Top 20 Supernatural Episodes [Updated]
September 2015: I recently finished catching up on Supernatural - I binge watched seasons 7 to 10 and as a consequence have a minor obsession with the show going on again like when I initially discovered it back in 2009. This post won't be of interest to most of you, it's mostly for onewkofdanger since she is a Spn geek too.
February 2016 update: had to bump an episode to fit Baby in. I doubt I'll have to edit it again for quite some time...
20. 'The End'
Season 5, Episode 4
I love this episode because it gives you a It's a Wonderful Life feeling, it shows you a hellish alternate future where Sam says yes to the devil and Cas as a hippy having orgies... which makes you really appreciate the return of childlike Castiel as we know and love him. It's a really special moment when Dean says to him at the end when he's back in his world, "don't ever change." It's an acknowledgement that while his lack of understanding of human ways really riles Dean sometimes, he wouldn't have Cas any other way. As well as this we have comedy gold in the form of Castiel trying to use a mobile phone, it still makes me smile when he says:
19. 'LARP and the Real Girl'
Season 8, Episode 11
This episode took some serious risks, even for a show that actually had an episode where Sam and Dean were thrown into a world where their life was a TV show and where actors called Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles. But they all paid off. Given how dark the show is normally, the funnier, more light hearted episodes really stand out. That doesn't mean they're always good, but this one definitely is. It's rare that we get to see Dean and Sam basically say "fuck it, let's have some fun!" The Braveheart speech and charge at the end is pure gold.
In Larp and the Real Girl we get to see Dean and Charlie's friendship at the height of its adorableness. You can see the character evolution of Dean as well, before he was seriously judging people who engaged in role play and similar geek activities. He was previously very defensive and weird about homosexuality but the character has adopted a much more liberal attitude through his experiences, which I love. I don't know if it was the intention of the writers to have this guy whose personality is masculinity, that is, girls, beer, and more girls, actually open up his mind, but Dean has probably had the most interesting character development on the show.
Plus he looks hot AF in his LARP get-up.
18. 'Angel Heart'
Season 10, Episode 20
This episode is one of my favourites because it finally lays to rest the story of Jimmy Novak, Castiel's vessel. There's also a lot of character development on the part of Castiel too, in his feeling responsible for Claire Novak, having taken her father's vessel and essentially killed him. It finally manages to put a positive spin on their relationship, with Claire being told how Castiel had saved the world and that her father hadn't died for nothing. It's also adorable to see Cas reach out, the part where he gave her a grumpy cat and said he got it at 'Hot Topical' was ridiculously touching and comical.
There's the touch of comedy with the obvious insinuation that the situation has become a bit like three men and a baby, though the dynamic is implied than Dean and Cas are her dads and Sam is her uncle. It's amusing watching the three of them trying to find their footing with an angsty teenager, especially the married-couple like bickering between Cas and Dean. Cas being the sensible one who enforces the rules and Dean being the cool one who gives her a gun and shows her how to use it.
Initially I thought killing Claire's mother Amelia off was a bit much, but the scene where she was reunited with Jimmy in Heaven was painfully beautiful and the best acting performance I've ever seen from Misha Collins. I like how the episode left an opening for Claire to return in a future episode, especially if she's now living with Jody Mills.
17. 'Abandon All Hope'
Season 5, Episode 10
This episode is one of the many episodes that makes you feel like you're getting continually punched in the face. It manages to start lightheartedly with Castiel throwing shots back like he's Legolas but by the end of the episode you're crying in the corner. Shit basically goes from bad to worse and it results in the deaths of two of our favourite recurring characters. Unlike other characters killed off, I wouldn't say Jo and Ellen were killed off needlessly. They went out with purpose, and a literal bang. It was heartbreaking but fitting ending for two of the strongest female characters ever to appear on Supernatural.
