Supernatural’s “Bloodlines” is definitely a departure from its parent show. In a recent interview, director Robert Singer said that the episode “introduces a dramatic Dallas-like vibe and even a Mob mentality to the Supernatural landscape.” I can somewhat see the supposed allure of putting that sort of twist on the show’s universe, but I wish a little more emphasis had been given to the would-be show’s heart.
Andrew Dabb wrote the backdoor pilot, and he’s penned fantastic Supernatural episodes, including “Road Trip” (9×10) and “Hunteri Heroici” (8×8). As he has in the past, Dabb imbues “Bloodlines” with snappy dialogue and employs the parallels and mirrors that have proliferated season nine. The episode still falls short, though.
The premise of “Bloodlines” has little to do with the Winchesters or the Supernatural landscape we’re used to. Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Sam (Jared Padalecki) are in the episode for maybe 15 minutes, though that’s not even my main complaint. I usually enjoy episodes that take risks with framing and perspective. I like “Bitten” (8×4) because the brief glimpses of the Winchesters show the brothers from an outsider’s point of view. Last week’s “Alex Annie Alexis Anne” avoids the “brothers bookend” by framing the episode with interactions between Jody Mills and Alex that, consequently, present Dean and Sam from a different angle. In this episode, however, neither Winchester is well-utilized, and it’s easy to forget that this is Supernatural until Ackles and/or Padalecki pop up. Maybe that disconnect is intended since this is a backdoor pilot, but as an invested viewer, I simply feel cheated of 42 minutes of season nine storytelling time.
In “Bloodlines,” Ennis Roth (Lucien Laviscount) takes his girlfriend since fifth grade, Tamara (Erinn Westbrook), on a romantic date at a fancy restaurant, Il Secundo, where Sal Lassiter (Bryce Johnson) and his buddies are joining the party happening in the Very Important Monsters room. Shapeshifter Sal tussles briefly with nemesis werewolf Julian Duval (Sean Faris). As they walk away from their argument, the lights go out and something attacks the monsters in attendance.
Meanwhile, Ennis and Tam have left the restaurant, and are at the conveniently nearby ferry station, where Ennis is trying to propose. An injured Sal comes near, collapses, and the attacker attacks again, throwing Tam against corrugated metal, killing her. Sal’s last words are, “David, I’m sorry. I didn’t have a choice.” Post-title card, we see David Lassiter (Nathaniel Buzolic) breaking into his professor’s office by posing as said professor and stealing the final exam. A phone call from his sister Margot (Danielle Savre) informs him about Sal’s death, and he goes home.
Broken-hearted Ennis is debriefing at the police station when FBI agents – Dean and Sam, finally! – show up. They listen to his story about the attacker that Ennis is sure wasn’t human. Dean’s response? “I don’t know what to tell you, kid. There’s no such thing as monsters.” This is definitely a shift from the Dean in “Nightshifter” (2×12) who didn’t want Sam to lie to Ronald about the “mandroid.”
Margot is angling for war with the werewolves, whom she blames for Sal’s death. She taunts David with his ex’s impeding marriage; Violet Duval (Melissa Roxburgh) is set to marry a New York wolf. In one of the more noticeable echoes in the episode, David tells Margo, “I’m not saying don’t fight. I’m saying be smart about this.” I immediately thought of Sam stopping Dean from killing Samuel Campbell with, “I’m not saying don’t. I’m saying not yet” (6×16).
The episode moves from the Lassiter family dynamics to the Duvals – and, oh my. Julian actually tells his sister, “You’re the bitch in this pack, princess. Your job is to be pretty and silent. So, war? No war? You don’t get a vote.” Do I even need to say why these lines are problematic? I surely hope not. (By the way, notice that we’re not even 15 minutes into the episode yet.)
Back to Ennis, who’s actually a rather interesting character. His deceased father is a veteran, and when going through his things, Ennis finds a silver bullet carved with Xs. Coincidence? I think not. Once prepared, Ennis breaks into Il Secundo, where Maurice, a vampire, smells him and attacks. (I’m not supposed to laugh when Maurice pops his fangs, am I?) The Winchesters burst onto the scene, and Dean tells Ennis to leave. When he won’t, Dean says, “Alright, Sammy, give him the talk.” Sam gives the super-condensed version, bottom-lining with, “Basically, we chase down evil and cut its head off.” The conversations between Sam and Ennis point back to larger season nine issues, and this one is an example of that as Sam says, “I get it. Believe me – I’ve been there. But what we do, it’s messed up. So do yourself a favor and stay out.” Of course, Ennis doesn’t listen.