John Winchester

"You know, when you were a kid, I'd come home from a hunt, and after what I'd seen, I'd be, I'd be wrecked. And you, you'd come up to me and you, you'd put your hand on my shoulder and you'd look me in the eye and you'd... You'd say "It's okay, Dad""

- John Winchester

John Winchester was the husband of Mary Winchester, and father of Dean and Sam Winchester and Adam Milligan. Seeking revenge after his wife was killed by the demon Azazel, John became a hunter and raised his two sons to fight the supernatural.

Before turning a hunter, John was Vietnam War veteran (USMC) from Lawrence, Kansas, he worked as a mechanic and was eventually co-owner (with Mike Guenther) of a garage in Lawrence.

Early life
John began his hunting "career" on approximately November 2, 1983, following the death of his wife. His primary goal, as a hunter, was to protect his sons and his secondary goal was to kill the Yellow-Eyed Demon: Azazel, for murdering the mother of his children.

John was a resident of Lawrence, Kansas. He left to fight in Vietnam as a Marine, and held the rank of Corporal. He later returned to Lawrence, where he worked as a mechanic. On April 30th 1973, John bought a 1967 Chevrolet Impala second hand at Rainbow Motors, after being convinced by a time-travelling Dean to choose the vehicle.

John had a history with Mary Campbell, although before falling in love (under the influence of a Cupid), they couldn't stand each other. John intended to propose to Mary, however he was killed by Azazel as he was possessing Mary's father Samuel, prompting Mary to strike a deal with Azazel to bring John back at the cost of allowing Azazel into her home ten years later. After Mary died, John went to a psychic named Missouri. He learned the truth about Mary's past. He left Lawrence with his sons, Sam and Dean. He dedicated the rest of his life to hunting down monsters, particularly Azazel.

John accumulated a vast knowledge of the supernatural, keeping a journal of the creatures he hunted. He was a well-respected hunter by his peers. John worked with several other hunters. Most notably, Bobby Singer, William Anthony Harvelle, Caleb, and a pastor named Jim Murphy.

His life as a hunter led to strain between him and his son Sam, who wanted to quit hunting, leading to an argument where John told Sam if he left he would have to stay away. However, John regretted saying it, as he didn't want Sam to be on his own. John would surreptitiously stop by Stanford every so often just to make sure Sam was all right. John admitted it was never his intention to raise his sons the way he did.

Around August or September of 2002, after Sam had left for Stanford University, John recieved a call from Kate Milligan, a nurse who had treated John several years previously in Windom, Minnesota. She informed him that they had a son named Adam who was twelve at the time. According to Adam, John "dropped everything" and drove all night to Windom. After the initial meeting, John had sporadic contact with Adam. He taught him to play poker, taught him to drive in the Impala, and bought him his first beer when he was fifteen. He also took him to ball games on his birthday. John never mentioned Adam to either Sam or Dean. They learned about him around two years after John's death.

Pilot
22 years later Dean visits Sam at Stanford, telling him that John has gone missing. Sam reluctantly accompanies Dean to Jericho where John was on a case, but while they find his motel room, and belongings including John's Journal, he is not there, while being inerrogated by the police, Dean finds coordinates that John has left for him.

Wendigo
Sam and Dean follow the coordinates left in their father's journal and land in the middle of the woods where they investigate the disappearance of several campers in Black Water Ridge, Colorado.

Phantom Traveler
At the end of a case (where Sam and Dean) have their first encouter with a Demon) with an old friend, the boys get a cell phone number. The message on it is from John, redirecting people to call Dean if they want help - the first sign the boys have that John is still alive.

Home
Distressed at returning to his home town as they follow one of Sam's visions, Dean calls John but receives no answer. While investigating the haunting at their old home, Sam and Dean visit the garage John once owned with Mike Guenther. He directs them to Missouri Moseley. She helps the boys, but unbeknown to them John Winchester is in town and in contact with Missouri. He tells her he can't contact them until he knows "the truth".

