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The conclusion of Supernatural in 2020 marked the end of an era; not only for the Winchester brothers, but also for the followers of the series who grew up watching the combination of horror, mythology, and sibling bonds. I, too, as an ardent follower thought I was ready to bid farewell. But somehow, along with many others, I find myself pondering this: What if it returned?
The thought of Supernatural season 16 was difficult to fathom. However, I had an epiphany not while reminiscing the supposed live action finale, but rather at the show’s first, and to some, its most underrated, spin-off. That’s when the dots started connecting.
The ending felt final—but was it?
n Supernatural Season 15, we got closure. Chuck got defeated! Dean died, Sam lived a full life and it felt like living in a bittersweet dream. An emotionally grand sequence that was clearly intended to provide closure.
What could come after that?
Now this is a question all fans have been deliberatin and equally, the showrunners. He piecing Dean back together would feel utterly ungrateful. Surpass the boundary of defeating God? Good luck! Even so, there’s no satisfying the endless demand for Supernatural. The fans still shout, the actors are still engaged but the narrative has to shift, and so does the format.
The anime already did what season 16 can’t
The anime series ‘Supernatural’ tried experimenting somewhere towards the end of 2011, in a bid to find a new approach. It did not achieve everything, but gave us ways the live-action show could not. The concise storytelling in just 22 episodes was complemented by the exploration of new lore, and cast Sam and Dean in a different light without having to rely on endless guest star appearances and over-the-top plot twists.
Above all else, it proved to all of us the important fact that the Supernatural franchise can indeed excel as an animated series.
Animation lifts a lot of the restrictions. The schedule of the actors will not be as much of a hassle. The rules of coherency can also be altered to an extent. What-if scenarios, alternate universes, sequels and prequels—everything is fair game. There are no limits for writers who want to expand on the story without shattering the emotional impact of a live-action series through episodic breaks.
A season 16—without calling it season 16
We certainly do not require any further live-action works. But what if we had a Miniseries with Supernatural themes? It might take place during the golden age of Sam, Dean, and Castiel. Or, even better: an alternate universe where events transpired differently. It could give us closure on subplots that have yet to be resolved or even expand on lore that didn’t receive the attention it deserved.
Picture a John Winchester early years animation done in a gritty noir style. Or an entire arc focusing on Castiel’s time as a human. Or what if we witnessed a version of events where Dean never took on the Mark of Cain?
All these suggestions still allow for the show’s original ending. And the anime adaptation has already provided us a framework for its execution.
The time is now—before it’s too late
As each year passes, a new live action season seems more and more farfetched. The performers are advancing in age. The world of showbiz is changing. No worries, though; animation could effortlessly transport us back to that universe and bring the original voice actors in an accommodating and considerate manner.
The further away we get from 2020, the more difficult it becomes to rationalize a season 16. But if we try to look at things differently, we need to explain absolutely nothing. We just need to re-envision it.
Final thoughts
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Supernatural has been something I miss. There is no need for me to witness Dean crawling out of heaven or Sam being dragged back into the fight. All I long for is to be part of that universe with those characters, soaked in their world, and on their terms.
Recently, I came across the anime series of Supernatural and it helped me realize something. The future of the franchise doesn’t lie in undoing the past, as there is plenty of material available for animation the world and extending the story into new lands. Rather, its future lies in animating what we never got to witness and allowing the legend flourish in new mediums.
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