Seattle is a city full of memories – some of them wonderful, some of them not, and some of them bittersweet. As I flew into the city, I was thinking of my friend Krista, who we lost not long ago. I spent one of the most fun days ever with her and a group of other Supernatural fan friends in Seattle. Krista was our unofficial tour guide, taking us to the original Starbucks and demonstrating how to navigate the fish markets with her trademark finesse and sense of humor. And then we all returned to the con to indulge our mutual love of Supernatural.
Beautiful memories…but I miss her.
Some of my other really fun times in this city have been with my friend Alicia, who picked me up from the airport like old times. We hadn’t seen each other in WAY too long. We had lovely coffee and catch up chat time on another Starbucks patio, reminiscing about some of the best days of my life – the ones we spent on the Supernatural set, driving across the border after a con here in Seattle to spend the day sitting behind Bob Singer or Phil Sgriccia or whoever was directing, watching the boys film our favorite show and overcome with gratitude.
Again, beautiful memories…but I miss my friend and I miss my Show.
Then of course there was that memorable Supernatural con in Seattle that got cancelled after half a day by an unexpected snowstorm. Snowpocalypse made for an interesting Friday afternoon, especially because I also was coming down with a terrible cold. I was lucky to escape on one of the few flights that got out, back to the East coast but sad about missing the con.
This time went a lot more smoothly. (There were penguins to remind those of us who’d experienced it of Snowpocalypse though).
I caught some karaoke on Friday night, with some of my favorite people – Matt Cohen, Osric Chau, Adam Fergus, Julian Richings, Alaina Huffman and of course DJ Qualls.
It was like karaoke in the old days, with Adam Fergus dancing on chairs in the audience.
I missed most of the panels on Saturday since I was on my own in the vendor room, but this con was fresh off the series finale of Walker and Jared’s candid comments about the disappointing state of the network that was Supernatural’s home for so long, the CW. Matt Cohen talked about how important those comments were in his panel.
Matt: From his position of success, it’s very important for a guy like him to use his voice and reflect exactly what’s going on in the industry.
He said that so many in their industry are in a crisis of not working, there’s the threat of AI, etc.
Matt: I want you to look up what Jared said and support our guy.
I love how they all support each other, then and now and always.
I did make sure to catch Misha Collins’ panel on Saturday – it’s one I never miss.
Misha had some memories of Seattle too, including the GISH French maid world record attempt with tons of people packed into a sweltering gym.
Misha: Eventually seven ambulances came because French maids were passing out, but people still held hands to break the record!
(Despite this, most of us who did GISH regularly still miss it lol!)
Misha has been quite active in politics recently, and said he’d just realized the debate tactic recently used (overwhelming with lies) is called “Gish gallop”!
He brought on stage a student who had selected him to interview as someone from Washington who’s had a positive impact for a school project – good job, Addy!
Someone asked what he was interested in at school.
Misha: I was a bit shy. I was always the new kid at school, so I would observe people a lot.
He said he was always getting hurt or injured on his birthday for some reason.
Misha: Shit, it’s about to be my 50th, I’d better be careful!
Misha really enjoyed his time on Gotham Knights, but he said that his Two Face makeup took about four hours to put on.
Misha: It was like the best Halloween costume ever!
He also enjoyed scaring people with it.
There were some truly random questions. What would Castiel be at a circus?
Misha: Sam and Dean could saw him in half – for real – and then he’d be okay because he’s immortal…
There was mention of the naked and covered in bees Cas as a nice offscreen Cas moment.
Misha: I was recently at a spa in Scandinavia and people were covering themselves in honey before sitting in the sauna and I thought, that’s kinda my thing…
A fan asked him what was the best Destiel moment and Misha said his farewell scene.
Fan: That’s the worst Destiel moment!
Misha: I keep getting these questions wrong. I would ask you what your favorite is but I keep getting into trouble…
On a serious note, Misha talked about what he values about the SPNFamily – that people accept differences and take care of one another.
Misha: And have a general ethos of kindness. It’s also a force to be reckoned with, I mean you people crash websites. I think that functions as a seed in the world that can grow into a tree and expand, and serve as a microcosm of what a fully functioning compassionate society can look like.
That’s what he wrote about in his chapter in Family Don’t End With Blood too – I always feel a bit warm and fuzzy when I read his chapter.
That is unfortunately not always what fandom is about, and I wish people would listen to Misha’s vision of what fandom can be instead of engaging in all sorts of infighting. That positive part of fandom is still there though, and it’s every bit as inspiring as he describes it.
I also caught most of Mark Sheppard’s panel – I know I keep saying this, but it’s just so good to have him back at the cons and to have him back from the verge of death from the heart attacks he had!
Mark: It’s a pretty extraordinary thing to be on the receiving end of so much love.
His chapter in Family Don’t End With Blood, much like Misha’s, is also a heartfelt testament to all the very good parts of the SPN fandom.
Mark: It feels so good to look around and see people be good to each other.
We did get one of my favorite Mark retorts when a fan asked a hypothetical question.
Mark: Write your own fan fiction!
Mark said that the demon Dean scenes that he did with Jensen were one of his favorite things on the show.
Mark: I wish it had been a few episodes longer.
Everyone: Us too!
On playing the bad guy: Crowley is the good guy! The Winchesters have killed way more people!
Per usual, Mark didn’t stay onstage. He likes to roam around the entire ballroom, stopping to chat when he finds someone who interests him and taking questions from the line too.
Someone gave him a hellhound stuffy and then he carried that around with him too.
