Devoted fans of Supernatural couldn’t get enough of the bizarre and zany hijinks that the demon-hunting brothers Sam and Dean Winchester found themselves in over the course of the fantasy’s 15 seasons. While the enduring series had its fair share of emotional moments and terrifying creatures, some of the greatest and most memorable episodes are ones with over-the-top premises.
Supernatural
- Release Date
- September 13, 2005
- Seasons
- 15
- Studio
- The CW
Whether it’s the dynamic duo battling it out against classic movie monsters of the 1930s or squaring off against a pagan god posing as Paris Hilton, the Winchesters are no stranger to tackling some seriously strange cases. With 327 episodes to choose from over its groundbreaking run, it’s impossible to include every wild investigation the brothers were swept up in. Here are 13 of the weirdest episodes of Supernatural. Stream all episodes of Supernatural on Netflix.
13 “Tall Tales”
Season 2, Episode 15
Sam and Dean are used to tackling some pretty bizarre and far-fetched cases, and in the season two episode “Tall Tales” the brothers find themselves investigating a series of urban legends that have somehow come to life at an Ohio college campus.
The hunters enlist the expertise of their mentor and friend Bobby to help them figure out who the culprit is, and the episode marks the first appearance of the cunning Trickster (whose true identity is later revealed in the series).
Larger-Than-Life Tabloid Fodder
From being devoured by a sewer alligator to a sidesplitting alien abduction (featuring an oh-so-romantic slow dance), “Tall Tales” marked the fan-favorite show’s first truly strange episode. The crimes being investigated are ripped straight from ridiculous tabloid headlines (which Sam and Dean read), and it was fun watching the brothers realize that they were up against the delightfully devious Trickster.
12 “Monster Movie”
Season 4, Episode 5
Undeniably one of the most fun and memorable episodes of Supernatural is without-a-doubt Season 4’s “Monster Movie”, which brilliantly pays homage to iconic Hollywood monster classics and sees the demon-slaying duo at a local Oktoberfest where perplexing murders are being committed. As the Winchesters begin to interview the locals, they begin to suspect that it is the work of a shape-shifter with a deep obsession and fascination with 1930s horror flicks.
Classic Hollywood Creatures Come to Life
The episode was shot in black-and-white and legendary monsters like the mummy and a werewolf make spine-tingling appearances, yet the shape-shifter prefers to take on the form of Count Dracula. Seeing a captured Dean rocking a traditional Lederhosen getup while bantering back-and-forth with the vamp was hilarious, especially when Dracula gets distracted when the doorbell rings and his pizza (sans garlic, of course) arrives.
11 “Wishful Thinking”
Season 4, Episode 8
When a wishing well in a small Washington town begins to actually grant people’s wishes, the Winchesters show up to figure out what’s causing the startling phenomenon. The brothers begin to hear wild stories and experiences that sound too crazy to be true, like someone seeing Bigfoot, a ghost haunting a women’s locker room, and the local town geek getting engaged to the resident beauty. Naturally, Sam and Dean are far too intrigued to pass up the case.
The Winchesters vs. a Depressed Teddy Bear
The real standout character in the episode is a severely depressed little girl’s teddy bear who is experiencing an existential crisis and has somehow come to life. The pair amusingly contemplate whether or not they have to kill the already-suicidal talking teddy bear, and Dean is noticeably freaked out by his interaction with the not-so-cuddly stuffed animal. The brothers declare to the child that her bear has “lollipop disease” and set out to identify the demon responsible for the ludicrous occurrence.
10 “The Monster at the End of This Book”
Season 4, Episode 18
In one of the hit show’s most meta episodes, Dean and Sam are stunned when they discover that their lives are the subject of a bestselling comic book series, with Supernatural being written by a reclusive writer known as Chuck Shurley.
The books accurately detail the brothers’ monster escapades and experiences as demon hunters, and each novel is titled after episodes from the first three seasons of the show. As the Winchesters track down the author, they learn he is actually a prophet of God.
Stranger Than Fiction
Viewers amusingly watched as an initially skeptical Dean read up on the book series and was less-than-pleased with his personal life being on display (and also that sales and public interest of the books was dwindling). The unassuming Chuck is astonished when the brothers come barging in demanding answers and revealing their true identities, and he makes the wondrous realization that he can see into the future and is therefore a crucial asset to the duo.
