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Supernatural Midseason Checkup: What Works, What Needs Work

It's no secret that we're massive fans of Supernatural here at CW Source Central -- we've been crazy about the show, the premise, the scares, the family dynamics, and most of all, the glorious Winchester boys, since it first hit our TV screens. But that doesn't mean we're willing to give the show a pass when something isn't right. The show set the bar high, and we expect it to live up to its own ambitions!

Now that we're midway through season four, we wanted to take a look back at what's happened this year and give our verdict on what we love, what we hate, and what leaves us scratching our head. Will you agree? Read on to find out:

What We Love

*Angels among us: This could have gone very, very wrong. Seriously -- angels on Supernatural, strumming harps and spouting platitudes? Ah, but the celestial beings of the Supernatural world are of the bad-ass, Old Testament, smite-first-ask-questions-later school, not the cuddly Michael Landon/Roma Downey versions. When Castiel said Dean should give him more respect, we believed it. When Uriel talked about taking out a town full of "mud monkeys," we shuddered. These angels are just as powerful -- and just as scary -- as the demons the boys have encountered. Good stuff.

*Dean's return: When last season ended, we couldn't believe they'd actually, seriously, bloodily killed the elder Winchester brother. Oh, sure, Sam had died the season before (and that was equally devastating) but they brought him back in the next episode. Kripke & Co. made us suffer almost as much as Dean did in Hell. So when he clawed his way out of the grave, and saw the circle of devastation that surrounded him, we were impressed. When we learned more details of what had happened -- that Dean had held out for 30 years, but for the last 10, he'd participated in demonic torture -- our hearts broke. This is something that's going to haunt us all well beyond this season.

*The Comedy: Bad-ass angels, demonic torture, issues of life and death and life again... that's all heavy stuff. Which is why we were so damn thrilled to get moments of laugh-out-loud hilarity from the show. From Monster Movie (seeing old-school Dracula ride off on a scooter, Sam's reaction to Dean in Lederhosen, Dean proclaiming he'd been rehymenated), to Wishful Thinking (the guys trying to deal with an angsty living Teddy Bear), to Yellow Fever (that girly scream, plus the bonus Eye of the Tiger video!), this show knows how and when to leaven things with a laugh.

*The Backstories
Oh, how we loved In The Beginning. All of a sudden, so much made sense. Mary! John! The Metallicar! Yes, we were bummed that there was no Sam in the ep, but it made sense for the story. It may be one of our favorite episodes of the season. Likewise, we loved finally seeing how Sam ended up the way he did, allied with Ruby and using his mind mojo. It was a stellar performance from Jared, and a game-changing episode. But...

What we're not sure about

*Ruby: This is a tough one. We actually like the direction the show is taking with Ruby, but we know a LOT of fans do not. We don't know what Ruby's game is: Is she in love with Sam? Is she using him to her own ends? Is she hoping to turn him into a general in the angels vs. demons war? What the heck is going on? We loved seeing the backstory about how Sam and Ruby came together (she even got a certified cruelty-free meat suit, although yes, we know some of you dispute that), but we can't help but think that there's a whole lot we have still to learn. Right now, we're enjoying the ride. We just hope it doesn't end up in a bad, bad place.

*Secrets and Lies: We feared this would be another season where one of the brothers knows something the other doesn't, and he keeps it to himself and stews about it. Look, we love watching the angst, but we'd hope that he boys would learn, you know? To an extent, they have -- Dean found out relatively early on that Sam was using his mind mojo, and Sam owned up. Sam knew something was going on with Dean and Post Demonic Stress Syndrome, and Dean eventually started to unbend -- although he told Sam that he wasn't going to talk because he couldn't. But still, the brothers have a bad habit of thinking they can or should or must protect the feelings/innocence/delicate mental state of the other, and after four seasons, we can't help but think that they should KNOW better! It NEVER works out well! Just tell what you know, and get on with it!

What needs work

*Wait, WHAT?: There have been a few too many "HUH?" moments this year for our taste, where things have seemed out of character or completely out of left field. Dean hears one backstory about Ruby and Sam, and all of a sudden HE'S the one saving her? We thought he wanted her dead! Anna turns out to be a fallen angel who gave up her grace and decided to be human -- and angelic essence can be bottled? Ghosts can be scared to death -- and Sam is willing to do that be brutally dragging him behind a car (yes, we know, Bobby drove, but it was Sam's plan)? There's ANOTHER shapeshifter roaming the byways of America? Sometimes, it just seemed too much.

