Supernatural - The Complete Second Season - DVD Review

I was looking forward to seeing the second season of Supernatural to find out which direction the show would be taken in after the intermittent excitement of the first season. The show really has a lot of potential and works on a higher level as well as being a little more serialised this time around.

The opener "In My Time of Dying" was an excellent start to the season and immediately dealt with the cliffhanger that closed the first. I was a little skeptical at first as, generally speaking, having characters in a car crash as an end of season cliffhanger is usually pretty lazy and simplistic. That's not to say that absurd cliffhangers aren't awesome... Can I get a high-five for Melrose? It was just something I didn't really expect from this show. Anyway, the episode was very eventful and set-up the season and the rest of the series while also retaining a lot of character nuance that makes the show so great. Almost a perfect season opener. The episodes following range from above average to good. Some of them help set-up the seasonal arc which has to do with the 'special children' like Sam who the Yellow-Eyed Demon 'wants'. This is purposefully vague to begin with and the story progresses and closes by the end of the season. I commend Kripke for wrapping a story up without dragging it on too long but it felt meandering even before the middle of the season. I don't think this particular story-arc of the season was balanced properly and there could have been much more progression earlier in the season rather than having the bulk of the story in the final two-parter. The finale was great but after all the incredible episodes from episode 12 Nightshifter to episode 20 What is and What Should Never Be, I wasn't that excited for the 'special children' story. The transition just felt a little jarring. However, this was one heck of a season and from Nightshifter onwards are the best episodes the show has produced. They range from intense character-study to horror to comedy to action and drama. It's just amazing stuff and make the season amazing regardless of any other minor flaws. There are some great guest stars during the season such as Linda Blair (The Exorcist) and Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica). The comedic episodes too suggest a more self-reflexive show like Buffy and The X-Files were, and I'm sure as the show goes on there will be breather episodes that go even further than Hollywood Babylon.

Video

I found the widescreen transfer to be very clean and the great visual style of the show intact and represented well. Not a single issue.

Audio

The Dolby 5.1 sounds flawless, everything is mixed properly and the source music is fantastic.

Extras

Special Features:

• Unaired scenes
• Commentary on 2 key episodes by series stars and creative team
• The Devil's Road Map: Interactive U.S. map guide to urban legends and factoids pertaining to each episode
• Jared's original screen test for the role of Sam
• Gag reel
  

Four episodes have deleted scenes and the two commentaries are on great episodes. There aren't a load of special features, but of course, it could have been a lot worse and Jared's screen test and the interactive map are nice touches.

If your a fan and have already seen the first season then pick this up as soon as possible 'cause your in for a treat. If you haven't seen the show then go back and see the first season and know that it will be worth it because the show hasn't been canceled or jumped the shark. Especially if you are a fan of shows like Buffy and The X-Files as this seems to be heading in a similar direction - in a good way.

Supernatural - The Complete First Season - DVD Review

Initially I passed this off as a attempt to create a WB version of The X-Files - which it actually kind of is, but it's a little better than that. However, as it often does, my telephilia drew me to a place I didn't think I would go.

Pilot-machine David Nutter directs the first episode with impressive skill, creating an awesome visual style that was the first thing that stuck out to me and still does. I would wonder why he hasn't stuck around for any more with the exception of the second episode - but the man is a pilot-machine and there will always be pilot's to make. He generally directs the first couple of a series and then moves on - with the exception of directing one of the best episodes of The Sopranos late in its run. The visual style matches that of The X-Files, with the dark wash that gives all light a white look. This really helps the issue with shooting with digital - it still has a filmic look due to its style.

Supernatural is about two brothers road tripping around America hunting evil. They stay alive with credit-card fraud and gambling, oh and also a car boot full of varying weaponry. Urban legends such as Bloody Mary and Hookman make up a lot of the episodes - and the show plays with these myths and legends to freshen them. Creator Eric Kripe, from such terribleness as Boogeyman gets lucky with a series pickup, and a second chance at a good career. One thing I must congratulate him on is the pace of the first season. Usually the first has to be comprised of entirely stand-alone episodes, bar the last one or two - due to the wish of the network, I should add. However, this wasn't too evident for me while watching this first season. The long-running story was well incorporated into the many episodes of the season - and I was never all that bored - not hoping that please God do not make me sit through yet another monster-of-the-week episode. Some of them were pretty effective, some were rip-offs of X-Files episodes, and some were kinda scary. Veteran X-Files director Kim Manners directed some of the best episodes of the season and drew some great performances, as he often does.

The one thing that did weaken the mythology aspect of Supernatural was this Meg character. She was straight outta Charmed and it really did not work for me - I know it's The WB but I didn't think Supernatural would go down that path. Anyway, not a huge deal as Buffy did the same and that show reaches staggering heights of goodness.

Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles play the leads Sam and Dean Winchester. Unexpectedly, they often outshine the guest stars on most of these episodes - considering one was from Gilmore Girls and the other from Smallville they are doing a really good job this early on. This further highlights my initial comment that this show is very much a WB take on The X-Files, but better. Jeffrey Dean Morgan plays John Winchester, the boys father who is absent while trying to find the demon who killed his wife when Sam was a baby. The brothers come together in the pilot to search for him. There is a fair share of family angst on the show which I predict will just escalate in the second season. This stuff is very intriguing to watch and gives a strong emotional edge that the show needs.

