Why I Still Love Watching The Pilot
Elle2 has been spending some time recently going through old episodes and has completed season one. As a result, she has couple of articles to share on this part of her journey. One thing we’ve never done on this site is take a good look at the pilot (putting it on the episodes to recap list), but now elle2 has rectified that. Enjoy!
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I’m on a new mission, as it were, to rewatch all the episodesideally in order but I’m not going to be legalistic about it but I do plan on enjoying itshouldn’t be hard. This past Friday night I snuggled up with The Pilot and I thoroughly enjoyed the 42 odd minutes of that episode. So, in trying to warm up my writing muscles it occurred to me that it might be funor at least a way to pass a few minutes on a Sunday afternoonto put into words why I still love watching The Pilot.
Mary Winchester:
Knowing what I now know of her story makes it all the more tragic going back and seeing her thoroughly immersed in her role as mother and wife. She had so completely, it seems, put the hunter life behind her that that flickering hallway light was nothing more than a loose bulb, not an indication that a demon was present. Her scream, her body pinned to the ceiling, her deathall powerful moments forever etched in the series’ canon. Now I have the context of Home, All Hell Breaks Loose I and In The Beginning to fill in so many of the blanks as well as the fantasy/dreams of WIAWSNB and WTLBI really hope there is another opportunity for Mary to figure into an episode.
John Winchester:
We met him as the happy, loving father who unashamedly hugged young Dean and wished Sammy a good night; in a tragic instant he was transformed to shattered father and husband bent on revenge and the search for the truth. He was further defined not only through his appearances in Home, Asylum, Shadow, Dead Man’s Blood, Salvation, Devil’s Trap and IMTOD but also through the seasons via Sam’s and Dean’s continuing struggle with how they were raised and what Dad did and did not providehis storage area in Buffalo, In the Beginning and Jump the Shark offer deeper glimpses into the conflict John Winchester carried from that fateful November 1983 night.
The Music:
Ramblin’ Man, Back in Black, Highway to Hell and moreI miss the days of so much music per episode. It hurts not to have more than an occasional song but such is life and the economics of the business. Still, “˜tis pretty fine to go back and hear the inspiration and the “˜soundtrack’ of the series laid out in one short but awesome scene.
Sam: …I swear man; you gotta update your cassette tape collection.
Dean: Why?
Sam: Well for one they are cassette tapes, and two””Black Sabbath? Motorhead? Metallica? It’s the greatest hits of mullet rock.
Dean: House rules, Sammy. Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cake hole.
Dean: Why?
Sam: Well for one they are cassette tapes, and two””Black Sabbath? Motorhead? Metallica? It’s the greatest hits of mullet rock.
Dean: House rules, Sammy. Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cake hole.
Firsts:
The first time the guitar riff is playedSam and Dean leaving the bridge after Dean’s mouthed off to the sherrif.
“No chick flick moments.”
“Bitch. Jerk.”
The Journal “Dad’s single most important possession.”
The first brotherly ‘fight’ as Dean pins Sam against the bridge “Don’t talk about her that way.”
Motel roomsthe first was quite sleazy, dark, covered with page after page of research but man did it give insight into who and what John Winchester is and how he works.
The first time we hear the purr/rumble as the ceiling bursts into flames, killing first Mary and then Jessicalove that sound.
The Impala’s trunk: I never stop enjoying the scenes when we get to peak inside the trunk and The Pilot was our first opportunity. The prop crew must really enjoy putting together the bits and pieces in there. Watching Jensen in that scene where he so easily moves around and pulls out the items he wantedit strikes me that he practiced that scene several times to get that familiarity down pat so that it looked natural. Just something I appreciate.
There’s many more reasons why I enjoy The Pilotit started the series, without it there wouldn’t be a season 1, 2, 3, 4 and now 5the dialogue, the lighting I could go onbut I’ll end here. Feel free to add any comments you wish about why you enjoy The Pilot. If you have your DVDs, pull them out, pop some corn and settle inI suggest the commentary as well and the deleted scenesit also doesn’t hurt to go to Supernatural wiki (not wikipedia but wiki) and check out some info on The Pilot. There’s fun little nuggets that Mr. Kripke has put in about what the first music was intended to besuch as Enter Sandman by Metallica was supposed to play when Back in Black played, at least in the unaired pilot. Perhaps they couldn’t secure the rights, who knows.
This time of year always makes me a bit nostalgicshh, don’t tell my momand I decided this year instead of allowing the usual nostalgia that always morphs into psuedo depression as the days get shorter and the air colder (I live in the northeastNew York State) I would spend a little time giving in to my nostalgia and enjoying the entire series and occasionally jotting down my thoughts.
