When Supernatural made it debut in 2005 on The WB, the show was riding a wave of teen-centric, genre-oriented series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Roswell and Charmed. A show starring two pretty boy actors, Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, with monsters seemed like a slam dunk. And it was, but it became so much more than that.

Fourteen years and over 300 episodes later, Supernatural is the longest-running genre show ever on American broadcast television. Pretty impressive for a series that’s often been overlooked and dismissed in favor of splashier shows like The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and Westworld. While Supernatural doesn’t have the cultural dominance of those series, what is does have is a passionate fanbase that knows, even after all this time, the show has managed to maintain its quality. So it’s no surprise those fans were left stunned and saddened when it was announced that Supernatural’s upcoming fifteenth season would be its last.

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With Season 14 wrapping up soon and the show’s upcoming fifteenth season swan song on the horizon, we decided to take a look at what the critics had to say about all fourteen seasons of Supernatural. Normally we average the percentage on Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes for these lists, but there weren't enough critical reviews on Metacritic outside of Season 1 to generate a score. As such, we're sticking with the scores the seasons earned on Rotten Tomatoes. As you’ll see, fans aren’t the only ones who are enthusiastic about Supernatural.

SEASON 1 & 8 (TIE) - ROTTEN TOMATOES SCORE: 67%

Seasons 1 and 8 are the ones that got the least critical love at 67% on Rotten Tomatoes. Season 1 kicks off the adventures of demon hunters Sam and Dean Winchester, established Supernatural’s universe and introduced the Winchester’s mission of “saving people, hunting things,” as the brothers also searched for their missing father. While the season started to establish the show’s overarching mythology, it focused more on monster-of-the-week episodes.

Many critics saw the potential in the series. For example, Emily Ashby at Common Sense Media wrote, “So many true-to-life issues surface in this series that astute viewers will see it's much more than a pretty-boy drama.” On the other hand, several critics called the show out for being bland and uninspired. The Boston Globe’s Matthew Gilbert summed up this perspective by claiming that Supernatural is “…a horror rehash that never quite takes flight.”

In contrast to Season 1's relatively low critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, the audience score for Supernatural's freshman season sits at 89%.

Supernatural

In contrast to Season 1, Season 8 is a lot farther in the series' production. That season sees Dean return from Purgatory after a year only to discover Sam wasn’t looking for him while he was gone. The season incorporated a myriad of flashbacks of both Dean’s time away and Sam’s relationship with Amelia. The season also included Dean’s vampire friend Benny, Kevin Tran translating the demon tablet, and the introduction of Metatron. This was also the season where Jeremy Carver took the reins as showrunner.

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Many critics contrasted Season 8 to the prior season and considered whether the show was in decline or still vital after so many years. Joe Julians of Digital Spy felt the series improved with the change of showrunners, writing, “It felt like Supernatural had been given a new lease of life under the command of Jeremy Carver and everything felt fresher as a result.” On the other hand, New York Times' critic Mark Hale remarked, “…the show has been flat-footed and dull, with no snap in the writing and no life in the story.”

The Rotten Tomatoes audience score for Season 8 currently sits at 83%

SEASON 7 - ROTTEN TOMATOES SCORE: 80%

Charlie Bradbury Felicia Day Supernatural

Supernatural’s seventh season received the third lowest critical score, although an 80% is certainly nothing to sneeze at. The season revolved around the invasion of Earth by the Leviathans. It's also noteworthy for introducing Felicia Day’s computer hacker Charlie and for the extremely sad death of Sam and Dean’s surrogate father, Bobby. The season ends with Dean and angel Castiel being sucked into Purgatory.

The Rotten Tomatoes percentage for Season 7 is based on only five mostly positive critic’s reviews. The series was coming off a stellar Season 6, so many of the critics were very optimistic about Season 7 and had come to appreciate the show's main characters. TV Fanatic’s Sean McKenna observed of Sam and Dean, “The two have grown and progressed through countless big events, but they still manage to hold onto their trademark characteristics.”

The Rotten Tomatoes audience score for Supernatural Season 8 is tied with the critics at 80%. In terms of audiences scores, Season 8 ranks as the weakest of the series.

