After 15 seasons, Supernatural was one of the most popular genre shows on television and has a group of superfans that no other series can touch. If fans started following Sam and Dean Winchester in 2005 when the show began, and faithfully carried on all these years, chances are, they’re a superfan. Even fans who caught on later and spent hours watching the different characters, storylines and supernatural creatures weave their way in and out of hundreds of episodes, they are likely too a superfan.

  • One thing that Supernatural superfans are struggling with right now is the new prequel series, The Winchesters. On one side, the show, which debuted in October 2022, is a pure Supernatural series, with John Winchester meeting Mary and the two setting out on hunting adventures years before Sam and Dean were born. However, on the other hand, The Winchesters is making some changes to the Supernatural lore. When it comes to Supernatural superfans, they know almost everything about the original series, its heroes and villains, monsters, angels, and demons. What The Winchesters is revealing is that not everything is as fans might remember, and in the past, even some legends had different meanings before Dean and Sam started hunting.

While there were many changes throughout all these years on the air, what remains the same is what all fans truly loved about the show: the bond between the characters, the quirky comedy, the cool folklore, and of course, the classic rock. Anyone who was a loyal viewer and think they know everything that has happened with Supernatural over the past 15 seasons, both in front of, and behind a camera, it’s time to put that knowledge to the test.

The Boys Are Notorious Pranksters

After so many years, the bond between these boys is obvious even behind the scenes. Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki have a long history of welcoming newcomers to the show with a proper Supernatural hazing. Anyone who has been to a convention, or watched a blooper reel, are well aware of all the shenanigans that go on between them. Misha Collins, of course, is a favorite target of Padalecki and Ackles.

Fans also know about the famous coin prank. That one involved Collins losing a bet to Padalecki in a game of “Words With Friends.” Misha paid Jared his money in coins, dumping nearly $2,000 into Padalecki’s trailer. Padalecki then literally repaid the favor by dumping $600 worth of coins into Collins’ car, after donating the money to his charity, Random Acts. Hazing on this show is like a badge of honor - once someone was initiated, it means they’re part of the team.

The Man Behind Bobby Singer’s Name

It’s not hard to imagine that there’s a secret meaning behind Bobby Singer’s name. Although the character of Bobby is his own entity, he is very much based on someone else closely attached to the show. That would be longtime Supernatural writer, director and executive producer, Robert Singer. Eric Kripke told the story himself, during PaleyFest back in 2011.

He said that there were two people who were “father figures” for him, and they were Robert (Bob) Singer and Kim Manners. He said the characters name was originally Bobby Manners, but there was a real Bobby Manners living in South Dakota. He changed it to Bobby Singer to avoid legal problems. Bobby guided the boys through many seasons of Supernatural, the same way that Robert Singer guided the show itself.

Jensen And Jared Lived Together Before They Each Got Married

Padalecki and Ackles are as close in real life as fans of the show would hope. The two have been married to their significant others for years, but before that, they were indeed roommates. The guys met back in 2005 and have always credited a lot of the show’s success to their real-life bond. In 2008, Jared also said in an interview with BuddyTV, about how their long days on set, would smoothly transition into it being just two friends at night, hanging out and playing guitar until they fell asleep.

While the roommate life was not long for the pair (both married in 2010), the boys obviously have not skipped a beat through the years. It’s nice for fans to know that underneath it all, brotherly love between these two really does exist.

Dean’s Iconic Leather Jacket Was Stolen

The wardrobe on Supernatural has become a trademark for so many of the show’s favorite characters. Early on, things like Dean’s leather jacket took on a life of its own, playing an essential part of the Winchester storyline. Dean inherited it from John, turning his staple style into a sentiment of how much he idolized his dad. For the first five seasons, the brown leather jacket (which we first see in the pilot episode) was almost thought of as Dean’s superhero attire.

In season 6, without even an explanation, the jacket was just gone. As it turns out, there was a very real reason for this vanishing act. When the cast was in Los Angeles for a photo shoot, their wardrobe was flown over from Vancouver. In the process, a few items were stolen. Among them was Dean’s iconic jacket, which was worn in so many memorable scenes. In the end, Dean’s wardrobe changed into an evolving selection military-style jackets, each perfectly-suited for the character.

