The Best Episodes From Every Season of Supernatural

Season One

Nightmare
As I've said in numerous posts, I like characters with a vulnerable side. The entire story arc of the first two seasons of this show involve Sam's visions and the question of what they might mean. It's a frightening and sometimes painful experience for him, and it makes for powerful television. At least for me. This episode is not the first one to explore Sam's visions, but I consider it the best.

Season Two

Heart
Oh my, how hard it was to pick the best episode from season two! It is by far my far my favorite season of the entire series, with so many creepy and intensely emotional episodes to choose from. But at the end of the day I have to go with Heart because it actually succeeded in making me cry, something I don't do easily. To understand this episode you must have watched the first two seasons in their entirety, otherwise its emotional impact will be lost on you. When you know where "the road so far" has carried Sam and Dean up until this point, you can almost feel what they are feeling in the final scene of this episode. I think it is my favorite of the series as a whole.

Season Three

Mystery Spot
It was just as hard to pick one from season three as it was to pick one from season two, but for a different reason. If season two was my favorite, season three was...well...not. It just seemed a bit of a let down after the earth shattering events that came before it. There were really no episodes that stood out as being great. Of course that's just my opinion, but it did make choosing one from this season difficult. I'm going with Mystery Spot because it had a good mix of drama and humor. It also paid tribute to Groundhog Day, and who doesn't love that?

Season Four

When the Levee Breaks
If you are part of the Supernatural fandom, then you know that there are Sam girls and Dean girls. I'm definitely more of a Sam girl, so an episode all about Sam...yeah, I'm totally there.

Season Five

Swan Song
The season five finale. If you've watched the show then you know how powerful this episode is. If you haven't I won't give spoilers. Just...wow.

Season Six

The Man Who Knew Too Much
Again we're exploring Sam's vulnerable side. Yes, please.

Season Seven

The Born-Again Identity
This was my absolute least favorite season of the show. The leviathan story arc was boring at best. Most of the time it was just plain annoying. But the season did have some high points, at least for a Sam girl who likes strong male characters with a vulnerable side. So if you're me, then The Born-Again Identity is the best episode from season seven.

Season Eight

Sacrifice
In season eight the show seems to reclaim a little of the glory of its early years. The leviathans are finally gone (thank goodness) and the new story arc is much more engaging. Some episodes also return somewhat to the creepy atmosphere of the first few seasons. And then there are the hugs. There have been whole blog posts and hosts of YouTube videos devoted entirely to the number of times Sam and Dean hug in season eight. It all culminates in the finale, which is my pick for the best episode of this season.

Season Nine

Do You Believe in Miracles
Another season finale, and one of the few times I was more moved by Dean's storyline than by Sam's. Again, I won't give any spoilers, just watch it. But watch the rest of the season first because if you don't knew where the characters have been you won't fully appreciate what happens to them in this episode.

Season Ten

The Things We Left Behind
There are Sam girls and there are Dean girls, but Castiel has his fair share of fans as well. Normally I'm not one of them, but I did enjoy the journey his character takes in this episode. It also ties up a loose end from an earlier season, and I like it when shows do that.

Season Eleven

Safe House
I have really been enjoying season eleven. If the return to the creepy atmosphere of the early years began in season eight, it seems to be in full swing now. I chose Safe House as my favorite episode because it actually scared me. I haven't found an episode of Supernatural scary since season one. Good job, writers and directors!

What About You?

You've got all my favorites. What are yours? Feel free to leave a comment and let me know!

Movies Every Supernatural Fan Needs to See

This is by no means a comprehensive list.  To do that I'd have to re-watch every episode, meticulously taking notes every time a movie reference came up.  I'd also have to write down everything that sounded like a movie reference, even if I didn't recognize it, then go on Google and search for the movies that the mystery references came from.  I didn't do that, so I have an incomplete list.  If anyone knows of any reference that I've missed, please let me know in a comment.

