Super Script

Supernatural may be the best show on television that you're not watching. Seriously. Ok, so maybe it lacks the brilliant writing and ambitious themes of The West Wing, or the quirky charm of Boston Legal or Arrested Development. In fact, one could argue that it ranks up there with Buffy the Vampire Slayer even though it's not a Joss Whedon creation.

What? Those shows are off the air? Then why aren't you watching Supernatural? There's nothing else on Thursdays at 9pm. Huh? There's a little-known comedy on at 9:30? What's it called? 30 Rock? Never heard of it. Ok, I'm lying. 30 Rock is hilarious. Still, I encourage you to give Supernatural a chance.

OVERVIEW (super-short version): Dean and Sam Winchester are brothers who drive around the country fighting demons and monsters. 

First of all, Dean (Jensen Ackles) = hot. Seriously. And his co-star, Rory's boyfriend, will do in a pinch. No, actually, Sam (Jared Padalecki) is growing into himself nicely. He's just a little too tortured soul/struggle between right and wrong for my taste. Nobody will ever brood like Angel, so there's really no point in trying. Besides, Dean has that whole bad-ass, machismo, good ole boy thing going on, and it's funny as hell. 

But beyond the eye candy deliciousness of the Winchester boys, there's an actual point. Sure, I like spooky plots and supernatural themes. I enjoy ghost stories. Always have. And this show doesn't try too hard. Think of The X-Files in the early years. Or Buffy. In fact, much like on Buffy, the monster-of-the-week is generally a metaphor, or some similar device, for externalizing the emotional struggles our characters face within. The bad guys allow the heroes to reflect on themselves, and in turn, force them to explore their emotions without actually having to initiate vulnerability. "Dude, I'm cool. But that demon sure hurt my feelings." It is a show about two men, after all.

What's even more interesting is the reality these characters inhabit: America. These are working-class boys, flannel-clad, driving the classic car and playing the rock-and-roll. They drive to places like Iowa, Kentucky, and Missouri. You know, red states. They help everyday people plagued by demons and other unfriendlies. Nobody in their world is glamorous; if they are, it's a pretty good sign that they're supernatural beings. The brothers save children, preserve families, and pal around with a guy who wears a trucker hat unironically. As if the evil plaguing these Americans is something that can be defeated, unlike an economic crisis, environmental woes, and the specter of terrorism. Sam and Dean save us from these things, because we need to feel like we're being saved from Something.

So, to recap. You need to watch Supernatural. It's quality television, and besides being scary and touching and funny, it has an interesting message. As its mission, it blurs the line between good and evil, and shows us that the heart of darkness is actually found somewhere in the Midwest. Which is to say, it might exist in all of us -- or we could be our own salvation. Plus, Dean is seriously hot.

NOTES

- Good pedigree: one of the show's regular directors worked extensively on the The X-Files, and one of the regular writers previously worked on Angel.

- One problem with spending so much time in the heartland is that there's a total lack of diverse characters. Pretty much everyone = WASP. Sigh.

- The car is a 1967 Chevy Impala. I don't actually know about cars, but maybe that's an important fact.

- The soundtrack is on of the most brilliant aspects of the show. It plays like a who's who of classic rock, and never suffers any Smallville-style emotional pandering.