Last week's Supernatural

Last week's episode of Supernatural, "After School Special," was what is generally called a "Monster of the Week" episode. Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) investigate what seemed to be a case of murder by demonic possession. It turns out, the high school where the murder occurred is a place of fond, and not so fond, recollection for the boys.

Why did I absolutely love this episode?

Character development and insight. So many shows today are character driven, but rarely spend enough time developing them to the point where viewers care about what happens to them. Not so with Supernatural. We finally got to see the boys when they were younger and in high school, and maybe understand some deeper things about their natures. Sam had always wanted to be normal, and never had the drive for hunting that Dean and their Dad did. Sam's English teacher told him in this episode that nobody can make you do what you don't what to do, and that you control your own destiny. Something got started in Sam's brain when he heard that, leading to his eventual decision to attend law school at Stanford.

Poor Dean. All he ever knew was hunting. Nobody was there to tell him that there was more he could do with his life. As it's been pointed out in so many episodes, Dean doesn't value himself at all, and the only way he feels he is anything is to save people. "I'm a hero!! I save lives!" Dean shouts this in the halls at school, but somehow, I just can't believe he's convinced of it himself.

I see Sam and Dean as real people, people that could exist. They are SO convincing in their roles and emotions. You feel what they feel. You hurt when they hurt. And all of this comes about because of the story being told. It pulls you in and makes you care.