Season One:
          Poltergeist--mentioned briefly in the episode "Phantom Traveler". I naturally mean the original, not the remake. If you want to watch the remake, fine. It's a good movie as remakes go, but watch the old one first. And if, heaven forbid, you've seen the remake but not the original, then drop whatever you are doing and go watch it right now.
          The Sixth Sense--mentioned in "Asylum" when Dean calls Sam "Haley Joel".
          Deliverance--Mentioned briefly in "The Benders".

Season Two:
          It--I don't remember if there are any direct references, but "Everybody Loves A Clown" is about an evil clown. You can't really know the evil clown genre until you've seen It.
          Star Wars--Okay, I know, there are two kinds of people in the world: those who have seen Star Wars and those who are very proud of their identity as Someone Who Has Not Seen Star Wars. But still. If you watched the episode "Simon Said" and didn't quite get Dean's line, "He freakin' Obi Wanned me," then just go watch Star Wars. Please.
          The Exorcist--If you're a horror buff, which you must be if you're watching Supernatural, then you should have watched this movie long ago. But if you haven't, now's the time. The episode "The Usual Suspects" stars Linda Blair, and while it's actually pretty light on Exorcist references, there are a couple.
          The Shining--The episode "Playthings" is basically one long tribute to this movie.
          The Evil Dead--In "Hollywood Babylon" Sam and Dean visit a movie set. The movie being made is very similar to The Evil Dead. Again, please watch the original, not the remake.

Season Three:
          Groundhog Day--Lot's of shows have done tribute episodes to this movie, and Supernatural is no exception. Before you watch "Mystery Spot", watch Groundhog Day.

Season Four:
          Back to the Future--In the episode "In the Beginning", Dean goes back in time and meets his parents. Need I say more?
          I Know What You Did Last Summer--Again I don't remember if there are specific references to the movie itself, but a season four episode has this title, so you might as well watch it.

Season Five:
          The Omen--"I Believe The Children Are Our Future" is about the antichrist, so why not watch this classic movie on the same subject.
          Stay Tuned--I haven't seen this movie in years and remember very little about it, but the episode "Changing Channels" seems to be loosely based on it.
          Ghostbusters--Lends its name to the episode "The Real Ghostbusters", but referenced in other episodes as well. If you like the horror/comedy genre, which you must if you're watching Supernatural, but haven't seen this movie, go watch it right now.
          Girl, Interrupted--Lends its name to the episode "Sam, Interrupted."
          My Bloody Valentine--this time if you want to watch the remake (starring Jensen Ackles) then go ahead, but if you're a true movie nerd you'll watch the old one too.

Season Six:
          Weekend at Bernie's--lends its name to the episode "Weekend at Bobby's".
          Twilight--yeah, I know, you wouldn't be caught dead watching that movie. But if you really want to understand the episode "Live Free or Twihard", then bite your bottom lip and just do it. It will only take a couple of hours, I promise.

Season Seven:
          A Beautiful Mind--mentioned a couple of times in reference to Sam's hallucinations.
          Misery--referenced somewhat in the episode "Season Seven, Time for a Wedding".
          Black Swan--mentioned in the episode "Out With the Old".
          The Lord of the Rings Trilogy--also from "Out With the Old". The ballet shoes in this episode change size to fit the wearer, and once someone has touched them they have an overwhelming urge to put them on.
          The Ring--I don't remember the episode, but I know Sam mentions this movie at one point.

Season Eight:
          We Need to Talk About Kevin--lends its name to the first episode of the season.
          Lars and the Real Girl--lends its name to the episode "LARP and the Real Girl".

Season Nine:
          Dog Day Afternoon--inspired the title of the episode "Dog Dean Afternoon".

Season Ten:
          Paper Moon--lends its name to an episode in this season.

Season Eleven:
          Night of the Living Dead--The first two episodes of this season borrow heavily from the zombie genre, so you might as well watch this classic.
          The Bad Seed--lends its name to the third episode of the season.

