TV Review – Supernatural Season 3, Episodes 14-16 (2008)

Click to see my commentary on Episodes 1-5, 6-10, and 11-13 (Episode 13, “Ghostfacers,” includes an actual gay character).

3.14 Long-Distance Call
Original Air Date. 1 May 2008

Overall Quality 2.5 / 5.0
No Gay Content

Monster: Crocotta
Summary: People are receiving phone calls from deceased loved ones, who then ask them to do terrible things. Dean (Jensen Ackles) receives a call from his father and then walks into a trap when the voice promises to help Dean out of his demon contract.

Not one of my favorite episodes. It just didn’t catch fire. I thought the villain was kind of dumb, and the plot felt forced.

I wonder how the writer’s strike affected this show, not to mention the conclusion of the season. I know they lost at least six episodes to round out the character arcs.

Surprisingly, I don’t think Dean’s character arc lost out the most, though. It’s Sam (Jared Padalecki). Early in the season, Ruby (Katie Cassidy) had Sam investigate the systematic destruction of everyone who knew his mother. That’s a really compelling plot point, and it suggests yet more material to unearth about Sam’s connection to the Yellow-Eyed Demon, and Sam’s ultimate destiny. But it’s barely ever mentioned again after that.

All in all, “Long-Distance Call” felt like it was hastily thrown together. It reminds me of the first season, which offered entertaining monster-of-the-week shows, but lacked the gestalt effect of deep characterization, clever writing, and deep plot threads.

3.15 Time Is On My Side
Original Air Date. 8 May 2008

Overall Quality 2.0 / 5.0
No Gay Content

Monster: Murderous, immortal doctor
Summary: A doctor has discovered the secret to everlasting life: harvesting healthy organs from others. Sam hopes to use the technique to keep Dean from going to hell; Dean can’t believe Sam would even consider it.

A so-so episode, one of the weaker of the season. Like the previous ep, it felt forced and hasty, another throwback to a time in the show when they lacked the depth of character and plot.

3.16 No Rest For the Wicked
Original Air Date. 15 May 2008

Overall Quality 4.5 / 5.0
No Gay Content

Monster: Demons
Summary: Dean’s soul has come due, and the Winchester boys track down Lilith to destroy her and save Dean.

Thank goodness: back on track! A powerful episode with a fantastic cliffhanger ending for both boys. I’m especially intrigued about the ending for Sam: his smackdown with Lilith (Sierra McCormick, then Katie Cassidy) did not go at all as expected – for either Lilith or Sam – and I can’t wait to find out why. What happened???

Supernatural does a great job with season endings, and this tops the previous two. I can’t wait to find out how Dean comes back, who helped him, and what happened between Sam and Lilith? Exciting stuff!

The episode also included a great fight sequence between Ruby, Sam, and Dean.

Overall for Season Three

A very strong season. The show has hit its stride, and the rapport between the principal actors is spot on. I hope they get paid well: it’s Jensen and Jared – on the strength of their acting, and their on-screen chemistry as brothers – that creates the gestalt effect for the show.

In fact, considering the writer’s strike, it’s a surprisingly good season. They lost at least six episodes – that’s a huge amount of screen time to explore the mythology behind Sam’s mysterious powers and his role in the upcoming demon war, and Dean’s contract with the demon. The fact that it still came together so smoothly, with so many great episodes, is a testimony to series creator’s Eric Kripke’s vision, and the writers’ talent.

Still, this season was not as thematically rich as the previous two. The theme of family gets full service, and the idea that “fear is the path to the dark side” gets explored too. Those themes began with the very first season, and while they’re not old, I would have expected the show to introduce some more thematic elements. For example, the ideas bounced around in “Sin City” about how humans are complicit in the demons’ work. From what I’ve heard of the fourth season, it sounds like that idea might get a little more consideration, but the third season let it drop.

The show also still has a ways to go in its portrayal of gay and minority characters. The most descriptive word that comes to mind is “thoughtlessness.” I don’t think the portrayals result from outright homophobia or racism, but they really need to step back and take a look at the big picture. Just because prejudice is unintentional, doesn’t make it less prejudicial.

Tags: Dean Winchester, Gay Supernatural, Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Sam Winchester, Supernatural