For nearly a month now, WB’s new dramorror Supernatural has been providing a good dosage of scare to its chill-seeking audience.
The show seemed set for underwhelming results; the monster-of-the-week premise, combined with two extremely hot demon hunters would be a shoe-in for girl-ratings, but wasn’t frighteningly convincing in terms of strength of content.
Supernatural, however, has defied some major odds. First off, I’d be a liar to say it hasn’t succeeded in sending a chill up my spine once or twice per episode. On top of that the program’s got a serious backbone. The writers have worked at creating a built-in history that’s weaved itself into every episode. The brothers’ tormented past involving the mysterious death of their mother and pending disappearance of their father, guides them on their quest to banish the demons and darkness that haunt every town they visit. What makes the story identifiable is the siblings’ emotional investment and undying need to Mulder out the truth.
For that, the slight case of monster-of-the-week the show has caught can be overlooked. As we all know though, where monsters roam, victims thrive and that is something that cannot be so easily forgiven.
What I’m talking about is an old-school complaint, partially mended by the onslaught of female firebrands seen in prime-time in past years, but still not completely overlookable.
Why is it that every case Dean and Sam try to solve has to involve a girl in need?
Yes, I know the testosterone quotient on the show is brimming and the women balance it out, but how about a feisty kick-butt-y girl, rather than the ones that turn googly-eyed at the boys’ ability to swoop in and save the day? The last thing we need on this show is another Lana-mensional girl, lacking the smarts to keep herself out of the “oops” situations life throws at us.
Out of the five episodes that have aired so far, almost every one has centered on a frightened female, which, however interesting story-wise, is a poor path to be paving.
This complaint is somewhat heightened especially when we consider the catalyst that started the boys’ venture into the supernatural realm was the death of their *cough* female *cough* mother.
I sense a certain hairy-legged feminist emerging within me, fighting for a voice that’s more useful than the odd scream of terror.
Supernatural is a great show and we must give it credit for doing its work at frightening the bejesus out of audiences as well as it has. If next week’s episode, however, features another girl-in-peril, I may have to mosey on down to Winchester brother way and kick some boy-ass. I know it’s not the most mature of solutions, but I guarantee you it will be scary.
