Supernatural: The Official Companion Season 1

Supernatural: The Official Companion #1

by Nicholas Knight

Take a spooky road trip through the dark heart of America...

Supernatural, the hit show with a compelling mix of horror, thrills, and family drama from The CW, hit the ground running during its heart-stopping, spine-tingling, hair-raising first season.

Twenty-two years ago, Sam and Dean Winchester lost their mother to a demonic force. Their father, John, raised them to be soldiers, teaching them how to hunt and kill the paranormal evil that lives in the dark corners and on the back roads of America... Now, with their father missing and Sam's girlfriend murdered by the same force that killed their mother, the Winchester brothers take to the road in their 1967 Chevy Impala to search for their father and the Yellow-Eyed Demon. Along the way, they confront creatures most people believe exist only in folklore and nightmares, including wendigos, ghosts, pagan gods, and vampires.

This official companion is packed with exclusive interviews, photos, behind-the-scenes secrets, the low-down on the show's supernatural entities, and a complete first-season episode guide.

Genres: Supernatural, Nonfiction, Horror, Tv, Paranormal, Reference, Mystery

159 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 2007

Reviews

[J-Lynn Van Pelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book half off at a conference and thought it would be a fun read, something I could pick up and read every once in a while. Well, once I got started, I finished it in the same day. I thought it was the perfect mix of behind the scenes information about each episode and the true lore behind the Urban Legends featured on the show.

The author divides the book by episode and has interviewed obvious people like Kripke and Singer, but also the composers, location scouts, makeup artists, special effects team, wardrobe, and more. The collection of voices really paints a clear picture of the amount of thought and care that goes into creating each episode. I also found it interesting to hear which of the episodes were the crews' favorites and why. The one thing I wanted more of was quotes from Jensen and Jared--I always want to understand the motivation behind the characters.

But, I have to admit, the book fed my burgeoning obsession with the show. I will have to invest in the Season 2 Companion.

[Kirsten Simkiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those that know me, Supernatural has been that show that I've watched since grade school. It's become a part of my life that I probably will never forget. So, when I spotted this companions to Season 1 and 2 on my thrift store's shelf, I was happy to pick them up. Now, being a fan and growing up with the show, I knew a lot of what was in here. Still, there were bits of trivia I didn't know that made it an interesting read. If you want to buff up on Supernatural trivia, this would be a good one for you.

[Taniplea · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, but I thought I'd get more behind the scenes information. I really liked that the songs of each episode were listed.

[Kirsty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad, but expected better. There needed to be more behind the scenes info and secrets, maybe some chapters from the props and costume departments. More in depth details on the stunts and fights would have been good too.

The photos were okay, but they were very posed and model like. We know the guys are hot so lets see them in a different light, and a little more relaxed! Where were all the candid and fun shots from behind the scenes?

The Buffy Watchers Guides were much better examples of TV tie-ins.

[Ralitsa Koleva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned everything for Season 1 of Supernatural and how the crew make it. This book is amazing a real enciklopedia not only for the fans. Just love it and I don't feel sorry for every single coin which I spend to have it! And believe me in my country that book cost a lot, because you can't find it in bookstores only with a special order from other country.

[Shacoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's very interesting to read about all of the various aspects of the show and it was good to read the summaries of each episode in this book. The pictures were pretty cool too and I liked reading about the various supernatural creatures.

[Robbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool behind the scenes info on ever episode in addition to the episode synopsis. Also, each ep lists the music that was used. Gotten a lot of itunes downloads this way!

[Hazel West · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really fun, and I look forward to reading the other season companions as well. I always love hearing behind the scenes stuff and even though I knew some of the stuff they talked about in this already, some of it I didn't know which is awesome. Also, I just love hearing Eric Kripke's comments on stuff. He's such an awesome, interesting person, and his writing process reminds me of my own, so I am always interested to hear his opinions on things and writing in general. Definitely would recommend these to anyone who loves the series :)

[Corissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great capture of Season 1 of Supernatural!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wszystko fajnie i pięknie, ale strzygi wywodzą się z mitologii albańskiej?

[BobaFett114 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. It breaks down each episode with a short summary and then interviews with the cast and crew. The crew talks about the costumes, the special effects, the music used and the settings.