SEASONS 3 & 10 (TIE) - ROTTEN TOMATOES SCORE: 83%

Demon Dean Winchester Supernatural

Seasons 3 and 10 of Supernatural are tied at 83%. The Big Bad lurking in the shadows of Season 3 is Lilith, the first demon, who also happens to hold the contract for Dean’s soul. The season consists of the Winchesters tracking Lilith and attempting to get Dean out of his contract. Ultimately the boys aren’t successful and Dean ends the season in Hell.

The third season was cut to 16 episodes from 22 due to the 2008 Writers' Strike. Despite that, most critics gave it positive reviews, with William Thomas of Empire Magazine declaring it, “The most enjoyable season yet.”

In Season 10, Dean briefly became a demon. Even after Sam and Castiel cure him of that affliction, he spends most of the season dealing with the influence of the Mark of Cain and trying to discover how to remove it.

Given its decade long run, many critics were surprised to discover that the series continued to deliver. Mark Dawidziak of The Cleveland Plain Dealer commented, “The really scary thing about Supernatural is…. It not only remains creatively fresh, it continues to attract new viewers.”

Viewers were happy with both seasons. On Rotten Tomatoes, Season 3 has an audience score of 96%, while Season 10’s audience score is 92%.

NEXT PAGE: Supernatural Hits Its Stride

SEASON 12 - ROTTEN TOMATOES SCORE: 86%

Rick Springfield Supernatural

Supernatural’s twelfth season started with Dean and Sam’s mother being resurrected after being gone for decades. In addition to her readjustment to life, the season introduced the murderous British Men of Letters, who wanted to eradicate all demons in America. Meanwhile, Lucifer was busy jumping vessels. He eventually possessed the president and got his assistant pregnant. At the end of the season, the half-human/half-angel Nephilim was born. In an attempt to prevent Lucifer from getting to his child, both Crowley and Castiel perish and Mary and Lucifer got stuck in an alternate dimension.

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Critics viewed the season positively. At this point, they were comfortable with Supernatural’s serialized nature and generally appreciated that the series continued to be a reliable source of entertainment. Eric Joseph from We Got This Covered remarked, “…Supernatural Season 12 has no shortage of heart, intrigue, or emotional resonance and isn’t afraid to be genuinely disturbing.”

Viewers are once again in agreement with the critics on this season. Its Rotten Tomatoes audience score is currently 86%.

SEASON 11 - ROTTEN TOMATOES SCORE: 88%

Season 11 of Supernatural saw Sam and Dean going up against The Darkness, which they released on Earth at the end of the prior season. The Darkness, also called Amara, is God’s sister and she’s come to take revenge on him for sacrificing her. She attempts to destroy Earth and severely injures God in the process. Ultimately, the siblings reconcile and Amara heals her brother, saving the planet.

The critics commented on the series’ consistency and ability to find what works for it season after season. Even as it upped the stakes in Season 11, Supernatural maintained the tone and characterizations that fans had come to know and love. ScreenRant’s Jason Hughes wrote, “This is a show that's found its groove and just keeps doubling down on what works for them.”

With an audience score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, viewers were also satisfied with this season.

SEASON 9 - ROTTEN TOMATOES SCORE: 89%

Abaddon Supernatural

Season 9 picked up right where Season 8 left off: The aftermath of every angel in Heaven falling to Earth. The angels caused trouble as Sam and Dean looked for a way to send them back upstairs. The brothers also went up against Abaddon and Castiel took on Metatron.

Critics were excited by the direction of the ninth season and, for the most part, enjoyed its focus on the expelled angels on Earth. Many were emotionally involved with the season and genuinely interested in where the show’s story was going. They tended to find the season exciting and dramatic, with MaryAnn Sleasman of TV.com commenting, “The Winchester-conflict-of-the-season felt organic and justified in a way that it never really has.”

This is the rare season that viewers felt less positively than critics about, but only slightly. The Rotten Tomatoes audience score for Season 9 was 88%.

SEASON 14 - ROTTEN TOMATOES SCORE: 90%

Season 14 still has a handful of episodes left, but critics have been quite enthusiastic about the first 16 episodes. So far, the season has centered around Dean’s possession by the Archangel Michael and his attempts to keep Michael locked inside his mind.

