Supernatural (TV Series) Bloody Mary (2005) User Reviews

Sometimes Bad Things Just Happen

[claudio_carvalho · 9/10 · 29 November 2006]

In Toledo, Ohio, three girlfriends decide to play with the American urban legend of "Bloody Mary", saying her name three times to a mirror. None of them dies, but the father of the host. Dean and Sam read the weird obituary in a newspaper and decide to investigate the corpse, and the coroner's assistant tells that the man died of internal bleed in the brain and also that both eyes blew. They contact the girls, and sooner they find that Bloody Mary is chasing people that had caused the death of some other person, and they try to find a way to stop her.

I have recently seen Mary Lambert's "Urban Legends: Bloody Mary" and it seems that there is an urban legend in USA about this fiend "Bloody Mary" that is summoned when a person speaks her name three times in front of or to a mirror. In the best episode of this series to now, Dean and Sam face this evil spirit in a great battle, where there is a hook for new mysteries about the former relationship of Sam and Jessica. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Bloody Mary"

Brothers against Evil: Bloody Urban Mary!

[Coventry · 8/10 · 23 March 2007]

The fifth and arguably coolest episode of "Supernatural" thus far handles about one of the most common urban legends; "Bloody Mary". On their continuing search for their vanished father, the evil-fighting brothers Sam and Dean read a peculiar obituary in the local newspapers of Toledo, Ohio and promptly decide to stick around and investigate. Bloody Mary normally always appears when you say her name in front of a mirror three times, and she kills the person who summoned her by making their eyes explode. But in this case the victim himself didn't repeat her cursed name, but his teenage daughter did when she was playing "Truth or Dare" with a couple of girlfriends. Reasons enough for Sam and Dean to research the true origin of the macabre urban legend and discover the supernatural significance of ordinary mirrors. A second victim learns them that Bloody Mary exclusively kills people who're hiding a dark secret and Sam develops a plan to lure the restless ghost into a trap. This simple one-hour TV-episode of "Supernatural" is much better than all three "Urban Legends"-slashers combined, as it's definitely scarier and more involving. The brothers' methods to reveal the true origin behind ancient and naturalized folklore legends and urban legends is a lot more insightful and compelling than watching a horribly masked maniac stalking a bunch of yelling beauty-queens with a meat cleaver. This episode also gives a handful of 'educational' trivia details about the supernatural qualities of mirrors (how they're able to capture the soul of a deceased person and why the mirrors of a haunted house should always remain covered, etc…) and it effectively enlarges the mystery surrounding the death of Sam's girlfriend in episode one. The acting performances of Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles get better with each episode and "Bloody Mary" also contains some impressive special effects and uncanny jump-moments. "Bloody Mary" is a splendid entry in an even more splendid show.

600 years of bad luck...

[on-the-road-so-far · 9/10 · 4 July 2014]

This episode revolves around the legend of Bloody Mary. The first time I saw it, I couldn't look into a mirror for a few days without feeling a little bit uneasy. (In fact, when I first looked into my bathroom mirror after I've seen it for the first time, I stood there and wanted to say "Bloody Mary" three times, but I chickened out.) I think the scary parts are done brilliantly and I got really nervous whenever Mary appeared behind someone in the mirror.

The conversation between the brothers in the Impala, before they go to destroy Mary's mirror, is touching and also very insightful. Dean's ever-present concern for Sam shows clearly once more, as he tells Sam that he can't blame himself for Jessica's death. Dean is even willing to take the blame himself, because he was the one who dragged Sam away on his search for John while Jessica was murdered, but Sam immediately rejects that idea. Instead he alludes to some secrets he's been keeping about Jessica's death and we later learn that apparently he dreamt about it days before she died. Sam's "dreams" and their origins will play a big part for the next five seasons, so you really shouldn't miss this episode.

For the first time, we also see the brothers arguing about Sam putting himself deliberately in harm's way in order to finish a job, something that Dean will always try to prevent and rather do himself. Dean's "That's not going to happen" against Sam's "You have to let me do this" is a recurring thing between the brothers through all seasons. Sam, as the younger brother, tries to do things himself and wants to be treated like an adult who can shoulder all those responsibilities. Dean however, as the older brother and also kind of a parental figure to Sam, can't just stand by and watch Sam getting hurt. It's a conflict that will cause both of them to make some bad decisions, face some horrible consequences and generally deal with a lot of heartbreak.

Also, Dean quipping that smashing all those mirrors will probably cause them about 600 years of bad luck... I winced at that, knowing what the future holds for them.

I loved that last shot of Sam seeing Jessica standing on the sidewalk, just watching him while they drive by. I think at this point, Sam does try to make peace with the guilt he carries around with him since her death, but her memory will probably still haunt him for a long while.

