Meta: The Humanity of the Winchesters: Sam, Dean, and the Superhuman Bond between Brothers
Title: 'The Humanity of the Winchesters: Sam, Dean, and the Superhuman Bond between Brothers'
Author: purplehrdwonder
Subject: An exploration of the brotherly bond and how it relates to their humanity
Note: This was written for ash48's prompt at the theheartofspn's Winchester Summer LOVEfest.
Summary: It is somehow both appropriate and ironic that Dean tells Sam that they keep each other human. Because, while the brothers’ bond embodies their very best-their humanity-in some ways it also represents their superhumanity, as their love for each other pushes them places no mere mortal could, or should, ever go.
Note: Since the prompt requested more discussion of the earlier seasons, and there was already a lot of material in seasons 1-5, I elected not to touch on seasons 6 and 7. This one got pretty long as is!
The Humanity of the Winchesters:
Sam, Dean, and the Superhuman Bond between Brothers
“The point is...maybe we are each other's Achilles’ heel. Maybe they'll find a way to use us against each other, I don't know. I just know we're all we've got. More than that, we keep each other human.”
-- Dean Winchester, “The End”
In season 5’s “The End,” Dean returns to 2009 from a bleak future where Sam let the Devil in and Dean became a bitter, shell of a man as a result, only to end up dying at the Devil’s hands. With the brothers apart, the world literally went to Hell. But while the angels hoped that Dean would take the vision as a call to let Michael in and stop the Apocalypse before that future came to pass, Dean instead realizes that the worst thing he can do is to cut Sam from his life. When they reunite at the end of the episode, Dean tells Sam that though they may be each other’s greatest weakness, they are also each other’s greatest strength-because they keep each other human.
And to be human in the world of Supernatural is a huge distinction. The brothers hunt monsters, demons, ghosts, and anything else supernatural or inhuman. Yet they themselves push the boundaries of humanity on more than one occasion, whether it is Sam’s powers or Dean’s deal. Over seven seasons, the Winchesters have proven themselves larger than life, cheating death on countless occasions, but it is their brotherhood that has grounded, motivated, and defined them.
So it is somehow both appropriate and ironic that Dean tells Sam that they keep each other human. Because, while the brothers’ bond embodies their very best-their humanity-in some ways it also represents their superhumanity, as their love for each other pushes them places no mere mortal could, or should, ever go.
Sam and Dean keep each other grounded
Though the Winchesters are deeply embedded in a world of inhuman creatures and supernatural happenings, their true struggles are, in fact, very human: from grief and anger to guilt and depression. And in dealing with these issues, the brothers ground each other.
From the very start of the series, Dean served as an anchor for Sam, who, after Jessica’s death, was awash in a sea of grief and anger. In “Wendigo,” we get the iconic scene defining the family business:
Dean: “Tell you the truth, I don't think Dad's ever been to Lost Creek.”
Sam: “Then let's get these people back to town and let's hit the road. Go find Dad. I mean, why are we still even here?”
Dean: “This is why: This book. This is Dad's single most valuable possession-everything he knows about every evil thing is in here. And he's passed it on to us. I think he wants us to pick up where he left off. You know, saving people, hunting things. The family business.”
Sam’s angry and hurting, and he wants nothing more than to find their father, who has left them his journal and a set of coordinates-coordinates that turn out to be for a hunt, not his location. Dean reads the signs and recognizes what his father wants from them. He both defines for the audience and reminds Sam of the kind of life they lead.
Sam’s in danger of falling into a pit of despair in his quest for revenge, much like his father before him, but it’s Dean who keeps him grounded, both in the moment and for the foreseeable future, as the conversation continues:
Sam: “I gotta find Dad. I gotta find Jessica's killer. It's the only thing I can think about.”
Dean: “Okay, all right, Sam, we'll find them, I promise. Listen to me. You've gotta prepare yourself. I mean, this search could take a while, and all that anger, you can't keep it burning over the long haul. It's gonna kill you. You gotta have patience, man. “
Sam: “How do you do it? How does Dad do it?”
Dean: “Well for one, them. I mean, I figure our family's so screwed to hell, maybe we can help some others. Makes things a little bit more bearable. I'll tell you what else helps-killing as many evil sons of bitches as I possibly can.”
And it is these words that keep Sam going through much of season 1. Sam, who is supposed to be the “sensitive” brother, needs the reminder of why they fight to press on in the face of his overwhelming grief and simmering anger. Dean is the one to read the signs on his brother despite their separation while Sam was at school and anchors Sam in a way no one else could.
The reverse is true as well; after their father’s death in season 2, Dean is buried under the weight of survivor’s guilt, especially once they realize John made a deal with Azazel for his life and the Colt, and it is Sam who keeps him going. In “Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things,” we get one of many talks about Dean’s depression in the wake of their father’s death:
Dean: “Sam, you and Dad... you're the most important people in my life. And now... I never should have come back, Sam. It wasn't natural. And now look what's come of it. I was dead. And I should have stayed dead. You wanted to know how I was feeling. Well, that's it. So tell me. What could you possibly say to make that all right?”
The end of the episode isn’t particularly comforting, as the brothers are sitting together on the Impala’s hood, not quite touching and both at a loss for words, but it is Sam’s constant presence at Dean’s side that helps the elder Winchester keep going despite the weight on his shoulders. They will eventually get back in the car and keep on driving to the next hunt.
Later in “Crossroad Blues,” we get another discussion about John’s death, as the brothers realize exactly what their father sacrificed for Dean’s sake, which only worsens Dean’s burden of guilt. Dean, with his lack of self-esteem, is sickened by the thought that his father is burning in Hell while he is still alive. But once again, it is Sam who does his best to keep his brother grounded:
Dean: “How could he do it?”
