With 327 episodes under its belt, it's difficult to determine just which episodes of Supernatural were the best to watch - including Supernatural's compromised series finale and season 15 ending. Jumping between Earth, Heaven, and Hell, the Winchesters and the rest of the Supernatural cast have been through all manner of situations and have died and been resurrected on multiple occasions. While there were plenty of amazing Supernatural episodes, some stand out more than others.

15 Supernatural Season 1: "Devil's Trap" (Episode 22)

A Spectacular Cliffhanger For The Winchester's First Season

The season 1 finale, "Devil's Trap," is a great example of why the show continued for as long as it did. Reuniting with Bobby (Jim Beaver), a character who would quickly establish his place as one of the show's most important characters, the Winchesters attempt to set a trap for Meg (Nicki Aycox). Leaving its final moments with the uncertainty of Sam and Dean's fate and the use of special effects was a brilliant way to bring the first season to a close. This episode was so strong that it carried momentum into the second season despite Supernatural moving networks to The CW from season 2 onward, where it remained until its end.

Compared to the rest of the season, this episode saw the stakes rising higher than ever for the Winchesters. Alongside a suspenseful storyline, this episode also establishes more details about Sam and Dean's pasts and their relationship with their father, John (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). While there were plenty of good episodes in season 1, its finale stands out as the best, especially for how it set up season 2.

14 Supernatural Season 2: "In My Time of Dying" (Episode 1)

Dean's Brush With Death (For The First Time)

Given the impact of the season 1 finale, it makes sense that the season 2 premiere episode would also serve as the season's best. Barely surviving the car crash, the Winchesters are taken to hospital, and despite Dean being in a coma, he still manages to defend himself against The Reaper. This episode also saw the first heartbreaking death of John Winchester in Supernatural, who strikes a deal to swap his own life to save his eldest son.

Although plenty of dramatics happened in season 2, the opener clinched and built a huge amount of anticipation for the future. Between Dean flittering between life and death and Sam and John going to the extreme to try and save him, the fate of the Winchesters was unclear. Considering this was an opening episode, and audiences knew that there was still an entire season ahead of them, the doubt over whether Dean would survive or not was still there.

13 Supernatural Season 3: Mystery Spot (Episode 11)

Sam's Neverending Day Saving Dean From Death

The season 3 episode "Mystery Spot" saw an interesting take on a premise similar to Groundhog Day, in which Sam is forced to relive the same day over and over again. While this would be a frustrating experience for anyone, it's even worse for the younger Winchester, who is also grieving one of Dean's many deaths in Supernatural. Sam uses this opportunity to try and save his brother, but to make matters worse, with each repeat of the day, Dean dies in a different way, leaving Sam to cross off a seemingly never-ending list of different attempts at saving him.

There are plenty of reasons why this episode stands out. Mainly, it's because it sees Sam take the reins, rather than having to share the stage with his brother, but it also delves further into the relationship between the two siblings. Seeing Sam without Dean simply felt unusual, but seeing the younger Winchester fight so hard to save him proved that their survival was ultimately the most important part of the show.

12 Supernatural Season 4: "Lazarus Rising" (Episode 1)

Misha Collins' First Appearance As The Angel Castiel

"Lazarus Rising" introduced Castiel (Misha Collins), a character who would eventually become the third member of the iconic Supernatural trio. Castiel's arrival comes with Dean's resurrection from Hell, which was also a staple moment in the show, as it's the first mention of celestial beings in the show. It's hard to imagine a time before his first appearance, so it's no surprise that his debut episode is season 4's best.

While Castiel ended up being a prominent character in Supernatural, it wasn't just his first appearance that made this such a solid episode. The introduction of more mythological beings further developed the show's lore, which made the story more complex and interesting, especially with the reveal of the angels' involvement with demons. This episode also set up the rest of the season's storyline arc and beyond, teasing the impending apocalypse.

11 Supernatural Season 5: "Changing Channels" (Episode 8)

A Meta Reflection On Television

Supernatural had a few meta moments during its run, but the season 5 episode "Changing Channels" saw one of its best, as Sam and Dean end up in an alternative universe where they become characters of other TV shows. This episode sees several parodies of various shows in a montage, including ones resembling cheesy sitcoms, crime procedurals like CSI and Law and Order, and medical dramas such as Grey's Anatomy. Although not considered a comedy, Supernatural truly proved just how unique its humor was with this episode, while still clinching the crucial and more dramatic moments.

Of course, it was great to see Sam and Dean in such an unusual situation. Bringing the Winchesters out of their usual setting saw the show take the opportunity to poke fun at various TV tropes, which works well, considering that Supernatural had seen a decent run at this point. While "Changing Channels" was a standalone episode, and didn't contribute anything significant to the season's story, it stands out for being a palette refresher and an enjoyable break from the usual demon hunting and angst.

10 Supernatural Season 6: "The French Mistake" (Episode 15)

Dean And Sam Become Their Own Actors

Although the show had just broadcast an episode following a TV show alternate universe just the season before, "The French Mistake" allowed the Winchesters an incredible opportunity for some self-reflection. In yet another meta moment for the show, the brothers find themselves in a world where their lives are the TV show Supernatural, where they are Ackles and Padalecki. Considering the show was in its sixth season, this was a great time to try something new.

This episode provided a fascinating challenge for the Winchesters. Living in a world where none of the supernatural and mythological elements they were used to fighting existed while trying to return to their own reality forced the characters out of their comfort zone and made them get creative, which was a charming refresher for the show. This episode also saw a hilarious performance from Misha Collins, who played himself, as Castiel hadn't arrived in this version of reality with Dean and Sam.

9 Supernatural Season 7: "Meet The New Boss" (Episode 1)

Castiel's Descent Into Madness

The season 7 opener, "Meet the New Boss," saw one of Collins' most impactful performances as Castiel, as the angel is overcome with an obsession with power, even believing that he is the new God. Sam, Dean, and Bobby all try to stop Castiel from succumbing to his own power and meeting a grizzly end but struggle to fight back against him. This results in Dean having to confront Death (Julian Richings), who is furious, and the interaction between the two is easily one of the episode's best scenes.

This episode allowed for the character of Castiel to be seen in a new way. Up until this point, he'd been relatively trustworthy and an ally to the Winchesters, but this episode showed just how complex the character was. It also set up tension for the rest of the season, with the lurking possibility that Castiel might turn again hanging over the remaining episodes.

8 Supernatural Season 8: "As Time Goes By" (Episode 12)

Time Travel Reunites A Family

"As Time Goes By" delved into the concept of time travel, with Sam and Dean's grandfather Henry (Gil McKinney) making a sudden arrival. While much of this episode was focused on time portals, it also saw some interesting scenes that gave the entire Winchester family more development. While Henry expects to find John, he instead skips a generation and meets his grandsons, and while there's tension between the relatives, that doesn't stop the three of them from working together to protect both the past and the future.

This episode allowed audiences to understand the Winchester family better, especially John. Getting to know the man who raised and melded John as a child, resulting in the person and father he eventually became, also shed some light on Sam and Dean's childhoods. This episode also set up another storyline surrounding the brothers and John, with Dean dwelling on what had happened to his father and the two making the decision to get answers.

7 Supernatural Season 9: "Do You Believe In Miracles?" (Episode 23)

Dean's Hellish Destiny

"Do You Believe in Miracles?" saw one of the most dramatic moments in Supernatural, with Metatron (Curtis Armstrong) revealing himself to humanity, while Dean struggles with the effects of the First Blade. This episode was praised for its use of gory imagery and eerie atmosphere throughout, especially in one notable scene that saw a collapsed Dean in the dungeon and spitting out blood. This episode also ended on a brilliant cliffhanger, which saw Dean reborn as a demon and becoming the latest Knight of Hell, building anticipation for the next season and the fate of Dean unclear.

While there were some great episodes in season 9, this episode stands out because of how it sets up season 10. With themes of sacrifice and the familial bond between Sam and Dean stronger than ever, "Do You Believe in Miracles?" is also memorable because it saw the climax of Metatron's storyline in season 9. That, plus Dean's struggles with the Mark of Cain, are one of many reasons why this episode is such a beloved episode of Supernatural.

6 Supernatural Season 10: "Fan Fiction" (Episode 5)

Sam And Dean's Dip In The Theater

In yet another episode that breaks the fourth wall, Sam and Dean discover a play about the two of them, based on the books that Chuck (Rob Benedict) had written off-screen before the pilot. The blurring between fiction and reality is something that Supernatural often does, but this episode proves just how complex Chuck is and how his ability to foresee Sam and Dean's destinies is not something to be messed with. In a milestone for the show, this episode best represents Supernatural as a whole by still following a story-of-the-week format, while continuously raising the stakes for the Winchesters.

Like other episodes of Supernatural that see a change in its usual format, "Fan Fiction" is memorable because it throws Sam and Dean into a unique situation. Plus, by season 10, Supernatural was close to its title of being the longest-running American live-action fantasy TV series. Implementing something unusual like this episode not only provided the opportunity for Sam and Dean to reflect on their lives from an outside perspective, but because of its premise, it sticks in the audience's minds.