Supernatural: Season One

[Starbreaker]

Having previously only seen the travesty of an episode known as Route 666, I am determined to watch Supernatural from the beginning after being told that that is one of the worst episodes of the series. So, without further delay:


1x01 "Pilot"
Sam and Dean investigate the mysterious disappearances of men along a particular stretch of highway which is being haunted by a "Woman in White."

My review:

I like the main characters so far. I really think this could have benefited from being a two hour pilot to flesh out the back story for the characters and their quest. Overall, it's a decent pilot, but it feels rushed. I did read that they focused more on the supernatural being of the week than they did character development early on, so I'm going to let it slide.
There's definitely room for a lot of growth here, but I try not to judge a show on its pilot. I've heard too many good things about the series.

The Best Line: OK, thank you, Unsolved Mysteries.

Grade: C+

 

[Starbreaker]

1x02 "Wendigo"

Sam and Dean travel to Black Water Ridge, Colorado to help find a missing hiker.

My review:

Quite an improvement over the pilot, although I still feel like these episodes are rushed. Maybe I've been watching too many movies and TV shows on HBO lately. It just doesn't seem like 44 minutes is long enough to tell the tales. I like this creature more than what was used last week. Very cool legend. On a side note, the boys really need to stop impersonating federal agents. I imagine they're going to get in a lot of trouble one episode.

Grade: B-

Best Line Dean: Oh sweetheart. I don't do shorts.

 

[species5618]

I think the worst episode of the series so far (and certainly Season One) is "Bugs."

Season One IMO was the weakest season, but the show was finding its footing--even by the end of the first 22 episode run there was a great deal of improvement.

I watched Supernatural in a weird way--it airs on one of the TV channels I work at, but they started with first run (new) episodes only, so they started with Season 4, since they started airing the show last September. I watched Season 4 first, followed by 1, 2 and I would bounce between new Season 5 episodes and Season 3. Not the most ideal way to get into a series, but I certainly was able to gauge how much better the show has gotten since its start.

Too bad there's no new episode tonight.

 

[Starbreaker]

1x03 Dead in the Water

Dean learns about a mysterious drowning victim in Wisconsin, all related to a man named Bill Carlton. The brothers Sam and Dean come to believe that a ghost is haunting the lake, causing this and other drownings.

My review:

This is the first episode that managed to hold my attention from beginning to end. It got a kind of "What Lies Beneath" feel to it. Maybe it's just the brightness on my TV, but the only problem I have with this episode is that there are some scenes where I can barely see anything it's so dark. Otherwise, this is the best written and directed episode of the three. It was genuinely creepy at times. I didn't realize water could be this entertaining. And... S&D get off easy again impersonating feds. They're so lucky.

The best line: Tell your friend this whole Jerry Maguire thing’s not gonna work on me.

Grade: A

 

[Dorian Thompson]

You only saw Route 666? No wonder you never gave Supernatural another chance. That's by far the worst episode of the series....and it aired the night of the SOTU address when it had no network competition. The next week's episode was superb, but no one who sampled came back because 666 was so atrocious.

You'll like the series if you stick with it. The early episodes of season one are by far the weakest of the series, though. The second half of season one improves greatly....then season two is a whole other ballgame. The series really took off then. Season two is when Eric Kripke added Ben Edlund to the writing staff.

A fairly non spoilery for the mytharc snippets from future eps that may pique your interest--

From season four's (and the pen of Ben Edlund) "Monster Movie"
Dean meets Dracula

 

[Tulin]

I did read that they focused more on the supernatural being of the week than they did character development early on,

Yes, they did and the show was better for it.

The one thing I regret they never did was Bigfoot. I would have thought that was a complete no-brainer. Once we get into the long arcs where angels act like demons and demons are just misunderstood emo twenty somethings, the show lost A LOT.

so I'm going to let it slide.

How magnanimous of you.



See above.

 

[Starbreaker]

Um... okay? I just prefer characters I can root for instead of just a monster of the week type deal. The X-Files was good because of the superb lead characters as well as the supernatural elements.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Starbreaker, I respectfully disagree with Tulin. Once SPN started focusing on character development, its quality improved by leaps and bounds. If you like shows based on character, SPN's later seasons will definitely be to your liking. Demons are not "misunderstood emo twenty somethings" on this show. I suspect Tulin didn't see one of the character arcs through to the end.

You'll like this show as you get further into it. I agree that it's a total shame that it's not on HBO or other cable channel.

 

[Starbreaker]

I don't really trust anyone's opinion who rolls their eyes at me because of my own opinions... so I'm glad I have an alternate one. Thanks.

 

[DS9Continuing]

On a side note, the boys really need to stop impersonating federal agents.

