10 Harsh Realities of Being a Hunter in the Supernatural Universe

Hunters are the lifeblood of The CW’s Supernatural. Sam and Dean follow their parents’ lead in assuming control of the family business — saving people, hunting things. There is no doubt that hunting is a fulfilling and admirable job. Rescuing children from the monsters in their closet, banishing demons back to Hell and putting a stop to the latest apocalypse all contribute to making the world a better place.

Without Sam and Dean, or hunters the everyday folks that live in the Supernatural universe would surely be doomed. However, hunting isn’t all rainbows and sunshine. Hunters face a life of long nights, unstable living conditions and uncertain futures with virtually no monetary compensation. The path of the hunter is hard, and sometimes, the monsters win.

10 Hunters Are in it For Life in Supernatural

There's No Retirement Plan for Sam and Dean

In Supernatural, it’s not always a family business for all hunters, but it is a lifelong commitment. For Sam and Dean specifically, their parents tried to leave hunting behind and give their boys a chance to live relatively normal lives. Things did not work out that way. When one enters the realm of monsters, ghosts and demons, there is no turning back. Mary Campbell came from a long line of hunters, and John Winchester’s descendants were Men of Letters, a secret occult organization tasked with gathering and maintaining intel on the horrors of the world.

Look no further than the fate of Sam and Dean’s parents when trying to decide if leaving the hunt ever truly works out. When the yellow-eyed demon Azazel enters Sam’s room in the first episode of Supernatural, it is after Mary decides to try and lead a normal life. Even though she knew Azazel would come one day, as he said he would many years before, Mary hoped that she was out. After Mary’s death, John hunts Azazel and ultimately loses his own life in the line of duty. As viewers saw in the Supernatural series finale, Sam and Dean hunted until their last days.

9 Becoming a Monster is a Real Possibility in Supernatural

Demon Dean is but One Example of a Hunter Going Dark

One of the many risks for hunters is becoming the things they’ve been tasked with killing. Concerning monsters such as vampires in Supernatural, all it takes is a single bite during an investigation for things to turn grim. Such is the case of hunter Gordon Walker, who specialized in hunting vampires. A vampire attacked Gordon’s family when he was a teenager, and he dedicated his life to hunting them from that day forward.

While Dean is more accomplished than the standard hunter, even he is not immune to falling victim to the Mark of Cain. After Dean is killed by Metatron, he is revived by the Mark and turned into a demon, more specifically, a Knight of Hell. Under the Mark’s influence, Dean is prone to violent outbursts and murders those he would normally take pity on. One such example of Dean displaying a level of unjustified violence is when he attacks and kills Clair Novak’s abusive guardians.

8 Hunters Can Take No Solace in the Afterlife in Supernatural

Heaven and Hell Present Their Own Unique Problems

While hunting is not a lucrative position in the world of Supernatural, if the fruits of all a hunter’s good deeds resulted in eternal peace in Heaven, perhaps their efforts would ultimately be worth it. While Jack did sort out Heaven at the end of the series, most of the show sees the pearly gates in turmoil. Angels are more interested in jump-starting the apocalypse, with many of them being jealous of humans. The nature of Heaven itself is problematic early on, as everyone is just reliving their best memories. It’s an illusion of happiness stuck inside the reruns of life.

While Heaven has its issues, it is much better than the alternative. The issue is that even hunters who spend their lives saving people can still end up in Hell. When Bobby dies, he is supposed to go to heaven. However, a reap under the orders of Crowley takes him to hell instead. The requirements for Heaven or Hell are much less merit-based for hunters, where they spend their eternity is more reliant on politics and relationships. In contrast to Heaven, in Hell, hunters are subject to endless torture and forced to relive the worst moments of their lives.

7 There Are Always More Monsters Out There In Supernatural

Sometimes Killing Them Makes Things Worse

There is no shortage of monsters to handle in Supernatural, and that is part of the problem. While every kill counts, as soon as that nest of vampires is slain, another one pops up in the next town. It’s easy for a lone hunter to become overwhelmed. Sam and Dean themselves have had issues dealing with the myriad of monsters they encounter, as seen when the Devil’s Gate is opened during the Season 2 finale. Many of the creatures are intelligent and can hold a grudge if one escapes. Before she becomes a tentative ally, the demon Ruby targets the Winchesters for revenge several times in the first two seasons.

As if their sheer numbers weren’t enough to cause concern, sometimes actually killing them intensifies the issue. Such is the case when Sam kills Lilith in Season 3. While on its face, it seems like a good idea, as Lilith is one of the most powerful demons in existence. Unfortunately, Lilith is the final piece in Lucifer’s puzzle. As Sam kills Lilith, he unknowingly completes the final seal, starting the apocalypse. This is but one instance of killing a monster that has unforeseen consequences.

6 Being a Hunter is a Thankless Job In Supernatural

Your Legacy Will Be Known by Few, if Any

Outside the specific individuals they save, the deeds of hunters go widely unnoticed. Sam and Dean have saved the world several times over, and the public at large has no idea. There are even books written by Chuck about their deeds that are widely consumed, yet no one ever recognizes them. Even a large organization such as the Men of Letters, who dedicated their lives to protecting the public, was ultimately wiped out and forgotten.

