A Chat With Supernatural Writers

I love the writers of Supernatural. I love them. I have my concerns in recent years on occasion, but true love never runs smooth. 

I really enjoyed reading this interview from Spin-Off Online. They recently talked to Adam Glass, Daniel Loflin, Andrew Dabb, Robbie Thompson and Jenny Klein about season eight and the writer's room.

I was also reading an article from SFX about Supernatural, and how good an 'old' show can still be in its eighth season.

Supernatural has been through a lot -- being on WB before going to the CW, scheduled for Thursday to dead Friday, then out of Purgatory and makes Wednesday their new home. And just how many times have Dean and Sam died and back again? How many times we have laughed and cried? Fans are so emotionally attached to the show, and so are the cast and crew. 

There will come a time when the show comes to an end, but I am not ready to let Supernatural just yet. In fact, once the passion in the flame is ignited, I can't put it out. 

In case you missed my review of Trial and Error, here it is again. Don't forget to watch the all new Supernatural this Wednesday on the CW.

8.15 Man’s Best Friend With Benefits:

DEAN REALLY DOESN’T LIKE WITCHES — A police officer named Kevin (guest star Christian Campbell), who turned to witchcraft after working a case with Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles), is plagued by nightmares in which he murders innocent people. However, when the murders actually happen, Sam and Dean are called in by Kevin’s “familiar” (guest star Mishael Morgan) to help — but the brothers aren’t sure they want to save a witch. John Showalter directed the episode written by Brad Buckner & Eugenie Ross-Leming.

Review: Supernatural 'As Time Goes By'

Is it just me or has Supernatural just produced the best Winchester Family episode since The Song Remains the Same and the best TV episode since Swan Song? I can't see you, but if my opening sentence perplexes you, let me use this review to explain.

For the 101 million times, I love the Winchester family episodes where more than two Winchesters and/or the entire family appear in one episode  -- Home, Something Wicked, What Is And What Should Never Be, A Very Supernatural Xmas, In the Beginning and The Song Remains the Same. These episodes are tied to the family John and Mary created. These are also my all-time favorite episodes of the show.

"One Direction?"

Apart from the family episodes, the second type of episodes that I love are the time travelling episodes -- The End, Frontierland and Time After Time. When you put the family and time-travel element together, you get In the Beginning and The Song Remains the Same. Not only these episodes are two of my all-time favorite episodes of this particular show, they are also my all-time favorite TV episodes.

And now, I will go as far as to say, As Time Goes By has joined the elite league of awesome with In the Beginning and The Song Remains the Same in my book. It is not to say that this episode was flawless, but it was close to perfection and I can forget about questions I may have regarding the mythology of the Winchesters and the show.

Season eight is really going strong. I find myself saying 'this is my favorite episode this season' in every review of recent weeks! But let me put it this way: A Slice of Kevin, Citizen Fang and LARP and the Real Girl are like 'awesome pancakes day' -- the only day of the week you get pancakes for breakfast, you look forward to it and you love it! But As Time Goes By is like going to Tetsuya's! This episode is that brilliant!! This season does have the season four and five epic vibe, which I miss! While you can't top the apocalypse, there are other things you can top! Jeremy Carver and his team of writers have just shown us that!

Supernatural is about the House of Winchester. As Time Goes By gave me a lot more than I can digest right now. In this episode, we learnt more about the Winchesters as well as the hunters community. There were the Men of Letters, and there were the elite hunters and the 'apes' hunters. I wonder if we will get to know who the 'elites' were. I wonder if Sam and Dean will find out more about the hunters community from the documentations in the bunker. If so, where are the descendants of these elite hunters? One thing for sure, if Henry Winchester was still alive, he wouldn't get along with the Campbells, the hunters. The Winchesters and the Campbells would be like the Capulet and the Montague, making John 'Romeo' and Mary 'Juliet'.  

We knew about John and his ways of rising his children; how Mary's death impacted John and therefore the lives of Dean and Sam; we know about the daddy issues; we know about Mary's backstory as a hunter; we know about Mary and John being Heaven's top priority; we know about how the angels have manipulated details, making sure Dean and Sam were born and prepared to be the vessels of Michael and Lucifer for the apocalypse showdown. These family stories have been carrying the show for seven and a half seasons. By bringing Henry Winchester into the story, I feel the show has entered a whole new level of awesome.

Jeremy Carver told us at the beginning of season eight that there would be a game-changing element. No kidding! The appearance of Henry Winchester and the introduction of Men of Letters and the family legacy will totally change how the game is played from now on -- Dean and Sam now have a motherload of advantage! John, Sam and Dean have been doing the family business for a long time, regardless of the existence of Men of Letters and the Apocalypse. They kept going -- saving people, hunting things. The Winchesters before them were doing just fine, until Henry made a jump to the future. And because he never made it back to 1958, the 'original' family business was discontinued and things turned out differently than the Winchesters ancestors intended it to be. 

The Winchesters have been the angels' puppets, pretty much since Henry left. The angels have ruined their lives! It is good to have an advantage for a change, thanks to their Super Great Grandpas, who have been building their very own version of the Ark of Covenant! The whole secret organisation thing is a bit like the old Knight in Indiana Jones to me -- the guardian of the Holy Grail. Except the Winchester's version of 'Holy Grail' is the supernatural motherload. The Men of Letters have left something extremely valuable for Dean and Sam. 

We are about to see the Men of Letters bunker and how it will help the brothers to fight demons, angels, monsters, the LOT! We are about to see what kind of place this bunker is and how Dean and Sam will utilise this place as a home base. This bunker is a lot more than what Bobby's house was in terms of the quantity of information. This bunker is the Watch Tower, CTU, Atlantis or even better, the Batcave! I wonder if there is a place for BABY too, just like Batman has a permanent place to park the Batmobile in the cave. The boys will definitely be on the road as usual, but at least they have a home, a place to come back to. It's good to have their own HQ for a change!
 

"We're preceptors, beholders, chroniclers of all that man does not understand. We share our finding with a few trusted hunters – the very elite. They do the rest." ~~ Henry Winchester in As Time Goes By ~~

Henry Winchester is not a physical fighter, but he is 500 times way better than Samuel. I don't mean to compare two Grandpas, but I really dig Henry! Gil McKinney is brilliant as Henry Winchester. Matt Cohen totally blew my mind as young John, he nailed every single scene. Gil McKinney is on the same level as Matt. Gil's performance was commanding and believable. I was nervous before because I had no idea who this actor was. But within the first 5 minutes, I was totally sold! Henry was a completely different kind of man than John, Dean and Sam. Henry was like he just stepped out from Casablanca! But at the same time, his mannerism reminded me of Sheldon Cooper and George McFly! Henry was a very well spoken, very well educated and intelligent man. He was a critical thinker. We have never met any Men of Letters, but somehow Henry had defined every quality of Men of Letters.

What about the chemistry between Jensen, Jared and Gil? Totally believable! There was so much chemistry between the actors. It was truly a Winchester affair. There chemistry was as strong as Jensen, Jared, JDM and Samantha Smith; as strong as Jensen, Jared, Matt Cohen and Amy Gumenick. It was totally awesome!! The dialogues were well written, the story was well-paced and well-directed. As Time Goes By seemed like an old Supernatural classic, not because a Grandpa was there, but everything in this episode reminded me of Home, In the Beginning and the Song Remains the Same. I love how John's diary played a great part in this episode. It was so amazing to see how emotional the diary was for Henry (and me). I love the initial 'HW' on John's diary, John hated his father, but he still kept the diary. I thought the last scene where Henry held Dean's and Sam's hands were amazingly touching. They didn't even get to hold John when he passed. They didn't have a proper goodbye with John. Part of me wanted Dean and Sam to talk to their Henry more, and I wish Dean wasn't as resentful (but that's Dean for you!) Part of me wanted Henry to stay alive for a little longer because I think this character has so much potentials. But I guess the writers have to keep you wanting for more!

Did Henry know about the bloodline angel vessel thing? Did they angel know about Henry? I think the angels definitely knew about Henry and the legacy. I think while the angels may not have any direct influence on Henry's journey into the future, they certainly didn't stop that, they just let things to work itself out! The angels definitely knew about Henry and his secret organisation. But they have to make sure John grew up the way he did, met Mary, got married and be the father of Dean and Sam -- the vessels for Michael and Lucifer. If it wasn't Abaddon, the angels would've destroyed the Men of Letters anyway to prevent Henry from raising John. 

John never found out about it and the legacy, he grew up just as the angels wanted him to be. The angels wouldn't settle for the Winchesters being just scholars and keepers of knowledge, which was really the true purpose of the Winchester bloodline. I don't think Henry knew about the angels' plan for his son and grandsons. It certainly wasn't part of his duty. I don't think he had ever interacted with the angels. Henry was just doing his job and concentrate on becoming a Man of Letters. The angels had to make sure they carried out their plan and executed it without disruption and unnecessarily confrontation. 

The Dean speech in the motel room to Henry was so Dean. Here, Jensen Ackles gave one of his best performances, it was so season four and five Dean. Dean and Sam both have Daddy issues, and their feeling for John was always complicated. But no matter how much it hurt and how resentful they were towards John, they always saw their father as a hero -- a father who really tried to be a good father. Henry couldn't 'Marty McFly' himself back to John in 1958, leaving John to grow up alone and experienced life the hard way. Dean had some serious issues and also uncomfortable about this legacy and Henry's presence. I can't read Sam just yet, he is always hard to read. But I think Sam agrees with Dean, but at the same time he is keeping an open mind about this legacy. 

As Time Goes By reminded me of another theme of Supernatural -- hope. As long as the Winchesters are here, there is always hope. When things have been taken away from them, their family dead and their friends dead, it is good to see the brothers gaining friends -- Cas, Garth, Charlie, Kevin, Benny and Amelia. These people help them to gain perspectives. And now, the brothers will begin to unearth their family history. It isn't so bad to know about their family history, and all things that come with it -- the supernatural motherload! The whole revelation reminds me of Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code -- what if you find out you are the descendant heir of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, and there are people in a secret society who have been protecting this secret for centuries?  

How will the Men of Letters legacy change Dean and Sam? I don't see Sam and Dean abandoning their identity as hunters -- the way John taught them -- and I don't see them doing things by the book as Henry did, because since when Sam and Dean do as they are told, right? I think Sam and Dean will defy everything and keep doing things their ways. It's up to Sam and Dean how they run their family business. While I don't see Sam and Dean falling into the tradition and all of a sudden feel obligated to abandon this jobs as hunters to exercise their duties as Men of Letters, I do see the legacy element as some kind of constant, returning Dean and Sam back to the Winchester family business. If you don't have a constant, you'll drift, you'll get lost, you need a constant to latch on to. Dean and Sam are each other's constants, but they have been experiencing some very difficult times in their relationship over the past few years. I think this family business thing serve as a constant for them, helping them to move forward. 

The House of Winchester has been around for a very very long time. But now it involves more than a family that started off with only four members -- John, Mary, Sam and Dean. There were others before them -- their ancestors, who have been preceptors of supernatural things. That's the family business. The supernatural motherload is very powerful, it could be the ultimate weapon against demons, angels and all things supernatural. In light of current events, Dean and Sam will do anything to protect their legacy from demons and angels, as well as hunters. Jeremy Carver and his team didn't disappoint us, Dean and Sam are not just Hunter #1, 2, 3, the family legacy is giving them an advantage to fight. And I think they are going to love it and it will change their perception about the Winchester Family. Somewhere at the back of my mind, I am hearing Bobby screaming "Why didn't I know about it before? It would've been made life so much easier." 

A conversation on Twitter got me thinking about the Winchester family business. The introduction of Men of Letters is certainly so tightly connected to the Winchester family business. The series started off with two sons looking for their missing father, it was personal! And then, things got bigger, John, Dean and Sam were smacked in the middle of something much bigger. Now that the Men of Letters business is introduced, things will come full circle. Perhaps this is heading to the end of the series. I do believe Jeremy has a three year plan, which takes Supernatural to season ten. If so, this is a perfect to end of the series, back to basic, back to the men John, Dean and Sam should've become a long time ago. But like I said, Dean and Sam will do it their way!

In terms of the production of the episode, of course it was brilliant! This is Adam Glass' best work to date and Serge Ladouceur did a superb job as the first time director! This was a near classic perfect Supernatural episode. An epic opening montage marked the beginning of a great episode -- the Winchester mythology was brilliantly summed up in 53 seconds. It was very nice to see Dean and Sam still using John's journal and it turned out the inside cover had Henry's initial 'HW' in it all these years. How brilliant was that? It was brilliant! The Devil Trap bullet was Daniel Loflin's idea, according the Adam Glass on Twitter. I think it was a geninus idea, and I can file this one (and the demon bombs) under 'best new tricks'. The Back to the Future and Star Wars references were my favourites. Of course, Henry's 'I am his father' carried the same epicness as Dean's 'I am your son.' in The Song Remains the Same. EPIC! 

The time-traveling element was close to perfection. On one hand, it stayed true to the mythology of the story and the characters, but on the other hand, it added new elements to the show. I feel that As Time Goes By could well be a two parter because there were so much to explore -- the family legacy, the emotions and the reunion. Fans are probably trying to connect all dots, going way back to season one. But where do we start questioning about the mythology and where do we end? As Time Goes By was so great and well written, I can forget about questioning the past and to look forward to the future and how this Men of Letters legacy will integrate into the future of the story. 

Before I wrap up this week's review, I have a crazy theory to share: What if Samuel Colt founded Men of Letters? Samuel Colt disappeared and nobody knew where he went. Samuel was a man with great supernatural knowledge, he built a giant devil trap with five churches and he built the devil gate. It is possible that he founded this secret organisation from his days with another Winchester? Because Samuel knew the boys needed all the help they could get. Knowledge building doesn't happen overnight! May be he met a Winchester after 1861 and they founded Men of Letters? Just saying…

Next week, we will see the new HQ for the boys! I have already watched that clip many times, but I can't wait to see more. I really can't!!! 

Episode 8.13 Everybody Hates Hitler: SAM AND DEAN FACE OFF AGAINST A GOLEM — Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) investigate the death of Rabbi Bass (guest star Hal Linden, Barney Miller), who spontaneously combusted. The case becomes ever more confusing when they learn that the Rabbi was researching Nazi Necromancers. Sam and Dean are attacked by a Golem (guest star John DeSantis) who turns out to belong to the Rabbi’s grandson, Aaron (Adam Rose). The key to the case lies with the Golem but Aaron doesn’t know how to control him, which leaves everyone in danger. Phil Sgriccia directed the episode written by Bed Edlund. 

Supernatural Review - Ep 8.06 Southern Comfort

Review -- Supernatural ep 8.06 Southern Comfort

One tooth fairy can change the life of a dentist forever. You have no idea how funny it is to me!!

It's official -- I LOVE GARTH. His rain forest puppy, happy-go-lucky personality dominates this week's episode, Southern Comfort. Hunting is not exactly a happy job, you can't be happy about it because people die from supernatural causes, and someone has to save them and protect them. It's a serious business -- that's how Dean sees it, and that's how Sam sees it. And it is the reasons for getting into hunting in the first place that make our heroes dark and twisted.

Garth's attitude towards hunting is different, he is not dark and twisted -- his happy-go-lucky attitude that makes him totally adorable. You cannot hate the guy! One of the key things about Garth is that he didn't get into hunting because he was angry or lost someone, he didn't grow up in a family like the Winchesters, Campbells or Harvelles. Garth became a hunter because it was the right thing to do and it was his choice. Dean and Sam didn't have the luxury to choose when they were little boys. But Garth is 'happy' doing what he does as a hunter (at least for now) and he genuinely cares about what he does.

Is Garth the new Bobby? Bobby is irreplaceable, but it's not wrong for Garth to step up. His mindset is in the right place, not because he wants to show off or for fame and fortune, he does it because it's the right thing to do. With Dean and Sam went MIA for a year, somebody has to continue saving people, hunting things. I think Garth IS someone Dean and Sam need right now, because he genuinely wants to help and it's from the heart. He knows how much Dean and Sam meant for Bobby. Someone has to be there to remind Dean and Sam about their family value and humanity because things can get lost.

I particular love the comedic/ random elements in Garth's character that make him so adorable -- the slow-mo in the beginning; the tooth fairy being his first kill; he was a dentist; he is a history buff; he is a hugger. He really grows on you. Garth is the perfect side-kick -- he is like Robin to Batman, less the attitude; he is like a Neville Longbottom, he will fight evil because it's the right thing to do; he is like Chas Kramer in the movie Constantine, the apprentice who will be the hero one day. I think if DJ Qualls' schedule permits, I would love to see his character more. I am really loving the chemistry he is developing with Dean and Sam.

Southern Comfort is the best episode written by Adam Glass to date. The script was amazing with some fantastic punchy dialogues. One of the best lines in this episode was brilliantly delivered by DJ Qualls.   

