Supernatural: The Complete Eighth Season Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Supernatural: The Complete Eighth Season Blu-ray Movie Review

A hell-bound start slowly, sometimes painfully, gives way to a heaven-sent season...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown September 13, 2013

Spoiler alert: The following review assumes that the reader is familiar with Seasons 1-7 of Supernatural. If you have yet to finish the series' previous season, proceed at your own risk. A review of The Complete Seventh Season can be found here.

If nothing else, Supernatural knows how to deliver a cliffhanger. When last we left veteran monster hunters Sam and Dean Winchester (Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles), crossroads demon turned self-made King of Hell Crowley (scene chewer Mark A. Sheppard) had betrayed the brothers, laid claim to their go-to prophet Kevin Tran (Osric Chau), and stood idly by as Dean and nearly fallen angel Castiel (Misha Collins) disappeared in a flash of light upon killing Leviathan lord Dick Roman. As the credits prepared to roll, Dean and Castiel found themselves trapped in Purgatory, surrounded by a legion of hungry beasties licking their lips at the thought of devouring a legendary hunter and a high-ranking angel. Normally, an ending like that would have left series fans in a purgatory all their own, anxiously counting down the days until the next season was scheduled to arrive. Supernatural fans know better, though. Or rather we've recently come to know better, after the last three seasons have forced us to keep expectations in check.

Carry on my wayward son, there'll be peace when you are done...

Shortly after creator Eric Kripke relinquished the reigns to the show at the end of Season Five, cautious optimism began to lessen the scorn of doubtful Supernatural fans. The series could continue without skipping a creative beat, right? Not so fast, kiddo. Had the show ended at the end of its fifth season, most would declare the Winchesters' last hurrah a bittersweet but masterfully constructed end to the saga. Instead, Season Five closed with an intriguing image -- Sam, having hurled himself into a supposedly inescapable Hell pit to prevent the Apocalypse minutes before, mysteriously returned unharmed -- only to hobble to an anticlimactic start come the sixth season's premiere. Supernatural quickly recovered, thankfully, serving up a solid post-Kripke season, as well as ending with one of the best finale endgames to date: Castiel, drunk with countless souls and godlike power, proclaimed "I'm not an angel anymore. I'm your new God. A better one. So you will bow down and profess your love to me, your Lord. Or I shall destroy you." Cue dropped jaws and unanimous cheers from the faithful series fold. Unfortunately, Season Seven began by immediately revoking Castiel's newfound privileges, promoting a ragtag band of Leviathans to anointed Big Bad in his place. Boo. The ensuing seventh season was largely hit or miss, but had its charms, all of which culminated in yet another thrilling cliffhanger: the aforementioned Purgatory plunge.

Sigh. I think you know what's coming next. Season Eight, despite all its Purga-potential, opens with a whimper, wheezes for a few episodes, coughs uncontrollably through numerous flashbacks, and takes far too long to find its voice. In that regard, the eighth season is much like the seventh: occasionally brilliant, dishearteningly inconsistent at times, and ultimately a bit lopsided, with the second half outshining the first. And, wouldn't you know, it ends on a killer cliffhanger. Even so, Season Eight is notably better than Season Seven by the time its finale rolls around. Here's hoping that when Season Nine starts this fall we don't find ourselves muttering, "here we go again."

But I'm drifting too far ahead. Let's take a step back -- or have ourselves a cumbersome flashback! -- and examine what works and what doesn't work in Season Eight. (Don't worry, I won't reveal how the eighth season ends. I'll put the finale at the top of my "things that work" list and leave it at that.) First the lowdown. While, to us, Dean and Castiel have just arrived in Purgatory, the eighth season opens with Dean and new BFF Benny (Ty Olsson), a vampire of all things, inexplicably returning to the land of the living after a yearlong absence, and without Castiel in tow. What happened? How did Dean survive for a year, much less crawl his way out? Why was Benny's soul hitching a ride in Dean's blood? Where's Cas? How much torture can a vague season premiere subject on Supernatural fans? When Sam asks where the Winchesters' on-again, off-again guardian angel is, Dean only offers "Cas didn't make it."

