Supernatural - Favorite Premiere - Poll
28 May 2011
Polls SupernaturalIt's here - that dreaded time known as the Supernatural Summer Hellatus. It's a time that challenges the fandom's creativity, spawns a billion theories, and has everyone running for DVD's, fan videos, and pictures to make it through. Some make it through with mini marathons; others by combing through each episode for the smallest detail they missed the first 20 times they watched. For me, the best way to endure hellatus is to participate in great discussions with other superfans. What better way to do that than a poll?
So let's kick it off on Supernatural Friday. The plan is to vote for your favorite episodes. The twist is that we will compare them not by season but by when they appeared in their season. For instance, all 6 season premieres will go up against each other tonight. Next will be all the second episodes. My plan is to run the contest until SpoilerTV starts the Best Show competition, take a hiatus during that and return after the contest is over.
To give people a heads up, the first poll will be up longer, until Sunday at midnight Midwest USA time. Then we will have a new poll every other day. However, the only way this will help the hiatus blues is if people leave comments and we start a great conversation. Please tell us what you voted and why. Or rank all of them. You can find this poll here at SpoilerTV, at my blog, or at SPN Asylum. Happy voting!
Here are tonight's choices. If I have recapped them, they will include a link to the recap.
Pilot
In My Time of Dying
The Magnificent Seven
Lazarus Rising
Sympathy for the Devil
Exile on Main St.
PS - Many apologies if you played this with me in the SPTV forums last summer. However, since there were only a couple of us and we didn't have season 6 yet, I thought it would be fun to do with more participants.
Spoiler TV
My blog
SPN Asylum
Lazarus Rising but damn did I LOVE in my time of dying
ReplyDeleteThis is kind of tough... because first time through I loved, loved, loved Lazarus Rising. It was my first season premiere (I started watching after the Christmas episode). However, I hardly ever re-watch it. I still love Dean spitting out the holy water, Sam & Dean's re-union, and Sam yanking the demon... but most of the rest got old really quick (maybe I watched it too often when it first came out).
ReplyDeleteThe two that I can watch over and over and over again are In My Time of Dying and The Pilot. I don't even fast forward through any scenes and I have watched them too many times to count. Now I really loved all of the Season premieres... but Season 6 was a bit slow for multiple re-watchings, Season 3 I can't stand the husband dying, and Season 5 is just too dang sad; although I love the part where the guys find Chuck at his house. "There's a molar in my hair.... I've had a very stressful day today..." *snicker*.
But, I think I am going to have to go with the Pilot. I get a very excited feeling every time I watch it because I always start my marathons from the beginning...
Lazarus Rising is my top choice. From the first moment Dean clawed himself out of the grave and the awesome brother hug make it my choice. Second for me would be In My Time of Dying because again the brother relationship was awesome plus we got some fabulous one-liners. And John died - YEAH!!! The rest of my list would be:
ReplyDeletePilot and Exit on Main St.
Sympathy for the Devil
and way, way last was the Magnificent Seven. This one never seemed like a premiere to me. Just another monster of the week story and a ho hum one at that.
It's EXILE on Main Street.
ReplyDeleteYep and that's what I get for doing this at 11:00 pm after only 4 hours of sleep. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAgreed, I'd probably give the edge to In My Time of Dying.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of watching premiers,I go first to Lazarus Rising.I wanted Dean back and to know he didn't change (porn).Then there was the reunion with Sam and Bobby, the hug made me so happy.but it was also the beginning of the end for brotherly trust.The time of secrets.
ReplyDeleteMy next favorite was In My Time Of Dying.I liked the vulnerability of Dean and the interaction between Dean and the reaper.Seeing Sam struggle with his father as well as his determination to help Dean.The most disconcerting part was when John whispered into Dean's ear, then the pained look on Dean's face.
Lazarus Rising. Dean crawling out of his grave. Bobby testing him to make sure it was really him. The hugs - both the one with Bobby, and the one with Sam. I love that Sam wore the amulet while Dean was gone. And I love the look on Dean's face when he saw his baby - and when he saw the ipod.