16. 'About a Boy'
Season 10, Episode 12
Season 10 was arguably the darkest season of the series, and this episode was very much a throwback to the earlier seasons; it was a classic monster gank episode with bonus young!Dean. Dylan Everett is by far my favourite actor to portray young Dean, he's got all his mannerisms and facial expressions - even his vocal intonations - spot on. The banter between Sam and young!Dean was hilarious. It's up there with Monster Movie as a funny Supernatural episode. Besides, this was the episode - with its glorious ending with Dean leaving Shake It Off playing in the Impala - that gave the inspiration for the Hillywood Supernatural Parody which makes me happy every time I watch it.
15. 'Hunteri Heroici'
Season 8, Episode 8
This episode is extremely stupid, but the reason I include it in my favourites is that on the surface it's one of the silly episodes with a barely believable big bad but when you really look there is a definite darker undertone. Castiel spends most of season 8 trying to redeem himself for the events of season 7 and it's really quite heartbreaking. You can see how much Castiel would love to join Dean and Sam permanently; he gives one of his rare smiles when he states that he's going to become a hunter...and he tries so hard to be one of the guys.
The one scene in particular in this episode that makes me tear up is the really tentative little talk between Dean and Castiel while Sam is out. Castiel starts by complimenting John Winchester's handwriting in the journal (which I thought was a lovely touch), and it evolves into Dean drawing Cas out on how he's doing which leads to this large scale admission:
This is a huge confession and I would love to have known what Dean had said if Sam hadn't come back then. I feel that any distance put between Cas and Dean in season 7 is fixed here, because Cas simply doesn't hide anything from Dean, and because of this he's earning Dean's trust again.
The latter part of this scene, when Sam is back and they talk about sleeping arrangements, is my other favourite part of this episode. Sam asks Cas if he's going to book a room and Cas says he doesn't sleep, to which Dean says he needs to sleep, to which Cas says:
My heart just melted. It melted. Look at his puppy eyes! Look how sincere he is! Can't even handle the cuteness.
While the episode puts a jokey spin on the elderly losing their marbles, there is a more serious slant to it all, and Castiel almost taking the position of carer at the end is really moving. Giving up hunting with the boys to be a companion to those near the end, it's more fitting of his character as a guardian angel than being a hunter with the boys, as much as we enjoy the antics of Team Free Will.
14. 'The Man Who Would Be King'
Season 6, Episode 20
I think this episode would probably make an appearance on most favourite Spn episode lists, because it's Castiel-centric, and everyone loves Castiel. The episode is told entirely from his POV, which is something I'm surprised we don't see earlier on, given the character's popularity. It's quite a painful episode because Castiel is clearly lost and questioning everything he'd previously been taught and as a result he resorts to hiding from and spying on the Winchesters and Bobby but slips up by referencing something they said when they didn't know he was there. What particularly hurts in this episode is Dean's sense of betrayal, especially, as Cas puts it 'the hardest thing was that Dean was trying so hard to be loyal, despite every instinct telling him otherwise.'
From Castiel's entrance on the show one of the central relationships has been the Dean/Cas dynamic and their 'profound bond' which began when Castiel saved Dean from Hell and put his trust in him. This isn't their first bust-up but it's the biggest one, because Dean was staunchly defending Cas when Sam and Bobby doubted him, only to be proven right about their doubts. It's heart-wrenching to see Cas alone on a park bench questioning his existence, but it's also one of the finest examples of writing on Supernatural.
13. 'Monster Movie'
Season 4, Episode 5
Monster Movie is easily the funniest episode of Supernatural to air to date and its simple brilliance is as a homage to old horror movies. It's wonderfully inventive in the way it pokes fun at old movie monsters, the portrayal of Dracula, complete with accent being the funniest. My absolute favourite scene is Dracula taking a pizza delivery, as you can see below.
12. 'Do You Believe in Miracles?'
Season 9, Episode 23
The season 9 finale was my favourite season finale since the last time Dean died in season 3. The death itself wasn't what stood out for me, because a Winchester dying is bog standard for Supernatural. It was the other events around Metatron killing Dean, for example Gadreel finally doing something right and sacrificing himself. I was moved because Gadreel had become one of my favourite characters during the season, he was kind of like Benny for season 9, deeply flawed but with good intentions.
