Clap Your Hands If You Believe

A perfectly written, acted and directed comedy episode! The dialogue is so good, and the fight with "Tinkerbell" and the microwave is superb! Jensen and Jared are really good comedy actors, and they really get to explore that here. The ad-lib line about "why didn't I do that before?" is also perfect - almost breaking the fourth wall in this one.

Soulless Sam is so much lighter, and effortlessly funny when being his "authentic self".

The way they pull off episodes like this in the middle of a very dramatic series is one of the biggest strengths of Supernatural.

And the title just makes you smile from the start.

"Clap Your Hands If You Believe," the ninth episode of Supernatural's sixth season, directed by John F. Showalter and written by Ben Edlund, is a delightful blend of humor, suspense, and meta-commentary that showcases the show's ability to balance comedic absurdity with meaningful character development. The episode begins with Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) investigating a series of disappearances in Elwood, Indiana, initially believed to be alien abductions. However, as the story unfolds, it takes a whimsical turn when the brothers discover that fairies-not extraterrestrials-are behind the strange occurrences. This twist allows the episode to explore folklore while maintaining its signature mix of horror and humor.

The narrative opens with Dean being abducted by what appears to be a UFO during an investigation in a cornfield. His frantic screams of "Close encounter!" as he runs through the field are both hilarious and unsettling, setting the tone for an episode that doesn't take itself too seriously. When Dean reappears shortly after, he reveals that his abductors were fairies, including a tiny glowing woman who attacked him. Meanwhile, Sam uncovers that a local watchmaker, Mr. Brennan, had summoned fairies through a spell to assist him in his shop but lost control over them. The brothers must navigate this bizarre situation while dealing with their own interpersonal tensions-particularly Dean's frustration with soulless Sam's detached behavior.

John F. Showalter's direction shines in its ability to balance the absurdity of the premise with moments of genuine suspense. The cinematography effectively contrasts the eerie glow of the cornfield abduction scenes with the mundane settings of Elwood, creating a surreal atmosphere that mirrors Dean's confusion and disbelief. The homage to The X-Files in the opening credits is a standout moment, cleverly blending nostalgia with humor. However, some critics have noted that certain comedic elements-such as Dean mistakenly attacking a man while shouting "fairy!"-feel forced and detract from the overall flow.

Jensen Ackles delivers an outstanding performance as Dean, capturing both his comedic timing and his growing frustration with Sam's lack of empathy. His interactions with Marion, the eccentric fairy expert, are particularly entertaining and highlight Dean's skepticism toward supernatural lore outside his usual purview. Jared Padalecki portrays soulless Sam with unsettling detachment, adding depth to his character's arc while providing moments of dry humor. Guest star Robert Picardo as the leprechaun brings a sharp wit to his brief but memorable role, particularly in his disdain for Sam's method of defeating him by spilling salt.

"Clap Your Hands If You Believe" explores belief systems and cultural myths while delving into Sam's moral ambiguity. The episode juxtaposes modern UFO conspiracy theories with ancient fairy folklore, suggesting that humanity is more willing to accept extraterrestrial explanations than supernatural ones in contemporary times. Additionally, Sam's detached approach to hunting raises questions about whether his soulless state makes him more effective-and whether he truly wants his soul back at all. These themes resonate within Supernatural's broader exploration of identity and morality.

One of the episode's most memorable scenes occurs when Dean microwaves a fairy during an attack in his motel room-a moment set to David Bowie's "Major Tom" that blends horror with dark humor. Another standout sequence is Sam's interrogation of Mr. Brennan, where he bluntly exposes Brennan's guilt for summoning fairies without considering the consequences-a reflection of Sam's own pragmatic yet morally questionable mindset.

"Clap Your Hands If You Believe" is a clever and entertaining episode that balances its comedic premise with meaningful character development and thematic depth. While some comedic moments feel overplayed, strong performances and sharp writing make it a standout installment in Season 6. By intertwining folklore with modern skepticism and exploring Sam's evolving identity, this episode challenges viewers to reconsider their perceptions of belief and morality while delivering plenty of laughs along the way.

Clap Your Hands If You Believe is another strong episode of the sixth season. It is the season's 2nd comedy episode, and it is certainly at the top of the show's best comedic episodes. It has some really great writing, some hilarious moments, and one particular scene that is perhaps one of my favorite scenes of the entire series. The scene I am talking about is Dean's first encounter with a fairy. The episode is really well directed, and as a whole it continues the season's new tone and great cinematography. Hopefully the writers continue with great episodes like this, and they have proved that they know how to make fun of themselves. The absurdity of the 'evil' this week is what makes it even more funny, and especially knowing what hurts and brings fairies around.

It was interesting to see Supernatural tackle fairy lore, which actually has a lot more horror potential than most people realize. If you look at old-school, traditional fairy lore, it's actually pretty dark, and includes some pretty nightmarish creatures. It was the Victorians who began to romanticize them, and then Disney made the cutesy image of the little sprite with wings universally known to the point where that's the only image of fairies that most people have these days. But if you read some of the older tales, or listen to still-current ones in rural Ireland or Scotland, fairies are anything but cute and harmless.

I liked that they touched on a little of that, with the presence of the Redcap who was stalking Dean (Redcaps are a particularly nasty sort of fairy from Scottish folklore, who are known for eating lost travellers, and dye their caps red with human blood), but I was a bit disappointed that they couldn't resist throwing in the Disney version of fairies as well - though I have to admit the fight scene with that one was hilarious, as was the way it was resolved.

The parallels between UFO and fairy abductions have actually been pointed out by quite a lot of people before this - I've seen that topic dealt with by everyone from folklorists to science fiction authors.

Overall, a pretty entertaining episode, though not one with a lot of substance. But someday I'd love to see a show that took full advantage of the horror-potential of traditional fairy lore, without feeling the need to include the stereotypical Disney image.

One of the most funny scenes the show has had, soulless Sam was a delight, i wanted to see more of him. The lore and how they got it was just too on the nose, too ridiculous