Sam: “He did it for you.”
Dean: “Exactly. How am I supposed to live with that? You know, the thought of him-wherever he is right now. I mean, he spent his whole life chasing that yellow-eyed son of a bitch. He should have gone out fighting. That was supposed to be his legacy. You know? Not bargaining with the damn thing. Not this.”
Sam: “How many people do you think Dad saved? Total?”
Dean: “That's not the point, Sam.”
Sam: “Evan Hudson is safe because of what Dad taught us. That's his legacy, Dean. But we're still here, man. So we gotta keep going, for him.”
Though he did not have a response the last time the topic came up, this time he is ready. Dean doesn’t view his life as worth anything, so Sam needs to convince Dean that there is a reason for him to keep on living: his life is worthwhile because he is John’s legacy. As the brothers continue on with the family business, saving people and hunting things, they are honoring his life.
Like “Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things,” the episode doesn’t end on a happy note, as Dean doesn’t deny that he considered making a crossroads deal to save his father at the expense of his own soul, but once again, it is Sam’s presence in the front seat of the Impala that keeps Dean going. He might be lost in his grief, but Sam anchora him in any way Dean will let him; he’s there in ways that no one else can be for Dean, keeping him human.
They give each other something to fight for
Though Sam’s support was mostly quiet through season 2, as Dean was not in a place to really let his little brother help, in “What Is and What Should Never Be,” we get an indication of just how important Sam is to Dean. Dean is pulled into a djinn’s dream world where Mary Winchester never died and the brothers never became hunters; Dean has the perfect girlfriend and is thrilled when Sam and Jessica announce their engagement. But the brothers in the djinn’s world aren’t close, making the otherwise idyllic fantasy sour enough for Dean to break himself out of it:
Sam: “I thought it was supposed to be this perfect fantasy.”
Dean: “It wasn't. It was just a wish. I wished for Mom to live. If Mom never died, we never went hunting and you and me just never... you know.”
Sam: “Yeah. Well, I'm glad we do.”
Though escape from the survivor’s guilt Dean had been suffering since his father’s death would have been so easy in the djinn’s world, it’s his desire to get back to the brother he is close with that drives him. Sam, the brother Dean practically raised and is a constant presence in the front seat of the Impala, is worth fighting for, no matter how hard it might be sometimes.
In season 3’s “Fresh Blood,” we see another instance of Sam pulling his brother back from a ledge and giving him something to fight for. Dean’s made his deal and puts up a front of a carefree attitude with his trip to Hell hanging over his head. But Sam isn’t buying it:
Sam: “You're scared, Dean. You're scared because your year is running out, and you're still going to Hell, and you're freaked.”
Dean: “And how do you know that?”
Sam: “Because I know you!”
Dean: “Really?”
Sam: “Yeah, I've been following you around my entire life! I mean, I've been looking up to you since I was four, Dean. Studying you, trying to be just like my big brother. So yeah, I know you. Better than anyone else in the entire world. And this is exactly how you act when you're terrified. And, I mean, I can't blame you. It's just...”
Dean: “What?”
Sam: “I wish you would drop the show and be my brother again. 'Cause... just 'cause.”
Before their talk, Dean had been willing to go after a newly vamped out Gordon Walker in an apparent suicide mission-he was going to die anyway-but it’s the plea of his little brother who wants nothing more than to have his brother back that reels Dean in. Dean immediately sobers, and the brothers work together to take Gordon down. Sam has made it clear that Dean dying early is not an option, and Dean in turn fights harder than ever to make sure he has all the time he can with Sam before his deal comes due.
Season 5’s “Point of No Return” has one of the most poignant moments of one brother giving the other a reason to fight: Dean has lost all faith in Sam and their ability to stop the Apocalypse, so is ready to say yes to Michael. But Sam refuses to accept that and puts his faith in his brother, bringing him on the mission to rescue Adam from Zachariah despite Castiel, Bobby, and even Dean himself declaring it a bad idea.
And when Dean seems willing to say yes, going so far as having Zachariah summon the archangel, it is the hurt and betrayal in Sam’s face that changes Dean’s mind, pushing him to stab Zachariah in the face instead (as he promised the first time they met). Sam’s faith in his brother inspires Dean to fight what is likely to be the impossible once again:
Dean: “I don't know if it's being a big brother or what, but to me, you've always been this snot-nosed kid that I've had to keep on the straight and narrow. I think we both know that that's not you anymore. I mean, hell, if you're grown-up enough to find faith in me…the least I can do is return the favor. So screw destiny, right in the face. I say we take the fight to them, and do it our way.”
And in turn, the return of Dean’s desire to fight energizes Sam, who has been struggling to keep his head above water, both as a recovering demon blood addict and with Lucifer whispering in his ear to let him in. Sam’s simple act of making Dean know he is needed despite being at odds with one for another for so long drives them both to fight and eventually thwart the Apocalypse against all odds.
They push each other to be superhuman
While the brothers keep each other grounded and fighting the good fight, their bond does more than that. They’re not just keeping each other human; in fact, they’re pushing each other to be superhuman, making Dean’s statement in “The End” somewhat ironic.
This is particularly obvious in “Swan Song,” when the power of their brotherhood helps Sam to overcome Lucifer’s hold on his body and to jump into Hell, saving the world and, more importantly, his brother, who the Devil had nearly beaten to death with Sam’s hands.
The strength such an act would take is incomprehensible, particularly when considering the effort it took Bobby to resume momentarily control over his body while he was possessed by a low-level demon. Lucifer is on another plane entirely, yet Sam’s love for his brother gives him the strength to make the ultimate sacrifice-one made in the name of love.
