For fifteen seasons,Supernaturalwas one of the defining fantasy TV shows on the air, and the series worked hard to stay fresh and keep its audience interested. Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles starred as Sam and Dean Winchester, the monster hunters who traveled across the U.S., saving people from the things that go bump in the night and often getting mixed up with the end of the world. Fortunately,one of the things that viewers could count on was that Sam and Dean would save the day,and that the structure of the monster-of-the-week show would never fail.
However,Supernaturalenjoyed playing with its structure and formula almost as much as the fans enjoyed watching it do so.Supernaturalis afantasy TV show that’s long and worth the commitment, aseven the weakest season of the series features incredible episodesthat will thrill the audience. These special episodes did an amazing job of breaking the mold of a typical episode and transporting viewers to new and unexpected places. Whether these installments touched upon characters other than Sam and Dean or incorporated meta-elements, they never disappointed.
6"Bitten"
Season 8, Episode 4
As a horror-fantasy series,Supernaturalhad the opportunity to play with the tropes and formulas of different styles within these story types. “Bitten” takes on the found-footage genre,following a group of guest stars, Leigh Parker, Brit Sheridan, and Brandon W. Jones,as college students whose lives are turned upside down by a werewolf. As the trio’s personal dramas and monstrous discoveries take shape, Sam and Dean close in on the truth, creating a compelling storyline that was unlike anythingSupernaturalhad crafted before.
“Bitten” is one of the more controversial installments ofSupernaturalthat breaks the mold.
While it’s always a little disappointing to watch an episode that doesn’t heavily feature Sam and Dean, this provides a critical break in the tension and gives other actors a chance to shine. “Bitten” is one of the more controversial installments ofSupernaturalthat breaks the mold. However, I think it’s an interesting exploration of found footage that pushesSupernaturalout of its comfort zone. Since Sam and Dean are often the sole focus of each episode, it’s refreshing to gain insight into how others perceive the monsters in the world.
5"Dark Side Of The Moon"
Season 5, Episode 16
Originally,Supernaturalseason 5 was planned to be the final installment of the series, and the finale marks the end of the series' first arc. While it’s lucky thatSupernaturalhad enough momentum to stay on the air for many years to come, season 5 gave its all to crafting some of the best storylines of the show so far. One of these is the thrust of “Dark Side of the Moon,” which premiered a little over halfway through the season. After watching Sam and Dean evade death many times over,“Dark Side of the Moon” actually kills them.
The brothers spend the bulk of the episode in heaven,reliving their happiest memories, but this soon becomes a much bigger problem than either of them could’ve anticipated. Sam and Dean struggle to see and accept what the other considers the best moments of their lives, as their experiences are so different. This episode plays a critical role in Sam and Dean’s emotional development and familial connection. We learn more about their backstories and get to see new sides of the characters that are more vulnerable than ever.
4"The French Mistake"
Season 6, Episode 15
Unlike theSupernaturalepisodes that are difficult to watch, “The French Mistake” is an early indicator of just how metaSupernaturalwould get as the seasons progressed. The writers were very aware of how the fanbase interacted with the series, and"The French Mistake" transports Sam and Dean to a version of our realitywhereSupernaturalis a real show. There have been many iterations of this idea on TV. However,Supernaturalhas a lot of fun with the premise, allowing Padalecki and Ackles to play Sam and Dean while playing themselves.
After the high point of the season 5 finale,Supernaturalhad to prove that it still contained the magic that made it so special in the early seasons. “The French Mistake” helped restore faith in the show and proved that there was a lot more story to tell and boundary-pushing television to be made.It’s a well-loved and highly rated episode for a reason,and it paved the way for even more nuanced exploration of how theSupernaturalcanon has been interpreted by viewers since the show first began in 2005.
3"Mystery Spot"
Season 3, Episode 11
Considered one of thebest time loop TV show episodes, “Mystery Spot” packs an emotional punch within the confines of the tropes it explores. However, it’s not just the time loop that sets this episode apart, as it’s only Sam who’s aware of the break in the space-time continuum, forced to relive the same day over and over, as Dean dies in every version of the loop. This makes for some hilarious moments, asDean dies in increasingly spectacular and improbable ways,and Sam slowly nears his wits' end, trying to figure out a way out of the loop.
Sam eventually faces the reality that one day, Dean will die for real, and a demon or spell won’t bring him back.
However, things take a turn for the worse, as Sam eventually faces the reality that one day, Dean will die for real, and a demon or spell won’t bring him back. Though this topic is explored further in the later seasons, it was a risk for season 3 to put Sam through the wringer like this. While there is a monster that Sam has to outwit in the end, this battle between good and evil is markedly different from a typical episode and highlights what makes the series so good at balancing the light and darkness of its tone.
2"Fan Fiction"
Season 10, Episode 5
If there’s one thing thatSupernaturalis famous for within the cultural zeitgeist, it’s thatlots of fan fiction has been written about the seriesand its characters. Despite this,Supernaturaldid a good job of avoiding overt fan service throughout its seasons, staying true to the planned arcs and character development no matter what. However, it would’ve been impossible forSupernaturalto completely avoid commenting on how fans perceived the series, and “Fan Fiction” was the perfect way to wink at the audience while playing up some meta-jokes.
The 200th episode of the series, “Fan Fiction,” isSupernatural’s version of a clip show, following a high school musical interpretation of the in-worldSupernaturalbooks.Sam and Dean investigate mysterious disappearances as the musical takes shape,and the series has a great time commenting on the popular ships that became wildly popular with fans. Eventually, the Winchesters discover the week’s monster, but they also get some well-earned time to self-reflect and bask in the hard work of creating such an inspired story.
1"Regarding Dean"
Season 12, Episode 11
“Regarding Dean” isSupernatural’s saddest episodeand also one of the best of the later seasons. Focusing primarily on Dean and his experience of slowly losing his memory over the course of the episode, “Regarding Dean” is about a fate worse than death. Dean’s personality changes and practically vanishes as the memory loss gets worse, and Sam reflects on the fact that seeing his brother be erased is worse than losing him altogether. It’s an incredibly upsetting and nuanced episode that came as a surprise to audiences.
Supernaturalis never afraid to tug on the audience’s heartstrings and bring tears to their eyes, purposefully putting Sam and Dean to the test and making them reflect on their relationship. The brothers are obviously the heart and soul of the show, but their connection grows and deepens throughoutSupernatural, making “Regarding Dean” hit harder than ever. Even compared to many of the shocking and story-altering season finales, “Regarding Dean” is easily the most impactful, breaking the formula for the right reasons and with great effect.
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