Castiel Is The Angel Of Thursday

As is the case throughout all the Supernatural seasons, a majority of the characters and subject matter is based off of something that already exists. Between urban legends, scripture, references to other TV shows, and comic books, most of the show’s lore has its real world origin. In the case of Castiel, while it isn’t the name of a “real” Angel, there is a Cassiel, the Angel of Temperance, the Angel of Serenity, and the Angel of Saturn.

He often appears in literature as one of the Seven Archangels. While it’s possible this Angel serves as an inspiration, Castiel is actually known as the Angel of Thursday. That was the day of the week that Supernatural aired when he first joined the show. Superfans who know this probably also caught the episode in season 6 when Crowley refers to Castiel in a scene as the “Angel of Thursday.”

The Supernatural Cast Has Their Own “Harlem Shake” Video

Since comedy is their thing, a “Harlem Shake” parody was not too far-fetched for the boys. A year after the viral sensation erupted, Supernatural took part in the craze. Ackles reportedly came up with the idea which, after his “Eye of the Tiger” video, was a welcomed treat. Padalecki initially Tweeted a teaser, leaving fans with bated breath. Once they got clearance from Warner Bros., the dance party was online for all to see.

The 30-second clip starts with Ackles showing off his moves in front of the Impala (aka Baby) and has Padalecki focused on his phone. The boys stand in the center at a crossroads on top of a Devil’s trap. Suddenly, cut to the crew in costume surrounding them, and it’s an all-out “Supernatural Shake.” Shot from a bird’s-eye view, guesses of who was in the video flooded the internet. Spotted among Padalecki and Ackles, were Osric Chau and director Guy Norman Bee.

Castiel Has Gone Through Three Versions Of His Trench Coat

Just as much as Dean’s jacket, Bobby’s hat, and the Impala are all inanimate objects fans have grown to love, Castiel’s trench coat has become an equally important aspect of the show. Cas’ coat was also stolen during the Supernatural heist, except his was easily replaceable. Over the years, however, Cas has actually gone on to see three completely different trench coats.

The look became his trademark the second his vessel Jimmy Novak put it on, essentially creating the character of Castiel and christening the Angel with a fashion statement. Fans knew that and have resisted the subtle wardrobe changes throughout the years. The style that followed was a different cut and a shade darker. The third iteration appeared in season 13, and is extremely similar to the first one. Whichever version, that coat has been beaten, shot, bloodied, destroyed, and saved more times than one can count. Luckily, like its owner, it keeps coming back for more.

Shared Filming Locations With Smallville, The X-Files, Arrowverse, And More

Most Supernatural fans know, while the Winchesters are from Lawrence, Kansas, the show is shot in Vancouver, British Columbia - which is one of the most popular filming locations in the world. What some might not realize is that the common shooting locations across the area overlap with a number of TV shows and movies. Gorgeous sites like Buntzen Lake was used for a slew of other popular shows. The X-Files, Psych, iZombie, Stargate SG-1, Smallville, The 4400 and Dark Angel have all shot scenes there.

Burnaby Hospital, Riverview Hospital, the Cleveland Dam, Fort Langley (which is part of the Township of Langley); each lends itself a unique setting not just for Supernatural, but for so many other shows as well. This region of Canada seems to have an uncanny knack for upping the spooky factor, while remaining mostly undetectable to viewers who often watch more than one show that’s been filmed in the exact same location.

Castiel’s Outfit Is Based On Constantine

While the khaki trench coat, dark suit, white button-down shirt, and dark tie attire has certainly become synonymous with the character of Castiel, creator Eric Kripke first gave him the look to resemble the DC comic book character of John Constantine. The choice in wardrobe eventually sparked somewhat of a controversy between Supernatural and Hellblazer fans. When the show Constantine began airing on NBC in 2014, Supernatural fans couldn’t help but notice the similarities between the two.

Even though Kripke never kept his inspiration a secret, some viewers hadn’t realized the character of John Constantine existed first, so it triggered a slight fandom war. Although the two shows had other similarities on top of the whole doppelganger thing, they were actually quite different within the genre itself. Constantine only lasted one season on NBC. Actor Matt Ryan has returned to the role, this time lending his voice to the character, and joining the Arrowverse’s Legends of Tomorrow, also airing on The CW.

