|
 Literally, as he makes his way back in to work for the first time since the writer's strike to chat with fellow writers about the last four episodes of this season, Eric Kripke takes time to chat with ACED about The CW's super show, Supernatural. (Yes, I do mean four MORE episodes THIS season).
This season of the show follows the Winchester brothers across the country in their attempt to wage a war against hell itself. Fighting against some of the nastiest demons around, Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Sam (Jared Padalecki) learn a lot about hell-on-earth, as well as the fire within.
It isn't easy coming up with all of the ideas on the show. You can't just spin them from the top of your head. All of the stories in the series are carefully woven from a vast amount of study and research on the writer's end. There is a rule for Supernatural writers: Nothing on the show can be invented, it always has to have a basis in real folklore from somewhere.
Kripke finds folklore a very interesting subject and enjoys the research and study involved in creating the thrilling tales of the show. If you're worried about a lack of thunder in Supernatural's prime time storm, don't. "We'll get canceled long before we run out of legends. There are thousands and thousands of stories," he says.
Coming up with a complete episode is a little more worrisome than just finding a legend to incorporate into one. Actually, that is a gross understatement. It is monumental. Kripke says, "It's very hard juggling all of the plates. A good episode has to do so many things at once."
A Supernatural episode is a recipe. If you leave out one ingredient it just doesn't taste as good. Based on Kripke's idea of a good storyline, we have a set of check points. First, the plot has to be "twisty" and speak to what's going on with the characters. It must be all-encompassing as a metaphor in itself, relating back to the progression of its characters as well. That's not all—you absolutely must add a dash of emotional depth, a sprinkle of action and gore, and a scoop of humor for good measure.
Sound hard? Well...it is. And it's getting harder and harder for the writing team to keep eight or nine things working all the time in the story's advancement whilst not repeating themselves in the process, but they are still going strong, full steam ahead—and we love them for it.
Although Supernatural is a show of action and thrills, it also carries with it a more profound message. Both characters, and the storyline itself, are on a very determined path. Kripke says, "I really enjoy watching them...how they (Dean and Sam) take care of each other...It's really a story about family and how they are stronger together than when they are apart."
Most people have a favorite character when they write a story like this, but Kripke doesn't. "They are all my kids. I love them all." Instead, he loves the many things about each character that makes them who they are. Sam was actually based on Kripke in the beginning, but has since grown into his own and is in turn much different than him now.
Kripke admits the character of Dean is very much the type of person he'd like to be more like: strong, funny, confident—a smart ass. Dean has been battling his own inner demons in many of the last episodes, losing his confidence and himself in many ways, but we hear he is about to make an about face in the upcoming shows.
Kripke talks a little about the two episodes coming up—his favorite of this season thus far. "'Mystery Spot' hits the sweet spot of Supernatural. It's funny, dark, moving...You get an internal look at what Sam would be like without Dean...Dean is becoming more and more Sam's conscience, whereas Sam used to be more Dean's conscience. It's a role reversal."
Because next week's "Jus in Bello" was created not knowing if they would write anymore this season (because of the strike), it plays out almost like a season finale. "It is a makeshift season finale, very epic in sweep. Lots of action," says Kripke. The storyline with the FBI agent that has been pursuing our beloved brothers finally comes to a conclusion in this episode, and we learn more about a rising new threat—Sam's demon rival. There may have been a "you'll have to watch" thrown in there somewhere when I casually threw out a question about Sam still retaining his "demonic powers" too.
With non-stop action, tense and tight, and an ending on a "myth note", next week's broadcast will be the next-best-thing to a season finale...only there will be four more this season starting in mid-to-late April!
Check out some video clips from tomorrow night's "Mystery Spot" below.
Make sure you catch Supernatural this Thursday, February 14th at 9 p.m. ET
|
