Supernatural. The series has so far acknowledged their eventual union through their son Dean’s narration in the future, along with setting up mysteries like the Men of Letters’ activities and the disappearance of Samuel Campbell.
These story hooks are part of a series of improvements that The Winchesters has made over Supernatural, which was somewhat held back by not focusing on certain factors. Whether it’s making John and Mary’s love story easier to believe or shedding light on the Winchester family, it’s interesting to check out the areas that The Winchesters has taken an active role in perfecting.
A Larger Roster Of Main Characters
Supernatural was mainly about the brothers, so it made sense that they were the primary characters. But this also meant that a lot of the ing characters were sidelined and weren’t as deep in personality – The Winchesters has rectified this by featuring several main protagonists.
Moreover, there’s a refreshing level of female energy within the series with the presence of Mary, Latika, Ada, and Millie. This was missing in Supernatural, where female characters were hardly around. The presence of different personalities brings a well-rounded cast to follow.
Providing Valid Reasons For John And Mary's Romance
Mary and John were a Supernatural duo who needed more onscreen time since it would have validated their relationship. Within the series, Dean and Sam learned that a cupid essentially forced them to fall in love, which The Winchesters appears to have retconned.
The new series is basing their relationship around mutual respect rather than the workings of a magical being. This is a better way to go since viewers don’t just have to accept that the pair is supposed to be together and can watch their friendship blossom into something more as they grow closer based on their experiences.
Constant Focus On Character Development
There appears to be a long way to go before John displays the traits Dean inherited from him in Supernatural, as the younger version has a different personality. However, that ties into how The Winchesters has focused on character development straight off the bat.
Supernatural spent a significant amount of time showing Sam as the reluctant hero and Dean as the bad boy archetype before they developed further. The Winchesters has subverted this, showing Mary acknowledging the resentment she carries at being forced into the hunter life and promising to work on it while John has faced his anger at his father’s disappearance.
Insight Into The Winchester And Campbell Families
Supernatural barely mentioned the Winchesters’ history and only the sixth season had a few Campbell family before they were killed off. Fans have always been curious about Sam and Dean’s paternal and maternal lines, which The Winchesters will be diving into.
The show started off by introducing Millie Winchester in the flesh, also offering insights into how Henry Winchester was. Mary’s relationship with her father is the main outline of the first season as she seeks to find him – shedding light on both families will allow Supernatural fans to see how Sam and Dean ultimately carried their legacies.
Keeping The Action Grounded And More Believable
The Winchesters keeps the main characters in their town as they navigate the supernatural around their area. This is in contrast with Supernatural, where Sam and Dean functioned as nomads and went across the country. A side effect of this was that the brothers’ lifestyle was hard to believe and many raised questions about how they sustained it.
The Winchesters’ decision to have the protagonists pretty much act like the Scooby gang has realistic undertones since the characters are bound by their limitations and lack of resources. It also sets them up for notable upgrades in later seasons when they are likely to be more proficient, which will act as solid evidence of how they’ve developed.
Carving Out The Men Of Letters' History Straight Away
It wasn’t until the eighth season of Supernatural that Dean and Sam learned about the Men of Letters and another four years until the faction’s dealings came to light. The Men of Letters arc wasn’t very well received because of the sparse details about their background, which The Winchesters has avoided.
The series has instantly gone into the Men of Letters’ ties with John’s family and the protagonists have been shown to learn new facts about them. Since the Men of Letters represent the extent to which humans have been prepared against the supernatural, The Winchesters has engaged in world-building that Supernatural didn’t fully embrace.
Narration That Contextualizes The Story's Events
Fans will get to hear quite a few quotes from Supernatural’s Dean Winchester in the prequel due to his role as the narrator. He’s mainly used as the framing device of the story and viewers can rely on Dean to put the adventures of his parents into context in regard to where they’re heading.
Supernatural would have benefited from a similar structure since the many twists and turns appeared to come out of the blue. By using Dean as the narrator, any potential surprise or stories that go against canon can be explained without it coming across as jarring in tone.
Making John And Mary More Likable
While there are many things fans love about Supernatural, John and Mary weren’t generally considered to be one of them. The issue with their characterizations was that John came across as a neglectful father while Mary was also a distant mother after she was resurrected.
The Winchesters has depicted them in a relatable light, ranging from John’s past demons in the army and his abandonment issues to the chip on Mary’s shoulder to avoid making the same choices her father did. The two are also far more empathetic toward other people, which humanizes them greatly and encourages viewers to understand their motives.