Episode 3 of The Winchesters has been the strongest entry in the series so far, giving audiences a deeper glimpse into the personal lives of the monster-hunting gang. John, Mary and Lata faced off against another monster of the week, while Carlos and Ada uncovered some more answers about the allusive Akrida threatening to destroy the world.
Mary’s tough exterior was pulled back to expose more layers this week, starting at the beginning of the episode where she struggled to get in contact with her mom. Mary revealed that her mom left on a hunting trip months ago and might not even know Samuel is missing, showing audiences that Mary's been totally ditched by her family.
Mary’s relationship with the nextdoor neighbors also played a huge role in the episode and highlighted a softer, more nurturing side. Up until this point, Mary has been a no-nonsense type of girl who refuses to show vulnerability. The discovery that she acts as a big-sister figure to the children next door was a great way to convey that she’s able to be both sensitive and strong. She admitted feeling a sort of kinship with them, since they’re often left alone without parents, much like she has been her entire life. Both Supernatural and The Winchesters are hard-hitting when it to comes to familial abandonment.
When she broke down at the end of the episode, viewers were given a more intimate look into her mind. Seeing her cry about the uncertainty she feels over leaving the hunting lifestyle behind not only gave her more depth, but was an excellent bonding experience for her and John. John’s past made an appearance this week too, taking on the form of his ex fiancé Betty. Betty was mentioned by John’s mother in the first episode, implying they had some sort of relationship before he left for the Vietnam War.
Some secrets about Lata’s past were brought to the light as well, when John asked her to contact her parents about the monster. Mary tells John that Lata’s parents are dead, and she seemingly confirms this by saying “it’s okay” when he asks her about them.
However, when Lata finally caves and calls someone from back home, she asks them to tell her mother that she’s okay.
Apparently, Lata’s parents are as dead as she leads others to believe, though evidence of a strained relationship is there. But it poses the question of why she’s been hiding them from her fellow hunters. All of these details made for a solid episode with plenty of character development. The characters are starting to feel more real and relatable, which is crucial for any series to succeed.
Episode 3 finally put a face to the Akrida, which was a fun little twist, since their leader’s appearance was foreshadowed earlier in the episode. It turns out the sultry voice fans heard speaking over the radio belongs to one of the Akrida, who’s possessing an innocent human for her own benefit. The ability to use humans as meat suits is a very demon-esque quality, and makes the Akrida a bigger threat. It’s undeniably odd that such a powerful creature decided to use her victim to host a radio show, but perhaps she has an ulterior motive.
The Winchesters is set in a time before social media and the internet, so hosting a radio show was arguably the easiest way to communicate, spread information, and gain a following in the 70s. It’s possible that the Akrida’s leader is using her platform to subconsciously manipulate people into doing what she wants, which is a smart and disturbing move. It’s obvious she’s playing the long game by lying low, getting other creatures to do her dirty work, and building up her power.
Framing the Akrida as intelligent and strategic ups the psychological spook factor and helps make them a more worthy series villain. The Winchesters is very slowly revealing how and why the Akrida are such a dangerous enemy, which should make for an epic final showdown with high stakes. Plus, episode 3 offers a clearer glimpse at the creepy spider-monsters that were wandering the woods in episode 2, and they’re downright terrifying.
So far, most of the action has gone down in Kansas and The Winchesters is keeping the focus as close to Lawrence as possible. This is something Supernatural fans aren’t used to, since Sam and Dean were constantly packing up and hunkering down in motels all over the country.
The Winchesters has more of a suburban horror film vibe, whereas Supernatural felt like the world’s deadliest road trip. Instead of bringing the hunters to the monsters, the monsters keep finding their way to John, Mary, Carlos, Lata and Ada, a strange fact that Mary even pointed out this week. There’s obviously something bigger at play (likely having to do with the Akrida) but it’s a nice change of pace to keep the characters in a single state.
Catch new episodes of The Winchesters every Tuesday on the CW.