A Comparative Review: "Love Hurts" 11x13 and "Safe House" 11x16
Summary
"Love Hurts"
A Qareen is ripping the hearts out of people and the Winchesters must stop it and the witch that controls it before it kills again because its next victim may be Dean. Written by Nicole Snyder and Eric Charmelo and Directed by Phil Scriggia.
Supernatural "Love Hurts" 11x13 Promo
Supernatural "Love Hurts" 11x13 Promo
"Safe House"
Sam and Dean are after a monster that has put a family in comas and it looks like this isn't the first time. Bobby and Rufus tangled with this monster before. Written by Robbie Thompson and Directed by Stefan Pleszczynski. Supernatural "Safe House" 11x16 Promo
Review
Both of these stories are MOTW (monster of the week) stories that have no great bearing on the myth arc for season 11. However, one is a brilliant work of storytelling genius while the other should be shoved to the back of some dusty closet never to be viewed again.
"Love Hurts" had its moments of light humor. Dean winning Rock Paper Scissors was a long time coming. The only other time Dean won was in the alternate timeline of "My Heart Will Go On."
Beyond the cute little things that are said or done, there is precious little to elevate this episode. It's not that it is poorly written, it's that it doesn't measure up to the multi-layered, involved storytelling that is evident in many MOTW episodes. Even though this was a Valentine's Day episode (a holiday I LOATHE) I was optimistic about this episode having an entertaining story, like season 5 "My Bloody Valentine" which was well done and had importance in the season myth arc. Monster of the Week episodes can be enjoyable and well executed- this wasn't one.
This was a "throw-away" episode. It had no subtext or parallel storyline that added to the overall myth arc for the season. In fact, the only real reference to the myth arc is the Qareen taking on the appearance of Amara, and then the "bookends" or the broments where Sam & Dean talk about the season Big Bad and their feelings which usually falls at the very beginning and very end of the episode, like "bookends." The monster taking on the appearance of Amara really offered nothing in a way of relevance or revelation about her character and was merely a plot device.
And honestly, neither the episode nor the monster, was scary. Another problem is the overuse of the horror trope where the intended victim backs away from the monster and falls down. This happened twice this episode. Nothing is more annoying than this trope simply because it has been so overused in almost every genre but particularly horror. It's tired, uninspired and unimaginative (and makes me root for the killer.)
The song used this episode was "Heartbreak" by The James Hunter Six has a slightly retro feel but was actually released in 2013. Supernatural isn't "retro", it's classic rock. However, perhaps this was just a budget issue or the song desired ("Love Hurts" by Nazareth perhaps) was not available.
On a positive note, the Too Tired Motel used for this episode was another incredible set designed by the incomparable Jerry Wanek and his team. It had a car and road trip theme with tires and tire irons for the room divider and some road map inspired wallpaper.
And Baby looked particularly fetching parked in front where the neon lights of the motel reflected off her.
The direction, cinematography, and camera work this episode was crisp and exactly the high standard the show is known for.
But to compare "Love Hurts" to "Safe House" is like comparing oranges and a four-course gourmet dinner served to you on your own private beach at sunset while one masseuse gently massages your neck and shoulders and another massages your feet.
"Safe House" is also a MOTW episode but that is really where the similarities end. First, this episode and monster were scary. Much of the monster was left to the imagination rather than being shown a great deal. Audience imagination will make the monster at least ten times scarier than anything fantastic (and expensive) vfx can create.
Sam tells Dean, "It'd be nice to get a win. This case seems like a layup."
Rufus tells Bobby, "I thought a win would be nice."
There's also some purposeful parallel foreshadowing. When Bobby is telling Rufus that he is worried about Sam and Dean being in the middle of the apocalypse, Rufus reminds him that not everyone is going to "be on that bus ride home. Sacrifice. Greater good. All that jazz. Oldest rule of hunting Bobby. You can't save everyone." This, added to what Billie the Reaper has told Sam and Dean this season: the next time they die, they stay dead. This adds a heightened level to what may lay ahead for the Winchesters.
When the Soul Eater takes possession of Dean's body and tells Sam that Dean wants to go to the Darkness- needs to go but that it can keep Dean safe. This adds another layer to the Amara mystery. Why does dean want and need to go to the Darkness?
