Supernatural Characters We'd Love To See On The Winchesters
"The Winchesters" brings fans back into the "Supernatural" universe — but this time, the action is set in the 1970s. We join John Winchester (Drake Rodger) and Mary Campbell (Meg Donnelly) as they search for their missing fathers, get to know each other better, and thwart the demons, monsters, and boogeymen that lurk in the world's shadows. The entire affair is narrated by their future son, Dean (Jensen Ackles), who, like the audience, discovers more and more about his parents' epic love story as the series goes on. His appearance (and that of the Winchesters' trademark 1967 Chevy Impala) is a very welcome one to longtime fans. It also makes us wonder if we'll eventually see other familiar characters on the open road.
While some actors, like Ackles, have already opted to reprise their "Supernatural" roles on "The Winchesters," others have not. Mitch Pileggi has decided to stay on "Walker," for instance, which opened the door for Tom Welling to play Mary Campbell's distant father, Samuel. But that doesn't mean there aren't many other cast members who might want to make a paranormal comeback in the future. "Supernatural" boasts an abundance of colorful characters, after all, played by a huge range of talented performers. Which familiar faces do fans long to see again? We're here to answer that question. These are the "Supernatural" characters we'd love to see on "The Winchesters."
Bobby and Karen Singer
The story of Bobby Singer (Jim Beaver) is a tragic one. After his wife Karen (Carrie Anne Fleming) was possessed by a demon, Bobby was forced to stab her before she was exorcised, which ultimately resulted in her death. Bobby was soon trained in the art of hunting, and became one of the best hunters of his generation. Of course, saving all the folks he can from ghosts, demons, and monsters isn't enough to ease his pain. Eventually, Bobby and Karen are reunited when she rises from the dead, but their time together is short-lived as she soon turns into a flesh-eating zombie.
While Beaver and Fleming are well-known for playing Bobby and Karen, 1970s-era versions of the characters would, admittedly, need to be played by younger actors. Regardless, just like the show's younger John is incredibly different from the version played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan on "Supernatural," so too could young versions of the Singers be their own unique characters on "The Winchesters." Since we don't know what year Karen died, it's possible we could even witness Bobby's origins as a hunter play out here. Provided it doesn't break continuity with the original series, it could also be very interesting to see younger versions of John and Bobby bond over their shared traumas. Bobby Singer is a staple of "Supernatural," and the only recurring fan-favorite to appear in all 15 seasons. It would be a real shame if that tradition didn't continue in some way on "The Winchesters."
Rufus Turner
If there was ever a perfect hunter for the "The Winchesters," it would be Rufus Turner (Steven Williams). Rufus is the hunter who helped train Bobby Singer: The two worked together as partners for years before an unexplained event took place in Omaha, Nebraska. Whatever happened there remains a mystery, though it could easily be explored on the prequel series. What isn't a mystery is Rufus' faithful charm.
Out of all the potential returning characters, Rufus would make the best foil to "The Winchesters" hunter Carlos Cervantez (Jojo Fleites). They're both a little out there, especially in their hunting styles and tactics. Moreover, John and Mary could no doubt learn a thing or two from Rufus — though a younger, more inexperienced Rufus might also learn from them. As one of the most lovable supporting characters in "Supernatural" history, there's no reason he shouldn't make his way back into this paranormal world.
While we don't know if Rufus ever crossed over with the Campbell family of hunters or a young John Winchester during the era "The Winchesters" covers, it's certainly possible that he, like many others, could have worked with some of the show's other supporting characters, such as Latika Dar (Nida Khurshid) or Ada Monroe (Demetria McKinney). At this point, only time will tell.
Sister Jo/Anael
As an executive producer on the series, Danneel Ackles' name appears on every episode of "The Winchesters." But will she ever appear on screen alongside John and Mary? The possibilities of such a meeting are tantalizing. On "Supernatural," Ackles played the faith healer Sister Jo, a woman who can become possessed by the angel Anael. This angel eventually sides with Lucifer (Mark Pellegrino). Not only does Anael make it out of the series alive, her character timeline is a bit messy — which makes for excellent storytelling potential.
Originally, "Supernatural" leads fans to believe that Anael falls from Heaven the same way all the other angels do after the Season 8 finale "Sacrifice." Because of Castiel's (Misha Collins) mistake, nearly every angel is de-winged and dethroned from their citizenship above. In the aftermath, Anael makes a deal with Sister Jo to heal the latter's husband in exchange for acting as Anael's vessel. But Season 15's "Destiny's Child" reveals that Anael actually landed on Earth a long, long time ago, well before the fall of the angels. She's even interacted with the demon Ruby (Genevieve Padalecki).
