User Reviews

Two episodes away from the season's finale, the climax of the story and the tension is rising up to the ceiling. Big daddy Winchester is back and he needs he boys' help retrieving a gun; that can kill any supernatural thing including THE daemon, from a vampires nest.

John came back expecting the boys to blindly follow his orders without having to explain himself to them. But the boys have been on their own for a long time and Sam is even more unwilling to take orders especially after what he and Dean have been through, while Dean is still confused between what he used to do following daddy's orders and doing his own moves as he did for like a year with Sam. As the tension between Sam and John escalates, Dean finds himself trapped again in the same dilemma. He doesn't know which side to take because he doesn't like either attitude. John is clearly dealing with Sam in the wrong way, pushing him away again. On the other hand, Sam is getting more defiant and more stubborn. But this time, Dean can't just sit there and watch, he is not willing to see Sam go away again, since he worked so hard to bring him back, so he stands up to both of them (for may be the first time) and compels them both to stop fighting.

While Sam and John are waiting for Dean to come back from the funeral home, there is still some tension between them, (knowing that Dean is not there to stop them from ripping each other's throats) John tries for some soft conversation with Sam (which doesn't seem to happen often between them),He tells Sam that he didn't intend for him and Dean to have this life, not until Mary was killed, then he had to train the boys make them ready to fight that he stopped being their father, he told Sam that he couldn't see that they are different, but Sam replied that they are not different any more since they seem to share the same sullen vengeful attitude.

When Dean realizes that John is not going to let them take part in fighting THE daemon claiming that he has to keep them safe. Dean stands up for John for the first time in his life that it took both John and Sam by surprise. Dean tells his father that he thinks Sam is right and that they are stronger as a family.

So when the boys disobey John's order and end up saving his life (as Dean defiantly mentioned), He begins to see them as capable adults. And the Winchesters finally learn their lesson, they have to work together as one unit and go through the big fight for better and for worse.

On the down side:For an experienced vampire hunter like Daniel Elkin's, the guy seemed to go down way too easy. Also John's plan seemed to be weak (How could he think that he would outlast those many vampires alone). Furthermore, the vampires' second set of teeth was so ridiculous. And finally, The head vampire with all his power all he could do was to go for Sam's neck! (yes again with the neck, and it won't be the last time).

A very strong episode preparing for the two part finale. You can't skip this.

This is an important episode for the show. First, it establishes that vampires exist, which is a subject that will be revisited in seasons to come. It also reunites the boys with John and sets them on the path to the two part season finale, which starts next episode. It also shows that Dean & Sam are functioning as a unit now, so John is suddenly not the one in control of all the decisions. Finally, this is the episode that gives us the Colt, a weapon that will be important throughout the series. All in all, you need to see this episode.

"Dead Man's Blood" revolves around a nest of vampires. They kill an old Hunter, named Elkins, and make off with a special Colt revolver. Sam & Dean come to town to investigate the killing and they're surprised when John shows-up, too. John isn't real forth coming with details on his plan, which bothers Sam. But Sam & Dean try to resume the old Winchester dynamic of following the father's orders. John explains that the Colt can kill anything. Even demons. Not just send the demon back to hell, but destroy it completely. He wants to use it on the Demon who killed Mary, but first they have to steal it back from the vampires.

After kidnapping the head vampire's girlfriend, Kate, the Winchesters arrange a trade: Kate for the Colt. John tries to keep the boys away from the deal, but they arrive to help anyway, saving his life. John shoots the head vampire with the Colt (which is a really neat effect) and the vampire is instantly killed. The other vampires run off. John admits to the boys that maybe the are stronger a s a family and that they should all Hunt the Demon who killed Mary together.

The best parts of this episode deal with the Winchesters shifting family dynamic. "Dead Man's Blood" injects a new tension in John and Dean's relationship. Meeting up with their father again, the boys have to try a work a job with John as the leader. Sam is instantly annoyed at John's attitude. Dean tries to go back to his usual position as second in command, but Dean & Sam have been running their own show for months. John comes back into the picture, after ignoring their calls and excluding them and wants things to just wants things to go back to "normal." Only Dean can't just take orders anymore, because his months with Sam have given him the strength to deal with John as an equal and a respect for Sam's instincts. And Sam is less willing to take orders from John now than ever before. The more John tries to force Sam into his own mold, the more Sam resists. It's only when John admits that he's made mistakes with Sam that Sam can quietly state that maybe their not that different. Not with Jessica and Mary dying the same way and both of their obsessions to find the Demon. Then they can both laugh at the idea of John spending Sam's college fund on ammo.

"Dead Man's Blood" is also where Dean makes his first break from John and his blind loyalty to his father's orders. Somewhere on the road, when John and Sam are having that fight and Dean is standing between them, something just snaps into focus for him. I think it's John's line about Sam "leaving" them and the life to go to college. It was an obvious guilt trip on John's part and -Heck!- Dean thinks Sam abandoned them, too. But, after almost a year with just Sam standing beside him, Dean's loyalty towards his father cracks a little. He doesn't like John playing that card with Sam. Doesn't like John's attitude. Dean loved Sam enough to let him go to Stanford and John saying that seemed to get Dean at least partially on Sam's side. After Dean orders Sam to get back in the car, he told John something like, "That means you, too." And it was in just a totally different way than he usually speaks to John. I think it was one of defining moments where Dean saw his father and brother in a new way... And decided that he had to stand with his brother. When John has his talk with Sam about being hard on the boys because he was worried and then when he admits that Dean was right and that they ARE stronger as a family, it's really John seeing his kids as adults for the first time.

On the down side, why didn't Elkins the Vampire Slayer know that the knife wouldn't hurt Kate? He should have at least dipped it in dead man's blood since that's vampire poison. And does Kate still have Sam & Dean's scent, if vampires can track someone forever? That can't be good. Also, John saying that Dean should take better care of the Impala was just way out of line. Dean takes wonderful care of that car!

My favorite part of the episode: Dean listening to his father's speech about how he just wants to keep the boys safe and away from the Big Fight with the Demon. Dean's calm, "All do respect, Dad, but that's a load of crap" has John and Sam both turning to gape at him. Great scene.

Dead Man's Blood is a great episode. A mix of the two movies 'The Lost Boys' and 'Near Dark'. I love the human side too the vampires. The vampires looked like a bunch of partyers like in 'The Lost Boys'. I never knew that dead mans blood would ruin the party. Sam and Dean get to finally meet dad, and the family drama continues. John Winchesters hard a** approach show why Dean acts in his loyal manner, while Sam fights dad's military style discipline. The colt is revealed, and the trail of the yellowed eyed one is sought. 8 out of 10. The crux episode for the first series. Watch The lost Boys and Near Dark you will get a kick out the two movies if you like this episode.