Supernatural Gives Us Their "Zeppo"

It’s always a tricky proposition when one of a series’ actors decides to direct an episode. But if they’re all as good as this week’s episode of Supernatural, Jensen Ackles' first crack at the directing chair, then heck, by all means, let’s do it all the time.

First and best decision? Having the episode barely feature Dean and Sam, so that Ackles has more time to focus behind the camera than in front. Using a conceit that was probably old by the time Buffy the Vampire Slayer pulled out the classic “The Zeppo,” this week, while everybody else is off having their own adventures, we finally get to see how Hunter-helper Bobby gets to spend his days.

Turns out, it’s a lot of helping hunters, from pretending to be various law enforcement officials, to helping bury bodies in his backyard, to navigating Dean and Sam’s tricky emotional relationship.

Meanwhile, Bobby has problems of his own: he sold his soul to the demon Crowley last season and wants it back ASAP. To do that, Bobby has to find out Crowley’s real name and get some leverage on the demon. And to do that, Bobby will have to do something even far worse: ask for help.

The episode was neatly split into two halves, the first a goofy, flight-footed farce mixing Bobby’s problems with an on-the-loose Japanese demon, an unreliable Hunter and a new neighbor with romantic designs on our bearded hero.

The second half is Bobby going after Crowley in earnest, with the help of his friends...who are more than willing to do what Bobby needs. And all he had to do was ask.

I’d say I liked the first half quite a bit more, only because Ackles seems to have a great handle on comedy pacing and direction. Dude is funny, we’ve seen that over the course of five seasons. But what's surprising is that he knows how to get that funny out of other people. The second half gets a little more serious, and unfortunately, Jim Beaver (who plays Bobby) is a lot of things, but he’s not a strong dramatic presence.

Still, even the second half ties nicely into events from the first half, including a great reveal involving some demon’s bones and a neat trick on Crowley that recontextualizes a lot of the first half. 

Do I wish the two halves held together better? Sure. But will I, regardless, eagerly await the next Ackles directed episode? Absolutely.

Random Notes:

• “Goes by the name of Luther Vandross? Ruben Stoddard?”
• “No, I'm pretty sure it's five times.”
• Great use of a Raimi reference, followed by a fanged she-beast getting thrown in a wood-chipper and covering everyone head-to-toe with blood.
• “Oh, okay, woodchipper. That trumps pretty much... everything.”
• I’m not a fan of the constant retcons this show has fallen into. This episode, we find out that Crowley is not just a crossroads demon, he’s also the king of Hell. And, demons are just like ghosts! They do a nice job of making these reveals work, but along with the Trickster actually being an Angel last season and Chuck actually being God, I’d love to let some of our characters just be what we first thought they were.
• "Don't swallow it." "Right. I'm swallowing it, Bobby."
• “Luther Vandross turn up? Tell him I'm a fan.”
• “But I'm surly and got a beard!”
• Love the "we're definitely in Scotland because there's a CGI castle" shots.
• Heh. Dean gets to drive even when they’re driving on the other side of the road.
• While looking for photos for this recap, I found a crop of behind-the-scenes pics. Literally every shot had Jensen Ackles doing that framing thing with his hands, as if to say, "Yes, I am definitely directing this episode, you guys."