Supernatural-20 Years of Love

Supernatural-20 Years of Love

Today of all days I think Supernatural fans are knee-deep in their feels, and for good reason.

They are steeped in emotions of love, appreciation, devotion, loyalty and pure joy knowing that 20 years after this little show began, Supernatural has grown into the legacy it is today. It is a show that can boast its own family of enduring and loving fans; The SPN Family. Their dedication fuels a convention circuit (Creation Entertainment) to keep the show relevant, alive and a force for joy amongst a group of people who have been ride-or-die for 20 years.

What is Supernatural You Ask?

I have written about Supernatural before, but it’s a success story worth repeating. For those who do not know the significance of today’s date, September 13^th, it marks 20 years since the airing of the shows pilot episode.  

What follows is a comprehensive list of facts that should tell you everything you need to know about Supernatural and what keeps it as successful, well-loved and as relevant as the day it aired twenty years ago.

The show itself is an American television series in the horror genre that takes viewers on a journey into the dark world of the unexplained. Bound by tragedy and blood, the Winchester brothers, Sam and Dean, embark on weekly dangerous missions, crisscrossing America, encountering creatures most people believe only exist in folklore, superstition and nightmares.

That’s the 10-thousand-foot view. Now, let’s get into the detail;

• Supernatural can boast some of the industries’ most prolific creators, writers, directors and producers including the original showrunner, Eric Kripke who also created 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, time slot changes and night-of-the-week changes.
• The show ran from 2005 through 2020, for 15 seasons and produced 327 episodes.
• Its success resided firmly on the shoulders of its two lead actors, (Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles) 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 its band of much-loved supporting characters, which are too numerous to mention here, but check out this list for details.
• It survived the paradigm shift in television as it evolved from linear viewing to the rise and dominance of streaming platforms.
• The show still delights viewers with moving performances, its robust writing, awesome music, visual effects, and a kick-ass car.
• Supernatural 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.
• The cast and crew grew to be family in the most genuine of ways. They spent 15 years working together, where co-workers became friends and friends became family. They had a long enough run to watch each other go through life changes like marriage, parenthood, birth, death and everything in between. They celebrated life achievements together. And they knew how to have fun.
• If you like muscle cars and rock ‘n roll music – this is the show for you.
• The soundtrack for Supernatural couldn’t be better, and while there are choice needle drops that everyone loves, Supernatural and her fans, adopted ‘Carry On My Wayward Son’ by Kansas as its unofficial theme song.
• When you compare Supernatural to other beginnings; YouTube (2005), Twitter (2006), First iPhone (2007), Tumblr (2007), Instagram (2010); you can see that it 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 panel in the coveted Hall H.
• Hall H, Comic-Con’s largest convention room, holds more than 6500 people, is typically reserved for huge movie reveals.
• Supernatural became the longest-running sci-fi/genre series in the history of American broadcast television.
• Thanks to streaming platforms like Prime and Netflix, the show continues to fascinate viewers and despite that fact that the show went off the air 5 years ago, the fandom continues to grow. We now have young people in the fandom who were not even born when the show started.
• Supernatural is a long-standing, well-loved success story. She is a juggernaut.

The SPN Family

• Almost from the show’s inception, the fan base grew at an exponential rate.
• Supernatural’s fandom is knowledgeable about the show’s own canon. They are dedicated, supportive and fiercely protective of all things SPN.
• The SPN Family has generated a multitude of YouTubers, website developers and artisans who have built an entire cottage industry around the show and its fandom, crafting everything imaginable; jewelry, books, paper crafts, painting and sketch art, clothing, collectibles and so much more.
• There are writers who maintain tabs on the talent associated with the show and generate fan-based content and entertainment news.
• There are writers who lend their talents to fan fiction, which exploded within the fandom in a multitude of genres that didn’t even exist, and all of it before the advent of AI.
• There are people who have built livelihoods, because the show and its people inspired them, becoming successful videographers, photographers, graphic artists, etc.
• There is a connection that runs through the fandom offering a sense of family and inclusivity for its diverse and ever-growing members from around the globe.
• Paying homage to Supernatural and her fans could not be done without landing in the loving arms of her very own Wiki. The sheer effort that goes into this nucleus of knowledge is astounding.
• 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.

And please check out the newest initiative… We’ve Still Got Work to Do at Random Acts

Conventions

The conventions that the fans love so much are a big part of the connective network that has spawned and fed a countless number of friendships and deeply inspired the creative endeavors of artists and entrepreneurs alike.

These gatherings are known for bringing together assorted cast, crew members and fans to celebrate everything we love about the show and the people who made it happen. One of the biggest draws for most folks is the opportunity to see and hear from our beloved “boys” Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles and Misha Collins.

They share news about their projects, personal anecdotes, tales of their families and friendships, stories about the making of Supernatural and many other topics that get prompted by fan questions.

There are so many other cast members that are dearly loved as well. They make up a patchwork quilt of celebrities and musicians that turn these weekend celebrations into action-packed, fun-filled days. They engage with fans, provide wonderful entertainment and are at the center of a marathon of activity that keeps fans returning year after year. Of special note, I have to offer up a shout-out to the two gentlemen that regularly host and play Masters of Ceremony on the main stage in every con hotel, Rob Benedict and Richard Speight, Jr. along with the musical talent that also graces the stage, sitting in as the house band at these conventions, the talented and successful rockers, Louden Swain.

Supernatural is a phenomenon whose fans are spread across the globe. The show’s cast and crew attend overseas conventions held by other event organizers, giving far-away fans an opportunity to experience the wild ride of a thrilling fun-filled weekend immersed in the show they love. Many overseas fans enhance their convention experience by making the long trip to attend those held in America.

For those with means, they can attend every convention. With that comes access and recognition so they become the familiar faces in the crowd that the cast have come to know. It is heartwarming and generous beyond any fandom that exists today. It’s important to note that it is not the conventions that feed the fandom, it is the other way around. For every fan that can attend a convention, there are 500 who, either because of cost or geography, cannot attend. It is in this distant majority that the foundation of Supernatural fandom resides, and social media has become the connective network that gives their love of Supernatural a platform to share, be heard, participate and bestow their love of the show they still hold so dear after 20 years. Love finds a way.

A Source of Pride

Not only do all the cast, crew and convention staff give us pause to feel proud of the SPN family and its community, it’s also true that the show itself is cause for celebration. Not just for its quality, consistent viewership and longevity, but also because Supernatural was groundbreaking in many of the technical and creative choices they made. To read about some of those things, enjoy the following article, from The American Society of Cinematographers / Published March 8th, 2020: Family Business: Supernatural

The Next 20 Years

We’ve watched these actors grow into their talents and really shine. The success and hard work and growth is theirs, no doubt about that, we had no hand in it, but we cheer them on in every way possible. As for the fandom itself, I’d like to encapsulate the evolution that I think most of us have experienced, it goes something like this;

The show was quality and that hooked us. The cast and crew were wonderful enough to endear us. The fandom became a place of belonging and joy, and that cradled us. Conventions and social media have become the mainstays of joy, connection and friendship that sustains us. And now, we pay it forward, we give back, we welcome newcomers, and we do all we can to celebrate the careers and projects of actors we instantly fell in love with 20 years ago. We love them.

Can’t wait to see what the next 20 years has in store for us! ❤️

Note: Feature Image used Courtesy Pinterest