Wayward Parents: A Winchesters Podcast

The Squad gathers to discuss the season one finale of the prequel *ahem* the SEQUEL Supernatural series The Winchesters. We’re existing on a scale of feelings about the directions this episode took the show from “did not like the AU aspect” to “15x20 healing is supreme” to “not sure where to go from here”. A LOT happened in this episode and the co-hosts talk each other through it, and dissect each and every word out of Dean Winchester’s mouth.

Listen on for discussions including but not limited to the following: the implications of the multiverse, Chuck won theory, and HunterCorp Sam and Dean. We also spend a LOT of time working on the physics of multiversal travel. Spoiler: we do not have the background information to explain and deconstruct the multiverse/AU.

For show updates, follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/waywardparents and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

Our OG Supernatural podcasts:

This week, the Squad’s clown car jokes all come back to haunt them as we’re confronted with a very real and somewhat terrifying vehicle crammed with an impossible number of clowns. We take some time for meta, fandom, and Jensen’s birthday in this one! KJ and August educate Beth on British soap opera Coronation Street. This is an ep where the background sets and the establishing shots are SCREAMING with subtext and Beth takes the charge on dissecting them. Finally, the squad creates a list of questions that this show has 45 minutes to answer before this season comes to its conclusion.

For show updates, follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/waywardparents and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

Our OG Supernatural podcasts:

August and KJ are alone at the circus this week, hoping their chaotic energy measures up (Beth claimed it was a “BOP” in post production, so they did alright). They talk possible Dean placement in the timeline (and the universe), the Maggie/Latika ship we didn’t know we needed, the Akrida’s plans for Kansas state legislature, and KJ utters the words “this show better get renewed purely for more John content” (tests confirm this was definitely KJ and not an imposter).

With only two episodes remaining, August and KJ lay down some of their best guesses about where this show is going, when and how we’ll be seeing Dean Winchester, and what other familiar names and faces will be gracing our screens between now and then.

For show updates, follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/waywardparents and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

This week, the Pod Squad discusses Episode 10: Suspicious Minds, the ways the Winchesters is improving on its forebearer in queer representation and how it addresses trauma, but also explore how there is still further to go in actually depicting queer people. We LOVE Lata’s everything, want to see more of the Carlos/Anton storyline, and debate at length how Akrida possession works. KJ is VERY concerned for Lata’s new extracurriculars (ala Sam Winchester in Season 4), Beth paints a vivid picture of giant bug carcasses, and August is intrigued by the way that John’s spiral into darkness is being portrayed.

We take some time to talk about the issues of representation in the writing choices around a Golem, medical experimentation, death of a Black character off-screen, and how the way this storyline is written brings this episode way down in tone in ways that feel both unnecessary and irredeemable.

Finally, we talk about Mary’s “Stanford Era”, the potential for family conflict (and what she should study!), how the writers room really needs an excel spreadsheet specifically for the Men of Letters, and how THE AKRIDA KNOW DEAN IS HERE AND MAYBE WE WILL SEE HIM SOON?

Content Warning: This episode discusses (non-graphically) anti-semitic and racist aspects within this episode of The Winchesters. Timestamp: Roughly 1:02:20 - 1:10:30.

Links to Jupernatural related content and creators:

The Pod Squad casts doubts on Robbie Thompson’s claim that Rob Benedict/Chuck appearing in last week’s episode was all in good fun. This episode is laced with parallels on parallels on parallels, and the hosts are losing their minds about them! There’s a lot to say this week about vampires and dead man’s blood in the Spn-verse, the team-up of former/potential love interests Kyle and Betty, Riverdale-ification, Carlos and Latika interpersonal relationship navigation, Bad TV CPR, and of course the birth of The Holy Water Hair Commercial.

For show updates, follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/waywardparents and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The Pod Squad is back! and they're feeling totally fine and normal this episode as they try to process everything they just witnessed. The Squad talks through the first full episode with Samuel "Universe’s Third Worst Father" Campbell, confusion around the case of the week, the implications of Rob Benedict, and of course That Photograph. Also featuring Jensen "One Of Us" Ackles, multiple Supernatural transcripts, and a general lack of interest in the Akrida. 

The reflections between The Winchesters & Supernatural are on full display today, as Abigail, Beth & Elayna discuss John's relationship with Henry, Drake's impressive performance as a Supernatural fan-turned Sam & Dean mirror, & how emotionally compromised hearing "Dean's Theme" makes us. We talk about this show's focus on healing as reflected in continual plant motifs & come up with a ship name for our newest "here for the queer vibes" pairing, Ada & Millie.

