Supernatural: Fall TV Season Preview 2008

It's almost September and we faithful television viewers know what that means. The start of the new seasons for our favorite shows. Finding out answers to questions that were left at the end of last season. Finding out if our favorite actors and actresses will be returning. Will someone we love depart the show or will someone we love be added to the cast?

Rumors have been flying since the final episode of Supernatural ended. Would Dean, the man who gave up his soul and died for his brother, Sammy return? Or would he stay in hell? Most Supernatural fans have been on the edge of their seats, wondering if the beloved Dean would return. Me? I've been 99% sure that of course Dean would be back. Supernatural wouldn't be the show we have all grown to know and love if either of the brothers were taken off the show. It wouldn't be the same without either Jensen Ackles, who portrays Dean or Jared Padalecki, who portrays Sam since both have huge fan bases. Add to that the fact that Supernatural is not just a show about two brothers fighting evil. It's about their travels together as brothers. It's about their struggles with their own demons and most of all it's about their love for one another. How either of them would do anything to save the other. Ergo, Dean being sent to hell. If you took either of them off the show, Eric Kripke might as well take his writing talents and begin to pen another show because that would definitely be the end for "Supernatural".

Many people have held on to spreading the rumors that Jensen would not be back simply for the controversy it brings. The most rampant rumor is that Jensen is quitting Supernatural to go back to "Days Of Our Lives" where he portrayed Eric Brady. Come on, people! Do you really think Jensen would do that? Not that I'm putting down soap operas. I happen to be a big fan of them, one of my favorites being "Days Of Our Lives". Yes, that's right. I watched and loved Jensen Ackles before anyone had ever heard of Dean Winchester or "Supernatural". However, how many actors would give up a show where they have at least half and usually more air time to switch over to a show who has at least 30 characters vying for air time? Not many.

Now thanks to an avid fan of "Supernatural" who has shared her video of ComicCon 2008, wherein Kripke and associates released the first five minutes of the premier for their loyal fans, we all know what will happen. If you can get past the screaming, the "Oh, My God's", some cursing, the camera being moved and the running commentary of the girl making the video then you can see what everyone else at the convention got to see. If you want to watch, then click to see the video. If you find it too irritating, as some people did, I can tell you what happened.

The darkness become clearer as Dean flicks on a lighter and we see he's in a tight, enclosed space. Dean starts screaming for help and clawing to get out. Then you see a grave and in a rip off of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" when Buffy clawed her way out of her grave, Dean does the same. After the Supernatural logo crosses the screen we see Dean walking up to what is apparently an abandoned store. He breaks in, grabs some water and begins to drink. After all, four months in Hell would make anyone thirsty, right? Dean then looks around and seeing a newspaper he picks it up, noticing the date is September 8th. Dean puts the paper down, walks into the bathroom and bends down over the sink, splashing water onto his face. While looking in a mirror he sees the bruises on his face and searches his body for other injuries. Scratches on his stomach from the hellhounds of the previous season. He rolls up his sleeves and there's a strange hand print on his arm. Not knowing what to make of it, Dean decides to pick up some essentials for himself. Being Dean that means candy, beer and a Busty Asian Women magazine, which makes him smile. That's our Dean. We see Hell hasn't changed him that much. Dean also grabs money from the cash register because being in Hell he's probably broke.

All of the sudden, things start to get weird. The television turns on by itself, so Dean turns it off. Then music begins to play. Having lived his life knowing about supernatural things, Dean grabs some salt and begins to salt around the windows in order to keep whatever demon is messing with him away. A high pitched noise makes Dean cover his ears and then the window shatters, causing him to fall. He gets back up, another window shatters and again Dean hits the floor. Finally, he manages to make it to the window and looks outside and that's when the preview ends. We don't know what he saw, but judging from the expression on Dean's face, it wasn't good.

Eric Kripke, writer of the show, dropped some hints to the crowd as well. Seems this is going to be a different kind of season for "Supernatural". Naturally, we will find out about Dean's time in Hell, but we'll also get to see what Sam has been doing for the past four months without his brother. In Season 3, there was an episode like Groundhog Day where Sam kept living the same day over and over again and each day he had to watch Dean die in many different ways. No matter how hard Sam tried to keep him alive, Dean would end up dying. Turns out the Trickster, who they thought they had vanquished was still alive and had been causing all the trouble. After talking to him, Tuesday finally turned to Wednesday and Sam was happy. Happy until Dean was shot by a robber in the parking lot of their motel. This time Sam didn't wake up. He spent months, supposedly, tracking the Trickster and in that time he went from the gentle soul he had always been to a hard core, obsessed man who didn't care about anything or anyone. Hopefully, he hasn't been like that this time, however, Kripke did say that Sam has been working on his psychic abilities. He also eluded to a 'darker relationship' between Sam and Dean. While they will work together as they always have, they will also be keeping secrets from each other and branching out on their own.

Also, they are going to show us more of the past, revealing things about the boy's mother, Mary. There is going to be one episode that's entirely in black and white which will deal with the Winchester's past and their background with demons. It's been suggested that Mary knew the demon that killed her, so I'm assuming the parents Winchester were aware of demons before Mary was killed. Just a guess on my part. But what is fact is Mitch Pileggi from X-Files will play Sam and Dean's grandfather. Also the nerdy "Ghosthunters" will be back. Unfortunately Ruby and Bela won't. Neither one of the boys will have a love interest either, as has been rumored. Seems the female fans don't want any girls around 'their' guys. As Kripke put it, "the lady fans seem to get annoyed". There will also be an homage to 1930's monster flicks and a very, bloody Halloween.

And for all of you who may not have caught every episode last season or who want to revisit and revisit the episodes as I like to do, the Season 3 Disc Set will be out on September 2, 2008. You can pre-order it now on Amazon.com for $38.99.