dean that Bella probably sold the Colt the moment she got it. Dean says then he’ll kill her; win/win. Hehehe. When Sam tries to say something else, Dean interrupts to say they’re going. Sam refuses. Dean asks why not. Sam says that what they’re working on is what will save Dean. Dean surprised asks chasing Frankenstein. Sam clarifies that they’re chasing immortality (what about immorality, Sam?). Sam explains that Benton can’t die. They just need to figure out how he did it and do it to Dean. Dean is confused and I’m deeply disturbed by what Sam is suggesting. Sam says that Dean has to die before he goes to Hell so, if he never dies... Dean interrupts him. He asks if Sam knew it was Doc Benton from the get go. Sam says no but he was hoping. Dean asks if Sam was lying to him about the zombie thing. Sam replies that he didn’t want to say anything till he was sure. He wants to find a solution. Dean says that what he wants is to chase Slicey McHacky and instead of killing him, Sam wants to buy him a beer and study him. Dean reminds Sam that if he welches on the deal, Sam will die. And living forever is welching. Sam says that whatever the magic pill, he’ll take it too. Has Sam lost his mind? What is he planning on doing? Killing innocent people for their organs so he and Dean don’t die? That is just sick and wrong. Dean replies that their best shot is to kill the demon that holds the deal. Sam says that even if Dean had the Colt, they don’t know who to shoot. Dean angrily says that he’ll shoot the Hell Hounds before they slash him up. He asks if Sam is coming. Sam says that he’s staying behind. Dean argues against it. They decide to split up. Dean tells Sam to be careful.


Canaan, Vermont: Dean approaches a house and knocks on the door. A camera follows his movements. Inside, Rufus asks what he wants. Dean explains about Bella and asks if Rufus knows where she is. Rufus answers yes. When Dean asks where, Rufus refuses to tell him. This isn’t going as planned. Dean mumbles "Oh, man" under his breath. Rufus opens the door and tells Dean that he’s not his man. Dean, for the first time I can remember, meekly apologizes and calls Rufus sir. Rufus tells Dean that Bobby asked him to look out for Bella; he saw her and called Bobby; end of story. Dean asks where Bella is. Rufus asks if he (Rufus) looks like he’s here to help Dean. Dean, sensing a trick question, answers no. Rufus tells him to get off his property. Dean takes out a bottle and asks if the scotch is good. Rufus smiles.

Inside Rufus’ house, Dean and Rufus sit at the kitchen table drinking. Rufus admits that he doesn’t drink unless it’s this stuff; the nectar of the gods. Dean asks what Bella wanted. Rufus replies that she wanted to buy a few things that are going to take him some time to round up. Dean asks where she is. Rufus asks why Dean is wasting his last three weeks chasing after some stuck-up English girl. Dean is surprised. He asks how Rufus knows about the deal. Rufus says he knows a lot of things. He knows that the Colt isn’t going to save Dean. When Dean asks what makes Rufus so sure, Rufus replies that it’s the job. For folks like them, there’s no happy ending. Dean calls him a bucket of sunshine. Rufus says he’s what Dean has to look forward to if he survives... which he won’t. Rufus takes another sip of whiskey. Dean looks like he might cry.

Sam parks a rented SUV in a forest and checks the map.

Dean asks about Bella. Rufus replies Hotel Canaan, room 39. He warns Dean to watch his back. Dean says he can handle Bella. Rufus replies that there are things Dean doesn’t know about her. Dean asked if Rufus got Bella’s fingerprints. Then he guesses that that got Rufus nowhere. Rufus agrees. He replies that Bella burned her fingerprints off. Dean figures that Rufus is right where he is. Rufus asks if Dean did Bella’s ear. Dean looks confused. He says he’ll try anything once but it sounds uncomfortable. Rufus explains that ears are as unique as fingerprints (Monk taught me that!). Rufus says that a friend of a friend of a friend faxed him ten pages on Bella. Rufus hands Dean a folder. Dean opens it and reads.


Meanwhile, Sam walks cautiously into one of the hunting cabins holding a flashlight. He looks through the books. He sees one that looks like a how-to book and puts it in his jacket. He then spies the door to the basement. He walks down the stairs and comes upon a body lying on a table. He checks for a pulse. There is none. He sees another body. It’s a woman whose arm is covered in maggots. Eww. Sam goes to check for a pulse when the woman suddenly wakes up. Sam whispers that he going to help her. He covers her arm with a dirty rag. Upstairs someone walks in and heads down the stairs. Doc Benton is covered in scars. He looks like he’s been patched together. He looks around but Sam and woman are gone. Does Sam really want Dean to look like and live like this?!

Sam runs towards his SUV with the woman in his arms. He sits her on the passenger side and runs to the driver’s side. He starts the car and tries to calm the woman. Suddenly Doc Benton breaks the window on his side. The woman screams. Sam puts the SUV in reverse and floors the gas. Doc falls to the ground. Sam puts the SUV in drive and runs over him. Doc Benton stands up as Sam and the woman drive off. He snaps his neck back in place. Blood comes out of his eye.

Hotel Canaan, Room 39: Bella comes into her room. Dean ambushes her. He puts his arm across her neck and points a gun at her. He demands to know where the Colt is. Bella replies that it’s across the world; it’s gone. Dean doesn’t believe her. She suggests he call the buyer and asks if he speaks Farcies. Dean grabs her; but only to take her gun. He warns Bella not to move and looks through her stuff for the Colt. Bella assures him that she doesn’t have the Colt. As Dean looks through drawers, Bella looks like she’s about to try something. Dean fires the gun beside her. Bella freezes. Dean warns her not to move. He goes through her suitcase. Bella tells him that it’s gone. Dean walks back and points the gun at her. Bella asks if he’s going to shoot her. Dean answers yes. Bella counters that he’s not the coldblooded type. Dean asks like her. He says that he couldn’t imagine killing his parents. Bella claims she doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Dean says that Bella was fourteen and her parents died in a shady car accident. The police suspected a cut brake line but it was too crispy to tell. He says that little Belle, or rather Abby, inheriting millions.

