SPN season 1 Recap
Last night/early this morning I finished season 1 of Supernatural. I'm tempted to start season 2 today, but I think I'll wait a few days. Or at least I should.
Just as a warning, this is pretty spoiler heavy.
For a first season, this one definitely had it's fair share of bumps. Heavy on the 'Monster of the Week' style, up until the last five or so episodes where the main story was jammed in. That's generally a bad thing, cramming your main story near the end, but the writers here are of top-notch. Or at least they know what they're doing, so things blend in smoothly. So it didn't feel like a botched job.
What really impresses me, however, is how they handled the 'Monster of the Week' stuff. Usually it's bad (I'm lookin' at you, Smallville) and formulaic. The depth and creativity behind the mythology is a strong factor in making this a unique, well made show. There's always something new to learn during supernatural (such as ghosts being repelled by salt and iron), or a twist on the familiar. For example, the pilot combined La Llorna with the Wandering Traveler. What's really cool is the boys are also figuring out the 'truth' behind these monsters and urban legends. It's a neat set up that made about 15 'Monster of the Week' episodes fun and bearable.
Supernatural also has a different attitude. It jabs at pop culture, unafraid to ridicule itself, and is strongly defined. By strongly defined, I mean there's definitely a foundation for the characters and the setting. Usually with a first season there's some flipping, flopping, and weak, weak story telling. I couldn't find any of that with Supernatural. The constant banter between Dean and Sam, additionally, made the show enjoyable.
Now onto the higlights:
Most like Torchwood: "The Benders"
This is almost exactly like Countrycide. Out in the rural parts, captured by an in-bred, redneck family who like hunting people for fun. (I'm allowed to poke fun at them rural folk, kay? I am from Alberta, y'know) Dealing with monsters or aliens IS NOTHING LIKE HUMANS because we're bat-shit crazy. At least those monsters and aliens are single-minded. Food, anger, pain, vengeance. Easy-peasy, right? And yeah, it feels really demeaning and one-sided, but think about it. The demons that scare us the most are the ones that resemble us the most.
I actually found this to be the most boring episode because it was such a re-hash of Torchwood. Even if it was aired three years prior.
Scariest Episode: "Asylum"
Ffffff. HATE spooky stuff. Suspense and all that. I'm still surprised I'm watching the first few seasons of SPN because it deals with this stuff. Seasons 4 & 5 are all on a bigger scale and generally less spooky.
Anyways, dark, creepy, mutilated mad folk? *shudders* And in a confined space. And there was a lot of questionable experiments in the asylum beforehand, making it extra spooky.
Funniest Episode: "Hell House"
First, you've got the HellHounds, amateur ghost hunters trying to one-up the Winchesters, but really screwing things up for them. That alone was funny. But then you've got Sam & Dean pulling pranks on each other. The best was probably Sam super-gluing Dean's beer bottle to his hand. His laugh at the end was cute. ♥
Most Teary Episode: "Something Wicked"
"Salvation" and "Nightmares" were close contenders, but this one won out because it tied the brothers closer together. Here, Dean slowly reveals why he follows his father so blindly and emphasizes the big-brother-love and care he has for Sam. OH, Dean. You're so awesome for taking care of Sam.
Best Guest Star: Jaime Ray Newman in "Phantom Traveler"
Fact: I've got a girl-crush on Jamie Ray Newman. Gingers are cool by default (Catherine Tate, Felicia Day), so she's got a bonus here. Also, her role as "the most emotionally-balanced" flight attendant was pretty cool.
Most concerned for: The Impala
Okay, I'm spoiling it for you. The season ends with a semi truck T-boning the Winchesters while driving to the hospital (Dean's internal organs are likely jelly, John's shot in the leg, Sam's got some nasty welts on his face). During the two-minute car crash scene my main concern was: "How're they gonna get the dents out of the Impala! Poor car!" Yeah, I really care about the Winchesters. :/
Just as a warning, this is pretty spoiler heavy.
For a first season, this one definitely had it's fair share of bumps. Heavy on the 'Monster of the Week' style, up until the last five or so episodes where the main story was jammed in. That's generally a bad thing, cramming your main story near the end, but the writers here are of top-notch. Or at least they know what they're doing, so things blend in smoothly. So it didn't feel like a botched job.
What really impresses me, however, is how they handled the 'Monster of the Week' stuff. Usually it's bad (I'm lookin' at you, Smallville) and formulaic. The depth and creativity behind the mythology is a strong factor in making this a unique, well made show. There's always something new to learn during supernatural (such as ghosts being repelled by salt and iron), or a twist on the familiar. For example, the pilot combined La Llorna with the Wandering Traveler. What's really cool is the boys are also figuring out the 'truth' behind these monsters and urban legends. It's a neat set up that made about 15 'Monster of the Week' episodes fun and bearable.
Supernatural also has a different attitude. It jabs at pop culture, unafraid to ridicule itself, and is strongly defined. By strongly defined, I mean there's definitely a foundation for the characters and the setting. Usually with a first season there's some flipping, flopping, and weak, weak story telling. I couldn't find any of that with Supernatural. The constant banter between Dean and Sam, additionally, made the show enjoyable.
Now onto the higlights:
Most like Torchwood: "The Benders"
This is almost exactly like Countrycide. Out in the rural parts, captured by an in-bred, redneck family who like hunting people for fun. (I'm allowed to poke fun at them rural folk, kay? I am from Alberta, y'know) Dealing with monsters or aliens IS NOTHING LIKE HUMANS because we're bat-shit crazy. At least those monsters and aliens are single-minded. Food, anger, pain, vengeance. Easy-peasy, right? And yeah, it feels really demeaning and one-sided, but think about it. The demons that scare us the most are the ones that resemble us the most.
I actually found this to be the most boring episode because it was such a re-hash of Torchwood. Even if it was aired three years prior.
Scariest Episode: "Asylum"
Ffffff. HATE spooky stuff. Suspense and all that. I'm still surprised I'm watching the first few seasons of SPN because it deals with this stuff. Seasons 4 & 5 are all on a bigger scale and generally less spooky.
Anyways, dark, creepy, mutilated mad folk? *shudders* And in a confined space. And there was a lot of questionable experiments in the asylum beforehand, making it extra spooky.
Funniest Episode: "Hell House"
First, you've got the HellHounds, amateur ghost hunters trying to one-up the Winchesters, but really screwing things up for them. That alone was funny. But then you've got Sam & Dean pulling pranks on each other. The best was probably Sam super-gluing Dean's beer bottle to his hand. His laugh at the end was cute. ♥
Most Teary Episode: "Something Wicked"
"Salvation" and "Nightmares" were close contenders, but this one won out because it tied the brothers closer together. Here, Dean slowly reveals why he follows his father so blindly and emphasizes the big-brother-love and care he has for Sam. OH, Dean. You're so awesome for taking care of Sam.
Best Guest Star: Jaime Ray Newman in "Phantom Traveler"
Fact: I've got a girl-crush on Jamie Ray Newman. Gingers are cool by default (Catherine Tate, Felicia Day), so she's got a bonus here. Also, her role as "the most emotionally-balanced" flight attendant was pretty cool.
Most concerned for: The Impala
Okay, I'm spoiling it for you. The season ends with a semi truck T-boning the Winchesters while driving to the hospital (Dean's internal organs are likely jelly, John's shot in the leg, Sam's got some nasty welts on his face). During the two-minute car crash scene my main concern was: "How're they gonna get the dents out of the Impala! Poor car!" Yeah, I really care about the Winchesters. :/