On Supernatural, It’s the End of the World as We Know It

Since it premiered on the WB (now the CW) in 2005, Supernatural has been largely a cult favorite. Despite the fact that it is one of the network’s highest rated shows, it has consistently been beaten in the ratings by its Thursday night competition. However, everything from comic books, novels, calendars, trading cards, shot glasses, and a fantasy role-player game has been created for its devoted fanbase. The love of its fans has even been controversially parodied by the show in reference to the fictional Carver Edlund’s Supernatural book series featured in recent episodes.

Series creator and current show-runner Eric Kripke has said in the past that he intended this current season to be Supernatural’s last, and the show dealt with the storyline that the apocalypse is approaching. However, ratings for the show are up, so it was announced that the CW is renewing Supernatural for a sixth season this fall.

But how will the show continue? Writer Sera Gamble revealed to the Chicago Tribune that the apocalypse plot would end this season, so that storyline won’t be dragged out any longer. Not to mention that Entertainment Weekly broke the news that Kripke is leaving his show-runner status to Gamble, possibly changing the show for better or worse. Meanwhile the show’s fans seem to be divided into two camps, those who feel that the show has run out of ideas and “jumped the shark” (as a recent episode was sarcastically named), and those who feel that the show is at its creative peak, thanks in part to the addition of new characters.

Whatever happens, some interesting television is ahead when Supernatural returns from a hiatus on March 25.