Jensen Ackles and Supernatural fans come together on social media to save The Winchesters after The CW cancelled the spinoff after one season.
After the Supernatural prequel The Winchesters was cancelled by The CW, series star Jensen Ackles and fans kick off the #SaveTheWinchesters campaign in the hopes of reviving the show. The series is produced by Supernatural star Ackles, who reprised his role of demon hunter Dean Winchester for the prequel. The Winchesters is set in the 1970s, long before the events of the main series, and explores the lives of Mary Campbell (Meg Donnelly) and John Winchester (Drake Rodger), the couple who would go on to become the parents of Dean and Sam (Jared Padalecki).
Following news that The CW cancelled The Winchesters after just one season, fans took to social media to potentially save it. While many shared their disappointment at the cancellation, others have taken the initiative to come together and start a hashtag campaign – “#SaveTheWinchesters” – to either convince The CW to renew the series, or persuade another network or streaming service to pick it up. Ackles got involved as well, sharing the hashtag and a video of himself and the rest of The Winchesters cast encouraging fans to keep the momentum going. Check out a selection of fan reactions below:
Let’s go!!!! #SaveTheWinchesters https://t.co/DtoJh1XeMC
— Jensen Ackles (@JensenAckles) May 11, 2023
And we’re off…#SaveTheWinchesters pic.twitter.com/9EAIJpblFd
— Jensen Ackles (@JensenAckles) May 12, 2023
Because we want Dean Winchester to keep picking the music. #SavetheWinchesters pic.twitter.com/4OCdviVPcq
— ariel 💚💙 (@corrupt_touch) May 11, 2023
You will ALWAYS be family, cuz family don't end in blood, and it don't end with a cancellation, either. #SaveTheWinchesters pic.twitter.com/Q3kD4sf0M1
— ✨️jai{they}✨️ (@jaistiel) May 11, 2023
https://twitter.com/Kate8211/status/1656817694312734722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1656817694312734722%7Ctwgr%5E11876d83e82bd7a973372dae4280d2ad2a78150b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fscreenrant.com%2Fsave-the-winchesters-fan-campaign-jensen-ackles%2F
manifesting because yes. #SaveTheWinchesters pic.twitter.com/pyuGrkFpAA
— anto🐿🌈 jensen prophet watched m:i:7 (@alwaysdeanw) May 11, 2023
this show has inspired me in so many ways and i'm so grateful for it 🫶🏻 #SaveTheWinchesters pic.twitter.com/zh3wApALQA
— Jules. 🪽 // castiel loves you (@aphrostiel) May 12, 2023
WB has been preparing to look for a new home and has been aggressive in its efforts.
Supernatural fandom, let's get going. #SaveTheWinchesters pic.twitter.com/4Y5uQxy11A— Reet 🌈 (@deansbestie_) May 11, 2023
these babies deserve a second season #SaveTheWinchesters pic.twitter.com/ueX118XNgC
— lotti🌈 (@proCasDeanating) May 11, 2023
you think a little cancellation is gonna stop us????
after everything the spnfamily has been through?? you're kidding yourselfnothing ever stays dead for long in the supernatural universe#SaveTheWinchesters pic.twitter.com/h1eryVxHQK
— teagan (@Teagy7) May 12, 2023
Are you ready to find a new home for them and #SaveTheWinchesters ?
Get in, LETS GOOO!!! pic.twitter.com/3tjw3IejR1
— ..Ba.. (@missmoonspeller) May 11, 2023
look the the impact media can have. this show was instrumental in keeping me afloat in the sea of my grief. it’s only right i give them the same courtesy they gave me, yeah? #savethewinchesters pic.twitter.com/m5luhBN1lp
— berk (jack allen era) (@icaruspendragon) May 12, 2023
Why The Winchesters Was Embraced By Supernatural Fans
The Winchesters offered Supernatural fans another chance to return to its fictional universe just two years after the main series concluded in 2020. The Winchesters marked the first successful attempt to expand the franchise following two previous attempts that fell through, the Chicago-set Supernatural: Bloodlines and Wayward Sisters, which focused on Sheriff Jody Mills. While both shows received backdoor pilots within Supernatural, neither was picked up, leaving The Winchesters as the sole spinoff to carry on Supernatural’s legacy.
Furthermore, The Winchesters also offered a unique opportunity to address grievances with the original series’ finale. In the finale, Dean met a surprisingly unceremonious end after being impaled on a spike during a battle with vampires, a decision which left the Supernatural fanbase torn on whether the conclusion was an emotional one, or unbefitting of the character. As such, Dean’s return as The Winchesters’ narrator not only allowed fans to reunite with the character, but also gave Dean one last adventure beyond his controversial end.
With Supernatural having such a strong fanbase, it isn’t surprising to see that its prequel series has attracted similar support. That The Winchesters has inspired a fan campaign so soon after its cancellation emphasizes how many have similarly come to embrace it. The CW’s downsizing priorities may mean that the network won’t be keen on renewing the series despite fan outcry, but other networks may take note of the campaign and give The Winchesters one more chance to carry on.
