Supernatural: The Complete Tenth Season Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Supernatural: The Complete Tenth Season Blu-ray Movie Review

Supernaturally good.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 14, 2016

Supernatural isn't the best-kept secret on the CW, but it is the best show on the network. Surrounded by also-rans that have a following but also a distinct lack of character like The Vampire Diaries and its cousin The Originals, Supernatural has been a mainstay on the network (since way back in the WB days) and a refreshingly fun ride next to its otherwise soapy and dour comrades. Debuting in 2005 and holding strong now ten (make that eleven, and soon to be twelve) seasons in, there seems to be no quit in the show, nor should there be. A dozen seasons don't come easily. That requires a lot of effort on the part of the show runners, an unusually focused dedication from its cast, a willingness to push and reinvent as needed, and a fan base that's willing to stick through it all, certainly through the good and even suffer through some bouts of the bad. Supernatural has succeed in doing just that, keeping up appearances but working hard to bring about novel concepts and reworks throughout the run, all while maintaining the core essence of monster hunting and brotherly love. Season ten brings that same approach, taking Dean down a dark path in a narrative arc that shakes things up but retains that same Supernatural spirit that's guided it to heights not unprecedented, but certainly hard to reach for a show of this sort.

Note: Warner Brothers previously released all nine seasons of 'Supernatural.' It is highly recommended that newcomers go back and start at the beginning. For convenience, below is a link to each individual season listing.

• Season One
• Season Two
• Season Three
• Season Four
• Season Five
• Season Six
• Season Seven
• Season Eight
• Season Nine

They're playing our...play.

Official Synopsis: Dean Winchester lost his battle with power-mad angel scribe Metatron, only to be resurrected by the power of the First Blade and now transformed into a demon, cursed with the Mark of Cain and riding shotgun with the King of Hell, Crowley. The road to recovering wayward Dean takes brother Sam down sinister paths himself, with consequences that will shake the boys to their core. The Winchesters' angelic comrade-in-arms, Castiel, must pick up the pieces in the aftermath of Metatron's campaign to overtake Heaven. With his grace failing and rogue angels still loose, Cass faces the ticking clock of his own mortality while all-new and ages-old threats again push our heroes to their human and otherworldly limits.

The brothers Winchester are put to their toughest challenge yet in season ten, threatening the very thing that's been the show's focus for nine previous seasons: their bond. Monster hunting is fun, sure, and the series has introduced memorable secondary characters and thrown the brothers into more than their share of sticky situations and unique moments, but through it all it's been their tightness, their togetherness, the story of their ability to maintain and build their relationship through thick and thin that's elevated the show to the heights it enjoys today. In season ten, Dean must carry the Mark of Cain, a transformative more than symbolic curse that will push both brothers -- the bearer Dean as well as his brother Sam -- through their most difficult ordeal yet, one that will challenge their physical state but also their emotional balance and relationship. As the truth of the mark is revealed and both its origins and potential future ramifications are explored, the season's perspective grows for expanding the show's future reach and seems only the beginning in what promises to be the largest storyline yet for the fan-favorite series as darkness approaches...

The following episodes comprise season ten. Summaries are courtesy of the Blu-ray insert. Some spoilers follow.

Disc One:

• Black: Hero, psychopath, karaoke guy: Dean does demon duty running amok with Crowley, with Sam in feverish pursuit -- until he's sidetracked by a vengeful hunter. Fighting his diminishing grace, Castiel is drafted for an angelic mission.
• Reichenbach: The Mark of Cain needs to be fed -- making Dean increasingly aggressive...and edging toward murder. Sensing Castiel's weakening state, fellow angel Hannah (Erica Carroll) asks Metatron (Curtis Armstrong) for help.
• Soul Survivor: While Sam tries to free Dean from his demon dementia, Crowley admits Dean's antics have caused problems in Hell. As Castiel and Hannah near the bunker, they're ambush by a vengeful angel -- and saved by Crowley.
• Paper Moon: Recent werewolf attacks point to a surprising culprit: Kate (Brit Sheridan), the lycanthrope Sam and Dean let live. As they prepare to deal with their "wolf problem," they get word of a new murder, indicating another werewolf is on the hunt.
• Fan Fiction: Curtains up on Episode 200! The brothers investigate the disappearance of a teacher -- and are stunned to discover that an all-girls school is staging Supernatural: The Musical, based on their lives.
• Ask Jeeves: It came from the attic! With the possibility of claiming an inheritance, the Winchesters head to the home of a late heiress, where the departed's survivors enmesh them in a murder mystery that may involve a shape shifter.

