In “LARP and the Real Girl,” Dean taught Sam how to transform from reluctant hero into willing hero. He showed his little brother that there was more to it than being serious and focused on the hunt—that being a hero came with its own rewards. He taught Sam that there were opportunities to be had,…
Using the foundations both “LARP and the Real Girl” and “As Time Goes By” built, “Everybody Hates Hitler,” adds another layer to being the willing hero and that of legacy: that of knowledge and power. “LARP and the Real Girl” showed us why moving from reluctant to willing hero could be satisfying and fulfilling, and…
Building upon the willing hero theme that “LARP and the Real Girl” examined, “As Time Goes By” delves into that of legacy. Sam and Dean have inherited a great hunting legacy from their maternal side, the Campbells. They have descended from a long lineage of hunters that have faced the supernatural throughout the centuries….
Mages, orcs, elves, and queens populate Moondoor—but what it really needs is a hero. Supernatural has always dealt with the reluctant hero. Each brother has begrudgingly accepted this mantle at one time or another. Every hunter is really a reluctant hero. There are really only two options: run from it or embrace it. That hero…
“Torn and Frayed” is an aptly named episode. The song, from the Rolling Stones album Exile on Mainstreet, and its lyrics touch on two of its storylines: Dean and Benny and Sam and Amelia. The lyric reads, “Just as long as the guitar plays, let it steal your heart away.” In this particular episode, the…
Supernatural always knows how to weave the quirky and bizarre with the tragic and moving, and “Hunteri Heroici” does this beautifully. The case is looney tunes, literally. Anvils fall from the sky, hearts leap out of chests, and people hover in mid air only to fall once looking down. It is zany and unexplainable. In…
Season 8 of Supernatural has played with various themes. It has looked at choice, personal responsibility, good intentions, and grief. In “A Little Slice of Kevin,” we see another theme, that of perception, addressed directly. It has been there in various ways throughout the season, yet here we see it thrust out into the open,…
(Photo courtesy of Blisfulievil) I was lucky enough to win a ticket to the Jared Padalecki Private Q&A for Chicago Con 2012. I had done one in New Jersey 2011, so I wanted to do so again. Jared arrived in great spirits, greeting us with a warm “Hi, y’all” and a smile. He proceeded to…
Supernatural often tells its story through metaphor. Episodes such as “Heart,” “Metamorphosis,” Bedtime Stories,” and “Houses of the Holy” are great examples of this. The formula works because it allows the monster of the week story on the surface to tell a parallel character story underneath. “Heartache” is no different as it tells Sam and…
Meg warned the Winchesters in “Reading Is Fundamental” that “Crowley’s always the problem. He’s just waiting for the right moment to strike.” In “What’s Up, Tiger Mommy,” Crowley shows that he’s more than ready to be the big bad standing in Sam and Dean’s way. He is cunning, conniving, and out for blood. He is…
Like riding a bike, Carver returns to “Supernatural” as if he had never left. He seamlessly slips these characters—and a few new ones—onto his canvas and tells the story of the Winchesters with witty dialogue, poignant emotion, and the gritty flavor we’ve come to expect from the series. With echoes of the “Pilot,” “Lazarus Rising,”…
Ever since I started my Summer Hellatus project titled “Supernatural Rewatch From the Top,” I’ve been thinking about doing some retro reviews. So I will start with the first episode that I ever saw—but not with my normal meta twist—instead, I’ll try to remember those first impressions when I saw the show—tell you how the…
