For me in my personal opinion I picked 'No' but I just wanted to see what you guys thought?

Would you still have watched it if it had been girls instead of Sam and Dean?

Let me know what u all think :)

No, i don´t think so :)

I´m not sure, if i would watch it, it depends of the characters, actors and stories :)

No. One of the main reasons i LOVE the show is the brother relationship between the boys. You can not get the same thing between sisters - i have no idea why but i have yet to see it on tv or in real life for that matter.

There's just something about good brother relationships that i adore! ♥ Another reason i love the show so much is Dean's personality,that type of character - much like Spike's from BtVS -does not have the same effect when played by a girl.

To make the show work you would have to change the personalities of Dean and Sam quite alot to work for girl characters and that would give the show a different feel and in my opinion it wouldn't be half as good.

Maybe that sounds bad but IDK that's just what i think.

Ok lets look at history for a second before we jump to no. First peice of evidence.....Buffy. Buffy was about a girl who hunted the evils of the world and it was popular. It had the same kinds of relationships in it as SPN does. There was humor and drama. And let's not forget the action and horror of it. It also used the supernatural place to cover very serious issues like SPN does at time, like child abuse. Evidence two....Charmed. This was a show about three/four sister who use their special talents to fight the evil of the world. This show was also very very popular. It was quite funny and it dealt with the love of a family and the loss of their loved ones because of their job fight the evils of the world. All three of the sisters did their best to work together, even thought they didn't get along all the time. Both of these shows had main characters that went dark side like Sam, Willow on Buffy and Pheobe on Charmed. So if it is a question of whether this show would have worked with girls I say yes. As I have shown shows in the supernatural genre work very well with strong women, as long as the writers had been the same and the premise was the same I think people would flock to it the same way. I really hope that it isn't just the hot guys that draws people to the show. To me it is the concept and the writers that make the show what it is. While I love our boys and am glad they are on the show, I would watch it even if it had been girls.

You both make great points, SG1-090 and tinkymel! But for me too, it's that brother dynamic that works so well. Guys generally aren't that open with each other, even between real brothers for that matter. Girls and women really respond to the emotional side shown by Sam and Dean, and that's a big part of what makes them so attractive. Their physical appearances certainly don't hurt, either! Every girl wants to know a guy like Sam or a guy like Dean. I agree with SG1-090 that for some reason, it doesn't work as well with 'sister' characters. I loved Charmed but not nearly in the same way or as much as Supernatural. If it had been the Win-sisters, I'm not sure I would have stayed interested. :D

No...but then again it would depends on the girls...if they had good chemistry just like sam and dean do then they could've had a shot.

I agree with SG1-090 and 67Impala, the relationship between the brothes is a major reason why the show is as it is, and it would just be something way different with girls, the show would have other problems and other viewing angles.
But it doesn't mean the show would be boring, I just don't think it would be as popurlar as it is now, with my boys;)

But the questions wasn't whether we would watch it, it was would it be as popular. I think that while a lot of the fans that watch it now wouldn't watch it, but I also think that with two strong sisters it would have other fans that don't watch the show now. If you once again look at the history of the previously mentioned shows they both lasted more seasons then many other shows around, Buffy = 7 and Charmed =8. Bothe had demographics that spanned the differnt ages and genders. I think it is kind of sexest to think that a show would do better with either men or women. I think the a show that is as good as this one is with the writers and the stories would be just as good. But then again I am all for women standing strong and being able to come out from behind the sterotypes that have plagued us for so long. I am so lucky I wasn't born prior to the 1950s. And this is a great topic. So much to talk about. I wonder what Fanfly would say?

It would've been for me, Girl power! :DDDD why do u think that if relationship between brothers is a major theme of the show, it would have been different in girls' case? They would've done the same things for each other too. P.S Agree with Tinkymel :)

I will back Tinkymel, because if it's a matter of popularity, I think it wouldn't matter if they were girls.. I give the example of Buffy and Charmed, one I didn't watch and the other I loved the concept and whole storyline, even when one of the main characters died, I still watched it!

