Everybody Loves a Clown

One of the aspects of the second season is how the world of hunters gets fleshed out. This is why Gordon, the roadhouse, Jo/Ellen etc. are introduced. Most of this material is compelling but a few aspects of it are awkward and not fully realized. I think most of the problem that plagues the season on this front are from how they are introduced. Two are of note. First, Jo as love interest never truly works. Ackles just doesn't have that sort of chemistry with Tal. More to the point given that this was the episode right after John's death Dean was not in the place to have a love interest set-up. The script both plants the seeds of a romance while honoring the timing of Dean's arch. Eventually the writer course correct and have Jo be like a younger sister but the intro of the character no longer fits. It is both bad and superfluous as written. Second, the roadhouse as a club house of hunters ends up feeling like a forced plot device to try to give the show a standing set. The issue dates to how the clown case is just there for Sam to see. Much of the rest of the season would have been down better if the concepts were given a smoother introduction.

Apart from that, the episode by itself features a lame, lame monster. It is basically just an It ripoff and not enough is done to make the clown actually scary. Oh noes clown! *yawn*

This week's episode took place a week after John Winchester's death. Both Winchester boys are devastated, and both are handling it in different ways. Dean tries to hide his pain, but it's obvious he isn't 'okay' as he's telling everyone.

I didn't care much for this episode because the premise just seemed kind of odd and a little cheesy. However, the acting made it watchable. This is the first time we meet Ellen, Jo, and Ash. Ash is hilarious, I have to say. And it's sad that he's not in a lot of episodes because he is just off-the-wall funny.

I think that "Everybody Likes a Clown" focused more on Dean's character than anyone else's. It's so hard to see someone go through someone's death like this. It's hard and he's not handling it.

The episode ends with Dean taking a crowbar to his car. It's a deep moment as he finally expresses himself. Did anyone else want to just hold him after he did that? *Raises Hand* Excellent performance, Jensen Ackles, excellent.

The brothers are dealimg with a loss, we get introduced to a world of hunters, monster of the week is blah

Everybody Loves a Clown is the scariest episode of the entire series. Why? Because it involve a clown.

In all seriousness, the episode is not only scary because it is about a clown, but the writing, directing, and the cinematography are spectacularly frightening, especially in that opening scene. The episode is sure to raise a lot of hairs, and I say, bravo to the show for that. The episode is simple in that respect, but it also shows Dean and Sam unable to respond to their actual feelings following the event in the Season 2 premiere that will change their lives. Ackles especially shines in this episode, and the only flaw in his performance is in the last shot of the episode, which seems a bit too controlled and unsubtle. However, other than that, this episode is one of the strongest of the season and to date, after all 5 seasons of the show, is the scariest.

Some of our older friends say that this episode of Supernatural has a 1960's "hippy" vibe. I guess. I will replay it, while alone, and form my own opinion.