BTW, I watched Wendigo last night and I still like it and here’s why:
Dean: “Honey, I don’t do shorts.” (snigger, you do as of After School Special)
Sam has nightmares about Jessica and closes up when Dean prompts himoh, Sammy, we didn’t know then but we know now how much that closing up is going to cost you in he long run.
Dean: “Saving people, hunting things, the family business.”
Dean gets beaten up.
Sam drives the Impala as Rush, Fly By Night starts to play.
Dean and Sam share some emotions, share in the solving of who and/or what they are huntingheck, any and all of the brotherly moments.
It’s just a comfort episode for me, so I suspect I’ll always like it.
Tonight the plan is to watch Phantom Traveler and Dead in the Water. I love this show.
Thanks for reading, Elle2
The first episode I ever watched upon its original airing was The Benders, so I had to catch this in rerun and I must say, Mr. Sam, that the majority of us that love classic rock and metal didn’t, don’t and never will sport a mullet, thank you very much. 😎
It’s funny going back to watch the older stuff because there’s almost a subconscious belief that they aren’t as good as later episodes, some universal that holds true for all shows, right? Right.
I think we see Jared and Jensen, though both fine actors, still feeling their way around, not with their craft, but with the show, a shade less subtlety perhaps, but which, in retrospect, fits wonderfully because this is the first time that Sam and Dean have been together for an extended period of time in a good while. It isn’t always comfortable and at ease as it is later on, but it accentuates the the dynamic that’s beginning.
Having watched the entire series a few times recently in order to grab closer readings for stuff I’ve written here, and not simply for pure enjoyment, I, like you, realize that dammit, season one is pretty goddamn good. There’s a purity to it, and that’s not to denigrate later seasons (two will probably remain my favorite, if I *had* to pick just one), but this is the foundation for everything that follows.
That said, CW, cancel Melrose Place and add their budget to Supernatural. Maybe you’ll finally be able to snag a Zeppelin tune.
I agree, I love The Pilot funny thing that it was not the first Supernatural episode I watched. I started with “Bloody Mary” and later I watched the four episodes I missed.
Ell2…great review. Randal I couldn’t agree more. CW should cancel a number of their shows and add the money to SPN.
I have been watching the first season more also. And it’s because of how utterly GOOD the first season episodes are. I find them as good and entertaining as I did when they first came out. This weekend I watched Jensen’s ‘Bloody Valentine’. Just had to see how he would look in a character besides Dean. Surprisingly one thing that caught my attention was what a beautiful smile Jensen has! I asked why haven’t I noticed that before…answer, because, he rarely has any reason to smile in SPN these days. With all the doom and gloom we see now, I forgot how nice it is. That is what is missed in the later seasons….and really comes out in the earlier ones. Ditto for Jared. Come on Kripke…would one smile from Dean and Sam per epi be too much to ask??????
Hi, Randal, Whitelady and Sablegreen,
I’m so glad there are so many out there enjoying the earlier episodes as much (and as frequently) as I do. I agree, Randal, that there is almost a sense that the earlier stuff wasn’t as good as what’s out there now but truth be told, missteps aside, Season 1 holds up brilliantly and it’s hallmark episodes really shine in light of what we know now.
I attribute that in part to Kripke having and outline of where he intended the show to go as well as the efforts of the writers to go back to Season 1, 2 and sometimes 3 to weave threads into the current seasons (I really noticed that occurring in Season 4 and 5.
Whitelady, you were light years ahead of me, my first episode was Mystery Spot…I had a lot of backtracking to do…I got it all done though before Ghostfacers aired for the first time.
Sablegreen, that is something quite striking about Season 1 and much of Season 2 (despite the grief over John’s death) there was a lot more smiles, a lighter feel to the lives of ‘the boys’ that isn’t there these days. Can’t blame them, death, deals, demons, devil (hey, there are enough “D” words to use here 🙂 keep things pretty — um, “D”ark!
As for the rest of Season 1…I just sent Alice an article that is sort of a follow up to this. Darn, that Alice, she knows how to schedule postings…almost as if she knows what I’m planning to write…hm, Alice, are you in my computer? 😮
I am watching all the old episodes with my mum (if you ever come to Holland, beware. There is a fiftythree year old fangirl on the loose) and it amazes me how mutch stronger the episodes of season one are if you know what is going to happen next. Try watching “Faith” again for exemple.
I watched ‘dead man’s blood’ ‘salvation’ and ‘devil’s trap’ last week and I kept wondering how much John Winchester really knew about the master plan. There are so many ways to interpret the things he says.