I know I wouldn't have taken it as seriously if there were just two seemingly badass chicks on there instead of two god-like-in-appearance dudes who are positively badass, no doubt about it. I just don't really think it would've had the same effect. That, and Jensen and Jared completely bring that show to LIFE!!!! I don't think I'd have been nearly as attached as I am if they didn't provide the depth to those characters. And I'm not sexist, because I'm a girl and feminism rocks!

I just think it is sad that we rest the popularity on the guys being on it and not the story and the writers. If it wasn't for them then it would just be Jared and Jensen standing around doing nothing. I wouldn't mind just looking at them, but the dialog that we love and the story that has captivated us wouldn't be there. I think that as long as those things stayed the same it would be great. I guess i am just weird and think it should be about that.

Absolutely, Tinks, most of the questions I have about the show are for the writers, without them there is no Supernatural.

Jared and Jensen are beautiful, and I can't believe I am going to SAY this but... it's not enough. Gotta have something meaty to back it up. Don't they say that men are the ones stimulated by visuals and women by the story+visuals?

Okay, I don't really know if it would be as popular, but here's what I think. Buffy and Charmed were two supernatural shows that were all about girl power. It's been done. I think if Supernatural was about two girls it would have felt too similar to Buffy and Charmed. The two brothers and the dynamic between them gives the show a different feel.

I disagree, Mel, that we rest the popularity of the show on having two handsome lead actors. Of course the writers are a HUGE part of the show's success - I wouldn't watch a show that sucked if Adonis himself starred in it! I don't think we're that shallow, and I can't recall anyone on here saying that they watch the show only because of Jared and/or Jensen.

You're right, the question was if the show would be as popular with female leads - it may well have been. Personally, though, if I'm going to watch a great show, I'd PREFER to look at gorgeous brothers than beautiful sisters - but that's just it, the show itself has to be good to start with. :)

That is just my point the show is good, and that is why it wouldn't matter if there were brothers or sisters. The popularity should rest solely on whether the story and the writing is good. It is good so it would be just as popular. and people keep talking about the brothers that make the show, i.e. Jensen and Jared. I am just saying that I believe that it is the story about a family that fights evil that make the show as popular as it is. It wouldn't matter if it was two brothers, sister, or any combination of siblings.

All I'm saying is that if it were girls, people might have been like "Hmmm, a show about sisters fighting evil. Where have I heard that before?" and not watched it in the first place.

Hmmm...I don't really agree that a show should rest solely on the writing and storyline, either. If not amazing good looks, there has to be chemistry between the actors as well. :))
I do see your point, and it's a valid one. But I think too, that the show's dynamic would change drastically, because the way the show is written, it's for male leads. It's about guys struggling with the dreaded "male bonding" and learning how to relate to each other. I can't see sisters in the same role being as riveting, because women are more known to connect on an emotional level more than men. That automatic tension would be missing and that would just leave conflict - which would get old very quickly. I agree with SG1 that the show would have to change enough that it just wouldn't be Supernatural as we know it anymore; it would be another Buffy or Charmed. Nothing wrong with that, but who knows if it would do well? There have been many extraordinarily-written shows that just did not click with audiences - it's the show as a whole, the way it comes together, that magic "je-ne-sais-pas" that has us glued to it like fiends. IMO! :DD

Whoa! You guys really got into this pick havent u? When I first wrote this pick I hadnt put much thought into it I guess I just wanted to know what people thought about it and it sparked a huge debate! But thats great I love to hear what y'all think about it, everyone has got a different opinion and thats what makes it so great :)

*Hugs to everyone!*

I guess I am just weird. I think that it would be great no matter what. I already feel like it is another Charmed or Buffy, so I guess that is why I think of it as doing well either way. I am sure if you take a poll of the poeple that watch it you would find that a lot of the fans were fans of one of those shows or both. I just would like to think that the writing and story are good enought to be there with out the boys. That is to say that if it never started with boys it would be good. I think if they did it now it would loose a lot of fans, but that is because we have come to love the characters now. I think that women actually have more problems relating to each other at times. I really don't think it is about the gender as much as the personalities. Look at Pheobe and Prue from Charmed, they never truely got along. If you really wanted to go for the gusto with two siblings trying to learn how to relate to each other change Sam to Samantha and leave Dean as himself. Can you imagine if it would have been a brother and a sister. Oh the fights they would have had.

