"Library": Supernatural cast talk about the scenes each of them filmed first for the CW series

Supernatural lasted for fifteen seasons, witnessing countless monsters and drawing in whole generations of fans. But at the show's 20th anniversary reunion, one very particular question arose: what were the very first scenes each actor shot? The cast provided responses that were sometimes humorous, sometimes critical, but always insightful into what it was like to come on board such a massive project for the very first time.

According to Entertainment Weekly, when Jared Padalecki was asked about the first scene each of them filmed, he replied,

"I think a lot of people might watch that episode and be like, "What are they doing with the little, like, you know, hard drive disk, and it magnifies it?" Because it was the old school library hard drive thing."

Ackles added,

"Yeah. Didn't we go over to the Dewey Decimal System at some point? And started like looking through that."

Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki: The library scene

Jensen Ackles (Dean Winchester) said that his first Supernatural scene ever was shot in a library. Jared Padalecki (Sam Winchester) attested to the same; his first day on set also involved shooting in the same place, with Ackles.

The library set scene included such props as an old-fashioned hard drive and even nods to the Dewey Decimal System. From the cast, that touch was significant because it was something Sam and Dean would be researching in the years to come. Though the actors didn't call the scene flashy, it proved to be an appropriate beginning: a subdued, information-dense scene before the pilot action really got underway.

Starting with a library scene might have served to establish the tone for the series by establishing the brothers' dependence on lore and research, a theme that ran throughout Supernatural.

Misha Collins: The barn scene

Misha Collins, who arrived on Supernatural later in Season 4, recalled a vastly different experience. His first appearance on screen as Castiel was at the barn entrance, one of the most memorable debuts of the entire series.

In that scene, Dean tries to shoot and stab Castiel, but to no avail, as neither weapon hurts him. The scene brings Castiel into the picture as an enigmatic and formidable angel and marks the character's entrance as unforgettable. Collins admitted, however, that he wasn't happy with his first take. Upon viewing the dailies, he called his performance "substandard." The production team thus reshot the scene the next day to try to capture the intensity and presence required for the character.

As per Entertainment Weekly, he said,

"My debut performance on Supernatural was so substandard that we did a reshoot the next day, because they got the dailies back of my creepy performance and they were like--"

Because of this, the production team reshot the scene the next day to get the intensity and presence required for the character.

Why the first scenes matter

These initial scenes are recalled not only because they occurred first but also due to the significance that was attached to them. For Ackles and Padalecki, beginning in the library positioned their first minutes of Supernatural as a focus on collaboration, problem-solving, and the less sensational aspect of hunting. For Collins, establishing character in a single shot in the barn scene made the performance all-important.

Fans tend to go back and watch these initial episodes, understanding how crucial they turned out to be. In retrospect, the barn and library scenes seem representative of grander themes: research and knowledge for Sam and Dean, and mystery and godly power for Castiel.

Behind-the-scenes insights

The memories also reveal just how unpredictable TV making is. Scenes aren't necessarily filmed in the sequence audiences watch them. For the pilot of Supernatural, that meant an educational library setting preceded some other action-oriented scenes. For Collins, it meant joining a veteran series under stress to perform right away.

Reshoots, as Collins indicated, are a testament to the fact that even veteran actors may have trouble with introductions. They also reflect the attention to detail that the production team had to make sure Castiel's initial moment was worthy of the character he would portray in Supernatural.

Long-term legacy of the first scenes

When fans reflect on Supernatural, they might recall classic hunts, tearful family scenes, or season-long storylines. But the memories of the cast reveal that the show's DNA existed right from the early shooting days. Ackles and Padalecki started with an environment of research and brotherly collaboration. Collins started with a scene of authority and mystery.

Those early days seem to have defined the way fans perceived them. Dean and Sam were earthy, systematic, and strongly connected, and Castiel was mysterious and otherworldly. The earliest filmed footage is a tiny but significant fragment of Supernatural's extended history.

The initial days of shooting Supernatural might not have been packed with intense fight scenes, but they counted. A simple library scene and an intense barn scene presented the central characters in ways that lasted for years. For Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, it was walking into a role that was dictated by preparation, collaboration, and family. For Misha Collins, it was demonstrating his character's durability and enigma from the first moment.