Template talk:Supernatural (American TV series)

Color bars
I would like to add color bars to this template, similar to this. We should think about what colors would be good. Any ideas? - Peregrinefisher 05:41, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

I like it - Strike Chaos 03:02, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

The colors are a bit bright. I suggest replacing the red with a paler pink of some kind. --OGoncho 08:01, 12 April 2007 (UTC)


 * How about FB6E70? --OGoncho 10:33, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

Missouri
Can people please not keep re-adding Missouri to the group of secondary characters as she's only a guest character. The secondary characters section should be for characters who've appeared in several episodes on a recurring basis. Thanks.

Gmanuk2007 21:11, 20 May 2007 (UTC)

John Winchester Listed Twice?
Please forgive my potential ignorance, but why is John Winchester listed twice, once as a main character, and once as a supporting? Should he not just fall under only one of those two categories? -Shane Lawrence 01:22, 11 October 2007 (UTC)
 * I think he is under both categories because he is a main character in the Origions spin-off comic and a supporting character in the show. But I agree, it is really weird. Maybe we should just place him in the catergory (Main or Supporiting) based on whether his character is more... what's the word... influencal, no, not prominant, I can't think of the word. Okay, how about this. We should have John placed based on which (the comic or the show) has a bigger influence on the audiance. I have never read the comics. But I have no idea. --Meraculas 00:55, 22 October 2007 (UTC)

I think that John Winchester should be listed twice because he was the main character for season 1, and a supporting character for season 2.Lakerareas 01:52, 15 November 2007 (UTC)


 * he was not the main character for season one, that was Sam and Dean, and he was not a supporting character in season 2(he only appeared twice) but he is the main character in Supernatural: Origins. Rau J16 03:17, 30 November 2007 (UTC)

Whether he's a main character in the comics is irrelevant: the template relates to the TV show and as such he should be listed as a recurring character. Gmanuk2007 (talk) 21:26, 9 May 2008 (UTC)
 * It relates to Supernatural. That includes the comic. Rau's Speak Page 21:29, 9 May 2008 (UTC)

Bela
Should an article about Bela be started? She's becoming a recurring character. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 61.69.179.184 (talk) 10:42, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

Actors
There should be links to the main actors of the series, ie Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, possibly others (Jeffery Dean Morgan, Jim Beaver, Misha Collins, Katie Cassidy, Lauren Cohan, etc) in my opinion. Bovineboy2008 (talk) 20:36, 7 January 2009 (UTC)

Dean Winchester (portrayed by Jared Padalecki) · Sam Winchester (portrayed by Jensen Ackles) ...or something else? This would be easy to implement if there is consensus, but it would be appreciated to have a firmer grasp on the suggested format. Thank you. hornoir (talk) 21:10, 7 January 2009 (UTC)
 * In what format? Like...


 * Tentative Support. I wouldn't mind crediting the named characters in this manner, but I don't think the actors should be given their own grouping nor be displayed at full text size. hornoir (talk) 21:10, 7 January 2009 (UTC)


 * I'm not sure of the best format but, looking at some other nav templates like House and Pushing Daisies give a separate line for cast and Smallville Cast gives an entirely different nav. I suggest that we do give them another line, full size. Bovineboy2008 (talk) 23:37, 7 January 2009 (UTC)


 * I'm not sure Pushing Daisies is a good example, since the cast list was added mainly to help the template avoid deletion ("With the actor links there is just about enough to justify a template", as quoted from here). But, if you there is a consensus to redesign the template towards the look of House (with Executive Producer links and the sort as well), then that would be fine.  Supernatural has enough information to be as well constructed as the House pages are.  hornoir (talk) 00:54, 8 January 2009 (UTC)

Here's what the revised version might look like, by the way...

This is, of course, merely a suggested appearance if this change is supported. hornoir (talk) 01:12, 8 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Looks good. But for now, it would probably be best to have it listed as Comic Books, since we don't have articles on the novels and stuff. As well, most of the people under cast aren't actually cast members, so should be deleted. Only Ackles, Padalecki, Cohan, and Cassidy should be listed, as all others are merely recurring characters. Ophois (talk) 01:41, 8 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Print media encompasses comic books and allows it to easily expand should the novels and whatnot get separate articles; also, the link is to a section that lists the comics and novels, thus a general term seems more appropriate. As for the cast, I list EVERYONE that plays the characters named.  I'd agree it should be shorter, but I was devising the most encompassing list possible.  Oh, and Cassidy shouldn't be listed unless Cortese is — since Cortese is now playing Ruby, which Cassidy formerly did.  hornoir (talk) 02:01, 8 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Cortese is a guest star, though. Cassidy was credited as a cast member for her appearances. Ophois (talk) 03:28, 8 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Fair enough point, Ophois. I'm just not sure where the line should be drawn.  hornoir (talk) 13:40, 8 January 2009 (UTC)


