Customer Reviews

Supernatural: The Complete Third Season [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(216)
4 star:		(39)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Despite a few stutters by the writers on racial and gender issues, Supernatural's third season follows the show's established tradition of cranking the intensity a notch higher than in the previous season. The crew, as always, have outdone themselves in set design and dressing, locations, props, and camera technique. Lighting, which began the season as the network wanted, brighter and more colorful, was found to be less effective. By mid-season it returns to the familiar moody noir-ish look that provides shadow and mystery to things we never completely see, and is something of a signature look for the show. The effects departments, both physical and digital, are up to their usual standards, always bringing the viewer movie-quality visuals. Veteran directors Phil Scriggia, Robert Singer, and Kim Manners bring their unique styles, perspectives, and knowledge of the world the characters inhabit to their episodes.

The actors surpass their performances in previous seasons. Ackles, always a gifted physical actor, delivers some of the best facial acting anywhere on film today. And Padalecki, after years as a dependable male ingenue, has matured into his craft. Physically imposing, he uses his body as an instrument, drawing in to present Sam as self-effacing and non-threatening or, where it's called for, using his height and impressive wingspan to intimidate and dominate. His facial acting has refined with maturity as well, to the point where he can hold the screen with his costar. The emotional reaches these two young actors take their characters are deeply affecting for the viewer, breathing life into characters on a page.

The themes the series returns to time and again, family, alienation, rescue, surviving in a hostile world, helping the less fortunate, are solid themes whether set in medieval Italy, on a planet in a distant star system, or in an urban sitcom. The background of ordinary, uniquely American life overlaid on an unsuspected realm of myth, legend, and theology is merely the setting for these themes to develop and unspool. This crew of writers, technicians, craftspeople, directors and actors is able to establish and invite the viewer into this created reality. It's an invitation worth taking.

It was with SUPERNATURAL that I discovered the many varied virtues of Amazon Unbox - and I must say that it's a wondrous thing!

I don't usually watch tv, per se. I do, however, love certain network & cable series. To be able to watch them, on my own schedule and at my own whim, right here upon my own computer screen, is just about the closest I've ever come to being spoiled in the whole of my existence!

Now- for this show specifically: Let me just say that I don't think I've ever embraced so whole-heartedly such a guilty pleasure as offered by network tv before in all my history here on earth. In short, I just love this show!

It's in essence the ongoing saga of a family - well, two brothers, specifically- Sam and Dean Winchester, whose mother was killed in 1983 in a fire over Sam's crib when he was six months old, by a supernatural entity. From that moment, Sam's father, John, has raised his children - Dean, who's four years older than Sam, and Sam himself- to hunt supernatural things, with the ultimate feat to kill the thing that murdered their mother.

The allure of this show lies in the dynamics between the members of this fractured little family. Jared Padelecki and Jensen Ackles play Sam and Dean, respectively. Jeffrey Dean Morgan ("Grey's Anatomy") plays John.

There have been recurring characters throughout the three seasons so far, Jim Beaver as Bobby the most notable of Season 3. The acting is simply excellent. There's quite a lot of mythology drawn into the flow of the storyline, though each episode is like an excellent mini horror movie in itself.

The finale of this season left a major and most incredible cliffhanger. I am truly all agog for what happens next!

Finally, if it weren't for Amazon Unbox, I would not have had the pleasure of viewing each of the episodes of this Season of SUPERNATURAL, as I work evenings and nights. I am most thankful it's been available!

Supernatural is, frankly, one of the more surprising pleasures available on television at this time. When I first heard about it, it was billed as Route 66 meets the X-files. Two guys, on the road together, fighting monsters and investigating paranormal mysteries. A buddy show. Maybe a little horror thrown in.

Well, this show has turned out to be so much more than that. This show is a family show at its core, but I don't mean one that you can watch with your whole family--this is only for teenagers and older. The scary monsters that we were promised from the first? Yes, they are here, and they are at times scream out loud scary. I don't really love horror films, but I enjoy a good scare now and again, and this really fits the bill for me. But about the "Family" show tag I used--the two guys are brothers, and their relationship makes the show. The two are intensely protective of each other, often to their own detriment. Other members of the family are also involved, and there is an extended family of people with whom they work. Monster of the week stories pepper the series, but the show shines best when the backstory, the mythology arc is explored. The mythology is as deep as the X-files ever was, but less confusing and more goal directed. It feels like Eric Kripke (the Executive Producer) has a firm grip on where the overall story is going. Where Heroes (a show which I really do enjoy) often meanders, wandering off in confusing ways, Supernatural keeps serious focus on plot, plot, plot.

