So, How Was It? – “Exile On Main Street”
It’s here! It’s here! Our show is back! ”Supernatural” is back!!! Happy Dance! Happy Dance!
Wait, “Smallville” premieres too!
So, for those watching, you can either join us in the CBOX for a live chat or watch the season six premiere and leave your reaction here. Or both! I’ll be doing both. I’m going to be in the CBOX for “Smallville” too, so the fun starts at 8:00 pm Eastern!
For those spoilerphobes that are now ready to read the official network description of “Exile on Main Street,” here it is!
Okay everyone, you know the drill. Leave your reaction here and feel free to participate in any discussion that breaks out from it! Chances are plenty of people in Europe and other parts of the world will have their reactions here tomorrow so feel free to check back too! For those who love “Smallville,” leave your reaction to that episode as well. After all, it’s the final season.
Happy premiere episodes everyone!!!
I actually liked it. It was action packed and a welcome change from the “blood, guts, and gore” that had pretty much become last year’s norm (seriously, I don’t think they can get any worse than two people eating each other alive!) Kinda missed Cas and I so totally think Dean should’ve stayed with Sam at the end, but I understand why he felt like he needed to be with Lisa and Ben. Besides, we all know that won’t last. You can take the boy out of hunting, but you can’t take the hunting out of the boy. Dean’ll be back soon enough.
Can’t wait for next week.
I liked it a lot. It was very complex, like you said, Alice, and a ton happened. I’m really liking the foundation they’ve laid for this season. Samuel taking the djinn and not wanting the boys to know about it? That’s a twist I did not expect.
And I must say, Lisa rules. She was great with Dean, just great. I am going to be so sad if she dies.
Wow. I’ll tell you, it’s a whole new show. The last time I felt like I was watching something completely different that was a game changer was “Lazarus Rising.”
There’s so much to process! I need a rewatch. Sure, I adore that my show is back but I can’t tell if I liked it or loved it. So much was so good, especially the entire scene at Bobby’s house. Bobby knew! His reasoning for not telling Dean had so much more heart than Sam’s. Sam is very different. Almost like he’s on auto pilot. There’s so many character possibilities with him. And Dean and Lisa, they’re so perfect together. “It was the best year of my life.” Him teaching Ben how to fix a car? He is the perfect Dad.
Now Dean is staying out of obligation to protect. Poor guy! He was uneasy before, he’s really going to be uneasy now. Interesting how that’s going to play out.
Plus, it’s nice that the show went back for the horror vibe. Awesome! Those hallucination scenes with Dean were incredible! And we can’t trust Samuel. I’m so curious to see where that is going.
Wow, like I said, so much to process. The show is back! All feels good.
Loved it! So glad to see the dynamic with Dean and a family–we know he’s always wanted one! Sam is positively scary ( I knew he would be), and I never guessed how/why Grandpa was back. Interesting. Scary, too.
I liked it, expect Dean chose Lisa over Sammy! That;s just wrong. Where was Lisa all those years? That’s right off being a hosebeast! Lisa and Ben are the furthest thing from family there is. Dean has a family. He has: Sam, Bobby, Cas, his grandfather, and this crazy Campbell cousins. But Lia, lisa is just holding him back from what he really is.
I think Dean is staying out of obligation to Lisa and Ben. He went there because it was Sam’s dying wish and now he feels responsible for them. He doesn’t want to see them harmed. If he thought for a minute they were safe, he would have gone with Sam.
Sam is really confusing me, especially at the end. Must rewatch!
This is strange, but I actually liked the Smallville premiere more. I think my judgment though is clouded by naked shots of Justin Hartley. 😀
BTW, I’m no longer writing for Blogcritics, so look for my Supernatural reviews right here from now on! I should have something up tomorrow or Sunday.
Hmmm – can’t tell yet. Loved the beginning – comparing Dean’s new life with the old stuff – sawing vampire, sawing wood!Truck vs impala, salting windows – salting eggs. Cool! And was that the same Yorkie that scared Dean in Yellow Fever?? The way Sam returned was sorta cool – glad Dean didn’t just jump up and hug him. Liked the golf reference!
Lisa seems to have one expression – confused concern. Not feeling that couple.
The last bit where Dean ran next door seemed disjointed – did the neighbours die? Were they under the djinn spell? Sam’s next door trying to bash in the head of the djinn – didn’t they need silver to kill a djinn? Were they totally unprepared? Sam goes to save Dean & suddenly they’re back – is Dean still under the djinn’s spell? Is he hallucinating that Sam left & he chose Lisa?
