Supernatural: The Complete Ninth Season Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Supernatural: The Complete Ninth Season Blu-ray Movie Review

Back with a vengeance...

The post-Kripke era has given rise to several... distressing and divisive seasons of Supernatural. Season Nine, though, rights so many wrongs it's almost criminal, delivering one of the best runs of the series since the fan-favorite fifth season nearly brought a neat-n-tidy close to the Winchesters' hunt. While the ongoing Sam/Dean drama isn't that far removed from everything that's come before, Season Nine assembles an instantly memorable lineup of power players, rogues, villains and Big Bads, from small-time beasties to would-be messiahs to ancient angels hellbent on claiming the Throne for themselves. Torn, secretive fallen angel Ezekiel (Tahmoh Penikett). Vampires, werewolves and reapers, oh my! Smarmy angel faction leader Bartholomew (Adam Harrington) and duty-bound rival Hannah (Erica Carroll). Cursed immortal Cain (Timothy Omundson), whose mark plays a crucial role through the season. Oft-unseen but always present Death (Julian Richings). Nigh unstoppable Hellknight Abaddon (Alaina Huffman) and her growing band of opportunistic demons. Eccentric self-anointed deity Metatron (Curtis Armstrong). And the once-undisputed now-under-siege King o' Hell, the lovable, irreplaceable Crowley (scene-stealer Mark A. Sheppard). Poor Castiel's (Misha Collins) loyalties continue to be put to the test too, with the boys' go-to angel playing with fire as frequently as he helps put them out. Saint or sinner? Season Nine decides.

With the scripts stronger, the creatures fiercer, the villain-of-the-week formula more unpredictable, the interplay between the heroes and things that go bump in the night more complex, the stakes more consistently thrilling, the laughs funnier, the horror scarier, and the character beats more meaningful, than they've been in years, there's a lot to love in Season Nine and very, very little to hate. (Only one episode falls flat: "Bloodlines," the ill-conceived, thankfully failed backdoor pilot for a Supernatural spin-off series.) Where does the series go from here? When Metatron's sinister plans finally come to fruition, the Winchesters are left at a shocking crossroads, heaven and hell are fractured, and Supernatural returns to being the must-see CW show it's been in years past.

"I did what I had to do. I have always done what I had to do, for God and for the angels."

