Article by Craig Byrne
Please do not reproduce this interview on other websites. Instead, just link to the original source. Thank you! Beware of potential SPOILERS within this interview.
Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki are about to enter their sixth season as the Winchester brothers on The CW hit Supernatural. KSiteTV’s Craig Byrne was one of several journalists who were lucky enough to get to talk to Ackles and Padalecki on the eve of the new season premiere, as they are in the process of filming the season’s eighth episode, “All Dogs Go To Heaven.” The interview follows.
Season 6 of Supernatural begins Friday, Sept. 24 on The CW – right after Smallville!
Based on the Season 6 trailer, it doesn’t look like there’s a lot of brotherly love. What is the state of the brothers’ relationship as the show picks back up this season?
JENSEN ACKLES: It’s a lot different in the fact that it’s a year later, and Dean’s basically been living a year with thinking that [Sam] is gone. So when Sam shows back up unexpectedly, obviously there’s surprise, but then there’s also anger at the fact, that “How long has he been around, and why hasn’t he told me?” So that’s the first bit of friction that they get.
JARED PADALECKI: Also, my character’s a bit different because I went to Hell for a little bit. Not only Hell, but Lucifer’s cage with an archangel battle, so I come back much less lovey-dovey, and more like “All right. I’ve been to Hell a couple times. I’ve been to Heaven. I’ve died; I’ve come back, I’ve done this, and I’ve done that; so I think Sam’s kind of more “no bull$#!+.”
Whose experience in Hell was worse?
JARED: I’d say mine, I think. We’re only eight episodes into it, we don’t know too much about mine. [Character redacted to avoid a spoiler] says, “I can’t imagine what it’s like in the cage, and I can imagine so many things.”
Will we be seeing fights between you guys?
JARED: I hope so.
JENSEN: Well, there is — in the trailer, there’s a shot of me hitting him, and that wasn’t edited to look as though it was; that actually happened. So, there are physical confrontations. There are verbal confrontations between the others. But they do have their common denominator, and that is that they’re both hunters, so they get back on the right track, eventually, but there is still a strain in the relationship that has yet to be worked out.
JARED: I think it kind of hearkens back to Season One where there’s Sam’s story, and Sam’s like “Dean, with all due respect, I deserve respect as well. I have my own life. I’ve done my own things. I deserve my own credit, and I’m going to do things my way, and I deserve to do things my way.” And Dean’s like, “well, you don’t know what I’ve been through in this last year, and my priorities have changed and shifted. Now I don’t want to be so cavalier.” And Sam’s like “What? Why not? I just came back from Hell again!” So I think there are personal frictions with both brothers, and they’re sort of amplified by the fact that we hunt.
JENSEN: There was a big kind of a shift in Dean’s character, actually much to my chagrin. I was not happy with it. Dean was really kind of being written soft. We spent five years with this guy being a tough, shoot-first-ask-questions-later kind of guy, and now all of a sudden he’s lived one year in more of a domesticated life, and he’s gone soft on us. As a fan of the show myself, that kind of made me upset, but I did my best to kind of curve that in the acting. It read pretty soft on the page, but I think I toughened it. I’m like “Look, if I’ve got anything to do with it, I’m gonna beat this guy up a little bit.”
JARED: In all honesty, you kind of kept it true to the character. It wasn’t like you were just not doing what the writers were writing for. It was like “How can I work this in to where I don’t completely lose….?”
JENSEN: Which was different, because after five seasons of playing this guy, now I actually have to think harder about how to play this guy correctly than I have before.
JARED: It used to be easier.
JENSEN: I’m like “What happened to the gravy bone here?”
JARED: We talked to Tom [Welling], and Tom’s like “Yeah, Season 6, it’s easy from there on out.” We’re like “it got harder!”
JENSEN: I’m having to think harder, like “Okay. How would he actually react to this situation?” Because he’s never been in a domesticated situation like this, where he’s got a kid, and a girl.
JARED: Sam is not so heartfelt anymore. [In Episode 8], we go up to this dead body, and my line is “Yeah, we’re specialists. We answer the questions of mouth-breathing dickbombs.” Stone-faced. “You’re going to tell us what’s going on?” It’s like “Who is this dude?”
JENSEN: Dean’s reaction is [jaw drops] “…Okay. Wow. He’s come so far.” So there is a little bit of change in the characters, but I think, from what I understand, once we get towards the meat of the season, everybody kind of gets back on the same track. We find out a lot more as to why their motivations shifted.
JARED: I think the common denominator is also that Sam and Dean both want it to be better. In their own way, albeit; but they at least both want the same things. Maybe they work differently, but it’s no longer Sam going “All right. I’ve got this demon. I’m going to go see what’s happening this way. You do whatever you want. We’ll meet up later.” But I think we’re just wording differently what we want. We’re trying to work together and let it flesh itself out.
Are we ever going to see Dean’s necklace again?
JENSEN: That’s one of those kind of trivia questions. It’s like “What happened to the necklace?”
JARED: All I know is that Kripke said that we’ll never see it again.
JENSEN: I think he may have been inundated with so many questions with that damn necklace that he was like, “You know what? Screw it. I’m getting rid of the damn thing. That’s it. I don’t want to talk about it anymore; I’m melting it down.” But you know, now that Sera’s taken the reins, she definitely has the power to bring it back. Unless Eric goes [foot stomp] NO!”
What’s it like having the transition to Sera Gamble as executive producer?
JENSEN: She’s been a big part of the game since Day One, and Eric’s still kicking around, still putting his stamp of approval on just about everything.
JARED: I’ve always been a fan of her work with my character. I’ve always really enjoyed what she did with Sam. So I was really excited. I was like “cool!” Fresh ideas, but still somebody who’s worked with the family for a long time.
Is this like a new series, a Season One all over again?
JENSEN: I think it’s in the same vein. I don’t think it’s exactly like that “Monster of the Week” thing. We’re starting to get a little bit of that, but there’s definitely an overpowering storyline going on, whereas in Season One, we were kind of lighting the fire of that storyline.
JARED: We have vampires, and skinwalkers…. So it’s not like “Monster of the Week.” I think it would be really hard to go back to Season One, just because our characters have been developed, and part of Season One is to develop the characters, and try a bunch of different things. And now we’re the characters that we’ve built, and are now more developed, and are hunting different monsters.
Is it difficult to play Dean as a domesticated family man?
JENSEN: Totally. I had no idea what the hell I was doing. Just even the dialogue, the way it was written, being so soft and affected. I was like, “This is not the guy I’m used to playing.” So I had to find a way, literally, to think “How would Dean react in a situation like this?” And I would kind of skew the dialogue a little bit to make it work in his favor. But it was definitely different. It was an odd situation for Dean to be in.
The sixth season of Supernatural begins Friday, September 24 on The CW. Take a look at some images and talk about Supernatural on our forum!
152 Comments
Oh, this sounds TERRIBLE. So they’ve stripped Dean of all his familiar qualities, and he’s going to have to grovel to Sam again and be amazed at how wonderful he is? Really, Sera? REALLY?
I’m so done with this show. Jensen deserves so much better than this crap treatment, after how hard he’s worked for them.
I got the impression when doing the interview – and his own body language – that Jensen has no intention of letting Dean lose his familiar qualities, and that as time goes on he’s going to be back to the Dean we all know and love. Can’t speak for Jensen, but just a guess based on what I saw.
Thanks for your interpretation, Craig. I’m just… stunned, I guess, that they’re doing this to him. I’ve never heard him say so directly that he was unhappy, and if what’s going on this year has driven him to it, it must really be awful.
Wow, Sam was in hell a couple of times? Really? I must have missed the time Sam was in hell. Also, JP, Dean was in hell and heaven also. But I guess that story went by the wayside along with other Dean stuff.
Screw this. This sounds horrid and Sera can take her Sam show and shove it. I’m not watching this garbage. Too bad, she almost had me fooled into watching it again.
I’m going to miss Dean Winchester, and I’m going to miss Jensen, but Supernatural has just hit the crap pile.
OH, and by the way, when has Sam ever respected Dean? Never that I’ve seen. Ugh! This is just, ugh!
I’m sitting here in shock. I can’t believe what I just read. I was starting to get excited for Season 6, but now, I don’t think I’m going to watch it at all. I’m just…wow…
It’s been clear from Sera’s episodes that she is totally infatuated with Sam. To this point, it hasn’t hurt the show. But WOW, this interview is SCARY in how much change is forcasted for the season that she “owns”. I watch for the brotherly interaction (which seems will be missing), for Dean’s kick-ass personality (totally seems to be neutered) and for the guys relationship with Bobby (Sera seems to want to have replaced him with Grandpa-back-from-the-dead). I hope if she’s screwed this up as badly as I fear, that Eric and the network will see is quickly and fix it prior to the whole season tanking.
” And Sam’s like “What? Why not? I just came back from Hell again!”
Since when has Sam been to Hell TWICE?
I am really hopeful that those of you who say over and over that you are so done with this show really are done with the show. Stop spewing your bitterness and hate everywhere and just do as you say and get out, move on, build a bridge, whatever but please just shut the help up.