*The Potential Problems: We've been trying to come up with things that disappoint us about this season, and we've got to admit, there's not much. We find ourselves more anxious or disappointed by the way things COULD go than by the way they actually have. We fear this will turn into a scenario where Dean and Sam are leading opposing armies... but look, that hasn't happened yet. There are plenty of ways it COULD go wrong, but unless it does, we really can't complain about it. (As chronic nit-pickers and complainers, you have no idea how uneasy that makes us. Surely there should be SOMETHING else wrong with the show! But we're just not seeing it right now.)

What about you? What are you loving and hating? We ruthlessly edited the "What we loved" section (no mention of Bobby or other guest stars, no listing of fabulous moments, no generalized squee), but were there any massive oversights? And has our recent holiday cookie binge raised our dopamine levels to the point that we missed some bad stuff? Do you agree with our points, or do you think we're dead wrong? Talk about it in the comments!

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Comments

My only complaint is when Sam explained to Dean his relationship with Ruby. The timeline was wrong. The timeline explained was six months, but Dean was only in Hell for four. Other than that, I've been pleasantly surprised by this season. I was wondering how they would explain certain things (and I'm still scratching my head over the "Chris Angel is a Duchebag" episode), but overall I've been very happy with what I've seen.

For me Season 4 has been amazing. Sure, there have been a few oddities thrown in there that could have been better thought out (I mean, Grace tree, really?) but oveall we have been given a great premise and of course the fabulous Cass!

My main gripe is Ruby's continued existance and the boys' uncharacteristic acceptance of her presence and help. It feels a bit like last season's OOC-ness all over again. I get that Kripke loves this character, but if it turns out that she really is a "good" demon, all credibility will have been lost. She needs to have been betraying the boys from the begining, the reveal needs to be soon and the character needs to be destroyed asap. This needs urgent attention, it is warping the characters that we have all invested ourselves in and for whom we watch the show - Sam and Dean.

Oh and I still want a resolution to the "all demons were once human" fiasco. If there was anything that tested my love of the show it was that. So, use Ruby to set the record straight and then dispatch her immediately.

"I have to disagree with CalicoKat: I don't agree that Sam's issues are more interesting than Dean's. I have been completely drawn into the mystery of why God/the angels wanted Dean and what his purpose is."


I have to agree with you, Allison. I find Dean's story to be completely fascinating this season, with his return from hell and dealing with those memories, the angels, questioning his beliefs/faith, and trying to figure out exactly what this mission involves. I LOVE this storyline for Dean. And I'm so glad that Dean finally has his very own place in the show's mythology.

I would like to see more fallout from Dean's time in hell -- PTSD or something, but otherwise I find his story this season fascinating, especially his relationship with Castiel. Jensen is especially knocking it out of the park this season, especially his very emotional reveal at the end of "Heaven and Hell." Poor Dean!

And while I'm always interested in the brother's relationship and what's going on between them, I'm almost more interested in Dean's relationship to Castiel. They have such an interesting dynamic, and Jensen and Misha have fantastic chemistry.

"This season has been amazing! I admit, I hate hate HATE the route they're taking with demons and demon powers... that they're actually nothing harmful or scary at all, that Dean's a dirty racist for distrusting demons, that everyone in the Winchester family died for absolutely nothing, because Sam's powers are really totally neutral and awesome and outstrip every bit of hunting everyone ever did before him and render other hunters obselete. Effing HATE that stuff."


Ana -- I totally agree with you. It's like the show is going out of it's way to make the powers and Ruby look totally cool and good, but at the same time it makes Dean's attitude toward demons and demonic powers look wrong or something. Demons should be evil! And both Ava and Jake embraced their powers and became evil, so ... why should Sam be any different? The show just needs to go there already and I think it would move along Sam's storyline and the whole mytharc.

I'd have almost no complaints about this season, if not for the Ruby character. I don't like the directon they're going with her, to me half of it still makes no sense given what we saw of her last season and the actress isn't doing much for me either.
It's actually dragging down the Sam scenes for me.

Sam's backstory, a flashback that could have been awesome in so many ways, and one that I was really looking forward too, took a backseat to him sleeping with Ruby and trying to get the audience to sympathize with her.

Watching Dean suddenly pull a 180 and decide he's ok with her now, simply because he heard one story from Sam...not acceptable to me.
Having Dean tolerate her to appease Sam would be one thing, but having Dean seem to actually trust her, and even help her up off the floor...just no.

