If you are into gothic and mystery stuff, you must have heard of the show Supernatural. The action-adventure fantasy drama is very popular for its unique storylines. It’s a wonderful but dark story of two brothers, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jenson Ackles). As they chase reports of paranormal activities while listening to rock music, now that’s a road trip! This show has more than 300 episodes, and we are going to look at the top 10 episodes of Supernatural.
This show is very much influenced by pre-existing myths and legends, and that’s the USP. The stories do tell those mythical tales in a fresh twist. And the writers have admitted that they do take inspiration from historical texts. However, some storylines are completely original and real, straight out of the writer’s brain. Well, you must know that a few of the stories are based on real-life events!
Creator of Supernatural Eric Kripke had a fascination for legends and myths as a kid. He visualized this a long time ago, but it finally happened in 2005. Also, the love this show received is equivalent to shows like The Vampire Dairies. After 15 seasons, this show ended in 2020, but the fans still love their favorite characters and stories. So let’s look at the top 10 episodes of Supernatural, shall we?
Supernatural Plot
The main premise of the show is about two brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester, who follow their father’s footsteps to become hunters of supernatural beings. It is an on-the-road show, which is a rarity. You usually see on-the-road movies, but this is 15 seasons and more than 300 episodes of loaded dynamite. Eric, the creator of this show, was particular about wanting a series on the road since he believed it supported the show’s flow.
Sam and Dean just follow their dad’s lead, but he too has a backstory, you know! John Winchester’s wife is killed by an evil supernatural being, and that’s why he is hellbent to kill every one of them. After a long leap, the brothers go on a hunt to find their dad, who is missing. And when they reunite, Sam and Dean get to know the real cause behind their mother’s death. The father strikes a deal with that demon, but he fails and dies. More furious than ever, the brothers are on a quest to kill all evil forces. And that’s what the entire series is about—the dangerous yet adrenaline-pumping adventures of these two young boys with a strong will.
The theme of family is really important in Supernatural. Sam and Dean are everything to for each other. Even if there is no soul left for them, they can always rely on each other. Sam is the younger but calmer one, whereas Dean is the older and cooler guy who gets in trouble the most. Does this remind you of another pair of brothers from another supernatural show? Older is the goof, and the younger one’s the old soul, The Vampire something…. never mind. Sam develops certain special abilities like seeing visions of people dying before they actually do. And these visions are not false but accurate, so it helps them in their quest for killing demons.
Top 10 Supernatural Episodes
This mystical fantasy show is everything for fantasy lovers. With 15 long seasons and 300 plus episodes, it is really hard to pick favorites. But some episodes are more iconic than the rest. And we’ll look at the top 10 best episodes here.
10. Wendigo (Season 1, Episode 2)
Throwing it back to the very first season, Wendigo was a much-needed episode to set the tone of the show. We see our first creature of the show, ‘Wendigo’ is the creature who is a human-turned cannibal. Which gave him supernatural strength and speed to feast on human flesh. Sam and Dean end up in the middle of a forest following their’s father’s journal. That is where they meet a girl who lost her brother and has an unusual video sent by him. Now, the boys are on their way to hunt this demon down. Meanwhile, they were also being chased by the Wendigo itself.
This episode’s high-tension drama got fans on the edge of their seats. A scene where Dean is captured by the creature really scared the fans. I mean, the main character was not going to die in the second episode itself. But this episode really set the record straight that anything can happen on this show. This episode is also special because we see the brothers bonding through their deep conversations. We learn about each of their desires and insecurities, surely a heartwarming watch!
Wendigo again is a famous mythical creature in the States and Canada. So you see, this show actually takes stories and creatures from actual mythology.
9. Baby (Season 11, Episode 4)
If you are a fan of the show, you must know the iconic car 1967 Chevrolet Impala, which never left the brother’s side. It became such a symbol on the show that the makers decided to write an episode from its perspective. Yes! The episode Baby is entirely from the car’s perspective. It sure is a crazy thing to imagine, but hey, the show is called supernatural so just expect anything to happen.
Apart from the visual, this episode has an interesting plot too. A new Ghoul-Vampire-ish creature, Nachzehrer, comes into the picture. The creature and its entire army wish to fight the Darkness, which will kill every living human. Well, ultimately, after a lot of ups and downs, the brothers beat Nachzehrer to dust. And after everything is well, they drive off in their Impala. After the car’s engine starts, we see Dean saying, “There’s my girl,” referring to the car. This brings this episode to a beautiful closure. It has to be in the top 10 episodes of Supernatural!
8. The Monster at the End of the Book (Season 4, Episode 18)
Supernatural is a much-loved fiction in itself. Now, imagine having another fiction story about them in this story. Confusing? Mind-blowing? I don’t know. In this episode, Sam and Dean find out that a writer called Chuck has a series of fantasy novels about their life. Yes, their entire lives were printed on a book and making a fortune without them knowing.
Apparently, Chuck is a prophet of God and can foresee the brother’s future. So, he is writing about Sam and Dean’s lives that have already happened and are yet to come. Through the predictions of the prophet, Sam and Chuck prepare to fight against the impending attacks. A very interesting and confusing take on storytelling. That’s why The Monster at the end of the book, stands at number eight.
7. What Is And What Should Never Be (Season 2, Episode 20)
Number seven on the list of top 10 episodes of Supernatural and deservingly so! What is what should never be is a classic on the show. As the title suggests, this episode ends on a bittersweet note.
Dean suddenly wakes up, and everything is back to normal before the demonic dances began. Their mother is still alive and so is Sam’s girlfriend, Jessica, who was killed in the pilot episode. Dean also falls in love with a nurse, and everything is picture perfect. He even sees that Sam and Jessica are engaged. But soon enough, reality hits, and the fans realize that this was Dean’s imagination. It was all too good to be true!
