Supernatural or Superdisappointed?

DISCLAIMER: I am up to a few episodes into Season 6, so I haven't seen the entire show, but that's over 100 episodes, so close enough. Please don't hate me for being critical of something you may be incredibly passionate about, Internet. Please use your brains. Thanks.

I'm a total TV glutton, so when I find a show that keeps my interest and doesn't make me groan from bad dialogue, I tend to need to devour all episodes available. The flavor of the month this time around is Supernatural. (No)Thanks to Netflix, I can catch up on all 6 previous seasons before I have to scrounge around to find the just-finished 7th.

Would I recommend this show? Umm... I would recommend specific episodes but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't call this show "good" or list it among favorites, although (having just started season 6) I still want to finish it.

I'll start with the positives. What's good about this show?

a) The leads are extremely attractive, and all around it is well acted.

b) It is wildly funny. The chemistry between the brother characters is spot on, and the writing is very self aware. They, like Buffy, can throw in wonderful wit in a very serious situation. And let's not forget Castiel. Cas, the wickedly literal rogue angel with no grasp of pop culture references is unfortunately very underused. The relationship between he and Dean is so beautifully written, as these two have a personal bond without understanding each other in the slightest. It is comedy gold, people.

c) Also like Buffy, the show can get away with wonderfully meta and just plain weird episodes. For example: in one episode the boys get accused of LARPing a series of books called, catch this, Supernatural. It turns out a "prophet" sees everything that happens in their lives and has turned it into a book series with a cult following (all the while not knowing these were real events). Later in the series they go to a convention for said books, where everyone is dressed up as them. Not many shows can get away with this much self awareness (there are actual Supernatural conventions with a very rabid fan base). Another episode has them sliding through TV parodies, the first being a VERY funny Grey's Anatomy-esque show ("Dr. Sexy") that is just spot on. It's nice that they play with the silly side of supernatural abilities, as well as the dark and creepy.

d) They shoot in the Vancouver area, and a lot in Langley/Fort Langley, so a lot of it is a tour of my first 2 years of college. It's really exciting every time I recognize a place.

Why my reservations?

a) The theology, if you can even call it that, is stupid. I'd call it offensive, but it's so downright dumb that I'm not sure it's even worth getting huffed up about. The theology (angels being just as much of jerks as demons, God "missing", Michael and Lucifer being brothers...ugh I could go on) is bad, but for story sake, sure, why not. Whatever. I believe in a loving, active and caring God, and this show affirms that belief for me, because I certainly don't want to believe in the God that they allude to.

b) Women, or lack there of. Now, I'm not a raging, bra burning, I-ain't-havin'-no-babies feminist, but I am a woman. Maybe I'm too much of a fan of Joss Whedon and therefore take offense when women aren't given their due on screen. And I'm not blaming the fact that it's an all male cast (it's basically a buddy cop show), but when the women who do make it on screen are poorly written, I find that offensive.

Any women written in are basically just objects, an end to a means. Sam and Dean's mother is killed by a demon, Sam's girlfriend is killed the same way (the writers have noted that they didn't originally write Jessica's death, but found it better motivation to get Sam to go with Dean). Countless women are murdered by monsters or demons. Demons use people as bodies - at least three recurring characters are demons in girls' bodies, and a few times we even meet the girl who is being possessed for a few moments either before death or repossession. Romantic interests are introduced, their lives inevitably threatened, romance ensues, and then the boys leave rarely to speak of them again. A mother/daughter hunter pair are only a few who have stuck around for any length of time (who aren't evil) are probably the strongest of all women on the show, but are, of course (spoiler), killed in action. Needless to say, women aren't given much shape, or even a chance to take form, in this show. They're either vessels for romance or violence or both, or are killed off too quickly to find out.

And finally, women are verbally abused quite a lot. I couldn't count how many times women are called "bitches" or "sluts" or any combo or variety of the two. Yes, the insults are either directed to or from a demon or monster, but I still cringe a little every time. Maybe it's just the sheer amount that female-specific derogatory remarks are used that it has become a little tiresome (I'll admit, "dick" is a favorite of the show as well), but is it utterly necessary? And is it only passable because that evil she-demon who is being very evil has deserved being called a slut? I don't know, something about the language choices on the show bugs me.

Can a show be male driven and still have strong women characters? Absolutely - Mad Men, Firefly, Psych to name a few. Have there been female driven shows with poorly written female characters? You bet your bottom. But in a show where violence is one of the main pillars, I'm disappointed that the women characters aren't written better to withstand. Women are the victims (even when they're hunters, they end up being victims) who must be saved by the men, romanced, and either left or killed. It's a good thing the Supernatural world isn't real - I sure wouldn't want to be a women in that world.

Wonder why I'm still watching the show? Kind of me too, but I do enjoy it. And I think I might enjoy analysing why I don't enjoy it as much as I enjoy watching it. (Wait, what?)

If you have any recommendations for better shows, hit up the comment section.

Rabid fan base, please don't kill me.