The essential episodes of Supernatural
Watch these 25 in order and you've got Supernatural — each pick states its reason.
- 01
Two brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester, witness their mother's paranormal death as children and grow up trained to fight by a distraught father who wants nothing more then to hunt down the thing that killed his wife. Sam escapes to college to start a new, normal life, but gets pulled back in after Dean shows up on his doorstep to tell him their father is missing. Following clues from an eerie phone message from him, the boys travel to a small town and encounter a vengeful spirit called the "Woman in White" who then starts to haunt Sam.
- 02
On a mission to save their father from Meg, Sam and Dean seek help from an old family friend, Bobby. When Meg shows up on Bobby's doorstep, the brothers lure her into a trap and exorcise the demon from her body after learning where John is being held prisoner. While trying to rescue John, the demon shows up and a full battle ensues between the Winchesters and the demon they have been searching for all their lives.
- 03
Sam, Dean and John were left for dead after the Demon plowed a semi into the Impala. Now, one of the Winchesters hovers between life and death as the surviving family must face an old and powerful adversary.
- 04
Sam and Dean call upon their family friend and fellow hunter Bobby for help after they are stumped by violent and unexplainable happenings on a local college campus. Bobby arrives with a suspicion as to the culprit behind the killing spree and the brothers' escalating feud.
- 05
After investigating the death of a lawyer who appeared to have been killed by a wild animal, Sam and Dean realize they are tracking a werewolf. Sam is immediately attracted to the lawyer's secretary Madison and when it seems as if Madison will be the werewolf's next victim, Sam offers to stay overnight to protect her. Dean heads out to hunt the animal and is stunned by what he finds.
- 06
What Is and What Should Never Be
While hunting a Djinn [a type of genie], Dean is attacked and transported to a world where his mother is alive, Sam is in law school and engaged to Jessica, and Dean lives a very normal life with his girlfriend. However, after he starts seeing a strange girl and learns all the people he has saved in the past have died, Dean must decide whether he wants to stay in this new safe life where everyone he loves is alive or if he should return to the hunt.
- 07
Sam is abducted by the Yellow-Eyed Demon and finds himself in a ghost town with other children who have special abilities. They learn the Demon has brought them together to initiate his endgame: an all-out war against the human race. In an effort to encourage Sam to fight, the Demon shows him what really happened to one of his parents. Dean enlists Bobby's help to find Sam before the battle begins, but he arrives too late.
- 08
Dean must deal with the aftermath of the fight between Sam and Jake and pays a steep price for his involvement. The Demon and his spirits threaten to overtake the hunters until they receive help from an unexpected ally.
- 09
Sam and Dean answer a call on their dad's old cell phone, alerting them someone has broken into John's secret storage room in New York. They discover a cursed rabbit's foot has been stolen and call Bobby for help. He advises them to beware of the foot because anyone who touches it will receive an extreme amount of good luck, but once the foot is lost that person will die. Unfortunately, Sam has already handled the foot, which causes an overjoyed Dean to buy lottery tickets, but a female thief steals it from Sam causing his luck to plummet and putting his life in danger.
- 10
Sam and Dean investigate the disappearance of a man who went missing at a tourist location. While searching the site, Dean is shot and killed by the owner. Sam is devastated but stunned when he wakes up the next morning to find Dean alive and well. As the day unfolds, Sam realizes he is re-living the previous day and tries to prevent Dean's death, but to no avail. Dean dies again and Sam must learn to live life without his brother by his side.
- 11
Sam and Dean break into Bela's apartment in order to get the Colt back, but she has tipped off Agent Henricksen about their whereabouts and they are arrested. While Sam and Dean are locked in a cell in Colorado, a demon breaks in and kills some of the sheriff's men and possesses Henricksen. After the guys vanquish the demon, the FBI agent realizes they were telling the truth and prepares to release them, but Ruby shows up to a warn Sam and Dean that the jailhouse is surrounded by a band of demons with a powerful new leader who wants Sam dead.