ReplyDeleteSymphaty for the Devil is my choice! First, it is not possible to forget what the start- Lucifer ranning away from hell and finding himselfe a vessel. The convirsation between Lucifer and Nick was intersting and I just liked the feelings that were shown that episode and the hopeless they showed at that episode.
ReplyDeleteI hear ya! I voted for Lazarus Rising for reasons that are apparent, but In My Time of Dying was the first ep I saw "live," and it has sentimental value. :)
ReplyDeleteAs an episode I give it to Lazarus Rising. Just basing it on how excited I was for the premiere, I'd go with Sympathy for the Devil though (of course that was in part because it was my first live Supernatural premiere).
ReplyDeletein my time of dying
ReplyDeletei just loved it
it was different yet completely awesome and is still one of my most watched episodes to this day
there's not one part of that whole episode that i don't love
it also introduced us to tessa, who's a pretty cool monster IMO
and jonh died. which was sad, but i think it made for a great season opener. and that shot where sam sees john dead and drops the coffee cup is AMAZING!!
my second choice would be pilot because, its the pilot, it started off the show and has sooo many classic supernaturalisms that we just dont see anymore that whenever i watch it (which is alot) it makes me nostalgic for what we used to see on this show
close third would be the magnificent seven. it may not be the best episode we've ever seen but it was the first one i ever saw so it will always stick in my mind as a great episode. its the reason i started watching this show. and it had some pretty cool demons in it too
next comes lazarus rising. so many people loved it. but then again, so many people loved season 4 too and season4 is still my bottom season. i don't know what it is. just something about that entire season
pretty much tied last is sympathy for the devil and exile on main street. i got nothing against them. i loved them because they ended the hellatus and i love very episode. they just weren't as memorable or as awesome as the first 4
and btw, thanks so much dahne for gettting these going again!! i don't know how i would cope this hellatus if i didn't have supernatural to discuss with everyone here. it makes it even worse that for me its over winter. i don't even get a summer break
Definitely Lazarus Rising! I absolutely love that episode!
ReplyDeleteThe rest would probably go Pilot, In My Time of Dying, Sympathy for the Devil, Exile on Main St., and The Magnificent Seven. But really depending on the day or my mood that order could be changed slightly. But Lazarus Rising will always be my favorite! =]
And BTW I really like this form of voting for the favorite episodes. Putting each seasons episodes against others seasons that aired in the same place, Its really cool and different! Thanks for putting these polls together! =D
So damm I love Lazarus Rising, but In My Time of Dying is my favourite episode off all times.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, it was a toss up for me, but Lazarus Rising wins out. In My Time of Dying is a close second though. Lazarus Rising because it brought Dean back. We began to watch the disintegration of the brother's relationship and how Ruby played on it and fed it. In My Time of Dying because we got to see a side of Dean he usually kept hidden. To round this off,
ReplyDelete3. The Pilot
4. Sympathy With the Devil
5. Exile on Main Street
6. The Magnificent Seven
A great season premier is one that is able to engage, excite and intrigue me into wanting to stick around for the a further 21 episodes. It set the tone for the rest of the season, so it needs to be good, for me getting the season premier wrong is almost a bad omen if I don't enjoy episode 1 its highly likely I wont enjoy the rest of the season, seasons 5 and 6 being clear examples of that.
ReplyDelete1-PILOT-one of my top 20 episodes the episode that started it all, it might not be the best written but it is highly engaging, exciting and really quite adorable2-LAZARUS RISING-probably the best written season prem of the series full of intrigue and mystery
3-IN MY TIME OF DYING-great episode starting off where the season 1 finale left off, JW's death still gets me every time
4-THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN-a good, exciting and engaging episode setting the tone for IMO the most underrated season of the season
5-SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL-good but not great
6-EXILE ON MAIN STREET-by far the worst season prem of the season, this is where I started to loose interest in the show. I found it to be boring and a far cry from the show I once loved, it was not a good start to the season and it pretty much set the tone for the rest of the bleak, often predictable and unexciting season 6.
In My Time of Dying.
ReplyDeleteHands Down...Even over the awesome pilot and Lazarus Rising...
Completely agree.
