Review

Sam has another one of his visions, this time involving Dean shooting some young dude tied to a chair. Since all Sam’s visions involved the yellow-eyed demon, the brothers decide to head to the township of Rivergrove, Oregon, to check out what’s going down. Actually not all of Sam’s visions involve the brothers’ nemesis, but we’ll let that one past.

Once they make the scene at Rivergrove Sam notices the word “Croatoan” carved into a local telegraph pole, or whatever those things are called currently. Things quickly go pear-shaped as the locals are being infected with a virus turning them into blood-crazed maniacs. The virus is transmitted via blood, and contains elements of sulphur, so we’re dealing with a sort of demonic AIDS infection here, though neither Singer or Shiban make the obvious parallel. The Winchester Bros seek shelter in the local hospital along with a few other survivors. The infected locals have the place under siege, and a good, though derivative, episode ensues. Ready to have your blood tested?

Croatoan is one of those episodes that presents more questions than it attempts to answer. In short, why did the demon create the virus, and why was such an elaborate plan put in place to see if Sam is immune to the virus? Surely with an entire township suddenly becoming devoid of citizens, this is likely to pique the interest of State and Federal authorities. It’s not like this is a regular occurrence outside, say, a Stephen King novel. The whole concept of this episode didn’t strike me as plausible, hence even though Croatoan has more moves than a Swiss army knife I knocked a couple of points off it.

On most other levels the episode is raging away like a brought one, and had me glued to the screen from opening to closing credits. However, I have to say that presenting an opening scene, then showing it’s another one of Sam’s visions is getting worn out as a plot device. Supernatural may be showing a few cracks as season two advances; we may need a few more new writers introduced to keep the fresh element happening.

Croatoan rattles off its plot twists at a fair clip, Director Singer keeps up the pace, and stuff is coming at you at a rapid clip. Knife-wielding local lunatics, the ever popular rednecks with guns, is Sam about to go psycho on us, and of course the demonic elements. Shiban packs a whole bunch of stuff into Croatoan and neither the Writer nor Director drop any of the plot elements, though as Dean says late in the episode, “I swear, I’m gonna lose sleep over this one.” There’s no explanation being offered to what goes down and that’s going to irritate the hell out of some viewers. Personally I think all will be revealed later this season, or possibly next season. If Supernatural does one thing right it’s the show’s ability to keep divergent plot arcs in focus. Guess we’ll have to wait for the good oil on whatever this diabolical scheme is in aid of.

It might just be me but think we are starting to see the gore element creep in again, mostly absent thus far from season two. Blood being dripped into open wounds, plenty of knife action going down, and some hard nosed death dealing to the local citizens. Season one pretty much went down the same path, tame for the first third of episodes, before letting the claret flow in time honoured horror fashion. Once again there’s a lot of suggestion going down, though a few scenes wouldn’t be out of place in a slasher. Depending on viewpoint this may or may not float your boat, but rest assure the Director here needs the blood and isn’t rubbing the audience’s face in it.

Behind the camera, Director Robert Singer got my nod of approval during Croatoan. Good use of the local scenery through long shots, excellent rapid shooting as the action went down, and particular enjoyed Singer keeping the besieging nutters almost out of frame. Added to their menace for mine, and kept the tension-tank topped up in some exposition scenes. Some tight focusing on people’s reactions rounded out a pretty good stint in the main chair by Singer.

There is something solid about this episode that keeps me coming back yet elements lose me

Have already noted a few issues with the script, but overall, writer Shiban is on his game with the one-liners and keeping things moving along. Always helpful when a few elements have you blinking at developments, don’t give the audience time to focus on them being the name of the game.

Nice work on developing the Dean Winchester character some more. The pressure is starting to mount and Dean is starting to question their purpose in “hunting” and the sacrifices this involves for his family. For anyone following the series, this is a reversal of roles from the Sam and Dean relationship through the first half of season one. Dean is aware of John Winchester’s decision and is really starting to question the motives behind the family business. He needs a vacation; Sam, on the other hand, is “back in the saddle”.

Overall a pretty good episode with a few bumps in the road stopping it from being a great episode. Nice touch with Dean not fulfilling Sam’s prophecy, though it could turn out to be very costly down the track.

Croatoan managed to have a whole bunch of references and tributes to previous horror movies going down, even excluding the obvious reference Dean makes to The Stepford Wives. There’s a clear influence coming from George A Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, survivors holing up and trying to wait it out, with a tad of John Carpenter’s Prince of Darkness layered on for good measure. I was also noting 28 Days Later, blood transference of the virus, and also Joe Chappelle’s Phantoms with the deserted township angle. If anyone wants to mention John Carpenter version of The Thing I wouldn’t be disagreeing either to be honest.

In terms of mullet rock, another episode that doesn’t dial into the back catalogue at any stage. Off setting this is a pretty effective score by Jay Gruska, one of the best turned in thus far for season two.

I had a decent enough time with Croatoan but overall found the premise for the episode a tad unrealistic. There was certainly enough going down on my screen to keep me entertained, but am starting to see the “too many plot arcs” that marred the first season. There’s only so many of those that we really want to be dealt before asking for some closure on some of them. Still think the big bad angle isn’t going to be sustainable into a third season, hoping they don’t go down that path, but am not sure how the Producers can write themselves out of the central story line through seasons one and two. Not the best episode of season two, but Croatoan certainly held my interest.

Season three of Supernatural is in jeopardy as of writing with the Hollywood Writers’ strike about to impact if it isn’t resolved shortly. We’re still writing up season two so clearly this isn’t about to affect us in the short term, and we’re definitely not members of the union in the U.S.A. In worse news, there’s some talk hitting the net that the show may be cancelled before hitting season four, so will bring you any updates that cross my desk.

Croatoan is worth while dialling into, but you will need to get past the overall premise of the episode, which wasn’t working for mine. Some good developments and some good twists in the tale help this episode out however. Should Dean have pulled the trigger? Watch the episode to find out.