The WFB Admins’ Top 15 “Supernatural” Episodes List: #13
Here we go with lucky 13 of your WFB Admins’ top 15 “Supernatural” episodes!
Let us know how you think we’re going with our choices!
sweetondean’s #13:
“Exile on Main Street”
Why: I have a feeling this one may be controversial! Most people I know didn’t love this opener, but I did. It had a vibe that captured me, an atmosphere to it that still holds me spellbound. It manages to set up a lot for the season. The mystery of Sam coming back and acting somewhat unSam like; the introduction of the ill-fated Campbells; Lisa and Ben and a look at Dean’s year away from hunting; weird monster behaviour. I liked all that stuff.
I loved the opening scene with Dean in bed. Just the look on his face, the hand running back over his hair, you could see that everything was not right in suburbia and even though it had been about a year, you could tell that Dean’s first waking thought was of Sam and what on earth Dean was doing there living that life. He looks lost.
I loved that Dean packed up everything in a metal box and threw a tarp over his baby, to try and hide his old life away, mainly from himself. It’s the last time we saw Dad’s jacket btw, in that metal box (bastards who stole it). Dean didn’t burn anything, he didn’t toss anything away, he tried to hide it, but essentially, it was there for him, for when he needed it, because you could tell that deep down inside, he knew one day he would. He could try and hide his old life away in the garage, but he could never get rid of it completely, because it’s who he really is and inside, he knows it.
(Just a side note on season 8 here…Sam did a similar thing, kept the Impala and kept the trunk fully stocked!)
I adored the throwbacks to earlier episodes, something”Supernatural” does so well. Referencing the Djinn from “What Is and What Should Never Be” as the father of the Djinn out for revenge. Bringing back the YED in such a wonderful moment, revealing Dean’s fear for his new family is an old fear that has scarred him so deeply it still rears its ugly head. Dean’s moment with the Yorkie! He was scared of a Yorkie in”Yellow Fever” and said he owned a Yorkie in”Devil’s Trap”, this kind of continuity to past seasons always tickles my fancy. It’s a nod for us dedicated fans!
It’s a super sad season opener though and one that’s made even more sad with benefit of hindsight.
Favourite Quote: I think it has to be when Dean is talking to Sid in the bar and discussing his job on the road in “˜pest control’:
“You have no idea what’s in some people’s walls. It could eat ’em alive.”
I also think, with all that’s going on is season 8, it’s interesting to look at the scene in Bobby’s house, when Dean finds out that not only has Sam been back for about a year, Bobby also knew. It reveals what Dean did about Sam’s absence, but more importantly, what Sam hoped Dean would have done. Very interesting mind set from both boys, in light of the brother’s current predicament.
Dean: “¦I drank too much. I had nightmares. I looked everywhere. I collected hundreds of books, trying to find anything to bust you out.
Sam: You promised you’d leave it alone.
Dean: Of course I didn’t leave it alone! Sue me!
Favourite Scene: The”Beautiful Loser” montage is one of the best”Supernatural” has done. Juxtaposing images from Dean’s old life with his new life. It’s simple and wonderful and you get a good picture of Dean’s year and his struggle with this new existence, but you also get a glimpse of some ordinary, everyday moments of happiness. Right there in those opening minutes, bam, the whole picture. And the song is perfection.
But, I think my favourite scene”¦actually, it’s not a scene it’s a moment and it’s really, really sad, but it’s one of those moments that reminds us how good these guys are and how one very small movement can rip out our hearts.
It’s the end, when Sam and Dean are saying goodbye. Dean’s decided to stay and look out for Lisa and Ben and Sam is leaving. Sam, of course, being soulless and all, just gets in his car and drives, Dean stands on the driveway watching his brother pull out and there’s this little hand movement as Dean goes to wave, but realises that Sam’s not going to wave, not even going to look back, so he lets his hand drop back down, awkwardly. Seriously, that moment, that one little movement of Dean’s hand and the subsequent look of sadness mixed with conflict destroys me each and every time I see it. It’s what this show does so well, little tiny moments that speak volumes.”Exile on Main Street” is full of them.
