‘Supernatural’ - The Song Remains the Same

Angels and a trip to 1978 pull the show out of a two episode slump

By Dan Compora

After a couple of weak efforts to kick off the New Year, “Supernatural” finally delivered its first solid episode of 2010. That doesn’t mean it was perfect, but it was quite good.

Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) make a trip to 1978 when they learn that the Angel Anna (Julie McNiven) has determined to prevent the Winchester boys from ever being born. She decides to go back to a time before they were born and kill their parents. If this sounds familiar, that’s because you’ve probably seen the classic movie “The Terminator.” It’s the same premise. Dean even makes reference to the film, acknowledging the similarity.

The boys do meet their parents and try to save them. Dean reveals to his mother (Amy Gumenick) that he and Sam are her sons from the future and amazingly, she believes it. In the end, a battle ensues, the Archangel Michael makes an appearance in the body of the young John Winchester (Matt Cohen), and Anna is turned into a crispy critter. In the end, nothing has changed. Fate and destiny win again.

So if nothing changes, why bother even exploring the possibility? Good question. Ultimately, it’s this flaw that classifies the episode as good, as opposed to great. When the episode concludes, about the only significant event that stands out is that Michael is finally introduced, and he confronts Dean. One may argue that the death of Anna is significant as well, and it is. I have a feeling that some of the remaining episodes of the season will serve as farewells to characters we have met.

When the writer’s stay focused on the overall story arc involving the angels, the episodes tend to be quite entertaining. It’s when they abandon the big picture that things seem to fall apart. Overall, it was a fine episode that mixed the right dose of humor with the upcoming apocalypse.

What Worked

When Anna returned to 1978, she landed on a classic Pontiac Trans Am, and the wings from the Firebird emblem on the hood were a really interesting image. Anna was an Angel, but the wings were fiery, which reinforced the fact that she was the enemy here.

Best line of the night: “Awesome. Six degrees of Heaven Bacon,” courtesy of Dean, naturally. Equally amusing were the humorous references to “The Terminator,” “Back to the Future” and “Fatal Attraction.” The opening sequence with Dean and the angelic and demonic dancers was hilarious.

What Didn’t Work

How can the episode be titled “The Song Remains the Same” and NOT include the Led Zeppelin song of the same name? I’m sure that usage rights and royalties came into play, but that was quite a tease.

Castiel was not utilized well in this episode. In fact, he spent most of the episode unconscious. Sure he is the one who transported the Winchesters back in time, but that is all he did.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

"Supernatural" stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles. “The Song Remains the Same” was written by Sera Gamble and Nancy Weiner, and was directed by Steve Boyum.

"Supernatural" airs on The CW Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.