CW's "Supernatural" Gets the "Slash Fiction" Approach: A Television Review

Director: John Showalter.

Writer: Robbie Thompson.

The Winchesters are on the warpath in "Supernatural's" latest episode, "Slash Fiction." Dean is upset that their doppelgangers are committing mass murder, and near the episode's end, Sam is at the point of boiling over. He has finally learned about what Dean has done behind his back. He simply walks away. But is that for good? Are the WInchesters going to split apart?

Sam needs time to mull over his feelings, and hopefully that will mean a return of some angellic figures to help him sort out his emotions. Hopefully Lucifer returns because he has been very quiet of late. Supposedly, Sam has placated his visions of seeing the fallen angel wherever he goes, but Old Nick has to come back. Ideally, having him return to tell Sam to give in to the darker impulses, like at the season's start, will make for a long feud between the brothers. But with one-quarter of the season already done, to extend this moment of one brother hating another can happen, but will it?

After a few episodes, the brothers will have to reconcile somehow in order to deal with the greater threat. They also need each other now that nearly everyone in the States knows their name and faces. The two have to deal with the aftermath of two Leviathans who decided to assume the Winchester's identities and commit those mass murders.

To not do so will only weaken the show's overall story arc. Also, to see random individuals in the show suddenly recognize them, even though they should be dead, can prove to be interesting. By the end of "Slash Fiction," the news media says that authorities have gunned down the Winchesters.

On the home front, the task of finding out if the Leviathans are indeed invulnerable finally gets the attention that some viewers may have been waiting for. Writer Robbie Thompson carefully balances out how they can be defeated while further developing the character of Bobby Singer at the same time. That made for a great high point in this episode.

Apparently these monsters from the deep know all once when they touch their victim. At the same time, they are revealed to be vulnerable to borax, a chemical, and having their heads chopped off. To make use of this industrial cleaner makes for a lovely irony. Industry can kill these ancient beasts. Although this substance is a naturally occurring element as well, maybe they can tolerate that over the manufactured product. That's going to be hard to tell until Bobby develops a tranquilizer dart that injects the poison into the bloodstream of its victims. Maybe, that way, the Leviathan will eject itself from the host it occupies, or are the people they inhabit dead? If the previous episodes are any indication, anything remotely human is gone.

And what these Leviathans are after is still unknown. They've successfully infiltrated into society and various high level organizations. They are serving some leader who still has not revealed himself. These patient beasts of the deep are not simple Terminators either. Just like the T-1000, they will keep coming until most of the world, if not the States, is under their control. Crowley even tries to make a pact with them, but they do not want his help. The Leviathans think the demons are worse than humans.

As for how the 'powers-that-be' will defeat the sea dwellers, perhaps everyone has to team up to put these creatures back in their bottle.

"Supernatural" on the CW:

Supernatural at the CW

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