The Supernatural Episodes That Fans Always Skip On A Rewatch
With 15 seasons and over 300 episodes to parse through, any "Supernatural" fan will admit that they can't all be winners (via IMDb). Since its premiere in 2005, the series revolving around monster-hunting brothers Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki) has had its faults. Dean's commitment to the monster-hunting lifestyle all boils down to his complicated relationship with his father, John (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Unable to get past his wife's brutal death, John takes out his anger on Dean, who can never live up to his expectations.
But John's neglect and verbal abuse are only a few examples of things that make some episodes hard to watch. "Supernatural" has been accused of sexism when it comes to Dean's treatment of women as well as the fact that none of the female characters on the show seem to last very long. Despite these issues, the fanbase of "Supernatural" remains strong — but there are a few episodes that many fans agree are quite skippable during a rewatch.
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Fans don't like being reminded of failed spin-offs
As one of the longest-running series on The CW, "Supernatural" cultivated a fascinating mythology and a passionate fandom. In an attempt to capitalize on this success, creatives tried to garner interest for spin-offs with the Season 9 episode "Bloodlines."
The episode isn't from the usual perspective of the Winchesters, but rather Ennis (Lucien Laviscount), a bystander who discovers a world of monsters. A far cry from the gritty aesthetic of most of the show, "Bloodlines" depicts a glitzy world of werewolves and shapeshifters in a gang-style war. But the "Bloodlines" backdoor pilot didn't get picked up (via TV Guide), making many fans on Reddit reluctant to give it a second watch. "'Bloodlines'. Only because it may never be tied up as a storyline," a now-deleted Redditor commented on a thread about skipped episodes.
But "Bloodlines" wasn't the only failed venture for a spin-off. Another episode that almost became the start of a new series is "Wayward Sisters," which would have followed Jody Mills (Kim Rhodes) as she encourages young women to fight monsters as the Winchesters do. Redditors like u/AndroidSheeps and u/JohnPaulConway also list "Bloodlines" and "Wayward Sisters" as not worth watching.
Episodes that aren't from the perspective of the Winchesters don't seem to impress fans. Sam and Dean are closer to tertiary characters in these episodes in order to build up the potential series. Luckily for fans hoping for more new "Supernatural" content, there is some hope on the horizon for a spin-off featuring young John and Mary Winchester (via The Hollywood Reporter). Only time will tell whether it's a hit with fans or will have the same reception as "Bloodlines" and "Wayward Sisters" — or one of the other episodes that missed the mark for other reasons.
Bugs was a miss early in the show's run
Season 1 of "Supernatural" brought about some beloved moments in the series, introducing the unbreakable bond between Dean and Sam and setting up the complex mythology that would be used in the show for years to come. But Season 1 also introduces the concept of the monster-of-the-week episodes. These episodes don't add to the overarching plot of the season and can sometimes be a risky inclusion. "Bugs" is one that fell flat, according to fans.
"Bugs was the automatic 'never again' episode for me," said Redditor u/Kaibakura, asking other users to reveal which episodes they skipped on a rewatch. Other fans, such as u/Erdrick68, echoed that opinion. "Bugs" revolves around an upper-class community that is plagued by a series of lethal and seemingly natural occurrences. One of the most memorable includes an instance of spiders spilling out of a showerhead — which also demonstrates special effects that leave a lot to be desired.
But perhaps its true downfall is the subject matter. This is a rare episode where the Winchesters do not encounter a Big Bad. Instead, the infestation is caused by a curse cast on early colonizers due to their abuses of the native Euchee tribe. "Supernatural" uses the Indigenous tribe as a plot device to explain the conflict of the week, rendering the episode in extremely poor taste. Unfortunately, "Bugs" wasn't the last time the show would make decisions in poor taste that displeased viewers.
Charlie's death is inexcusable
"Supernatural" has a long history of killing its female characters. Who can forget the heartbreaking departures of Ellen (Samantha Ferris) and Jo (Alona Tal) in the hellhound debacle? But one character whose death didn't sit right with fans is Charlie (Felicia Day). Introduced in the Season 7 episode "The Girl With the Dungeons and Dragons Tattoo," Charlie appealed to fans of nerd culture and refused to be sexualized (via IMDb). But following the pattern of female characters before her, she was taken away too soon in the Season 10 episode "Dark Dynasty."
"Charlie wasn't my favorite character but I thought her death was very poorly planned and poorly written," said u/NorthernSparrow, discussing her exit. Meanwhile, when another Reddit user admitted to skipping "Dark Dynasty," u/Renmoney5762 quipped, "I will accept you skipping an episode with Charlie only because it is the episode she dies."
"Supernatural" gets a two-for-one deal of offensive storytelling with Charlie's death, given she is also one of the few openly LGBT characters on the show — and, as fans noted, largely seemed to be killed to progress the male leads' story, aka the "fridging" trope (via Vox). "If you're gonna kill her, fine, but do it in a way she deserves," said u/Marvelerful.
CinemaBlend lamented Charlie's loss in "Dark Dynasty" as well, echoing the sentiment that her death was written specifically as a way to separate Sam and Dean yet again and provide further conflict. This moment remains a black mark on the history of "Supernatural," cementing the episode's place as one of the series' least rewatchable.