Countless actors came and went on Supernatural’s 15-season journey. One of The CW’s most popular shows kicked off with interesting family dynamics involving two brothers and their dad on the hunt for otherworldly creatures. However, the series transformed significantly as the Winchesters went from the typical family business to getting mixed with angels and God himself.
During their long, strenuous journey, Sam and Dean never quite experienced healthy familial relationships, especially with their father. John Winchester may have been an exceptional hunter, but he fell short when it came to his responsibilities as a father. Although Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s John Winchester played a crucial role in Season 1, he couldn’t stick around for some very understandable reasons.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan Played the Winchesters’ Patriarch
It’s safe to say Sam and Dean’s difficult family circumstances, from the day their mother died to their father taking them on the road for revenge, had a significant impact on their personalities. Being the older one, Dean understood his father’s predicament to some extent, but Sam never got around to forgiving him. The younger Winchester felt there was more to life than living in motels and waiting on their father for weeks. It’s implied throughout the series that John Winchester was not a great father, despite teaching his sons the obscure art of surviving in the supernatural world. However, the only reason why the Winchesters had such a turbulent childhood was because John couldn’t deal with the death of his wife, Mary Winchester.
The yellow-eyed demon killed her, sending John on a path of vengeance. His actions may have physically kept his family together, but the emotional turmoil had already sowed a seed of resentment within the brothers. It’s because John went missing that the Winchester brothers unite after a long time since Sam left to attend college. Their father proved to be the driving force that plunged Sam and Dean deep into the hunting world, though it was something that was always meant to be.
John was considered one of the best hunters of his time, collecting vast knowledge about the supernatural world that eventually helped his sons. Morgan portrayed a psychedelic personality, tarnished by surreal experiences from a very young age. Despite having a promising storyline, the show never got into exploring John’s life in detail, especially as a father. Even when he was the center of the first season, John remained in and out of the picture until the Winchester father was killed off at the start of Season 2.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Booming Career Made It Challenging To Become A Series Regular
By the time Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Supernatural role took off, he was already spreading his wings in the industry. The titular actor simultaneously appeared in Supernatural, Grey’s Anatomy, and Weeds. However, all three of his characters met a similar end and were written off early on. Despite being on these shows in a limited capacity, Morgan was able to impact the audience deeply, whether as Denny in Grey’s Anatomy or John in Supernatural. Ultimately, his recurring appearances hinted that Morgan wasn’t going to stick around long. The actor was simply too busy to commit to Supernatural’s prolonged storyline. Although he left his boys early in the series, Morgan always found Supernatural close to his heart. There was absolutely no off-screen drama associated with the actor’s departure.
On the contrary, Morgan shared a healthy relationship with his costars, especially Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki. The actor even shared the screen with Ackles in a short yet entertaining role in The Boys. The versatile actor believed that putting his foot down with a single series wasn’t what he wanted at the time. Fortunately, Morgan’s efforts paid off, and he became a household name, especially after adorning the notorious multifaceted Negan in The Walking Dead. Morgan was flawless in executing the role of an electrifying antagonist, who might have been the most hated character on the show. This only goes on to show the actor’s extraordinary aptitude to pull off complicated characters. Although John and Negan are worlds apart, the former also struggles with keeping his moral compass in check, especially when on a hunt. John Winchester was famous for never leaving his targets alive, something that his sons did not always agree with.
John Winchester Only Stuck Around For A Single Season
Morgan’s career was taking off when he played John Winchester in Supernatural. His enigmatic presence in the show made him a fan-favorite Supernatural character, but his popularity in that aspect remained short-lived. The talented actor said goodbye to the hunting world after his untimely death during the beginning of Season 2. The Winchesters spent most of Season 1 looking for their father, who was later revealed to be chasing a lead to finding the “colt,” a weapon that could instantly kill demons. Unfortunately, the Winchester family’s emotional reunion took a dark turn when their car was totaled on the road, which put Dean on death’s door.
One of John Winchester’s most annoying qualities was expecting complete loyalty from his sons without being questioned. He sent Sam and Dean on wild and dangerous hunts without having the audacity to explain his motives for doing so. This strained his relationship with Sam as he expected him to go to any lengths to ensure that Azazel didn’t survive. Morgan’s appeal and charm as John Winchester are commendable, especially his final sequence in the series. John is forced to turn to the very demon he sought to kill in order to save Dean’s life. He makes a deal with the yellow-eyed demon to spare Dean in exchange for his life.
However, during his final moments, he explains to Sam that he hasn’t been a great father because he was consumed by the need to protect the boys after Azazel killed Mary. That ambition slowly pushed out his paternal feelings, and he traded emotion for the validity of knowing that he had trained his boys enough to protect themselves. It would have been fascinating witnessing Morgan in his prime as John Winchester in the long run. He could have taken the show in another direction and strongly tuned up the “family business” aspect.
John Winchester Returned For Supernatural’s 300th Episode
SUnlike other fan-favorite deceased characters like Bobby Singer, John Winchester did not make many appearances after his death in Season 2. Morgan could not find the time to make timely cameos, but in his heart, he knew that he’d return to bring his character to life at least one more time. Additionally, both fans and the actor needed closure because John was killed off quite abruptly and tragically. He never had the time to have a heart-to-heart with his boys and to tell them how much he loved them. Therefore, when Supernatural hit its 300th episode milestone, rumors started that Morgan would be reprising his role. The show’s writer, Sera Gamble, mentioned way back when Morgan left that his return was always on the table despite him becoming a household name and being extremely busy.
“It’s kind of important if you’re going to bring this guy back, there’s gotta be an endgame.”
Luckily, the day did come, and John Winchester came back to life one last time for a teary family reunion in “Lebanon.” When Dean makes a wish on a pear, it brings his father back as a reflection of his heart’s deepest desire. It was an absolute tearjerker for John to see his children survive God knows everything, and he couldn’t have been prouder. The Winchester men never had closure nor the opportunity to heal. John’s return mended the deep void in Sam and Dean’s lives. Even Morgan agreed that the circumstances of his return were perfectly aligned with the storyline. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, the actor appreciated the series’ effort to construct an emotional event that allowed the Winchesters to quench the thirst of longing for their family, something that they had buried deep inside.
Ultimately, the Winchesters hugging it out made for one of the most memorable moments in the show, all thanks to Morgan’s attachment to the project. Although the actor has long moved on from Supernatural, it is a project of great sentimental value to him. As of now, Jeffrey Dean Morgan has etched his name as one of TV’s most loved and renowned faces. His charismatic personality and solid work granted him critical acclaim, especially for his return in The Walking Dead: Dead City. Fans have long felt that his titular character deserved a moment to shine, and he delivered on that expectation spectacularly. All in all, the 58-year-old actor’s aura is undeniable, and even if he were to return as John Winchester again after all this time, fans wouldn’t complain.
Source: cbr.com