SPRING PREV

WITH JUST NINE episodes to go to close out 15 crowd-pleasing seasons, Supernatural isn’t resting on its monsterhunting laurels. Going gently into that demon-filled night is not an option for the horror show with a wink, which returns March 16 on its new night, Monday. As exec producer Andrew Dabb puts it: “Once you’ve had God as your bad guy, it’s hard to go bigger than that.” Here’s what to expect as heroes Sam and Dean Winchester (Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles) fight to save the universe one last time.

The brothers’ plan to take the power back from the Deity (Rob Benedict), aka Chuck, gets a boost when half-angel Jack (Alexander Calvert) returns from Death’s territory saying he “might have a way to kill God,” Dabb says. “That gives them hope—a light at the end of the tunnel. Even in the face of doom, Sam and Dean keep fighting. That’s what makes them heroes. It’s the theme for the back half of the season.”

Though the ultimate battle dominates, look for some fun stand-alone episodes, including one delving into the history of the Men of Letters and their iconic bunker. “We’ll finally get an explanation about the vintage telescope!” Dabb promises. Plus: A Castiel-centric episode shows us the world through the angel’s (Misha Collins) eyes, and young Sam (Christian Michael Cooper) and Dean (Paxton Singleton) return at a “formative moment in their evolution,”