- 12
It's 30 hours before Dean's deal with the crossroads demon is up and Dean, Sam and Bobby are searching for Lilith, who holds the contract. They discover her location and Sam summons Ruby for help despite Dean's protests. Ruby warns them they aren't ready to fight Lilith yet but they steal her knife and depart for New Harmony, Indiana. In a battle to the death, Sam, Dean and Bobby take on Lilith and all her demons in a last ditch effort to save Dean's life.
- 13
The Monster at the End of This Book
Sam and Dean are shocked to discover a series of comic books titled "Supernatural" that accurately detail their lives as demon hunters. They track down the writer, Carver Edlund, who explains he has visions of the brothers that he then turns into comic books. Chuck reveals that Lilith is coming and she has a plan for Sam.
- 14
Sam, Dean and Castiel track down the Colt and head off to find Lucifer to send him back to Hell. It's a hunters' reunion when the crew joins forces with Bobby, Ellen and Jo for what could be their last night on Earth.
- 15
Raphael launches an attack on Castiel and his allies, sending a particularly frightening angelic hitman after Balthazar, Sam and Dean. In an effort to protect the brothers, Balthazar sends them to an alternate universe where they are the stars of a TV show called "Supernatural" and they are actors named "Jensen Ackles" and "Jared Padalecki." The brothers are confused when Castiel appears to be a tweet-happy actor named Misha Collins and Sam is married to Ruby.
- 16
Lucifer drives Sam to the breaking point and Sam ends up in a mental hospital. Desperate to save his brother, Dean calls every hunter he knows for help. One of the hunters gives him the name of a healer who turns out to have a very familiar face.
- 17
Sam and Dean investigate the mysterious deaths of two LARPers who were playing a game entitled Moondoor. The guys are thrilled to discover the Queen of Moondoor is none other than Charlie. The three learn that a fairy has been commandeered to harm people and the only way to stop her is to find her master.
- 18
After a massive angel slaughter occurs, Sam and Dean arrive at the scene to investigate and are surprised to run into Castiel. While investigating, Castiel is captured and tortured. Meanwhile, Dean questions Ezekiel's demands and wonders if it might be time to tell Sam the truth.
- 19
Dean makes a shocking decision regarding the Mark of Cain that would change not only his life, but Sam's too. Meanwhile, Crowley and Rowena face off and Castiel gets caught in the middle.
- 20
Sam and Dean battle a part-vampire/part-ghoul creature that is trying to raise an army to fight the coming Darkness. Meanwhile, Sam receives another cryptic vision, and the Impala witnesses everything.
- 21
Sam and Dean try to escape the bunker after Ketch turns it into a deathtrap. Meanwhile, the brainwashed Mary goes after Jody and Alex, and Hess puts Phase Two of the Brit's plan into action.
- 22
Dean and Ketch arrive in the apocalypse world, and Dean sees a familiar face. Meanwhile, Sam and Castiel try to reach Gabriel, while Lucifer grows bored in Heaven.
- 23
Sam and Dean find a magical pearl that grants the user's "heart's desire". However, what Dean gets when he makes his wish isn't what he expects.
- 24
Everything is on the line as the battle against God continues. A familiar face returns to join the fight.
- 25
After 15 seasons, the longest running sci fi series in the US is coming to an end. Baby, it's the final ride for saving people and hunting things.
Shows like Supernatural
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01Drama·Action·SupernaturalThe essential episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer1997–2003·UPN
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- 03Drama·Action·SupernaturalThe essential episodes of Motherland: Fort Salem2020–2022·FreeformSet in an alternate America where witches ended their persecution 300 years ago by cutting a deal with the U.S.
- 04Drama·Action·SupernaturalThe essential episodes of The Nine Lives of Chloe King2011–2011·FreeformThis scripted action drama follows Chloe King, who is looking forward to celebrating her 16th birthday with her friends and single mother -- just like every other year - that is until she starts developing heightened…
- 05Drama·Action·Science-FictionThe essential episodes of Arrow2012–2020Katie Cassidy also stars·Same network — The CW
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