Supernatural’s prequel series,The Winchesters,was short-lived — but it might’ve stood a better chance if it’d been about a beloved side character instead of Sam and Dean’s family. There are many things thatwent wrong withThe Winchesters, leadingSupernatural’s one-season spinoff to fail. From its inconsistency regarding the original show’s lore to its quality issues, the prequel faced many obstacles when it came to winning fans over. The harshest reality, however, was that John and Mary Winchester simply didn’t make the most compelling main characters.
The dynamic between Sam and Dean was the heart of the original show, so adopting new leads was always going to be risky. Of course, there’s still plenty of demand for the CW series, as the discussions aboutthe possibility ofSupernaturalseason 16confirm. But a spinoff wouldn’t be a bad idea either, assuming it adopted a more promising angle thanThe Winchesters.Andthere’s one great side character fromSupernaturalwho would have made a great prequel lead, especially given the glimpses of his backstory we get in the original story.
Supernatural’s Prequel Should Have Been About Bobby Singer, Not The Winchester Family
Viewers Were Already Attached To Bobby’s Character
Bobby Singer is easily one of thebest characters fromSupernatural,andhe would have made a much better prequel lead than Mary and John. For one, we learn enough about the Winchesters' parents in the original series, raising questions about why their story needed to be covered in more depth. While the revelation that Mary’s family, not John’s, were hunters was a fascinating detail, the execution of this backstory left much to be desired. Meanwhile, Bobby’s history — also touched on in the main show — offered far more potential.
Viewers were already attached to Bobby after the original series, which would have given them a better incentive to get invested.
The losses Bobby faced before the events ofSupernaturalwere massively emotional, which would have made them a strong hook for a prequel. Additionally, viewers were already attached to Bobby after the original series, which would have given them a better incentive to get invested in a spinoff. The dynamic between Bobby and Rufus Turner would also have captured the themes of brotherhood present in the main show, giving a follow-up a similar feel that would have been appealing to longtime fans.
Bobby’s Backstory Is Alluded To In The Original Series & Deserves More Depth
A Supernatural Prequel Could Offer A More Detailed Character Study
Bobby’s backstory would have offered the perfect premise for aSupernaturalprequel, as it would’ve opened with a shocking and devastating event on par with the original series.Supernaturalreveals that Bobby was thrust into the life of a hunter after his wife was possessed by a demon, an incident that to him killing her. Bobby clearly carries the weight of that in the main show, but it would be interesting to venture back and see how things played out. A Bobby prequel would be able to unpack his grief in a far more detailed character study.
It would also show how he became such an experienced hunter, going on to mentor Sam and Dean. Given how beloved Bobby is, it would be fun to watch his evolution as a young man learning the ropes of the “business.” It would also give Rufus more attention, anda Bobby spinoff wouldn’t rule out Winchester family cameos, either.
A Bobby Singer Prequel Could Still Have Included Winchester Cameos
But It Wouldn’t Have Been Too Close To The Original Show
The Winchesters’ties to the original show were a bit too close, but a Bobby Singer spinoff could have featured Winchester family cameos without directly overlapping or feeling redundant. Bobby and John Winchester knew one another well beforeSupernatural’s start, meaning viewers still could have gotten a glimpse of the Winchesters' father when he was younger. We could have seen Sam and Dean as kids, too, which would have made their bond with Bobby inSupernaturalthat much sweeter.
If The CW does decide to return to the prospect ofSupernaturalas a larger franchise, it should consider Bobby as a contender for his own series. While it’s hard to envision anyone but Jim Beaver tackling the role, his character could make a compelling lead if handled correctly.