The blu-ray production of season three is a real joy to watch. Blacks are deep but well distinguished one from another, and the picture is very crisp. Sound is good. The special features on this one range from the silly to the funny to the very informative, much like on previous editions.

If you've heard about this show, and wondered if you should give it a chance, yes you should. Start with season 1--it is well worth your time. But season three completely blows previous seasons out of the water with its intense narrative, and performances from the lead actors that are harrowing. The final scene of the final episode of season 3...well, chills up and down my spine is an understatement.

Supernatural Season 3 was a great season. While many other TV shows went stale, Supernatural kept a great cast and story going.

On Blu-ray, the video is extremely clear. The blacks look great and the picture in general is even much better than the HD broadcasts since there isn't any noise. The sound is good as well but I am disappointed that Warner didn't include any lossless sound for this TV show.

Another great feature on this set is they include a digital copy of the entire season so you can either download it on iTunes for free or download it in Windows Media Player format.

Supernatural's third season embraces the question, "Are all demons bad?" Sam and Dean Winchester, played by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, respectively, travel the country in a black Impala, set to a classic rock soundtrack, fighting demons and saving lives. In season two, Dean made a deal with the devil to live only one year longer if it could save Sam's life. Thus, the entire season is set on building tension until the final climactic finale when Dean must face the prospect of going to Hell.

What makes this series so utterly fantastic is the chemistry between the two leading actors, who display such a true-to-life brotherly relationship, that you must keep watching to see whether or not Sam will be able to save Dean from hell. Another great aspect is that each episode is like its own scary movie . . . and believe me, the production team does a great job making each episode quite frightening instead of corny. Supernatural incorporates humor, tension, loyalty, drama, and horror in one neat little package. If you're looking for an intelligent television show, this one's for you.

This is simply one of the best shows on television, and gets better with each following season. I can't wait until season four!

Another great season of Supernatural! This is one of my few guilty pleasures on TV. The chemistry between the two brothers Dean and Sam is what makes this show so great. Dean has this cockiness and a funny charm that always lightens up the show, while Sam has this innocence all of which bring the show down to earth. Last season Dean made a deal with the crossroad demon to bring back his brother Sam. Now Dean has just one year to live and kill as many demons as possible, and one year for Sam to find a way to save his brother. I highly recommend this great show to anyone!


Episode list

1 - The Magnificent Seven
2 - The Kids Are Alright
3 - Bad Day at Black Rock
4 - Sin City
5 - Bedtime Stories
6 - Red Sky at Morning
7 - Fresh Blood
8 - A Very Supernatural Christmas
9 - Malleus Maleficarum
10 - Dream a Little Dream of Me
11 - Mystery Spot
12 - Jus in Bello
13 - Ghostfacers
14 - Long Distance Call
15 - Time Is on My Side
16 - No Rest for the Wicked


*`Ghostfacers' Confessionals" is a 16-minute set of improvised interviews with the cast members making the "Ghostfacers" television show which frames episode #13. Though a few of their comments find their way into the finished episode, most of these comments are heard here for the first time, and there are some genuine laughs. These are presented in 480i.

* "From Legends to Reality: Supernatural Effects" is a 23-minute discussion of the three areas of special effects which come into play with most episodes: visual effects, special effects, and makeup effects. Interviews with the show's creator, various directors, and the three department heads clarify this most important aspect of each week's broadcast. This featurette is in 480p.

* "Supernatural Impala Featurette" spends 5 ¼ minutes discussing the different incarnations of the famous 1967 Chevrolet Impala that the boys use for transportation each week. The brief featurette is presented in 480p.

* A Season Three gag reel showing some flubbed lines and many hijinks on the set from the two stars is presented in 480i and runs 8 minutes.

* Also inside the case is a code that allows the user to download a free digital copy of Season 3 of Supernatural.

* The user menu also allows the viewer to turn off if he chooses the recaps that begin each episode.

Supernatural is simply an excellent show, with talented actors and outstanding writing. However, I think that the DVD release of this season was the worst. There were no episodes commentary; instead we got small sections of superficial comments by different people. The bloopers part was simply not funny; it seemed they looked for a lot of snapshots of the actors saying I'm sorry and making faces. Maybe it is me, but I do not find that funny. On the positive side, we get the chance to watch again, without any commercial interruptions, excellent episodes like Mystery Spot. I hope the next season, is up to season 2 standards.

