10 best Supernatural episodes from 2018

Supernatural aired 23 episodes in 2018 and there have certainly been some exciting ones. Here are the 10 best episodes from 2018.

There have been 23 new episodes of Supernatural in 2018, with a mixture of those from Season 13 and Season 14. Both seasons have had a mixture of highs and lows.

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We can’t deny that there have been plot holes created and highly-expected moments that have meant a lack of suspense. But at the same time, there have been some excellent moments and overall episodes.

Out of all 23 new episodes this year, there have been good and bad. Some episodes have offered major development for our favorite characters and beautiful bonds developing. At the same time, we’ve had some hilarious episodes and a crossover that we didn’t realize we needed so much — a crossover that opens the world of other crossovers happening.

As we’ve come to the end of the year, it’s time to look back. This is a good chance to see which the best episodes have been. Not just that, but why. After all, what can look like a bad episode at first — or maybe just a bog-standard episode — can turn out to be one of the most meaningful of all.

This list is made up with new episodes that have only aired in 2018. It’s time to run down the 10 best Supernatural episodes of 2018.

10. The Spear

Season and Episode number: Season 14, Episode 9

Brief overview: Episode 9 was the fall finale for Supernatural Season 14. We just knew there would be a cliffhanger in the end. To get to that point, the Winchesters, Castiel, and Jack split up to grab weapons needed to take down Michael. Meanwhile, Garth came out of retirement to work against Michael from the inside. If only Michael wasn’t one step ahead of them!

Why it’s the best: The Supernatural Season 14 fall finale delivered a strong episode full of action and shocking twists. We got Garth back. Finding out that he has a daughter was one of the most bittersweet moments because you just knew becoming a super-werewolf would lead to trouble.

Then there was the way that all four main men split to get weapons against Michael and then grouped together in the end. The aim was to take down Michael and they were almost there.

In the end, the episode delivered a twist that would force us to tun into next year’s midseason premiere. Michael!Dean is back. Questions about why Michael gave up the perfect vessel were answered and we were left with fears for the future.

Oh, and let’s not forget about all the homages to Die Hard. Considering it was a Christmas time-set episode, the homages to a movie that Dean Winchester regularly quotes was the icing on the cake.

9. Optimism

Season and Episode number: Season 14, Episode 6

Brief overview: “Optimism” brought us an episode of two storylines. While Sam and Apocalypse Charlie went after a creature that was half man-half fly, Jack and Dean went after what turned out to be a zombie.

Why it’s the best: It took me a couple of rewatches to fully appreciate this episode. There wasn’t much in the way of action during the episode, but that’s because this wasn’t an episode about action. It was all about the dialogue.

The showrunners certainly took a risk with this episode. For one, the Winchesters were on separate hunts after really only just getting back together. With the lack of action in Sam and Apocalypse Charlie’s storyline, this could have been labeled as a boring episode.

What we got was this sense of bond forming between Charlie and Sam. While our Charlie was a great wingman for Dean, Apocalypse Charlie is the perfect partner for Sam but Sam has to accept that this is a different version of the character.

Meanwhile, Dean and Jack got to bond more. We saw Jack learn more about romance while also getting to use the “old man” comment against Dean. And we can’t forget that he finally got the zombie he’s wanted to go after since “Tombstone.”

8. Funeralia

Season and Episode number: Season 13, Episode 19

Brief overview: Rowena spends the episode killing Reapers It looks like she’s going back to her old ways, but then we learn that actually, she wants to get Death’s attention. All she wants is her son to be alive.

Why it’s the best: I know that this isn’t a favorite episode for many, but the moment at the very end makes it one to rewatch. This is one of the most emotional hours of television because of that final moment.

Rowena spends most of the episode being the villain of the week, but she has her heartfelt reasons. She’s after Death’s attention and what better way than through killing Reapers?

But why could she possibly want Death’s attention? Well, it’s all about Crowley. After learning that he had sacrificed himself for the Winchesters and the world, she becomes a grieving mother. While Crowley may have always hated her and she struggled to show her love for him, but she was still a mother.

Maybe it’s being a mother that made this one of my favorite episodes of the year. After all, the rest of the episode isn’t the strongest of all, but this single moment easily makes it stand out. She’ll do anything for her child, including making a trade for souls.

