What a strong episode. Let's start with the atmosphere.
Nice choice of setting. From the abandoned room where the brothers were hiding, to the warehouse where Gordon trapped Sam, it was all perfect for the story.
I especially liked the effects they used to simulate seeing through Gordon's eyes when he had Sam trapped. Sort of infrared, and giving the impression of rage and bloodlust. The crazy camera angles and inconsistent closeups, and Sam being unable to see Gordon while the chase was shot through Gordon's point of view, was similar to something I have seen. I'm not sure, but for some reason I keep thinking it could be the Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Saw, neither of which I've seen, but have seen the trailers repetitively.
The soundtrack was excellent also. I just saw 30 Days of Night, and they used a similar industrial-techno sound. I liked it in the movie, but I liked it even more here. It really fit with the metal and scrap of the warehouse.
About that ep title.
The "fresh blood" being, of course, Gordon.
A fitting ending for that character. There is justice in the Supernatural mytharc, and this is a great example of it. Gordon, consumed so much by his rage, becoming physically what he hunts, just as he already had become mentally a monster. And yet, even as a monster, he held hatred of monsters, and his hatred of Sam, and he acted appropriately on them. I am sorry to see Kubrick go, though, as he was a fun character.
Ah, Bela
This is more what I hoped to see from Bela. Less cutesy interaction with the brothers, and more danger. She almost cost them their lives for a piece of treasure. And Dean does actually seem angry enough at her to kill her the next time they meet. She's put their lives in danger twice now, and I would be disappointed to see Dean just accept her actions, or try to reason with her, the next time they meet. She's become a menace, and Dean must realize this. There should be no mercy now.
And Sam, that cold-blooded, heartless hunter. The changes are subtle, but they are there. Will they keep growing to the point that Dean can no longer deny that Sam has changed? Will Sam notice that he has changed?
I have a feeling that a meeting with Bela may be the catalyst for Sam's character to show there's more than just Sam inside Sam's body.
Yep, it could just be Sam feeling backed into a corner, with Dean's death coming up way too fast. Or it could be something else. We don't know any more than Dean does, and that makes it great!
Definitely the best season so far!
-- Posted by: Miller at November 16, 2007 8:25 PMMemorable episode. I just love the twisted mythology and gore on this show. Plus, Padalecki and Ackles put some *nice* moments together as Dean finally let Sam back into his life. The casting department struck gold with these two men. You can't manufacture chemistry like that.
-- Posted by: galveston at November 17, 2007 4:21 PMMemorable episode. I just love the twisted mythology and gore on this show. Plus, Padalecki and Ackles put some *nice* moments together as Dean finally let Sam back into his life. The casting department struck gold with these two men. You can't manufacture chemistry like that.
-- Posted by: galveston at November 17, 2007 4:22 PM
great episode as always!!! i though that sam coud get vam in any minute, (for the explination of how vams are sired)but then i realise, that it coudn't be a very fetting storyline (or not??). About Sam accepting things that he woud have never accepted before, i see it like a natural progression of the caracter, after all that they have been through you can't play nice forever, it's time to play hardball, about what the YED said to Dean about sam not been 100% sam, i think it's just a tease from the writters, demons lie, they try to confuse, and that was exacly what the YED was doing (plant doubt in dean's head), with blends perfectly with sam's state of mind. Great episode, best season so far.
-- Posted by: nattyff at November 16, 2007 8:10 PM