This episode doesn't add a lot to the mythology arc this season, but it is just so fun that you need to see it. Basically, it has to do with the power of thoughts and beliefs. How something can become real if enough people just think it is. "Hell House" also shows the brothers relationship in a more lighthearted way. The two of them goof around all episode, playing pranks on each other and basically being adorable. All in all, you shouldn't skip this episode.
This episode revolves around a haunted house in Texas. Basically, there's a deserted shack, where a man supposedly killed himself years before. Teenagers are seeing ghosts, being attacked and even dying. Sam & Dean investigate and realize that the stories the kids tell are all different. The ghost doesn't seem to be following any rules or connected to any real person. And the some of the symbols painted on the walls of the haunted house are from a "Blue Oyster Cult" album cover. Sam & Dean also become involved in a escalating war of pranks on each other, just to pass the time.
It turns out that that there's a Thought Demon a work in the haunted house. A local website, Hellhound'slair.com, has posted the story of the ghost and people all over the world are reading about it. Their thoughts and belief are giving the ghost power. Sam & Dean meet up with the dorky guys who run the website and trick them into posting fake information on the ghost. They're hoping that if people BELIEVE the ghost has weakness, then it will. Unfortunately, the website goes down and the ghost is still powerful. So, Sam & Dean improvise by burning down the house with the ghost trapped inside. Then call a truce on their pranks against each other and trick the website boys into thinking that the website is being optioned as a Hollywood film. They website boys leave town, and Sam & Dean drive off.
It's interesting to note that this is the first episode where Sam has really initiated the hunting. (Discounting the times that he was personally involved with the victims, like "Skin.") He usually follows along after Dean on these jobs, doing research and putting things together. But, in "Hell House," he's the one insisting they investigate the website and haunting. After last episode, "Shadow," Sam seems a bit more committed to hunting things and saving people, even if they have nothing to do with Jessica's murder. His desire to go back to college seems to have been suppressed again, as he focuses on his job with Dean.
The best parts of this episodes revolve around Sam & Dean torturing each other. Their pranks are pretty hilarious, and -if you have a sibling- fairly accurate. Their gluing each other to things, putting itching powder in clothing, etc... The Nair in the shampoo is a little extreme, perhaps, but it's just a funny image. And I love Dean sticking the spoon in Sam's mouth while he's asleep and then taking a photo of it with his camera phone. It's just a great scene. And Dean "double daring" Sam to drink that jar full of ooze makes me smile every time I see it. He looks so hopeful. I also like the Hellhound'slair.com guys. They add some comedy to the show with their belief that they're the "real" experts when it comes to supernatural stuff. Dean's so dismissive of them and Sam keeps laughing. It cracks me up. Plus, lines just don't come funnier than, "Sweet Lord of the Rings!" I also like the scene where Sam & Dean have to question the teenage victims and they all have different stories on what the ghost looked like. It's edited so that each story contradicts the other. It's very cool. Finally, just burning down the haunted house to stop the ghost, is just a really clever idea.
On the down side, since when does electricity mess with EMF readings? Dean's used it as an air plane hangers (see "Phantom Traveler"), in people's houses (see "Nightmare"), and outside (see "Scarecrow"). It always seems to work just fine. Also, I'm with Dean. I'd rather face a house filled with ghosts, than a house filled with rats any day. I hate rats. **shudder**
My favorite part of the episode: Four little words. WWBD: What Would Buffy Do?
This episode revolves around a haunted house in Texas. Basically, there's a deserted shack, where a man supposedly killed himself years before. Teenagers are seeing ghosts, being attacked and even dying. Sam & Dean investigate and realize that the stories the kids tell are all different. The ghost doesn't seem to be following any rules or connected to any real person. And the some of the symbols painted on the walls of the haunted house are from a "Blue Oyster Cult" album cover. Sam & Dean also become involved in a escalating war of pranks on each other, just to pass the time.
It turns out that that there's a Thought Demon a work in the haunted house. A local website, Hellhound'slair.com, has posted the story of the ghost and people all over the world are reading about it. Their thoughts and belief are giving the ghost power. Sam & Dean meet up with the dorky guys who run the website and trick them into posting fake information on the ghost. They're hoping that if people BELIEVE the ghost has weakness, then it will. Unfortunately, the website goes down and the ghost is still powerful. So, Sam & Dean improvise by burning down the house with the ghost trapped inside. Then call a truce on their pranks against each other and trick the website boys into thinking that the website is being optioned as a Hollywood film. They website boys leave town, and Sam & Dean drive off.
It's interesting to note that this is the first episode where Sam has really initiated the hunting. (Discounting the times that he was personally involved with the victims, like "Skin.") He usually follows along after Dean on these jobs, doing research and putting things together. But, in "Hell House," he's the one insisting they investigate the website and haunting. After last episode, "Shadow," Sam seems a bit more committed to hunting things and saving people, even if they have nothing to do with Jessica's murder. His desire to go back to college seems to have been suppressed again, as he focuses on his job with Dean.
The best parts of this episodes revolve around Sam & Dean torturing each other. Their pranks are pretty hilarious, and -if you have a sibling- fairly accurate. Their gluing each other to things, putting itching powder in clothing, etc... The Nair in the shampoo is a little extreme, perhaps, but it's just a funny image. And I love Dean sticking the spoon in Sam's mouth while he's asleep and then taking a photo of it with his camera phone. It's just a great scene. And Dean "double daring" Sam to drink that jar full of ooze makes me smile every time I see it. He looks so hopeful. I also like the Hellhound'slair.com guys. They add some comedy to the show with their belief that they're the "real" experts when it comes to supernatural stuff. Dean's so dismissive of them and Sam keeps laughing. It cracks me up. Plus, lines just don't come funnier than, "Sweet Lord of the Rings!" I also like the scene where Sam & Dean have to question the teenage victims and they all have different stories on what the ghost looked like. It's edited so that each story contradicts the other. It's very cool. Finally, just burning down the haunted house to stop the ghost, is just a really clever idea.
On the down side, since when does electricity mess with EMF readings? Dean's used it as an air plane hangers (see "Phantom Traveler"), in people's houses (see "Nightmare"), and outside (see "Scarecrow"). It always seems to work just fine. Also, I'm with Dean. I'd rather face a house filled with ghosts, than a house filled with rats any day. I hate rats. **shudder**
My favorite part of the episode: Four little words. WWBD: What Would Buffy Do?