I have to agree with Mel. Regardless of whether the leads are male or female the spectacular dedication of the crew is what really makes this show so...spectacular. And since it's obvious that Kripke cares about this story, I'm sure he'd pick two female leads who were talented enough to pull it off and had great chemistry(just like he chose Jared and Jensen). It may change some dynamics of the show but not enough to detract from the over all quality of it.

And although women are typically viewed as being more emotionally open that's not always the case. And especially considering the specific manner in which Dean was raised, even if that role was played by a woman she'd still be putting on a brave face for her younger sibling and not so willing to expose her inner thoughts/feelings because it would still be her job to "take care of the family". So personally I don't think the dynamics would have to change that much to accommodate women in those roles. Only if you automatically assume that all women are emotionally well-adjusted and have a knack for "touchy-feely self-help yoga crap" which is just not the case.

And about Dean's personality not working on a female lead- I disagree. I think it would work fine on a woman. You may encounter the double standard of how Dean's promiscuity is a sign of his sexual prowess whereas a woman's promiscuity is viewed as just...promiscuity. But I think that's a minor quibble that could be overcome by the character's inherent charm. Dean can be incredibly obnoxious but we love him because underneath that beats a heart of gold and because he's obnoxious in a charming way. If that charm is maintained in the chosen actress(and I have no doubt it would be) then the same applies for a female Dean- it's easy to see beyond the swagger to the vulnerability at the character's core.

I think the show would appeal to a great many people, even if the first thing they thought of was "Hey that sounds like Charmed/Buffy". It stands to reason that, if they liked those shows, the very fact that this show seemed similar would at least lead them to try it out. And like I said before, the quality of the show speaks for itself. The awesome story arc, the creatures, the dialogue, the sets, the drama- all of it would keep them coming back for more.

The fact is, the reason that I didn't watch Supernatural when it was first aired was because it seemed too masculine to me. I love Buffy and was spoiled by it. Supernatural seemed like a shallow story about guys killing monsters in icky ways-with the emphasis on icky. But I'll be honest- if it had been girls killing monsters in icky ways I would have jumped on it in a heartbeat. And the plain fact of the matter is that girls with guns are incredibly popular- look at all the anime/movies that have gun-toting female characters. Supernatural with female leads may draw in a whole different audience than it has now, but I firmly believe that it would still be popular- if not more so.

Very well debated Firefly. I was waiting for that. I agree with everything you said. I know that I started watching it because I thought to myself, Hmmmmm.....It is like Buffy with boys. I thought I would give it a try, but wasn't expecting to much at the beginning because I didn't expect it to work as well as Buffy. I was wrong. I must agree there is a trend of powerful woman in the entertainment industry that is appealing to woman more. Look at the Underworld series.

Yes, exactly. And powerful women appeal to men as well. See, if the leads were female they'd still have sexual appeal- just not to heterosexual female fans. Instead, I feel sure they'd have a large male fanbase, which is something that SPN lacks (but Buffy doesn't!).

Jesus Christ Fanfly! That was a whole lotta writing right there! lol :) I love reading all your opinions and everyone seems to have there own!

I think this has to be the most debated pick ever! And the thought of making it just popped into my head one night when I was bored! lol

But keep it up, I love reading it all!

Lots of love!

Donna xx

Well it's fine to speculate on Supernatural's popularity if it had had female leads, and people definitely bring up good points, but there's no way of ever really knowing.

I will say one thing though. I can't see two sisters driving around the country, being stuck in a car with each other for hours at a time, day after day, for as long as Sam and Dean have been hunting, without killing each other.

And that is different from Sam and Dean how? They get on each others nerves and have even tried to kill each other at time, if only metaphorically.