But the brothers’ superhumanity is explored much earlier in the series. In season 1’s “Nightmare,” Sam is locked in a closet while Dean faces an unstable psychic with a gun. After having a vision of his brother being shot in the head, Sam moves the furniture locking him in with nothing but his mind.
Dean: “Well how'd you do it?”
Sam: “I don't know, I can't control it. I just....I saw you die and it just came out of me like a punch. You know like...a freak adrenaline thing.”
It is the strength of his need to get to Dean, to save his brother’s life, that awakens the telekinesis, though Sam never displays that ability again. This comes at a point when neither the brothers nor the audience knows quite what to make of Sam’s developing powers but indicates early on in the series just how far one brother might go for the other while also hinting at their greater destiny.
The superhuman lengths the brothers go for one another is further seen in season 2’s “All Hell Breaks Loose Part 2,” in which Dean makes a crossroads deal to bring Sam back to life. The brothers had already investigated a case dealing with demon deals so Dean is acutely aware of the price, but his inability to face a life without Sam at his side pushes him to go through with it:
Dean: “I couldn't let him die... I couldn't. He's my brother.”
It’s Dean’s job to look out for his little brother no matter the personal cost.
After he learns the truth, Sam is heartbroken but determined to get Dean out of his deal. And his response foreshadows the extremes to which he will later go in his brother’s name:
Sam: “You've saved my life over and over. I mean, you sacrifice everything for me. Don't you think I'd do the same for you? You're my big brother. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you.”
Over the next year, Sam works tirelessly to save Dean from his deal, but he ultimately fails; Lilith collects on Dean’s contract and drags his soul to Hell, leaving Sam alone. Like Dean, Sam is unable to deal with his grief in a healthy way; Dean’s death completely shatters him.
And his only outlet comes via Ruby, who helps him develop his burgeoning powers as a means of taking revenge on Lilith. Though one of Dean’s last requests was for Sam not to use his powers, Sam does so anyway. His psychic exorcisms are a last ditch effort to honor Dean-by avenging his death. He is unable to let go, just as Dean was, and becomes something superhuman.
As hunters, the Winchesters know better than most what happens when the natural order is upset; monsters, demons, and spirits are, by definition, supernatural, which puts them outside of nature. The job of a hunter is to defend the natural order by hunting and fighting evil in the world. Yet, when it comes to one another, Sam and Dean have no qualms about making decisions that upset the natural order-choices that will become important down the line.
They go to very dark places without each other
Dean’s deal is a turning point in the series for a number of reasons, and it exemplifies another way the brothers keep each other human: without each other, Sam and Dean go to very dark places.
As previously mentioned, in the wake in Sam’s death, Dean is unable to cope and sells his soul to bring Sam back to life. Dean struggles with survivor’s guilt after John’s death and does not believe his life is worth the price; instead, he decides that bringing Sam back to life would be far more meaningful, much to the dismay of Sam and Bobby. Sam gives Dean purpose, and without his little brother, Dean feels he has nothing to live for.
Sam also goes dark places without his big brother in his life; in season 3’s “Mystery Spot,” we see a ruthlessly efficient shell of Sam Winchester searching for the Trickster in the hope of getting the demigod to bring Dean back to life after his death in a mugging. Six months pass with Sam ignoring the people who care about him, hunting big game alone, and even stitching up his own gunshot wounds with barely a flinch. Sam, like his father, is a driven individual and, though he also has a big heart, he has a darkness inside him that comes out in dire situations. It’s clear that he needs Dean’s humanizing influence to keep him from following in John’s obsessive, revenge-driven footsteps.
Much like Dean, Sam sees little purpose in his life without his brother at his side. So after Dean’s deal comes due, the revenge-driven Sam returns as he hones his powers with Ruby’s help. His sole mission is to kill Lilith to avenge Dean’s death, and even after Dean is resurrected in season 4, Sam is unable to shake the vengeance that clouded his mind during the four months Dean was in Hell.
Through much of season 4, there is not a physical distance between the brothers, but there is an emotional chasm between them, as Dean is haunted by his memories of Hell while Sam is trapped in the throes of his demon blood addiction. And this distance eventually pushes Sam to side with Ruby and face Lilith in what he likely thinks will be a suicide mission for vengeance; without the close brotherhood bond to reel him back in, Sam willingly makes the full transition into the supernatural, his eyes turning black as he kills Lilith and sets Lucifer free.
Season 5, as a result, also showcases an emotional distance between the brothers, as Sam is left trying to atone for his actions while Dean has lost all faith in his little brother. Dean’s broken trust results in depression deep enough that he is willing to let Michael in to avert the Apocalypse. And this, much like Sam’s mission to stop Lilith, is intended to be a one-way trip.
They pull each other back from ledges
While the brothers find little reason to live without one other and are prone to making bad decisions, especially when it comes to dealing with the supernatural, they also have the ability to pull each other back from the ledge. At their lowest, the brothers are the only ones able to reach one another.
Dean reaches his lowest at the end of season 5’s “99 Problems,” when he decides to say yes to Michael. His faith in his brother is gone and the world is ending around them, so he is determined to become Michael’s vessel and end the Apocalypse before Sam can let Lucifer in, just as Zachariah suggested after his trip to the future in “The End.” Yet in “Point of No Return,” Sam puts his faith in Dean, and it is the realization that Sam truly believes in him against all logic that changes Dean’s mind:
Sam: “I saw your eyes. You were totally rockin’ the ‘yes’ back there. So, what changed your mind?”
Dean: “Honestly? The damnedest thing. I mean, the world’s ending. The walls are coming down on us, and I look over to you and all I can think about is, ‘This stupid son of a bitch brought me here.’ I just didn’t want to let you down.”
