Supernatural

Supernatural opens in Colorado. Mr. Elkins (Terence Kelly) sits alone inside a rustic bar, scribbling in his journal. Suddenly, a door opens and three tough customers make their way inside. Quickly, Elkins disappears. Before long, he’s outside attempting to make a quiet escape. However, the tough bar patrons give chase. It doesn’t take long for the group to overpower and kill the elderly man.

Meanwhile, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) huddle inside a diner somewhere in the middle of Nebraska. As they talk, Sam goes over the details of their next case of the week. It seems authorities discovered a man named Daniel Elkins mauled inside his home. While Sam continues, Dean looks up, he knows that name from somewhere. Flipping through John’s journal, he realizes where he saw it. Interestingly, John has the name scribbled on one of the pages. Furthermore, this Elkins has a Colorado phone number. Could this be the same man?

Later, the boys park outside of a local post-office after discovering evidence of a mail drop inside Elkins’ apartment. As a matter of fact, the drop was documented just the way their father always did it. As they talk, a knock at the window startles them. Looking up, John Winchester (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) stands outside the car.

While the two men had fallen out years before, John is desperate to solve his friend’s murder. John stuns the boys as he tells them that the hunter was in fact killed by vampires. Interestingly, the Winchester’s never hunted vampires. The supernatural creatures were long thought to be extinct. John also mentions that Elkins had a special Colt revolver in his possession, and the gun is now in the hands of the vampires. They need to find it.

As the family begins the investigation, Sam and John’s relationship is already showing strain. The excitement at finally finding their father has worn off, and Sam pushes against the military like order that John still attempts to hold over his sons.

As John and the boys prepare to take out the hive of vampires, the elder Winchester tells his children about the missing Colt. The history of the gun dates back to the 1830s, when it was made by Samuel Colt. In fact, it is rumored that the weapon can kill anything. Even demons. This is why they need to find it. This is the first mention of the mythical Colt revolver, which becomes a vitally important plot point in later seasons of Supernatural.

While they continue, John also tells the boys about vampires. The series has taken the traditional depiction of vampires in popular culture and twisted the image drastically. They aren’t as easy to kill as Bela Lugosi’s Count Dracula. Not only do crosses not work, but sunlight only stings. In fact, the only way to kill a vampire in this universe is by beheading it. This isn’t going to be easy.

Sam and John finally have a tender moment as the stubborn men realize they really aren’t all that different. Once again functioning as a unit, they launch into their plan. Using Dean as bait, they are able to capture one of the vampires, Kate (Anne Openshaw). According to John, vampires mate for life, and this is their best chance at achieving some leverage.

As the story builds to a conclusion, the Winchester’s separate. While Dean and Sam take out the nest, John faces off against the others using Kate as a hostage. He wants the Colt. As things progress smoothly, John is suddenly floored by a well-timed sucker punch. However, Sam and Dean luckily spring into action, swinging the momentum back in their favor. There’s a moment of tension unfortunately as a vampire gets a jump on Sam. But, John has the Colt, now. There’s a gunshot, and as a dead vampire crumples to the ground, the other’s scatter.

As the episode comes to a close, the Winchester’s huddle in their hotel room. Sam looks stunned as Dean finally stands up to their father. They are stronger as a family, and this is the only way they will beat this demon. Together.

Supernatural airs Thursday night on the CW. Previous seasons are available on DVD, as well as on Netflix.

A Few Notes:

  • As mentioned above, this episode brings the first appearance of the Colt. The gun continues to play a vital part in the narrative of later seasons.
  • The episode is a great return to the main storyline, as the Brother’s have solved secondary cases for the last few shows. “Dead Man’s Blood” is packed with good character material, and the three leads each have a number of moments to shine as the story plays out. Great work by all involved.
  • In an interesting side note, this episode shows an interesting humanization of the villains which Supernatural hasn’t shown prior to this point. There are a number of scenes where we leave the Winchester’s and focus solely on the vampires. This is a noted, and interesting change to the series’ structure.

 

 

Kimberly Pierce
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