Imitation is the Highest Form of Flattery: The Curious Case of Supernatural
As a Supernatural fan, you have most likely noticed how many times other shows and movies have used the plot points of Supernatural to tell their stories…and also perhaps how many times Supernatural creators have used ideas from other shows and movies, as well. For example, much has been made about the affinity Supernatural creator Eric Kripke had for the story of Hellblazer/DC character John Constantine. It’s hard not to notice the wardrobe similarities between Keanu Reeves in the movie Constantine (2005) and Castiel on Supernatural.
“The Monster at the End of This Book” (S4.E18)
There are also the legends behind the earlier Supernatural monster of the week episodes like “Bloody Mary” (S1.E5) which have seemingly been done to death. The movie Urban Legend 3 (2000) was based on the same idea, but as one online contributor (death by corn) points out (on the website killermovies.com), “Urban Legend 3 didn’t come up with anything new. Supernatural didn’t copy it, The idea is old”…and death by corn could not be more right. What follows are a few more examples of times when Supernatural was copied and did the copying…and why imitation in the realm of storytelling might actually be a good thing.
“Bloody Mary” (S1.E5)
Times When Supernatural was Copied
As a fellow fan of Supernatural, it might seem like Supernatural is getting copied all the time. I see remnants of Supernatural everywhere: in movie plots, other TV shows, and even commercials. (Does anyone else think of “Ghostfacers” (S3.E13) when one of the boys from Suits screams “Mom!” when the garage door goes up in that recent T-Mobile ad?)
“Ghostfacers” (S3.E13)
It’s as if production companies have been studying why Supernatural was so successful and making blind stabs at re-creating the magic that occurred during its 15 year run. Was it the other-worldly premise? Was it the car? Was it the brothers? Was it the inclusive vibe in the later seasons where they accepted their worst enemies as part of the gang?
“We Happy Few” (S11.E22)
The answer is yes…but I also feel like telling these production companies to stop trying to copy our show. It felt real to us fans because at some level it was real: Jared and Jensen respected and liked each other which set the tone for everything else, and no matter how much you pay good looking actors who don’t really like each other to act like they do, fans will figure it out.
There have been times when Supernatural has been imitated to an obvious extent, like in the short-lived show Truth Seekers (2020) which had almost all of the above mentioned elements (and even a couple from Stranger Things!) There have also been more subtle plotlines that only Supernatural fans might recognize in other places, like the idea that “actual Nazis are still alive” in the show Hunters (2020-2023) that could have been inspired by the Supernatural episodes “Everybody Hates Hitler” (S8.E13) and “The One You Have Been Waiting For” (S12.E5).
“Everybody Hates Hitler” (S8.E13)
There have also been a few movies that have come out this year that remind me of Supernatural. Here is the synopsis of the recent movie Night Swim (2024):
Forced into early retirement by a degenerative illness, former baseball player Ray Waller moves into a new house with his wife and two children. He hopes that the backyard swimming pool will be fun for the kids and provide physical therapy for himself. However, a dark secret from the home’s past soon unleashes a malevolent force that drags the family into the depths of inescapable terror.
Sound familiar?
“Dead in the Water” (S1.E3, 2005)
If you saw the movie Argyle (2024), you know it was not as bad as critics made it out to be. I was, however, completely distracted when the main character explained how she had been inexplicably compelled to write her stories based on prior knowledge she was basically unaware of…not unlike the (supposed) experience of Chuck in “The Monster at the End of This Book” (S4.E18). Extending the parallel further, she described these revelations at a book signing that was disturbingly similar to the convention put on by fans of the stories that Chuck was writing from the episode “The Real Ghostbusters” (S5.E9).
“The Real Ghostbusters” (S5.E9, 2009)
The upcoming movie IF (being released in May 2024) is about the trials and tribulations of being – and having – imaginary friends. Need I say more?
“Just my Imagination” (S11.E8, 2015)
Times When Supernatural Copied Others
I am not inclined to argue that Supernatural has been unjustly imitated by other creators of consumable media. Supernatural creators have been just as “flattering” to many other genres of entertainment. One example would be the 007 vibe of “Red Sky at Morning” (S3.E6) – but we did need to see Sam and Dean in tuxedos at some point, right? Not investigating that storyline would have been a cruel and unusual lapse of creative prowess, in my humble opinion.
“Red Sky at Morning” (S3.E6, 2007)
Then there was the nod to Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) during season 3. To be honest, I think Supernatural did it better than the original. (Biased much?)
“Dream a Little of Dream of Me” (S3.E10, 2008)
What about the scene in “Out of Darkness, Into the Fire” (S11.E1) that was almost exactly the same as the scene with Brad Pitt in World War Z (2013) where Brad’s character is trapped in the lab by that one aggressive zombie? Give me a break! But as a card-carrying Samgirl, I will state that the Supernatural version of the scene was no less enjoyable. (Just saying…)
“Out of the Darkness, Into the Fire” (S11.E1, 2015)
On the topic of zombies, I think they are so prevalent as a theme in scary stories because zombies can no longer be communicated with. They are lost to conventional reason and are reduced to blind predators. Similarly, Hell Hounds are ubiquitously terrifying because they can not be reasoned with either. They have one job – to protect an evil person and do their bidding – and they are sticking to that one job, no matter what!
Finally, the idea of vampires deciding not to murder people but still stay alive has been done a few times, as well…like in the Twilight series (2006). This presentation of vampires was used in “Bloodlust” (S2.E3, 2006) and the plotline of Benny (2011).
“Bloodlust” (S2.E3, 2006)
So what’s the take away from all these comparisons? As I observed in online discussions I read while doing research for this article, we could argue all day about who copied whom. But I think copying is biological. We are evolutionarily programmed to do the same things that successful people do. This habit is not different for any other species with whom we share our planet, but as an especially creative group, we humans also get to emulate, embellish and emphasize the things we like and connect with, and many of the storylines that get imitated are actually stories of survival.
Sam and Dean, for example, are successful because they are devoted to and listen to each other (unless they are soulless or temporarily possessed by something bad.) They survive because they can adapt, cooperate, and have the emotional capacity to care about other people. Instinctively, we Supernatural fans think these practices might be a really good idea, so we “follow” Sam and Dean, and since we think they’re awesome, we might even imitate what they do.
“Everybody Loves a Clown” (S2.E2, 2006)
Our need to learn how we can get through life is why we like certain plotlines, stories, and characters so much. It’s also the real reason why social media is so popular. Who can’t appreciate a good life hack? Survival is the first and oldest story, and few people have tapped into that better than the writers and performers involved with Supernatural. So in conclusion, maybe the curious case of Supernatural imitating and being imitated so often is really not all that curious after all.
Where are the places YOU have seen Supernatural being imitated? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!
Written by Penny Fie, Website: https://www.cavedwellerclub.com/
Online References: Killer Movies, Screenrant
Bonus: A few years ago I made a kick-ass playlist based on Supernatural titles. If you like 70s-80s rock – and as an Supernatural fan you probably do – you should check it out! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3wvVNPM09K9RkMfwwaZ6xg
Enjoy Penny’s other Musings on Supernatural:
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