Supernatural

The Supernatural Phenomenon

Two brothers save the world, one supernatural being at a time. "Originality" might not be the first thought when reading this concept. Nor is the basic approach of a 'monster of the week' show along the lines of series like The X-Files particularly revolutionary. And yet Supernatural has achieved what everyone covets: cult status (pun intended)! The fact that this relatively small series has achieved 15 seasons, 327 episodes and even an anime spin-off is at least as extraordinary as the many creatures hunted down by the Winchesters. So, how the hell (ho-ho) did Sam and Dean do it? And what does all this have to do with sitcoms?

Trinity Is Still My Name

Sorry about the header, but we'll take any Bud Spencer and Terence Hill reference. Back to the topic, the fact that we spent a whopping 15 years driving through the States with Sam and Dean Winchester in their Chevrolet Impala, assassinating demons, ghosts and werewolves, and even meeting angels and God has (as already mentioned) nothing to do with the monster of the week format. Nor is it anything to do with the high-quality Breaking Bad level narrative (sorry). No, the key factor, or should we say factors, in the success of Supernatural are Sam and Dean! It's perhaps the best combination of fantastic characterisation and cast that we've ever had the pleasure of seeing in a series! The incredible chemistry between Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki is palpable from the very first second of the opening episode. This duo is the well-oiled engine that makes Supernatural so interesting from start to finish. Especially as Sam and Dean have continued to develop over time. In exactly the way you might expect from real brothers.

In fact, the whole thing reminds us slightly of a sitcom, except in the horror-mystery genre. After all, sitcoms often run for very long periods of time because the audience gets so intimately involved with the characters. They almost become a kind of family. They're just people you like to spend time with. And where you want to know what happens to them next. This makes the weekly episode a reassuring ritual that works even if the occasional storyline is a bit of a dud. Supernatural ticks all these boxes, with added ghosts and demons. Not since Buffy the Vampire Slayer has a fantasy series managed to create such a deep, personal relationship between the characters and the audience.

More than two brothers

With all due respect, Sam and Dean didn't elevate Supernatural into pop culture heaven all on their own. Three things in particular come to mind that cemented the success of the series. 1. The setting: the urban legends, the many monsters everyone has heard of gave us something we could somehow understand and categorise without taking creative space away from the writers. 2. The continuity: what other series manages to string together 15 seasons without any major logic problems? And in spite of the fact that the producers were replaced on more than one occasion. In Supernatural, every transition to a new season feels natural, Sam and Dean always feel like Sam and Dean. (Except maybe the final two episodes, but that's another topic.)

But the greatest achievement of all for us is: 3. The phenomenal casting: so many series struggle to replace actors or introduce new faces. With Supernatural, on the other hand, it was the huge variety of new characters and actors that made the show so exciting. Yes, we know there are numerous discussions about the fact that the series could have stopped after Season Five. But damn, it was only a year earlier that Misha Collins' Castiel was introduced, effectively the third main character! And what about Mark Sheppard's Crowley, who only really came into his own in Season Six? Charlie Bradbury, Rowena MacLeod, Jack Kine, Bobby Singer, the Archangel Gabriel, Lucifer ... hardly any other series can claim such a wealth of cool characters!

And don't forget: the fans

Whatever made the series great, Supernatural would never have lasted 15 seasons without the fans. We have rarely, perhaps never, experienced such a loyal and passionate fan base! The online and IRL obsession that we've witnessed with Sam and Dean is as scary as it is understandable. This passion was evident, for example, at the 15th anniversary of The CW television network, when viewers were allowed to vote for the best CW show of all time. And Supernatural was streets ahead of the assembled competition, such as Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow or Batwoman.

Needless to say, fans of what is officially the best CW series also deserve the best Supernatural merch — and that's what you get at Elbenwald! You'll find the perfect item, whether it's a bestseller like Supernatural Monopoly or our Supernatural Trivial Pursuit with 600 questions! We stock Supernatural knitted sweaters, or an unusual Devil's Trap bath set or a Supernatural comfort blanket. But don't worry, we haven't forgotten the classic Supernatural merch, namely Supernatural T-shirts, hoodies, mugs and socks. So, whatever way you choose to announce your favourite show to the world, all you have to do is browse in our Supernatural fan shop. And who knows? Perhaps the prequel series The Winchesters will provide us with a continuing stream of new Supernatural merchandise over the next few years.