Extra help for sophomores - AM New York

Marty White wrote:

If you happen to see "Supernatural" for the first time, be warned. The bright colors, flashy sets, thrilling special effects, scintillating dialogue, hot sex, and larger-than-life heroes of other television shows aren't to be found here.
The colors of "Supernatural" range from murky yellow to olive drab to dark grey under a sky so grim you might find yourself grabbing for the remote to brighten things up. Far from flashy, the sets and locations are the height of humdrum: desolate roads, muddy fields, dripping woods, boring towns, cheap diners, and motel rooms so ludicrously cheesy the mention of "maid service" in a recent episode evoked peals of laughter in my family room. As for the special effects. Well, use your imagination. For the most part, you won't have any choice.
Then, there's the dialogue. Forget about those bons mots, witty exchanges, probing insights, and grandiose speeches you hear on other series. The characters of "Supernatural" sound suspiciously like real people, not scriptwriters.
I recall there was some hot sex on "Supernatural," though. Once. It didn't last long because the older brother had to hunt down a phantom truck that was making mincemeat of drivers. So if steamy locker room scenes are what you'll have to go elsewhere. In "Supernatural," the focus is always on the job of saving lives.
Of course, the show has plenty of romance--though not of the usual kind. The romance of "Supernatural" has its roots in ancient and medieval tales of warriors and knights who set out on a long and lonely quest to rescue others by defeating evil in the world. Here, the horse is a creaky '67 Impala, the trackless wastes are the backroads of middle America (resembling Vancouver), and the sword or javelin has been replaced by a trunk full of holy water, rock salt, consecrated rounds, and other weapons against evil entities. But, as in those early romances, "Supernatural" is always based on oral legends, lore, and myths--the kinds of tales told around fires for as long as humanity's feared the darkness.
And the heroes? They're of the ancient variety, as well. True, the younger brother has a little ESP working now and then, but don't expect to see any comic book feats from these guys. The heroism of the Winchesters is simple and familiar. It has its source in pain, struggle, defeat, anger, doubt, determination, faith, love, and immense self-sacrifice--in other words, in all those things that can and often do turn ordinary people into heroes worthy of the name.
So, if you happen to stumble across "Supernatural," keep in mind you're seeing something different from every other show on television. It's poor; it's cheesy; it's absolutely brilliant. It's also totally addictive. So, remember: you've been warned.