Supernaturalis known for sucker punches of emotion and twists that took viewers by surprise from the opener untilSupernaturalseason 15. Running between 2005 and 2020, the dark fantasy TV show led Sam and Dean Winchester from the tragedy of losing their mother into a life of danger. When an intruder broke into John and Mary Winchester’s home and creepily picked up Sam as a baby, the pilot episode ofSupernaturalproved that it was going to be a bumpy ride for the brothers. Many years later, the brothers' father disappeared as well, triggering season 1’s often traumatic events.
Dean Winchester’sSupernaturallove interestssaw as many tragedies and accidents as Sam’s over the years, leaving many to speculate that the hunting lifestyle wasn’t made for romance. With the series' many failed romances and doomed friendships creating some of its most traumatic moments, the brothers themselves had the relationship most often subject to trauma and woe. Jared Padalecki’s Sam and Jensen Ackles' Dean died and came back to life numerous times, with their undying love for each other the source of moments as touching as they were heartbreaking.
10Isaac Drinking Bleach In Supernatural Season 3
Season 3, Episode 1
A demon possessed the hunter Isaac inSupernaturalseason 3 and killed him by drinking bleach.Supernaturalproved itself to have a unique premise from its first season, offering a mix of horror and fantasy shown through the lens of a road story.This classic Americana was marked by occasional bursts of extreme and creative violence, and Isaac’s death was a memorable example of this.
10 Monsters From Supernatural That Seriously Gave Me Nightmares
Supernatural has produced some pretty cool monsters over its 15 seasons, however, there are some that are so terrifying, they gave me nightmares.
It wasn’t every day that TV viewers saw death by bleach, and this disgusting suicide showed Kripke for the creative genius he was.Only through a plot device like demon possession could people commit such horrifying acts, forcing their bodies into unnatural situations. This sharply modern take on exorcism horror was best represented by the agony on Isaac’s wife’s face as Isaac helplessly chugged drain cleaner.
9Mary Winchester’s Death In The Pilot Episode
Season 1, Episode 1
Supernatural’spainful deathswere many across its 15 seasons, and the very first episode of season 1 let viewers know what they were in for with Mary Winchester’s death. The pilot episode ofSupernaturalshowed the origin story of the Winchester brothers and Dean’s bizarre lifestyle. Thrown into a turbulent nightmare, the boys' mother,Mary, was horrifically murderedearly in episode 1.
A nasty demonic home invasion left Mary with a fatal wound to the stomach, pinned to the ceiling. She went up in flames in what must be one of the most grotesque and terrifying TV deaths in recent years. This set a precedent for the brutality and inventiveness of episodes to come. Also,Mary’s death echoed throughout the narrative, eventually coming full circle as she came back to life, proving that she was more than just a motivating factor for the men in her life.
8Jessica Moore’s Death In Supernatural Season 1
Supenatural’spilot episode was savage, displaying Mary Winchester’s horrendous death and mirroring it cruelly with the death of Jess not long after. Jess was Sam’s long-term girlfriend and the cornerstone of his stable, normal life. Dean came crashing into Sam’s life and was, unfortunately, a portent of doom, asJess died horriblynot long after. Dean had come calling on Sam out of concern for their missing father, and was right to be concerned.
It was hard to see Jess go in the same way as Mary.
Unfortunately, Sam’s girlfriend was soon embroiled in the mystery and tragedy shrouding the Winchester family since birth. It was hard to see Jess go in the same way as Mary. Knowing thatthe show was starting off with tragedymade future seasons ominous but exciting.Supernaturalshould have utilized Jess morebecause her death created a huge impact as it was, but could have been even more devastating if she had been around for longer beforehand.
7Crowley Sacrificing Himself For The Greater Good
Season 12, Episode 22
Supernatural’sCrowley left the show on bad termsbut cut a heroic figure as he died in season 12, sacrificing himself for the greater good. Crowley actor Mark Sheppard was none too pleased about his exit from the show, stating that he felt that the screenwriters had been trying to oust him for a couple of years before his final episode.Crowley’s actions in this final episode were deeply sadand showed how far he had come.
Supernaturaldeveloped Crowley from an evil demon to a lovable rogue, to a genuine hero.
The writers' treatment of Sheppard is unfortunate because Crowley had become one ofSupernatural’sbest supporting characters. Crowley’s self-sacrifice in season 12 was the perfect end to his character arc.Supernaturaldeveloped Crowley from an evil demon to a lovable rogue, to a genuine hero.Crowley’s death ensured Lucifer’s imprisonment but also the exit of one of the show’s best characters, making for one of the most traumatic points of season 12.
6Charlie Bradbury’s Horrific Supernatural Death
Season 10, Episode 21
Buffy the Vampire Slayerlegend Felicia Day played Charlie Bradbury until her final tragic moments inSupernatural. Charlie was a fan favorite and a highlight of the show, exhibiting Day at her best. The nerdy, lovable character resisted the usual feminine stereotypes peddled by fantasy and bySupernatural, offering huge main character energy.Charlie’s death felt incredibly unfairin season 10. Viewers were used toSupernaturalthrowing characters under the bus at unexpected times, but Charlie’s death really did come as a shock.
