First impressions of Supernatural

[selenak]

I finally gave in and started to watch Supernatural. So far so entertaining; it reminds me of the early X-Files with its monsters of the week and the backstory trauma as a red thread, not surprising, since I recognized one of the writers (Chiban), one of the directors (Kim Manners) and of course Mr. Cigarette Smoking Man himself guest-starring.

As with the X-Files, it has a complete focus on its two leading characters (though I take it father John is going to play a greater role, given he's vaznetti's favourite character) and gets talked about as much as Sydney's mother "Laura" did throughout the first season of Alias before Irina Derevko made her triumphant return. With the exception of Dr. Who (which has recurring characters but mostly a two-character-focus as well, the Doctor and the Companion du jour), I've been watching only ensemble shows in recent years, and I think it has spoiled me, because I find myself missing the ensemble feel. I mean, shows like Alias have of course a clear leading lady, but they also have an assortment of other fleshed out characters; this goes for all three Jossverse shows; and my newest obsession, Heroes, is defined as an ensemble show in the title. Now with the exception of Firefly, where I really love everyone equally, I do play the favourites game; there are characters and storylines I love better than others. But I still dig that the others are there. And I miss this about Supernatural, which is perhaps unfair of me, as it's defined as a two-leads show, not an ensemble one.

Also, I can see where the gender critique comes from, what with the women all either victims or evil, but at least some of the victims of the case du jour do get to help with fighting the bad guys, so we're not quite back to the dark pre Buffy ages. Still. When seeing a scene where a guy sneaks into a building with a girl in tow who cautions him, it's impossible not to think of how brilliantly Joss set that kind of scene up once and for all in the very teaser of the very first BTVS episode, in which the fearful blonde girl turns out to be the monster (and none other than my beloved Darla). And here it's played straight. Hm.

The boys: are believable as brothers. I can see why Dean is the universal fan favourite, which naturally makes me route for Sam a little.*g* But so far, I'm not really involved with either of them, though as I said entertained enough. I shall conclude by stating cryptically they are not Italian.

Comments

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

I shall conclude by stating cryptically they are not Italian.

Not cryptic; very clear. *ggg*

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Well, not everyone can be.*g*

[syredronning.livejournal.com]

I shall conclude by stating cryptically they are not Italian.

LOL not cryptical to me at all, guess I read your HEROES journal entries too closely :P

Like most shows I found SPN started slowly but gets better over time. Well, at least it really caught me by now :) I was also reminded of the X-Files, but the brothers are really a little universe of their own, whereas Mulder and Scully had more folks around. Re the playing straight, when you come to the werewolf episode, you can re-read my bitching about it ;))) Some episodes fall down the "omg so clichée" cliff.

Note to self: Need SPN icon...

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Werewolf? I shudder to think what will happen to the poor beastie...

[mimesh.livejournal.com]

I shall conclude by stating cryptically they are not Italian.

*g*

My "relationship" with Supernatural is a bit strained. I started watching last year and followed the second season live because everyone around me was crazy over it. While I do enjoy the show and like the characters, I have never been really sucked in. It probably doesn't help that the SPN fandom can be a scary place. The nature of the fandom and the fact that my entire flist was (and still is) totally obsessed with the show put me off a little. It's like you have no choice, you know?

I was really happy when I discovered Heroes, which rapidly became an obsession for me and where the fandom for the most part is an enjoyable place. And now most people I friended over Heroes started watching Supernatural in the past weeks. Now my flist is full with SPN again - it seems like I can't escape it... ;)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

The nature of the fandom and the fact that my entire flist was (and still is) totally obsessed with the show put me off a little. It's like you have no choice, you know?

I know indeed, because that's the main reason why I hadn't watched any SPN so far. The other season is that the whole OMG they're going to add GIRLS to the show? uproar put me off. However, a friend lend me the first season, and I thought, okay, I'll give it a shot. So far, I can spot no reason for obsession...

[12-12-12.livejournal.com]

I shall conclude by stating cryptically they are not Italian.

*G* I've tried watching Supernatural, and I just can't get into it. I always tune out after about 15 minutes, and never made it past 1.05. I guess it's just not for me. And Jared Padalecki's (aka Sam) acting makes me cringe.

I can definitely understand why there are so many Dean fangirls, though. :-)

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

Dean hits not all but a few of the buttons that Faith and Starbuck push for me, so oh yeah, I like the Dean.

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

I shall conclude by stating cryptically they are not Italian.

Ha! They most definitely aren't.

