Two brothers against the world. A 15-season-long struggle, which sees God, the Devil, Darkness, the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, angels, and demons on the chessboard. Only they, the two hunters who have seen Heaven and courageously faced Hell, stand between humans and the dark forest of creatures that live in the shadows.
Yes, I’m talking about them, the tall and taciturn head and the scoundrel with the heart of an angel: Sam and Dean Winchester. Today we will have a chat about the series that has conquered an army of fans all over the world: Supernatural.
The road so long
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It was September 13, 2005, when the pilot episode of the first season of Supernatural was broadcast in the United States. The main plot saw the two brothers Sam and Dean Winchester (played by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles) in search of their father John Winchester (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) who has been missing for weeks.
Dean goes to his brother Sam, who is studying at Stanford University, to beg him to go hunting with him again. And after the death of his girlfriend Jessica, killed by the same demon that took her mother’s life so many years ago, Sam agrees to follow Dean.
But hunting for what? Demons, vampires, witches, werewolves, ghosts, and other strange creatures populate the world. And it’s the job of hunters to maintain a line between the humans and supernatural world. The two brothers’ point of reference is family friend Bobby Singer (Jim Beaver), who plays the role of mentor and guide.
But the road is still long, and to the tune of Carry On Wayward Son by the Kansans (emblematic song of the series) Sam and Dean travel the streets of the United States chasing monsters.
The angels arrive
© The CW
With the appearance of Castiel (played by Misha Collins), angels become a key part of the plot. God has left Heaven and his favorite children gather in factions, lost without his guidance. The history of the series undergoes several changes, becoming more and more interesting and fomenting the enthusiasm of the public.
It is from here that bizarre characters such as Metatron, Crowley, Rowena, and Cain also enter the story, along with new creatures such as the Leviathans, and ancient secret societies such as the Men of Letters. But at the same time, the team of battle-ready hunters expands with a series of secondary characters that audiences quickly fall in love with: Sheriff Jody Mills, lanky Garth, and bubbly Charlie.
The beauty of Supernatural was precisely this: knowing how to always insert new characters, making them feel immediately a fundamental part of the plot. It gave them unique characteristics that made them indelible in the eyes of the public.
Behind the scenes
Supernatural has changed the way paranormal TV series are perceived within the entire history of television thanks to the record of seasons broadcast. But it has also changed the lives of the actors who took part in them, especially that of the two protagonists, Jared Padalecki, and Jensen Ackles.
© The CW
It was on the set of Supernatural that Jared found his soul mate. It is here that he met the splendid Genevieve Cortese when the actress took part in the cast in the role of the demon Ruby. And it is here that Jensen and Jared have become great friends as well as colleagues. They are so close that their children consider themselves as one family. And it is on this set that both actors formed a splendid friendship with Misha Collins. In 2014 they created one of the most hilarious and successful Halloween photographs ever.
In short, Supernatural was the beginning of an unexpected journey, not only for the fans but for the actors themselves. A journey that ended on November 20, 2020, when the last episode of the series aired, at the end of which Jensen and Jared thanked the fans for their support in these long years of filming.
Every ending is a new beginning
Supernatural marked a crucial turning point for the entertainment programs of the genre. It is considered the dark fantasy TV series with the most seasons, for a filming record that lasted 15 years. Within its episodes, it is possible to see the maturation of the main actors, whose acting ability has been a continuous crescendo. And at the same time, it is possible to notice the amusing technological progress that goes from the classic mobile phone of the 2000s to the latest generation smartphone.
It is for these reasons that Supernatural fully deserves to be part of the Old But Gold column. But every end marks a new beginning, thanks to the idea of producer Robbie Thompson who on October 11, 2022, presented the first episodes of The Winchesters, a Supernatural spin-off, on The CW.
We just have to enjoy this new journey and hope that the series will soon be broadcast in Italy as well.
