Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Supernatural: The Complete Twelfth Season Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 5, 2017

Talk about a series that just keeps chugging along. Six or seven seasons is noteworthy, but twelve...one dozen...is something special, a sign that something's going right, that the Winchester boys are holding up their end of the bargain, not just slaying monsters but doing it with enough panache and character depth to keep rocking year after year. And yet the show continues to evolve, to push boundaries, but still maintain that core essence of brotherly love along the way, and that is perhaps most impressive of all. Sure there's a formula at work, and Supernatural by-and-large sticks to it, but it's unafraid to stretch and bend and pull and take the story and the characters down new and unique avenues that keep things familiar but also fresh. Season twelve doesn't make big changes, but it does shake things up with some interesting new arrivals, focus, and villains that makes it one of the most in-depth, emotionally complex, and unique of the dozen seasons yet.

Note: Warner Brothers has released all previous eleven 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
• Season Ten
• Season Eleven

Official synopsis: The thrilling and terrifying journey of the Winchester Brothers continues as 'Supernatural' enters season twelve. Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) have spent their lives on the road, battling every kind of supernatural threat. Over the years, they've faced everything from the yellow-eyed demon that killed their mother to vampires, ghosts, shapeshifters, angels, and fallen gods. Last season, the Winchesters found themselves battling an apocalyptic force: the Darkness. Now, it's Lucifer in the flesh. With assistance from their resurrected mother, Mary (Samantha Smith), and Castiel (Misha Collins), the determined brothers are about to face off once again with the most destructive enemy they've ever encountered -- all while dealing with Crowley (Mark A. Sheppard) and the British Men of Letters. Will they win? And at what price?

Season twelve turns the brothers' lives upside down with the reappearance of their mother, a pivotal moment in the series and one that brings to light the brothers' past in a way that the show has never been able to explore before. Her legend is great, and her appearances few, but she now exists as a tangible character, swept right up into the present with her now-grown sons who are following in her footsteps as a hunter. The show gets some humorous mileage out of her out-of-time presence insofar as she's unfamiliar with the quirks and technologies of the modern world, but it also hits that core essence whereby she's essentially the same as her sons, and it becomes clear that even over decades some things never do change. Her return in many ways turns the series upside-down but in others makes many things right side up. Hers is a series arc-defining and season arc-propelling presence that brings a welcome new dynamic to the show. Samantha Smith is wonderful in the part, soaking in the atmosphere and slotting in perfectly next to Ackles and Padalecki both away from the battlefield and in the middle of it.

Season twelve never shies away from dealing with Lucifer as antagonist, but perhaps even more interesting than the demon itself is the antagonistic relationship between Sam and Dean and the British Men of Letters, hunters who live by a strict code of conduct and operate relentlessly in the hunt. That doesn't sound like a particularly bad thing, but their methods prove a little too unforgiving for Sam and Dean. They're efficient, yes, but they are also cold and ruthless. They're not necessarily bad, but their methods allow them no wiggle room, no compassion, no ability to adapt to a situation, retreat in hopes of later gaining at actual advantage. They shed innocent blood not for pleasure, but out of necessity. They would rather not, but they do, and they express no real remorse for it. It makes for an interesting new perspective on the hunt and how Sam and Dean operate. That gray area is often more enticing than the general season ebbs and flows, another note that maintains interest and keeps things fresh while the show continues to focus on the general task-at-hand.

The following episodes comprise season twelve. Summaries are courtesy of the Blu-ray insert.

Disc One:

• Keep Calm and Carry On: Dean comes face to face with his mom, Mary Winchester (Samantha Smith). Meanwhile, Sam fights for his life after being shot by a Woman of Letters.
• Mamma Mia: While Dean, Castiel and Mary set out to rescue Sam, Crowley learns that Lucifer has taken over the body of rock star Vince Vincente (Rick Springfield).
• The Foundry: While Castiel's hunt for Lucifer leads him to partner up with Crowley, Sam, Dean and Mary investigate a crying baby who leads to death in a mysterious abandoned house.
• American Nightmare: Sam and Dean investigate a case leading to a devout religious family who live off the grid, and soon realize the parents are hiding a secret that could destroy them all.
• The One You've Been Waiting For: After learning that Hitler's soul is trapped in a pocket watch from the 1930s, Sam and Dean must act quickly to stop a group of Nazi necromancers from resurrecting him.
• Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox: Hunters gather together to celebrate the life and tragic death of one of their own, but Sam, Dean and Mary take action when a demon stats picking them off one by one.

Disc Two:

• Rock Never Dies: Realizing that as a rock star, Lucifer can get his fans to do whatever he wants, he arranges to play a secret VIP concert in order to kill all of them.
• L.O.T.U.S.: The chase continues as Lucifer's search for power and influence in his vessel lands him in the White House when the U.S. President unknowingly makes a deal with the devil.
• First Blood: After their arrest for the attempted assassination of the president, Sam and Dean must find a way out of the underground detention center, with help from Mary and Castiel.
• Lily Sunder Has Some Regrets: Lily Sunder (Alicia Witt) has honed black magic powers for over a century to exact revenge on a band of angels; now Sam and Dean must prevent Castiel from being her next victim.
• Regarding Dean: When Dean is hit by a spell that rapidly erases his memory, Sam enlists Rowena's (Ruth Connell) help to track down a powerful family of old-world witches.
• Stuck in the Middle (With You): Mary asks Sam, Dean and Castiel for help on a case she's working, but neglects to mention that the British Men of Letters are involved. Until she's double-crossed.

