"Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid" ~Written by Jeremy Carver. Starring~Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Carrie Fleming and Kim Rhodes...may contain spoilers up to current episode of season 5.
Finally, after years of waiting for a zombie episode, Supernatural finally delivers. Instead of the usual decaying mindless creatures of past movies, the Supernatural monsters of the week are locals, a young boy, and Bobby Singers wife. Instead of decaying, mindless, freaks without a soul, Supernatural's zombies reek of an Edgar Allen Poe short story. They challenge the morals of loved ones and are indeed quite human.
I always anticipate an episode that centers around Bobby Singer. He's the surrogate father to Sam and Dean. He's intelligent, lovable, and tragic. Bobby Singer's story is a tragic one. This tragedy is what haunts Bobby in this episode named "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid".
Jim Beaver is the reason why Bobby Singer is a household name to Supernatural fans. He truly beings this crusty, moody, father figure to life. He's the only character I trust to yell at Sam and Dean and put them in their place. That's why it was so difficult to see Bobby in a situation where he succumbs to the monster of the week, his wife, impressively portrayed by actress Carrie Fleming.
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid plays out like a filler episode. I'm not sure whether the episode was supposed to be funny, ironic, or dramatic. It was probably meant to be all of the above, especially when Sam and Dean search out a killer zombie only to find him with his girlfriend. Even the local sheriff (Kim Rhodes) doesn't seem to care that a dead man is walking around. Seems suspicious. It is suspicious.
Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) visit Bobby and what they encounter is a well groomed man in clean house. The comment about the soap is hilarious. Enter Mrs. Singer in a house dress, looking rather greenish and exhausted with a pretty smile on her face. Our boys are treated to home made pie made by the late Karen Singer.
Here is where I needed to take a breath. How could the writers do this to Singer's character? She's obviously dead. Singer cremated her so she obviously has been reanimated by something far more dangerous than a demon.
What saves this episode is Jim Beaver. Jim's monologue as Bobby, as he describes his wife as being the same person and not a demon is heartbreaking. We believe that Bobby has tried everything from holy water to a silver knife. His wife might be the walking dead, but she's still his wife.
Unfortunately, things are ephemeral in the Supernatural universe. Things begin to sour and the zombies begin to hunger and feed.
Jim Beaver's acting shines in this murky episode. Bobby's last moments with his wife are heartbreaking and truly devastating. The cross cutting to Dean breaking into Bobby's house to finish off what he feels needs to be done, and Bobby's final words to his wife is what good directing is all about.
In the end, we find out that Death, one of the horsemen, resurrected Bobby's wife to send Singer a message about helping the Winchesters. Yet in the end, we also see a very stubborn Bobby who won't quit.
There are very few laughs in the episode, but when agents Dorfman and Neidermeyer need assistance and hand over a supervisor's number, the good sheriff identifies Bobby, who apparently is the town drunk!!
The only other notable laugh is when Dean and Bobby hide in a closet outnumbered by bloodthirsty zombie townspeople. The chemistry between Bobby and Dean is worthwhile, I could have watched them for hours, exchanging banter and aggravated looks.
The chemistry I wasn't expecting, but was truly gratifying, was between Sam Winchester and Sheriff Mills. Padalecki and guest star Kim Rhodes play off each other so convincingly I wouldn't mind the two as a pair. Although I should mention that the good sheriff is married. But one never knows what can happen in the Supernatural universe.
I can't say that this is my favorite episode, but it was such a treasure to delve into the delicate mind of Bobby Singer. Perhaps in his tragedy lies the strength that grounds and drives the character to fight with the Winchesters. Jim Beaver is really the biggest reason to watch the episode.