I didn’t really like Exile on Main Street on first viewing – especially since I didn’t know Sam was soulless and I wasn’t sure whether we were supposed to like the Campbells. But now I think its a very, very good episode and one of the better “quiet” episodes.
I am also a fan of this episode. It gave us the the info need to fill in the blanks of what the guys were doing during that year.
Beautiful Loser was a perfect song for the montage of Deans old and new life. Jensen says so much with just facial expressions it breaks your heart to see him trying to fulfill his promise to Sam and being heartbroken.
That little hand wave at the end kills me every time I see it.
I totally agree with you on all points. Exile on Main Street is a stand out for Season 6 which held so much promise, but sadly didn’t quite deliver. Still, there were a few episodes from that season that made it on to my must watch list.
Aw, sweetondean, I too love “Exile on Main Street”, the almost wave at the end, Fred Lehne’s Yellow Eyed Demon (my favourite so far), the contrast with construction and hunting etc. I so hurt along with Dean regarding cold cold Sammy.
It was almost impossible to find any review or opinion that agreed with mine when it first was shown. You’ve shown why it is a favourite! Thank you! 🙂
“Devil’s Trap” IMO is an episode than fits into my number 1 episodes. (I have many number ones, so sue me!) 😛
There hasn’t been very much to beat its emotional impact for me in the past 4 years. It had so much family angst, great dialogue, great great acting from the 4 J’s and Nicki Aycox and absolutely the most heart busting cliff hanger ever!!!!
I love and admire it every single time I re-watch it and that has been many many times! To me it is a masterpiece by all! I worship Mr. Kripke for giving me this gift.
I should read all 3 before commenting! 😀 Next time!
Sorry, just wanted to say I love all your choices though they would all be much higher on my list. Can’t wait for yours still to come. What a relief from the doom and gloom lately! 🙂
god bless you Sweetondean… I loved Exile on Mainstreet too… I was a little… concerned that not many others loved this one as well… well, I loved it just cuz it was so perfectly made… the montage, the references… everything you mentioned was perfect. 🙂
Wow, none of your #13 episodes made it on my list, but they are all good ones! Just goes to show you how many quality episodes there have been over the years. “Devil’s Trap” is a classic and suspenseful episode, but I agree that the production quality is not as high. Plus I thought the “holy water doesn’t work on a thing like Yellow Eyes” was a bit of a cop-out. I will say, though, that when Dean says he is bothered by the fact that he didn’t hesitate to kill those possessed people, it is a bit haunting when you know how much it does not bother him this season.
My #13 episode is “What Is and What Should Never Be”. I found it telling that Dean’s wish didn’t necessarily result in a perfect life for himself, as he had no relationship with Sam, but he wanted to keep it for Sam and their mother. Also, I was stoked that they were able to save the girl! It punctuated how much they are needed, and at the same time added a win to an otherwise bittersweet episode.
“Why’d you call me a bitch?” – Alternate Sam
I loved the montage in Exile on Mainstreet, and Beautiful Loser is favourite on my playlist now.
I already suspected that Mary might have been a hunter before In The Beginning aired, but I loved it anyway, and I adored that Dean was the one who convinced John to buy the Impala. Could you imagine Sam and Dean driving around in the Mystery Machine??
Devil’s Trap-I’ve mentioned this a couple times here before, but Devil’s Trap was the first ep I ever watched. And I watched it live, which means no benefit of being able to pop the next DVD in, so I was, in fact, screaming at the TV when it ended. Also, your pick, Alice, for the best scene, Meg’s interrogation, was actually the first [i]scene[/i] of SPN I ever watched (heh, my introduction to this show was a blond woman tied to a chair and a tall, hot guy speaking latin-no wonder I stuck around for more 😉 ). In short, Devil’s Trap will always hold a special place in my heart.