9 “Fallen Idols”
Season 5, Episode 5
Perhaps the very last thing devoted fans of Supernatural would ever expect to see in an episode is… Paris Hilton? In Season 5’s “Fallen Idols”, Dean and Sam head to Ohio to investigate a series of strange and gruesome murders, and they suspect that the crimes are being committed by the ghosts of famous celebrities. After pinpointing a local wax museum as the likely origin of the brutal attacks, the brothers begin to believe something more sinister is at work, like an ancient pagan god.
Paris, and Gandhi, and Lincoln… Oh My!
Where can one possibly begin when describing the sidesplitting strangeness of the episode? Maybe it’s the ghost of Gandhi jumping on Sam’s back and trying to take a big ol’ bite out of him, or perhaps it’s the vengeful Abraham Lincoln going on a bloody rampage.
No, the weirdest and most unsuspecting aspect of “Fallen Idols” is the appearance of the aforementioned blonde heiress, who is really the pagan entity looking for some tasty sacrifices. Watching Hilton whoop on Sam and Dean was truly a sight to behold, and one no one will forget.
8 “Changing Channels”
Season 5, Episode 8
The Trickster was back to his diabolical hijinks once again when he trapped the Winchesters in an alternate television universe in “Changing Channels.” While looking into the brutal homicide of a man who was allegedly executed by the Incredible Hulk, the brothers go to an empty warehouse where they attempt to confront the Trickster, yet are instead transported to various TV shows. Dean and Sam are forced to “play their roles” if they hope to escape with their sanity intact, moving through different popular programs.
Sam & Dean: Small Screen Superstars
The fearsome duo become swept up in a series of shows like a super sexy medical drama, cheesy ’80s sitcom, over-the-top police procedural, and wild Japanese game show. Poor Sam is savagely hit in his groin when he fails to answer a question correctly in Japanese (much to the delight of the host) and he even has to begrudgingly recite the dialogue for a genital herpes commercial. It’s always fun watching the pair embrace the zany and get out of their comfort zones, and “Changing Channels” makes them do just that.
7 “Clap Your Hands If You Believe”
Season 6, Episode 9
The very idea of the tough and fearless Dean being abducted by aliens is enough to make any curious viewer tune in, and that’s just the tip of the bizarre iceberg in season six’s “Clap Your Hands If You Believe.” Once again, the demon-hunters realize there’s more than meets the eye during their investigation, as Dean eventually learns that he wasn’t actually in the presence of aliens but rather fairies!
Magical Creatures Galore
The craziness doesn’t stop there, as leprechauns, elves, and even gnomes are also thrown into the mix, with the brothers attempting to figure out a way to send the magical creatures back to the fairy realm.
In the episode, Dean is put through quite the ringer and is hilariously attacked by a “little, glowing, hot, naked lady” (A.K.A. a fairy), who he ends up having to cook in the microwave to kill. The elder Winchester is even arrested for a hate crime for tackling a little person, passionately yelling at Sam to fight the fairies as he put into the cruiser.
6 “The French Mistake”
Season 6, Episode 15
Not to be outdone by “The Monster at the End of This Book”, the Season 6 episode “The French Mistake” somehow managed to be even more meta and mind-boggling than its predecessor. In the trippy episode, Sam and Dean find themselves in an alternate universe in which the brothers are actually the stars of the cult classic show Supernatural that follows their lives, and are actors named “Jared Padelecki” and “Jensen Ackles” who are simply playing the sibling characters.
Sam & Dean Hilariously Become Jared and Jensen
The meta-ness doesn’t stop there, as the brothers try to find a way to return to their own reality but are constantly surrounded by the TV show’s crew and are interrupted by their own personal lives.
Sam and Dean are shocked to learn that the younger Winchester is married to Ruby (Genevieve Padalecki) in the wacky world, while their trusted sidekick Castiel is a Twitter-obsessed actor named “Mischa Collins.” The episode playfully pokes fun at the duo and is definitely the strangest one of the series.
5 “Slumber Party”
Season 9, Episode 4
Even the most passionate fans of Supernatural probably never expected to see the tough Winchesters crossing paths with iconic literary heroine Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz, but they did in “Slumber Party.”
In the whimsical episode, Dorothy is actually a savvy hunter who has been trapped along with the Wicked Witch of the West in a jar for over 70 years. The mortal enemies are subsequently released from their confinement and the vengeful Witch goes on a rampage, and Sam and Dean turn to their friend Charlie for help.
