Star Wars

The Star Wars saga was created by George Lucas, and consists of three trilogies, TV series and single films. The original trilogy chronicles the war between the Rebellion and the Galactic Empire. The heroes include Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Yoda, who are pitted against the imperial forces led by Emperor Palpatine and his agent, Darth Vader. Star Wars has had an unprecedented impact on popular culture; its popular terminology and concepts, such as that of the Jedi warrior and the Force, have become universal. The movies, listed below, explore the themes of good vs. evil, the use of power, and family.

• Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
• Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
• Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

The second Star Wars trilogy, which began in 1999 with Episode I: The Phantom Menace, serves as a prequel to the original trilogy that explains how the evil Galactic Empire gained power, as well as the origins of the legendary Darth Vader. To be honest a lot of it is about taxes, trade negotiations, and an annoying CGI critter called Jar Jar.

There is also an extended Star Wars verse explored in animated series as well as novels.

In 2015 the franchise continued with a third trilogy of movies:

• Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
• Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)

As well as stand-alone films:

• Rogue One Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
• Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Star Wars serves as more than just a source of pop culture reference points for Supernatural. Creator and long-time showrunner Eric Kripke pitched the show as "Star Wars in Truck Stop America." He also kept Star Wars firmly in mind while developing and casting his lead characters:

When we started casting, we had archetypes in mind, which were Han Solo and Luke Skywalker. We were really looking for Sam to be empathetic, kind, and likable, and really the audience surrogate. The person who the audience would most see themselves as and really carry the story through their eyes. And that required a really unique likability. For Dean, we were looking for Han Solo. We were looking for devil-may-care, charismatic, a little rough around the edges, a little edgy, says things that are not always the kindest thing, as long as they're funny. And that was really what we started out with.

The influence of Star Wars has been brought up on several occasions during interviews of those involved in the show. When asked if she kept “Star Wars in Truck Stop America” in mind while working on the show, Sera Gamble, a writer and former showrunner, replied:

I sometimes say it's "the epic love story of Sam and Dean," but that's just to tease Eric. Yes, I do keep the "Star Wars on Route 66" thing in mind. However huge the scope of Star Wars got, it never stopped being a personal story that was very simple and family-centered at its core.

On the gag reel on the Season 1 DVD & Blu-ray, a scene from 1.15 The Benders was digitally altered so it looks like Dean is being attacked by lightsabers.

Two members of the crew have a direct association with the ongoing Star Wars franchise. Writer Julie Siege has worked on the animated Clone Wars series. Writer Eric "Giz" Gerwirtz is a game developer behind the two most successful Star Wars video games.

At Salute to Supernatural L.A. 2011 Jared said he loved playing Sam when he was under the influence of demon blood, because as a kid he always wanted to be a Jedi and would hold his hand out to try to see if he could get things to fly into his hand. He said to the audience, "Don't even try to deny it, y'all. You know that you've all tried. Jensen's still trying. he'll be like on set and he'll be like (Jared stretches hand out..." Jensen responded “It's not a Jedi mind trick, I just know someone will bring it to me if I do that!”

Jared in his childhood home with his Boba Fett collection.

Jared has also revealed his love for Boba Fett:

I have an irrational childhood love of Boba Fett. (Laughs.) Ever since I watched the movie, I always wanted to be a bounty hunter; it sounded so cool to me as a child. I always remember the scene where Han Solo is dying and I just got the sense that Boba Fett was just really cool. I always wanted to dress up as him. And he had that great rocket on his back.

And who he'd queue all day to see at Comic-Con:

I’m a big Star Wars fan and grew up watching the movies. I read all the books and have read Star Wars fiction that went between the newest trilogy and the original trilogy and it was part of my childhood. I’d love to see George Lucas’ take on the last three decades of fandom that he largely inspired. So Lucas and all the producers from the original Star Wars movies.

At the Supernatural Convention in Chicago in October 2012, Jared said he planned to dress son Thomas as Yoda for Halloween.

Writer Robbie Thompson has as his Twitter handle @rthompson1138. George Lucas first short film was Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB, which was later later remade as the feature film THX 1138. The number 1138 features in many of his films.

