The Ninth Season of "Supernatural" Begins Tonight on The CW

Time sure does fly. Has it really been nine years since the Winchester brothers (Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki) started their journey to battle all things Supernatural? The bros are back tonight at 9:00pm on The CW and must deal with the angels who descended to Earth in the season eight finale and there is no telling how they will use their vast power. In addition, Sam and Dean are dealing with more interpersonal battles that are the result of years of experience with death and destruction. Misha Collins (Castiel) is now a series regular, so it is no longer a two man show, but is there a way to bring Bobby (Jim Beaver) back for good? Please? My only other wish for the ninth season is for the series to be more consistent. Some episodes feel tired, while other seem brilliant, so try to find a nice balance.

"Supernatural" Trailer Recaps Season Eight

The ninth season of Supernatural is scheduled to debut in October on The CW. During Comic-Con, a trailer for the ninth season was released, but it is not a preview, but rather a recap of the eighth season, which concluded in May. I expect the long running series to be renewed for a tenth season (and perhaps more depending on the state of The CW). It has been a long strange and satisfying trip with the Winchester brothers.

Check out the trailer below, complete with the classic rock music that has long been associated with the series.

Paperback Spotlight: "Supernatural: Fresh Meat" - Based on the Television Series

The adventures of demon hunting brothers Sam and Dean Winchester continue in the companion book series to the popular and long running Supernatural television series currently airing on The CW. The latest entry in the book series, Fresh Meat (Titan Books), is set during the seventh season of the series, before the death of father figure Bobby Singer, and features an adventure set in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Initially, Sam, Dean and Bobby decide to meet after hearing about a number of missing hikers, who they suspect are being attacked and then murdered by a Wendigo. While their suspicions are correct, there is another monster on the loose, as aswang, that is somewhat similar to a Wendigo, but slowly murders its victims by sucking the organs of their bodies. 

In addition to the Wendigo and the aswang, the trio encounter vampires and a mysterious park ranger, while also dealing with a mammoth snowstorm, which leaves Dean stuck on his own on the treacherous mountain terrain, while Sam and Bobby gather ingredients together that they hope will kill the aswang. Making the situation more difficult are the interpersonal problems that plague Sam and Dean's sibling bond and threaten to drive them further apart. Considering their line of work, trust is everything, but it seems to be in short supply these days, as the brothers struggle to regain their once unbreakable bond. 

Author Alice Henderson crafts a stirring and often surprising adventure that will have readers second guessing themselves throughout the book, as secrets begin to unravel during the storm and everyone must battle various demons and monsters, both literal and figurative. The distance between Sam and Dean in this adventure serves to further explore the characters, who are almost always together when battling various supernatural foes, but now must find a way to successfully operate separately to achieve their goals. As a result, Supernatural: Fresh Meat is a well conceived and exciting companion piece that is faithful to the series and especially to the beloved characters. 

The CW Renews "Arrow" "Supernatural" and "The Vampire Diaries"

Photo Credit(s): The CW

The CW has announced early renewals for three of its most popular series; Arrow, Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries. The trio also happen to be among my favorite television series that I have followed since their debuts. Arrow (pictured above), which is based on the Green Arrow character from DC Comics, debuted last fall and quickly emerged as The CW's highest rated series. Arrow leads into Supernatural on Wednesday night and, as a result, viewership for the long running series has risen above last year.

Supernatural will enter its ninth season this fall and I assume that stars Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki (pictured above) will return as the demon hunting Winchester brothers. It looks like Supernatural may shadow Smallville and enjoy a decade long run on The CW.

The Vampire Diaries remains a popular entry for The CW, but has fallen to second place in overall viewership since the arrival of Arrow. The Vampire Diaries' fourth season has been uneven so far, but the last few episodes appear to signal a return to form for the exciting series that is not afraid to kill off characters on a regular basis, which helps to reset the relationship dynamics among the talented cast. The Vampire Diaries will return for a fifth season in the fall and, if the show can remain consistent and retain its most popular stars, it may have a shot at enjoying a decade long run as well. 

