Episode Title: “Sharp Teeth”
Writer: Adam Glass
Director: John Showalter
Previously on “Supernatural”
It seems with this season, the ninth of “Supernatural,” the writers are trying to tie up loose ends, or at least loose recurring guest stars. Earlier this season, the writers swept Felicia Day’s character, Charlie under the rug in the land of OZ. “Sharp Teeth” is Garth’s (DJ Qualls) chance to shine. To be honest, I’ve never enjoyed the character. His comedic style often clashed against the situations he was being used in. It was like the writers had no clue what to do with him, and the writing reflected that.
Another element to the Garth problem stems from the systematic elimination of every other hunter in the “Supernatural” mythos. The new world of this show is an isolated one; no hunters, monsters galore, including a lot of angels that have yet to make a mass appearance. What does it mean to be a hunter in this world? Forget that Garth’s a bumbling klutz, his appointment as the “new Bobby” made the character of Bobby Singer (Jim Beaver) less important. I’ve never seen a show turn a fan favorite character’s legacy into a retraction. Why are Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) the only ones that matter? And in a similar vein, why is the only other hunter in this world the most unlikeable one of them all?
Amazingly, though, Garth is the glue that brings Sam and Dean back together, at least for an episode. Garth lands in the hospital after getting hit by a car, running from a barn where he killed a cow. When the brothers finally catch up with one another, in Garth’s room, the tension is palpable between them. It’s awkward and uncomfortable.
Garth is still the normal Garth that we’ve seen in every other episode of “Supernatural” to date, except for the new, serious tone of the character. He escapes from the hospital and when the boys track him back to a hotel where it is revealed that Garth is a werewolf. He’s also settled down, married, and has sworn to a life of staying high on the hog or cow in this case, and not on the human. This is the first time that Garth has ever been enjoyable on screen, even relatable in his new lyncanthropic state. The pack he’s running with are Christian spiritualists. They each wear silver bullets around their necks, to remind themselves how important life is. They pray, and try to be human.
Together, the brothers take the moral high road, that all werewolves must be killed, no matter what. Part of the problem is that they’ve played on this aspect so many times that it’s lost a bit of its punch. Sometimes they’re for the killing, sometimes not. The gray line has never really been defined in these situations, because it changes constantly. What is it that marks the good from the bad? Sam calls them “friendly monsters” in this episode, but as “Supernatural” has proven over the years: just because they’re friendly, doesn’t mean they get to live.
Back in the second season, episode four, “Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things,” Dean’s moral stance was established: “what’s dead should stay dead.” It’s that moral ground that comes out tonight when he’s invited to see the harmonious lycanthropes together under the leadership of Reverend Jim. In a brilliant scene, all are seated around a table, mowing down on animal parts, except for Dean, whom a proper meal is prepared for. It’s played off as a place that Twilight could never go to, because of the toned down nature of the story for its intended audience. It’s funny, and its honest in execution.
An investigation finds a rogue sect of werewolves that are seeking to bring about the end of the world through the Norse myth of Ragnarok. Werewolves would basically rule the world. What plays out is the typical conclusion to a “Supernatural” stand-alone episode. One of the brothers gets captured. Monster gets cocky, revealing its plan to the brother and other capture creatures. Dean, the brother who wasn’t captured in this case, comes to the rescue; everything is almost compromised when a monster wild-card almost takes out the rescuing brother. Then, situation is resolved, monster is dead due to weapon of folkloric choice and the problem is taken care of. After nine seasons, the style is heavily overused, a failed formula that spits out the wrong answer time and time again.
The biggest disappointment of the evening is Garth’s lack of involvement in the final battle. He just sits there, tied up. That fact alone makes Garth’s lycanthropy just another tool to sweep him under the rug in future episodes. If that’s the case, “Supernatural” has rectified the character, given him his own angle, made him a sympathetic and memorable character for the proper reasons.
Sam and Dean’s relationship is put to the ultimate test. The tension from the big reveal of Gadreel’s possession of Sam is still weighs heavy on the scenes between them. The strife between them this season feels more organic and it’s earned for once with compelling plots. This is the first time where being family isn’t enough to mend the fences, that maybe time is the only tool that can heal. To Jeremy Carver’s credit, he’s been able to explore the dynamics of what makes Sam and Dean’s relationship work, and also, what slows it down. If at the very least, “Sharp Teeth” puts the brothers on a united front as monster hunters. The relationship, though, is still going to need more time.
Though “Sharp Teeth” didn’t push the plot in a forward direction, it answered questions that were left over from last season. For the most part, Jeremy Carver’s crew have been able to put together compelling stand-along episodes since the mid-season break. Another break is coming up after next weeks episode, “The Purge,” at which point the plot will have to start moving forward to make this seasons angel blunder worth it.
