You know the shows that are so bad they’re good?
Supernatural fits in that category.
Supernatural is the tale of two brothers as they fight good and evil. Whether it’s angels, demons, or wendigos, they’ve fought it all. The show ran from the pilot released on Sept. 13, 2005, to season fifteen, episode twenty on Nov.19, 2020. From time travel and apocalypses to Hell and Heaven, like it or not, Sam and Dean Winchester have fifteen years’ worth of experience in fighting the supernatural during the show’s runtime.
The show originally may feel like a climb. Fifteen seasons to watch? No way! But, once you get hooked, it only takes a little bit to stay attached.
Faults
Don’t get me wrong, I love Supernatural, but it does have some faults:
For instance, oftentimes the audience gets introduced to new characters. In a few episodes, they complete their arc and disappear for episodes or seasons at a time. Even the characters themselves forget about the years of past trauma as they pile more and more to the list.
Another example is the pacing. In one episode “Team Free Will” would be fighting the apocalypse or some other event that threatens humanity and in the next, they would be on a normal job, hunting basic monsters.
Though, that doesn’t nearly grind my gears as much as the fact that these two brothers and their angel best friend won’t stop sacrificing themselves year after year. It is almost at the end of every season that someone gets kidnapped, possessed, or dies for a period of time. Not to mention the number of times they take trips to Hell, Heaven, The Empty, or Purgatory.
The length is a problem. Oftentimes, in modern shows, seasons only feature somewhere between 8 to 15 episodes. Supernatural, on the other hand, has on average, 22 episodes per season, most containing filler and forgettable content. While this may be a product of its original creation time, it does make the seasons feel like they drag on.
In addition to the number of episodes, let’s not forget the number of seasons, some of which are pointless. The seasons are long, and there are a lot of them. It definitely gets boring from time to time. That just means you need to push past them to find the iconic moments.
Redemption
I’ll give it to the show, they know how to make loveable characters. Audiences get attached to characters such as Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki), Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles), and Castiel (Misha Collins) for better or for worse.
The cast has grown and evolved over the years, but those who connected stayed connected. Lifelong friendships and marriages were formed all because of this show. Audiences couldn’t wait to see the cast on tour every weekend at a new venue. Supernatural has arguably one of the most supportive and successful show fanbases ever, even dubbing themselves the SPNFamily.
Another personal favorite about the show are the little gems scattered throughout each season. During each season there were probably one or two “funny episodes”. They provided comedic moments and memorable moments such as the time loop or the lucky rabbit’s foot episode. They appear more common in the earlier seasons though, which is a shame. They were mainly placed in for comedy relief throughout the tense plot, but if you were to ask me my favorite episode, it would probably be one of those.
Hot Take
When I ranted to my friend, who can quote Supernatural front to back, I gave this take:
Season 1 was wholesome, youthful, and enjoyable. It got you attached to the characters, actors, lore, and story. Seasons 2-5 were controlled and organized. You knew they had a story to follow, but the writing was a bit messy. Seasons 6-14 are mediocre at best and unnecessary, introducing loveable characters and storylines, just to throw them away in the next season. Season 15 was the best, concluding the arcs of fan favorites, even if it was a little abrupt.
I think that the writers were a bit lame with filler episodes and full seasons and dealing with characters in the long term.
Conclusion
Overall, it’s a good mindless binge. Nothing astronomically great when it comes to film techniques and writing. Though, the writers and cast did a great job creating lovable characters who you can relate to and get attached to. In the end, the creators made it feel like they really cared for the fans and what they created, and that really shows what Supernatural means to people.
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