How An Iconic Sci-Fi Series Aired An Entire Episode From The Perspective Of A Car

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 12 seconds ago

Supernatural is among the very few shows to reach 15 seasons, and among genre shows, it’s outlasted everyone. As the Winchester brothers, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles were at the forefront of almost every episode, but they weren’t alone. With them all the way from the humble beginnings, trying to find the demon who killed their mother, to the very end, when they battle God, is the 1967 Chevy Impala: Baby. 

Through thick and thin, possessions, ghosts, wendigos, angels, and the Devil himself, Dean’s Impala was right there, which is why, when it took center stage in 2011’s “Baby.” When fans heard an entire episode would be shot inside the Impala, they didn’t know quite what to expect, but the crew of Supernatural turned the old “bottle episode” gimmick into one of the best of the show’s entire run. 

Baby The Impala Is Supernatural’s Third Lead

From the moment “Baby” starts, you know it’s going to be a different type of episode. The usual recap begins in 1967 with footage of a Chevy plant assembling Impalas. It quickly jumps forward to the present, as Dean and Sam give it a good wash before a road trip to investigate another case, and that’s when you notice every single camera shot is from the perspective of Baby. This leads to some unique angles over the dash and into the side mirrors, and then later on, an overhead shot from the roof of the car as the boys settle in for the night. 

Every single inch of the Impala helps ground the Supernatural episode right when the series was starting to go off the rails. Granted, “grounded” is a bit of a stretch for an episode in which the term “were-pire” is used. The real monster of the episode, a Nachzeher, feels like a throwback to the early seasons, and how it’s finally defeated, through a series of small payoffs to the various passengers in Baby during the episode, is classic Supernatural. 

A Back To Basics Monster Of The Week

The meat of the episode, Sam and Dean going on a road trip together, also gives the brothers time to reconnect and establish their relationship. For years, it was the bedrock of the series, but over 10 seasons, a lot went unsaid, and a gulf began to form between the two as fans had to endure more and more episodes that split them up, or worse, put them at odds. In “Baby,” the two get a chance to sit, talk, and reconnect. It’s a quiet scene with the camera going from one close-up to the other, but it’s what helps make the episode so good, especially for longtime fans who relish every moment with the pair. 

As much as the dramatic side of their relationship helps drive Supernatural forward, there’s also the complete goofball side to each of the brothers, and to the actors behind the roles. Goofs and bloopers from the series get more views than the dramatic moments on social media. Dean popping in Bob Seger’s “Night Moves” and then singing along is one of those moments that makes fans wonder if Jensen did it between takes and they wrote it in, because it’s exactly the type of offbeat, corny humor and brotherly chemistry the stars showed on screen for over a decade. 

Turning The Bottle Episode Format On Its Head

“Baby” was an immediate hit when it aired, nailing the sweet spot of “monster of the week,” classic Supernatural chemistry, and a few nods to the final major story arc of the series. Bottle episodes are usually done as a cost-cutting measure, such as on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. or Stargate SG-1, but the unique hook of filming entirely in and around a car makes “Baby” look and feel different from every other episode. The talented production crew turned a budget-saving gimmick into a wildly inventive new way to frame, shoot, and present a show that had been airing for over a decade. 

Supernatural may have outlasted the story it was trying to tell, but for any show to run for 15 seasons and develop a fervent fan base that, years after its conclusion, is still going strong. “Baby” is a perfect example of why the show became a hit and how self-imposed restrictions can lead to new levels of creative genius.