70. Women of Supernatural (TV Series)

Big Reputations

In this episode, we discuss the topic of female characters in the television show, Supernatural, which ran from 2005-2020. First we look at the premise for the show that Eric Kripke created and was picked up by the WB and introduce a handful of the women who made an appearance on the show. Then we consider the intended fanbase, the television viewership over the years, and the core fandom, which is made up predominantly of cis-women, trans, and nonbinary folks. We also explore the concept of fridging and how heavily it has been utilized with the women on this show over the course of 15 seasons. And how, even though there was a marked shift away from its use in later years, it never fully escaped the trope. And finally, we wrap up with a discussion on representation of women in Supernatural both on screen and at fan conventions.

Trigger warnings: the death of a lot of female characters and brief mention of sexual assault.

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Hosts: Kimberly Kunkle and Rebecca L. Salois

Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo

Music: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

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Sources:

• “Supernatural: A History of Violence Against Women,” for the Geekiary by Exorcising Emily
• “There'll Be Peace When You Are Done: Actors and Fans Celebrate the Legacy of Supernatural, by Dr. Lynn S. Zubernis
• “A Toast to the Women of Supernatural,” by Sydney Bucksbaum
• “Latchkey Hero: Masculinity, Class and the Gothic in Eric Kripke’s Supernatural,” by Julia M. Wright
• “The Supernatural Women and How They Died,” by Supernatural Fan Number 12 million 949 thousand 162 (fan blog post)
• Supernatural Fandom Wiki entry on “List of Deaths” in the show