Supernatural Recap: Bitten

Grrr…Argh

by Joshowa

In this very special episode of Supernatural, Sam and Dean become the supporting characters in a "found footage" story of werewolves loose on a college campus. Yes, just in time for the release of Paranormal Activity 4. I'm sure it's JUST A COINCIDENCE!

Follow the jump for the full, shaky cam story!

Forget the werewolves, there's a much more dangerous monster on the loose, and it's got green eyes. Yup, I'm talking about envy. Aspiring filmmaker Brian is totally and completely bonkers jealous of his best friend, Michael. Michael's got looks, charm and a pretty girlfriend named Kate. On top of that, he was recently bitten by a werewolf, giving him super strength.

"Bang bang! Take that dead body! Yeah, that's right."
(Photo: The CW)

Brian, who is one of those whiny creeps who thinks that his life of suffering somehow makes him superior to those around them, slowly goes from worshipping Michael to hating him. Of the seven deadly sins, envy is the most subtle, the most insidious. Brian doesn't even realize he hates Michael at first. Brian thinks he is protecting Michael by pinning a murder Michael committed on another werewolf. In reality, Brian's motivation was the chance to blackmail that patsy werewolf into biting him and giving him the power he craved.

Now that Brian has the power, he's only missing one thing - the girl. Standing in his way is his oldest and bestest friend, whom he quickly dispatches. (Ah, the things one crazy person will do for lust.)  Brian even gives Kate a little nibble so she can become a werewolf and they can run away as two lycans in love. Kate is freaked at first, but quickly embraces her wolfy powers. But she doesn't use them to bond with Brian, she uses them to rip him to shreds.

This entire sad story is set against the backdrop of a classroom study of "Lord of the Flies." (Must be remedial English course - didn't most people study that in junior high or high school?) Brian identifies with the character Piggy, because he thinks he's a smart kid who is picked on too much. He sees himself as a supporting character in the life of Michael, his own personal "Ralph."

Ziggy! Piggy! Ziggy! Piggy!
(Photo: Universal Studios)

In reality, Brian is a Jack. Like Jack, Brian's intense envy of the "leader" in his life leads him to embrace a startling savagery. Brian is so anxious to get what Michael has, he's willing to sacrifice the logic of Piggy and turn his back on the rules of society.

If anyone is Piggy, it's Kate, because that girl is CHUNKY! Obviously, I am kidding. Actress Brit Sheridan is so skinny that Lifetime has already bought the rights to the story of her eating disorder. Kate acts as the Piggy character because she is Michael's right-hand "man." Also, like Piggy, she can't see what Brian/Jack is really after - her.

Unlike Piggy, she's survives the story and becomes a savage herself. Not so savage that she can't take a few hours to edit together a nice little movie that explains to Sam and Dean why she is running away and doesn't need to be hunted. Yup, Sam and Dean have been investigating the werewolf murders on campus, and they find all the answers in her tidy little video.

(Left to right) Michael, Sam, Brian, Fatty and Dean

It's not a bad way to tell a story, if you are willing so suspend a TON of disbelief, just about the process of filmmaking itself. But we are only four episodes in and we've already had a "gimmick" episode that greatly departs from the main arc this season.

These "special" episodes reinforce how much this show could benefit from a format change. Okay, maybe it doesn't need a full format change any more than those police procedurals do, but even the procedurals frequently shake up the status quo. The formula for Supernatural is to have Dean and Sam hunt monsters. Fine. But the status quo remains the same - two guys in a car traveling alone, still bickering and keeping secrets. Dean wants to stick with the family business; Sam wants to quit. It's eight years later, and Dean and Sam are right back where they started in season one.

Y'all. Are. Welcome.
Sincerely,
 Snotface.
(Photo: Lionsgate)

Sure, people have died on the way (pretty much everyone at least once). But what does that matter if things just remain the same? If death can't mix things up, what can? Where's the growth? Where's the change? For that matter, where's Kevin Tran (in Advanced Placement)?

Maybe things will change when Dean's Purgatory cell mate shows up next week. Will the addition of vampire Benny spice up this season? We'll find out on Halloween! In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on this season so far. Are you digging the old school vibe or is the format getting a little stale?

Posted in: Brit Sheridan,Jared Padalecki,Jensen Ackles,Paranormal Activity 4,Supernatural,Werewolves