I'll admit, I was not overally impressed with the last two episodes. And the Anna story could have been better had they maybe just left her the regular girl who could hear Angels.
The last two episodes left me more than a little concerned at where they'll go from here. But we'll see.

But the overall episodes this season have been very good.
Castiel has been a great addition this year, I will say.

And Jared and Jensen continue to shine onscreen as well.


For the most part, I am loving this Season 4. I find the angel storyline fascinating. The scenes with Dean and Castiel (and Uriel) are just so dynamic and intense, I love seeing them on the screen together.


I have to disagree with CalicoKat: I don't agree that Sam's issues are more interesting than Dean's. I have been completely drawn into the mystery of why God/the angels wanted Dean and what his purpose is. If you think Dean's issues are repetitive, then you must also feel that Sam's are repetitive because we've had the same issues regarding Sam since Season 1 and Season 2 (especially Season 2).


My one major concern is with where the show may be going with the portrayal of the demons and angels - Ruby is a demon with a heart of gold? The angels are bad? Humans are the ones that should be grey, not demons and angels.

After a great beginning, SN gave viewers some truly awful stuff with episodes 9 10. Sam getting it on with a demon wearing a corpse? Dean, fresh from decades of torment, snuggling up to same demon with Sam's reveal that she saved his life? The most laughable fallen angel ever created whining over mean old God depriving her of sex, human misery, and chocolate cake? Heavenly angels being presented as Mafia-like thugs who hate "mud monkeys" and beat them up for kicks? When in the history of television have so many jump the shark moments been squeezed into two episodes? If I ran the series, I'd give the writers of those episodes their walking papers now for stinking up the place with whatever they were smoking. Oh, wait! One of the writers DOES run the series. Not a good sign.

I'm loving most of this season so far. The angel storyline and the mystery around Dean's return from Hell have totally reinvigorated the show. I haven't been this interested in the mytharc since DT/IMTOD.

I have also loved the comedy episodes although I agree with those that feel Yellow Fever would have worked much better if the beginning of the big reveal about Dean's time in hell had been dramatic instead of trivialized for a few cheap laughs. But I have to admit that Jensen was totally charming and his Dean was completely adorable in YF so I can't really hate that episode.

Ruby is really the only sour note for me but wasn't a huge issue early on in the season. But after 409, I'm starting to fear that they are going to ruin the angel storyline by making them no better than demons in an attempt to justify Sam's rather chemistry-free attachment to her.

I really hope Kripke doesn't destroy what has the potential to be the show's best season, in order to keep ramming his woobified demon down our throats. I'm also more than ready to see Sam go dark, since they have been threatening us with that for two seasons now.

I guess in conclusion, the season started out firing on all cylinders but is starting to flounder a bit in the middle. Hopefully things will pick up again and Kripke won't squander all the potential he started the out with at the beginning of the year.

I know why some people have a problem with Ruby, to be honest the reason why I don't start complaining about her is that here are just too many things I enjoy about season 4.
I don't really care if she is a good or bad demon but I really hope that she has an agenda/purpose because if she only helps Sam because she has feelings for him, I will die laughing my ass off, because that's simply too cheesy!!!

I hope with the end of season 4, we know what is going on with Ruby and what the masterplan of Yed really is all about!

I gotta say that, despite smiling at stuff in the comedy episodes, they also made me uncomfortable. I did feel like they were kind of disassociated from the plot episodes in a way I didn't love.

However, I'm just not seeing the Dire Problems a lot of people here are. I really enjoyed most of the series, I think it's coming along nicely. I had no problem with Anna. Ruby's growing on me. My biggest issue...

Sam. We're not seeing anything from Sam's PoV. We're not feeling his struggle. And Dean's having the same self loathing and "omg must saev Sam" issues he's had since season 1. For me, Sam is the dynamic character right now and why we're married to Dean's angstastic PoV is confusing to me and disappointing. I feel like I've been waiting for the show to go back to Sam's PoV since the beginning of season 2. I put my finger on it in a conversation with my friend tonight:

"For me, it's because I find Dean's motivations so much more transparent than Sam's. In terms of what's going on in his head, I find him much, much less interesting. I don't feel like we're getting the story from the most conflicted or dynamic character's point of view. Dean's PoV sometimes goes as far as to be redundant. He always hates himself, he always is motivated to doggedly protect his family...It's the redundancy that bothers me, I guess, while Sam has all kinds of interesting things going on and we don't get to watch him wrestle with them, ever. Except like the episode where he died at the end."

