Bad Day (Good Episode) at Black Rock- a Review of Episode 3 of Supernatural's 3rd Season

In last week's combo review of first two episodes of Supernatural's 3rd season, The Magnificent 7 and The Kids Are Alright, I ended it with a question to the series producers and writers: "Hey, you do remember that Dean and Sam Winchester are brothers right? What's suppose to be Sam's family history is also Dean's family history right?"

I am pleased to say that Bad Day at Black Rock showed me that for the most part, the answer to that question is a resounding YES! From the first scenes of the brother's arguing in the car over Sam's decision to interact with the demon Ruby, played by Katie Cassidy, to finding out that their dad John Winchester, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, had a secret storage room neither brother was aware existed, Ben Edlund's well written script went a long way to not only restore my faith in the writer's remembering that Sam and Dean Winchester are brothers, it added more layers to that relationship and reconnected them back to the common bond they share in being raised by John Winchester.

Watching Dean and Sam going through the contents of the storage room, learning things about their father's secrets that were kept from them for so long and each finding a bit of themselves and their childhood - Sam's soccer trophy and Dean's very first sawed off shotgun - that their dad had set aside as treasures to keep removed the feeling of disconnection between the Winchester brothers that this reviewer had felt existed to the extreme in the first two episodes. The storyline of Sam going from having incredibly good luck to deadly bad luck brought to him through the cursed rabbit's foot, opened the way for the kind of brotherly interaction between Sam and Dean that is, in my opinion as a viewer, one of the main reasons that Supernatural is such an amazing show to watch.

Other than the disconcerting fact that Sam is still keeping the secrets about their mother from Dean, brotherhood was back in full force in this episode (and the onscreen working chemistry between Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki was back in full force as well).

"I've lost my shoe," Sam says to his brother with a plaintive note in his voice and the perfect expression of little boy lost on his face. Dean's nonverbal response of the 'yes I'm the put upon big brother, but I'll take care of you' eye roll the perfect counterbalance. This one quick scene that didn't take but a minute of time between the two characters managed to speak volumes about the history between these two men, their connection and the brother's love each has for the other.

There were some flaws to be had in Bad Day at Black Rock, but none of them existed in the performances turned in by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles. This was not only a very physically demanding episode for them in terms of fight scenes and such, but it challenged their skills in dramatic and comedic timing and for Jared Padalecki in particular his skill in physical comedy as well. Padalecki never missed a beat or a mark in any of it. I had recently gotten a chance to see his work in the movie New York Minute and caught a glimpse of this talent Padalecki has for physical comedy and was further impressed with his flawless execution of it in this episode of Supernatural. Ben Edlund's script also gave Jensen Ackles the chance to show off his amazing sense of comedic timing as well without losing any of Dean's core dignity and strength of character. This is the Dean Winchester of the first two seasons that made this reviewer the 'deangirl' that she is.

Bad Day At Black Rock was also the episode to introduce the second of the two recurring regular female characters, Bela.

Bela, played by Lauren Cohan, is a ruthless mercenary out to make money for herself selling supernatural and cursed artifacts to the highest bidder regardless of the consequences to others. Originally created by Ben Edlund to be a one shot guest character for the 3rd season, Bela was extended into a recurring regular status to meet the concept of adding more cast members to the series. While this viewer's opinion of whether or not she likes Ruby the other recurring female regular is still in debate at the moment, I have immediately taken to Bela. She has style and in my opinion adds something totally new to the series. Whereas Ruby is just another in a string of demons with an agenda involving Sam Winchester, Bela is a fresh new perspective and a new dimension to the story. She is outside of the world of the hunters and of Sam and Dean Winchester, but her actions and motivations has a huge effect on them.

I guess I should be honest and admit that I found that Bela's introduction was one that worked within my favorite part of Supernatural - the dynamic of the brother's relationship. I think at this point my main aspect of discontent with Ruby is that she seems to draw the brothers apart with her story line only involving herself and Sam and is also part of what I perceive as creating the disconnection of Dean from his mother Mary Winchester and her history.

Bela on the other hand was part of a storyline where Dean was in full 'big brother protective mode' going after her to get back the cursed rabbit's foot and save his brother, Sam. For me, at least for now, Ruby seems to come between Sam and Dean and Bela unites them together.

On another note, for now, with her not only callously putting Sam's life in danger by stealing the rabbit's foot from him, but by also shooting him without compunction, I can't see Dean developing any romantic attractions to Bela and would be disconcerted if he did.

I like the antagonism and her mercenary nature and the confrontations with Dean it created. There also seems to be a competitive rivalry created between them and that was far more interesting to watch play out then so called 'romantic sparks' flying. Jensen Ackles and Lauren Cohan seem to have a natural, well balanced working chemistry in regards to this competitive rivalry between Dean and Bela. I for one would much rather see that continue to be explored.

Gordon's return was nicely handled and Sterling K. Brown continues to give this character a power of intensity that fills the screen and creates anticipation for a showdown between Gordon and Sam and Dean.

Bobby called Dean an 'Idjit'! I love the character of Bobby Singer and it's always a pleasure to see him on this show. Jim Beaver continues to make Bobby a welcome addition to any episode. The producers should just get it over with and make him a regular.

The two new hunters introduced were a bit shaky in character presentation. I was left wondering if they were comic relief or serious intent. Hopefully they will be better fleshed out when next they appear.

Overall, Bad Day at Black Rock was a very good episode, and for now, it feels to me like with this episode Supernatural season 3 has found surer footing then I as a viewer saw in the season opener. For this episode Dean is once again back to having a nice balance of machismo and his own unique and endearing kind of geekiness, (Jensen Ackles was absolutely flawless), brotherhood is back (continued kudos to Jared Padalecki), I liked Bela (good job Lauren Cohan) and that makes me more than ready to see what's coming next.

Supernatural stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles as Sam and Dean Winchester; two brother's whose 'family business' is traveling the highways and back roads of American cities hunting down and getting rid of 'supernatural threats' and airs on the CW Network on Thursday nights at 9PM EST. Next week's episode is Bed Time Stories.