September 11, 2009 - The season premiere of Supernatural, "Sympathy for the Devil," picks up exactly where the season finale left off, with Lucifer rising from hell. There is a lot to cover and the episode does not waste a minute of screen time. The battle lines have been drawn, Lucifer has arrived, and the angels and demons are gearing up for a fight. Meanwhile, Dean and Sam find themselves on neither side, having been betrayed by both.
Surprisingly enough, the episode, while being about the apocalypse, is actually pretty funny. It is all in the dialog, written by series creator Eric Kripke. Between Chuck's understatement of the year that "this sucks ass" and Dean's description of himself as someone with "a GED and a 'give 'em hell' attitude", the banter is an excellent antidote to the heaviness of the circumstances.
It is not just the words however, it is the way they are delivered perfectly by each character that makes the script work as well as it does. Supernatural is blessed with great comic timing and deadpan delivery from both Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, but the real scene stealer in that department is Rob Benedict as Chuck Shurley. I love how after picking a bloody molar out of his hair he feels the need to share that he is having a "really stressful day." His chagrin at being forced to reach out to one of his fans is classic, and I appreciate the fact that the show is continuing what they started last season with their own special way of acknowledging and lovingly poking fun at their own fans through the fans of Chuck. That girl's reaction to meeting the real Sam and Dean is hilarious.
In addition to Chuck, Jim Beaver makes another appearance as the boys' surrogate father, Bobby. His visit with Dean and Sam does not go as expected however, when Meg shows up. Played this time around by Rachel Miner with vicious flair, Meg is her usual violent self and Miner conveys Meg's brutality well, right from the beginning.
- The CWI appreciated the nod to John Winchester in "Devil's Trap" as Bobby is in the position of possibly doing grave harm to Dean just as John was in that episode. Family is one of the most important themes on Supernatural; how Bobby handles himself here is a good reminder of that fact. The only false note in this sequence is a lingering question of how Bobby came to be in the predicament he finds himself in here. The episode is so full, it's possible there is no time for an additional scene, but the question is out there nonetheless.
In a move by the producers that I am looking forward to seeing play out this year, Misha Collins has been made a series regular, returning as the angel Castiel. Castiel comes back ready to fight, that much is obvious. His discussion with Zachariah asking how is it possible he is back at all is interesting since Supernatural has made it clear Zachariah and his allies do not believe God is at work in this world anymore. If season five has upped the ante with Lucifer, it makes sense that God would at least be part of the conversation.
In addition to Beaver, Benedict and Collins as supporting players, the episode notably introduces Mark Pellegrino (recently appearing in a similarly pivotal role on Lost) as Nick, destined to be the vessel of Lucifer himself. A lot is asked of Pellegrino, as we need to feel sympathy for Nick first, and understand why someone would make the choice he does. Pellegrino's desperation while he is tormented by increasingly disturbing visions from Lucifer is enough to break your heart and at least understand why he would listen to what the fallen angel has to say.
Also heartbreaking is the conversation between Dean and Sam in the final scene. This is a conversation Dean tries to blow off several times, but everyone knows it needs to happen after the events of last season when Sam betrayed Dean and followed Ruby. This type of exchange between the brothers is nothing new, not after all they have been through, but what is different this time is Dean's weariness. Sam is as contrite as is humanly possible, but this is not something that can be gotten over quickly. In addition to stopping Lucifer and the apocalypse, it is clear that this season will need to focus on the brothers' relationship and how it can be repaired.
Review courtest of www.ign.com
Surprisingly enough, the episode, while being about the apocalypse, is actually pretty funny. It is all in the dialog, written by series creator Eric Kripke. Between Chuck's understatement of the year that "this sucks ass" and Dean's description of himself as someone with "a GED and a 'give 'em hell' attitude", the banter is an excellent antidote to the heaviness of the circumstances.
It is not just the words however, it is the way they are delivered perfectly by each character that makes the script work as well as it does. Supernatural is blessed with great comic timing and deadpan delivery from both Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, but the real scene stealer in that department is Rob Benedict as Chuck Shurley. I love how after picking a bloody molar out of his hair he feels the need to share that he is having a "really stressful day." His chagrin at being forced to reach out to one of his fans is classic, and I appreciate the fact that the show is continuing what they started last season with their own special way of acknowledging and lovingly poking fun at their own fans through the fans of Chuck. That girl's reaction to meeting the real Sam and Dean is hilarious.
In addition to Chuck, Jim Beaver makes another appearance as the boys' surrogate father, Bobby. His visit with Dean and Sam does not go as expected however, when Meg shows up. Played this time around by Rachel Miner with vicious flair, Meg is her usual violent self and Miner conveys Meg's brutality well, right from the beginning.
- The CWI appreciated the nod to John Winchester in "Devil's Trap" as Bobby is in the position of possibly doing grave harm to Dean just as John was in that episode. Family is one of the most important themes on Supernatural; how Bobby handles himself here is a good reminder of that fact. The only false note in this sequence is a lingering question of how Bobby came to be in the predicament he finds himself in here. The episode is so full, it's possible there is no time for an additional scene, but the question is out there nonetheless.
In a move by the producers that I am looking forward to seeing play out this year, Misha Collins has been made a series regular, returning as the angel Castiel. Castiel comes back ready to fight, that much is obvious. His discussion with Zachariah asking how is it possible he is back at all is interesting since Supernatural has made it clear Zachariah and his allies do not believe God is at work in this world anymore. If season five has upped the ante with Lucifer, it makes sense that God would at least be part of the conversation.
In addition to Beaver, Benedict and Collins as supporting players, the episode notably introduces Mark Pellegrino (recently appearing in a similarly pivotal role on Lost) as Nick, destined to be the vessel of Lucifer himself. A lot is asked of Pellegrino, as we need to feel sympathy for Nick first, and understand why someone would make the choice he does. Pellegrino's desperation while he is tormented by increasingly disturbing visions from Lucifer is enough to break your heart and at least understand why he would listen to what the fallen angel has to say.
Also heartbreaking is the conversation between Dean and Sam in the final scene. This is a conversation Dean tries to blow off several times, but everyone knows it needs to happen after the events of last season when Sam betrayed Dean and followed Ruby. This type of exchange between the brothers is nothing new, not after all they have been through, but what is different this time is Dean's weariness. Sam is as contrite as is humanly possible, but this is not something that can be gotten over quickly. In addition to stopping Lucifer and the apocalypse, it is clear that this season will need to focus on the brothers' relationship and how it can be repaired.
Review courtest of www.ign.com