However, when watching this season in one sitting I didn't feel like anything was missing at all. So, I'm willing to wait! Hoping that things will turn around and we'll see Sam's PoV in the second half. The PoV was so much better balanced in season 1.

As for the "Huh" Moments...I'm not with you on the whole Sam/Ruby/Dean thing. Dean trusts Sam and after hearing about how Ruby saved Sam and how they were working together while Dean was in the pit, Dean is willing to give her a chance. Does this make them BFF's?? Heck no!!! I think Dean is only trusting and helping her for the time being because she hasn't given him a reason not to yet and I think he is keeping his guard up about her. She is a demon afterall!! As soon as she turns and does anything wrong he'll be back to wanting to kill her no matter what Sam says.

I really do hope there's more to her than just being a "good little demon". I'm hoping that there's a serious case of backstabbing and ulterior motives by Ruby to come this season!! I'm going to be patient for it cause I don't think it's going to happen for a while yet but I'm willing to wait and see.

As for the Anna thing. I thought it was cool that she was a fallen angel. The grace in a bottle thing was kinda strange but they had to have her save the day/turn out good and let her go without killing her. They kill enough characters on the show and to have one save the day and not bite it is actually different. LOL And just cause she didn't die doesn't mean I want her to come back. She's a one shot character and that's all I want to see of her!

"Ghosts can be scared to death -- and Sam is willing to do that be brutally dragging him behind a car (yes, we know, Bobby drove, but it was Sam's plan)?"

How else were they supposed to get rid of it? The ghost while yes he was a good HUMAN being as a ghost he was killing people and it was going to keep on killing people. You can't talk or reason with a ghost...this isn't the Ghost Whisperer where you reason with it and make it crossover. This is Supernatural where sometimes getting rid of things isn't always kinda and gentle. Sure I felt bad for the ghost but I'm not mad or looking at Sam and Bobby different because of the way they had to get rid of him!

And shapeshifters....What is it? 3 in 4 years?! That is hardly too much. If you say that's too much then you might as well say the amount of ghosts and demons on the show are alot and a bit much?? Please!!!

And the secrets and lies between the guys keeps things interesting. The Winchester's have been hiding things from each other forever and eventually the truth comes out. Makes for great drama I think!!!

Anywho that's how I feel about everything so far. I'm totally enjoying this season!! Jensen and Jared continue to amaze with their brilliance and I love the new characters this season. Castiel is awesome, Uriel is a love-to-hate and Bobby and Pamela totally rock!!! Ican't wait to see what the second half has in store for us!!! Bring on Jan 15th!!!

teeveesnhot: that is actually a really great idea!! Ruby being Sam's gf from the Pilot in a demon form...i actually like that. I love this season, and do not mean any offense when I say some of the fans think about it way too much and deconstruct every little thing. The humor has to be there, or it wouldn't be SPN. Trust the writers!! I am not a writer for TV, nor a creator of a show so I take what they give me and trust that it is for a purpose. They have it planned out, trust them!!

This season has been good. Love the new character of Castiel and Uriel. Ruby, however, I do not buy the good demon story. I am tired of Ruby. As for Anna and the grace tree, it kinda fell flat for me. Things that were cool for were Castiel and Uriel and Bobby. Always Bobby.

I love this season - SPN just gets better and better!

What drives me nuts is that the writers/exec/etc might be paying too much attention to what the "fans" apparently say (or at least those fans with the time to bombard them with emails etc), and so they loose the plot (sometimes literally).

That said, here I am writing a fan response, and for the next 5 minutes I'm gonna go darkside and Tell The Writers What To Do (ie. what I want).

Ruby's great - I didn't like her at first (for this season's incarnation) but she's grown on me, like a fungus. Keep her. I really like her thing with Sam. DON'T KNOCK OFF FEMALE CHARACTERS/ACTRESSES BECAUSE YOU THINK WE DON'T LIKE THEM! Keep Bobby and Ellen in the loop (and where's Jo?). More demonic powers for Sam please. More Angelic bastardry for Dean. Don't let Sara Gamble go (chain her to a type writer). Anna I like, and I could kind of buy the Angel thing, but not the romance or grace story... unfortunately. Find a new Australian Broadcaster because Channel Ten massacres your editing and promos. And more strong female characters (like the cops in season 1 and 2) please, less troubling anti-witch stuff.

Ah, still, I keep coming back for more.

Most importantly - toast yourselves, folks - you're doing great. We're hooked.

