S08.E04: Bitten

[Demented Daisy]

Sam and Dean come across a home made video of three friends investigating a werewolf attack.

 

 

Could have done without this episode.  It's just... boring.

[DittyDotDot]

I don't mind this episode entirely, just not a favorite. I don't mind the vacation from the show, it just felt like not the right time to do it. They do like to have their fourth episodes go really off book though, don't they? I think what would have helped this episode immensely is knowing these characters outside of the found footage stuff. Maybe one of the characters needed to be someone we already knew, but overall I still found it to be an interesting aside. Not sure that it has any staying power for me though, we'll have to wait and see when I get here on the re-watch.

[DittyDotDot]

So, I'm there and I still kinda like this episode--sort of--I like the idea of finding a different way to tell the story and mostly it works for me. I'm not fond of all the talking-holding-a-camera stuff, but I understand why they did a lot of it. I'm glad they didn't do this late in the season, but I also wonder if they shouldn't have done it so early either. It just seems like it's too soon in the season and there's a lot of things going on, but let's take a break from all that to do a random aside and I think it would've worked better if they had found a way to tie it in better. But, overall, I still give them kudos for taking a risk and stepping out of their norm to do something different.

[catrox14]

The idea of the experience was interesting but I hate found footage stuff and IMO the actors were not very good. I just did not care about these people. I did not care about their experiences because it was found footage which always feels fake and staged so I have no connection.

[rue721]

I actually love found footage so much that I just watched Paranormal 5:  The Marked Ones like two days ago and enjoyed it. But this particular episode was so boring, I didn't even bother rewatching it when I was trying to get through S8 recently.

 

Found footage doesn't work if you (the audience) already knows what's up. The whole point is that it's good for suspense, because you can only get a very limited picture of what's going on. But as far as I remember, there actually wasn't anything new to "not know" about werewolves with this one?

 

You know what probably would have made more sense, even though I hate him and it wouldn't have happened because it would have required a ton of advance planning on the part of the show?

If they'd done a found footage thing for Garth becoming a werewolf. That Garth & Co. are werewolves and the Winchesters obviously didn't kill him and his wife when they found out in S9 also kind of took the wind out of the show's sails in terms of whether the Winchesters were going to kill Kate in S10, js. Though to be completely honest, I didn't even remember Kate from Bitten when she showed up in S10.

[Goldmoon]

The only thing that redeemed this for me was the students wondering if Dean and Sam were having a workplace romance.  Other than that, SPN?  What SPN?  I do want to say I thought the nerdy guy was in love with Michael, not with the girl.  Was disappointed it turned out to be such a cliché.

[sarthaz]

I didn't have a big problem with this episode when it aired, but on a rewatch, it's just garbage.  I made it 150+ episodes without fast-forwarding a second of content, but I skipped like 80% of this episode.  I just don't have an ounce of give-a-damn for these characters, and the found-footage approach is terribly annoying the second time around.  Blech.

[Diane]

Clear eyes clogged arteries can't lose. The only good thing about this episode, Friday night lights.

[RulerofallIsurvey]

So, I'm going to try not to get too overly philosophical and deep in my comments here.  Seems that when I do, things go bad pretty quickly.  And since I'm really more of a "Always Look on the Bright Side of Death" person, I like to stay in the shallow, if snarky, end of the comment pool.

I watched this last night.  And yes, I'm commenting here before I even comment in ep 1 and 2 even though I said in the ep3 thread that I was on my way over to the 1 and 2 threads.  Alas!  I got distracted by Sam's awful hair this season.  At least I didn't have to see much of it this episode.  haha.

At first I was really bored with this episode.  Then I thought it was pretty good.  But about half way through I was completely done with the Blair Witch Project camera style.  A little goes a long way.

So the little twist at the end that it was the girl who 'painted' the walls was good.  Didn't see that coming.  At least until she got bit.  Then I knew it would be her.  I was wondering the entire episode how the smaller guy (Sorry, can't remember any of their names!) had time to edit together all that footage into the cohesive story which Sam and Dean watched before he obviously got killed.  (I knew he got killed because of the tennis shoes.)  Makes sense since it wasn't him.  Still, I would think that would have taken her some time.  But how did Dean and Sam know to go back there?  I missed that if it was said.