The Meaning Of Carver Edlund (Chuck’s Pen Name)

Superfans who have been watching from the very beginning caught onto this one as soon as Chuck Shurley was introduced. Chuck first came into play during season 4, as the writer of the not-too-popular Supernatural book series, which he penned under the name of Carver Edlund. This is the combination of Jeremy Carver and Ben Edlund, both longstanding writers for the show. Fans got a kick out of the inside joke - naming the author of the fictional book series after two of the creators of the real-life TV series.

Chuck (aka Carver Edlund) had the ability to foresee events that had to do with Dean and Sam Winchester, and, as a Prophet of the Lord, felt the need to write about it – even after the books were no longer being published. Like the actual Supernatural writers, he knew everything about the Winchesters; including their ending. It wasn’t until he returned in season 11 that viewers learned Carver Edlund was not just a Prophet, he was the Holiest wordsmith of all - God.

Jared And Jensen Were Groomsmen At Each Other’s Weddings

Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki have remained so tight they went from being roommates to groomsmen in each other’s weddings. Padalecki said “I Do” in February 2010 and Ackles wed several months later, in May 2010. Both ended up married to former CW actresses. The guys even began having children around the same time - basically a year apart - and have remained by each other’s sides as their families keep growing.

They even all hang out together. They’ve been known to spend holidays like Christmas and the Fourth of July together and back in 2015, it was noted that their time at the Women’s World Cup looked a lot like a double date. Their buddy moments range from things like unplanned wardrobe matching, to helping each other out with some pretty big things (both silly and serious) along the way.

Who Is Clif Kosterman?

Clif Kosterman is Ackles and Padalecki’s longtime bodyguard/driver who has also made appearances as different characters on the show. Kosterman first played the character of Tiny during season 2, in the episode, “Folsom Prison Blues”. It’s the one where Sam and Dean orchestrate their own arrest in order to investigate a haunted prison at the behest of John’s old Marine buddy, Deacon. While inside, Dean picks a fight with a prisoner named Tiny so that Sam can escape, which inadvertently results in Tiny’s death by way of a ghost.

In 2011, he returned to the screen for “The French Mistake” as Sam and Dean’s driver in the episode that landed them on the set of the “Supernatural” TV show. He also made an appearance during season 11, as a wrestler named Wrecking Ball Calhoun, in “Beyond the Mat”. In 2015-2016, he created and produced Supernatural Fandom, giving viewers an inside look at the phenomenon behind the fans who love Supernatural.

Duck Nation

Charitable causes are yet another way Kosterman has contributed to the world of Supernatural. In 2011, he Tweeted out a photo of Jared and Jensen in a toy pool, asking fans to send rubber duckies, along with their names and where they were from, so that they could add it to their “duck pond.” The first to arrive from each continent would get a prize, and then they would donate the ducks to different charities.

Special ones chosen by Jared and Jensen would also be auctioned off for charity. Two weeks later, they were staring at nearly 3,000 bath toys. By the deadline, the boys had received over 5,000 rubber duckies from all over the world. Naturally, Superducktural sprung up on Tumblr and fans even brought the toys to the conventions. Misha, of course, had to join in the fun and upped the game, bringing his own large inflatable duck to the party.

Misha Collins’ Random Acts

Misha Collins most well-known charity endeavors are with Random Acts and GISHWHES. In 2009, Collins began Random Acts after his Twitter followers (lovingly known as his “minions”) actually came up with the idea. He initially Tweeted that he was looking for ways to stimulate the economy. The “MinionStimulus” quickly shifted to what is now known as Random Acts. The non-profit organization currently lives to spread kindness, one random act at a time.

The charity invites people to get involved in different ways. Programs, projects, and events span from buying a stranger a cup of coffee to building a school in Nicaragua. The Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen (aka GISHWHES) also plays a part in Random Acts. Since 2011, the worldwide, week-long competition, invites teams of 15 to compete in an array of wildly intelligent and unusual tasks, resulting in a good deal of media attention while breaking quite a few World Records. All participation fees for GISHWHES go to Collins’ charity.

Jensen Has Directed 6 Episodes Of Supernatural

Jensen may have started out in front of the camera, but it became obvious in season 6, when he directed his first episode of Supernatural, “Weekend at Bobby’s,” that he also had a knack for storytelling from a different perspective. The Bobby-centric episode included (among others) the characters of Rufus, Crowley and Sheriff Jody Mills. Producer Kim Manners made plans for Jensen to direct, but sadly passed away in 2009, before he could see his vision come true.

