Heart (Supernatural)
| "Heart (Supernatural)" |
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"Heart" is episode seventeen of the second season of the television series Supernatural.
Plot summary
Template:Spoiler Sam's heart is ensnared when he meets a beautiful woman named Madison with whom he shares something in common. As a great lustrous moon hangs over the city of San Francisco, Dean and Sam are on the trail of a suspected werewolf that has been killing female prostitutes during the lunar cycle. When the MO changes and a white-collar male is mauled to death in his office, the brothers interview his colleague Madison who tells them that she suspects her jealous ex-boyfriend may be involved. A search of the ex's apartment turns up claw marks and the mutilated body of a police officer nearby.
Dean tracks down the ex while Sam stays behind to watch over Madison. The younger Winchester feels a connection to the personable, intelligent woman and the two quickly form a friendship. That night, Dean is attacked by a female werewolf which he found savaging Madison's ex. He manages to cut the beast with a silver blade. The next morning, Sam finds the same wound on Madison who has no recollection of her transformation.
Recognizing his own dilemma in her inability to control the evil inside her and moved by her pleas of innocence, Sam is determined to save her. He convinces Dean that they have to free her from the curse by killing the werewolf that bit and turned her. While Sam guards Madison, Dean stalks the creature's favored hunting ground near the bay and succeeds in killing the predecessor werewolf. Madison finally believes that she is a monster after seeing the damage done to the closet used to imprison her and the scratches she inflicted on Sam in her altered state. When another night passes peacefully without sign of lycanthropy in Madison, everyone is relieved that the brothers' plan had worked.
In the emotional aftermath, Sam and Madison fall into each other's arms and savor a romantic interlude of carnal bliss. Their happiness is short-lived as Madison unexpectedly turns again. This time, the Winchesters realize that there is no cure for her affliction. Bereft of hope, Madison begs Sam to end her life before she can harm more men. A tormented Sam agonizes over the decision but finally allows his head to overrule his heart. In anguish, he refuses his big brother's offer to perform the execution.
As the younger Winchester puts a silver bullet into the woman he desperately wants to protect, Dean sheds a tear for Sam's immense suffering; he possibly fears that their failure to save Madison may mean that he will also fail to save Sam in the end.
References
- "Dean: What are you a Dog Whisperer now?" - a Possible Reference to Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer.
- "Sam: ...and after we kill it, we can go to Disney Land!" - A popular Theme Park for Children.
- Dean and Sam play Rock, Paper, Scissors.
- The brothers introduce themselves as Detectives Landis and Dante to Madison at their first meeting, referring to John Landis and Joe Dante, the directors of An American Werewolf in London and The Howling respectively.
- Finale to the episode has some resemblance to the classic story, Old Yeller
- Lesley DeHaan, whose name appears on the closing credits of the TV program Sam and Madison watched together, is listed as the second assistant production coordinator of the Supernatural episode Born Under a Bad Sign. Another name, Michael T. Moore, is listed by the IMDB as the writer of an episode of Medium.
Featured music
- "Down on the Street" by The Stooges
- "Look at You" by Screaming Trees
- "Silent Lucidity" by Queensrÿche