As I said, this is an incomplete list. If you have anything to add, let me know in a comment.


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Will the Perfect Television Show Ever Exist?

What is Perfect?

The truth is there is no such thing as the "perfect television show".  Why?  Because everyone has a different definition of "perfect".  Here's an example.  A few years ago I discovered the show The Incredible Hulk.  I remember this series existing when I was a child in the 80s, but I always thought it looked stupid and never watched it.  Then I saw a rerun of it one day and realized I had really missed a good program.  It had a number of my requirements for the "perfect show" (which I will describe later in the post) and I was hooked right away.  But my requirements for perfection are not the same as someone else's requirements.  In fact, what I liked about The Incredible Hulk actually turned some people off.  I know this because of a conversation I had with a friend one day.

It was one of those conversations where you're just sitting and relaxing and talking about everything and nothing, and I happened to mention that I had discovered The Incredible Hulk and was amazed that I had never given it a chance before because it was so good.  I mentioned that the thing that drew me to it was the main character's vulnerability, at which point my friend said, "Oh I hated that about that show.  All he does in every episode is whine."  Well, there you have it.  The reason the perfect show will never exist.  If it has everything necessary to make me absolutely love it, someone else will hate it for those very same reasons.  So what are my criteria?

The Right Actor

When it comes to who we find attractive, we all have a type right?  I certainly do.  I go for the tall, dark, and handsome ones.  The lead actor in my perfect TV show would have to fit that description.  He would need to look like...hmm...Eduardo Noriega would be a good example of my "type".

 

Mmm...Eduardo Noriega...Oh...What was I saying?  Oh yeah, leading actor.  Well he doesn't have to be my type, physically, for me to like his character, but we're talking perfect here, right?  So he would have to look perfect.  My definition of perfect. 

A Bit of a Creep Factor

I like creepy stories.  I don't know why.  I just do, and I always have.  I remember when Lost first aired, my husband wanted to watch it, but I was uninterested.  I thought it was just going to be about a group of people trying to survive a plane crash.  I imagined it being a show that focused on the politics of survival in a hostile environment, with arguments about food and shelter and where to go and how to get rescued.  Those things definitely are a part of the story of Lost, but of course there is so much more to the series than that.  It was the episode "Numbers" that made me realize that the show was about a good bit more than just survival.  The creepy atmosphere of that episode hooked me, and afterward I tuned in faithfully every week.  My perfect show would have to be a little bit creepy and mysterious. 

The Main Character

I've already described his appearance, but what's his story?  Who is he, and what's going to make me like him?  Well, I've already mentioned it.  Vulnerability.  He must have a vulnerable side.  Not that I want him to be a wimp.  I mean, he should be able to kick some butt every now and then, but there has to be some weakness there.  In fact, I have a pretty specific idea of exactly how vulnerable he is and why.

I know I am not alone in wanting a vulnerable main character, because these characters are constantly making appearances on television.  The Incredible Hulk, of course, is an example.  Fox Mulder on The X Files is another strong male lead who happens to have a vulnerable side.  But I seldom see a character with my idea of the perfect level of vulnerability.  So what is that perfect level?

All About Him

I've written in a previous post that my favorite seasons of Supernatural are the first two.  This is because the first two seasons fit more of my criteria than the later seasons do.  The show was creepier then than it is now, but the characters' storylines also fit almost perfectly into my criteria in the beginning.  The main thing that hooked me on the show was the story arc involving Sam that lasted for the entire first two seasons.  While Sam and Dean both showed some vulnerability, Sam showed the right kind.  Well at least the right kind for me.  What do I mean?  Let me explain.

