Supernatural Review: Stranger in a Strange Land (Season 14 Episode 1)

At long last, Supernatural has returned to our television screens. Even though it’s the 14th year in a row, it still feels new and exciting when the new season starts up.

Supernatural Season 14 Episode 1, “Stranger in a Strange Land,” takes place not long after the events of the Season 13 finale. Dean is still a fresh vessel for Michael, and Sam’s ragtag group of hunters is looking everywhere to find him.

Something about “Stranger in a Strange Land” made the show’s premise feel fresh. It’s certainly easy for “saving people, hunting things, the family business” to get stale after 13 years or so. But taking Dean out and mixing in characters both new and old created a shake-up that the show desperately needed, and so far is working.

First of all, it feels like an ensemble show now. For years, the stories on Supernatural have revolved around Sam and Dean, and it’s been difficult to include other cast members with regularity (Castiel, Crowley & Bobby, being the exceptions rather than the rule).

Now that Dean has wandered out of the picture, the show feels more focused on the likes of Bobby, Mary, Jack, Castiel, and even Ketch, who isn’t in the episode. Bringing an entire parade of the non-Winchester recurring stars makes the show feel richer and more exciting than ever.

We don’t even really see Dean on this episode at all. We do, however, see Jensen Ackles take on a secondary character for the first time.

Watching Ackles play Michael instead of Dean served not only as a nice change of pace for the show, but a showcase for the oft-pigeonholed Ackles.

If I know Supernatural at all (and after 13 seasons, I’m pretty sure I do), their inclination will be to spend a few episodes with Ackles playing Michael, then free Dean and get back to the regular status quo. However, there could really be something special if they resist that urge and explore Michael at length.

The shift in status quo has been exciting thus far, and the show would benefit from continuing to lean into it.

Perhaps the most exciting piece of “Stranger in a Strange Land” is how easily it disposed of the demons who captured Castiel. For just a moment, viewers begin to believe that there will be yet another King of Hell.

Instead, however, they’re treated to something special as unstoppable force Sam Winchester makes quick work of them.

That suggests to me that Dean/Michael will be the focus of the current season (or at least have a lengthy story arc).

A few stray thoughts:

• Watching Jensen and Danneel Ackles do a scene together is just so fun. It feels like the royal wedding or something.
• One of the most intriguing threads on this episode for me was Nick, Lucifer’s ex-vessel. How is he alive? What are they going to do with him next? I have so many questions.
• I enjoyed this episode immensely, due in large part of the significant amount of wig-splitting and gunslinging that took place on the episode.
• Occasionally, I will make bold predictions that usually turn out to be wildly incorrect. My bold prediction for today: Things with Michael will get so bad that Team Free WIll 2.0 will have to free Earth-One Michael (and half-brother Adam) from the cage.

The shift in dynamic on Supernatural Season 14 is hard to deny, but it makes for a timely and refreshing shift for the show. I’m anxious to see more.

What did you think of this episode of Supernatural? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Supernatural airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW.

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