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Reviews
Supernatural: Wayward Sisters (2018)
Lots of potential
Yes there will be some fans who were disappointed about the lack of screen time Sam and Dean had, but that is too be expected from the Wayward SISTERS spin-off pilot. The boys have their own show, this episode was intended to set up the girls' show, so a shift of focus was mandatory.
There was a lot to fit into the episode- even with the previous build up work already done on the new characters. I don't think the pacing was entirely successful. The episode plot felt a little thin- monsters come through the door, Claire goes and fetches back Sam and Dean- because there was (needed to be?) a lot of time devoted to establishing the family dynamic of Jody, Donna and the girls. But there were still several exciting / intriguing moments not least the cliffhanger at the end.
Brilliant performances from Briana and Kim. Two of my favourite characters; I love that Donna is bamf but still goofy and kind, and Jody is bamf but wise and maternal. I hope the spin-off will keep them firmly centred in any future plots.
I hadn't originally been keen on the character of Alex, but I liked the direction they have taken her for this and it will be good to see her as a strong, nerdy contributor whose first focus isn't just fighting.
I had never gelled with the character of Claire. The rebellious scrappy teen who has had some success at Hunting, but fumbles often enough to come across as mouthy without the smarts or ability to back it up. But maybe some of the younger viewers feel her angst. Her transition here to big bad bamf werewolf hunter in this episode seemed a bit abrupt and unfounded (dispite previous werewolf encounters which consisted of mainly being bitten and turned). But of the girls she has the most hunter backstory and it is clear the young team will need an up and coming fighter if the spin-off progresses. Hopefully the loss she suffers in the pilot will temper her annoying reckless attitude and give her room to grow into a strong character we can root for.
The new girls didn't really get enough screen time in this episode, but they have been introduced previously. They seemed a little flat when looked at solely here but there looks to be room for growth with psychic-girl finding the confidence to fight, and dreamwalker-girl finding a purpose (and then whatever the cliffhanger will bring).
What the pilot did do really nicely was set the scene for an ongoing spin-off. Untold various Bad World monsters having flooded Suix Falls while the gate was open. Revenge plot. Possible baddie. Developing family dynamic. I'd definitely watch more of that for Donna and Jody on monster patrol and saving the towns folk. Alex and Claire might grow on me. And I need to see more of the new girls before I decide. I think if I had watched this cold, it wouldn't have been the best thing I have ever seen, but it certainly has more then enough promise to keep me watching for several episodes to see where they are going to take this. Originally I didn't fall in love with Supernatural till the season one finale. The spin-off certainly deserves a bit of time to see where it will go.
My Bloody Valentine (2009)
Much better then I was expecting
I just came here to watch Jensen Ackles. And while I quite enjoy Supernatural horror (my people will see the pun I made there) I am not much into slasher horror and hadn't seen the original. I went in with low expectations due to poor reviews and it being out of genre for me but I actually enjoyed it. Jensen is still quite young in this and his acting has further matured since he was in this but it's still a good performance. The other 2 main leads (Jamie King as Sarah Palmer and Kerr Smith as Axel) also do a pretty good job, and special mention for a great performance by Betsy Rue, especially considering she was naked for most of it! The non-main characters are 2 dimensional and the script isn't always great but that's not really the point of the movie, it's a who dunit with gore. The action gets started right away, and I was quickly drawn into the story. There is violence galore but while it splatters liberally, it is far fetched rather then gritty and realistic so should not bother anyone familiar with the genre. I actually found it almost humorous in places where you could tell the splattering brains were added purely for 3D effect to gross-out the front row in the cinema. But trying to work out the killer initially kept me busy and a generally good pace kept the movie from dragging - except where it was a little slow in the middle.
**MAJOR PLOT SPOILER**
anyone else now very familiar with Jensen Ackles might have the twist ruined for them, as after 12 years of Supernatural, you know his moves and can recognise him even if you don't see his face. But if you are not such a mega fan, there is probably a pretty good twist waiting for you at the end of the movie. And it actually makes for an overall fun ride as long as you go in expecting 3D blood splashing with a pretty good who-dunnit rather then any great plot or supporting cast Oscar nominations.
