The Winchesters

Writing a pre-coverage article about the up-and-coming Supernatural prequel, The Winchesters, set to premiere on The CW this Tuesday October 11^th at 8pm should be a simple enough task, right?  Well, to get started, I knew there was no way I could write this without first paying homage to all that lends itself as a legacy, a canon, a history, and an era that is Supernatural.  I was tempted to use the past tense [was Supernatural] but alas, even though the show ended its reign in 2020, Supernatural is no has-been.  There is nothing Bijou about this fine lady.

Supernatural has often been referred to as a modest affair.  A little show that came from a small network (The CW), by comparative analysis with the big boys, like ABC, CBS, Fox, etc.  Viewership and ratings are relative in that regard so while the show is a success, many called Supernatural the “little engine that could” as it kept chugging along year after year.

So, one might think that The Winchesters is a new show that comes from humble beginnings.  Well, other than the lead actors Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, there is nothing humble about Supernatural.

Affectionately, The Mothership

Here are some facts that not only display Supernatural in the best possible light but will offer up this writer’s bold prediction that The Winchesters will turn out, like the mothership that launched her, to be more successful and eminently more tenacious than she looks to be at first glance.

This Girl’s got Street Cred

• Supernatural can boast some of the industries’ most prolific creators, writers, directors and producers including the original showrunner, Eric Kripke who is currently at the helm of The Boys on Prime Video.
• She survived the tragic loss of their beloved Kim Manners, who was a director, mentor, patriarch, and friend.
• The show lasted through network regime changes, timeslot changes and night-of-the-week changes.
• It ran for 15 years and produced 327 episodes.
• Its success resided firmly on the shoulders of it’s two lead actors, (Jared and Jensen) who appeared in all 327 episodes, solidifying their dogged work-ethic, grim persistence, dedication, and enduring love for the show.
• Misha Collins joined the monster-hunting duo in season four and became an immediate fan favorite.
• Part of the ever-winning formula that elevated Supernatural, was it’s band of much-loved supporting characters, which are too numerous to mention here, but check out the list.
• It survived the paradigm shift in television as it evolved from linear viewing to the rise and dominance of streaming platforms and the birth of binge-watching.
• The show continuously delights new and veteran viewers alike with its moving performances, great writing, robust storytelling, awesome music, visual effects, and a kick-ass car.
• The show was unafraid to swing-for-the-fences and produced episodes that challenged the boundaries of storytelling and eagerly made fun of itself, resulting in a well-awarded (37 wins, 126 nominations) show.
• And above all, Supernatural became the longest-running sci-fi/genre series in the history of American broadcast television.

The Fandom

• When you compare Supernatural to other beginnings; YouTube (2005), Twitter (2006), First iPhone (2007), Tumblr (2007), Instagram (2010); you can see that Supernatural has survived evolutionary changes in social media, which is now the mainstay of communication and connection for a fandom that is a Titan among fandoms.
• Supernatural got so big that it made its mark on San Diego Comic Con when Warner Bros announced a Supernatural panel in the coveted Hall H in 2016. Hall H, Comic-Con’s largest convention room, that can hold 6500 people, is typically reserved for huge movie reveals.

FS Netflix Life-SPN SDCC

• Supernatural’s fandom is knowledgeable, dedicated, supportive and fiercely protective of all things SPN and continuously participates in its own dedicated convention circuit powered by Creation Entertainment.   A fandom big enough to warrant its own convention circuit.
• A fandom that has generated a multitude of writers, artists, photographers, YouTubers, website developers, charitable efforts, business ventures and a sense of family, connection, and inclusivity for its diverse and ever-growing members from around the globe.
• Paying homage to the mothership and her fans could not be done without landing in the loving arms of all things Supernatural, her very own Wiki.
• And amongst its most endearing accomplishments, the SPN Family, along with the show’s cast and crew, have touched millions of lives in ways that have championed mental health awareness, (Always Keep Fighting, You Are Not Alone), raised an immeasurable sum of resources for the needy (Random Acts, GISHWES) and strive always, to elevate kindness on a daily basis.