Her ending to the film was very poignant and sad.  I wonder what ever happened to her.  Did the show ever bring her back?  I'd like to see her again.

It was fun and interesting 'seeing' Sam and Dean from someone else's POV.  The office romance speculation was funny.  However, I was rather surprised that the girl called them out as fake FBI because of Dean's use of "awesome" and not Sam's ridiculous non-standard-issue Fed hair.  

I thought it was very curious, and a little surprising, that Dean was all okay with letting the girl go her own way, especially given his stance in the Amy Pond incident.  It didn't surprise me that Sam was okay with it because of Amy Pond.  I guess we are supposed to surmise that due to Dean's time in Purgatory and working with vampire Benny, he's mellowed a bit.

ETA: mind you, this was not a rewatch for me.  And I haven't seen s9 and 10 yet (even though I watched most of 11) so if things make different sense to viewers in retrospect, please remember fresh eyes, and all that.  

Edited June 2, 2016 by RulerofallIsurvey
edited to add the: ETA.

[DittyDotDot]

17 minutes ago, RulerofallIsurvey said:

So the little twist at the end that it was the girl who 'painted' the walls was good.  Didn't see that coming.  At least until she got bit.  Then I knew it would be her.  I was wondering the entire episode how the smaller guy (Sorry, can't remember any of their names!) had time to edit together all that footage into the cohesive story which Sam and Dean watched before he obviously got killed.  (I knew he got killed because of the tennis shoes.)  Makes sense since it wasn't him.  Still, I would think that would have taken her some time.  But how did Dean and Sam know to go back there?  I missed that if it was said.

Her ending to the film was very poignant and sad.  I wonder what ever happened to her.  Did the show ever bring her back?  I'd like to see her again.

To the first question, if memory serves, they watched the footage on that camera the little guy hid at the professor's office. It showed the little guy getting bit...I think. It's been a while since I've seen this one and it's not real clear in my mind.

To your second question, 

Spoiler

Yes. Kate returns in a later episode in S10. 

[RulerofallIsurvey]

11 minutes ago, DittyDotDot said:

To the first question, if memory serves, they watched the footage on that camera the little guy hid at the professor's office. It showed the little guy getting bit...I think. It's been a while since I've seen this one and it's not real clear in my mind.

To your second question, 

  Reveal hidden contents

Yes. Kate returns in a later episode in S10. 

To my first question: Oh thank you.  I remember them showing the professor freaking out on the film, I guess after he bit the kid?  But now that makes me wonder how long it was between when Dean and Sam shot the prof., found the footage, watched it and then went to the house.  The timeline just seems a little wonky to me.  I'm probably over thinking it.  

To my second question: cool! (or as Dean would say: Awesome!) Thanks! I'll look forward to seeing her again.  (And if it turns out badly, please don't spoil it for me!  Lol!)

Edited June 2, 2016 by RulerofallIsurvey
what Dean would say.

[DittyDotDot]

26 minutes ago, RulerofallIsurvey said:

To my first question: Oh thank you.  I remember them showing the professor freaking out on the film, I guess after he bit the kid?  But now that makes me wonder how long it was between when Dean and Sam shot the prof., found the footage, watched it and then went to the house.  The timeline just seems a little wonky to me.  I'm probably over thinking it.  

Yeah, I don't know that the timeframe lines up either. I'd need to watch it again to refresh my memory of all the little details. This is why I generally find Robbie Thompson's episodes somewhat frustrating. He seems to get caught up in the idea and loses sight of the episode. There always seems to be something that keeps his episodes from being stellar in my mind. I always really, really want to love them, but just kinda, sorta like them in the end. 

[RulerofallIsurvey]

Well, it's not the first time, especially in this show where I've thought the timeline was wonky.  I think others have mentioned the long car trips that seem to happen in Warp drive...  

I forgot to say: THE BEST thing about this ep was no Amelia flashback!  

ETA: the worst thing about this ep (no not the camera work) was that annoying song that kept playing over and over.  Geez.  Who picked that?

Edited June 2, 2016 by RulerofallIsurvey
The music sucked!

[DittyDotDot]

2 hours ago, RulerofallIsurvey said:

Well, it's not the first time, especially in this show where I've thought the timeline was wonky.  I think others have mentioned the long car trips that seem to happen in Warp drive...  

