If you’re a “Supernatural” fan, you’ve already heard: the Winchester boys will be back again, riding into Season 8 this fall. But, if you’re a true Supernatural fan, you know that is not a good thing at all.
The show has gone on too long. Last month it was announced that co-showrunner Sera Gamble will be stepping down, replaced by longtime writer Jeremy Carver. The original creator and showrunner, Eric Kripke, left the show two seasons ago, though he’s claimed a consistent presence in the show’s production.
Now presumably both of these creators left to work on other projects, but let’s cut through the smoke: they left because they are out of ideas. Kripke always claimed the show had a five-season plan, and he left after that fifth season. And now after two sub-par seasons of the show where it seems its soul has pulled a Sam, Gamble is leaving too.
The show very clearly had a five-year plan. Each year, for five seasons, the stakes were upped, the worldview expanded, and the show arguably got better and better (we’ll not delve into thoughts on Season 3). Whether you loved the ending to the show’s main arc or not, it’s clear that it ended with season 5.
And yet the Winchester boys are still going. Still out there fighting the good fight, despite the fact that its internal logic demanded they would have perished by now. They’ve tried to one-up its original story, but how do you one-up Satan? You don’t. (It’s also miscast..another story)
So, yay, “Supernatural” is coming back. If you’re a diehard fan–and if you’re reading this, you are–but grow up, and admit it to yourself: this dance has gone on a little too long.