TV Review: Supernatural - "Bedtime Stories"
Published June 22, 2008
Cue the music, which has a music box feel with just the right amount of sharp notes to tell you right away that another sacred institution is about to be ruined. There are three big guys, brothers, at a construction scene, a growling creature, and the trademark blood spatter. The third one even snorted like a pig and hid behind cinder blocks for those of you that missed we are dealing with a “Three Little Pigs” scenario. It’s those little details that make this show so twisted and fun.
I’m not sure about anyone else, but I loved in these early season episodes all the fights between Sam and Dean in the Impala. This was exactly where they should be airing their grievances, among family. I still wish for more scenes like in “Tall Tales” where they vent their frustrations by wrestling one another, but I digress. Sam was incredibly frustrated and antsy from the word go in this episode. He clearly states the reason why, because even if it means that he might die, he can’t sit back and do nothing or Dean dies. Dean forbids him to consider the idea of confronting the Crossroads Demon with the colt, even pulling the “I’m older” card. Sorry Sam, but I’m the oldest too, and he’s got you there. Nothing trumps the first-born card.
Sam’s bitch-faces were classic in this conversation, and we could feel every bit of his intense frustration. After four episodes he finally has something to go on, but Dean orders him to let it go, which is a perfect setup for the theme of this episode, letting loved ones go. Sam gets a few in-your-face reminders that losing someone important is painful but part of life, but true to his nature, he can’t accept it. We get a big reminder of that as early as the next scene, when the brothers talk to the lone survivor of the attack. “He killed my brothers. How would you feel?” “I can’t imagine anything worse.” Oh Sam, you’re already breaking my heart, and we are in the first five minutes. The look Dean gave him in response was telling as well, as if he was saying nothing is worse. Dean has a little experience in this category, so in the look of despair category, he wins.
As what usually happens with this show, the pace and tone changes quickly, and it moves to humor. I’ve seen this episode several times, and I still laugh my fool head off at Sam’s drawing of the attacker. I’ll be at work, pounding my head against a desk, and will instantly cheer up with a memory of that picture. I swear it needs to be wallpaper on my computer desktop. “It’s a work in progress.” Ha! Another great thing? They’re detectives Plant and Page. You can’t go wrong with those names because “Zeppelin Rules!” Best aliases of the season.
- TV Review: Supernatural - "Bedtime Stories"
- Published: June 22, 2008
- Type: Review
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Drama, Video: Fantasy, Video: TV Recap
- Part of a feature: The Winchester Family Business: Supernatural
- Writer: Alice Jester
- Alice Jester's BC Writer page
- Alice Jester's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
I look forward to your reviews every week and find myself nodding in agreement, laughing, and occasionally crying as I relive each episode. I love that you're so excited by the show and have so many profound things to say about it. In my life, whenever I mention Supernatural in a conversation I generally get a blank stare so it's nice to know you're out there! Thank you for all the time and thought you put into your reviews!
Same for me Kari. People think I'm crazy for loving so much this show. If I speak about Supernatural is like I talk to the walls. People just stares at me not Knowing what I am talking about, so it is very nice to read this reviews, to see that there are people just like you who understand your emotions and your feelings toward that show.
And Alice you do it just fine. It's like you collect all of our thoughts and put it on the net.
About this ep, I really like it. I mean, Dean got the best lines, like that one with the frog, or the wicked stepmother of Snow white.
Anyway i was really impressed with Sam's abilitys of drawning. Picasso would be green with envy:)
My reactiong at seeing that drawning was the same as Dean's.Even now I'm laughing just thinking at that scene.
I noticed that Dean has a pleasure in making Sam feeling inconfortable:this scene with the drawning, that one from PLaythings with the huge crush of Sam in dolls, and etc.
About Red Sky... It will be difficult but that episode too has his part off good lines. Dean's all:)
Even Kripke said he isn't content with that episode but I think they gave us one hell of the finale so we can forgive that ep:)
Barry - Yeah, the number one and two scripted shows, and they get zero respect. The latest budget cut news (I won't reveal for spoiler reasons) really bothers me. It's not fair! As for Dawn, the only reason she isn't gone yet is because no one else will take that crappy job. I wouldn't.
Kari - Why thank you! I'm fortunate to share my love of this show with my husband, but that's it. I have no friends that watch it either, and certainly no co-workers (probably because I work in IT and they're all from India). I'm just thrilled for the opportunity to share my love to an audience like this.
Hi there vichi! Dean does know how to make Sam uncomfortable, doesn't he? I plan on doing an extended commentary on that when my review comes up for "A Very Supernatural Christmas." At least I hope so. That's going to be a very long review, since it's one of the best episodes of the series.
Red Sky isn't the worst, but what I came up with as an alternate should be more fun than analyzing that episode extensively. Even Kripke admitted it was a lost cause, so I can't rub salt into an already open wound. I'm featuring the top five worst Supernatural episodes of the series. When Mystery Spot airs, then I'll do the best since I've already done a review for that. Hopefully these subjective lists will go over well. Either that, or the taunting will be harsh! We'll see.
I read that SN starts on 9/4! :)
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October 2?. It figures!. The CW gets the jump early and gets Gossip and 90210 going, and probably everything else, but no SN?. I hear it's October for Smallville as well. More disrespect thrown their way. Is Ostroff out yet?.