I had one small issue w/ Yellow Fever -- which Mr. Kripke cleared up for me -- Dean is not a dick! Good to know!
Up until episode 9 -- that was it for stuff I didn't like -- I love Castiel and Uriel-- its great to see Bobby, I like the whole demon/angel war - 66 seals, God commanded Dean be saved, Sam's powers way cool, but a bad idea to use, etc etc.. Loved all that. Season 4 -- my favorite since Season 1 . . .. . .
And then episodes 9 & 10 happened.
I wanted more of Sam's backstory. I wanted Sam's backstory to not have quite so much Ruby in it. I liked Anna while she was a human hearing angels' voices. Hated her and everything she rode in on when it turned out she was an angel who misplaced her magic angel juice. Puh-leaze. That whole 'grace' thing made me say outloud--"What show am I watching?" The best thing about Anna -- she's gone and I can pretend that she was a fevered PTS dream of Dean's.
Ruby is more problematic. If all there is to her is demon with a heart of gold who is speshul because she alone of all the demons in all the world remembers being human and (gag me) is in love with Sam? Then she is officially Supernatural's Worst. Character. Ever.
Even so, the character is salvageable if Ruby has a nefarious agenda we don't know about yet. (Hurry up, though, my patience is wearing thin.)Otherwise, well . . . Evil or Death, Ruby. Choose one.

This season has been amazing! I admit, I hate hate HATE the route they're taking with demons and demon powers... that they're actually nothing harmful or scary at all, that Dean's a dirty racist for distrusting demons, that everyone in the Winchester family died for absolutely nothing, because Sam's powers are really totally neutral and awesome and outstrip every bit of hunting everyone ever did before him and render other hunters obselete. Effing HATE that stuff.

But the angels, the humor, the all-around high quality of the apocalypse storyline thus far has made this the best season yet, for me. I'm loving it! I just hope that they stop this "demons are just like us and Ruby's a woobie" crap before it's too late.

I am having a hard time with season four.

When I look back over the last 10 episodes, there are only a few I can say I honestly loved. The rest just didn't leave me with that "oh man that was awesome!" feeling.

My main problems with season four:

Ruby. For me, she is the black hole of the season. I feel like the writers took everything that the fans liked about the character last season and stomped on it. Her story doesn't interest me and it doesn't even make sense. How is it that every other demon that goes to hell comes out evil, yet she still manages to be sympathetic and remembers her humanity (which, in supernatural canon, you become a demon by forgetting your humanity). Now she has been in the pit TWICE and she just keeps getting nicer.

Dean hated Ruby in the beginning of the season. He tried to kill her. Then he hears Sam's story and everything is just fine. All he can see is "TMI"? The Dean we know would punch Sam in the face for sleeping with a demon, not accept it and then go off to be buddy buddy with that demon and thank her!

Ruby should not be a sympathetic character. She should not have been a "replacement" for Dean during the time he was gone. They should not have spent so much time on her in episodes 9 and 10. I wanted to see Sam's story! Sam's emotional journey in the 4 month Dean was gone. Instead I got Ruby's story and then Sam and Ruby sex (which I will never be okay with.)

I am so over this character and I dread seeing her in any other episodes. I feel Genevive Cortese has a big misunderstanding of the character and that along with the fact that she's not a very good actress does not help matters at all.

Now that that's out of the way...

Comedy Episodes. Yes, they're funny and Jared and Jensen have great comedic timing, but we've had THREE in then of the episodes so far and that's too many for even one season. I don't like or need to take a break from the drama. I'll take a dramatic episode that moves the plot forward over an episode that is made to make me laugh any day.

Yellow Fever was ruined by the comedy. The situation in that episode was dire. Dean was about to die again. Sam was about to lose his brother, that he JUST got back again. I wanted to see anguish and emotion...instead I saw Sam acting like it wasn't a big deal. Bobby too. I wish it wasn't all played for laughs.

Monster Movie was just was waste of an episode. I understand what they were going for, but I was bored. I just hate it when episodes are made purely for laughs.

And then there is Sam's emotional state. I just...I haven't felt Sam's joy at having his brother back. It's hard to explain, but I just expected so much more from the boys' relationship. I didn't expect it to be big hug reunion and then back to business as usual. I wanted more and I still do. I'm just not feeling Sam's desperation.

I'm also not feeling the protectiveness the brothers have for each other. I think of Alastair's scene in episode 9. Alastair threw Sam down a flight of stairs and Dean just stood there while it happened, he didn't even utter a "Sam!" Back in season one, Dean would have been running the second Alastair made a move.

