Supernaturalseason 16 is the only hope of resolving a plot hole that began withThe Winchestersover two years ago and still doesn’t make any sense. Talk of a potentialSupernaturalrevivalhas been unending since Sam and Dean Winchester brought their hunting career to an end in 2020. Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki have both spoken positively about taking the Impala for another spin down the road, and while nothing official has been announced just yet, the actors will reunite with fellowSupernaturalcastmember Misha Collins in Prime Video’s forthcomingThe Boysseason 5.
Fortunately, the past five years have not been completely devoid of freshSupernaturalcontent. 2022 brought the premiere ofThe Winchesters, an alternate universe prequel starring younger versions of Sam and Dean’s parents, John and Mary. WhileThe Winchesterslargely followed a monster-of-the-week format where John, Mary, and their hunter pals hopped in the Mystery Machine to solve another case, the overarching narrative involved Dean Winchester fromSupernatural’s prime universecrossing over and meddling with history. Inevitably, that created a few plot holes, including a relatively egregious one that onlySupernaturalseason 16 can fix.
The Winchesters Created A Plot Hole With Its New Hunters
Where Are Carlos & Lata In Supernatural?
The Winchesters' universe is virtually identical toSupernatural’s up until the point when Dean Winchester manipulated the timeline, forcing his parents to meet under different circumstances. From there, John became a hunter far earlier than he should’ve, and his life with Mary followed a completely different path. By the time John and Mary met, however, the latter was already very close with two other young hunters: Carlos and Lata. This quartet comprised the main protagonist group ofThe Winchesters, and became an efficient team fighting off demons, ghouls, and interdimensional bugs.
Mary, Carlos and Lata should have been like an uncle and aunt to Sam and Dean.
Granted,Supernatural’sprime John Winchester never had the opportunity to grow close to Carlos and Latabecause he didn’t discover the supernatural existed until after Mary’s death. Furthermore, none of the bonding Carlos and Lata shared withJohn and Mary inThe Winchesterstook place inSupernatural’s universe. Nevertheless, the trio of Mary, Carlos, and Lata were all as tight-knit as family members by the timeThe Winchestersbegan, with their connection predating the moment Dean altered the timeline. The prime Mary must, therefore, have been just as close to them inSupernatural’s world.
Supernatural Season 16 Could Become A Reality In 2025 - Thanks To A Promise Made 5 Years Ago
If a promise from five years ago holds true, Supernatural season 16 could finally become a reality in 2025.
It is strange, then, that neither character was referenced directly throughoutSupernatural’s 15 seasons.A hunter called “Carlos” was mentioned by name in season 9, and is assumed to be the same character, but such a casual and distant relationship simply doesn’t align withThe Winchesters. Based on their bond with Mary, Carlos and Lata should have been like an uncle and aunt to Sam and Dean, as close to them as Bobby Singer. WatchingThe Winchesters, it seems inconceivable that Carlos and Lata could exist inSupernatural’s timeline, knowing Mary’s two sons had grown up to become hunters themselves, and never once lend a hand.
Supernatural Season 16 Can Introduce The Older Carlos & Lata (& Explain Their Absences)
Two Ready-Made Cast Additions For Supernatural’s Potential Revival
The mundane, real-world explanation forSupernatural’s Carlos and Lata plot hole is, of course, that the characters were only created afterthe main show had already finished. With the benefit of hindsight, however,Supernaturalseason 16 would be able to right the wrongs of history and fill the gap where Carlos and Lata should have been. The most compelling way to do so would be to introduce older versions of the two spinoff characters.The pair would likely be in their 70s during aSupernaturalrevival, so maybe not actively hunting, but certainly able to lend their wisdom to Sam and Dean.
There could also be a deeper explanation behind why Carlos and Lata themselves never picked up the phone.
Supernaturalseason 16 could even point out that, until Dean saw Carlos and Lata inThe Winchesters' universe, he never knew how close they were to his mother, nor how useful they could be as hunters. This would explain why there was no team-up in the original show, while also giving Dean a reason to trust them without hesitation in a future revival.
There could also be a deeper explanation behind why Carlos and Lata themselves never picked up the phone and made the effort to establish close ties with the Winchester brothers. Perhaps there was a falling out with Mary that left their friendship in tatters before Sam and Dean were even born. Alternatively,Lata may have been killed by a monster(explaining why Carlos got a mention inSupernaturalbut she didn’t), which set Carlos on a darker path that led him away from old friends.
Carlos & Lata Would Be Perfect Additions To Supernatural Season 16
Supernatural Needs To Get Back To Proper Hunting
As well as filling in a plot hole, including Carlos and Lata inSupernaturalseason 16 would come with extra benefits. For starters, casting older versions of Mary’s palswould allow their stories to continue afterThe Winchesterswas canceled by The CW. As it stands, the pair have no narrative future, butaSupernaturalrevival can bring a sense of closureto their character arcs.
Supernaturalseason 16 could recapture the glory days of seasons 1-5.
Even better,Carlos and Lata could help bringSupernaturalback to its rootsif season 16 ever happened. Later seasons ofSupernaturalshifted away from the monster-of-the-week style of earlier seasons and became increasingly biblical in scale. By bringing two seasoned hunters into the fold - hunters who worked with Mary Campbell, no less -Supernaturalcould revert to the days when Sam and Dean skulked around rural towns chasing paranormal monsters ripped from folklore.
If Supernatural Season 16 Happens, I Hope It Reverses The Character Ending Even The Actor Didn’t Like
Supernatural has an opportunity to right some wrongs if the show were to return for season 16, and there is one character who deserves justice.
With Carlos and Lata taking over the traditional Bobby Singer role and Sam and Dean returning to the field,Supernaturalseason 16 could recapture the glory days of seasons 1-5. And because the veteran hunters would be old friends of Mary’s that Dean met in the past,Supernaturalwould avoid the awkwardness of the Winchesters working with allies they’re completely unfamiliar with.
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.