I forgot to say: THE BEST thing about this ep was no Amelia flashback!  

ETA: the worst thing about this ep (no not the camera work) was that annoying song that kept playing over and over.  Geez.  Who picked that?

I want to say it was a Robbie Thompson pick on the song, but I'm not a hundred percent sure on that front. If you're watching from the DVD's, there's a feature on the making of this episode and, if I recall properly, they talk about the song choice. It's been a really long time since I've watched it, though, and my memory is kinda murky on that front.

I don't care for the song either, but I think it has more to do with it playing all the damn time.  Does anyone really listen to the same song over and over again for days on end? 

BTW, God's wormhole solves a lot of the issues with timetables on this show! ;)

[Dobian]

This episode just didn't work for me.  The attempt at cinema verite was  alright in concept, but the plot holes, implausibilities, and time issues made this one kind of a mess.  The heavy confrontational scenes with the three roommates didn't work for me either.  I give the episode points for trying to do something different, but it kind of failed on the execution.

[sarthaz]

Some days you stumble downstairs, turn on TNT, and "Changing Channels" has just begun, and you know the next episode is "The Real Ghostbusters", and everything in your life is falling into place.

Other days, this episode is on, and you know your day will be the figurative equivalent of slamming your pinkie toe against a metal chair on a cold day.

[Hanahope]

Seems like every found footage show since Blair Witch is derivative. I'm lus, the love triangle and likely outcome was well televised in advance.

 Unless Piggy had previously edited 90% of the show I don't believe the girl did it all in that short time. 

I agree that I don't get how Sam can still pass as a fibby with that hair.

i did not think Dean acted out of character letting the girl go. He let Amy's son go since he hadn't killed any humans. 

[bettername2come]

I like the actor who plays Michael. I guess Supernatural had to do a found footage episode eventually, given that it tends to borrow from all kinds of horror movie tropes throughout its run. Interesting that this one is much more Chronicle than Blair Witch. I think it's interesting when they save the credits for the end in the documentary style ones, like this and "Ghostfacers." 

I think the best thing about this one is that J2 presumably got some much needed time off due to limited screen time. 

[Wayward Son]

On 02/06/2016 at 2:24 PM, RulerofallIsurvey said:

Still, I would think that would have taken her some time.  But how did Dean and Sam know to go back there?  I missed that if it was said.

The episode doesn’t go into specifics. We know that the boys discovered the web cam Brian had left in the professors office and it led them to him somehow. I would assume that they either a) hacked into the camera feed and traced it back to his connected laptop. I don’t know the ins and outs of hacking, but I think this is plausible since we know Dean picked up tricks from Frank last season (which he later taught to Sam) or b) Were able to use a serial number to figure out the owner of the webcam. 

[sarthaz]

This shitfest was on today, but I'd successfully forgotten about it until someone liked my post in this thread.  Now my night is ruined.

[RulerofallIsurvey]

It wasn't me, but I guess I should be more careful about whose posts I 'like' just so I won't ruin anyone's night.  Damn.

[RulerofallIsurvey]

On rewatch, the camera work still greatly bugged me: by halfway through I was over it.  It was a good concept, I think.  And I like that the show tried something new.  But come on, the guy was supposed to be 'making a movie', I'm assuming for a class project, so I'm sure it wouldn't all be wonky camera angles and jiggly action.  One thing that really confused me is how Sam and Dean even figured out that the professor was involved at all.  I know we didn't see it because it wasn't on camera, so maybe I'm just supposed to accept the fact that they figured it out without wondering how.  But that's not me.  :)  I still like the character of Kate though, so at least there's that. 

Edited December 18, 2017 by RulerofallIsurvey
I meant wouldn't :)

[DittyDotDot]

13 minutes ago, RulerofallIsurvey said:

One thing that really confused me is how Sam and Dean even figured out that the professor was involved at all. I know we didn't see it because it wasn't on camera, so maybe I'm just supposed to accept the fact that they figured it out without wondering how.  But that's not me.  :) 

Yeah, clearly they figured it out when one of the many cameras weren't on them, so we didn't see it, but they did have the conversation earlier in the dinner about how there had been an attack 10 years earlier. So, I'm guessing they looked into the background of people who'd been around for a that time period and were connected to the college.

