Review

Following on directly from events shown in the previous episode, Salvation, John Winchester has been taken by the demons, while the Winchester Bros get of Dodge pretty quick before they are next on the agenda. Dean holds that John Winchester is still alive and remains a bargaining chip for the gun they have managed to hold onto, while Sam thinks John may have already meet his demise.

The Bros flee to crusty Bobby’s place to seek some shelter from the coming demonic storm. Bobby, a hunter in his own right, can inform the Bros there have been 27 possessions thus far in the year, which indicates something big and nasty is brewing. Meg makes the scene, and the Bros learn that John is still actually alive. A rescue mission is launched, and a final confrontation takes place in a secluded cabin as all hell threatens to break loose. You want to trap a demon?

Crucially, the final episode goes about breaking all sorts of mythology built up during the course of the season but then explains why, and in doing so really lays the foundations for season 2. You will have to catch the episode to see what I’m talking about here.

The final episode of the season can be broken down into three distinct parts. Firstly, we have the Bros and Bobby confronting Meg; second, there’s a pretty decent rescue attempt going down, and finally, there’s that isolated cabin confrontation that is both tension-filled and actually has some scares going down. We finally end up with the cliff-hanger to beat all cliff-hangers as the season concludes on a high note. Damn, now have to wait till the end of the year to find out what resulted there.

Finally we get a decent exorcism happening. Okay, I’m not talking heads spinning through 360 degrees, or pea soup bargain basement time; this is more like a chair moving by itself and a slight breeze. Oh, spooky or something. What weighs in writer Eric Kripke’s favour, however, is a moral dilemma Dean and Sam will face while conducting the exorcism. When they have cast out the demon, the victim will be left with all the injuries he/she suffered while possessed. In short, cast out the demon and the possessed person will kick the bucket. Now how cool is that, and it also sets up a problem for Dean later in the episode after he has had to use one of the precious bullets to save Sam’s arse.

Now this is how you end a season on a high note!

There were a few aspects of this episode I had an issue with and one in particular could be pointing to where Supernatural might jump the shark down the line. People are getting possessed left, right, and centre in this episode, which kind of makes a nonsense of the whole “emotional” plot point raised in the prior episode Phantom Traveler.

The other major concern I had was with where the ending of this season leaves us in terms of season 2, and any subsequent seasons that might come our way. As opposed to Buffy having a major new villain each series, Supernatural appears to be headed towards simply having the same one ad infinitum. That’s simply not going to work in the long term, as the X-Files discovered in its final two seasons.

Anyways, we do end up with a pretty decent hour of TV mayhem and an ending that guarantees everyone is going to dial in for at least the first few episodes of season 2. End of day, that’s exactly what a final episode should be doing.

What did irritate me on an inquiring-minds-need-to-know basis was the head demon informing us he has plans for all the children like Sam, and then neglecting to inform us of what those plans might conceivably be. Now that’s truly diabolical in my book of sorrows.

On the bonus side of the crucifix, we get Jensen Ackles (Dean) giving perhaps the best performance he has delivered in any episode to date; dude, that emoting was outstanding. And equally, we have Jeffrey Dean Morgan (John Winchester) showing a good turn as the evil dude. Nice work, Mr Morgan.

For those keeping bullet score, two further rounds are used up, leaving a single cartridge according to the Winchesters, or two according to my tally. One of us is going to be wrong on this one, and since I have zero to do with making the show, we can guess who is going to come out with being absolutely behind the play.

Three songs hit the episode to ramp things up. Triumph’s “Fight the Good Fight”, “Turn to Stone” from Joe Walsh, and, very coolly handled, Credence Clearwater Revival hammering out “Bad Moon Rising”. Ah, I can see local barbershops just having a run on mullet stylings after this episode.

In keeping with the high standards established since episode 1, the season finished with some cool special effects, great atmospherics, and a real eye to detail. This is quality TV through and through and I for one am pleased they didn’t let the side down with the conclusion to a magnificent first year.

Demon’s Trap finishes off season 1 exactly how it should. Besides a strong final episode we get a cliff-hanger, some plot arcs stretching into next season, and the promise of minor characters returning down the road. You really cannot ask for more, would be my call. I thoroughly enjoyed my stop by the Winchester place for the final time this year and will be sure to look them up again asap.

Wow, seems like I have been immersed in the Winchester saga for months now. Hey, not complaining, enjoyed every step of the journey, but find myself somewhat road-weary at the end of the trip. This has been our most ambitious review project to date and I hope we have managed to pull it off without too many hiccups along the way. We’ll be back with the Winchesters and season 2 sometime in December 07.

Overall I really enjoyed season 1 of Supernatural, dug the outstanding episodes, and managed to get through a couple of the weaker ones. Our final rating for the season is a very strong 8.45, with a low mark of 5 for Faith, and five episodes getting a perfect score. It should be noted that out rating system for TV is different to that for movies.

The season finishes with a bang that will have you baying at the moon for next year’s instalments. Fine way to close things, and an outstanding episode. If you have seen all the episodes then you won’t want to miss this one, and if you have only seen a few then dig in to find out what I have been rabbiting on about. Only question remaining, what’s Dean’s motor in season 2? Can’t wait to find out!