Supernatural (2005–2020): A Hell of a Ride

When Supernatural premiered on The WB in 2005, I had no idea I was beginning a fifteen-year journey with two brothers who apparently couldn't go five minutes without getting themselves killed, resurrected, or dragged into some apocalyptic disaster.

What initially hooked me wasn't the horror or even the supernatural elements. It was the comedy and the relationship between Sam and Dean Winchester.

Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles are astounding in their respective roles. Their chemistry is what makes the show work so well. The way they play off each other, constantly trading insults and getting on each other's nerves, makes their relationship feel genuine. They can go from making you laugh to breaking your heart without missing a beat.

And while I love both brothers, Dean has always been my favorite.

Of course, the Winchester brothers are only part of what makes Supernatural so entertaining. Over fifteen seasons, the show introduces an increasingly ridiculous assortment of monsters, demons, angels, and just about everything else you can imagine.

And I absolutely love the sheer craziness of it all.

While the early seasons focus more heavily on hunting individual monsters, I much prefer the larger storylines. Once the show starts exploring Heaven, Hell, angels, demons, and the increasingly complicated mythology surrounding them, things really get interesting.

It also introduces some fantastic supporting characters. Castiel, Bobby Singer, and Crowley are easily among my favorites. Each brings something different to the series, and the show wouldn't be the same without them.

Now, as much as I love Supernatural, I'm not going to pretend all fifteen seasons are equally good.

The first season is one of the weaker entries, in my opinion, and the less said about the Leviathans, the better. Some storylines are simply more entertaining than others, and there are definitely periods when the show isn't firing on all cylinders.

But even when the writing stumbles, the characters keep me invested.

My biggest complaint, however, is how the series ends.

Personally, I think the penultimate episode should have been the finale. After fifteen seasons of watching Sam and Dean battle everything from ordinary monsters to literal cosmic forces, seeing them drive off into the sunset felt like the perfect way to end their story.

Sometimes you don't need one last adventure. Sometimes riding off into the sunset is enough.

But what truly makes Supernatural my favorite television series isn't just the characters, the comedy, or the absolutely insane storylines.

It's the fact that I watched it with my mom for fifteen years.

That's fifteen years of following the Winchester brothers together, watching their adventures unfold and seeing just how ridiculous things could get.

And when you spend that much time with a show, especially when you're sharing the experience with someone you love, it becomes more than just another television series.

Supernatural certainly has its flaws, but its wonderful characters, astounding performances, humor, and willingness to embrace complete insanity make it something special to me.

After fifteen seasons of monsters, demons, angels, apocalypses, and more resurrections than I care to count, there's really only one thing left to say.

What a hell of a ride.