‘Supernatural’: John Winchester Was Supposed to Die With His Wife
The most memorable shows are the ones that have something different to set them apart. They have unique plots and interesting characters. They’re different from everything else that’s on, and they offer viewers a chance to enjoy a great story and escape from reality.
Supernatural was one of those unique shows. Throughout its 15-season run, Supernatural has captured fans and brought them into an exciting, monster-hunting adventure. An excellent cast and talented writers helped to create a memorable show that has engaged viewers every week for many years. It also gathered a loyal following of fans, many who believe they know everything about the show. They might be surprised to learn that one of the show’s notable characters almost died in the first episode.
What was ‘Supernatural’ about?
Supernatural follows the Winchester brothers in their attempt to rid the world of monsters, demons, and any other form of evil they can find. When the boys were young, their mother was killed by an evil being. Raised by their father, the boys learn how to track and hunt these supernatural beings.
The brothers drive across the country in a 1967 Chevy Impala, destroying malevolent creatures while meeting new friends and making allies. Sam is the younger brother, with special abilities like precognition, demon detection, super strength, and immunity. Dean is older, and has literally gone to hell and back to save his brother’s life.
The show is filled with fascinating characters, thrilling action, and engaging storylines. The Winchesters hunt every kind of supernatural being you can imagine, from vampires to werewolves to fallen angels.
Who was John Winchester?
John Winchester was Dean and Sam’s father. He was also father to Adam Milligan, their younger half-brother. John’s father, Henry, was part of Men of Letters, a secret society that studied the supernatural and unexplained phenomena. An attack by the demon Abaddon forced Henry to run, but he was killed anyway. John didn’t know any of this at the time and thought his father had abandoned him.
After fighting in Vietnam, John fell in love with Mary Campbell. Before he could propose, he was killed by Azazel. Mary then made a deal with Azazel in exchange for John’s life–she promised to allow him into her home in ten years. Azazel returned when the boys were very young, and when Mary tried to fight him, he killed her.
When John learned about Mary’s deal with Azazel, he vowed to hunt the demon and avenge his wife. He became an expert hunter, amassing a wealth of knowledge of all things supernatural. He kept journals detailing his experiences and later taught everything he knew to his sons.
When the show begins, Dean and Sam are investigating their father’s disappearance. They eventually find him and the three begin to work together as a team. At one point, John is possessed by Azazel, and encourages Sam to shoot him to kill the demon. However, Sam can’t kill his father and only shoots him in the leg. The demon left John’s body and escaped. In a frantic rush to the hospital, a truck crashes into them and severely injures all three.
Dean is dangerously close to dying after the accident, and John summons Azazel to make a deal. He offers to trade his life for the life of his son. Azazel agrees and John dies while Dean recovers.
Was John supposed to die in the beginning of the series?
Originally, the creators of Supernatural had planned to have John die immediately, according to ScreenRant. In the pilot episode, Sam returns to his apartment to find his girlfriend on fire and pinned to the ceiling. She was burned alive by a demon, very much like his mother had been when he was a baby.
Viewers were very close to watching an even more disturbing scene–John being in this position instead of Sam’s girlfriend. Dean and Sam would have had to watch their father die the same way their mother did. That scene would have been an emotionally scarring way to start a show.
