Thursday 17 March 2016

TV REVIEW: SUPERNATURAL THE COMPLETE TENTH SERIES

Supernatural the Complete Tenth Season
Distributor: Warner Home Video
Rating: 15
Running Time: 967 minutes
Release Date: 21/3/2016
Bonus Material: 322 mins
Genre: Horror/Fantasy
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

At the start of the first episode, we get to see a montage of what happened to the Winchester brothers in the previous series. When Dean had the unfortunate luck to be defeated by Metatron in the ninth season, he had been resurrected using the First Blade's power and changed into a demon, complete with the mark of Cain on his arm. Four weeks after the event, Sam is still trying to find out where his brother might be.

Now that Dean has been a demon he has joined forces with Crowley and his men, getting into all kinds of trouble, and as Sam has discovered the cruel acts his brother has done, even once he happens to see his fighting prowess on CCTV, it hurts him to see how far he has fallen. Although Sam is hurt by the news his brother is on the rampage, he does get a break when he gets a dead-guy's phone which is a direct link to Crowley - there he tells him that he will kill him and get his brother back. It seems to be a noble act, but can Sam do what he says once he comes face to face with Crowley?

What he doesn't know is that Dean has become a different character, in many ways a funny one going on-stage at the Black Spur bar doing a karaoke session of I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred, which none of the other clientèle appreciate as he's always drunk. His morals have plummeted too as he'll sleep with anyone he can lure into bed. He does still have his human needs, affection for others and feelings for them that go beyond mere sexual desire. Crowley's interest in Dean is tested even though he sends assassins to kill him. Dean knows and doesn't trust him though Crowley says he's doing it to test how good he is as a demon. One of the important things he tells Dean is that he must satiate the mark of Cain as or he will turn into a demon. So at least there is still time.

Later, Sam is kidnapped by someone who has a grudge against Dean, but he is not one who has been troubled by his recent escapades - there is his past to consider. Elsewhere, Castiel has to bring in rogue angels Daniel and Adena with the help of Hannah, but they soon have to help Sam find Crowley and his brother to prevent his brother from becoming a demon.

With a nice recap at the start, this tenth season of Supernatural has all the elements many have come to love, the demon possession, humour, occult interest and showmanship of the characters. It is good to see the caring side of Sam, but also the fun and dangerous side of Dean, though there are a few revelations about Sam some might not like.

Bonus Material:A Very Special Supernatural Special, Supernatural Theatre: Staging The 200th Episode, The Winchester Mythology: Battling the Mark and The Blade, Supernatural Fans, Supernatural at Comic-Con 2014, 3 Audio Commentaries, Deleted Scenes & Gag Reel.

Summary: The series has come a long way to explaining the Winchester Mythology and the humour + the occult similarities are great to watch.