This season is going to suck so bad. D:
Thank you hopeful! This show is great and if all you people are going to do is talk about how much it’s going to suck then just move on and leave the show alone. It deserves better than that. At least don’t say it’s going to suck until you’ve watched it.
Wow, I actually had the naive hope that Sera would finally give Dean, as an equal lead character, his long overdue direct tie to the mytharc. Forget the mytharc- it sounds as if Dean’ll just be lucky to find his mojo again sometime this season. While Sam is set up to be the badass hunter Dean used to be AND has the mysterious uberplot to boot. So much for equality.
Lordy, lord, this is bad.
It’s laughable how dramatic people get here. Save your judgements until you watch the episode lest you come away looking juvenile.
OMG! What’s that horrific sucking sound?
“There was a big kind of a shift in Dean’s character, actually much to my chagrin. I was not happy with it.”
So Craig, did Jensen say this or did he not? I don’t see how he could make his dismay much plainer.
If Jensen’s not happy, I sincerely doubt I’m going to be happy with the way things are going to play out.
Jared also needs to stop talking. He’s not doing Sam any favors at all or bringing over any new fans.
I have to say the more I see of spoilers and promo’s the less inclined I am to watch this show again. Someone should force the writers to sit down and rewatch all the episodes and then see if they can figure out where they have gone so heinously wrong. I’ve been a fan since S1 because this show was so different than the standard crap on TV, children as very minor players, no manufactured “love” interest drama, it was a story about the road the Brother, the family Winchester and a unorthodox family business. If I wanted suburban drama I’d watch 90210 or Bro/Sis since that is the primary focus, not what I want when I watch SPN, thanks for the bait and switch @sshls. I miss the dynamic that used to be there before they ruined the brothers reationship. God damn I miss the originality of the the first few season, never thought I would see this show devolve to the point that I can’t stand either character, Sam the dick and Dean the wimp,really really . . . FU writers/Runner you’ve successfully murdered all the charm this show once had, shows how out of touch with fandom y’all are if you thought this was actually something a majority of the fans wanted to see.
Wow you people really need to get a grip both Jared and Jensen have expressed how excited they are about season six and have sign for possible season 7 so take a breather and give the show we all love a chance. Like Jensen stated Eric is still really involved he seems to be keeping a close eye on his baby.
Hopeful, with the dismal ratings that season 5 had, do you really think that’s good advice?
i just keep repeating to me ” things aren’t what they seem” I hope that is the case…. but the trailer look good. but my one problem.. what is Jared talking about? Sam hasn’t been to Hell before… or has he?
It sounds really, really bad. Did they really have to cut Dean’s nuts off just so Sam could look better? I guess they had to. I hope Sera is happy writing her own version of Twit Light.
Those Dean-centric promos . . . bait and switch, y’all.
“both Jared and Jensen have expressed how excited they are about season six and have sign for possible season 7 so take a breather and give the show we all love a chance. Like Jensen stated Eric is still really involved he seems to be keeping a close eye on his baby.”
Shanna, I would say things have changed somewhat since the beginning of the season if Jensen’s words are any indication. It’s easy to say you’re excited when you have no idea what’s coming for you and ComiCon was strictly a promotional junket- of course they’re going to say positive things, no matter what they really think.
As for Kripke still being involved I wouldn’t necessarily say that’s still a good thing in light of the highly polarized reaction to last season.
For a show on the CW which barely promotes it I really wouldn’t call the ratings dismal. The recent DVD sales are proof of how good the show was last season.
Shanna, after the last 2 seasons Kripke’s involvement/oversight doesn’t really give me any confidence that the show will get any better. IDK I lost all confidence in Kripke mid S4 . . . I won’t go into the long detailed reasons, sufficient to say I will never follow another series of his, don’t care if he casts Oboma, Kripke is professionally dead to me. After all he had to Ok this trite crap that Gambles is trying to sell us, and to think I was actually excited when I heard she was taking over. Lastly, I’m just over being outright lied to by the runner/writers, the brother where supposed to repair their relationship, the Angel storyline is over, blah blah blah . . . y’all liars and I kind of despise myself for believing them every season only to have them not do as promised.
Just my opinion but they both chose to sign on for season 7 and the promos and previews look really good so why not just give the new season a chance.
Because one of the main actors says it sucks?
“Jared also needs to stop talking. He’s not doing Sam any favors at all or bringing over any new fans.”
Donna, Jared has just as much of a right to say what he thinks as Jensen does (like Jensen did in this very interview). They both talk. Some fans may disagree with one. Some fans may disagree with the other.
However, neither ‘needs to stop talking’. It’s an interview. The point is for them to talk.
I wonder if Jensen Ackles knows how many of his fans think he and his character are a total wuss? He needs to stop talking, he sounds like a petulant two year old. I haven’t read such a cry-baby interview since the EW article. Grow up Jensen!
As for Kripke not doing the show right for the last couple of seasons I’d have to say you are entitled to feel that way but thousands of SPN fans disagree thats why they banned together to thank Kripke for doing so an amazing job for 5 years.
Not interested in eunuch Dean and Machismo Sam, time to move on, farewell Supernatural and screw Sera Gamble!
I will watch the new season, and I wanted to be looking forward to it, but there was nothing in this interview to make me excited about it. I agree with the comment above — if Jensen stated that he was not happy with what they had done with his character, I doubt I will be either. And he is not, incidentally, someone who doesn’t know what happens in the new episodes, so you can’t very well tell him to wait until he sees them. Or are those of you who are criticizing anyone who is not happy, also going to tell him to shut up and get out, to “move on and let the show alone”?
You know what though? That would be okay with me. I’ve enjoyed the show and I love the character of Dean Winchester, without whom the show would not be worth watching, but I would also enjoy watching the actor who plays him try his hand at other roles.
I actually agree with you GoodGod’All. First Jensen says that the scripts have become too big and are “increasingly difficult to shoot” at Vancon, and now he’s complaining about the writing for his character. I’m sure Jared has been unhappy at times, but I don’t remember him openly critisizing the leadership of the show like that. I think that Jensen is developing a bit of an ego here and I don’t like it one bit.
I don’t think Jared is very familiar with Sam’s story… Hell again?
Sera has written some really great episodes of the series, and she has been involved from the beginning. I think if you really feel that way about it then Bye.
Suzie – what Jensen said at Van Con was that Sera was still trying to feel her way in her new role as showrunner, he was alluding to the fact that the scripts were bigger than their shooting schedule allows and their budget allows. Even Kripke made a comment at Comic Con about the show currently being over budget, even though they haven’t filmed half of the season yet.
“I think that Jensen is developing a bit of an ego here and I don’t like it one bit.”
I don’t blame him one bit, after what’s been done to him. Not one iota.
Suzie,
I’m only going to get into this because Jared himself said, I forget which Con, but Jared said he had a melt down on set so and Kripke had to fly up and give him some insight. So yes I think he’s had a few issues with his character direction. Possibly, Jared had just a few issues, much like many of us, about WTF was up with Sam last season and look’s like it’s Jensen’s turn this season. Ha but damn I feel kind of bad for both of them, IDK says a lot about the writing when both leads have had issues with how their characters are/where being written.
All I’m really trying to say is that maybe having to work at keeping the character true to Dean is not a bad thing maybe in the end it will just and to the amazing character Dean is. Sorry if I come across badly I just think sometimes it helps to make something a little more difficult you know shake things up they both come across as guys who like a challenge.
The complaints about Sera Gamble are pretty disturbing, people. Give her a shot before complaining, yeah?
It sounds like Jared is thrilled with the new storyline and where Sam’s character is being taken, but Jensen is clearly less enthusiastic. I like Lisa and think it’s an interesting opportunity, but I’m glad that Jensen is doing what he can to keep Dean toughened up.
I’m looking forward to exploring Sam’s character some, but Jared? If you don’t know what happened to Sam in Hell yet, perhaps you shouldn’t claim that he had the worse time of it? Especially if you’re going to get your canon wrong in the process.
I’m less than impressed with the story of Kripke’s reaction to the amulet as well. Kripke, when you’ve got something that important to the characters and you build it into a major plot point, you can kinda expect your fans to want you to follow up with it. Declaring that it’ll never be referenced again in a fit of pique because you’re sick of people asking about it just shows that you don’t have the chops necessary to really steer a story to a sensible conclusion. Uncool, Kripke. Very uncool.
There seems to be quite a change in attitude since the beginning of filming Season 6. My guess is that Dean’s character has been written inconsistently from the first 5 seasons as Season 6 progressed from episode 1 to 8. I don’t see why Jensen Ackles will have to work extra hard to make sure Dean remains consistent; isn’t that the job of the writers? Jared makes it sound like Sam is getting huge frequent flyer miles with all the running around between heaven, hell and earth, unless there is a spoiler in there and he made an additional round-trip to hell during the year in between seasons 5 and 6 that we never saw. At least Jared makes it sound like Sam will be like Season 4 Sam. Eric Kripke staying and still putting his stamp of approval also sounds weird – like there are now a few too many cooks stirring the broth.
Then there is the odd(?) decision to “reset” Castiel, and the Dean/Castiel friendship, and use Castiel very sparingly at least during the first part of the season.
Hmmm……. The first few episodes of Season 6 will be a good indicator whether the season will be a success or not.
“Give her a shot before complaining, yeah?”
