So in a previous post, I talked about Sera Gamble as a showrunner. During the course of the series we have had four show-runners. Eric Kripke, Sera Gamble, Jeremy Carver and Andrew Dabb.
Some I feel were better writers but their writing dipped once they became showrunners. So in your honest opinion, who do you believe was the strongest showrunner? I would love to know your reasons and if poss rank them in order from best to worst, have fun ...
Kripke. And it's not even close.
I rewatched the first 5 seasons for the first time, during the lockdowns of 2021 and holy shit! That was some good shit.
I genuinely kinda forgot how focused & consistent the show used to be. There was an actual plan to the damn thing. There were storylines that went somewhere & characters had fucking arcs.
Look, I don't have a hate boner for the later seasons like some do. The later seasons produced some stellar standalone episodes. But the quality between the Kripke era and others is huge imo.
P.S Jeremy & Sera were damn good writers but made for mediocre showrunners.
1) Kripke obviously takes the top spot. Not much explanation needed. I'm in the minority that feels Season 5 was kinda mixed. But that finale (the originally intended finale) is how it should've ended.
2) I like the Carver era. He certainly breathed new life into the show and resurrected it to a certain extent after the lows of Seasons 6 and 7. He also gave us the bunker, which was a fantastic set piece. 9 was the highlight for me. 8 and 11 were also really enjoyable. Little mixed on 10. Closing the gates of hell also would have made for a nice series finale. Too bad they never paid that storyline off.
3) Gamble sucked. Let's just be glad she only was in charge for two years because had she stayed longer, I may have quit the show. 6 is bad. Yet a few solid episodes here and there, Weekend at Bobby's is one of my favorites. 7 is damn near unwatchable and the decision to kill Bobby was unforgiveable.
4) Dabb made Gamble look competent at her job. Dabb kinda coasted during Seasons 12 and 13 which were watchable but clearly out of gas at this point. Scooby Doo episode rocks. But Seasons 14 and 15 drove the show into the ground, made me angry, and I hope we don't ever get a revival because of the lows sunk in those last two years. The bitter taste left in my mouth from that series finale has not gone away yet and I am in zero hurry to give this show I once loved a rewatch.