As the TV show comes to a close, I’ll admit I’ve enjoyed
Supernatural
Let’s immediately put out there and then set aside the most obvious reason for any woman to watch Supernatural —two gorgeous men. The producers, et al, behind Supernatural were on the ball when they chose Jared Padelecki (Sam) and Jensen Ackles (Dean) for the roles of the Winchester brothers. Handsome is an understatement.
That out of the way, let’s talk further about why this show intrigued me several seasons ago. I’ve played catch up with it and finally watched the whole series in order on DVD.
The battle between good and evil.
From Stephen King’s, The Stand, to the post-apocalyptic TV show that didn’t last long enough, Revolution, I like reading and watching humanity’s battle between good and evil.
Supernatural consists of that struggle on multiple levels. There are internal battles—as each brother fluctuates on the why of their life’s calling. Between them, they struggle with their spiritual beliefs. Sam and Dean know evil exists because they are confronted with it daily. They hope, doubt, believe that God exists when they see and survive certain things.
Angels are real. From Michael to Gabrielle to Lucifer, angels are doing their thing. Castile is the brothers’ angel—their protector, friend, helper.
Demons crossing their path are often culled from Biblical times, with Hollywood adaptations. Abaddon (Sheol in the Bible) a particularly nasty vengeful demon connected to the destruction of humanity.
There are external baddies they face—from vampires and werewolves to demons who sometimes show a good side. Meg is a complex demon going from vicious adversary to helper over the course of several seasons.
They have buddies like Bobby Singer, portrayed by the incredible writer of Life’s That Way, Jim Beaver.
Internally is where the Winchesters’ most interesting conflicts happen.
The Winchester boys are not mindless hunters of bad things. They take to heart saving innocent people, agonize when such a person dies, and look continually for greater reason. Sam is the most believing of the two. Dean feels certain God has deserted man and feels, often, that God was right to do so.
They are mortal enemies with Crowley, the king of hell (delightfully portrayed by Mark A. Sheppard). The episodes where Crowley becomes human-like are great snippets into what makes us human and what makes us evil.
As a Christian watching Supernatural, I take the play between Greek and Roman gods, the Bible and Christianity for what it is: Hollywood telling a story that sells. I also stop to ponder the bond, bendable and pliable to its utmost stretching point, between the brothers. Forged out of adversity comes our true selves.
Relating Supernatural to life
When our parents were ill, my siblings came together with one mission: do everything we could for them as long as we had them with us. It was fighting battles (against lung cancer and ALS) that we knew we couldn’t win. Yet fighting it meant everything.
As Christians, when we are focused on Christ and not ourselves and not the constraints or allure of society, we realize that we are daily fighting a battle. There is the knowledge that evil lives within and beyond each of us. Our job is to take on that battle, shine the light of Christ from within out to others, and keep the faith that God is on our side.
The Winchester brothers, handsome fellows, remind me this fight can come from a place of learning, of open minds, of judgment calls, and the strength we find in like-minded people who cross our lives.
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Read: Guilty TV Watching
Very well done sister. Love this show.
Another fun one to add to our co-collection … Gilmore Girls, Xena Warrior Princess …
I have never seen this show, but it sounds like one I would like. I will check it out. All those things you described make for a great show that makes you think. I like those that make you think versus just fluff entertainment.
I do not watch TV and do not know about the show. But I really like the way you have described about it.
I think world is full of fight between good and evil and at times, one wins and at times other. But there surly is balance, that is the reason that we are still here, until now.
I love when you write,” Yet fighting it meant everything.”
Thank you Andleeb, for your comments. It is all about the fight, I think. And you are right, sometimes good wins and sometimes bad does–our goal is to make life mostly about the right.
I am not much of a TV watcher so I have not seen the show but i really enjoyed how you wrote about it and our constant struggle between good and evil. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone did believe in God and in the commandment “The greatest of these is love”.
Oh, Lenie, if everyone could hang onto God as being the central, most important thing in our lives, everything would change, wouldn’t it? The greatest thing, is love, to be sure!
I am not that much of a TV watcher so I also have not heard of the show. I can still appreciate the depth and thoughtfulness of your comments. I’ll have to give it a try sometime.
It’s sure not for everyone, Ken, I’m the first to admit that!
I have not seen the show, but I found your post interesting.
Let me know if you ever watch it, Jim!
I was reading Ken Dowell’s reflections on the sixties (on my Facebook page) and realized that we have had big things happen here just in the last fifty years (race riots, assassinations, shootings on college campuses, but I think because our nation is so huge, the impact is different from when there is a shooting in Brussels. If that makes sense.
I went to sleep the other night praying for a day without suicide bombings or killing of innocents, and woke up to the same wickedness.
If only we all did believe in a kind and generous God…
Hi Rose,
I have heard of this show and seen previews but never thought to watch it. You do make it sound interesting and I’m always up for a good recommendation. I’ll have to see if it’s available on HULU. 🙂
Start somewhere in the middle, Susan–I think most shows get better with age. Not so true for Baywatch. Ha! When it was first advertised nine or ten seasons ago, I thought: oh be serious, how dumb is this premise? So I picked it up about season five–probably out of nothing else to watch while working out. Somehow I got hooked!
I have never heard of this show! But no I may go looking for it I too love to see how others depict the constant struggle between good and evil.
There are times the show is very dark, tongue in cheek, perfectly light-hearted. The writers are genius at turning things this way and that and yet keeping each character true to themselves. Seester would hate the show, husband doesn’t like it, but I revel in the brotherhood.
Okay, and they really are handsome. 🙂
Though I have not seen the show mentioned. The truth of spiritual warfare is hard to deny. The US does not seem so familiar with it as it has a lot of scientific terminology and diagnosis for its presence. Most other countries appear to be very familiar with it and it is part of their cultural norm.
For folks who claim Christianity they seem to see it WAY different! Instead of being heavy laden with the struggle and the fight to appease the evil powers that be – they instead (in Christ) are living VICTORS! There is a fantastic short video on line that depicts this very thing. It is called The Gospel by Eric Ludy. It is on You Tube. It totally sums up this post!