Supernatural (TV Series) Playthings (2007) User Reviews

Another ghost story

[zombiehigh18 · 8/10 · 4 November 2011]

"Playthings" is a nice stand alone episode with it's fare share of scary, funny and sad moments. The antique dolls and the doll house even the hotel it self with the wedding dress hanging on it's walls were definitely super creepy. Dean always putting Sam in embarrassing situations and poor Sam always helpless with him was funny, as well as Dean's hangover remedy. Drunk Sam was cute, hilarious and sad altogether. But here, Dean is left with even bigger worry and responsibility for Sammy. I liked the old guy and Jensen had an amazing chemistry with him. I found it very sad when he asked Dean what would he feel leaving the only home he knew, Dean answered "I don't know, I never really had one". But I find Sam's jump in the pool to rescue the little girl very heroic.

A Funny Ghost Story

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 7 July 2008]

While searching Ava, Sam and Dean read about two freak accidents in the old Pierpont Inn that was sold and will sooner end the activities and close. The brothers are welcomed by the owner and manager Susan and they see her daughter Tyler and Maggie. While investigating, they find Hudu symbols and believe that the place is cursed by Susan's mother Rose. However, they discover that the hotel is haunted by a spirit that can not move from the place and Rose was actually protecting the inn with Hudu.

This ghost story has a very funny moment, when Susan believes that Sam and Dean are gays, and a great plot point with the identity of Maggie. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Brinquedos" ("Toys")

"Wow! This is a lot of dolls. They're nice...They're not super creepy at all."

[bensonmum2 · 7/10 · 6 July 2009]

"Playthings" is another solid Supernatural episode. In this one, Sam and Dean take a break from their hunt for the demon to investigate a series of mysterious deaths at an old Connecticut hotel and to put a stop to the hoodoo or haunting or whatever is going on before anyone else is killed. I just love a good ghost story set in a large, rambling house like the Pierpont Inn in this episode. Like I said in another user comment for an episode of Supernatural, one thing that always freaks me out is a ghostly little girl with curls, a dress, and a doll – and "Playthings" has got these in spades. Creepy, cool stuff as far as I'm concerned. The subtle references to The Shining and the unsubtle references to Scooby Doo were both unmistakable and very welcome. And the humor in "Playthings" is often laugh-out-loud funny. From the comments about Sam being a doll collector to Dean wanting to poke Grandma Rose with a stick to Sam and Dean being mistaken for a gay couple, it's as funny as anything I've seen up to this point in Supernatural. My only complaint would be the predictability of much of what happens. I mean, was there anyone who didn't know or couldn't have guessed that Maggie was imaginary? Overall, it's not my favorite episode, but I think a 7/10 is about right.

A personal favorite

[CubsandCulture · 10/10 · 12 September 2019]

I am not sure how well recieved this episode is-I seem to recall a dislike for it among the fans-but to me it is a wonderful riff on the traditional haunted house and/or the creepy manor estate. The references to The Shining-i.e. room number, the bar scene, the use of the two girls to make the viewer uneasy-are all fun to spot. Likewise, the direction leans heavily into the aristocratic trappings and this is one of the most stylized episodes of the first couple of season.

Yes I know Sam is unbelievably eagle eyed. And sure the resolution seems rushed but you have Sam being drunk and the laughs that entail. Likewise, you have some classic Dean moments-stick, the references to Scooby-that round out a very entertaining hour of TV.

Delightful episode.

playthings

[jterkildsen · 10/10 · 26 March 2008]

I loved this storyline take off on the haunted hotel. The ghost busting gets pretty intense but a little humor goes along way to make the show and the brothers so endearing. The look on Sam's face when Dean tells the hotel owner that Sam collects & plays with dolls is priceless! He just gulps it down and plays along with the lie perfectly! The dolls are really creepy and reminded me of the doll collection the sheriff had in Stephen King's "The Tommyknockers". The old bellman is a hoot and Sam & Dean being mistaken for gay antiques dealers was also very funny. I really love the humor between both of the brothers. That is what makes the show so great!

