Things I Love About SPN Season 1: Bloody Mary (Part 1 of 2)

[fanspired]

Supernatural, Season 1
Episode 5, “Bloody Mary”
Story by Eric Kripke
Teleplay by Ron Milbauer and Terri Hughes Burton
Directed by Peter Ellis.

A/N: Since I'm building up something of a collection of these now,
I thought it might be helpful to provide a masterpost.

Warning: image heavy post; contains brief references to

Comments

[amypond45]

I enjoyed this, especially all the references to The Ring. I'm going to need to go back and watch that! And I've never even seen The Grudge.

Interesting that this might have been one of Kripke's Night Stalker ideas originally. There are on-going references to the boys as detectives (Crowley calls them The Hardy Boys, I think?) and all the ordinary, blue-collar characters. I think you've nailed why I love early-season SPN so much. It always felt like a show that celebrated an America that no longer exists: all the small-town diners and motels are drenched in nostalgia, not just creepy horror vibes. All these ordinary characters, especially the blue-collar ones, add to the feel of the early seasons of the show as being a throw-back to an earlier, simpler time.

I just got Jerry Wanek's book and it's full of these wonderful early-season sets. It's making me so emotional!

[fanspired]

Already in season one, I think the show dramatizes that the "simpler time" is already slipping away and, over the next few seasons, documents the demise of the America Sam and Dean desperately try to defend, even as their own actions unwittingly help to destroy it, and themselves.

Where did you get the book? I'm thinking of getting a copy myself. Am I too late?

[amypond45]

The Wanek book comes from Insighteditions. I think you can still order it.

[fanspired]

Thanks muchly. I'll check that out! :)

[dizzojay]

This is a great analysis. I agree with you that this is one of the creepiest episodes. But I've never watched the Grudge or the Ring. You're making me feel that I should watch them now!! I must admit, I'd never heard of the Bloody Mary legend - I don't know if it's just a US thing, or if I'm just oblivious, but it was a great episode for that reason as well

[fanspired]

I'd definitely heard of the Bloody Mary thing before I watched SPN. I think I was a child when I first heard of it, but I'm not certain. I assumed back then that it somehow connected back to "Bloody Mary" Stuart. I can imagine it starting out as a threat that if you didn't get a Catholic ritual just right Bloody Mary would get you, or something like that, and the origin being forgotten and other legends replacing it. A bit like how it's generally been forgotten that Ring a Roses was originally a song about the plague. Of course, that's pure speculation on my part! :D

Thanks so much for commenting. I'm really pleased you enjoyed the review. :))

[kazluvsbooks]

This episode still freaks me out. I still think it’s the scariest and most horror like of the series.
You were so right about the de-emphasising of the boys blue collar background.
It’s a shame that the second hand clothes and normal working class interviews were phased out.
I wouldn’t have minded if the boys went from wearing op shop clothes to having some of the bunker’s old clothes weaved in.
When the show lost the darkness, grittiness and middle America feel it wasn’t quite so unique anymore.
The shadows in this ep really make it so much scarier.

[fanspired]

When the bright colours were first introduced in season 7, I believe it was originally a coded message to the viewer that what we were watching wasn't real. (In previous seasons, whenever there was a scene - or episode - without the dark filter, it always turned out to be a dream or illusion). Sera Gamble was playing with themes of mental health and compromised reality in that season. But, unfortunately, when her vision for the season got dropped, the bright colours stayed permanently :/

[dragonardhill]

* Ghosts, typically, do not to appear in the street in broad daylight.*
side-eyes season 15 ;((

So excited to rewatch and enjoy this look at Bloody Mary. One of my favorite episodes for all the reasons you mention - dark, creepy, wonderful season 1 SPN aesthetic. The Ring terrified me for longer than I would like to admit and i’m not sure I can rewatch it lol. Loving this look at this episode so far and eager to read part 2!

[fanspired]

Oh, SO side-eyeing season 15! :D

Just what I'd heard about The Ring was enough to scare me off watching it for years and then, when I finally did, it was in the middle of the day with all the windows and blinds open! :D I think it helped that I had my reviewer's hat firmly in place too, so I was studying it more than watching it, if you know what I mean :)

[casey28]

One of the scariest eps, and a big favorite from season 1.

It's interesting about Sam and Dean switching roles... with one holding secrets, and the other wanting them to open up. They like to take turns in many ways.

Very good point about Sam having Dean's winnings from the poker game. I hadn't thought of that before, and we usually see Dean holding on to his own cash.

Yes, Dean with Lucas, and this ep, Sam with Lily. I love the way he reached out to her, kneeling down and speaking in a soft voice.

Loving your reviews, I always learn so much. :)

[fanspired]

Truly one of the scariest episodes the show has ever done, and I think the debt to the Japanese horror tradition has a lot to do with that. Japanese cinema really knows how to do scary! O_O

So pleased you're enjoying the reviews :)