Supernatural - 1.03 - Dead in the Water - Short Take

Note - This episode has a special place in my heart since it kick started my Supernatural obsession.

Brief synopsis (including the ending): After reading about Sophie Carlton's death in the obits, Dean drags a reluctant Sam to Lake Manitoc, Wisconsin. They meet Sheriff Jake, his daughter Andrea and her son Lucas. Lucas hasn't spoken since he saw his father drown in the lake, but he has started drawing the same pictures repeatedly. When Sophie's brother Will drowns in the sink, Lucas' drawing helps them discover that Jake and Bill Carlton accidentally killed their classmate Peter Sweeney when they were 12. Now Ghost Peter is determined to kill everyone they love. Peter kills Bill and Jake practically runs the Winchesters out of town but Dean goes back because Lucas is still scared. Sam saves Andrea and Lucas points to where Peter's bike is buried on Jake's property. While Jake debates shooting the Winchesters Peter lures Lucas to the lake to pull him in. Jake sacrifices himself as the brothers jump in. Dean rescues Lucas but can't shake Jake's death. Andrea thanks them for saving Lucas who finally talks.




Favorite scene: Tie - 1. Vulnerable Dean sharing his mother's death with Lucas. 2. Dean emerging from the water with Lucas. I love the build up where Andrea is screaming as music swells. Beautifully planned and shot.




It's in the details:

Dean chewing on a pen and his reaction when Sammy stops his flirtation with Waitress Wendy.

Agents Ford and Hamill from US Wildlife

Sam uses his empathy voice when talking to Will Carlton.

Everything about Sheriff Jake - one of my favorite one-shot characters

The brothers pretending they knew about the lake draining but the sheriff realizing they aren't who they say they are

Andrea not falling for Dean's cheesy pick-up line and Dean trying to think of 3 kids he knows.

Sniff testing the laundry

Every single scene with Dean and Lucas - makes the whole episode

Dean stumbling when talking about Mary's death and his voice catching when he points to his mom in his picture.

Lucas handing Dean his picture and Andrea's and Sam's reaction to that

Sam's surprise when Dean talks about how he reacted as a kid to their mom's death and trying to talk it in the car

Lucas going to Dean when he's scared and Jake's reaction to it

Sam audibly closing his mouth when Sheriff Jake says they are not federal agents

Dean risking jail to make sure Lucas is okay

Sam being gentle with Andrea when she's freaking out

When I first saw the digging scene I could have sworn they were going to find Peter's body. Nice fake out.

Andrea and Jake confrontation over Peter - best scene between two one-shot guest stars.

Peter becomes Supernatural's third creepy kid after Mary's ghost kids in the pilot. A tradition is born.

Dean's flustered reaction when Andrea kisses him and Sam laughing about it.


Top 5 lines:

5. Sam: "Kids are the best? You don't even like kids." Dean: "I love kids." Sam: "Name 3 children that you even know."
4. Dean: "You know Sam, we are allowed to have fun once in awhile. That's fun."
3. Sam: "So, I think it's safe to say we can rule out Nessie."
2. Andrea: "It must be hard with your sense of direction, never being able to find your way to a decent pick-up line."
1. Dean: "You're scared. It's okay. I understand. See when I was your age I saw something real bad happen to my mom and I was scared too. I didn’t feel like talking just like you. But see, my mom, I know she wanted me to be brave. I think about that every day and I do my best to be brave. And maybe your dad wants you to be brave too."

Other Lines:

Dean: "We will find Dad but until then we are going to kill every bad thing between here and there. Okay?"
Jake: "In another six months, there won't be much of a lake. There won't be much of a town either. But as Federal Wildlife, you already knew that."
Andrea: "You want me to walk you 2 blocks?"
Dean: "No wonder that kid was so freaked out. Watching one of your parents die isn't something you just get over."
Andrea: "Tell your friend this whole Jerry Maguire thing is not going to work on me."
Dean: "So crayons is more your thing. That's cool. Chicks dig artists."
Dean: "Kids are strong. You'd be surprised what they can deal with."
Dean: "Ooh, college boy. Thinks he's so smart."
Dean: "Oh god, we're not going to have to hug or anything are we?"
Jake: "Enough. Please. The only reason you're breathing free air is one of Bill's neighbors saw him steering out that boat just before you did. So we have a couple of options here. I can arrest you for impersonating government officials and hold you as material witnesses to Bill Carlton's disappearance OR we can chalk this all up to a bad day. You get into your car, you put this town in your rear view mirror, and you don't EVER darken my doorstep again."
Sam: "Door #2 sounds good." Jake: "That's the one I'd pick."
Sam: "Who are you and what have you done with my brother?"
Dean: "You can't bury the truth Jake. Nothing stays buried."
Sam: "Look we're not going to save everybody."
Lucas: "Zeppelin Rules!"


Episode Score = 2

Scorecard - Here's how the rankings break down in my scorecard.

1 = One of the best episodes in all of Supernatural, or in all of TV for that matter.
2 = A great episode when judged against other Supernatural episodes.
3 = A good Supernatural episode, which means it's better than almost anything else on TV
4 = A poor episode when judged against other SPN episodes, meaning still better than most TV.
5 = A bad episode, meaning only better than some TV.

Screencaps by Home of the Nutty and Screencap Paradise

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