RhymePhile's Rat Race

Season 2 of Supernatural debuts on DVD next week, and I've written a review for my Big Dot Com. This will no doubt be edited, so I thought I'd throw it out here before it gets cut to shreds. I have to keep these short; I'd love to be able to explain the whole season in more depth. But I tried to touch on the things I found important -- like Jensen Ackles' performance this season, and I hardly ever mention that in reviews.

As much as I enjoyed Season 1, I think Season 2 surpassed it. Many people prefer the Monster of the Week arc to a season; I preferred the dramatic arc they used in Season 2.

I can't wait for Season 3 to begin. I haven't felt that in a long time, with the exception of Battlestar Galactica.



As Season 1 of this sci-fi hit closed, brothers Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki) had found their missing father John (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), and were on the trail of the demon that had killed their mother until a devastating car crash occurred. When Season 2 (2006-07) opens in "In My Time of Dying" with Dean near death, John offers himself to the demon in return for restoring Dean's life. That decision proved to be the emotional punch this series needed, turning Supernatural from a mere monster-of-the-week sci-fi show to one with real dramatic undercurrent. Adding to the tension is the fact that just before he dies, John tells Dean a secret about his brother -- and the mysterious powers of premonition Sam acquired -- that isn't revealed until the end of the season. Jensen Ackles stands out this year as he tackles both the guilt Dean feels over his father's death, and the harrowing truth he must keep from his brother. As the season progresses, the brothers meet others who have similar strange powers, and they learn that the demon plans to create a supernatural army. In the fantastic two-part season finale "All Hell Breaks Loose," Dean makes a sacrifice for Sam that rivals his father's, and sets up a great storyarc for Season 3. Other notable episodes this season include "Crossroad Blues," the events of which are touched upon in the finale; "Houses of the Holy," in which a priest thinks he's acting for God; and in "What Is and What Should Never Be," a djinn (or genie) attacks Dean with interesting consequences. Excellent special effects, top-notch writing, and strong acting make Supernatural - Season 2 required viewing.