The scene in Heaven when Metatron returns there to find Castiel in his office is a thing of painful beauty. The strong language used by Metatron basically makes Destiel (on Castiel's part anyway) canon. Not in a gay way, but in a they really have something special where Dean means more to him than anyone else way. Metatron says it was ultimately all about saving one human for Castiel, before the kill shot; he shows Castiel the angel blade with Dean's blood still on it before telling him that Dean's dead. Castiel's face. HIS FACE.
11. 'The Prisoner'
Season 10, Episode 22
My top 20 probably reads like the greatest hits of Destiel, but I do really feel like the Destiel relationship is one of the pillars of the show. And the showdown at the end of The Prisoner really showed what the relationship can overcome, it's stronger even than the Mark of Cain. The fight is really hard to watch, using the same sad music that's used when the Winchesters die which symbolises Castiel's importance as an adoptive Winchester family member. One of the worst things about it was that Castiel didn't fight back, because he didn't want to hurt Dean. He essentially let Dean beat the shit out of him in the hope that his humanity and love for Cas would overrule the Mark of Cain. And every Destiel shipper out there will know what I mean when I say this moment made my heart stop:
When I saw the blade in the book I let go a breath I didn't know I was holding. It was a flawless scene from start to finish and one of the best ever episode endings.
10. 'Pilot'
Season 1, Episode 1
The series starts with a bang and sets the standard for what's to come: fire, shooting casper in the face (you freak), protective!Dean, conflicted!Sam, selfish!Papa Winchester, mullet rock and lots of crying.
9. 'Mystery Spot'
Season 3, Episode 8
This episode is like marmite, you either love it or hate it. Personally I think it's comedic genius and it's made Heat of the Moment a staple on all Spn playlists.
8. 'All Hell Breaks Loose Part 1'
Season 2, Episode 21
Of all the Winchester death scenes, the first and original one is easily the best. Jensen's performance is heartbreaking and I tear up every time I watch it. This episode is a great culmination of a very clever and thrilling survival of the fittest plot line with a shocking and heart stopping finale. No other death scene in the show is as powerful as this.
7. 'Faith'
Season 1, Episode 12
A definite Spn classic that I've watched many times over. I love the bit where Don't Fear the Reaper is played as the Reaper goes after a jogger in the woods. It also features sick!Dean and protective younger brother Sammy which is rare since it's nearly always Dean looking after Sam. As with most episodes there is a darker theme and in this one it's the whole roll of the dice aspect of who gets to live a long life and who doesn't, the moral being that none of us has any control over it. It's morbid, but in the episode's conclusion the characters make peace with the hand they've been dealt, which is a positive message.
6. 'Inside Man'
Season 10, Episode 17
Inside Man was easily the best episode of season 10 and of the entirety of the post-Kripke show. I adore this episode because it features badass!Cas (see above gif) and Sam & Cas working together, plus poor Bobby getting dragged out of his heavenly retirement for yet another save-the-Winchesters mission. The focus is nearly always on Dean and Cas or Dean and Sam and while in this episode Sam and Cas are working together to save Dean, it's nice to see them alone. Sam is always more sympathetic and far less defensive, though the interesting side effect of this is that it makes Cas act more like Dean:
5. 'No Rest for the Wicked'
Season 3, Episode 16
Hands down the best Supernatural season finale to date. I mean it starts with Dean and Sam belting out Wanted Dead or Alive and ends with Dean suspended in a seemingly endless web of torture in Hell, which is one of the most visually spectacular things Supernatural has ever created for us. Their singing Bon Jovi is especially touching with Dean's death looming over their heads. It brings us the Winchester variant of laughing in the face of death. And Sam's off-tone yodelling is one of the most adorable things to ever grace television.