This wasn't my favourite season. With the writers strikes and budget cuts I personally didn't feel it was the fully rounded package. Most episodes were bloody brilliant, equal and exceeding the top ones of the previous seasons. Yet, when they were bad they were horrid (Red Sky in the Morning, Malleus Maleficarum, Ghostfacers).

For some, the inclusion of the two female characters Bela and Ruby was a mistake. I cannot fault the demon character of Ruby or the actress's performance, feeling that the character served it's purpose successfully and added another layer of intrigue to the show (Is it possible demon's can be good? That evil isn't always evil?) According to rumor she is not returning next season which is not the end of the world completely but I will be pissed if no reason for her absence or lack of mention is given. In the previous seasons I didn't particularly care greatly that characters like Missouri, Ellen and Jo were never seen again but the fact that their characters weren't actually written out...that bugged me to no end.
Bela, ah, the dreaded Bela. No one liked her apparently. But what fans don't seem to realise was that that was the point. But I do understand where they are coming from. The character should have been used to its full potential or not at all. Timing was also something that didn't suit Bela too well, let alone acting skills that left a lot to be desired. Yet one thing I think the writers did do right was Bela's exit which was smart and impacting, we even sympathized.

The clock is ticking for poor Dean this season and Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki manage to add even more to the brotherly relationship between the two and we see that the connection that was originally growing has begun to disintegrate and you get the feeling that they're both keeping up appearances, keeping secrets from one another. And we as the audience lap it up.

It's a dark season but the humor, when it comes (and it comes often) is brilliantly timed and delivered and undeniably I smile through a good 60 percent of each hour. With budget cuts the classic rock music is slightly more limited than usual but there's still just enough there to keep us going.

Supernatural is a hidden jem. I don't know when the stupid CW will dump their floundering pet project Smallville and give Supernatural the attention it deserves but we, the fans (and there are a lot of us), won't give up hope. A good article about Supernatural's plight can be read here: http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/03/04/224112.php

I look forward to Season Four with baited breath, Season Three's finale left me slightly anxious.

It's the chemistry between the characters that makes this series work. The two stars work so well together that you forgot they are acting and actually believe they are brothers fighting demons. Fantastic dialogue, plots and characters. Great series, happy it's getting another season!

Hunting monsters isn't easy but when you've got a year to live because you've made a deal with the Devil to save your brother, well, it just makes it that much tougher. Add in a lady Demon who chooses to help the guys and a woman competing with them for supernatural artifacts named Bela Talbot (a clever tip of the hat to Bela Lugosi and Lawrence Talbot the former a horror movie icon the latter the name of the character played by Lon Chaney, Jr. in "The Wolf Man") and you've got a fun season. The third season of "Supernatural" was shorter than the first two because of the Writer's Strike but the writing,direction, performances, twists and turns and third season story arc make the third season just as compelling as the first two. A lot of shows seem to jump the shark by their third season but the show has a preternatural ability to avoid shark infested waters other TV shows fall into (yes, "The X-Files" I'm looking at you).

Sam and Dean Winchester face new monsters and demonns in some clever stories. The Christmas episode involving what appears to be Santa's Evil Brother (it's much more complex than that because, well, this is "Supernatural" and nothing is simple)and the return of Gordon the "Hunter" out to get Sam because he believes him to be the anti-Christ are both highlights of this short season.

We get all 16 episodes in a nice, natural looking transfer. The show is shot in HD so there are occasional bits of video noise but it's nothing distracting. Audio sounds terrific particularly during action scenes.

You can skip the intro on each episode if you want. We get deleted scenes for a number of episodes as well as seven featurettes on the challenges of producing that episode told from the point-of-view of one of the behind-the-scenes talent including visual effects, etc. There are no commentary tracks this time around. You also have the option of downloading all 16 episodes to your computer via digital copies of the show that are will work with iTunes. You can only do it once (obviously to prevent you from giving it to your friends, etc.)and the code included is on a sheet of paper so don't loose it. This might be a nice feature for those on the go since they can download it and then hook up their iPod to a TV or watch them while traveling.

All in all the third season is a heck of a ride and worth picking up even though there are less episodes here. It would have been nice if Warner had reduced the price accordingly but I've found that studios rarely if ever do that.