As a montage of Bobby and Rufus/Sam and Dean scenes play the song that plays is Willie Nelson "Nite Life" in which the lyrics that are highlighting this montage are "When the evening sun goes down/ you will find me hanging 'round/ the night life ain't a good life but it's my life." This is adding to the layers of symmetry and parallels and foreshadowing. Hunting is a short and bloody life. Bobby and Rufus both died hunting. This is the life of a hunter.
Add to that symmetry, the song that plays as Bobby drives off is the same song that is playing as Sam and Dean drive away- "Midnight Rider" by the Allman Brothers.
The editing of the two storylines together is genius in that it shows the similarities or the differences that are important to the narrative. The graveyard scene is a perfect example. Bobby using a backhoe to dig up the graves right after Dean says "There's gotta be an easier way to dig graves." And the discussion in the motel about what monster it could be, the parallels are unmistakable.
The one thing that Bobby always brings to his episodes is "Family ain't always blood." Bobby tells Rufus he is worried about "his boys." That's what is at the heart of this show- Family. You feel that in this episode. When Bobby talks about being worried for Sam and Dean, when he sees them dead in the Nest, and when he calls them and Rufus idjits because Rufus was his family too. Follow the parallelism, just like Sam and Dean are brothers, so too are Bobby and Rufus.
As with how this storyline anchors itself to the season 5 myth arc, it also weaves in something from season 7. The bottle of Johnny Walker Blue with the note from Rufus attached was seen in 7x12 "Time After Time" when Jodie and Sam had found the bottle and wondered what the bet was that Bobby and Rufus had made- this episode finishes that story with the reveal of Rufus betting Bobby it was a Baku they were hunting. It's incredibly satisfying to have that line tied off. Ah, symmetry!
The one tiny flaw in the otherwise outstanding episode, is some of the camera work is that non-stationary, wiggly shooting that nauseates me. It's not artistic. It's distracting and frustrating.
Questions. Problems. Comments. Concerns.
One bit of symmetry ties "Safe House" to "Love Hurts" and that is Rock Paper Scissors. This time Dean lost. This is actually fitting. Let that one time be a fluke. Losing Rock Paper Scissors is Dean's comfort zone.
After watching a particularly symmetry satisfying episode, it makes one wonder, why can't the writing be this consistently good? The only answer must be, so that we can appreciate the ones that are good.
Review
Both of these stories are MOTW (monster of the week) stories that have no great bearing on the myth arc for season 11. However, one is a brilliant work of storytelling genius while the other should be shoved to the back of some dusty closet never to be viewed again.
 |
| Love Hurts but winning Rock Paper Scissors for the first time is pure joy |
Beyond the cute little things that are said or done, there is precious little to elevate this episode. It's not that it is poorly written, it's that it doesn't measure up to the multi-layered, involved storytelling that is evident in many MOTW episodes. Even though this was a Valentine's Day episode (a holiday I LOATHE) I was optimistic about this episode having an entertaining story, like season 5 "My Bloody Valentine" which was well done and had importance in the season myth arc. Monster of the Week episodes can be enjoyable and well executed- this wasn't one.
This was a "throw-away" episode. It had no subtext or parallel storyline that added to the overall myth arc for the season. In fact, the only real reference to the myth arc is the Qareen taking on the appearance of Amara, and then the "bookends" or the broments where Sam & Dean talk about the season Big Bad and their feelings which usually falls at the very beginning and very end of the episode, like "bookends." The monster taking on the appearance of Amara really offered nothing in a way of relevance or revelation about her character and was merely a plot device.
And honestly, neither the episode nor the monster, was scary. Another problem is the overuse of the horror trope where the intended victim backs away from the monster and falls down. This happened twice this episode. Nothing is more annoying than this trope simply because it has been so overused in almost every genre but particularly horror. It's tired, uninspired and unimaginative (and makes me root for the killer.)
The song used this episode was "Heartbreak" by The James Hunter Six has a slightly retro feel but was actually released in 2013. Supernatural isn't "retro", it's classic rock. However, perhaps this was just a budget issue or the song desired ("Love Hurts" by Nazareth perhaps) was not available.