Disc Three:

• Family Feud: Sam and Dean ask Rowena to help them track down Crowley's son Gavin McLeod (Theo Devaney), while Kelly Kline (Courtney Ford) takes refuge with the demon.
• The Raid: A chance to take out a nest of vampires backfires when the Alpha Vamp (Rick Worthy) shows up and turns the tables on Mary and the British Men of Letters.
• Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell: Sam and Dean investigate a Hellhound attack, while Castiel gets a lead on Kelly Kline, and Crowley's demons uncover what he's been hiding.
• Ladies Drink Free: Sam, Dean and Mick Davies (Adam Fergus) run into Claire Novak (Kathryn Newton) while hunting a werewolf. When Claire is bitten, the Winchesters race to help her before she turns.
• The British Invasion: The brothers get a lead on Kelly Kline's whereabouts. Mick drops by the bunker unexpectedly and decides to join the hunt.
• The Memory Remains: Sam and Dean investigate a missing person case. When the witness tells them the attacker had a head of a goat, they realize the small town holds a dark secret.

Disc Four:

• The Future: Sam comes up with a plan to stop Lucifer's (Mark Pellegrino) child, but Castiel has something else in mind. Meanwhile, Kelly makes a bold choice about the child's future.
• Twigs & Twine & Tasha Banes: Sam and Dean help Alicia Banes (Kara Royster) and her brother Max (Kendrick Sampson) find their missing mother, who was hunting a powerful witch.
• There's Something About Mary: When hunters are being killed off in "suspicious accidents," Sam and Dean search for Mary to make sure she's safe. But Toni Bevell (Elizabeth Blackmore) is back in the States.
• Who We Are: As the fight between the American Hunters and the British Men of Letters comes to a head, Sam and Dean have only each other to rely on in a dangerous situation.
• All Along the Watchtower: Lucifer battles Sam, Dean and Castiel for control of his unborn child in the season's apocalyptic finale.

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

Like its predecessors, Supernatural: The Complete Twelfth Season features a very impressive 1080p transfer. The show, which was digitally photographed, translates well to Blu-ray, presenting near endlessly quality details and colors in every episode. The image is clean and clear with only a bit of mostly ignorable noise standing in the way. General textural nuance is strong. Though a few surface elements can look a little soft or flat, like the occasional skin texture, the image is largely robust and complex, with pores, hairs, clothing fibers, and environmental details -- whether nasty old bathrooms, well-maintained interiors, or rich natural or manmade exteriors -- revealing plenty of intimate qualities to explore. Even with the digital smoothness, there's a tangible quality to much of the picture, and that it's not overwhelmingly dark as is the case with a show like The Originals is a major help. Colors are sufficiently presented and with enough pop and vitality to please. The palette is never excessively vibrant, the sort of shades that just tend to scream, but there's an attractive balance to everything from clothes to environments. Black levels hold up well and skin tones appear accurate. Fans should be more than pleased with Warner Brothers' work on this show, and this season in particular.

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

Supernatural: The Complete Twelfth Season's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is a winner. The track offers excellent definition throughout its elements, from music to effects. Placement is wide and seamless. The front end stretches, surrounds engage to add depth, the low end kicks in to add weight. The track is always naturally enveloping, whether musically or in terms of various environmental supports. Things like gently falling rain or general background location din help fill in and draw the listener into a particular place or scene, even if it's just a simple dialogue exchange. Even dialogue reverberates efficiently and fully as environments and scene contexts allow. Action effects -- various gunshots, pops, bangs, anything with some heft -- plays with impressive depth and stage presence. The track is always fluid, reflecting on-screen action but at the same time opening up to draw the listener into the action. Well positioned, defined, and prioritized dialogue rounds a top track into finished form.

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

Supernatural: The Complete Twelfth Season contains supplements on discs two, three, and four. A digital copy code is included with purchase.

Disc Two:

• Audio Commentary: Rick Springfield and Composer Jay Gruska for "Rock Never Dies."
• Deleted Scene (1080p, 1:58): Scene from "L.O.T.U.S."

Disc Three:

• Audio Commentaries: Actor Ruth Connell and Writers Brad Buckner and Eugeine Ross-Leming for "Family Feud." Actors Adam Fergus and David Haydn-Jones and Writers Brad Buckner and Eugeine Ross-Leming for for "The British Invasion."
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Scenes from "Family Feud" (2:00), "The Raid" (1:57), and "The British Invasion" (0:50).

Disc Four:

• The Winchester Mythology: Mary Winchester (1080p, 9:48): A look at what the character means to the other characters and the show, serving as the "core" of the entire Supernatural mythology. It examines what makes this return different, her relationship with her sons, her sons' relationships with her, and how she fits into and drives the season and the series.
• The Winchester Mythology: A Hunter's Life (1080p, 15:41): A look at the history of hunters, the Winchester family and the marriage between John and Mary, how and why Sam and Dean are more famous than other hunters, creatures and dealing with them in various ways, additional characters and how they fit into the show, and more.
• The Winchester Mythology: Clash of the British Men of Letters (1080p, 14:58): A closer look at the group recently introduced to the show and how these hunters differ from Sam and Dean.
• Supernatural: 2016 Comic-Con Panel (1080i, 31:27): An extended panel featuring cast and crew discussing season twelve.
• Gag Reel (1080p, 11:10): Humorous moments from the shoot.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Scenes from "There's Something About Mary" (3:05), "Who We Are" (2:55), and "All Along the Watchtower" (1:04).

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

Supernatural's twelfth season keeps the ball rolling with a basic arc continuation but, further, some new blood adding to the established dynamic. Sam and Dean's mother in many ways brings much of the show full-circle, while the British Men of Letters add an interesting counterpoint to the Winchesters and open up a delicious gray area in the world of monster hunting. It's a strong season and a solid lead-in to lucky number 13. Supernatural: The Complete Twelfth Season offers a good Blu-ray presentation. Video and audio are great and the included supplements are fine. Recommended.