Supernatural: Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (2017)
Lucifer and Crowley Stole The Show
There were 2 characters who stole the show this week (well 3 if you also count Lucille!! hahaha that was awesome!) but it was Lucifer and Crowley who really stood out..
MAJOR SPOILERS: I nearly got whiplash at the end of the episode. Mark Pellegrino's Lucifer had been doing such a delightful job as a belligerent captive, it was a pure joy to watch, but then he got free and I laughed out loud at the "now you made it weird" scene. When Crowley came back and Lucifer powered up with his Angel mojo and I was actually cheering Lucifer on. But Crowley snapped his comeback and within seconds I was cheering for Crowley. Brilliant, brilliant performances from both actors and brilliant, brilliant characters and writing that can leave you simultaneously cheering on two such opposing forces. This is why we love Supernatural.
For the other 9/10s of the episode there was also a Hell-Hound hunt. It was well done and the Crowley team up with the boys and usual injection of humour made it a fun monster of the week episode. On a side note: I was also pleasantly surprised that when the truth came out about Sam working for the BMOL, the boys didn't have a major dust up. I had been worried that the writers would go that way for added drama, but had felt it would have been out of place in the boys relationship these days. I should trust the writers more! We have had some really good moments so far in Season 12 and I am excited to see where the rest of the season takes us.
Supernatural: The Raid (2017)
A good weekly episode with a nice cameo
MAJOR EPISODE SPOILERS: It's good to see the return of old characters and season 12 is definitely using that to its advantage. Obviously Mary is back, Lucifer is back, the Colt is back and now we get a visit from our favourite Alpha Vamp (all be it briefly). Let's hope Bobby is back soon too. That being said I felt a bit sorry for the Alpha Vamp. I know that The Colt trumps everything (except those 5 beings), so it wasn't a surprise to see him offed now that it's back in play. but it just felt a bit quick to me. The Alpha Vamp was a wiley old fox and he might well have been expected to outwit the situation, but he charged in with 10 vamps and no plan and to me it felt like they threw him in for nostalgia and then killed him off without ceremony. But still it's good to see The Colt in action so let's set that aside. The BMOL character Mick is growing on me and I was glad to see his more human side in this episode. Mr Ketch remains enigmatic and suavely psychotic and so remains an enjoyable character. We are slowly getting more insight into Mary's reasoning but I still think she needs a lot more focus in an episode if we really want to understand (and empathise) with her. And I am not too sure about the family arguing and battle-lines being drawn in the Winchester family. We still haven't been given good enough reason why Mary would go against her sons to join the BMOL (her sons who were more important to her then hunting - the better world line seemed far too trite). Sam also seemed to make a u- turn on his decision not to join, very quickly (although I guess you could explain it by the family bond to his mom, and his generally altruistic personality. but surely his bond to Dean should be strong enough that it should at least be messier, need more consideration??) and the telling placement of the family at the end with Mary and Sam standing on the BMOL side facing off against Dean does not bode well. I don't like it when the boys fight, I think they have been through far too much together to let external factors divide them. But I understand it makes good drama, so I just hope that if we go in that direction the writers can give sufficiently good, in-character reasons for their actions. All in all a good weekly episode with a nice cameo, but I think there is better to come.
Supernatural: Family Feud (2017)
Good episode of the week, adding more depth to our characters
This episode is all about family which is a key theme for supernatural. On the face of it we have a classic ghost hunt episode but weaving throughout the whole story are the various family relationships for our regular main cast and how the different relationships are impacting on them. Great use of music and timing really let you get a feel for what they are going through. By the end of the episode I was feeling especially sorry for Crowley, willing him not to loose his fighting spirit and not to give in. Yet at the same time I wasn't hating Rowena, I was almost understanding of her need for revenge, and her consistent requirement not to let anything hurt her or go unpunished if it does. And again simultaneously I was cheering on Lucifer for not being the weak version we have seen so much of recently, and for being so calmly evil and in control. Its testament to good writing and great character depth that we can simultaneously cheer on 3 different characters in total conflict with each other. We also got to see a bit more of Mary, but didn't receive any of the in depth insight into her motivation that I have been hoping for. I still don't understand why she is doing what she is doing and so can't cheer her on in the way I can with our other antagonists. Hopefully there is more to come on that. A good solid episode that adds depth to our characters and sets us up for more to come.
