Netflix's 4-Season Dark Fantasy Masterpiece Is Everything Supernatural Should Have Been

Published Oct 18, 2026, 7:30 PM EDT Umair is a contributor for the ScreenRant anime section. He has always been enthusiastic about pop culture. Whether it's anime, movies, TV shows, manga, manhwa, video games, or pop music, he is always tuned in. From the classic Dragon Ball to the underrated Dororo, he has a broad knowledge of the most. When he's not writing, you may find him editing on his favorite anime, movie, or pop star on his Instagram. Supernatural had a pretty good deal going. Two brothers, a 1967 Chevy Impala, and enough American urban legends to keep the Winchester boys busy for years. The early seasons knew exactly how to make that setup work, turning abandoned houses, creepy motels, and small-town legends into genuinely scary television. Sam and Dean weren't saving the universe every week. Sometimes, they were just trying to survive whatever nightmare was waiting at the next stop. That formula could have carried the show much further than it did. Instead, Supernatural kept raising the stakes until Lucifer, angel civil wars, the Apocalypse, and eventually God himself became part of the brothers' problems. The original five-season plan gave way to a 15-season run, and somewhere along the road, those terrifying creatures started feeling a lot less threatening. It's hard to fear a random demon when the Winchester brothers have spent years throwing hands with cosmic beings. That's where Netflix's Castlevania gets things right. Trevor Belmont, Sypha, and Alucard face vampires, Night Creatures, and Dracula's war against humanity without the horror getting lost in endless cosmic conflicts. Even with all their powers, the characters aren't untouchable, and the monsters remain genuinely dangerous. It's the kind of dark fantasy Supernatural could have been if it had held on to what made its early seasons so good. Castlevania Nails The Grounded Monster Hunting That Supernatural Eventually Abandoned Based on Konami's video game series, Netflix's Castlevania opens with a tragedy that makes Dracula's hatred of humanity frighteningly understandable, even if his response is horrific. Dracula falls in love with Lisa, a human woman who wants to learn medicine and help people. He shares his knowledge with her, but their life together ends when a corrupt bishop has Lisa burned at the stake for witchcraft. When Dracula learns what happened, he gives the people of Wallachia a year to prepare before unleashing an army of demonic creatures to slaughter them. Stopping Dracula's rampage falls to an unlikely trio: Trevor Belmont, a cynical monster hunter from a disgraced family, Sypha Belnades, a sharp-tongued magician, and Alucard, Dracula's half-human son. Their clashing personalities bring plenty of banter, while the Belmont family's history adds a layer of monster-hunting lore that should feel familiar to fans of Sam and Dean digging through old case files for a creature's weakness. Here's where Castlevania stands out. The story doesn't rely on constantly introducing a bigger villain to keep things interesting. Its later seasons explore shifting power struggles, rival vampire factions, and characters with very different ideas about what should happen to the world. The conflicts grow naturally out of the show's dark fantasy setting, giving the series room to expand without losing its original appeal. Compare that with Supernatural, where defeating Lucifer eventually gave way to Leviathans, alternate universes, and God himself becoming an enemy. Sure, Supernatural had some incredible moments along the way, but after so many resurrections, even death started feeling like a temporary inconvenience. Castlevania isn't perfect, and its later seasons have their weaker stretches. But for anyone who misses the days when monsters were frightening, violence had consequences, and saving the day didn't magically fix everything, it's well worth watching. A Tight Four-Season Run Gives This Netflix Series A Massive Storytelling Advantage Supernatural earned its 15-season run for a reason. Sam and Dean Winchester had the kind of chemistry that could make an episode about a haunted house just as entertaining as one involving the end of the world. And who could forget the Impala, Dean's terrible eating habits, or the show's occasional decision to get completely ridiculous? Castlevania isn't trying to replace any of that. But there's a reason the early seasons of Supernatural still hit differently. The monsters felt dangerous, the folklore was fun to dig into, and even a routine hunt could go horribly wrong. Netflix's Castlevania brings that same appeal to a much nastier Gothic fantasy, with a cast of misfits, plenty of dark humor, and monsters that are genuinely disturbing. The animated series has its own flaws, but four seasons give it room to tell a focused story without stretching it across another decade. For fans who miss the creepier, more grounded side of Supernatural, Trevor Belmont and his companions are well worth spending time with. Just don't expect the Impala to show up. The closest thing here is a very large whip. Release Date 2017 - 2021-00-00 Showrunner Warren Ellis Writers Warren Ellis