As someone who used to take long road trips with my family, including my two sisters and brother, I can attest to the fact that it's entirely possible to spend over 10 hours a day in a car with a sister for several days straight and not kill her. :) Like Mel said, I don't see how it would be any different than two brothers. Sure, those long hours in the car wear on you but you learn to deal with it- as have Sam and Dean.

I think that long hours stuck with anyone would be hard on a relationship, no matter what the gender of the people is. Just look at the Episode Roadkill, that was a couple in the car together for a long time and they were fighting. I just think that the show is great no matter what they do to the two main character. This would be a great episode for the Trixter. Turn botht the boys into girls. That would be funny, Deana and Samantha.

Exactly, Mel- you do get agitated when you're stuck in a car with someone forever but you really learn how to not let it take over and if you do argue, you learn how to let it go and not hold a grudge.

And hell yeah- I want a Trickster episode with Deana and Samantha! LMFAO! =D

That would be great, as long as they don't dress Jared and Jensen up as women. Just think what Dean would do with that women's body. I don't think he would leave the bathroom, self gradification would be the name of his game. And Sam would be the same, thinking he was the betterlooking and all.

=DDD ROFL Too true.

I really think this show is great enough to not just rest on gender, but that is me.

I do too. The quality of the show doesn't rest entirely on Jensen and Jared. Although if the leads were female perhaps the people who watch the show now wouldn't watch it, but I think it would garner a different fanbase, possibly larger than the one it has now.

Ditto. I am almost positive that it would have more male fans. But I would like to think that it would have the same amount of female fans too. Look at how many female fans shows like Buffy and Charmed have.

Yes, I think so too!

Yeah I know it's hard to spend that much time in a car with anyone, trust me I've been on a few long road trips myself. But I believe it was you Mel, who said that women sometimes have a harder time relating to each other. I think sisters generally have a harder time putting up with each other than brothers do.

And by the way tinkymel, you were ranting about how people shouldn't just watch SPN for the hot guys, but you say you think it would have a bigger male fanbase if it had female leads. If the writing was the same then why would guys watch it if they don't watch it now? Could it possibly be because of the two hot lead female characters? Are you saying that guys are allowed to be shallow but girls aren't?

Ok ladies, ladies lets all calm down a bit here :) Its only a pick question, I know you all have your own opinion but lets keep it nice yeah? Lets not fall out over it :)

No I am not saying that they are allowed to be shallow. And many men do watch the show already, but as linalin pointed out previously men are governed more by visuals then women. It isn't right, but it is the way of the world. It is also easy to see that men are more drawn to a show featuring shows with female leads. Look at other shows in the genre with women leads, they tend to have larger male following than this show does. I am not saying it is right or fair, but it is the way of the world. I am a realist, and know that all of us in the world would rather watch a show with characters that we are attracted to. But I am just saying that I am drawn to the shows writing and story, not the boys. I actually like I said wasn't expecting to like it because I thought it was a weak imitation of Buffy (don't get mad fans, after watching I changed my mind by the third or fourth episode). If the story would have been horrible I wouldn't have continued to watch it. Actually to tell you the truth during parts of season three I stopped watching it because I got bored and watched other shows. I am drawn to the stories more then if they are male or female leads, although most of the shows I watch have female leads. And don't worry Donna, I won't let anything get to me. I don't take things personally. We are all allowed to our opinions, that is why it is a debate, we are each trying to get our points across. I repect the people that don't feel the way I do, and love hearing what they have to say.

Thats ok then Mel, I was just worried that u might get upset by what people were saying but if your fine with it then so am I! :)

Yah, I don't get upset unless they attack me personally. She was just questioning my reasoning, which is part of the whole converstion.

Yeah, I reiterate what Mel said- it's not that we condone men objectifying women but it's a fact that they do and that would factor into the popularity of a female driven Supernatural.

I'm glad you didn't take offense, Mel, because I meant none. I understand what you're saying and respect you're opinion, I'm just trying to get mine across as well.

