Supernatural Rewatch - 1:14 "Nightmare", 1:15 "The Benders", 1:16 "Shadow"

[sammii]

NIGHTMARE
Summary
"The brothers pose as priests to gather information at a house visited by sudden death - a death Sam saw in a dream. But precognition may be just the start of preternatural powers Sam suddenly possesses."

Original Airdate
February 7, 2006

Episode Location
Saginaw, Michigan

Little Things I Noticed

*This is the first ep where Sam has a vision during the day

*This is the first ep where Sam shows any powers other than dreams that come true (telekinesis in moving the dresser)

*This is the first ep where we meet another one of Azazel's special children

Things I Liked About this Ep

*I loved how Dean tries to convince Sam that his powers are okay ("This doesn't freak me out") even though he's obviously not telling the truth. Also at the end when he tries to joke it all off with the Vegas suggestion, even though when Sam's not looking at him, his face is pretty dark and scared

*I love how Sam is able to move the dresser only after Dean dies. It seems like Sam's powers are brought on by love - his first precognitive vision is right before Jessica dies, and his first time moving things is when he sees Dean die in a vision.

*I love what a terrible priest Dean is! LOL

*I love how this episode doesn't demonize John for once - it's pretty clear that he was a much better dad than Max's dad, even though their situations were similar.

*I love the last scene, with Sam and Dean in the hotel room, when Sam's so worried about his powers and Dean is trying to reassure him. Especially the "You've got me" line. Awww.

Things I Didn't Like About this Ep

*Not much. This was a really good Ep. It did seem to drag a little in parts, though. Especially when we had to see certain parts of it twice...

*The uncle seemed like a pretty useless character. I didn't quite understand why he was there, except just to kill him.

RATING: M.O.T.W.: A
OVERALL: A


THE BENDERS
Summary
"A nice decoration for the wall. A backwoods family of hunters likes to stuff and mount their kill as trophies. Only they hunt humans. And they've got Sam."

Original Airdate
February 14, 2006

Episode Location
Hibbings, Minnesota

Little Things I Noticed

* This is the first ep where we see that the Shifter in St. Louis had long-term ramifications on Sam and Dean (especially Dean, who was a murder suspect).

* Dean has no trouble getting out of the handcuffs.

* One of the redneck brothers is named Jared.

Things I Liked About this Ep

* Dean being a protective big brother. The best thing about this ep is seeing Dean and how much he really cares about Sam. He's really worried about him and it's really touching.

* The cat that scares Sam. That made me jump.

* "Demons I get. People are crazy."

Things I Didn't Like About this Ep

* Um...the show is called "Supernatural." Those were just normal psycho people.

* The music when Dean realizes Sam has been taken is TOTALLY HOKEY.

* Um...no monsters? Nothing 'Supernatural'? (Yes, this needs to be said twice)

RATING; M.O.T.W. C-
OVERALL: B-


SHADOW
Summary
"In Chicago, Sam has the luck to run into Meg, the pretty blonde he met weeks earlier at an Indiana bus stop. But it may be bad luck, especially if Meg is connected to a demon wreaking death on the Windy City."

Original Airdate
February 28, 2006

Episode Location
Chicago, Illinois.

Little Things I Noticed

* Why does Azazel (via Meg) want Sam dead? Isn't he one of his special children? Doesn't make sense...Dean and John, sure, but why Sam?

* Why is John driving a pickup that looks like the racist truck?

* This is our second Meg episode

* This is the first episode where Sam and Dean actually meet face to face with John

* It's the devas who pull Meg out the window, not Sam and Dean. I'd forgotten that. Makes Meg's 'witness' argument a little less poignant later.

Things I Liked About this Ep

* I loved Sam and Dean's conversation about what they were going to do after they caught the thing that killed their mother. Loved it. Loved how Sam entirely plans to go back to school, and Dean plans to stay hunting. And loved how Dean really wants Sam there, Sam and John both, so they can have their family back together like he remembers. It's really sad how he and Sam want such differing and contradictory things here.

* I loved Sam and Dean's reunion with John, especially Sam's. Very cute, sweet, and emotional. They may have fought, but there's still obviously love there.

Things I Didn't Like About this Ep

* Meg. I just don't like her. I really, really dislike the actress. She overplays everything, and she just isn't convincing, either as a good person or as a villain. She's not very pretty, either. I don't buy that Sam and Dean are attracted to her, or were fooled by her for one second.

* Why bother with the Devas? Why doesn't Meg just kill them herself? She is a demon, after all. I mean the story with the Devas was cool, but I just don't see the point.

RATING:
M.O.T.W: B
OVERALL: B+