Every episode ofSupernaturalhas something that makes it worth watching at least once, but I always skip certain episodes on a rewatch. With over 325 episodes, watchingSupernaturalis quite a commitment, but the show’s characters and its unique blend of horror, humor, and heart make it well worth watching. Following brothers Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester as they travel the country hunting monsters,Supernaturalran for fifteen seasonsfrom 2005 to 2020 and developed a passionate fan base along the way.
To fully appreciateSupernatural,first-time viewers should take in every episode, as even the lackluster stories can have fun character moments or important revelations. Butfor a rewatch,some episodes can easily be skipped without impacting the overall story.Some viewers may want to focus on the season-long story arcs and skip some ofSupernatural’smonster-of-the-week episodes, while others may want to avoid episodes they found particularly scary or those where a beloved character dies. While I’m happy to rewatch mostSupernaturalepisodes, there are a few that I don’t mind skipping.
8"Bugs"
Season 1, Episode 8
Many ofSupernatural’searliest episodes are standalone stories that play out like miniature horror movies. Episodes like “Bloody Mary” or"The Benders" may be too frightening even for Jensen Acklesor disturbing for viewers to watch twice, but other season 1 stories are weaker episodes that don’t warrant a rewatch.“Bugs” is simply not a great episode,and while Sam and Dean have one interesting conversation about their dad, the story doesn’t offer anything particularly insightful.
“Bugs” follows Sam and Dean as they investigate a town being invaded by deadly swarms of insects. With questionable CGI insects and a lackluster mystery,“Bugs” has achieved notoriety within the fandom as being one ofSupernatural’sworst episodes.Whether because the episode leaves me with the feeling that insects are crawling on me or because it’s simply a mediocre episode, “Bugs” is one I usually skip.
7"Route 666"
Season 1, Episode 13
“Route 666” features a racist ghost truck and tries to tackle the serious and very real issue of racism, but unfortunately, it doesn’t really work. The story begins when Dean’s first love,Cassie Robinson (Megalyn Echikunwoke), calls him regarding the suspicious deaths of Black men in her town. While it was nice to get a glimpse of Dean’s history, I wish it had come in a better episode.
Cassie herself is an interesting character, but she never returns in the series, which feels odd considering how important she was to Dean. I always wondered whySupernaturaldidn’t have Dean (temporarily) settle down with Cassie rather than Lisa (Cindy Sampson) in later seasons.“Route 666” is one of those episodes that’s entertaining enough on a first viewing,but doesn’t really add anything on a rewatch.
6"Mannequin 3: The Reckoning"
Season 6, Episode 14
WhileSupernaturalseason 6 delivered the brilliant “The French Mistake,“it also delivered this bizarre episode that starts off okay but fizzles out in the end.The episode’s first mistake is that it splits Sam and Dean up,as Dean travels to check on Lisa while Sam investigates a series of strange murders. The culprit turns out to be a vengeful ghost of a girl named Rose Brown (Christina Sicoli) who possesses mannequins to kill those who tormented her when she was alive.
AfterSupernaturalseason 5 ended with the spectacular “Swan Song,” some fans felt the series dropped off in terms of quality, and episodes like “Mannequin 3: The Reckoning” don’t contradict that assessment.
This description alone could have led to a solid episode, but thenthe story takes a turn for the truly ridiculous.When destroying Rose’s remains fails to stop her ghost, Sam learns that Rose had donated one of her kidneys to her sister, Isabel (Rosalie Ward). Even this could have maybe led to an interesting dilemma, but then Isabel is killed in a freak accident that ultimately ends the episode on a sour note.
5"Season Seven, Time For A Wedding”
Season 7, Episode 8
Supernaturaldelivered its fair share of funny episodes, and many of them can be counted among the show’s best. This episode, however, truly misses the mark and can easily be skipped over during a rewatch.It brings back an obsessedSupernaturalfan named Becky(Emily Perkins), who has somehow convinced Sam to marry her. Understandably suspicious, Dean goes to investigate and ends up stumbling upon a case.