Dean's Purgatory woes then unfold, piece by piece -- via sporadic, largely distracting flashback sequences -- over the course of the next ten episodes, all while the squabbling brothers deal with everything from demons to ancient demigods, werewolves, vampires, curses, the (not-so-surprising) return of Castiel, Crowley, Bobby's soul (Jim Beaver, in a much-too-small guest appearance), and the one enemy the Winchesters have never managed to defeat: hurt feelings. It turns out Sam didn't look for a way to save Dean from Purgatory. At all. He packed it in, quit the biz, shacked up with a girl, and wrote Dean off as dead. Wait, what? Seriously!? There isn't even a satisfying explanation to be had, making the (inevitably temporary) grudge Dean holds against Sam both justified and a wee bit irritating.

The boys eventually learn about trouble brewing in Heaven, Crowley's latest scheme, and a defunct secret society called The Men of Letters, though, which work hand in hand to give the eighth season renewed purpose and setup some of its best episodes. The second half of the season is infinitely better than the first, with several antagonists and fascinating free agents setting up shop. Crowly, obviously, who continues to be one of the show's most entertaining and frightening villains , not to mention one of the most welcome characters ever elevated to series regular; Benny, an unexpectedly well-realized inductee into the Winchesters' inner circle (well, Dean's circle at least); she-demon Meg (Rachel Miner), whose loyalties are always up in the air; Naomi (Amanda Tapping), a sinister, manipulative angel who drags Cas around unknowingly by an unseen leash; Abaddon (Alaina Huffman), a nigh immortal demon with ties to The Men of Letters; and Metatron (Curtis Armstrong), a low-level angel and smalltown hermit who went into hiding after God vacated the premises.

Familiar allies emerge from their hideaways too. Kevin's been hardened by a tough year, which is a nice shift for the coming-of-age prophet. His mother (Lauren Tom) returns, snarky and spirited as ever. Garth (DJ Qualls) is back, and still a fun but inadequate replacement for Bobby (no matter how much the showrunners attempt to make Qualls and his analyst an asset to the series). Even sweet Charlie Bradbury (Felicia Day, the most likely candidate to star in a viable Supernatural spin-off) pops up, matching the Winchesters wit for wit. The series is as sharp as ever when it comes to its characters and comedy, striking an oft-times deft balance between humor, drama, horror and action; a balance other genre mashup series die terrible deaths failing to achieve.

By season's end, I found myself warming to the series again, having lost faith during the episodes preceding "Torn and Frayed." There are still far too many bumps in the road -- filler that a more streamlined season of 12-15 episodes might help the writers avoid -- and the showmakers remain a tad rudderless, without a clear command of where they're going or why. That all begins to change around the season's midpoint, thank God, and the resurgence of Heaven and Hell-centric episodes brings Season Eight more in line with the good ol' days of Seasons Three through Five. Will the ninth season (which premieres on Tuesday, October 8th) and tenth, possibly Final Ride of the Winchesters right old wrongs and redeem two uneven seasons? I'm not counting the series down for the count quite yet. If executive producer and showrunner Jeremy Carver can avoid the rookie mistakes of Season Eight (his first) and start as strong as each season so reliably ends, we may find ourselves praising the CW powers that be for stretching the saga beyond what sometimes feels like its breaking point.

The Complete Eighth Season Episode Guide:

