The final scripts for Supernatural were changed due to the pandemic. The long-awaited end to the tumultuous journey of Sam and Dean hit a snag as a result of COVID-19. By the time that social distancing guidelines were mandated, leading to a production shutdown, several of season 15’s most crucial installments were only partially fit to air. The show went on hiatus in March, but it has since been announced that Supernatural would return later in 2020.
Given that Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki are completing their required quarantines, Supernatural looks ready to begin the process of working on the incomplete episodes. There has been a lot of speculation about whether the long delay will be beneficial and now, in new comments, Ackles confirmed that the pandemic has led to some script changes.
During a Zoom conversation posted on the YouTube channel of Misha Collins, in which the Castiel actor was joined by Ackles and Padalecki, the discussion primarily focused on the importance of registering to vote in elections. However, given that guests Senator Cory Booker and Senate candidate M.J. Hegar were noted fans of the show, Supernatural was also discussed. Ackles revealed that adjustments were made to the script as a result of the ongoing pandemic. “Eventually, once it all comes out, we can probably share what those adjustments were,” Ackles said. Still, he remained optimistic. “We’ve had to accommodate a pandemic. It’s unfortunate, but I still think it’s going to hit a home run.”
It’s possible that the adjustments have to do with a number of big fight scenes which were initially planned. In one of their final battles with Chuck, the villain could have used a horde of extras against the Winchester brothers. Alternatively, the finale might have included an appearance by an actor that can no longer easily appear as a result of the difficulties of filming during COVID-19. In one sense, it would have been nice for Supernatural fans to see what the original conclusion of the series would have been. But, looked at from a different perspective, Supernatural has effectively been granted another mini-season due to these unforeseen circumstances. The last batch of episodes will be treated as a special event, according to CW president Mark Pedowitz, and Ackles believes overall that the quality of the drama’s farewell has not been impacted significantly.
Ackles teased, additionally, that the last two episodes of Supernatural will each serve a different purposes. The penultimate installment, episode 19, will put a wrap on the arc for season 15. The following episode, meanwhile, will function as a farewell to the entire series. This should be reassuring to long-time viewers, and others that might have preferred the drama’s earlier years, as it suggests that fans will leave the series with a sense of closure about where their favorite Supernatural characters have ended up. It remains to be seen how the ending of Supernatural plays out in practice, but it’s clear that everyone involved with the show is striving for a gratifying goodbye.
Source: Misha Collins / YouTube