Ok, I’m not trying to stir up trouble here. This isn’t exactly a timely topic anyway except that my curiosity was piqued regarding this matter since the new Fall TV season is starting and I keep seeing social media posts from fellow Witches and other Pagans who are so excited that one particular show is about to start its new season. That show is Supernatural. So, seeing that many of my peers like this show, I have a few questions.
Now, the purpose of this post is not one of debate or value judgments or angry arguments, just genuine curiosity. I’m not trying to pressure or shame anyone into following my point of view (which seems to be all too common in blog posts of this nature); I am merely trying to learn from and understand other people’s point of view. If you are a fan of the show, a Witch, Pagan or other non-Christian theist of some type, and have an inclination to reply, I would like a response to the following questions:
1) Does the show’s portrayal of Witches in the standard “people who have made deals with demons to gain magical powers” characterization bother you?
I know that there has been mention of “good witches” even going so far as to use the terms “Wicca” and “Wiccan” but the initial portrayal of witches has been along stereotypically evil lines. This of course is neither unusual nor surprising given the fact that incorrect depictions of witches and witchcraft are common in the entertainment industry. What is unusual are the lengths that the show has gone in the past to purposefully twist practices, names and historical contexts in order to fit their storyline needs. A specific example is from season 4, episode 7, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester” from October of 2008.
On this episode a “Witch” is using hex bags to magically kill three blood sacrifices over three days in order to summon “Samhain” (pronounced: Sam-Hayn on the show), a special “demon of Hell” that can only be summoned on Halloween. It is referenced that he is the origin of Halloween and that the ancient Celts “mistakenly worshipped him as a god”.
2) Does the show’s portrayal of “pagan gods” upset you?
A specific example is from season 5 episode 19, “Hammer of the Gods” in April of 2010. On this episode, the gods Isis (portrayed as a Caucasian woman for some reason), Mercury, Ganesh, Baldur, Odin, Baron Samedi, Zao Shen, and Kali are shown as human-like beings with supernatural powers. They are portrayed as human-eating and subject to being killed. Lucifer in fact kills all of them except for Kali, though she is rendered powerless against his presence, thus giving the obvious impression that the pagan gods are “lesser” than even the Christian devil.
3) If these things bother you to any degree, what are the qualities about the show that compel you to watch anyway?
I have noticed that this particular show is very beloved by its fans, many of which are Pagan of some type and it has been on for quite a number of years. I’m not saying it’s bad or should be cancelled or anything; I’m not even necessarily criticizing its content, I’m just curious that since it does have this type of slant, what makes it so appealing to our particular demographic. Especially given the fact that so many other shows which have featured Witch themes have been vilified over their inaccurate content; I’ve read quite a bit of angry opinions regarding the third season of American Horror Story, for example but there is almost no backlash for Supernatural.
If you wish to comment below or send an email response, I would appreciate it.
Blessed B
Now, the purpose of this post is not one of debate or value judgments or angry arguments, just genuine curiosity. I’m not trying to pressure or shame anyone into following my point of view (which seems to be all too common in blog posts of this nature); I am merely trying to learn from and understand other people’s point of view. If you are a fan of the show, a Witch, Pagan or other non-Christian theist of some type, and have an inclination to reply, I would like a response to the following questions:
1) Does the show’s portrayal of Witches in the standard “people who have made deals with demons to gain magical powers” characterization bother you?
I know that there has been mention of “good witches” even going so far as to use the terms “Wicca” and “Wiccan” but the initial portrayal of witches has been along stereotypically evil lines. This of course is neither unusual nor surprising given the fact that incorrect depictions of witches and witchcraft are common in the entertainment industry. What is unusual are the lengths that the show has gone in the past to purposefully twist practices, names and historical contexts in order to fit their storyline needs. A specific example is from season 4, episode 7, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester” from October of 2008.
On this episode a “Witch” is using hex bags to magically kill three blood sacrifices over three days in order to summon “Samhain” (pronounced: Sam-Hayn on the show), a special “demon of Hell” that can only be summoned on Halloween. It is referenced that he is the origin of Halloween and that the ancient Celts “mistakenly worshipped him as a god”.
2) Does the show’s portrayal of “pagan gods” upset you?
A specific example is from season 5 episode 19, “Hammer of the Gods” in April of 2010. On this episode, the gods Isis (portrayed as a Caucasian woman for some reason), Mercury, Ganesh, Baldur, Odin, Baron Samedi, Zao Shen, and Kali are shown as human-like beings with supernatural powers. They are portrayed as human-eating and subject to being killed. Lucifer in fact kills all of them except for Kali, though she is rendered powerless against his presence, thus giving the obvious impression that the pagan gods are “lesser” than even the Christian devil.
3) If these things bother you to any degree, what are the qualities about the show that compel you to watch anyway?
I have noticed that this particular show is very beloved by its fans, many of which are Pagan of some type and it has been on for quite a number of years. I’m not saying it’s bad or should be cancelled or anything; I’m not even necessarily criticizing its content, I’m just curious that since it does have this type of slant, what makes it so appealing to our particular demographic. Especially given the fact that so many other shows which have featured Witch themes have been vilified over their inaccurate content; I’ve read quite a bit of angry opinions regarding the third season of American Horror Story, for example but there is almost no backlash for Supernatural.
If you wish to comment below or send an email response, I would appreciate it.
Blessed B