I can’t believe we’re already up to “Bad Day at Black Rock” in the repeats list. It seems like the finale was just yesterday. Oh, it was, because I watched it again for the hundredth time. Is it September yet? No? Okay, I guess I’ll kill time with this review.
Be prepared, this is a long one. Why? Because this episode gave me the opportunity to carefully examine all the elements required for compiling a brilliant piece of comedy. There’s far more to comedy writing, directing, and acting than we realize. It requires precise timing, proper wording, consistency, expressions that sell the funny more than a piece of dialogue ever will, and a clever plot to weave through all the madness.
I can only imagine that when the idea of a rabbit’s foot as the foil was pitched, the assignment went to Ben Edlund because of his gift for taking something simple and creating a complex situation that spirals out of control (see last season’s “Nightshifter”). He must have dusted off the manual “How To Write Great Comedy” because all the rules are here. First rule is to pick the type of humor, and he wisely chose what often works with this show, dark humor, but introduced that in combination with something that had never been done with Supernatural before — perfectly timed physical comedy. Granted a writer doesn’t sell physical comedy alone; much of that credit goes to the stunt coordinator, the director, and the actors, but to see this done so well after trying it for the first time, his risk obviously paid off in gold.
The first few scenes of the episode are there for story exposition. It’s Gordon Walker! You know, the vampire killer, the one who sliced Sam’s arm and dripped his blood on a vampire, the one who tried to kick Dean’s ass, the one who tried to take out Sam with an air rifle, the one who tied up Dean and tried to kill Sam with booby trapped hand grenades, then a knife, and then with two guns blazing before getting arrested thanks to Sam’s anonymous tip. So, is anyone surprised that Gordon wants Sam dead? The scene also introduces another hunter, Kubrick, who isn’t buying the whole “Sam Winchester is the Antichrist” deal, but then again, we aren’t either. Nonetheless, he’s been tasked to find the boys, because “Sam Winchester must die.”
Next we get what becomes a familiar scene in the next few episodes, Sam and Dean arguing in the Impala. I’m actually with Sam on this one. They need a demon on their side in a demon war, plus I like Ruby.
Dean: “You’re okay right, I mean you’re feeling okay?”
Article comments
1 - Rene
Yeah this was a good episode. I love your reviews Alice keep up the good work :)
2 - vichi
One of the funniest episodes of the show. I loved every moment of it. Dean's face when he says:"I'm Batman" is priceless. Or Sammy with :"I lost my shoes!".
Thanks Alice for your reviews.
Great work.
:)
3 - Noni
"I lost my shoe." LOL. Priceless...