Supernatural Season Four: Hits & Misses – Part 2
Hits S4 Hits and Misses Part Two
Here it is – the second half of the season four Hits and Misses: and let me tell you, this was not easy so please pardon all the nit-picky misses. They were the only way to get enough misses to compile the list. The hits could go on and on, that’s true and I’m sure there are tons that aren’t mentioned between this and Part One. Season Four was awesome and there could be an entire book dedicated to all the great moments. So state your favourites in the comments below and stay tuned for season five H&M Part One in the next few weeks!
Hit – Death Restores Memories
Miss- Seer Doesn’t See
Ok, ok – I’m grasping. Season four is difficult to find flaws in, at least for me. This was a cool effect and an awesome build up to the introduction of angels in general as well as Castiel specifically. Nevertheless – it is a total shame Pamela lost her vision permanently. Why couldn’t the angels heal her at some point?
Hit – Reveal of Ruby’s Betrayal
Miss – Drunkard Flashback Sam
Some drinking post Dean’s death? Yes, okay. Absolute, constant drunkenness? No, I’m not completely on board with that – particularly while on a hunting/revenge mission. If we learned anything from Mystery Spot it’s that Sam is driven and focused – much like John – when on an undertaking such as he was. I’m not sold on the idea that he’d be drinking all the time and carelessly calling on demons the way he was. I know he was grieving and feeling that Winchester guilt – but come on, this isn’t exactly the Sam Winchester Way.
This episode was dark, intense and emotional. The acting from every party was heart-wrenching and it ended devastatingly. Nonetheless, we were never so clear about where our boys were at mentally or emotionally and nobody can argue it wasn’t an incredible episode all around.
Miss – Teenager Dean – “Sad, Lonely Kid”
For whatever reason, this was always a miss for me – toward the end of After School Special in the flashback where Amanda tells teenage Dean he’s just a sad kid and he insists vehemently that he’s a hero. I’m not going to suggest that that Amanda was off in her assessment or that she was 100% on the ball either, but Dean’s reaction to her just felt out of character to a large degree, at this point in his life. He was looking for approval primarily from his father, not from these people and for him to break cover and react so defensively? Something just a bit off there. (Yes, this is a nitpick, but it’s always bothered me).
Hit: Lollipop Disease begets Fluff Splatter
Honestly, the depressed Teddy was and still is one of the greatest things I have ever seen on television in my life. This stands as one of the many examples of the pure genius that exists in the Supernatural writers room: it’s adult humour that goes just far enough and even if standing wholly independent never ceases to be hilarious.
Miss – Pamela’s Death by Demon
Pam really got screwed in season four. Plain and simple.
Hit: It All Begins
Learning and understanding how it all began was incredible – and remarkably well done. That dogged, bad-ass, dark and gruff absentee father we all knew and love as John Winchester started out as a well-mannered, gentle soul looking for the 2.5 kids and a white picket fence. And lovable little apple-pie baking mother Mary? She was an ass-kicking, demon exercising, soul-trader who made the deal that started it all. Ain’t life grand.
Miss – “You walk out that door, don’t come back.”
Yes, this line was meant to parallel John’s word’s to Sam before he left for Stanford. And yes, it was meant as the so-called straw on the brothers relationship. Yet somehow this seemed uncharacteristic. There were many things that could have been said, equally as harsh and relationship damaging. For example: “if you do this, you won’t be my brother anymore” (I’m not a script writer, people). Somehow, telling Sam to never come back just seems out of character and more importantly, out of place given the situation – even accounting for the anger and hurt. Sam wasn’t leaving the life, he was pursuing what he believed was a solution to the problem. He was physically leaving the room, but that’s all. This line implied something greater that didn’t fit.
To be clear – I’m not overlooking the big/obvious, such as Dean being alive, for example. That’s a big hit, but also a given (in my books at least). Somethings don’t need to be stated to be so. I.e. Supernatural is awesome. So – your thoughts on the list? Agree? Disagree? Your own Hit/Miss list – share below!