4. 'Baby'
Season 11, Episode 4
This episode caught me completely off guard. Prior to this episode my frame of mind was how is this show still going? And well, this episode is why. In a sea of mediocre Supernatural episodes, Baby shines like a beacon of hope and says - look we can in fact have the good old days back again! We'll ignore the fact that the majority of episodes since this have been mediocre once again. But this episode is sheer perfection in the nostalgia it captures. The concept of it being entirely from the perspective of the Impala was risky but somehow they pulled a stunner out of it. It was unique in that instead of two lines of witty dialogue between monster fighting, it actually gave the bros some time to just be bros. Night Moves was such a perfect song for this episode and I was grinning at the screen as they sung along to it, especially when Sam changed the lyrics. It was all heart warming and lovely (sensations you rarely get from watching Supernatural) and all the car-centric shots both of the car itself and the new angles of the bros are just gorgeous.
I also think because we're so deprived of meaningful conversations on this show, it made their heart to heart in the Impala all the more special. I like that they managed to get John Winchester to make an appearance, someone important to the car's history, the first Winchester to own it - it was only right that he was there somehow.
Of course I'm going to mention the call with Cas. Even though he doesn't make a physical appearance I thought Robbie weaving him into the episode anyway was awesome. At least one of the writers acknowledges his importance! It's so cute the way Cas gets worried once the door slams and then hears the gun going off. These two :')
In any other episode, the whole Wizard of Oz 'we are home' bit would have been too cheesy. But as a tribute to the show kind of episode, it worked really nicely. The only thing that bugged me slightly was the fact there's no way the car would've made it from Oregon to Kansas in the state it was in by the end of the episode. There's also invisible back seat Sam earlier in the episode, so the episode isn't without it's flaws. But the rest of it is so rarely awesome that I think everyone is willing to overlook them.
3. 'A Very Supernatural Christmas'
Season 3, Episode 8
There are so many reasons I love this episode that I hardly know where to begin. The pagan gods are the perfect villains for this episode, and their homey nice-as-pie facade is pure brilliance; the scene where they have Sam and Dean tied up is hilarious despite the fact they are essentially being tortured and mutilated. I still quote the "somebody owes a nickel to the swear jar" whenever I use excessive profanity. The flashbacks to young Sam and Dean and Dean's struggle to take care of Sam in their father's long absences (which is appalling considering how young they are, really) are ridiculously adorable and reveal a lot about why their relationship is the way it is. Plus everyone's got a soft spot for the Samulet and the exchange of presents at the end as well as "you feel like watching the game?" Translation: I love you
2. 'Lazarus Rising'
Season 4, Episode 1
Lazarus Rising easily wins the awards for Best Season Premiere Ever and Best Character Entrance of All Time. There's no way that anything can beat Castiel's amazing sparks-flying entrance in this episode, and the spectacular shadow of his wings in the lightning. It was a genius move introducing angels into the show (tbh if Hell is real then Heaven was going to have to be too) but they made such an amazing and iconic character, with the immortal trench coat and tie and his signature cock of the head when he's trying to understand. It's not surprising that Misha Collins is still in the show and enjoys the same popularity as J2, almost getting billed as high as them too. His casting was perfect. This is easily my most watched episode, even though Cas doesn't appear until right at the end. The only downside of Castiel's introduction into the show is that I don't like the episodes since without him (though good old fashioned J2 episodes do exist here and there after season 3) as much and I'm always asking, when's the next episode with Castiel in it? I just hope that Castiel gets an eventual happy ending because he's certainly been through the ringer in the seven years he's been on the show.
1. 'Scarecrow'
Season 1, Episode 11
It was between Lazarus Rising and Scarecrow but Scarecrow eventually won because it was an early favourite and no line makes me laugh more than or is more immortalised than I hope your pie is freakin' worth it! This episode is a classic, and as well as having its funny moments it has some classic Winchester angst; Sam leaves but despite being given Dean's blessing to go his own way, he realises his place is by Dean's side and comes to his rescue just in time. There's also the heartstopping moment where Dean climbs right up to the scarecrow after proclaiming dude, you fugly. I think we all expected it to make a sudden move and jump out of our skins. I just love this episode because it embodies everything that made me fall in love with the show in the beginning.
