shapeshifter v. skinwalker
i was talking about this to Aphrodite over the weekend. i think the simplest reason for the shifter/walker confusion is the writers grew into their show.
in S1 (Skin) they called them Skinwalkers (only once though) because it was a new show, the writers were testing the waters of the show and the legends. over the course of the seasons, the writers came to the conclusion these guys in Skin and Nightshifter are shapeshifters.SAM: Shapeshifter? (DEAN shrugs.) Something that can make itself look like anyone?
DEAN: Every culture in the world has a shapeshifter lore. You know, legends of creatures who can transform themselves into animals or other men.
SAM: Right, skinwalkers, werewolves.
DEAN: We’ve got two attacks within blocks of each other. I’m guessin’ we’ve got a shapeshifter prowlin’ the neighborhood.
SAM: Let me ask you this-in all this shapeshifter lore, can any of them fly?
DEAN: Not that I know of. (source)
i bolded the only time "skinwalker" was used in the entire episode. me personally, think since the episode was called "Skin" it attached the "skinwalker" to it for me.... and possibly a good bit of the fandom... i dunno.
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in S1 (Skin) they called them Skinwalkers (only once though) because it was a new show, the writers were testing the waters of the show and the legends. over the course of the seasons, the writers came to the conclusion these guys in Skin and Nightshifter are shapeshifters.SAM: Shapeshifter? (DEAN shrugs.) Something that can make itself look like anyone?
DEAN: Every culture in the world has a shapeshifter lore. You know, legends of creatures who can transform themselves into animals or other men.
SAM: Right, skinwalkers, werewolves.
DEAN: We’ve got two attacks within blocks of each other. I’m guessin’ we’ve got a shapeshifter prowlin’ the neighborhood.
SAM: Let me ask you this-in all this shapeshifter lore, can any of them fly?
DEAN: Not that I know of. (source)
i bolded the only time "skinwalker" was used in the entire episode. me personally, think since the episode was called "Skin" it attached the "skinwalker" to it for me.... and possibly a good bit of the fandom... i dunno.
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