With KJ missing, the gang tries to make sure we still discuss the costuming (stellar), the directing (a Richard Speight Jr. masterclass in comedic and dramatic timing), the music (Can't Find My Way Home, used in 2 significant OG Supernatural moments), & a big pre-season prediction - that John's music box would become a significant plot point.

Could the Ostium become a portal to the Empty or Purgatory? Will we ever stop seeing Destiel parallels in scenes set in locked rooms?  Could Carlos ever meet Dean? Will we ever get out of the clown car?  We loved this episode, & we hope you do too.

CW: Discussions of divorce, parental absence and parental neglect. 

"Crack" Winchesters theory by Mittens Morgul: https://mittensmorgul.tumblr.com/post/703018573429407744/completely-crack-speculation-for-the-winchesters 

We’re back, baby! After what felt like a glitch last week, our feral theories energy has returned in full force for this episode about hunter grief, Lata’s hero moment, Mary’s wrestling with her future, Carlos’ Big Gay Energy, and John’s increasing obsession with hunting (and his relationship with Mary).

KJ admits that they’re struggling with Dean’s voiceovers, and we theorize as to why and come up with some ideas of where we think he’s telling the story from (a Dean that has grown beyond the timeline? We talk about what hunting does to traumatized people, draw parallels between Gordon and this episode, and debate how John and Mary are and are not suited for each other.

Some of our favorite things this episode: DESTIEL PARALLELS, Swiftie references, Lata’s fashion, a truly tender hunter’s funeral, Carlos & Lata’s relationship, Carlos’ compassion, and ~thematic resonance~ in the exploration of free will and consequences.

The tweet from hellertrash about Dean's voiceovers: https://twitter.com/hellertrash/status/1595535694016892928?s=20&t=8Ujk2vmxWlDtlKMVx9egxA 

Well. We're confused. This week the squad has some questions, including but not limited to; How big is the clubhouse? They have a morgue now? Where does Ada live? What happened to her bookstore? How many of her plants are actually demons? What are the Akrida? Are they bugs? Can they speak? Are they controlling people? And the biggest question of all, what happened to this episode? After thoroughly enjoying the first four episodes of the first season, the squad discusses what made this one so much less satisfying.

For show updates, follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/waywardparents and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The podcasters were too stunned to speak-but then they remembered speaking was their whole thing and they found some words. Abigail has a lengthy list, but it’s the Destiel/Purgatory/Chuck parallels for us. Beth has more to add to her Wizard of Oz/Robbie Thompson theories! We scratch the surface of the two shows managing different character’s traumas. KJ has a theory that one of our new characters is an angel, based almost entirely on It’s A Wonderful Life. And we discuss the impact that Carlos is having on the surrounding character arcs and the potential implications of that down the road.

For show updates, follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/waywardparents and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

New characters this week-and the Pod Squad is loving each of them. We’re also thrilled to have some answers about the other other OTHER wayward parent, Deanna Campbell. We take slightly more interest in our monster of the week-but less interest than we take in the costume and set designs of the episode. We also have WAY more questions about Ada-red flags are popping up left and right (demon bonsai we are looking at you).

For show updates, follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/waywardparents and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The era of the Winchester Cinematic Universe is in full swing, and the Pod Squad is diving right into it! We talk how the series is already mirroring the mothership with its themes of found family and working through parental trauma. Beth brings THOROUGH notes to the table on Robbie's episodes from SPN canon with some absolutely galaxy brain theories of what's to come, and we put our clown noses on for a deep discussion of costuming parallels from the OG show. We truly loved this episode and had such a blast digging into all these new moments with characters that are absolutely stealing our hearts!

Pod squad assemble!! The pilot of The Winchesters has aired and we are diving in to share our thoughts and reactions! The theme of the day is “what we were expecting….but also somehow inherently different” 

Intense discussion on the music choices in the episode, as well as Beth dissecting a Taylor Swift song based on one small detail in the pilot, and just when the rest of the squad has recovered from that, Beth comes in with a serious Supernatural parallel from Tumblr.
Abigail analyzes where John and Mary’s relationship is starting, versus where it ends up, their relationships with hunting and their missing fathers. Elayna has thoughts on Robbie Thompson’s meta -references and bets a major organ on one of their predictions. And KJ makes a heartbreaking connection regarding snack foods and accuses Heaven of orchestrating Henry and Millie’s marriage.
We don’t know where any of this is currently going, but we’re along for the ride-Dean Winchester’s picking the music and we (clearly) are not shutting our cakeholes.

For show updates, follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/waywardparents and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

Everyone gets a clown nose! The Wayward Parents team puts on their costumes to talk predictions for The Winchesters.

We’re making our best serious and silly guesses for the plot, cameos, & story arcs of the first season of Jensen’s elaborate Supernatural fanfic. Follow along as we predict mind wipe theories, angel appearances, narrator Dean implications, and Millie owning a dog.