Like I said – hmmmm – have to think about this one. I think I’m a bit disappointed. Damn!
so much to think about!! so many ways Lisa/Ben can play out. She was great with Dean. Not sure i would be trusting of Grandpa Campbell, just seems to be sneaky.
First impression, wonderful episode….so nice having the boys back. Really need a re-watch, but loved the Yorkie…’Yellow Fever’ was one of my favorite episodes.
Loved all the fun about the golf clubs and Dean’s montage about his new life. Liked how the boys were back together in the first half hour, but felt the reunion was a little flat. Maybe that’s all part of Sam’s story about coming back.
Some parts felt rushed, and some parts I would have like them to spend more time on. Of course, we all wanted to see Dean and Sam drive off together in the impala at the end, but we all know that is in the future.
The similarities to Jess and Mary, even though in a ‘dream’ if you like, really were effective, and Grandpa Campbell has some interesting secrets.
Last comment… I was really surprised at how much I felt the ‘old’ Dean was back. Really, maybe it’s because I’m just so happy the series is back on, but this ]Dean’ really reminded me a lot of the earlier seasons. I didn’t expect that…and I really like it!
I LOVED the use of Bob Seger’s “Beautiful Loser” at the beginning. Great song, great montage.
Ok .. what I loved:
The guys are back, Sam’s car is HOT, I loved the innuendos from past seasons (the Yorkie from “Yellow Fever” rocked) Bobby’s scene’s for this episode was great; he carried it off very well Congratz to him. The humor is still there which I love about this show. I love Dean’s character and will love him even more in the darn Impala (#$&#!!!)
What I hated: The entire episode seemed detached. Maybe it was the awesome Season 5 episodes of bro destruction and bonding but at the end of “Swan Song” you saw love and family conquer all. Then this new episode where I just don’t see that bleeding over between Sam and Dean, kind of left me thinking what in the world were they thinking? I get the story plot and the reason behind it all, but I really think that it could have been better. Maybe I was just expecting a half naked Sam doing pull ups (thinks back the .gif pic of a few days ago) which probably would have made it all better for me.
Questions I would like answered:
1. What is Grandpa Campbell doing with the Jinn(sp?)?
2. The other hunters are jerks, hope they die off fast, none of them are believable.
3. I don’t understand .. did Sam spend any actual time in hell or did he get spit back up almost instantly?
4. Is Yellow Eye’s actually back for this or did he just guest star in this episode because of the poison?
5. The commercials started out with “Trust No One” was that just propaganda to make us think something was going on (the commercials were very misleading) or will there be something more to that later on?
I’m sure all this will get answered later but I’m still shaking my head over this episode.
And here come the Europe coments:
I woke up just after 5 am (and that from a person who loves to sleep in every chance she gets).
Got up and turned the computer on.
I completly loved it that our show is back. Even though it somehow wasn’t as scary as expected. The djinns just weren’t that convincing.
I too loved certain references like the yorky and the golf club “It’s a sport” I can imagine that that was a previous conversation between Jared and Jensen when he picked up golfing.
Dean’s reaction when the Cambells and Sam went through the house looking at everything. Touching everything. It really disturbed him just as if they were invading his personal space which they did of course.
Ok that’s it for now. Need a rewatch.
By the way – our show is back!!! 😉
Yay Sera??? Hooray, you did it and I’m hooked all over again.
This is all new territory. Still can’t seem to form a coherent thought. Wonderfully acted in so many different ways. Dean’s shell shock was great, and that ‘any other doornails’ comment, wow. Anyone else hear the fear/hope for Papa Winchester? (That definitely could have only been me! :mrgreen:-) Sam’s avoidance laugh when asked about hell…lotta stuff has to be going on under the surface there. Grandpa Campells faith in Dean- his surprise when Dean took that snark about ‘professionals’ without violence. Bobby, wow. Jim Beaver did amazing there. His concern and love were palpable.
Lisa has already surpassed my hopes as a character. Calling Dean an idiot, you go girl! Fight for your man! It floored me that she is apparently completely in the know about the apocalypse. She believed him, didn’t send him off to the nut house; she’s got grit to stick it out with Dean. And she’s apparently already gone through some things with him from their conversation on the stair. So much?