~Louisa Hinmon
*Supernatural Chat, part 2 (season 6)
*Congrats to the TV Guide Poll
*Jensen Ackles wins TV Guide Poll
*Castiel Wins TV Guide Poll
WB/CW promo
Finally, after years of waiting for a zombie episode, Supernatural finally delivers. Instead of the usual decaying mindless creatures of past movies, the Supernatural monsters of the week are locals, a young boy, and Bobby Singers wife. Instead of decaying, mindless, freaks without a soul, Supernatural's zombies reek of an Edgar Allen Poe short story. They challenge the morals of loved ones and are indeed quite human.
I always anticipate an episode that centers around Bobby Singer. He's the surrogate father to Sam and Dean. He's intelligent, lovable, and tragic. Bobby Singer's story is a tragic one. This tragedy is what haunts Bobby in this episode named "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid".
Jim Beaver is the reason why Bobby Singer is a household name to Supernatural fans. He truly beings this crusty, moody, father figure to life. He's the only character I trust to yell at Sam and Dean and put them in their place. That's why it was so difficult to see Bobby in a situation where he succumbs to the monster of the week, his wife, impressively portrayed by actress Carrie Fleming.
CW/Supernatural screencap
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid plays out like a filler episode. I'm not sure whether the episode was supposed to be funny, ironic, or dramatic. It was probably meant to be all of the above, especially when Sam and Dean search out a killer zombie only to find him with his girlfriend. Even the local sheriff (Kim Rhodes) doesn't seem to care that a dead man is walking around. Seems suspicious. It is suspicious.
Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) visit Bobby and what they encounter is a well groomed man in clean house. The comment about the soap is hilarious. Enter Mrs. Singer in a house dress, looking rather greenish and exhausted with a pretty smile on her face. Our boys are treated to home made pie made by the late Karen Singer.
CW/Supernatural screencap
Here is where I needed to take a breath. How could the writers do this to Singer's character? She's obviously dead. Singer cremated her so she obviously has been reanimated by something far more dangerous than a demon.
What saves this episode is Jim Beaver. Jim's monologue as Bobby, as he describes his wife as being the same person and not a demon is heartbreaking. We believe that Bobby has tried everything from holy water to a silver knife. His wife might be the walking dead, but she's still his wife.
Unfortunately, things are ephemeral in the Supernatural universe. Things begin to sour and the zombies begin to hunger and feed.
Jim Beaver's acting shines in this murky episode. Bobby's last moments with his wife are heartbreaking and truly devastating. The cross cutting to Dean breaking into Bobby's house to finish off what he feels needs to be done, and Bobby's final words to his wife is what good directing is all about.
In the end, we find out that Death, one of the horsemen, resurrected Bobby's wife to send Singer a message about helping the Winchesters. Yet in the end, we also see a very stubborn Bobby who won't quit.
There are very few laughs in the episode, but when agents Dorfman and Neidermeyer need assistance and hand over a supervisor's number, the good sheriff identifies Bobby, who apparently is the town drunk!!
The only other notable laugh is when Dean and Bobby hide in a closet outnumbered by bloodthirsty zombie townspeople. The chemistry between Bobby and Dean is worthwhile, I could have watched them for hours, exchanging banter and aggravated looks.
CW/Supernatural screencap
The chemistry I wasn't expecting, but was truly gratifying, was between Sam Winchester and Sheriff Mills. Padalecki and guest star Kim Rhodes play off each other so convincingly I wouldn't mind the two as a pair. Although I should mention that the good sheriff is married. But one never knows what can happen in the Supernatural universe.
I can't say that this is my favorite episode, but it was such a treasure to delve into the delicate mind of Bobby Singer. Perhaps in his tragedy lies the strength that grounds and drives the character to fight with the Winchesters. Jim Beaver is really the biggest reason to watch the episode.
~Louisa Hinmon
*Supernatural Chat, part 2 (season 6)
*Congrats to the TV Guide Poll
*Jensen Ackles wins TV Guide Poll
*Castiel Wins TV Guide Poll
This article expresses the opinions of the author. The author and Celebrity Hollywood Connection are in no way affiliated with Eric Kripke or the CW. Supernatural is the property of the CW network. This is just a fanblog.