 * I think the line should be drawn where it was here: Supernatural (TV Series), and I prefer the one above over the one below. Bovineboy2008 (talk) 15:35, 8 January 2009 (UTC)


 * My gut instinct concurs with Bovineboy2008, that if the cast member is listed in the cast section then they should be listed in the navigation box. On another matter, I do prefer the Season Summaries layout of the bottom template and the inclusion of the Quotes by Season links.  hornoir (talk) 16:47, 8 January 2009 (UTC)

Here's another version of the template. I can — of course — mix-and-match elements between the two or incorporate entirely new ones, depending on what the consensus is.

I don't want to over-saturate folks with options, but I'd like there to be a consensus on what aspects people like and want used. hornoir (talk) 13:40, 8 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Cast sections of templates are just for stars of the series, though, not recurring characters. Ophois (talk) 02:04, 9 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Thanks, Ophois, but can you direct me to where you are getting that guideline from?    doesn't mention anything about what should or shouldn't be used within one and — sadly — WikiProject Television's style guidelines for navboxs simple states: "The standard navbox for television articles is the  template. See the template's article for instructions on creating a navbox."  Since there is no guideline for content (unless I just couldn't find it), that means a general consensus vote on the talk page deems what should and shouldn't be included.  <span style="font-family:CarbonType,American Typewriter,Bookman Old Style,Courier;">hornoir <span style="font-family:CarbonType,American Typewriter,Bookman Old Style,Courier;">(talk) 12:11, 9 January 2009 (UTC)
 * I don't have any place where it is written, but I've never seen recurring actors in a template. Ophois (talk) 01:52, 10 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Some do, such as Template:GilmoreGirls. Rreagan007 (talk) 23:19, 19 June 2009 (UTC)

