Review

A teenage chick drowns in Lake Manitoc, Wisconsin, and sets in motion the Winchester bros heaving into town to investigate. Seems the lake is being drained, and the number of unexplained drownings in it are on the increase. People drown, their bodies are never recovered, and sonar isn’t showing jack. We either have a monster on the loose or something far more sinister.

Dean takes a liking to the Sheriff’s daughter Andrea and her son Lucas, who hasn’t spoken since his father drowned in the lake. Lucas knows something, but isn’t able to pass on his knowledge. With the number of drownings starting to increase, it’s time for some Winchester investigation and dealing. Ready to take a swim?

Episode three gets out of the blocks in pretty good fashion, and I was digging in with both hands. Teen chick goes for an early morning swim, and there’s immediately what could be a POV shot from the heavily forested shoreline. The chick’s aware she isn’t alone, but can’t identify where she’s being spied on from. I could almost hear the ki ki ki ma ma ma kicking in, but then remembered we aren’t at Crystal Lake. Anyways, the chick continues to swim, and we get some underwater shots that reminded me of Spielberg’s opening to Jaws; putting that down to a wink to the audience. Thanks dudes, right back at you. Our aquatic babe stops once again to look around, and something beneath the surface of the lake grabs her and drags her underwater. The scene finishes with a close-up of the now empty water.

I was right on track with that opening, and simply knew I was in good hands after being slightly concerned with a new Director entering the fray. Kim Manners got me onboard pretty quickly, and kept up the standards Nutter had going down in the first couple of episodes. I was cool with the change, especially since Nutter didn’t exactly float my Impala with Wendigo, (a bit of Supernatural humour there for you – I’ll get my hat and coat).

Director Manners along with writers Tucker and Gamble have this one paced about right. We start with what’s becoming the traditional show mystery, move on to the Bros discovering what lurks in the night, before hitting the resolution. Notably this time round neither Sam nor Dean score with the take down; they are more bystanders to events than integral to them. Not sure if that’s a development we want to endorse to be honest, but nice change of pace I guess. Was grooving to the whole sins of the fathers vibe the writers threw in my direction.

Manners certainly made me sit up and take note. A nice atmospheric episode that hit the right notes.

Once again we have the well-handled interaction between the Brothers that’s keeping this bad boy moving and shaking, but we also get a guest character getting into it as well – note Andrea’s line quoted up above.

For the first time Jensen Ackles’s character Dean gets more to do than fire off the punch-lines and go tough-guy as required. Ackles handles a far more emotive outing, and is proving an asset to the series. The Dude can act, and nails the emoting in this episode. Guess the series is starting to find its rhythm and tempo and is prepared to mix up the basic ingredients to see where things can be taken. Cool, will ensure we don’t get any of those “just another episode” moments.

Before I forget, a quick run down on the hits of mullet rock for those who just can’t wait for this part of our episode guide. Check it: "What A Way To Go" Black Toast, "Round And Round" Ratt, "Too Daze Gone" Billy Squire, and "Movin' On" Bad Company. Yeap, I’m not complaining either, though the first episode did promise us Black Sabbath.

From the still shown above for this episode, you may be thinking that freaky kid from The Grudge had dropped in to say howdy to the Winchester boys, but alas this didn’t happen. This one is based around a Hawaiian myth, urban legend, local dudes drinking too many beers, whatever. In 1947 kids from the village of Ola’a were playing around the local lake, when one of the boys fell in and disappeared. Later divers looking for the boy’s body were shocked to find the drowned kid sitting calmly on a rock. The legend remains that even to this day the drowned boy tries to drag unsuspecting victims to their deaths below the lake. Fact stranger than fiction, or urban myth – your call!

I was happy enough with Dead In The Water and grooved along to the episode throughout. Some new things are being tried, and clearly the show’s producers are not going to sit back on the same formula throughout the season. We still have Sam being fixated on finding his dad John, but more emphasis is being put on the individual story lines, and Sam is gradually changing his attitude. Cool, bring on the nightmare freaks, I’m getting it on down here.

Episode three introduces us to a new director and new writers. Clearly this one isn’t about to go stale on our arses anytime soon. The background framing arc is still in evidence, and no doubt will come into play by season’s end, but I can dig each episode as a stand alone hour of horror goodness.

Full recommendation, you will love this episode. Some great photography, backed by an engrossing plot line, and good performances cap off a very decent episode. Dive on in, the water is fine, (muhahahahahahaha).