• I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here: While Sam hangs on the edge of life and death, Dean appeals to the fallen angels for help. Unfortunately, most of them only see Dean as a means to get to Castiel and exact bloody vengeance on the one who caused them to Fall. Meanwhile, Sam wrestles with his inner demons and Castiel learns what it means to be human.
• Devil May Care: Dean and Sam take a captive Crowley to the Men of Letters base in the hopes that he will give up the names and host bodies of his minion demons. However, they are called away to investigate the disappearance of three soldiers, which leads them to Abaddon, the Knight of Hell, and forces Ezekiel to take control of Sam's body to save his life.
• I'm No Angel: Castiel makes his way to the Winchesters but discovers a band of angels are hunting him, intent on making him pay for what they believe is his role in banishing them from Heaven. Meanwhile, Ezekiel continues to repair Sam's soul, but informs Dean that there is a cost to be paid.
• Slumber Party: With some help from Charlie, Sam and Dean inadvertently release two individuals contained inside of the Men of Letters bunker: an evil witch and a young woman, both imprisoned since 1935. They soon discover that the woman is Dorothy of Oz, and she is hot on the trail of the Wicked Witch, who plans to summon her evil army to Earth and conquer the planet.
• Dog Dean Afternoon: To track down a killer, Dean uses a spell to talk to a German Sheppard that was at both murders. However, he soon discovers that everything is going to the dogs when the spell starts making him act like a canine as well.
• Heaven Can't Wait: Castiel is working as a convenience store clerk and learns of a series of local disappearances. He call the Winchesters, but Dean insists on Sam staying with Kevin to research the Tablet while he investigates.
• Bad Boys: Sonny, a man who runs a boy's home, calls Dean in after a mysterious death occurs. When Sam wonders how his brother knows Sonny, Dean explains that he spent two months there when he was 16 after being arrested for theft.
• Rock and a Hard Place: When a mysterious abductor targets members of a virgin chastity group, Sam and Dean go undercover to track down the killer when Sheriff Jody Mills asks them for help. However, Dean disappears and Sam and Jody end up tracking him down.
• Holy Terror: The angels fight each other in bloody civil war, and Castiel is swept up in the conflict. Meanwhile, Dean realizes that Ezekiel is not who he claims to be and tries to warn Sam with dire results.
• Road Trip: Dean and Castiel make a deal with Crowley to contact Sam's consciousness so he can expel the angel Gadreel from his body. However, Abaddon is hot on their trail and Crowley has plans of his own.
• First Born: Crowley turns to Dean for help to locate the First Blade, the only weapon that can kill Abaddon. However, they soon discover that the trail leads to Cain... the Father of Murder and the most powerful demon of all time. Meanwhile, Sam asks Castiel for help when they need to extract the remaining grace from Sam's body to track Gadreel.
• Sharp Teeth: Six months after his disappearance, Garth turns up injured in a hospital. Sam and Dean arrive separately to investigate and soon discover that their friend has undergone a startling transformation... and found others who share his condition.
• The Purge: Two victims die and the fat is stolen from their bodies. Dean and Sam investigate a local spa and go undercover, and discover that a monster is preying on the overweight.
• Captives: While Sam and Dean try to track down Kevin's mother, Castiel is captured by an old battle-comrade and learns more about the factions of angels.
• #THINMAN: The brothers investigate a mysterious murder that was apparently caused by a ghost, and discovers that the Ghostfacers, Ed and Harry, are already on the case. However, the facts don't add up and the Winchesters realize that something more is going on.
• Blade Runners: Sam and Dean track down the missing Crowley and discover that he's now thoroughly addicted to human blood. Once they get him sober, the brothers go seeking the First Blade and find it in the possession of a former Man of Letters, who plans to add Dean to his collection.
• Mother's Little Helper: When Dean chooses to stay in the bunker and try and locate Abaddon, Sam goes to a small Illinois town to investigate a string of vicious murders committed by seemingly harmless individuals. He's unaware that Dean has actually gone out drinking to deal with the strain of unleashing the Mark of Cain.
• Meta Fiction: Castriel investigates the mass slaughter of angels and finds a lone survivor... and an old friend. Meanwhile, Sam and Dean capture Gadreel, and Metatron begins the ending of his story.
• Alex Annie Alexis Ann: Sheriff Jody befriends a young girl on the run from vampires. When she's forced to kill one of the monsters, Jody calls in Sam and Dean for help. However, they discover that everything isn't at it seems when the girl wants to go back to the vampires.
• Bloodlines: Sam and Dean learn about a monster killing in Chicago and head there to investigate. What they find is a young cop whose girlfriend was killed by the same creature, and who is caught between five powerful clans of monsters who jointly control the city. However, war is about to break out and the sides are drawn as the Winchesters discover that the original victim belonged to one of the clans.
• King of the Damned: Abaddon finally gets something that she can use as leverage against Crowley to force him to lure the Winchesters. Meanwhile, Castiel rallies his forces and asks Sam and Dean to come in and help him interrogate a captive angel with ties to Metatron.
• Stairway to Heaven: After a suicide angel takes out an ice cream shop to kill one enemy angel, Sam and Dean investigate and discover that the target was one of Metatron's angels... and that Castiel may be responsible. Meanwhile, Metatron tries to consolidate his hold over the angel factions with promises that he will restore them to Heaven.
• Do You Believe in Miracles?: After attacking Gadreel, Dean leaves with Crowley to track down Metatron and kill him. Meanwhile, Gadreel takes Castiel into Heaven to try and break Metatron's connection to the angel tablet, stripping him of his powers.

