TV REVIEW: Supernatural, Season 10, Episode 16 (Paint It Black)!

Last Updated on July 22, 2021

EPISODE: “Paint it Black”

THE PLOT:  Sam (Jared Padelecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) investigate odd suicides (that graduate to murder) which are connected to a confessional at a Catholic church.

WARNING! SPOILERS BELOW!

Man I want Dean’s jacket….

THE DEALIO:  This week’s SUPERNATURAL episode was yet another stand-alone with a baddie of the week! Yup, they’re keeping the main Mark of Cain storyline close to their vest. Being that there are only 6 episodes to go in this Season, I expect the series to slam some wild cards on the table shortly. BRING THEM! We’re due!

The episode itself was decent, nothing mind-blowing really, but mildly entertaining none the less. The story rolled on fast, sported some funny banter (Dean’s back and forth with the hot nun had me smiling) and the kills were fairly graphic in the gore department. Those stabbings looked like they hurt! But ironically enough, it wasn’t the ghost story at hand that grabbed me the most here but Dean’s soul searching and the hints of things to come in this Season. Yes, I speak of the best scene of the episode. It had to do with Dean going to confession in the hopes of luring the evil spirit out. The sequence started out as pretty freaking funny, with Dean confessing his dirty-dog/ladies man ways. 

I give you “Hot Nun”!

But it eventually transcended to something serious with depth i.e. Dean’s fear of dying and his hopes for more out of his life. The bit was mucho touching and was brought home with impact by Jensen Ackles earnest and stirring performance. It also had the best line of the episode, uttered by Dean of course. I paraphrase here: “I believe in God, but I don’t think he believes in us”. Touche Dean! Touche! The other thing that got me to sit up and pay attention was the set-up they left us with in terms of Crowley (Mark Sheppard, can never get enough of the lad), Rowena and the Winchesters. Basically Crowley will be forced to make a choice down the road: his mother or his “love/hate” buddies Sam and Dean. Should make for compelling television. 

On the downside, I kept going back and forth in terms of the Rowena character. She either got on my nerves (when busting Crowley’s chops) or actually had me grinning with delight (when torturing the leader of the Grand Coven). Although brilliantly played by Ruth Conell there’s a huge part of me that can’t wait for her to leave the show, I don’t know man, I kind of had my fill of her at this stage. My Arrow gut tells me she won’t last the Season. Thoughts?  Other peeves of mine: the WHO and WHY behind the ghost mystery was a pinch bland and I could have gone without the extensive back-story they gave to our evil spirit. I didn’t need to know THAT much information to justify the spirit’s motivation.

On the whole this was an okay episode, not one for the books of Supernatural records; but worth the watch for the humor and Dean’s confession scene alone. And yes… that “hot nun”! 

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE EPISODE? COMMENT BELOW!