Supernatural: Dean forgets all in ‘Memento’-esque episode 11 (recap)

On season 12, episode 11 of Supernatural, Dean forgets where he’s been, what his name is and worst of all, how to drive the Impala.

Off to a literal running start, Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) is on the chase. The target in question looks human, but Dean doesn’t just go around killing those, so the man must be something else. Seconds later, the victim places a call and Dean is out on the ground, surrounded by a pink glow. He wakes up next to a rabbit. Episode 11, here we go.

Dean comes stumbling out of the woods, broken phone in hand. Several people think he’s a bum, but fortunately, a jogger lends his phone so Dean can call Sam (Jared Padalecki). They meet up at a diner, where it becomes clear that Dean isn’t … well, he’s not quite Dean. He can’t remember the case they’re on (accountant found stuffed with cash), can’t remember where he was last night and has no idea why an attractive girl comes up and slaps him in the face. Let’s call her Lana Del Ray, because like most women in Supernatural she lacks an identity.

The brothers go to autopsy the body and find a hex bag along with the bloody, monetary evidence. It’s a witch! They go to leave and investigate further, but upon getting into the Impala, Dean first forgets what key fits where and then crashes the car into a row of newsstands. To top it off, he doesn’t even remember his name. It’s like Finding Dory all over again, only this time Dean suffers from short-term memory loss.

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Back in the hotel room, Sam helpfully uses Post-It Notes, as Dean is incapable of identifying objects. Suspecting a witch’s hex, Sam calls up Rowena (Ruth Connell), who’s busy winning poker. Rowena gets all the fun backstories. She’s loathe to help her favorite humans but agrees to step in. Meanwhile, the brothers retrace Dean’s steps to a bar where Lana Del Ray is serving. She admits that Dean did four shots of tequila last night, rode a mechanical bull and hooked up with her. Which explains the blackout, but not waking up in the woods.

Sam checks the security footage. Dean followed a guy from the dead accountant’s firm outside the bar the night before. Upon tracking his scent, it’s revealed that 1) Dean forgets vampires are real, 2) The man is dead in the very same woods and 3) The curse placed upon Dean may be even more serious than Sam thought.

Rowena helpfully steps in to clear up some issues. The hex put on Dean is a complicated spell from a family of sorcerers Rowena knew back in the day. In order to reverse it, she’ll need to know the special magic words. Or else Dean will, you know, die. Sam goes off on his own to track down the remaining two witches, and Dean breaks down in the bathroom after forgetting who he is.

Rowena gives Dean a voodoo doll for comfort and tells him her story of being chased out of Europe by the British Men of Letters. Sam goes and kills someone while Dean realizes he kills people for the greater good. Upon threatening one of the witches, Sam is incapacitated by a spell.

Dean wakes up in the Impala. Rowena left him a note saying Sam was kidnapped by a witch. Also, a note that says “Stay.” Good idea. Rowena clearly has some history with these witches and gets into a fight with one of them. Dean gets out of the car, digs through the trunk and sees another set of post-its indicating which guns kills witches. He rushes in and saves the day, after Sam identifies himself as “No! Brother!” and points to the witch.

With the spell broken, Rowena is back to gambling and Sam and Dean reconvene to get back on track to our series’ overarching plot: Lucifer’s demon baby.

Stray Observations

• Dean, our fearless Disney princess, attracts rabbits right to him.
• “Devil baby mama drama” is how I’ll be referring to this season here on out.
• “Light stick”
• The bartender is so, so sorry for taking advantage of drunk Dean. Yay, feminism!
• “Now salsa you mittens”
• “Tub of guts”
• “Her hair is so bouncy”
• Lots of great quotes from forgetful, Scooby Doo-watching Dean Winchester.
• “My name is Dean Winchester. Sam is my brother. Mary is my mom and Castiel is my best friend.” Ow, my heart.
• I hope Rowena is being responsible when she hands random voodoo dolls to stabby men. Yes, I said stabby.
• Also, Rowena’s backstory with the British Men of Letters is bound to become relevant at some point.
• Dean … rode Larry.
• Cute episode overall, much better than “Dog Dean Afternoon” but didn’t quite reach the quality of “Yellow Fever.” A great effort by newbie writer Meredith Glynn.
• See below:

Next: Doctor Who: 9 actors who should replace Peter Capaldi

What did you think of episode 11? Was forgetful Dean worth the hype? Let us know in the comments!

Supernatural airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW, a time change from previous episodes this season! Be sure to tune in!