How Supernatural has lasted as long as it has?

Supernatural is coming to an end after 15 years. It’s an amazing feat for the genre show. Just how has it managed to last so long?

There was a time as fans that we feared Supernatural would be canceled. Yet, here we are, 15 years later and only just getting ready for the final season. The show is ending on its own terms, and while it’s sad, it’s also exciting. But how has the show lasted as long as it has?

As I said, there was a time we thought it would be canceled. After the first season, UPN and The WB merged into The CW. Shows were cut, but the Winchester brothers remained. After the second season, there were chances it would be canceled. Even during the sixth and seventh seasons there were fears there wouldn’t be another year of Team Free Will.

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So, how did it survive? Being on The CW certainly helped. Lower live ratings are expected on the younger-skewed network. The CW also benefits from shows being available on the CW app and with the Netflix deal. But these benefits have only been around the last few years.

When the show was in its infancy, the whole reason it survived was because it was able to adapt with the times. Seasons 1 and 2 focused more on the monster-of-the-week format. Even the third season had a monster-of-the-week format with a general overall storyline slipping in now and then.

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However, by the time Season 4 rolled around, the way TV shows told stories was changing. Fans wanted the overarching storylines. Fans wanted more development for both character and storyline. Eric Kripke and his team offered that.

While doing that, the writers and EPs listened to fans. For example, Castiel was never supposed to become the character he did. He was going to be in a couple of episodes with Anna becoming the guide that Castiel would later become. When fans took to Castiel so much, the team changed direction and kept Castiel around—fortunately, Misha Collins was on board.

Yes, there are still some storylines that fans aren’t all that happy with. There are changes that fans would like to see made now and then. The showrunners can’t listen to us all the time. We’re a diverse fandom, so people want different things. It’s impossible to please everyone, and at the end of the day, this is the showrunners’ and writers’ story now.

However, there are times they’ll listen. There are times they’ll adapt. That’s why the show has been able to last so long.

Why do you think Supernatural has lasted so long? What makes the show special for you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Supernatural Season 15 premieres on Oct. 10 at 8/7c on The CW.