Main characters: Castiel
As Collins was promoted to the main cast from season 5 should Castiel be moved from supporting characters to main characters? Canez (talk) 10:21, 2 April 2010 (UTC) Castiel is starring as main character and in season six he has appeared in several episodes so far, hence its only fair to put him under the main character category. And by the in other shows, its seen that a character is regular but doesn't appear in all episodes. Nasirakd (talk) 18:31, 8 December 2010 (UTC)
 * This has come up before, and the general consensus has been that since Sam and Dean are the only 2 characters that appear in every episode that they are the only 2 characters that should be listed as the main characters. Rreagan007 (talk) 15:27, 2 April 2010 (UTC)
 * This has come up before, and the general consensus has been that since Sam and Dean are the only 2 characters that appear in every episode that they are the only 2 characters that should be listed as the main characters. Rreagan007 (talk) 15:27, 2 April 2010 (UTC)
 * Previous discussions came to the consensus that only Sam and Dean counted as main characters. Other starring characters such as Bela, Ruby, and Castiel would be listed as supporting. If you disagree, then feel free to start a discussion on the main article's talk page. Ω  pho  is  18:33, 8 December 2010 (UTC)
 * Since it has been some years since this topic was discussed, and since Misha Collins remains to this very day one of the three main cast members in the opening credits (everyone else, even Mark A. Sheppard, being listed as a guest), I think there is some reasonable justification for re-analysing this topic.
 * It appears that the only reason thus far given for excluding Castiel from the main characters section of the template is that he, unlike Sam and Dean, have not been in every episode. But this alone does not seem to me a compelling reason for his exclusion.  Compare this to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer template.  Even though the character of Dawn Summers is not introduced until the fifth season, she is still listed in the template as a main character.  And even though Anthony Stewart Head ceased to be a main cast member at some point in the series, the character of Rupert Giles is nevertheless still listed as a main character.
 * The fundamental question here is, what should be the cut-off for inclusion in the main characters section of the Supernatural template? Should every character who's been in x number of episodes or more be included?  Perhaps, but I think a less-controversial solution would be to place any character portrayed by an actor who has been a main cast member at some point in the series in the main characters section.  We know that Misha Collins, Jensen Ackles, and Jared Padalecki are currently main cast members, so it would stand to reason that Sam, Dean, and Castiel all be included.  We may wish to go back to previous seasons and see if any of the other characters had ever been portrayed by actors who were part of the main cast.  For example, if we go back and find out that Jim Beaver had, at one point, been listed as a main cast member, that would then be justification for incorporating Bobby Singer into the main characters section.  Contrariwise, if it turns out that Beaver had never been a main cast member, that would seem to be justification for possibly leaving him in the supporting characters section.  Likewise, if it turns out that Mark A. Sheppard (e.g.) is upgraded to a main cast member next season, that could stand as justification for then inserting Crowley into the main characters section, too; and if he's not, that may stand as justification for continuing his exclusion therefrom.
 * I recognise that some may have reasons to support or oppose this suggestion, so feel free to argue either for or against it.
 * allixpeeke (talk) 12:42, 23 November 2013 (UTC)
 * The main Supernatural article talk page would probably be a better place to bring this up. From previous discussions, I believe I recall that both Lauren Cohan (as Bela Talbot) and Katie Cassidy (as Ruby) were listed as regular characters during the 3rd season. I believe that Jim Beaver (as Bobby Singer) has been in more episodes than any other actor (with the exception of Sam and Dean of course), but I don't think he was ever credited as a regular character. As far as Castiel (Misha Collins), he certainly is an important character, but even in the seasons where he is credited as a season regular he is not in every episode, whereas Sam and Dean are always in every episode. To me, that makes him a recurring character and not a main character. Rreagan007 (talk) 22:25, 23 November 2013 (UTC)
 * The fundamental question here is, what should be the cut-off for inclusion in the main characters section of the Supernatural template? Should every character who's been in x number of episodes or more be included?  Perhaps, but I think a less-controversial solution would be to place any character portrayed by an actor who has been a main cast member at some point in the series in the main characters section.  We know that Misha Collins, Jensen Ackles, and Jared Padalecki are currently main cast members, so it would stand to reason that Sam, Dean, and Castiel all be included.  We may wish to go back to previous seasons and see if any of the other characters had ever been portrayed by actors who were part of the main cast.  For example, if we go back and find out that Jim Beaver had, at one point, been listed as a main cast member, that would then be justification for incorporating Bobby Singer into the main characters section.  Contrariwise, if it turns out that Beaver had never been a main cast member, that would seem to be justification for possibly leaving him in the supporting characters section.  Likewise, if it turns out that Mark A. Sheppard (e.g.) is upgraded to a main cast member next season, that could stand as justification for then inserting Crowley into the main characters section, too; and if he's not, that may stand as justification for continuing his exclusion therefrom.
 * I recognise that some may have reasons to support or oppose this suggestion, so feel free to argue either for or against it.
 * allixpeeke (talk) 12:42, 23 November 2013 (UTC)
 * The main Supernatural article talk page would probably be a better place to bring this up. From previous discussions, I believe I recall that both Lauren Cohan (as Bela Talbot) and Katie Cassidy (as Ruby) were listed as regular characters during the 3rd season. I believe that Jim Beaver (as Bobby Singer) has been in more episodes than any other actor (with the exception of Sam and Dean of course), but I don't think he was ever credited as a regular character. As far as Castiel (Misha Collins), he certainly is an important character, but even in the seasons where he is credited as a season regular he is not in every episode, whereas Sam and Dean are always in every episode. To me, that makes him a recurring character and not a main character. Rreagan007 (talk) 22:25, 23 November 2013 (UTC)
 * allixpeeke (talk) 12:42, 23 November 2013 (UTC)
 * The main Supernatural article talk page would probably be a better place to bring this up. From previous discussions, I believe I recall that both Lauren Cohan (as Bela Talbot) and Katie Cassidy (as Ruby) were listed as regular characters during the 3rd season. I believe that Jim Beaver (as Bobby Singer) has been in more episodes than any other actor (with the exception of Sam and Dean of course), but I don't think he was ever credited as a regular character. As far as Castiel (Misha Collins), he certainly is an important character, but even in the seasons where he is credited as a season regular he is not in every episode, whereas Sam and Dean are always in every episode. To me, that makes him a recurring character and not a main character. Rreagan007 (talk) 22:25, 23 November 2013 (UTC)

WikiBooks in Nav
Apparently, there is some disagreement over the linking of the WikiBooks version of each article in the Navbox (especially when there is a WikiBooks link in the Toolbox on the left side of every page. See discussion here: Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Wikipedia-Books.   BIGNOLE     (Contact me)  15:27, 6 May 2010 (UTC)

Section links
I have removed the excessive section links for a second time. we don't link to every episode, only the ones with articles. likewise, we don't link to every character, only the ones with articles. Frietjes (talk) 23:56, 29 August 2014 (UTC)

Antagonists
Oughtn't we add Lucifer and Metatron to the antagonists section of this template? allixpeeke (talk) 04:48, 8 March 2015 (UTC)