Star Wars

The Star Wars saga was created by George Lucas, and consists of two trilogies. 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 muppet called Jar Jar.

There is now a Star Wars animated series as well. On Supernatural, references are made almost exclusively to the original trilogy.

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 likeable, 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 likeability. 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 the current 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, a scene from 1.15 The Benders was digitally altered so it looks like Dean is being attacked by lightsabres.

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 success 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!” Source

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.Source

Episodes References

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: [to Sam about John] 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.

2.22 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.

3.16 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.

5.09 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.

5.07 The Curious Case Of Dean Winchester

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

5.12 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.

7.11 Adventures In Babysitting

Dean: (referring to Bobby's coordinates) 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.

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