Disc Two:

• Girls, Girls, Girls: A fugitive demon that runs a brothel leads Sam and Dean to the witch Rowena (Ruth Connell), whose black magic recruitment drive catches Crowley's eye. Hannah runs into a blast from her vessel's past, complicating things for her and Castiel.
• Hibbing 911: At a law enforcement retreat, Sheriff Jody Mills (Kim Rhodes) bonds with an overeager sheriff (Briana Buckmaster) to investigate the case of a murder victim stripped of most of its flesh. Turns out the local law and a local vampire nest are both involved.
• The Things We Left Behind: Castiel frees his vessel's daughter, Claire Novak (Kathryn Love Newton), from a group home. After she flees, Castiel calls Sam and Dean to help find her, a search that unleashes a monster within. Below, Crowley faces a helluva family dilemma.
• The Hunter Games: After the massacre, Dean, Sam and Castiel urgently seek a cure for the Mark of Cain from Metatron, just as Rowena doubles her scheming against Crowley. Castiel tries to reconcile with Claire, who's plotting revenge against the Winchesters for the death of her friend.
• There's No Place Like Home: When Sam comes across an Internet video of Charlie Bradbury (Felecia Day) beating up a distinct attorney, he and Dean are shocked to learn the real reason she returned from Oz is a dark, double-barreled one requiring a wizardly solution.
• About a Boy: People vanish with only their clothes left behind. The Grimm explanation: Hansel (Mark Acheson) turns people into their younger selves to placate the witch (Downton Abbey's Lesley Nicol). Unfortunately, Dean learns this the hard way...as his 14-year-old self (Dylan Everett).

Disc Three:

• Halt & Catch Fire: A vengeful spirt starts killing people via electronic devices. The brothers discover an accidental death and why the ghost in the machine is seeking revenge on a group of college students. But how is he doing it?
• The Executioner's Song: While Sam, Dean and Castiel face the murderous return of Cain (Timothy Omundson), Crowley and Rowena grow closer. But when Crowley abandons plans with his mother to help the Winchesters, Rowena lets him have it.
• The Things They Carried: Investigating a murder rampage followed by a suicide reunites the brothers with Cole (Travis Aaron Wade), a friend of their latest suspect. The three learn a Khan worm is turning men into murderers. Unfortunately, the worm makes its way into Cole.
• Paint It Black: A rash of suicides linked by their method draws the brothers to a church, where a restless spirit preys on confessing parishioners. Crowley captures Olivette (Teryl Rothery), leader of the Grand Coven, and Rowena unleashes her wrath.
• Inside Man: While Sam and Castiel follow up on a lead about the Mark of Cain, Dean and Rowena face off against each other.
• Book of the Damned: After Charlie Bradbury discovers the Book of the Damned, Sam and Dean race to save her and the book from the Family Styne. Meanwhile, Castiel and Metatron hit the road in search of a little grace.

Disc Four:

• The Werther Project: Sam secretly enlists Rowena's help to translate the Book of the Damned and find a cure for Dean. They key to unlocking its secrets lies in the magical Werther Box built by a former Man of Letters. Unfortunately, its alarm system is lethal.
• Angel Heart: Claire gets a lead on her long-missing mother Amelia (Leisha Hailey), and the Winchesters and Castiel try to aid her search. But when they learn Amelia fell in with a fallen angel, they realize there may not be a happy reunion, at least on Earth.
• Dark Dynasty: The Winchesters become Styne Family business, starting with an attack on Dean. Charlie and Rowena must work together on the Book of the Damned. Crowley consults a four-legged former foe for help to find his missing mother.
• The Prisoner: Following a tragic loss, Dean takes matters into his own hands -- leading to payback for the Stynes. Sam must come to terms with what his determination to help his brother will cost.
• Brother's Keeper: After the Mark of Cain's influence proves too overwhelming, Dean reaches a shocking decision for the "greater good" of both Winchesters. Crowley and Rowena face off and Castiel is collateral damage. Enter the darkness.

