We're now two episodes into Supernatural's seventh season, and so far, so good. But if it's going to feature a mysterious boss, several creatures branching out and terrorizing the planet, and Sam's struggles with his own fractured psyche, we may as well call this Season 6.5 and pretend it's a do-over, which had more than a few problems.
"Hello, Cruel World" was written by the lovely Ben Edlund, and it gave us some trademark Edlund nutsiness after a Leviathan-filled Cas took a dip in the water supply. I know I'm repeating myself, but it's always great when little girls end up possessed by evil monsters, and I'll never tire of Supernatural using them (even though I now have to find a new route home to avoid the elementary school I pass). Either way, the important thing is that the Leviathans are spreading their wings or gills or whatever they have and taking over humans so they can army up and work on taking over the planet.
For better or for worse, this is essentially the same situation the Winchesters faced in Season 5. Same black eyes, same body-swapping, but the black fog has become a black goo. It's great in the sense that it harkens back to the Supernatural of old, when some of Vancouver's finest thespians did guest spots as demons of the week, but is it too repetitive of what we've seen before? So far, I don't think so.
Supernatural is at its best when it uses disposable meatbags as surrogates for monsters, there's a certain delightful fear in knowing that anyone can become a monster (thanks, totally exploitable storytelling device!). The Leviathans differ from demons in the sense that they seem particularly new and especially disrespectful of humans; the fact that they synch with their human hosts and know what they do gives them a distinct advantage as they jump from body to body. It's like scrapping the Dungeons & Dragons character you just created because you rolled an eight for Constitution and it's awfully hard to clear out the Kobold mines with only fifteen hit points. Oh boy, I just nerd-alerted myself.
Point is, I'm okay with Leviathans being substituted for demons even though I don't actually know what their powers are. They're funnier than demons, they're more clueless than demons, and they're shiftier than demons. Plus, they're more terrifying because they EAT OUR INTERNAL ORGANS, and I love their plan to turn the Sioux Falls Hospital into a buffet. There's a have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too thing going on this season in that it's simultaneously lighter and darker than last season: lighter in that there are some funny situations going on, and darker in the sense that there are some very effed-up things going on. Everything just seem more twisted, and I always like Supernatural more when it's wound up a bit.
As for the other major story, Sam's splitting headache is very reminiscent of what we put up with last season (yes, I said "put up with" because it sure dragged on). But this time around, at least so far, it's playing out on the screen a lot better. Last season, Sam was too comfortable in embracing change. This season, the fear is in his eyes because he knows he can't tell the difference between reality and Satan's mind games; this gives us a hint that the Sam we all know and love is still with us. Last season, I didn't get that impression, Sam was mostly a dick. He wasn't Sam Winchester—he was some guy we didn't care to spend our Friday evenings with.
Finally, let's talk about Castiel, who ended Friday's episode in a mess of black goo. But is he gone forever? He wasn't in good shape before the, uh, meltdown, leaking black snot all over the place—so at least the vessel has to be destroyed, right? I know some of you are holding out hope that he's not really dead, but showrunner Sera Gamble has confirmed that he's a goner. It's an unusual way to send off one of the series' favorite characters, and even though Gamble says it's possible that Misha Collins might return, Castiel's... whatever-that-was doesn't really help things out that much.
Supernatural's seventh season is off to a good start even though it's borrowing a lot from last season. To avoid the same problems that have plagued it in the past, the show is going to have give us a "Big Bad" to root against—or to root for, as Supernatural baddies tend to be disarmingly charming. When did we meet Eve last season? Episode 12 or so? That was way too long to wait. And more importantly for longtime fans, the show must maintain the tone of the first two episodes. I want to feel three things when I watch Supernatural: I want to be as scared as a television show can make me, I want to feel my mind boggle over some seriously twisted stuff, and I want to nearly spit out my whiskey when Dean does something funny. Let's keep this up, Supernatural!
Notes:
– Sweet use of The Doobie Brothers' "Blackwater," for obvious reasons.
– I'm not sure if Supernatural got any bump in budget this year, but if it did, the extra cash certainly didn't go into the special effects. That's okay though, Supernatural's strength is in its writing. It doesn't need to hide behind effects to cover up shortcomings like a certain dinosaur show I've seen.
– How convenient that Sheriff Mills was in the same hospital room as Dr. Sexy Leviathan's first snack! TV, where the world is super small.
Supernatural Season 7 Power Rankings
I've gotten a few requests to rank the episodes as I have in the past, so I suppose I'll do it again. Just know that these rankings can be wildly inconsistent and I reserve the right to shuffle things around as I please!
1. "Meet the New Boss" (Episode 1)
Castiel got all righteous on those who didn't use The Good Word, and it was great.
2. "Hell, Cruel World" (Episode 2)
The Leviathans set up a buffet at a hospital after spreading into the water supply.