As Anael lied and existed on Earth long before the angels' expulsion through the pearly gates, it's entirely possible that she, Sister Jo, or even both characters could find their way onto "The Winchesters." Not only would this allow the series' executive producer more time in front of the camera, it would provide more opportunities to explore this mysterious angelic character.
The Trickster
The first angel to appear on "Supernatural" is still one of the show's most beloved. Gabriel, aka the Trickster (Richard Speight Jr.), could easily make a major return on "The Winchesters." Moreover, keeping to the tradition of some of the best "Supernatural" episodes, such as "Mystery Spot" and "Changing Channels," he could really shake things up for John and Mary. Though we're well aware of the fact that the Trickster knows all about Sam, Dean, and their family history, an appearance on "The Winchesters" may further explain his interest in — and frustrations with — the Winchester family.
As the prequel series is already doing something a little different with their monsters, the ground is laid for "The Winchesters" to do something fresh and new with the Trickster. Something more akin to his earlier appearances on "Supernatural" could be intriguing, or something else altogether. He's certainly got the range: Not only can the Trickster warp reality, he brings an unmatched comedic factor into every episode he's in. He'd fit great into the 1970s world of "The Winchesters" — who wouldn't love to see the strange things he'd put John and Mary through?
We know that Richard Speight Jr. will be returning to "The Winchesters" as Loki. But what that means for the Trickster himself — as later seasons of "Supernatural" explain, there's a difference — remains to be seen. Still, if Loki is returning, there's hope for Gabriel too.
Ellen and Bill Harvelle
Ellen Harvelle (Samantha Ferris) is one of the most lovable characters on "Supernatural." While she's only featured prominently in Seasons 2 and 5, she remains an important part of the series' vision. Ellen is the owner of Harvelle's Roadhouse, a recurring Season 2 location that makes its final appearance in the series finale, and the mother of one Jo Harvelle (Alona Tal). She's also a tough hunter, and was at one time a good friend to John Winchester ... until he killed her husband.
Bill Harvelle might not actually appear on "Supernatural," but his story — as told by Ellen in the Season 2 episode "No Exit" — certainly makes an impact. We don't know when Bill was killed, though presumably it was some time after Jo — who is younger than Sam and Dean — was born. But we do know that Bill and Ellen were hunters long before John Winchester found them. With that in mind, and knowing that Harvelle's Roadhouse is located somewhere in central Nebraska, there's no reason that a young Bill and Ellen couldn't make their way onto "The Winchesters."
Even though their older selves have a sticky history with John, a younger Ellen and Bill might befriend John and Mary Winchester — especially if they know it'll enable them to kill some no-good creatures in the woods. Sure, it might be a stretch that the Harvelles would meet the Winchesters this early on, but then again, maybe not. Their story remains largely untold, and all things are possible within it.
Daniel Elkins
Very little is known about Daniel Elkins. He only ever appears twice on "Supernatural," and very briefly at that. In the Season 1 episode "Dead Man's Blood," we see Daniel, a known vampire hunter, meet his end at the hands of a band of merciless blood-suckers. Elkins (played in this episode by Terence Kelly) is an old friend of John Winchester, and his death hits John pretty hard. As it turns out, Elkins also owns a mystical demon-killing gun known as the Colt, which the Winchesters eventually get their hands on.
Daniel Elkins' second appearance is in the Season 4 episode "In The Beginning." This is a time-travel episode, primarily set in 1973, a mere year before "The Winchesters" is set. After Dean is sent back in time, he confronts a younger Elkins (played in this episode by Troy Anthony) and convinces him to hand over the Colt until he can retrieve it from Mary's family. This connection makes it possible for Daniel to make his way to Lawrence, Kansas to meet Mary Campbell and his future friend and ally, John Winchester.
Of course, these two episodes might be too deep of a cut for "The Winchesters" to pull from. But it would still be a great way to connect the first third of "Supernatural" — which tackles John and Mary's history extensively — to the new prequel series. The more hunters the better.
Michael
He might seem like an odd addition to the wish list, but Michael the archangel is an important figure in the "Supernatural" universe. Despite this prominence, he's never fully explored on the series. In fact, Michael only makes a small handful of appearances on the show, even though he's a major part of Seasons 5 and 15. An alternate version of the character appears as a big bad in Seasons 13 and 14, but that's not who we're talking about. This Michael is destined to kill the Devil, and hopes to possess Dean as his vessel.