February 2016 update: had to bump an episode to fit Baby in. I doubt I'll have to edit it again for quite some time...
20. 'The End'
Season 5, Episode 4
I love this episode because it gives you a It's a Wonderful Life feeling, it shows you a hellish alternate future where Sam says yes to the devil and Cas as a hippy having orgies... which makes you really appreciate the return of childlike Castiel as we know and love him. It's a really special moment when Dean says to him at the end when he's back in his world, "don't ever change." It's an acknowledgement that while his lack of understanding of human ways really riles Dean sometimes, he wouldn't have Cas any other way. As well as this we have comedy gold in the form of Castiel trying to use a mobile phone, it still makes me smile when he says:
19. 'LARP and the Real Girl'
Season 8, Episode 11
This episode took some serious risks, even for a show that actually had an episode where Sam and Dean were thrown into a world where their life was a TV show and where actors called Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles. But they all paid off. Given how dark the show is normally, the funnier, more light hearted episodes really stand out. That doesn't mean they're always good, but this one definitely is. It's rare that we get to see Dean and Sam basically say "fuck it, let's have some fun!" The Braveheart speech and charge at the end is pure gold.
In Larp and the Real Girl we get to see Dean and Charlie's friendship at the height of its adorableness. You can see the character evolution of Dean as well, before he was seriously judging people who engaged in role play and similar geek activities. He was previously very defensive and weird about homosexuality but the character has adopted a much more liberal attitude through his experiences, which I love. I don't know if it was the intention of the writers to have this guy whose personality is masculinity, that is, girls, beer, and more girls, actually open up his mind, but Dean has probably had the most interesting character development on the show.
Plus he looks hot AF in his LARP get-up.
18. 'Angel Heart'
Season 10, Episode 20
This episode is one of my favourites because it finally lays to rest the story of Jimmy Novak, Castiel's vessel. There's also a lot of character development on the part of Castiel too, in his feeling responsible for Claire Novak, having taken her father's vessel and essentially killed him. It finally manages to put a positive spin on their relationship, with Claire being told how Castiel had saved the world and that her father hadn't died for nothing. It's also adorable to see Cas reach out, the part where he gave her a grumpy cat and said he got it at 'Hot Topical' was ridiculously touching and comical.
There's the touch of comedy with the obvious insinuation that the situation has become a bit like three men and a baby, though the dynamic is implied than Dean and Cas are her dads and Sam is her uncle. It's amusing watching the three of them trying to find their footing with an angsty teenager, especially the married-couple like bickering between Cas and Dean. Cas being the sensible one who enforces the rules and Dean being the cool one who gives her a gun and shows her how to use it.
Initially I thought killing Claire's mother Amelia off was a bit much, but the scene where she was reunited with Jimmy in Heaven was painfully beautiful and the best acting performance I've ever seen from Misha Collins. I like how the episode left an opening for Claire to return in a future episode, especially if she's now living with Jody Mills.
17. 'Abandon All Hope'
Season 5, Episode 10
This episode is one of the many episodes that makes you feel like you're getting continually punched in the face. It manages to start lightheartedly with Castiel throwing shots back like he's Legolas but by the end of the episode you're crying in the corner. Shit basically goes from bad to worse and it results in the deaths of two of our favourite recurring characters. Unlike other characters killed off, I wouldn't say Jo and Ellen were killed off needlessly. They went out with purpose, and a literal bang. It was heartbreaking but fitting ending for two of the strongest female characters ever to appear on Supernatural.
16. 'About a Boy'
Season 10, Episode 12
Season 10 was arguably the darkest season of the series, and this episode was very much a throwback to the earlier seasons; it was a classic monster gank episode with bonus young!Dean. Dylan Everett is by far my favourite actor to portray young Dean, he's got all his mannerisms and facial expressions - even his vocal intonations - spot on. The banter between Sam and young!Dean was hilarious. It's up there with Monster Movie as a funny Supernatural episode. Besides, this was the episode - with its glorious ending with Dean leaving Shake It Off playing in the Impala - that gave the inspiration for the Hillywood Supernatural Parody which makes me happy every time I watch it.