Sam: “You didn’t. You almost did. But you didn’t.”
Not only has Sam given Dean something to fight for, but their bond, no matter how strained and battered by the events of the past few years, is what pulls Dean back from the suicidal ledge when no one else could reach him. Bobby and Castiel have lost their faith in Dean, but not Sam. No matter what is between them, the love they have for one another will trump everything.
But before there were angels, Dean was helping reel Sam back in as his younger brother developed psychic powers. As Sam’s nightmares evolved into head-splitting visions through seasons 1 and 2, the younger Winchester was often terrified about what the mysterious abilities could mean-and worse, what Dean might think, considering his black and white view of the supernatural. But eventually, Sam was unable to hide them any longer.
When Sam finally reveals his visions, at that point still nothing but dreams, Dean, despite his own concerns and reservations, sticks by Sam’s side. He agrees to check out a situation Sam dreamed about back in Lawrence, despite his instincts telling him to avoid the place, for Sam’s sake. Though John instilled in Dean a black and white view of the supernatural, Sam is forever his exception. So Dean not only helps keep Sam grounded as the world goes crazy around them, but also does his best to defend him, whether from other hunters or from his worst critic: Sam himself.
In season 1’s “Nightmare,” Sam has something of an identity crisis as he meets Max Miller, another of the psychic children. Max suffered a lifetime of abuse so was using his telekinetic powers for revenge against his tormentors, only to kill himself in the end. And Sam is terrified he might be headed for the same fate. But Dean refuses to let that thought take root:
Sam: “Aren't you worried I could turn into Max or something?”
Dean: “Nope. No way. You know why?”
Sam: “No. Why?”
Dean: “Cause you got one advantage Max didn't have.”
Sam: “Dad? Because Dad's not here Dean.”
Dean: “No. Me. As long as I'm around, nothing bad is gonna happen to you.”
Supernatural abilities or not, Dean is going to do everything in his power to protect his little brother, and it is that devotion that helps Sam continue on despite his own doubts and fears. Dean, in his protective streak, pulls Sam back from a ledge of despair.
But Sam’s powers are more than just an exception for Dean; they are a lesson.
In season 2’s “Bloodlust,” the Winchesters come across a nest of vampires that aren’t killing humans. Dean, with the help of Gordon Walker, wants nothing more than to waste the vampires because they’re monsters, which means they’re outside the natural order and, according to hunters, should be exterminated. But Sam, who tends to empathize with monsters of the week because of his own supernatural abilities, is having none of it:
Dean: “What part of 'vampires' don't you understand, Sam? If it's supernatural, we kill it, end of story. That's our job.”
Sam: “No, Dean, that is not our job. Our job is hunting evil. And if these things aren't killing people, they're not evil!”
And eventually, Dean realizes that Gordon’s black and white views are just too extreme and is forced to start shifting his views:
Dean: “What if we killed things that didn't deserve killing? You know? I mean, the way Dad raised us...”
Sam: “Dean, after what happened to Mom, Dad did the best he could.”
Dean: “I know he did. But the man wasn't perfect. And the way he raised us, to hate those things; and man, I hate 'em. I do. When I killed that vampire at the mill I didn't even think about it; hell, I even enjoyed it.”
Sam: “You didn't kill Lenore.”
Dean: “No, but every instinct told me to. I was gonna kill her. I was gonna kill 'em all.”
Sam: “Yeah, Dean, but you didn't. And that's what matters.”
Dean: “Yeah. Well, 'cause you're a pain in my ass.”
Sam: “Guess I might have to stick around to be a pain in the ass, then.”
Not only does this shift in perspective help round out Dean as a character, pulling him back from an extreme view that could be dangerous-especially when his best friend in later seasons will also be a supernatural being-it also serves to reaffirm his confidence in his brother. Sam, who will soon be fair game to other hunters, needs his brother’s trust and support more than ever; Dean’s ability to reexamine his view of what should and should not be hunted is essential to the brothers finding even ground between them, not just as blood, but as hunting partners.
In learning this lesson, Dean is not only pulled back from a ledge of extremity, but Sam is also pulled back from his own ledge of self-doubt, leading to a stronger bond than ever.
Soul mates
It’s clear that the brothers carry an exceptionally deep love for one another. In Symposium, Plato explores the concept of love by presenting the idea that humans were once born with four arms, four legs, and two faces. Zeus split the primeval human in half, leaving these newly halved humans to look for their literal other halves, or their soul mates. The feeling of wholeness that people feel when they’ve found their soul mate, then, results from having literally completed themselves.
We also know from “Dark Side of the Moon” that Sam and Dean are soul mates. Ash tells the brothers that only soul mates can share Heavens-and of course, the brothers are able to do so. Perhaps it’s not so ill-conceived to think of the brothers as once being a single soul, split apart into two bodies.
Zeus split primeval humans in half because they were so powerful that they threatened the gods. We’ve seen over and over in the show how the brothers are stronger together, as Dean tells Sam in his speech in “The End,” and that trouble seems to find them when they separate. When joined together in unison, such as in the moment Sam takes control of his body back from Lucifer in Stull Cemetery, the Winchesters show just how powerful the love of a soul mate can be, thus proving Zeus’ paranoia justified. After all, anyone who wants to get the best of the Winchesters knows the best way to do it is to separate them. Together, they’ve been known to challenge a god or two of their own.
This unified strength not only goes to show their humanity, as being soul mates is a decidedly human state, but also their superhumanity, in the sense that their love for one another comes not just from a brotherly bond, but something far, far deeper than a traditional brotherly bond and gives them the power to do the impossible. So when Dean tells Sam they keep each other human, he’s right and he’s not.
