Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things

"Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things," the fourth episode of Supernatural's second season, created by Erik Kripke and directed by Kim Manners, is a compelling exploration of grief, family dynamics, and the supernatural. This episode stands out for its nuanced portrayal of the Winchester brothers' emotional struggles as they confront a zombie, Angela, who was brought back to life by her friend Neil.

The narrative begins with a haunting scene where Angela, a college student, is killed in a tragic accident. Her friend Neil, driven by an unrequited love, uses a spell to resurrect her, unaware of the consequences. As Angela returns as a zombie, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) arrive to investigate the strange occurrences surrounding her resurrection. The brothers soon discover that Angela's return has caused chaos, and they must find a way to stop her without harming Neil, who is desperate to hold onto his lost love.

Kim Manners' direction skillfully captures both the emotional depth of the characters and the suspenseful elements of the zombie's attacks. The cinematography enhances the tension, particularly during scenes where the brothers confront Angela in her zombie form. Notable is the use of lighting to create an eerie atmosphere, reflecting the supernatural threats that loom over the characters. However, some critics argue that the pacing could be improved, particularly in the opening scenes where Angela's death is prolonged.

Jensen Ackles delivers a standout performance as Dean, showcasing his emotional vulnerability as he grapples with his own near-death experience and the moral implications of bringing someone back from the dead. Jared Padalecki effectively portrays Sam's empathy for Neil's situation while also highlighting his concern for Dean's erratic behavior. The chemistry between the brothers remains a highlight, adding emotional depth to their interactions as they navigate the complexities of their family legacy and the supernatural threats they face.

The episode explores issues of grief, loss, and the natural order of life and death. The episode raises questions about whether it is ever right to defy nature by bringing someone back from the dead, emphasizing the consequences of such actions. Angela's resurrection serves as a metaphor for the unnatural state of Dean's own existence, as he struggles to come to terms with being brought back to life by his father's deal with the demon. The narrative also touches on themes of love and sacrifice, as Neil's actions are driven by his love for Angela, mirroring the sacrifices made by the Winchester family.

"Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things" stands out as a memorable episode of Supernatural, effectively combining elements of horror with meaningful character development and thematic depth. Its exploration of grief and the supernatural makes it a compelling watch, inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences with loss and the consequences of playing with forces beyond human control. By intertwining these elements with suspenseful storytelling, the episode enriches the series' ongoing narrative, setting the stage for future conflicts and character growth. The emotional resonance of the episode, particularly in its portrayal of the Winchester brothers' vulnerability, leaves a lasting impact on viewers, making it a pivotal moment in the series.

This is actually a pretty decent episode. This is one of the more disliked episodes of Season 2 and I don't understand why. We all knew they would bring zombies into Supernatural. The idea of this girl who is brought back life and then seeks revenge on the people who hurt her has been used before but not zombie style. The only real issue I have with this episode is Dean. Throughout most of the episode he's just pissed off and wining. After a while it gets really annoying. But if you took that out this episode would actually pretty good.

The emotional bookends of the episode-i.e. Dean's guilt around dad's death, visiting mom's grave-work and the save the episode somewhat from the clunky writing. Likewise, the commonness of the relationships at the center of the monster story grounds the creepiness in believable reality. Unfortunately, the coincidence of stumbling upon a case, and case that reflects Dean's struggle with grief, is too much to take. The script knows this and hangs a lantern on the coincidence. It is not enough as the plotting still feels contrived.

Is this latest episode that awkward??

Why are you always crying??

Why does every episode have to be somehow emotional??

Sam and Dean have been arguing about their father's death for many episodes, and the contradictions between the two brothers have never been eliminated, have been fighting for the family, for the future, for inexplicably unreal things are also drunk, adults why not directly face to face more communication?

As brothers from childhood, it really feels like it takes a lifetime to think about these issues... I'm really speechless... As for the other details of this episode I don't really want to go into because the main story is a little boring... Well, hopefully the writers were a little more intentional, and it didn't feel like the need for this episode was that strong.

I just saw this episode and the part of Angela was not played by Summer Glau.

I'm sure the woman who actually did play Angela would like to get credit for it, so it behooves y'all to find out who it really was.

The woman playing Angela had a larger nose that protruded more from her face than Summer's does. Summer's nose is narrow and flatter.

She also had a much narrower chin and jaw than Summer has.

Her mouth was about as wide, but her lips were the wrong shape, and her smile was nothing like Summer's variety of smiles. Her lips didn't change shape the same way Summer's do when she smiles.

Her face wasn't as round as Summer's was, and Summer has a flatter, almost eastern European cast in her face. Her eyes are slightly angled, giving her a very exotic look.

Also, the voice was entirely different.

This simply was not Summer Glau.

What does it take to get this corrected?