Phinnie, Jensen’s given her a shot, and he hates it. Since he’s played Dean for five years, and has been extremely good the whole time about cheerleading for the show and not complaining, I’m pretty sure that he knows what he’s talking about. I’m not gonna waste my time watching something that’s only gonna depress me.
Look, I was excited about Lisa and Ben. I was excited about Gamble taking over… I loved her Dean. But this is sounding dreadful, and after last season, they’re fresh out of “wait and see”s with me. This was their last shot, and given what Jensen’s said, I’m 99.99% sure that they blew it. It’s not just Gamble… Kripke’s putting his stamp on everything, too. It’s the pair of them. And I don’t see anything disturbing about saying so.
Who was holdind the baby? Dean right? Dont worry, he is gonna be the star of the show as always. And sam is gonna be cold and arrogant, so nothing is gonna change, you are gonna have a lot of material to praise dean and to destroy sam.
jensen is just scared of not being the star of the show anymore and not being able to charge what he is currently charging his fans for a photo or an autograph.
“Is it difficult to play Dean as a domesticated family man?
Totally. I had no idea what the hell I was doing”
Oh yeah, that sounds like a big ego. For me is like the dude was lost and having problems reconciling the new scripts with the character he has played for 5 years.
Jared wants off the show and it appears that the way to get him to sign on for seasons 6 & 7 was to throw Dean’s character under the bus so that Sam could shine. Nice.
Well at least both boys won’t have to worry about season 7 anymore.
My understanding of the Castiel situation is they have given Misha smaller role so far because him and the wife are expecting a baby anytime now. Also SPN without brotherly angst really wouldn’t be SPN would it?
Ali, I’m as leery about the new season as you are (and had the same hopes for Sera and Dean/Lisa as well) but people are complaining an awful lot about Sera Gamble when it sounds like Kripke is just as much at fault.
If anything, I’m more annoyed with him than anyone else – I’m tired of his tendency to build up a concept, then get bored with it and so ignore it, and then get all pissed off when the fans want to know what’s going on.
I’m willing to give the first episode a chance, but Supernatural was already on very thin ice with me given the terrible quality of the past season. If this first episode isn’t stellar (and that rating maintained thereafter) then I’m likely out as well.
Wait Rob ,Jared isn’t currently charging his fans for a photo or an autograph?
It’s good to see that Jensen is still protective of Dean and is doing his best not to let Samgirl!Sera destroy the character he has slaved over for five years. I’m glad he is speaking out but that suggests that it’s probably much worse than it is since he is usually so diplomatic. I’m glad he is still fighting for Dean but I really feel bad that he even has to at this point.
Yeah, definitely Kripke deserves a lot of blame as well but my attitude is that she could’ve steered a different way and it looks like she’s not. So, she should get her share of the rotten tomatoes as well.
Season 7 is a real possibilty because there are still plenty of SPN fans out there that are loyal to the show and are willing to give Sera a chance and a little time to get her groove as head honcho.
Shanna, it absolutely makes no sense that they gave Castiel smaller roles because Misha’s wife is due very soon. If they were actually thinking along those lines, they would have had him appear in the first 4 episodes or so (filmed in July – to early August) and then given him time off, not have him back on set very recently (ep. 6 or so) given his wife must be really close now. So, I don’t buy that reasoning. It looks much more like they wanted to reset the character of Castiel and his human connections, so they are keeping him away from the audience till they have had time to establish the new Sam and Dean of season 6.
Brotherly angst is well and good, but after 5 seasons of it, it’s time to move on to something genuinely new for both characters.
Wow if so many of you hated last season and think Kripke sucks then why are you even here complaining about something you have already given up on. SPN Rocked in the beginning and will continue to Rock…
It really doesn’t matter who is at fault. I have defended Gamble most of the summer reminding people that she writes a kick ass Dean. I wasn’t going to watch the premier. The promos won me over. This interview does confirm my worst fears for the season. Between Sera Gamble’s interview today and this one here, I think I’ll wait and if the season is any good I’ll catch up later.
To think when some fans complained that the writers take what works for Dean and then have Sam do the same thing I thought they were paranoid. I’m not sure they are any more.
Personally, I’m hoping for the best with this season — yet cautiously pessimistic after hearing some spoilers and hating the end of S5. Regardless of how I feel about what the actors expressed during this interview, I am totally embarrassed by fans squabbling in the comments. C’mon people: IT’S ONLY A TV SHOW. Save the vitriol for politics!
Rob you seem to have trouble grasping the concept of an auction. Or the fact that Creation Con is running it, not Ackles himself. People bid what they want to pay. If Jensen’s bids are higher it’ because those particular fans are willing to pay Creation more to see him. Neither of Js are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. This is a job for both of them and if some crazy fans wants to pay hundreds of dollars to chat with them for a few minutes, well that’s capitalism baby.
I’m glad Jared is tweaking everybody. He’s clearly energized as always, no matter what crap the writers have thrown his way, and he’s dodged a lot of crap over the years. Jared was just throwing out that Sam has done this, that, the other, and is not up for kidding around anymore. I do believe he was partially joking.
I hope Sam’s hell was worse than Dean’s, because season 4 trashed this show beyond recognition, and it did it by throwing Sam to the wolves, over and over again. I’ll never be sorry for anything that ever happens to Dean again after being forced to watch that nastiness. I want Sam to have a solid storyline that isn’t shoved into the background and wallpapered over, or where he is made to look bad just to move the plot along, and for Dean to over-react like the wet little woobie he’s become. I mean, 8 episodes in, and Jared still knows nothing about Sam’s time in hell. This is the kind of garbage he’s been forced to deal with for years and years now with Sam. It’s pathetic. Dean can shove his annual nervous breakdown up his bum, because I’m through with his stupid endless self-obsessed, self-pity parade. Looking at his woobie face almost makes me ill now, I’m just so sick of seeing it. Sam’s storyline had better be frikking huge if they’re only bothering with it in the middle of the season.
I have hope that Sera will rescue the show from Eric Kripke’s horrid show planning and running. But since she was a part of that mess, too, I just don’t know. I hope she has the talent and the strength to bring the brothers back together in a good and believable way, and that Sam isn’t forced to be everybody’s fall guy again, the scape goat, who takes all of the hate and blame and gets hardly any of the love.
Give Jared five real minutes of solid writing, and he can take anything. I’m proud of him for holding on to a show that hasn’t done much to hold onto him. He deserves better, and so do I, because Sam is my POV character, and it’s been torture the last 2 seasons. Jared rocked the house in Swan Song. May he rock it again, because he’s the best actor on Friday nights now. Go, Jared!
Everyone keeps insulting the new season and it hasn’t even been on television yet. Sit down, shut up, and come back with your comments once you’ve actually watched the thing you’re bashing.
And if there’s one thing I don’t get, it’s the constant Dean/Jensen section (as it were) of the fanbase complaining every time Sam or Jared steps up. And all your arguments are the same: Dean’s shunted aside, Sam’s the favourite, yahta yahta – what are you, four? There are two leads and both are equal – quit picking sides in a war that shouldn’t even exist. Try watching the show for the entirety of it, not just for one of the equally talented cast members.
Okay! Watch the freakin premiere before judging and whoever told Jared to shut up… WOW! I thought there were TWO characters on this show and even if Sam is not someone you like no need to be an ass-hole about the actor who plays him!
GOD PEOPLE! Get a GRIP!!
Not sorry I’m passinate about a show that I really Love. I like debate and lively banter for me its all in fun. Can’t change whats already been done and really canmt change what is to come.
Hello Ash, I’m not in any Dean/Jensen section, I am a fan of the show, and I have no idea yet whether Sam or Jared has “stepped up”, given that the season has not yet started. I am reacting to this interview and what Jensen (and Jared!) said in it about the consistency of writing of Dean’s character. Also, to be honest, I don’t get that Sam’s character is going to shine in the new season, because so far what I’ve read about him seems pretty shallow, with no solid focus on him or true character growth.
I am not insulting the new season, I am actually excited by the promos. But after season 5, I do know that if the episodes start to suck badly, I’m off. Perhaps I’ll be the only one, but I watch TV to be entertained, not to be “loyal” to SPN no matter what.
Ash – read Sue’s post above yours. It comes from both sides of the fandom. Besides, you should have seen all the vitriol back in Season 4 from the Sam/Jared fans.
It appears Jared actually thinks Sam is Dean now since he already went to Hell before. Jared, you’re a sweet guy but maybe you should watch the show so you actually know what happened.
Elle, Ash’s comment coming right below Sue’s strikes me as incredibly funny for some reason.
Sastiel (cool name, by the way!), I’m a bit disapponted in Jared simply because he got his canon wrong and he’s making assumptions while admitting in the same breath that he has no idea what’s going on. It feels sloppy. I like Jared’s work and expect more from him.
Wow not sure why so many are stuck on a mis quote or mis spoke comment or maybe he was referring to how many times Sam has died.
Glad to hear that Jensen has learned to speak up when he doesn’t like what they’re doing with his character. It sure worked for Padalecki, although giving him everything of Jensen’s is not going to make him into the actor that Jensen is-not by a long shot. The showrunners of this show have just run amok since Kim Manners died. What a shame.