Dorothy Gale: Monster Hunter?
The overall plot of “Slumber Party” is pretty puzzling (in the best possible way), and at one point in the episode Sam and Dean are both possessed by the Witch as she attempts to open a portal to Oz that would release her army of flying monkeys. It’s definitely a pretty far-out episode (even by Supernatural standards), and ultimately ends on a happy note as Charlie decides to tag along with Dorothy and head down the yellow brick road to Oz, embarking upon a wondrous adventure.
4 “Dog Dean Afternoon”
Season 9, Episode 5
In a more wholesome and light-hearted episode, Dean finds himself embracing his animalistic side after a spell backfires, and he begins to adopt dog-like traits. “Dog Dean Day” follows the pair as they investigate two perplexing murders that share the same eyewitness: a German Shepherd named Colonel. After they cast a spell to help Dean communicate with the pooch, he also starts to exhibit animal behavior, resulting in some seriously hilarious TV gold.
Dean and Colonel to the Rescue
All throughout the comical episode, Dean uproariously displays dog-like tendencies, barking at the mailman when he goes by and even playing literal fetch with Colonel.
Since Dean can understand the German Shepherd, they even argue over classic rock and enjoy a pleasant ride in the Impala. It was wildly entertaining and downright wholesome to see Dean let loose and throw caution to the wind (if not for just a little bit), as a stunned Sam witnessed the whole ordeal.
3 “Fan Fiction”
Season 10, Episode 5
As evidenced in previous entries, the genius minds behind Supernatural have no problem fully embracing all things outlandish, and in Season 10’s “Fan Fiction”, the brothers are flabbergasted when they discover an all-girl high school is putting on a musical production of the Chuck Shurley book series. When those involved in the toe-tapping adaptation begin to disappear, Sam and Dean must get to the bottom of what’s going on before there aren’t any cast members left.
Lights, Camera, Action!
“Fan Fiction” is meta in the very best way possible and epically celebrates the show’s 200th episode, featuring dazzling original tunes, nods to the Supernatural fandom, and of course a rendition of Kansas’ “Carry On My Wayward Son.”
It also shines a light on the passionate (and in some cases disturbing) real-life fandom of the fantasy hit, such as the Dean and Castiel shippers, and is a must-see episode for lovers of both Supernatural and the beloved hunters.
2 “Just My Imagination”
Season 11, Episode 8
A unicorn-man named Sparkle, Sam and Dean in knitted cardigans, and the younger Winchester’s suspender-sporting childhood imaginary friend all provided a winning combination for the episode “Just My Imagination.”
In the season 10 entry, Sam is shocked when he is visited by Sully, his old imaginary friend who brought him comfort and companionship when he was lonely growing up. Sully needs the duo’s help to solve the vicious murder of his fellow kind, racing against the clock to do so.
A Glittery & Gruesome Crime Scene
When the brothers arrive at the scene of the crime, they see a glittery, violent mess that is equal parts disturbing and absurd. The aforementioned imaginary friend Sparkle, part man/part unicorn, was savagely stabbed to death and left the poor little girl Zoe traumatized. Watching Sam interact with his former magical pal Sully, along with an unfriendly Dean, was interesting, and despite the zany nature of the episode it took audiences on an emotional journey along with Sam.
1 “Scoobynatural”
Season 13, Episode 16
Arguably the greatest and most celebrated episode of Supernatural was hands down the crossover fans never knew they needed: when the demon-hunting Winchesters met the legendary Scooby Gang. Television worlds collided when Sam and Dean were sucked into a television and promptly spit out in Dean’s favorite episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, with the duo becoming cartoons themselves. Together, the courageous crime-solvers must join forces and figure out who is murdering guests at a spooky mansion.
A Wonderfully Strange & Nostalgic Mash-Up
Just the mere idea of the evil-killing brothers working with the wholesome cartoon characters is fantastically strange, yet everything about the episode just works. There were so many priceless moments in “Scoobynatural”, from Dean fawning all over Daphne to the Impala racing the Mystery Machine at a stoplight (and losing), and of course Castiel bonding with Shaggy and Scooby, it truly is an instant classic.
It was also a riot witnessing the Scooby Gang realize monsters are real and spiral over the terrifying realization, as the brothers quickly agreed that ignorance is bliss for the lovable cartoons.