• We Need to Talk About Kevin: Dean re-emerges from Purgatory, but he isn't alone. He heads straight for Sam, but the reunion isn't exactly what he thought it would be. Sam drops everything to join his brother, but leaving the life he had grown to enjoy turns out to be harder than he imagined. Dean and Sam look for Kevin who has managed to escape Crowley's grasp, but things come to a head quickly when Kevin tells them what it is that Crowley wants. Robert Singer directed the episode written by Jeremy Carver.
• What's Up, Tiger Mommy?: Kevin talks Sam and Dean into checking in on his mother. When they arrive, they see that Crowley has surrounded her with demons so they rescue her and take her along on their quest to find the tablet. However, they soon discover Kevin wasn't kidding when he said his mother was a strong-willed woman after she tries to take on Crowley. John Showalter directed the episode written by Andrew Dabb & Daniel Loflin.
• Heartache: Sam and Dean investigate a string of unusual murders where the victims were all recipients of organs from the same donor. The killer is captured, but things become even more complicated when the brothers find their killer in a trance mumbling an ancient prayer. Jensen Ackles directed the episode written by Brad Buckner & Eugenie Ross-Leming.
• Bitten: Sam and Dean investigate a bizarre murder in a college town. Close on the tail of their suspect, they bust into an apartment to find two dead bodies and a laptop cued up to some disturbing video footage. The footage begins with Brian (guest star Leigh Parker), Mike (guest star Brandon W. Jones) and Kate (guest star Britni Sheridan) hearing about an unusual animal attack in their town and the rest of the story is revealed through their eyes. Sam and Dean become unknowing participants in a unique student film. Thomas J. Wright directed the episode written by Robbie Thompson.
• Blood Brother: After Benny gets brutally beat up by some vampires, he calls Dean for help. Dean abruptly packs up and tells a confused Sam that he's taking a "personal day." Benny confesses that he's going after his Maker (guest star Patrick Stafford) so Dean offers to help, flashing back on the many times Benny helped him and Castiel in Purgatory. Meanwhile, Sam uses his solo time to reflect on the life he left behind with Amelia (guest star Liane Balaban). However, when things go bad for Dean and Benny, Dean calls Sam for help, which makes everything very complicated. Guy Bee directed the episode written by Ben Edlund.
• Southern Comfort: Sam and Dean investigate a murder and find Garth is already on the case. Dean is not happy to learn that Garth has assumed Bobby's duties, but Garth points out that both Sam and Dean have been missing for the last year and someone needed to do it. They guys discover an "avenging ghost" is responsible for the murders and they need to find the source before the killings starts again. Tim Andrew directed the episode written by Adam Glass.
• A Little Slice of Kevin: Sam and Dean are stunned when Castiel suddenly appears back on Earth with no memory of how he escaped from Purgatory. Meanwhile, Mrs. Tran enlists a witch (guest star Cyrina Fiallo) to concoct a demon bomb, but the witch double crosses Mrs. Tran and turns her and Kevin over to Crowley. Charlie Carner directed the episode written by Eugenie Ross-Leming & Brad Buckner.
• Hunteri Heroici: Castiel tells Sam and Dean that he’s decided to become a hunter like them. Sam and Dean aren’t sold on the idea but agree to investigate a case Cas found where a man’s heart literally burst through his chest. The guys discover there has been more than one odd murder in the small town and all of them resemble cartoon deaths. Paul Edwards directed the episode written by Andrew Dabb.
• Citizen Fang: Sam asks a hunter named Martin (guest star Jon Gries) to keep an eye on Benny without telling Dean. However, when Martin tells Sam there was a vampire kill and he thinks Benny is responsible, Dean defends his friend. When Martin decides to take things into his own hands, things get messy and Dean is forced to make a very hard decision. Nick Copus directed the episode written by Daniel Loflin.
• Torn and Frayed: Naomi tells Castiel that Crowley is holding an angel captive and Castiel must rescue him before Crowley finds out their secrets. Castiel turns to Dean for help. Meanwhile, Sam meets with Amelia who asks him to make a choice: stay with her or leave and never contact her again. Robert Singer directed the episode written by Jenny Klein.
• LARP and the Real Girl: Sam and Dean investigate the mysterious deaths of two LARPers (Live Action Role Playing participants) who were playing a game entitled Moondoor. The guys are thrilled to discover the Queen of Moondoor is none other than Charlie (guest star Felicia Day). The three learn that a fairy (guest star Tiffany Dupont) has been commandeered to harm people and the only way to stop her is to find her master. Jeannot Szwarc directed the episode written by Robbie Thompson.
• As Time Goes By: Sam and Dean are stunned when a man who claims to be Henry Winchester (guest star Gil McKinney), their grandfather, suddenly appears in their hotel room demanding to know where he can find John Winchester. Henry has time-traveled to stop a demon named Abbadon (guest star Alaina Huffman) and was looking for John’s help. Through Henry, Sam and Dean learn more about their father and the Winchester blood line. Serge Ladouceur directed the episode written by Adam Glass.