The mention of Sam being in Hell twice was a mistake perhaps by the interviewer,perhaps by a very tired Jared although I’d think Jensen would have said something but who knows who cares it was an error not intentional
And gee enough already of the Sam/Jared bashing! Don;t you guys ever get tired of whining and being so hateful do yu ever go back and read your comments and cringe,you should! This show is about two brothers not one and the character of Sam has been trampled on quite a bit lately too. Kripke set out by omitting and twisting facts to scapegoat Sam for everything,let Castiel off the hook for everything and it backfired on Dean,the cause and effect of dishonest storytelling as well keeping the brothers apart for so long. After the disastrous mess kripke turned the mythology into also known as the second half of season 4 and season 5 Kripke not being at the helm is a good thing. Let Sera have a chance hopefully she can reinstate the original vision of this show somehting kripke forgot as he steered the show into the ditch. the only time kripke got it right was in Swam Song by them it was too little too late. He’d lost over a million and half viewers
WTF Jared is as good if not better than Jensen when it comes to acting. Jensen just plays the more liked character.
Shanna – two can play that game:
WTF Jensen is as good if not better than Jared when it comes to acting.
Only one of them gets praised by mainstream TV critics.
Honestly, Jensen’s comments really have me questioning whether I want to watch S6 anymore. I mean this is JENSEN we’re talking about here – he usually has nothing but praise for everyone around him, so the fact that he’s actually going on record and saying he’s unhappy means that there really is a disconnect between him and the creative team, IMO. I mean I’m glad that Jensen knows Dean so well and is so committed to trying to ensure that his character remains realistic and consistent, but like others have said, isn’t it the WRITERS’ job to do this!!!
And I’m absolutely UGH on the idea that Sam’s Hell experience was some how worse than Dean’s. I mean seriously, I don’t expect a cage to be a pleasant place, but from what I understood, there wasn’t anything else in that cage. I mean, it was opened THREE TIMES and the only thing that ever came out was Lucifer. So the writers would really be stretching it if they tried to tell me that there was something else down there (unless Michael made things Hell for Lucifer…). And, frankly, I’m tired of the writers trying to minimize what Dean’s been through, as well as making excuses for Sam’s behaviour, which seems to be EXACTLY what they’re trying to do.
And I’m definately unhappy at the idea of Kripke giving his “stamp of approval”. Honestly, either STAY and suck up the responsibilities or GO and let someone else steer the ship. It just really sounds kind of douchey of him to be so glad that he has no more administrative responsibilities but still think that he can have all the creative control!
And I agree with whoever called the Dean-centric promos a bait-and-switch, talk about a re-run of S5 all over again! *rolleyes*
“In all honesty, you kind of kept it true to the character. It wasn’t like you were just not doing what the writers were writing for. It was like “How can I work this in to where I don’t completely lose….?”
Even Jared seems to think how not Dean was Dean being written, maybe it worked well for the story, maybe is a ruse. They made a big deal about Gen being a waitress and Sam love interest in S4, in the end she was Ruby. She was very out of character though
I’m with Ash on this. People chill out and wait to see an episode before having a breakdown over it.
OK I didn’t start it, but whatever. I am obviously a Sam girl so majorly bias and more defensive then I should be. They both Rock the show Rocks and People need to have a little faith or hope it what is to come.
meant hope in what is to come
meant hope in what is to come.
I was a bit excited about season 6, after the terrible Such Song. However, after reading JP`s interview, I really don`t know.
Agree! JP needs to stop talking. He is not doing the show or Sam any favors. – And really, can anything be worse than being tortured for 30 years? Goodnes, if show goes there – I will be freaking mad!
My only reason for even considering watching SP is JA. But I really hope this is the last season so that he can move on to something that will be more rewarding and where he will be given the respect he truly deserves!
The apocalypse was averted and the only reason I can think of for keeping Castiel around is because the fans think he’s awesome. I feel that since the beginning of season three the powers that be (you know who you are, Kripke) have pandered to the fan reaction and have not been true to themselves or to the show. All of you, just stop reading the TWOP boards and stop the Fandering already.
Did any of you ever stop to think that maybe this is just Dean without Sam (and vice versa)? What happens when either brother is without the other one for too long? They go to crap because THEY DO NOT WORK WITHOUT EACH OTHER. Are we watching the same show here? You know they’re completely miserable without each other and maybe, just maybe this is their way of coping (albeit a dumb way of coping). They’ve had to emotionally distance themselves from one another for A YEAR. What does Dean do without Sam? Drinks and pretty much goes to crap, right? What did Sam do while dean was in hell? He got “harder”, yes? THIS IS NORMAL. At least to me, but apparently I am watching a completely different show than everyone else.
I for one, cannot wait for the premiere.
Wow. I think those of you who are bashing Jared for his comments should be ashamed. If you don’t like the character that he plays on the show, that’s different – but leave poor Jared alone. He did nothing wrong.
I’m worried that it seems the brothers are STILL not getting along and it’s already episode 8. (sighs) I hope things play out on the show better than it sounds. Fingers crossed.
I think things well get better once the brothers are truly back together. article pretty much said by episode 8 they are getting past their angst ridden past and getting down to some hunting like in the beginning. I think they will have their huntin groove back in full force.
Yeah, right with Sammy Lang who is so mercifully not offing his burdensome brother Dean but merely looking down his nose at the poor, well meaning dear? No thanks.
M.- What?
eh Im still excited for the premiere and I understand that there is going to be a definite change with Dean but I mean, who wouldn’t be a wreck without basically their other half which is essentially who Sam is for him and vice versa. Im interested in seeing what ends up happening since they did stop the apocalypse and all. But I really think that people need to take a chill pill and just WAIT until the show starts up again before passing judgement on it. Honestly, its like that old saying, don’t judge a book by its cover and thats essentially what is going on here imo.
Hello, Sam ditched Dean for a year! Sam only wants Dean around when there’s nobody else. He was thrilled with Ruby when she was fawning all over him and he probably was happy keeping his new crew secret.
Seriously, what is with this you’re not giving the season a chance crap? We’re getting it right from the horse’s mouth that if you give a damn about Dean, you’re screwed.
Obviously people are all watching different shows here.
Well, we only have two more days until the season starts. I guess we’ll find out more come Friday.
No!!!! Don’t fight over the boys. They’re both superlatively adorable. Just watch the show, damnit!
What I’m seeing is that the writers are trying to strip Dean of everything that makes him Dean and hand over his only unique storyline to Sam. That Castiel has essentially been back-burnered. He’s in maybe two out of the first episodes and that Sam gets to be uber badass who no doubt will be given every excuse for his douchy behavior and will never, ever have to offer up an apology. No wonder the sam fans are so happy. There is certainly pandering here but it’s not TWoP.
I have honestly never seen a show that works so hard to destroy two such beloved characters in order to make a third one shine. It’s mind-boggling. I’m actually wondering if Gamble and Co. are deliberately trying to sabotage their own show in order to ensure that season 7 never happens. If that’s the case, good work gang. I’m happy to help you out on that front.
M, I’m a Dean!girl bar none, but please calm it down some. There’s no need to bash Sam here.
And to everyone else, there’s no need to bash Jared either. I’m a bit concerned that he got his canon wrong about such an important issue too, but it’s one interview and this is a TV show. He doesn’t have to get the details right every time.
Let’s see how the season starts before making vast proclaimations about whether it sucks or not, okay? I thought the end of S5 was a major let down (not due to the actor of either J, but the writing, plotting, and pacing) but I’m willing to give S6 an honest shake. At least let the episode air before declare that the end is nigh.
OK.. I will say it again J2 Rock the show Rocks. The new season will Rock. 41 hours and 58 minutes and counting.
I really don’t get the view that because Jensen said it, it must be so. I love the guy but it’s still just his opinion. I’ve learned a long time ago that I don’t always agree with how an actor views even his own character. Actors act. Viewers come to their own conclusions about what the character means/thinks/feels.
Don’t get me wrong; it’s nice to hear what he thinks but his opinions are not fact.
A journalist who visited the set today says the guys still seem excited about the show its new direction and the possibilty of a season 7.
Where is the promise the writters gave to return the show to it’s roots. Whatever happened to bringing back the brotherly love the fans want? Are the fans only good for paying the convention tickets and nothing more counts?
The show was about two brothers hunting, there was love and family values, what made it different from all the others out there, what brought so many fans out there.
What are the writters doing? YOu’re runining the show. Thank God Jensen and Jared still look hot.
WOW peoeople really need to chill! What the hell is wrong with you people? I’m a Sam girl and I hate how he’s been treated the past seasons, but really how old are you people? I don’t bash Dean or even worse – Jensen for it. You act like a bunch of babies and the bloody season hasn’t even come out yet.
I’m not telling you to love every characters on the show, but in the end it’s about TWO brothers, not just one and at the first hint of Sam getting more attention – or Dean, the other “fan group” start a whole nasty war. Oh yeah, I’m not blind both Sam fans and Dean fans are just as crazy.
Jeiks, whatever happened to the bro girls?
Standing ovation to you, Suz ITA.
I wonder if Jared Padalecki knows how many of his fans think he and his character are a total wuss? He needs to stop talking, he sounds like a petulant two year old.
Yes, I like it much better.