Supernatural: Stuck in the Middle (With You) (2017)
Great style with some plot points still to be explained, but 1 Line stole the show
I'm not the biggest fan of nonlinear story telling, it makes you work harder to figure out what's going on, but I also acknowledge that it's a great plot device for keeping the tension high and keeping you engaged in the drama. And this episode certainly did that. Of course, as many other reviewers have noted, the style of this episode is a nod to Tarantino and as such was packed full of great music, great camera angles and fast pacy story telling. (One thing I particularly love about Tarantino is his habit of putting fast jaunty music to violent or disturbing images -the juxtaposition is brilliant, and this effect was used superbly in some of the demon killing scenes). Which all in all, combined to make a captivating episode. There were however a few things that jarred with me. I still don't understand Mary's motivation. I didn't really get her ongoing need for me-time and abandoning the boys (except as a plot device to keep her out of every episode) and now I don't really get her motivation for working with the BMOL and deceiving her boys (again except as a plot device, it being even more unlikely that the others of our regular main characters would give the BMOL an 'In' so they could participate in the story-arc). Hopefully Mary has her own episode coming up that will properly tie together her thought processes and motivation for us. Also in the episode we had a quick intro to a new even- bigger-and- even-badder-baddie, a Prince of Hell, who was subsequently killed off very quickly. YED took far longer. Even Abadon who was only a Knight, needed the Mark of Cain. But very conveniently there was a new super weapon laying around to take the Prince down in no time. I know there are limits to what the writers can squeeze into a 40min story, and Crowley did pay some lip service to the issue that they shouldn't have time to take out a big-bad that big, but still for me it ended up feeling a little convenient. But I am sure that the other Princes have been set up to give the boys more trouble in future. But finally, I do have to end on a high note. So many of us love Mark Pellegrino's Lucifer. He brings power to the role. Even stuck in a cage you get the impression that he is torturing Crowley, not the other way round. And from seemingly a weak position where he might be expected to swallow insults, we have him delivering one of the most menacing lines we have heard out of Lucifer in a long time. And all he said was "that's not my name" - yet it gave me chills. A brilliant portrayal that the other Lucifers have often imitated but no one else has quite been able to duplicate. The episode couldn't have ended on a better note. Now I need to know what's coming next.
Supernatural: Regarding Dean (2017)
So much emotion in one little episode
I really enjoy the episodes where Jensen gets to demonstrate his comedic side and this episode is a prime example. It is packed full of his wonderfully placed micro-expressions and brilliant subtle physical nuances. But the episode also contains one of the most poignant moments I have seen in a long time, as Dean battles to hold on to who he is. The shear loss in his face is heartbreaking and you can't help but feel for anyone who might have to go through such a situation in real life for reasons such as Alzheimers. That's one of the brilliant things about the show, that they can set very real human problems in this crazy mythical world, and make you feel the emotion of the issues while still enjoying the fantastical story. The storyline is also brilliantly delivered in this episode. We only find out the basic outline of the original case in second-hand information after the event. We deal almost entirely with the fallout. The baddies are finally dispatched almost negligently and we don't mind at all because they are secondary to the real story that is being told, and that technique works beautifully. The montage at the end tugs on your heart strings because you can see the change that Jensen puts into Dean's face and whole demeanour as he has changed back from a carefree young man to our world-wearied hero. Technically it's a 'filler' episode, as there is no advance to the main story arcs, but this is a beautiful little story that will win places in our hearts for emotional value.
