How to watch 'The Winchesters,' the new 'Supernatural' spin-off

The 'Supernatural' universe is growing—here's how to watch 'The Winchesters' prequel series

How to watch The Winchesters, the Supernatural prequel series
(Image credit: Matt Miller/The CW)

After a whopping 15 seasons, 15 years and 327 episodes, we're pretty well-versed in what happened with Sam and Dean Winchester (Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, respectively), the demon-hunting, monster-fighting brothers at the heart of Supernatural. But what about what happened before Sam and Dean and how the Winchesters got wrapped up in this world of ghouls and goblins?

The Winchesters, a new fantasy drama hitting small screens on October 11, answers those questions and more, telling the untold story of Sam and Dean's parents, John Winchester (Drake Rodger) and Mary Campbell (Meg Donnelly), as they meet, fall in love and, yes, fight to save the world as teenagers in the 1970s. (Is anyone else getting groovy Stranger Things vibes?)

Will Supernatural stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles make an appearance in this spin-off prequel? (Hint: You might just recognize the voice behind the show's narrator.) And what other Easter eggs from the Supernatural world will superfans be able to pick up throughout the new series? But the most important question right now is how to watch The Winchesters, no matter where you are in the world. 

How to watch 'The Winchesters' online:

How to watch 'The Winchesters' in the US

The Winchesters is available to watch live stateside on The CW beginning Tuesday, October 11 at 8pm EST. Viewers can stream the next day free on The CW. 

How to watch 'The Winchesters' from anywhere

Just because you're not located in Kansas, USA, like the Winchester clan doesn't mean you can't enjoy The Winchesters. All you need is the handy help of a VPN, a service that changes your IP address on your computer, or smart device, allowing you to continue to keep up with your favorite shows when you're away from home.

Our go-to VPN service is ExpressVPN, rated as the best in the world by our colleagues at TechRadar. It's simple to use, it's super secure, there's a no-quibble 30-day money-back guarantee and, if you sign up for an annual plan, you'll get an extra three months absolutely free...

How to get started with a VPN:

  1. Download ExpressVPN, using the easy-to-follow instructions (you can get 49% off, three months free and there's a 100% risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee).
  2. Once you've installed your VPN, open the app and select your server location as anywhere in the United States
  3. With your ExpressVPN installed and your location set to the United States, head to The CW App and CWTV.com the day after broadcast to watch The Winchesters for free and without a subscription. 

Watch 'The Winchesters' trailer:

Who is in 'The Winchesters' cast?

Helmed by Meg Donnelly and Drake Rodgers, The Winchesters cast is a mix of fresh faces and some familiar names. (We spot more than one CW star in this actor list!)

  • Meg Donnelly as Mary Campbell
  • Drake Rodger as John Winchester
  • Bianca Kajlich as Millie Winchester, John's mother
  • Demetria McKinney as Ada Monroe
  • Nida Khurshid as Latika Desai
  • Jojo Fleites as Carlos Cervantez
  • Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester (narrator)
  • Tom Welling as Samuel Campbell

Want even more scary, spooky stuff to watch this October and beyond? Check out Netflix's new series The Midnight Club, the true-crime doc Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes and the best Halloween movies for even more chills and thrills. 

Christina Izzo

Christina Izzo is the Deputy Editor of My Imperfect Life. 


More generally, she is a writer-editor covering food and drink, travel, lifestyle and culture in New York City. She was previously the Features Editor at Rachael Ray In Season and Reveal, as well as the Food & Drink Editor and chief restaurant critic at Time Out New York


When she’s not doing all that, she can probably be found eating cheese somewhere.