Supernatural (TV series)

Supernatural is an ongoing TV series that began in 2005.

It follows two 20-something brothers, who, following in their missing father's footsteps, travel across the United States to fight monsters and other supernatural villains, while trying to avenge their mother, who was killed by a demon when the younger of the two brothers was an infant. The series' developing family drama and the emotional connection between the two brothers hides under a tough, roadtrip-and-rock'n'roll macho exterior.

Premise & Treatment of Female Characters

The show is something of the anti-Buffy, where the men fight the monsters and women are motivators or support. The major living female characters are supporting characters: Ellen Harvelle and her daughter, Jo Harvelle. Although the series makes a few attempts at avoiding the damsel-in-distress cliché in its weekly storytelling, it is unabashedly patriarchal in its premise, and male-centered throughout the series. (There was even an episode that openly mocked Buffy fandom, by including clueless male geeks who wondered what Buffy would do in a given situation.)

The show's premise -- two guys on a roadtrip killing demons -- is founded on the deaths of the central characters' mother and a girlfriend -- the sexist trope named women in refrigerators" by Gail Simone. "One of the original ideas was for Sam's girlfriend Jessica being revealed as a demon, which prompts him to join Dean on the road; however, [creator Eric] Kripke felt it was more appropriate for Sam's motivation to be Jessica's death, so he had her killed in the same manner as Sam's mother, making them the "right bookends"."

Fan-Fiction / Slash / Vidding

Several fan writers have taken to slashing the two brothers, who are played by very handsome actors and share an intense relationship onscreen -- a slash fandom known as "Wincest" (Winchester / incest). Fandom of the two as children is known as weechester (wee / Winchester).

At least two significant vids have focused on gender issues, including the frequent use of misogynistic slurs, violence against women, and sexualization of women. These include:

• Women's Work (2007) by Luminosity and sisabet
• Still Alive (2008) by Counteragent; see "Still Alive" at fanlore

Women in Production Roles

While a significant proportion of episodes (8/22; 11/22; 7/16; 9/22; 8/22; 7/22 - total, 50/126 or 39.6%) have been written or co-written by women, the producers have done a much poorer job of hiring women directors -- only one woman, Rachel Talalay, has ever been hired to direct an episode of Supernatural, in all 126 episodes. Executive producer Sera Gamble took over as showrunner beginning with the sixth season.

See

• List of Supernatural episodes

Characters

Regulars

• Sam Winchester (b. May 2, 1983), the younger brother, played by Jared Paladecki
• Dean Winchester (b. Jan. 24, 1979), the older brother, played by Jensen Ackles (previously from Dark Angel)

Recurring family

• John Winchester, the father, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Season 1 primarily; recurrent in other seasons)
• Mary Winchester (d. Nov. 2, 1983) (in dreams & flashbacks mostly)
• Jessica Moore (Sam's girlfriend; in episode 1, and then occasionally in dreams & flashbacks)

Recurring demons, spirits, supernatural characters, etc.

• Meg Masters - a female demon, the daughter of Azazel (Season 1 primarily; occasional in seasons 2, 4, 5)
• Azazel, the "yellow-eyed demon" responsible for death of Winchesters' mom, and others
• Crossroads Demon - appeared as a woman in most episodes (Seasons 2 & 3) until Sam shoots her in the head.
• Ruby (demon) - demon / former witch (Season 3 & Season 4)
• Lilith - demon (seasons 3-4)
• Castiel - angel (beginning with Season 4)
• Uriel - angel (season 4, 5)
• Anna Milton - fallen angel (season 4-5)
• Zachariah - angel (season 4-5)
• Lucifer - fallen angel (season 5)

Recurring hunters & associates

• Ellen Harvelle - owner of the "Harvelle's Roadhouse", a gathering spot for Hunters (Season 2 primarily; also 5)
• Jo Harvelle - daughter of Ellen Harvelle (Season 2 primarily; also 5)
• Ash (Season 2)
• Bobby Singer (beginning with Season 2)
• Gordon Walker (hunter; season 2-3)

Recurring other characters

• Bela Talbot - thief (Season 3)
• Lisa Braeden - a former liaison, yoga teacher, mother of Ben; appears in flashbacks, memories, etc., Season 3, after The Kids Are Alright

Further reading

• List of Supernatural episodes
• "Supernatural" at FanLore.org wiki
• Supernatural Wiki @ Fanlore.org
• Supernatural Wiki @ Wikia.com
• "Supernatural (TV series)" at Wikipedia