Fifteen years. Two brothers. Angels and demons. A story like no other. And one of the most passionate fan bases of all time. That’s Supernatural. There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done: Actors and Fans Celebrate the Legacy of Supernatural is an emotional look back at the beloved television show Supernatural as it wraps up its final season after fifteen unprecedented years on air. With heartfelt … fifteen unprecedented years on air.
With heartfelt chapters written by both the series’ actors and its fans—plus full-color photos and fan illustrations—There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done traces Supernatural’s evolution, the memorable characters created by its writers and brought to life by its talented actors, and the many ways in which the show has inspired and changed the lives of both its viewers and cast.
Both a celebration of Supernatural and a way of remembering what made it so special, this book is a permanent reminder of the legacy the show leaves behind and a reminder to the SPN Family to, like the series’ unofficial theme song says, “carry on.”
Featuring chapters from Jared Padalecki (“Sam Winchester”) and Jensen Ackles (“Dean Winchester”), which include some of the most heartfelt and emotional things they’ve previously said about Supernatural that they want fans to remember—plus new reflections about Sam and Dean’s legacy, There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done also includes original contributions from:
• Richard Speight, Jr. (“Gabriel”)
• Chad Lindberg (“Ash”)
• Julie McNiven (“Anna Milton”)
• Tahmoh Penikett (“Gadreel”)
• Shoshannah Stern (“Eileen Leahy”)
• Rick Worthy (“Alpha Vamp”)
• David Haydn-Jones (“Arthur Ketch”)
• Lauren Tom (“Linda Tran”)
• And many more, including a special message from Misha Collins (“Castiel”)
Edited by Lynn S. Zubernis, a clinical psychologist, professor, and passionate Supernatural fangirl, There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done is the ultimate send-off for this iconic show that has touched and changed the lives of so many fans across all walks of life.
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Rating:
Not at all what I expected!
This was a first for me with this type of book, so I am not sure what books of this nature generally look like. I guess I expected more pictures and more fond reminiscing of episodes. There are quite a few pictures and drawings of the characters from Supernatural, but the book is more about the lingering affects the show on peoples lives, including the stars, guest stars and fans.
The chapters are in essay format and many talk specifically about one episode while others deal with the show as a whole and how the show dealt with certain subjects like people with disabilities (i.e. Bobby Singer in a wheelchair) and the deaf (Shoshannah Stern) who played Eileen.
So Shoshannah tells a story which includes details about where she was in life when she was hired for Supernatural, the fact that ASL is her first language and that is a language that very few people know, how she often gets asked and has to answer stupid questions about her deafness (i.e. what it feels like to not be able to hear) and she goes on to talk explain the fact that she is not getting cochlear implants and wants everyone to know so people don’t keep coming up to her and letting her know that it is an option for her to look into. She says she went through a period of grieving when she found out her character of Eileen was going to die.
The book also has stories of friends made online by connecting through Supernatural, couples formed from Supernatural and the author’s experiences where she wonders where she would be now if she hadn’t watched that first episode of Supernatural, she also discusses some psychological effects of a show like Supernatural. We as fans feel like we are inviting good friends or family into our homes each week as we watch. I certainly know this feeling because even as I stopped watching all TV a few years back when I got really big into reading, Supernatural was the one show I continued to watch week after week. I will be one that will sorely miss Sam and Dean.
The book has some good stories and it covers topics like how women have been portrayed in the media and how they became more powerful on Supernatural. We saw a lot of very powerful women such as Jo Harvelle, Mary Winchester, Sheriff Jodi Mills and her group of hunter girls. Where at the beginning when the show began, women were seen mostly as daughters, wives and mothers.
The show also had a LGBTQIA presence with characters like Cesar and Jessie who were not your stereotypical gay couple because they were tough and hunters, as well as lesbian characters like Charlie Bradbury. I enjoyed some of the stories and it brought back memories of quite a few episodes and characters that I enjoyed. However it also had a lot of extraneous information that I didn’t care about. I think the stories could possibly have been edited better to be more succinct and to the point as well as sticking to supernatural a bit more and not going of on odd tangents.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Both on and off-screen the show Supernatural has helped hundreds of people. Lynn S. Zubernis has compiled a second collection of essays showcasing how a pop culture show has influenced people’s lives. From learning how to be true to yourself, to gaining the courage to continue each day, There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done is a testament to the power of fandom.
It’s hard to imagine a show having such a huge impact on both fans and actors. But each new story within There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done brings to light another moment where the show turned someone’s life around. As a fellow fan who would not be around without the show, I felt connected to every one of these stories. The SPNFamily is immense, and for those who don’t quite understand the appeal of Supernatural, diving into this book and its counterpart, Family Don’t End with Blood, will help you gain that understanding.
Deep down Supernatural teaches people to never give up. Challenge yourself, and always strive to be true to yourself. Themes of overcoming addiction, surviving toxic relationships, helping others, and so much more are contained in this one show. Actors who were on the verge of quitting the industry, after meeting the cast of Supernatural, gained renewed enthusiasm for their line of work. Fans who fought mental illnesses for years, found the courage to continue living after learning of actors who suffered from the same. There are also quite a few fans who have created charities to help those in need because they were inspired by the actors’ own efforts.
There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done is an eye-opening experience. People’s lives are captured at their most vulnerable and shown how they carried on through the power of Supernatural. Fans of the show, and those wanting to understand the cultural phenomena that is Supernatural should pick up this book.