Sometimes deaths are supposed to feel earned in TV, and sometimes the shock factor is what makes them so brilliant. In Charlie’s case, the audience had built up as strong a bond with her as they had with Sam and Dean. Yet,she was essentially collateral damagein one of the brothers' cases, killed by Eldon just as she had finished cracking a code that could save Dean. It was starting to feel like Charlie deserved some kind of plot armor, like Sam and Dean had, since she had become almost as important as them. But it wasn’t to be.
5The Deaths Of Jo & Ellen Harvelle
Season 5, Episode 10
Jo and Ellen’s deaths were totally disturbing, making for some of the most traumatic moments ofSupernatural. Jo had a huge crush on Dean, which was adorable to watch develop, since Dean was normally the one chasing women. This madeJo’s eventual death hit hard. She was torn apart by hellhounds, making for one of the most painful-looking deaths of the season and possibly the show.
InSupernatural,Jo was played by Alona Tal and Ellen was played by Samantha Ferris.
Jo’s mother, Ellen, made Jo’s death worse by dying with her, and Ellen’s death was an incredibly bitter moment in and of itself. The two Harvelles wereabsolute heroes inSupernatural, and their deaths were a devastating payoff of one ofSupernatural’sbest seasons. Kripke had originally intended to end the show in this season, andthe tragedy and drama of the Harvelle deaths carried the weight and finality of a last season.
4Castiel Erasing Lisa & Ben’s Memories
Season 6, Episode 21
Dean asked Castiel to erase Ben and Lisa’s memories to protect them in one ofSupernatural’ssaddest episodes.Lisa may have been Dean Winchester’s best shot at a love life, so the breakdown of this was difficult. Dean had shown himself to be one of fantasy’s most iconic heroes bySupernaturalseason 6, and he deserved the happiness that Lisa and Ben offered. Ben was Lisa’s son, but may have also been Dean’s son. Lisa and Dean dated for a while before Dean left on a mission and returned eight years later to find Lisa living with a nine-year-old son.
This suspicious timing, plus Ben’s strange resemblance to Dean, set up the conclusion that Dean had a family at his fingertips. This dream, which had seemed unobtainable, was within grasp. But Dean only just managed to save the two from demons and chose to leave them for good, to protect them.In an act of totally selfless heroism, he wiped their memoriesof him to save them from the pain of losing him and to stop them from seeking him. Dean had never been more kind, powerful, and tragic.
3Castiel Being Taken By The Empty In Season 15
Season 15, Episode 18
Castiel’s love for Dean came to a head near the very end ofSupernaturalin a desperately tragic moment.Castiel confessed his love for Dean, which ended his time with him, in a moment that Misha Collins confirmed was romantic in an interview. Although Dean didn’t seem to return Castiel’s feelings, this moment was the culmination of seasons of growth and speculation. Not only did Castiel confess his feelings, but doing so made him truly happy.
Misha Collins played angel Castiel inSupernaturalseasons 4 to 15.
It was this happiness that triggered the curse of the Empty, which arrived to collect Castiel as promised. Recalling Angel’s curse inBuffy the Vampire SlayerandAngel, which heavily inspired Kripke,Castiel had made a deal with the Empty that required his submission to it when he reached true happiness. Tragedy was built into this curse at its core, swiping joy away the very second it became realized.
2Bobby Singer’s Death In Supernatural Was Shocking
Season 7, Episode 10
If there was any oneSupernaturalcharacter who was as important as Sam and Dean, it was Bobby Singer, and his death was unbelievable. Important characters inSupernaturalgenerally developed very thick plot armor, dying multiple times and coming back to life. ButBobby died, finally and resolutely, in episode 10of season 7. This was an important plot development, but hard to stomach.
Bobby had died before, but the show had to up the stakes at this point to develop Sam and Dean.
Jim Beaver’s character died after fighting the Leviathans in season 7, which was probably a wise move on the show’s part. Bobby had died before, but the show had to up the stakes at this point to develop Sam and Dean.Bobby was Sam and Dean’s father figure, and it was time for them to say goodbye to him, one last time, so the show could focus on their relationship and the difficulty of being even more alone.
1Dean’s Final Death Was Traumatic In Supernatural
Season 15, Episode 20
It is hard to keep track ofhow many times Dean died onSupernatural, butDean’s final death was the worst, and the most devastating moment of the show. Sam and Dean were dealing with heaven, hell, angels, and demons, making for a religious odyssey that had numerous important messages about morality and the human condition. This smart story enabled death to be a vehicle for the exploration of new worlds, rather than a final sendoff. This worked well forSupernatural, as viewers had so much love for the cast that seeing them return from the dead was normally welcome.
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Dean Winchester dies in Supernatural’s ending, but Jack becoming the universe’s new god raises questions over why he wasn’t revived.
Indeed, seeing Dean and Sam return in aSupernaturalseason 16 would probably be welcomed by most fans. But whetherSupernaturalcontinues or not, it ended in the perfect way - Dean dying on a vampire hunt after having lost the protection of God’s all-seeing eye.Dean asking Sam if it was OK to leave him said it all about the brothers' relationship- they were always each other’s priority, but they were tired. After fifteen years of getting to know Dean inSupernatural, his death did feel like losing a brother.
Supernatural
Cast
Supernatural is a television series that follows brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, who were raised by their father to hunt and combat supernatural entities after losing their mother to a demonic force. Traversing the American landscape in their ‘67 Chevy Impala, they face numerous paranormal threats.