Episodes

1.03 Dead in the Water

Dean: I’m Agent Ford, this is Agent Hamill. We’re with the U.S. Wildlife Service.

Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill are the actors who played Han Solo and Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy. This is the first of several Star Wars references throughout the series.

1.10 Asylum

Dean: I love the guy, but I swear he writes like friggin' Yoda.

Yoda is a character in the Star Wars who speaks in an unusual manner by placing verbs (and more frequently, auxiliary verbs) after the object and subject. In linguistic typology this is the "Object Subject Verb" format. A typical example of Yoda's speech pattern is from Return of the Jedi: "When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not."

1.12 Faith

Dean: Look, no disrespect, but I’m not exactly a believer.
Reverend Roy: You will be, son. You will be.

Dean's conversation with the reverend calls to mind Yoda's words to Luke in The Empire Strikes Back:

Luke: I'm not afraid.
Yoda: You will be. You will be.

2.02 Everybody Loves a Clown

The hunter's funeral pyre for John (and in later episodes for other hunters) may be a reference to the Jedi funeral ceremony, recalling the famous scene of the funeral pyre of Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi.

2.05 Simon Said

Dean: He full-on Obi-Wan-ed me!

Obi-Wan Kenobi is a character from Star Wars who can use the Force for telekinesis as well as mind control (Jedi mind tricks).

Andy: These aren't the droids you're looking for.

This is a reference from the first Star Wars movie A New Hope. The words are muttered by Obi-Wan Kenobi while performing a Jedi mind trick to get passed a security guard when he and Luke Skywalker, accompanied by the droids R2D2 and C3PO, try to get into the town of Mos Eisley. Obi-Wan is referenced a second time by the license plate of Andy's van, which is "RU-OBI-1", or "Are you Obi Wan".

2.06 No Exit

Jo: I’m here to rescue you.

Jo's comment to Teresa is a direct quote from Luke to Leia in Episode IV: A New Hope.

2.08 Crossroad Blues

Dean: Wasn't for cash. Oh, who knows. Maybe this place is full of babes in Princess Leia bikinis.

When Princess Leia is captured by Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi she is forced to wear a golden bikini while serving as a slave-girl.

2.10 Hunted

Sam: Am I supposed to go Dark Side or something?

To go Dark Side is a Star Wars reference that means to become evil. It is listed on the Pad of Definitions.

2.12 Nightshifter

Sam's FBI ID names him as 'Han Solo', even though Han Solo served as a partial inspiration for the character of Dean, and Sam was partly inspired by Luke Skywalker.

2.18 Hollywood Babylon

During the movie shoot, the "actors" on set recite the famous exchange between Princess Leia and Han Solo when they say

Actor 1: I love you.
Actor 2: I know.

2.22 All Hell Breaks Loose: Part Two

Jake: See, that Ava girl was right. Once you give in to it, there's all sorts of new Jedi mind tricks you can learn.

A reference to the Jedi, who can use the Force for mind control. Jabba the Hutt refers to this ability as an "old Jedi mind trick" in Return of the Jedi.

3.01 The Magnificent Seven

Tamara: I love you.
Isaac: I know.

A reference of the scene in Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back where Han Solo has one last conversation with Princess Leia before being frozen in carbonite by stormtroopers.

3.16 No Rest for the Wicked

Dean: Our slutty little Yoda.

Dean refers to Ruby as Yoda, who taught Luke Skywalker the ways of the Force in The Empire Strikes Back.

4.01 Lazarus Rising

Dean: The name’s Antilles, Wedge.

Dean calls the phone company to locate Sam through his cell phone. Sam’s phone alias, Wedge Antilles, is the name of a character from Star Wars.

4.15 Death Takes a Holiday

Dean: All right, Yoda, let's see what you got.

Having trouble with lessons on how to move objects on the astral plane, Dean calls Cole Griffith, who is teaching him, Yoda. This is a reference to the Star Wars character's ability to move objects with the Force, and his role as a teacher.

4.22 Lucifer Rising

Ruby: This is the final run on the Death Star and you need more juice than I've got.