Like most of your other commentators, I've watched my share of SPN and liked the first season fine, but got put off by the reaction to girls by fandom at large. I also find the show a little flat, especially when compared to X-Files, which started similarly, but took off fairly quickly (and then crashed down again, granted...), and I share your preference for ensembles. (They do get a few more recurring characters in Season Two)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Not everyone can carry off Italian.*g*

Yes, the reaction to girls by fandom at large was the other reason, in addition to the hype, that put me off viewing so far. But it does have an early X-Files vibe, though early X-Files, of course, had Scully.

*devotes memorial minute to Scully admiration*

[monimala.livejournal.com]

I was surfing around LJ and just choked on a bite of my lunch.

No, no, Dean and Sam are most certainly not Italian. Bwah!

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Well, not everyone can be.*g*

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Have had more or less the same reactions to SPN and watched it for more or less the same reasons as the other's in the comments. Half my flist is nutty over it. And I keep trying to figure out why. They insist it has the same emotional resonance as BTVS and ATS, which I can sort of see, but find less deep here or interesting here.

SPN reminds me a great deal of a small film by Bill Paxton called Fraility that starred Powers Booth and that blond actor name Mconhaugy who was last
in the flick Failure to Launch (it was actually one of his better roles - very creepy role.). The story is about a father who teaches his two sons to kill demons that only he can see.

It also reminds me of those old B-westerns and horror flicks that John Carpenter specialized in and Whedon flipped on their head in Buffy. So in some respects SPN feels like retro-Buffy.

The treatment of women in the show does not improve in the first two seasons, as far as I can tell. But Dean grows on you. And the father is well played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

Apparently they want to bring in a larger female audience, because I've heard they plan on introducing two strong female leads/contract players next season, making the show more of an ensemble - which intrigues me.

What interests me - is how they play around with *urban legends* - in a way that X-Files sort of did, but far more so. The first season - almost every stand-alone episode was based on a urban folk-legend, from the Scarecrow to the Man with Hook to Blood Mary in the Mirror and the Vanishing Hitchhiker. Also they used the legends to reveal something psychological or emotional about the two leads and their relationships with one another. Course having only two leads can make that limiting after a while. And like you? I prefer ensembles. That way if I don't like someone? There's always someone else I can focus on. Or as was the case with the Whedon shows - I pretty much liked everyone, so was always happy.

SPN feels like traditional horror to me - very in line with Clive Barker, Stephen King, and HP Lovecraft. While Buffy was less so. It pays homage to those old horror flicks and legends.

I've been watching it in reruns. Still don't get the adoration and fawning over it - but I do find it enjoyable for what it is. ;-)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

It also reminds me of those old B-westerns and horror flicks that John Carpenter specialized in and Whedon flipped on their head in Buffy. So in some respects SPN feels like retro-Buffy.

I can definitely see the Carpenter parallel. Also, someone once said in an lj post something along the lines that if John Winchester were to transfer to the Jossverse, he'd be Daniel Holtz, and despite only having seen glimpses of the man so far, I see the point.

And like you? I prefer ensembles. That way if I don't like someone? There's always someone else I can focus on. Or as was the case with the Whedon shows - I pretty much liked everyone, so was always happy.

That's it, exactly.

BTW, Bloody Mary is a real urban folk legend? I wouldn't have thought.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I shall conclude by stating cryptically they are not Italian.

Petrellis FTW! (Just sayin'!)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

La vittoria per i Petrelli? *g*

[buffyannotater.livejournal.com]

I adore Supernatural, but it is a slow build. By the time S2 came around, though, I fell in love with it. IMHO, btw, the werewolf episode is brilliant.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Well, there are several shows, like Alias, that I did not fall in love with in the first season but liked enough to continue watching and then fell for. So far, I feel entertained, and will certainly watch the rest of the first season.

[fresne.livejournal.com]

I found Supernatural took me mostly by surprise. I spent the 1st half of S1 toddling along and enjoying it in an offhand way and then... well, I became extremely irritated with two shows I'd been following/obsessing over, left them to rot on TIVO, looked around and realized I had fallen for Supernatural.

And as I type this I wonder, am I one of those fangurls at large. The delicate balance between wanting as many people as possible to be watching my show as quickly as possible (sob, Firefly, why couldn't we save you, sob) and actively driving people off with the fervor of proselytizing (which makes me imagine fannon standing at airports handing out copies of the Watchmen. Ah, if only we were so wealthy).

Hard to say. I for one would be happy to have Supernatural add several characters (male, female, both, neither) or not. Or whatever. As long as time isn't taken away from the car and the music doesn't change. Shrug.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

which makes me imagine fannon standing at airports handing out copies of the Watchmen. Ah, if only we were so wealthy

LOL. It says something about my own fannishness that I thought immediately of the Alan Moore comic when you wrote "Watchmen".

