Supernatural - Season 1, Episode 4: "Phantom Traveler"

I still get nervous, even 9 years (to the yesterday) later, whenever I see a TV show play around with the idea of a plane crash. And, seeing as how this episode actually aired five years ago, I imagine that a lot of people were thinking the same thing. However, bravo to Supernatural for realizing that demonstrating airplanes as potentially terrifying death machines does not have to be distasteful or disrespectful in a post-9/11 America. At least, I don't think it does.

And really, without the plane stuff, including some spectacular-looking scenes involving plane crashes and a guy getting sucked out of the emergency door, I doubt the episode would have been half as good as it was. There are two or three "holy shit, I can't believe they just showed that" moments that demonstrate the show's commitment to putting stuff on the screen that is going to make us uncomfortable or unsettled, regardless of the propriety of doing so.

In another notable moment is when the episode panders, blatantly, to its female audience. At one point, Sam and Dean decide to pose as Homeland Security agents in order to look at the crash wreckage. Instead of just showing up at the site wearing appropriate clothing, we are given a whole (however brief) scene where Sam and Dean go out to buy suits and discuss Dean's discomfort in dressing up. There is no reason that I can think of to include this scene except for giving the audience this visual:


(thanks, by the way to "candyappleslut" for having this image up on her livejournal for me to steal)

It's eye candy with no real purpose, but, in all fairness, I probably wouldn't be complaining (or even noticing) if the Winchesters were women, and instead of dressing up as Homeland Security, they were going undercover as, oh let's say, strippers.

The image I chose at the beginning of the article demonstrates, after the plane crashy CGI-goodness, the second best part of the episode. Dean hates flying, and, in this episode, he has to go on an airplane. It's like seeing Indiana Jones in the snakepit, where a usually unflappable character has to confront a primal fear. Compared to Indy's screaming, though, Dean turns into a babbling, pouting wreck, and it's kind of really delightful.

And then, my friends, the fan gets struck by a stinky brown substance. In wrapping up the episode, Sam and Dean, still on the plane, confront and attempt to exorcise the demon that's been wreaking all of this havoc. I can say pretty comfortably that the five or so minutes that this climax lasts are the worst that the show has offered up so far. It's hokey, dissatisfying, and all backed up with ill-suited music. Once they land, and the day is saved, there's a nice few moments of calmness, appreciation of life, and even a reconnection with the main story arc of finding their dad, but, unfortunately, it's nearly impossible to fully appreciate because of the sour taste still left after the climax.

All in all, it's the best episode we've seen so far since the pilot, but it absolutely suffers toward the end.

Rating: 3.0 stars