For those complaining about Jensens opinion… get over yourselves. He embodies Dean and has every right to say, ” I dont think this works”. His attempt to bring Dean to life would be severely hindered if he can not reconcile the writing of his character. This does not mean there are problems behind the scenes or problems period, an opinion is an opinion and quite frankly he is right on the money with it.
Lets face it, lets be totally honest, there have been episodes that have been less than stellar from the writing department but the actors excelling in their craft have saved them. On a side bar, I never cared for Sera, not a fan of her work without Cathryn Humphries. Personally I am hoping and praying that the actors save her this season… In Kripke I trust, in Sera well, that is a Gamble now isnt it?
Oh the annoying argument of Dean versus Sam for screen time, can we stop doing this fandom? You guys are embarrassing the rest of us.
So, Sam died and went to hell again in the year off screen or Jared doesn’t know his character´s past. Both options suck.
Wow, you guys are crazy. Calm down, please, I love SPN just as much as everyone and I’m still pissed about S5 end (J&J were fantastic in it…but I don’t know, the s4 and s5 storyline were not my favourites for sure), but I’m willing to give a try to s6. I actually hoped Sam&Dean would be on the same page again this time, but I guess it’s not so simple. After all they don’t really know how to communicate, Dean may be more soft now, but Sam was the one to force him to “talk” and now he’s shut down too. They are difficult characters and they need time to process and be againthe brothers we loved, I guess.
To the person before me who said Sam left Dean because he didn’t need him…I really wonder if we’re watching the same show. Sam knew Dean wanted a chance to have a family with Lisa (he went back to her even in 5×17, remember?) and decided to leave him alone. Sam obviously loves his brother, just as much as Dean loves him, and his decision was selfless, just like he selflessly decided to throw himself in Lucifer’s cage withouth knowing if he could come back (and yes, his experience must have been different from Dean, because if Dean was tortured from the outside, Sam was tortured from the inside, with the devil and Michael fighting in a small cage with no escape. He may have spent less time in Hell, but I doubt it was a good time).
Obviously being without Sam, Lisa or not, Dean cannot live happily, Sam must have overlooked this, but he has many many flaws, and I justify Dean’s anger here, even if I can’t ignore that his brother was thinking about his (maybe more physical than psychological) well being. And Sam without Dean (for those who remember Mistery Spot) loses most part of his humanity and becomes a focused revenge-machine just like John after Mary’s death. This is an in-character development if we consider he spent an undefinite time in Hell, too. I still love more the sensible and bitchy bookworm Sam of s1, but I understand that as character he needs to grow, so I’m waiting to watch the new season, before adding any comment on it.
I have to say, I’m not thrilled about domesticated and “soft” Dean (I hate when he’s written as a woobie even in fanfictions! The brothers are both badass!), but I have faith that Jensen did his best to portrait him withouth making him a completely new character, but I hope that hunting with his brother will bring his true personality back.
Seriously people, enough with the bitching and grow up! SPN isn’t the Dean or Sam show (I’m mostly a Sam girl but I would refuse to watch it if Dean wasn’t there), it’s a show about two brothers, brothers who love each other and I don’t know how you can love one without at least liking a bit the other. I wholeheartedly agree with whoever said they can’t live without each other, so why should we wish a character or the actor who portraits him to disappear or shut up?
I’m really sorry for Jared, he has to deal with all this crap from the fans who should love him for what he does. If we’re here complaining it’s because we love the show, and if we love it, it’s because the two Js and the crew worked so hard to reach this result.
Jared sounds like a dick. Ugh and I’m really glad that Jensen is that intelligent to know how to deal with the flaws of the writers. But I’m also sure that Dean will be great because I have faith in Jensen and I know he won’t act anything unless he believes in it 100%. So yay for season 6 even with dick Jared playing dick Sam
Jared Padalecki is nothing but a pig, I’m not surprised coz he never knows Sam nor himself. I’m not sad about him at all & don’t feel that he’s the poor puppy of the show but the hulk of the show.
Jensen is the best acting, looking so maybe Jared is jealous of this beauty also we know Jared can’t open his mouth without looking at Gen giving him orders with her small fingers.
If you still wanna lick his ass on cons go stupid girls, you’re not important for him really.
Yes we should be so so grateful that Jensen is smart enough to make up for the mistakes of the stupid writers. And his stupid co star. Thank god for Jensen, I get down on my knees every night and pray to God above and say thank you God for giving the world Jensen Ackles and for giving him the specialness to overcome Bad Writing and Annoying Costars and Horrible Fans of Other Characters and also for bringing us the ACKTING for which we are all forever grateful AMEN.
I am very wary of all the things I have been reading. I am mainly here for Misha Collins and his character Castiel and I am worried that he has been pushed aside and his relationship with Dean diminished. I am also very concerned about Jensen’s concerns about his character being rewritten. I do not want to watch Domesticated Dean and I am not at all interested in his instant family. Team Free Will – Dean, Cas, Sam are who I want to watch with various angels/demons thrown in. There’s a reason Season 4 was the highest rated season and part of that reason is Misha Collins. Please Sera, don’t ruin the show. I am trying to remain optimistic but when one of your main characters is dissatisfied, think of how the fans must feel. Let Dean be Dean and Sam go back to being Sam. And more Cas. Much more Cas.
To be honest, neither character’s characterization sounds good to me. I’m probably going to give the show a chance with the first four episodes, but after that, I just don’t know anymore.
Enough – Yes, I am grateful for the ACKTING because I don’t know if I would’ve have been able to watch all 5 seasons without it. This show doesn’t have the best writing, and, unfortunately, it has lost a number of its better writers over the years. I also agree with others that Kim Manners’ touch is definitely missing.
Oh man, I sincerely hope that the jerks who are screaming hate and bashing are trolls. Jared, if there’s any chance that you read this, please, *please* don’t get a bad impression of Dean!girls from these twits! Most of us like both your skills as an actor and Sam, myself included. Even if you do occasionally get your canon wrong. :)
Also, Mr. Byrne, if this is your first time writing about the show Supernatural then I apologize for the rude welcome. Our fans have a nasty habit of being excessively wanky and while your article gives off almost more of a negative vibe than a positive one, the moaning from the fans on here is a show of *their* problems and not your writing. Just ignore the haters; they’ll whine and complain no matter what’s written.
I’m not grateful for the “ackting” frankly, as this little turn of phrase has only seemed to bring out the worst in this fandom. Jensen is good, but he used to be better in the early seasons. Now, he compensates for the over-the-top writing his character gets with overacting. I also find him very studied and posed. Dean consists of a lot of poses and posing for me – one of the reasons I’ve never been able to relate to Dean as anything other than a very fake tv character. So, yes, Jensen does a good job, but he’s not that great to be honest, just overpraised and over focused on. So, while I’m glad he does a good job and that he’s a good actor, I don’t think he’s one of the best actors on tv, just one of the most praised. I think he’s a nice guy and was a great mentor for Jared in the early seasons, but starting in season 3, Jared is the one who really brought it home for a character that often seems barely sketched out, barely gets any dialogue, barely gets to interact with any characters, and barely even got his story told. Jared’s been working blind on Sam for many, many years now, without much praise or sympathy. I feel badly for him that he got stuck with Jensen’s psycho fanbase ruining both the fandom and the show with their jealousy and hatred. These people are just mean, cruel, and bitchy, and I hope he’s never accidentally read any of their over-the-top hatefulness towards him or Sam.
Also, it seems likely that while Sam may have the badass attitude and the ‘funny’ lines, his character won’t be given the sympathy that has always been a hallmark for Dean’s character, which has been there right off the bat since season 1. Sam looks almost like an angel with his emotional withdrawal in so many of these stills. So, no worries, even with Sam getting the bad one-liners, he’s not a complete switch-out with Dean. We also know from past experience that whenever they switch the characters out, that when Sam does it, they make it look wrong or negative, but when Dean does or says the exact same thing, they paint him in a sympathetic light and as a big hero for it. Though sometimes it is fandom which is doing this despite what is on screen. Canon Dean and Fanon Dean are often two different animals.
I am not going to base my opinion of the new season on the first 4 episodes, because I know they will be pretty much worthless if you like Sam at all. I’m going to gauge things from episode 5 onward. The first four episodes, esp. the first one and the Bobby one, sound like time-wasters to me. Blah blah blah, Dean cries, the end. Been there, done that, bored the first four seasons I saw that story. They just found something new for Dean to cry about is all. His fake-ass fakety fake family he’s forced to choose between. Oh, the tired, heavy weight on Dean’s shoulders, boo hoo. He’s such a self-pitying, self-obsessed prat, been that way since season 3. And all he’s ever liked are carbon copies of himself, yet as soon as Sam comes out acting like Dean, Dean will be a changed man and hate Sam for it. Sooooooo predictable.
I actually am looking forward to the other mysteries on the show – Sam, the Campbell family, whether or not the Sam and Castiel resurrections are linked or wrong in some way, as has been hinted. But if Jared doesn’t know anything solid after half the season is already over, God only knows when we find out anything real on this show. Usually, it is when it is too late for it to actually be a story. If it’s not on the screen, it doesn’t count as storytelling. Most of Sam’s story has been told off-screen and it’s been annoying beyond belief. I don’t know how Jared has taken this weak, negative writing for his character year after year without complaint. He is such a class act.
did kim like die??? welcome back superguys! :)
Reading all these stupid and hateful comments regarding Sam/Jared makes me so ashamed to call myself a Dean!girl. Thanks for making us look even more nuts! :/
Watch the god damn show before you trash it and quit trying to lay blame where there is none!