Favourite quote: No matter what you did, you probably couldn't have stopped it. Sometimes bad things just happen. ~ Sam Winchester

Back to urban legends

[zombiehigh18 · 27 October 2011]

Supernatural has the ability to take urban legends and folklore and wrap it with it's own flavor. The legend of "Bloody Mary" comes to life in this episode and it doesn't haunt the person who summoned it but a close person with a secret and a guilt. Back when the brothers were still finding jobs from the newspapers and still wrote their phone numbers on a piece of paper rather than an FBI card. It was nice to see the brothers risking their lives to prevent the probability of another death.

The episode comes with a twist about what we will know later as Sam's psychic powers and his ability to see certain deaths before it actually happens.

But what I really liked about that episode was that Sam gave the same advise to Charlie that Dean gave to him about Jessica's death to being his fault (Sam is still haunted by her death) which shows that he actually listened to his brother even though not really taking that advice.

It was also nice that people always keep a copy of evidence material that might help the boys. Also that Charlie girl should reconsider her friends since she seems to befriend jerks.

Padalecki's acting is getting better and Jensen, well , Jensen is Jensen. (AWESOME) But..... This episode comes with a huge question............why did Dean's eyes bleed? A question we can't get the answer to even after a hundred and so episodes. Is it his guilt for every soul he can't save? or is it because he can't forgive himself for dragging Sam into this life again? or is it another secret from long ago? (who knows everybody seems to have a secret)

But I like to think it was only because of the presence of Mary's spirit which is powerful enough to hurt him.(After all he tried to kill her)

Sam and Dean confront Bloody Mary

[princess6000 · 10/10 · 25 August 2006]

I loved this episode. I think it was one of the best. A simple preteen game summons a killer ghost! It was so real I was scared to look in the mirror for a week. When Sam summoned Bloody Mary I thought it was interesting how fast she worked. In some cases, the one who summoned the witch was not the one attacked and killed. That was thought provoking. I also noticed that most of the bathrooms were not even dark, especially the one in the school. I enjoyed the interpersonal play between the brothers. You can tell Sam is having a hard time getting over Jessica. Dean is trying so hard to help, but seems to be getting nowhere. Congratulations to the supporting cast. A lot of teenage actors are somewhat hard to believe but the girls in this one were great.

Finally something to watch on TV

[mm-39 · 8/10 · 30 June 2006]

Supernatural is way better than the X files with a faster pace and better humor. The show does not take itself too seriously, but has a balance of realism, considering the show's topics. The two protagonists feed and create energy for the show from each other. The magic of chemistry. The mentioned Bloody Mary show plays off a urban legend, and has many other old legends to combat the evil. (ie breaking mirrors.) Super Natural gives tribute to many other shows, The Rockford Files, and The Night Stalker(watch the reruns on TV land). The older brother is a 80's macho throwback, with classic rock, a leather jacket with the tight jeans, and a 60's muscle car, while the more sensitive, online brother is a representative of the 90's. The brothers generation gap shows. Watch a couple of shows and you will be hooked.

Scarred me for life

[emmyleblanc-27222 · 10/10 · 16 August 2021]

Saw this ep for the first time when I was 11. I was scared of mirrors for months. Never fully recovered. Upon rewatch, very enjoyable episode.

Ringu/Ring ripoff that is nonetheless effective

[CubsandCulture · 8/10 · 30 August 2019]

Supernatural wears its influences on its shelves and that is very much the case here. The episode uses the bones of the urban legend Bloody Mary and puts flesh on the bones by shamelessly ripping off Japanese horror. The resulting product has chills and a couple of scares but it is hollow. I did really like how this episode lays the ground work for Sam's powers without being obvious. This is sort of the first time the show played around with just desserts with limited success.

Mirrors

[shwetafabm · 9/10 · 20 May 2020]

Its like a typical mirror hauting. Engaging and fun

Sam & Dean Battle Bloody Mary

[katierose295 · 7/10 · 16 March 2008]

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.

Too many plot holes

[Shioxus · 5/10 · 28 December 2019]

There was no reason for Bloody Mary to attack/manifest in the town she was in. The mirror was in a different town, she was killed and laid to rest in another town, her killer lived in another town, and even her family lived in another town. So why the heck did the writers place her spirit in a place so far removed from anything she should be tied to? Who knows?

And although it's not a plot hole per se, just what kind of town was Bloody Mary haunting anyways? There were 3 people in a single small group of friends and family that indirectly/directly killed people. Like, what?

I love Supernatural, but this episode was way weaker than its rating would suggest.

Jesus...

[Lonelystarsee · 2/10 · 27 October 2021]

This episode has definitely brought in some of the worst characters so far, without a doubt, and along with some of the acting, the script and the photography that is extremely dark, this is one of the worst episodes for me.

The only two worthwhile things in this mess are literally Dean and Sam.

(here is the reason for 2 stars.)