[quote]Hit – Death Restores Memories [/quote]
It was not a Hit but it was good.[quote]Miss- Seer Doesn’t See[/quote]I too thought the same but it was a hit as I think none of the angels at that time was on human’s side.[quote]Hit – Reveal of Ruby’s Betrayal[/quote]This was superhit because like Sam I had believed her too (atleast the first half till they showed us Ruby’s facial expressions which Sam was unaware of.If they had not shown me that I would have believed Ruby to the end).[quote]Miss – Drunkard Flashback Sam[/quote]Personally It was not the drinking but the timing which was a miss.I would have preferred these scenes at the beginning of the season.[quote] Hit – On the Head of a Pin[/quote]Super Duper hit.One of my favorites episodes.[quote]Miss – Teenager Dean – “Sad, Lonely Kid”[/quote]I liked it.I thought Dean while always acted and mostly was the cool guy, Once he made a relation that persons thoughts did effect him.[quote]Hit: Lollipop Disease begets Fluff Splatter[/quote]Hit,LOL,ROFL etc. 😆 [quote]Miss – Pamela’s Death by Demon[/quote]Its Pamela’s death which is a miss (whether demon or otherwise it did not matter.)[quote]Hit: It All Begins[/quote]Hit an over all superb episode.[quote]Miss – “You walk out that door, don’t come back.”[/quote]It was perfect in my opinion.Dean was angry and the fact that he was in hell earlier and returned to the person he was comfortable as …i.e the carbon copy of his father.He never was 100% like his father even then but he slipped into that “character”.
My favourite season.Brilliant season and loved your article.
[quote]Hit – Death Restores Memories [/quote]
It was not a Hit but it was good.[quote]Miss- Seer Doesn’t See[/quote]I too thought the same but it was a hit as I think none of the angels at that time was on human’s side.[quote]Hit – Reveal of Ruby’s Betrayal[/quote]This was superhit because like Sam I had believed her too (atleast the first half till they showed us Ruby’s facial expressions which Sam was unaware of.If they had not shown me that I would have believed Ruby to the end).[quote]Miss – Drunkard Flashback Sam[/quote]Personally It was not the drinking but the timing which was a miss.I would have preferred these scenes at the beginning of the season.[quote] Hit – On the Head of a Pin[/quote]Super Duper hit.One of my favorites episodes.[quote]Miss – Teenager Dean – “Sad, Lonely Kid”[/quote]I liked it.I thought Dean while always acted and mostly was the cool guy, Once he made a relation that persons thoughts did effect him.[quote]Hit: Lollipop Disease begets Fluff Splatter[/quote]Hit,LOL,ROFL etc. 😆 [quote]Miss – Pamela’s Death by Demon[/quote]Its Pamela’s death which is a miss (whether demon or otherwise it did not matter.)[quote]Hit: It All Begins[/quote]Hit an over all superb episode.[quote]Miss – “You walk out that door, don’t come back.”[/quote]It was perfect in my opinion.Dean was angry and the fact that he was in hell earlier and returned to the person he was comfortable as …i.e the carbon copy of his father.He never was 100% like his father even then but he slipped into that “character”.
My favourite season.Brilliant season and loved your article.
I have to agree with you about the “You walk out that door” line. I’m not a fan of season 4, but I always felt like it was really out of character for Dean not to be willing to go with Sam, even when he said he needed Ruby. To me, Dean would have gone with him no matter what to protect him, and the whole scene felt like it was contrived. OOC decisions to put the players in place rather than what they would normally have done. Just my opinion. I know I’m in the minority.
I have to agree with you about the “You walk out that door” line. I’m not a fan of season 4, but I always felt like it was really out of character for Dean not to be willing to go with Sam, even when he said he needed Ruby. To me, Dean would have gone with him no matter what to protect him, and the whole scene felt like it was contrived. OOC decisions to put the players in place rather than what they would normally have done. Just my opinion. I know I’m in the minority.
Season 4 was excellent. Re one of your hits: Aside from the fact that it gave us passionate Sam scenes… (I just need to take a moment here) … Ruby was an excellent character – a badass badass if ever there was one!
Season 4 was excellent. Re one of your hits: Aside from the fact that it gave us passionate Sam scenes… (I just need to take a moment here) … Ruby was an excellent character – a badass badass if ever there was one!
