Supernatural Review: Just My Imagination (Season 11 Episode 8)

You never forget your first real friend, even if they are just a figment of your imagination.

Sam’s childhood imaginary friend, Sully, takes center stage on Supernatural‘s, “Just My Imagination,” and gives us some really great glimpses into Sam and Dean’s childhood. It also marks the second monster-of-the-week story in a row for the Winchesters.

I always love monster-of-the-week stories. They give Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles a chance to show off their wonderful comedic skills and give viewers a good palette cleanse after several heavy episodes. Each monster-of-the-week story always ties back to the greater story at hand, and it’s a skill that many shows have yet to master in the way that Supernatural does.

This also marks the directorial debut for Richard Speight Jr., better known to longtime fans of Supernatural as “The Trickster,” or “Gabriel.” He brings a lot of whimsy and fun to “Just My Imagination,” and fittingly, the episode has the feel of one of Trickster’s former pranks. Man…I miss Trickster.

Sam’s childhood is spent mostly alone, in hotel rooms, while Dean goes off to hunt monsters with John Winchester, the boys’ father. What else is a lonely kid to do other than to create a friendship of their own?

Sully is nothing like my own imaginary friends. (Though, full disclosure, my imaginary friends were Alvin and Theodore Seville. Yes, the Chipmunks, and no, not Simon. He died in a science experiment gone awry. And yes, I should have seen a child psychologist.) Sully is bright, playful, and fun. He’s a positive influence that Sam has created for himself in the absence of those who SHOULD be encouraging his growing mind.

When Sully appears to ask Sam for help, over twenty years later, Sam is quite shocked. Sully knows what Sam and Dean do as hunters, and since something supernatural is killing imaginary friends, he knows that the brothers will be the only ones who can help solve the mystery.

Sully’s appearance is not welcomed by Dean, who seems to be annoyed by imaginary friends and in disbelief that they are even helping the unseen figments of kid’s imaginations.

Sam: Wait a second. C-can you see him?
Dean: Uh-huh.
Sam: Dean, this, um… I think this is…Sully, my friend from when I was a kid.
Dean: You mean Mork from Ork here is your dumbass imaginary friend Sully?
Sam: Yeah.
Sully: Uh, I’m not dumb or ass.
Dean: I’m gonna get my gun.

Dean’s disbelief into the world of imaginary friend “Zanna” (the term for what they can see and how they telepathically communicate,) makes him come off as an ass throughout “Just My Imagination.” But there’s a flip side to Dean’s behavior; Sully’s existence forces Dean to deal with his own personal issues of abandoning Sam as a child, and the realization that Sam needs a friend to talk to in Dean’s absence.

Dean may not love the ridiculous world of imaginary friends, or their sparkling glitter blood (RIP Sparkle, you shine even in death,) but he does suck it up and help, and ends up apologizing to Sully, and thanking him for being there for Sam as he grew up.

While the plot of “Just My Imagination,” is overall quite silly and out-of-the-box, it leads to some great dialogue between Sam and Sully. While Dean is still not on board with Sam’s theories about the cage, and about what Sam knows he needs to do for God, Sam can’t let those theories rest. Sully encourages Sam to move forward and tells him how proud he is that Sam has saved the world so many times.

It’s a clever way of showing that Sam is emotionally abandoned by Dean now, as well. Sam needs someone to talk to, just as he did when he was a child. Dean’s emotional absence has long fit in with my personal theory that Dean is “faking it.” The Darkness has done something to the elder Winchester, and while we don’t know what it is right now, I think all signs point to us making that discovery soon.

The episode wraps up somewhat sloppily, with the reveal of a grown up kid that Sully abandoned after accidentally causing her twin sister’s death, but the emotional punch still resonates despite the jumbled ending.

Sam, once again, tells Dean that he needs to do what he knows God is asking. This time, Dean remains silent at the end of their argument. How do you argue when it’s God asking you to do something?

Next week’s midseason finale preview features a look at Lucifer, so we’re sure to finally get some answers about the Darkness, her plan, and how to stop her. I’m quite excited about seeing Mark Pellegrino step back into the devil’s shoes, and what it will mean for Dean and Sam. See the preview of next week’s mid-season finale below:

What did you think of “Just My Imagination”? Are you excited for next week’s mid-season finale and the return of Lucifer? Will Sam listen to Dean, and stay away from the cage, or will there be a rift between the Winchesters? Did you have an imaginary friend? Sound off in the comments!

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Supernatural airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW.