No show has been quite as adventurous with meta references like Supernatural, which features many episodes that demolish the fourth wall. In "The Long Road Home" special, creator Eric Kripke states that several meta episodes, especially "The French Mistake," are his favorites, and it's not surprising why these episodes truly shine as they directly engage with the fandom.
One of the first self-aware episodes is Season 2's "Hollywood Babylon," which pokes fun at the campy horror genre and the Hollywood studio dynamic. Sam and Dean investigate the murder of a production assistant on the set of Hell Hazers II: The Reckoning, a flick with similar plotting and locations as the brother's line of work.
Real-life crew member of Supernatural are extras in the episode as Hell Hazer's crew members, and producers are stereotypically snobbish and unaware that they are using a bonafide Latin ritual in their movie. One of the best meta moments is when a studio tour guide remarks that this set is where Gilmore Girls is filmed, a show which Jared Padalecki starred in.
Meanwhile, one of the largest and most ambitious meta story arcs was introducing Carver Edlund/Chuck/God as the writer of a series of obscure fantasy books that told the story of the Winchesters. Carver Edlund is an amalgamation of the Supernatural writers' names, Jeremy Carver and Ben Edlund, making a direct link between the writers of the show and the fictional world.
From his introduction in Season 4's "The Monster at the End of this Book," Chuck grows into a writer of all the fates, and he is a way for Sam and Dean to write their own story. The fandom is also shown in the series through Becky, who is in love with Chuck's books and Sam. Watching the boys awkwardly flip through books with cliche romance novel covers is priceless and a great nod to the swooning fanbase.
Supernatural also makes fun of its Thursday night competition. In Season 5's "Changing Channels," the boys are thrown into different television shows thanks to Gabriel. From the opening Full House style credits, blending saccharine family vibes and monster hunting imagery, the boys parody a slew of other network TV shows.
One of the best is "Dr. Sexy, M.D.," which is a jab at Grey's Anatomy's lovesick hospital melodrama. The show holds back no punches, as female doctors slap Doctor Dean across the face in true soap opera fashion. Next, the boys find themselves in a procedural cop show, replete with dramatic sunglasses removals that are a send up to David Caruso's character on CSI.
Perhaps the most mind-bending meta episode is Season 6's "The French Mistake," in which the boys literally break through the fourth wall and end up playing heightened versions of themselves as Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki on the Supernatural set. The episode is named after a scene in Blazing Saddles, where the characters break through a wall and spill out into the Hollywood set.
Sam and Dean have never been more confused as they are seeing Castiel as actor Misha Collins on twitter, or as they wander around the set, trying to figure out what a "Padalecki" is. There's a whirlwind of references to the fictional nature of the show and its real-life popularity that requires multiple viewings, but the most entertaining one is the reveal to the boys that Ruby's actress, Genevieve Padalecki, is Jared's real-life wife. Sam is horrified to see who he thinks is the demon Ruby in his home, making for great humor.
Lastly, Supernatural uses its meta episodes to interact with its devoted fans, and no greater gift has been given to the fandom than Season 10's "Fan Fiction." An all girls' school puts on a Supernatural musical based on Carver Edlund's books, and they reenact the show's most memorable moments. There are a number of references to fan fiction culture, such as Destiel, the ship name of Dean and Castiel. In this way, fans get to see the interaction of canon characters and fan fiction play out on screen, which is made memorable by Sam and Dean's downplaying of their dramatic lives.
The 15 year run of Supernatural is in part due to the success of the meta stories. Acknowledging and playing with fandom and genre tropes is what made the show so beloved and unique. Supernatural boldly goes where few shows dare to go, even addressing ship names and the writers themselves. Sam and Dean may have been put through the ringer with these identity crises, but they were wildly entertaining to watch.
Supernatural stars Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins and Alexander Calvert.