ReplyDeleteI voted for Lazarus Rising also. There is just such greatness in that one. Dean and Bobby, Dean and Sam, Sam's bad a$$ new demon killing mojo, intro to Pamela... I can rewatch this one 100 times and not get tired of it. Coming in a very close 2nd is Pilot. Just love the intro to our boys.
ReplyDeletethe rest in order:
3. time of dying
4. Exile
5. sympathy
6. magnificent.
The last two...I never rewatch. Just not enough in them to warrant a re watch.
wow, i should really watch lazarus rising again
ReplyDeletei don't get what i'm missing out on, i never really saw anything that overlly awesome in it
also, season 3 has 16 episodes. so, will the season 3 finale be counted in episode 16 poll or in the season finale poll? because it was pretty epic
Hands down In My Time of Dying, one of my very favourite episodes of the entire series. The dynamic between Sam/Dean, Sam/John and Dean/John in this episode is just incredible. Plus the introduction of Tessa, the first Winchester to sell his soul for another one, the presence of Azazel, the Colt and a new opening to the demon storyline. And the classic:
ReplyDelete"I want you to watch out for Sammy"
"Yeah, dad, you know I will"
aaaah. always loved the "watch out for Sammy" lines. For me it defines Dean's love and devotion for his little brother.
Lazarus Rising is pretty awesome too and definitely my number 2. The mystery around Cas all episode through and the final reveal who he really is - perfect. Plus Pamela, the boys reunited (the classic scene with Impala and the iPod ;)), the mystery around Sam and his powers. Big minus is the new Ruby, though. With all my respect for Genevieve, she destroyed the character completely.
the rest for me are:
3. Pilot
4. Sympathy for the Devil
5. Exile on Main Street
6. The Magnificent Seven
to be honest, I don't think No Rest for the Wicked has any chances in the season finale poll, it was definitely the weakest one of all for me. Also, I'd take On the Head of a Pin over it anytime, so not sure if it'd win the 16th episode poll either.
ReplyDeleteBut logically, I think it will be included in the finale poll, as it obviously WAS a season finale.
I loved Sympathy for the Devil (therefore my vote for it) but I admit that Lazarus rising is probably better.
ReplyDeleteLazarus Rising is my favorite. I stared watching the show from the beginning right as season 4 was in its last few episodes, so I didn't experience the trauma of waiting all summer after the season 3 finale, but I remember it feeling good watching the season 3 finale and then immediately watching this episode and seeing he was out of Hell. Even though season 4's premiere was my fave, I love the Pilot, In My Time Of Dying, and Exile on Main St. I used to be disappointed by the Exile on Main St. episode, but after seeing it last night, it made much more sense. I think I hated it because Sam was being played diffferently and it through me off. Now, I get y he was different and it makes so much more sense now.
ReplyDeleteBobby tossing holy water on Dean and Dean spitting it out still makes me laugh so hard I almost fall off the chair. And Sam, an iPod in the Impala - really? That's tantamount to sacrilege.
ReplyDeleteNo problem. Thanks for sharing your reasons. I like how a lot of people are mentioning their first live episode or the episode that hooked us into Supernatural. For me that's Dead in the Water (one that hooked me - I've watched since the pilot.) I always have a hard time voting against it since it made me love Supernatural no matter what others think.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea what other episodes were episode 16
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, on the head of a pin is am incredible episode.
I still think no rest for the wicked should be pit in the season finale slot. Maye it should go in both?
You're welcome. I think it's a bit more fun because everyone has different seasons they like best. Plus people who haven't seen all seasons can still participate. I agree that my order of episodes changes depending on my mood. It seems like the one I vote for and the bottom of my list tend to stay the same but the middle section varies.
ReplyDeleteSorry you didn't like season 6. I thoroughly enjoyed it although it was uneven in parts and there were too many balls in the air at the same time. I blame the film noir thing they were attempting for for that. Other than that I enjoyed our segue into Dean the Family Man and RoboSam. It gave us a chance to see the characters in a different light and allowed the actors to change things up. Plus it was a welcome change from the schizophrenia of season 5 - is the Apocalypse a joke or the most depressing thing ever seen on screen? Season 5 was a bummer for me and I was happy that season 6 was much lighter most of the time. Also it had better action.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your last two although I have rewatched both several times. They just weren't as premiere worthy to me. Lucifer was a disappointment to me from the get-go and Magnificent Seven didn't have the heft of the other premieres.
