Weekend Review – “Supernatural: Season Three”

The Winchester boys have a deal to break and some new women in their lives. This was the year of the writer strike, so there are only 16 episodes in the season.

Cast and Crew Information

Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester
Jenson Ackles as Dean Winchester
Jim Beaver as Bobby Singer
Katie Cassidy as Ruby
Lauren Cohan as Bela Talbot

Created by Eric Kripke
Cowritten by Sera Gamble (5 episodes), Jeremy Carver (4 episodes), Ben Edlund (3 episodes), Cathryn Humphris (2 episodes), Eric Kripke (2 episodes), Emily McLaughlin (1 episode), Laurence Andries (1 episode) and Robert Singer (1 episode)
Directed by Kim Manners (4 episodes), Phil Sgriccia (3 episodes), Robert Singer (3 episodes), Charles Beeson (2 episodes), Cliff Bole (1 episode), J. Miller Tobin (1 episode), Mike Rohl (1 episode) and Steve Boyum (1 episode)

Availability Information

This season is availabe on both DVD and Blu-Ray.

Premise

The Winchester boys have their work cut out for them. I don’t want to spoil the end of the recently reviewed second season, but that ended in a way that has a huge impact on this season, which takes the forefront from beginning to end.

High Point

“Mystery Spot” was a highly entertaining hour, as was “Bad Day At Black Rock.” Both were written by Ben Edlund, and both had lasting implications mixed in with primarily episodic storylines. UPDATE: It’s been pointed out that “Mystery Spot” wasn’t by Edlund, but rather had story credit by Emily McLaughlin and Jeremy Carver with teleplay credit going to Carver only.

Low Point

The WGA strike, though necessary, denied us 6 more episodes of this series.

The Review

This season still feels original, thanks to the new mission that results from the season two finale. The season ender isn’t exactly typical, either. I give it 5 out of 6.

The effects are as impressive as ever. Again, they know what they can budget for, and write episodes in a way that keeps things looking great on the dollars they have, without obviously lacking anything. I give it 6 out of 6.

The story works well. There’s enough of an episodic nature that you can enjoy almost any episode as your first, but long time readers will be rewarded by the long term elements. This also has its share of comedic episodes, including all three written by Ben Edlund. I give it 6 out of 6.

The acting is excellent, and gives both leads a chance to shine while offering them people to play against. I give it 5 out of 6.

The production doesn’t fail. Ever. The first season had a variety of directors, but by this point, a select crew of effective talents had been assembled to handle the lion’s share of work. The series is both consistent and consistently good as a result. I give it 6 out of 6.

The emotional response is great, with rewards both on a weekly basis and in the long term. From the entirely unique Christmas episode (“You fudging touch me again, I’ll fudging kill you!”) to the time loop episode (in which the repeated and varied death of one character shouldn’t be nearly as hysterical as it is) to the gutsy season ending it plays to multiple emotions to great effect. I give it 6 out of 6.

Overall, this is another great year from a great series. The DVD and Blu-Ray collections seem to be maintaining some excellent prices. You really should give the series a try if you haven’t already. I give it 5 out of 6.

In total, Supernatural: Season Three receives 39 out of 42.