In reality, Dean is captured by a Gin. When the stakes are high, Dean has to make a choice. He can either stay in this happy fake reality or come back to face the cold hard truth. Obviously, Dean is strong enough to fight back his urges and come to reality. But seeing the happy days that could have been made him a little upset and shaky.
However, the plot and storytelling, and acting were on point. Also, the painfully real story really tugged the heartstrings of fans. So it has to be in the top 10.
6. Changing Channels (Season 5, Episode 8)
A very interesting, funny, and unusual episode, Changing Channels is one of a kind. This kind of crossover episode was the first in television history. And crossover, I don’t mean between show shows. Here, it is a crossover of genres, all thanks to the super creature ‘Trickster’.
The trickster tricks Sam and Dean into believing that they are characters on different tv shows. As weird as it sounds, this episode is actually hysterical. They play all sorts of roles in the alternative universe, which parodies every genre of television. From cheesy, fake laugh-soundtrack sitcoms to Japanese game shows, this episode is a riot. Even there is a genital Herpes commercial in which Sam hilariously acts out.
If you feel like watching a lighter episode of Supernatural, this is one of them for sure!
5. Fan Fiction (Season 10, Episode 5)
A musical episode in a horror-fantasy show? Anything can happen on this show, indeed. You already know that Chuck has books about Sam and Dean’s lives, but in this episode, it goes above and beyond. A teacher of a high school goes missing, and that’s where the brothers come into the picture. While looking for the teacher, Sam and Dean visit the school and find out that the students are performing a musical. However, the shocker is that they are performing a musical on *drumrolls* Chuck’s novels based on the Winchester brothers.
The students in the play are actually dressed up as Sam and Dean, which is hilarious to watch. But this episode also gave some epic musical numbers to the supernatural universe. As distinct as the subject, it’s not the only reason why it’s on this list. Fan Fiction is a fan favorite because it celebrated 200 episodes of the series. Quite a milestone, that is!
4. Scoobynatural (Season 13, Episode 16)
Another very unique, never before seen episode. Can you guess what it could be by the title? If you guessed a crossover of Scooby-Doo and Supernatural, ding ding, 10 points to Gryffindor!
The story is exactly how you’d imagine. Both Sam and Dean get sucked into the lives of the animated detectives. Jumanji much? It was interesting to watch Dean and Sam as cartoon characters. But also kinda weird seeing the Scooby-Doo team with them. No matter how bizarre it sounds, Scoobynatural was unique and funny. This just goes to show the makers have no limits on their creative freedom, and it’s good to take risks as it could go either way. Thanks to the maker’s decision, Supernatural fans got to see such a unique, creative masterpiece.
Reviews of Scoobynatural were also positive, calling it sweet, weirdly, and perfectly ridiculous. Dean is flirting with Daphane, and Welma is attracted to Sam, but the most hilarious part is Dean fanboying over Scooby. It is an unforgettable episode, and that’s why it stands in the top five.
3. Devil’s Trap (Season 1, Episode 22)
This is the finale episode of season one of Supernaturals, so don’t expect anything less. A highly action-packed climactic episode that will not disappoint! This is way back in season 1, so some characters are still alive. John Winchester (father of Sam and Dean) is alive but held captive. And all hell breaks loose as there is a devil out and about, capturing bodies. First, it possesses Meg, then John, and it seems this spirit is unbeatable.
At the end of the episode, everything seems to be ok as Sam is driving his family back home. But how could it be that easy? On the road, a giant truck hits the Impala knocking all three of them unconscious. And later, fans clearly get to see that the truck is possessed by the demon. And that’s the end of season 1!
An intense episode with loads of action and battle sequences, completely contrary to Scoobynatural. But at the end of the day, it was the season finale, and safe to say that it was worth it!
2. The End (Season 5, Episode 4)
This episode is a top pick from the 300 episodes because it shows the wider picture of the show. Dean wakes up five years ahead in the future (2014) and sees humankind destroyed. Apparently, some demonic virus is infecting humans and turning them into Zombies. A superior Angel, Zachariah, comes into the picture. And he explains to Dean that this destruction is the consequence of his action, basically blames him for it. Dean, in the past, decided not to fight in the battle between Lucifer and the Angels. So, this was a punishment for not helping the Angels in the battle. Fair enough!
Dean also meets his future self, who dies, and the present Dean zaps back to 2009 after an encounter with the devil. This episode definitely has some tear-jerking moments. It is a lengthy episode with an elaborate plot but also dynamic! So, it’s a no-brainer that ‘The End’ should be in the top two.
1. Swan Song (Season 5, Episode 22)
Another season 5 episode but this time it’s the finale. The entire season has been about the devil vs. angels fiasco. And definitely, it was leading up to a final battle between those two, and that happens in episode 22. The battle that Dean foresees in ‘The End’ is now happening for real.
The most dynamic battle takes place, which leads to Sam and Dean making some tough decisions. But the most tragic incident of this episode is Sam’s death. Yes! You heard it right, one of the Winchester brothers dies and takes the devil with him, and poorDean is left with angst in his heart. It was a bittersweet ending. But nothing to worry about as we see Sam back in the future seasons. So he doesn’t actually die. He is just chilling with the devil down there.
Do you agree with the top 10 episodes of Supernatural? These were our picks, hope you enjoyed them! Also, if you are new to this show and found it interesting. You can watch all seasons on Amazon Prime without a hassle.
Also Read: Top 10 Best Family Guy Episodes Ranked: Gets Crazier With Each Episode