7. Stranger in a Strange Land

Season and Episode number: Season 14, Episode 1

Brief overview: Michael!Dean was on a journey to find an army to “purify” the world. Meanwhile, Sam was on a mission to save his brother while keeping the world safe. Without Dean Winchester, this could have been a disastrous episode, but the writers played to their strengths and delivered an amazing opening episode.

Why it’s the best: Despite Sam and Dean being apart the whole episode (and having no Dean at all), the Supernatural Season 14 premiere was one of the strongest episodes of the whole year.

Jensen Ackles gave a performance that was everything we hoped for. Stepping into a role that wasn’t Dean Winchester, he embodied Michael perfectly. From just a glance, it was easy to tell that this wasn’t Dean — and no, it wasn’t just the clothing.

Then there was Sam’s storyline. This was my favorite part of the whole episode. We had the chance to see him as a leader. He stepped up with Dean gone, not just to find his brother but also to keep this band of hunters safe. Using techniques and tools from the Men of Letters, he created a sense of safety for the hunters.

When he knew he was going into a trap, he made sure he was one step ahead. One of the best Sam moments of the whole of the year has to be when he made it clear there would be no new King of Hell. Even Mary and Castiel were shocked at this new Sammy.

6. Wayward Sisters

Season and Episode number: Season 13, Episode 10

Brief overview: When the Winchesters find themselves stuck in The Bad Place, it’s up to Jody and her band of Wayward Daughters to save the day. After all, the Winchesters have always saved them. Surely they can return the favor.

Setting up the hopeful future (that was never meant to be) for the group of strong, inspiring women, we got an extremely popular and important episode.

Why it’s the best: I know a lot of people would expect the backdoor pilot for the spin-off to be closer to the top of the list, but it’s the one to wrap up the top five for one major reason: it just wasn’t an episode of Supernatural in one sense. This was a backdoor pilot for Wayward Sisters, which means the Winchesters weren’t the main players in the episode at all.

This is completely understandable for a backdoor pilot. I never expected the Winchesters to be a major part of it. This was a setup for Jody and her Wayward Daughters to prove that they could be a collective force to be reckoned with.

However, it still deserves to be on the list. It was one of Supernatural‘s episodes in 2018. It was the midseason premiere, making it the first new episode of 2018. And it was one of the most-watched episodes of the series in 2018, so deserves to wrap up the first half of the top 10.

5. A Most Holy Man

Season and Episode number: Season 13, Episode 15

Brief overview: The Winchesters finally had the way to open the rift to the Apocalypse World. One of those items needed was the blood of a most holy man, and that’s what they went in search for during this episode. Little did they realize was that their most holy man was right in front of them.

Why it’s the best: I know that this is one of those love-hate relationships. I’m personally not a fan of the noir direction but I fully appreciate the episode. This wasn’t about the action, very much similar to “Optimism.” This was an episode all about the dialogue.

Father Lucca had some beautiful words of advice for the Winchester brothers. He was able to help both understand more about the world and about faith.

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In fact, he was able to help us understand and learn a little more. We could take a leaf out of his book the next time we complain about the state of the world.

For those who did love the noir touch, there were plenty of homages throughout to the 1940s movies. While it was a risky episode, it paid off for many and showed the way to use inspiration from other movies without feeling like a direct copy.

4. Byzantium

Season and Episode number: Season 14, Episode 8

Brief overview: Jack can’t be saved. When he takes his final breath, he heads to Heaven, which sets up the drama for the episode. The Empty wants to claim him for itself, which leads to Castiel heading to Heaven to help while the Winchesters find a way to bring Jack back from the dead.

Why it’s the best: Some of the best moments throughout Supernatural have been the ones that involve sacrifice and bond development. That is certainly what puts “Byzanitum” on the lsit of one of the best episodes of Supernatural in 2018.

More from Supernatural

• Jensen Ackles and The Winchesters cast kick off #SaveTheWinchesters campaign
• Will The Winchesters be saved? (Can Supernatural fans save the prequel?)
• Did The Winchesters get renewed? (Is The Winchesters season 2 happening?)
• Is a new episode of The Winchesters on tonight? (March 14, 2023)
• The Winchesters Season1 finale explained: Did it connect to Supernatural?