Obviously the things mentioned before by other people. So much great stuff. Sam’s cold aloofness is frightening. He needs his brother so badly. This really is a swap from season 1 where it was Dean needing his brother while Sam didn’t need him. Now Sam needs Dean and Dean is capable of living a life without Sam. He seems so lost and detached, and I’m thinking that underneath the chill exterior he’s begging to have his brother back. “Don’t be stupid†“It’s better to have you around†not said with a whole lot of passion, but then again, he did spend a bit of time with Lucifer burning cold inside of him. Seems reflected a bit in the shattering glass for the title card. I don’t know.
Oh! And the fact that the Jinn grabbed the golf club away from Sam instead of our boy dropping it? LOVED that!
Could go on and on and on, but I’ll be done for now. Just, loved it.
Humph, when I typed this out, the original was
“Yay Sera!!!!” Not sure what happened. But it’s good to say again. 😀
I liked it. I want to say I love it but as I watched I was confused by Sam, Grandpa and Bobby. And to make it worse I really missed Cas too much. The episode started out good but seemed rushed in places. So confusing. I get the whole role reversal thing, but I want MY DEAN back now! Jared can’t not pull off being like Dean. Jensen is great at it.
Just left me with a whole lot of questions about where this is all going, which i suppose is the point of a season opener … can’t wait to see where this is going.
Anyone else feel that throughout there was this lurking sense of unease, of menace. It wasn’t obvious just was there beneath the surface like something isn’t right. Though i think that’s what they’re going for, that everything has changed, everything is off kilter and no one knows how or why.
Those pesky Campbells are up to something exactly what remains to be seen. Them no telling Sam big red flag right there.
I’m intrigued, which is the perfect set up … can’t wait for more!
Oh Show, how I have missed you. I am so glad you are back. **HUGZ**
This was my kind of episode. A puzzle, in a question, in an enigma. Sam didn’t seem quite like Sam. Why is that? Do we get any clues? Must rewatch.
Grampa Winchester! Wow, good to see you dude. What are you doing here and why are you packing up that Djinn? Could there be clues…..must rewatch.
The Campbell Cousins. Interesting! I always wondered if Sam told Dean what he found out way back in “The Kids are Alright” about their Mom’s side of the family. Based on Dean’s comments, that is a yes. However, the rellies seem to be extremely standoffish. Actually, makes them seem exactly like every other hunter we’ve ever met. Curious.
I really enjoyed this episode. I love it when it makes me think. When I want to go back and rewatch because I might have missed something.
This epi was Grade A goodness for me.
I loved it, too.I think I would’ve been disappointed if Sam & Dean had had a really emotional hug and then Dean brushed off Lisa & Ben to go back to hunting right away.There is conflict in Dean, more than ever, and Sam is just not the old Sam we know & love–so I can’t wait to see how the rest of the season unfolds 😀
Grade A+
Sam is acting in a way that has me uneasy. Could it be the black muscle car which can only be evil? I don’t know, something is wrong. I have to wonder how Sams experience in the box differed from Deans and did all the demon blood he drank has any lasting effects on his character.
Then there’s Dean. He clearly misses hunting but he now has a family and I think he does feel an obligation to them. I would have felt less of Dean if he just up and left Lisa and Ben as soon as Sammy rolled into town. He has Daddy issues and I think a need to be there for Ben so one kid doesn’t get dumped by a parent.
I liked the premiere and the mystery it hints at.
This is it – I’m having a passionate relationship with a tv show… five years and counting…
I will need to re-watch it, but for now I am already spellbound. Again. This is a whole new show. It FEELS so different and yet the same. The kind of paradox I adore. The Boys are back in town – yet, they aren’t. What an intruiging start to a new season. Bring it on!
Shivering with joy, Jas
First, the last: the ending was perfect in structure and acting, one wanting to bust out a heart-to-heart and a hug, the other stone cold see ya, but not *too* much; the opening is consciously forced closed ’cause there’s ‘a trouble brewing under that changeable mop. These guys are fucking good.
Skinner!
Ole Yellow Eyes! (please let the ‘why can’t we be brought back, too’ not merely be a tease, but a looming threat)
Love the fact that a whole case of question cans are being opened, a “reset” while simultaneous paying homage to past actions and characters. Sam; Grampa; the Campbells (give ’em time to develop, kids); subdued Djinn to some hunter CIA black ops site in Eastern Europe; the apocalypse, stopped or no, still having repercussions.
Dean, doing what Dean would do each and every time: protect the helpless, thus, he stays. And I have to second Yirabah, great touch on the whole ‘home as castle/refuge’ bit, evidence that for this past year, Dean *did* try to make a new life.