Season 4 (in spite of some excellent episodes and awesome acting) was always my least favourite season, due to the split between the brothers as the “unhealthy co-dependency” had been the reason I fell in love with them, and then season 7 came along and edged out 4 as my least favourite.LOL I found no fault from the pilot up to Lazarus Rising and those episodes are still my top go to episodes for feeling that everything is as it should be. I do know we can’t keep reliving those 3 seasons and to continue things must change and evolve. It’s just how I enjoy them. Anyway, I’m here till the very end no matter what!
Death Restores Memories – ?? Sorry. My mind is a blank for this one.
Seer Doesn’t See
Miss – was horrified for Pamela’s blinding. I guess it was to show how dangerous angels are.
Reveal of Ruby’s Betrayal
Hit. Gen hit it out of the park, and when Sam grabbed Ruby and Dean skewered her and twisted the knife I was scaring my dog and yelling “hooray, you bitch”. I knew she was evil near the end when Sam was drinking her blood. Yuck! Sam drinking demon blood was a ‘miss’ for me always. Why did he have to drink blood when the other psychic kids didn’t?
Drunkard Flashback Sam
Hit. I was glad to see that Dean’s death HAD affected him this way. I was beginning to think Sam was sorry Dean came back. I perfectly understand his drinking, remembering how devastated he had been in season 3 and especially when Dean was ripped by hellhounds and he could only watch as his beloved brother died horribly.
On the Head of a Pin
Slam Bang out of the park HIT! Intense to the max!
Gut wrenching gold! Jensen deserved an Emmy for this, and Heyerdahl’s performance was perfection!
Breathtaking episode!
Teenager Dean – “Sad, Lonely Kid”
Miss. Colin Ford was awesome as young Sammy, but the actor who played young Dean didn’t do it for me. I thought back then, Jensen could have played the part of teenage Dean better himself. As for the character, if I had believed that was Dean I might have liked it. I believe young Dean would have been hurt that Amanda pitied him.
Lollipop Disease begets Fluff Splatter
Hit. Loved the brothers together in this one and loved Teddy Bear. Great Edlund script again!
Pamela’s Death by Demon
Miss. Hate that everyone who helps the boys ends up dead. So much guilt heaped upon them, how they are even sane is beyond me. Please! Cut down on the killing of their friends! (Still mad about Sarah!)
In the Beginning
Hit. A-1 episode. ‘Nuff said!’
“You walk out that door, don’t come back.”
Hit. Perfectly understandable. Dean is human after all. Just come from nearly dying from Alistair’s damaging his throat and Sam starts choking his downed brother? You bet. I was glad he said that. Sam beat his brother with the help of Ruby’s blood and then throttled him while he was down and out. I was devastated at that! One reason that episode is definitely not in my favourites list.
Season 4 (in spite of some excellent episodes and awesome acting) was always my least favourite season, due to the split between the brothers as the “unhealthy co-dependency” had been the reason I fell in love with them, and then season 7 came along and edged out 4 as my least favourite.LOL I found no fault from the pilot up to Lazarus Rising and those episodes are still my top go to episodes for feeling that everything is as it should be. I do know we can’t keep reliving those 3 seasons and to continue things must change and evolve. It’s just how I enjoy them. Anyway, I’m here till the very end no matter what!
Death Restores Memories – ?? Sorry. My mind is a blank for this one.
Seer Doesn’t See
Miss – was horrified for Pamela’s blinding. I guess it was to show how dangerous angels are.
Reveal of Ruby’s Betrayal
Hit. Gen hit it out of the park, and when Sam grabbed Ruby and Dean skewered her and twisted the knife I was scaring my dog and yelling “hooray, you bitch”. I knew she was evil near the end when Sam was drinking her blood. Yuck! Sam drinking demon blood was a ‘miss’ for me always. Why did he have to drink blood when the other psychic kids didn’t?
Drunkard Flashback Sam
Hit. I was glad to see that Dean’s death HAD affected him this way. I was beginning to think Sam was sorry Dean came back. I perfectly understand his drinking, remembering how devastated he had been in season 3 and especially when Dean was ripped by hellhounds and he could only watch as his beloved brother died horribly.
