Supernatural - Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

 There is a special kind of cruelty in how "death" operates in this particular episode, raising the dead of the hometown of Bobby Singer (Jim Beaver), just to fuck with him for helping out Sam and Dean. Bringing back Bobby's beloved wife, including her mad pie-making skills, just for him to watch her transitioning to a diseased fleshing-eating monster if he doesn't putting a bullet in her brain; this is a brand of pure evil that lets us know exactly what "death" is capable of. The entirety of the episode I knew (as Sean and Dean) the end result would be awful for the community. Death is so awful, Sheriff Jody Mills' (Kim Rhodes) little son was brought back, only to turn and feed on her husband, the boy's father! Seeing Jody and her husband reading a book with her son as the Winchesters prepare for something very awful to happen is grueling because I've watched too many zombie movies and shows...nothing good would come of the episode. Bobby's ache knowing he had to kill his wife when she was possessed, getting her back but reliving that pain, Death gives him five days (as the rest of the town is given with their loved ones until the inevitable turn causes violent mayhem) just to once again go through it all over again. So this episode is a slight twist on the zombie formula. The dead rise, seem perfectly civil and rational (well, except for the one guy who breaks into the home of his killer and gets revenge), reuniting with those they love, only after five days begin to burn up with fever, weaken, grow hungry, and eventually transition to the human-devouring ghouls on the bloody attack. So during the episode Dean and Sam move about the community, keep a watch out for Bobby, and wait for the zombie horde to rise up and get the headshot.

The scenes with Bobby and Jody are just the worst. Ugh, I had to tell my eyes and nose no sloppy tears and snot. Beaver is so good and getting a helluva lot of sympathy. Dean with Karen Singer as she explains love to him and why she hasn't told Bobby she remembers her entire experience, including possession and death, is potent, as is Bobby refusing to let either of the Winchesters kill her. Jody outside her house as Sam prepares to kill the turned son (he locates a diseased zombie who has left her husband barely recognizable due to quite a heavy feed, being asked to approach her, knowing he'll regret it, having to put her down), it is depressing. And I knew it: this outcome, as painful and frightening as it is for the community, was clear almost from the onset. Both Dean and Sam just knew sticking around was a must. And they were right. There is some CGI zombie violence at the end, including headshots and blood spray (even the camera lens effect trick is added when Sam shoots a zombie trying to get at Dean, who was trapped in a closet with Bobby, as the two were fending off a frenzied, determined horde.)

Great episode, full of effective acting, especially from Beaver and Rhodes. I really think Padalecki doesn't get the credit he deserves. His reactions to everything happening is how I felt. This wasn't a fun experience for the Winchesters at all. This was a worthwhile watch. I dig this show. 5/5