Supernatural season 14 premiers

Over the years, Supernatural has tended to introduce big, status-quo shattering resets at the start of its season, only to discard those twists within an episode or two (like Season 8's truncated trip to Purgatory and Season 10's shortlived Demon Dean arc). But Season 14 - at least for now - seems intent on following through with its huge decision to have Michael take control of Dean's body - a plot point that has been teased since as far back as Season 4, when Zachariah extolled the virtues of Dean's Biblical destiny in front of a huge, foreshadow-y painting of the archangel.

Showrunner Andrew Dabb has described Michael as the season's Big Bad, which would seem to imply that he's sticking around for a while, creating a very personal foe for Sam, Castiel, Mary and the rest of their allies, but also altering the very foundations of the show, which has always been anchored by the bond between the Winchester brothers. It's a risky strategy, but a show in its fourteenth season can afford a little experimentation - and Supernatural has always thrived on tackling stories no other shows would dare touch, from animated Scooby Doo crossovers to metatextual mockeries like "The French Mistake."

Some fans relish the Monster of the Week aspect of the show far more than the serialized arcs, but for my money, it's better to really let the audience and the characters feel that loss, so that the eventual solution feels earned, rather than simply tying things up in a neat bow to get back to standalone shenanigans - especially for a storyline that has been on the backburner for so long. Still, while absence makes the heart grow fonder, it would be agonizing to be without Dean's snark for the whole season, so fingers crossed he at least finds ways to break free from Michael's control here and there.

It's certainly jarring to have an episode of Supernatural with Dean completely absent, even though Jensen Ackles cuts an imposing (and sharply-dressed) figure as Michael - who's apparently paying visits to angels, demons, holy men, and humdrum humans across the world to try and figure out what makes them tick, in search of creatures with pure and simple motives. It seems that humans, angels and demons alike are all reluctant to share their deepest desires with him (or themselves), but it makes sense that a vampire - driven only by hunger - would be the kind of zealot Michael can work with.

Dean's absence is keenly felt (which is kind of the point), but it does create narrative space for the show to embrace a more ensemble feel - something Supernatural has struggled to pull off since the beginning. In the Season 14 premiere, we see how each member of Team Free Will is coping: Sam, who has already lost Dean countless times, seems to have resigned himself to the idea that his brother might be gone for good just to try and spare himself from further heartbreak, while Mary - in typical mom fashion - is determined to keep hope alive (the scene between them in the Impala is gut-wrenching to watch, and a poignant showcase for Jared Padalecki and Samantha Smith). Castiel is willing to put himself into treacherous situations in pursuit of a lead on Dean, while Jack is struggling with his own helplessness now that he's lost his own powers. It's also nice to see Bobby and the other survivors from Apocalypse World filling the bunker and creating a new network of hunters - Sam may be a reluctant leader, but he's obviously an inspiring one.

Some fans relish the Monster of the Week aspect of the show far more than the serialized arcs, but for my money, it's better to really let the audience and the characters feel that loss, so that the eventual solution feels earned, rather than simply tying things up in a neat bow to get back to standalone shenanigans - especially for a storyline that has been on the backburner for so long. Still, while absence makes the heart grow fonder, it would be agonizing to be without Dean's snark for the whole season, so fingers crossed he at least finds ways to break free from Michael's control here and there.

It's certainly jarring to have an episode of Supernatural with Dean completely absent, even though Jensen Ackles cuts an imposing (and sharply-dressed) figure as Michael - who's apparently paying visits to angels, demons, holy men, and humdrum humans across the world to try and figure out what makes them tick, in search of creatures with pure and simple motives. It seems that humans, angels and demons alike are all reluctant to share their deepest desires with him (or themselves), but it makes sense that a vampire - driven only by hunger - would be the kind of zealot Michael can work with.

Dean's absence is keenly felt (which is kind of the point), but it does create narrative space for the show to embrace a more ensemble feel - something Supernatural has struggled to pull off since the beginning. In the Season 14 premiere, we see how each member of Team Free Will is coping: Sam, who has already lost Dean countless times, seems to have resigned himself to the idea that his brother might be gone for good just to try and spare himself from further heartbreak, while Mary - in typical mom fashion - is determined to keep hope alive (the scene between them in the Impala is gut-wrenching to watch, and a poignant showcase for Jared Padalecki and Samantha Smith). Castiel is willing to put himself into treacherous situations in pursuit of a lead on Dean, while Jack is struggling with his own helplessness now that he's lost his own powers. It's also nice to see Bobby and the other survivors from Apocalypse World filling the bunker and creating a new network of hunters - Sam may be a reluctant leader, but he's obviously an inspiring one.