Michael settles for posessing a young John Winchester (Matt Cohen) before ultimately befriending and settling on Sam and Dean's half-brother, Adam Milligan (Jake Abel). Adam goes on to become Michael's vessel throughout most of the series. What would make Michael's appearance on "The Winchesters" particularly interesting is the complex relationship between the archangel and John — especially if John were to discover Michael's plans for his children, or Mary's ultimate fate.
We know that John assents to the archangel in the year 1978. This means he could accept Michael even earlier in his life — especially if Mary's life were in danger. Just like before, Michael could easily erase their memory of these events. In fact, it's entirely possible that Michael may erase John and Mary's memories of the "The Winchesters" as a whole, especially if the show is supposed to stay within the established continuity. Will that come to pass? Only time will tell.
Crowley
Fans never stopped hoping Crowley (Mark Sheppard) would return to "Supernatural" before its end. Sadly, he doesn't — but that doesn't mean he couldn't make his way onto "The Winchesters." It's never stated outright just how long Crowley has inhabited his vessel, and it's possible — perhaps even likely — that he was around making deals as a lowly crossroads demon way back in the 1970s. Though there are fewer demons on the Earth during this time, there are still enough infernal deals being made.
Crowley is not only the King of the Crossroads and eventually the King of Hell on "Supernatural," he's also one of the most complex characters on the show. Always out for himself, Crowley is willing to turn on anybody if it means his interests will be met. This leads him to work with the Winchesters on a number of occasions, and eventually brings him to the place where he is willing to sacrifice himself to trap Lucifer in another world.
While many fans aren't fond of Crowley's exit on "Supernatural," a reappearance on "The Winchesters" might just make up for it in the long run. Since Sheppard is working on "Walker: Independence" with former co-star and producer Jared Padalecki and Ruth Connell is eager to return as Crowley's mother Rowena, Crowley stands a strong chance of making his way onto "The Winchesters." Maybe he'll even make a deal along the way.
Yellow-Eyed Demon
The Yellow-Eyed Demon — played most notably by Fredric Lehne — doesn't have to appear on "The Winchesters," but that doesn't mean we wouldn't love to see this iconic "Supernatural" baddie show up once more. This demon, called Azazel, has a dark history with the Winchester family, and is ultimately the catalyst for the original series. In the "Supernatural" Season 4 episode "In The Beginning," the origins of John and Mary's ties to the Yellow-Eyed Demon are revealed: He made a deal with Mary to bring John back to life.
Years later, Azazel kills Mary for trying to stop him from giving the infant Sam Winchester some of his demon blood, which results in John Winchester becoming a hunter. While "The Winchesters" seems to be taking some liberties with the larger "Supernatural" continuity, Jensen Ackles has repeatedly affirmed that they won't be rewriting history. How all of this will work in the end is unclear, but the fact that "The Winchesters" is willing to change anything at all means that Azazel could possibly return in some form or fashion.
As the first big bad of "Supernatural" and John and Mary's ultimate nemesis, Azazel casts a long shadow. In truth, "The Winchesters" won't feel complete without an appearance from him in some capacity. Though the Yellow-Eyed Demon is killed by Dean Winchester in the "Supernatural" Season 2 finale "All Hell Breaks Loose," his presence lingers on throughout the series. Hopefully, it will extend into the prequel.
Sam Winchester
We all want to see Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki) again, if only because the idea of him not appearing on a show called "The Winchesters" just feels wrong. Though Padalecki is pretty busy with starring on the CW series "Walker," there's no doubt Sam will eventually reunite with Dean on "The Winchesters" — even if it's just for a scene or two.
Simply put, there is no "Supernatural" without Sam Winchester. While we're curious what Dean is up to as he digs through his parents' past, it seems odd that he'd take this journey without Sam — though given that Dean is most likely in Heaven, waiting for Sam to join him, this makes a certain amount of sense. But the ending of "Supernatural" jumps across multiple decades before the brothers are brought together again. This means there's plenty of unexplored time that could contain their reunion.
Sam is many fans' favorite "Supernatural" character, and while Padalecki might be busy, it's just too strange to see Dean without his brother. Even a few brief moments peppered throughout "The Winchesters" would be enough. However Sam arrives on "The Winchesters" is alright with us, so long as he's sitting shotgun to Dean — who, yes, is still picking the music.