The Girl with the Dungeons and Dragons Tattoo
- Episode aired Apr 27, 2012
- TV-14
- 43m
Sam and Dean discover that Frank's hard drive, containing everything on the leviathans, is now in Dick's company building. To retrieve it, they ask for help from one of the employees, a youn... Read allSam and Dean discover that Frank's hard drive, containing everything on the leviathans, is now in Dick's company building. To retrieve it, they ask for help from one of the employees, a young computer hacker.Sam and Dean discover that Frank's hard drive, containing everything on the leviathans, is now in Dick's company building. To retrieve it, they ask for help from one of the employees, a young computer hacker.
- Frank Devereaux
- (voice)
- (as Kevin R. McNally)
- Dr. Gaines
- (archive footage)
- …
- Susan
- (archive footage)
- …
- George
- (archive footage)
- …
Featured reviews
The episode begins with Charlie Bradbury (Felicia Day), an employee at Richard Roman Enterprises, inadvertently discovering incriminating information about her boss, Dick Roman (James Patrick Stuart), the leader of the Leviathans. After witnessing Dick's ruthless actions firsthand, Charlie becomes a target. Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) track her down and convince her to help them hack into Dick's emails to uncover his plans. Despite her initial reluctance, Charlie agrees to infiltrate Roman's office with the brothers' guidance. The operation takes a dangerous turn when Bobby Singer's (Jim Beaver) ghost intervenes in ways that reveal his growing instability as a spirit consumed by vengeance.
John MacCarthy's direction effectively balances the episode's comedic tone with its suspenseful elements. The cinematography captures the sterile and imposing environment of Roman's corporate headquarters while contrasting it with Charlie's vibrant personality and resourceful hacking setup. The editing ensures a smooth flow between action-packed sequences and quieter character moments, maintaining a brisk pace that keeps viewers engaged. However, some critics have noted that certain plot elements-such as Bobby's ghostly rage-could have been explored further to enhance their emotional impact.
Felicia Day delivers an outstanding performance as Charlie Bradbury, bringing charm, wit, and vulnerability to her role as an unlikely hero thrust into a supernatural conflict. Her chemistry with Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki is delightful, particularly in scenes where she banters with Dean or receives encouragement from Sam. James Patrick Stuart continues to shine as Dick Roman, exuding menace and arrogance that make him a compelling antagonist. Jim Beaver adds emotional weight as Bobby, whose struggle with his ghostly existence raises questions about morality and control.
Thematically, "The Girl with the Dungeons and Dragons Tattoo" explores empowerment and resilience through Charlie's journey from reluctant participant to active contributor in the fight against the Leviathans. Her ability to adapt and thrive despite overwhelming odds mirrors broader themes in Supernatural about ordinary individuals rising to extraordinary challenges. The episode also delves into loyalty and sacrifice as Sam and Dean navigate their partnership with Charlie while grappling with Bobby's increasingly erratic behavior.
One of the standout moments occurs when Charlie infiltrates Roman's office under Sam and Dean's guidance. Her quick thinking and humor-such as referencing Hermione Granger for courage-make her infiltration both tense and entertaining. Another memorable sequence involves Bobby's ghost shattering glass to protect Charlie from Leviathans, showcasing his lingering protective instincts while foreshadowing his descent into vengeful instability.
"The Girl with the Dungeons and Dragons Tattoo" is a highly entertaining episode that combines humor, suspense, and emotional depth while advancing Season 7's overarching narrative. Its introduction of Charlie Bradbury adds fresh energy to the series while highlighting themes of empowerment and teamwork. Although certain elements could have been more fully developed-particularly Bobby's ghostly arc-the episode succeeds in delivering a compelling mix of action and character-driven storytelling. By intertwining personal stakes with cosmic threats, "The Girl with the Dungeons and Dragons Tattoo" challenges viewers to reflect on how resilience can emerge from unexpected places-a theme that resonates long after the credits roll.
In "The Girl with the Dungeons and Dragons Tattoo", the storyline with Dick Roman and the leviathans return, but Felicia Day steals the show in the role of the hacker Charlie Bradbury. Dean and Sam are helped by the ghost Bobby and the brothers show concern with the wish for revenge of Bobby. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "The Girl with the Dungeons and Dragons Tattoo"
Charlie is of course the star but this is so much more than her introduction.
Did you know
- TriviaThe episode title is a play on the book "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson. It is the first book in the series revolving around a strong female lead with amazing hacker abilities, which ties to Charlie in this episode.
- GoofsWhen the hacker is hacking Frank's hard drive, the word "scavenge" is misspelled as "scavange".
- Quotes
[after Dean has coached Charlie through flirting with the male security guard]
Charlie Bradbury: I feel so dirty.
Dean Winchester: You and me both, sister.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Supernatural: LARP and the Real Girl (2013)
Details
- Runtime
- 43m
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD