Supernatural Gets Exiled on Emo Street

Welcome back to Supernatural, the further adventures of the world’s mopiest brothers! I’m talking, of course, about Sam and Dean Winchester, demon hunters extraordinaire, and the dudes most prone to breaking up in the history of television.

When we last left them, Sam had been sucked into Hell in order to stop the Apocalypse – and contain Satan himself. Dean had shown up at the doorstep of the one woman who had ever understood him (and who is maybe the mother of his son), and started life as a suburban dad. So can you guess what happens next?

That’s right: Sam stays dead, and Dean learns that it’s nice to life a quiet life. 

JK, you guys: exactly what you think will happen, happens. Sam shows up very much alive and Satan free, while Dean hasn’t quite let go of his hunter ways. Turns out, Dean is being hunted himself by a trio of Djin, evil genies who want Elder Winchester dead for killin’ their Pa several seasons back. And though Dean is happy to see his brother alive, he’s not happy to find out Sam’s been alive for a year without telling him. Not only that, but he’s hooked up with some generic Winchester Cousins, and their resurrected Grandpa.

Why are Sam and Grandpa Winchester back alive? Nobody knows, but it may have something to do with all the new monsters popping up around America, including some they’ve, “never heard of before.” Just when he thinks he’s out...

I’ll say this: if you liked last season of Supernatural, despite the exit of series mastermind Eric Kripke, this is definitely more of the same. The Winchester Boys mope and fight, the monsters are spooky, and small town America hides evil behind every corner.

Sadly, I did not like last season.

I loved the ambition of it – it’s the Apocalypse, you guys! – but I didn’t like how emo it got, how convoluted, and how serious. With this first episode, we’re getting more of the same. Sam and Dean get back together! But not really! One of them has been rescued from Hell for some mysterious – and probably nefarious – purpose!

With five seasons of story out of the way, there was a chance for a fresh start, something that brought the excitement, the fun, and most importantly, the humor back to the show. With this episode at least – which was otherwise well acted, directed, and written – we definitely don’t have that yet. Is there any doubt that Dean will head back to the hunting life? Or that Grandpa knows more than he says he knows, and will end up fighting them in the end?

Hey, I’m a sucker, so I’ll still be watching when we get there. Hopefully, I’ll be clapping and cheering, too – instead of just moping around.

Random Notes:

• “You have no idea what’s in some people’s walls... Eat 'em alive.”
• Notice the posters for DJ Sam on the construction site? I bet he plays hits like “Burnin’ Up (My Girlfriend)” and “Daemon Blud.”
• Love the little touches showing Dean isn’t quite out, like the shotgun under the bed, and the Devil’s Trap under the carpet.
• “You can’t escape your past,” says the moral of the episode.
• Winchester Cousins! Somebody is going to have to figure out who their Care Bear analogues are, but Grandpa is definitely Brave Heart Lion, you know?