On the Head of a Pin
Slam Bang out of the park HIT! Intense to the max!
Gut wrenching gold! Jensen deserved an Emmy for this, and Heyerdahl’s performance was perfection!
Breathtaking episode!
Teenager Dean – “Sad, Lonely Kid”
Miss. Colin Ford was awesome as young Sammy, but the actor who played young Dean didn’t do it for me. I thought back then, Jensen could have played the part of teenage Dean better himself. As for the character, if I had believed that was Dean I might have liked it. I believe young Dean would have been hurt that Amanda pitied him.
Lollipop Disease begets Fluff Splatter
Hit. Loved the brothers together in this one and loved Teddy Bear. Great Edlund script again!
Pamela’s Death by Demon
Miss. Hate that everyone who helps the boys ends up dead. So much guilt heaped upon them, how they are even sane is beyond me. Please! Cut down on the killing of their friends! (Still mad about Sarah!)
In the Beginning
Hit. A-1 episode. ‘Nuff said!’
“You walk out that door, don’t come back.”
Hit. Perfectly understandable. Dean is human after all. Just come from nearly dying from Alistair’s damaging his throat and Sam starts choking his downed brother? You bet. I was glad he said that. Sam beat his brother with the help of Ruby’s blood and then throttled him while he was down and out. I was devastated at that! One reason that episode is definitely not in my favourites list.
@#4 Bevie: I agree. these were some great choices. I really loved Pam, as she was one of hte few people that regularly snarked at the borthers and was deeply funny (calling Dean Chachi, and that Soc/Greaser comment.)
I hated to see her get treated that way but I loved her character.
Lollipop disease is far too ticklish a phrase for me to watch this episode too many times. One of the all-time funniest episodes of the show even if April’s lack of consent and agency never being acknowledged was problematic for me.
Afterschool Special was just “meh” for me while On the Head of A pin was one of my true favorites. Very dark, very intense with some great revelations and acting on all fronts. i’ve watched this one a couple of times but it’s too intense to watch more often.
I didn’t care for the fight between Dean and Sam as it did feel a bit contrived and I’ve never enjoyed seeing them beat each other up even though its the first thing they did in the Pilot. This episode too, is just a little too dark for me.
I did like seeing Ruby get hers. I knew she was evil because of those hidden facial expressions and the fact that she actually talked Sam into blood drinking is just icky.
I liked seeing her get her comeuppance and the brothers did that together.
At first I was laughing because Ruby was yelling about being awesome but then cheering when she died. This is about the only show on TV that can give me emotional whiplash that way.
@#4 Bevie: I agree. these were some great choices. I really loved Pam, as she was one of hte few people that regularly snarked at the borthers and was deeply funny (calling Dean Chachi, and that Soc/Greaser comment.)
I hated to see her get treated that way but I loved her character.
Lollipop disease is far too ticklish a phrase for me to watch this episode too many times. One of the all-time funniest episodes of the show even if April’s lack of consent and agency never being acknowledged was problematic for me.
Afterschool Special was just “meh” for me while On the Head of A pin was one of my true favorites. Very dark, very intense with some great revelations and acting on all fronts. i’ve watched this one a couple of times but it’s too intense to watch more often.
I didn’t care for the fight between Dean and Sam as it did feel a bit contrived and I’ve never enjoyed seeing them beat each other up even though its the first thing they did in the Pilot. This episode too, is just a little too dark for me.
I did like seeing Ruby get hers. I knew she was evil because of those hidden facial expressions and the fact that she actually talked Sam into blood drinking is just icky.
I liked seeing her get her comeuppance and the brothers did that together.
At first I was laughing because Ruby was yelling about being awesome but then cheering when she died. This is about the only show on TV that can give me emotional whiplash that way.
I think “Bad Boys” and “After School Special” kinda complement each other.You kinda see why Dean would forgo and lasting romantic attachments.
I think “Bad Boys” and “After School Special” kinda complement each other.You kinda see why Dean would forgo and lasting romantic attachments.