TV Show of the Week 22: Supernatural

Mr E

I started watching this when it came out in 2005, but for some reason I lost interest some way through season 1. Then TV3 got it and started airing it, and I caught up on the episodes I missed. Since then, I haven't wavered - its now one of my favourite shows on TV.

Sam and Dean Winchester are brothers. Episode 1 begins with a flashback to when they were kids. Something supernatural happens to their mother, and they are brought up by their father, John, as hunters - well versed in the things that go bump in the night. In the present day, Sam wants a normal life - college, job, girlfriend - while Dean is still in the hunting business. When John goes missing on a 'hunting trip', Sam puts his normal life on hold while they go looking for him. At the end of episode 1, back in his normal life, Sam wakes up to find blood dripping on his face. His girlfriend, pinned to the ceiling, bursts into flames (which is how his mother died). The 2 brothers hit the road in Dean's black Chevy Impala, determined to find out what happens to their missing father, and who killed the women in their lives.

That storyline pretty much fills season 1. Season 2 continues that story with the death of someone close, a whispered revelation, and the promise of bad things to come..... In Season 3, as foretold, all hell breaks loose. We're introduced to some great new characters, including Lilith, who has become the main adversary for the brothers up to, and including Season 4.

On to season 4, then. I think most people will agree that this is the strongest season yet. Staying spoiler free (because it hasn't aired here yet!), it starts with the resolution of the grim season 3 finale.... We're introduced to an angel called Castiel, who needs help to stop Lilith from breaking the 66 seals to release Lucifer from Hell.

From early on in season 1, it was obvious that they were going to push the gore envelope .... some of the special effects and makeup can be pretty gruesome. Add to that a genuine chemistry between the 2 brothers, a great sense of humour, a hard rock soundtrack, a complex mythology, a varied cast of interesting supporting characters, and you have a show that appeals to me on many levels.

Lobelia Overhill

Love this show, I don't get to see it on telly much so I order the DVDs off Play.

ixoy

Yeah I like this show - Mr E yourself persuaded me to take the leap. I initially dismissed it as teeny-horror show, a sort of "Dawson's Creek" with monsters... and yes I was very wrong.

I'll admit to being a little unsure during the first season, which too often descended into "Monster of the Week". It's in the second season, when the writing become more tight and the arcs started creeping in that I liked it more. They also got a good handle on the characters and increased the banter between them. It's also refreshing not to have to listen to teeny-bop crap on the radio but instead get the best of '80s hard rock courtesy of Dean.

It's a show that's gotten stronger as it goes on and this current season is dark but compelling and I hope it goes somewhere very interesting for the end. It's aptly able to switch between bleak episodes and outright humour/farce without compromising its quality. The characters are pretty much all good - mostly witty and decently acted, from the avuncular Bobby to the "angelic" Lilith to their troubled father (Watchmen's "The Comedian" Jeffrey Dean Morgan).

This makes yet another TV show of the week I watch - either Mr. E has great taste or I watch too much TV...

tvnutz

Great show. I also thought it might be some kind of teen show but it's not. In the very first episode Dean actually says "no touchy feely crap" when Sam tries to talk to him.

Season 1 did have a bit too much monster of the week episodes but the arcs grew stronger and season 4 is brilliant at the moment. The show can be funny and very dark at the same time.

Well worth getting into.

J-blk

Great synopsis there Mr. E - I almost gave up on the show during its' first season too, it was a bit too generic, "monster of the week" and didn't seem like it was going to last...

It did however come back for a second season and it started showing a lot of potential at that point. The third season was an even bigger step forward in quality and as already mentioned, season four is the strongest yet and makes the show stand out against most other shows currently on.

The show doesn't only handle the dark tones of the story well, it's one of the funniest shows around and even the episodes that are almost entirely humorous are very well done, without becoming ridiculous. There's great chemistry between Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles as Sam and Dean - the various supporting characters are very good too (especially from season 3 onwards) and bring a lot to the show.

If you've never watched it, stick with it through the first season - it's totally worth it .

JP Liz

Great show with two of the hottest actors on tv and one of the best cars around in a tv series ever - all hale the Impala

Mr E

JP Liz wrote: »

Great show with two of the hottest actors on tv

Trust you to lower it to that level, JP Liz.

Lobelia Overhill

JP Liz wrote: »

Great show with two of the hottest actors on tv and one of the best cars around in a tv series ever - all hale the Impala

echoes that

Basq

I stopped watching after the 1st episode of Season 2.. lost interest completely but have heard nothing but great things about it since.

Will probably catch up with it over the Summer... along with about 200 other shows.