[Arra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love watching TV series and one of my all time favorite is Supernatural! Aside from the out-of-this-world supernatural stories that are well written, told and executed, the cast were also perfect. Two brothers living in an endless journey of hunting supernatural creatures and who are always on the road. It makes you want to go on a road-trip yourself and hunt these creatures and transfer from one state to another. I also commend the sets, costumes, music and visual effects. They definitely made the show perfect! I learned every detail from the writers, actors, music, crew and creatures in this book. It makes everything clear. It also helps you explore the behind-the-scenes and how these people created such fantastic show that is still running now. They made it one-of-a-kind that's why it deserves to entertain us up to now. All Supernatural fans should definitely read this!

[Dann · Rating 3 out of 5]

From Titan Books comes Supernatural: The Official Companion Season 1, another carbon copy television series companion. Author Nicholas Knight compiles interviews with the cast and crew of the series to provide in-depth looks into the development of the show and the individual episodes. Particular attention is given to the composers and how they handled the material. While the cast and crew are quite generous in their participation, Knight relies too much on them and rarely gets beyond the superficial publicity type comments. Still, a lot of interesting information comes out and the reader is given a good sense of what went into the creation of the series. Supernatural: The Official Companion Season 1 is a mediocre companion that just covers the basics.

[Pandora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love companion guides too, although I do prefer the 'unofficial' ones as they're more likely to be honest (and have more gossip) and thusly more amusing. That said, definetly worth a read if you're a Supernatural fan... a few interesting tidbits about the in-jokes etc and production notes which shed some revealing lights on how commercial American TV really works. Not the same kind of bucketloads of fun as actually watching the show (Jensen Ackles, yeah, here's my phone number) but interesting to read nevertheless.

[Oceana2602 · Rating 3 out of 5]

OMG the fannishness!

This is all pretty and shiny and WONDERFUL!!!

With tons of inside views, inside information and descriptions of every episode, and lots of shiny pictures!

A MUST for every Supernatural fan. This show is so very very pretty, and OMFG are we really in season 9???? I'm just so happy for everyone involved that SPN has been such a success! Who'd have thought back in season 1, when it started as a badly written B-movie wannabe somewhere in the Canadian woods?

:-)

[Kati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devoted fans of the TV show Supernatural already know most of the informations in this book from various interviews and con reports but there are some new things there too - like the details about the episode Route 666 (they are quite funny and touching too). I would say that it's a well done book that any fan of the series should definitely have at home.

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Supernatural companions aren't as classy as the Firefly companions. Most of it's in black and white, although there is a section of full-colour promo pictures. Anyway, the main interest here is in the tidbits you can pick up about the cast and crew. I liked reading Jared Padalecki's thoughts on why Sam is the way he is -- not all borne out by later canon, but still interesting.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh how I love this series! This is a brilliant idea and an awesome companion. I simply enjoy the information, the song play lists, the annecdotes, the quotes, the behind the scenes glimpses and the summaries.
I love that all I have to do is use this guide to reference things if I can't remember. Yeah Nicholas Knight!!!

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this show. This companion guide is a nice collectors guide, I just wish there were more color pages. May be it's just the edition I got, but there are only color photos in the center fold. They are nice, I'm just wishing for more. The break down of insight per espisode is OK.Again, for a show titled Supernatural I guess I was hoping for more.

[Natalie]

Supernatural is freaking awesome! I love the show (as much as I've seen) and I'm also thinking about reviewing the show (at least the first season anyway) on this review with the behind-the-scene details. I always love looking that what happens behind the production of the shows that I like. They're just awesome.

[Dream · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in a couple days, it was interesting having watched the episodes and then reading behind the scenes information and what the cast and crew thought and their favorite episodes...it was great... season two companion is out in April, I will be first in line.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a fan of the tv show Supernatural, these books are a great companion to the series. There's lots of background information on the individual episodes, as well as interviews with the cast and production crew. Lots of photos, too. Can't wait for the Season 3 companion!

[Shelly Kotalik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am supernaturally addicted to supernatural. Some evil force is making me obsessed!!! Well, with Sam and Dean mostly. This was fun and interesting but I want more Jensen and Jared commentary.

[Lilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential for Winchester addicts!

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was soll ich sagen. Everything SPN-related is worth watching, reading and discussing. Kudos to E. Kripke for making his teenage-dream come true. We couldn't be more grateful.

[Fangirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Official Companions to this show are very well done and contain lots of additional information.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect. Every single fan of Supernatural should be reading these Companions.

[Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Makes me want to re-watch season 1 and take note of the details and the music.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good summary of all of the episodes of season 1 along with behind the scenes information and lots of pictures.

[Catherine]

Its alsome