It's not usual for a show in its fourth season to see a sudden ratings surge, but that's exactly what's happening to the CW's little known (and little watched) Supernatural. The horror-genre show has long been a cult favorite, struggling in its Thursday night 9 pm slot. This season, though, the show has seen an uptick in viewers, logging an average of 3.32 million eyeballs a week, well ahead of their season three numbers.
Even a devotee like myself can admit that the show's charms are an acquired taste, preferably to those with a forgiving palette. This season, though, has been good enough for me to think, wow you should really watch. And here are ten excellent reasons why you should watch:
10. Maureen Ryan does, so you should too
Up until this season, the show has been largely ignored by mainstream media outlets. This television season, one of my favorite TV critics, Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune, called it one of the best shows of 2008. No small feat from someone whose praise isn't so easily given. She called it "unheralded but excellent ... packing meaty thrills, dude-tastic humor, and solid storytelling into each episode."
9. The epic love story of Sam and Dean
Go ahead, giggle. I'll wait. In an early season two interview, writer Sera Gamble, now one of the show's producers, jokingly said the show was really just the epic love story of two brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester. Supernatural's real hook is that under the guise of a horror show, there is a tale of family dysfunction so deep it would rival anything daytime soaps had to offer. Wedged in between the monsters of the week, Sam and Dean struggle to keep their family of two afloat in the midst of epic turmoil and an impending demon war. Theirs is a twisted love story of filial loyalty stretched to the brim, always in danger of snapping. It's this constant struggle to stick with the ones you love, even when it means sacrificing your own happiness, that is the emotional heart of the show.
8. Blood and guts storytelling
This is still a good old-fashioned horror show. Supernatural has a high tolerance for gore, and they're also excellent at crafting visceral, spooky thrills. Spooky often beats bloody in my book, and this show does both really well. Sometimes, people like to be scared pants-less.
7. Bad things happen to good people
This show is not afraid to kill anyone off. Mamma Winchester died in a suspicious fire, as did Sam's sweet-as-pie girlfriend, Jessica. And, at the end of season one, Papa Winchester sacrificed his soul for that of his eldest son, leaving the Winchester brethren fatherless, motherless and girlfriend-less orphans. Dude, what a downer. The point is that bad things happen all the time and evil does exist. I love that the show stopped pretending there might be a silver lining a long time ago. Sam has given up all hope of a normal life, Dean is tormented by visions of his time in Hell. There's something liberating in the bleakness of this show. Yes, the world sucks. Now get over it.
6. Its not Lost or Heroes or Prison Break
Shows with complex mythologies often spiral out of control, confusing fans and actors alike. Creator Eric Kripke has dropped delicious tidbits of the Winchester family mythology throughout the series, skillfully weaving their myth arc against the shorter monster-of-the week plot lines. Every season, fans have been rewarded with the crucial ah-ha! moment that ties up a lot of loose ends, but also keeps us interested and not frustrated.
5.1965 1967 Chevy Impala
Seriously, this is like the sweetest ride on television. I'm not a car person at all, and I LOVE THIS CAR. Like everything with this show, Sam and Dean's car isn't just a car. It's the de-facto home for the wayward brothers, a place of belonging and timelessness that also serves as a physical link to their past.
This is still a good old-fashioned horror show. Supernatural has a high tolerance for gore, and they're also excellent at crafting visceral, spooky thrills. Spooky often beats bloody in my book, and this show does both really well. Sometimes, people like to be scared pants-less.
7. Bad things happen to good people
This show is not afraid to kill anyone off. Mamma Winchester died in a suspicious fire, as did Sam's sweet-as-pie girlfriend, Jessica. And, at the end of season one, Papa Winchester sacrificed his soul for that of his eldest son, leaving the Winchester brethren fatherless, motherless and girlfriend-less orphans. Dude, what a downer. The point is that bad things happen all the time and evil does exist. I love that the show stopped pretending there might be a silver lining a long time ago. Sam has given up all hope of a normal life, Dean is tormented by visions of his time in Hell. There's something liberating in the bleakness of this show. Yes, the world sucks. Now get over it.
6. Its not Lost or Heroes or Prison Break
Shows with complex mythologies often spiral out of control, confusing fans and actors alike. Creator Eric Kripke has dropped delicious tidbits of the Winchester family mythology throughout the series, skillfully weaving their myth arc against the shorter monster-of-the week plot lines. Every season, fans have been rewarded with the crucial ah-ha! moment that ties up a lot of loose ends, but also keeps us interested and not frustrated.
5.1965 1967 Chevy Impala
Seriously, this is like the sweetest ride on television. I'm not a car person at all, and I LOVE THIS CAR. Like everything with this show, Sam and Dean's car isn't just a car. It's the de-facto home for the wayward brothers, a place of belonging and timelessness that also serves as a physical link to their past.
4. Bring on the tunes
You won't hear any cheesy, female singer-songwriters on this show, thank God. Supernatural's mainly classic rock soundtrack is a real bright spot in the TV landscape which is overrun with tweeny pop songs and "alternative" bands. You'll hear anything and everything, from CCR to Styx to AC/DC.
3. Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki
Seriously, what are they feeding Sam Winchester? Jared Padalecki started off the series as a tall, gangly drink of water but now has turned into a bona fide hunk. Yowza. Ladies, tune in for the eye candy if you will, but both of these fine faces are hiding some solid acting chops. Both guys have an easy chemistry that makes it easy to swallow some of the more maudlin writing on the show.
