DVD Corner

Supernatural Season 2 Blu-ray Review

“Supernatural” season 2 offers up a mixture of stand-alone stories and story arcs.

In the 22 episode second season, Sam and Dean Winchester have a rather rough year. In addition to seeing their father sacrifice his life, the Bros encounter a clown possessed by a demon, vampires (and a vampire hunter), a zombie, twins with mind control powers, ghosts/spirits, shapeshifter, demons, a virus, a trickster, a werewolf, and a djinn creating an alternate reality. The season ends with a 2 parter involving the murderous demon Azazel, psychic children, the Devil’s Gate, and a major sacrifice by Dean. To say Sam and Dean have their hands full is an understatement.

The second season saw a slight departure in format from the first season. The Brothers on the road encountering a“monster-of-the-week” aspect is still there, but there’s a season spanning story arc spread throughout the entire season. Unfortunately, like “The X-Files,” I find the arcs to be less engaging than the stand-alone stories. To me, “Supernatural” is at its best with episodes like the vampire centric “Bloodlust” or the Hollywood movie centric “Hollywood Babylon.” Granted, not all of the stand-alone episodes work, but many of them do. The more humorous/clever episodes really make the series more enjoyable where as the arcs often feel drawn out and overblown.

Another highlight? Guest appearances by genre favorites Amber Benson, Linda Blair, Katharine Isabelle, Tricia Helfer, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan are always great to see as well. It may be blatant pandering to the viewing audience, but it works.

Summary: While not the best season, “Supernatural” fans will undoubtedly want to pick up the second season in hi-def if they don’t already own it on DVD.

Extras:

The 1.78:1 1080p picture quality is a little disappointing. The image is a bit on the grainy side and I noticed several dirt specs throughout. Still, the picture quality is more detailed than the DVD release which is all you can really ask for.

Warner has taken their time to release the second season on Blu-ray and all “Supernatural” fans get is a measly Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track? Come on now. 

Extras:
* 6 deleted scenes.
* “In My Time Of Dying” commentary by Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Kim Manners and Cyrus Yavneh. A dull, monotone commentary. The 4 participants don’t have much to say here.
* An amusing 9 minute gag reel.
* “What Is And What Should Never Be” commentary by Eric Kripke. Kripke provides a much more interesting and informative commentary than the participants on “In My Time Of Dying.”

* “All Hell Breaks Loose Part 1” commentary by Eric Kripke, Sera Gamble and Robert Singer. Read above comments.

* Jared Padalecki screen test.
* 3 webisodes titled “Inside The Writer’s Room,” “The Inside Scoop With Christopher Cooper” and “The Inside Scoop With Ivan Hayden.”
* A new interactive Blu-ray extra titled “The Devil’s Road Map” which contains facts, interviews and so forth about each episode. Hardcore fans will undoubtedly have fun with this extra.

July 9, 2011 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Sam and Dean Winchester, Supernatural Season 2 Blu-ray Review