On the surface, The Boys and Supernatural are very different shows: the former a violent parody of superheroes, the latter a monster-battling family drama. But according to creator Eric Kripke, the divide isn’t quite so vast.
It’s more than just a shared cast or Easter eggs. The themes, tone, and long-term narrative approach in The Boys are all heavily influenced by Kripke’s work in Supernatural. As the show makes more space for crossovers with its final season at hand, one thing becomes clearer: The Boys is not just inspired by Supernatural, but is a spiritual successor, hiding in plain sight.
The Boys and Supernatural’s shared thematic DNA
There are plenty of faces that fans will recognise appearing on both series, but the similarity is more than a shared cast of characters. Eric Kripke, the show’s creator, stresses in an interview with CBR that it’s not just about the genre, but about the idea that family, whether chosen or inherited, is everything. Eric Kripke told CBR:
“The theme of a family sticking together through overwhelming odds against an entire world that is against you seems to be something I keep returning to over and over again. I think in that way, that The Boys is not so much like a sequel to Supernatural, but I’m just really interested in the [central] notion, which is whether it’s your family that you choose or the family you’re born into, however you define your family, that’s the most important thing. As awful things from society or things that seem scary, difficult, or traumatic come at you, the tighter you get together and take care of the people next to you, the better off you’ll all be.”
Whether it’s fighting demons or unmasking superheroes, it’s not the villain who’s the real focus; it’s how the characters react to the threat. This reframes The Boys entirely. Suddenly, it’s not just a cynical takedown of power, it’s a story about chosen family, loyalty, and survival. Just like Supernatural, the emotional backbone isn’t the chaos around the characters, but the bond that keeps them going through it.
Kripke’s five-season philosophy comes full circle
The most obvious connection between the two shows is in the way they’re structured. In several old interviews, Eric Kripke stated how he originally intended Supernatural to be a five-season series, but it ran till 15: a lesson that he took to heart.
In The Boys, he has gone back to his original idea, planning for the show to run five seasons. Here’s the philosophy: that stories work best with a clear end in mind. With this shorter format, Kripke can limit the amount of time we spend away from the action, while building anticipation for a more satisfying ending. In this way, the Prime Video black comedy is a redo: his opportunity to run a more controlled, five-season plot as his own.
Fighting broken systems, not just monsters
But besides its form, genre, and theme, the biggest connection between Supernatural and The Boys is that at its core, they’re also about dealing with a broken system. In Supernatural, it’s the cosmic system of heaven, hell, and fate. In the other, it’s corporate, political, and media influence. Different spheres, same shenanigans.
Both are character-driven, shady, and genre-bending. They don’t deal in black-and-whites, but grey areas, where flawed heroes battle corrupt societies, and there are no easy victories. The creator of both shows, Eric Kripke, has said this is deliberate. Both shows deal with the problem of “us and them,” and what to do about it. Which is why The Boys feels so familiar to Supernatural, despite the violence and satire. It’s not just a superhero show; it’s a darker and wittier version of Supernatural.
For more such insights, keep following Soap Central.
Edited by Priscillah Mueni