Love both bros and both J’s. <3
“Did any of you ever stop to think that maybe this is just Dean without Sam (and vice versa)? What happens when either brother is without the other one for too long? They go to crap because THEY DO NOT WORK WITHOUT EACH OTHER”
They lived for a least two, and possibly four years without each other pre-series (Stanford) so I think your scenario has been ruled out.
Sam’s hunting abilities were in no way blunted after that length of time so I see now reason why Dean should have gone soft after only one year of domesticity.
Smacks of poor writing to me (the writers admitted at the end of the article even they didn’t know what they were doing with the character), and Jensen shouldn’t have to work so hard just to demonstrate vestiges of Dean’s character that should still be plainly evident
Wow, Sue. You complain about Dean/Jensen fans, um, hypocrite much? Maybe you should re-read your own post. You’re very much a Dean/Jensen hater.
So, *both* sides in this fandom have crazy fans.
Ah, the Sam/Jared!girl JensenH8ters – love them. I guess they don’t know where to find “hypocrite” in the dictionary. Here’s a hint – it’s under “H”.
Anyway, I do admit this article harshed the buzz I was feeling about season six in general. It does disappoint me to read that Jensen is unhappy with the direction his character is going – or, rather, the OOC direction, and that he’s having to try and work so hard against the writing. Like it or lump it, JensenH8ters, Jensen is a lead actor on this show, he’s a very popular actor and Dean a very popular character. So this is not what I wanted to hear – nor am I interested in the same lather-rinse-repeat story line where Sam is concerned. Ooh, he came back wrong or different, yada, yada, yada. Been playing that game since the Pilot – this would literally be the fifth incarnation of the same story line. I was hoping for something different for him in that department – not just more of the same bitterness against Dean. That aspect is almost three-years-old as well.
As for the brotherly-bond, or the nonexistent bond, I don’t really care anymore – Kripke kind of killed that with the finale, IMO, so I wasn’t honestly expecting anything good to come out of it this year. I just hoped it wouldn’t be in-your-face toxic, though. Just two dudes having to work together to solve mysteries – is that too much to ask? But, from what I understand, Jared doesn’t like playing the brothers getting along anyway, so I guess that’s all we’re ever going to get now.
I hope all this plays out better than it sounds in this article – but I think I’ll just dvr the first few episodes, let them stack up and wait and read the reviews before watching. I’m more wary than I was before the latest round of SPN press junket articles hit the net. Now I’m in a wait and see mode.
Sad. Jensen bashing and Jared bashing all around. You can disagree with what was said with civility in your tone.
I don’t really understand how some Sam!girls can be happy with the direction of his character. He sounds like a heartless jerk to me. The writers are ruining them both.
Like Jensen, I hope things go back on track very soon. I don’t hate Lisa/Ben and I don’t want them to die. I just want my old Dean back and my old Sammy back. And without more fights! We got too much of this already!
Wow. Please everyone stop bickering over Sam/Dean and Jensen/Jared! No matter which one you like best, you must see that this show needs BOTH of them to work, and that their chemistry as characters and as actors is a critical factor to its success! And don’t judge either the new season or even worse a real person just from one stupid interview! It’s so easy to misunderstand things from a few written paragraphs! Watch the show before you judge it.
I for one can’t wait for the premier. Even if this season isn’t the best one, as long as it has the brothers, the car, and some monsters getting their asses kicked, I’ll be more than thilled to watch it. Why get all negative? Does that ever help????
SPN <3
We all love badass Dean, the kickass hunter, quick on his feet I hope writers will remember that as for Sam storyline big no thank you, he often comes off as arogant and self centered now that will be just magnified. What a pleasure.
Bromance as far as I’m concerned is dead and buried.
Please more Cas and Crowley.
Sorry if I sound so negative, as I do think Jensen is a good actor and a decent guy, but Jared has tolerated so much worse than he has in terms of writing, so much worse in terms of fandom, so much worse in terms of dicky producers not having the guts to do their original storyline to appease about 5-20 people in TWOP over thousands or millions of more rational people who love one or both brothers but in a more normal fashion.
I realize the show is about two brothers and we need both characters and actors to make the show work. Sam and Dean is why I fell in love with the show and am still obsessed with it.
Jared Padalecki is not only a fine actor, but seems like a very fine human being, who is amazingly kind and playful with the fanbase. He is around the age Jensen was when the show started and he has experience as a lead under his belt. It shows. It’s been showing since season 3, if not before. Pretending he’s ugly or not good at his job is an old ploy, and I read it now as jealousy and fear. Go ahead and protect Jensen and Dean with all your might, but don’t pretend Jared is bad or not doing his job as well as Jensen is. We all know he is performing miracles with little more than a few magic beans and a can of water. Sometimes, it all comes down style preference. I love actors with a natural style over a studied one. It is that simple. I love seeing Sam make even the grandest gestures in such a natural way that he feels real to me. He never feels like a series of poses, even when using his powers. Which are hot. In that category, natural actors, I think Jared is excellent in his field, just excellent. I’m not going to pretend he is the only actor who is good at his job, that’s just stupid. But I do think he is in league with a number of highly successful, quality actors out there. He’s done a beautiful job on a show that has yet to fully embrace his character in a sympathetic way. I can’t think of anything harder or more thankless. But Jared has been a solid, supportive trooper all the way, even when he was being shafted and stabbed in the back during the last two seasons.
Jared was brilliant in Swan Song, just brilliant, and powerful, and moving. Carping and jealousy won’t make that awesome performance go away. It’s still there, and I hope the writers have the guts to finally reward Jared for his powerful charisma and natural talent. He did good. And I loved Swan Song, because it was about the brotherly bond, not magic special super Dean the Michael-God Savior people built up in their fantasy version of the show, not the one that always existed. Sam never used his power to defeat Lucifer. He used his humanity. He used his strength of character. He needed Dean, his brother, to do this. And then Sam died as the ultimate scape goat. Instead of being loved for this, he is hated. This is the sickness in the fandom that should never be fed, ever again. Ever.
Because it is wrong.
Sue – What you say about Sam/Jared, I can say about Dean/Jensen.
Dean has been written as crass, dumb (especially as compared to Sam), sleazy, obnoxious and yet Jensen has been able to convey Dean isn’t as bad as the writers make him, Dean is not those things, he’s more than that, there’s more to him that what you see on the outside. Jensen has definitely performed miracles with some of the dialogue he’s been asked to say.
Jensen gives us such subtle performances, and as a number of reviewers have said, he can do more with a look, with his eyes, than some actors with a page of dialogue.
As far as bashing and criticizing goes, Dean/Jensen definitely gets it too. You attack some of the Dean Girls, but what about the rabid Sam Girls or the Limp Sam fans? They are just as bad, if not worse.
Currently, there is a lot of Jensen hate and bashing going on because of this interview.
Though, I have to say, this site and the zap2it site seemed to have “played” with the interview and quotes so it comes out a little different than what Jensen and Jared actually said. The full interview is on IGN.
Finally, one last item I wanted to address is that Jared is a studied actor, he has taken classes since he was 12.
I think Jensen is a fantastic actor and was brilliant in a number of episodes, but specifically from Season 5, in The End. To be able to play two of the same character and yet make them different enough that the viewers can tell them apart, not to mention all the dialogue he had to learn.
I was hoping this Season Dean would finally get some respect and be a part of the central mythology of the story, but it looks like the Lisa/Ben storyline is Dean’s and then Dean will have to re-trained on how to hunt (since he’s now soft and domesticated) by uber hunter Sam, and the Campbells. I don’t understand why the writers don’t want to have Dean have an equal and important role in the mytharc as Sam.
I hated Swan Song, Padalecki was good in it but brotherly bond? anyone in the Impala would have done the trick.
The brotherly bond has been over since the Ruby mess, I wish people would just let it go so the characters can really grow. Also this season Sam sound exactly like S4 Sam. Dean sound intersecting, the fact that the actor said it was so much work is promising.
“There was a big shift in Dean’s character, actually, much to my chagrin,” “I was not happy with it. Dean was really kind of being written soft. We spent five years with this guy being a tough, shoot-first-ask-questions-later kind of guy, and now all of a sudden he’s lived one year in more of a domesticated life and he’s gone soft on us.”
…Oh.. come on……I love Jensen….He’s a great and professional actor, but (*I hope I’m wrong in what I say*) It seems that he does not want to leave your comfort zone…I mean… writers are not stupid, they know that Supernatural is brotherly love, hunting……..
Remember Dean promised Sam to live a normal life with Ben & Lisa and that was what he did. I don’t understand why they were surprised to see Dean domesticated
If Sam is back, Dean’s character will not be domesticated forever.
Jared loves to play Sam Winchester’s character , but he played different characters in Supernatural and has done an incredible job …without complaining.
