After coming back from a too-long hiatus last week, my Virgin Diary for Supernatural is coming to a close. I’d planned on getting through two seasons this summer, but that is sadly not going to happen. I’m sure the weekly readers of this series have a pretty good idea why, but if not, it will become clear very quickly.
Episode 19: “Provenance”
This was it; the touch point episode that helped me cement how I feel about Supernatural. Sadly for fans of the show, it didn’t really bring me around in a positive way. On some level, the show’s just too small for my tastes. Don’t take me the wrong way, I don’t mean in a specifically negative way; the show’s got a decidedly sweeping scope. The boys travel across the country’s heartland, encountering all types of mystical spirits, creatures and phenomenon. When I saw small, the easiest way to illustrate what I mean is by looking at the regular cast list.
This show is all about two guys. Each week we get a new monster, a couple of guest stars and the occasional allusion to the show’s greater mythology. I’m sure – in fact I know – the show develops into more as time goes on. But at its root, it is still the Sam and Dean show. If you’re not particularly drawn to either character – and I’m not – then you’re kind of out of luck.
Take Sam’s relationship with Sarah this week. It is one of the few real connections he’s made with any character outside his family since the series began. But you just know the relationship isn’t going anywhere. I was actually pretty surprised she was even mentioned in “Dead Man’s Blood.” I know it’s only 19 episodes into a series that is now entering its eighth season, but for my money, I’d like to see more character development by now.
Episode 20: “Dead Man’s Blood”
John Winchester is the exception to the rule, but tossing him into the equation creates more problems than he resolves. True, he’s been the only real constant beyond the boys this season – Meg’s two episodes notwithstanding. But John being around doesn’t allow the boys to grow as characters; other than standing up to him a little in this episode, the best they can hope for is the status quo. They aren’t children any more, as they pointed out.
Episode 21: “Salvation” and Episode 22: “Devil’s Trap”
As much as I’ve complained – particularly in this post – about Supernatural, I won’t do so about the two-part finale. Despite not liking the main construct of the show, I can’t deny that the season didn’t end with a bang.
I was particularly sad to see Meg go – as permanent or not as it may be. She was interesting because she managed to be simultaneously a player and a pawn. The character had this special kind of gravity; whenever she was on screen, she was all you were paying attention to.
The show did a great job of making me think that John Winchester was in mortal danger. That is one of the real benefits of how he drifts in and out of the story; he’s expendable. His death – which I assume does happen sooner rather than later – will push the boy’s story along. That’s a good thing, but I’m just not going to be around to see it happen.
I’m glad I took on Supernatural this summer. I’ve always wondered about it, and now I know for sure. I don’t think it is a bad show; it just isn’t for me.
Thanks for taking this ride with me. If you think I’m totally off base, let me know in the comments section.
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Aug 23, 2012 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
You should have checked out seasons four and five, when the angel/apocalypse story started. Misha Collins’s Castiel, who joined the storyline in season four, is awesome! The Dean and Castiel story line, amazing. Apocalypse storyline, excellent. I began watching in season one, but I REALLY became a HUGE fan starting in season four. :-)
Sorry to hear that it didn’t take. For what it’s worth, they do have more characters that recur or become regulars, and the final episodes are more indicative of what Season 2 looks like.
I’d still recommend checking out the first episode of Season 2, although I’m obviously biased.
I agree. I know your love for great characterization, and this is the show I champion more than any other for that; more specifically, how the characters grow in such a natural, organic way based on what happens to them in the story. It’s so hard to explain, but there is nothing contrived about their character growth like you see on so many shows, and the character growth is never sacrificed for the storyline (I’m looking at you, White Collar). The storyline drives the character growth in a way that has not been surpassed by many, if any, other shows. And the show is its best from mid-season two until the end of season five (just let those few episodes in season four that start to worry you slide … no cause for alarm!).
*POST AUTHOR*
I do love a well-crafted character arc, but I do have to connect to the characters to matter. That just didn’t happen here.
I’m sure I’ll probably watch the second season at some point, though without the conviction necessary to continue the series down the line. We’ll see if my opinion changes after that.
the characters just started. They grow on u.Each character changes.
I said this in my comments below, but the characters are absolutely, amazingly rich from here on out. I don’t think they had a grip on Sam’s character yet in S1. How he would react to things was inconsistent IMO. Dean was more fleshed out but still no where near the level he is now. NOW fans can get into book long debates discussing both characters.
I’m sorry you didn’t get hooked. I have to say… it’s your loss!
You MUST watch season 2, which, IMHO, is the show’s best. It actually finalizes what starts season one, and begins a new storyline while keeping status quo for the brothers–with fascinating additions.
The writing, production values, directing–everything!–come into their own in season 2, and the brotherly relationship grows into something even more special.
I beg of you, don’t stop now.
Robin Vogel
Editor, SUPERNATURAL, https://www.moogi.com
Columnist, Winchester Family Business
I tell anyone who starts this show, season 1 is an appetizer. The real meat of the show starts in season 2 with the very first ep (still my favorite of all the seasons). My experience having watched a couple of other newbies get into it is they agreed with me, season 2 is where the hook really sinks in – or it never will.
I respect ure opinion. But season 1 wasnt the best. With every season the show gets better and the characters grow on u. If u dont like monster of the week episodes dont worry as in every season they start to lack and the story grows deeper.
I urge you to at least watch the first episode of season 2. The first season is fairly basic, but each season the mythology gets progressively more complex yet beautifully links backs to get being about the boys. And they characters come to feel so real that you come to feel protective of them- like their family. A completely dysfunctional family.
The thing about Supernatural is that it’s hard to say why it so fantastic without HUGE spoilers. I know because I’ve had this happen with SO MANY people. They say they don’t see why so many people are obsessed with it while watching the first season, but starting in about the 2nd season they really want to know what’s going to happen and by the end of it they HAVE to know. My niece took about 3 weeks to watch the first season. And watched the rest of the seasons almost non-stop until she was done and turned down driving lessons (she was 15 at the time) because she was she needed to see what would happen with Dean. Pretty much everyone else I’ve recommended to has been the same. Was you get involved you can’t stop.
I’m not saying it’s for everyone. My brother likes it but doesn’t particular care for all the mythology stuff. But if you like in-depth, complex mythology that is fully grounded in its characters you really need to continue to watch.
Season 1 is still to this day my least favorite season of the show and a lot of that has to do with the lack of character depth and the smallness of the show. Season 2 is where the show starts to come into its own and in my opinion, seasons 4 and 5 are masterpieces. There are other reoccuring characters that come in and out over the seasons and I think that really enriches the show. So I would recommend you keep watching, but I do respect your opinion of the show too (and I felt much the same way midway through the first season).