I’ll start with Jack’s storyline. After visiting his grandparents earlier in the season, we finally get a moment between Jack and Kelly. He gets to meet his mom and she gets a chance to say everything she’d hoped to when he was born. More importantly, we see him want to stay but she makes a sacrifice for him to be happy on Earth.

Then there’s Castiel’s sacrifice. He doesn’t realize the Empty will say “I’ll take you later,” but he offers up himself to keep Jack safe. Being a Winchester is all about trading lives for each other and that’s just what Castiel continues in this episode.

And then we get Sam and Dean trying to get Lily Sunder to help them. As much as they don’t want to use the soul-sucking magic, they know it’s their only option. And they’re desperate to save him after feeling like they’ve failed him.

3. Unhuman Nature

Season and Episode number: Season 14, Episode 7

Brief overview: Realizing that he’s dying, Jack decides that the only thing he can do is enjoy what little life he has yet. Dean knows that it will make Jack happy, so heads off on the road trip with him. Meanwhile, Sam and Castiel try everything they can to help save their nephilim son.

Why it’s the best: Supernatural Season 14 attempted to deliver us some hope for Jack. After a few episodes of him hiding an illness, the truth was out. Now it was up to the Winchesters to find a way to save him.

Calling in reinforcements from Rowena and heading off to see a shaman, there was a chance. With a beautiful nod to Gabriel’s story from Season 13, we got some archangel grace and a spell. Of course it was all in vain, but there was that element of hope that someone could save the day.

What really made this episode was Dean and Jack’s moments. We got to see Jack live his life, enjoy some of what it means to be human. Most importantly, he realized what he would really miss when he was gone.

Jack delivered some of the most emotional lines of the episode. He’d picked up on the things Dean didn’t say while telling Jack of memories and realized that there was a beauty in the small moments. I’m not crying, you’re crying!

Oh, and we can’t forget that opening moment. Who didn’t laugh out loud as Dean, Sam, and Castiel tried to give Jack’s medical history?

2. Mint Condition

Season and Episode number: Season 14, Episode 4

Brief overview: With Dean back in the fold, it’s time for the Winchesters to go on their first duo case of the year. When a Thundercat attacks, the Winchesters need to figure out what it is. That’s when horror movies of the past come to life.

Sam and Dean meet the civilian versions of themselves and soon find they need the knowledge of horror movies to save the victim this week.

Why it’s the best: In one of the few Halloween-focused episodes of Supernatural ever, we get to see a sort of crossover. The writers paid homage to some of the best horror franchises of the 80s, including Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Hatchetman.

Like the next one on this list, this was one of those episodes we didn’t realize we needed until it happened. It brought some of the best parts of the 80s to life, paying homage instead of just feeling like it was taking moments for personal gain. Those who had grown up watching the 80s shows and movies would immediately appreciate the world.

We got an episode that played to both Winchesters’ strengths, which isn’t normal for these types of standalone episodes. While Dean was in his element with the villain of the week, Sam had the chance to play mad scientist. They both had fun on a day Sam didn’t think they would.

This has easily been the best episode of Season 14 and there’s only one that can easily top this from 2018.

1. ScoobyNatural

Season and Episode number: Season 13, Episode 16

Brief overview: “ScoobyNatural” brought the worlds of Supernatural and Scooby-Doo together. Thanks to a vengeful spirit, the Winchesters and Castiel found themselves in the world of the cartoon characters and in one of Dean’s favorite episodes. Now they just needed to find a way out!

Why it’s the best: There was never going to be another episode of 2018 that hit the top spot. “ScoobyNatural” was the most highly-anticipated episode of Supernatural of the year. We were counting down the days to this single episode, exciting with every little piece of news that came out.

It was the crossover that we didn’t quite realize we needed, paying homage to both Supernatural and Scooby-Doo perfectly. We got to see the world of the Winchesters blend in with this child-friendly cartoon.

One of the best things is that this was an episode for the whole family. Even those who have never seen an episode of the Winchesters could appreciate the crossover. My daughters are still too young to watch the series itself, but they certainly tuned in for this crossover.

What was your favorite episode of the series in 2018? Do any of them make your favorite all-time episodes? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Supernatural returns with new episodes on Jan. 17 at 8/7c on The CW.