Fresh Blood 3x07: A Supernatural Review

“Fresh Blood”

“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” Friedrich Nietzsche

Synopsis:

In this episode, Gordon Walker, a psychotic hunter who believes Sam is the anti-Christ, is back and wants Sam dead. He first threatens then bribes Bela to divulge where Sam and Dean are then he sets a trap the brothers. His plan goes awry when the vampire the Winchesters are hunting captures Gordon and makes him a vampire – Gordon’s biggest fear. Despite being a blood thirsty vamp, Gordon is still intent on killing Sam. The brothers have to stop both monsters before anyone else dies.

CW Promo Supernatural 3x07 "Fresh Blood"

 

Review:

Yes, I am. You're really not pertinent to the story.

Directed by Kim Manners and written by Sera Gamble, this episode uses a MOTW (monster of the week) as a subplot to the main story. Gordon Walker, a frightening, cold-blooded hunter is obsessed with Sam and convinced that only he can prevent Sam from destroying the world. Gordon tracks down Bela Talbot and trades her a century old mojo bag for information on the whereabouts of the Winchesters. Bela Talbot has always seemed a weak character within the Supernatural world and in this episode she is merely a poorly contrived minor plot device. She serves no real purpose. She could have been removed from the story entirely and the viewer would have been none the wiser.

There's no such thing as a free lunch

Sam and Dean are hunting a vampire who is dropping bodies. Dean manages, through extreme recklessness, to capture a female vamp who does not realize the drug she thought she was taking is actually vampire blood. They kill her and find the vampire, Dixon, who is making new vamps. However, Gordon shows up with a buddy to kill Sam and interrupts the hunt. Dean makes a crazy sacrificial charge in order to draw fire so Sam can get away. Gordon is knocked out and captured by the vampire, Dixon, who then takes the hunter back to the nest and turns him into what Gordon has always been so good at hunting - a vampire. Gordon, after being turned is stupidly left unsupervised in the nest. Gordon escapes his restraints and slaughters Dixon’s fledgling vamp family. He then uses his new vampire strengths to go after the Winchesters, killing a few people along the way. 

Who's the monster now?

Gordon, a hunter, is now a monster.  Sam, a hunter with demon blood is in danger of becoming a monster. Dean, a hunter, is rapidly approaching his date with hell. The Nietzsche quote above fits so perfectly with this episode. Gordon, a relentless vampire hunter, became the type of monster he always hunted. Sam is trying hard not to become the monster he fears he is becoming and Dean is staring into the abyss of hell.

What has been subtly unfolding in the midst of all this drama, is how careless Dean is being with his own life but not why he is behaving in such a way. Once Sam and Dean locate the vampire nest, Dixon gives a speech that gives insight into Dean’s mindset about his looming date with hell. This serves to draw another parallel to how similar the hunters are to monsters.  

Dixon: I’m staring down an eternity alone. Can you think of a worse hell?

Dean: Well, there’s hell.

Dixon: I wasn’t thinking. I just didn’t care anymore. Do you know what that’s like? When you just don’t give a damn? It’s like…it’s like being dead already. (Looks at Dean who is holding a machete) Go ahead. Do it.

Interestingly, it leaves some ambiguity as to whether Dixon means for Dean to “Go ahead” and kill Dixon or whether Dean should “Go ahead” and kill himself.

It’s not until Sam and Dean get back to the hotel and Dean says he going after Gordon alone that forces Sam to confront Dean on his cavalier behavior. Dean knows he’s going to hell soon. He’s scared but he’s behaving like he’s not and Sam calls him out for it. Dean, of course, plays it off like his brother doesn’t know how he is feeling.

Sam: Yeah, because I’ve been following you around my entire life. I mean, I’ve been looking up to you since I was four Dean. Studying you. Trying to be just like my big brother. So yeah, I know you. Better than anyone else in the entire world and this is exactly how you act when you’re terrified and I mean, I can’t blame you. It’s just…

Dean: What?

 

This entire scene between the brothers is so beautifully written. Jared’s acting is so heart felt. It’s moments like this that give the characters depth and complexity.

The boys decide to wait out the night together but Gordon calls to tell them they better come to him and reveals he has a female victim. The boys, ever the heroes, race to rescue her but they get separated. As a twist, Gordon has turned the “damsel in distress” into a vamp! She attacks Dean who shoots her with the Colt, using up the last special bullet. Meanwhile, Sam takes on Gordon and manages to use razor wire to slice Gordon’s head off. Impressive and inventive!

Of course the episode closed out with a touching broment with Baby. Dean teaching Sam about how to fix the Impala. When Sam questions why, Dean responds with “You should know how to fix it. You’re gonna need to know these things for the future. Besides, it’s my job right? Show my little brother the ropes.”  

There isn’t much that didn’t work in this episode other than the insertion of Bela. As I said before, her character felt so contrived. As did the scene with Gordon’s hunting partner. They felt like filler scenes. 

The episode’s main purpose was to draw Dean back from staring into that abyss of his eminent demise. The boys reconnected, and two scary threats were handled. Nicely done Sera Gamble!