Discussion of 2.19 "Folsom Prison Blues" - Aired 2/26/07 (CW-US)

[prydain]

Summary:

After hearing about a ghost that has been killing off inmates one by one, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) decide the best way to investigate this spirit is from the inside and allow themselves to get thrown into the state penitentiary.

However, after FBI agent Henricksen (guest star C. Malik Whitfield) shows up to take over their case, getting out of prison becomes a bigger challenge than finding the spirit.

John Shiban wrote the episode directed by Mike Rohl.

Source (http://www.cwtv.com)

John Shiban is a good writer, he's written some of my favorite eps of SPN and The X-Files. And so far this episode has gotten a bunch of "10" ratings on TV.com, so I have high hopes for this one.

[N4H]

Yeah, it was watchable. I'd give it a 7.

[goldenboy]

How did Sam and Dean know their inside man, that prison guard? Was he a friend of their dad's? I missed that.

Yeah, it was good, not groundbreaking or anything. Another vengeful spirit.

I know it's TV, but...Sam and Dean should be on the FBI's most wanted list by now. How many times have they escaped from the cops at this point? I bet they've been profiled on "America's Most Wanted", their faces plastered across America's TV screens. When do they relocate to Yemen...

[N4H]

On the one hand you want to say these have to be either the world's worst cops (agents), or the show defies belief. On the other hand though, compare them to someone like Horatio from CSI Miami. He can pull the DNA from the hair on a housefly's leg, and identify it as the fly that sat on his perp's shirt label in 1999. Have you ever followed true crime investigations? They're a history of screw-ups, and when a crime ever is actually solved, 90 % of the time it's a result of an actual witness identification. Sometimes there's even a witness identification, and they still miss it. From that perspective the agents in Supernatural are actually more believable than Horatio in CSI.

Yeah the dad owed the prison guard one. Weren't they war buddies, or something like that? Was his name Deacon?

[goldenboy]

Have you ever followed true crime investigations? They're a history of screw-ups, and when a crime ever is actually solved, 90 % of the time it's a result of an actual witness identification. Sometimes there's even a witness identification, and they still miss it. From that perspective the agents in Supernatural are actually more believable that Horatio in CSI.

That reminds me of the D.C. sniper case from a few years back. All the "experts" profiled the killer as a lone psycho white guy...and reports of a white van. So everyone's freaking out about white vans. There were reports of a beat up station wagon too, but the local sheriff refused to release that info to the public. Afraid of putting people in danger or some BS. They finally release the report of the station wagon, and hours, or a day later or something, they catch the snipers - because of a civilian witness giving the cops a tip.

[prydain]

I really liked this episode. I thought it was going to be serious but it blended the humor in quite nicely, and overall it was a really fun episode. I liked it a lot more than last week's, and it some ways it was funnier. The first time we actually see the ghost - its eyes, anyway - I jumped, even though I was expecting it. I can't remember the last time this show made me jump.

I don't know about anyone else, but so much of this season has been about the mythology that I've grown to really love the episodes that just deal with a ghost-of-the-week scenario. I mean, I am into the mythology and I'm glad they have arcs but the monster episodes are just fun.

Another thing I liked about this episode was that it held me in suspense in a way this show usually doesn't - like Lost can. The ending when the cops are pulling up, I didn't get the idea that maybe the lawyer lied to them until the boys managed to set the corpse on fire. And I was quite concerned about the guard, too.

Did anyone else feel bad for Tiny? I liked him - I was hoping we'd hear more of his story before he had his heart attack.

I'd rate the episode a 8/10 for sheer enjoyment factor.

[teentitan]

I liked this episode. That nurse was nastyyyyyyy! The face was a cool shot and that eye. My lord if a nurse came at me and had a freaky eye like that I would suddenly be healthier by screaming as I ran away, lol.
I too agree that the mythology shows were a little boring (really hope the arc of those shows are summed up in the season ender) and prefer the single episodes battling demons/ghosties.
What do you think 'deep' means? It was said in such a ominous way that I sorta got a chill down my spine.

[prydain]

I was assuming they meant they have to go "deep undercover" since the they're in so much trouble with the law - but how do they plan on doing that, exactly? A big step would be to get a new car...I mean that thing sticks out like an ogre but I know the Kripke would never have them drive anything else. Also, they're always going around and talking to strangers and digging up graves, I really don't see how they plan on staying hidden.

I don't think the mythology episodes are BORING, really, I like them and all, but probably more than half of this season has been devoted to the mythology. Although "Born Under a Bad Sign" was probably the best episode of the show.

Next season - assuming the show gets renewed - they should balance out the mythology/stand-alones a bit better.

[honeyrose]

watched it today via the net!! i will give 10/10....just brilliant

[N4H]

10/10, wow, now that's a rave. I should watch it again. I obviously missed something.