Reviews That I Missed: Supernatural 13.09, “The Bad Place”

Wow, I’ve got to admit, that was one of the more surprising rewatches.  I don’t remember a lot about “The Bad Place.”  Perhaps it didn’t stand out because it was the setup to the most disappointing “Wayward Sisters.”  But once I dug in, this episode was actually good.  It gave “Wayward Sisters” all the momentum they needed, only for it to fail spectacularly by not following it’s lead.  None of that falls on the writer of this episode, Robert Berens, or the director, the always solid Phil Sgriccia.  They did their job here.  

So how did this episode succeed?  There were many reasons, most of them calling back to the early days.  

1.  Tone.  One of the big success factors for the early seasons, particularly when Kim Manners was most engaged, was tone.  Actually, it was a huge success factor for The X-Files as well.  Tone is the identity, the trademark look and feel of a show.  Somewhere along the way, Supernatural lost it’s tone and veered episodes more toward chaotic camp rather than telling an even keeled, spooky yet emotional storyline.  If you don’t understand, just compare the feel of a season one or two episode with season seven and beyond.  Tone brings consistency, and if done successfully, boosts audience engagement.  As a result, I was actually interested from beginning to end. 

2.  The score.  This is where The X-Files also managed to keep their tone, even when the series quality dwindled in the later seasons.  This episode’s score was a little more somber, a little dark, a little more dramatic.  It stayed even throughout the entire episode, letting us know this was no ordinary circumstance.  The score lifted the stakes higher just by controlling the mood.  Music certainly makes a difference!

3.  Pacing.  This goes hand in hand with score too.  If the score is even throughout, that means it’s following the pace.  There wasn’t a lot of exposition in the beginning, which tends to drag down a lot of episodes.  It started right from the beginning with Jack and something we haven’t seen before, a dreamwalker.  That was a pretty intense scene one they got to the dreamwalking.  The unfolding of the story from beginning to end was great, moving logically and evenly yet always keeping my interest. 

4.  Connection.  This is more for the secondary characters, since by season 13 you better have a connection to Sam and Dean! (I know, it happened their first scene together in the Pilot).  It was exciting and endearing to see how Jack has grown with his control of powers and confidence.  He’s matured so much in a short time!  He wants to do good.  He wants to prove himself to Sam and Dean.  He hasn’t forgotten his manners though and presented himself as polite, charming and encouraging.  

I adored the scenes with Kaia and Jack.  I laughed at him flat out telling her, “I like…cocaine” and her calling him “Suite Life.”   That deadpan, dorky delivery is so reminiscent of Castiel.  The best part though was in the back of the Impala, when Jack did everything to reassure Kaia about her powers.  He encouraged her to embrace them as a gift, and then got to use his powers to show her the beauty of what’s out there, aka what Derek saw.  It is further proof that Jack is benevolent, kind and here to change the world, just like his mother said.  

The introduction of Kaia, a powerful dream walker, was obviously meant for the “Wayward Sisters” spinoff, so we only learned the basics about her.  Her introduction was memorable though, and we have director Phil Sgriccia to thank for that.  The camera angles as she was asked to speak in the group chat were very interesting.  Her face was obscured through most of it, with the reveal happening near the end.  I always liked how Phil brought something different to the table, and this was just another great example.  

I didn’t even mind the appearance of Patience, which was also a setup for “Wayward Sisters” as well.  Her actions were predictable, she gave everything up to try and warn Jody, and her father’s reaction was a bit cliche, but her scenes fit with the other story.  There wasn’t too much to her scenes, just enough to compliment without distracting.  

5.  Brotherly bond.  Yeah, this is a must in Supernatural in any episode, but it worked very well here.  Not one contrived feeling.  When Jack showed Sam and Dean that Mary was alive and in peril, their stunned silence spoke volumes.  Dean’s was especially telling, with Sam and Jack’s voices muffled in the background while he was processing the news. Another great choice in selling the moment.  To me, that was a realistic, honest reaction.  Sam and Dean’s conversation later in the car (great mural in the background!), was subdued, understated, but so honest and heartfelt. 

Dean: You were right. About Mom. You were right. This whole time, we should’ve been looking for her.
Sam: Dean, I was just hoping. I didn’t know. Anyways, it doesn’t matter. Now that we do know–
Dean: We find her, no matter what it takes.
Sam: Yep.

These guys don’t need a lot of words, they’re on the same page.  Their mission is now very personal.  It calls back to “Home”, where suddenly this isn’t just about saving people and hunting things anymore, it’s about family.  That upped the stakes dramatically.  This matters to them more than anything and they will do whatever it takes.  

When I first saw this episode I called foul about Dean pulling a gun on Kaia, forcing her to help them, but seeing season thirteen again with a different set of eyes, it makes perfect sense.  Given where his state of mind has been this season, it’s obvious that nothing matters more than Mary.  He’s lost her twice, he isn’t losing her again.  Even Sam thought he was crossing a line, but accepted it, because she was their only hope.  

6.  Action. Everything built up to that ending showdown at the shipyard, which was pretty damned exciting and so well shot.  The visuals were through the roof.  The angels banding together, pounding their angel blades on the ground in unison to break the warding Sam put up was visually brilliant.  The frantic back and forth between Kaia and Jack’s dream walk in different worlds, Sam and Dean holding down the fort, and the angels breaking through sigils picked up faster to the point where it was a thrilling nail biter.  I had no idea where it was going.  Then there was the huge explosion and…the aftermath.  The setup for the spinoff to come.  

I also liked the visual effects they did with Jack overcoming the angels when rescuing Kaia.  We’ve seen it before, but it looked way better here.  Yeah, the slo-mo does come across as a little cheesy, but it doesn’t look cool going faster either, so I’ll take it.  

Now, having said that, it wasn’t all perfect.  They’re still sticking with the angels coming after Jack because he can make more angels?  Can’t Lucifer do that?  I’m still trying to figure out where that was clearly established that only a Nephilim can do that.  Just because it was mentioned by one angel in a Brad and Eugenie episode doesn’t make it so!  

Oh, and Jody Mills was in this episode too.  Glad she could use the phone and answer the door.  Yeah, I know, the next episode will be all hers, if you ignore Claire.  

I am on the fence though over what we were left with.  I guess the explosion was powerful enough to kill angels?  The wing impressions on the side of the ship was an awesome way to tell that outcome.  Jack, Sam and Dean were spared from the same fate because they were sucked into the newly opened inter dimensional rift created.   Then how did Kaia end up at the side of the road?  I get it, she’s supposed to now get together with Jody and team to tell them what happened, but, huh?  Did Jack intentionally do that or was it dumb luck?  I do love that Jack succeeded in his mission and is with Mary now,  but Sam and Dean ended up in some weird Jurassic Park/King Kong universe?  Oh, so disappointing.  Didn’t care for that.  But hey, from a camera and cinematography perspective, the setup was brilliant.  The story setup, well, that’s one thing that sunk “Wayward Sisters.”  

Overall grade, an A-.  Coming up next (checks the episode guide…) Various and Sundry Villains?  Crap, another one I don’t remember.  It’s a Steve Yockey episode though, so maybe it’ll work.  Plus Rowena is back!  We’ll see how it goes.  

For a refresher, here’s the link to my “Wayward Sisters” review.  I was harsh, mainly because I thought the idea had a lot of potential and Andrew Dabb completely ruined it.  My bitter disappointment doesn’t begin to cover how badly they blew this.  

Alice’s Review: Supernatural 13.10 – “Wayward Sisters” aka It Needs to be Better