• Everybody Hates Hitler: Sam and Dean investigate the death of Rabbi Bass (guest star Hal Linden), who spontaneously combusted. The case becomes ever more confusing when they learn that the Rabbi was researching Nazi Necromancers. Sam and Dean are attacked by a Golem (guest star John DeSantis) who turns out to belong to the Rabbi’s grandson, Aaron. The key to the case lies with the Golem but Aaron doesn’t know how to control him, which leaves everyone in danger. Phil Sgriccia directed the episode written by Bed Edlund.
• Trial and Error: Kevin deciphers the tablet and figures out how to close the gates of Hell. He tells Sam and Dean that according to the tablet one person must face a series of three tests designed by God. The first one: kill a hellhound. Sam and Dean argue over who should complete the trials. Kevin Parks directed the episode written by Andrew Dabb.
• Man's Best Friend with Benefits: A police officer named Kevin (guest star Christian Campbell), who turned to witchcraft after working a case with Sam and Dean, is plagued by nightmares in which he murders innocent people. However, when the murders actually happen, Sam and Dean are called in by Kevin’s “familiar” (guest star Mishael Morgan) to help -- but the brothers aren’t sure they want to save a witch. John Showalter directed the episode written by Brad Buckner & Eugenie Ross-Leming.
• Remember the Titans: Sam and Dean are stumped when they investigate a possible zombie case where an amnesiac man (guest star John Reardon) dies and then revives himself once a day. After the guy is attacked by the goddess Artemis (guest star Anna Von Hooft), Sam and Dean realize he’s not a zombie but instead a god, more specifically, Prometheus. Steve Boyum directed the episode written by Daniel Loflin.
• Goodbye Stranger: Castiel reappears in Sam and Dean’s life and tells them Crowley has unleashed several demons into a small town. The demons are looking for Lucifer’s Crypt, which holds a valuable asset, but Castiel lies to Sam and Dean about what it is. While interrogating a demon, the three discover Crowley has been torturing Meg, who knows the exact location of the crypt. Sam and Meg fight to hold Crowley off while Dean and Castiel go in search of the crypt. Thomas J. Wright directed the episode written by Robbie Thompson.
• Freaks and Geeks: Sam and Dean investigate some recent vampire kills and are surprised to learn Krissy Chambers (guest star Madison McLaughlin) is involved. They find Krissy and learn her father was killed and she’s been taken in by a man named Victor (guest star Adrian Hough), who has taken in a group of orphan kids to teach them how to hunt. Victor is helping the teenagers find the vampires who took their parents so they can get revenge. Sam is intrigued by Victor’s method of giving the teenagers a home life as well as a hunting life, but Dean is suspicious of Victor’s motives. John F. Showalter directed the episode written by Adam Glass.
• Taxi Driver: Sam and Dean respond to a call from Kevin, who is terrified after hearing Crowley’s voice in his head. After hearing Kevin’s news, Sam and Dean team up with reaper named Ajay (guest star Assaf Cohen), who helps them deal with the second trial from the Tablet. Meanwhile, Dean receives a visit from Naomi and realizes he must find Benny to ask for a huge favor. Guy Bee directed the episode written by Eugenie Ross-Leming & Brad Buckner.
• Pac-Man Fever: Concerned about the physical toll the second trial took on Sam, Dean benches his brother from hunting until he heals up. So, when geektastic hacker Charlie stumbles upon a case and finds the boys, Dean decides it’s time to teach Charlie how to be a hunter-in-training. While happy to see “her highness,” the boys suspect Charlie is hiding something; a secret that could get her killed. Robert Singer directed the episode written by Robbie Thompson.
• The Great Escapist: When Sam and Dean receive a distressing video message from Kevin Tran, they set about trying to uncover the Third Trial. The boys make a discovery that sends them to a casino in Colorado, to find a mysterious recluse (guest star Curtis Armstrong) who may be able to fill in the holes in Kevin's research. Meanwhile, Crowley is on a winning streak. Castiel tries to elude Naomi and the angels hunting him. Robert Duncan McNeill directed the episode written by Ben Edlund.
• Clip Show: Sam and Dean reunite with Castiel. Digging through the Men of Letters’ files, they stumble upon an undiscovered film which could be the key to the third trial. Metatron (guest star Curtis Armstrong) enlists Cass to mull over problems at home. Meanwhile, Crowley digs into Sam and Dean's past. Taylor Cole, Graham Wardle, and Cindy Busby also guest star. Thomas J. Wright directed the episode written by Andrew Dabb.
• Sacrifice: With Crowley poised to undo all the good they’ve ever done as hunters, Sam and Dean find themselves cornered. But with Kevin’s help, the Winchester brothers bound into one last play against The Demon King. Metatron and Castiel address the bureaucracy of Heaven. Alaina Huffman and Kim Rhodes also guest star. Phil Sgriccia directed the episode written by Jeremy Carver.

