Supernatural Insight: Bloody Mary - "here's blood in your eye!"

Episode 5 – Bloody Mary Story by Eric Kripke, Teleplay by Ron Milbauer and Terri Hughes Burton

MOW: duh…

Scariness factor: Well, this episode starts with a huge creepiness factor – think “The Ring”. Girls sleep-over (incredibly stupidly) calls up “Bloody Mary” looking in the mirror, big pool of blood and corpse #1 ensues

Sam and Dean “whump” factor: the brothers definitely get some hurt put on them. Sam tries to take the risky job, and Dean has to save them both.

Commentary: develops both the relationship and one of the season themes – what’s Sam secret?

Sam and Dean’s relationship:

1. Dean’s worried: opens on the brothers with Sam having his recurring nightmare of Jessica’s death. Dean wakes him up - they’re in the Impala. Dean continues to just look at Sam, clearly concerned. Sam “were you thinking I was having a nightmare? “ Dean”yeah, another one” Sam – “well, at least I got some sleep.” Dean “you know, sooner or later, we’re going to have to talk about this”.

2. This shows there is still a pattern of not talking about things (which carries on in the series to truly epic proportions). In an earlier episode, Sam overhears Dean talk to a kid about seeing something bad happen to their mom and trying to be brave everyday for her - and says “I never knew that before”. Sam tries to hide that he isn’t sleeping much but Dean sees thru that. And here, they are still avoiding the conversation about Sam’s nightmares.

3. Sam feels guilty about Jessica’s death, and blames himself, not Dean, but won’t tell Dean why. There’s a scene in the motel – Sam has another nightmare. Then later he hints that Bloody Mary will come after him (they’ve discovered that she attacks only people who have a secret where somebody dies). Dean tries to convince Sam that Jessica’s death is not his fault, but Sam says “I haven’t told you everything” …then refuses to explain further. Dean brings up that he’s the one who took Sam away to help look for their dad, so he wasn’t there to protect Jessica. Sam tells Dean “I don’t blame you”

4. No matter how important Dean is to him, he won’t share his secret. Closing:

Dean: Sam, now that it’s all over, that secret, I need you to tell me what it is.”

Sam “Look, you’re my brother, and I’d die for you. But there’ some things I need to keep to myself.

What’s revealed? Sam summons Bloody Mary so they can trap her in her mirror and break it. He sees his own reflection which accuses him, as Sam’s eyes start bleeding. Mirror reveals that the nightmares Sam’s having, seeing Jessica bleeding, on the ceiling, then flames burning her up, are not new. That he had them for days before Jessica died. But, mirror Sam accuses, “you were so desperate to be normal “ that he ignored them and pretended they were just dreams. Didn’t warn Jessica, didn’t stay there to protect her.

Protective big brother theme:

Shown earlier with Dean worrying about Sam’s nightmares. At the end, Dean comes to the rescue, smashing the mirror.