How far will you go to save the life of another? Sell your soul? Break him/her out of prison? Use your powers? Think no more, as you can now see them unfold on your television screen. ‘Supernatural’, ‘Prison Break’ and ‘Heroes’ are now, some of the most talked about television series around the world, which delivers its viewers ‘edge of the seat’ thrills each week, and has the power to leave them asking for more.

Created by Eric Kripke (The writer of the 2005 film Boogeyman), ‘Supernatural’ is a Sci-fi drama series based on American urban legends and folklore. It revolves around the lives of two brother; Dean and Sam Winchester,portrayed by Jensen Ackles(From TVs’ Dark Angel, Smallville) and Jared Padalecki(From TVs’ Gilmore girls), who travel across the United States in a black 1967 Chevy Impala, investigating and hunting paranormal phenomena with the guidance of their father. The brothers armed with various weaponry from salt guns to knives, impersonate FBI agents, Journalists, Policemen and even Priests in order to gain information from crime scenes and eye witnesses. The show which premiered on the 13th of September 2005, is well known for the use of classic rock songs from AC/DC to Ted Nugent throughout each episode, and is often compared to The X Files, for featuring creatures of the unknown. At the age of four, Dean witnesses his mother’s death caused by a demon which drives him to hunt alongside his father, while Sam leaves his family behind to attend Stanford University and to lead a ‘normal’ life. But with the death of his girlfriend Jessica Moore which was caused by the same demon responsible for his mother’s death, Sam joins his brother to hunt down the supernatural.

Dean is the eldest of the brothers. Though sarcastic in nature, he often voices the importance of family and admits that he would do anything for its safety. He has gone as far as selling his soul to a demon in exchange for his brother’s life, proving that there’s nothing that he wouldn’t do for them. Sam considers himself as the ‘thinker’ of the two, and approaches situations well planned unlike his brother, who prefers going in with ‘guns blazing’. Created by Paul Scheuring, the fastpaced drama series ‘Prison Break’, which revolve around a man who gets himself sent to a Prison facility in order to help his brother escape from Prison, has gained immense popularity over the two years since its premiere on the 29 th August 2005. Although it was turned down several times, the FOX network finally picked it up for a 14 episode mini-series. But as the show gained momentum for its unique storyline, the show was extended to a full series. In 2005, it won the People’s Choice Award for ‘Favorite New TV Drama’ and has been nominated in two categories at the 63rd Golden Globe awards. The show has brought enormous success to Wentworth Miller who portrays Michael Scofield, earning him a Golden Globe nomination for ‘Best Actor in a Drama Television Series’. Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) is sentenced to death for the murder of Terrence Steadman; the Vice President’s brother, and is sent to the For River Penitentiary to wait his execution. In the middle of the season, Peter realizes through a vision, that he looses control of the powers he absorbs from the others, which ultimately causes the explosion, which is likely to kill millions residing in New York . He approaches his elder brother Nathan (Adrian Pasdar), who has the ability of selfpropelled flight, for aid. Though refusing to help Peter at first, Nathan comes to his brother’s rescue by carrying him in to the sky before he explodes, saving the city from destruction. These highly acclaimed TV shows, though fictional in nature, with its remarkable creativity and story telling, has left its viewers wondering “What if?” and, watching these stories unfold each week, one must certainly admire their uniqueness and the anxiety it builds in the viewers, making them feel involved just as the characters in the shows.

Nimanthi Wijetunge

B.A (Journo, Psy & Eng)