How Jensen Ackles Really Felt About That Polarizing Dean's Ending on Supernatural
It looks like the debate over Dean Winchester's ending in Supernatural is still going strong, and who better to weigh in on the topic than the man himself, Jensen Ackles.
In an episode of the Inside of You podcast, Ackles shared his thoughts on the polarizing finale and how it all came to be.
First and foremost, Ackles wanted to make it clear that he doesn't believe there's a "wrong opinion" about the ending. He understands that some fans may have had issues with it, while others may have enjoyed it, and that's okay. Ackles even admitted that he was in both camps himself, feeling both disappointment and acceptance at different points in the process.
So, how did the ending come to be?
It's no secret that Ackles and his co-star, Jared Padalecki, were flown out to LA to hear the writers pitch the finale before the final season even began. This was the first time in Supernatural history that the actors were given a glimpse of the show's ultimate conclusion. So, what was Ackles' initial reaction? He admitted that he didn't give the writers enthusiastic support right away. He didn't like the idea at first, and, trying to be respectful, said instead that he needed time to sleep on it.
As weeks passed, Ackles couldn't shake the feeling that he didn't like the ending.
"I was like, 'maybe I'm just too close to that character and I just don't want to see him go'," the actor shared.
It wasn't until he talked to Eric Kripke, the creator of Supernatural, that things started to make sense. Kripke, who had been gone from the show since season five, provided Ackles with a fresh perspective and helped him understand why the ending was a good thing.
Funnily enough, Kripke's initial reaction was the same as Ackles': he, too, felt the need to "sleep on it." But then Kripke sent Ackles an "incredibly well-written" e-mail, after which the actor kind of came to terms with the ending for Dean's journey.
Looks like Ackles needed that outside perspective to truly understand and accept Dean's ending, however polarizing for Supernatural fandom it ultimately was. And while he may not have been thrilled with it at first, he ultimately came to embrace it and move on.
"I'm happy with it," Ackles said. "I'm really happy with it."