Supernatural 2.2: "Everybody Loves a Clown"
Written by John Shiban
Directed by Phil Sgriccia
Mixing stand-alone plot elements with a larger mythology can be a demanding challenge, especially when a series is struggling to draw in new viewers on a fledgling network. “Supernatural” has always faced the challenge by attacking it directly, and in this case, it works beautifully. There’s the “killer clown” element, which is clearly intended to attract the horror genre fans, but there’s also the deep character exploration and psychological aspects, which are the meat and potatoes of the show.
I’ll be honest. Since I find people to be more frightening than anything one might call “paranormal”, the whole killer clown plot element wasn’t for me. It was done fairly well, I thought, but it wasn’t something that would hold my interest. Show me something with a little more complexity in terms of intent, something intelligent with resources to cause mayhem, and then it gets interesting.
Which is why the most damage inflicted on Dean and Sam in this episode came from each other. Neither brother is working through the death of their father very well, and it’s a lot easier for them to focus on each other’s issues than their own. Lingering in the background of those conversations, of course, is whatever John told Dean and the fact that both of them have to deal with the changes in the other.
Most shows would skim over the difficult process of dealing with a major loss, covering it one episode and moving on as soon as possible. It’s clear from the tone and pacing of the season thus far that John’s death is not going to just disappear from the radar in a couple of weeks. The effects will be long-term, and it may take the entire season for everything to work itself out, if it ever does. One thing is certain: Sam and Dean have no intention of giving up on each other.
Beyond the character interaction between Sam and Dean, there’s also the introduction of Ellen, Jo, and Ash. With John out of the picture, it makes sense for the Winchesters to get a support system, and the seeds were planted in the first season for John’s friends and allies to serve that function. It certainly wouldn’t hurt for the boys to have a “mother figure” around, and it should be fun to see Dean deal with a hottie with his kind of skills who he might run into more than once. And Ash fits the style of the series perfectly: the idea of “blue collar” geniuses running around saving the “white collar” world from true evil.
Many fans noticed that Dean and Sam both lost an object that was a part of their identity in the first season finale. Dean lost the Impala, and Sam lost his laptop. Ash serves as a capable enough backup until Sam gets a replacement, and Ellen and Jo may be able to provide short-term resources until the Impala is back together. So they serve the plot in a realistic fashion while facilitating the metaphorical aspects. Until Dean has his Impala and Sam has his laptop, the Brothers Winchester will not be whole.
(As a sidenote: I also have a podcast associated with my various reviews called “Dispatches from Tuzenor”. Current episodes cover “Supernatural”, so it might be something of interest. Go to http://entil2001.libsyn.com if you want to listen!)
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
Directed by Phil Sgriccia
Mixing stand-alone plot elements with a larger mythology can be a demanding challenge, especially when a series is struggling to draw in new viewers on a fledgling network. “Supernatural” has always faced the challenge by attacking it directly, and in this case, it works beautifully. There’s the “killer clown” element, which is clearly intended to attract the horror genre fans, but there’s also the deep character exploration and psychological aspects, which are the meat and potatoes of the show.
I’ll be honest. Since I find people to be more frightening than anything one might call “paranormal”, the whole killer clown plot element wasn’t for me. It was done fairly well, I thought, but it wasn’t something that would hold my interest. Show me something with a little more complexity in terms of intent, something intelligent with resources to cause mayhem, and then it gets interesting.
Which is why the most damage inflicted on Dean and Sam in this episode came from each other. Neither brother is working through the death of their father very well, and it’s a lot easier for them to focus on each other’s issues than their own. Lingering in the background of those conversations, of course, is whatever John told Dean and the fact that both of them have to deal with the changes in the other.
Most shows would skim over the difficult process of dealing with a major loss, covering it one episode and moving on as soon as possible. It’s clear from the tone and pacing of the season thus far that John’s death is not going to just disappear from the radar in a couple of weeks. The effects will be long-term, and it may take the entire season for everything to work itself out, if it ever does. One thing is certain: Sam and Dean have no intention of giving up on each other.
Beyond the character interaction between Sam and Dean, there’s also the introduction of Ellen, Jo, and Ash. With John out of the picture, it makes sense for the Winchesters to get a support system, and the seeds were planted in the first season for John’s friends and allies to serve that function. It certainly wouldn’t hurt for the boys to have a “mother figure” around, and it should be fun to see Dean deal with a hottie with his kind of skills who he might run into more than once. And Ash fits the style of the series perfectly: the idea of “blue collar” geniuses running around saving the “white collar” world from true evil.
Many fans noticed that Dean and Sam both lost an object that was a part of their identity in the first season finale. Dean lost the Impala, and Sam lost his laptop. Ash serves as a capable enough backup until Sam gets a replacement, and Ellen and Jo may be able to provide short-term resources until the Impala is back together. So they serve the plot in a realistic fashion while facilitating the metaphorical aspects. Until Dean has his Impala and Sam has his laptop, the Brothers Winchester will not be whole.
(As a sidenote: I also have a podcast associated with my various reviews called “Dispatches from Tuzenor”. Current episodes cover “Supernatural”, so it might be something of interest. Go to http://entil2001.libsyn.com if you want to listen!)
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
posted by John Keegan | 17:54
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