Women are just as equally governed by visuals as men are, at least when it comes to tv shows etc. If we weren't then there wouldn't be so many picks on fanpop asking who is hotter. I'll admit that one of the reasons I tuned in to watch it on September 13, 2005 is that Jared and Jensen are hot. By the time Pilot had finished, I was hooked by the amazing storytelling and characters. Now their looks are an added bonus ;)

As for Buffy having a larger male fanbase, I'm not an expert on the subject, but personally I know more guys that watch Supernatural than Buffy. Most of the guys I know think Buffy is a "chick show", but I know a quite a few who watch Supernatural.

so...does it simply break down to a matter of which gender the show appeals to? Yes, right now it appeals to more women, likely because but not solely because, it has two handsome male leads. And more guys would watch it if it had two beautiful female leads, along with the great storyline? No offense to anyone, and there have been some impressive arguments both ways, but that's really all I'm reading here.

Would I watch a show with female leads if the story was good? Maybe. Would I watch a show with male leads if the story was good? Maybe. I still think that to be a diehard fan of any show, it has to click with you on some kind of visual and emotional level regardless of whether it's male or female leads, or even how good the story is. Personally, Supernatural does that for me in a way that no show I have ever watched with female leads has done. That does not mean female leads are inferior or male leads are superior; it's how the whole package hits you. It would be impossible to have sustained interest in a show that doesn't have both, imo. :D

Oh, and I should add, guys can be just as attracted to good-looking male actors, and females can be attracted to beautiful female actors because deep down, we want to be like them. :)

I guess I am odd man out on here. Buffy is the show that clicked with me on that level. While I like this show a lot and it is up there in my favorite shows, Buffy clicked for me. Not because of the attractiveness of the cast, and some of them were not, but because of the stories and the writer. While there were some episodes I hated on it, and a whole season I could have lived without, it drew me in. There was so much to learn and get into. It could have been a group of the ugliest people on the face of the planet and I still would have loved it, of course Joss is God. I guess I just wish that it wasn't the way it is.

Actually, although the conversation came to focus on male/female fanbases, originally what Mel and I were saying is that the story itself is interesting enough that it would still be popular regardless of the sex of the main characters. And I still stand by that.

What I notice about everyone who's picked 'No' is that they all state that they themselves wouldn't find the show as compelling with female leads. But the question isn't whether you personally would watch the show. It's whether you think it would still be popular. And given the premise and the success of shows like Buffy and Charmed the odds are that the audiences who enjoyed those shows would try Supernatural if they felt it was similar to them. And I stand by my assertion that, regardless of what initially drew them in- namely the sex appeal of the leads or similarity to other shows- fans would continue to watch it because of the quality of the show- which wouldn't change just because the leads are female.

I agree totally Fanfly. For me personally it is the premise of something that brings me in and keeps me watching, not matter what the people look like. I still feel that the writers and the story are good enough to hold an audience not matter who is on it.

The question has bounced around a LOT. It's gone from asking whether the show would be as popular with female leads, to whether or not the show's success rested only on Jensen and Jared, to whether the show could be as successful going on the quality of writing and production alone. That's three different aspects, with big differences among them, so this question has become very difficult to debate.

I agree that, if the show was about sisters and not brothers, it would be as popular, but with a different fanbase. At first I assumed, and I'm sure others did too, that the question applied to the current fanbase and not whether it would pick up a whole bunch of different fans if the leads changed from male to female. Well of course it would! And it would lose fans that it has now. But that wasn't the question, either.

Oh! I see what you're saying, Wendy- I guess I just automatically assumed that the question was referring to SPN's popularity in general, not specific to it's current fanbase. In fact, I didn't even realize that's what other fans were inferring! =D

A lot of the bouncing around was my fault because I allowed myself get sidetracked by some of the comments.

