Supernatural, Episode 207 “There’s No Place Like Home” Broadcast January 27, 2015
Written by Robbie Thompson
Directed by Phil Sgriccia
THEN: a brief flashback to give backstory on Charlie Bradbury, Dean wearing the Mark of Cain, and Charlie leaving for adventure in the land of Oz. NOW: the exterior of a house has a light blow out on the second story, followed by a man’s scream. Inside, the man runs down the stairs with objects being thrown at him. He makes it outside, but trips over a hose when the exterior lights come on. He stands, bloodied, his hands bound. He smiles at escaping, only to turn and find himself facing a female silhouette. “Please, I don’t know anything else.” “I’m now going to torture you anyway,” says the woman stepping towards him into the light. It’s Charlie with slicked back hair wearing tight black leather. “‘Cause who doesn’t love a little torture?” Cue opening title sequence.
At the boys’ bunker, Sam concludes a call with Castiel just as Dean tosses a plate of food at him. Dean’s on a health kick, but one of them doesn’t like the meal. After eating, they research the Mark until Sam comes across a video online of Charlie beating the man from the opening sequence. Dean calls her, but she’s not picking up. Sam learns that she was beating a D.A. in Topeka, Kansas. Other people were also assaulted there earlier. As they grab their gear to go, Dean checks a knife and his hand begins to shake after he unsheathes it. He gets his act together just as Sam asks if he’s ready. Interviewing the “ass hat”, the D.A. reveals that Charlie asked him questions about an earlier case. After some not-so-gentle persuasion from Dean, the D.A. reveals the name he gave to her: Barbara Cordrey. The brothers figure out that Charlie is looking for the person responsible for killing her parents years ago in a drunk driving accident. “We gotta find her before she does something no one can walk away from.” The boys get to Cordrey’s house and get blown off, so they stake out the place from the street. A scream from inside prompts their entering to find Charlie holding a knife to the woman’s throat. “Should’ve known Rocket and Groot would track me down,” she says. Some dialogue and a scuffle later has Dean in hot pursuit with Sam asking Cordrey what Charlie wanted. “Bank statements.” Charlie races off in a black car and Dean would be after her if she hadn’t slashed his tires. A yellow car pulls up behind him with Charlie driving. “What’s up, bitchin’?” Dean’s shocked and so is arriving Sam. She smiles awkwardly. “Right. We should probably catch up.” Cue first commercial break.
This was a fun episode, even if it had some fairly predictable moments. I liked both Charlies, and Felicia Day looked as though she were having a blast playing both sides of her character. This return to Oz, and perhaps the final story involving it, was a good sequel with disastrous results for one character. The fighting between Charlie and Dean was fun, with him being constantly surprised, but things took a decidedly dark turn at the end. The Mark of Cain arc hasn’t been a hit with me so far, but this episode really did the most with it and did it subtly. I really like the direction by Sgriccia when Dean was suffering an attack, and Jensen Ackles did a really outstanding job showing the fear in Dean. This was the best he’s been with this ailment this season. I especially liked the long, final shot of the episode. Very well done. Jared Padalecki is out of most of the action, and Sam serves only to be the conscience for Dean and Charlie. However, this was the best Mark of Cain episode yet.
The good: Felicia Day, Jensen Ackles, the script, the direction, and the conclusion.
Fun lines: “Sooner we get rid of this demonic tramp stamp, I am back on the booze, the burgers…and more booze,” “Talk!”, “Crap!”, “She is a bad ass, yeah,” “I told you. Being good is annoying,” “We’ll just see, won’t we?” and “I know. Kind of your move.”
The bad: No Star Trek reference? Really disappointed that not one two-Kirks line appeared. That’s all I can grouse about, and that’s nothing.
The final line: Excellent episode with the best Mark of Cain installment yet. The writing, directing, and acting is some of the best this season. Overall grade: A
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