Supernatural is a story built around two brothers and is constantly on the move so it can be hard to build up other characters who mean something to the show. However, this is something that Supernatural excels at. Characters who only make a handful of appearances are still cared about enough that their departure is still something fans mourn a decade later. It speaks volumes about the writing and the show that even though characters like Rufus, Ellen, and Jo, who were only in a handful of episodes, evoke such emotion with their passings and any returns they make.
A show that features demise in a very literal way means each departure, whether the character is alive, brought back, or gone for good, always means something. One example is Castiel who has come and gone, but each time it brings his relationship with the boys closer and furthers his own story.
In a show this big, with this much tragedy, the list could go into the hundreds, but it’s been reduced down to the top thirty. A few honorable mentions include Lady Toni Bevelle, Eve, Alistair, Pamela Barns, Bela Talbot, Chuck and Amara, Amelia, Hannah, Uriel, Mick Davis, and Gadreel.
Some of these characters deserved more screen time, some didn’t have an on-screen demise and others needed to go to get the story moving, whether they were beloved or disliked. Of course, in Supernatural, “demise isn’t always goodbye.”
Let’s take a look at 15 Character Departure That Hurt The Show (and 15 That Saved It).
HURT: ‘ASH’
Ash was a character we only saw for one season, reappearing once since, but he was a fantastic addition and deserved an on-screen demise. A stereotype-subverting mullet-having roadie expelled from M.I.T. for fighting. He’s “business up front, party in the back.” This genius used string theory to move around in Heaven, something no human has done without help. He is powerful in a very human way, enough to defy the laws of the afterlife. Although his real name is Miles, his nickname gives him an ironic ending as he went to his grave in demon-lit flames.
SAVED: AZAZEL
Azazel or “Yellow Eyes” was the first Prince of the Underworld and the King of the Underworld, keeping the throne warm for Lucifer. He was religiously fanatical in his love for his ‘father’ and dedicated his time to bringing him back. He burned Mary and drove John into hunting, dragging his children with him. The Winchesters knew none of his backstory and went in almost blind to the gravity of the enemy. But after twenty-four years it was time for him to go, moving up the story and removing the object of vengeance that fueled hunting for both John and Sam.
HURT: ELLEN AND JO HARVELLE
Ellen and Jo Harvelle were the first recurring female characters. Their downfall moved the story along but hurt like heck. They were only in a handful of episodes before their demise yet the audience still cared deeply when they passed.
Their demise moved up the plot and was necessary at the end of the original five-season arc. The end of the world scenario without any significant eliminations would not have made sense and so the mother-daughter combo met their end with a literal bang. They have come back on occasion since their saddening end and will always be welcome back.
SAVED: JOHN WINCHESTER
In the first season both Sam and Dean fit into certain stereotypes, created as a reflection of their father. One brother naturally like him, trying to be someone else, the other, trying to copy him, but inside was more like his mother. His death accelerated the plot and meant the boys had to step out of their father’s shadow. Sam began to accept the parts of himself that were like John, and Dean stepped out from his persona, becoming a more well-rounded version of himself. It would still be fantastic to have him back for a while and fans got a little closure in the 300th episode.
HURT: Horseman Of Demise
One of the most powerful characters ever to grace Supernatural is the Horseman of Demise. As a neutral party, he often assisted the brothers and had a sort of friendship with Dean, even showing up to personally reap Sam at the beginning of season nine. He was essential to stopping the Apocalypse and putting the souls back in Purgatory, let alone saving Sam’s soul from the cage. His demise was necessary to pave the way for the Darkness verses God showdown in season eleven, and has been replaced with the beautiful Billie, but this fast-food loving cosmic entity will be sorely missed.
SAVED: LUCIFER
Lucifer is one of the longest-standing villains in Supernatural and has gone through various incarnations. After being trapped in the cage, he returned as hallucinations, then possessing Cas, then a rock star, the President, and finally back to his first vessel, Nick. After five seasons it was time for the demon to go or make a change. After seasons eleven and thirteen teased a redemption arc, it never came to pass. In the end, Dean, powered by the alternate version of Michael, managed to destroy Lucifer: an act that cost him dearly. Although, with Nick still around, Lucifer may make a return, his end was still fitting with Dean ending his brother’s enemy, just as Sam ended Alistair.
HURT: EILEEN LEAGHY
One of the hunters who actually got the drop on the Winchesters and a Men of Letters legacy, Eileen is an Irish-American who was taken in and trained by a hunter after her parents were eliminated and her hearing stolen by a banshee. She was taken out by the British Men of Letters after accidentally ending one of their members. Eileen was a romantic interest for Sam and just goes to show that you don’t need to hear to be an amazing hunter and have an attitude to match.
SAVED: CROWLEY
One of the most beloved characters of Supernatural and one of the few characters of the main cast, his demise was a tragedy. Whilst it is a sad truth that the audience will never hear Crowley’s wit ever again, his end was a necessary one. With Crowley as King of the Underworld and his strange friendship with Team Free Will, he had no choice but to side, for a last time, with the Winchesters. He gave his life to trap Lucifer in the Apocalypse World, perishing a hero. Whilst it was time to move on and give the show a fresh start, his and his mother’s origin story, is one of the most interesting stories that remain untold.
HURT: CAIN
Although Cain featured in only two episodes he made a huge impression on the characters and fandom. He gave Dean the Mark of Cain, which began his downward spiral in demondom. A man, much like Dean, who sacrificed himself for his brother’s soul. The showdown with Dean was the last time we see the First Blade and was one of the tipping points in season ten. He was possibly the most powerful demon in history and his powers were never displayed in full, especially now it is known that the power comes from the Darkness, who is “mightier than God.”
