The Dearly Departed
“Still, two wrongs don’t make a right.†Azazel
There is something about your first love, and your first truly bad guy that you never get over. Azazel. Now that’s a bad guy. We never met him until Devil’s Trap, yet he was always there, always lurking be it in dreams, causing dreams (or visions) or merely (merely?) as the object of the obsessive hunt. Known only as ‘the thing that killed mom’ he evolved into a demon, yellow eyes and finally we learned his name (I think it was in Sin City) was Azazel. Since then no baddie, no matter how loathsome (Alistair) manipulative (Ruby) creepy (Lilith) has matched up…even Lucifer keeps his true evil nature cloaked.
Azazel, like others, has been portrayed by multiple actors, it was Jeffrey Dean Morgan who set the tone, but it was Fred Lane (or as originally spelled/known Lehne) who brought him to life. Since then we’ve seen him in other incarnations but only Mitch Pileggi came close to getting it right (and man did he ever).
Azazel began it all and to this day there are still reasons and purposes and plans that have not been fully explained (you didn’t need the feather to fly, Dumbo) as well as what made him so magnetic that other demons followed him in his quest to raise Lucifer. There are opportunities for him to return, so hope abounds.
“Are you allergic to giving me piece of mind? You better put me on speed dial, kid.†Ellen
Ellen arrived first via voice mail, second behind a gun. She was someone who claimed she could help John while calling herself simply the owner of a salon. On any given day men and women with guns would be in her establishment drinking and hunting. She kept a police scanner nearby to keep ‘tabs’ on things and obviously had a weather eye to research – or trends in the papers (ELAC) and knew a thing or two about what really was out there in the shadows.
Ellen was a complex character, someone who lost her husband, and the father of her child, to hunting yet chose to remain close to the danger. Most (think Mary) would try to escape, leave it all behind, yet Ellen remained. Hunters knew of her, knew of The Roadhouse, she kept files of suspicious activities to turn over to ‘friends’ and would even turn Sam and Dean onto a hunt, as well as support them when they were on one.
She kept her own secrets, how she knew John – we’ve never learned how they met – and held no malice to Sam and Dean for the death of Bill, even though her worst nightmare played out in front of her with Jo. At the end of No Exit I believe her anger was more fear at losing Jo and then the agony of having to relieve her husband’s death all over again as she revisited that awful time as she told Jo what really happened, than it was anger at Sam and Dean.
Ellen showed a maternal leaning to Sam and Dean right away. She was very sensitive to Dean’s state of mind and gave him the room to grieve where others might have pushed. She was no pushover though when, at the end of Simon Said, she told Dean to mind his tongue and not hold back the secret about Sam. As Bobby had said, there’s a war and they all need to take care of each other. How right you were, Ellen.
Ellen at times found herself in the middle, in the middle of Sam trying to figure out who and/or what he was/is, in the middle of honoring Sam’s wishes to leave Dean out of it and Dean’s need to protect. In the end she made up her own mind, not pressured by Dean to give up Sam’s location nor bound to Sam’s plea to let him be: “Now, Dean, you can’t protect your family forever. Well, I say screw that…â€
When she lost her home, her center, in AHBLII she sought out Bobby and the boys and stood strong with them against Azazel. In the mysteries of Supernatural (and Hollywood et al) she disappeared for two years. Her welcome, long overdue, and sorrowfully underutilized return in GGY made it clear that this Ellen was now all in when it came to hunting, so much so that somewhere along the way she joined up with Jo and the two of them were now hunting.
So many questions about Ellen will likely never be answered now that her journey has ended. Like Jo, Ellen had a fabulous send off in AAH and her storyline was quite satisfying in that episode. The Ellen we knew who could knock back a shot (or two or three) of whiskey took an instant liking to Castiel, kept her realistic outlook about her chances in the fight (last night on earth), backed Dean’s play against Meg and the hellhounds and broke our hearts with her realization that her daughter was doomed and that in the end, having lost everything, she no longer was willing to continue the fight but chose to sacrifice herself in order to ensure that the Winchesters would survive to continue on.
Ellen, you were someone that I had held out hope would continue on and remain a member of Team Winchester/Singer. Admittedly, though, if the choice was between you or Bobby, it is with great regret I’d let you go, choosing Bobby. There is something so special about the paternal bond that your maternal bond could not trump. However, you are to be greatly, greatly missed. I wish we could have had more of you from AHBLII to AAH but I’ll always know that you never outstayed your welcome.