But more importantly, Sam and Dean bring out the best and strongest parts of each other. And Dean was absolutely right about that.
Author: purplehrdwonder
Subject: An exploration of the brotherly bond and how it relates to their humanity
Note: This was written for ash48's prompt at the theheartofspn's Winchester Summer LOVEfest.
Summary: It is somehow both appropriate and ironic that Dean tells Sam that they keep each other human. Because, while the brothers’ bond embodies their very best-their humanity-in some ways it also represents their superhumanity, as their love for each other pushes them places no mere mortal could, or should, ever go.
Note: Since the prompt requested more discussion of the earlier seasons, and there was already a lot of material in seasons 1-5, I elected not to touch on seasons 6 and 7. This one got pretty long as is!
The Humanity of the Winchesters:
Sam, Dean, and the Superhuman Bond between Brothers
“The point is...maybe we are each other's Achilles’ heel. Maybe they'll find a way to use us against each other, I don't know. I just know we're all we've got. More than that, we keep each other human.”
-- Dean Winchester, “The End”
In season 5’s “The End,” Dean returns to 2009 from a bleak future where Sam let the Devil in and Dean became a bitter, shell of a man as a result, only to end up dying at the Devil’s hands. With the brothers apart, the world literally went to Hell. But while the angels hoped that Dean would take the vision as a call to let Michael in and stop the Apocalypse before that future came to pass, Dean instead realizes that the worst thing he can do is to cut Sam from his life. When they reunite at the end of the episode, Dean tells Sam that though they may be each other’s greatest weakness, they are also each other’s greatest strength-because they keep each other human.
And to be human in the world of Supernatural is a huge distinction. The brothers hunt monsters, demons, ghosts, and anything else supernatural or inhuman. Yet they themselves push the boundaries of humanity on more than one occasion, whether it is Sam’s powers or Dean’s deal. Over seven seasons, the Winchesters have proven themselves larger than life, cheating death on countless occasions, but it is their brotherhood that has grounded, motivated, and defined them.
So it is somehow both appropriate and ironic that Dean tells Sam that they keep each other human. Because, while the brothers’ bond embodies their very best-their humanity-in some ways it also represents their superhumanity, as their love for each other pushes them places no mere mortal could, or should, ever go.
Sam and Dean keep each other grounded
Though the Winchesters are deeply embedded in a world of inhuman creatures and supernatural happenings, their true struggles are, in fact, very human: from grief and anger to guilt and depression. And in dealing with these issues, the brothers ground each other.
From the very start of the series, Dean served as an anchor for Sam, who, after Jessica’s death, was awash in a sea of grief and anger. In “Wendigo,” we get the iconic scene defining the family business:
Dean: “Tell you the truth, I don't think Dad's ever been to Lost Creek.”
Sam: “Then let's get these people back to town and let's hit the road. Go find Dad. I mean, why are we still even here?”
Dean: “This is why: This book. This is Dad's single most valuable possession-everything he knows about every evil thing is in here. And he's passed it on to us. I think he wants us to pick up where he left off. You know, saving people, hunting things. The family business.”
Sam’s angry and hurting, and he wants nothing more than to find their father, who has left them his journal and a set of coordinates-coordinates that turn out to be for a hunt, not his location. Dean reads the signs and recognizes what his father wants from them. He both defines for the audience and reminds Sam of the kind of life they lead.
Sam’s in danger of falling into a pit of despair in his quest for revenge, much like his father before him, but it’s Dean who keeps him grounded, both in the moment and for the foreseeable future, as the conversation continues:
Sam: “I gotta find Dad. I gotta find Jessica's killer. It's the only thing I can think about.”
Dean: “Okay, all right, Sam, we'll find them, I promise. Listen to me. You've gotta prepare yourself. I mean, this search could take a while, and all that anger, you can't keep it burning over the long haul. It's gonna kill you. You gotta have patience, man. “
Sam: “How do you do it? How does Dad do it?”
Dean: “Well for one, them. I mean, I figure our family's so screwed to hell, maybe we can help some others. Makes things a little bit more bearable. I'll tell you what else helps-killing as many evil sons of bitches as I possibly can.”
And it is these words that keep Sam going through much of season 1. Sam, who is supposed to be the “sensitive” brother, needs the reminder of why they fight to press on in the face of his overwhelming grief and simmering anger. Dean is the one to read the signs on his brother despite their separation while Sam was at school and anchors Sam in a way no one else could.
The reverse is true as well; after their father’s death in season 2, Dean is buried under the weight of survivor’s guilt, especially once they realize John made a deal with Azazel for his life and the Colt, and it is Sam who keeps him going. In “Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things,” we get one of many talks about Dean’s depression in the wake of their father’s death:
Dean: “Sam, you and Dad... you're the most important people in my life. And now... I never should have come back, Sam. It wasn't natural. And now look what's come of it. I was dead. And I should have stayed dead. You wanted to know how I was feeling. Well, that's it. So tell me. What could you possibly say to make that all right?”
The end of the episode isn’t particularly comforting, as the brothers are sitting together on the Impala’s hood, not quite touching and both at a loss for words, but it is Sam’s constant presence at Dean’s side that helps the elder Winchester keep going despite the weight on his shoulders. They will eventually get back in the car and keep on driving to the next hunt.
Later in “Crossroad Blues,” we get another discussion about John’s death, as the brothers realize exactly what their father sacrificed for Dean’s sake, which only worsens Dean’s burden of guilt. Dean, with his lack of self-esteem, is sickened by the thought that his father is burning in Hell while he is still alive. But once again, it is Sam who does his best to keep his brother grounded:
Dean: “How could he do it?”
Sam: “He did it for you.”
