When Did ‘Supernatural’ Become a Comedy?

Supernatural fans often use the mantra “In Kripke We Trust” to reassure them that creator and Supernatural mastermind Eric Kripke knows what he’s doing. Indeed, Paris Hilton wasn’t terrible when she guest starred, so at least we were right to have faith then. But with the next three episodes, I find myself growing doubtful.

Following the homicidal Castiel visiting a brothel, a homicidal Abraham Lincoln, Paris Hilton and the Tooth Fairy, the next three episodes will feature Dean turning into an old man, the Winchesters living in TV parodies and the boys taking a trip to a Supernatural fan convention. But isn’t Supernatural supposed to be a drama, and isn’t this season about the Apocalypse?

To many fans, it seems like the wheels are coming off the bus and the Supernatural writers are now more obsessed with clever inside jokes about slash fiction than they are with telling a story about Lucifer bringing about the end of the world.

There’s no denying that Supernatural is more comedic than it’s ever been. Season 1 only had one mildly light-hearted episode, “Hello House” with the first appearance of the Ghostfacers. Season 2 saw the arrival of the Trickster in the largely comedic “Tale Tales” and the start of self-referential comedy with “Hollywood Babylon,” but other than that, it was all about Azazel and the psychic kids.

Then the show started becoming more adventures with “Bad Day at Black Rock,” “Mystery Spot” and “Ghostfacers” in season 3, but it was season 4 that really got the weird comedy ball rolling. Episodes like “Monster Movie,” “Wishful Thinking,” “Criss Angel is a Douchebag” and “It’s a Terrible Life” are almost all comedy.

But season 5 has been truly outside the box. While the season started focusing on Lucifer and Castiel’s search for God, it quickly devolved into filler episodes, stand-alone mysteries that are heavily based on comedy. Even the last episode featuring the Anti-Christ didn’t seem to have a whole lot to do with Lucifer, especially since the kid just vanished at the end.

There’s no denying that Supernatural is a different kind of show in terms of tone, but is that necessarily a bad thing? On the one hand, I do wish there was more Lucifer and I want to see the Apocalypse storyline take center stage instead of being tossed onto the backburner for Paris Hilton and Grey’s Anatomy.

But on the other hand, part of me loves the creative inspiration of the Supernatural writers. If you’re able to view these episodes not as part of the overall series and the season and the mythology, they are exceptional pieces of individual fiction. By itself, the Paris Hilton episode was a funny yet serious commentary on modern-day obsession with celebrity.

However, as a part of Supernatural as a series and this season’s primary story arc in particular, it was a huge waste of time and a distraction.

In the end, I always come back to the phrase “In Kripke We Trust.” Surely he’s aware of the fact that Supernatural is more of a comedy and that these light, funny filler episodes aren’t what the fans want all the time. And based on the fact that he’s setting an episode at a fan convention, I trust Kripke and the other writers read enough message boards to get the underlying wave of displeasure surrounding these types of episodes.

All of this leads me to believe that, somehow, Eric Kripke knows exactly what he’s doing and I’m just too stupid to see it. I don’t get how Paris Hilton or TV parodies are related to Lucifer and the Apocalypse, and I don’t understand why the writers would want to waste any time if this truly is the final season for Kripke’s original story.

But: “In Kripke We Trust.” Those four words keep swirling back to the front of my brain, and those four words are what give me the faith to believe that, once this season is over, it will all make sense.

How do you feel about the comedic episodes of Supernatural?

They're great, and I love all of them (57%, 36 Votes)
A few are OK, but they shouldn't do so many (41%, 26 Votes)
There should be no comedy, this is a serious show (2%, 1 Votes)

Total Voters: 63

Source: buddytv.com

Oct 27 , 2009 • Posted By Melanie • Filed Under: News, Supernatural • 4 Comments »

4 Responses to “When Did ‘Supernatural’ Become a Comedy?”

GR19 Says:

October 27th, 2009 at 10:29 pm

I think you and the other fans who are doubting the show right now, should just give Kripke, the writers and the show some time.
If this is the last season, maybe the writers are just trying to show us that Supernatural can be seen in many diffrent ways. That the guys can be put in very diffrent situations and places that we never thougth they be’d put on before; even if it is irrelavent to the REAL storyline.
I also think that if Kripke or the writers just focus on Lucifer and the Apocalypse, there would be fewer episodes. I mean, we can’t have 22-24 episodes of Sam and Dean chasing after the Devil, it will just drag the show or have multiple “To Be Contined” at each end. Isn’t better to make a moview then?
Even in the first two seasons of the show, we had a lot of episodes that did NOT involve the Yellow Eyed Demon, nor where they relavant to him, but we where still pleased with it and it made us anxious to see how would they finally catch up with the it and kill it. I think is the same thing around this time, but the Evil is much stronger this time. We must also keep in mind that Sam’s and Deans bond was not as strong as it was in the past seasons. There had to be episodes of their trust issues being resolved firts before heading out to kill one of the most powerful beings in the name of the EARTH! And what better way of doing this, than with LAUGHTER!
I also think that if this is the final season, we want to remember the show not only for the intensity, sadness or drama it would be,but we should remember it also cuz it was a great funny show too. So what if it has a little more funny, filler episodes, TO ME, it just shows how diverse and how the show can be viewed in many great ways. To me SN has never been only just a Horror show, since Season one, I have seen drama, humor and belive it or not,a bit of romance as well. Plus, Dean is alwasy a funny, no matter what situtaiton he is put in!
But at the end of the day Suppernatural REALLY is a horror/thriller/Sci-Fi show, and I can understand why you and all the other fans would be anxious to see the Apocalypse start soon, but maybe Kripke will give us that after the show’s breake returns in 2010. The show will rergain its STREGHT AND MOJO BACK!! For now let’s go with the flow and enjoy what could be the final episodes of SUPERNATURAL!!! IN KRIPKE WE TRUST!!
Peace OUT! GR19.
Mike Says:

October 28th, 2009 at 8:48 pm

I don’t see how comedy is even relevant to a show like this. Yes there has always been such good humor in it through all seasons, but now when I watch and see that once again Dean’s going with dirty humor or they are going with the ‘fans’ again…I just roll my eyes and pretend it didn’t happen, but now…one hit after another with this…humor…it’s suffocating, they kicked off this season with a bang! Then the amazing episode of “The End” but everything after that…I don’t know it just didn’t fit for me. Since this show took on a turn of being about the apocalypse.

I understand that Dean has a humor about him…but to me he has turned into the comic relief and I NEVER wanted that. I trust Kripke, why I am still watching cause I am just waiting for this to stop trying to go back to S1 cause it won’t work, not now with all the dark and evil things. Though S1 didn’t have so much suffocating humor. So, I will keep watching and hope that things pick up again.
Mike.
Gr19 Says:

October 28th, 2009 at 11:48 pm

MIke,
The show is good to so far, and even in those funny episodes, their are still good, detailed, serious moments.
Just give it time and enjoy it. what harm will it do, I mean the ratings are still the same.
Gr19
Melanie Says:

October 30th, 2009 at 9:07 pm

I don’t have anything against the funny moments of SPN, I don’t want to miss them either. These stories are not written by me. I just get them from news sources. It’s not me talking about SPN. I don’t like judging a show or movie if I actually liked it and want to continue watching…

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