Supernatural Review: A Devilishly Good Horror Mystery Series With One Of The Best Dynamic Duos On TV

Supernatural redefined supernatural horror and action shows thanks to its unique storytelling and compelling characters. From the first episode, which aired way back in 2005, to the series finale in 2020, Supernatural enjoyed 15 spectacular seasons, with a total of 327 episodes, and it absolutely earned that incredible runtime due to the show delivering one of the best character-focused shows on TV. While the writing is thrilling and plays with genre, the crowning jewel of the show is its primary characters, Sam and Dean Winchester.

Sam and Dean Winchester — played by the incredible Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, respectively — are two brothers who have very different plans for their lives. Being raised by their father, a monster hunter named John (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), they developed either a love or loathing for that unique profession. However, when their father goes missing, the brothers come together to pick up his legacy and try to find him. And as one mystery resolves, even more begin to present themselves, pulling the boys back into the dangerous and thrilling life of hunters.

Supernatural Blends Genres To Tell A Character-Driven Story

Any show that extends past 15 seasons is going to struggle to maintain its story, but when the characters are compelling enough, it doesn’t need to stick to one. Supernatural is the perfect example of this. As each season brings on a new mystery, new monsters, threats, allies, and more, the one constant remains Sam and Dean and their loyalty towards each other. Even when the brothers fight or fall out, their relationship is so central that it ensures the story will go on.

Beyond that, Supernatural also features one hell of a narrative. Their job — consistently thankless — puts them in constant danger and presents them with an endless onslaught of creatures and monsters. But somehow, the Winchester boys always manage to come out on the other side. The work remains challenging, the brothers are constantly tested, and they do not come out unscathed. This progression, constant excitement and emotional development is outstanding and captivating.

The balance is a difficult one to traverse. Most stories need to have a beginning, middle, and end to be complete and satisfying. Seeing the heroes always succeeding can get boring quickly, and watching them win only to face another trial can become a cruel and unusual punishment. Despite Supernatural incorporating many of these elements that would usually cause another show to fail, Sam and Dean remain resilient and interesting enough to keep coming back. And we become loyal to them because they’re so loyal to each other.

Supernatural Watches Sam & Dean Constantly Get Back Up

That resilience made it worthwhile and what kept us returning to the show, even when it began to feel repetitive. As the story developed and evolved — from a hard-line horror mystery into something more fantastical and supernatural, and eventually into an emotional drama — it felt natural. Far from being too jarring and off-putting, Supernatural encapsulates a messiness that seems to mimic day-to-day life, and it forms our connection with the show.

That is not to say there are no pitfalls. There are weaker seasons, of course, and there are storylines that could have been dropped, but the show does have a certain enticing nature. Beyond the handsome brothers showing up and fighting monsters and demons, there is something for everyone in the show. The CW series stands up to scrutiny years after its series finale aired, with dedicated fans even hoping for a Supernatural revival.

Whether or not the show continues, it had a spectacular run, and it’s a further testament of just how impressive it was. It managed to keep us engaged for 15 years and, had the actors chosen to stay on for more seasons, could have continued indefinitely because the heart and emotion were so fully realized. All things considered, Supernatural remains one of TV’s best shows.

8/10

Created by Eric Kripke, Supernatural is a fantasy/drama series that premiered in 2005. The series follows the adventures of Dean and Sam Winchester – two men wronged by supernatural beings as children who now spend their days investigating and hunting demons, ghosts, and monsters across the United States. 

Pros

• The show is incredibly creative, emotive, and exciting throughout.
• Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles were born to play Sam and Dean.
• Despite the lengthy runtime, the show manages to keep things fresh as it plays with genre and style.

Cons

• Due to constantly introducing new supernatural threats, it can occasionally lose momentum.