NOTE: This article contains spoilers for those who may not have seen all of Supernatural’s seasons.
It wasn’t a Friday the 13th but a Tuesday, September 13th in 2005 when television audiences were first introduced to the demon fighting duo Sam and Dean Winchester on the then WB show Supernatural. Now, 10 years later and airing on The CW, Supernatural still inspires its fans to happily “carry on” rooting for their favorite hunters.
Originally airing after Gilmore Girls, Supernatural in those early days gravitated towards a formula of the Winchesters traveling the back roads of various small towns in their classic 1967 Chevy Impala, lovingly dubbed “Baby” by Dean, hunting supernatural evil. Younger brother Sam (Jared Padalecki) was the aspiring Stanford law student reluctant to continue with the family business and instead craved a normal life. Classic rock loving older brother Dean (Jensen Ackles) was the protective sibling honoring the legacy set forth by their father John (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) to “hunt things and save people.” Between killing a Woman in White, Wendigo, vengeful spirits, vampires, witches, demons and surviving a Reaper and trips to Hell, the brothers’ hands were full in those early days.
The show’s landscape changed with the introduction of angels. The angel and demon war that began in Season 4 continues to a certain extent even today. Misha Collins as the angel and Winchester ally and protector Castiel and Mark A. Sheppard as Crowley, the King of Hell, not only raised the dramatic stakes for Sam and Dean but also allowed for many humorous moments. Both of these wonderful actors began as guest stars and now are series regulars. We have seen the brothers time travel, various prophets, Sam become addicted to demon blood and unintentionally free Lucifer from his cage in Hell. Sam had to mind wrestle with Lucifer before sacrificing his life to prevent the Apocalypse. The younger Winchester plunged to his death in a portal to Hell later returning soulless.
Both brothers fought the Leviathans, the Mother of All, attempted to close the gates of Hell, Dean became a demon and then received and later attempted to rid himself of the Mark of Cain, and finally, the boys faced their newest foe introduced at the end of Season 10, The Darkness. We have cheered the Winchesters’ victories and mourned the death of their family and friends along with them.
Supernatural Season 11 premieres Wednesday, October 7 at 9/8c on the CW.