While the British Men of Letters remained in operation until modern times, they were also completely unknown to Sam and Dean until they revealed themselves. Many hunters are destined to die alone, with their brethren being the only ones aware of their impact. Many become obsessed with the job, letting it consume them, making their demise even more likely. This can be seen with hunter Martin Creaser, as he’s become mentally unstable over the years and lets his hunt for the vampire Benny cloud his judgment.

5 Sam and Dean Live on the Road in Supernatural

Their Life Consists of Shady Hotels and Gas Station Cuisine

To say that hunting doesn’t pay well would be an understatement. It doesn’t pay at all. In Supernatural, Sam and Dean are forced to concoct all sorts of credit card and identity scams to finance themselves. Their prized possession is the black 1967 Chevy Impala that acts as Sam and Dean’s base of operation throughout most of the show. Other hunters seem to do a bit better for themselves. For instance, Bobby operates Singer Salvage Yard, which is how he brings in some income while maintaining a cover for his hunting operations.

Before Sam and Dean discover the Men of Letters bunker and make it their permanent home, they’re relegated to staying in shady hotel rooms. While Sam does attempt to maintain a relatively healthy lifestyle despite their circumstances, most of their meals come from gas station snack runs and greasy diner burgers. This becomes even more problematic in Season 7 when the Leviathans poison the food supply by introducing an additive that makes the consumer lethargic and easier to control.

4 Innocent People are Bound to Die in Supernatural

Sam and Dean Can Only Do So Much

The cruel truth in Supernatural is that there are too many monsters and not enough hunters to go around. Despite the best efforts of Sam, Dean and their hunter brethren, many innocents will die. Jessica Moore is killed in the first episode of Supernatural to bring Sam back into the fold. Hunters can’t be in two places at once; many of their clues to recent cases are murders that have already happened.

Sometimes it can take Sam and Dean a while to determine the monstrous culprit behind the killings they’re investigating. For example, in the first season, the Winchesters go to look into a case involving the death of a couple in Indiana. The couple is sacrificed by the town to a pagan God of the harvest. Before Sam and Dean can discover this, several more people are sacrificed.

3 Friends Become Enemies in Supernatural

Castiel and Others Lose Their Way At Times

Throughout their hunting adventures, Sam and Dean befriend a wide array of human and non-human individuals. With many unseen forces exerting their influence behind the scenes, it’s hard for many to maintain a consistent reading of right and wrong. Not everyone agrees on the best way to proceed with every problem, and sometimes this can cause conflicts between the Winchesters and their friends. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions, and just because one is attempting to ultimately do good, that doesn’t mean that will be the result.

With Castiel, he wants to open the gates to Purgatory to absorb the souls there to help him defeat the Archangel Raphael. There’s no doubt that Raphael needs to be stopped, but Castiel’s plan leads to his own corruption. He becomes drunk with power and is manipulated by the Leviathans he also absorbed. Sam and Dean have complicated relationships with multiple characters throughout Supernatural, including the demon Ruby and the witch Rowena. Both Ruby and Rowen appear as allies before shifting into enemies several times throughout the storyline.

2 Sam and Dean's Friends Often Die

No One is Safe in Supernatural

The Winchesters had good reason for keeping others at a distance. For Sam and Dean, getting close to others usually results in their untimely death, and it’s typically not pleasant. After losing their parents, Sam and Dean look to Bobby Singer as their role model and adopted father figure. Despite Bobby’s own experience as a hunter, he is killed by the Leviathan leader Dick Roman in Season 7. It’s no shock that many of their closest friends are hunters, and inherent danger comes with the job.

Kevin Tran was just a kid studying for his college acceptance exams when he was chosen to be a prophet. Kevin’s abilities as a prophet make him a valuable asset, which is why Sam and Dean initially seek him out. Over time, they grow to befriend Kevin, and he becomes an important part of their fight against the angels and demons. Even though Kevin was safe in their Men of Letters bunker, he was killed by the angel Gadreel while he was possessing Sam under orders from Metatron.

1 Falling in Love is Dangerous For Sam and Dean

Romantic Relationships End in Horror in Supernatural

Throughout Supernatural, Sam and Dean avoid emotional attachments and romance because of the nature of hunters. On rare occasions, the Winchesters opened themselves up to the possibility of love. Dean first encounters Lisa Braeden, portrayed by actress Cindy Sampson, on-screen in season 3 of Supernatural. It’s revealed that Lisa and Dean had a weekend together several years before the show’s timeline. Lisa has a son named Ben, with whom Dean forms a close relationship. When Sam jumps into Lucifer’s cage to end the apocalypse, Dean returns to Lisa and Ben to lead a normal life. Happy endings are not common for the Winchesters, however, and Dean ultimately has Castiel erase Lisa and Ben’s memories of him so they can remain safe.

Similar to Dean attempting to be normal in Sam’s absence, Sam does the same when Dean enters purgatory. Sam leaves the hunting life behind. He eventually falls for a veterinarian named Amelia Richardson, perhaps one of the most controversial characters in the Supernatural universe. Amelia and Sam form a relationship, but it is born out of grief for both characters — Sam for his brother Dean, and Amelia for her husband, who is assumed to be dead. When Dean returns, their illusion of normalcy is shattered, and Amelia’s husband turns out to be alive. They ultimately went their separate ways until Amelia’s death in Season 7.