Supernatural: Season 02 (2007)
22 episodes, approx 42 mins each
Some weighty decisions that will have consequences further down the line are made, adding a layer of hurried danger that continues in the majority of what follows.
There are still plenty of standalone episodes included, but the Yellow Eyes story arc is in the spotlight more, even though there's technically less episodes in which it takes actual centre stage. What I mean is that the Yellow Eyes influence is better integrated into the season as a whole, in a more unified manner, whereas previously it felt like a revolving door schedule whereby it was Yellow in one week and then out the next.
As the unusual lifestyle that Sam and Dean have chosen (or were themselves chosen by) is further explored a number of new semi-recurring characters are introduced. I really like the ones that stick around the longest. I don't want to give names because it could be considered a mild spoiler by some folks (myself included), but I'll add that at least three of them fit in perfectly and aren't throwaway inclusions; they too get a decent level of character development and each one has a role to play in the bigger, developing picture.
As before, horror fans will be treated to a number of genre references, some of which are easy to spot (e.g. George A. Romero; Linda Blair) and some that are more subtle, existing more as a feeling or a mood, such as the Stephen King-esque episode placed about halfway through.
The relationship between the brothers is deepened and (if I'm not mistaken) we get the first instance of an ongoing joke; you'll see what I mean, it's hilarious. Also more prominent this season is the gaudy, bad-taste decor of the cheap motels that the two leads spend time in. If you haven't noticed them thus far, look out for them from now on because they're funny, too.
Many things that exist seemingly as an isolated event are actually parallel threads with others of equal importance, some of which come together in a very pleasing way in the two-part finale.
The well-written characters are the thing that I find most engaging about the first couple of seasons of Supernatural, and Season 02 is a definite step up from Season 01 in that regard. It's weird to think that something produced by McG could be so good~.
NOTE: what I said about the music in my Season 01 ramblings is even more significant now.
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