I've always thought that Bloody Mary was a particularly scary urban legend. Something about her and the mirrors and the eyes getting scratched out is just really creepy. Anyway, this is a nice frightening episode, with lots of "The Ring" like elements. It also introduces the idea that Sam's nightmares over Jessica's death are about more than just his lingering trauma. He was dreaming about her dying that way BEFORE she was killed. Sam sometimes dreams about things before they happen, which is something that the show will revisit again and again. All in all, you should see this episode.
"Bloody Mary" revolves around the Bloody Mary legend. Remember? That slumber party game where you say her name three times in front of a mirror and she appears and rips out your eyes. (I never got why anyone would try that. What's the up side? It's not like she grants you wishes, she kills you!) Anyway, Sam & Dean arrive in town to investigate a man's mysterious death. His eyes liquified, which -the boys are fairly convinced- isn't "just a freak medical thing." They crash the dead guy's funeral to question his family and learn that the youngest daughter summoned Bloody Mary right before her father died.
When more Bloody Mary related deaths pop-up, the boys turn their attention to finding out who Mary really was. It turns out that she was a murdered woman, who died in front of a mirror. Now she's coming after people who killed someone and are hiding it. Including a co-ed named Charlie, who Sam & Dean try to save. Meanwhile, Jessica's death continues to haunt Sam and, over Dean's objections, he summons Bloody Mary into the mirror she died in front of. Sam & Dean smash the mirror, kill her with her own reflection and drive out of town again. But, the fact that he had nightmares about Jessica dying before her death and he didn't do anything to stop it continues to weigh on Sam.
There are some good parts to this episode. I enjoy Dean's dealing with the police after they bust him for breaking into the antique shop. First he tries claiming that he's the son of the owner, but since the police officers know the owner and the man's Asian, Dean's out of luck. He sort of frowns in deep concentration, trying to dig his way out of the lie, and it just makes me laugh. I also like Dean trying to comfort the little girl at her father's funeral. She says that it's all her fault because she called Bloody Mary and the monster killed her dad. Dean actually thinks that's exactly what happened, too, but he doesn't tell the kid that. Instead, he point out that according to the legend, Bloody Mary only comes after the person who summoned her. So, she wouldn't have gone after the dad, because he didn't say her name three times. Which, is basically telling the kid that "Bloody Mary didn't get your dad, honey. But she might still get you." I know Dean's trying to be nice, but for some reason that just cracks me up.
I also like the way Jessica's death keeps coming up again and again for Sam. His guilt and horror over it are driving him and eating at him from the inside. Not just that he didn't save her. But that he didn't tell her the truth about his life and that he ignored the nightmares he'd been having about her death before it actually happened. Sam's not sure how to deal with it, but he's not ready to share it with Dean, yet. But when Dean tries to blame HIMSELF for Jessica's death, saying that he was the one who drug Sam back into the life of Hunting and that's why Jessica was left alone, Sam instantly dismisses Dean's words. The look on Sam's face when he assures Dean that he doesn't blame Dean for anything is really sweet. And Dean assures Sam that Jessica's death wasn't Sam's fault, which Sam doesn't seem to hear. Until, Sam comforts Charlie with Dean's words, urging her to forgive herself for her boyfriend's death. So, he did understand his brother, even if he isn't willing to take Dean's advice for himself, yet. It's just a nice little moment.
This episode is about what's going on beneath the surface. People's reflections in Bloody Mary's mirrors show much different images than the people usually cast. All the hidden truths and secrets, that lurk under their everyday exteriors are revealed. The family man that murdered his wife. The cheery blonde that ran down a little boy. The girlfriend who walked out on her suicidal boyfriend. For Sam, looking beneath the surface means seeing his guilt over Jessica's death. He wanted to leave the family business so badly that he willfully ignored all the signs that he wasn't "normal." He convinced himself that his nightmares weren't real and Jessica died. On the surface, Sam looked like a normal college student with a normal life and girlfriend. But below the surface he was different and nothing could change that, no matter how hard he tried to mask it.
On the down side, there really isn't a lot of explanation so far for why Dean's eyes started bleeding when Bloody Mary climbed out of that mirror.
My favorite part of the episode: The shot of Jessica at the end. She's just standing there, in the same sort of white nightgown/dress that Mary was wearing when she died. Sam locks eyes on her, as they drive by and then she vanishes behind the telephone pole. It's like a metaphor for how Jessica's memory is haunting Sam. But at the same time, she doesn't look angry, she looks peaceful. As if a part of Sam knows that Jessica wouldn't have blamed him and she's telling him to let go of his guilt, so he can move forward and heal.
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