Bardic's Descant

Supernatural University: Tragedies, Bloodlines, Legacies – The Evolution of the Family Business

“Saving people, hunting things: the family business.”

That's been the tagline of Supernatural from the very beginning, memorably given voice by Dean way back in the second episode, Wendigo, and repeated multiple times every season since. But it's never been a static concept; every part of that phrase has undergone evolution as the seasons progressed. In this discussion, I look at how the show has changed our understanding of family and the family business from its original presentation of hunting, hunters, the Winchesters, and saving people to where we stand at the beginning of season nine. Welcome to a multidiscliplinary Supernatural University analytical session!

Anticipation, It's Making Me Wait …

Season nine promises to continue exploring the Winchesters' MOL legacy and – through the consequences of Sam's trials, Dean's decisions, the angels falling, and Castiel being rendered human – the tensions in both the Winchesters' immediate and extended family. I suspect we'll see even more evolution in the family business concerning what it means to save people and hunt things.

But no matter what comes, I know family will always remain at the heart of the show. After all, this all started with another family business that diversified from its origins – Kripke Enterprises, a metal scrap dealer in Toledo, Ohio!

After a long, long time, I have once again committed fanfic. I began this just before Thanksgiving; I really felt the need to finish it, especially after the last few episodes. Me, I'm going to think this happened sometime after 7.06 and before 7.09 ...

Title: Thanksgiving
Author: Bardicvoice
Characters: Dean, Sam, Bobby, Lisa, Samuel, Campbell cousins, Jody Mills
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Word Count: 6122
Summary: “And that's what this is all about: sharing Thanksgiving, being family, remembering why we hunt. Holidays put the family in the family business.”

Supernatural University:  Speculations on the Origins of Monsters And Other Insanity

The origins and destinies of monsters are a major theme underlying the season six mythology and storyline of Supernatural. I thought I’d play a little with some of the pieces we’ve been given as a means to while away part of  the current hellatus. Feel free to chime in: this is all pure speculation, with no spoilers for anything that hasn’t already aired in the U.S. Please keep this discussion spoiler-free for the benefit of fans who wish to avoid spoilers!

In this little midseason class in Supernatural University, I’m going to explore five potential origins of monster species; look at possibilities suggested by the nature of Purgatory; and ask the question why Samuel Campbell, of all people, was brought back to Earth.

*********************************

Please feel free to throw in your comments on my insane speculations. In doing so, however, please do NOT include any spoiler information in comments:  this is a spoiler-free zone!

Thanks. Class dismissed. The professor’s office hours are irregular, but the door’s always open; drop by any time!