And now he’s stealing his co-star and real-life friend’s iconic character out from under him-and the character was made iconic by Jensen- and all with the showrunners’ blessing. If I were him, I’d say something, too. And Padalecki had a well-known on-set melt-down at this same time last season, and look where it got him.
@May
C’mon. Even Jared admits Jensen had to work hard to stay true to the character and not to lose Dean. It’s definitely something more than just being ‘out of the comfort zone’. And they both admit this season has been the most difficult in terms of acting.
Also, has anyone else noticed that Jared says very similar thing about his character (I read it also in a few other reports from the set) Referring to one of Sam’s (unlike Sam’s) lines about dickbombs, Jared says; “who is this dude?”(meaning the newSam). It seems to me both Padalecki and Ackles find this shift in their characters…hmm…extreme?
“…Oh.. come on……I love Jensen….He’s a great and professional actor, but (*I hope I’m wrong in what I say*) It seems that he does not want to leave your comfort zone…I mean… writers are not stupid, they know that Supernatural is brotherly love, hunting……..”
That doesn’t sound like what Jensen is saying, to me. It sounds like he’s scratching his head over the fact that a mere year of living normally with Lisa and Ben has turned Dean into a softie. And it looks especially strange when the same wasn’t true of Sam back in S1. I mean Sam spent MORE time out of the hunt than Dean, and while not as cavalier as Dean was he certainly wasn’t SOFT.
As for brotherly love being a theme, S5 lost me on that one. I didn’t see anything in their relationship that didn’t go toxic for Dean during S5 and I have no desire to see more of the same.
May,
With all due respect:
“I mean… writers are not stupid,”
That is a matter of opinion.
“they know that Supernatural is brotherly love, hunting……”
Do they now? Could have fooled me over the last two seasons.
“Jared loves to play Sam Winchester’s character , but he played different characters in Supernatural and has done an incredible job …without complaining.”
Ah, well somehow life will go on if Jensen “complains” (I don’t agree with this term but will use it anyway) about some of the writing for his character. Goody for Jared for “never complaining”.
However, Jensen is doing a job. Sometimes you don’t always agree with every single thing that happens at a job. He did his job anyway and life went on.
He was asked a question and answered honestly.
Also about your comment about Jared not “complaining”. I agree. Neither of them have ever “complained” by my standards.
However if you were to follow your own then you couldn’t deny Jared has complained (by your standards) because he’s complained a lot about the long hours and being away from his family.
So next time you want to tear down Jensen to build up Jared do it without sounding like you’ve never read an interview with Jared and Jensen before in your life. :P
Wow. I am new to Supernatural. Watched 1-5 on DVD and am excited for Season 6. I came here to read the interview and got drawn into the comments section. From an outsider’s perspective, yeah, some of you are all kinds of nuts for spending so much time on the petty and mean-spirited stuff. I hope the Jensen and Jared know enough to stay off the internet by now. Ouch. With fans like these…
I love the show but the fandom kind of sucks. I’ll stay out of the comments from now on. Some of you guys take things waaaay too seriously. Sheesh.
Sam/Jared is hardly stealing an iconic character out from under Dean/Jensen. This switch was started as far back as season 2, came up in season 3 but was never followed through, became more clear in seasons 4 and 5, and is now reaching fruition and/or is a redo of the season 3 ideas. I highly doubt Dean is having his ‘funny’ lines taken from him. I am guessing that they might be sharing the lines now, and also the leads on cases. Jared has played different and radical aspects of Sam every single season of SPN. It is perhaps the one saving grace of the role in this psycho ward. Sam has changed, and changed, and changed, and yet still stayed Sam all the way through. And to top it off, Sam is a lost character who can never seem to find himself, can never do right or wrong without either action blowing up in his face regardless of intention, and has entire episodes with barely any dialogue or character interaction. And in that episode with two Deans in it, Jared stole that in one five minute scene as Lucifer, that turned into the big talking point of the episode. That. Jared Padalecki is an incredibly intelligent and focused actor, despite having the personality of a puppy on speed, and it really doesn’t pay to underestimate him. And, really, both Jared and Jensen are very good at what they do, and are very good at being Sam and Dean. We need them both equally. I’m just saying that only an idiot wastes a powerhouse like Jared. The man looks like a Greek God in blue jeans, has a personality well suited to roles for the likes of Matt Damon, Tom Hanks, or Viggo Mortensen, and is also a killer mimic. Plus, he’s got awesome hair.
Maybe this is all just some Freaky Friday deal that will only last part of the season, or we’ll get the reasons for it midway through. I have no idea. We can’t change anything we see; it’s already been done. Usually the writers get caught up in a metaphor idea that turns out to be totally the wrong fit for the actual show we’re seeing. If it happens again, I can’t really be surprised by it. Maybe the writers are just experimenting, because they want to surprise us for once.
And the brother relationship is hardly toxic, certainly not for Dean let alone Sam. Dean is not Cinderella and never has been. Nor is Sam some bad seed whose been ruining Dean’s life just by breathing. This is silly. They were both wrong and misled in season 4, both of them. Sam got painted into a dark corner, and made some really bad and hurtful decisions, but if Dean can’t handle one bad year out of so many good ones, that is on him and not Sam. Watching Sam take hit after hit after hit for the problems in that family is pretty wretched and undeserved. And not amusing after awhile, not at all.
Nice to see the fandom slowly replacing the Sam vs. Dean wank with Jensen vs. Jared. And it’s also nice to see so many opinions stated as fact without anything to back them up. There sure seem to be some entitled people commenting, and I’m sure not one of you knows these actors or anyone else who works on the set personally. I’m starting to wonder if someone would actually be crazy enough to send death threats or something. With this fandom, I wouldn’t be surprised.
Sue for someoen who gets so outraged at all the Jared/Sam bashing, you sure do a lot of it yourself where Jensen is concerned. You give all of us sam fans a bad name.
Well said, Melly! Thank you!
And as for Sam giving Dean “so many good years”, I don’t believe in relationships being based on some sort of tally where points get added and subtracted for good and bad things done, and as long as the number of good things outnumber the bad then one should be happy. I fully subscribe to the saying that “trust is earned by many deeds and lost by one”.
One of the consequences of making bad decisions that hurt the people around you is that they’re less likely to want to be around you. And, IMO, if Sam didn’t want to face this, then maybe he should have reconsidered spending an entire year lying to Dean and sneaking out behind his back, and only telling the truth after he got caught with his hand stuck in the proveribal cookie jar.
@ Sue
You love Padalecki. We.Get.It.
@ May @ BandOfNorses
Jared loves to play Sam Winchester’s character , but he played different characters in Supernatural and has done an incredible job …without complaining..
Not true. Jared’s meltdown on set and flatout refusal to continue filming (he stayed in his trailer) until Kripke flew to Vancouver is well known (Jared admitted it himself – he had problems with Sam Changing Channels). Crew was not happy.
Thats good fanfic there Pviallo, did you write it yourself? All we know is that Jared had a meltdown during the filming of Changing Channels, no one has said anything about it other than Jared and he never mentioned refusing to come out of his trailer and there was no mention of the crew. Now we have Jensen publicly criticizing the writers (and Sera recently at comic con)so he isn’t looking so hot himself these days. Glass houses and all right?
Wait…what’s this about a Jared meltdown during Changing Channels? I’m sorry, but I can’t see him refusing to come out of his trailer. That doesn’t sound anything like Jared.
@Ruby ‘I can’t see him refusing to come out of his trailer. That doesn’t sound anything like Jared.’
Niether does being late to set so many times the network fined him because it was costing production money and hours but that happened. His excuse was ‘ I didn’t think anyone would care.’ Sounds a bit like a diva to me. I don’t think any actor is a complete saint.
“I got the impression when doing the interview – and his own body language – that Jensen has no intention of letting Dean lose his familiar qualities, and that as time goes on he’s going to be back to the Dean we all know and love. Can’t speak for Jensen, but just a guess based on what I saw.”
Yes Jensen has no intention of letting Dean lose them, but what about the writers? There is only so much Jensen can do as an actor if writers have him saying things or doing things. Just for a ridiculous example – if they have Dean jumping up on a chair and directed to scream and squirm because he’s seen a mouse, even though he is under no supernatural effect(a la Yellow Fever), then Jensen is going to have to do that – despite it being utterly ridiculous and out of character for Dean to do so. That is an exaggerated example but it makes the same point.
Jensen, as an actor, can only mitigate the effects of the writing and the plotting so much.
Also I don’t know how much more clear “much to may chagrin” and “I was not happy about it” can be. Nor should he be happy about it. He’s spent 5 years building a character only to have it be taken away in a totally ridiculous direction that shows ZERO respect for what Dean’s experienced and been through and that is after having his role in the big climax of the 5 season mytharc reduced to “punching bag”.
Also what is it with tv writers and keeping their actors out of the loop of what is planned for the future? That’s like sending your quarterbacks out on the field without telling them what the gameplan is – it’s stupid and arrogant on the part of the writers. They are supposed to be a team, well they can’t be if they play power politics with the most visible part of the team.
If it’s 8 episode in then Jared should freaking KNOW by now what happened to Sam in Hell(and yeah Jared needs to remember that everything he’s talking about for Sam, Dean went through too except the part about the cage). If it’s 8 episodes in Jensen should be able to be more confident than “well supposedly the characters are going to get back on track soon”. It is clear from both of them that they are flying blind and it’s not fair to them and it’s disrespectful to the time and effort they have put into the show.
