Dean and Sam Winchester. Brothers. Best friends. Occasional adversaries. Sons of a murdered mother and a father obsessed with revenge. Demon hunters. Good guys who dance in the dark and at times revel in the bloodletting a little too much. They stalk the shadows so you don’t have to. I forget how many times they’ve been dead. Five maybe? They always come back for each other. Brothers by blood and by choice. They’ve been to heaven and hell, but earth is their home. They endure. Their myth is that of Cain and Abel, Seth and Osiris, Lucifer and the Archangel Michael. Sam and Dean illustrate the dark and light aspects running through the human condition. They show us how family and the bonds of love make it all worthwhile.
Supernatural recently entered its eleventh year on television. Over the seasons it has dealt with myths and beliefs of all kinds, including Greek, Norse, Egyptian, Sumerian, Biblical, European Pagan, and Native American. Creatures include ghosts, demons, fairies, aliens, gods and goddesses, angels, vampires, and werewolves—just to name a few. Some episodes are hilarious and some heart wrenching. Many are both. Supernatural fans are fanatic about Dean’s baby—his 1967 Chevy Impala–and the leather jacket given to him by his father. There are Sam girls and Dean girls. There are angel Castiel girls. Actors Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki do a marvelous job. Supernatural rocks! Here are my 13 favorite episodes.
13. Fan Fiction – High school kids turn the life of Sam & Dean into a musical.
12. Mystery Spot – Sam lives the same day over and over—Dean’s death day. Nothing Sam does can change it—until he realizes what is really happening and who is behind it.
11. A Very Supernatural Christmas – We meet a demonic Santa and Mrs. Claus and learn of Dean’s nostalgic longing for an old-fashioned family Christmas. The ending scene is gold.
10. Bad Day at Black Rock – Sam reaps the adverse effects of a cursed rabbit’s foot. He is so pathetically cute and funny during all the accidents that befall him.
9. What Is and What Never Should Be – After being attacked, we see Sam & Dean living a normal, demon free life where Sam’s girlfriend is still alive.
8. In My Time of Dying – Sam & Dean’s spectacular father, John Winchester, works to save Dean, who is near death.
7. Exile on Main Street – With Sam dead, Dean gives up hunting in favor of a suburban life with his love Lisa and her son Ben. Then Sam pops back up from hell.
6. Swan Song – I sob each time I see this episode where a possessed Sam beats Dean to a pulp and only a quick glimpse of a childhood toy brings him back to his right mind.
5. The French Mistake – Sam & Dean plunge into an alternate universe where they are merely actors playing Sam & Dean.
4. Phantom Traveler – An early episode where we learn of Dean’s tremendous and comical fear of flying.
3. Lazarus Rising -Yanked from hell, Dean claws out of the grave and makes his way to a closed gas station to guzzle a bottle of water. Oh, how he drinks that water!
2. Pilot – Dean visits Sam at college and persuades him to help look for their missing father. Sam & Dean begin their hunting career by investigating a Woman in White who preys on unfaithful men.
1. It’s a Terrible Life – An angel wipes the memories of Sam & Dean and plops them into a normal life where they are not hunters. Hamburger scarfing Dean is a yuppie vegetarian who watches Project Runway, and Sam is a techie in his best wardrobe choice ever—a truly hunky yellow pullover. Even though they don’t know each other, before long they are side by side fighting a ghost. I tell you, Supernatural writers are brilliant.
Do you watch Supernatural? What is your favorite episode? How about your favorite creature?
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Paranormal 
Romance
I don’t know if this TV show. I don’t watch a huge ammount of TV but this looks very enjoyable. I love the idea of duality and balance you highlight. Thanks for sharing.
It is enjoyable, Daisy, especially the interesting connection between the brothers and their devotion to trying to do good work.
Wow, is Supernatural really entering it’s 11th year? I watched the first two seasons and part of the 3rd, then kind of lost track of it. I did love the relationship between the brothers. Sounds like they are still going strong. For some reason the episode about Bloody Mary stands out in my mind, but I know that was an early one.
Bloody Mary was an early episode from Season 1. It is an eerie premise, and I managed to avoid saying Bloody Mary three times, though the show tempts me to do so just to see what will happen. I loved Season 1 where the boys went after the monster of the week and their angst had not become full blown yet. Not that I don’t also appreciate their angst– I do, but it’s soothing to see those early episodes as well.
Two monster hunting brothers who travel cross country and extinguish a different monster each week sounds a fun show for fans of the genre, I included.
I have heard about the show but haven’t watched any episodes until now.. Are those you listed above from season 1 or from different seasons? Can the show be watched without having to see all the episodes, I mean is there a link between them? There are shows where one has to see each one or you miss the link between characters or events.
The action of Supernatural is spot on. The real core of the show is the relationship between the brothers and the anguish they endure and sometimes overcome to maintain their sense of right. The show sweeps you up into its deepening mythology as the seasons pass. The episodes I mentioned span across all seasons of the show. When I first started watching it, Carmen, I watched a random episode, not the first one, but was soon hooked. Thus, you can start anywhere, and the episodes don’t have to be watched in order. However, there is build up between episodes, yes, and if you become a fan, you will want to watch them more than once. If you can, start with the pilot of Season 1. That sets the stage. Season 1 is delightful. I like to batch watch Supernatural.
I only watched a few episodes but you have me wanting to watch!
Supernatural is well worth watching, Cathy.