“If only your boys knew what a sentimentalist you are.†John Winchester
The amazing thing about this particular ‘dearly departed’ is that he permeates almost every episode, every significant moment in Sam and Dean’s lives. Dean deals for Sam because he learned John dealt for him. Sam initially resents and resists hunting because he stubbornly (and somewhat desperately) clings to the idea that there is something ‘normal’ out there for him. Sam ultimately turns fervently to hunting because he’s guilty over how John and he last talked and last interacted and he’s trying to make amends. Dean strives to protect Sam because John told him to. Dean is a good soldier because one time he wasn’t (at ten years of age) and almost cost Sam (Sammy his life). Sam’s very revenge, focused, obsessive nature is directly derived from John; he truly is a ‘chip off the old block.’
From Dean breaking in hell, when it was supposed to be John, to learning there’s a third Winchester brother and that John had another life – which further showed Dean how little he knew of his father and how strikingly Sam is like his father (a man he now realizes he didn’t know that well, as he no longer (at least at the time of JTS) didn’t know or understand Sam) and also how much he doesn’t like his father, and by proxy Sam:
Sam: “I’ll take that as a compliment.â€
Dean: “You take it any way you like.â€
So not a compliment, Sam.
Dad’s cell phones remain, Dad’s storage facility is revisited, Zachariah brings up daddy issues…John Winchester remains a force to be reckoned with in this series.
John appeared in very few episodes, The Pilot, Home, Scarecrow, Shadow, Dead Man’s Blood, Salvation, Devil’s Trap, In My Time of Dying and All Hell Breaks Loose II. There’s been pictures of him (WIAWSNB, JTS) his voice (although it wasn’t really him, still, LDC) He’s been the focus of or has inspired storylines in Jump the Shark and further back in Cross Road Blues, new information/insights in John were discovered (BDABL) and information trickled in of who he knew and what he did (ELAC, No Exit.) John inspired fights in the brothers in Scarecrow and Hunted (both of which caused the brothers to temporarily separate) and in Bugs we learned that John traveled to watch over Sam at college whenever possible. Dean comes to some reckoning with his father (or his internal ‘daddy issues’) in DALDOM. Through flashbacks (or time travel) we learn about John pre-hunting, pre-marriage to Mary (ITB) and soon to come there is another chance for more to be revealed about John.
To say that John has departed is to say that his physical presence has left, the influence of John remains.
John is the character I hope to see again, I hope to see Jeffrey Dean Morgan in that spot. I hope for some chance for the brothers to spend some time with John. I don’t know why, perhaps it’s because Jared, Jensen and Jeffrey had such excellent chemistry, believable chemistry. Perhaps it’s the fangirl in me wanting to see something of Dean finally resolving his issues with Dad, of Sam finally realizing that just by being happy, safe, Sam was enough for John. For John to finally own up for the fact that all of his secrets, all of his demands for instant action without including his sons in the decision-making process, or at least explaining his reasons, led to some of the miscommunications.
Perhaps it’s a wish that will be fulfilled and perhaps not. However it plays out I’ll always have those episodes listed above to watch John in and always have all the many others (some that were not even touched here) to watch and listen for the ‘influence of John.’ He remains a formidable presence.
There you go, there’s my list of dearly departed. Feel free to let me know what you think and who are yours.
Thanks for reading, Elle2
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“Okay, now that is just weird, man. Why the hell would I be looking for that?”
“’cause there’s a PBR in it for you.”
“Give me fifteen minutes”.
Long live the mullet. This is quite a roster you’ve got just on those that are, sniff, no longer with us. Yes, even Azazel, one of the *all-time* great teevee villains. As was Gordon, really. He had that psychotic look down pat, which nicely complimented his, you know, psychotic actions. Though, in a way, he wasn’t all that wrong. Love me some ambiguity.
My list would like very similar to this, but with an addendum of Kubrick. “Don’t play with my Jesus.”
Now, Kripke, tell the major networks to eat it and get JDM back one last time.
I still have to get used to all of you using acronyms for the episodes, since I use numbers. You guys are throwing me off, dammit. 😀
That is a great list Elle2!
The ones I grieve the most for are Jo and Ellen, and, of course Big Daddy.
Would have liked Ash, Henrikson and Pamela to survive for a bit more time.
Ol’Yellow Eyes (Fred Lehne) was my favourite demon, for his sarcastic humour (“Here’s the Thing!”) along with his menace. (“Sit a spell!”) And Mitch Pileggi
was SO badass as Azazel! Alistair’s main two hosts were a close second though, with all the unsaid history between him and Dean just to be imagined and not spelled out. (I still don’t believe John was the first choice for the righteous man. I think it was Dean all along, considering it is a brother thing with Lucifer and Michael. I think he was goading Dean unmercifully with that notion he couldn’t live up to his Dad’s expectations).