In a somewhat surprising cameo,Hamilton’sLeslie Odom Jr. portrays a shady crossroads demon named Guy.
It’s eventually revealed that Becky has been giving Sam a powerful love potion, and she considered making a deal with a demon to ensure she and Sam have a life together.“Season Seven, Time For A Wedding” plays this whole scenario for laughs,but it left me feeling deeply uncomfortable watching Becky take away Sam’s autonomy. Fellow hunter Garth (DJ Qualls) makes his first appearance in this episode, but even that’s not enough to make me want to rewatch it.
4"Bitten”
Season 8, Episode 4
Thisfound footageSupernaturalepisodeoffers a unique take on a classic monster hunt, but its biggest sin is sidelining Sam and Dean.Supernaturalsimply doesn’t work without the Winchester brothers,and the characters at the center of “Bitten” aren’t quite compelling enough to lead an episode. The episode’s unique format makes it worth watching at least once, but I never feel compelled to rewatch it.
The story begins as Sam and Dean investigate a series of murders and stumble upon a laptop containing footage from a group of three college students. Most of the episode’s runtime is taken up by this footage, whichdepicts the students' encounter with a werewolfthat leaves two of them dead. Ultimately, “Bitten” has its moments, but the story has no bearing on the season’s storyline and can easily be skipped.
3"Man’s Best Friend With Benefits"
Season 8, Episode 15
Even the worst episodes ofSupernaturalrarely stray into offensive territory, but “Man’s Best Friend With Benefits” manages to be incredibly weird, uncomfortable, and borderline offensive.When a cop named James (Christian Campbell), who once worked with Sam and Dean, becomes a witch, he begins having murderous nightmares that seem to be coming true. His familiar, a woman named Portia (Mishael Morgan) who can turn into a dog, calls Sam and Dean to investigate.
Although James and Portia are supposedly in love, it’s deeply uncomfortable seeing a woman, particularly a Black woman, wearing a collar and referring to her lover as her"master.“The fact that Portia is sometimes a dog makes the whole thing even weirder and unsettling in the worst way.This episode is full of odd choices all aroundthat left me wondering how it made it off the drawing board in the first place. I have no problem skipping this one on rewatches.
2"Bloodlines”
Season 9, Episode 20
“Bloodlines” is often regarded as one of theworst episodes ofSupernatural,and like other episodes on this list, it shifts its focus away from the Winchester brothers. Meant as a backdoor pilot for a spin-off series,“Bloodlines” centers on aRomeo and Juliet-type love story set among monster crime families in Chicago.Sam and Dean stumble into the story, but they don’t do much throughout the episode.
Supernaturalhad plenty of other characters and storylines that could have been successful spin-offs. I’m still upset that season 13’s “Wayward Sisters” never became its own series.
Instead, “Bloodlines” focuses on its cast of feuding shapeshifters and werewolves, butnone of the characters leave much of an impression.The story feels too disconnected from established lore to make for a successfulSupernaturalspin-off,so it’s no surprise that “Bloodlines” never made it beyond this episode. Ultimately, “Bloodlines” felt too much like other teen supernatural dramas and not enough likeSupernatural.
1"Carry On"
Season 15, Episode 20
Supernatural’scontroversial series finalehas its fair share of fans, but I was ultimately disappointed with how the show decided to end Sam and Dean’s story. The episode has a promising opening, beginning with a classic monster hunt, butit quickly shatters that promise by killing off Dean Winchester in the worst way.I may be biased, as Dean has always been my favorite character, but if Dean had to die, it should’ve been as he was saving the world alongside his brother.
Dean suffered so much throughout his life that to see him brought down by a poorly placed spike felt like an insult to his character. For me, the penultimate episode, “Inherit the Earth,” works much better as a series finale, and if I never watch “Carry On” again, I can continue pretending it doesn’t exist. While theSupernaturalspin-off,The Winchesters,helped redeem Dean’s deatha bit, I will likely continue to skip “Carry On” every time I rewatch the show.
