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- 08/06/07 2:08 PM
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The cast and crew from Supernatural discuss season three and the new female characters.
Sitting in Room 6CDEF at the San Diego Comic Convention amongst thousands of avid fans, it's hard to imagine that CW's smart, gripping, demon-hunter extravaganza Supernatural was close to cancellation this past May. The line of fans who had to be turned away may have been even longer had Warner Bros. not made the decision to schedule the autograph session for Supernatural directly after the panel, leaving fans to choose between listening to their favorite show runners discuss the ins and outs of the sci-fi drama, or lining up early to contend with the huge crowds in the exhibition hall and wait for an autograph. Those who chose the latter missed out on a great panel.
TV Guide's Craig Tomashoff moderated the discussion, and began by introducing two clips. The first was an in-depth behind-the-scenes featurette called "The Episode From Hell," detailing the making of the season two finale and all of the trials and complications the crew went through to bring the action-packed episode to the screen. There were some interesting deleted finale scenes, including a heart-to-heart between the Winchester brothers and their dear old Dad (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). The second clip was an excellent montage covering the first two seasons, set to Robert Rodriguez's Once Upon a Time in Mexico score. The reel closed with Sam's pilot-ending proclamation "we've got work to do." Supernatural fans should hope both clips will be included among the season-two DVD extras, as they were excellent from start to finish. The response of the packed house was riotous.
Tomashoff then introduced the panel members--writer and producer Sera Gamble, series creator Eric Kripke, actor Jensen Ackles (Dean Winchester), and writer Ben Edlund--who were all enthusiastic and excited to be at Comic-Con. The absence of actor Jared Padalecki (who plays Sam Winchester) was immediately addressed, and his excuse elicited some chuckles from the disappointed crowd. Padalecki missed his flight because he overslept after a shoot for the show ran long.
The setup for the third season, according to show creator Eric Kripke, is that the gates of Hell have been opened. Seasons one and two were merely setting up the chessboard, and now it's time for the bigger battle. He said that he was going for a very epic Lord of the Rings or Matrix feel to the show, with complicated characters that switch sides and make horrible mistakes. As far as the show's overall story, Kripke revealed that season three was where he always wanted to reach because there is so much to develop and work with now that the main plot has been established.
He then quickly launched into the explanation of the introduction of two new female characters, given that the announcement earlier this summer caused outrage amongst the fans (mainly the female ones). These two female characters, Bela and Ruby (a cat burglar played by Lauren Cohan and a deranged hunter played by Katie Cassidy, respectively), were definitely not brought on as love interests for the two boys but rather as foils, or as Kripke said, "they're there to piss them off." In no way did Kripke want fans to think that the show would devolve into the two boys and the two girls riding around in the Impala and "eating Scooby snacks." Tomashoff asked Jensen Ackles how he felt about the additions to the cast and he responded "Thank God." He expounded to say that it takes the pressure off him and Jared, plus it gives the guys the chance to explore new relationships, and in turn creates new facets for old relationships.
After some more discussion about the nature of the show and its celebration of Americana and road trips, the floor was opened to questions from the fans. The celebrated classic-rock tunes used in the show were a hot topic of the night, with one fan begging for a show soundtrack. Kripke revealed that they had tried, but Warner Bros. said no, and that perhaps he could get a playlist up on iTunes. Another question centered on the late-season reveal that Mary Winchester may have been in cahoots with the Yellow-Eyed Demon. Kripke responded that the issue will be addressed, though it may take a while because Sam is the only one left alive that had anything to do with it, because both the YED and Mary are now dead.
The panel closed with a thank-you and an impassioned plea from Eric Kripke asking fans to "go forth and spread the gospel of Supernatural" for the very reason that the show was almost axed at the end of last season. The fans responded by cheering ecstatically, and then frantically speeding out of the room to try and get a spot in the autograph line. Good luck with that.