Then there was the two parter, episodes 9 and 10. I could go on and on about everything that was wrong with those episodes, but I think I stated a lot of in my Ruby Rant. But I will say I had no interest in Anna and way too much time was spent on secondary characters. Those two episodes were just awful and I never say that about Supernatural.

But it's not all bad!

I do enjoy Castiel. I think he's a great edition to the show. He brings a new dynamic that's interesting and I love his interactions with the brothers. I really hope there is a Sam-Castiel scene coming up, just the two of them because I'd really like to know what he really thinks of Sam.

Uriel is great also.

Alastair has great potential. I'm a sucker for villains, so he has won me over.

I think the overall mytharc this season in strong and I loved learning about Mary's backstory and having questions I've wondered since season one answered.

But I guess, for the most part, I'm finding more negative and than positive. I hope the next half of the season is better.

Ruby is beyond needing work. We need her gone period. What was with the "Dean she said what you would have said"? WTH? This was AFTER she told him "I'm warm inside, screw me?" That is what Dean would have told Sam? I DON'T THINK SO!!! Maybe in some fan fic, but not on the show. And Dean just saying TMI? The Sam Winchester I know would NEVER, EVER knowingly sleep with a demon. And the Dean Winchester I know wouldn't just say TMI. He would have reamed Sam up one side and down the other for sleeping with a demon. Then he would have killed the demon. I am seriously afraid that SPN has jumped the shark with the entire season 4 Ruby fiasco.

They REALLY need to lay off the comedy. I miss first (and mostly) second season Supernatural when things were dark, gritty, and scary-with wonderful moments of levity. Now, we've got way too much campy Buffy/Angel stuff for my taste. I mean, the suicidal teddy bear? Waaaaay too much. I love the mythology of this show, but the standalones need to get back to "monster hunters on the road" of yore and not this slapstick Ben Edlund-stuff, though Ben Edlund can really write some kickin drama when he gets down to it--just ease off on the ridiculousness. For cripes' sake, now we've got an ep entitled "Criss Angel's a Douche Bag"? Too much.

Ruby has been the worst thing about this season. I started off disliking her but she was easy enough to ignore. After the last two episodes I now loath her character. She's useless, she detracts from the show, and I really want her gone. She's been around for a season and a half and she's proven to be more useless than ever. Get rid of her Kripke. I don't want to watch the show about two brothers and one of their demon girlfriends fighting evil. It's lame.

There are many things I love about this season. Dean coming back. Of course this would be nothing without Dean/Jensen because sam is extreamly boring to watch. Love the new mythology. Although, there are things that are wrong with this season, like firstly (new) Ruby, something about the actress who plays her makes her extremely dull and uninteresting. Dean, who was in hell for 40 years still acts like himself and not even a little twisted. How is that possible? Plus he tortured souls for 10 years! That is a serious issue the writers should look at. And then comes sam. What is wrong with sam? Why is it that sam always look so weak? Even though he’s using his power, they somehow manage to make him look weak. He always needs someone to protect him and watch over him. He’s no hero or ever will be a cool vilian, I can tell you that! EK said he is like Luke skywalker or Neo but sam is nothing like either. This season was all about dean while sam was shunned as a side, supporting character. Does Jared have some issue with the writers? Because they are screwing up his character like they did with Bella. (Making him sleep with Ruby and stuff). It’s like they’re trying to make him look bad on purpose out of grudge or something!

"In the Beginning?" Absolutely nothing makes sense in this episode, Castiel is just showing his cute face, Sam is totally ignored, Mary is a hunter which is awfully dumb... it's probably the worst episode ever.

Or maybe it's "I know what you did last summer" with the demon banging, the fact that Sam doesn't show any regrets about it, that Dean is joking about it, FREAKING STUPID ANNA.

Or maybe it's "Heaven and Hell" with the Fallen Angel and his fallen grace(can I throw up?), the cheesy sex scene in the back of the Impala, the Sam/Demon and Dean/Angel cliché thing...

It's too bad that the show takes this direction, cause there was really great episodes like 401, 402, 404, and 407. The angels are a good idea, the broken seals and the Apocalypse are awesome but the writers shouldn't lose themselves in lousy plotlines

I hope that Supernatural will focus on the two brothers again (it ain't the Castiel or the Ruby show, do you remember Mr Kripke?) and that the "God has work for you" storyline won't fall flat. Cause Jensen and Jared totally rock this season and they deserve better.