Asylum
While the boys sleep, Dean’s cell phone rings. Sam answers the phone – it’s John.

Scarecrow
Dean’s cell rings, and Sam answers to hear his father’s voice. John expresses sympathy at the murder of Jessica, and for the first time reveals that he knows that what killed Mary and Jess was a demon. John tells Sam that he must stop looking for him and he starts to give Sam details of a new hunt, but Sam argues that he wants to help John hunt the demon. Dean grabs the phone and takes the details from John about couples who have gone missing near Burkitsville, Indiana.

Later Sam leaves Dean, intending to travel to California and find John. However, after Dean goes missing on the case, he returns saying while he still wants to find John, he and Dean need to stick together.

Faith
With Dean in a near death state, Sam calls John for help but gets no answer.



Shadow
When Sam and Dean encounter Meg in Chicago and realise she is linked to the demon that killed Mary and Jess, Dean calls John. He later arrives and Dean embraces him warmly. Just as he reunites for the first time in years with Sam, they are attacked by Daevas. Afterward, Dean supports John when he says it is too dangerous for them all to be together, and they part.

Something Wicked
Dean reveals to Sam that in 1989 when John was hunting a Shtriga, he left Dean and Sam alone. When the Shtriga attacks Sam, John returns just in time to save him.

Dead Man's Blood
Following up on the death of the hunter and old friend Daniel Elkins, Sam and Dean are surprised when John arrives. He tells them about The Colt, a gun that can kill supernatural being, which he know realizes Elkins had. Together they fight the Vampires that killed Elkins, and retrieve The Colt, although John and Sam clash almost immediately and argue. After the hunt and killing the leader of the nest Luther, proving the legend, Dean insists that they continue the hunt for the demon together.

Salvation
As hunters they know start being killed, the Winchester start the hunt for the demon in earnest, following signs, that John has learned are associated with its appearance, to Salvation, Iowa. Sam has a vision concerning a young woman and her baby, suggesting she is a target of the demon. John is angry that the boys hadn't told him about Sam's visions, but Dean stands up to him.

When Meg calls she demands The Colt, killing his friend Caleb (Meg also killed Pastor Jim at the beginning of the episode) as John listens. John plans a ruse to give her a fake Colt, as Sam and Dean take the real Colt to kill the demon. Both plans go wrong, when John is captured, and the demon eludes the boys.

Devil's Trap
Sam and Dean turn to Bobby Singer for help. When Megturns up, they capture her, and manage to find out John's location. The boys rescue John, and take him to a remote cabin. It is while he is telling Dean he is proud of him that Dean gets suspicious and realises that John is possessed by the Yellow-Eyed Demon. He taunts Dean and Sam and is killing Dean when John manages to wrest control for a moment, and allow Sam to get control of the Colt. Sam however can't shoot to kill and the demon escapes. As they escape in The Impala, a demon-possessed truck driver runs over their car.

In My Time of Dying
All the Winchesters are in the hospital with Dean on a near death state like in Faith. Sam discovers John is planning on keep the pursuing for the Yellow-Eyed Demon, they argue. John promises to hold off until Dean recovers, but he actually summons the Yellow-Eyed Demon and makes a deal - his life for Dean's.

John has a final few moments with his sons. he tries to make some peace with Sam, and then reveals to Dean a secret - that he needs to save Sam, but that if he can't he will have to kill him. Moments later the deal is called in - John dies and Dean recovers.

Everybody Loves a Clown
Sam and Dean give his father a Hunter's Funeral Pyre.

All Hell Breaks Loose - Part 2
When Jake Talley (one of the special children) manages to open the Devil's Gate in Wyoming using The Colt, John escapes from Hell and helps Dean kill Azazel (the Yellow Eyed Demon that killed his wife). John then disappears with a flash of white light after Dean kills Azazel.

Long-Distance Call
A supernatural creature called the Crocotta imitates John's voice and tries to lure Dean to his death. Sam, however, catches on and saves his brother.