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

The Complete Ninth Season features a first-rate 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode that's comparable to the near flawless presentations of previous seasons. Crush and slight noise are again the only issues of note, but both are inherent to the source and neither will prove distracting to those familiar with the show's long-established aesthetic. Colors are often bleak but always bold, with gory reds and sizzling blues puncturing the dark, moody palette nicely. Contrast is stark but striking, with bottomless blacks and hot whites perfectly suited to the series' grimy, grainy horror. Detail impresses as usual too, with crisp edges (free of ringing or aliasing), exceedingly well-refined textures, and close-ups that pop. And while only 4 discs house the entire 23-episode season, there aren't any signs of significant compression issues or other errant anomalies. Supernatural's high definition reputation remains intact.

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

Warner's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is out for blood, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Dialogue is clean, clear and intelligible at all times, but that doesn't mean the mix is sheepish or timid in the slightest. The LFE channel hits hard and often, lending tremendous presence to energy surges, explosions, gunfire, creature roars, demonic possessions, thundering winds, and otherworldly battles, while the rear speakers stir up a storm of activity, granting hunts, chases and action sequences an immersive, 360-degree cinematic quality that benefits the series and the listener. Not to be outdone, quieter scenes feature subtle directionality and carefully prioritized ambient effects that bring the cabins, cars, forests, fields, cramped local hotspots, secret underground outposts, and cozy heavenly chambers to life in the home theater environment. Music is occasionally a bit too low, but there's no indication that it's anything but by design. All told, The Complete Ninth Season's AV presentation delivers.

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

• The Men of Letters Interactive Set Experience (HD, 54 minutes): Use Sam's laptop to access three lengthy featurettes -- "Men of Letters: The Winchester Legacy," "Designing the Men of Letters Bunker" and "Bound by Blood: Decisions and Consequences" -- and take six quick tours of the Men of Letters sets (Crow's Nest, Library, Dorms, Galley, Lab and Room 7B) with production designer Jerry Wanek.
• Behind the Scenes of Supernatural: A Fan's Perspective (HD, 18 minutes): Follow actor Misha Collins through a "typical" day on set in this tongue-in-cheek mockumentary, shot by a fan of the show. Not the legitimate production documentary I would have preferred, but amusing enough.
• Audio Commentaries: Commentary tracks are available for three episodes: "Blade Runners," "Mother's Little Helper" and "Bloodlines" (the failed backdoor pilot for the proposed spin-off fans and the network rejected almost overnight). No love for the season's remaining twenty episodes, though.
• 2013 Comic-Con Panel (HD, 29 minutes): Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, the showrunners and other key members of the cast and production team treat a packed auditorium to tidbits about Season Nine. It's dated at this point, sure -- in fact, if you haven't watched the season yet, start here -- but it's good fun and worth a look.
• Unaired Scenes (HD): Deleted scenes are available on all four discs, but not via the Special Features menu. Instead, visit the Episodes menu and click on the scissor icons. Scenes are included for "I'm No Angel," "Rock and a Hard Place," "Road Trip," "Blade Runners," "Meta Fiction," "Bloodlines," "King of the Damned" and "Stairway to Heaven."
• Gag Reel (HD, 8 minutes): "I don't like working with you two. Just as an aside." Is it my love of Supernatural that makes the series' gag reels so funny, or are they genuinely hilarious? I don't know. I laughed throughout, and I usually dread outtakes.

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

Supernatural, now entering its tenth and definitely not final season, still manages to surprise, reinvent and soldier on. Season Nine is a big improvement over Season Eight, and leaves plenty of room to grow over the course of the next 23 episodes... and beyond. If the showrunners continue their streak, series fans are in for a treat for many seasons to come. (Or at least until Ackles and Padalecki call it quits. Even then, I'm not convinced the show would go quietly into the night. Crowley and Cas as hunters? How is this not already a spin-off?) Warner's Blu-ray release of The Complete Ninth Season impresses as well with another terrific AV presentation. I wish someone would cough up enough cash to produce more special features (additional commentaries especially), but so it goes. Fans will be more than pleased with the season. Newcomers? Proceed directly to Season One (if you're able to stick it out through some early growing pains) or Season Two or Three (if you want to hedge your bets).