7 Supernatural episodes where the monster wasn’t the real villain

Supernatural fans know how each episode is curated: two brothers, one fine-looking Impala, and many monsters. The series has covered everything, from spirits to monsters, demons, shape-shifters, vengeful souls, and more. It consists of fifteen seasons of Sam and Dean Winchester hunting down every last creature in the book.

But what made Supernatural different wasn't only the monster chases. It was when things weren't black or white. It revealed something profound: sometimes monsters don't live in the underworld or deep in old castles. Sometimes, they live in your house, your school, or your office. Sometimes humans are more monstrous than actual monsters.

Additionally, the episodes demonstrate that not only humans but also fate can be a real villain at times and can change lives for the worse. So, let's count down 7 Supernatural episodes where normal-looking people, or sometimes just poor decisions and bad luck, turned out to be the baddies. These episodes had moral dilemmas, unexpected twists, and many 'Oh Damn!' moments.

7 Supernatural episodes where the monster wasn't the real villain

Here are 7 Supernatural episodes that show us monsters don't always have long, sharp teeth and stabbing claws. Sometimes it is heartbreak, betrayal, or old-fashioned human cruelty. So, let's take a ride into those heartbreaking episodes where humans put demons to shame.

1) The Benders (Season 1, Episode 15)

This episode aired in the first season of Supernatural and is completely diabolical. Until this point, viewers were accustomed to seeing angry ghosts, evil spirits, and demons. But here, Sam and Dean are horrified to learn about a human family that hunts other humans for sport.

The messed-up part wasn't what they were hunting but who they were hunting. It showed that demons have always been evil, but humans choose to be one. Dean's line in the episode sums it up perfectly: "Demons, I get. People are crazy."

2) Unforgiven (Season 6, Episode 13)

In this Supernatural episode, Dean and Sam investigate deaths connected to a case that Sam had worked on when he had no soul. Imagine how that must have turned out.

The real monster of this episode was Sam, because thanks to his soulless decisions, the women he saved were later turned into monsters. The episode highlights the monsters within, the decisions people make, and the consequences of those decisions, which can be dark.

3) Metamorphosis (Season 4, Episode 4)

When Jack Montgomery turns into a rugaru, a creature that starts as a human but soon turns into a flesh-eating monster. Jack is trying his best to delay his metamorphosis, and even though he hasn't killed anyone, Sam and Dean are at a crossroads as to what should be done with him.

On one hand, Sam thinks they should help Jack control his urges, but on the other hand, Dean thinks the only logical and honorable thing to do here is to put him down. Here, the villain isn't Jack, but his inevitable circumstances.

4) The Kids Are Alright (Season 3, Episode 2)

If you want to see one of the worst outcomes of being an absentee parent, this should be your go-to. It explores the concept of changelings, but since it's Supernatural, they had to go that extra mile. Kids were being replaced, and the replaced ones were feeding on their mothers.

The real villains were the absentee parents who were so distracted and disconnected that they didn't even notice that their kids were replaced.

5) Freaks and Geeks (Season 8, Episode 18)

What you see isn't always the truth, and it is best shown in this episode. The episode begins with vampire killings that have stirred the town. It seems like there is no stopping the atrocious killings, but the brothers soon discover that nothing is as it seems.

The real monster is the vampire hunter, Victor. He had been staging the attacks and training orphaned kids to become hunters. The attacks were the fuel that helped anger the kids and stay loyal to Victor. No magic or illusion was used here; just pure manipulation and trauma did the trick.

6) Family Remains (Season 4, Episode 11)

Supernatural has had its share of traumatizing episodes, but this one takes the cake. What seemed like a classic haunted house case quickly turned into a disturbing case when two feral children were found living in the walls. The kids were a result of abuse and incest, and just looking at them would break your heart a million times.

There is nothing paranormal about this episode. Yet it is one of the scariest episodes of the series. It reminds us how horrific humans can be and have been since the beginning of time.

7) Repo Man (Season 7, Episode 15)

The episode follows a man named Jeffrey, once possessed by a demon. Sam and Dean are invited by a woman named Nora to perform an exorcism on Jeffrey. The demon inside Jeffrey had wreaked havoc and committed many killings.

The brothers succeed in getting the demon away from Jeffrey, and he is admitted to a psych ward. Later, the Winchesters learn that the demon is back for a second round, but are shocked to learn that Jeffrey lured him back. He did it because he enjoyed all the killings and missed being a monster. He even dared to blame the demon for giving him a taste of killing.

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Supernatural is known for a wide variety of demons, monsters, evil spirits, tortured souls, and vampires in their stories, but many episodes are scary even without any monsters. These episodes are the ones where the word "monster" is just a metaphor.

Then there are these 7 Supernatural episodes that just take the gore to the next level. These episodes force you to ask questions like, what makes humans monsters? Who is to blame? And how far would they go? Wooden stakes and silver bullets are okay, but for them, empathy, therapy, and exorcism of their soul are the only solutions.