But yes, it's a delicate balance. I mean, I know I get very much into monomania myself when I found something to squee over, and try to intersperse with older interests so I don't scare people.*g*

[g_shadowslayer]

They may not be Italian, but they really are unhealthily co-dependent. Dean more than Sam, I'd say, considering later events. I do hope you stick with it, though, because I'd be interested in seeing your reaction to later stuff.

[g_shadowslayer]

Oh yeah -- and count me as one of the people against it being an ensemble show. I think the brothers' relationship needs them to continue to be isolated from "normal" people, and certain things that happen/come up make being around other Hunters unhealthy for them.

If they're going to add additional people, I really, really hope Jo isn't one of them because I completely loathed her. Ellen, on the other hand, they could make a series regular and I'd be ecstatic.

[kernezelda]

Who knows what they were on their mother's side? *g*

Supernatural has won my interest in spite of itself. The writing is clunky at times, but they've had several strong roles for women in standalone episodes.

If they bring on permanent female cast, I'll be fairly displeased, unless they're introduced as a natural part of the storyline. The attempt was made early in S2, handled not too well, and there was a ton of fan backlash.

I prefer the boys as a duo, but if I had to pick one to hang out with, it'd be Sam.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

The writing is clunky at times, but they've had several strong roles for women in standalone episodes.

I just watched the one with the female cop, whom I liked a lot. Definitely a strong woman, and neither a victim or evil.

Otoh, was amused to see that Torchwood completely ripped the episode off for Countrycide, but then both shows probably ripped it off from Home of X-Files fame, so...

[mermaidrain.livejournal.com]

I got sucked into "Supernatural" by some of my friends because they were such big fans. I liked first season as it had a good story arc and some interesting delving into Urban Myths. It also develops the characters and the family pretty well. 2nd season is a different beast. It's a bit more ... revisionist I think. It has more fun poking fun of itself and the genre as a whole, but it has some GREAT episodes. I'll be curious to see what you think of it as you watch the rest. ;)

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

I'm currently most of the way through S1 of Supernatural, and, I dunno... The premise is interesting, and Dean really is a great character, but I'm just not feeling the fannish love. Which makes me a bit sad, given how half of Farscape fandom seems to have gone ga-ga over it.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I'm not feeling the love yet, either, so don't worry. I find it entertaining, but if I was watching it on a weekly basis instead of on dvd, I don't think I'd tune in for every episode, and I'm still not sure whether or not I'll watch the second season.

[andraste]

I watched the first season of Supernatural when it aired down here and bounced off. When, after an entire season, I found I had no particular desire to find out what happened to anyone after the big cliffhanger I decided not to continue.

Obviously the mileage of fandom at large varies *g*. I'm delighted to have fallen for Heroes so that fandom and I have something to talk about again. (Not that livejournal doesn't love Doctor Who, but it is more of a niche thing compared to the more universal interest in currently airing American genre shows.)

I've concluded that it really is the lack of ensemble cast that lead to my failure to connect with Supernatural. The more characters a show has the better!

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I've concluded that it really is the lack of ensemble cast that lead to my failure to connect with Supernatural. The more characters a show has the better!

I'd have concluded the same thing if not for the Dr. Who factor, though maybe with DW it's that the long history of the show in a way creates ensemble, i.e. despite there only being two current main characters, you know you just have to delve back a decade or two if you want other sets of characters?

Anyway, now I FINALLY understand all the jokes about Mohinder pinned to the ceiling.

[cadesama.livejournal.com]

I'll be interested to know what you think about the second season. I recently fell very hard out of love with Supernatural. I thought it had a great deal of potential in the first season, so I forgave a lot of shortcomings and focused on what I thought the show's strength was (continuity of characterization). But, imo, the second season didn't fulfill any of the potential, and what with there being distractions at hand, I just started seeing more and more of the negative. Especially regarding the character arcs and single episode characters. *sigh*

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I'm undecided yet whether or not to continue once I've seen the first season. So far, entertaining but not love.

BTW, I do see what you meant when you wrote that the difference between the Winchesters and the Petrellis is that the Winchesters are screwed up through what happened to Mom whereas the Petrellis are screwed up in themselves, with or without superpowers!

[lilacsigil.livejournal.com]

I started watching for the same X-Files reason, and wasn't too thrilled until about halfway through the first season, when I suddenly became hooked. There are major problems with the (almost total lack of) female characters and how the few that do appear are treated, but I haven't found this problem echoed in fandom, except down at the hysterical end.

Unlike Heroes or Doctor Who, it's one of the shows where I enjoy the brilliant fandom far more than the actual show, with the exception of a few magnificent episodes that recall X-Files at its best.