Phantom Traveler

After a plane crash with only seven survivors, including the pilot and a stewardess, Dean and Sam are called by the friend of their father Jerry Panowski, who also works in United Britannia Company and shows the last message from the cabin scrambled with an eerie voice saying "No survivals". Dean and Sam interviews a survivor in a psychiatric hospital, who believes that had seen a passenger opening the emergency exit of the plane, which would be impossible for a human being. They investigate the wrecked plane and find sulphur on the lever of the emergency exit and conclude that a fiend had possessed a passenger and caused the crash. When the survival pilot dies in another plane crash, they track the other survivor, the stewardess Amanda Walker, and convince her help them to exorcise the demon from the co-pilot of the flight.

The plot of "Phantom Traveler" partially recalls the movie "Final Destination", where the survivors of an accident are chased by The Reaper. In this story, actually is a demon that possesses weak persons to provoke the plane crash that chases the survivors. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Viajante Fantasma" ("The Phantom Travaler")

As a standalone this is a fun episode. I especially enjoyed the comedic bits added to break up some of the procedural elements, i.e. fear of flying. Singer directs with flare and the use of one shot scenes gives this episode a nice change of pace and different feel to the proceedings.

But it continuity the episode made a lot of choices that were good for the show on the whole. Demon smoke is one of the signature images the show and this episode is to thank for that. Likewise, demons having a grand plan is first every so slightly hinted at here. This is an early gem.

"Phantom Traveler," the fourth episode of Supernatural's first season, created by Eric Kripke and directed by Robert Singer, marks a pivotal moment in the series as it introduces demonic possession-a theme that would become central to the show's narrative. This episode effectively balances horror with humor, showcasing the brothers' dynamic while exploring deeper emotional layers within their characters.

The narrative centers on Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) as they investigate a series of plane crashes caused by a mysterious entity known as a "phantom traveler." This entity possesses individuals, leading them to cause catastrophic events. As they delve into the mystery, they discover that this phantom is actually a demon capable of manipulating people's actions through possession. The brothers must find a way to stop it before another disaster occurs.

Robert Singer's direction skillfully captures both tension and levity throughout the episode. The cinematography enhances suspenseful moments-such as when Dean confronts his fear of flying-while also highlighting comedic elements like Dean's homemade EMF meter made from an old Walkman. The pacing is well-managed, allowing for both action sequences and character-driven moments that deepen our understanding of Sam and Dean.

Jensen Ackles shines in this episode by portraying Dean's vulnerability alongside his usual bravado. His fear of flying adds an endearing layer to his character, making him more relatable. Jared Padalecki delivers strong performances as Sam supports both their investigation and helps calm Dean during tense situations. The supporting cast contributes positively; Jerry's character provides humor while also advancing plot points related to John Winchester's whereabouts.

Thematically, "Phantom Traveler" explores themes of control versus chaos-highlighted through demonic possession-and brotherly love-emphasized by Sam's support for Dean despite his fear. It introduces demons as tangible threats within Supernatural, setting up future storylines involving these entities.

"Phantom Traveler" stands out for its ability to blend horror elements with lighter moments that humanize its characters effectively within Supernatural. By introducing demonic possession in such an engaging manner, this episode sets the stage for many compelling narratives throughout the series' run. Its impact lies not only in its contribution to ongoing story arcs but also in how it showcases Mulder-like investigative techniques applied uniquely within supernatural contexts-a testament to how diverse influences can enrich storytelling across genres.

This is the first episode of "Supernatural" I've watched in a long time, since the national TV station stupidly canceled the show after barely a handful of episodes and I had to buy the whole series 1 on DVD. I hate to say it was fairly disappointing. All the episodes I watched before – which were about ten or something – were awesome. The monsters are cool, the scenarios are reasonably convoluted considering the short running times and there are always numerous references towards older and classic horror films. "Phantom Traveller" isn't terrible, of course, but it's just plain mediocre in all the aforementioned departments. The story is simplistic and predictable and the titular demon is defeated easily and in a blink of an eye! Dean and Sam receive a phone call from a former and satisfied Winchester client who works at an airport. He suspects a recent and hugely catastrophic plane crash to be caused by some kind of supernatural entity, and he maybe dead right about that! The so-called phantom traveler is a demonic force that takes possession of travelers with fear of flying and forces them to crash the plane. The malignant spirit's last "mission" failed, however, as seven people survived the crash. Can Sam and Dean destroy the demon before it kills all seven? "Phantom Traveller" has a very rudimentary script and contains only a few tributes to older and more commonly known films. The concept is somewhat reminiscent to the original "Final Destination", what with the plane crash and a handful of doomed survivors, but this could actually have been a great opportunity to refer to the underrated and regretfully obscure mystery/horror films "Sole Survivor" (1983) and "The Survivor" (1981). If you like the idea behind this episode, you definitely ought to look up these two titles as they both deal with unsettling airline disasters and inexplicably sinister events overcoming the unlikely survivors.

Has its cute Dean moments that are hilarious, entertaining and our first look into demons