Other highlights from the panel:
-- Sera Gamble told Jensen Ackles that he was acting on "the most nihilistic show on TV."
-- There are no immediate plans to have flashbacks to the Winchesters as young boys, though the writers all love the idea. The availability of a very busy Jeffrey Dean Morgan is always a factor in telling the past stories.
-- We'll be seeing a lot more of Bobby (played excellently by Jim Beaver) and get to hear the story of how he became a hunter. We also haven't seen the last of Gordon or Agent Hendrickson.
-- No more psychic children. Kripke said he was bored with all the psychic kids and decided to kill them all off, though many of them amused him.
-- During a request for each of the panelists' favorite episodes, the pilot was the most frequently referenced, with "Night Shifter" and "All Hell Breaks Loose Parts 1 and 2" coming in close behind.
-- The new season starts October 4th!
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COMMENTS
Well I was very pleased to hear the boys mention that Christmas was the celebration of Christ’s birthday. Maybe you took my comments to heart. I had an idea about how you could save Dean’s soul from going to hell. He could be born again, and then Satan could not take his soul because it would belong to Christ. Satan would have to relinquish his claim on it, especially since he sacrificed it in order to save his brother. Of course then Dean would have to change his world view a little, of course he could still remain the loveable smart alike that we love. His thorn in his side could be woman, and he would have to fight his desire. Then you could have the ultimate fight for the End Times when the series ends (not for a long time I hope), where Dean and Sam discover who the real anti-Christ is, and set out to fight him. The biblical accounts are that he rises from the East, and comes to world power.
12/14/2007 09:36:08Supernatural is one of the best new shows on television, both Jensen and Jared are very good and believable actors. I have always loved to be scared, and the show delivers on the scares, but it also brings the human condition to the show as well. One thing bothers me however, how can you have demons without God. It would not hurt the show one bit to bring in some references to our Creator, and the war that is raging against good and evil. Obviously if you have a reference to Sam being the Antichrist, there must be a Christ. I know you had a character on the show that was obviously a religious fanatic, but faith in Jesus is not a religion, it is a relationship. I am a Christian writer, and published Author of the book, Raven’s Call; it is about teens standing up for their faith. I would love to see a show bravely portray Christians in a favorable light!!!! One other thing please don’t bring politics into the show, of course I am referencing the line about Dick Chaney, you will just end up losing at least ½ of your audience. Kathryn Leal
11/16/2007 10:32:56well i understand where your coming from: usernr-1337, and i would make the most of having a yr to live too but god, deans MINE lol jokes!! lol and so is sam!!
10/15/2007 11:58:44The most "nihilistic" show on TV, eh? That is one of the most overused and misunderstood word right now. Sera Gamble obviously doesn't have a clue what the word means. That being said I love the show.
10/06/2007 01:30:24I can't wait! I just finished watching season 2 of Supernatural, and I have to say it just keeps getting better. I can't wait to see what's in store for the brothers, especially Dean and his prob. I hope that the two new girl characters on the show wont take over everything, and take away too much time from Jensen & Jared. I hope that they do some more pranks on each other I loved the episodes "Tall Tales" from season 2, and I can't remember the other one from Season 1 where they kept doing pranks on one another. I love watching them it's hilarious. GO SUPERNATURAL!
09/23/2007 23:11:24Yes,I didn'y realize we were this close to ebing cancelled. I am so glad they continued. Also glad they sytopped with the special childrenthing. They were broing me too. They were just too human lol. :lol:
09/16/2007 13:14:35I can't believe they wanted to cancel the best show on TV. Supernatural is the only show I watch regularly. I am also glad to hear the women won't be love interests. I mean how many times to the writers have to break the hearts of these poor boys (Route 666 and Heart)?
09/06/2007 17:32:47I am thrilled that what I think is one of the best shows on TV in many, many years was NOT CANCELLED. OMG. I too do not look forward to other characters taking face time away from Dean and Sam... literally, what faces! (Plus they can really act). But Bobby is a great character.
