Wednesday’s Watching Supernatural 250TH: 12.09 “First Blood”

The hiatus fit nicely into the Season 12 timeline. We didn’t miss a beat.

(Well, unless you wanted to watch the Winchesters roam their cells every day for “6 weeks, 2 days, and 10 hours.”)

Surprises and “a-ha!” moments provided engaging drama.

FORESHADOWING clues in the dialogue were crafty enough to be unobtrusive, yet still arouse curiosity.  

THEMES

UNGRATEFULNESS 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The World Without Winchesters?

Hunters felt the void created by the missing Winchesters.

The BMOL needed the Winchesters to make inroads with the Hunters.

And, of course, the loss of her boys tormented Mary. 

 

 

Sacrifice

Again, the Winchesters poised to sacrifice themselves for each other. 

 

 

Abuse of Power/Torture

Definite tensions existed between AUTHORITY figures Camp and Sanchez.

This episode, again, reflected on the ABUSES of those in POWER.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Script Flaws 

 

NO EYE CANDY Baby! Nooooo!

CINEMATOGRAPHY/PRODUCTION

Time Lapse /Transitions 

 

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKt1hWmvqjw

 

 REPETITION

 

 

ANGLES 

 

 

 

MOTIFS

Traps 

 

 

 

 

 

Photographs

 

 

 

 

HANDS

The Motif of HANDS highlighted plot points and characterization:

 

 

 

 

 

SYMBOLS 

 

 

COLOURS

Green = Fear 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then, the whole world turns GREEN. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOCATION

The beautiful forest scenes: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SFX /VFX 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fight Choreography  

 

 

 

 

ALLUSIONS/ PROPS

The antique, but high tech, typewriter Mick Davies used

is like the Selectric 251 from the show, “Fringe.” 

 

A Line from the movie “Cool Hand Luke” :

 

 

A Line from “Watchmen” by Rorschach in prison:

“I’m not locked in here with you; you’re locked in here with me!” 

 

 

 

BECHDEL TEST 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCES

 Donald Hong, the terrified coroner: 

 

 

Donavon Stinson, as Wally, the “surly, suspicious” Hunter:  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I find myself holding my breath when these two come on screen.

Another well-oiled team, David Haydn-Jones, as Mr. Ketch, and Adam Fergus, as Mick,

exchanged this greasy, chilling glance about the neglected “clean-up.” 

 

 

 

 

 

(Oh! No, you didn’t!)

Lisa Berry

Another smouldering and vengeful performance from Lisa Berry, and although it could be her last,

I’m in complete denial. Surely, her resurrection is imminent. If not the Supernatural world has taken a direct hit. 

 

 

Samantha Smith portrayed Mary’s fear and anxiety.

Worried, cranky, Mary assumed the typical Winchester response:

work it off. 

 

 

 

Jared  Padalecki and Jensen Ackles

gave all-star performances.

It was all in the details of facial expressions, silent communication, and gestures.  

 

 

 

 

Dean communicated silently with Sam (see also First Aid Kit above.) 

 

Sam dipped his deathly Pact HAND to clean.

A moment of foreshadowing, and characterization, while incorporating the HAND motif.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Misha Collins

Misha Collins had ALL THE FEELS. His fear, anger, self-loathing, and his depth of love for the Winchesters

led to his impassioned speech at the end,

which made me realize that this episode was his story to tell all long.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As in 11.17 “Red Meat”, Sam is drawn to the lantern light. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rating: Five Chow Trays out of Five!!!