In The Beginning
John's background is revealed. At first, he never knew about Hunters until Mary's death several years later, but died once at the hands of Mary's father who was possessed by Azazel. Mary then makes a deal with Azazel that brings John back in exchange for Azazel being able to come into Sam's nursery in 1983.

The Song Remains the Same
John allowed the archangel Michael to use his body as a vessel in 1978, to protect his wife and sons (who traveled from the future).

My Bloody Valentine
A Cupid was behind John and Mary's union and that it was ordered by the "higher-ups". However, the angel also added that he can only bring the two lovers together; the love they feel afterwards is completely of their own volition.

As a Human
John Winchester's early years as a hunter were murky and vaguely represented in the series. However, a lot of other hunters, including veteran ones like Bobby Singer, all refer to John as a highly skilled and capable hunter, at least during his latter years as a hunter. Even after his death, a lot of hunters talk about him; Gordon considers his sons to have 'big shoes to fill' in their father's absence.

Even before as a hunter, John was well versed in firearms, battle and tactics. This was because of his tenure as a marine. His knowledge on military activities allowed him to school his own sons on how to wield and even construct firearms at an early age.

He was one of the few hunters, who at his time, knew of the existence and the location of the colt.

As a descendant of Cain and Abel, John is able to host the archangel Michael.

As a Spirit
Not much was shown about his abilities after his death, but John was able to endure Alastair's torture for almost a century, and, only having recently been freed from the tortures of hell, was able to wrestle Azazel out of his human host.

Relationships

 * John and Dean- John and Dean's relationship.
 * John and Sam - John and Sam's relationship.
 * John and Mary- John and Mary's relationship

Appearances

 * Season 1
 * Pilot
 * Phantom Traveler (Voice)
 * Home
 * Scarecrow
 * Faith (Voice)
 * Shadow
 * Something Wicked
 * Dead Man's Blood
 * Salvation
 * Devil's Trap


 * Season 2
 * In My Time of Dying
 * Everybody Loves a Clown (Corpse)
 * All Hell Breaks Loose - Part 2 (Non-speaking)


 * Season 3
 * Long-Distance Call (Voice only)


 * Season 4
 * In The Beginning (Younger self)


 * Season 5
 * The Song Remains the Same (Younger self)
 * Swan Song (Flashback only of younger self)


 * Season 6
 * Exile on Main Street (Flasback only of younger self)


 * Season 8
 * As Time Goes By

Trivia

 * Rather ironically John's name means "Graced by Yahweh (God)".
 * John drove a 1983 GMC Sierra. It had a closed console which had a high-tech box to house his weapons.
 * John is a veteran of the Vietnam war.
 * Because of his military life, it can be assumed that he used that same mindset to train his sons in the hunter lifestyle.
 * According to Bobby Singer, the last time he had seen John, he had threatened to shoot him for some offense.
 * John never visited Mary's grave site.
 * Even though his wife had many family members, John never had relations with them after her death.
 * Though John had a much younger son by another relationship, he never told Adam the truth about his family instead preferring to do regular father-and-son activities.
 * John served as the basis for Season 5's story with Lucifer and God. As Gabriel explains, Sam is remniscient of Lucifer, as he rarely sees his father and disapproves of him, whereas Dean is loyal to a father he never sees, much like Michael. Sam and John's relationship was remniscient of Lucifer and God.
 * Season seven is the only season where John has not appeared in some form or another. He was reported to make an appearance in the Season 7 finale, but this turned out to be an April Fool's joke.
 * John Winchester has been in three worlds, Earth, Hell and Heaven, chronologically.
 * John has been killed twice. Both times he was killed by the demon Azazel. Once in 1973 and the other in 2006.
 * Between "In My Time of Dying," and "All Hell Breaks Loose - Part 1," John is in Hell for the whole season. This means that he could possibly have been in there for decades, similar to Dean. Alastair estimates this is as "close to a century".