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

Supernatural: The Complete Tenth Season features another tip-top transfer from Warner Brothers. The digitally photographed show presents very well on Blu-ray. it's clean but not sooth, retaining a quality neutral color scheme and pinpoint details across all four discs. Facial textures are finely revealing, with makeup, pores, wrinkles, and stubble presenting with efficient complexity and in-depth discovery on close-ups. Clothing lines likewise fare well, with finer seams, stitches, and fabric showing off for high definition. Clarity is maintained throughout; smudginess or failure to meet expectations are never issues. Colors are healthy. Red blood is vibrant, clothing hues are accurate and cheerful when appropriate, and saturation is excellent; never does the palette come across as too pale or too hot. Black levels are very deep and dense, pushing to crush at times but never to any serious, debilitating extent, as has been the case with some of the vampire-centric shows from CW/Warner Brothers on Blu-ray. Image flaws are sparse: banding, aliasing, noise, and the like appear only infrequently. Fans should be very pleased with this presentation.

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

Supernatural: The Complete Tenth Season conjures up an excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Warner's presentation is finely tuned and balanced, with its biggest and most aggressive moments enjoying the same clarity and definition as its more gentle cues. Music runs the entire gamut, with big, bold, and powerful music presenting with boomy, but balanced, bass. The sense of power saturates the listening area with even distribution, all while leaving enough room for notes to maintain fidelity and full stage saturation, including a healthy surround structure. Lighter notes are equally impressive, with clear, richly defined details throughout the range and, again, no problems with spacing. Ambient effects are finely dispersed and play with a natural sense of immersion, whether city and traffic din or quieter, but no less impressive, natural exterior atmospherics. Action scenes deliver plenty of oomph, with the subwoofer enjoying a workout and, like music, the entire stage playing host to the season's most dominant moments. Dialogue, which is well prioritized and effortlessly clear from its front-center location, rounds a great track into, practically, TV show-reference quality.

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

Supernatural: The Complete Tenth Season contains extras on all four discs, including a nice array of informative featurettes, a nearly hour-long look at series fandom, entertaining commentaries, and interesting deleted scenes. A UV digital copy voucher is included with purchase.

Disc One:

• Supernatural at Comic-Con 2014 (1080i, 28:56): USA Today's Brian Truitt hosts a panel consisting of Executive Producer Jeremy Carver and Actors Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins, and Mark A. Sheppard who chat about season ten and interact with fans. As they discuss the season's and series' core plot points and character arcs, some entertaining humor lightens the usual cadence. Fans will love this chat.
• Supernatural Theatre: Staging the 200th Episode (1080p, 25:26): The show celebrates its 200th episode as a musical. This supplement offers an in-depth look at its creation.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Scenes from "Fan Fiction" (2:55) and "Ask Jeeves" (0:36).

Disc Two:

• Audio Commentaries: Writers Eugenie Ross-Leming and Brad Buckner, Actor Curtis Armstrong, and Director John Badham for "The Hunter Games" and Director Phil Sgriccia, Actress Felicia Day, and Writer Robbie Thompson for "There's No Place Like Home."
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Scenes from "Girls, Girls, Girls" (0:54), "The Hunter Games" (0:49), and "There's No Place Like Home" (2:56).

Disc Three:

• Audio Commentary: Director Phil Sgriccia, Writer Robert Berens, and Actor Timothy Omundson for "The Executioner's Song."
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Scenes from "The Executioner's Song" (2:25) and "Book of the Damned" (0:33).

Disc Four:

• The Winchester Mythology: Battling the Mark and the Blade (1080p, 20:51): A look at the series' arc with the Mark, the narrative's inspirations in the Bible, the blade that plays central to the story, Dean's relationship with Crowley, how the season's narrative effects Sam, how Dean deals with Cain, Dean's transformation throughout the season, and more. The piece is well spoken and informative, doing a great job of summarizing the primary story arc that runs through season ten.
• Supernatural FANS (1080p, 56:31): A fascinating look at some of the series' biggest fans and how fandom has spread more than love for the show.
• A Very Special Supernatural Special (1080p, 29:51): Cast and crew discuss the show: where it's been and where it's headed, tone, appeal, longevity, evolution, character and cast camaraderie, bad episodes, series mythology, the introduction of the angel Castiel, the demon Crowley, the scares, the humor, notable side characters, Dean's Impala, unique episodes and moments, fandom, meta moments, and a brief discussion of the series' staying power.
• Gag Reel (1080p, 6:57).
• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 6:09): Scenes from "Brother's Keeper."

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

Supernatural continues to impress. A show with a rich history of innovation and risk-taking, strong lead characters, great support players, and endless fun, it has surpassed all expectations and reigns as one of the better shows on TV. Warner Brothers' Blu-ray release of Supernatural: The Complete Tenth Season additionally impresses, yielding fine 1080p video and lossless audio to go along with one of the best supplemental packages one will ever find on a TV show release. Highly recommended.