Shows like Buffy, Charmed, and Supernatural appeal to a more specific set of people than some other shows do, which is why they don't have the largest fanbase. A lot of Supernatural's fans are also fans of Buffy and/or Charmed. The very fact that Supernatural shares some of the elements of the other two is what drew them to it. However, if it had the added similarity of lead female characters, then maybe more people would have assumed that it was just a bad knockoff. If for that or any other reason the show's current fans didn't never gave it a chance, I don't think it would gain that many different fans just because the main characters were female. I'm not saying that it wouldn't be as good with lead women, although I still say it wouldn't work, but that's my personal opinion. Good shows get cancelled all the time because for one reason or another, they just don't gain enough fans.

Ok I did make a pick about 3 months ago asking if u would still watch SPN if the boys were not so hot, here is the link...

link

What I asked here was in gerneral, out of everyone who watches these kinda shows not just SPN fans, would it still have been as popular if it had female leads?

See I took it the same way as Fanfly, as in general not just he fans now. That is why. And while it has jumped around a lot, I am guessing that we are saying that is my fault, it is because the points I was making are why it would be popular in general and not with just the fans it has now.

You understand the question I was trying to make Mel :) I cant believe this has gone onto a second page! yay! :)

Ok so you were talking in general. At least I don't feel like a complete numb head.

Yeah I was :) Did u not see my last comment on the other page? have a look :)

BTW ur not a numb head :)

Yay I understood. Thank you for posting this topic for us to discuss by the way. It is a are converstaion peice for us.

Yeah. 56 comments (so far) in 5 days. People definitely had a lot to say. That's what's so great about fanpop, it gives people around the world a place to discuss/debate things about their favorite shows, movies, etc. The Supernatural spot is especially great because people don't bite you're head off for having a different opinion, unlike in some spots.

I second that Acklesgirl.

I third that Mel :)

wow, nobody has to feel bad about posting their opinion! fanfly noticed that all the "No's" were saying that we personally wouldn't watch the show, so it seemed to me that we were taking it as a personal question - DeanandSam did ask in her first comment if we would watch it. That's what I based my initial answer on, and I think others did to. I could easily be wrong, though!

No one is to blame for the question veering off; as I said, it was just becoming difficult to debate - but that's not to say I haven't enjoyed it, this has been a wonderful discussion! Sorry if my comment suggested otherwise. It's a great question! :DD

Yeah I did ask that 67impala so its my fault that people are confused :(

Sorry for any confusion guys I think Im gonna shut up now!

Seriously, we're an amazing group of people! To get into this lively a discussion, and then we all feel kinda bad that maybe someone was offended or misunderstood - I love us! <3

Okay, there's a motion on the floor:

I move that none of us feel guilty, or bad, or upset in any way AND to agree that this was a fabulous question and discussion.

Do I have a seconder? :DDD

I second that!

I third that.

I fourth that!

And I agree- I love how we can debate on this spot without it become some kind of bitchfest. We're always passionate but polite. I hear stories about the craziness that goes on on other spots and I feel sorry for those people who have to deal with that. :(
The people on this spot are truly special. ❤

Try and do this on the Twilight spot, oh goodness they are protective of their opinions. Heck just me saying this here might be enough. LOL

LOL Mel :) I have never even watched Twilight! Although when I went into a store the other week (The kind of store that sells t-shirts, posters etc to do with Buffy, Angel etc...) I asked the woman behind the counter if she had any stuff to do with SPN and she said 'Their old news no-one watches that now everybodys watching Twilight, we have loads of Twilight stuff if u want that but we havent got anything to do with SPN' I just stood there mouth open at what she just said! I then left the store very quickly before I said something I mite regret! How dare she say that!

I would have said it. Me and my son want shirts that say And Buffy Stakes Edward, the end. It has been blown way out of proportions.

It gets pretty crazy in some spots. I actually left one spot because there was so much bashing and bitching going on.

I can't believe the woman in the store actually said that! The Twilight phenomenon is out of control.

guy's would watch it because of the girls, and girl because they kick ass.. beside's the story would still be the same..

Certainly not among female viewers. Male viewers might be a different story, tho.

^not to be rude here shomill but since when do women not enjoy shows about women?

My own opinion is mostly maybe but leaning towards no. People are harder on female centered shows than male ones, unfortunately... :( and people seem disinterested in female relationships a lot more than male ones.