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'Supernatural' goes Western: What to expect when Sam and Dean go to 'Frontierland'
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The legend of Samuel Colt has been part of "Supernatural" mythology since Season 1, when the Winchesters first procured the Colt .45 that would ultimately kill the Yellow-Eyed Demon. In Friday's episode, "Frontierland," we meet the man behind the myth when Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) go back in time for the third time. We got the chance to preview the episode, so here's the scoop on what's in store for you on Friday night at 9 p.m. EST on The CW.
Yes, there are plenty of "Back to the Future: Part 3" references, just like we'd hoped -- including Dean calling himself Eastwood. In fact, the episode has a lot of really humorous moments. Most mythology-heavy episodes tend to steer away from the humor, but this episode perfectly balances laughs with high-stakes drama. Dean's sheer delight at the opportunity to explore the Old West is a blast to watch -- especially because we know that Ackles was having just as much fun playing cowboy as his fictional counterpart.
We continue to be thrilled that Sam and Dean's Season 1 camaraderie has returned in full force, and watching the brothers cracking jokes and teasing each other is going a long way toward healing our Season 4 and 5 wounds.
You'll certainly see everything you expect from a Western - from the sepia monochrome to the typical spaghetti Western music. There's even a new title sequence. This isn't sugar-coated, though - it's "gritty and yellow-toothed" as Ackles described it. This isn't the Knott's Berry Farm version of the Old West. Those saloon girls Dean is so excited to, um, hang out with? They have diseases. Visible ones. All over their faces. It's a warts-and-all depiction of the time.
The highlights of this episode are certainly the guest actors. Usually, "Supernatural" guest stars pale considerably in comparison to the more familiar cast members. This episode boasts some of the most talented and dynamic one-shot guest stars we've ever seen on the show. Matthew John Armstrong (of "Heroes") plays Elias Finch, a man who is publicly lynched for murdering his wife, but returns from the grave to seek vengeance. He's particularly captivating as a monster you can't help but sympathize with.
Samuel Colt is played by "Memphis Beat" star Sam Hennings, who lends such an air of authenticity to the role that we're almost convinced they beamed him in directly from the Old West. "What we wanted to do was take the legend and basically debunk it in a way," executive producer Bob Singer tells Zap2it. "When you meet him, he's kind of a crusty old drunk. He still has his chops, but he's not what you expect him to be."
Sam Winchester and Colt only share one scene together, but it's enough to give us a bit of a new appreciation for our Sammy -- and to get in a good laugh. "When you've done this job as long as I have," Colt says when Sam shows him his very futuristic Blackberry, "a giant from the future with some magic brick doesn't exactly give you the vapors."
Back in 2011, we'll see more light shed on Castiel's increasingly desperate situation in Heaven. Last week, we saw our fave angel warrior taking extreme measures to create new human souls, and this week we'll find out why when his lieutenant, Rachel, makes a rather unwelcome appearance. We're a little worried about him right now -- things definitely aren't looking good.
All in all, the episode delivered far more than we expected (and our expectations were pretty lofty to begin with). The ending propels us into the final stretch of episodes as Sam and Dean prepare to take on Eve, the Mother of All.
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Photo/Video credit: The CW
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So looking forward to this episode (like always)!
This makes me so happy. Especially Sam and Dean returning to Season 1 banter. I've missed it. Cannot wait to see this episode.
I am so excited and wow this week will take forever to get to Friday! Great Review!!
Great review. I cannot wait to watch the episode on Friday.
It will be nice to see a decent episode this rough season. Six has been dogmeat pretty much from beginning to end. Season four and five wounds?Are you kidding?! There ain't enough Band Aids in the box for the ground- glass-chewing agony of season six!
It will be nice to watch Jensen and Jared in a new environment, and with some decent guest stars, for once. How many unemployed strippers can one show keep giving temp jobs to? As many as you can dress up as demons.
Or, angels, apparently. Does a sidekick really require a sidekick of his own? Don't get me wrong; I love Cas, and I think he turned out to be a good addition to the mytharc of the show. But you start giving that guy his own crew of halfwits, and we are off in Adult Swim territory. If there is to be a seventh season, it will revolve around the angels and their merry, disfunctional band--mark my words!
What's with the royal "we" in all your reviews? That's not at all pompous and pretentious.
The editorial "we": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We#The_editorial_.22we.22
It's always classy to call someone pompous and pretentious when you don't know what you're talking about.
I'm so excited about the Cas storyline!!! I love him! But please don't make him evil, he's sacrificed himself for good too many times for that to make sense!
Also, the boys in cowboy gear, yum!!!
Hey Carina! Grow a thicker skin, girlfriend! lolz's comment was not necessarily a "Dis". Explaining your usage with the wicepedia definition would have been sufficient, without the commentary from you. Makes you look like some fangirl on Tumblr or Live Journal when you snap at "your" public like that. I could do this blog from an iron lung, and so could anyone else who owns a TV and a thesaurus. So, reign in that fragile ego of yours, blondie!