Some viewers may saySupernaturallost steam in its last few seasons, but certain episodes prove otherwise. Running for an impressive fifteen seasons,Supernaturaldelivered over 325 episodes of television from 2005 to 2020. While some of those episodes were bound to be weaker than others,Supernaturalmaintained a surprisingly high caliber of storytelling throughout all fifteen seasons.Creator Eric Kripke left after season 5, which ended with the near-perfect season finale, “Swan Song.” WhileSupernaturalmay have dipped slightly in quality after Kripke’s exit, it soon found its footing again and continued to deliver consistently solid television.
From ghosts and vampires to angels and demons, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester went up against too many monsters to count throughoutSupernatural’sfifteen seasons. With their relatable sibling dynamic and compelling character journeys,Sam and Dean madeSupernaturalworth watching even during its weakest episodes.Brilliant supporting characters like Castiel (Misha Collins), Crowley (Mark A. Sheppard), and Jack (Alexander Calvert) helped keep the show interesting until the end. Every season ofSupernaturalhas episodes that should not be missed, including the final five seasons.
10"First Blood"
Season 12, Episode 9
“First Blood” is worth watching simply for the scenes of Sam and Dean trekking through the woods and taking on a group of highly trained black ops soldiers. When the authorities believe that Sam and Dean attempted to assassinate the President, the two brothers are brought to a government black site. Both brothers refuse to talk andthey eventually make a deal with the reaper Billie (Lisa Berry)to temporarily die in order to escape.
Dean calmly replies:“We’re not trapped out here with you. You’re trapped out here with us.”
After they make it out of the facility and into the woods, they find themselves in a cat-and-mouse game with dozens of soldiers. When one of the soldiers tells Dean,“you may’t run forever. You’re trapped out here,“Dean calmly replies,"[…] We’re not trapped out here with you. You’re trapped out here with us.“This moment alone makes “First Blood” worth watching, butit’s also fun to see Sam and Dean prove their fighting skills against human antagonistsrather than monster ones. Also, Cass kills Billie, which has major consequences later.
9"Wayward Sisters”
Season 13, Episode 10
As one of the most successful shows on the CW, the network attempted to find a compelling spin-off ofSupernaturalon several occasions.Season 13’s “Wayward Sisters” was meant to be a backdoor pilotfor the most promising of these spin-offs, following beloved recurring charactersSheriffs Jody Mills (Kim Rhodes)and Donna Hanscum (Briana Buckmaster). Since their introduction, Jody and Donna have both become accomplished hunters, and in “Wayward Sisters,” they must rescue Sam and Dean.
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Jody recruits her adopted daughter (and skilled hunter),Claire Novak (Kathryn Newton), to help find the brothers. “Wayward Sisters” barely features Sam and Dean, butJody, Donna, and Clarie make for compelling leads in their own right.While the episode stands on its own, the storyline it introduces would have made an excellent spin-off that the CW unfortunately chose not to produce.
8"Last Holiday”
Season 15, Episode 14
The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted filming forSupernatural’sfinal season, forcing the season to be aired in two separate parts. “Last Holiday” was the first episode to air in the second batch of episodes and it proved yet again why the show lasted as long as it did. WhenDean accidentally releases a wood nymph named Mrs. Butters (Meagen Fay)inthe Men of Letters bunker, she helps Sam, Dean, and Jack celebrate the many holidays they have missed.
Like with mostSupernaturalstorylines, the happy moments do not last long, but it’s always nice to see Sam and Dean take a momentary break from hunting to enjoy life. Sam and Dean missed out on most of their childhoods, and"Last Holiday” gives them the chance to be the ones taken care of for a change.The episode is at times funny, heartbreaking, and heartwarming, and it ultimately helps Dean see the value in celebrating the little things.
7"Just My Imagination"
Season 11, Episode 8
Sam wakes up one morning to discover thathis childhood imaginary friend, Sully (Nate Torrence), is realand is actually a mythological creature called a Zână. These creatures appear to lonely children to help them during tough times, but someone has killed Sully’s fellow Zână, Sparkle (Everrett Shea). Sparkle’s human child was the only one who could see him and the sparkly carnage of his murder.
“Just My Imagination” perfectly combines horror, humor, and heart.
Sully grants Sam and Dean the power to see the Zână and accompanies them as they search for the killer. Sully’s interactions with the Winchesters are hilariously delightful, buthis presence also offers heartbreaking insight into Sam and Dean’s childhood.Like all thebestSupernaturalepisodes, “Just My Imagination” perfectly combines horror, humor, and heart to tell a story that very few television shows could pull off.
6"The Gamblers"
Season 15, Episode 11
In the previous episode (the also excellent “The Heroes' Journey”), God (Rob Benedict) took away the protection Sam and Dean had as the heroes of God’s story. They then begin experiencing “regular people” problems andjourney to a mystical bar in Alaska to restore their luck.In “The Gamblers,” the Winchesters arrive at this bar where they can bet their luck in a game of pool overseen by the goddess Fortuna (Lynda Boyd).
