- Aspect Ratio: 1:78:1
- Video Codec: AVC/MPEG-4
- Resolution: 1080p/24 (23.976Hz)
- Audio Codec: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English Dolby Digital 5.1
- Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
- Subtitles Color: White
- Region: ABC (Region-Free)
- Rating: Not Rated
- Run Time: 961 Mins.
- Discs: 4 (4 x Blu-ray )
- Digital Copies: UltraViolet
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- Blu-ray Release Date: September 18, 2012
- List Price: $69.97
–
Overall
[Rating:3.5/5]
The Series
[Rating:3/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:4.5/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:4.5/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:2.5/5]
Click thumbnails for high-resolution 1920X1080p screen captures
(All TheaterByte screen captures are lightly compressed with lossy JPEG at 100% quality setting and are meant as a general representation of the content. They do not fully reveal the capabilities of the Blu-ray format)
–
The Series
[Rating:3/5]
In this seventh season of Supernatural, we still find Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jesen Ackles) fighting demons, and all that is unholy in this world. Specifically, this time around their new foes are the Leviathans. Recently freed from Purgatory, the brothers think this enemy will be just like all the other ones (i.e., an evil that will bother them, but one they’ll ultimately defeat). Unfortunately, none of their weapons seem to work against these beasts. Now it’s up to Sam and Dean, along with a few new characters, to fight the good fight. Even though the season hits a few speed bumps with its consistency from episode to episode, I still found this Seventh Season to be entertaining and worth watching.
Considering this series is now heading for its Eighth Season, it amazes me that other writers, outside of initial series creator Eric Kripke, would still be able to still churn out episode after episode, idea after idea. One would possibly think that without Kripke’s completely involvement that the series would, eventually, run out of plots and situations to involve these two brothers in. On paper, such isn’t the case as this just keeps on rolling. However, signs of a decline in quality from episode to episode is clearly evident in this Seventh Season (Season Eight premiers October 3, 2012). The main problem is a sense of purpose with these characters. Perhaps because I was so enthralled by the ending of the Sixth Season, that I expected almost too much here. While the monsters Sam and Dean encounter are a visual treat (more on that below), the situations the brothers involve themselves in are almost too over-the-top (as are the sudden plot twists).
Still, I will easily admit that I never felt that this season was a chore to watch or was ever ‘boring’. I’m just truly hoping that Kripke goes back to the drawing board if he intends to keep viewers interested. If not, Supernatural just may be ending sooner than anyone would like.
Video Quality
[Rating:4.5/5]
Supernatural: The Complete Seventh Season arrives with a 1:78:1 framed, AVC MPEG-4 encoded transfer, which features a fantastic video presentation. Shot using a variety of cameras including the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, and the Arri Alexa, the series has always had a kind of dark, gritty approach to its palette. Dark, inky blacks dominate here, but brighter colors like reds and blues also hold a fine amount of detail. Speaking of detail, facial close-ups result in accurate flesh tones. With little aspects like clothing textures, each individual fabric can easily be made out. Issues like noise doesn’t exist here. All in all, this is a fine effort from Warner.
Audio Quality
[Rating:4.5/5]
The series’ DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is quite strong throughout. Dialogue is well reproduced via the center channel. The rear channels handle all of the series wide range of effects. From the little things like background dialogue, to the more robust action moments, everything is handled expertly here. LFE is deep and immersive, particularly during the scenes where Hell opens up. Discrete effects, like that of gunfire, screams, and beasts roaring, all help to create an all around effective atmosphere. All in all, this is a great effort by the folks at Warner.
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:2.5/5]
The supplements provided on this release are found on the 2nd-4th discs:
- Interactive Supernatural Creature Fest Drive-in – A 61 minute kind of picture-in-picture option that gives us a behind-the-scenes look into the production of the series.
- Episode Commentaries – 3 episode commentaries are included. “Slash Fiction” features actors Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles. “Death’s Door” features actors Jim Beaver and Steven Williams. Lastly, “Survival of the Fittest” features executive producers Sera Gamble and Robert Singer.
- Directing the Supernatural – A 20 minute glance into the making of the series, covering topics from production to casting to issues on set.
- Washboards & Tommy Guns – A 25 minute look into the score composed for the episode “Time After Time After Time.”
- Jensen Sings Outtakes – Now this was kind of interesting. Jensen sings “I’m All Out Of Love” by Air Supply.
- Unaired Scenes – Deleted Scenes for 8 different episodes are shown here.
- Gag Reel – Roughly 6 minutes of gags are shown.
- Digital Copies – Ultraviolet Digital Copies of the entire season is included in this release.
The Definitive Word
Overall:
[Rating:3.5/5]
Even though this Seventh Season of Supernatural is easily the worst thus far, I still found myself enjoying what I was watching. Warner, as expected with their recent TV Blu-ray releases, has given this an all-star V/A presentation as well as a few solid features. I’d easily recommend this one for a purchase for series completists. Everyone else may just want to rent this one to see how they feel about the direction the season took.
Additional Screen Captures
[amazon-product]B005P68PSI[/amazon-product]
[amazon-product]B004YM6JK0[/amazon-product]
Purchase Supernatural: Season Seven on Blu-ray/Ultraviolet Digital Copy at CD Universe
Shop for more Blu-ray titles on Amazon.com
–
[amazon-product]B005P68PSI[/amazon-product]
[amazon-product]B004YM6JK0[/amazon-product]
Purchase Supernatural: Season Seven on Blu-ray/Ultraviolet Digital Copy at CD Universe
Shop for more Blu-ray titles on Amazon.com
Overall
[Rating:3.5/5]
The Series
[Rating:3/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:4.5/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:2.5/5]
–
A little research on the series you are reviewing wouldn’t kill you. Anyone who is even a casual fan of the show (which you claim to be if you’ve watched to season 7) knows that show runner Kripke stepped away after Season 5 (the first 5 seasons were his original plan all along).
cackling cuz this person believes Kripke still runs the show……..mhm….yeah. Okay.
Thanks for the comments guys….
@facebook-100000692344433:disqus – The reason I mentioned Kripke was because he is still, in fact, a writer on the series. Granted he may have stopped his full involvement in the series after the initial series; however, one can’t disagree that his influence in each episode is still fully present in how the different writers wrote each episode.
@8c14c1476482dee2eade08be4c792bad:disqus – He may have FULLY stepped away after season 5, but he clearly still has influence in the series. Akin to how even though Alfred Gough CREATED Smallville and stepped away after 6-7 seasons, his influence and presence is still felt in the latter seasons.
Let it be known that, while I’m a fan of Supernatural as a whole series, I’m definitely disappointed where the series is headed.
I hope this answers both of your questions. If not, please comment further and I’ll be more than happy to chat with both of you.
Thanks,
Brendan