The CW's "The Winchesters" is a prequel to its hit series "Supernatural," but it's a very different show in a number of ways. Beyond the fact that "Supernatural" chronicles the lives of Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) while "The Winchesters" tells the story of their parents, there are plenty of nuances that make each series distinct in its own right.

Fans can enjoy each series on its own or view them as an interconnected pair. Meg Donnelly and Drake Rodger lead "The Winchesters," but, unlike the original show, the series has plenty of other regulars. And, while "Supernatural" feeds into the doom and gloom aspects of the apocalypse, "The Winchesters" takes fans on a much more upbeat journey of self discovery. How else do they differ? From technical decisions to the overall vibe, here are the biggest differences between "Supernatural" and "The Winchesters.

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Hunting in a pack

"Supernatural" made a name for itself by honing in on the somewhat dysfunctional and codependent relationship between the Winchester brothers. There are certainly recurring guest stars throughout the show's run, but most don't stick around for long. At the end of the day, "Supernatural" is always focused on one thing: Dean and Sam against the world.

Of course, eventually cemented himself as a third member of Team Free Will, and his countless resurrections made him an honorary Winchester by default. Yet the focus of the OG show is still the brothers, as much as we all love Castiel.

"The Winchesters" shies away from this formula, even though the series centers around John and Mary's budding relationship. The prequel offers a more traditional group dynamic, so there's equal screen time between the leads and the secondary characters, who don't really feel secondary at all.

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