This episode is weaker compared to "Phantom Traveler." There isn't as much funny, the lines aren't as good, and the guest acting is weak. Anytime I wish for characters like Jill, Donna, or even Charlie to die, then the acting hasn't won me over. However, creepy disheveled woman in raggedy dress haunting people in the mirror, awesome! Charlie freaking out over Mary's reflections in chemistry class, awesome! There also isn't a more chilling scene than Sam and Dean in the "hall of mirrors" confronting Mary and their inner demons in the process. It couldn't be good when Dean is distracted and Sam is left to face Mary alone. Mirror Sam, eyes bleeding and all, berating Real Sam about letting Jessica die because he dreamt about her death days before it happened is really freaky. Freaky cool. Then Dean does come back and his eyes bleed. Why? That's something that fans have wondered about forever and at this point may never get the answer.
This Sam focused episode on the surface is meant to show his extreme guilt over Jess' death. His nightmares are worse, he's more frazzled, and Dean is way more concerned. When Sam thinks he can summon Mary because of his "secret", Dean pulls over, unable to take Sam's behavior anymore. I love Dean's talk, yelling at Sam to get over this and stop blaming himself. He doesn't like the plan and doesn't understand Sam's guilt. This is one of the first glimpses we get of Dean being the overprotective big brother. When Sam won't tell Dean the truth, even when it's all over, this is the first glimpse we get of Sam hiding things from Dean. Something that STILL HAPPENS TODAY.
Once the MOTW story is wrapped up in a neat bow, Sam learns his lesson and stops blaming himself, right? Ah ha! There's the gotcha ending that I love watching over and over again. First, "Laugh I Nearly Died" by the Rolling Stones is an inspired choice of background music. It fits Sam's somber mood perfectly. Second, when Sam sees Jessica's spirit on the sidewalk, that's a hint that Sam can't let his guilt go, especially based on his haunted reaction. Sure, none of us at first viewing see what it really means, which is Sam's psychic abilities are starting to manifest. No, we didn't see it coming because that twist surfaced without warning FOUR EPISODES LATER. I'm not sure if subtlety was the intention, but that was WAY too subtle to keep people interested in Sam's storyline. That's not a complaint about the episode, just the development of the arc. My overall grade, B+.
Comments
I also love a number of the lines in this episode:
"And how many times in Dad's long and varied career has it actually been some freak medical thing and not some sign of an awful supernatural death."
"I think we're under-dressed."
"Because I'm an awesome brother."
"Did you find anything?" "Besides a whole new level of frustration? No."
". . . and a giant mirror fell on a guy named Dave."
"Look, you're my brother, and I'd die for you, but there are some things I need to keep to myself."
Thanks again for a wonderful mini recap, Alice!
I love the tension between the brothers here. Not the kind we find later, of course, but the mutual worries, Dean’s shock at finding Sam would not tell him everything, the, as you aptly put it, over-protective ness of Dean and Sam’s reluctance… Promises of great moments to come.
I fear you’re right, we might never get an answer to what Dean’s secret was that made his eyes bleed. That one in particular has been bugging me ever since…
Deborah, I’d say it’s okay to be shallow once in a while – we do so much analysing here that we sometimes forget to mention that the two leads are simply two of the most gorgeous guys I’ve seen on tv in a long time. Well, the eye needs to feed as well. And, well, it’s also part of the world we call Hollywood. (and, I bet, there are actors/actresse s the guys love to watch and think ‘she’s gorgeous’…)
Love this episode! Thanks for this review, wonderful to find them on a daily basis… ha… don’t remember who said it in another comment, but it is indeed like watching the show again, time warp level.
Now I’m off to cleaning snow and later I’ll get my hot chocolate, a friend whom I introduced to the show coming over, and I know he’ll want to watch the odd episode… Ha.
Freezing. Jas
This eppie is indeed the most creepiest one, hands down. The whole Mary on every mirror and glass surfave is reaaally spooky and I was totally freaked when we saw the dead guy with his eyes gone *shudders*
I agree that there are slower bits which I usually FF but the brotherly moments are golden!! I love every single one of them and the RW button is used more than my machines can handle
Ps. On a side note yet again, I always thought that Deans eyes bled 'cause Mary was out of her mirror and was stronger...:oop s: :geek:
Oh, and BTW, I think we should flood Kripke's office with cards telling him that he needs to reveal in a future episode why Dean's eyes bled. He is answering every other question that has been left hanging - why not this one.
As for Jessica, that's right, Sam did never get over the guilt. This issue was addressed in changing Channels, when Sam was told that he's afraid to love because of the girl who died on the operating table.
As for Dean's bleeding eyes, anyone seen this interview?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxxFxhSrrTQ
Aw, Kripke, don't be cruel! It doesn't even have to be incorporated into the show--just tell us
Another reason I'm fond of Bloody Mary: Sam and Dean pose as medical students from Ohio State! It's my favorite Supernatural "Ohio moment", right up there with the Impala's new plates. Kripke must really like this urban legend, as he set it in Toledo
Some top BroMos as well - Perfect.