The first two seasons were all about Sam.  I mean, yeah, Dean was important too, but all of the bad stuff that was happening was centered on Sam.  He was the one the demon wanted.  He was the one who had to be saved.  But he was also the one who had a special gift.  Remember Sam's psychic powers?  The writers of the show seem to have forgotten about those in recent years.  I miss them.  Explaining why I like that part of the story is hard to put into words, but I'll try.  Sam was special, and I need my leading male character to be special.  He had a gift that was also a curse.  It gave him the ability to do things that others could not do, but it also made him more vulnerable.  Sam had visions, and he could see things before they happened, but those visions weakened him.  He needed to recover from them.  I liked the fact that his strength was also his weakness.

Getting Frustrated

Part of me wishes that Supernatural had continued to be all about Sam, but of course that is not how the story has played out.  There will be one story arc involving Sam, followed by one involving Dean, then another with Sam, and so on.  I know why that is.  People will get tired of everything always being about Sam.  People want Dean to go through some drama as well.  Writing a TV show is about pleasing as many people as possible, so they alternate between characters to give everyone a little of what they want.  Supernatural is not the only show that does this.

I recently started watching Haven, and have seen the same trend.  I must say, in the beginning it was a little difficult for me to get into this show because the main character is a woman.  As I said above, I want to be attracted to the main character, which means I want the story to center on a handsome man.  The fact that the story is pretty much all about Audrey in the beginning kept me from getting pulled in completely.  But it's an interesting show, so I kept watching, and I was not disappointed.

It takes a really long time for any character other than Audrey to get an interesting storyline on this show.  Okay, Nathan goes through some intense stuff fairly early on, but it's a little bit here and a little bit there.  The story doesn't really focus on him.  Then, as the series progresses, we start to get a glimpse of Duke's backstory, and that's what finally hooked me.  It fits my criteria exactly.  The gift that is also a curse.  The strength that is also a weakness.  And by season five...wow.  But still I was left feeling a little bit disappointed.  Why?  Because, again, it's not all about him.  The other characters are still there, and they still have their own drama to go through.  That drama is often completely unrelated to Duke and his struggles.  For a show to be "perfect", it all needs to center on the one character.

So What Do I Do?

Okay, some of you may be asking, "Well, Greta, you call yourself a writer.  Why don't you write that perfect story?"  Well, I guess I kind of did.  And I kind of am.  Amelia's Children, the book I just completed, has all of these elements.  Well, except for the lead actor.  I can't really have that in a book, but I do describe David as looking a bit like my perfect man.  And the story is all about him.  Bad things happen to other people, but David is at the center of it.  And yes, he has a gift that is also a curse.  The new book I'm working on centers around a character named Damian (I seem to like names that start with "D").  Again, bad things happen to other people, but they wouldn't have happened if those people had not been somehow connected to Damian.  And yes, Damian is also described as tall, dark, and handsome.  It feels good to write these stories because I can take all of my frustrations about my favorite movies, books, and TV shows, and deal with them in my own way.  I can write the story the way I think it should have been written.  But occasionally...just every now and then...I would like to see that story written by someone else.  And if it happened on a TV show, I would get to tune in week after week and experience that little emotional release again and again.

If my perfect show exists, and I just haven't found it yet, please leave a comment and let me know about it.  If you have your own ideas of perfection, and they differ from mine, tell me that as well.  I would love to hear from you.


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Why Are Stories About Brothers So Amazing?

Fan Girl

If you've been reading this blog, then you know I have written about Supernatural in the past, but my obsession with brother stories goes back further than that.  In fact, I didn't even discover Supernatural until about three years ago.  Before Sam and Dean, there were others.

Growing Up On Soaps

Remember soap operas?  I've heard rumors that a few of them still exist, but I honestly don't know how many people are watching them, so many have been cancelled in recent years because of diminishing audiences. Why is this happening? My theory is that now people have Netflix, Amazon Prime, and huge dvd libraries, so if they're home during the day they can actually find quality programming to watch and don't need to turn to soap operas with their cheap cameras, cheesy writing, and over the top acting.  But that's just my theory.  Anyway, moving on.

