The Winchesters' John is Being Surprisingly Canon-ish (And a Jerk)
Sorry, Papa John fans.
Despite being a protagonist, John Winchester has never been an indisputably "good" character. Both Sam and Dean had their issues with their father, but that happened in Supernatural. The new prequel, The Winchesters, appears to set up stage for Papa John becoming the man he ended up being.
Many fans have noted that young John, portrayed in the prequel by Drake Rodger, is already displaying the qualities that people hate him for.
"[I]t's the way that john has a good mom who's worried about his well-being and he just goes and leaves her without a call or note or anything. Just like his dad. Just like he did to his boys. He leaves people and he throws himself at violent opportunities," one Twitter fan noted.
The Winchesters makes it clear that John did not have a person he could look up to and learn to be a good father from, but fans believe that it does not redeem him. The fact that John, as he himself puts it, "never was" a child, does not mean that he could abandon his kids and "force" them into becoming hunters, as some fans believe.
"I thought that I was angry at you for not believing in me, but I wasn't. I was angry at dad, and I did what I always do which is- I took out on you what I can't take out on him."
"Ladies, gentlemen, and everyone else: John Winchester." – @winchdeann
The CW prequel appeared to have given a new life to the movement of John Winchester haters online, with some people accusing him of being abusive towards his son, as well as letting out his anger at people who had nothing do with it. This was something he passed over to Dean, some fans believe.
According to them, it's because of John Dean turned "watching out for Sammy" into his life motto — something that basically ruined the lives of both brothers. Few people in the fandom believe that John was a good father. But still, there are fans who are ready to stand up and defend John Winchester.
The prequel is yet to explore more of young John Winchester. Who knows, maybe his true origin story will turn his haters into fans?
The Winchesters air on The CW, with new episodes arriving every Tuesday.