Supernatural, and 5 shows with great Groundhog Day episodes

1. “Mystery Spot” from Supernatural

Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles), hunters of all things that go bump in the night, investigate the disappearance of a man who went looking for the infamous Mystery Spot.

But far from finding the missing man, Sam finds himself stuck in an endless loop, repeating the same day over and over again—which always ends with Dean’s death.

Undoubtedly one of pop culture’s favorite Groundhog Day episodes of all time, Supernatural’s ‘Mystery Spot’ is a cultural icon it is own right, topping most best-of Supernatural episode lists.

The episode is hilarious in every way—which is saying something considering one of the two beloved protagonists is killed constantly.

But there is no denying that watching a montage of Dean getting killed in the most ludicrous ways—from a piano being dropped on him to eating a dodgy sandwich—is nothing short of hilarious.

Padalecki steals the show with his excellent comic timing, while also capturing Sam’s frustration with a situation that he can’t get out of.

The episode has gone down in Supernatural-lore for expanding Richard Speight Jr.’s Trickster role into a pivotal one for the show. But it has also given rise to memes about never-ending Tuesdays and spawned fans’ adoration for Asia’s ‘Heat of the Moment’, which signals the start of a new loop in the episode.

What sets ‘Mystery Spot’ apart from the other episodes on this list is its unexpectedly dark ending—Sam breaks the cycle only for Dean to die for real on Wednesday. Though Dean is eventually brought back, there’s a sense of dread that stays with the viewer far beyond the episode.

What was are your favorite Groundhog Day episodes? Share your pick in the comments below.

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