15. 'Hunteri Heroici'
Season 8, Episode 8
This episode is extremely stupid, but the reason I include it in my favourites is that on the surface it's one of the silly episodes with a barely believable big bad but when you really look there is a definite darker undertone. Castiel spends most of season 8 trying to redeem himself for the events of season 7 and it's really quite heartbreaking. You can see how much Castiel would love to join Dean and Sam permanently; he gives one of his rare smiles when he states that he's going to become a hunter...and he tries so hard to be one of the guys.
The one scene in particular in this episode that makes me tear up is the really tentative little talk between Dean and Castiel while Sam is out. Castiel starts by complimenting John Winchester's handwriting in the journal (which I thought was a lovely touch), and it evolves into Dean drawing Cas out on how he's doing which leads to this large scale admission:
This is a huge confession and I would love to have known what Dean had said if Sam hadn't come back then. I feel that any distance put between Cas and Dean in season 7 is fixed here, because Cas simply doesn't hide anything from Dean, and because of this he's earning Dean's trust again.
The latter part of this scene, when Sam is back and they talk about sleeping arrangements, is my other favourite part of this episode. Sam asks Cas if he's going to book a room and Cas says he doesn't sleep, to which Dean says he needs to sleep, to which Cas says:
My heart just melted. It melted. Look at his puppy eyes! Look how sincere he is! Can't even handle the cuteness.
While the episode puts a jokey spin on the elderly losing their marbles, there is a more serious slant to it all, and Castiel almost taking the position of carer at the end is really moving. Giving up hunting with the boys to be a companion to those near the end, it's more fitting of his character as a guardian angel than being a hunter with the boys, as much as we enjoy the antics of Team Free Will.
14. 'The Man Who Would Be King'
Season 6, Episode 20
I think this episode would probably make an appearance on most favourite Spn episode lists, because it's Castiel-centric, and everyone loves Castiel. The episode is told entirely from his POV, which is something I'm surprised we don't see earlier on, given the character's popularity. It's quite a painful episode because Castiel is clearly lost and questioning everything he'd previously been taught and as a result he resorts to hiding from and spying on the Winchesters and Bobby but slips up by referencing something they said when they didn't know he was there. What particularly hurts in this episode is Dean's sense of betrayal, especially, as Cas puts it 'the hardest thing was that Dean was trying so hard to be loyal, despite every instinct telling him otherwise.'
From Castiel's entrance on the show one of the central relationships has been the Dean/Cas dynamic and their 'profound bond' which began when Castiel saved Dean from Hell and put his trust in him. This isn't their first bust-up but it's the biggest one, because Dean was staunchly defending Cas when Sam and Bobby doubted him, only to be proven right about their doubts. It's heart-wrenching to see Cas alone on a park bench questioning his existence, but it's also one of the finest examples of writing on Supernatural.
13. 'Monster Movie'
Season 4, Episode 5
Monster Movie is easily the funniest episode of Supernatural to air to date and its simple brilliance is as a homage to old horror movies. It's wonderfully inventive in the way it pokes fun at old movie monsters, the portrayal of Dracula, complete with accent being the funniest. My absolute favourite scene is Dracula taking a pizza delivery, as you can see below.
12. 'Do You Believe in Miracles?'
Season 9, Episode 23
The season 9 finale was my favourite season finale since the last time Dean died in season 3. The death itself wasn't what stood out for me, because a Winchester dying is bog standard for Supernatural. It was the other events around Metatron killing Dean, for example Gadreel finally doing something right and sacrificing himself. I was moved because Gadreel had become one of my favourite characters during the season, he was kind of like Benny for season 9, deeply flawed but with good intentions.
