10 Harsh Realities Of Watching Supernatural Season 1, 19 Years Later

Supernatural ranks as one of the most enduringly popular fantasy TV series of all time – and deservedly so. Over an epic 15-season arc, fans got to enjoy the Winchesters going toe-to-toe with Lucifer, God, and all manner of fantastical ne’er-do-wells, with the fraternal duo involved in some of television’s highest-stakes storylines. However, every adventure has to start somewhere. Although they would eventually face off against some of mythology’s mightiest foes, Supernatural season 1 had somewhat humble beginnings.

Debuting in 2005, it was impossible to tell from Supernatural‘s early episodes that the show would go on to become one of the most influential series in the entire fantasy drama genre. Although the Winchesters would eventually have the fate of the world in their hands, Supernatural season 1 focuses on largely self-contained stories following a monster-of-the-week format. 19 years later, these stories remain incredibly effective, with the season boasting some of Supernatural‘s scariest episodes. Despite these successes, however, there are some harsh realities about season 1 that are difficult to ignore in 2024.

10 Supernatural Season 1 Has Weak Villains

Meg Masters And The Demon Aren’t As Compelling As Later Foes

Because Supernatural season 1 has to focus on setting up the lore and world that would define the rest of the series, the show has to juggle many different priorities at once. Perhaps inevitably, this means that some elements come across as less developed than others. A clear example of this is the show’s main villains – Meg Masters and the as-yet-unnamed Azazel.

Although the demon that killed Jessica and Mary Winchester is mentioned in almost every episode, they receive next to no character development throughout the series, making them seem somewhat intangible. Likewise, Meg Masters doesn’t feature until the halfway point of the season, and only appears in four episodes overall. Considering that Supernatural‘s well-rounded and complex villains became one of the show’s greatest strengths, both Azazel and Meg Masters – in season 1, at least – feel somewhat underwhelming.

9 The Show Becomes A Little Repetitive

In Many Episodes, The Story Follows The Same Pattern

One of the biggest challenges for any monster-of-the-week series is keeping the formula fresh from episode to episode. Supernatural season 1 certainly contains some great standalone stories, with the terrifying “Bloody Mary” remaining a real highlight, there’s no denying that sticking to the same formula hurts some episodes.

Installments like “Bugs”, “Route 666”, and “Hook Man” all suffer from somewhat derivative storytelling and a lack of connection to the overarching narrative of the season. Both episodes, and others like them, become predictable because of their formulaic approach and fail to add much to Sam and Dean’s characters or the show’s lore. It is perhaps a consequence of being able to binge episodes back to back in a way that hasn’t always been possible, but some Supernatural episodes feel superfluous in hindsight.

8 Supernatural Season 1 Lacks Strong Female Characters

Like The Series Monsters, The Pattern Becomes Repetitive

Just as formulaic monster stories hurt Supernatural season 1’s weakest episodes, the show also suffers from a failure to create fully realized female protagonists. In almost every episode, female characters follow the same story, either playing a peripheral supporting role to Sam and Dean’s antics, or being in need of rescue. This narrative is often supplemented by a slightly flirtatious relationship with one of the brothers.

With the exception of Meg Masters, women in Supernatural season 1 tend not to get recurring roles. Even characters with potential for development are often abandoned as Sam and Dean’s story moves on to the next hunt. Since the Winchesters are the show’s main focus, this is perhaps understandable. However, when the cycle repeats episode after episode, it becomes impossible to ignore.

7 Dean’s Love Interest Storyline Doesn’t Work

It Was Never Believable

Even when the show does attempt to flesh out its female characters, Supernatural season 1 often falls short. Perhaps the best example of this is Cassie Robinson. Featured in “Route 666” – arguably one of season 1’s weakest episodes – Cassie is described as Dean’s first true love. The episode involves the pair trying to reconcile their complex feelings while battling a racist ghostly truck driver.

Although the attempt to provide some background to Dean Winchester’s love-life is welcome, the story simply doesn’t work. Not only do Dean and Cassie lack chemistry, but Supernatural completely abandons this subplot after season 1. In hindsight, this makes it difficult to believe the strength of Dean’s feelings, especially since he’s back to his flirtatious ways almost immediately.

6 Supernatural Season 1 Has A Small Number Of Iconic Monsters

It’s Quite Surprising, Given The Subject

Considering that Supernatural deals with fantastical monsters from myth and legend, you might expect season 1 to tackle many of the most iconic creatures as early as possible. After all, with no guarantee that future seasons would be on the cards, it would make sense for the series to showcase heavy-hitters like werewolves and zombies as early as possible. And yet, while creatures like vampires do feature, the show is actually much more diverse with its monsters than other similar series.

