Pilot
Episode
Pilot:
Ghostbusting 101
The
pilot episode of any new show always has a lot to live
up to. It has to set the tone and standard of the entire
series, and leave the viewers wanting to come back week
after week for more. For 'Supernatural,' this
was never going to be an easy task.
Why?
For a start, 'Supernatural' is following in the
footsteps of several already established shows such as
'The X-Files', 'Buffy' and 'Charmed'
with its general theme. So, can a show treading on already
well-trodden ground become a hit? I think so.
With
direction from the ever reliable David Nutter, and two
well cast leads, 'Supernatural' can get away
with revisiting an old genre and make it fresh again for
us, the audience.
Jensen Ackles is perfect
as the elder brother, Dean, determined to find his missing
father and the entity that killed his mother. He's obviously
the muscle of the spook-catching duo too, with a trunk
full of guns and ammo, and super-quick wit to match.
Jared Padalecki is more
the reluctant hero of the two, drawn back into ghost hunting
only when his father vanishes and his girlfriend is later
killed.
Together, both actors offer
what I expect will be an action packed and fun filled,
if not mind taxing season.
Now
for the real question. Does 'Supernatural' deliver
in the scare department? To be honest, I can't say as
I was once spooked, but then I've watched some of the
scariest horror movies around and still walked away totally
unabashed. For a TV show airing at its particular scheduled
time, I think 'Supernatural' went just about
as far as it could, and I was both pleasantly suprised
and entertained while watching it.
The special effects were
adequate at the very least, and I especially liked the
scene in the car when the 'Lady in White' pinned Sam down
and we were treated to her true, grotesque featues briefly.
If everyone else enjoyed
the pilot as much as I did, then I have a feeling the
Winchester brothers with be teaching us ghostbusting 101
for a long time to come!
Added: September 20th 2005
Reviewer: Dawn
Score: 4/5
