In the sixth episode of the second season of Supernatural, Dean clashes with Jo when she decides to accompany the Winchesters on a hunt. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Supernatural.
I don’t think anyone is surprised by my instant attraction to an episode about Jo Harvelle because seriously it’s Jo. I WAS BIASED IN FAVOR OF “NO EXIT” IN THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES. But the writers pair her off with Dean in a way that examines the EXTREME FATHER ISSUES at the heart of their personal reasons for hunting, and then there’s that other thing. We’ll get there, I promise.
This is a relentlessly creepy episode on top of being way too emotional for me to handle. As I mentioned in the video, it’s neat to see what supernatural elements the show will introduce, and it’s in “No Exit” that we see ECTOPLASM. Which is REALLY REALLY DISGUSTING. It’s black, thick, and it drips mysteriously from the goddamn ceiling, a by-product of one of the nastiest and most revolting spirits we’ve ever seen on this show. And I loved the idea that this psychic slime wasn’t really a culprit, so much as a physical manifestation of something far more evil. And THERE IS SO MUCH CLAUSTROPHOBIC IMAGERY HERE, TOO. There are some ridiculously tight spaces, fingers coming out of vents, Jo trapped IN A THING. What was that weird metal box??? I’ve never seen anything like it at all. Essentially, this is nightmare fuel for forty minutes straight, and it just doesn’t let up. BRAVO, WRITERS. BRAVO. I was impressed with how scary this felt at times, and I may have gotten close to my previous NOPE record. MAYBE. I don’t know, I don’t keep track of such things SOMEONE ELSE DOES THAT. (I love you for it.)
But honestly, the real reason “No Exit” resonated with me was because of the use of the Harvelles and the Winchesters in an emotionally satisfying way. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this episode shares a name with the Sartre play. If hell is other people, then this episode shows us why that’s the case. Even though we’re dealing with the spirt of the first American serial killer ever, his crimes are only supernatural because he’s dead. He still preyed on young women before and after his death, and its what brings the Winchesters and Jo to Philadelphia. Initially, we’re led to believe that Ellen simply doesn’t want her daughter to be subject to the dangers of hunting, despite that hunting will always be inexplicably linked to their family. I mean, it wasn’t hard to see why the writers were contrasting and comparing the Harvelles with the Winchesters, and I imagine that plenty of hunters have similar experiences when it comes to their families. How many people have they lost? How many have devoted their lives to the hunt because they’ve got nothing else to lose? Hell, at this point, Bobby’s the only hunter we know of who doesn’t have tragedy written all over his characterization, and it’s entirely possible that’s because we’ve only seen him twice at this point.
Still, Dean isn’t exactly excited to have Jo along. I was happy they addressed the possibility that this was because of some form of sexism right off the bat, instead showing us that Dean was worried about Jo being inexperienced. We know Jo is very capable at what she does, but actually going on a hunt is different than hearing about one or planning one. Obviously, she’s fantastic at research, but what is she like when a demon is staring her down? Or when she’s facing a vengeful spirit? Is she as talented when it comes to fighting? So I got this huge big brother vibe from Dean throughout this episode whenever he was dealing with Jo. I think he wanted her to be safe and he wanted her to learn the tricks of the trade.
However, it’s not until Dean and Jo share a quiet moment of reflection together that Dean truly understands Jo’s desire to be a hunter. Y’all, that is one of my favorite scenes in the whole show up to this point, and I love that look of empathy that Dean gives Jo when she says that hunting keeps her close to her father. If there’s any character here who’d get her, Dean was the one, wasn’t he? God, his whole life is built off of his relationship with his father and Dean’s innate desire to live up to the standards that John set.
I admit that I got worried when Jo was capture by H.H. Holmes because this felt a bit too much like she was a damsel in distress. I wouldn’t fault anyone for reading it this way, but I think what this did was show Jo what the physical risks were of hunting. She’s not helpless here, even if she is in distress. No, she’s the one who surprises Holmes by stabbing him, and it’s her idea to act as bait that ultimately works to trap Holmes in a ring of salt. (WOW, HOLY SHIT, THAT’S ONE OF THE MOST SATISFYING AND DISTURBING RESOLUTIONS TO AN EPISODE YET. I LOVE EVERY BIT OF IT.) Plus, it’s not like Sam and Dean haven’t gotten themselves into a few close calls in the past, you know? To me, it felt like a learning experience. Jo survived her first hunt, they got the evil thing, and she made it home in one piece. Granted, she also has to deal with her mother, who she lied to and deceived in order to get what she wanted. Again, I was worried by how this appeared. Ellen was shrill, furious, and borderline irrational in her distrust of the Winchesters. But… not really? Dean did lie to her. However, she was SO MAD. Really mad! SUPER MAD! Why was she so angry??? I hoped that the writers weren’t trying to give us a mother who was just overprotective for the sake of it, and thankfully, that’s not the case, but OH MY GOD. THIS IS WHAT YOU DID INSTEAD?Â
Y’all, is there a petition I can sign to deem John Winchester as the LITERAL WORST? Yes? No? Because WHAT THE FUCK. I’m interested to know the details of how John’s mistake got William Anthony Harvelle killed, but CHRIST. And you know, I do get that it is a bit unfair of Ellen to judge Sam and Dean based on what their father did, but I’m sure the fact that Dean lied to her about Jo’s whereabouts didn’t help at all. Holy shit, this just got so much more complicated and painful and what the fuck.
The video commission for “No Exit” can be downloaded right here for just $0.99.
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