SAVED: DEAN WINCHESTER
No one, in all of Supernatural, has perished has much as Dean. His first demise had John sell his soul, and his second (selling his soul to the Underworld), in particular, moved up the level of the story and caused the introduction of Castiel and angels. Every time Dean has effectively ‘passed’, such as Purgatory and his transformation into a demon, it has led to a huge storyline and tends to be a game-changer in the series. Dean has also developed a personal relationship with both incarnations of Demise as a result.
HURT: GABRIEL
First, he’s a college janitor, revealed to be the trickster God Loki. It isn’t until season five that we discover Loki was actually Gabriel, one of the four archangels. A fan-favorite, he passed at his brother’s hands in season five, leaving the boys the solution to stopping the Apocalypse. Through the fandom’s sheer force of will, he was brought back in season thirteen, revealed to have been a prisoner of the last Prince of the Underworld, Asmodeus. Weakened and finally ready to step-up as an arch-angel again he travels to the alternate universe and sacrifices himself, deceased, once again, at the hands of a version of his brother… or is he?
SAVED: SAM WINCHESTER
You’re not a Winchester until you’ve perished at least once. Sam wasn’t the first Winchester to pass, or the last, but his demise was pivotal. He perished in his brother’s arms by another one of Azazel’s psychic kids and was then brought back when Dean sold his soul, forcing himself to the Underworld. This led to Sam’s darker nature coming out and was the first domino in the events that led to the angels and the first Apocalypse. He’s ‘perished’ a few times since then and this usually means Dean is going to do something self-sacrificing to bring him back.
HURT: BALTHAZAR
Few angels are loved on Supernatural. Castiel and Gabriel will always be adored, Lucifer even has a strange following for his misunderstood storyline and hope for redemption. And there’s Balthazar. He was only part of Supernatural for a season, but boy, did he make an impression: an old member of Cas’ garrison, thief of Heaven’s weaponry, lover of drink and hater of the Titanic. He was tragically dispatched by Castiel when he was caught spying for the Winchesters. Not many an angel had the swagger of this feathered friend. Unfortunately, this heart will not go on.
SAVED: ADAM MILLIGAN
The third child of John Winchester, he grew up without knowing his brothers and only met his father a handful of times. He was eaten by ghouls, resurrected, ended up being possessed by Michael as a substitute for Dean, and was pulled into the Cage with Michael, Lucifer and Sam. Whilst Sam was saved and even Lucifer sprung free, Adam still remains locked in the cage, forgotten. The core of the show is the two brothers, and though this has extended to include several other characters, Adam likely would not have had a place in the plot. Still, it would be fantastic to have him re-visit for an episode when the boys finally save him.
HURT: ABBADON
Abbadon was one of Supernatural’s most delicious villains to date. This immortal demonic redhead was Hell’s first Queen and it doesn’t make sense that her demise happened so quickly, given how experienced and powerful she was. This Knight was more indestructible than a Prince of the Underworld, fearlessly went up against her maker, Cain, and single-handedly wiped out the American Men of Letters. Keeping her around would have given time for Dean to grow into his powers, as Cain was a lot more powerful than Dean. She was far more formidable than she was portrayed to be in her final battle. Long live the Queen.
SAVED: RAPHAEL
What happens when you stop the prizefight and remove the kings who were meant to end the world? Well, Dean went to live a normal life and Cas was forced to fend off Apocalypse Take Two. Raphael, an arch-angel and traditionalist, wanted to re-start the Grand Plan, forcing Castiel to begin a Civil War in Dean’s name. His demise opened up the Faction War and other heavenly conflicts that followed and meant that the Apocalypse could only be started again if the other archangels broke loose.
HURT: KELLY KLINE
Kelly was just an innocent woman in a relationship with the President of the United States until he was possessed by the Lord of Darkness himself. Lucifer ended up with her and together they made a son, Jack. Kelly may not have the combat skills of a hunter but she bravely went up against The Dark Lord, dodged angels, demons, and hunters, and gave birth to the child she loved knowing it would mean her demise. Whilst it may have been necessary to develop the relationship with his three dads, it probably could still have happened with Kelly, who could have been a great addition to the team.
SAVED: SAMUEL CAMPBELL
First seen in a Dean’s first-time travel, Samuel Campbell was the maternal Grandfather of the Winchesters. He was brought back by Crowley and worked for him with the promise of Mary being resurrected. The final straw was when he turned on his grandsons, leaving them to perish. After this, it was time for Samuel to get his just desserts. He was possessed by a sub-species of Kahn worm, a type of parasitic monster cooked up by Eve (the mother of all monsters) and he was shot by Sam who was named after him.
HURT: RUFUS TURNER
Rufus Turner first appeared in season three, revealed to be the retired ex-hunting partner to Bobby. He didn’t feature in many episodes but was beloved for his unapologetic attitude and charm. He and Bobby are a reflection of an older Sam and Dean, only his grudge against Bobby continued to his grave. It is hinted at that Bobby made the wrong call on a hunt that cost the life of a woman that Rufus loved, ending their partnership. He was not seen enough and had a truly tragic demise, slain by a monster-possessed Bobby.
SAVED: RUBY
The demon on Sam’s shoulder after Azazel and Meg, Ruby had the biggest influence on Sam’s dark side. It would have been interesting to see if her loyalties could be tested in season five, but it was time for her to go once her true nature was revealed. There are so many questions still left unanswered: Why she sold her soul to a demon for power? How she fell in with Lilith and when? And how did she get her hands on a demon-slaying blade from the crusades? All these still remain a mystery so, whilst it was time for her go at the end of season four, in Supernatural, there’s always the chance to bring her back.