One of the most iconic contemporary fantasy TV shows,Supernatural, was a star-maker for Jared Padalecki, but his replacement series deserves recognition as well. Padalecki was a huge part of what made Supernatural work, and his chemistry and brotherly relationship with his co-star, Jensen Ackles, kept fans on the edge of their seats for all fifteen seasons, from 2005 to 2020.
Jared Padalecki still talks aboutSam’s Supernatural storylinesand his experience on the hit fantasy show, as interest in the series hasn’t faded in the years since it went off the air. However, this doesn’t mean that Padalecki hasn’t been busy since Supernatural ended, taking on interesting new roles and proving that he can be more than Sam Winchester, tackling characters who are completely different.
Walker Was Jared Padalecki’s Supernatural Replacement On The CW
Based on the 1993 TV showWalker, Texas Ranger, Padalecki led the cast of the recent reimagining of the show,Walker, which aired on the CW from 2021 to 2024. Premiering only a year afterSupernaturalfinally came to an end, and on the same network, it was clear thatWalkerwas intended to be Padalecki’s next long-running series, though this didn’t turn out to be the case.
Both Padalecki and Ackles have ventured into new genres, trying to move past the pull ofSupernaturaland cement themselves as actors to watch in the TV space outside fantasy. InWalker, Padalecki plays Cordell Walker, the protagonist and Texas Ranger who has to readjust to normal life and investigations after spending several years undercover, away from his family.
While the interest in and popularity of the original series helped bolster Walker in its early years, there were certain aspects of the series that didn’t live up to our expectations. The formulaic, episodic structure of Walker worked in the 1990s and early 2000s, but television is now inundated with similar projects, and Walker didn’t set itself apart from the many works that engage with comparable themes.
WhenWalkerseason 5 was canceled, it didn’t come as a shock to most viewers, asWalkerhad been losing steam in the later years, failing to justify its continued existence. While the premise of the show and the cast of characters were compelling,Walkernever had the longevity and influence of a series likeSupernatural, which has never struggled to stand the test of time.
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Jared Padalecki’s Panned CW Series Deserved Better
There are doubtlessly problems withWalker, but the negative reception that the series received from day one wasn’t fair. Padalecki still brings his characteristic charm and dramatic weight to the character of Walker, and the performances weren’t where the series struggled. It didn’t help that there are so many reboots and revivals on TV today thatWalkerpremiered to plenty of preconceived notions about the quality of the series.
Outside the reviews and negative reactions that plaguedWalkerthroughout its run, the series could’ve taken itself more seriously from the start. WhileWalkerwas never going to be a prestige drama, the writing sometimes came off as lazy and predictable, and Padalecki’s series deserved better than this.
The Supernatural Star Needs A Better Replacement Series
Padalecki will appear inThe Boysseason 5, and fans of both the subversive superhero series andSupernaturalare thrilled about the upcoming role. The actor will be reunited with Ackles and Mischa Collins inThe Boys, which will appeal to fans of both shows and give Padalecki a memorable guest spot. His other recent guest appearance onFire Countryalso helped to remind audiences of Padalecki’s skill.
However, what fans and critics really want from Padalecki is a full-time series that he gets to lead as a protagonist, that stays on the air for as long as Supernatural. While few shows have the ability to remain popular for fifteen seasons, Padalecki has already proved he can commit to a project like this, and we’re hoping that he’ll have the chance to return to TV soon.
Supernatural
Cast
Supernatural is a television series that follows brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, who were raised by their father to hunt and combat supernatural entities after losing their mother to a demonic force. Traversing the American landscape in their ‘67 Chevy Impala, they face numerous paranormal threats.
Walker
Walker is The CW’s 2021 reboot of the ‘90s popular western Walker, Texas Ranger. The drama series was developed by Anna Fricke and stars Jared Padalecki as Cordell Walker, the titular Texas Ranger. Alongside Padalecki stars Molly Hagan, Keegan Allen, Violet Brinson, and Kale Kulley. Jared Padalecki’s wife, Genevieve, also appears in the series as Walker’s wife, Emily.
