Discussion of 1.10 "Asylum" - 11/22/05 (WB-US)

[Vilandra]

Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) investigate an abandoned sanitarium and discover that when the hospital was open, the patients held a revolt against the cruel and unusual punishments inflicted by the head doctor. While the brothers search the premises for four lost college students, the tortured spirits cause them to go insane, turning Dean against Sam.

The episode was written by Richard Hatem and directed by Guy Bee.

Source: The WB (http://thewb.warnerbros.com/web/show_episode.jsp?id=SN109)

[prydain]

I loved this episode! Not as much as "HOME" but it was one of the stronger episodes, I think. I loved how Sam actually pulled the trigger...

[Vilandra]

This one had its scary moments - I actually covered my eyes when that girl appeared the first time lol

Had some interesting Dean-Sam bits about their relationship.

[buffetofsporks]

From what I remember (All these reruns ... grrr), it definitely was one of the better episodes. I mean, it really left me wanting more. I really can't wait for whenever it comes back ... I hate these damn hiatuses (hiatusai? spelling isn't my strong point.)

Although, Home was so much better, it my opinion. Talk about cliffhangers ...

[goldenboy]

I did like the freaky girl with the face, or lack thereof, hugging the poor dude. How is it that rock salt is supposed to hurt ghosts, exactly? Just scare 'em?

The reason this show is working, I suspect, is the same as the PG-13 horror movie phenomenon. Kinda freakishly creepy, but not too scary or gross for the kids. Young, relatable characters. And it's got a sense of humor about itself at times, like the X-Files did. And, it's got some of those X-Files alums writing and directing, so that's gotta help...

[Wesley]

I liked this one a lot. Its one of my favorite Supernatural episodes. It was really cool. Made me think of the nut house a couple miles down the road. But it was really good. And the ending, wow. I want more now.

[prydain]

Okie dokie, I just rewatched the episode again. It's one of those that I like better the more times I watch it.

It was never scary or even really creepy, but this is one of the best episodes, I think. It was a tad disturbing when the cop killed his wife and himself at the beginning, even though I've seen it like three times now..

The special effects are really good, a LOT better than they were in "Bugs". I like the show's visual style - everything is really washed out and dull, somehow it makes the show feel heavier in tone. The asylum was really grimy and filthy, and it really did look like had been abandoned for years.

I still love the fact that Sam put the trigger three or four frickin times - that's definitely not the norm for shows, and it seems a bit more realistic this way. Sam obviously has some serious repressed anger towards Dean, but I wonder if most of it is really towards his father and he's just directing it towards his brother. And I hope that by the end of the season we'll learn what he told the psychiatrist.

I liked the guest stars, too. The girl was hot and funny, and I thought it was amusing that she knew how to use a shotgun but her b/f didn't. And the boy was more worried about the ghost kissing him than being safe, lol.

I think the "freakiest" special effect was the random ghost in the straightjacket with the spasmic head. That was cool.

Hmmm...the only thing that could've made this episode better would be flashbacks or something, it would've been cool to see some scenes with the doctor when the asylum was in business. I guess that would've been too expensive. *shrug*

[Vilandra]

Or too much like House on Haunted Hill :)

[prydain]

Which I have not seen. :D

[Vilandra]

You should - I enjoyed both the original and sequel. It's not going to win an Oscar, but I thought it was entertaining :)

[prydain]

Yeah I've been wanting to watch it, just haven't gotten around to it. Which shouldn't be a surprise to you, lol.

[goldenboy]

Okie dokie, I just rewatched the episode again. It's one of those that I like better the more times I watch it.

It was never scary or even really creepy, but this is one of the best episodes, I think. It was a tad disturbing when the cop killed his wife and himself at the beginning, even though I've seen it like three times now..

The special effects are really good, a LOT better than they were in "Bugs". I like the show's visual style - everything is really washed out and dull, somehow it makes the show feel heavier in tone. The asylum was really grimy and filthy, and it really did look like had been abandoned for years.

I still love the fact that Sam put the trigger three or four frickin times - that's definitely not the norm for shows, and it seems a bit more realistic this way. Sam obviously has some serious repressed anger towards Dean, but I wonder if most of it is really towards his father and he's just directing it towards his brother. And I hope that by the end of the season we'll learn what he told the psychiatrist.

I liked the guest stars, too. The girl was hot and funny, and I thought it was amusing that she knew how to use a shotgun but her b/f didn't. And the boy was more worried about the ghost kissing him than being safe, lol.

I think the "freakiest" special effect was the random ghost in the straightjacket with the spasmic head. That was cool.

Hmmm...the only thing that could've made this episode better would be flashbacks or something, it would've been cool to see some scenes with the doctor when the asylum was in business. I guess that would've been too expensive. *shrug*

Good assessment. I really like the washed-out look too. All the shows filmed in Vancouver look kinda gray and depressing (no offence, Vancouverites, lol). It was great for the X-Files too, while they were there. But Supernatural goes the extra mile with the drab. It was a great ep.

To me, it's always scarier when you don't really see what's causing all the commotion, can't see a face of the ghost. By the time they showed the evil doctor at the end, it was sorta like Ghostbusters time. The dread goes away when you actually see a crusty old dude in white makeup. But the show's effects are interesting, in general.

[prydain]

Good assessment. I really like the washed-out look too. All the shows filmed in Vancouver look kinda gray and depressing (no offence, Vancouverites, lol). It was great for the X-Files too, while they were there. But Supernatural goes the extra mile with the drab. It was a great ep.

Yeah, but I think they use a dull-ish/silver film to make that drab as heavy as possible. However, some colors do stand out. In "Scarecrow" there was a red truck...it looked almost awkward in the rest of the place, which practically looks black and white, lol.

[goldenboy]

I'm sure you're right about the film stock, photography. And that's a good point about the color standing out. I love when directors play around with drabness vs color. What color there is really pops then.

It reminds me of this weird old children's film, The Red Balloon.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/6303968651/103-4599381-2479005?v=glance

Everything's dull browns, grays, except for this bright red balloon that follows this little kid around wherever he goes. The singer Elliott Smith did a takeoff of it in one of his videos. Really cool (to me, anyway, lol)

[Vilandra]

They probably touch it up digitally as well :)

[Wesley]

For anyone who hasn't seen this one. Someon on K-site said that "Asylum" will be on again next week.

[Black Eye Guy]

This episode was excellent, The look of the show is definitely very unique, it is very cool. And woks perfect with the tone of the show.

I said it in another thread that I really liked how the main characters are Brothers and not just friends, it really gets to show more emotion between them, Or a lack of it. But this episode really got to show it, I could not believe Sam pulled the trigger, I thought Dean was going to talk him out of it, Then he went on to pull it a couple more time! Then Dean didn't want to talk about it, you could totally see that coming up as an issue later in the series.

Oh and then that Cliff-hanger ending, That was cool... Well Im off to watch the next one now!!