The disappointing performance of the attempted sequel to Supernatural suggests it’s best if the show doesn’t come back for a sixteenth season just yet. Despite fans eagerly awaiting a continuation since the divisive ending in 2020, there hasn’t been any official announcement about a revival. While stars Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, and Misha Collins – along with creator Eric Kripke – have all expressed interest in returning to the Supernatural universe, even Padalecki has ideas for a short-form series similar to Gilmore Girls.
While a full-fledged revival of Supernatural is still a ways off, The CW previously attempted to capitalize on the show’s enduring fanbase. From 2022 to 2023, they aired The Winchesters, a 13-episode spin-off that followed Sam and Dean’s parents, John and Mary, as they began their journey as demon hunters in the 1970s. Despite receiving a surprisingly high 100% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, the show only lasted one season, with audiences giving it a less favorable 42% score.
Ultimately, The Winchesters proved to be more than just a typical prequel. The series, set in the 1970s, ended by revealing that Dean Winchester from after Supernatural had visited this younger version of his parents while traveling through Heaven and different universes. This explained why he narrated the show and also accounted for differences between their story here and the one told in Supernatural.
Considering how network television is doing right now, the disappointing response to The Winchesters, and the mixed feelings about how Supernatural ended – even though Sam and Dean were together again in the afterlife, Sam had to live without Dean after he died fighting vampires – it’s probably a good idea to put plans for a 16th season of Supernatural on hold for the time being.
The Winchesters Failed To Capture What Made Supernatural So Special
Both John and Mary Winchester were strong characters – John especially, playing a key role in Supernatural for many seasons and having a complicated relationship with his sons. However, The Winchesters didn’t quite capture what made Supernatural so popular. Instead of centering on the developing romance between John and Mary as they first started hunting demons, the show became an ensemble piece with lots of characters. This resulted in less depth for individual personalities, more over-the-top drama typical of The CW, and a storyline that quickly escalated into a huge, universe-threatening conflict.
Though Supernatural eventually featured battles with God and the forces of Heaven and Hell, the show built to that point naturally. Sam and Dean Winchester repeatedly demonstrated their abilities, gradually transforming the series into a large-scale, almost biblical story. The Winchesters, on the other hand, immediately introduced a powerful new villain, the Akrida, who threatens the entire multiverse. This gave Dean a reason to get involved with the Monster Club, but it felt rushed and didn’t have the same weight as the challenges Sam and Dean faced.
Look, I really wanted The Winchesters to work, but it felt like it was trying to do too much – be a prequel, a sequel, and a spin-off all at once. It needed a truly compelling villain to really grab viewers. Sadly, it didn’t quite deliver. Now, with talk of bringing Sam and Dean back, I’m cautiously optimistic, but honestly, even Jensen Ackles appearing on The Winchesters couldn’t save that show. It makes me wonder if a revival focused on the original brothers will actually be what fans want.
TV Reboots & Revivals Aren’t Guaranteed To Succeed
I’m a huge fan of Supernatural, and I know there are tons of us still out there! But even with all that support, I don’t think a revival is a sure thing these days. We recently saw what happened with Buffy the Vampire Slayer – after years of hoping for it to come back, they actually got pretty far along with Sarah Michelle Gellar ready to return and an Oscar-winning director lined up! But then Hulu cancelled it suddenly, which was really disappointing for everyone involved, especially Sarah. It just makes me a little worried about whether another revival would actually work.
As a big fan of TV and movies, it’s been tough watching some of my favorites not live up to expectations lately. The new Teen Wolf movie just didn’t hit the mark, even with Crystal Reed back as Allison. And it’s sad that Frasier didn’t even get a third season. And Just Like That…, the Sex and the City continuation, really struggled with critics throughout its entire run. I was so excited for the Arrested Development revival on Netflix, but it was a real disappointment. The new X-Files episodes with Mulder and Scully felt messy and didn’t respect the original series, and honestly, a lot of people, including me, weren’t happy with how Rory was written in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. It’s frustrating when shows you love don’t quite recapture the magic.
Revivals and reboots aren’t always failures. Sometimes, they can really work, like the 2005 reboot of Doctor Who. However, even that show couldn’t recapture its initial success in recent years, and now its future is uncertain. Bringing back a show like Supernatural, which has incredibly loyal fans, would be a big gamble right now. The creators need to develop a compelling story, and avoid simply relying on gimmicks like the Winchesters spin-off. Relying on the multiverse as a solution isn’t always the answer.
The Supernatural Comics Are Keeping The Show’s Most Important Legacy Alive
I was so relieved to see Supernatural wasn’t truly over! It’s awesome that Dynamite Entertainment started making comics based on the show. The first series, which is ten issues long, wraps up in August. As a fan, I love that these comics – written by Greg Pak and illustrated by Eder Messias – take place between seasons one and two. They really capture the feel of those early days, with Sam and Dean investigating new monsters while someone mysterious watches them from the shadows.
This comic series captures the spirit that The Winchesters was aiming for. It’s great that these Supernatural comics focus on Sam and Dean’s early days as hunters – their bond was always at the heart of the show, even through changes in writers and storylines. Since the comics take place between seasons of the TV series, they don’t risk altering established events, allowing the creators to revisit a beloved but often unexplored period in the Supernatural universe.
Continuing the story of Sam and Dean through comics seems like the smartest move for now. It would be disappointing to quickly try and bring back Supernatural with a new season and risk damaging everything the show achieved. A full sixteenth season is risky, and frankly, unnecessary. Why not let Sam and Dean enjoy their peaceful afterlife in Heaven for a while longer? They’ve certainly earned it.
2026-07-26 20:29