Elle2,
There are more of us, I bet, who love the early episodes of this fabulous show. For me the Pilot was the beginning of a strange love story with a fictional tv-show and it’s characters, lasting for almost five years now. I still remember quite distinctly how the first scenes gripped me and I grew to love the brothers pretty much from their first fight – ‘easy, tiger!’… yeah, I became glued to this show. Never experienced something even remotely like this.
I watch older episodes quite often, not always in order, sometimes just to get back to a couple of scenes for an article (as Randal described), or because I’m in the mood for a certain story or I just want to indulge in the mere beauty of the leads (yes, sometimes I’m a shallow, superficial gal who likes to look at a couple of handsome men, oh my…)…
I’ve introduced a friend to the show just recently, so we’ve been watching the show chronologically, and it was great fun to watch it with someone who looks at the episodes the first time (and for me, with all the info we have today, it was agony sometimes – poor Mary, oh John, their lives could have been so different… Always that damn subjunctive…
The pilot will always be among my favourite episodes, and yes, Randal, season one is indeed damn good! I’m in constant awe when I realize how high the quality already was at the beginning of this show, and they managed to continue with that standard, getting even better. Everyone is – I’m so proud of the leads. They have grown so much in their acting skills, I’m amazed… It’s allowed to be proud of people you’re not related to, is it not? Even though it sounds corny?
I think I need to go to sleep now, my eyes are weary.
Wish me luck, I’ll have my first day of work tomorrow after an almost four-week-sickness-period, and I guess the amount of work waiting for me will be horrific. Please, no suicidal crisis this weekend… give me something I can easily handle…
See ya soon, and – Elle2, keep the reminders of the older episodes coming. I’ll love to read them… Jas
And P.S: PetraO, just saw your comment – I agree, with the information we have now the episodes suddenly are enhanced with even more layers than before. Great stuff!
The first episode I paid attention to was “Supernatural Christmas”. I say that, as sometimes while working on the computer, Supernatural was playing in the background without me paying much attention. I know “Blasphemy” and I completely agree. I paid attention to that episode and subsequently immediately purchased seasons 1 and 2 from Amazon.
I absolutely loved season 1 and 2. I still love season 1 and 2. I rewatch all my episodes in order again and again (except I switch around Monster Movie and Metamorphosis) and have season 5 so far all on tape. I need my fix nearly every night before bed. When I finish up and find myself back at the beginning with The Pilot and Wendigo I find that I enjoy the heck out of them.
Season 1 and 2 and also 3 to me are more enjoyable as things have not yet got so very dark and depressing for the boys. And yes, I love to see Dean smile and laugh as well as Sammy. Not so much smiling and laughing these days. I understand that they have to make the show deeper and that really brings out the awesome acting of Jensen and Jared. As much as I admire them both in this season and the last one, I just miss the purity of it as Randal says.
Perhaps it is because they managed to succeed more often in the first 2 seasons. They worked so well together and still managed to have some fun (see Hell House) in the meantime, that I was left with a good happy feeling. Now it is all PTSD and stress and dread and despondency and death.
I really hope that at the end of this season we can enter season 6 (hopefully) with some of that good feeling that I loved in the first two returning. I want to see a happy Dean and a happy Sam again before the show ends. That going out in a blaze of glory is not something I wish to see, even if it would please Jen and Jared. And please keep Cas and Bobby around! The doom and gloom is not going to stop me from watching and enjoying my favourite show, but please throw in a little bit of hope that there will be a little bit of a reward for our two beleaguered boys.
I loved Dean’s hair in The Pilot and Wendigo, just to be a little superficial. He looked like such a cocky badass. Then he was just adorable in the way he connected to Lucas in Dead in the Water, and Sam discovered some things he never knew about his big brother.
Last night I watched “Bad Day at Black Rock”. Enjoyed it immensely even after the many times I’ve watched it.
Hey, I even like “Bugs” and “Route 666”.
Hi, PetraO, Jasminka and Bevie,
Faith, Home really smash me every time I watch them now knowing what I now know…I see a young man with an important job to do, and it’s not finished yet.” (Shivers)
It is interesting to watch how each actor has grown more comfortable in their roles not to mention see how the roles have expanded and deepened. And yes, sometimes it is fun to just go back and see how adorable they both were (they both seem so much older now!)
I’m working through S2 now for several articles I have planned (and I’m writing in them all at various times too…that will be fun to proofread to make sure the right stuff gets in the right article HA) and I do enjoy watching how the brothers learn things about each other as well as how they tease and play.
