Supernatural 1:21-22 (Finale)

1:21 SALVATION

Directed by Robert Singer. Original Airdate: April 27. 2006.

Watched and Reviewed on May 29, 2011.

Synopsis: (SPOILERS for those who haven't seen the show. Drag your cursor over the space below to read it if you're interested.)
Meg's back. And she wants that gun. So she starts killing John's old friends one by one until he agrees to hand over the weapon - even if it means leaving his sons alone to battle the demon that killed their mother.

In case anyone who hasn't seen the show for whatever reason is reading this, I can't really say too much about the plot of this one without giving away some major spoilers. SALVATION is basically just the set-up for the season finale, which is the next episode. What I can say is that everything in the season so far, as far as the main storyline, is starting to culminate. I can also say that this was a solid episode, but a cocktease more than anything, for obvious reasons. In the context of this being a weekly series, I can picture this episode getting high praises and being talked about a lot amongst fans of the show, whetting their appetites for what's on the horizon. When looking at it like that, the episode does exactly what it's supposed to do. From my point of view, however, as part of a marathon and knowing that I don't have to wait a whole week to see what happens next, it lessens the overall effect of the episode. It's still a good one, but it doesn't stand on its own for obvious reasons. For the sake of being critical, I thought a lot of the dialogue between the three lead characters (hint, hint) was incredibly cliche. In all fairness, though, I do quite enjoy the direction the show is headed in terms of the big finale.

Score: 7.5

1:22 DEVIL'S TRAP (Season Finale)

Directed by Kim Manners. Original Airdate: May 4. 2006.

Watched and Reviewed on May 29, 2011.

Synopsis: Feels like we're running out of time. With a terrifying exorcism, warfare with a pack of demons and a shocking double-twist storyline, the intense, astonishing season finale never lets up.

Well, here it is. The season finale. Everything came full circle and the season went out with a bang... literally. Picking up where the previous episode left off, the brothers make their way to Missouri for the final showdown, but not before taking care of a certain someone first. DEVIL'S TRAP is far and away the best written and best acted episode of the entire first season, as well it should be. My favorite? No, that would still probably be HELL HOUSE, but I can't think of a better way to end the season than the way this episode did, even though it was pretty much what I expected. Amazing ending, too. What's great about the ending is that it leaves so much open for the next season, but at the same time it can be seen as not just the closing of a chapter, but the closing of the entire book completely had the show not been picked up for another season, although I doubt a second season was ever in jeopardy in the first place.

Excellent finale overall. About mid-way through the season, I was amused but mostly frustrated with the show. The second half, however, minus a couple of low points, completely won me over. Instead of gushing about how great the finale is, I'd like to get crackin' on the second season already. Whether I review it or not is another story; reviewing this first season kicked my ass and now I want to stay as far away from the Death Rattle as possible for a few days, save for a review of a film I already have scheduled. Plus, comments and feedback have been few and far between, so I don't see the point.

Score: 9