I'm still surprised you could find a what need's work!

Supernatural's atrocios lack of continuity. the writers need to spend far more time learning what they are writing and stick to it instead of writing whast cool for the episode

My main gripes/worries about season 4 have to do with the boys' relationship and praying they will stop holding stuff back from each other and will form a solid, united front and not allow the various angelic/demonic forces to split them asunder; and also my frustration with Ruby and wanting them to just finish up her story arc already and be done with her, as I am really really tired of her. The whole angel grace and oak trees thing was just ludicrous, I was very disappointed with that aspect of the Anna story line; but over all this season has been a very intriguing blend of pathos and humor that is still recognizably Supernatural and yet something completely new and different as well as the show reinvents its own mythology and keeps things fresh rather than stagnating. My only other gripe would be with how unconcerned both Sam and Bobby appeared with Dean's plight in "Yellow Fever" and how violent and cruel it seemed when they tortured the poor ghost all over again by dragging him so viciously when he'd already suffered so much and was innocent to begin with. That really bugged me, how seemingly cold Sam was about having to do such a cruel thing.

I think you missed one complaint:

Sam's backstory. He drank, Ruby saved him, he got some demon nookie. Woo-hoo. Where's the horrible angst from Mystery Spot? Where's the psyco-obsessed Sam? It seems like there was all this buildup about how Sam spent his summer, and I'm dissapointed they didn't explore it more. I mean, he saw Indiana Jones and bought an ipod dock. IT sounds like he was REAL broken up about it.

But besides that, and the bad-actress of Nuby (New Ruby) and the annoying-ness of Anna (sex in the Metallicar??? That's like blasphemy to the sacredness that is the Impala) season four had been beyond awesome. I'm still wanting more more more Sam though, because I feel like this season has been much more Dean-centric, which is understandable since he was in Hell. Also, less Nuby and Anna, more brothers being brothers.

i love season 4. i think this is the best season yet. i love the fact that the show has a little of everything (drama, action, romance,etc.) i love u jensen ackles

I am glad you didn't bash Ruby=) There is so much of that going around! I like the character and the direction the show is taking her. I personally, hope she turns out goodish... good intentions but not exactly wholesome.

I agree with the rest of your critique... except in The Beginning. While I felt it was a good episode... it is far from a favourite. The backstory was great but I still think there coulda been a way to take Sam back too!

I agree with most of this. Another 'Huh' moment was when Dean was supposedly about to die in Yellow Fever and like Sam didn't even seem to care...but apart from that this Season has been pretty awesome

DOH! Yeah, that should be Uriel, and I've made the change. Although I now want one of you to do a YouTube video with Ariel from The Little Mermaid saying all of Uriel's bad-ass lines, and then smiting an entire town.

Ariel? it's Uriel.

another great season so far! best show on TV!! i agree with pretty much everything above - i love the funny episodes, Dean screaming at a cat, the Halloween episodes (bonus one this year)- but nothing's perfect...i don't buy Dean being in Hell for 40 years with nothing but torture he'd come back a blubbering mess - i don't trust Sam at all since he spent the summer having bad fun with Ruby and not seeming to distressed bout Dean's death - wonderful Bobby is back, he's always interesting - Ruby this year is not good at all, the actress completely lacks the evil (and acting talent) that Cassidy had, i also think she's in the way always hanging around - the core of this show is that it's about 2 brothers alone in the world fighting evil, they don't need a sidekick girlfriend

can't wait to see how the rest of the year turns out

I'll have to agree that all the points raised here is my feelings exactly. Nevertheless for season 5,
I'd love EK to 'settle' the following - which IMO seemed 'unfair': 1. Sam was resurrected in AHBL, but his 'identity' (is it him a 100%?) was a one-liner suspicion (from Dean) and not mentioned again. 2. Dean's trip to the pit must have an iron-clad explanation - Dean's character is shown to be extremely righteous and a self-sacrificing one - so why 'send' Dean to Hell? 3. Ruby is a major sore point, if only because of the guys tragic back-story in the hands of demons. I don't subscribe to the notion that the brothers are 'racist(?)' (no way Ruby being a Demon!)- if they cast doubts on 'her' motives based on the fact "Demons LIE, that's what they do" scenario. I'll be needing an explosive 'revelation' on Sammy's "major indiscretion" with said Demon LOL!
Again, the points raised were excellent ones and I hope that the writers read it! Can't wait for Jan.15.