No...

I imagine they're going to get in a lot of trouble one episode.

Yes...

 

[Starbreaker]

Can't get the audio on episode 4 to work... don't ask.

1x05 Bloody Mary

Sam and Dean investigate the mysterious death of a man whose eyes were gouged out. They learn that murder victim Bloody Mary is haunting the town through a mirror tied to her death, and is attacking anyone who feels guilty about killing someone, whether that guilt is justified or not.

My review:

Some uneven pacing... kind of odd that all these people in this town that said Bloody Mary or were close to someone who said it had deep dark secrets regarding deathsThose two cops were taken down pretty easily. I'm surprised they talked for so long. He normally would have been on the ground or in cuffs by that point. I did really like how they defeated Bloody Mary, though. Pretty clever.

Grade: B-

Best line: This is like what, 600 years bad luck?

 

[Dorian Thompson]

You're going to love the next episode. The next episode is when the layers of the onion start to peel away just a little bit......it's much more important than you initially think. It's when I first pricked up my ears and thought, "Hmmmmm....more to these characters than I thought."

 

[sidious618]

I thought season one was pretty mediocre but the series gets better. It's never been a must see show for me. I DVR it and then usually watch five in a row or something when I get to it.

 

[Starbreaker]

You only saw Route 666? No wonder you never gave Supernatural another chance. That's by far the worst episode of the series....and it aired the night of the SOTU address when it had no network competition. The next week's episode was superb, but no one who sampled came back because 666 was so atrocious.

I didn't realize that. That must have been why I watched it. I looked it up and I was a HUGE CSI fan at the time so that's probably why I never got into the series at the time. I was a huge Smallville fan, though. I would have liked Supernatural better, I'm pretty sure.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

I'm sure that's why you watched it. I'm positive. SPN missed a golden opportunity to assert itself that night.

Supernatural's been better than Smallville for the past four seasons. Every character development that's conveniently forgotten on SV and lamented by its fans, Supernatural would have dealt with. It doesn't forget. It's always frustrated me how devoted people seemed to be to Smallville when most of its fans seem to think it's a crappy show. SPN is sooooo much better. But--good shows have gotten low ratings before and they will again. From its second season forward, SPN left SV in the dust when it comes to quality.

 

[Skywalker]

Yeah, the first half of Season One is kind of average. I was only able to keep up with it because Dean was so damn funny. I think the season's turning point was "Scarecrow," episode eleven, though "Phantom Traveler," "Skin," and "Home" were all strong early episodes.

 

[Starbreaker]

1x06 Skin

Sam's college friend Zach has been arrested for murdering his girlfriend in St. Louis, Missouri, so Sam decides to visit Zach's sister, Rebecca, and help her investigate the murder. They discover that the real culprit is a being with shapesifting abilities.


Not a lot to say about this one... I liked it. Especially the shapeshifter dying as Dean. I'm always surprised at how easy they get out of situations.

Grade: B

 

[Tulin]

I don't really trust anyone's opinion who rolls their eyes at me because of my own opinions

You need to improve your comprehension skills.

I rolled my eyes at your [sarcasm]magnanimous[/sarcasm] "I'll let it slide" comment.

We are all entitled to our opinions but IMO, the show started going downhill once it got bogged down in its arc, like X Files did. I suspect the boys' characters would have developed, whether it was standalone or remained largely episodic.

As for how much I have seen, I am about to watch ep 3 of the new season.

 

[mswood]

I have to voice my opinion as someone who just got glimpses of the show for the first 8 episodes. I just liked the show, but as they developed the backstory (what some would call the mythology of the show) the characters grew by leaps and bounds). And frankly I have to completely disagree with Tulin. The characters would not be teh same with a differently developed backstory. Not to give spoilers but the unique events that shape these characters lives is what is the foundation and layers of these characters.

As for the first season, so much of it pals in comparison to the the rest of the series. From guest stars (acting), to far more developed scripts, to two actors who not only had characters with great depth, but both have grown (especially Jared who wasn't that good to start with and Jensen who took the character from a caricature to one that is one of my favorite characters in the 35 years I have watched tv).

As for comparisons to the X-Files. Well production wise, they will never come close, SN has never had the resources that the X-Files had. But as far as story, like the X-Files (which had a very uneven first half of a season), it has grown to be an even better show. It's mythology is fairly simple, and not confusing. And though it has always produced some bad episodes (its usually a fairly small number), something the X-Files can't say at all. And as much as I love Mulder and Scully Dean and Sam are far, far more realized characters then they were.

 

[Starbreaker]

Well it was still my comment and my reading comprehension skills are fine, thanks.