Diary of a Supernatural Virgin – season four reminds me of Buffy

Season four, Episodes 1-4

So… wow. They really didn’t mess around with the beginning of season four, did they? Something that the writers of Supernatural do in the most amazing way is come up with logical consequences based on the events and actions in the episodes. Things happen, the boys do something, and it makes perfect sense because there’s such a strong sense of character in this show.

So far, season four is darker, less funny and a whole lot deeper, ripe with back story and angst. It’s wonderful and awful (and I mean that with love) all at the same time. I miss the lighthearted banter between the brothers, but I am also addicted to the path down which the story is taking us, and I revel at the mind of Eric Kripke and his writing staff that they can keep upping the game like this. Supernatural, you’ve come a long way, baby, and you haven’t let me down yet. I’m riding the train all the way to Fangirl Station. Yeah, I don’t think I’ve got it in me to be a fangirl either, but Supernatural is definitely on my list of all-time favorite shows.

“Lazarus Rising”
Dean is pulled out of  Hell by Castiel, an angel who’s got work for him to do.

“I should look like a ‘Thriller’ video reject.” – Dean

Buffy, anyone? The first thing I thought of was my spunky little slayer, brought back from the dead, clawing her way out of her coffin and six feet of dirt. So Dean went to Hell for summer vacation while Sam screwed around with a demon. Raw deal, Dean. Although Sam got a raw deal too, because Ruby was way cuter last season and he didn’t get to bang her in that body.

I completely adored the scene when Dean told Bobby he was for real… and all the times Bobby kept going after him, hugging him, throwing holy water at him — it was perfect! Then when Sam does the same, it just fit so well with their characters.

The brothers start off season four both keeping secrets from each other — Dean trying to raise up who saved him, Sam having the ability to exorcise demons and send them back to Hell, with Ruby’s training. And please don’t even try to reassure me that Sam isn’t going to go all Demon Sam this season. I’ve been expecting it since season one and now we have the perfect set-up, and Dean ready to stop him. Oh yeah, let the battle of the brothers begin!

Nice touches:

• One of the first things Dean does is buy a Busty Asian Beauties magazine.
• Sam uses the name Wedge Antilles for his cell phone account (Star Wars).
• Sam gives Dean his necklace back, the one Sam gifted Dean as children.
• “You were supposed to take care of her, not douche her up.” – Dean to Sam when he sees Sam put an iPod jack in the Impala.
• It’s just all wrong that an angel would burn out the eyes of someone, isn’t it? But oh so Supernatural.

“Are You There God? It’s Me, Dean Winchester”
Lilith summons spirits that have been wronged by hunters to kill them, and Bobby, Sam and Dean are some of the targets of twin girls, Hendricksen, and Meg.

“I thought angels were supposed to be guardians — fluffy wings, halos, you know, Michael Landon — not dicks.” – Dean to Castiel

How do I profess my love for Bobby? There are not words to do justice to the awesomeness that was Bobby in this episode. The dude’s got a solid iron panic room that’s coated in salt. As Dean said to him, “Bobby? You’re awesome.” Bobby’s like Giles on steroids, because he’s got the research and the spells, but he doesn’t drink tea.

I still don’t know what to say about Castiel (except that Dean was “groped by an angel” and it made me laugh). I’m just riding this one out, because he doesn’t seem very angelic to me. Demanding respect from Dean in a very forceful way, Ruby fears him like Sam fears clowns; something’s just off.

So again I’m thinking of my friend Buffy: signs of the apocalypse, The Master, er, I mean Lucifer walking free when the seals are broken. I’m thinking this season’s story arc is going to be very Buffy-like, which is never a bad thing.

“In the Beginning”
Castiel sends Dean back to 1973 and we find out Mary Winchester and her parents were hunters, and that she made a deal with Azazel to let John live.

“Mom is a babe. I’m going to Hell. Again.” – Dean

Weird to have almost no Sam in an episode, but I kinda didn’t care. I didn’t need more than Dean and Mitch Pileggi rockin’ this episode — I was reminded of the greatness of Pileggi in X-Files and how I need more Pileggi on my screen. Dean working a job with his mom and grandparents was charming, and the scene where he makes his mother promise that on November 2, 1983 she won’t get out of bed, no matter what she hears, showed us Ackles’ acting chops once again.

I got a little flash of Reaper when Dean was transported back to 1973. It reminded me of when The Devil sends Sam to wherever, abruptly in another place.

The reveals were amazing and totally unexpected. I would never have guessed that Mary was a hunter, let alone her family. I wonder if John ever knew the whole story, or any of it? I am so, so glad that the whole Sam getting powers thing was bigger than opening the Devil’s Gate at the end of season two. I should know by now that Kripke bleeds the potential from his storylines.

Dean is passionate about his family, this we know, and it comes out in the lengths he goes to in this episode to try to ensure that they live, even though all the others he’s saved will die if fate changes. I’m sure it’s no coincidence that this was highlighted in the episode that ends with Castiel telling Dean that Sam is headed down a dangerous road and if Dean doesn’t stop him, Castiel will.

My biggest rant of this episode was the casting of John. The chin dimple didn’t fool me, people — where were his giant, bottomless, swimming-hole dimples? Bad, bad casting, but it only whacked me in the face because Supernatural usually does an excellent job of flashback casting. Young Sam, Dean, Mary… they’ve all been perfect.

Nice touches:

• Sam and Dean are named after Mary’s parents, who were also hunters, Deana and Samuel.
• Dean talks John into buying the Impala.
• Dean introduces himself to John as Dean Van Halen.
• Samuel shows up dressed as a priest at a victim’s house, and Dean’s already there, complete with priest garb. And introduces Samuel as the “senior, senior priest, Father Cheney.” You don’t find peaches under apple trees.

“Metamorphosis”
Sam and Dean fight a roogaroo (flesh-eating monster) with Travis, and old friend of John’s.

“It doesn’t matter what you are, it matters what you do. It’s your choice. ” Sam to Jack (the roogaroo)

As is done so often in Supernatural, the monster of the week plot echos what is going on with the boys. In this case, the above quote says it all, and Sam decides not to play with his powers anymore. Oh, but Sam, you and I both know that would make for a very lackluster season four, so just get on with it already.

Sam identifies with the roogaroo, in that he feels he has something evil inside of him too (demon blood), and that he doesn’t deserve to be killed unless he does something to warrant it. And Sam was only trying to keep fighting without Dean, and he found something that works. I get that, but I also get Dean’s point that Sam is on a slippery slope and that if nothing is wrong with it, then why did Sam hide it from Dean? As much as you’ve got to feel for Sam, he already went for six months without Dean in “Mystery Spot,” so I’m just not sure his end of the argument holds up. Besides, God doesn’t want him doing it, or so Castiel (you know, the angel who I don’t trust yet?) says.

I’m looking forward to the slippery slope, but I hate it when the boys fight because I miss the banter that keeps things light and fun.

Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Jun 22, 2009 @ 14:00 EST5EDT