2. Better writing
The show has been uneven in its past three seasons, drifting between storylines and inconsistent in its characterization. By the fourth season, the writers know what works for their actors and what doesn't. It's nice to see less of the clunky one-liners (like the "I Shot the Sheriff" joke from Jus in Bello) and less of the emotional, weepy Sam who was too often aimlessly wringing his hands to be any good.
And the No. 1 reason ...
1. Misha Collins
Holy cow, welcome aboard new guy! With the last 5 minutes of the season premiere, I knew I'd be watching a different show from now on. Misha Collins plays the slightly awkward, frighteningly precise angel Castile Castiel, and has done an amazing job of selling the underlying menace and vengefulness of God's most heavenly creatures. He's been a great addition to the cast, he's opened up new avenues of storytelling for the writers, and he gives Dean a proper foil with whom to spar.
The show is soaring right now, and I only hope that creator Eric Kripke trusts his instincts above the grumblings of a few fans and stays the course.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-21-2009 @ 9:01AM
Target Lockon Stratos said...
I like the show okay I guess. But if you're going to fight a demon, you'd better have superpowers.
Reply
1-22-2009 @ 2:13AM
Micahel said...
You're right. Sam has some sort of supernatural powers!
1-21-2009 @ 9:15AM
AgtSpooky said...
Thank you for the great article! Us Supernatural fans always appreciate any press our show gets. But, psst - it's a 1967 Impala.
Reply
1-21-2009 @ 9:39AM
morganslady said...
Thank You for the wonderful article. Supernatural fans love it when our show gets recognition, it is well written,well acted and on a weekly basis offers an hours worth of solid drama. It's not the ususal TV fare.
Reply
1-21-2009 @ 9:58AM
cassi said...
Wonderful article! You listed many awesome reasons for watching Supernatural if I wouldn't already be a huge fan, I would definitely start watching!
Psst, Metallicar is a 67 not a 65! ;)
I love CASTIEL!!!! I never heard of Misha Collins before SPN but now I'm even gonna watch Nip/Tuck just because he's in a Feb. episode!
Reply
1-21-2009 @ 3:40PM
Heather said...
Me too! I don't even like Nip/Tuck at all, but my love for Misha Collins is great.
watch the show people for all these reasons and more.
You didn't add the "Dead people come back to life for very good reasons."
1-21-2009 @ 9:59AM
Jesse said...
This is one of my favorite shows on television right now. I love just about everything about it. The episode where Sam as his own personal Groundhogs day started off comical and hilarious and eventually they managed to make it terrifying. They took funny to emotionally taxing effortlessly.
The music helps so much. I've gone back and listened to so many classics because of this show. I can't near Styx's enegade without thinking of the episode where they escape SWAT team during the bank hostage situation.
Also how can you not like a show that had a human sized suicidal teddy bear?
Reply
1-21-2009 @ 4:34PM
Suntzu said...
I was going to say nobody is going to mention the suicidal giant teddy bear...good call
1-21-2009 @ 5:21PM
CRVBOY said...
And I can't listen to "Eye of the Tiger" anymore without picturing Jensen doing his little music video bit at the end of a recent episode...
1-21-2009 @ 2:09PM
Kady said...
Yeah, I have to mention the two minor mistakes as well...the car is a 1967 (not 1965) and it's Castiel, not Castile.
Besides all that, I LOVE the show, I love the brothers, I love the car, and most of all, I love Jared and Jensen. The show wouldn't have been the same without those two in the lead roles. The planets are all aligned on this one!
Reply
1-21-2009 @ 2:22PM
Jason said...
Hopefully when CW crashes, this and Smallville will find new homes, preferably on Sci-Fi channel or something other than network TV.
Reply
1-21-2009 @ 7:08PM
stg said...
i think this is the last season
1-21-2009 @ 2:22PM
hemal said...
Wow, you guys really know your stuff. Errors fixed, thanks for (kindly) pointing them out!
Reply
1-21-2009 @ 2:25PM
alexis said...
I'm so happy to hear that more and more people are watching supernatural! it's one of my favorite shows on tv-for all the reasons you said above and so much more. every week i'm surprised by how much more i'm drawn into the world of sam and dean. keep em coming!!!
Reply
1-21-2009 @ 2:40PM
Pinwiz said...
I know that there's a lot of fans of SPN, and I support their fandom, but here's two reasons I don't watch:
1. 30 Rock
2. CSI (For the Roomie)
My DVR is full.
Reply
1-21-2009 @ 5:19PM
CRVBOY said...
Get a second Tivo. You'll be glad you did.
1-21-2009 @ 2:48PM
PB said...
Thanks for the love for Supernatural! It's a terrific show and I'm glad that the CW has stuck with it, through good ratings and not-so-good ratings. I hope it stays on for a long time.
Reply
1-21-2009 @ 3:50PM
Dair said...
Another Supernatural convert, I'm so happy! For the show and for you!
It really IS the best show on TV!
And I don't even LIKE horror!
Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles deserve Emmys! They have a lot to do, comedy, tragedy, horror, stunts, effects, and they pull it all off wonderfully! They've even acted the hell out of some pretty bad scripts and saved the whole episode.
Though the writing overall is above average.
(Thanks for fixing the year of the Impala and Castiel's name)
Reply
1-21-2009 @ 3:39PM
KaeDee said...
TVSquad quit writing recaps of Supernatural (for shame!) and I missed them. Its great to read a shout-out from the website that's been ignoring the show this year. Thanks for acknowledging the fans and this terrific series again!
Reply
1-21-2009 @ 4:04PM
Malren said...
One of my favorite shows in the last decade much less currently on. For all these reasons and more.
Reply