Supernatural: All 15 seasons ranked from worst to best

1. Supernatural season 3

Ask any Supernatural devotee, “What’s the show’s best season?” and the answer may surprise you. The gold medal goes not to the lengthiest, most sprawling saga, but rather to the shortest, most succinct: Season 3. With a tight 16-episode arc, this season originally planned for 22 episodes was chopped down due to the 2007 writer’s strike. Yet, this unexpected shortening didn’t hinder its appeal — quite the opposite, fans argue that the condensation only heightened its narrative potency, transforming it into a concentrated dose of Supernatural magic.

Season 3 embarks on a pulse-pounding race against time. It picks up the thread from season 2 where Dean, in a risky bargain, trades his soul, which is due to be claimed by Hell in one year. The countdown for Dean’s impending doom dominates this season, adding an air of desperation and a ticking time bomb element that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.

Enter the enigmatic Ruby (portrayed by Arrow‘s Katie Cassidy), a new ally who professes to have a way to renege Dean’s lethal contract and completely changes the dynamic of the show. Meanwhile, the foreboding figure of Lilith looms large, as the contract holder of Dean’s soul, introducing a chilling new adversary into the mix.

One of the season’s standout episodes is the delightful “Bedtime Stories,” an homage to classic fairy tales, while another is its edge-of-your-seat season finale that caps off the third season’s storylines in some exciting and unexpected ways. So, despite its brevity, season 3 packs in a rollercoaster of emotions, compelling character arcs, and thrilling plot twists that collectively cement its place as Supernatural‘s finest hour.

What are your favorite seasons of Supernatural?