When Supernatural got so funny, even The CW couldn’t resist a rerun — With a twist

Supernatural earned well-deserved acclaim for various reasons during its original airing on The CW. The clever use of humor to balance a notably dark narrative was a key factor in its broad popularity. Although the show frequently addressed serious themes, it consistently took advantage of the natural comedy stemming from Sam and Dean Winchester's interactions and camaraderie.

The episode "Mystery Spot" remains the ultimate example of this narrative form coming to fruition in a fulfilling way. The episode featured Sam and Dean trapped by the Trickster Gabriel in a time loop, with Dean dying every time. The episode gained such popularity that the network decided to rerun the same formula a year and a half later for another episode titled "Changing Channels."

What made Mystery Spot the funniest Supernatural episode?

"Mystery Spot" is the eleventh episode of Supernatural's third season, aired on February 14, 2008. The story starts with Sam and Dean waking up to find themselves stuck in a time loop. Sam soon understands that they are reliving the same events repeatedly, with each loop culminating in Dean's unfortunate and comically tragic deaths. The episode offers plenty of laughs thanks to Dean's ridiculous antics. As the plot unfolds, the brothers discover that the Trickster, Gabriel, has ensnared them in this loop. This episode significantly deviates from the typical episodic format of Supernatural, presenting fresh challenges to the established narrative.

About a year and a half later, in November 2009, The CW aired the episode "Changing Channels," which once again referenced "Mystery Spot." In this episode, Sam and Dean found themselves trapped in an alternate reality, where they were forced to perform on a television show. The episode established its tone using sitcom elements such as a laugh track and a game show format, complete with commercials.

Jared Padalecki reflects on Mystery Spot

The Supernatural star discussed the relevant episode during an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly. Reflecting on the storyline of Mystery Spot, which featured Dean dying repeatedly, Padalecki remarked:

"I feel like all I can do is be totally honest as Sam Winchester, and he’s not a funny guy. The way I treat the death, like ‘Mystery Spot,’ which was a kind of comedic episode, was miserable for me. I was crying day in and day out. I mean it. This is not hyperbole. That was a miserable, miserable, miserable week in my life."

He further added:

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"I could only treat it like it was reality, I had to treat it like Sam, and Sam would be mortified. When (Dean) kept on getting shot, I was playing, as best as I could, my brother is dead. My brother is dead in my arms. He got shot. A f–king piano fell on him, whatever it was. For me, it was miserable because I was legitimately trying to convince myself that my brother had died from some funny way, but it’s not funny if it’s happened to you."

Supernatural is available for streaming on Netflix.

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