Supernatural’s Best Episode Created Its Worst Trend

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For fifteen years, each fan had a unique favorite episode that stood out to them as the best. Many cherished humorous episodes like “Mystery Spot” and “The French Mistake,” which underscored the significant role humor played in this generally serious storyline. Meanwhile, others eagerly anticipated dramatic season finales such as “All Hell Breaks Loose” and “Swan Song.

The significant contrast among beloved episodes of Supernatural underscores the show’s intricate complexity, offering a broad spectrum of themes, motifs, and narrative tools that catered to diverse audiences. Yet, certain recurring storylines in the series became tiresome as they were frequently repeated. A standout episode, which delivered a surprising twist that stirred strong emotions among viewers, has since received less admiration due to its introduction of the series’ most criticized trope.

“Abandon All Hope…” Features Two Tragic Deaths

In Season 5, Episode 10 titled “Abandon All Hope…”, the characters from Supernatural join forces to confront Lucifer and thwart his plan to initiate the apocalypse. This episode is significant as it introduces Crowley, a popular character who is both a demon and the ruler of Hell. Interestingly, Crowley offers the Winchesters the Colt, a weapon potent against demons, to aid them in their battle against Lucifer, the devil. However, this episode is also notable for showcasing one of the most dramatic moments among the 15 seasons of Supernatural.

Upon reaching Carthage alongside Castiel, Ellen Harvelle, and Jo Harvelle, Sam and Dean uncover Lucifer’s attempt to free Death from its prison in Hell. Before engaging with Lucifer directly, they encounter Meg, a demon who arrives with a horde of Hellhounds. In the ensuing battle, Jo Harvelle sustains fatal injuries. With all hope seemingly extinguished, Ellen and Jo decide to make the ultimate sacrifice by detonating a bomb, thereby eliminating the Hellhounds and creating an opening for Sam, Dean, and possibly others to flee.

In a heart-wrenching turn of events, two of Sam and Dean’s dearest companions met their end in a devastating incident, leaving the brothers helpless spectators to Lucifer’s scheme. Worse still, they had to be saved by Castiel. As a poignant farewell, Bobby destroyed the photo they had taken together the previous night, signifying the loss of their cherished family members. Throughout Supernatural‘s run, there have been many heartbreaking instances, but this episode fueled an unwelcome narrative trend that would eventually stir the most intense debates among fans.

This Continued a Horrible Supernatural Trend

In addition to the loss of Sam and Dean’s loved ones, which wasn’t an isolated incident, the second season saw the brothers grappling with the heartbreaking death of their father, John Winchester, who was their only living relative at the time. However, this tragic event didn’t leave them without support for the rest of their lives. Instead, they formed a tight-knit, resilient found family that remained by their side during numerous perilous monster hunts, intense battles against angels and demons, and seemingly insurmountable world-saving missions.

Regrettably, fans of Supernatural had to bear witness to the life and demise of all the found family members of Sam and Dean, leaving them with minimal optimism for the show’s supporting characters. In Season 7, they bid farewell to Bobby Singer, their long-term surrogate father figure, and then in Season 10, they lost their friend Charlie, who had grown close to them like a sister, during a confrontation against a formidable shapeshifter family. These significant character deaths were not only heartbreaking due to the characters’ popularity among fans, but also because they heightened the emotional intensity of the series by fostering a sense of love and kinship within the Winchesters’ otherwise challenging lives.

Despite recurring resurrections of certain characters like Castiel, and the appearance of alternate versions of others such as Charlie and Bobby from Apocalypse World, the continual loss of Sam and Dean’s loved ones became a highly criticized narrative device. In the later seasons, it was disclosed that God (known as Chuck) provided the Winchesters with a protective plot armor, justifying their survival while others perished. However, this rationale failed to appease many viewers, particularly those who felt the deaths of cherished family members were excessively employed for dramatic effect and unnecessary shock value.

The Family Theme Fell Flat After This

One memorable phrase from the TV show Supernatural is “Saving people, hunting things, the family business,” encapsulating the Winchesters’ unwavering commitment to tracking down monsters and protecting innocent folks from becoming victims. This concept was first introduced when we discovered John Winchester had raised his sons as hunters, and it grew more complex in later seasons upon learning that Mary Winchester hailed from a long line of hunters. Despite suffering the tragic loss of their family members, Sam and Dean continued to pursue this mission, maintaining this central theme throughout the series narrative.

Unfortunately, one drawback of this narrative is that as the series progressed, the theme of family became increasingly broad. As the Winchester brothers established a strong and expansive found family, characters like Jodi Mills and Claire Novak were among those who made it to the end, their roles extending beyond blood relations. The “family business” seemed to encompass these non-blood relatives as well. Everyone close to the Winchesters was just as dedicated as they were, contributing in various ways, from conducting research, hunting monsters, to providing support when the Winchesters needed backup.

In the TV series Supernatural, this method effectively explored the well-loved motif of family ties. Nevertheless, the narrative fell short of captivating viewers as Sam and Dean’s relatives met untimely deaths repeatedly. It could be contended that the primary family in the story were Sam and Dean themselves, who consistently prioritized each other over others. However, the recurring pattern of introducing significant family members who later perished proved an unduly tragic sequence, diminishing the emotional weight this theme once held during earlier seasons.

There Is Still Time To Remedy This Supernatural Failure

For five years since the series ended, there’s been persistent chatter about a potential comeback, which now seems more plausible as the creators and key cast members express a desire to return. Given this, there remains a chance for the plot to tackle some of the most common fan criticisms and provide a satisfying conclusion for characters other than Sam and Dean. In fact, it could be feasible, given the actors’ cooperation, to revive cherished characters like Ellen and Jo Harvelle.

In the world of Supernatural, the idea of resurrecting deceased characters has sparked much debate among fans. Given that Sam and Dean Winchester’s storylines concluded with them both perishing and ascending to Heaven, it seems inevitable that a reboot would involve bringing back some of their lost family members. Characters like Ellen, Jo, Kevin Tran, and Charlie Bradbury, who met untimely ends at various points in the series, are prime candidates for revival. While it might be unattainable to expect all deceased loved ones to return, reintroducing popular characters back into the narrative would beautifully embody one of the show’s central themes.

Over the course of its fifteen seasons, the deaths of Ellen and Jo Harvelle were just two instances among many heart-wrenching demises in Supernatural that left viewers in tears. These tragic events didn’t deter viewers from watching earlier episodes, as they heightened the emotional intensity of the narrative. However, as the series progressed, these recurring tragedies became a challenge, contributing to a pervasive melancholic atmosphere that frequently outweighed the desired effect of a particular storyline.

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2025-07-06 01:21