The scene in Heaven when Metatron returns there to find Castiel in his office is a thing of painful beauty. The strong language used by Metatron basically makes Destiel (on Castiel's part anyway) canon. Not in a gay way, but in a they really have something special where Dean means more to him than anyone else way. Metatron says it was ultimately all about saving one human for Castiel, before the kill shot; he shows Castiel the angel blade with Dean's blood still on it before telling him that Dean's dead. Castiel's face. HIS FACE.
11. 'The Prisoner'
Season 10, Episode 22
My top 20 probably reads like the greatest hits of Destiel, but I do really feel like the Destiel relationship is one of the pillars of the show. And the showdown at the end of The Prisoner really showed what the relationship can overcome, it's stronger even than the Mark of Cain. The fight is really hard to watch, using the same sad music that's used when the Winchesters die which symbolises Castiel's importance as an adoptive Winchester family member. One of the worst things about it was that Castiel didn't fight back, because he didn't want to hurt Dean. He essentially let Dean beat the shit out of him in the hope that his humanity and love for Cas would overrule the Mark of Cain. And every Destiel shipper out there will know what I mean when I say this moment made my heart stop:
When I saw the blade in the book I let go a breath I didn't know I was holding. It was a flawless scene from start to finish and one of the best ever episode endings.
10. 'Pilot'
Season 1, Episode 1
The series starts with a bang and sets the standard for what's to come: fire, shooting casper in the face (you freak), protective!Dean, conflicted!Sam, selfish!Papa Winchester, mullet rock and lots of crying.
9. 'Mystery Spot'
Season 3, Episode 8
This episode is like marmite, you either love it or hate it. Personally I think it's comedic genius and it's made Heat of the Moment a staple on all Spn playlists.
8. 'All Hell Breaks Loose Part 1'
Season 2, Episode 21
Of all the Winchester death scenes, the first and original one is easily the best. Jensen's performance is heartbreaking and I tear up every time I watch it. This episode is a great culmination of a very clever and thrilling survival of the fittest plot line with a shocking and heart stopping finale. No other death scene in the show is as powerful as this.
7. 'Faith'
Season 1, Episode 12
A definite Spn classic that I've watched many times over. I love the bit where Don't Fear the Reaper is played as the Reaper goes after a jogger in the woods. It also features sick!Dean and protective younger brother Sammy which is rare since it's nearly always Dean looking after Sam. As with most episodes there is a darker theme and in this one it's the whole roll of the dice aspect of who gets to live a long life and who doesn't, the moral being that none of us has any control over it. It's morbid, but in the episode's conclusion the characters make peace with the hand they've been dealt, which is a positive message.
6. 'Inside Man'
Season 10, Episode 17
Inside Man was easily the best episode of season 10 and of the entirety of the post-Kripke show. I adore this episode because it features badass!Cas (see above gif) and Sam & Cas working together, plus poor Bobby getting dragged out of his heavenly retirement for yet another save-the-Winchesters mission. The focus is nearly always on Dean and Cas or Dean and Sam and while in this episode Sam and Cas are working together to save Dean, it's nice to see them alone. Sam is always more sympathetic and far less defensive, though the interesting side effect of this is that it makes Cas act more like Dean:
5. 'No Rest for the Wicked'
Season 3, Episode 16
Hands down the best Supernatural season finale to date. I mean it starts with Dean and Sam belting out Wanted Dead or Alive and ends with Dean suspended in a seemingly endless web of torture in Hell, which is one of the most visually spectacular things Supernatural has ever created for us. Their singing Bon Jovi is especially touching with Dean's death looming over their heads. It brings us the Winchester variant of laughing in the face of death. And Sam's off-tone yodelling is one of the most adorable things to ever grace television.