Golf is a sport as much as lawn darts and tiddlywinks is a sport, sorry Jensen.
Lastly, hey Parker Lewis, the dude’s half the gang that saved planet earth, some respect, eh? Yikes, that sounded fangirlish. Someone shoot me.
Sixth, thanks a lot producers for having an entirely different title card, thus rendering my exegesis not moot, but a bloody corpse. A pox on thee!
And finally, number three, this is a collection of scattered puzzle pieces, watch ’em fall into place through May. Excellent, excellent start.
Wow! Definitely a different show but I loved it! Lisa was great with Dean. I am really liking her character. I am glad that Dean chose to stay with her and Ben. That would have been wrong on so many levels if he just took off with Sam. Sam was very scary. I liked it though. Jared did a great job. And I DO NOT trust Grandpa Campbell. He is without a doubt up to something.
So happy the show is back and really looking forward to how the season will play out. Â Â
I managed to catch a glimpse of it. 😛
I have to say that before watching 6.01, I was all ready to draw comparisons with “Lazarus Rising” (another Winchester returning from Hell) – one of my favorite Supernatural episode.
But definitely 6.01 has a very different feel – certainly Sam was – to me – unrecognisable; I found it hard (at least on a first watch) to connect with that character. 😛 But then again, maybe we’re not supposed to just yet.
Dean and Lisa were good in their roles – I personally hope that Lisa will have more interactions with Sam later in Season 6.
6.01 certainly wasn’t what I was expecting – but I enjoyed it overall.
I was expecting something different and that’s what we got. There is a lot of mystery this year and questions which have already been alluded to so I won’t repeat.
In praise of Lisa: She came off as a tough gal who knew the score with Dean. She put up with his drinking and grieving and I think she has always been aware that Dean could leave. When Dean does leave, she’ll be prepared.
Yay!!! Happy dance!!! Our show is back!!!
I have only one quibble about this ep: the scene where the Campbells leave the Winchesters as bait. Where were the silver knives and the lambs blood? How did Sam kill that jinn (or is it djinn?) with a golf club? Sure it was kinda cool but still shouldn’t have been able to happen.
Otherwise, the rest of the ep was AWESOME! Can I say once again that Jared and Jensen are amazing actors?! I just love the subtle differences. Dean is still Dean but more on the surface. You get to see the emotions play more on his face than ever before. He seems relaxed. That last part when Sam drove away, I swear I thought he wanted to cry.
And Sam! I was so worried about where they were going with him. But I think it was pitch perfect of a guy who’s been living with the memories of hell for a year. I think it fits perfectly with what we know and have seen of the character over the years. There is definitely some turbulent waters under that calm exterior.
I have to agree with Bethany that there was a sense of foreboding and unease. There is definitely something going on. And poor Sam that it looks like he’s being duped again and this time by family. What is Grandpa Campbell up to?
The other things I loved as usual are the little touches: the opening song, the Campbells’ wary hunter response to Dean, their not so subtle teasing and jealousy, Bobby’s reactions (Jim Beaver rocks!), the corgi, Lisa (though I’m hoping to see the actress relax into the character a bit more), Dean still checking out the jinn waitress though he’s taken, and so much more.
But most of all — Sam’s CAR. Somehow when I heard he was going to have his own car, I thought it would be a classic. But this is better. I am in love with the new Dodge Charger and Sam even has the color I prefer on this vehicle and no crappy stripes either. Not big on the wing but the way Sam drives that thing, he’s going to need it.
Jeannine, I thought about that myself, and I’m guessing the most plausible theory is that these new-and-improved post-apocalyptic djinn are no longer susceptible to such attacks and that this anti-venom (thanks, Jas!) is the only way to knock them out.
I’ll assume that decapitation still works for vampires. 🙂
Yay, show is back with a bang!
I loved;
Wrong!Sam, I just know this will tear my heart out..
Samuel Campbell, love Mitch Peleggi
Frederick Lehne as Yellow eyes!
Weird monster behaviour,
Sam’s car the extent that 5 mins later I couldn’t remember what their names were!
The knowledge that whatever happens between Lisa, Dean and Ben will kill me dead. can’t end well…
All in all, a good episode. I think I’m biased as it feels like I’m watching a new show, so it will take a while for me to get used to it while I grieve for the old one.
Very excited for the rest of the season!
