Supernatural

Supernatural is one of the few shows on television that revolves almost completely around two characters.  This is excellent for fans of Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, as it guarantees the actors will get plenty of screen time in almost every episode of the series.  However, because the show is so reliant on the chemistry between the leads, it can have a tough time introducing new characters to the mix.  For every new character that is beloved by the fans, such as Ellen or Jo, there are those like Ruby (Katie Cassidy) and Bela that cause a major uproar.

TV Guide has recently announced that fans will be saying goodbye to one major character when Supernatural season 4 launches in the fall.  Will the change have a negative affect on the show, or will it help make it better than ever?

It's been announced that due to both budget restrictions and negative fan reaction, the character of Bela (Lauren Cohan) will not be returning in season 4.  Series creator Eric Kripke told TV Guide, "I'm sad to see Lauren go.  I think she's going to have a huge career, but it became increasingly obvious to the writers that the character as we conceived it simply wasn't working."

One thing I respect about Eric Kripke is that he's very open to listening to what the fans have to say about the series.  When the majority of the Supernatural fanbase pipes up and declares that something is taking away from the show, Kripke is quick to respond and fix it however he can.  That's assuming, of course, that it can be fixed without ruining the overall story.  Many fans aren't too keen on Ruby either, but it's impossible to deny that she's played an important role in the Supernatural mythology and will probably be needed in season 4.

What went wrong with Bela?  I'm interested to know how the writers originally envisioned the character, and what went awry on the way to the screen.  I think the major problem wasn't the actress, but the simple fact that we never had any reason to care about Bela.  She showed up, antagonized the boys, and was never really fleshed out as a character.  Unlike Ruby, she also didn't seem essential to the mythology in any way.

Now that we know that we'll soon say goodbye to Bela, how do you want her to go out?  Should she drive off into the sunset, or should she die some sort of horrible death?  We should find out her fate within the next few episodes.


- Don Williams, BuddyTV Staff Writer
Source: TV Guide
(Image courtesy of the CW)