Dean: “Exactly. How am I supposed to live with that? You know, the thought of him-wherever he is right now. I mean, he spent his whole life chasing that yellow-eyed son of a bitch. He should have gone out fighting. That was supposed to be his legacy. You know? Not bargaining with the damn thing. Not this.”
Sam: “How many people do you think Dad saved? Total?”
Dean: “That's not the point, Sam.”
Sam: “Evan Hudson is safe because of what Dad taught us. That's his legacy, Dean. But we're still here, man. So we gotta keep going, for him.”
Though he did not have a response the last time the topic came up, this time he is ready. Dean doesn’t view his life as worth anything, so Sam needs to convince Dean that there is a reason for him to keep on living: his life is worthwhile because he is John’s legacy. As the brothers continue on with the family business, saving people and hunting things, they are honoring his life.
Like “Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things,” the episode doesn’t end on a happy note, as Dean doesn’t deny that he considered making a crossroads deal to save his father at the expense of his own soul, but once again, it is Sam’s presence in the front seat of the Impala that keeps Dean going. He might be lost in his grief, but Sam anchora him in any way Dean will let him; he’s there in ways that no one else can be for Dean, keeping him human.
They give each other something to fight for
Though Sam’s support was mostly quiet through season 2, as Dean was not in a place to really let his little brother help, in “What Is and What Should Never Be,” we get an indication of just how important Sam is to Dean. Dean is pulled into a djinn’s dream world where Mary Winchester never died and the brothers never became hunters; Dean has the perfect girlfriend and is thrilled when Sam and Jessica announce their engagement. But the brothers in the djinn’s world aren’t close, making the otherwise idyllic fantasy sour enough for Dean to break himself out of it:
Sam: “I thought it was supposed to be this perfect fantasy.”
Dean: “It wasn't. It was just a wish. I wished for Mom to live. If Mom never died, we never went hunting and you and me just never... you know.”
Sam: “Yeah. Well, I'm glad we do.”
Though escape from the survivor’s guilt Dean had been suffering since his father’s death would have been so easy in the djinn’s world, it’s his desire to get back to the brother he is close with that drives him. Sam, the brother Dean practically raised and is a constant presence in the front seat of the Impala, is worth fighting for, no matter how hard it might be sometimes.
In season 3’s “Fresh Blood,” we see another instance of Sam pulling his brother back from a ledge and giving him something to fight for. Dean’s made his deal and puts up a front of a carefree attitude with his trip to Hell hanging over his head. But Sam isn’t buying it:
Sam: “You're scared, Dean. You're scared because your year is running out, and you're still going to Hell, and you're freaked.”
Dean: “And how do you know that?”
Sam: “Because I know you!”
Dean: “Really?”
Sam: “Yeah, I've been following you around my entire life! I mean, I've been looking up to you since I was four, Dean. Studying you, trying to be just like my big brother. So yeah, I know you. Better than anyone else in the entire world. And this is exactly how you act when you're terrified. And, I mean, I can't blame you. It's just...”
Dean: “What?”
Sam: “I wish you would drop the show and be my brother again. 'Cause... just 'cause.”
Before their talk, Dean had been willing to go after a newly vamped out Gordon Walker in an apparent suicide mission-he was going to die anyway-but it’s the plea of his little brother who wants nothing more than to have his brother back that reels Dean in. Dean immediately sobers, and the brothers work together to take Gordon down. Sam has made it clear that Dean dying early is not an option, and Dean in turn fights harder than ever to make sure he has all the time he can with Sam before his deal comes due.
Season 5’s “Point of No Return” has one of the most poignant moments of one brother giving the other a reason to fight: Dean has lost all faith in Sam and their ability to stop the Apocalypse, so is ready to say yes to Michael. But Sam refuses to accept that and puts his faith in his brother, bringing him on the mission to rescue Adam from Zachariah despite Castiel, Bobby, and even Dean himself declaring it a bad idea.
And when Dean seems willing to say yes, going so far as having Zachariah summon the archangel, it is the hurt and betrayal in Sam’s face that changes Dean’s mind, pushing him to stab Zachariah in the face instead (as he promised the first time they met). Sam’s faith in his brother inspires Dean to fight what is likely to be the impossible once again:
Dean: “I don't know if it's being a big brother or what, but to me, you've always been this snot-nosed kid that I've had to keep on the straight and narrow. I think we both know that that's not you anymore. I mean, hell, if you're grown-up enough to find faith in me…the least I can do is return the favor. So screw destiny, right in the face. I say we take the fight to them, and do it our way.”
And in turn, the return of Dean’s desire to fight energizes Sam, who has been struggling to keep his head above water, both as a recovering demon blood addict and with Lucifer whispering in his ear to let him in. Sam’s simple act of making Dean know he is needed despite being at odds with one for another for so long drives them both to fight and eventually thwart the Apocalypse against all odds.
They push each other to be superhuman
While the brothers keep each other grounded and fighting the good fight, their bond does more than that. They’re not just keeping each other human; in fact, they’re pushing each other to be superhuman, making Dean’s statement in “The End” somewhat ironic.
This is particularly obvious in “Swan Song,” when the power of their brotherhood helps Sam to overcome Lucifer’s hold on his body and to jump into Hell, saving the world and, more importantly, his brother, who the Devil had nearly beaten to death with Sam’s hands.
The strength such an act would take is incomprehensible, particularly when considering the effort it took Bobby to resume momentarily control over his body while he was possessed by a low-level demon. Lucifer is on another plane entirely, yet Sam’s love for his brother gives him the strength to make the ultimate sacrifice-one made in the name of love.