4. 'Baby'
Season 11, Episode 4
This episode caught me completely off guard. Prior to this episode my frame of mind was how is this show still going? And well, this episode is why. In a sea of mediocre Supernatural episodes, Baby shines like a beacon of hope and says - look we can in fact have the good old days back again! We'll ignore the fact that the majority of episodes since this have been mediocre once again. But this episode is sheer perfection in the nostalgia it captures. The concept of it being entirely from the perspective of the Impala was risky but somehow they pulled a stunner out of it. It was unique in that instead of two lines of witty dialogue between monster fighting, it actually gave the bros some time to just be bros. Night Moves was such a perfect song for this episode and I was grinning at the screen as they sung along to it, especially when Sam changed the lyrics. It was all heart warming and lovely (sensations you rarely get from watching Supernatural) and all the car-centric shots both of the car itself and the new angles of the bros are just gorgeous.
I also think because we're so deprived of meaningful conversations on this show, it made their heart to heart in the Impala all the more special. I like that they managed to get John Winchester to make an appearance, someone important to the car's history, the first Winchester to own it - it was only right that he was there somehow.
Of course I'm going to mention the call with Cas. Even though he doesn't make a physical appearance I thought Robbie weaving him into the episode anyway was awesome. At least one of the writers acknowledges his importance! It's so cute the way Cas gets worried once the door slams and then hears the gun going off. These two :')
In any other episode, the whole Wizard of Oz 'we are home' bit would have been too cheesy. But as a tribute to the show kind of episode, it worked really nicely. The only thing that bugged me slightly was the fact there's no way the car would've made it from Oregon to Kansas in the state it was in by the end of the episode. There's also invisible back seat Sam earlier in the episode, so the episode isn't without it's flaws. But the rest of it is so rarely awesome that I think everyone is willing to overlook them.
3. 'A Very Supernatural Christmas'
Season 3, Episode 8
There are so many reasons I love this episode that I hardly know where to begin. The pagan gods are the perfect villains for this episode, and their homey nice-as-pie facade is pure brilliance; the scene where they have Sam and Dean tied up is hilarious despite the fact they are essentially being tortured and mutilated. I still quote the "somebody owes a nickel to the swear jar" whenever I use excessive profanity. The flashbacks to young Sam and Dean and Dean's struggle to take care of Sam in their father's long absences (which is appalling considering how young they are, really) are ridiculously adorable and reveal a lot about why their relationship is the way it is. Plus everyone's got a soft spot for the Samulet and the exchange of presents at the end as well as "you feel like watching the game?" Translation: I love you
2. 'Lazarus Rising'
Season 4, Episode 1
Lazarus Rising easily wins the awards for Best Season Premiere Ever and Best Character Entrance of All Time. There's no way that anything can beat Castiel's amazing sparks-flying entrance in this episode, and the spectacular shadow of his wings in the lightning. It was a genius move introducing angels into the show (tbh if Hell is real then Heaven was going to have to be too) but they made such an amazing and iconic character, with the immortal trench coat and tie and his signature cock of the head when he's trying to understand. It's not surprising that Misha Collins is still in the show and enjoys the same popularity as J2, almost getting billed as high as them too. His casting was perfect. This is easily my most watched episode, even though Cas doesn't appear until right at the end. The only downside of Castiel's introduction into the show is that I don't like the episodes since without him (though good old fashioned J2 episodes do exist here and there after season 3) as much and I'm always asking, when's the next episode with Castiel in it? I just hope that Castiel gets an eventual happy ending because he's certainly been through the ringer in the seven years he's been on the show.
1. 'Scarecrow'
Season 1, Episode 11
It was between Lazarus Rising and Scarecrow but Scarecrow eventually won because it was an early favourite and no line makes me laugh more than or is more immortalised than I hope your pie is freakin' worth it! This episode is a classic, and as well as having its funny moments it has some classic Winchester angst; Sam leaves but despite being given Dean's blessing to go his own way, he realises his place is by Dean's side and comes to his rescue just in time. There's also the heartstopping moment where Dean climbs right up to the scarecrow after proclaiming dude, you fugly. I think we all expected it to make a sudden move and jump out of our skins. I just love this episode because it embodies everything that made me fall in love with the show in the beginning.