8 Unpopular-But-Fair Opinions About Supernatural

Supernatural debuted in 2005 and has 15 seasons and 327 episodes, so naturally, it has grown a large and very passionate fanbase. In more ways than one, Supernatural’s longevity is a double-edged sword because when a series lasts that long, every creative decision gets magnified, every tonal shift becomes a debate, and every character arc gets re-evaluated. The CW fantasy show isn’t by any means flawless, and that is why some unpopular opinions about it are actually fair.

Despite these debates, the series remains oddly resistant to dismissal. Even its most controversial choices tend to be defended by someone, somewhere, as essential to the show’s identity. For instance, some of the most beloved aspects of the series, like its increasingly elaborate lore, can also be seen as a drift away from what originally made it compelling. Of course, not many fans admit that some Supernatural criticisms are valid, even though they are.

The Monster-Of-the-Week Episodes Were Better Than the Big Arcs

It’s easier to remember Supernatural’s big story arcs than it is to recall the show’s quieter but still epic moments. Lucifer, apocalypses, God, and cosmic wars are interesting, but the show’s point was always hunting monsters. Episodes like “Wendigo” or “Bloody Mary” worked because they felt like mini horror films, not chapters in a larger saga.

When Supernatural used the monster-of-the-week formula, the stakes felt more personal as opposed to when the whole world was facing imminent peril. The storytelling was fun, easy, and impactful. However, some fans argue that the big arcs didn’t dilute Supernatural but added depth to it, which, of course, is also true.

Castiel Overstayed His Welcome

‎Castiel was introduced in Supernatural season 4, and he instantly became a fan favorite. Viewers couldn’t simply get enough of him. His journey from obedient angel to rebel was one of the show’s strongest character arcs. However, his addition to the series had a specific purpose: he was heaven’s representative during the apocalypse storyline, and when that arc was complete, the series struggled to find something to do with him.

In later seasons, Castiel’s function changed repeatedly from fallen angel to human to leader of heaven. Granted, fans of Supernatural loved that the dynamic duo had become a trio, but the series was about the Winchester brothers, not Sam, Dean, and Castiel. Because Castiel was powerful enough to solve problems that Sam and Dean would have struggled with if he weren’t present, it, in a way, made the protagonists look weaker, instead of letting them do things the way they used to before they met the angel. ‎

Supernatural’s Later Seasons Were Actually Great

Eric Kripke was the showrunner for Supernatural‘s first five seasons, and after his departure, fans lamented that the series had lost what made it compelling, particularly its horror elements. On the other side of this opinion is that the later installments of Supernatural weren’t that bad. The fact is, when a series runs for 15 years, it’s not going to be the same, so expecting it to be is, to put it mildly, unreasonable.

Supernatural didn’t decline; it just turned into a somewhat different kind of show. If it had continued on the same path as its earlier seasons, people would have complained that it wasn’t evolving enough. With the later seasons of Supernatural leaning into meta humor, callbacks, and fan expectations, it pointed to the fact that it was celebrating its fandom as opposed to devolving.

Some Villains Were More Interesting Than The Main Characters

No one wants the side or supporting characters of a show to be better than the leads, but there are some instances when that’s true. Sam and Dean were the emotional anchors of Supernatural, which meant they had to stay somewhat consistent. They grew, but they couldn’t change too radically without breaking the show. The villains, on the other hand, had more freedom to evolve.

For instance, Crowley transformed from a shady crossroads demon into the King of Hell, and Rowena MacLeod went from a self-serving witch into a layered, tragic anti-hero. The magnetism of Supernatural‘s villains made them a joy to watch, to the point where they were even more compelling than Sam and Dean. Saying Supernatural’s villains were more interesting than the heroes doesn’t mean Sam and Dean weren’t great; it just means that the show’s creators put as much thought into creating their arcs as they did with the protagonists.

Supernatural Ended At The Perfect Time

Saying Supernatural ended at the perfect time feels wrong on so many levels. After all, many felt that the show should have concluded in season 5. However, Supernatural’s longevity is one of its biggest strengths. If it had ended earlier, fans wouldn’t have had the chance to meet some of the show’s most compelling characters, like Jack Kline, or see Castiel’s evolution.

The fact that it wrapped in season 15 was the right decision. Simply put, Supernatural reached a natural conclusion, and the fans and cast knew that. Sure, the ending was divisive, but it did what it was supposed to do. A longer or shorter run wouldn’t have satisfied viewers.

The Winchesters Could’ve Developed Into A Strong Spinoff

The Winchesters served as a prequel to Supernatural and centered on Dean and Sam’s parents, John Winchester and Mary Campbell, meeting, falling in love, and fighting monsters together. Despite fans clamoring for more Supernatural, The Winchesters isn’t apparently what they had in mind. In fact, the fandom was so disappointed in the spinoff that they gave it a 42% Rotten Tomatoes score against critics’ 100% rating.

A prequel centered on John and Mary Winchester exploring their early lives as hunters is inherently compelling, even if not everyone agrees. If the series had gone on for longer, it would have eventually proved that it was a great spinoff, particularly because it was off to a great start. Unfortunately, the series had low ratings and was affected by the changes at The CW, resulting in The Winchester’s cancellation.

Dean Being Killed By A Random Vampire Made Sense

Credit: MovieStillsDB

In Supernatural’s series finale, Dean is killed during a relatively normal vampire hunt. The ordinariness of his death has always split fans. On the surface, it feels underwhelming for a character who fought demons, angels, and even cosmic forces to die that way. But the unpopular-but-valid interpretation is that it actually fits the show’s core philosophy better than a flashy, world-ending death ever would.

From the beginning, Supernatural made one thing clear: hunting is dangerous, and any hunt can end in death. On many levels, Dean dying the way that he had made sense. He was a hunter through and through, and he ended his life the way he had lived it, taking out dangerous supernatural creatures — even if fans would have rather seen him riding off into the sunset in the famous Impala with Sam by his side.

Supernatural’s Finale Was As Good As It Could’ve Been

Ultimately, no matter how Supernatural ended, lots of people would have taken issue with it. Fans invested 15 seasons into Sam and Dean’s story, and everyone imagined their own perfect conclusion, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it would have been better. Supernatural’s last episode had an impossible task: it had to close a decade of some of the most beloved TV show characters’ stories in a way that wouldn’t alienate the entire fandom.

That kind of weight is, of course, staggering, and the creators did the best they could — more so because of the pandemic restrictions they had to deal with. Dean dying isn’t everyone’s favorite arc, but Supernatural choosing simplicity rather than over-complication ultimately worked because the show understood that it was better to end on its own terms, rather than trying to please every fan.

Release Date

2005 – 2020

Showrunner

Eric Kripke