Release Date: 27th April 2009

So here I go with the fourth season of the bastard child of Buffy and The X-Files…

I must confess that I wouldn’t have ordinarily classed myself as a fan of Supernatural; I dipped in and out of the first three seasons without feeling particularly drawn to it beyond mild entertainment. The problem was time, as ever: over here in Blighty, Supernatural only ever seems to occupy some arse-end graveyard slot on a network that will never be any more than of secondary importance. And I was usually either too tired or too beer-basted at that sort of time to really concentrate. Not the most conducive environment to develop an affinity with so few characters, and buy into the fierceness of their relationship or the history behind their Demon-hunting tendencies. It should be on ITV1 at the very least.#

But following this enforced affair with the good-looking Winchester boys, I have been forced to reassess my allegiances. I have been a vocal and vociferous malcontent when it comes to British television’s lack of prowess when it comes to making this kind of premium horror/sci-fi series that have a sustained effect on the canon. America does suspension of belief a hell of a lot better than we ever seen able- it is an interesting but infuriating symptom of our little island that we are better able to capture grit or self-effacing tragi-comedy better than to enter worlds ungoverned by logic and science. Even the institute that is Dr Who managed to get lost in the wilderness of the BBC’s forgotten shows’ vault, while Only Fools & Horses and the gentle tragi-comedy of Last of the Summer Wine trundled on in various different guises long after they were welcome.

The same symptom explains why the exceptions to the rule- those sci-fi/horror programmes that threaten to be good- garner such ferocious attention and unrealistic expectations of endurance: just look at the improbable success of Dr Who, which in my opinion is an average piece of television that is trading on a cult status and half-heartedly churning out substandard story-lines because the BBC takes its audience for granted. Had we anything on our schedule half as good a Supernatural, that we could claim as our own, it would justifiably be heralded on a par with the second coming of Christ.

Supernatural, then, is a lesson from which all of the British television horror syndicate could take a lot (most of all those behind the lamentable dross that was Demons).

The biggest success of the show is an aspect that other shows usually do badly- it is essentially a two-man piece, with a number of recurring lesser characters, and it is testament to the performances of the wacky-named duo of Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles that it isn’t an issue here. As impressive as Buffy was throughout her mammoth run, it is difficult to believe that the show would have been quite as impressive if they had limited the shows primary focus to Buffy and Giles. The X-Files managed it thanks to an exceptional chemistry between the leads, and it is a formula that Supernatural continues- rather than just relying upon the impressive plots and accomplished effects, the show heaps importance upon the dynamic between the brothers Winchester. Simple as it may seem, Padalecki and Ackles manage to convince as brothers, revelling in the wit and the occasional competitiveness of brotherhood, as well as conveying an apparently genuine base affection for one another.

Impressive achievement indeed when you go back and consider the careers of both lead actors, which improbably hit their heights in the past twelve months with My Bloody Valentine and the Friday the 13th reboot. This show is definitely more than a sum of its constituent parts.

Pleasantly bucking the usual trend, Supernatural simply gets better with age. How badly Lost and Heroes fans must wish they had the same kind of focused progression instead of the painful descent into the ludicrous and the illogical. Particularly impressive are the new developments: Dean’s set-piece escape from Hell and the recurring raging angels versus demons battle which form the major focal points of the series, while the show happily continues to employ its popular characteristics that have made it essential viewing for a lot of people. We are still treated to the same blend of horror, high-kicking action and humorous retorts,, which make the one slightly ill-measured new feature (Sam’s psychic demon killing abilities) infinitely more palatable.

I like the formula of introducing a new monster every week, and it plays upon the same appeal that the CSI machine uses so well with the spectacle of a new weekly crime. Plundering some recognisable folklore and urban legends, as well as developing the brothers’ own personal demons, Supernatural crucially keeps it fresh well into this new season, and shows no sign of giving up just yet.

Additionally, I’m a massive music fan: an obsession that almost runs as deep as my love of film, and Supernatural’s soundtrack doesn’t disappoint, throwing in some absolute classic rock staples (what better way to announce the ominous presence of Death than with Blue Oyster Cult’s Don’t Fear The Reaper). Considering the main-stream appeal of the duo of pretty boy actors, there must have been considerable temptation to stick to a more poppy jukebox, so thank God for this particular refusal.

On a less positive note: I find it an infuriating habit these days that distributors choose to release the most popular TV seasons in more than one volume- thus stretching the expense, and squeezing every last dime out of the decent DVD buying public. I don’t actually know who in their right mind would buy this first volume, when the second, and then complete boxsets are set to be released in the not too distant future. Call me a cynic but I wont ever be tempted, even considering how impressed I am with the actual content.

Extras

A measly one episode has a commentary from the creator of the show, and there are a few piffling unaired and extended scenes. It’s irritating, and it looks like they’re holding out for the Complete Season boxset, further compounding my feeling that this boxset just isnt worth the money- be smart and wait for the more lovingly compiled complete version.