ReplyDeleteThis one was a hard one. I was split between Lazarus Rising and In My Time of Dying. But I chose Lazarus Rising. This one was definitely one of the strongest emotional episode premiere...EVER (in my opinion, of course).
ReplyDeleteThe last two episodes of season 16 will go up against the last two episodes of the other seasons. I think that is a lot more fair since the penultimate episode usually sets up the finale and finales should definitely go together. Thanks for bringing this up. I meant to include it in the poll information but forgot - that lack of sleep thing again.
ReplyDeleteHa! No favorite versus best wars here like in the the Best show competition. Everyone should definitely vote for the one they like the most regardless of its production values or story. Sometimes it's the situation that makes something your favorite no matter what else is going on in it. Dead in the Water will always be in my top 25 episodes even if others barely remember it. It hooked me on Supernatural so I don't care if it was another Monster of the Week episode in a long string of them. In fact, I really like MotW episodes anyway. The big mytharc ones tend to be to emoangsty for me.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you got a chance to see Exile in a different light. I really like that episode from the opening montage to the split at the end. I think it was very jarring to a lot of people so that's one reason it gets a bad rap.
ReplyDeleteI was totally torn between In My Time of Dying and Lazarus Rising. I ended up asking my sister's opinion and she went for Lazarus (figures her being a Dean girl and all) so I voted Lazarus. If I had to rank the openers in order it would be like this:
ReplyDelete1. Lazarus Rising/In My Time of Dying
3. Pilot
4. Sympathy for the Devil
5. Exile on Main Street (very jarring ep even seeing it a couple times hasn't completely warmed me to it though I do like it more than I originally did on first viewing)
6. The Magnificent Seven
Why yes. MegaloCas felt he needed some positive press and zapped me 10 years into the future. I am happy to report that the Winchesters are still kicking demon butt then. I would relay other details but MegaloCas threatened me with a full memory wipe of all things Winchester if I revealed anything else. Sorry, but I can't risk the Winchesters for anything. :-P
ReplyDeleteFor me it just has to be the pilot. It was just such an amazing pilot, and I didn't really know much about the show, my friend had just told me to watch it, so I was shocked in a really really good way! And after that I just could not stop watching it! Otherwise it would probably be In My Time of Dying, or Sympathy for the Devil, both of which I found really powerful and moving. I do think The Magnificent Seven and Lazarus Rising were also brilliantly done, but I found the three I've already mentioned more emotionally powerful. Exile on Main St. I liked, but felt rather unsettled by; obviously this was the response they were going for, but it's not something I particularly appreciated. However I loved it anyway, I mean it's the return of the show so how could I not love it!!!!
ReplyDeleteI started watching since the Pilot, and from there SPN just keeps getting better, there may be some ups and downs, but it's still one of the best shows on tv for me.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite premiere is Lazarus Rising, for all the reasons said above. I just loved the reactions of Bobby and Sam when they saw Dean, the introduction of Castiel and the Angels, etc.
Then I have to go with Sympathy of the Devil. Sam's guilt, Bobby resisting the demon, Lucifer (and Mark Pellegrino), among other things.
Ther rest: In my time of dying, Pilot, Exile on Main Street and The magnificent seven.
Me too. It's great when the Supernatural fandom can give their diverse opinions in a place that encourages it. I love how people can disagree but still remain respectful; it really adds to the conversation. And quite frankly, we need all the conversation we can get to make it through another long hiatus. Thanks for sharing your opinion. I'm glad I saw the pilot spoiler-free too. It made everything more shocking and bigger.
ReplyDeleteLazarus Rising is my favorite. Dean coming out of hell, his reunion with Sam, Cas' first appearance.. this episode is full of great moments. Plus it was great pay off after the season 3 cliffhanger and the horrible hellatus.
ReplyDeleteIn my time of dying is a close second, I just relly love it.
