Summary

• Sam's abrupt return to hunting without addressing his life outside of hunting raises questions.
• Lack of exploration into Sam's background and college life leaves his character untapped.
• The show erases parts of the boys' lives when it doesn't suit the story, hindering character development.

Supernatural is far and away one of my favorite shows of all time, but there is one glaring issue that pops up in the first episode that I struggle to get my head around. Supernatural first came out in 2005, and it launched a series that no one could have predicted would run for 15 years and more than 300 episodes. The show combined action, mystery and the supernatural into a fun and engaging action comedy about two brothers who spend their time hunting monsters that go bump in the night.

However, Sam and Dean Winchester, the brothers in the show, couldn't be more polar opposites. Dean is a hot head, with a soft spot for beautiful girls and a genuine enthusiasm and ion for hunting. Sam, on the other hand, is a college kid, who wants nothing more than to settle down and live a life of peace and quiet without the threat of a monster around every corner. Despite this, the brothers compliment each other, but perhaps the biggest mystery was how Supernatural got Sam to drop everything and simply dive back into hunting.

Supernatural Season 1 Makes It Way Too Easy For Sam To Become A Hunter Again

Sam Immediately Forgets About Years Of Development Away From His Brother

The thing is, it isn't that Sam simply doesn't like hunting, he actively wants to build a life and career outside of hunting. Sam wants to live the dream, with a wife, kids, and a normal existence. Being a hunter is the furthest thing from normal, considering his whole life is spent chasing monsters and killing demons, sleeping in motels, and putting your life in danger constantly. Despite Sam knowing the risks, he dives back into hunting with almost no hesitation in the first episode, and when he finds his girlfriend killed, he never looks back.

Sam probably had friends at college, beyond his girlfriend. In addition, it's never explained how far into his degree he was, if he had some other part-time job, and if his girlfriend's death was investigated. Instead, the show uses his old life as context, and rapidly drops the entire subplot in favor of moving into the monster of the week format. But this just doesn't make sense for the character, and addressing it could have added to the story overall and made the boys even more likable in my opinion.

I Wish Supernatural Explored The Difficulties Of Sam Leaving His Entire Life Behind

Sam Evading His Past Could Have Made The Story Better

One of the biggest issues is the fact that Sam leaves abruptly, right after a fire in his apartment engulfs the room and kills his girlfriend. Supernatural could have pushed an "I faked my own death" arc for Sam, but no, he just leaves. If anything, this makes him look incredibly suspicious, and should put detectives or federal officers on his tail for the potential arson and murder of his girlfriend. This could have added a layer of complexity to the story with the Winchester's impersonating FBI agents, and then finding themselves being hunted in turn.

In addition, Sam should have mourned the loss of friends and his degree more. He was on a path to a career and a whole life, and while he's angry about losing these things, he's never very vocal about it. Sam spent a lot of time creating distance between himself and his estranged father, and while family comes first, the rapidity of him jumping in to find his dad feels out of character. So many interesting and nuanced stories could have spawned from Sam's college remorse, but instead, it's brushed under the carpet without hesitation.

This Season 1 Dilemma Becomes A Recurring Issue For The CW Series

Supernatural Created A Pattern Of Avoiding Details

While Sam barely ever mentions his life before returning to hunting, the show has a tendency to erase parts of the boys' lives when it doesn't suit the story. One significant example comes in the gap between the fifth and sixth seasons, where Dean is revealed to have had a year living a normal life with Lisa and helping to raise her son Ben. Meanwhile, Sam was trapped in Lucifer's cage and struggled to break free. When Sam does return, however, Dean is ready and willing to drop his life and pick up where he left off with his hunter brother.

Sam wants to live the dream, with a wife, kids, and a normal existence. Being a hunter is the furthest thing from normal.

As a result of this lack of exploration, I think Sam remains a largely untapped character with much more potential. Hunting is an awesome career, and he and Dean are certainly the best, but the show pretends that no life outside of hunting exists most of the time. Had Supernatural spent a little more time developing the characters' backgrounds, and Sam's life without Dean, it could have been even more relatable and exciting.