[Pondlass1]

Haven't watched this episode in ages, but what did they call them... Starsky and Hutch?  I smiled at that.  

It's such a nuisance that the episode only has 40 minutes to tell its story because 20 minutes must be devoted to ads.

[DittyDotDot]

19 minutes ago, Pondlass1 said:

Haven't watched this episode in ages, but what did they call them... Starsky and Hutch?  I smiled at that.  

And, Rissoli and Isles, which is funny too. ;)

[RulerofallIsurvey]

Quote

Haven't watched this episode in ages, but what did they call them... Starsky and Hutch?  I smiled at that. 

5 hours ago, DittyDotDot said:

And, Rissoli and Isles, which is funny too. ;)

I realize the format was probably used mainly to give Jared and Jensen more time off, as mentioned up thread, but the the episode was the most interesting when it was focused on the guys through the 'eyes' of someone else.  I would have liked to see more of that.

[gonzosgirrl]

For my money, this is the worst episode of the series. I'd rather watch the racist truck, the dog familiar and Bloodlines, on a loop, than re-watch this one.

[catrox14]

2 minutes ago, gonzosgirrl said:

For my money, this is the worst episode of the series. I'd rather watch the racist truck, the dog familiar and Bloodlines, on a loop, than re-watch this one.

LOL. That's saying something. I feel like this is no more an episode of SPN than Bloodlines.

[Iju]

i wouldn't have cared much for this episode if it wasn't for that annoying kate damage controlling every single thing her BF did "You've never been in love" bitch if that's what love makes you do then i'll kindly avoid it thanks. i understand if he was a childhood friend or family, but she didn't know him a long time. the defense made no sense whatsoever. then again none of the characters were that likable anyway.

i liked the intro and ending song though, searched the song up afterwards. kate has taste at least.

[FierceCritter]

On 4/14/2015 at 9:36 AM, sarthaz said:

I made it 150+ episodes without fast-forwarding a second of content, but I skipped like 80% of this episode. Blech.

Necro-posting to say this ^^

OMG, I hated this episode so bad on re-watch. I probably skipped about the same amount.

Hated. It. 

We now return this thread to 2015...

Edited November 9, 2018 by FierceCritter
time warp warped

[Ninamags]

I'm surprised more people didn't bitch and moan, at the time, over the amount of screen time the brothers got. Very little!!

Nowadays this is par for the course. 

[AwesomO4000]

On 12/24/2018 at 12:33 PM, Ninamags said:

I'm surprised more people didn't bitch and moan, at the time, over the amount of screen time the brothers got. Very little!!

I might have if I had bothered to watch this episode. I was angry enough about how season 8 had started - with Sam not looking for Dean and abandoning Kevin and all the snipig at each other - that I stopped watching the show after the second episode for a couple of months.

I later watched most of the episode that I missed - in some cases wishing I hadn't - but since I saw on the comments that this one wasn't really about Sam and Dean, I never bothered to watch it. I haven't regretted that decision so far even though that means that technically I haven't seen the entire series.

[raven]

Some posts have been removed because they discuss events beyond this episode.  Stay on topic and refrain from spoiling future episodes and story lines; discussion about how this episode relates to future/past events can be taken to All Episodes Talk.

[bethy]

On 12/24/2018 at 11:33 AM, Ninamags said:

I'm surprised more people didn't bitch and moan, at the time, over the amount of screen time the brothers got. Very little!!

Nowadays this is par for the course. 

I’m not positive on the timing, but the original air date for this episode was before Previously TV was around, I think. I believe there was bitching and moaning over on Television Without Pity when it first aired. I think. I’ve mostly blocked season 8 from my memory. 

[Lunula]

I didn't remember this episode even a tiny bit upon rewatch and now I realize why.

can respect trying a new format and even trying to show Sam & Dean, along with the audience, the "other side" of monster-hood by seeing that not everyone asks for it or wants it. My primary issue is that I felt like either the writing, directing or acting (likely all 3) were complete crap.

I also didn't find the story suspenseful, scary or even interesting. I didn't care even a little bit about any of the characters or what was happening to them. Why would anyone think we'd want to watch 3 young, unknown characters bicker and yell at each other for an hour?