Fans who know how tight-knit this crew has always been, can surely take comfort in the thought that his influence lives on. There are extras on the season 6 DVD which features Jensen Ackles: A Director’s Journey: Part One and Part Two. Even more on Jensen’s time directing is included in the season 7 DVD. Since 2010, Jensen has gone on to direct five other episodes. In season 7 there was “The Girl Next Door.” Season 8 brought delivered “Heartache.” Season 10 saw “Soul Survivor.” Season 11 included “The Bad Seed” and his last came with the season 15 episode, “Atomic Monsters.”

How Misha Collins Met His Wife

Misha Collins has a love story of his own that dates back to before his time on Supernatural. When he first met his wife, Victoria Vantoch, the pair shared an English class in school and have been madly in love ever since. They were married in 2001 and have two children together. While so much of their history might sound traditional on the surface, this duo is actually pretty unconventional.

One look at pictures from their vow-renewal ceremony in 2011 will tell a fan everything they need to know about the fun-loving couple. On top of their quirky sense of humor, Victoria also matches Misha on a level of intelligence that does not go unnoticed. She has written for the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and U.S. News & World Report. She’s also a published book author, which is something her Supernatural husband has proudly shown his support for over social media.

The New Jensen

In all the years of Padalecki, Ackles, and Collins working together on the show, most viewers might imagine each have had plenty of opportunities to explore the depths of their characters, respectively. Yet with all the liberties they take, there is one out of the bunch who has not been given the same opportunity as the others – Jensen. Out of the three main characters, Ackles is the only one who didn’t get to play another character.

Both Padalecki and Collins took on other characters. They’ve both played Lucifer in Supernatural. Padalecki even got the added bonus of stepping into the shoes of Gadreel - or vice versa, depending upon how you look at it. When it comes to Ackles, he’d only ever played Dean. Sure, there’s been Demon Dean, which by all means was a great expansion, but it was still just another version of Dean. That all changed in the season 13 finale when Michael took over Dean’s body, finally giving him his chance to play another character.

Jared Padalecki Married Ruby 2.0

Jared Padalecki first laid eyes on wife, Genevieve Cortese, in 2009 when she stepped in to fill the role of Ruby, replacing Katie Cassidy. Padalecki tells the story of how he interrupted her when she was reading a book and thought she had no interest in him. After getting to know each other more, he decided to take the next step and ask her out to lunch. It took the pair four months before they actually went out on their first date.

While things were progressing slowly behind the camera, what was happening on screen told a completely different story. Season 4 displayed a brand-new side of the relationship between Sam and Ruby; one that made it impossible not to overlook the chemistry with these two. It didn’t take long after they started dating; soon, Padalecki proposed to Cortese in front of their favorite painting at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. They had a winter wedding in Idaho, invited their friends and family, and have never looked back. Nine years and three children later, the couple is still as adorable as ever.

Misha Collins Thought He Would Be Playing A Demon

In 2008, Castiel joined the Winchesters on their hunt, forever becoming one of the best things to happen to the Supernatural family. While Misha Collins’ character is now well-established as one of the good guys, in the beginning, that aspect wasn’t exactly clear. Eric Kripke purposely sent out material to actors as if they would be auditioning for the role of a Demon, to cover up the fact that they’d be introducing Angels to the show.

Once he was in the room and delivered the lines, he got the real deal from Kripke, and was asked to adjust. He tweaked the character, made Castiel more angelic and the rest is history. By the time season 5 rolled around, it was clear those notes were just the beginning of the showrunners’ decision to stray from the stereotypes. Things really got interesting when the audience saw a gentle side of Lucifer and a bunch of Angels who, let’s just say, were less than divine.

The Ackles Family Affair

Fans got a major surprise when former One Tree Hill star Danneel Ackles announced she would be joining the SPN cast for season 13, to star alongside her husband.

What most don’t know is that Danneel Ackles isn’t the only member of Jensen’s family who has appeared in Supernatural. In the episode that Jensen directed (“Weekend at Bobby’s”), Alan Ackles, Jensen’s dad, voiced the role of the newscaster.