But the brothers’ superhumanity is explored much earlier in the series. In season 1’s “Nightmare,” Sam is locked in a closet while Dean faces an unstable psychic with a gun. After having a vision of his brother being shot in the head, Sam moves the furniture locking him in with nothing but his mind.
Dean: “Well how'd you do it?”
Sam: “I don't know, I can't control it. I just....I saw you die and it just came out of me like a punch. You know like...a freak adrenaline thing.”
It is the strength of his need to get to Dean, to save his brother’s life, that awakens the telekinesis, though Sam never displays that ability again. This comes at a point when neither the brothers nor the audience knows quite what to make of Sam’s developing powers but indicates early on in the series just how far one brother might go for the other while also hinting at their greater destiny.
The superhuman lengths the brothers go for one another is further seen in season 2’s “All Hell Breaks Loose Part 2,” in which Dean makes a crossroads deal to bring Sam back to life. The brothers had already investigated a case dealing with demon deals so Dean is acutely aware of the price, but his inability to face a life without Sam at his side pushes him to go through with it:
Dean: “I couldn't let him die... I couldn't. He's my brother.”
It’s Dean’s job to look out for his little brother no matter the personal cost.
After he learns the truth, Sam is heartbroken but determined to get Dean out of his deal. And his response foreshadows the extremes to which he will later go in his brother’s name:
Sam: “You've saved my life over and over. I mean, you sacrifice everything for me. Don't you think I'd do the same for you? You're my big brother. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you.”
Over the next year, Sam works tirelessly to save Dean from his deal, but he ultimately fails; Lilith collects on Dean’s contract and drags his soul to Hell, leaving Sam alone. Like Dean, Sam is unable to deal with his grief in a healthy way; Dean’s death completely shatters him.
And his only outlet comes via Ruby, who helps him develop his burgeoning powers as a means of taking revenge on Lilith. Though one of Dean’s last requests was for Sam not to use his powers, Sam does so anyway. His psychic exorcisms are a last ditch effort to honor Dean-by avenging his death. He is unable to let go, just as Dean was, and becomes something superhuman.
As hunters, the Winchesters know better than most what happens when the natural order is upset; monsters, demons, and spirits are, by definition, supernatural, which puts them outside of nature. The job of a hunter is to defend the natural order by hunting and fighting evil in the world. Yet, when it comes to one another, Sam and Dean have no qualms about making decisions that upset the natural order-choices that will become important down the line.
They go to very dark places without each other
Dean’s deal is a turning point in the series for a number of reasons, and it exemplifies another way the brothers keep each other human: without each other, Sam and Dean go to very dark places.
As previously mentioned, in the wake in Sam’s death, Dean is unable to cope and sells his soul to bring Sam back to life. Dean struggles with survivor’s guilt after John’s death and does not believe his life is worth the price; instead, he decides that bringing Sam back to life would be far more meaningful, much to the dismay of Sam and Bobby. Sam gives Dean purpose, and without his little brother, Dean feels he has nothing to live for.
Sam also goes dark places without his big brother in his life; in season 3’s “Mystery Spot,” we see a ruthlessly efficient shell of Sam Winchester searching for the Trickster in the hope of getting the demigod to bring Dean back to life after his death in a mugging. Six months pass with Sam ignoring the people who care about him, hunting big game alone, and even stitching up his own gunshot wounds with barely a flinch. Sam, like his father, is a driven individual and, though he also has a big heart, he has a darkness inside him that comes out in dire situations. It’s clear that he needs Dean’s humanizing influence to keep him from following in John’s obsessive, revenge-driven footsteps.
Much like Dean, Sam sees little purpose in his life without his brother at his side. So after Dean’s deal comes due, the revenge-driven Sam returns as he hones his powers with Ruby’s help. His sole mission is to kill Lilith to avenge Dean’s death, and even after Dean is resurrected in season 4, Sam is unable to shake the vengeance that clouded his mind during the four months Dean was in Hell.
Through much of season 4, there is not a physical distance between the brothers, but there is an emotional chasm between them, as Dean is haunted by his memories of Hell while Sam is trapped in the throes of his demon blood addiction. And this distance eventually pushes Sam to side with Ruby and face Lilith in what he likely thinks will be a suicide mission for vengeance; without the close brotherhood bond to reel him back in, Sam willingly makes the full transition into the supernatural, his eyes turning black as he kills Lilith and sets Lucifer free.
Season 5, as a result, also showcases an emotional distance between the brothers, as Sam is left trying to atone for his actions while Dean has lost all faith in his little brother. Dean’s broken trust results in depression deep enough that he is willing to let Michael in to avert the Apocalypse. And this, much like Sam’s mission to stop Lilith, is intended to be a one-way trip.
They pull each other back from ledges
While the brothers find little reason to live without one other and are prone to making bad decisions, especially when it comes to dealing with the supernatural, they also have the ability to pull each other back from the ledge. At their lowest, the brothers are the only ones able to reach one another.
Dean reaches his lowest at the end of season 5’s “99 Problems,” when he decides to say yes to Michael. His faith in his brother is gone and the world is ending around them, so he is determined to become Michael’s vessel and end the Apocalypse before Sam can let Lucifer in, just as Zachariah suggested after his trip to the future in “The End.” Yet in “Point of No Return,” Sam puts his faith in Dean, and it is the realization that Sam truly believes in him against all logic that changes Dean’s mind:
Sam: “I saw your eyes. You were totally rockin’ the ‘yes’ back there. So, what changed your mind?”
Dean: “Honestly? The damnedest thing. I mean, the world’s ending. The walls are coming down on us, and I look over to you and all I can think about is, ‘This stupid son of a bitch brought me here.’ I just didn’t want to let you down.”
Sam: “You didn’t. You almost did. But you didn’t.”