Flashback to fourteen year old Abby: Her father comes into her bedroom and closes the door. Abby sits on the bed with tear streaked cheeks.

Present day: Bella says that they were lovely people and she killed them and got rich. She says that she doesn’t care about anything including Dean. Dean is clearly disgusted. He’s about to pull the trigger when he notices something hanging above the door. He thinks better of shooting her. He tells her she’s not worth it and leaves. Bella opens a crumpled piece of paper. It has the name of Sam and Dean’s hotel. Bella grabs her cell phone and calls someone. She says that it worked. They found her. She adds that Sam wasn’t with Dean but she knows where they are.

The Erie Hotel: Sam’s cell phone rings. It’s Dean (driving the Impala). Sam asks if Bella is... Dean says that he couldn’t do it. He says that he’s screwed. Sammy was right. Bella was a goose chase. Colt’s gone. Sam says that he found Doc Benton’s cabin and he found his lab book. He adds that the secret of immortality doesn’t require black magic; it’s just science, extremely weird science but it’s doable. Sam starts to say that they’re not in the clear yet when a hand puts a chloroform cloth on his face. Sam drops his cell phone. Dean calls for Sam.

Sam wakes up strapped to a table. His eyes are taped open. It’s too Clockwork Orange for me. Benton assures Sam that his chances of coming out of the procedure alive are very high. Sam wants to know how Benton knows his name. Benton just says he knows. He adds that while Sam thinks he’s some kind of monster, he’s never done one thing that he didn’t have to do. This whole eternal life thing is high maintenance. Something goes bad, like his eyes, he has to replace it. He adds that sometimes things get damaged like when John Winchester cut out his heart. He says that he enjoyed reading all about himself in John’s journal. He says it makes this like a family reunion. He prepares to surgically remove Sam’s eye. Sam looks completely freaked out. So am I.


Two gun shots hit Benton. He turns around slowly to see Dean holding a rifle. Er, how did Dean know which hunting cabin to go to? Benton tells him to shoot all he wants. Dean shoots again until Benton hits him and he falls to the floor. Benton approaches and Dean stabs him with a knife. Benton laughs. He asks "What part of immortality does [Dean] not understand?" Hehehe, who’d have thought. An monster with a sense of humor. Benton says that it’s a pity about the heart. It was a brand new one. Dean reveals that he dosed the knife with chloroform. Benton falls down unconscious.

The doc is strapped to the same table Sam was on. Dean coaxes him awake. Benton says please. Dean says that he’s been killing people for over 150 years and now he has a request. He tells him to shut up. Benton says that he can help Dean. Dean ignores him. He says that they’ll have to cut him in little bits. Immortality is a bitch. Benton says that he can read the formula for them. Sam looks interested. He motions for Dean to follow him. Sam whispers that they are talking Hell in three weeks; it’s not perfect but it buys them more time. Is he nuts!? He begs Dean to think about it. Dean replies no. What Benton is isn’t living. Alright, Dean! He says for him it’s simple – black and white – human, not human. Dean walks back to Benson. He says that the doc is a freaking monster. Dean says he’d rather go to Hell. He pours chloroform on a rag and holds it to Benton’s face. Dean tells Sam that he’ll take care of Benson and Sam can help or not, it’s up to him. I think Sam’s lost his humanity or just his senses. He really believes this is a solution to Dean’s deal. It’s insane.

What’s even more insane is the way Sam and Dean deal with Benton. They bury him alive. I question whether they’ve crossed the line as well. It’s extremely disturbing to listen to Benton scream while Sam and Dean bury his coffin. While Sam seems to hesitate, I get the feeling that he sees his chance of saving Dean slipping away; he doesn’t feel anything for Benton.

The Erie Hotel: Woman’s footsteps walk down a hallway toward a hotel door. It’s Bella. She jimmies the door; takes out a gun and shoots at two the figures sleeping in the beds. She turns on a light. It’s 11:54PM. She uncovers the figures in the beds. They’re both blowup dolls. She looks stunned. The phone rings and she picks it up. Dean says that he felt her hand in his pocket when he swiped the hotel receipt. Dean adds that he noticed the herb tacked above the door in her hotel room. The devil’s shoestring. It’s used to hold Hell Hounds at bay. So Dean looked up her folks' obit and they died exactly ten years ago. Dean guesses that Bella didn’t kill them; a demon did. She made a deal and it’s come due.

Flashback 10 years ago: Bella sits on a swing. The "girl" on the swing beside her says that she can take care of them. It’s Lilith. Lilith says it won’t cost Bella a thing for ten whole years.


Present Day: Dean asks if Bella stole the Colt to try and wiggle out of her deal; their gun for her soul. Bella says yes but they changed the deal. They wanted her to kill Sam. Dean snarks that demons are untrustworthy. Dean notes that it’s almost midnight – time’s almost up. Bella cries that she needs help. Dean says that if she’d come to them sooner and asked for help, they probably would have taken the Colt and saved her. "And saved yourself" adds Bella. She admits that she knows about Dean’s deal from the demon that holds his deal. It’s the same demon that holds Bella’s deal. Her name is Lilith. Dean tells Bella that this can’t help her now. He asks why she’s telling them this. Bella replies that maybe they can kill the bitch. Dean replies that he’ll see her in Hell. The clock beside Bella reads midnight...