In season 8’s “Heartache,” Alan actually appears on the screen, this time as Detective Pike. Jensen’s mother Donna also appeared as an extra in the episode. Jensen’s sister Mackenzie was in two episodes - season 2’s “Bloodlust” and season 7’s “Slash Fiction.” In season 10’s “Soul Survivor,” Danneel’s brother Gino Graul and her niece Valerie play a couple of demons.

Misha Collins Regrets Castiel’s Deep Voice

When Collins booked the role of Castiel, he made some very strong choices when it came to his character. Opting to do a deep voice was one of them. It’s a decision he claims he has had some trouble reconciling with over the years. “I thought I should give him a really commanding, powerful voice - something I now regret because I’ve been doing it for six years and there are definitely times when I have to go home and drink hot lemon water and have a sore throat,” Collins shared on the season 8 DVD special features.

When he first joined the show in season 4, Collins’ idea was to match the intensity of how he spoke with the power of the Angel. Obviously, an entity that could break windows and explode TV sets needed a mighty voice in conversation alone. What trouble could it be? The actor had only signed on to do a three-episode arc. However, Castiel was so beloved by Supernatural fans he quickly went from guest star to series regular. Soon, the voice, along with suit and trench coat, became everyday life for him.

Richard Speight Jr. (Gabriel) Directed 11 Episodes Of Supernatural

While the Archangel Gabriel may be well-known for his tricks, putting this familiar face behind the camera is certainly no joke. Richard Speight Jr. actually began his journey on that side of things in 2000, when he co-directed the independent feature North Beach. Since then, he’s gone on to direct 11 episodes of Supernatural. Despite having only starred in five episodes at the time of his directorial debut, Speight returned in 2015 to helm the episode “Just My Imagination.”

Luckily, this would not be the last taste fans got of Speight behind the camera. In 2017, he returned to direct three episodes: By the time the show ended, he has directed 11 total episodes, including four in the final season of the show.

Jensen Ackles Sings… And He’s Good

As if being a top-notch actor and director already wasn’t enough, Jensen Ackles also sings. While so much of Supernatural is centered on music, the kicker is that Dean actually can’t carry a tune. The twist, of course, is that Ackles can. Not only does he bust out in song at fan conventions, he’s also been known to play with a few of his famous musician friends, appear on an album or two, and show up to perform duets on stage with major rock stars.

A recent spectacle involved Ackles and Slipknot and Stone Sour singer Corey Taylor taking the stage at a Vegas Supernatural convention to sing Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive”. The pair was even backed by Louden Swain. Videos of Ackles singing any number of songs like “Simple Man”, “Carry On Wayward Son”, and “Tennessee Whiskey” can be found online.

Supernatural Produced A Couple Of Bands

Aside from Ackles, Supernatural has an extraordinarily high number of cast and crew members who double as extremely talented musicians. Louden Swain first formed in 1997 by God himself, Rob Benedict. In the band’s 2017 album, Jensen is even featured in their song, “Whipping Post”. Saturday Night Special featuring Louden Swain has become a highlight at conventions and often includes a number of SPN favorites.

Richard Speight Jr., Mark Sheppard (who plays the drums like nobody’s business), Timothy Omundson, Matt Cohen, Ruth Connell, Mark Pellegrino, Kim Rhodes, and (in the past) even Jeffrey Dean Morgan have been known to join in the fun. There’s also the Friday Night Karaoke Party for those who like to double up and mix their music with comedy. Also, The Impalas are a band made up of the Supernatural crew who are also often joined by Jensen Ackles. The band features everyone from grips to set dressers.

Supernatural Was Supposed To End With Season 5

Supernatural was set to end in 2010 after only five seasons. As the show’s creator, Eric Kripke designed the story arc in such a magnificent way that had it actually wrapped up when it was supposed to, it would have likely concluded with one of the greatest endings the genre had ever seen. In what would turn out to be a huge surprise for the series’ own creator, Supernatural carried on to see a record-breaking 15 seasons.

By season 12 it had already become the longest-running sci-fi series in U.S. television history. It had outlasted a few showrunners, a couple of network presidents, even The WB - the network the series actually began on. Kripke may have crafted a perfect five-season storyline and then handed over the reins to those who dreamed up more, but the truth is, the show has always belonged to the fans. The fandom of Supernatural has sparked a phenomenon unlike any other show in history. Behind every written word, every character, every urban legend, every emerging storyline - if there’s one thing the show’s cast and crew can always be sure of, it’s the love and loyalty of the fans.