"The Essential Supernatural: On The Road With Sam and Dean Winchester" by Nicholas Knight

For eight plus years, Sam and Dean Winchester have been hunting demons, listening to classic rock, driving muscle cars and saving the world on The CW series Supernatural. Their many adventures are chronicled in the recently released coffee table book, The Essential Supernatural: On The Road With Sam and Dean Winchester (Insight Editions), by Nicholas Knight. The series is now in its eight year and a chapter is devoted to each season and features a synopsis, special features, a look at the people behind the scenes and includes numerous full color photographs featuring the cast and crew, including stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles.

Supernatural has a devoted fan base (I have been watching since the beginning) who are very protective of the series. Those core fans will think they have gone to heaven while perusing the book, which is a fitting tribute to the popular and long running series. The Essential Supernatural boasts several unexpected treats, including numerous postcards, A Practical Manual For Hunters, mini-posters depicting Carver Edlund's Supernatural book series and a map which lists all of the places that Sam and Dean have traveled over the years. In addition, all of the major and supporting characters/actors are profiled, including Jim Beaver (Bobby), Misha Collins (Castiel) and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (John).

I particularly enjoyed reading about The Hierarchy of Demons, Ghostfacers, a guide to the monsters featured on the series and the tools that the Winchester brothers use to kill demons and various other rogues. There are other unique features that will spark reader interest as well, including a section on the numerous motel rooms that are frequented by the traveling brothers, a feature on The Colt and the Demon-Killing Knife, an episode guide and a foreword by Supernatural creator Eric Kripke. One aspect of the series that I did not see addressed is the slash fiction that has been written about the lead characters. A reference to Sam/Dean was even mentioned during an episode (which may have been entitled "Slash Fiction") and it would have been interesting/amusing to read what the actors, writers and producers have to say about the popularity of those stories.

There is no telling how long Supernatural will be on the air, but when the series finally does conclude, I hope that an updated version of The Essential Supernatural is published, so fans can have a complete history of the much loved program. Of course, there is talk of making a movie based on the series, which, if successful, could easily spawn sequels. Maybe Chuck Shurley can shed some light on a possible future movie series?

"Supernatural: Rite of Passage" by John Passarella - Based on the Hit Television Series

The latest adventure featuring demon hunters Sam and Dean Winchester is chronicled in the recently released book Supernatural: Rite of Passage (Titan Books), by John Passarella. Based on The CW hit series, Supernatural: Rite of Passage is the latest in an ongoing series of books to feature the Winchester brothers, along with their friend Bobby, as they face demons and other malevolent beings. In "Rite of Passage," the brothers find themselves battling an oni, a being who wields immense power and appears to be unstoppable. The novel is set during the seventh season of the series, before Bobby "dies," and incorporates plot lines from the show, including Sam's ongoing hallucinations (or are they?) of Lucifer.

In Laurel Hill, New Jersey, a series of strange deaths and unexplained disasters batter the small town, after the arrival of a being known as an oni, who displays a commanding, if odd, physical presence. Sporting a bowler hat and cane, the oni uses its third eye and powers of concentration to wreck havoc on innocent citizens. While much of the carnage is just for his own amusement, the oni has a goal in mind that he has waited almost two decades to bring to fruition. Indeed, this is not the first time that the being has been in Laurel Hill and his past deeds have produced three potential allies, who he hopes to utilize to complete a ritual that also requires a female host and will give them all incredible power.

After dealing with a group of Harpies, Sam, Dean and Bobby are made aware of the events occurring in New Jersey and decide to make the journey without any hesitation. Before they leave, Bobby contacts a former hunter, Roy, who lives in the area, to ask about setting up a base of operations. Roy reluctantly agrees to put the trio up, but does not want anything to do with their mission, having already lost a great deal during his days battling demons. Despite Bobby's knowledge and Sam's investigative skills, the trio do not seem to know how to defeat the oni, so they find themselves having to improvise, but also receive help from an unexpected source.

Fans of the Supernatural television series will likely enjoy Rite of Passage, which not only features the beloved characters, but also perfectly captures the mood of the series. In addition, Dean, Sam and Bobby are written in a way that is consistent with their characters, including their way of speaking and use of humor. That consistency is one of the reasons why the book is so enjoyable to read. The nearly 400 pages allow for the development of a large number of characters, including the three young men who are called upon by the oni to help in his mission. While there is never any doubt about the general outcome of the story, John Passarella has crafted an interesting, intelligent and often exciting effort that also utilizes the dark humor that is a trademark of the long running series. Scary good.