A reference to the final battle in Star Wars, in which Luke Skywalker uses his powers to make the crucial shot that destroys the Death Star, and saves the Rebellion.

5.01 Sympathy for the Devil

Chuck: You went full-on Vader.

A reference to Anakin Skywalker's final descent to Darth Vader in Star Wars.

5.07 The Curious Case of Dean Winchester

Sam calls old Dean "Emperor Palpatine" a reference to the ancient, wizened villain in the Star Wars films.

5.09 The Real Ghostbusters

Hotel Manager: Look, I don't have time to play Star Wars guys. Go ask the guy in the ascot.

The manager says this to Sam and Dean thinking they are involved in a LARPing game.

5.12 Swap Meat

Sam discovers a number of Star Wars t-shirts in Gary's wardrobe. Upon seeing them, Sam dismisses Gary as a “virgin.”

5.19 Hammer of the Gods

The scene where Kali chokes Mercury during the meeting is very similar to Darth Vader's choking scenes in the Star Wars movies.

5.22 Swan Song

Bobby: So, was I right?
Dean: As always, Yoda. Two stunt demons inside, just like you said

In Star Wars, Yoda had a reputation for knowledge and wisdom, not unlike Bobby in Supernatural.

Sam: I'm gonna rip you apart from the inside out. Do you understand me?
Lucifer: Such anger... Young Skywalker. Who are you really angry with? Me? Or that face in the mirror?

This conversation hearkens back to the confrontation between Emperor Palpatine and Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi, when the Emperor tries to convert Luke to the Dark Side.

Dean: I got a bad feeling about this.

This line is said many times, by several characters, in the Star Wars movies.

6.20 The Man Who Would Be King

Bobby: If there's a snowball of a snowballs chance here, that means we're dealing with a Superman who's gone darkside.

Bobby uses the Dark Side metaphor to illustrate the dangers of Castiel's partnership with Crowley.

7.09 How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters

Dean: Of course, the sketch looks more like a Chewbacca head.

7.11 Adventures in Babysitting

Dean: Relax, it's a field not the Death Star.

The Death Star is a giant space station, so large that it can be mistaken for a moon, and is capable of destroying a planet.

7.17 The Born-Again Identity

Dean: Quit being Dalai-friggin-Yoda about this. Get pissed!

Dean has mashed up the names of two individuals known for their equanimity in the face of challenges -- the spiritual leader of Tibet Dalai Lama (whose name he mispronounces) and Jedi master Yoda.

7.18 Party On, Garth

Dean: All right, well, if it wasn't Bobby, then what Jedi'd that sword into my hand?

While fighting the shojo, Dean loses his samurai sword. When he reaches for the sword, it slides across the floor towards him. He picks it up and defeats the shojo.

7.20 The Girl with the Dungeons and Dragons Tattoo

Dean: Great. It's in the middle of the Death Star.

Bobby: Okay. Let's Yoda this.

Charlie Bradbury is wearing a Princess Leia t-shirt with the slogan "Rebel" on it. On her desk, Charlie has bobblehead Darth Vader, C3P0 and a stormtrooper dolls, a Yoda Pez dispenser, and at least one Star Wars Comic. She has a similar collection in her apartment. Charlie's coworker Harry says "I love you" and she responds "I know". This exchange is a quote from The Empire Strikes Back, between Han and Leia just before Han is frozen in carbonite.

Charlie reveals she has a tattoo is of Princess Leia in her slave girl bikini astride a 20-sided dice (which are used in RPGs). In a scenario familiar to many fans, she claims she got it while drunk at Comic-Con.

7.23 Survival of the Fittest

Meg: There goes the Empire's last hope.

This a reference to the Star Wars movie The Empire Strikes Back. When Luke leaves his training with Yoda prematurely, the spirit of Obi Wan says to Yoda: "That boy is our last hope." However, in Star Wars, Luke is the hope of the Rebellion, rather than the evil Empire.

8.11 LARP and the Real Girl

LARPer: I love you.
Charlie: I know.

