What Is and What Should Never Be (Supernatural)

"**What Is and What Should Never Be**"
"What Is and What Should Never Be"
Supernatural episode
	In the new reality in which Mary Winchester never died, Sam and Dean were never exposed to the supernatural world. Real photographs of Padalecki and Ackles as children were edited together to depict their normal childhood.
Episode no.	Season 2; Episode 20
Directed by	Eric Kripke
Written by	Raelle Tucker
Production code	3T5520
Original air date	May 3, 2007
Guest appearances
	Samantha Smith as Mary Winchester; Adrianne Palicki as Jessica Moore; Michelle Borth as Carmen; Mackenzie Gray as Djinn; Melanie Scrofano as Near-Dead Girl; Kwesi Ameyaw as College Professor;
Episode chronology
← Previous; "Folsom Prison Blues"	Next →; "All Hell Breaks Loose"
	Supernatural season 2
	List of episodes

"What Is and What Should Never Be" is the twentieth episode of the paranormal drama television series Supernatural's second season. It was first broadcast on May 3, 2007 on The CW. The narrative follows series protagonist Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) who finds himself in an alternate reality after a confrontation with a djinn [sic].^{[nb 1]} The creature appears to have fulfilled Dean's greatest wish: that his mother had not been killed when he was a child. Dean is happy in the new world until it becomes apparent that his previous work as a hunter of supernatural creatures has been undone. At this point, he rejects the alternate reality, and attempts to find a method to bring himself back.

The episode was written by Raelle Tucker, and marked the directorial debut of series creator Eric Kripke. It featured the return of deceased characters Mary Winchester (Samantha Smith) and Jessica Moore (Adrianne Palicki). Kripke enjoyed expanding upon the character of Mary, who was only briefly depicted in earlier episodes. The production schedule had to be altered to accommodate Palicki, who was simultaneously working on the TV series Friday Night Lights.

Despite obtaining low ratings, the episode acquired positive critical reviews that both praised Ackles' performance and welcomed the return of Smith and Palicki to the series. Tucker also received a Constellation Award for her work on the episode.
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[nb 1]