Today, we are going to be exploring the exceptional writing of Meredith Glynn. Glynn has been a member of the Supernatural crew since season 12, when she joined the team as both a writer and a co-producer. She then moved on to become a producer for season 13 and a supervising producer for season 14. Before Supernatural, Glynn worked on Eye Candy and Scream: The TV Series.
Glynn was a welcome addition to the Supernatural writing team for season 12, as her episodes are consistently well-written and move the show’s overall plot along in a practical yet riveting manner. One would assume that joining the writing team of a show that has been airing for over 10 years would be daunting, considering the mass amounts of canonical information that needs to be utilized properly. Glynn’s episodes, however, fit in seamlessly right from the start.
Glynn has written the following episodes of Supernatural:
Season 12, Episode 5: “The One You’ve Been Waiting For”
Season 12, Episode 16: “Ladies Drink Free”
Season 12, Episode 19: “The Future” (with Robert Berens)
Season 13, Episode 4: “The Big Empty”
Season 13, Episode 8: “The Scorpion and the Frog”
Season 13, Episode 14: “Good Intentions”
Season 14, Episode 5: “Nightmare Logic”
She has also written three more incredible episodes not included in the above list, which we will be exploring at length below.
Season 13, Episode 20: “Unfinished Business”
“Unfinished Business” is one of my absolute favorite episodes of Supernatural to date. It had an excellent team at its helm, with Glynn penning the script and the one and only Richard Speight, Jr. in the director’s chair.
The episode is almost entirely focused on Gabriel, his ties with Loki, and his Kill Bill-esque quest for vengeance. The backstory of the archangel Gabriel has always been a mystery, something that fans did not expect to get any closure from after “Hammer of the Gods”. Once Gabriel was revealed to be alive in season 13, though, his presence demanded an explanation of sorts. This could have been explained briefly with narrative exposition in between the show’s overall plot, but Gabriel was instead (and thankfully) given an entire episode to tell his tale.
Glynn truly took this script to the next level in regards to the amount of thought and effort that was put in. The story was fun, entertaining, and felt fleshed out enough to fit comfortably into the length of the episode. At the conclusion, I was left feeling very satisfied with the story that was authored for the character of Gabriel. I was also impressed with the way that Gabriel’s characterization was written, considering this was his most substantial appearance since his return to Supernatural – after being absent from the show for 4 years (or actually 8, canonically speaking!) Based on the dialogue and events that occur throughout the episode, Glynn clearly did her research on the character beforehand.
One of the most unique aspects of this episode was the fact that Speight was tasked with directing himself as he played two separate characters. The fact that this translated so very well on-screen is a true testament to Glynn’s writing prowess, as the strength of the script paired with Speight’s seasoned acting skills made for some truly phenomenal scenes.
Speaking of great scenes, the final showdown between Gabriel and Loki was definitely one for the books. It was a moment that I certainly never expected to see played out on the show, and yet it was better than I could have ever imagined. Glynn’s scripted dialogue for the scene was raw, emotional, and unforgiving. Her writing gave both characters their own distinct, separate voices – despite being played by the same actor.
The re-imagination of Gabriel’s horn as a golden kazoo, which Glynn has also been credited with, was a wonderful addition that had me excitedly clapping when he sidled out into the alley playing it. A select portion of the Supernatural fandom was, of course, very pleased by this creative choice.
I hope to see more episode collaborations between Glynn and Speight in the future, as they certainly make an excellent team.
Season 12, Episode 11: “Regarding Dean”
“Regarding Dean” was an emotional roller coaster, to say the least. The Winchester duo has died countless times throughout the course of Supernatural, so it can sometimes be tough to get fans to buy into the stakes of yet another perilous fate that is looming within the plot of an episode. However, this one really hit everyone where it hurt – watching Dean Winchester lose his memory of absolutely everything in his life.
The unique nature of this episode challenged Jensen Ackles to step outside of his everyday role of the regular Dean Winchester. Glynn crafted a wonderful script for Dean’s descent into nothingness, as the pacing and conversations had me sitting on the edge of my seat in nervous anticipation.
I thoroughly enjoyed Sam and Dean’s interactions with Rowena throughout the episode, as it is always a treat to see her on screen with the Winchesters. From the moment of Rowena’s arrival at the boys’ motel room, I was floored by the dialogue between the trio (which ranged from amusing to heartbreaking in a matter of minutes, flawlessly).
The juxtaposition of the two scenes where Dean is staring at himself in the mirror in despair is one of the most gut-wrenching parts of the entire episode. Bits like this are what make Glynn’s writing so great, as she can take short, simple scenes and make them pack a punch that will take your breath away as a viewer.
Overall, I loved this episode and I am thrilled that it received the kudos it deserved.
Season 14, Episode 8: “Byzantium”
“Byzantium” was a ruthless tearjerker of an episode (it seems like there’s a pattern here), and also what I believe to be one of season 14’s absolute best. As with the aforementioned episode above, Glynn knocked it out of the park as usual with high stakes and heartbreaking moments.
Where to begin? The episode dives right into the heavy themes, starting off in Jack’s bedroom just minutes before he passes. Then the pain keeps on rolling, as Sam has a rough moment trying to collect wood for a pyre. Fans went into this episode not quite sure if The Powers That Be intended to kill off Jack for good, so Glynn’s script made it truly feel like the real deal – cue the waterfall of tears.
Small scenes with a great impact? See: Team Free Will’s epic drinking sequence. Though brief, it was an excellent addition to the episode and possibly one of the best Sam, Dean, and Castiel scenes ever written for the show. Glynn truly has a talent for writing episodes where all of her scenes shine and complement one another in a harmonious manner, no matter how large or small.
I was impressed and satisfied (albeit an emotional mess) with the way that Jack and Kelly’s meeting scene in Heaven was written. The moment was incredibly important to Jack’s character as a whole, and Glynn wrote it in such a beautiful way.
Though it has left a foreboding cloud of doom in its wake, the scene with Castiel’s deal with the Empty was brilliant. I was momentarily preparing myself for Castiel to be whisked off elsewhere yet again, but instead something else happened. The Empty left him with a darker, more sinister punishment: it will only take him once he is at his happiest. I was beside myself from the implications of this, as it essentially means fans will be on pins and needles waiting for the other shoe to drop. Glynn’s scripting and dialogue choices for all of the events that unfolded within Kelly’s Heaven home were truly pillars to the integrity of the episode.
As the credits began to roll for the episode upon my initial viewing, I had found myself rooted to my seat, astounded by how impressed I was with what I had just watched. Glynn proves herself time and time again to be exactly the kind of writer that Supernatural needs right now.
I hope to see Glynn continue writing for Supernatural in the future, as she has consistently written great episodes with a strong script and a distinct voice.
Glynn’s next episode, “Lebanon,” airs on Feb 7. “Lebanon” was co-written with showrunner Andrew Dabb, and it also happens to be the 300th episode of Supernatural. It is rumored to feature an assortment of current and past cast members, so I look forward to seeing how her writing translates across all of the characters. Between Glynn and Dabb, this highly anticipated benchmark episode is sure to make Supernatural history.
What are some of your favorite moments from Glynn’s episodes? Let us know in the comments below!
Stick around for the next part of our series tomorrow, where we will be exploring some of the best moments from Davy Perez!