Season 4 rocks! I'm surprised how little there is to complain about this season so far but the best part is the addition of CASTIEL! I love our new angel boy!!!!

The secrets and lies are certainly entertaining and Ruby is TOO unimportant this season to spend any thoughts about her! I would just like to know what her real agenda is because if she is not a demonified Jess, falling in love with Sam is just lame!Sorry!

Why does everybody have such a problem with the grace thing? The tree was a bit cheesy but the whole concepts fits Kripke's MO. Demon's smoke and Angel smoke/juice are not that different!

Thanks for the mid-season checkup. Since you admit to ruthlessly editing the "what we loved" section ... I'll forgive you for the "not massive" oversights, for example - Bobby's Panic Room (he had a weekend off, hee).

Off the top of my head I'm not coming up with anything "massive" that you did forget about.

PS. I saw a somewhat important typo - you have "Ariel" instead of "Uriel"

Uh nothing about Ruby is working. The character has absolute no point on this show other than being Sam's lap dog. Sam could very well learn to use his powers on his own like all the other kids did. "The way they came together" WHAT? You love the fact that Sam slept with the piece of trash that relished the thought of his brother in hell? The only thing "left" we need to learn about Ruby is how she's going to die!

This show is one of the best (if not the best) curentlty on tv.
I so agree with everything you loved : Dean's return was OMG and the episode In the Beginning is one of my favorite. I also love the comedy the boys can bring without loosing the gravity of their characters. It's almost incredible how the show can be one moment so serious and the next one so funny without looking bad.
Now, I can't really see any problem with the show. Even the HUH moments you're talking about seems like nothing.
Other things I loved : the strong presence of Bobby without him sitting on the backseat of the Impala, Castiel and even Uriel kicking ass against the demons.
Oh and I almost forgot, I love how the guys played both the angels and the demons. Shows how good they are when they team up with no secrets for each others! I think that's one of the lessons they begin to learn this season.

Wow... I can't believe it's half season already!!! I know, we're actually one episode from the real half but still, I can't believe 10 episodes have already aired!

I totally am on your side when you talk about Ruby... There is a reason why they brought her back to the story after Ruby v1.0 was gone, and we know not a whole lot about her! I know we will learn about her and I know lots of people don't like the way she has become 'softy' but there's always a reason behind everything...
Loved the funny! I'm glad that even through everything the boys went through they still have the funny side on! Gotta love both boys for that!

On the hating side I guess I would have to go with the trusting issues for one. I just don't want those boys to break off and go their seperate ways. I know they are smart enough to realize that they are stronger together!
Bobby not being there for the right moments is another one. I know Jim is busy on another show and for me his presence in Yellow Fever was almost unneeded... but that's just my POV on it because I feel like they put him in the episode because they knew we wouldn't see him as much anymore... *sob*

But to the Dean BFFing with Ruby (yes, with Ruby again)... I hope there's something there.. like maybe Ruby having a spell on Dean to make her respect her or something... Dean helping Ruby out was just something... strange... and I know I'm not the only one who thinks that way. But I'm sure some ruse is in the air!

I wanted to finish this off by saying what I think is the most positive point of the season so far: Jared and Jensen! These boys are still giving out their greatest in each episodes, even though the characters may seem to be off track (BFFing demons, the trusting issues...)! They give out everything possible in which ever situation they have to be in and I think that without our boys this show wouldn't be what it is now!
(Also a great thumbs up on the addition of Castiel! Misha is simply amazing!!)

Woooo.... I can't wait for January 15th!!!!!!!!! I'm all pumped up now!

Well, I think you've got one thing wrong: Too much comedy this season. Isn't this supposed to be a horror show not a sitcom?

And Ruby definitely belongs in the "needs work" category. She was in hell for what, a week, between seasons 3 & 4? Yet she's had a 180-degree personality transplant, while Dean was down there for four months and came back wanting porn and chocolate?


And then Ruby's in LOVE with Sam? So we've gone from a kickass horror show to romcom now?

I had really high hopes based on the first few episodes of the season, but I've been getting more and more disappointed as the season's gone on.

SPN is amazing this season Period.

I agree with almost everything. Though there is one thing I would like to point out. I actually don't think that the Dean/Sam/Ruby thing was that "huh?" worthy. I feel that Dean saved Ruby because he now knows that Sam cares about Ruby. Even if Dean hates her, he still can't hurt Sam. That's my thought. Anyways, I agree 100%. Supernatural rocks!! =)

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