Gordon, I grew to hate with a passion (even though he did have a point with Sam). I cheered when Sam did him in. What really pushed Sam into high gear to best ol’Gordo was seeing him take a bite out of his brother, especially since Dean had such a short time to live at the time.
I could incluse Nicki Aycox as Meg to your list, as she was a formidable foe and truly evil incarnate.
Henrikson would have made a terrific ally if he had survived. Too bad!
Uriel just oozed contempt for the boys and the human race. Such a good actor! Zach makes a good substitute to hate, even though his modus operandi is different, they both have unpleasant plans for the brothers. Loved Dean’s and Uriel’s repartee. Dean gives it as good to Zach as well!
Thanks again Elle2. Only 4 more weeks to go!
My list, too, would be very similar, but I think I would add Jessica to my list. Yes, we’ve only seen her once in person, but she’s been a figment of both Sam and Dean’s dreams/dreamworlds, and even now, nearly 5 years after her death, we still see how much Sam loved her and how guilty he feels over her death.
Great list, Elle2. Till you see a list of all the characters SPN has lost, you don’t realize how many there have been. It would be nice to see some of these characters return, if only as ghosts…..well maybe not a ghost, vampire Gordon! But, you never know what will happen in the SPN world. Guess that’s part of what makes the show great! Thanks for sharing!
Hi, Randal, Bevie, Sablegreen — and for the life of me I can’t read the third( but fourth member) in line on the comments list.
As an aside, my main computer is repaired (yeah!) and I can access the site again on that, BUT, I’m on vacation and traveling with my notebook and thus still have the problem of reading the comments in an inch wide screen and the dates and times write over the usernames.
I’m so glad y’all like my little list. Randal, you’re so right, Ash had some great lines AND — SPOILER ALERT
SPOILER ALERT!!!
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
Here it is!!!!
Ash returns in an upcoming episode…perhaps as a zombie??????
SPOILERS ALL DONE NOW.
Anyway, glad you liked the list everyone. I thought long and hard about including Meg but as she is back I left her off, although Nicki Aycox is sorely missed overall.
There are so very many good characters (and even better actors/actresses) who have graced the SPN landscape and will be missed (and are) still, we’re blessed with those who remain (Bobby especially!)
Thanks all for the comments.
Great list! Love your choices! Very much with you on Ellen–loved her and Jo from their first appearance, really wish we’d seen more of them before AAH…
I think I’d have to include Jess and especially Mary in mine; their presence also lingers in the series. Maybe not as much as John, but you feel it. Sure, Jess had no character development (baked goods and a nurse outfit, geez Louise), even in WIAWSNB she was just sorta there, but in my book Adrianne Palicki gets a lot of credit for conveying a sense of a the relationship there when she had so little to work with… When I think of Jessica I tend to think of that mournful scene at the end of Bloody Mary, with the Rolling Stones tune…
The there’s Mary. One of the reasons I loved In the Beginning, and Jas pointed this out in an article–the repeated cycle of Winchester secrets, sacrifice, diabolical deals all rising from their love for each other… We had thought it started with John, but come to find out it really started with Mary, that her choice set them on the road they’re on.
I love, love, love that you included Alastair and Uriel! I adored every moment those guys were on screen, dripping with sarcasm and menace, and very badly wanted them around longer! I think Christopher Heyerdahl’s Alastair is my all-time favorite demon, I think for me he actually gets the jump on Yellow Eyes. But then, it was season 4 that caught my attention to begin with, so there must be something to be said for first loves 😀 Thanks!
Hi, Elena,
I agree with you, Alistair was deliciously evil. I thought about including Mary and Jess and your reasoning is very appropriate. Both had so little air time but their presence continues to permeate, Jess had a lot more ‘presence’ in Season 1 and it’s great that in Season 5 Lucifer used her as a way to introduce himself to Sam — wonderful throwback. That ending of Bloody Mary is excellent and is a great reason to go back and watch that eppie again (not that I need reasons to go back LOL)
I do like how mysterious the Mary character is, that we got the Sam, I’m sorry in Home and waited until Season 4’s In The Beginning to get the payoff on that…excellent. I’m hoping we get more.
Thanks for including some of your choices as well.
Hi Elle2
This is great. I would have to agree with everyone you put on the list.
I would also agree with Elena about Jessica and Mary. Despite their minimal appearances they truly left their presence.