The lines are spoken between Leia and Han Solo as he is about to be frozen in carbonite at the end of The Empire Strikes Back. Watch it here. It is also said between Charlie and one of her co-workers in 7.20 The Girl with the Dungeons and Dragons Tattoo.

Dean refers to Charlie as "Your Worshipfulness" which is a Han Solo line from Star Wars, where he says to Leia "Look, Your Worshipfulness, let's get one thing straight. I take orders from just one person: me." to which she replies "It's a wonder you're still alive!"

Charlie: My name's Charlie. I'm here to rescue you.

This line was originally spoken by Luke to Leia in Star Wars "I'm Luke Skywalker. I'm here to rescue you." Watch it here.

8.12 As Time Goes By

Dean: So you're like Yodas to our Jedis.

In Star Wars, Yoda is a powerful Jedi master who trains other Jedi.

8.17 Goodbye Stranger

Meg: Aren't you a little short for a Stormtrooper?.

This line was originally spoken by Leia to Luke in Star Wars.

8.20 Pac-Man Fever

As she leaves, Charlie says "I love you" to Dean and he replies "I know", another reference tot he Han and Leia scene described above.

8.22 Clip Show

The case marked "weird" by the Men of Letters was case 1138. 1138 has special significance to George Lucas fans. His first short film was Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB, which was later later remade as the feature film THX 1138. Subsequently the number 1138 occurs in many Lucas films including Star Wars.

9.18 Meta Fiction

Sam: You want to sneak onto the Death Star, take out the emperor?
Castiel: Okay I... I'm not sure what a fictional battle station in space has to do with this, but if taking out the emperor means taking out Metatron, I'm on board.
Dean: Wait, did you... did you just understand a Death Star reference?
Castiel: Yeah, I think so. But I don't understand what that has to do with heaven.

Frustrated with Castiel's lack of pop culture knowledge, Metatron implants in his mind the contents of every book, movie, and TV show he has consumed.

9.21 King of the Damned

The climactic scene between Dean and Abaddon contains an elements which is reminiscent of an iconic Star Wars moment. When Luke Skywalker is on the ice planet of Hoth and has been captured by a creature called a Wampa. he is strung upside, and his lightsaber is on the other side of the cave. He uses the force to make the weapon fly into his hand, just as Dean gets the first blade to fly to him. You can watch the scene with Luke here.

9.23 Do You Believe in Miracles?

Gadreel: So you said you had a plan, how we might convince them to let us pass.
Castiel: Wookie. [holds up handcuffs]
Gadreel: Brother, I have no idea what that means.
Castiel: It's a reference to a very popular film that... Never mind.

In A New Hope, Chewbacca the Wookie pretends to be Han Solo's prisoner so they can get into the prison block on the Death Star where Princess Leia is being held.

10.14 The Executioner's Song

The climactic scene between Cain and Dean is reminiscent of the scene between Darth and Luke in The Empire Strikes Back, where Darth points out the similarities between him and Luke, and says that Luke is headed to the dark side, as Cain says to Dean. There is also the loss of a hand. Watch the Star Wars scene here.

10.21 Dark Dynasty

Charlie: Why are we meeting here? I could've come to the Deathstar.

Charlie is referring to the Bunker as the Deathstar -- a moon-sized battle station which houses a laser that can destroy a planet.

13.04 The Big Empty

Sam finds Jack watching Star Wars: Clone Wars, an animated series set in the Star Wars universe that ran from 2008-2014.

Sam: Jack? Hey. "Clone Wars"?
Jack: The computer said I'd like it. I do like Ahsoka. Kinda hate Anakin.
Sam: Uh... that's probably for the best. Never mind.

Anakin, of course, goes Dark Side and becomes Darth Vader. Ahsoka Tona is a Jedi who trains under Anakin Skywalker.

Fandom

Not surprisingly, fans have also seen the parallels and used them in works combining the epic tales of Star Wars and Supernatural.

• Supernatural Menace video by frickangel
• Do or Do Not fic by __tiana__ with a Star Wars style video by pearvodka
• Hunters of the Dark Side by paleogymnast
• Little Jedi Lost, There is no try, Black Ice by epeeblade