The Winchesters Season 1 Episode 8 Review: Hang on to Your Life
The prequel series has returned to the CW, but The Winchesters Season 1 Episode 8, “Hang on to Your Life,” gives us a whimper, not a bang, as the gang jumps back into action.
Without a doubt, it’s a fun episode with plenty of supernatural hijinks and many Supernatural references. However, Carlos takes center stage on this episode. He may be the character in this series with the most interesting background.
Of course, Mary and John have the most intriguing future. However, Carlos’ past continues to grow fascinating roots.
He is almost becoming a folk-like character within the show. The series could easily have a spin-off show solely about his past. “The Legend of Carlos Cervantez” is a good title for it.
First, we learn about his navy past on The Winchesters Season 1 Episode 4, “Masters of War.” Now, this episode showcases his past musical dreams. Surprisingly, the layers of Carlos continue to peel back.
Latika has an equally mysterious and exciting origin story. However, the series is slow to give us details about her life beyond this group. Therefore, we don’t know much beyond her volatile relationship with her father. Hopefully, Latika will become the focus of future episodes because we want to get to know her.
Carlos is an enjoyable character. Therefore, we don’t mind him becoming the focal point of any episode. However, “Hang on to Your Life” feels like a filler entry for Season 1.
The Winchesters Season 1 Episode 7, “Reflections,” builds momentum toward the battle with the Akrida. This makes “Hang on to Your Life” seem lackluster in comparison. The only significant action happens at the end.
Nevertheless, this episode accomplishes a few important things: It resolves Samuel’s disappearance and allows him to patch things up with Mary. Also, now everyone knows his whereabouts.
Samuel’s introduction to this show seems like another move by the writing team to plan for future seasons. Samuel has “I’m a recurring character” written all over him.
“Hang on to Your Life” also merges the Supernatural storyline with The Winchesters.
There are a ton of references, Easter eggs, connections, etc., that are integrated into this season. However, Dean entering into this storyline makes the SPN world feel more relevant.
Dean joining this version of his parents’ story sets up many fascinating elements. We have time travel coming into play — which is not new to Dean and Sam’s world but is unique to this show — and the possibility of a Winchesters multi-verse.
He adds a new complication that frees the story up from the restrictions of Supernatural canon.
The Dean twist adds an exciting layer to these final few episodes of The Winchesters Season 1. Now it’s not only about battling the Akrida but also about his role in that storyline. How will it affect his parents’ current story?
The return of Gil McKinney as Henry Winchester in the previous episode and Richard Speight Jr. as Loki on “Hang on to Your Life” showcases how to incorporate familiar characters seamlessly into this series without taking away from this prequel’s identity.
You don’t need to know the entire history of Loki to enjoy him on this show.
So far, it has done an excellent job of finding its identity separate from the original’s legacy. It doesn’t shy away from it. However, it’s unique enough that fans of the original series, or people strictly watching this one, can enjoy it without feeling the need to know everything about Supernatural.
However, it gives plenty of references to the original Winchesters for those missing that world.
The Winchesters ensures that Mary, Latika, Carlos, John, and the other characters are not just copies of the original characters.
The storylines also help introduce new elements into the mythology of the show. The storylines don’t treat viewers like they should also have prior Supernatural knowledge.
Stray Thoughts
- Samuel is unnecessarily hostile with John and about Henry (deceased).
- Carlos could be a hair model. Just look at those locks.
- The Winchesters got its money’s worth with the constant versions of “Hard Times Come Again No More.”
- I am looking forward to the Mary, John, and Dean meeting. How will Mary and John interact with their future son?
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What did you think of this episode of The Winchesters? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Winchesters airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on The CW.
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Jerrica Tisdale
Jerrica Tisdale is your favorite neighborhood pop culture junkie. She will annoy you with random TV and film facts, while complaining about whatever is the hottest new book. She has been a TV fan all her life but writing about it for over a decade. You may find her work all over the internet especially reality TV rants. She is a senior writer at Tell-Tale TV.