Aw well, only 7 weeks left…we can do it everyone. Get plenty of rest, stay healty, work hard (rest hard) and keep checking here for daily innoculations against hellatus…we’re getting there!
The first episode of SPN I ever watched was “Sympathy For the Devil,” and of course, I was hooked. The next episode I watched after that was the pilot so I could start getting all caught up, and what a difference! Jared and Jensen looked so…young! And not only because it was four years ago but also because of how world-weary they had become. And their voices were so different, too, and not as growly and deep.
It was kind of a cool juxtaposition to go from them separating at the end of SFtD to see how they got back together in the pilot. I really liked the pilot and thought it set a great foundation for the rest of the season and the series as a whole.
Sadly, my roommate has kidnapped the first DVD from my season 1 set 👿 I fully intend to make her pay.
Sitting at season 5 and looking backwards, those first few episodes make me..woobie, I guess. Those boys have come soooo far and been through sooo much. It brings on the warm fuzzies to go back and see how it all started.
I loved the Pilot for many reasons. I love how Kripke put his foot down and cannonized the music. I loved how the very first few minutes of the show was a scene of happiness – family, safety, wholeness – and then The Show goes on to do nothing else but torture and break those boys. Mary, John, Jess…we miss you. And basically, I love the Pilot simply because it is the pilot..the foundations, the beginning, the start of everything.
Elle2, PetraO, Jasminka, oh hell, everyone, great point about the older episodes having more resonance in retrospect.
I’ve enjoyed the melancholy darkness that’s come since ’cause bleak is good 8-), but in the back of the mind, there’s still that glimmer of hope, of resolution that we saw in the first couple of seasons (at least until the ‘hey, Sam’s mixed up with yellow eyes’ gig) AND for what Narcissus said about how from the getgo, you know it’s all about family.
Narcissus, I could offer you a means of payment – the horrendous invention of Monsieur Guilliotin… still rotting away in my basement. I could also muster up a witch. I’ll shut up now. 😆 😆 Jas
Randal, that’s always been my soft spot – the foundation of the show: family, being close to someone, going all the way for someone we love. And, yes, I love Bobby for that – ‘family don’t end with blood’. I’ve made that experience. People I don’t share any DNA with have become my family after my own was gone. There is no greater gift.
This show wonderfully reflects that – what we will do for people we love. there is hope and loyalty, sometimes we don’t even have to look far…
And I’ve enjoyed the melancholy envelopping the show these days, also, as it adds even more to the depth of it all. And it gives the fabulous actors more opportunities to show their skill.
8-), J
*insert horrible fake French accent*
Madame Jasminka…aaah, Monsieur Guillotin, our old friend 🙂 I was under the impression that he was on loan to Monsieur Randal, no? But I am sure we can all negotiate a compromise. Perhaps over a spot of tea, hmm? I can already imagine the possibilities… 😈
I came in with Bad Day At Black Rock so I watched in a sort of sides-to-the-middle sort of way, I love most of Season 1 … The pilot was great, creepy-dead-girl-in-the-back-seat tapped into one of my major phobias and nearly finished me off completely! 😀
Hmm, verily, it seems you all *are* as bloodthirsty as I had imagined. Sacre bleu!
Hi Elle2
Once again another intriguing article.
I always find myself going back to the first season.
Enjoying the motw, the dark moments, the music and light heartedness and banter it had.
My first episode was Nightmare. Now that was an introduction. I had no clue what was going on and I didn’t care. I was immediately bitten by the Supernatural bug.
I did however think I was going to need constructive surgery after my jaw hitting the
floor so many times from that episode.
