After so many years, Eric Kripke, creator of Supernatural, shared the original intended ending of the show. In hindsight, it seems that altering the initial plan might have been beneficial. The popular CW mystery series ran for a remarkable 15 seasons on the network, but it was not always supposed to last this long.
Led by Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki (who fans are eager to see together again in Kripke’s new series, The Boys), the show had originally been planned to end after five seasons. However, this plan never materialized as Kripke departed after five seasons, but the show continued for another 10 seasons without him, finally airing its series finale in November 2020 – more than a decade past when it was initially intended to conclude.
In a recent podcast, the creator of Supernatural, Eric Kripke, revealed his initial plan for the series finale that was intended for Season 5. As shared by the celebrated TV producer, this original ending aimed to introduce an eerie twist to the ongoing supernatural enigma, with Jared Padalecki’s character Sam Winchester ending up in Hell and Jensen Ackles’ Dean Winchester becoming a father to a girl who would carry on the legacy of demon hunting.
In an episode of “Supernatural: Then and Now,” Kripke explained that the initial concept contained more elements reminiscent of horror films. This original idea would have caused the narrative up to that point to loop back onto itself, effectively revisiting the show’s earlier storylines.
Initially, there wasn’t a plan for Dean to join him in a descent into darkness. In hindsight, I believe it was wise that they didn’t leave the conclusion up to me, as my original idea had a strong horror film influence which I now think would have been disappointing and unsatisfying. Now that some time has passed, I will eventually share what the actual ending was. To the best of my knowledge, I haven’t publicly disclosed this before.
In a different scenario, it would have been Sam venturing into Hell, while Dean would strive tirelessly in an attempt to rescue him. However, eventually, Dean had to accept his brother’s fate: letting go.
The intended conclusion involved Sam descending into hell, while Dean tirelessly attempted to rescue him, albeit with a montage resembling the one depicted in the show. However, due to Dean’s significant emotional growth, which centered around accepting the idea of letting go of his brother, he was unable to save Sam. This wasn’t explicitly planned at first; we didn’t have such specific details. Previously, we had Dean trapped in a Hellraiser-style world. In essence, our original thought might have been more like “Where did he go?” but I’m choosing to let him go.
After abandoning his quest to rescue his brother, Deadn subsequently returned to Lisa (portrayed by Cindy Sampson), where they conceived a child named Samantha.
As a devoted film enthusiast, I’d rephrase it as follows: “I return to Lisa (Cindy), and we welcome a precious little girl into our world whom we name Samantha. The last scene unfolds with me cradling Samantha, sharing a tender kiss with her, then another with Lisa before placing her in the crib. As we exit and turn off the light, the warmth of their love lingers.
When this scenario unfolds, it would hint at a dramatic shift towards a meta storyline. But instead of a dark figure appearing over the crib as previously suggested in the show’s introductory trailer, this event would foreshadow that the infant possesses the Winchester family’s demon-hunting genetic trait. This revelation would have set the stage for a fresh, new journey for the renowned TV family, continuing their legacy of battling supernatural forces.
As I watched the final scene of ‘Supernatural,’ a mysterious silhouette appeared over the crib, hinting at a chilling return to the show’s premise. The screen went dark abruptly, leaving no doubt that this tale is far from over. It seems Dean will step into his father’s shoes, becoming John, while Samantha takes on the role of the new demon hunter… I couldn’t help but feel a sense of uncertainty as I pondered this turn of events. In comparison to the more optimistic ending of ‘Buffy,’ where they managed to close the Hellmouth, only to discover there were many more out there waiting to be fought. The camera lingered on Buffy, and it was clear that their battles would persist.
Instead of the outcome Kripke originally envisioned for his series finale, fans received something quite distinct almost a decade later. In this version, the Winchester twins sacrifice their lives to save the world from a vampire assault, and they meet again in heaven – effectively eliminating the menace of vampires during their time there.
For 15 seasons between 2005 and 2020, the TV series “Supernatural” unfolded on The CW, chronicling the extraordinary journeys of brothers Dean and Sam Winchester as they battled supernatural dangers worldwide. Even though it’s been around five years since the show concluded, its devoted fanbase keeps it relevant and talks about it for many more years to come.
The series, “Supernatural,” has been available on Netflix for quite some time now but will no longer be there starting from December 2025. This means it’s moving on from the streaming service.
Would the Original Supernatural Ending Have Been Better?
Reflecting on shows that had opportunities to conclude at various stages during their production, it’s fascinating to consider how different they might have been if they hadn’t continued for more storylines.
In a similar vein, the show wouldn’t have achieved its remarkable longevity if Eric Kripke’s initial finale in Season 5 had been the end. Even though it might have still garnered some success, the impact it has made over the past decade would likely be significantly less.
As a die-hard Supernatural fan, I must confess that I’ve found myself in the majority who strongly prefer the ending we received in Season 15 over the initial pitch from Season 5. The conclusion in Season 15 offered a more satisfying and hopeful resolution to the Winchester saga, which had captivated me for quite some time prior to that point.
In retrospect, Kripke might concur that the ending we received was more fitting, as he stated during his interview on Then and Now that it wasn’t a “happy ending.
I wanted to put a spooky twist on it, hence the conclusion. There were more questions than answers, and it wasn’t a cheerful ending – it was more like a typical ending in a horror film.
In simpler terms, although Kripke’s initial concept might have made a bigger impact at the time, considering the long-term influence of the Winchester brothers, it seems logical that fans prefer the ending they received instead of the one that wasn’t realized.
After spending 15 years on television, Dean and Sam Winchester deserved a farewell fitting of their long-running series. These characters have become iconic for many fans, so it was essential to give them a relatively happy ending as the audience bid them adieu. Unfortunately, Kripke’s original Season 5 vision did not offer this conclusion.
As Kripke’s popular TV series, “The Boys,” is scheduled to conclude around next year, it promises an engaging watch to learn where the storyline might head for the climax and how it brings a conclusive end to its universe and characters.
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2025-06-12 15:06