The cliffhanger in the season finale was very odd, but I still can't wait to see what happens in the second season. I Recommend Supernatural to anyone who really misses The X-Files or horror on television, or anybody who misses Buffy, as this show has the potential to go in that direction in the future.

90210 - S01E04: The Bubble

Either this episode is the worst so far, or I am getting a little bored of 90210 already. The only characters that are semi-interesting are Nat, Kelly, and Brenda from the old cast. As well as Dixon and Silver from the new cast.

Annie has been getting way too much screen-time, and her plots are very dull. Her chemistry with Ethan is boring, as is the whole love triangle set-up. Also, the other guy she likes is a shit actor which only makes matters worse. The story with Naomi's dad cheating on her mum is a tad less boring, but still uninteresting due to AnnaLynne McCord being the worst actress in the cast. Jessica Walter is given some decent screen time this week, unfortunately it is with Annie. She directs the play Annie is in until Brenda takes over. But the story isn't given time to develop, it is simply there one minute and gone the next.

I think a big problem with the show is the lack of drama. All of the conflicts tend to be resolved simply, for example; Dixon's money problem, Kelly and Brenda's 'fight', and Annie trying to win back the rich guy. There are on-going plot strands, for instance; Dixon not feeling like he fits into the family, the drug-addict kid, and Silver being homeless. All of these plots are mentioned very briefly when they are not being immediately dealt with, but there is no drama or tension surrounding them. This is the problem with the fast-pace of the show. We cannot care about Ethan and Naomi getting back together if we don't see them apart for very long, the most emotion and time spent on the plot is a simple close-up at the end of the scene where the character may have a sad face. They break up, and then it is mentioned again in a random scene that they aren't together anymore, then they will have the getting back together scene. We do not care. Give it some time - but not just time - give it some weight too, meaning more scenes.. This is a problem with nearly all of the stories on 90210.

90210 - S01E01: We're Not In Kansas Anymore & S01E02: The Jet Set

When did the slow-to-moderately-paced teen drama suddenly become uncool and unmarketable - oh yeah, when Gossip Girl premiered. That shit was pure luck - still very mainstream shows like Dawson's Creek and The O.C. were much better because they took their time on things. The pilot for The O.C. for example. It could not have been better - it was focused, had emotion, and took it's time. Apparently none of the execs took note at how Cane fell on its face right from the word go. There were so many characters, and so many stories... and the scenes were so short. The 2-hour 90210 premiere suffered from these exact same problems, but, with addition; way too much music - source and score (that awful, awful score). I swear the longest scene was a minute long - and anytime a scene went for more than 10 seconds; source music was added to the background - they must think that all kids today have ADD and learning disabilities - they do.

I'm not going to go through much exposition, because, to be honest, we would be here for the length of the pilot. Anyway, the basic premise is that the Wilson's: adopted son, Dixson (Triston Wilds from The Wire), daughter, Annie (Shenae Grimes from Degrassi), father, Harry (Rob Estes from Melrose Place), and mother, Debbie (Lori Loughlin from Full House), move to Beverly Hills from Kansas to live with their actress mother/grandmother Tabitha (Jessica Walter from Arrested Development). Harry is going to be the new principal at West Beverly High, and the kids will be attending. There is the bitch character, Naomi Clark (AnnaLynne McCord from Nip/Tuck), the jock, Ethan Ward (Dustin Milligan from Final Destination 3), 'quirky' journalism guy, Navid Shirazi (Michael Steger from The Winner), and Avril Lavigne pseudo-goth blogger, Erin Silver (Jessica Stroup from Reaper).

Yes, Erin Silver, for all of those who were avid watchers of the original series. I like it this kind of continuity, it adds a nice, comforting, layer and value to the show which wouldn't be there without it. The special guest appearances from Shannen Doherty (Brenda Walsh - how was drama school?) and Jennie Garth (Kelly Taylor), Nat (Joe E. Tata) and an upcoming appearance in episode 3 from Kelly's mother Jackie (Ann Gillespie) - I would love for them all to stick around - actually, I would love for them to kick all the new kids and just have all the old characters - but I will have to settle with what we have been generously given. Nat's appearance was very short, as he had trouble with a coffee machine - the peach pit is some kind of coffee shop now? Nat sold out - but he had a nice reunion with Kelly and Brenda, with a quick mention from Brenda that whenever Brandon thinks of Nat, he feels like a mega-burger - gee, thanks - after everything? I think the seeds have also been planted for an all too familiar Kelly, Brenda, Dylan replacement love triangle - or perhaps that was a wink at the old audience - I really hope so...

The plot with Annie and the rich guy wanting to take her out is very similar to a plot in season 1 of the original series, it was dealt with better on the old one - if only for the creepy factor - for those who remember it. The bitchy Naomi girls birthday party was fairly entertaining with a highlight being the dance with her boyfriend in front of everyone, right after she found out he was cheating on her - wouldn't that be horrible.

Some other problems I had with the premiere was that we weren't given reason enough to care about any of the characters. We were just thrown in there. Also I found the lacrosse team story to be very tired and run-of-the-mill - again, it probably didn't help that we couldn't care about the characters yet.

I will blog the next couple of episodes to see how things develop - but it is not looking good. Shenae Grimes' acting left something to be desired, but most of the blame can be placed on The CW for developing the series in such a way.