After yet another break, “Supernatural” returns with “Blade Runners” and thankfully brings us back to the seasonal arc with an episode so intriguing I forgot to live tweet it.
The episode begins as Dean is blowing up Crowley’s cell. Crowley has yet to fulfill his promise to locate the First Blade, and since we spent so many weeks dicking around with werewolves and ghostfacers apparently now the brothers are antsy to get this show on the road. Crowley, meanwhile, is holed up with a lady demon deep in the throes of blood addiction, Casablanca, and Alcott. The three finally reunite for an intervention, a mystery, and an adventure in a hidden mansion full of living, undead, and inanimate collectibles. By the end of the escapade, Baby is lousy with Enochian scratches and Crowley has returned to form as genius, while the “evil” still remains ambiguous.
The Jaw Drop:
- One of the initial draws for me in this series was the soundtrack. “Supernatural” has always been jam packed with hoodie-wearin’ cheap-beer-drinkin’ bonfire music, and it fit so well with my interpretation of the show as nostalgic horror. Over the years, aside from the Wayward Son tradition, the constant classic rock slipped to the wayside only to make room for much more poignant uses of song (see Bob Seger’s “The Famous Final Scene” in “Road Trip” this season – see it THROUGH YOUR TEARS). So when the Velvet Underground’s “Heroin” started playing tonight, it covered the absurdity of a demon getting his human fix via AB negative in the true and powerful shadow of an addict at rock bottom. Turns out during last season’s little Quickening, Crowley got a taste of humanity and liked it. Unfortunately it made him cry for Bergman, root for Beth, and forsake a kingdom that was barely still his.
- OK, so Dean’s ability to use the First Blade might not actually be a jaw dropper, but it’s an interesting and well needed change of pace for the show. With few exceptions (where Sam isn’t concerned, that is) Dean is our man of action. He’s the Regulator mounting up, guns blazing, with a spitfire “let’s kill it attitude.” But judging by the unspoken effects of using the Blade, Dean has become the vulnerable one, the one who might just need saved in the end. It could potentially put a spin on the Winchesters’ dynamics and make this whole repetition of brotherly angst take a turn for closure. Fingers crossed.
The “…… uuuuuhhhhhh…”
- Let’s just blurt it out. Snooki had a three minute role as herself as a Crossroads Demon. Funny? Sure. Was she not terrible? She was not. Wait, was. Wait, not. Dammit she was fine. But can anyone give me a good reason why this happened? She didn’t even really provide any valid information regarding her summoning purpose. I mean, again, it was kind of funny, but also seemed like a publicity stunt that no one involved needs.
The “Is this an homage? What’s going on? Why can’t I figure this out?”
- I’ve literally been sitting here for 30 minutes trying think of a good title for this bullet point, but the point is that tonight I literally couldn’t put my finger on what I was seeing as far as style goes. It started during the Velvet Underground scene – I noticed some tricky camera work. It got confusing during the brothers’ visit to the museum crime scene, when suddenly everything became very choppy with quick cuts and camera flash frames. The style there seemed to stick out like a sore thumb, as the rest of the episode was artsy shot compositions and pointed symmetry. I bring it up because camera work is not something that usually catches my eye during an hour of “Supernatural.” That’s certainly not meant to be an insult, the show does just fine without gimmicky shots, but I really feel like I’m missing a wink here, and if any astute viewers out there can give me a hint I’ll send you a hex bag. Wait, were these “Blade Runner” tributes? I will spend the rest of my night reviewing said film for science, friends and neighbors.
Our episode closed with Crowley insuring his own safety long enough for the Winchesters to locate Abaddon, at which point he promises to share the First Blade again. What say you, fellow hunters? Will Crowley dupe Sam and Dean and ruin the whole plan? Do you think he’s truly back to the Big Bad, and do you think he should be? I kind of like Crowley as the sidekick that matches Cas in the “oh crap angel of the lord/king of hell” category (while besting him in quippery, though). He’s become familiar enough that he doesn’t really seem as big a threat to the hunters as he once was, but maybe this season is setting up his return to form? Only time and seven more episodes will tell, friends.
Next week we’re teased an important development in the Sam v Dean department in the directorial debut of one Mr. Misha Collins. Exciting!