Not only has Sam given Dean something to fight for, but their bond, no matter how strained and battered by the events of the past few years, is what pulls Dean back from the suicidal ledge when no one else could reach him. Bobby and Castiel have lost their faith in Dean, but not Sam. No matter what is between them, the love they have for one another will trump everything.
But before there were angels, Dean was helping reel Sam back in as his younger brother developed psychic powers. As Sam’s nightmares evolved into head-splitting visions through seasons 1 and 2, the younger Winchester was often terrified about what the mysterious abilities could mean-and worse, what Dean might think, considering his black and white view of the supernatural. But eventually, Sam was unable to hide them any longer.
When Sam finally reveals his visions, at that point still nothing but dreams, Dean, despite his own concerns and reservations, sticks by Sam’s side. He agrees to check out a situation Sam dreamed about back in Lawrence, despite his instincts telling him to avoid the place, for Sam’s sake. Though John instilled in Dean a black and white view of the supernatural, Sam is forever his exception. So Dean not only helps keep Sam grounded as the world goes crazy around them, but also does his best to defend him, whether from other hunters or from his worst critic: Sam himself.
In season 1’s “Nightmare,” Sam has something of an identity crisis as he meets Max Miller, another of the psychic children. Max suffered a lifetime of abuse so was using his telekinetic powers for revenge against his tormentors, only to kill himself in the end. And Sam is terrified he might be headed for the same fate. But Dean refuses to let that thought take root:
Sam: “Aren't you worried I could turn into Max or something?”
Dean: “Nope. No way. You know why?”
Sam: “No. Why?”
Dean: “Cause you got one advantage Max didn't have.”
Sam: “Dad? Because Dad's not here Dean.”
Dean: “No. Me. As long as I'm around, nothing bad is gonna happen to you.”
Supernatural abilities or not, Dean is going to do everything in his power to protect his little brother, and it is that devotion that helps Sam continue on despite his own doubts and fears. Dean, in his protective streak, pulls Sam back from a ledge of despair.
But Sam’s powers are more than just an exception for Dean; they are a lesson.
In season 2’s “Bloodlust,” the Winchesters come across a nest of vampires that aren’t killing humans. Dean, with the help of Gordon Walker, wants nothing more than to waste the vampires because they’re monsters, which means they’re outside the natural order and, according to hunters, should be exterminated. But Sam, who tends to empathize with monsters of the week because of his own supernatural abilities, is having none of it:
Dean: “What part of 'vampires' don't you understand, Sam? If it's supernatural, we kill it, end of story. That's our job.”
Sam: “No, Dean, that is not our job. Our job is hunting evil. And if these things aren't killing people, they're not evil!”
And eventually, Dean realizes that Gordon’s black and white views are just too extreme and is forced to start shifting his views:
Dean: “What if we killed things that didn't deserve killing? You know? I mean, the way Dad raised us...”
Sam: “Dean, after what happened to Mom, Dad did the best he could.”
Dean: “I know he did. But the man wasn't perfect. And the way he raised us, to hate those things; and man, I hate 'em. I do. When I killed that vampire at the mill I didn't even think about it; hell, I even enjoyed it.”
Sam: “You didn't kill Lenore.”
Dean: “No, but every instinct told me to. I was gonna kill her. I was gonna kill 'em all.”
Sam: “Yeah, Dean, but you didn't. And that's what matters.”
Dean: “Yeah. Well, 'cause you're a pain in my ass.”
Sam: “Guess I might have to stick around to be a pain in the ass, then.”
Not only does this shift in perspective help round out Dean as a character, pulling him back from an extreme view that could be dangerous-especially when his best friend in later seasons will also be a supernatural being-it also serves to reaffirm his confidence in his brother. Sam, who will soon be fair game to other hunters, needs his brother’s trust and support more than ever; Dean’s ability to reexamine his view of what should and should not be hunted is essential to the brothers finding even ground between them, not just as blood, but as hunting partners.
In learning this lesson, Dean is not only pulled back from a ledge of extremity, but Sam is also pulled back from his own ledge of self-doubt, leading to a stronger bond than ever.
Soul mates
It’s clear that the brothers carry an exceptionally deep love for one another. In Symposium, Plato explores the concept of love by presenting the idea that humans were once born with four arms, four legs, and two faces. Zeus split the primeval human in half, leaving these newly halved humans to look for their literal other halves, or their soul mates. The feeling of wholeness that people feel when they’ve found their soul mate, then, results from having literally completed themselves.
We also know from “Dark Side of the Moon” that Sam and Dean are soul mates. Ash tells the brothers that only soul mates can share Heavens-and of course, the brothers are able to do so. Perhaps it’s not so ill-conceived to think of the brothers as once being a single soul, split apart into two bodies.
Zeus split primeval humans in half because they were so powerful that they threatened the gods. We’ve seen over and over in the show how the brothers are stronger together, as Dean tells Sam in his speech in “The End,” and that trouble seems to find them when they separate. When joined together in unison, such as in the moment Sam takes control of his body back from Lucifer in Stull Cemetery, the Winchesters show just how powerful the love of a soul mate can be, thus proving Zeus’ paranoia justified. After all, anyone who wants to get the best of the Winchesters knows the best way to do it is to separate them. Together, they’ve been known to challenge a god or two of their own.
This unified strength not only goes to show their humanity, as being soul mates is a decidedly human state, but also their superhumanity, in the sense that their love for one another comes not just from a brotherly bond, but something far, far deeper than a traditional brotherly bond and gives them the power to do the impossible. So when Dean tells Sam they keep each other human, he’s right and he’s not.
But more importantly, Sam and Dean bring out the best and strongest parts of each other. And Dean was absolutely right about that.