9-1-1 Boss Breaks Down Unintentional Supernatural Reference in Record-Rated Episode

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Viewers of this week’s episode were surprised by a nod to the characters Sam and Dean Winchester. The show’s creator, Tim Minear, is now explaining how he wrote the episode and didn’t realize the connection until later.

The thirteenth episode of season nine of 9-1-1, which aired on March 12th, featured Eddie and Buck embarking on a road trip to Los Angeles, set to the tune of ‘Carry on My Wayward Son.’ The song, a fan favorite, appeared twice in the episode. According to showrunner Minear, he hadn’t actually watched the CW series and didn’t initially realize how fitting the song would be for the story of the two brothers traveling together. However, he conceded, “Wasn’t it perfect?”

9-1-1’s Latest Episode Included a Surprisingly Perfect Nod to Supernatural

I was experimenting with music when Brad Buecker suggested a particular song, and I immediately loved it. We quickly secured the rights, and even though it was expensive – we spent a lot on both the original song and a repeat of it at the end – I didn’t hesitate. I was determined to have it, and I was willing to pay whatever it took to include it in the final scene.

So, I learned something interesting about how that episode came together. Apparently, one of the executive producers, Kristen Reidel, let me know after we’d already filmed and recorded everything that the song we used was a huge deal for fans of Supernatural. Honestly, I was completely in the dark! I hadn’t watched the show myself, so I had no idea about its history with that song. It was a bit of a surprise, to say the least!

Even so, Minear acknowledged the episode, featuring two men and its surprising outcome, did feel relevant to the themes of Supernatural. He also thought it was playfully ironic.

9-1-1’s Road Trip Episode is One of the Top Rated on IMDb

Although the nod to Supernatural might have been a happy accident, fans of the popular ABC police show have really connected with it. As of today, the ‘Mother’s Boy’ episode has a 9.5 out of 10 rating on IMDb, based on over 1,800 reviews – making it one of the highest-rated episodes of the series so far.

Fans also enjoyed the episode because it hints at exciting events to come. Creator Tim Minear explained that he particularly liked how the episode focused on both Buck and Eddie, showcasing their relationship and making it a story for both of them.

Minear explained that the dynamic felt balanced, which is why he believes it’s effective. The characters are split up, with Eddie desperately trying to help and Buck focusing on his own survival, but ultimately they rescue each other – a dynamic he particularly enjoys.

9-1-1 is now streaming on Hulu.

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2026-03-14 15:07