Stop having god complexes, writers and let your actors KNOW what is going on, what your plans are for their characters.
@Pam. You don’t have to be rude about it. I was just asking a simple question. What the hell is wrong with some of you people here? I swear…Not only that, but how do you know the network fined him? Do you work for the CW? Do you work for the WB? I never said he was a complete saint, but he’s a hell of a lot better than some of them out there.
“And in that episode with two Deans in it, Jared stole that in one five minute scene as Lucifer”
Sorry, Sue, that’s called an opinion, not a fact, and I disagree with your opinion. In my opinion, Jensen was fantastic throughout the whole episode, and in my opinion, Jared didn’t “steal” anything from Jensen. I’m not saying Jared was bad, but I don’t think Jared’s 5 minute scene was better than Jensen’s dual performance. That was some freaking tough and exhausting work for Jensen. As Misha said, Jensen about lost his mind doing that episode. :-)
As far as your comments regarding sharing cases, they’ve always shared cases, even all the way back in Season 1 (it was Sam who wanted to investigate the case in “Skin” and Dean followed him).
This is just going in circles. We’ll just have to agree to disagree. I’m backing out of any further discussion. Besides, I don’t want to give this awful site anymore hits considering the hatchet job they’ve done on this interview.
““Jared loves to play Sam Winchester’s character , but he played different characters in Supernatural and has done an incredible job …without complaining.””
Right because having a meltdown isn’t complaining? And he mentioned that publicly so he was complaining publicly by mentioning his meltdown and how Kripke had to fly all the way up to Vancouver to hold his hand. And for no other reason than that in ONE episode Sam was being treated like Dean gets treated all the time, he was being made the butt of a few jokes. Half of Dean’s Hell experience was treated like a joke(see Yellow Fever) and Jared was whining about simply being the butt of a few jokes in an episode.
Not to mention all the times he was late, long after Kripke had gone up to hold his hand and explain everything about his character to him, and held up the set and cost the show money.
So between that and Sera being ridiculously over-budget, none of that is a good thing. Writing and approving scripts that cause the show to be over-budget and over-schedule is NOT a good thing. It’s a bad thing. Supernatural has the LOWEST advertising revenues of any show on the CW – meaning it makes less money from the ads placed during the show than any other show.
In 5 years on the show and in 14 years in the business Jensen has never said a negative word about any shows he’s worked on publicly while he was working on it(in fact the closest thing to negative was admitting, 5 years later, that while working on Dark Angel there were some problems–though everyone already knew that Alba and Weatherly had treated Ackles horribly during his run as Alec because one of the writers or people involved in production had revealed it and praised Ackles professionalism for not allowing their bad attitudes to affect his work or his overall positive attitudee).
Jensen’s not 2nd string on Supernatural though, he’s one of the leads, his opinions deserve to taken seriously and taken into account by the showrunners. They clearly are not doing so if they haven’t even told him what direction his character is going to take or why they have insisted on writing Dean like some amateur. Dean was “domesticated” for 1 year, that does not negate 30 years of life(and 40 in Hell) to turn Dean into some wimpy softie.
Dean always loved family, Dean always loved kids, Dean already raised one kid(see: Winchester, Sam – which was done during Dean’s non-existent childhood when their father would leave for weeks at a time). None of this would cause a massive shift in his character where suddenly he is weepy over monsters and unwilling to make the choices that need to be made while fighting them. It wouldn’t negate a whole life of experiences and ways of coping that he’s learned or wisdom he’s gained(and yes I’ve seen plenty of wisdom in Dean Winchester).
Dean certainly never needed Sam to be tough – he lived without Sam for 4 years while Sam was in college, he even had solo hunts during that time, hunts away from his father. The Dean we saw when he showed up in Sam’s apartment at the beginning of the Pilot was a Dean who had been without Sam for 4 years, who had hunts of his own under his belt, who had loved and lost. There was nothing wussy about him.
I’m sorry, but you people have got to let this whole ‘meltdown’ thing go. It happened over a damn year ago. Get over it and move on. People who were at the Con and heard it themselves actually DO know what happened, unlike most of you who weren’t there and didn’t hear it. You just like to continue pushing the rumors and making Jared look like a bad person. Get over yourselves. It’s friggin pathetic. Stop acting like you know what happened. You don’t.
Ruby – The reason Jared’s meltdown was being brought up here was because people were bashing Jensen because of the comments he made in this interview and saying he was “complaining” and was being called a diva. So, to show that Jared isn’t the perfect person some Jared/Sam fans believe he is, Jared’s past issue were brought up. Those are not rumors, it happened, and yes, I do know people who were there and heard it. Also, the thing about Jared being late was published online and Jared’s lateness issue has been mentioned by Jim Beaver, Jensen and Misha.
Jensen the best!number one!facto!
Jensen Ackles actor fantastic.Show talent.
Oh yes, it was published online so it’s automatically believable. I must’ve forgotten that the internet is correct in everything it says. Please…
I never said he didn’t have the meltdown, but all the trash talking I’m seeing going on here, I do believe that almost half the stuff that’s discussed IS a bunch of rumors that people enjoy further fueling just to make the actors look bad.
Jensen is hardly a diva for being unhappy with the direction HIS character, he’d been playing for 5 seasons and working on fleshing out I might add, is being taken. There is no excuse for either of the boys to be trash-talked the way that they are here. In fact, I think it’s ridiculous. You people who are tearing both of the boys down the way you are dare call yourselves fans? That’s laughable.
Enough!
You’re wrong. We know: Jared had meltdown. Filming was stopped. Kripke had to go Van, so the meltdown/situation was serious enough to recquire presence of the showrunner. It’s not difficult to imagine the situation wasn’t exactly pleasant or easy for the whole crew. And no, it wasn’t only Jared that mentioned it.
Now, before you go on to offend Jensen as a counterattack: I think Jared had the right to have a meltdown. They both work so hard.
Now, from all the behind the scene reports, this season has been extremely difficult not only for the actors but also the production crew. They’re working extra hours. They were present at Vancon, Jensen simply said what they all knew. I was there. Jensen also deffended Sera. I thought it was realistic/true and very polite at the same time and by no means criticizing or patronizing.
Now, as far as this interview is concerned, please notice BOTH of them say the same thing : Jared not only supports Jensen but says very similar thing about season 6 Sam. They BOTH admit their characters are different to the point of being almost unrecognisable. Do they have the right to say this: absolutely. Is it tantamount to criticizing the writers: no.
Personally, I’m glad that Jensen has Dean’s back. In a way, he’s fighting our battle.
Ok.So I guess everybodu has seen 6X01. Jensen (and Jared) were right. That’s all.
Yes I’ve seen 6X01 and not impressed. Very weird episode all round. I find it hard to believe this version of Dean would be the result of a year of domestication, they went too far with it and yet I recognised glimpses of Dean through Jensen’s acting so he gets a props for that. I hope we’re not going to get damsel Dean in distress being rescued by Super Sam for the rest of the season :(
Back from Hell again? Sam? That implies he went more than once, and he didn’t.
wow, i nearly cried… it’s so not supposed to happen. true, fans have right to voice their opinion. but, sometimes it is so rude.
i hope jensen and jared didn’t read all of this comments. i don’t think they will be proud or be happy if they know their fans bashing each other because of them.
My personal opinion is that the show is enjoyable to watch, both Jensen and Jared do wonderful jobs of portraying their characters and while Jared apparently had a meltdown, no-one besides the fans seem to be holding that over his head. They’re all professionals and friends. It’s early in the season. Sure the show has flaws, the actors have flaws, the characters and plotlines have flaws, but it doesn’t have to be perfect to be the show so many of us know and love; and frankly the fandom is much too prone to go crazy over minutiae and nitpick. It’s fine to have opinions but the blame game has to stop.
I hope we do get back to the roots. Domesticated Dean annoys me, Sam needs his soul, and I want them to be brothers again :) I MISS that. I don’t mind seeing tension and conflict, but when it comes down to it I want a return to THAT.
Fav Show!!! “)..love those guys
i agree if they( sam and dean) always together, give people inspirations that family must protect to the other. and i dont like if sam changed his caracter, ( bad guy).
wow..I totally don’t get all the bashing of the actors going on here. Why can’t you people like both actors instead of loving one, and hating on the other. Personally, I love both actors, and everyone has their bad days, no ones perfect, so stop with the whole meltdown thing, geez.
And both Jensen and Jared work hard on their characters, so stop the bashing
god, and you people call yourselves fans
UR SO SEXY JENSEN!!!!!!! I WILL SEND U FANMAIL!!!!!!!
Hi jensen i love u so much!!!! I think ur hot and sexy!!!!! Same to jarod p. I will be sendin fanmail so always check ur mailbox!!!!!!! U have sexy eyes! keep makin movies and KEEP ROCKIN TILL UR HEART STOPS DROPPIN!!!!! LOV U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LUV the show and above all the brotherly bond b/w DEAN and SAM AND THE CHARACTERS.BEST OF LUCK TO JENSEN and JARED for all coming seasons.