I grew up watching soaps, primarily CBS soaps.  The characters of Guiding Light were talked about in my home as though they were real people.  My mother and grandmother would spend half an hour on the phone just talking about how Roger and Holly really should get back together, or how hard Michelle's life is going to be now that Maureen is dead.  Because the show came on late in the afternoon, I was usually able to watch it when I came home from school.  If I was going to be late, my mom would tape it for me.  Anybody remember those days?

What I Love Most in a Fictional Character

Okay, are there any other Guiding Light fans out there?  Did you have moments when you were absolutely in love with Roger Thorpe, even though you knew he was evil?  I think Roger was the first fictional character I was really drawn to.  Why?  Because of what the website TV Tropes refers to as the Heel Face Turn.  Boy howdy am I a sucker for that.  And Roger Thorpe did it at least every couple of years.  Generally he was the show's biggest scoundrel, but occasionally, especially if it involved Holly or Blake, he could be made to show his softer side.  And when he did women's hearts melted all over America.  This so-called Heel Face Turn was what turned me on to the first brother story with which I became completely obsessed.

Richard and Edmund

This was a story line that began on Guiding Light sometime in the late nineties.  Looking back on it, I have to recognize that it was ridiculously hokey.  It involved a royal family in some made up country somewhere...well I'm not even sure where it was supposed to be, but, wherever it was, it was a country that was ruled by a monarch.  Richard was the older brother and heir to the throne.  Edmund was the younger brother and...well...not the heir.  Remember The Lion King? It was kind of like that.  Edmund came on the show as the new villain, probably because it was around the time that Roger left and the show needed to replace him.  In his first few storylines he was pure evil, but of course as time wore on he started to show a little of his vulnerable side.  And as this vulnerable side started to show itself more and more, there was this suggestion of an incredibly strong bond between the two brothers.  Even though on the surface they hated each other, even though they were sworn enemies, in some place deep down they really loved each other, and I loved them for that.

Michael and Kevin

This was a story from The Young and the Restless.  It was much more believable and relatable than the Richard and Edmund story had been, but it had all of the same elements.  Michael was the older brother; Kevin was the younger brother.  Again, Kevin came on the show as the villain.  He did some pretty heinous things before he finally made his Heel Face Turn.  And when he finally saw the error of his ways, Michael was there to pick up the pieces.  The story was made more touching by the fact that Kevin had been abused as a child.  This made him more sympathetic, but it also provided the motivation for Michael to want to help him, because Michael carried around the guilt of having left home while Kevin remained at the mercy of his abusive father.

A Pattern Emerging

These two stories were so similar, and I loved them so completely, that I actually started doing Google searches for other stories that fit this pattern: older, responsible brother holding together the broken pieces of the younger, rebellious brother's messed up life.  That's a very specific thing to search for, so I naturally did not get many results. 

Sam and Dean

Supernatural deviated a bit from the set pattern.  Sam was not the bad seed--at least not until season four--and though he did go through some intense stuff in the first episode, it was quickly revealed that he was no more broken than Dean.  So why did I fall so hard for these two?  I have no idea, but I know I'm not alone in my obsession.  Just search for Supernatural on YouTube and you'll see what I mean.  There are people who post videos just about Sam and Dean hugging. 

So What's the Big Deal?

Okay, so I have no idea what makes brother stories, in particular, so powerful for me.  I have some theories, though.  I'm an only child, so maybe part of me wants to experience a sibling relationship vicariously through fictional characters, but if that's the case, it should be sister stories that do it for me.  They don't.  I feel very little when I watch a heartwarming story about two sisters.  A big sister and a little brother is a little more interesting, but not much.  A big brother and a little sister turns me off completely.  But when it's two brothers...sigh...I just can't get enough.  So maybe it's the whole sexual attraction thing that hooks me.  I would rather look at two handsome men than two beautiful women.  And when those two handsome men are crying and professing their undying love for each other--in a completely platonic way--it has an effect on me that I can't quite explain.