Love the ghost stories

[shwetafabm · 9/10 · 27 May 2020]

Creepy ghost stories, brotherly humour, a good spn episode, i miss these times

Very Funny Episode

[devif · 10/10 · 5 February 2007]

I feel that Jared and Jenson really shine as a team in this episode. Dean is happy to annoy the bejeezers out of poor Sam, while Sam is just torn about his abilities. From the creeps of the doll house to the side-splitting laughter of Dean's antics with Grandma Rose kept us glued in our seats all hour. The highlights of this episode were probably the funniest from the entire season. Drunken Sam was hilarious, and Dean's methods for sneaking into places make us wonder what sort of hell he puts Sam through every day. If I were Sam, I would have chosen then to cash in on that free punch from Bloodlust. The end left Sam with one more contemplation, Dean with one more responsibility, and one last laugh over the single mother who owned the hotel. The girls were together again, and all was well(?) Nobody deserved this more than our Winchester boys.

It was good, but...

[Osslady2333 · 9 July 2007]

Hey: I really enjoyed this episode, but what if the doll (s) had talked, or had opened their eyes all on their own, especially with Sam/Dean seeing this. I believe it would have been scarier. The part about Dean saying 'OK' to poking the grandmother w/a stick to make sure she had had a stroke was hilarious!!! I laughed and laughed. It was also funny when Sam told Dean he was 'butch'! Yes, it was a funny, scary episode, and I really enjoyed it! I like it when they make it as scary as possible! Sometimes I have to just watch it after I have already taped it, in the daytime. I am by myself out in the country, and oohhh, I hear strange things at times~! I love Supernatural! It takes me back to the days I used to tell friends and cousins ghost stories, and urban legends.

Osslady

Nice concept

[cherrypiespn · 10/10 · 21 November 2020]

Jump scares, creepy dolls, brotherly banter, voodoo.. Supernatural at its best

Sam and Dean

[mm-39 · 9/10 · 23 September 2007]

My wife love this episode. There is many 'The Shinning' references for this show IE room 237. The story is about a ghost who formally lived there, and the destruction of anyone who tries to destroy the old inn. The drunk Sam part show' Sam's pain and a softer side of Dean taken care of them. The old door man add a lot of humor, and asks Dean if he is going go cheepo on him for a tip. A bar scene with Dean is similar to the Loyd the bartender in 'The Shinning'. The two girls in the ending remind me of the shinning also. Plaything is a tribute to the above mention movie. Grandma save the day for the movie while Sam and Dean are left wondering how the problem resolved. A surprise ending. I give the brother a tie on this hunt 9 out of 10. Yes the dolls are creepy. They were mistaken for a couple in this show instead of brothers.

Correction of a listed *goof*

[kittydoc · 10/10 · 3 September 2019]

When Dean looks at Sam hovering over the toilet in the bathroom, Sam is seen in the reflection of the long mirror; therefore, the cast that is on Sam's actual broken right hand appears to be on his left hand since the reflection reverses his image.

Dull as a butter-knife.

[snwbatz · 4/10 · 3 June 2022]

The episode is one of the most forgettable and dull episodes of the show. The episode has a some what interesting idea of the brothers being at this hotel. But the only interesting thing to come of it is a pretty cool shining reference.

Cornwall, CT

[dpasq-848-450917 · 8/10 · 7 January 2019]

I owned a house in Cornwall. In no way would the town allow a company to demolish a historic building. The town sits alongside the Housatonic river with a red covered bridge, it's ridiculous to assume that they are trying to gentrify their town. Beautiful Inn btw.

Hmmm Daphne, love her

[sencaliseda · 10/10 · 24 June 2021]

I just wanted to say, before 12th season I gave a long pause to SPN until the Scoobynatural (13x16) episode came along and I had to (!) watch all the episodes just to see Scoobynatural and I couldn't stop it there. SPN is my all time fav and I'm soooo glad to rewatch all and find distinct but small connections between 2nd and 13th season ahahah <3 <3 <3.