Critics both appreciated the chance to see Jensen Ackles embody a different character while they also missed Dean. After 14 seasons, critics seemed as emotionally invested in the series as fans, expressing their continued desire to stick with the show. Den of Geeks’ Bridget LaMonica wrote, "Supernatural premiered its fourteenth season by lobbing emotional curveballs at every turn and showing us just how this show can keep going long after other series have burned out." And Amelia Emberwing of Birth.Movies.Death. noted, “There's an inevitable predictability that comes with being fourteen seasons into a show, but that doesn't mean it won't find new ways to make you cry.”

Clearly fans agree. The current audience score for the not-quite-finished season is 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.

NEXT PAGE: The Best Seasons of Supernatural

SEASONS 2, 4, 5, 6, & 13 (TIE) - ROTTEN TOMATOES SCORE: 100%

Supernatural

The most critically lauded seasons of Supernatural are locked in a five-way tie at an amazing 100% each. Most of these seasons represent the years Eric Kripke, the show’s creator, was in charge. His last season with the show was Season 5, three out of the five seasons here represent his vision. And the first five seasons of the series constitute a tightly told, complete story arc, so it’s no wonder critics were especially happy with these seasons. After Season 5, Sera Gamble took over as showrunner and managed to knock Season 6 out of the park. Yet, even in Season 13, Supernatural pulled off a perfect critic score — quite a feat after so many seasons.

Season 2 explores what Azazel, the yellow-eyed demon, did to Sam and other children, and what that means for them as adults. Critics felt that the second season was an improvement over the first. The show began to find its voice and confidently started to build its genre mythology. Phil Pirrello at IGN Movies said, “Supernatural is a really good entry into genre television, with Season 2 providing a lot of the groundwork that allows the series to earn such a label." Viewers largely agreed. Season 2’s Rotten Tomatoes audience score currently sits at 95%.

Season 4 introduces Castiel, who brings Dean back from Hell. The season focuses on Sam and Dean’s quest to prevent Lilith from breaking the seals that would allow Lucifer to walk the Earth, and Sam’s embrace of his questionable powers with the encouragement of the demon Ruby. Critics felt the season benefited from the show's increasingly complex mythology and the actors’ full understanding of their characters. The Chicago Tribune’s Maureen Ryan wrote, “…the show executes what it sets out to do with quiet efficiency and well-earned confidence.” As with Season 2, the Rotten Tomatoes audience score for Season 4 is 95%.

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Season 5 was rumored to be the series’ last, as it ended the story that started in Season 1. The Winchesters work against the newly freed Lucifer’s plans to bring about the apocalypse. They also resist the attempts of Lucifer and the archangel Michael to use them as their vessels. Critics raved about the fifth season of Supernatural, They enjoyed the lead actor’s performances and were excited about what was in store next for the brothers. Of the season, Joe Julians of Digital Spy wrote, “There are almost too many highlights to mention...” Once again, the audience currently rates the season at 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Season 6 saw Sam return from Hell but without his soul. He hunted monsters with the brothers’ resurrected maternal grandfather while Dean attempted to live a normal life with girlfriend Lisa and her son. When Dean learned Sam was alive, he had his soul restored. Critics felt this was another extremely strong season and generally thought the show maintained its spirit, even with the absence of Eric Kripke as showrunner. Zack Handlen of AC Club declared, “Sera Gamble keeps Sam and Dean's strong dynamic, but tweaks it enough to feel new, and there's a maturity here that helps make the lunge towards the reset button more palatable.” Audiences weren’t nearly as impressed with Season 6 as critics, the season’s current Rotten Tomatoes audience score is only 81%.

Season 13 sees Sam and Dean “raising” the Nephilim Jack while mourning the loss of their mother, Castiel and Crowley. The boys eventually discovered their mother was in an alternate dimension and created a portal to go there. They found a host of different versions of their deceased friends in this alterna-Earth, who they brought back with them to their Earth. In the process, both Lucifer and the Archangel Michael returned too. The inclusion of Jack and the alternate Earth in Season 13 left critics impressed with the show’s ability to still incorporate new elements and ideas. ScreenRant’s Kevin Yeoman noted, “For a show that's been around the block a dozen times, Supernatural still manages to entertain.” Meanwhile, audiences currently give the season a respectable 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Airing Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW, Supernatural stars Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Misha Collins and Alexander Calvert. The Season 14 finale airs on Thursday, April 25.