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Although Fortuna wins the game,she restores Sam and Dean’s luck anyway because she sees that they are true heroeswhen they try to save everyone in the pool hall. Plus, Fortuna has a grudge against God and wants the Winchesters to defeat him. With the return of the Winchesters' luck and a reunion with Castiel and Jack, “The Gamblers” ends on a surprisingly hopeful note as the boys gear up totake on God himself inSupernatural.
5"Who We Are"
Season 12, Episode 22
Supernaturalseason 12 introduced the British Men of Letters, the organization of hunters that keep Britain safe from monsters, while also tackling a story involvingLucifer’s (Mark Pellegrino)attempts to conceive a son. Several of the season’s storylines come to a head in the penultimate episode, which ultimately puts an end to the British Men of Letters.Dean gets to use a grenade launcher to blast out of the bunker(while quotingDie Hard), then later saves his resurrected mother, Mary (Samantha Smith).
Sam leads an army of American hunters on a raid against the British compound, and the hunters eventually emerge victorious. “Who We Are” culminates with the satisfying death of Men of Letters henchman Arthur Ketch (David Haydn-Jones), who had manipulated Mary, and the reunion of the Winchester family.There’s a lot going on in “Who We Are,“but it provides an action-packed ending to the Men of Letters storyline and puts all of the pieces into place for the finale.
4"Lebanon”
Season 14, Episode 13
InSupernatural’s300th episode, Dean inadvertently summons his father,John Winchester (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), from the past while using a magical Chinese pearl that grants the holder’s greatest wish.John’s removal from the past drastically alters the timeline,which prompts Castiel (who remains a loyal soldier of heaven) to investigate the changes. In the end, the Winchesters realize they must destroy the pearl and send John back to his own time period.
John was not a great father to Sam and Dean, but they both still cared for him. Both brothers get moments with John, but it’s his reunion with Mary that truly tugs at the heartstrings. With strong performances all around,“Lebanon” also provides closure for Sam and Dean regarding their father’s death.Seeing all four Winchesters sit down for one final dinner together is a bittersweet treat for long-timeSupernaturalfans and makes “Lebanon” one of the show’s most emotionally affecting episodes.
3"Moriah”
Season 14, Episode 20
In one ofSupernatural’sbest season finales since season 5’s “Swan Song,” “Moriah” sets the stage for a truly epic final season. Lucifer’s superpowered son, Jack, lashes out after breaking out of a supposedly unbreakable box. Angry that the people he cared about lied to him,Jack makes it so that everyone on Earth has to tell the truth.This leads to a hilarious moment where Dean walks up to a woman, shows her his (fake) FBI badge, and declares:“Hi, I’m Dean Winchester and I’m looking for the devil’s son.”
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Then God himself appears and undoes Jack’s actions, before giving the Winchesters a gun that can kill Jack. Dean, however, cannot bring himself to pull the trigger. This prompts God to appear, who reveals thathe has been pulling the strings the entire timeand manipulating the narrative. “Moriah” ends with Jack in a netherworld known as the Empty, as God decides to end the world and unleashes the souls of Hell. With all of the monsters that Sam and Dean have fought over the years, it’s fitting that God ends up as the final big bad.
2"Scoobynatural"
Season 13, Episode 16
Supernaturalhas always been confident in its ability to pull off big swings in terms of genre and types of storytelling, and"Scoobynatural" is one of the bestexamples of this. WhenSam, Dean, and Castiel get sucked into an episode ofScooby-Doo, Where Are You!,they must work with Scooby-Doo and the gang to thwart a real ghost. “Scoobynatural” perfectly combines the lighter tone ofScooby-Doowith the darker horror ofSupernatural.
“Scoobynatural” takes place during the events of an actual episode ofScooby-Doo, Where Are You! —“A Night of Fright Is No Delight.” Also, the four currentScooby-Dooactors provide voices: Frank Welker as Fred and Scooby-Doo, Matthew Lillard as Shaggy, Grey DeLisle as Daphne, and Kate Micucci as Velma.
The episode is hilarious and nostalgic in all the best ways and highlights some of the many reasons whySupernaturalran for fifteen seasons.“Scoobynatural” follows in the footsteps of iconic episodes like “Changing Channels” and “The French Mistake,“illustrating how goodSupernaturalcan be when it takes risks. Not only are Sam, Dean, and Castiel the perfect characters for a crossover like this, but the meta references scattered throughout the episode are also quintessentiallySupernatural.
1"Baby”
Season 11, Episode 4
Throughout all fifteen seasons ofSupernatural,Dean’s 1967 Chevrolet Impala, affectionately nicknamed “Baby,” was just as much a character as Sam and Dean themselves. In season 11,Supernaturalfinally put the spotlight fully on Dean’s iconic car,telling an entire episode from Baby’s perspective. “Baby” manages to deliver an interesting and genuinely creepy case involving creatures from German folklore known as Nachzehrers.
Bob Seger’s “Night Moves” makes for the perfect musical cue, as Dean teases his younger brother about a one-night stand.
The best part of the episode, however, is the way it’s filmed. Every scene is shot from inside the Impala, with most of the shots being stationary and the car’s ambient noise serving as background. Everything about “Baby” works, and it offers a glimpse into what Sam and Dean’s life on the road is really like. Very few shows deliver one of their best episodes eleven seasons in, butSupernaturalaccomplishes that feat, proving that the show could still be innovative and incredibly fun.
