Recap: “Bad Day At Black Rock”
Now this next scene is as much of a testament to director Robert Singer as it is to Jared Padalecki. Great comedy is about timing. The camera is used ideally here for each mishap and as a result, Sam’s bad luck becomes 800 times funnier than it seems on paper. Let’s go through it. Prepare for screencap o’rama.
The story goes back to one bored looking Sam. The goofy organ score instantly sets this up to be a lighthearted scene, so we can relax and enjoy the show. Suddenly the camera shifts on the air conditioner, which is now making goofy noises. Smoke begins to trickle out of it. Sam’s reaction? “Oh come on,” he says with a pouty whine. He keeps protesting and we see the a/c from his angle. The smoke is getting worse, Sam gets up, his apprehension hinting he knows full well he’s defying his instructions to sit there and do nothing, thereby tempting fate. He moves cautiously moves closer to check it out, but is still afraid to get too close.
So, where there’s smoke there’s fire, right? The a/c shorts out and bursts into flames. Suddenly Sam isn’t so sheepish. He frantically grabs the nearby bedspread and uses it to quickly and anxiously snuff out the fire. The flames die down, Sam stands straight and exhales a huge breath of relief. This is where the camera works its magic again. It’s fully focused on Sam’s top half, so we don’t see what’s going on below until the sudden glow of light tells us. Sam raises his arm to find his jacket sleeve is on fire. This is too good!
Sam freaks out, puts out the flames with the nearby curtains, but naturally they aren’t well secured to the wall. As the whole window treatment falls from the wall, who should be standing on the square other side looking in than Creedy and Kubrick! Again, brilliant timing. Of course Sam doesn’t see them, for he’s on the floor knocked out by the window treatment. It all ends with Kubrick smiling and looking upward at his higher power. Damn you Chuck!
Ugh, Bela again. Okay, her and Dean continue their showdown with their pointed guns. Bela does this freaking speech about how hunting isn’t noble and she secures these “unique items” for high paying clientele. Oh, and she’s a great thief. I’m too focused on Dean anyway for he’s much easier on the eyes. I tried during this watch not to shout “shoot the bitch!” since I’m doing a recap and all.
Back to poor Sam, who comes to just in time to see he’s been duct taped to a chair. That’s probably the best thing that’s happened to him all day. Creedy announces Sam’s awake and marvels how Sam managed to take himself out. “It was like Jerry Lewis riding a stack of chairs.” Great analogy! Sam is looking mighty dazed and confused and asks who they are before Kubrick takes his turn to speak. Gordon sent him. Another whiney “oh, come on” from Sam. He really is having a bad day, isn’t he? Kubrick was supposed to track him down and put a bullet in his brain. “Yeah, that sounds like him,” Sam quips. Kubrick though isn’t ready to do that, for he’s on a mission from God. Damn you Chuck again! Sam gets a vicious backhand across the face.
Dean decides its time to leave and shows off how he has the rabbit’s foot now. “If its any consolation, you’re a truly awful person.” Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner! Bela fires her gun but the bullets fly all over the place, not coming anywhere near Dean. He laughs at her like a child, taunting her the rabbit’s foot as he leaves unharmed. I think his sense of humor is back! Bela is pissed.
Alice Jester is the founder, editor-in-chief, head writer, programmer, web designer, site administrator, marketer, and moderator for The Winchester Family Business. She is a 30 year IT applications and database expert with a penchant for creative and freelance writing in her spare (ha!!) time. That’s on top of being a wife, mother of two active kids, and four loving (aka needy) pets.
As usual, great recap Alice! I now must re-watch this episode for the millionth time. The photos were priceless – the shoe scene had me in hysterics again too. My favourite is the last picture because you can clearly see Jared fighting the laughter – great moment to capture!
Hindsight aside, I could have tolerated Bela and didn’t mind her in the episode up until she shot Sam and then managed to snake the lottery tickets (even if it did give that great “son-of-a-bitch!” moment). I wouldn’t have minded her in a few episodes trying to outsmart them, with a few witty exchanges back and forth. The thing that killed me about Bela was that she ALWAYS beat them (except that last time) and while Sam and Dean are many things, easy marks they aren’t! (rant over)
Thanks Alice, this was a fun read!
I totally understand your soft spot for season 3, Alice – it gave us many great episodes like the one you took on here. Thanks for this fun read – I’m going to watch it now. I haven’t done so in a while.
This episode has some of the best faces on our heroes, bitch face here, surprise face here, I-lost-my-shoe face here, I’m-Batman face there…. I love, love, love it. And the dialogue is some of the best ever. And those little hints (like the stickers on Kubrick’s bus – ‘DOn’t make me come down there – GOd’ ‘How Would Jesus Drive?’, brilliant exposing of the religious fanatic)…
I know you can’t abide Bella, but I learned to appreciate her role in the show and the kind of woman she became. But you know that ;-)…
Thanks again, Alice, for this fabulous recap! :D, Jas
I loved this recap Alice. This episode was so full of great comedic moments. And the two Js were both excellent at the slapstick comedy.
I too came to the show in season 3, so never could understand why so many disliked it. I became a fan after watching Supernatural Christmas, bought the dvds and completely fell for Dean and Sam and haven’t recovered since.
I never hated the actress who played Bela. I thought she did a great job being completely annoying. Hated Bela always one-upping our boys though and shooting Sam was inexcusable. So sorry poor Dean lost his windfall. That would have saved a lot of his time hustling for motel and food money. 🙁
i love this episode it’s one of my favourites … love the recap! especially the photo’s.
for the record i actually liked Bella in this episode and if she had stayed a one episode character i would have continued to like her, in the end she just ended up irratating me which i think was probabyl more the fault of the writers than the actress. on a really pedantic note her accent really annoyed me, no one english actually sounds like that … seriously!
anyway minor rant over with! again loved the recap! x
Lovely recap Alice. This is one of my favorite episodes! Season three title card is my favorite too and I never did like Bela. So nice to reminisce with a wonderful episode like this. Can only hope s6 will provide a few like this too.
Sometimes I think I’m the only one that likes Bela. She had a certain appeal and I like a bit of banter and bickering between a man and a woman. I just wish they had given her back story earlier. If only it had been a full season.
But good recap. Love this episode.
Great recap of a great episode. Season three shouldn’t be shortchanged merely because it’s, er, shorter, look at the evidence: this episode, arguably the finest comedy piece they’ve ever done (Mystery Spot isn’t 100% sidesplitting, that last half is an emotional mofo), Casey, Dean as pop, Casey, the bloody death of a supreme villain, Casey, Xmas Is Dead, Casey, Mystery Spot, Casey, a supreme homage to John Carpenter, Casey, a ridiculously fantastic finale.
Alas, poor Kubrick, Jesus knew him well.
Hi Alice
Once again loved the recap.
This is one my favourite episodes, definitely in the top 10.
I have to admit I didn’t even mind Bela. (runs for cover):o
I wanted to punch her out when she shot Sam of course, but I still enjoyed the banter between her and Dean.
Randal…I’m sensing you may have had a thing for Casey??? 😎
Loved the recap Alice, great depiction of the scenes and I love your comments. Can’t help but smile, laugh and cringe right along with you. And Randal, obsessed with Casey much? Too funny! She is one of the few demons on the show I kinda liked, although for different reasons I think than yours. 😆
Very fun recap, Alice. I’m glad that you’re going back and updating some of your recaps because I really like to read them. And they usually make me want to re-watch the episode! This one did for sure. It helps when the episode is this great, though.