(no subject)

[oselle]

OK, so baylorsr posted a Beginner's Guide to Supernatural and included key episodes that will help you get the gist of the series if you're a newbie. Assuming you're so inclined to buy the DVDs or download the episodes, here are my picks for must-see episodes. This is 100% subjective and Dean-centric but I think this list will give you a pretty good idea of WHY YOU SHOULD BE WATCHING.

Spoilers for both Season One and Season Two naturally follow, so run away screaming if you don't want to see them.

Season One
"Pilot" (Episode 1)
Guess you need to watch this one although throughout most of Season One, they very annoyingly recap a good chunk of the pilot at the beginning of almost EVERY SINGLE EPISODE. I don't know if they thought this show was so complex that we wouldn't be able to remember the basic premise (Route 66 with monsters!) or they just assumed we're idiots. But whatever. The best thing in here was Dean's delivery of a pivotal line to Sam: first, "Dad hasn't been home in a week," and then, when Sam blows him off, Dean clarifies, really slowly, "Dad's on a hunting trip...aaand he hasn't been home in a week." LOVE IT! Dean also disperses a ghost by shooting it in the face, which would seem to belie everything you've ever heard about ghosts. Abandon your sense of logic right now, because it has no place here. Just go...fling it! Out the window! FLING IT!!

"Phantom Traveler" (Episode 4)
This episode begins with a softcore slow pan up Dean Winchester's sleeping bod. He's wearing very tight black shorts and a gray t-shirt. Then when Sam wakes him up he turns around to look at him while arching his back up and off the bed and the backs of his exposed thighs are frigging magnificent. My derelict libido actually gave a feeble "Not dead yet!" squawk from the depths of my shriveled soul during this scene. You don't need to know anything else about this episode. At all. Nothing.

"Skin" (Episode 6)
Dean strips off his shirt in a Chippendales-worthy moment. Sadly, the next thing he strips off is his own skin. See, it's not really him, it's this shape-shifter creature and...oh who cares. Dean strips off his shirt. (Actually, remember this shape-shifter thing because it'll matter next season).

"Home" (Episode 9)
Dean gets kind of choked up while unsuccessfully trying to get in touch with his father, John. Our first hint that John is kind of a prick and that Dean's a very pretty cryer and really knows how to work the trembling lower lip thing.

"Scarecrow" (Episode 11)
Dean gets knocked out and tied up in a picturesque apple orchard. Grab a crisp glass of cider for this one, it's great autumn viewing!

"Faith" (Episode 12)
I love this episode with the great, stupid, simpering love of a true sucker for a pretty face. Dean has an absolutely FAAAABULOUS Deathbed Drama scene and then gets to look all sick for a good ten minutes before being dramatically healed by a traveling preacher. Then he gets to look all angsty and clench his jaw for the rest of the episode! Try not to ponder the essentially unexplored and highly questionable morality of an innocent person dying so that Dean might live! Dean's better looking than the other guy anyway! Besides, what did I tell you about logic!?!

"The Benders" (Episode 15)
OMG! Sam's in a cage, Dean's tied up and getting beaten and burned with a poker by wild-eyed hillbillies! In Minnesota! Where there are no hills! Wheeeee! This might be the episode where they finally figured out how gorgeous Dean is because he's lit with a highly flattering rosy glow during the entire torture sequence. Mmmm. Kentucky Fried Dean. Or I guess that'd be "Minnesota Fried Dean."

"Shadow" (Episode 16)
Both Sam and Dean get their pretty faces completely flayed by a shadow demon. This episode will remind you to keep FLINGING that logic away from you as hard as you can, because even though Dean's so gashed up that he should have lost his entire left eye, neither one of them will ever sport even the hint of a scar from said flaying.

"Something Wicked" (Episode 18)
This episode is important for all you moms out there. Stop fretting over how you're raising your kids! You can bring them up in shitty motel rooms, let them play with guns, and feed them a steady diet of Spaghetti-Os and Froot Loops and they will turn out just as gorgeous, morally responsible and respectful of your parental authority as Sam and Dean Winchester!

"Dead Man's Blood" (Episode 20)
Dean has a wonderfully uncomfortable moment with his old man in this episode. Makes you realize that a) John Winchester is a douchebag and b) Jensen Ackles can act. Ouch. If only he were just a pretty face.

"Devil's Trap" (Episode 22, Season Finale)
Holy fucking shit. I made a very lengthy post about this a while back that tells you every reason why you should watch this one. If this doesn't turn you into a Deangirl, or at the least, a Supernatural regular, I haven't done my job. The ending of this episode also kicks some serious ass. Don't have any food in your mouth during the last couple of minutes.

The music in this season is great too. I heard shit I haven't heard in years, the sort of stuff that used to be staples of the AOR (album-oriented rock) stations of yore. Kansas. Ozzy. AC/DC. Bad Company. Creedence. Blue Oyster Cult. If you're an old fart like me, you'll remember all these hoary classics of the 70s and 80s. Sometimes I wish they'd just do a whole episode of the guys driving around listening to this stuff. Good enough for me.

I'll be back tomorrow for the must-watch episodes of Season Two. This turned out wicked long and I don't want to try your patience.

Comments

[i-o-r-h-a-e-l.livejournal.com]

Wendigo

The way Dean convinces Sam how their work is worth doing.

Kinda the opposite of how Sam persuades Dean in WIAWSNB.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, saving people, hunting things which they keep repeating over and over like we're gonna forget it! I always feel a little sorry for Dean in that scene because he seems so needy but then again that's why we love him, isn't it?

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you're back. I think I'll have to get the DVDs of season one and watch them all again. You've whetted my appetite for a more in-depth viewing than I did the first time around.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

This show definitely deserves a second and a third and a fourth look. One viewing doesn't do it justice.

[tigriswolf]

Eeee!

[oselle.livejournal.com]

WHEEEEEEEEEEE!

[arabia764.livejournal.com]

I came here via a link from layne and, oh boy, I'm glad I did!

That has to be one of the funniest things I've read in a long time. You picked out all my favourite moments and added some serious social commentary...

Our first hint that John is kind of a prick and that Dean's a very pretty cryer

Two VERY important point in one line!

But my total, absolute fave has to be...

My derelict libido actually gave a feeble "Not dead yet!" squawk from the depths of my shriveled soul during this scene.

Mine had pretty much given up the ghost and was hiding behind the sofa till it saw that. Then it came out and not only said hello but also took charge of the tv remote control.

I like the way you think!

[oselle.livejournal.com]

Your icon is one of my favorite Dean Pretty Moments from Season Two. Ouch, it hurts to look at him!

[arabia764.livejournal.com]

I made some screen caps of that moment because it's my fave, and I only got a liiittle carried away.

I made about 70.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

How could anyone not get carried away?

[alchemie.livejournal.com]

You so crack me up - I'm not sure if I can take any more! You're brilliant with words, lady!

[oselle.livejournal.com]

Ah, it's the source material that brings out the brilliant, nothing else.

[cpsings4him.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for adding some very important points that baylorsr obviously forgot to include. I watched the first episode of season 2 at online at lunch one day. My only trouble is deciding which of those Winchesters is the prettiest!

[oselle.livejournal.com]

baylorsr took the high road, hoping to educate newbies. I just want to get you guys frothed up.

My only trouble is deciding which of those Winchesters is the prettiest!

A delightful dilemma!