“Frontierland” — A Visual Review
8.
Coolest. Location. Ever. Really, this cemetery is amazing. It’s gorgeous. I don’t even know what else to say about it, it’s just that cool. I mean, the fog and the lighting and the wooden crosses and the perfect shooting angles. It’s just amazing. And look how spooky it is, too! I expected something to jump out at the two of them at any second.
9.
Here’s another great warehouse shot. This one is particularly great because of the bank of high windows that’s just streaming light. I mean, it’s so bright it almost doesn’t belong on “Supernatural,” dark show that it is. But I love it. Must have been a rare sunny day in Vancouver!
10.
Whoever came up with the scorched wing shadows to represent real angel death deserves an award because it is such a fantastic visual. It really is awesome. It’s so cool, in fact, that even when angels I really like die and get wing blasted, R.I.P Gabriel, I still appreciate the scorched wings. This set look almost blue by her body, which is really neat. I like that a lot.
11.
Look at this cabin! I love this cabin! Rustic seems almost not good enough a word to describe it, but it’s just so out in the middle of nowhere. Well, at least it looks like it’s out in the middle of nowhere. There could be a highway 100 yards behind the camera for all I know. TV magic! I am surprised, however, that Samuel Colt didn’t have some sort of buried Devil’s Trap surrounding the cabin, though. That would have been awesome.
12.
The cabin is even gorgeous on the inside! We all know by now how much I love streaming light, and isn’t this such an extreme example? It’s so dark inside and so bright outside. The outdoors is practically luring you out with that sunshine. Just looking at this makes me want to go outside.
13.
And some more lighting genius on display. Just look at how the lighting divides this scene. It’s a great play on the traditional bad guy vs. good guy scenario. The bad guy is in the cell, but he’s awash with light. The good guy, Dean, is free in the foreground, but he’s swathed in shadow, the light not quite reaching him. Very nice visual trickery there. And at this point, we’re still supposed to think that the guy in the cell is an innocent phoenix victim, so really, this does help play that up now that I think about it.
14.
There isn’t anything super special about this shot, aside from Dean’s spectacular Western wear. The coat! He should wear it all the time to replace the other leather jacket because this one is like ten times more badass. But I digress. I just like how this shot sort of epitomizes the end-of-season weariness in our beloved characters. Bobby’s pooped. Sam’s leaning up against the wall for support and looks like he’d rather be sitting down to rest. Even Cass looks like he’s just about had it. And Dean’s still standing, trying to convince the rest of them to keep going. Classic Team Free Will, really.
Wow, with some of the photo combining I did, I ended up with fewer talking points than I anticipated. But that’s okay! I think we got the highlights anyway. So, what did you all think of the look of this episode? It was lovely, wasn’t it? Lots of opportunity for great shots and angles and locations. My top three this week are 8, 1, and 6. Mmmmmmmmm, 6. What
Guy Bee is a genius, I concur.
I love how you break down some of the visuals that are so beautifully given to us on this show. Sometimes taking the time to look at stills of different scenes can give us insight into what’s going on (the lighting in the jail scene you mentioned for instance) that we miss as it flips by so fast on screen.
I have always loved the Angel Death visual, too. It just seems so cool, such an amazing representation of what and who they were despite their “human” appearance. I think who ever was responsible for that, they need a hug.
The props department does need a huge round of applause. Those books they create, I’m so with you. They’re gorgeous, look so real, and pull us so much further into the story.
Wonderfully done. Love it. (Oh, and Misha did look hot in that shot).
Guy Norman Bee talked about filming #9 at the con in Vancouver. He said that was one of those “happy accidents.” The lighting was coming through just right and Serge Ladoucer had them film that scene right away. You are right, it was one of those rare days at just the perfect time and they were able to take advantage.
Awesome review!
I concur with everyone else, Guy Bee is just fantastic
I have to say that my favorite one is number 8 (Beautiful location), I also really like 12 and 13 (love the lighting in both), oh, and 1, 7, and 11.
I kinda love them all 🙂
Stunning episode visual
Thanks Arde!
Thank you so much for the beautiful pictures. This was such a great episode. I’ve been a lover of westerns since I was a little girl, anything from John Ford to Sergio Leone and everything in between, so I was super excited when I heard SPN was doing a western. These two guys have always reminded me of Butch and Sundance so much.
As for my favourite pictures, I would say 1 and 8 because of the western imagery; 10, because I will never tire of seeing that beautiful wing span, and last but not least 13. For the lighting alone that scene deserves an A+. It is so beautifully shot with Dean in the shadows like that and the bad guy in the light. I love the way you interpreted that shot, it was brilliant. You have the eye of a photographer. And one last mention to the sepia tone when they are in the past, that was a perfect idea.
Hi Arde,
This was great. I think I loved every shot in Frontierland, mostly because you just knew cast and crew were having such a good time.
My favourites, from your picks, are 1, 5, 9 and 14 for all the reasons you stated, and because I love Dean’s hat hair! Also, because I think I know the “warehouse” where #9 was filmed, and I believe I was actually there this summer. So, so cool!
Terrific review – as always. 😆
I appreciate your slowing things down and enabling us to see what is really there. When I watch the show, there are only fleeting impressions, so it is fun to see all the different elements that make up the show: lighting, props, locations,costume. When watching the show, I tend to focus on characters and the storyline.
I also enjoy reading your interpretations of the shots as in #13. Isn’t amazing how much light this show uses when we think of it as a “dark” show?
Frontierland was all around great; I bet it was hard to pick which shots to use. (Wasn’t it awesome the fog came up just as they were shooting the cemetery scene?)
Better late than never, indeed! This will most likely be one of my all-time favourite episodes of a fabulous show.
Thanks for shedding light -again-on it, in your special way.
Cheers, Jas