Does anyone really not realise that we’re being rinsed for as much money as possible with these ‘.5’ releases? It’s offensive, really. Despite that, the commercial bandwagon rolls on, and now we have the first half of Supernatural’s fourth season. Thankfully, it’s brilliant.
Following on from the end of the third season, which saw Dean consigned to Hell and poor Sammy left to fend for himself, we now return a few months later. Dean is resurrected by the forces of Heaven, the boys are told that Lilith is attempting to break the seals that hold Lucifer in place, and that they’re front-line soldiers in the war to stop the Apocalypse.
Laced with the humour and action that make the show great, season four delivers on nearly all counts, while the sense that the story is building in momentum towards a crescendo has never been more palpable. Jensen Ackles is, as always, fantastic in his role as Dean, while Misha Collins hams it up as the angel Castiel. Even Jared Padalecki, who has been notoriously average throughout the show’s run, manages to get a few flashes of brilliance here as he sinks further and further into the dark side while his brother rises against all odds. If there is a complaint, it’s that there are sometimes long stretches between plot episodes, but these are more than made up for with instalments such as ‘Monster Movie’ and ‘Lazarus Rising’.
As the show begins to move into its final acts, it’s increasing in quality with every outing. We might not agree with Warner extorting £30 out of the show’s fans for half of a season, but the problem is, it’s simply too good to ignore.
Supernatural: Season Four, Part One
Price: £29.99
Classification: 15
Discs: 3
Distributor: Warner Home Video
Creator: Eric Kripke
Starring: Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki
Released: Out now
