How a Winchester-free Supernatural crossover became an unexpected favorite

If you picture a Supernatural crossover, it’s hard not to think of the Winchester brothers, Sam and Dean, facing off against some apocalyptic menace. That’s what makes this particular crossover so strange and so brilliantly fitting.

In the ninth episode of season 5 of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, the Winchester brothers are nowhere to be seen. Yet, the Legion X crossover still manages to encapsulate the spirit of Supernatural in the most wholesome manner possible.

Instead of its main characters, Supernatural is represented by its most iconic piece of hardware: Baby, the 1967 Chevrolet Impala. Dean Winchester’s treasured automobile appears in full splendor in the season 5 episode of Legends of Tomorrow titled “Zari, Not Zari.”

While chasing down the fragments of the Loom of Fate, the Legends find themselves not just in Vancouver but on the actual set of Supernatural. There is an eerily deserted filming location, monster corpses, and Baby is parked in all her glory.

Legends at their Meta best

With The CW’s Legends of Tomorrow, it's clear that anyone who attempts to watch the show will certainly be met with the prospect of breaking the fourth wall or even crossing genre boundaries.

The unpredictability features musical numbers from Bollywood and even the way history is turned on its head. This time, the crew literally trips and falls onto the set of another CW show.

“Dean’s my hall pass” sets the tone of the self-aware and fanservice humor that follows, and a lot of credit can be given to Supernatural’s Sara Lance (Caity Lotz). The episode encapsulates the universe of Supernatural, from the actual camera equipment used in the films to even the props held in Baby’s trunk.

The effects team went all out, even if they couldn’t produce real equipment due to budget restrictions. Fans will immediately know what universe they are shown when Baby appears on screen.

Exec Phil Klemmer explained this all by stating that they aimed to show appreciation to the legacy the CW built with this show, not engineer some grand crossover event thematic episode.

A tribute that hits home

What makes this crossover effective is its restraint. Legends leans into its chaos, offering a Supernatural-inspired tribute that doesn’t compromise the integrity of either show.

The reference-laden sequence features a glowing amulet reminiscent of Sam’s classic trunk-shoved weaponry and that quintessential Kansas license plate. It's more than mere set dressing; it's a celebration, a transitional token of shared fandom highlighting how one story can live inside another.

It's poignant to note that this was aired around Supernatural’s final season. CW paying homage through the Legends world was brilliant; they borrowed Sam and Dean for subtle crossovers of their beloved series in the quietest way possible.

Why it completely won me over

As a longtime fan of Supernatural, I was deeply touched by the car cameo. Seeing Baby in another different show filled me with glee, and knowing others were equally excited added to my happiness.

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It reminded me how deep stories and symbols can go. This showed that crossovers don’t necessarily have to have groundbreaking characters or plot twists to be powerful and effective. Sometimes, props placed just right are what is needed.

The biggest achievement was never having to include a single scene with Sam or Dean. They captured the show's heart, history, and sheer spirit.

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