09/01/2007 16:22:48Wow! I didn't know we had actually been close to being canceled. How stupid of the CW to treat this show with such disregard instead of trying to boost it's audience. It's a good show, we all just need to get the word out there. I am also glad to hear that the girls won't be love interests, but I hope that one of them could become good friends with the brothers. Otherwise it's like saying that the brothers can't just be friends with a girl (specifically Dean). More Bobby! Whoo Hoo! I'm looking forward to Season 3 and many more (spread the word, fans!)!
08/28/2007 11:03:10if i remember correctly blondie1992, than Dean has one year to live, and if it would happen 2 me, I would make that time worth living :)
08/28/2007 01:30:07Glad to know the girls are love interests. I was one of the raging fans they wer etalking about. I am happy to learn otherwise. I am so excited for this new season. GO SUPERNATURAL!!!! :D:D:D
08/27/2007 18:51:01Females in the third season of supernatural...oh no say it aint so!! They won't be love interests for the boys (according to press compfrence with TV.com) but even so, do i really want to see attractive blondes (other than myself) surrounding them...I dont think so, So you can imagine my ammusement that the girls are there to irritate the Winchester boys...Thank God! Dont know what id do if there was a love interest somewhere down the line though, oh well, ill have to wait to see what the third season has to offer and see if it out-do's the previous seasons. Season 3: Out october in USA so will have to wait patiently for it to air in England, all i can say is i love the show and it dont harm having good looking guys on it that king some demon ass.
08/18/2007 12:51:11omg, omg, omg i cant wait!! but im an aussie..so i hav to wait till next year :(
08/18/2007 05:04:08oh man I simply just can't wait!
08/12/2007 17:49:14thanks for the update.can't wait for the third season.rock on
08/11/2007 05:22:10It will be great to know more about Bobby, but i'm interested about knowing how the boy's mom knew the yellow eyed demon.
08/10/2007 16:44:24I love the show its very much one of my faves i cant wait for the next season but it dose sadden me some to hear it was almost cancled, makes you think that it wont last many seasons more but i very much look foward to more shows. . . Wait dean only has a year to live i wonder if they stop the show if they will let him die in the end hmmmmmm......
08/09/2007 15:56:04Thanks you for posting that! It made my day and made me super excited for the next season. I am so happy that we are going to see more of Bobby!!!!
08/08/2007 17:17:46Supernatural Rules!!!
08/08/2007 16:02:25Thanks! I'm a huge Supernatural fan. It's great to read all this about the new season! Can't wait!
08/08/2007 13:51:48THANK YOU!!!! for keeping up Supernatural! this is my favorite show on the planet! and im very excited for the new season, wow its going to be like LOTR? wow! then its gonna be BIG!!! well i hope there's soundtrack too.... and i agree that the show needs new charcters especially women, yeah not really for a love interest but somehow lighten up the bickering of brothers and add mystery to the show... cant wait! ;)
08/08/2007 07:39:18Well at least the "Winchester girls" won't be love interest for the boys. Hopefully they won't be so annoying that I have to use the fast forward button every time their on.
08/07/2007 15:21:05Me too, MydeanURdean! Love the username, by the way. I think we should all have a stake in Dean. :)
08/07/2007 05:29:30I can't wait for season 3. I'm so glad there is going to be more Bobby.
08/06/2007 18:09:17Yeah, Supernatural was my second favorite season finale this year, I can't wait to see where it goes this year. I'm also glad they're bring Jim Beaver back, hopefyully Bobby's not one of the jackasses that switches sides.
08/06/2007 16:12:53WOW... finally the comic con panel summary !!! Yeah. Thanks. It's always easier to get the short version here than get through the transcript ;) Hey I even missed the fact that we'd finally get to know more about Bobby's past !! YAY for that :D
08/06/2007 15:01:16