All Hell Breaks Loose Part 1 - A Review
All Hell Breaks Loose - Part 1
Supernatural Season 2, episode #21.
Airdate: Thursday, May 10, 2007.
Written by Sera Gamble.
Directed by Robert Singer.
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Synopsis: Click here to read the episode summary
Sam vanishes while purchasing takeout, leaving behind nothing but a diner full of dead people, demon sulfer on the window sill, and a very frantic brother. Dean enlists Bobby’s and Ash’s aid to find Sam. Ash tells Dean that he has found out something big that he can’t reveal over the phone. When Dean and Bobby get to the roadhouse it is burned to the ground with Ash’s body in it. In the meantime, Sam is transported to a ghost town along with 4 others of his “generation”, including Andy (from Simon Says) and Ava (from Hunted). With no cell phone signal and a demon picking them off one by one, Sam is forced to become an unwilling participant in a deadly game of “survivor”. A game in which Ava turns betrayer, Andy is killed, and his ally, Jake, turns on him. Sam wins a fight with Jake and spares his life. But just as Dean and Bobby comes to his rescue, Jake attacks from behind, and stabs Sam. The episode ends with Sam collapsing lifelessly into Dean’s arms. -
Praises: This is the first part of the two-part season finale and my expectations were high. Fortunately, it did not disappoint. This episode was all about the show’s myth arc. It focused primarily on Sam and his relationship with the other “children” with psychic abilities. Answers to a few burning questions like “what was the demon doing in Sam’s nursery?”, “what does the demon want with the psychics?”, “why was Jessica killed?”, and “what happened to Ava?”, are revealed. It also produced a whole slew of new questions to keep the fans quessing. I was impressed at how Sam stepped out of his brother’s shadow and revealed himself to be a mature, take-charge individual. Though at first he looked lost and upset at finding himself stranded, he quickly and naturally he assumed the role of leader and protector of the “children”. Dean, on the other hand, was a frantic mess about his brother disappearance. This reunion of the psychics was predictable, but I was taken completely by surprise by Ava’s turnabout. The cliffhanger ending was very poignant and did what it was supposed to. It made me really want to see the sequel to find out what happens next.
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Nags: The title for this episode does not fit the events, not yet anyway. It’s a lead-in for the final episode, but it could stand alone just fine and should have had it’s own title, like “Salvation” did in season one. The writers also need to find another term for the psychic children other than “children”. I can’t imagine a 23-year old calling themselves a “child”, yet that is precisely what Sam and Ava did. Overall, the pace was a bit too slow and there was no scary moments at all. But the most disappointing part of this episode was it’s ending. Though it was very dramatic, it was also frustrating for me to watch. These boys must know basic first aid. John would not ignore that part of their training, especially considering how dangerous their profession is. So Dean hugging Sam and crying while he bleeds out in front of him was just not believable. Dean’s first action should have been to make all effort to stop Sam’s bleeding. Unfortunately, this is not the first time Supernatural has been unrealistic about wound treatment and and emergency care and it probably won’t be the last. I think they need a consultant in first aid who can provide them with some realistic feedback. I volunteer to do it.
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My Rating: Great episode. 4 out of 5 stars.
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