The sixth episode of Season 3 isn’t one of my favorite episodes, but it has its moments. It’s not as bad as Kripke sometimes fears it is, as one of the maligned episodes that even Chuck disparages in canon, and it does have some great bits. It’s written and directed not by ‘regulars’, which is unusual for Supernatural – written by Laurence Andries and directed by Cliff Bole, who didn’t return to do more SPN. I wonder what their experience was, and what the cast and crew’s experience of them was too. Season 3 was a weird season, what can I say?
From my perspective as a VERY passionate fan at the time, we were constantly afraid the show would be cancelled (and so were the people making the show). The fandom was alot more unified than it is now, as I write this in December 2023, though there were rifts and arguments about being a “Sam girl or a Dean girl” even then. But the show itself constantly being in jeopardy brought us together to keep it on the air, and that was a good thing. By the time the sixth episode aired, the network was also trying to keep the show on the air, which for them meant trying to counteract the testosterone-heavy cast by bringing in more attractive young women as series regulars – Lauren Cohan as Bela and Katie Cassidy as Ruby. It’s true that most of the fandom wasn’t on board with having Ruby and Bela riding around in the backseat of the Impala, but most of the fandom could also tell the difference between real life and fiction and were welcoming of the two actresses who did a fabulous job portraying them. This is, imho, the best of the Bela episodes – Lauren does a fabulous job, and of course she would go on to more great roles too.
So, let’s dig into this episode, which with 15 years of hindsight, is actually pretty damn good! (And has Sam and Dean in tuxes, so what’s not to like?) In the ‘Then’ we get a reminder of who Bela Talbot is and that she shot Sam. And that Sam tried to make a deal with a Crossroads demon to save Dean, but it didn’t work. In other words, the Winchesters are in a bad place.
The episode opens with a woman running on the docks – she looks towards the ocean and sees a creepy old ghost ship, and then poof, it’s not there. Lightning flashes in the dark and she runs away – but of course she can’t escape whatever this is. As she showers later that night (a little Psycho homage which is ingrained in all of our psyches so it’s always extra scary), we see a shadowy figure moving outside her transparent shower door. Ahhhhhh! SPN early seasons can be so damn scary!
We see a hand on the glass, and she opens the door, but of course doesn’t see anything. But back in the shower, someone grabs her from behind. We see her head slamming against the frosted glass, and her hand scrapes down it as she falls.
Seriously, scary.
And…title card.
Supernatural
And then we get one of those great moments, the boys driving in the Impala at night, roaring over a hill. (Yes, CW, it’s testosterone heavy, but times like this we don’t really mind).
Dean is pissed, asking if Sam has something to tell him.
Sam plays dumb, making jokes that it’s not Dean’s birthday, maybe it’s Purim…
Dean finally asks right out why a bullet is missing from the Colt, and accuses Sam of going after the crossroads demon after he told him not to, obviously pissed.
Sam doesn’t deny it.
Dean: You could’ve gotten yourself killed!
Sam: I didn’t.
Dean: And you shot her!
Sam: She was a smartass!
Dean still trying to protect Sam, Sam desperate to save Dean. My Show.
Dean sounds heartbreakingly hopeful when he asks if that got him out of his deal, and Sam sadly and angrily says he probably would’ve mentioned that little fact. Dean can be so cold this season, single minded about not doing anything that might get Sam dead all over again, reminding Sam that they need to find out who holds the contract.
Dean (sarcastically): And the crossroads demon is our best shot at finding out, but oh wait…
He reiterates that Sam shouldn’t have done it, that it was a stupid freaking risk, but Sam has had enough.
Sam: I shouldn’t have done it?? You’re my brother, Dean – and no matter what you do, I’m gonna try and save you. And I’m sure as hell not gonna apologize for it, all right?!
Dean doesn’t answer.
Poor Sam, so frustrated and scared. And poor Dean, so determined. And scared.
Dean still doesn’t quite understand that Sam needs him as much as he needs Sam; that he too will go to almost any lengths to save his brother. We, the viewers, know it at this point, but Dean’s insecurity about their relationship keeps convincing him that Sam will be fine and dandy without him around. Maybe even better off. The guilt he’s been carrying about pulling Sam back into the life, back on the road with him, distorts his ability to see Sam’s loyalty clearly – something he’ll struggle with for much of the show’s run, but something we’ll see has changed by the time the series finale airs. (One of the reasons I love it)
