The WFB Admins’ Top 15 “Supernatural” Episodes List: #6
Ardeospina’s #6:
“A Very Supernatural Christmas”
Why: Ah, what to say about this episode that hasn’t already been said, and by people more eloquent than myself? Eh, screw the eloquent people! You’re stuck with me. And what I have to say about this episode is sLRehjosiu08gha[weion[w0idhf ]as0idhfna[owehf[hw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s key-smashing good!
This episode is jam-packed with goodness, starting with two of my favorite-ever villains on the show, Madge and Edward Carrigan. Madge. They’re just so ridiculous and over-the-top and smarmy and amazing. Even when they’re torturing the brothers, you can’t help but laugh at them.
On top of awesome villains, you’ve got Weechester angst, the amulet backstory, Sam bitchfaces galore, Dean throwing his brother under the bus twice just to watch him squirm, possibly the best store clerk ever, a horrible Christmasland with an even worse Santa, the best worst Christmas caroling in the history of television, snow on the Impala, and a true Winchester Christmas celebration, complete with rummed-up eggnog and gas-station gifts. It’s a Jeremy Carver classic is what it is.
It’s just a really fudgin’ good episode, okay?
Favorite Quote: so many to choose from. I’m gonna think outside the box and not choose Dean’s famous fudgin’ quote. Instead, here are two others that tickled my fancy:
Madge Carrigan: You little thing. I loved that tree.
Clerk: Well, aren’t you a fussy one.
Dean: He is.
Your big brother is showing, Dean.
Favorite Scene: I’m gonna go with part of the end sequence for my favorite scene, and it’s the gift exchange and the immediate aftermath. Let’s be honest, those are pretty bad Christmas gifts. But I adore how they both get so excited about them, just because they’re Christmas presents. It doesn’t matter what the actual present is. It’s just that their brother got them a gift. Dean didn’t even expect anything, which is all kinds of sad, but Sam came through. Their goofy reactions to the presents and then the very serious moment they have afterwards is just beautiful and so them. It’s not the obvious choice, maybe, but I love it nonetheless. It makes me tear up every time.
There are our choices for number 6! Did they line up with yours? Whose list most resembles yours so far? Up next, we break into the top 5!
Hah! I am on a roll with you all! A Very Supernatural Christmas is on my list too! Loved all these episodes though. And, Alice, I had the same reaction as you. I liked both actors from the beginning but felt Jensen was a cut above. From the first episode he just blew me away. However, Born Under a Bad Sign really showcased how great Jared is too. He completely freaked me out – in a good way – in that episode, and I have been in awe of both actors ever since.
Wow, I forgot about “Born Under a Bad Sign”! Rewatching it now, and it’s making me nostalgic for Evil Meg; she became so non-threatening in later seasons. Solid choice. “Skin” is one of my favorites from season one; I love that it begins their extended trouble with the law.
My #6 episode is “Swan Song”. All the episodes of the first five seasons were basically leading up to this, and it did not disappoint. We even get Impala POV, as told by Chuck the Prophet. They finally save the world, but at the cost of Sam (and Adam) being locked in Hell with pissed off archangels. There’s just so much I could try to say about this, but I suspect that you will say it more eloquently in future articles. This time around, I chose a thoughtful quote that I think does a fine job of representing the bittersweet nature of this finale.
“You got what you asked for, Dean. No paradise. No hell. Just more of the same. I mean it, Dean. Which would you rather have – peace, or freedom?” – Castiel
Another great pick ladies. Skin has always been one of my favourite episodes, my other two from Season One being Faith and Devils Trap. I chuckle at the way Sam brings out the Puppy Dog Eyes to get Dean to backtrack to St Louis and Dean’s reaction to his police sketch. The angst shifter/Dean unleashes to tied up Sam wrings my heart out for the real Dean. But one of the best things about this episode is the music, that opening scene coupled with In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is just…wow. Hey Man, Nice Shot is one of my very favourite Supernatural song choices as well Sweetondean.
This episode to me truely sets up the isolation of the boys as they do the job they do.
Born Under A Bad Sign is also a favourite. This episode certainly showed Jared’s maturity as an actor, and I agree with you that he makes an extremely chilling bad guy – in fact down right creepy towards bound Jo. I enjoy Dean’s frantic journey down the hotel corridor and his frenzied search for any injuries on Sam, a Dean in big brother mode. Jo’s butcher job on Dean always tickles me as well.
As for A Very Supernatural Christmas, this is always a favourite for all the reasons listed. When others in my family play cheery Christmas videos, I play this!
Thanks guys.
Skin is a great episode and so is Born Under a Bad Sign. All 3 of today’s picks are in my top 15 as well.