On a positive note, the Too Tired Motel used for this episode was another incredible set designed by the incomparable Jerry Wanek and his team. It had a car and road trip theme with tires and tire irons for the room divider and some road map inspired wallpaper.  | |
| Beautiful shot! |
The direction, cinematography, and camera work this episode was crisp and exactly the high standard the show is known for.
But to compare "Love Hurts" to "Safe House" is like comparing oranges and a four-course gourmet dinner served to you on your own private beach at sunset while one masseuse gently massages your neck and shoulders and another massages your feet.
"Safe House" is also a MOTW episode but that is really where the similarities end. First, this episode and monster were scary. Much of the monster was left to the imagination rather than being shown a great deal. Audience imagination will make the monster at least ten times scarier than anything fantastic (and expensive) vfx can create.
There is beauty and depth to literary symmetry and the
storylines between a season 5 Bobby and Rufus monster hunt, and a season 11 Sam
and Dean monster hunt goes beyond that of just the same location and monster.
Bobby and Rufus have the same bickering as Sam and Dean over similar arguments.
Dean wonders if they should be on a monster hunt with Amara
on the loose and Cas/Lucifer still missing; Bobby wonders why Rufus called him
out on a monster hunt with the Apocalypse hanging over their heads.
Sam tells Dean, "It'd be nice to get a win. This case seems like a layup."
Rufus tells Bobby, "I thought a win would be nice."
There's also some purposeful parallel foreshadowing. When Bobby is telling Rufus that he is worried about Sam and Dean being in the middle of the apocalypse, Rufus reminds him that not everyone is going to "be on that bus ride home. Sacrifice. Greater good. All that jazz. Oldest rule of hunting Bobby. You can't save everyone." This, added to what Billie the Reaper has told Sam and Dean this season: the next time they die, they stay dead. This adds a heightened level to what may lay ahead for the Winchesters.
When the Soul Eater takes possession of Dean's body and tells Sam that Dean wants to go to the Darkness- needs to go but that it can keep Dean safe. This adds another layer to the Amara mystery. Why does dean want and need to go to the Darkness?
As a montage of Bobby and Rufus/Sam and Dean scenes play the song that plays is Willie Nelson "Nite Life" in which the lyrics that are highlighting this montage are "When the evening sun goes down/ you will find me hanging 'round/ the night life ain't a good life but it's my life." This is adding to the layers of symmetry and parallels and foreshadowing. Hunting is a short and bloody life. Bobby and Rufus both died hunting. This is the life of a hunter.
Add to that symmetry, the song that plays as Bobby drives off is the same song that is playing as Sam and Dean drive away- "Midnight Rider" by the Allman Brothers.
The editing of the two storylines together is genius in that it shows the similarities or the differences that are important to the narrative. The graveyard scene is a perfect example. Bobby using a backhoe to dig up the graves right after Dean says "There's gotta be an easier way to dig graves." And the discussion in the motel about what monster it could be, the parallels are unmistakable.
The one thing that Bobby always brings to his episodes is "Family ain't always blood." Bobby tells Rufus he is worried about "his boys." That's what is at the heart of this show- Family. You feel that in this episode. When Bobby talks about being worried for Sam and Dean, when he sees them dead in the Nest, and when he calls them and Rufus idjits because Rufus was his family too. Follow the parallelism, just like Sam and Dean are brothers, so too are Bobby and Rufus.
As with how this storyline anchors itself to the season 5 myth arc, it also weaves in something from season 7. The bottle of Johnny Walker Blue with the note from Rufus attached was seen in 7x12 "Time After Time" when Jodie and Sam had found the bottle and wondered what the bet was that Bobby and Rufus had made- this episode finishes that story with the reveal of Rufus betting Bobby it was a Baku they were hunting. It's incredibly satisfying to have that line tied off. Ah, symmetry!
The one tiny flaw in the otherwise outstanding episode, is some of the camera work is that non-stationary, wiggly shooting that nauseates me. It's not artistic. It's distracting and frustrating.
Questions. Problems. Comments. Concerns.
One bit of symmetry ties "Safe House" to "Love Hurts" and that is Rock Paper Scissors. This time Dean lost. This is actually fitting. Let that one time be a fluke. Losing Rock Paper Scissors is Dean's comfort zone.
After watching a particularly symmetry satisfying episode, it makes one wonder, why can't the writing be this consistently good? The only answer must be, so that we can appreciate the ones that are good.
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