SUPERNATURAL (TV SERIES) - DVD review

"Supernatural" is the best genre show to hit the airwaves since Joss Whedon's "Buffy/Angel" franchise bit the dust in 2004. With its third season the show really began to grow, crafting diverse plot threads heading in multiple directions. Unfortunately, its growth was cut short by the ridiculous Writers Guild strike that forced the run of "Supernatural" episodes down from its usual twenty-two to a paltry sixteen. While the loss of six episodes might not seem all that devastating, it forced the show's creators to rush through some slowly evolving plot lines to wrap up the season with a satisfying finale. The end result is still the best horror-themed show on TV in several years. But "Supernatural" heavily relies on its episodic nature, and its pacing was completely ruined by a union power play that ultimately did little to benefit the striking writers and truly hurt their fans rather than the studios.

The first two seasons of "Supernatural" revolved around the Winchester brothers Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) traveling across the country in search of their demon hunting father, John (Jeffery Dean Morgan). The brothers' quest for answers about their mother's death and the location of their missing father was wrapped up in season two. The main plot of the third season rests on the boys trying to figure out a way for Dean to renege on a deal he made with a demon to save Sam's life. The deal brought Sam back from death but gave Dean only a year left to live on Earth, and then he would dragged down to hell, body and soul, for all eternity.

Without their father around for guidance, the boys have to figure this one out on their own, but they manage to get some help along the way from a mysterious and benevolent demon known as Ruby (Katie Cassidy). Along the way, the brothers stumble across former foes, familiar friends, and new faces that weave themselves effortlessly into "Supernatural's" growing mythos. All of which builds toward an exciting ending that feels a bit rushed yet manages to end on an extremely engaging cliffhanger that begs for fans to tune in for season four.

The majority of "Supernatural's" screen time is spent with Sam and Dean; thus, the show pretty much lives and dies with the chemistry between the show's leads. Thankfully, both Padalecki and Ackles mesh perfectly, and they manage to capture that unique bond between close brothers that rides the fence between love and animosity. Plus, they both have great comedic timing that really adds to the show's integrity. The humor is genuinely funny, with Ackles in particular swinging for the fences with his spot-on delivery. Based on his performance in "Supernatural," I'd probably go to see almost anything he appears in next; yes, even the 3-D remake of "My Bloody Valentine."

The unsung hero of "Supernatural" has to be Alexandra Patsavas, the Music Supervisor who oversees the show's kick-ass classic-rock soundtrack. While so many programs use and abuse well-known tunes until neither the song nor the band have a meaning left to them (Roger Daltrey, Pete Townsend, I'm looking at you), Patsavas' choices and placements punctuate the scene. The use of Kansas's "Carry on My Wayward Son" for the series recap before the season finale alone is proof of the genius on display here. Compound that with tracks from AC/DC, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Bad Company, and you've got yourself a soundtrack to take notice of. Hell, even Asia and Bon Jovi sound good filtered through the ears of "Supernatural."

Running a close second in the unsung hero category would have to be John's friend Bobby Singer (Jim Beaver), who in the absence of the elder Winchester really steps it up this season. Beaver's a great character actor who's been working steadily since the late 70's and a person I've been waiting to see more of since his thirty-five-episode stint as Whitney Ellsworth on "Deadwood" came to an end a few years ago. With Sam and Dean's father gone for good, Bobby fills in the best he can as a father figure for the boys and brings several touching moments to the third season, all thankfully delivered through his lovably gruff personality.

Video:
"Supernatural" is a sincerely attractive show with great cinematography and beautiful British Columbia locations. The anamorphic widescreen is featured in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and it looks wonderful. I didn't see any of these episodes when they originally aired, but I'd be surprised if they looked better than this.

Audio:
The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is a fine companion to the excellent video transfer. The music sounds great while never muffling any dialogue, and all the sound effects hit with a ton of bricks.

Extras:
It's a bit disappointing that there's not a single commentary to be found on any of the five discs. This is especially annoying considering both prior seasons featured multiple commentaries with cast and crew members. Warner Brothers almost make up for it with eighty minutes of bonus features, but I would have traded most of them for an Ackles commentary or two.

"A Closer Look" is a series of short segments split across six separate programs, where various creators of the show discuss the particulars of the episode. Each segment varies from two-and-a-half minutes up to eight minutes with informative bits and pieces of the episode being considered by various writers and directors. "Ghostfacers Confessionals" is the fake sixteen-minute pilot for the ghost-hunting reality show that Dean and Sam unknowingly wander into in the thirteenth episode. It's seriously funny and a welcome addition to the special features since it expands one of the show's best episodes.

"From Legends to Reality: Supernatural Effects" is a great twenty-three-minute featurette full of behind-the-scenes footage showcasing all the great effects work from the show. From a genre fan's perspective, one of the best things about "Supernatural" is the way the effects teams blend both digital and practical effects to create some of the best-looking creatures in television history. This featurette does a magnificent job of lifting back the curtain and showing fans how it's done; definitely recommended viewing. Also worth seeing is the eight-minute "Gag Reel" that does a good job showing what a couple of goofballs both Padalecki and Ackles can be. It is a must-see for Ackles' " I miss your musk" comment alone. The "Impala Featurette" is a surprisingly interesting five minute look at all the different '67 Chevy Impalas used for the show, as well as the car's prop weapon trunk. Some decent bonus features, to be sure, but with it still lacking in the commentary department, the set's best feature might be the optional recap, which makes viewing of the episodes much more enjoyable.

Film Value:
Even though season three wasn't as strong as the prior season, "Supernatural" is still the best horror show on TV and a must-watch for any fan of the genre. The show is gorier than most "unrated" fright flicks, and each episode could be shown as its own horror film. From urban legends to zombies to ghosts, every horror theme is touched upon by this show. Additionally, the show's producers are constantly rewarding horror fans with their cast selection; fan favorite actor Billy Drago ("Brisco County," "The Untouchables") shows up in the season's best episode, and Mercedes McNabb (Harmony from "Buffy") shows up as, what else?, a vampire. "Supernatural" is not only the one thing validating the CW's existence as a television network, it's also a horror fan's only reason to turn on network TV these days.