As for Faith and Devil’s Trap, they both vye for my number one position along with Supernatural Christmas and Mystery Spot. Along with In My Time of Dying and What is and What Should Never Be. Each one of these is in my top spot at the time I am watching it. To pick one alone is impossible for me.
It’s so nice to see some season 2 and 3 episodes on here. I know I’m in the minority, but seasons 4 and 5 were my least favorites. I won’t go into the reasons because that’s a different thread, but I guess I just look at things a differently then ya’ll do.
BUABS, Skin and the one and only Supernatural Christmas episode are some of my favorites and I don’t need to state why because you all did such an eloquent job.
My only nitpick would be that I didn’t think Jared’s acting was quite as subpar as you did. I know that, in the beginning, Jared stated in interviews that he was trying to find out who Sam was, but it came across to me as Sam trying to find himself after what he’d been through. I think both he AND Jensen have had some clunky dialogue moments, but I never felt that his acting was worse than Jensen’s.
I do agree that he really showed what he could do in BUABS, though. When he let out that deep laugh, it was so UNSam like that it gave me chills and I loved it.
Great choices, ladies.
Your lists are great, guys!
But, they don’t line up much with mine as there are so few of seasons 1 – 3, and those are my favourites, and with a few exceptions my list would come mostly from the Pilot to Lazarus Rising.
“On the Head of a Pin”, “It’s a Terrible Life”, “Changing Channels” and “French Mistake” would be on my top 15, but the rest would come from seasons 1 – 3.
Thanks to Ardeo for the Christmas episode. It is at times my number one episode. 😛
You should do your 15 worst episodes, and then we could have lots of controversy and interesting opinions. I could do that one in perhaps 10 minutes! :-*
ah season 7 *sigh* only one episode from there has been included and it was at the number 15 spot so I strongly suspect that will be it (we are at the top 5 now after all.)
If I were to pick ANY episode from s7 for the top 15, it would be Repo Man.
Looking forward to your top five–thanks for doing this, it is very enjoyable.
I love each one of these episodes.
I agree Born under a bad sign was when Jared finally hit’s his acting stride. He plays evil so well. I even loved soulless Sam.
The entire bar scene w/Joe is just so darn sexy and creepy at the same time. Love, love Sam pulling the bar stool over so he can sit and use the knife to play w/Jo’s bangs while she tells him the story of her dad’s death. Then Sam gets up and struts around and leans against the post…”My Daddy shot your Daddy in the head”.
Jared has one of the sexiest smiles on the planet and the smirk Sam gives after he shoots Dean is priceless.
Skin-oooooohhhhhhhhhh, Being a huge Dean girl any episode that gets Jensen to take off his shirt is OK by me. The fact that he also removed his skin…not so much.
I also feel this episode continued the brotherly issues from Asylum and Scarecrow. Both brothers have deep seated issues that they are still working on in Season 8.’
A very supernatural Christmas, wow I can go on about this episode for pages.
Fav scene: Sam and Dean sitting in the motel and Sam is explaining why he does not want to have Christmas. Dean says yeah but it is my last one
Sam tears up and explains he cant sit around drinking eggnog and pretending everything is OK, knowing next year you will be dead.
Who does not choke up when Dean opens the motel room door and all we see is the Samulet…camera pans back and he breaks into a huge smile and he sees Sam has created a last Christmas for him.
And the kicker is after they exchange presents and toast each other. Sam looks at Dean and just says “Hey Dean”, tears welling up in his eyes says nothing but looks at his brother, Dean smiling back at him and Rosemary Clooney softly signing in the background.
Someone give me a tissue please.
If I wasnt peepingdru I would wanna BUABS…lol…Sam’s laugh…..whooohooooo::DDDD
Born Under a Bad Sign has always been in my top 3 and it continues to be. Evil Sam shows off Jared’s abilities and put him on the track to being the Sam we have seen since then. My favorite line and overall scene is as well the conversation between Jo and Sam. Love it and you nailed the reasons why Alice!!!
Great choices. “Born Under a Bad Sign” is definitely in my top five, that evil laugh of Jared’s at the end in the devil’s trap, so creepy good! 😉 “Skin” is also on repeat viewing on my DVD player. I love when Jensen & Jared get to play evil, they do it so well and sexy to boot! Any episode that let’s us get a little peak of Jensen’s beautiful bod is good enough for me…even though the moment turns ewwww. And what to say about “A Very Supernatural Christmas”, that is my number 1 and always will be. I agree with you Ardeo, Madge & Edward are the best villains. I love when he says “Sweet Peter on a popsicle stick”, ha! 😀 It’s like Christmas just threw up in that house.