Follow TV.com writer Tim Surette on Twitter: @TimAtTVDotCom
No, Cas cannot be gone! I think I will live in denial for the rest of the season lol, well hopefully Misha will be back at least
Pretty good episode, good to see Lucifer again :p So far its shaping up to be better than the last season (though that isnt hard to do lol)
NOOOOOOOO - Caaaaaaas!
They HAVE to bring back Cas - in the form of Misha - or I will be a very sad bunny. :(
I agree they could and should tone him down/back as he's no longer part of the main storyline, but they can't just let him vanish like THAT! At some point I'd like SOME input from the crew upstairs (who's in charge up there now anyway, with all the archangels gone and most of the angels loyal to Raphael so much ash) and downstairs (Crowley! Gotta loooove Crowley!), after all you'd think it would impact on them if Cthulhu & co - ooops, the Leviathans - take over creation and make it their bitch...
Hey, if you all want Cas back, stop asking TIM!!! Ask CHUCK!!
if they did more modern songs, I thought of "Radioactive" by Kings of Leon almost right away.
No way!!!! LOVE the Classic rock!
I don't care about Castiel was really gone or not........as long as Misha would be back to the show.
I miss the old Supernatural, the one where they didn't have to save the entire world, just a town at a time. The show hasn't lost me as a viewer, but once you put them up against the devil, what's the point in continuing, I mean, not matter how hard you try to buff them up, what monster is worse than the devil? And for those saying that Cas could return in another vessel, I wouldn't care for that since Misha Collins made that character special.
I loved the episode. But, something is still shaky, SPN is back but not 100% back, we will see in the next few eps, I only hope the new big bad boss won't be like Eve or another Lucifer. Something new, and more scary, with more character than Eve was in S6, and to get on a less slow time table - aka to be the opposite of S6.
Hope Cas isn't really gone, love how Sera loves to mess with us, as if it wasn't enough with last season's crap that we had to put up with. Lots of whining from fans, yep, but hey, SPN fans were always picky, and that's not because they are annoying but its because they DO love the show and want it better.
So far I'm loving the season, but I'm crossing everything for it to be as good as the older seasons, with no repeat to any of the events. Edlund did a great job, the guy rocks, I'll never eat during an episode he wrote, that's a point taken lol. So far, there are high expectations, hopefully, it will last and Kripke won't come at the end of the season to wipe the mess 'others' did..moreless
The real point to go back to is with Chuck (God?) and continue with him.
Given there really isn't much talk about Christ in the Supernatural reality, I'm assuming it is a parallel world where God didn't send his Son to Earth. God the Father came to Earth as Chuck for some reason and exploring this aspect would be very interesting to at least this viewer (and I suspect others).
I'd even suggest having Chuck "raise" up one human as an example of what he wants for all of mankind and how we (humans) will relate to him and the angels. This raised human would have an immortal body that can become "meat" at will (hence he doesn't have to possess someone). Instead of Dean and Sam working with Chuck, they would work with this person to prepare the angels for the rise of new members of God's family, as well as prepare humanity, and finally clean up God's past "little short on being right situations."
The goal is to bring an immortal humanity to its place after a cleaned up Universe. We would also discover Death and all the others are creations of God (Chuck) and he's in the process of cleaning everything up before proceeding. BTW, Death wouldn't know that he's a creation of God, but in the end God's representative would simply snap his finger and Death would no longer exist.
Anyway, that's how I would see a cool two or three seasons going that would make the fans very happy.moreless
Supernatural is back and the world is a more terrifying place because of it.
Castiel could come back in a different body, although it appears that he is gone for good. And it hard to say how many more seasons the CW will stretch out the show, so there may not be a lot of opportunity for him to come back. (It is one of the lowest rated shows on TV.)
This episode was amazing i hope that Supernatural can keep this feel for the rest of the season and get an 8th season.
Did anyone else imidiately think X Files rip-off when they saw the black goo?
Anyway, I'm sad to see Cas go, I liked his character, at least I did up to the "war in heaven" bullsh*t. I loved his navet toward the human world. I'll miss him. But hopefully this means they'll bring in someone new and hopefully female (and hot).
finally supernatural is watchable again. after that aweful season 6 i gotta say this feels refreshingly "normal" - well, as normal as a show full of mythical creatures eating humans can be.
I really, really hope Castiel isn't gone because the show wouldn't be the same without him. I want the old Cas back. The Cas we know and love!