Supernatural: Lily Sunder Has Some Regrets (2017)
Not what I was expecting but a good average episode
I normally like Angel episodes, (not that I like most Angels, most Angels are d*cks, as Dean would say) but it is usually very interesting to try and see the story from the point of view of an Angel, so far removed from regular human perspective. I especially like Castiel episodes, I always wonder what is going on inside his head and any chance to get a peek at that is a good thing in my opinion. I knew this was going to be an Angel episode before I started watching and maybe that was why I was slightly disappointed (Probably my own fault, I likely bigged it up too much in my head). To start with I was puzzled about why Dean was being so harsh to Cas, it seemed out of character to me, but by the end I saw it was a plot device to reinforce them sticking together through thick and thin even if they don't agree, but at the start it jarred. There were some good moments, I enjoyed the period flashbacks and Cas in a female vessel. I also thought the revenge story and twists to the plot were slightly shallow, but considering that the story was told in a single episode it was told pretty well. (I think the characters might have been strong enough to hold a 2 part story if given the chance but maybe the writers didn't have airtime for a 'filler' story). I also ended up feeling a bit bad for Cas by the end. The group hug scene at the end where the boys talk about how Cas has grown and stuck by them, came across to me as slightly condescending. And I realise that the open question of what he might do with the baby Spawn-of-Satan if he found it, is supposed to be a thought-provoking moral conundrum for us the viewers but with Cas not knowing what to do, I felt it made him seem a bit lost. He could have given it a firm Dean-style 'we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, as long as we have each other's backs' etc etc, but instead he just floundered. And I get the feeling that his character should be further along then that. So the verdict? Don't go into this expecting deep insight like S06E20 (The Man Who Would Be King) with its profound insight into our favourite angel, go into it expecting a modest but interesting revenge story that just happens to involve angels and a slight nod to Castiel's character development and you will be fine.
Supernatural: First Blood (2017)
The resolution to the cliffhanger didn't disappoint
Building on the success of the previous episode, this episode continues to deliver. We get to see some classic BAMF Winchester action as the boys (SPOILER - but come on it was going to happen) escape. As the title of the episode suggests, we get to see the lads escaping through the forest Rambo-style as they take out their pursuers. Some brilliant one liners and great action scenes follow. The episode also sees more from the infamous Mr Ketch, and while I am not yet as fond of the other BMOL character Mick, his narrative monologue and the 'let me paint you a picture of a world without monsters' speech was a very nicely delivered plot device. Plus there was the surprise extra twist at the end. I would say that's bound to have repercussions, but hey no one kicked up much fuss when Dean killed Death, so let's just wait and see. This Season is hotting up.
Supernatural: LOTUS (2016)
So many things right about this episode
There are some really great elements that come together in this episode to make it one of the best episodes so far in this Season (not one of your top ten ever, but definitely one to sit back and enjoy). (1) The story got big. Not big as in: huh God's sister, but big in a human real way we can understand. As in: eeeek Lucifer's in the President, how the hell are you going to deal with that boys!? (2) the episode had a great combination of atmosphere and action. I loved the creepy old-school-horror start, inverting crosses and violently slain church men, moving swiftly on to secret service and James-bond toys, then back to classic Angel, Witch, King-of-Hell, Hunter - team up. What's not to love?! (3) Mr Ketch - I have high hopes for this character. The uber Britishness can be annoying, but a well played suave psychopath can be a joy to watch. (4) the spawn-of-Satan: a new potential big-bad?? We will have to wait and see. (5) the cliffhanger ending. I won't give too much away, but when not over used a cliffhanger is a great tactic to keep us hooked for next week. And it definitely worked here. I can't wait to see how the boys get out of this one. Well done all. Good episode.