We also create Winchesters Predictions BINGO sheets & invite listeners to play along with us this season.

Make your own Winchesters BINGO: 

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jA2kKJO90L9U6H7-P6vhA-SDDAZqOK8_OCG8Z8eehws/edit?usp=sharing 

A few articles/news pieces we talked about:

Time travel, secret society, something something generational trauma. 

Our last retrospective episode is finally here and the Pod Squad is back to talk about the episode which introduced some pretty pivotal elements for our upcoming plot on The Winchesters-Men of Letters, Henry Winchester, and soul magic. After raising some serious questions about Henry and Millie's marriage, surviving Men of Letters, generational wealth, and the potential impact of losing Henry on John's character development, we're left with more questions than answers for Jensen and Robbie.

For show updates, follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/waywardparents and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

Our OG Supernatural podcasts:

Saving People, Queering Things (Abigail & Elayna's show): https://queeringthingspodcast.wordpress.com/

Driver Picks the Podcast (Beth's show): https://linktr.ee/driverpicksthepodcast

Supernatural Opinions Podcast (KJ's show): https://linktr.ee/SupernaturalOpinionsPodcast

Something, something, Supernatural time travel (again)!

This episode the squad is talking about everything from the terms and conditions of demon deals, to the untapped potential of a queer Millie Winchester. Join us as we delve further into the timeline of John & Mary's early married life, time travelling angels, exasperated cupids (who definitely deserve a raise), the Johnification of John(?), and the broadening of the Supernatural universe. 

For show updates, follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/waywardparents and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

Our OG Supernatural podcasts:

Saving People, Queering Things (Abigail & Elayna's show): https://queeringthingspodcast.wordpress.com/

Driver Picks The Podcast (Beth's show): https://linktr.ee/driverpicksthepodcast

Supernatural Opinions Podcast (KJ's show): https://linktr.ee/SupernaturalOpinionsPodcast

The pod squad are travelling back in time, to season 4 episode 3 of Supernatural-where Dean Winchester is ALSO travelling back in time to 1973-just one year post The Winchesters trailer. The squad is scanning this more contemporary look at John and Mary Winchester’s lives in the 1970s for clues about what these two characters might be like, their lives, families, things we want to know more about, and things we definitely don’t. And in true form, we get a little sidetracked, talk about Cas, music, and make up new characters like John’s step-father.

For show updates, follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/waywardparents and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

Our OG Supernatural podcasts:

Saving People, Queering Things (Abigail & Elayna's show): https://queeringthingspodcast.wordpress.com/

Driver Picks the Podcast (Beth's show): https://linktr.ee/driverpicksthepodcast

Supernatural Opinions Podcast (KJ's show): https://linktr.ee/SupernaturalOpinionsPodcast

The squad debate anti-John apologism, the principle of not judging characters for things they haven't yet done, and the challenges of watching a show when you already know the final iteration of a character's arc.  As will surprise no one, the Winchester whose story we are most excited about is still a Campbell in 1972. 

For show updates, follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/waywardparents and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

Our OG Supernatural podcasts:

Saving People, Queering Things (Abigail & Elayna's show): https://queeringthingspodcast.wordpress.com/

Driver Picks the Podcast (Beth's show): https://linktr.ee/driverpicksthepodcast

Supernatural Opinions Podcast (KJ's show): https://linktr.ee/SupernaturalOpinionsPodcast

In this pre-season episode (recorded May 29, 2022) the squad discusses The Winchesters trailer and what we know so far. We are surprised by the tone (is it a comedy? Is it the Scoobification of Supernatural?) and theorise about how it might fit into the original show's timeline. We also discuss our qualms about the "woobification" of John Winchester and are already singing Carlos and Millies' praises.

For show updates, follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/waywardparents and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! 

Our OG Supernatural podcasts: 

Saving People, Queering Things (Abigail & Elayna's show): https://queeringthingspodcast.wordpress.com/

Driver Picks the Podcast (Beth's show): https://linktr.ee/driverpicksthepodcast

Supernatural Opinions Podcast (KJ's show): https://linktr.ee/SupernaturalOpinionsPodcast

🎙️Supernatural prequel podcast where four 🌈 Supernatural veterans & finale deniers watch The Winchesters. 📺  New episodes Mondays.

Hosted by Beth (Driver Picks The Podcast), KJ (Supernatural Opinions Podcast) and Elayna & Abigail (Saving People, Queering Things Podcast).

Saving People, Queering Things: https://queeringthingspodcast.wordpress.com/

Driver Picks the Podcast: https://linktr.ee/driverpicksthepodcast

Supernatural Opinions Podcast: https://linktr.ee/SupernaturalOpinionsPodcast