By John Keegan
You can always tell when an episode is written by Ben Edlund. The creator of “The Tick” brings a rather discernable mixture of utter seriousness and absurd comedy to everything he does. This was certainly true for “Angel” and it has translated well into the realm of “Supernatural”.
As I mentioned during the second season, a show can incorporate a certain amount of self-awareness and parody without stepping over the line. “Tall Tales”, for instance, was a very good example of how to blend the character dynamics at the heart of the show with lighter material. “Hollywood Babylon” was an example of how not to do it, focusing too much on parody of the film business and too little on the brothers themselves.
This episode fits somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. The focus was still on the brothers to some extent, but not as much as it could have been. Ties to the overall continuity and introduction of an intriguing new character help make up most, if not all, of the difference. What did pertain to the Brothers Winchester, in terms of character exploration, was consistent with the current status quo.
In terms of continuity, a few specific things spring to mind. A lot of the focus has been on Dean’s psychology since his deal at the crossroads, but this episode reminds us that Sam’s status is still open for debate. Sam may seem to be himself, but it’s possible that he “came back wrong”, and Dean has been dancing around that potential side effect all season long. It’s good to see that the writers aren’t ignoring that plot thread.
We also get a glimpse of Gordon, a hunter from the second season. The hunters in this episode may be comical, but they represent a clear and present danger for the Winchesters. Gordon’s interpretations are representative as well: without the right kind of details, many hunters are making assumptions based on what they’ve heard about Sam, his abilities, and the devil’s gate. As mentioned in the review for the season premiere (“The Magnificent Seven”), it doesn’t matter if the brothers stand up for themselves and point out the truth; a lot of hunters will hold them responsible and will assume their story is fabrication.
This episode also introduces Bela, a second recurring female character, and this addition is as interesting as the first. Fans of the “Highlander” television series might remember Amanda. Bela appears to be cast from a similar mold: smart, sexy, incredibly self-interested. As a mercenary thief dealing in paranormal items, she is well-positioned as someone who could, based on her skill set, trump the Brothers Winchester. Like Ruby, this character takes nothing away from the central characters, but widens the scope of the “Supernatural” world in a positive way.
Once again, we see how the limited information from spoilers or “sides” can be deceptive. Context is everything. As seen in this episode, it’s possible to bring in strong recurring characters without breaking down the most important dynamics of the show, if care is taken in the execution. The Brothers Winchester are still the focus of the series. After all, the best comedic material in this episode, despite the broad focus, came from the interactions and tribulations of Sam and Dean.
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