Why a shorter Supernatural Season 14 is excellent news for all

While at San Diego Comic-Con 2018, Jensen Ackles explained why we’re getting a shorter Supernatural Season 14. It’s excellent news for all and completely understandable and fair.

We all know that we were slightly disappointed, confused, and concerned when we heard we’d get a shorter Supernatural Season 14. And not just by one episode. We learned instead of 22 or 23 episodes, Supernatural would just have 20 episodes. As we’d hoped, Jensen Ackles has confirmed why this is the case while at San Diego Comic-Con 2018.

Let me first say that I don’t mind a shorter season. I actually think shows work better with fewer episodes. Storylines are more contained and there aren’t as many plot points to attempt to remember. And filming is much easier.

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And it’s the filming that has brought about the shorter Supernatural Season 14. According to TV Guide, Ackles confirmed that it’s about the longevity of the show and what he and co-star Jared Padalecki want out of life. As much as they love bringing us Dean and Sam Winchester on a weekly basis, they’re family men and they want a better quality of life.

Right now, they get two-and-a-half months or so to spend with their families, spread out across the year. This isn’t that much time when you consider both are fathers of three young children. Their wives take on all that everyday childcare. I know military spouses do this and I have the utmost respect for them. It’s certainly not easy.

When discussing the future of the show, Ackles and Padalecki have always been fair to us as fans. They don’t just film. There are multiple conventions around the country (and the world, in fact) and those conventions take more time out of their family lives.

SUPERNATURAL — “Exile on Main St.” — Photo: Michael Courtney/The CW — Acquired via CW TV PR /

Guess what cutting off three episodes (two if you look at the earlier season orders) does? It gives them more time with their families. And this is exactly what I’d suspected when I first heard that there would only be 20 episodes this season.

By cutting off a couple of episodes, they get an extra month with their families. One episode takes eight filming days, but they only work weekdays. So that’s really 10-14 days depending on how the weeks fall and any planned conventions. So with three fewer episodes in Supernatural Season 14, they get an extra month to a month-and-a-half with their families.

Ackles has also hinted that this is excellent news for those worried about the future of the show. By allowing the stars more time off with their families, they’re more likely to sign new contracts and remain with the show.

via GIPHY

The CW’s Mark Pedowitz has already told us that the Supernatural will end when either the stars decide to stop or if the ratings drop too low. The latter is unlikely to happen unless the writers completely mess up the show or the apocalypse happens, so we’re looking at the former.

I’ll take shorter seasons for more seasons. It’s a fair trade. And I love that Ackles and Padalecki are making this “selfish” (as some would call it) move. They’ve both their families first with their fans in mind.

Next: 5 things we want to see from the Supernatural SDCC 2018 panel

What do you think of the shorter Supernatural Season 14? Do you feel calmer now that we’ve got confirmation? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Supernatural Season 14 premieres on Oct. 11 at 8/7c on The CW. Like SPN Hunters on Facebook for more updates straight to your feed.

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