Supernatural: The Complete Eighth Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Supernatural: The Complete Eighth Season continues the series' impressive run on Blu-ray thanks to its excellent 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation. Like previous seasons, the latest twenty-three episodes are largely free of issues, minus some crush and uneven noise, both of which trace back to the show's source. A bit of banding sneaks in here and there, but otherwise, all is exactly as it should be. Colors are often drained of life, yet skintones are nicely saturated, primaries drip off the screen (oh, those reds), black levels are atmospheric and ominous, and contrast is consitently strong. Moreover, detail is terrific, particularly when it comes to closeups. The five-o-clock shadows, the flecks of blood, the nicks and scars, the fangs, the errant hairs, the specks of grime and broken glass. Edge definition is crisp, clean and free of ringing as well, and fine textures have been precisely resolved, without incident. All told, Season Eight looks great in high definition. There are some low-budget eyesores, sure, but fans won't flinch for a second.

Supernatural: The Complete Eighth Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Complete Eighth Season's sonics never disappoint either, courtesy of another tip-top DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. Dialogue is clear and intelligible at all times, even when spoken on the run in the middle of a deadly forest or mid-fight, as whatever beastie-of-the-week closes in for the kill. Prioritization is spot on, with a well-balanced mix that allows sound effects, music and, at times, utter chaos swirl round the Winchesters and envelop the listener. LFE output is fierce and satisfying, with deep, menacing thooms and plenty of low-end oomph. The rear speakers are armed and raring to go at all times, embracing subtle ambience in the still of the night and unleashing suitably unsettling hell whenever the silence is broken. Dynamics are outstanding too, as is directionality and channel-pan transparency. If anything, supernatural energy blasts and other magic effects have a tendency to sound a bit stagey and on the nose, although each instance is undoubtedly a product of the series' sound design, nothing more. Like the most recent season releases, Supernatural's latest delivers the AV goods.

Supernatural: The Complete Eighth Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentaries: Three audio commentaries are available: "Hunteri Heroici" with writer Andrew Dabb and producer Todd Aronauer, "As Time Goes By" with executive producers Bob Singer, Jeremy Carver and Adam Glass, and "Everybody Hates Hitler" with executive producer/director Phil Sgriccia and consulting producer/writer Ben Edlund.
• Unaired Scenes (HD, … minutes): Deleted scenes are available for many an episode, but have all been placed in the "Episodes" sub-menu rather than alongside the other special features. Scenes are available for "We Need to Talk About Kevin," "What's Up, Tiger Mommy?," "Heartache," "Bitten," "Hunteri Heroici," "LARP and the Real Girl," "As Time Goes By," "Everybody Hates Hitler," "Trial and Error," "Taxi Driver," "Pac-Man Fever," "The Great Escapist," "Clip Show" and "Sacrifice."
• Finding Supernatural: Creating the Found Footage Episode (HD, 26 minutes): An extensive look at the genesis, development and production of "Bitten," the eighth season's bloody found-footage episode. Challenges and obstacles to the story were out in force -- Dean and Sam's supporting roles in the tale chief among them -- and this documentary candidly touches on each one.
• For the Defense of Mankind (HD, 20 minutes): Decoding the tablets and other plotlines are discussed at length, all of which have a profound impact on the Winchester brothers over the course of their latest 23-episode hunt.
• Angel Warrior: The Story of Castiel (HD, 20 minutes): An excellent and exacting exploration of everyone's favorite angel.
• Gag Reel (HD, 9 minutes): Another love-it-or-hate-it laugh riot with the ever-juvenille Padalecki and Ackles.

Blu-ray/DVD/UltraViolet Combo Pack Contents (Subject to Change): The initial combo pack release of Supernatural: The Complete Eighth Season features a slipcover (with the original pressing), four BD-50 discs, and an UltraViolet digital copy (Flixster download via redemption code, expires 9/10/2015). Please note: The Complete Eighth Season UltraViolet digital copy "does not include an iTunes file, but is compatible with iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and most Android devices."

Supernatural: The Complete Eighth Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Supernatural continues to struggle in Kripke's absence. Season Eight is better than Season Seven, though. While its earliest episodes suffer, the second half of the season finds its groove and, eventually, its edge. If it manages to start strong when it returns to CW this fall, and if it manages to maintain or consistently ratchet up its momentum, Season Nine might just be a welcome return to form. The current showrunners have certainly shown their capable of greatness... they need only deliver greatness on a regular basis. Fortunately, Warner's Blu-ray release is much more reliable, with a terrific AV presentation comparable to the series' more recent Blu-ray releases. Additional commentaries or a Picture-in-Picture track would have helped, but the eighth season supplemental package has enough to offer to satiate rabid fans. If you already own Supernatural's previous season releases, there's absolutely no reason to quit now. Recommended.