Eric Kripke’s 5-Part Sci-Fi Series Will Have The Ending Supernatural Was Robbed Of

Supernatural is arguably one of the greatest fantasy TV shows of all time. Despite starting on a small scale with a monster of the week format and a relatively simple premise which saw the Winchester brothers pitted against supernatural forces, the show evolved over time into something much more ambitious. Supernatural‘s 15 seasons make it one of the longest-running fantasy TV shows to be made.

While much of the series was groundbreaking, earning it a 93% positive critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Supernatural was let down by its ending. However, the show’s creator, Eric Kripke, has the chance to redeem this problem on The Boys, which is reuniting the three main Supernatural stars for what is likely to be an explosive and violent finale.

Supernatural’s Ending Divided The Show’s Fans

After 15 seasons of character development, tragedy, turmoil and the introduction of well-known Biblical characters, the show saw the brothers confronting God himself, which was a risky but exciting writing decision. Supernatural‘s finale could have been its most epic point yet, wrapping up the saga and cementing its status among perfect fantasy TV shows, of which there are few.

Unfortunately, Supernatural‘s polarizing ending was surprisingly understated, feeling anticlimactic after so many action-packed and tension-filled episodes. Many reviewers discussed the death of one of the main characters, which some saw as a regression after their self-worth grew during the show. Others felt that it was a mistake to only focus on a few characters when the show had the potential to be more ambitious.

Supernatural‘s showrunner, Andrew Dabb, revealed that the ending had been changed, and Supernatural had a different original ending. He explained to Entertainment Weekly that while a main character was always going to end up in Heaven, it would have looked different, with the character arriving in a replica of a key location to reunite with other characters that viewers had loved and lost.

Part of the reason for the change in Supernatural‘s ending was due to circumstances beyond the writers’ control. Dabb revealed that “We did a rewrite once we knew what our COVID rules were going to be for episodes 19 and 20, and it changed some things, it did. Particularly in episode 20, there were things planned that just aren’t feasible anymore.”

Showrunner Eric Kripke left Supernatural after season 5, but stayed on as a creative consultant. While the show departed from the dark tone that he had originally brought to the series, nobody could accuse his current project, The Boys, of being too lighthearted. The upcoming fifth season will be its last, giving Kripke the chance to create a less gentle finale.

The Boys Is Getting A Proper Ending That Supernatural Never Had

Eric Kripke remains the showrunner for The Boys, and has a hand in continuing the universe in Vought Rising. Unlike Supernatural, which had not been expected to last as long as it did, The Boys appears to have been building towards a carefully-planned ending. That said, while the writing and direction may be controlled, the show is likely to end in a typically chaotic way.

One of the best parts of The Boys is its pacing and character development. While the show is outrageous, gory, and shocking, even the larger-than-life characters like Antony Starr’s terrifying Homelander ground it with excellent performances and believable arcs. The characters in The Boys often share the darker side that earlier Supernatural characters had, and Kripke admitted the show could have been “horrifying.”

In an interview with TV Insider, Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, and Misha Collins discussed both Supernatural and The Boys. Collins revealed that he had asked Kripke what a Supernatural reboot would look like, and reported that “he said he would want it to be as horrifying as possible.” The stars joked that this was already happening with The Boys.

The best Kripke-era episodes of Supernatural tend to have extremely strong stories and memorable visuals. His experience on the show appears to have influenced his approach to The Boys, which also has scenes that you cannot unsee alongside some powerful emotional moments. Supernatural occasionally sacrificed character consistency for visuals, while The Boys remains stable even when the characters do not.

It seems clear that Kripke has refined his approach over time, and this is likely to be reflected in The Boys finale. Supernatural‘s ending seemed too gentle at times, while The Boys has always felt as though it is building towards something explosive and devastating. The show’s ending might still polarize audiences, but it is unlikely to ever be accused of being delicate.

The Three Supernatural Stars Are Reuniting On The Boys

Many Supernatural actors have appeared in The Boys, with Jensen Ackles being the first of the core three to have a major role. Ackles plays Soldier Boy, and in typical fashion for the show, The Boys uses the character to highlight the way racism and prejudice can be disguised as patriotism, making the character a total opposite to the heroic Dean Winchester.

Delighting fans of both Supernatural and The Boys, an instagram reel shared by The Boys‘ account showed Ackles being joined by Misha Collins and Jared Padalecki confirming, “we’ve got work to do.” The details of both Collins and Padalecki’s role in The Boys has been kept a closely-guarded secret, but Kripke has hinted that the two will not be heroes.

It appears that the two characters will know each other and arrive together. As Kripke told Entertainment Weekly, “They show up in episode five.” He revealed, “What I love about what they’re doing is they’re just such douchebags.” As all three played heroic characters in Supernatural, seeing them reverse these roles should be as much fun for audiences as it was for the actors.

The Boys season 5 trailer shows Homelander taking over as the characters prepare for war, and as the show is known for its meta references and nods to the actors’ other projects, there has been speculation over potential Supernatural Easter eggs. With Collins playing an angel in Supernatural, there is room for an extra-supernatural Supe, and the potential to completely reverse this character.

It appears that The Boys season 5 is doing Dean and Castiel in reverse, but the circumstances behind the character dynamic are unknown. The show’s final season is set to include more actors from Supernatural, and with the near-certainty that The Boys will end on a dark note, Supernatural fans may get their explosive battle and big reunion at last.

Source: Entertainment Weekly (1), TV Insider , Entertainment Weekly (2)