Dean offered the Impala to Sam again,which is always meaningful. We saw it happen several times before, like in Wendigo, Fresh Blood, Good God Y’All, etc. He uses the Impala when he wants to express his love for Sam without words. The fact that he did it again keeps me hopeful that things will eventually mend between them. Now Dean is feeling hurt and rightely so.
On the other hand, Sam declining the offer could have at least two meanings that I can think of:
1) It’s an expression of Sam’s new independence – he has his own car now.
2) He knows that Dean will end up coming back to hunting, so he’ll need the Impala himself.
All in all, I liked the episode. It was intriguing, to say the least, especialy the mystery of Sam. There’s a lot of new elements and I need time to preocess them. But Sera never disappointed me.
😉
Loved it overall, but need to re-watch. So many mysteries! Put me in for a minority vote for liking the Campbell cuz’s, but NOT liking Grampa Campbell. Hijacking the female Jinn? Don’t tell Sam? You got some ‘splainin to do, Mister! (Did anyone else notice the lingering camera shots of the tattooed arms? I’m wondering about that – Gramps wants something, obviously, some kind of source of power? Probably just me, overanalyzing)
Lisa is the perfect woman for Dean, she knows his story, accepts that he needs to hunt, and is willing to be there when he gets back. For that very reason, I am very afraid for her future on the show.
Lots of funny lines, too (Yorkies, possums, Mayflower vampire slayers, golf). Dean’s comment to Sam about forgetting how to send a text – not a phone call? What would that text say, anyway – OMG! Out of Hell! 404. CU L8R, Sam.
Can’t wait for next week!
Some figures for those who are curious.
According to Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernatural_(season_6)), the US viewers for 6.01 was 2.80 million.
Smallville (shown one hour earlier) was 2.90 million.
Supernatural Season 5 premier (Sympathy for the Devil) was 2.90 million.
It does appear that Supernatual had a pretty decent start.
@paintgirl770 – “Lots of funny lines, too (Yorkies, possums, Mayflower vampire slayers, golf). Dean’s comment to Sam about forgetting how to send a text – not a phone call? What would that text say, anyway – OMG! Out of Hell! 404. CU L8R, Sam”
Your contribution had me laughing out loud ! 🙂 And I agree, 6.01 had some very funny lines – I especially liked the possum reference.
I agree with all of you, that this is a good start to the new season. Dean has to go back to Sam, otherwise it will be a whole season of ‘Free to be, you and me’. BORING. I didn’t trust gramps and co. from their first scene with Dean and Sam, and after they took the djinn away alive, I see them more as problems than as helpers.
Am I the only one that wanted to slap Lisa? Regarding Smallville, I enjoyed it, at the end, when the black smoke appeared, did anyone else think ‘demon’? We made it guys, bring on season 6. 😀 🙂
new to the boards but have to say i loved the episode. nancyL ur comment about smallville made me lol. my ten year old said the very same thing when he watched it.
Just sent my review/thoughts to Alice and, since I forgot two things I wanted to include, I’ll put them in here.
Love, love, love the new title card!!! Argh, might just be my favorite (Thus far Season 4’s is my favorite) The shattered pieces of glass spinning forward, the icy sensation of it all…way cool!
Second, love that Dean offered Sam the Impala at the end. It was Dean’s way of softening what he was doing, he offered to let Sam drive back in Wendigo when Sam was grieving over Jessica — a gesture Sam instantly interpreted as comfort, love, support. He offered Sam the Impala when the split up in Good God, Y’all and he offered the Impala here. It was a way to say I love you bro’ and a way to say I mean it, I’m done.
Regarding Smallville, I enjoyed that as well but it does not ‘get to me’ as Supernatural does. I’ll be there watching it in its final season however.
I thought Sam was being really douchey, and I hope hope hope the fam will grow on me because I don’t like them now and I feel like they’re the big bad and they’re doing something shady with that djinn like torturing supernatural creatures…
But I liked it a lot. I was so shocked at the title screen though…not trees 🙁
Loved the episode. Promises lots of mysteries not counting sam himself. Just excited to see what they will do further. Waiting to see how they will answer all the questions posed.Also got to see some of old Dean while interacting with bobby and fam. Did not get a shred of old Sam felt like watching a stranger very good acting by Jared complete 180 from before…..very interesting ,already waiting for the next episode to air .Missed impala but i also loved the choise sams car.
Also kind of missed the old sam but also liked the new and mysterious sam . It was Choice not choise … feel like an idiot sorry.
Does anyone know the car type of Dean’s car at the beginning? Thx.