What Next?

At the moment, Supernatural is still going strong on The CW, but nothing lasts forever, so I know at some point I will be in search of my next great bromance.  Any suggestions?  Do you know of an absolutely amazing brother story that I haven't explored yet?  If you do, please leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you.


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What Kind of Supernatural Fan Are You?

Two Kinds of Fans

No, I am not asking whether you prefer Sam or Dean, though that is a valid way to categorize Supernatural fans.  But when I look at people's comments online and read people's blogs about the show, I see another organizational system emerging.  I have come to group fans by which season they like the best.

Based on my observations, I have come to the conclusion that Supernatural fans basically fall into two broad categories: those who say seasons one and two are their favorite seasons, and those who prefer seasons four and five.  Yes, I know, a true fan loves every season of the show, but which one is your favorite?  I'm sure you have one.  And I'd be willing to bet you would choose one of the four that I've just mentioned.

Why do these seem to be the favorites?

If you are a fan of the show, I don't think I need to explain to you how truly powerful season two was.  And I personally tend to lump season one with it because the two seasons together basically formed one story that culminated in...well, I won't spoil it for anyone who may not have watched it yet.  Season three, for me at least, seemed to be a bit of a letdown after the spectacular ending of season two.  But of course, that's just my opinion.

And then came season four, and the beginning of a whole new story arc.  Okay, technically it was a continuation of the events set in motion in the very first episode, but if you watch the show you know that a lot changed in season four.  The mood was different.  The consequences of Sam and Dean's actions were on a much larger scale.  The survival of the very world was at stake.  This continued until the end of season five, after which the show went into a couple of awkward seasons where the writers seemed to be trying to figure out where to go next.  After all, where do you go after you've just saved the world from...oh yeah, I promised no spoilers.

Which one is my favorite?

I have to say that I will always prefer seasons one and two.  Why?  The first reason is that I'm a horror movie buff, and I was attracted to a TV show that was based on my favorite genre.  This was something that made Supernatural somewhat unique in the beginning.  Do you remember how spooky the episodes were back then?  There was a creep factor there that just doesn't seem to be present in the show anymore.  Starting with season four, the show began incorporating more fantasy elements into the plotline, and leaving some of the horror behind.  I think this was probably necessary.  After all, how many times could Sam and Dean clean a haunted house before that story started getting old?  And don't get me wrong, I like the more recent seasons too.  I enjoy fantasy from time to time.  After all, who doesn't want to cheer for their team in the epic battle between good and evil?  But if given the choice, I'll take creepy over action packed any day.

The second reason I prefer seasons one and two is that I am a stickler for consistency, and the first two seasons of Supernatural followed very logically on one another.  The story arc never took any odd twists that made me stop and ask, "What a minute...what about (fill in the blank here)."  Season four, in my opinion, seemed to take the story in a direction that it had not intended to go in the beginning.  Again, no spoilers, but think about Sam and his psychic abilities.  Think about how the nature of those abilities changed in season four.  Now, you can argue that it was all due to the events at the end of season two.  Those events changed things for Sam and so afterward he needed to...oops, that would be a spoiler.  But anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I didn't buy it.  Where Sam ended up at the end of season five just did not seem to be where he was supposed to be going in seasons one and two.  But again, that's just my opinion.

Please remember, of course, what I said in the beginning about real Supernatural fans.  I am a real fan, and so I have loved all seasons.  I just have a special place in my heart for those early episodes.

And you?

So what are you?  Are you a seasons one and two fan, or a seasons four and five fan?  Or do you fit my categories at all?  Maybe you prefer seasons eight and nine.  Feel free to leave a comment and let me know if you agree or disagree with my analysis of this great series.  Just remember to keep it positive.  We fans have got to stick together!


Don't forget to follow me on Twitter if you want updates about this blog.  Also, check out my paranormal mystery, Amelia's Children, now available on Amazon Kindle.