Supernatural original season finale wasn't what you’d expect—here’s the scrapped ending

For fifteen years, Supernatural provided fans with heart-pounding, jaw-dropping stunts, emotional heartache, and eye-popping plot twists that left viewers on the edge of their seats. The Season 3 finale, “No Rest for the Wicked,” which left Dean Winchester brutally murdered and sent to hell, is remembered as one of the series most unforgettable moments. Dean’s death, accompanied by a meat hook and chains, remains one of the series’ most iconic images.

But, what if that was never meant to happen?

Supernatural Season 3 Finale’s original plot appears to have been drastically different, right down to the transformation of Sam and Dean’s relationship. Kripke and the writers imagined a far more morally difficult ending revolving around Sam’s powerful dark abilities, brimming with a climax. Industry-wide issues, such as the 2007 – 08 Writers Guild of America strike, forced a rewrite of the ending. This brought on one of the show's most important decision-making shifts in the show's storytelling.

Let’s explore the unmade Supernatural season 3 finale, the reasoning behind its changes, and how its decision potentially secured the show's future.

Dean’s death wasn’t always in the cards

In the episode “No Rest for the Wicked,” Sam and Dean try to stop the demon Lilith from unleashing her hellhounds on Dean before his contract is fulfilled, but they can’t do anything to save the situation. Lilith has already set her Hellhounds on him, and all Sam is left to do is stand and stare as his brother gets torn to shreds.

The last scene depicts Dean engulfed in chains, suspended in Hell while he screams in absolute anguish – a moment that has become the face of Supernatural’s darkest and most haunting memories for its viewers.

That, however, was not how things were supposed to go. Season 3 had this ending planned out in the drafts, as stated by Eric Kripke, and he expanded on the concept, claiming that Sam would fully embrace the powers of a full demon he had in him to save Dean.

This highlights the possibility of Ruby convincing Sam to drink demon blood before Dean’s death, unleashing his dark powers. The plan also included the brothers, who were originally poised to take the stealthy route, unleashing their war against the rest of the demons in the finale, which was the more action-controlled format that was being proposed.

The previously planned storyline would have had Sam descend into darkness, which would have altered his character development greatly and ruptured the bond between him and his brother. It was certainly a bold plan, but one that needed to be scrapped in the end.

The writers’ strike changed everything for Supernatural

The plan fell apart when the 2007–08 Writers Guild strike cut Season 3 by six episodes. The team had to adjust because there wasn’t enough time to properly workshop Sam’s downward spiral and Ruby’s machinations.

As writer Sera Gamble recounted, they had no choice but to hone in on the season’s most pressing story — the demon deal for Dean — and center the rest of the plot around it. The heart-wrenching decision to forward Dean’s character to Hell became the new fixed point in the script.

That decision affected the show's trajectory significantly. Allowing the Sam demon-blood plot line to extend until Season 4 gave the writers room to explore the issue more appreciably and meaningfully.

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Dean being sent to Hell became an anchor trauma for the character going forward, particularly defining him during Season 4's best moments like “On the Head of a Pin.” The interplay between the brothers shifted into richer territory, and the mythology of angels, seals, and the apocalypse became more fleshed out.

Looking back, I think the change is more satisfying from a television perspective. What would have been a rushed plot arc turned out to be one of Supernatural's stronger season performances, indicative of how even Hellish detours can be beneficial.

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