Hell House

Hell House- Mordachai’s Monster Mash

When I first read the premise for ‘Hell House’ I have to admit I was less than impressed. While I thoroughly enjoy the usual humor on the show, peppered with Dean’s witticisms, I felt the script for this episode was going a little too far. ‘Supernatural’ has always taken itself reasonably seriously, and I wanted to shiver at the thought of it turning into nothing more than a joke-filled excuse for a horror show.

However, before you all start panicking and think I’m going to tear the episode to pieces, let me tell you that I was more than pleasantly surprised by what we got last Thursday night. While Chris Long won’t really get any points from me for originality with the ‘Hell Hounds,’ I wasn’t urged to turn off the TV at the sight of them like I had expected, either.

In fact, the A plot was just too weak to carry the show on its own, and the vein of humor we don’t normally get in such abundance actually carried it on through. Dean’s ‘Ghostbusters’ reference, along with many others, as well as his ‘prank war’ with Sam helped fill gaps in the story you could fit a Beverly Hills mansion in!

Okay, so you think I’m still bashing the episode? Actually, I’m not. I enjoyed the comic relief, and I think it was placed in the series at this point strategically because the writers have some intensely serious stuff to come our way soon. Also, I think the general idea was that Dean was trying to lighten Sam up a little after all he’s been through. I have a brother, so I know this kind of stuff does go on among siblings- especially when they’re close.

So, apart from the humor, sibling rivalry and weakness of A plot, what is there left? Well, we could talk about the focus of things- Mordachai. I loved how rock salt couldn’t affect him, thus making it harder for our boys to ‘kill’ his spirit. And I did like the idea that he was a Tulpa, created simply because he was believed in. Would burning the ‘Hell House’ down really kill him, though? Seriously, I think this was another weak point of the episode. I’d have liked Dean to come up with something more creative, but heck, Dean can’t if the writers can’t, right?

So, what was good?

The brotherly pranks and interaction with the ‘Hell Hounds’
The acting (As always)
Sam in NOTHING but a towel!!! (Okay, it was good for us gals. You guys will just have to roll your eyes at us)
What if half the bad things out there exist because we believe in them hard enough? I love that premise!

And the bad…

The A plot needed more depth
The way Mordachai was stopped was pretty damn weak
There was no Dean in a towel (Okay, I’m pushing my luck)

All in all, the episode was far better than I had expected, but it could have been better with just a little more work from the writing department. The acting, directing, and general production as a whole was excellent as usual. In fact, the teaser was like something from a movie, not a TV show, which I know is ‘Supernatural’s’ goal.

Next week: Something wicked this way comes. Or, looking at the trailer, it could just be the Emperor from Star Wars…Meh, we need to toss the guys a lightsabre instead of rock salt!