“Bobby belonged to all of us, not just you and Sam. I'm just taking what he showed me and trying to do something with it.” -- Garth in Southern Comfort

I cried. I think this scene was super good! Garth is showing Dean a new perspective. Dean can be very closed off when it comes to his feeling -- he would rather work on the Impala, turn to drinking or killed monsters. Dean isn't the caring sharing type. He is totally unaware of how much Bobby meant to the hunter community.

I like how the writers position Garth to highlight something that even Dean and Sam don't realise because they have no other perspectives other than their own. Garth is a breathe of fresh air. I like how he said to both Dean and Sam on separate occasions that he is here for them if they need to talk. I also particular like the pairing -- both Dean and Sam paired up with Garth separately. The focus of the conversation between Dean and Garth was Bobby, and it was so good! And then when Sam paired up with Garth, Sam was spaced out thinking about Amelia. I really want to know why Sam left her and I need the Sam-in-a-chic-flick arc to be resolved sooner rather than later because it will get uninteresting once they drag it out. 

Jensen Ackles delivers another brilliant performance when Dean was under the influence of the ghost. Dean wasn't himself, but his lines were punchy, angry but above all things, they were honest. In fact, only when Dean was not himself -- as seen in Sex And Violence -- his 'other' self said the most honest things, his 'other' self said things that the 'real' self was too nice to say them. Southern Comfort opened another can of worms -- the demon blood, Ruby, Grandpa Campbell, soulless Sam -- everything! Sam said he made mistakes and Dean thought they were choices. This argument will never end.

Dean obviously has been having a hard time accepting Bobby's death, Cas' betrayal, and new ally such as Garth. Above all things, there is always something involving Sam that Dean has to deal with on an emotional level. Sam has the right to get angry about Benny and everything else, but hey, Amy Pond DID kill four people and Sam did switch off his phones for a year and did not look for Dean. Sam is pissed about the fact that Dean keeps a secret about Benny, and the fact that they are 'friends'. And I think for Dean, accepting a vampire as a friend is no his proudest moment but it is something he can justify to himself and he gets why Sam is having a hard time accepting it.  

I hope Sam will understand where Dean is coming from and respect his brother's relationship with Benny, which was bonded over a very difficult environment. When Dean returned from hell, he didn't want to talk for a long time about what happened. Sam's attitude then was more caring and understanding, even when he found out Dean was torturing souls. So I am a little surprised about Sam's frustration because he should know better about his brother's character. It's almost like he was trying to make Dean feel guilty. It's like "OK, so I made mistakes... (pause).. but..but you lie to me about Benny." Really Sam?

Dean had to survive purgatory and to make his way back to earth. Sam wasn't helping, he didn't even know where Dean was, he switched off his phone and he just left. So Dean had to do it on his own, and then Benny happened. Dean is all about loyalty -- he never gave up on Sam and his family, no matter how screwed up things were; Cas was messed up but Dean still wouldn't leave his best friend behind; and it appears that Benny is deeply effected by the 'whole friend-thing'. Of course, we haven't seen Benny doing anything bad and I think his character will be tested later on. The moment Benny kills a human, Dean will be caught in the middle and Sam will be the first to send him back to purgatory. Fair enough. I also wish when Cas returns, he can help Sam to understand purgatory and Benny. I for one would love to see the theme of redemption to play a role this season.

In summary, Southern Comfort is my favourite episode this season so far. I think it sets up the next few episodes nicely in terms of the conflicts, Benny, truth, respect and communication. The brothers are willing to put things away and move on but they also need to bring respect and communication back into the family. It's great drama and I can't wait to see more.

Castiel will make an official come back along with Kevin, Mrs Tran and Crowley in next week's 8.07 A Little Slice of Kevin. Amanda Tapping will also make her first appearance on the show. With this awesome line-up, this sounds like an epic mid-season finale! Here is the description and TV promo once again:

CASTIEL ESCAPES PURGATORY — Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) are stunned when Castiel (Misha Collins) suddenly appears back on Earth with no memory of how he escaped from Purgatory. Meanwhile, Mrs. Tran (guest star Lauren Tom) enlists a witch (guest star Cyrina Fiallo) to concoct a demon bomb, but the witch double crosses Mrs. Tran and turns her and Kevin (guest star Osric Chau) over to Crowley (guest star Mark Sheppard). Charlie Carner directed the episode written by Eugenie Ross–Leming & Brad Buckner.