Meg Donnelly, who plays Mary Winchester in the upcoming Supernatural prequel The Winchesters, reveals which of her sons Mary resembles the most. After a fifteen season run, dark fantasy drama and CW behemoth Supernatural finally came to an end in November 2020. The series mostly took the format of a monster-hunting case of the week serial featuring some season-long arcs, with hunter brothers Sam and Dean as the protagonists. Two complicated characters, Sam and Dean Winchester had a long, dark family history which started when their mother was killed by a demon.
Before her death, Mary was a fascinating character in her own right. Though Supernatural viewers naturally assumed that John Winchester was a born hunter, the series eventually revealed that Mary was actually the hunter in the family, a tradition passed down by her parents that she then introduced to John. Though the two settled down and started a normal family, Mary's death pushed John over the edge into a life of hunting for himself and the boys. No strangers to reanimation, Sam and Dean managed to meet their mother on a few occasions despite her death. The Supernatural prequel The Winchesters will follow the story of Mary and John's life together, narrated by their oldest son Dean.
In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Donnelly discusses Mary Winchester's connection to her sons and considers which she resembles the most. Donnelly reveals that Mary had more in common with Dean, which is interesting since the eldest Winchester has often drawn parallels to his father. See her full statement below:
I just love Dean so much. I just think his humor and his quick wit is great. I mean, [the brothers'] whole dynamic is just so great, but I would definitely have to say Dean. He has such an edge to him, but he's so funny.
I feel like Dean reminds me more of Mary. Kind of an edge, but still heartfelt at the same time.
Donnelly's comments are interesting when taken in the context of Dean and Mary's relationship. Though both Winchester brothers were greatly affected by their mother's death, Dean took her passing the hardest since he was alive long enough to remember her. When Mary was fully resurrected in Supernatural season 12, she forged a new relationship with her sons, and fiercely resembled Dean at times due to her independence and protective instincts. Dean was often compared to his father during Supernatural's run for his appearance, taste in music and cars, affinity for hunting, and no-nonsense demeanor at times. However, Donnelly's comments confirm that Dean's similarities to John were likely due to his admiration for his father, and at heart he's more like his mother. Sam also had plenty in common with both his parents, but showed at times that he actually resembled John deep down despite their tense relationship.
The Winchesters is set for an October premiere, and is expected to take on a different tone than the original series while still being infused with plenty of nostalgia. Though there are some concerns from fans about continuity issues in the series, it's clear that Donnelly and others involved in the show are familiar with and appreciative of the source material. The Winchesters is likely to be a consistently entertaining romp that will appeal to new and old fans alike, and it will finally bring John and Mary's fascinating story to light.
The Winchesters premieres Tuesday, October 11 on The CW.