Supernatural Review: Ghost Whisperer

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In a lot of ways, season seven has reminded me of Supernatural's first season, establishing the big bad guy and involving a lot of little jobs here and there to eliminate ghosts and vampires before getting a chance to even take on the larger focus. After all, we never really got to see the yellow-eyed demon, Azazel, except for a few moments here and there in season one and then more fully in season two.

Which often makes me feel like season seven (and on some level season six) are transitioning towards their own season-spanning story arcs much like one through five did with the angels and demons. And while I buy that there's plenty more of the Leviathan to learn about and explore, my fear is that it might be too little, too late.

Ultimately, the Leviathan saga heads one of two directions:

  1. They either quickly wrap up their storyline by the season finale, which will feel rushed because we've barely seen or dealt with them.
  2. The story continues for a whole additional season with the brothers finally learning how to kill them or discover a secret revelation that changes everything further on down the line.
Answering the Call

If anything, the gravitas of the Leviathan have felt tremendously weak despite them being seemingly invincible. Really, unless the show manages to pull a wonderfully explanatory and jaw dropping white rabbit out of its hat for this evil character, I'm not sure how much longer I can deal with the black goo from Purgatory.

Hopefully the writers have some idea where they want to go with that larger arc so it won't all feel like a letdown. I really want them to pull it off.

And while the Leviathan didn't make any appearance for "Of Grave Importance," the episode did continue in what has been the season's strongest ability: Sam and Dean just plain old hunting.

Because when it comes down to it, Supernatural continues to thrive through its original premise of defeating things that go bump in the night. Luckily, the show has managed to find a variety of ways to portray those scenarios and investigating a haunted house was no different.

Rather, Bobby as a ghost gave us viewers a wildly different perspective of the afterlife and the waiting in between.

I'm still a little mixed on how I feel about him back, especially because I liked the way he went out. As a character he's certainly made things more complicated for himself and I've got a feeling his true ending might not be a happy one.

Yet his presence really gave insight into why Sam and Dean hadn't been able to see him and just how painfully hard it is to move little objects so others can notice. Even the idea that sticking around as a ghost isn't all just peachy haunting and games - but is ultimately a deterioration where you look even more creepy and ghoulish than before. It was certainly another nod that Bobby choosing to stick around might not have been a good idea.

It was fun seeing him try and reach out or even how he's been dealing with his ghostly abilities. Who knew communicating with the living was just as hard as communicating with the dead? Even the prospect of having Bobby reunite with the team while essentially having superpowers seems like a cool concept. Right?

Bobby is Back

It's interesting that Sam and Dean don't really dig the idea of a ghost buddy. I know both of them long for their friend, but not for the outcome he chose. Did he really stick around for his unfinished business with the Leviathan or did he really just not want to let go of the boys?

Dean's statement about "Everything is supposed to end" rang true of the so-called natural order of things but also had a tinge of ominousness for Bobby. What are the odds it all works out?

As for the ghost story, it was entertaining and fresh by including a more powerful ghost that drained the others for his energy. It really felt like, aside from the Bobby issue, another hunting expedition you could have tossed into season one. I love the nostalgia as well as Supernatural's ability to show that Sam and Dean aren't above checking out some unruly spirits even if they've averted the apocalypse or could be easily killed by the Leviathan.

It was certainly an entertaining episode of ghosts, Bobby and revelatory hookups but in the end I'm still waiting for that something bigger to happen that reignites the show and reels everything back in for a grand finale.

What did you think? Are you glad Bobby is back? What does the future hold for the show? Sound off below!

Of Grave Importance Review

Editor Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
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User Rating:

Rating: 4.6 / 5.0 (73 Votes)

Sean McKenna was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. He retired in May of 2017. Follow him on Twitter.

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