A hypotheticalSupernaturalseason 16 would arguably need to dropThe Winchesters’Akrida as a villain if the show wants to fix the ending because they were too underwhelming. Running for 15 seasons,the record-breaking hit showSupernaturalended in 2020 with a dramatic conclusion that divided fansfor various reasons. Shortly after the show’s ending, Jensen Ackles (who played Dean Winchester) announced aSupernaturalTV show spinoffcalledThe Winchesterswhich would offer a prequel story. However, the show’s premise was derailed withDean Winchester’s surprise returnandThe Winchesterswas officially established as an alternate universe toSupernatural.
Supernatural’smultiversehas long been established in the show and featured heavily in the later seasons, yetThe Winchesters’status as an alternate universe came as a surprise. Additionally,The Winchestersintroduced another surprisingly big player called the Akrida, a race of creatures created by God to wipe out the multiverse should he fail to do so himself. With Sam and Dean defeating God in season 15, the Akrida were unleashed, causing havoc inThe Winchesters, and would have ventured toSupernatural’suniverse. However, the Akrida would be a bad villain forSupernatural, especially if it returned for season 16.
The Akrida Aren’t Big Enough Villains For Supernatural Season 16, If It Happens
Supernatural’s Stakes Problem Continues
The Akrida aren’t big enough villains for season 16 ofSupernaturalbecause the show has a notorious stakes problem. One of thebiggest differences between seasons 1 and 15 ofSupernaturalis the level of villain that the Winchester brothers face. Season 1 saw Sam and Dean shocked to discover vampires and demons, yet, in later seasons, they were friends with them and battling God.The Akrida fall under God’s creations and are lower than him in the hierarchy, therefore, a possibleSupernaturalseason 16 would have a stakes problem because it would need a villain bigger than God.
While Jesse and the Akrida are no doubt some of the biggest threats in theSupernaturalfranchise, they do not outrank God (both Jack and Chuck’s versions), making them too small of a villain to continue the show.
There have been many suggestions for what another season ofSupernaturalwould look like, with some proposing the return of characters likeJesse would be perfect forSupernaturalseason 16 due to his unresolved storyand opposing powers to Jack, making him a worthy foe. However, whileJesse and the Akrida are no doubt some of the biggest threats in theSupernaturalfranchise, they do not outrank God (both Jack and Chuck’s versions), making them too small of a villain to continue the show. Unfortunately, theSupernaturalstakes problem makes it harder to imagine another season for the beloved show.
Supernatural Season 16 Can Still Address The Akrida (Without Making Them Main Villains)
The Akrida Could Return In Future Supernatural Projects
Supernaturalcould still address the Akrida if a season 16 is made, so long as it doesn’t make them the main villains. The Akrida are still anunsolved mystery due toThe Winchesters’unfortunate cancelation, so there is more to learn about the new creature that has not been explored in the show thus far. However,the main villain forSupernaturalseason 16 would need to be bigger than the Akridato raise the stakes, meaning possibly the introduction of a new type of creature or important character which could match the threat that Chuck posed in the final season.
Chuck was defeated at the end ofSupernaturaland Jack is now the new God. Jack appeared alongside Dean and Bobby inThe Winchestersand confirmed he had fixed Chuck’s destruction of the multiverse.
Although the Winchesters’ story has arguably run its course, a continuation ofSupernaturalfollowing Sam and Dean’s closest friends would be feasible, possibly making way for aWayward Sistersrevival. With new characters introduced on both sides, aSupernaturalreboot may be betterand more likely than season 16 as a reboot would solve the stakes problem;Supernaturalcould start again (possibly in an alternate universe) with lower-level villains. This means that the Akrida could still be a part of this story, because the multiverse was reestablished by Jack inThe Winchesters,and nothing really stays dead inSupernatural.
Why The Akrida Were Underwhelming Villains For The Winchesters
The Winchesters Lacked Necessary Build-Up
The Akrida were rather underwhelming inThe Winchestersbecause they weren’t established as a particularly scary foedespite being the main villain of the show.Supernaturalhad some truly terrifying monstersthroughout its 15 seasons, with some being scarily powerful and others having truly nightmarish features and abilities. This was most likely due toSupernatural’stendency to lean into horror genre tropes, including classic elements like jump scares and spiderwalks. However,The Winchestersfocused more on the mystery genre, meaning the Akrida did not receive the same treatment and lacked the build-up they deserved, to match their universe-destroying status.
Supernatural’s Spinoff Fulfilled God’s Impala Prophecy 13 Years After It Was Made
The Supernatural spinoff series, the Winchesters, helped to complete the Impala’s prophecy set out in Supernatural’s season 5, 13 years ago.
Arguably,The Winchestersspinoff, as a whole, lacked the build-up it deserved due to its sudden cancelation in 2023.Supernaturalhad an astonishing 15 years to cement God’s status as Sam and Dean’s most formidable foe, whereasThe Winchesterswas cut short after just one 13-episode season. Therefore, theSupernaturalspinoff lacked the breathing room to allow more development for the Akrida, contributing to the villain being so disappointing. Moreover,The Winchestersprequel also suffered from releasing too soon afterSupernatural, as God’s show-defining threat was still fresh in fans’ minds and the Akrida simply seemed underwhelming in comparison.
Supernatural
Cast
Supernatural is a television series that follows brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, who were raised by their father to hunt and combat supernatural entities after losing their mother to a demonic force. Traversing the American landscape in their ‘67 Chevy Impala, they face numerous paranormal threats.