I would also add Casey from ‘Sin City’. I really liked that character and her chemistry with Dean.
I don’t know if she knew the true plan or not, with bringing back Lucifer, but I think she would have been a great ally for the guys.
Hi, Cassi and Karen,
Thanks for the comments and the additions, Casey was a great character (and I think Randall included her on his ‘one-night stands’ list, for all the reasons you said.
As for Ruby…I like the S3 Ruby, not the Season 4, Season 4 was just off (even though I knew she was evil and manipulative). Ava also was a good character, so sweet and innocent and naive and then so coldly determined to survive…Sam should have paid closer attention to how evil and death can turn a person’s character.
Thanks for joining in.
Glad to hear that your computer is up and running again!
And cassi’s comment made me realize that I completely forgot about Andy. Simon Said is easily one of my all-time favorite episodes.
Glad to hear that your computer is up and running again!
And cassi’s comment made me realize that I completely forgot about Andy. Simon Said is easily one of my all-time favorite episodes.
yeah, Casey the demon was cool 8-). *gasp* I forgot Andy too–can’t believe it!!! He may actually bump Al & Uriel, he’s definitely my pick for the character I most want to see again. Hats off to elle2 for actually troubling to narrow the list down to your top ten, cuz mine just keeps getting longer 😉
Ash and Andy, for they made me smile. Ellen and Pamela for the coolness and loyalty. Azazel and Alistair, for they scared the c*** out of me.
After reading your article, elle, I just realized how MANY great and interesting characters have walked through the show – it’s quite an accomplishment for Kripke and the writers to keep track ;-), keep track and give each one of them such meaning.
Well, they will not be forgotten.
Thanks for writing this!
Lara
Hi, Randal, Freebird and Elena
I’m glad my computer is back up and running as well. Appears something nasty got into my email archives and was fouling things up…that and I shorted out the power supply in the front by using the front USB ports for my printer and camera plug ins…who knew, (Obviously not me) so cross fingers and hope, hope, hope it’s all better for a long, long, long time.
Andy is a cool character, Simon Said is a fab episode and it’s a shame Andy got ‘ganked’ in AHBL I…darn that Ava and her desire to live! (Can’t really blame her though)
I’m glad y’all appreciate that I whittled down my list (and it’s fun that all of you can add a character here and there) Initially I only had seven and then the list grew as Ash and Jo and ohmygosh I had initially forgotten Azazel (shudder) so it grew by three, then I decided to halt it at ten and that would be enough.
Hey, we’re at the three week mark until the next new episode! Hooray. I haven’t worked on anything whilst on vacation but I intend to finish my Women on Supernatural, Sex or Subtext is my working title (may be the actual title) that’ll come out (hopefully) before the new eps begin.
Thanks for reading, commenting and offering your picks, everyone.
I adore, adore, ADORE Ava. I’m sad she only got to be there in two episodes. :C
Elle2, wow, what a great piece, thanks so much for giving us this tribute to the ‘dearly departed’.
I also miss Pamela, and, of course, Ellen (what a fantastic woman!) and Jo, and Henricksen (really liked the guy, he was a man of intergrity), and Ash…. Well, he’ll be back, eh? Can’t wait how that will turn out. Perhaps he didn’t die at all and someone else was wearing his watch (perhaps Ash sold the thing for a beer? Or for some info?)…
Personally, I’d like to see Mary again, and Jess, and I kinda miss Madison…
And, I loved to hate Alistair (Christopher Heyerdahl did such a fantastic job! The man is an impressive and commanding actor. I’ve seen him in other shows, and he has always been fine. By the way, he plays a vampire in ‘New Moon’, but has only about two lines to say. I can only hope there will be more to do for him in the following films)…
Thanks, Elle2, this was great fun! Jas
I loved your list and agree with them all. One spelling correction. You say that Ellen runs a salon – shouldn’t that be saloon? Although the Roadhouse Salon gave me all sorts of giggles.
Love the idea of Salon Winchester … Bad hair And Scars Our Speciality … 😆
Great list, joggle the order a tadge, ditch Big Daddy and Jo and add Bongmaster Andy and it could be mine own!
…we also offer plastic surgery for torn out nails and Christmas tree scratches, deal in ‘Tru Demon Blood’ in case your donor gets killed and please come and see our new zombie musical ‘Miss Thigh Gone’, coming to a theatre near you…
I’m sure, you already have your ticket, Suze!
;-),Jas
Miss Thigh Gone … Fnark! 😆 😆 😆