Supernatural: Rock Never Dies (2016)
Not a bad episode but could have been more
I was excited to see this episode, the character of Vince!Lucifer had seemed intriguing. Rick Springfield had had a presence about him in his scenes in previous episodes, and I wanted to see what he would do. I thought the result was good but not great. There were some moments where I thought he owned the character Lucifer (when he was interacting with his groupie chick or playing to the crowd outside the club) but the big final showdown didn't win my heart. I know that sounds odd but those of us who have watched from the start know that you can have creepy and evil (Nick, Alistair, the YED) who still capture our interest and in the case of Mark Pellegrino's Nick!Lucifer even our affection. So the motivation for Lucifer now, is to throw-his-toys-from-the-pram and smash-what-he-can because of his abandonment issues. Themes we are familiar with on the show (Dean is currently dealing with his own abandonment issues with Mary taking her me-time to clear her head) but I cant help feeling that Mark's Nick!Lucifer would have put more sass and derision into the monologue and we would have warmed to it a bit more. I didn't really feel Vince!Lucifer's pain. And while we still see him throwing Cas and Crowley around in an obvious display of power, he comes across as weaker then I think he is because of his whining. Nice to see a bit of motivation to our baddies, makes them less 2 dimensional, but I think it could have been better handled. Still as always there were some fun moments: the boys in leather jackets pretending to be an aspiring rock duo, Cas and Crowley bickering and Dean doing a 180 on his 'vegetable-water'. And of course the slightly tired but traditional back and fourth between the boys about how the big-bad is winning but they will keep fighting. So all in all: the episode was OK to keep the season moving on but nothing that will stand out in my memory.
Supernatural: The One You've Been Waiting For (2016)
Watch for the Jensen Ackles Comedy Gold not the Characterisation or Plot
When I think back over this episode, I have the impression that I loved it. But then I stopped and really thought about what I might put in a review and realised that what I had loved about the episode had mostly been the moments where Jensen Ackles made me laugh out loud. SPOILERS: the moment where Dean is desperate to try out the grenade launcher, or the off hand comments about hating Nazis (Indiana Jones Style), the bumbling with the antiques in the shop, or the "Dude, I killed Hitler.... your welcome!" - even now just thinking about those scenes puts a smile on my face. But if I think about the rest of the episode it didn't really have much to write home about. The plot is simple and easily foiled. The Nazis are stereotypical comic book villains. Yep the Thull kinda were that before, but at first they were kind of Hydra-esq / Indiana Jones-style villains. Now we seem to be heading for some kind of 1960s-TV-Joker or Power Rangers style Villains, in the OTT-and- not-quite-in-a-good-way style. And I found this to be especially true with the way they chose to style Hitler. I guess he came back crazy? But I just found most of his antics to be bizarre and puzzling where I suspect we were supposed to laugh?? The girl finding out she was a descendant of Hitler could have been interesting but either the fallout from that didn't get enough air time or the character didn't have enough punch to leave a lasting impression, because nothing really resonated with me over her dilemma. The verdict for this episode? Watch it because Jensen Ackles is pure comedy gold when given the chance to be silly. But at the same time lower your plot and character expectations and you will have a lot of fun.
Supernatural: Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox (2016)
Don't miss the reasons why this episode is good
A Hunter's Wake draws in Jody and the boys and of course trouble ensues.
Minor spoilers in this review: This isn't a big plot-arc episode. And it's also not a new and interesting monster case ep. It's not particularly big on the humour. So you might wonder why I gave this episode 7 stars? Well the answer is simple, this episode is full of great human-elements that give nice depth to the Supernatural universe. (1) We hardly ever get to meet hunters who aren't directly working with the boys, and I loved the idea of Hunters sitting around gossiping telling Winchester Legends. (2) We get nice insight into the depth of the boys relationship with Jody, how she has assumed a mother / moral-support role for the boys, and we love her for her reaction to the whole Mary situation. (3) The episode also gives a tiny bit more information on what's happening with Mary and how it's effecting the boys. As many of us are still trying to figure out what's going on in Mary's head. (4 - Minor SPOILER) There is also the moment where Dean magically dives through the door to save Sammy, causally rolls to his feet and says "where's my brother?", that scene was perfectly devised and perfectly delivered, showing our boys bond at its best. I had chills combined with a little squeal of glee. Conclusion? Not every episode can be big bangs and major story arcs but that doesn't mean that the odd episode that makes our beloved characters more 3D is not as equally important. I'm not saying that the episode was perfect, there were a fair few holes in the actual story with the Demon (a few time I shouted at the TV "Christo!" Or "What about your tatts" or "Come on its just a crossroads demon") but although that side of the story was sloppily handled in places, I felt it wasn't the point of this ep. So I will appreciate this story for what it meant to deliver: the human-element. And look forward to next week for more story-arc or better baddies.