And, if we're supposed to believe this documentary, Blair Witch Project type camera work, how in the hell did they get all those shots? I know the kid was an aspiring film maker, but did he really stash that many cameras everywhere in his home? Could he really sneak around and film Sam & Dean so easily? If this whole story was unfolding over the course of days/weeks, how the hell did he edit it so quickly into a short film like this? If he had that many cameras filming all the time, it would take weeks to edit it down, wouldn't it?

In the end, I don't know if I get the point of it all. I guess it's supposed to show a softening of Sam & Dean towards certain monsters and the idea they aren't all bad? Dean kills Amy, but then turns around and lets her kid go (which I still don't get). Then he was going to let his monster-spawn, Emma, go until Sam put an end to that. Here again, we see them both - together - allowing Kate to live because...why? She's cute and young and begs and cries better than than the other monsters? 

Blech.

[The Companion]

On 1/21/2019 at 7:53 AM, Lunula said:

I didn't remember this episode even a tiny bit upon rewatch and now I realize why.

can respect trying a new format and even trying to show Sam & Dean, along with the audience, the "other side" of monster-hood by seeing that not everyone asks for it or wants it. My primary issue is that I felt like either the writing, directing or acting (likely all 3) were complete crap.

I also didn't find the story suspenseful, scary or even interesting. I didn't care even a little bit about any of the characters or what was happening to them. Why would anyone think we'd want to watch 3 young, unknown characters bicker and yell at each other for an hour?

And, if we're supposed to believe this documentary, Blair Witch Project type camera work, how in the hell did they get all those shots? I know the kid was an aspiring film maker, but did he really stash that many cameras everywhere in his home? Could he really sneak around and film Sam & Dean so easily? If this whole story was unfolding over the course of days/weeks, how the hell did he edit it so quickly into a short film like this? If he had that many cameras filming all the time, it would take weeks to edit it down, wouldn't it?

In the end, I don't know if I get the point of it all. I guess it's supposed to show a softening of Sam & Dean towards certain monsters and the idea they aren't all bad? Dean kills Amy, but then turns around and lets her kid go (which I still don't get). Then he was going to let his monster-spawn, Emma, go until Sam put an end to that. Here again, we see them both - together - allowing Kate to live because...why? She's cute and young and begs and cries better than than the other monsters? 

Blech.

The number of angles and bizarre camera choices kept pulling me out. Did they have both webcams running 24/7? That is weird. Also weird? Filming you roomate washing blood off of himself. Or filming someone else who is also holding a camera. Weirdest? There were multiple angles other than the handheld when the woman was in the bathroom. How many cameras did he plant in the bathroom?

Well, weirdest was also maybe how into a college student was into Lord of the Flies.

The worst offense was that this episode was boring. So damn boring and unoriginal. I guess partial credit for nailing the character of "nice guy" who thinks a woman owes him because he wants to have sex with her. 🙄 Not that Ms. Let's cover up my boyfriend's murdery ways or Mr. Somehow puts you to sleep even though he is murdery were much better.

Silver lining: no flashbacks or brother angst.

[Katy M]

11 hours ago, The Companion said:

Well, weirdest was also maybe how into a college student was into Lord of the Flies.

I don't think that was all that weird.  They were currently studying it in class and he was a serious student.

I thought the weirdest part was how college students were acting like middle school kids.  Filming people kissing.  Chasing each other around to beat each other up.  What was that?  And how fast after meeting did Kate move in with them?  And how did two or three (not sure if they got that place with her or if she moved in) college kids afford a whole house like that?  We never heard anything about any of them having a job.  

[The Companion]

37 minutes ago, Katy M said:

I don't think that was all that weird.  They were currently studying it in class and he was a serious student.

I thought the weirdest part was how college students were acting like middle school kids.  Filming people kissing.  Chasing each other around to beat each other up.  What was that?  And how fast after meeting did Kate move in with them?  And how did two or three (not sure if they got that place with her or if she moved in) college kids afford a whole house like that?  We never heard anything about any of them having a job.  

That was more commentary on how much I hate the book, which I had to read in middle school and high school. 😆 Apologies for the weird sentence. The site keeps erasing random portions of my posts. 

It was bizarre that they were filming stuff like that.