With 15 seasons and 327 episodes Supernatural would fall a few times. This is not a reflection of the show’s overall quality or ongoing popularity; it is just a sad fact that every long-running television series survives. That is not to suggest that the show’s lowest episodes were completely unsuccessful.

After all some fans have a soft place for iconic episodes like the discovered footage-inspired “Bitten” (Season 8 Episode 4) and the possibly profane “Route 666” (Season 1 Episode 13). However there is one episode that all fans hate. The episode in question was “Bloodlines” the twentieth episode of the supernatural’s ninth season.  

At first sight “Bloodlines” appeared to be Supernatural’s take on crime fiction and mafia films. The episode featured Sam and Dean Winchester revealing a dark monster gang battle in Chicago Illinois. The episode’s pitch was not the problem.

Five monster crime families battling for dominance of Chicago’s criminal underground fit well into a world where the Leviathans (the show’s contrast to H.P. Lovecraft’s Great Old Ones) penetrated society’s top echelons. However “Bloodlines” was not an evil hour of television but it was maybe Supernatural at its most cynical soulless. 

"Bloodlines" Was Supposed to Launch "Supernatural: Bloodlines"

“Bloodlines” was not a typical Supernatural episode. It served as a backdoor pilot for the aimed spin-off series Supernatural Bloodlines. Without including the Ghostfactors’ online series this was the show’s first significant attempt to move away from the main storyline. The spin-off would have represented a substantial shift from the series’ usual format. Instead of having to travel throughout America and meet monsters in small towns every week Supernatural Bloodlines was locked down in Chicago.

Unlike the main series the spin-off would have concentrated on and developed fewer core characters. The episode featured four monster families (djinn ghouls shapeshifters and werewolves) at the center of the city’s conflicts. If the series were to be renewed for an entire season the fifth family could be a siren clan. In addition “Bloodlines” introduced the spin-off’s main character Ennis Ross. 

Ennis wanted to destroy the monster who killed his lover Tamara. Ennis followed the killer’s track throughout the episode. Instead of identifying a single person he discovered a city conspiracy. Not only was Chicago dominated from the shadows by five monster families but the mobs were on the edge of a complete battle that would consume the whole city.

With the Winchesters’ assistance Ennis killed Tamara’s murderer ( the renegade hunter Irv) and prepared to bring the fight to the five families. Sam and Dean ran to pursue Metatron just before they could assist Ennis. Ennis told the brothers he’d manage the rest. “Bloodlines” concluded with Enis being told by his possibly murdered father not to participate in the gang war. 

The idea of the show was excellent. The thought of a city controlled by monster mobs was fantastic. Having Sam and Dean follow monsters in a city rather than a rural village provided an essential change of scenery. It was also exciting to watch them fighting creatures who looked like powerful gangsters rather than legendary beasts.

Ennis was also an excellent addition to the cast. He could have been one of Supernatural’s many important guest hunters if he’d had more time to develop as a character. The issue with “Bloodlines” was its execution. The episode immediately replaced Sam and Dean with Ennis. It also failed to take advantage of its new location and opponents. 

Everyone Quickly Rejected Supernatural: Bloodlines

“Bloodlines” was planned by fans and reviewers when it was first broadcast. The episode was created mainly to launch a spin-off series that viewers neither desired nor had heard of. Fans were dissatisfied since it unexpectedly ended the then-ongoing search for Metatron and made little attempt to fit into Season 9’s overall story. The greatest thing you could say about “Bloodlines” was that it was a pleasant breather episode but even so it didn’t function as filler.

The episode neither improves Sam nor Dean’s friendship since they take a break from their primary objective nor does it entertain viewers. It was an otherwise supernatural adventure but most of the show’s beloved characters were lacking or reduced to supporting roles. Furthermore “Bloodlines” did not provide audiences with a fun side mission in the same way as the Scooby-Doo crossover “Scoobynatural” (Season 13 Episode 16) had. 

“Bloodlines” remains the lowest-rated Supernatural episode on IMBD with a score of 5.8/10 on the review gathering website. The backdoor pilot was so deliberately rejected that The CW quickly canceled Supernatural Bloodlines. As a result all the story filaments and character arcs created in the episode were dropped and never addressed again.

Given Supernatural’s focus on continuity and Fans’ devotion to the show’s legacy the episode’s abrupt and fan-approved deletion was a striking exception to the rule. In an interview with TV Guide Andrew Dabb (the episode’s writer and one of the series’ showrunners) suggested that “Bloodlines” failed because it was too similar to The Vampire Diaries’ spin-off about warring families The Originals. 

The similarities between Supernatural Bloodlines and The Originals were apparent. While the concept of a monster gang war was not horrible the follow-up series felt like a shameless rip-off that took advantage of Supernatural’s massive popularity at the time.

Fans were open to a few independent businesses but Supernatural Bloodlines seemed inspired. Most damaging the spin-off deviated too far from the series’ beloved and established structure and style. Dabb admitted that the creative teams’ ambition to do something new with the series was noble and ambitious but ultimately misplaced. 



Supernatural: Bloodlines Was Not Supernatural's Last Attempt at a Spin-off

Despite the end of “Bloodlines “Supernatural kept working for an expanded universe. Supernatural Wayward Sisters was the series’ next major effort at a spinoff. Beginning with the episode “Wayward Sisters” ( Season 13 Episode 10) the intended spin-off would have brought together the series’ finest female hunters. The episode reassembled familiar figures including Sheriffs Jody Mills and Donna Hanscum hunter Claire Novak and healed vampire Alex Jones.

They were joined by newcomers Patience Turner and Kaia Nieves. Unlike “Bloodlines “this backdoor pilot was closely tied to the Winchesters’ bigger tale while maintaining the series’ style and themes. Although fans appreciated this spin-off The CW did not pick it up. “Wayward Sisters” was ideally allowed to conclude its storylines and character arcs before the show ended.