So yeah, I wouldn’t call Supernatural “humble beginnings.”  She is a juggernaut.  She is a success story destined to launch new, exciting, and long-awaited content that our SPN fandom can sink their teeth into.  So, lets do this!  Here comes The Winchesters!

Synopsis

Before Dean and Sam, there were their parents, John and Mary. Told from the perspective of narrator Dean Winchester, The Winchesters is the epic, untold love story of how John Winchester met Mary Campbell and put it all on the line to not only save their love, but the entire world. When John returns home from fighting in Vietnam, a mysterious encounter sparks a new mission to trace his father’s past. In his journey, he crosses paths with 19-year-old demon hunter Mary, who is also searching for answers after the disappearance of her own father. The two join forces with young hunter-in-training Latika and easygoing hunter Carlos to uncover the hidden truths about both their families.

Leadership

In October 2020, it was announced that Jensen and Danneel Ackles had formed a new production company called Chaos Machine Productions and signed a multi-year deal with Warner Bros. Television.  The following year, Chaos Machine declared their role as executive producers of The Winchesters.

The head of development for Chaos Machine is Renee Reiff, who previously worked as a creative executive with DC Entertainment.  Impressively, she is also a founding member of Out In Hollywood, an organization dedicated to advancing the representation of the queer community both in the content produced on screen and by the executives working behind the scenes in the entertainment industry.

Canon

When news about The Winchesters started to surface, there was a collective shifting-in-our-seats-discomfort about a prequel that put John Winchester in the monster-hunting realm, when in Supernatural, John knew nothing of the hunter-life until after Mary’s death.  Upon closer introspection, and after some Q&A with our very own Jensen Ackles, the realization dropped that no one would know more about, or have a greater reverence for Supernatural canon, then him.

So, for those of us who care about whether or not canon will be served, I think it’s safe to say that we can all take solace in the fact that Mr. Ackles will circumnavigate known lore and in partnership with all the other talent working on The Winchesters, ensure that the storytelling honors the mothership in every way possible.

A Culture Shift

Supernatural, while it was bold in playing with form and out-of-the box storytelling, it was no vanguard in social movements promoting an ever-evolving milieu of diversity and inclusiveness.  In fact, if I may be so bold, I think it’s safe to describe Supernatural as a guy’s-guy, machismo, male centric show.  I think The Winchesters will represent a cultural shift and bring to audiences, a fresh perspective.  For starters, The Winchesters has a female at the head of the call sheet.  And they have a nonbinary actor Jojo Fleites as Carlos Cervantez, but I’m getting ahead of myself.  Let’s move on to the players.

The Players

The CW-John, Meg, Latika, Carlos

The Winchesters sees Jensen Ackles reprise his role as Dean Winchester, who narrates.  At this point it is unknown about the depth and breadth of his on-screen and/or in-story involvement.

Taking over the reins as John Winchester is Drake Rodger.  While he clearly seems capable to personify a younger version of Jeffery Dean Morgan, he was also affectionately described as a combination of Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester and Jared Padalecki by Danneel and Jensen Ackles during the recent NYCC interview.

Meg Donnelly plays Mary Campbell, Dean and Sam’s mother and the daughter of Samuel Campbell.  Mary is an experienced demon hunter, who clearly is the bridge for John to enter the monster realm and become a hunter.  Though Mary tends to work alone, she also works with other hunters, including trainee Latika (Nida Khurshid) and the easygoing Carlos (Jojo Fleites). Together, the foursome work together to battle supernatural threats, including a centuries-old demonic force hell-bent on destruction.

The Winchesters also stars Bianca Kajlich as John’s mother Millie, who is determined to protect her son from a dangerous life of demon hunting, and Demetria McKinney as Ada, a bookstore owner whose interest in the occult proves instrumental in solving the mystery of Mary and John’s disappearing fathers.

Beyond the main cast, Tom Welling will play Mary’s father Samuel Campbell, who was played in Supernatural by Mitch Pileggi.

Premiere

The Winchesters is to premiere on Tuesday October 11/22 on The CW at 8:00 pm.

I personally am very excited to see this story unfold and watch these fine young actors grow and evolve along with these characters.