Jared Padalecki, known for his role as Sam Winchester on Supernatural, believes that the show could have continued for a longer run if the seasons had been shorter. In an interview with TV Insider, Padalecki expressed his opinion that limiting the seasons to 13 episodes would have allowed for a more balanced life for the actors and a more refined story. Padalecki revealed that he and his co-star, Jensen Ackles, had requested 13-episode seasons multiple times.
He believed that if their request had been granted, Supernatural would still be on the air today. The demands of filming a long network season while also trying to fulfill personal roles as husbands and fathers were challenging for both actors. Padalecki used an analogy from his colleague Jim Beaver's statement at a Comic-Con panel to support his argument. Beaver compared a long season to a baseball player going up to bat numerous times, suggesting that no matter how skilled the player is, they are bound to strike out several times.
Padalecki believed that a shorter season would have resulted in a more action-packed and story-driven show, highlighting the fact that they could have avoided episodes like "Bugs" from the first season of Supernatural. "Bugs" is considered one of the weakest episodes due to its clichéd premise and awkward writing. Although Supernatural concluded in 2020 with its fifteenth season, a prequel series called The Winchesters continues the story.
While Padalecki did not reprise his role for The Winchesters, Ackles returned as Dean Winchester to narrate and make guest appearances through multiversal events. The first season of The Winchesters received positive reviews from both critics and fans. However, despite the praise, The CW decided to cancel the show.
Ackles announced that he was actively seeking a new network for the series and enlisted the support of passionate fans. Both Supernatural and The Winchesters are currently available for streaming on HBO Max. Source: TV Insider