The pilot its' got that special charm of being the first time we meet Sam and Dean.
The magnificent seven and Sympathy for the devil were really good too, but I not as incredible as the others.
Exile on Main St. I didn't like. It just felt really off and un-Supernatural. Of course I now get why that was and I can appreciate it better, but it's still not an episode I wanna rewatch.
Btw, there's a poll on the Entertainment Weekly (EW) site about the best finale of the 2010-2011 season and Supernatural is competing in some categories like bet cliffhanger, most clever twist, best death (Balty) and others. I'm not sure if SPN will win anything because of the massive amount of Castle fans and Bones Fans, but we can still gve them a fight, right?
http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/05/27/tv-season-finale-awards-polls/
I hope there's no problem with me posting this link?
Shit! Um... Can I say all but Exile on Main St? I'm gonna vote for Lazarus Rising though cause that's when Cas first came in... But really, I loved all the rest! (except season 6).
ReplyDeleteLazarus Rising is the best so far!
ReplyDeleteMy list is like this (the 3 first are pretty close to each other though):
ReplyDelete1. In My Time of Dying
2. Lazarus Rising
3. Pilot
4. Sympathy for the Devil
5. The Magnificent Seven
6. Exile on Main St.
In my time of Dying.... Always....
ReplyDeleteTying for a close second place: the Pilot and Lazarus Rising
ok cool
ReplyDeletei was gonna mention time is on my side too but i thought i'd ask about no rest for the wicked first
yeah, i can understand where people are coming from that magnificent 7 didn't really seem like a season premier, but i personally will just always love it because its the reason i started watching this show
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link. I voted.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dahne for doing these again. If we HAVE to go through hellatus at least we can all do it together.
ReplyDelete1. Lazarus Rising - Dean's back, Bobby and the Holy water, Sam & Dean hug
2. In My Time of Dying - Bond between Sam and Dean, Tessa, John's died
3. Pilot - First episode and the first one I ever saw, great Dean & Sam interactions
4. Sympathy for the Devil - I didn't really have any sympathy
5. Exile on Main Street - Sam's back... but wrong???
6. The Magnificent Seven - I didn't care for the other hunters in this ep. The Drano death was really gross. I really liked 'Pride' though.
Really hard choice between the first three.. not so much for the last three.
"Sympathy for the Devil - I didn't really have any sympathy" - BWAH! Thanks, I needed that laugh and I feel exactly the same way. Thanks also for commenting. It does make hellatus a little easier to bear.
ReplyDeletei agree, i also prefer MoW episode
ReplyDeletei think they're more fun and they are the reason i started watching this show in the first place
my first episode will also always be up there in the top ones for me, even if not many other people think its that great (as i've seen from this poll)
Riiiiiight. ;)
ReplyDeleteLazarus rising, it was a nearly perfect 'Supernatural' episode, it had everything what I love about the show (drama, comedy, Impala jokes, a hug, Castiel, angels etc.). The Pilot is great too, but compared to later seasons, too simple but I do love that shadow fight. In my time of dying and Exile on Main St. are both great, only The Magnificient Seven and Sympathy for the devil are a bit of a borefest.
ReplyDeleteVoted Lazarus Rising because it seemed the most epic of all of them. The scenes at the beginning with Dean climbing out the grave and at the gas station were incredible. For some reason, though, I really enjoy rewatching Magnificent Seven. "I want those shoes." Makes me laugh.
ReplyDeleteI like it in both, because it is both. It is episode 16 and it is a finale.
ReplyDeleteYaaaayyyy! Lazarus Rising is my favourite! I missed the poll (and I have to say that's because I was at Rising Con Brazil, that was trully amazing), but I'm happy it won!
ReplyDeleteIn My Time of Dying is my #2 too, but I would switch Sympathy For The Devil with The Magnificent Seven. Exile On The Main Street remais at the last place.
I'm completely opposite. I could take or leave MOW episodes depending on on the monster, especially since all the best monster intros have been done. I tune in mostly for the big mytharc eppys, and the metas are my guilty pleasure.
ReplyDeleteThe last two episodes of season 16!?
ReplyDeleteDo you know something I don't!?