Although demonic possession and ghosts are recurring presences, unsung adversaries like wendigos, daēva, and shtriga also feature, highlighting Supernatural‘s commitment to a diverse range of monsters from the outset. While some first-time viewers might expect to see more stereotypical creatures, this approach is actually to the show’s credit. Not only does it build anticipation for later stories, but it also highlights that horrifying stories can come from anywhere.

5 Supernatural Never Did Sarah Blake Justice

She Should Have Been An Important Recurring Character

Much as Dean’s attempted romantic subplot in Supernatural season 1 failed to deliver, Sam’s equivalent storyline is equally disappointing. However, whereas Dean’s didn’t seem to work on any level, Sam’s is perhaps more of a let-down, since the show laid the foundations for Sarah Blake to have a prominent role, had the show gone in a different direction.

What makes Sam’s relationship with Sarah feel particularly wasted is that their romance was made more complicated by Sam’s past with Jessica. It was clear that he was still conflicted about her death, making his spark with Sarah a pivotal moment. She was clearly a special character if she was capable of helping Sam move on. The fact that Supernatural never mentioned Sarah again before killing her in season 8 feels like a real disservice, since unlike Cassie and Dean, the chemistry between the couple was palpable and she had already been initiated into Sam and Dean’s world.

4 Finding John Winchester Was Almost Pointless

He Was The Main Focus Throughout Season 1

Overshadowing Sam and Dean’s episodic adventures in Supernatural season 1 is their mission to find their father, John. In some ways, the story is one of the more frustrating aspects of the show, since the pair will often mention their absent father, only to head off on a mission that has little to do with finding him. However, when they are eventually united, it’s notable just how pointless the endeavor ultimately feels.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s portrayal of John Winchester had the potential to be one of the show’s strongest elements moving forward, yet after surviving his encounter with Azazel, John dies almost immediately in season 2. There’s a compelling case to be made that his death was necessary in order to let Sam and Dean shine in their own right. However, since finding him was the whole point of Supernatural season 1, his season 2 death undermines this crucial aspect of the series’ narrative in a way that no amount of subsequent mentions and cameo appearances can resolve.

3 Sam And Dean’s Mom Should Have Made A Bigger Impact

It Should Have Been A Really Profound Moment

Just as John’s eventual fate felt somewhat disappointing, the appearance of Sam and Dean’s mother is another Winchester family let-down. Given the impact that her death had on both brothers, seeing their mother again in “Home” should have been a deeply profound moment that shaped the series’ overall narrative. However, despite this potential, Supernatural moved on from Mary’s appearance almost immediately.

Not only was “Home” followed up by the standalone episode “Asylum”, but Sam and Dean seemed almost totally unaffected by seeing their mother for the first time in decades. Since avenging her death is a key motivation for both brothers, this encounter could have inspired them even further. However, aside from a few passing mentions, Mary has little influence over the rest of season 1.

2 Sam And Deans’ Dynamic Doesn’t Work As Well As In Later Seasons

They Took Time To Develop

Thanks to 15 seasons of backstory and adventures, Sam and Dean Winchester are arguably two of the most beloved and celebrated fictional characters of the past two decades. However, while their dynamic quickly incorporated incredible emotional highs and lows, as well as great comedic moments, the sad truth is that their potential wasn’t fully evident in season 1.

Not only did the pair often rub each other up the wrong way, but the comedic moments that became such a staple of later Supernatural seasons failed to land in the same way in season 1. In “Hell House”, for example, the pair’s “prank war” feels incredibly forced, with their being little evidence of organic chemistry between actors Ackles and Padalecki. While this certainly changed as the show developed, it makes for some awkward viewing in early episodes.

1 Supernatural Season 1’s Overarching Story Isn’t As Strong As Others

The Show Didn’t Really Come Into Its Own Until Later

Although the power-creep of later Supernatural seasons became a real problem, the show is always at its best when it balances believable stakes with genuine peril. In the strongest seasons, this results in an expansive narrative that plays out over multiple episodes, gradually building to an effective crescendo. Unfortunately, season 1 doesn’t deliver on this front.

Meg Masters’ peripheral presence, the stilted efforts to find John Winchester, and the unresolved issues over who the main demonic threat is mean that Supernatural season 1 lacks a really compelling overall story. Crucial plot elements, like the mission to find the colt, are introduced very late, allowing little time for their significance to sink in. Although many of Supernatural season 1’s best episodes still hold up, the broader narrative isn’t as compelling as it could have been.

Supernatural

3.0

Release Date

September 13, 2005

Seasons

15

Franchise(s)

Supernatural