Great episode and I love how dark this season is getting in many ways. Perhaps the vessel Castiel was using was destroyed and Castiel became incorporeal and maybe he will come back in a new vessel or restore his old one. This season has so much potential, hopefully they don't under do it.
the preview for this episode was already awesome. the episode itself was even better!
i hope Cas isn't gone either.. he's an angel, God can bring him back :p to be honest, I prefer Cas to Dean and especially Sam.. the episode was ok i guess
But...but Cas has to come back!
this season is far better than the last.. good job so far
I feel much better about the show this season than I did at this point last season (not to beat a dead horse) but this season the story is compelling and well-written so far. I am excited for Supernatural again, hopefully they continue to gain momentum.
I think they should go the original way. Having lucifer win ower Sam and what we saw in one of the episodes in season 5 will become reallity, where we go into the future.
Would be really cool to have some resident evil episodes. And it would be a perfect ending aswell where Dean kill of his brother/lucifer, and then "god" resurect Sam as a bonus for us all. You just fought Angels and you should not be able to beat them. Fighting Leviathans only makes me feel "yeah okay, but they will kill them in the end. Just another boss/ level to beat"
If they followed the original storry line things would make sense. You just don't fuck arround with god and his angels. What's written will come to ....moreless
Gamble confirmed Castiel's gone? I really hope not! They always kill off my favorite characters. I hope he comes back, every time they start to scratch the surface of some of the characters, they get rid of them...and yet they keep crappy characters like Lisa around for WAY more episodes than they're worth .
what dinosaur show are we talking about? Terra Nova or Primeval?
I didn't enjoy this episode for 2 main reasons, which are Castiel leaving, and Bad-ass Sam is no longer badass. Castiel was such a good character and I thought this season with him being god, he will even become more interesting... Disappointed!
when will we see alex o'loughlin
Am I the only one that doest like this season so far?
I don't buy that that was Mischa Collins's last episode. He's become practically the thrid Winchester brother, they can't just write him off like that. This could just be wishful thinking, but it makes sense and I'm holding on to it.
Though I did find Sheriff Mills there being too convenient, I was glad to see that there's at least one female recurring character who's still alive.
Funny, as Sera just finished an interview with EW that said they were writing stuff for Cas as Cas. So she's confirming stuff from one side of her mouth and confirming other stuff through the other.
It's a good thing they had cgi, because some of those actors shoulda been extra's.
Found the episode a bit average
My Leviathan/Venom comparison from last week. How spot on was I?
The black ooze, the reptilian monster face, taking over human hosts...
Ben Edlund is the greatest. Some people will be upset with the Empire-type-ending. Let's face it, a lot of bad stuff happened and then the episode just...ended. No resolution. No feel good moment.. Nothing.. And it was beautiful..
BECAUSE it was so contrary to what we're used to!
and BECAUSE there's a whole season to go.
I like the odds stacked up against my heroes, and this episode did just that. Very very well. and somehow still managed to be funny! The dark ending reminded me of the original Croatoan episode, but this obviously took it up a few notches--
- Levia-Cas explodes in the public water supply. Really, really cool looking scene.
Also, Dean & bobby's reactions were priceless.
- Bobby is still missing and his place was "gone."
- Dean damn near broke his leg .
- Sam took a nasty blow to the head.
- Sam realizes Lucifer is NOT gone, after all...
- Captain Acaveda-Leviathan is NOT dead either!moreless
Earlier seasons I used to care most about the long arc story, but now I just can't wait for the stand-alone episodes. I almost can't wait for the next episode like Frontierland or The French Mistake. Seriously. I'd put off watching season 2 of Game of Thrones for a month if the next episode is as hilarious as those two. Marshall Eastwood FTW! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHZke6C21-0
It was another good episode. And I like the Supernatural version of Leviathan . We are what they eat is the new tag line. They had to move on from the heaven vs hell story arc and yet
they logically continued on with the Revelations and it's a perfect fit with the show.
So far it's great tv - love this show.
Yup, great episode. Castiel will be back somehow. He will probably show up when we least expect him to.
Part of me is relieved Castiel is dead -as it was only the screaming pleas of Castiel fangirls that kept the writers bringing him back every single time- but the other half is now maddeningly curious as to how they will bring him back. The show is famous for bringing back old favorites, in some very creative ways, so hopefully, the writing staff will find an ingenious way of doing so. Because anything else would just feel cheap and a cheat to the fans. Still loving the season. This three episode arc is a fabulous way in getting the show back to its roots.
I am LOVING it so far. Season 6 was a big mess and I admit that I missed some episodes, and just didn't care. Season 7 feels like we're back on track, back to what the show used to be and what made me fall in love with it. I'm also very glad to see douche!Sam gone. :)
We're only two episodes in, but I'm really excited for this season.
this show was good when it started and will end in a good note i do think cas will make it back into the show and dont forget about crowley there is probably gunna be more of him aswell and you know with supernatural itll be a big thing with the levitahans then it could be somthing diffrent come the end thats what i like about supernatural they have many diffrent story lines making one huge picture ill be watching supernatural to the end
So far I am loving season 7!!!!!