Now we’re talking! Supernatural hit its stride in “How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters” by finally allowing the Leviathan story to find traction and mixing in some classic Winchester humor. This episode saw the boys going after what they thought was the Jersey Devil – a freakishly strong and fast human-like creature who was hauling people into trees and eating them. Those responsible for the deaths were actually the thus-far bland villains of season seven: the Leviathans, who were attempting to put people into food comas with grey pus-filled sandwiches. What started out goofy became rather scary as we began to see the cover pulled back on the Leviathan master plan. Then again, even with the hints we got in this episode, we still have no concrete idea of what these monsters have planned.
Ranger Rick and the TDK Slammer
This episode had some great humor, beginning with the introduction of Ranger Rick and Brandon, the hostile hostess (or not). From Rick’s nonchalant attitude toward the mutilated campers (“…eat your ass through the Gore-Tex!”) to Dean’s flustered response to Brandon (“Do you wanna look like a hostess?”), this was vintage Supernatural with regards to laughs. What was played for laughs but just felt silly was the sandwich being the source of everyone’s laid-back attitude. Sure, it’s great to see Dean enjoying a TDK Slammer (the three most edible birds, in his words) but given what we learned at episode’s end, this seemed like an impractical way for the Leviathans to make people complacent. Couldn’t they have tried putting that gray junk in the drinking water or something?
We also got some genuine scares in this one. Seeing the “Jersey Devil” come back to life made me jump but I also had to laugh at Sam, Dean and Bobby blowing him to pieces within five seconds. For as many times as the brothers have been spot-on with their research, it was nice to see them guess incorrectly on what they were up against. The revelation that the “Devil” was actually human and that the sandwich was behind his metamorphosis led us to the factory where the Leviathans were testing the mystery meat on humans and turning them into cannibals as a result. When Bobby went off to conduct surveillance you knew it was only a matter of time before he got nabbed. This was bad news for Sam and Dean considering that none other than Richard "Dick" Roman – this season’s boss baddie – was in attendance and wielding a slick revolver.
The rise of a really bad joke
As mentioned above, this episode had some great humor but seeing the headline “The Rise of Dick” was a little immature even by Supernatural standards. That being said, I have to admit I’m impressed with this season’s iteration of pure evil. He’s handsome, suave and has charisma to spare. In essence: everything Eve wasn’t last season. When Dick left Bobby alone to go after Sam and Dean, Bobby grabbed a folder of sensitive documents and seemed to recoil in terror at what he was seeing. Although I wasn’t able to get an idea of what the maps indicated, if it’s bad enough to scare Bobby, it’s bad enough to scare me. I have an early guess what Dick’s plan might be, though: perhaps the Leviathans are trying to turn every human into a Leviathan, like how the Reapers in Blade II wanted to turn all of humanity into Reapers. It would make sense considering Dick’s line about “we can be anybody we want” and his desire to see humans become abnormally complacent.
Then we have that cliffhanger, which might go down as one of the best Supernatural endings ever (Sam’s death in season 2 always sticks out to me). I loved everything about how director Guy Bee set up this final shot – the narrow escape in the van, how the door was open wide enough to allow a bullet in, Sam holding Bobby’s hat and seeing the bullet hole followed by both brothers turning and yelling into the pitch darkness. This was glorious on so many levels, the first of which was its emotional gut punch. After everyone the Winchesters have lost, surely Bobby won’t be taken away too? I hate to say it folks, but I think Bobby’s time has come to an end. If this season is about backing Sam and Dean into a corner, what better way to do it than by taking away their mentor and father figure? I know. I’m sad too.
One tiny rant before we sign off
I enjoyed last week’s “Season 7, Time for a Wedding!” just as much as the next guy. However, given how this episode started with Sam, Dean and Bobby living way off the grid out of necessity, it makes their road trip to Vegas seem totally foolish and out-of-place. Seriously, if things were as bad as Dean said, how in the world could the brothers feel safe showing their mugs in the City of Sin (and a million security cameras)? Maybe I’m being too nitpicky but last week’s episode feels misplaced given how this one started. For a show that structures a pretty tight narrative, it was very odd to see.
Line of the week
Sam: “Yeah, yeah. Solid move, Rick.”
Next week on Supernatural
Will we witness Bobby Singer’s last hurrah?