(loving that the banter has been adopted by our fellow commenter of late, yes you all know who you are)
Hi Elle2, thanks for this article, talk about a walk on the memory lane… I can’t believe it’s been 4+ years (except I can, when I see how young they look in the Pilot lol) since this awesomeness started 🙂
I just started watching the series from the beginning… Watched my ‘so-called’ faves… but since I love almost every ep, it takes a little while to finish them 🙂 And also that’s why its’ impossible to make any kinda top10 or even top50 list, hee 😉 But your piece about the Pilot really sinks in all those great memories and moments about it. When S1 aired here for the first time, I didn’t watch it, didn’t really care about it (Yeah, little did I know lol) but got it bad (hook, sink and liner, or how they say it) after AHBL1, so I had a crap load of eppies to watch after AHBL2 since it took a few years before s3 aired so I had time 🙂
But the Pilot, oh, the Pilot. It’s definitely one of the best pilot eppies I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen plenty + I like to think myself quite picky about these things). It’s really a great episode, and quite creepy too. The bit where we first see The Constance chick by the road, floating and twirling like a musicbox ballerina, flickering in and out, THAT was freaking creepy. *shudders* If she would’ve done something to the victims eyes, I would’ve been freaking out big time. *bows down to Bloody Mary for those nightmares*
The whole urban legend of the disappearing hitchhiker is one of my faves. It also was done cinematically very well so it was all good, lollipops and candycanes and bunnies “with their hoppy legs and twitchy little noses”. *glee*
I feel sad that I can’t really remember the excitement and the whole freshness of seeing it for the first time but I do remember thinking that the chemistry between Jared and Jensen was amazing and they really felt like brothers. The oneliners, which since then have grown into something of an epic proportion for me at least :D, in this one are awesome and really set the right tone about these boys, their relationship, attitudes and their lives. I just love every minute of it! And like other have said here, it really gives a whole new meaning, watching these early eps now when we know what we know, what will happen to them. It’s sad, tragic, excruciating but it’s wonderfull, the drama, the sacrifices, and the unspoken love…*sigh* It’s the raw emotion that we can see as early as here in the Pilot. *doublesigh* I love this show. Ok, gonna stop this mindless blabber now 🙂
Thanks everyone for walking down memory lane with me…whee, so nice to have the company.
What a juxtaposition, Ardeospina, you had…Sympathy for the Devil back to the Pilot … WOW! And congrats for joining the fandom of the show!!!
The rest of you French, British and whathaveyou accented crazies out there…you all make me laugh!
Narcissus, here’s hoping you get your DVD back…your roommate has no idea really!
I had so much fun writing this little article and so much more reading your comments, I’m likely to tackle another episode in this manner, now to find just the right one…oooh, I got it! I’ll get that done by Christmas.
Hey, Narcissus, I’d like some Earl Grey, a hint of sugar, lemon…or perhaps some café au lait? Oh, zzzze damn frrrrrrrrrrrrenchhhh…. 😮 Jas
Randal,
Indeed, blood is life, isn’t it? L’étendard sanglant est levé… We’re not scaring you, eh? Take heart, Jas
Randal,
Indeed, blood is life, isn’t it? L’étendard sanglant est levé… We’re not scaring you, eh? Take heart, Jas
Elle2 – walking down memory lane with you is one of the perks of coming to this site. It’s great, great fun. Keep ‘em coming…
And a good laugh – wow, we should find a reason to laugh each day. It makes my world go around. Give me a freaky accent, some every day absurdity or a sick joke… I’m game. A patient told me a joke today: Two therapists walk down a street and find a murdered couple. It’s all blood and gore. And one says to the other: ‘now, we gotta help the one who did that!’. I actually know therapists who would say something like that…
Thanks again, Jas
My first episode was ‘bloody mary’, and it had me hooked immediatly, though I nearly tuned out after ‘bugs’…
I watched the first four episodes of season two today and I loved every second! Dean gets even funnier when he is upset and Sam watches porn :shock:. That scene had my mum rolling on the floor, I had to pause it because she couldn’t see from the tears in her eyes. But most of all, I loved how close they were. Despite al the fighting, Dean hitting Sam, Sam getting on Dean’s nerves, they were still brothers. They would never even have considered splitting up in those days. I really miss that. I don’t think they can ever go back to the way things were back then.
One last thing. When my mum saw the patch of dead grass around the zombie’s grave in CSPWDT, she said it looked like an spaceship had landed… I can’t wait to watch ‘tall tales’ with her! Alien slowdance…
PetraO, it’s wonderful that you’re able to share the Supernatural experience with your mom who is becoming a fan, methinks, right?
The Alien Slowdance will have her rolling again on the floor (and the alien’s sigh… oh my God…). Enjoy it, enjoy it..
:-), Jas
Jas … 😆 😆 😆 … Fnark …
( I’m all out of Pythonisms )
Non, non, je ne parle pas français. Pouvez-vous me dire où le salon est-il? 😎
Supernarttu, oh hell, a top 50 list is a piece of cake. Of course, half of it will change by the bottom of the hour, again and again and again and then one more time.
Of course we’re a bloodthirsty lot, Randal. We let our lives rotate around a bloodthirsty show 🙂
And owh…he busts out real French. I surrender.
@Elle2 — Yeah, it was sort of a crazy way to get into the show, but hey, whatever works! Now I’m trying to get my mom and brothers to watch the show!
And thanks for the welcome to fandom. You and everyone else on this site are so welcoming and accepting that I also decided to make the jump from lurker to commenter, so extra kudos for being such a great group of people!