I Know What You Did Last Summer

"I Know What You Did Last Summer," the ninth episode of Supernatural's fourth season, created by Erik Kripke and directed by Charles Beeson, is a gripping installment that masterfully blends suspense, emotional depth, and supernatural intrigue. This episode stands out for its exploration of Anna Milton, a young woman who has escaped from a mental institution after discovering she can hear angels, and her connection to the Winchester brothers' quest to prevent the apocalypse.

The narrative begins with a haunting scene where Anna is interviewed by her psychiatric counselor, revealing her ability to hear angelic voices and her knowledge of the impending apocalypse. As Ruby informs Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) about Anna's escape, they embark on a mission to find her, despite Dean's reluctance due to his distrust of Ruby. The episode's use of suspense and mystery keeps viewers engaged as they piece together the events leading to the final confrontation with Alastair, a powerful demon from Dean's past.

Charles Beeson's direction skillfully captures both the emotional depth of the characters and the suspenseful elements of the supernatural threats. The cinematography enhances the tension, particularly during scenes where Sam and Dean confront Alastair, creating an atmosphere of desperation and fear. Notable is the use of lighting to highlight the dark nature of the events unfolding, reflecting the twisted reality of Alastair's actions. However, some critics argue that the pacing could be improved, particularly in scenes where the narrative jumps between different plot points.

Jensen Ackles delivers a compelling performance as Dean, showcasing his emotional depth as he grapples with the idea of being a potential savior and his skepticism about Ruby's intentions. Jared Padalecki effectively portrays Sam's determination to save Anna and his frustration with Dean's skepticism about Ruby's help. 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 guest cast, particularly Anna Milton, adds complexity to the narrative by presenting a character who is both vulnerable and powerful.

Thematically, "I Know What You Did Last Summer" explores issues of faith and loyalty, raising questions about how individuals perceive divine intervention and the consequences of their actions. The episode highlights the tension between Sam's trust in Ruby and Dean's skepticism, mirroring broader cultural debates about the nature of faith and trust. Anna's ability to hear angels serves as a metaphor for the external forces that can disrupt human lives, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding. The narrative also touches on themes of identity and sacrifice, as Sam and Dean struggle to maintain their sense of self amidst supernatural forces that challenge their worldview.

The episode effectively combines elements of suspense with meaningful character development and thematic depth. Its exploration of family dynamics and the supernatural makes it a compelling watch, inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences with faith and loyalty. By intertwining these elements with suspenseful storytelling, this episode enriches the series' ongoing narrative, setting the stage for future conflicts and character growth.

Both this episode and the very next one are not very good. The Anna storyline isn't given a proper development because it exists to hang the flashback on. The idiotic plotting and the grace as MacGruffin is lazy. There's not much to recommend about this episode outside of the some mythical scenes, i.e. Alastair.

The erotic scene with Dean and Anna is forced and is clearly added because of Destial being a thing.

From the "Then" recap the viewers are immediately informed that this episode will mark the return of the Mytharc, big time. The opening sequence brings in Julie McNiven, whose only real significant role by this time was a supporting character in season 1 (2007) of the rather boring Mad Men. This is worth mentioning because though I've watched season 1 (and 2) of Mad Men, I cannot for the death of me remember her character in that series. Here, in her first scene, she gives such a tremendous performance that rare must be the viewer who will not take note of her. And that is just *a couple* of scenes.

When it comes to acting, this episode is a huge treat. Misha Collins returns, delivering yet another great performance - by now it is impossible to think someone else as Castiel. With him, comes Robert Wisdom's Uriel, again putting the fear of God into other characters (and possibly the viewers as well). As if this were not enough, they also drop in Mark motherfrakkin' Rolston, Drake himself from Aliens! His performance here is simply frightening - oozing evil, and not in the caricatured, clichéd way evil is too often depicted on TV and movies. No, a truly great evil character is one who can justify his actions by logic - instead of the evil-just-because-they-are-evil characters. Rolston here can be compared to Hugo Weaving in The Matrix, that's how good he is. Yet, the star of this episode is Jared Padalecki, who finally gets some great material to work on and proves that he's just as good, if not better than Jensen Ackles. As for Genevieve Cortese, after this episode you may see her in a whole new light, in more senses than one...

The plot is not only magnificently imaginative and twisty but also non-linear, a feat that is harder to accomplish than most writers think. This is dense yet exciting TV, never losing momentum because of character moments. *That* is impressive. This really is one of those rarest of beasts - it has everything: drama, suspense, shocks, surprises, humor and action. Also, the intensity keeps increasing and increasing constantly throughout the episode, right to the very final scene. It is not 100% perfect, but a 95% perfect rounds up to a 10/10. Not to be missed.

We are filled in what happened to Sam after Dean left. Anna is introduced and is a mystery. It's an entertaining serious one.

I absolutely cannot stand the actress who plays Ruby. Her delivery is wooden. Everything else-awesome.