Last night the Supernatural: Bloodlines pilot aired in Australia. I've been seeing a lot of negative feedback, so I'd just thought I'd share my own opinion of the episode.
I loved it. I didn't particularly like the approach they took with it. But it definitely looks promising.
I loved loved loved David. I also really liked Sal in his brief appearance, I really hated that he was killed off so quickly - hopefully we see a few flashbacks. Speaking of flashbacks, I don't think that Sal & Violet flashback was very smooth. I couldn't tell whether the flashback was her telling him, or what, and then when the flashback ended... It just didn't work well. He kept talking and I was just thinking 'what is even going on'.
Oh and the changing of the already established shape-shifter mythology: it was a little weird to get used to. But I really like the change - the old shape-shifters were a little weird. I know lots of people are angry about it. But it's not so hard to believe they evolved. It is a tiny little bit far-fetched, but the new generation of shape-shifters are much more functional. And a lot more sexy, which I'm sure is a plus to the developers and the demographic they're targeting.
Tamara's death was a bit lame. I think it probably would have worked better if she had been accidentally stabbed by crazy guy's silver claws instead. The fact that she was thrown about like that, so easily, by a mere human makes her seem very frail. Several other characters have been thrown about in an extremely violent fashion and they've all come out of it still breathing.
I also didn't like how it was such a Sam & Dean lite episode. I think it should've been set up more like an actual Supernatural episode; seeing Sam & Dean get the call, or finding this case on the web, their witty banter, seeing their investigative journey. It wouldn't have even taken a lot of tweaking to make the episode like this. Still show the beginning scene where Tamara dies, cut out all the crap where Ennis is talking to the real police. Cue Sam & Dean investigating and finding Ennis about to be devoured by a vamp.
It just should have been more like an actual episode of Supernatural. I'm not whining because I wanted to see more of Sam & Dean to drool over them, I'm complaining because the lack of Sam & Dean in this episode added absolutely nothing to the actual Supernatural plot. If they were going to make it so Sam & Dean lite, why even act like it was part of the original series anyway?
Seriously, how much better would it have been if they'd structured it more like the usual episodes? Still show Ennis at the end, getting the call from his dad & whatnot, obviously about to pursue a career in hunting. But show more of Sam & Dean.
Speaking of - I didn't think Sam & Dean in this episode were exactly true to character. Ennis killed another human - a guy who was pretty much just a hunter, like them - and they didn't say a single thing. He killed a person to save a pair of monsters! They didn't even f*cking mention it! Even if they thought it was justified - that guy did want to start an all out war - they should have addressed the subject.
And then they just left. Didn't really give Ennis any advice, other than "don't do it". Gave a vague impression they would call some other hunters in to help with the monster mob situation. And then just left this poor kid who knows practically nothing about hunting, knowing that he's going to hunt and probably get himself killed anyway.
Yes, the episode was disappointing. But the series itself has so much promise. Which is why I loved it. I can't wait to see more, and let Supernatural: Bloodlines redeem itself with a full season of what I'm sure will be fantastic episodes. Without all the confusion of making it a part of the original Supernatural series, but it's own series, I'm sure it will be amazing.