Mark said that the way that “Not Moose” for Dean came to be was he looked down at the phone he’s holding on set and it said “Not Moose” and he thought that was the funniest thing he’d ever seen.
And of course it stuck!
Mark liked that they hung onto not showing Crowley’s eyes changing for years.
Mark: He could’ve been an angel…
I caught a tiny bit of DJ Qualls and Adam Fergus onstage too.
DJ: I’m bad at catching things…. Shut up! Lol
Adam insisted he can’t sing.
DJ: Yes you can!
Adam talked about filming at Pride parades for the movie ‘Being Erica’ and how much fun it was. (It was Pride week in Seattle during the con)
DJ: The first Pride was a riot (Truth)
DJ and Adam are a great duo – it’s always fun when that happens, that two actors who never even worked together on the show (I don’t think) end up having great panel energy.
Dinner with friends and then it was Saturday Night Special time!
Kim Rhodes and Briana Buckmaster both joined the fun.
Jason Manns joined Rob for beautiful harmony on Hallelujah and the audience sang the chorus, which always makes them very happy.
Mark Sheppard once again came out to play drums for a few songs, which is awesome.
Richard Speight Jr. played one of his new songs, which was a treat.
Rob thanked the fandom for helping to save his life. He had a stroke at a convention years ago and it was touch and go – the chapter he wrote for Family Don’t End With Blood takes you moment by moment through that night and how he was able to get through it. I hold my breath from sentence to sentence every time I read it.
Rob: It’s Pride Week, let’s celebrate who you are!
They closed with “This Is How” and “With A Little Help From My Friends” which is certainly true for this bunch of people.
And then it was Sunday – and it was a J2 Sunday!!!!
I was SO excited to have Jared Padalecki there with Jensen Ackles – the two of them together make it really feel like a Supernatural convention. I miss Sam and Dean so much, so having those two onstage together just feels so right. And let’s face it, they are also extremely entertaining!
I was lucky to have a meet and greet with Jared at this convention, and it was the highlight of the con. We can’t share any details, but the questions were insightful and Jared’s answers even more insightful. Both Jared and all of us were still dealing with the cancellation of Walker and the demise of the network that supported that show and Supernatural for so long, and it was therapeutic to be able to both be supportive and feel validated in return. Jared is such a great role model for the importance of feeling your emotions and expressing them – that’s the only way you ever experience any support and validation. What good guys these actors are, genuinely. I feel so lucky that this is the show that I fell in love with, in spite of the fact that sometimes being in online fandom can be infuriating. (Being online in general really, right? But it’s also a wonderful opportunity for community).
He might also have told a hilarious story about something I did and an interaction we had that has nothing to do with the con and I might have said NOOOOOO don’t tell them, but then was laughing as much as everyone else.
Anyway…
A fan greeted Jensen with “hi, Eric Brady!”
Jensen: STOP, you’re aging us both!
Jensen talked about recording Blondie’s ‘Rapture’ as Soldier Boy, standing there with the headphones on and singing, and then taking them off and saying to director Phil Sgriccia, “what are we DOING?”
Jensen: I could see him laughing and he’s just like, do it again, do it more, it’s so good!
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1807476839889416605
Always trust Uncle Phil.
Jared talked about the conversations he’s had with Eric Kripke about joining The Boys, which I am VERY excited about!!
Jared: It’s not like with Jensen, I’m not signed on, but he was like, I’m gonna write something and when it’s right for you, I’ll tell ya.
Apparently his mom has already said oh you’re gonna be on The Boys? Don’t get naked!
Jensen: I told my parents, you might wanna skip this one.
Jared: I told my parents to watch it, I said Jensen says you’re gonna love it, mom!
(The Soldier Boy scenes, that is, lol)
They have so much fun teasing each other.
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1807477550203154929
At one point they attempted dating advice in addition to “wrap it” lol.
But they also talked more seriously about treating the people you date with respect.
Also I could seriously just watch and listen to them banter forever. Like perhaps literally.
They both talked about how awkward it is to film love scenes, with Jensen then grabbing the mic stand as a boom to demonstrate the crew guys hovering over you while you’re doing one lol.
So romantic…
Like so many of the Supernatural actors, Jared and Jensen always have an uplifting message for the fandom. (They both wrote inspiring and very personal chapters in Family Don’t End With Blood).
Jared: Everyone here is who they’re supposed to be.
There was a question about Gilmore Girls.
Jared: Real Dean.
Jensen: Baby Dean.
Point.
They also both talked about filming scenes where they were buried alive, Jensen for Supernatural and Jared for Walker – buried in Oreos actually.
Jensen: I didn’t have any ear plugs. And as soon as the dirt hit, your reaction is to turn your face. I was digging Oreo out of my ear for a week.
Jared: In Season 10 he’s like oh look there’s some right here…oh hey look, there’s some there right now!
Jensen: It forever changed my relationship with that cookie.
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1807483619465916558
Jared: (on when he had to be buried in Oreos) I had talked to Jensen, so I had earplugs, wax in my ears on purpose, and on my nose. I wasn’t in a box, they dug a hole in the ground and they buried me…I’m not claustrophobic.
Jensen: Which is good, because we got put into some serious situations!
Jared: For me (on Walker) they had crushed up Oreos, granola and pretzel sticks because it was in the woods. They were like do you want a straw but I said no, I’d been working for weeks on my breath holding with youtube videos and I’d gotten to the point in my pool in my backyard where I could float for 2 minutes.
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1807483808536793510
What these guys go through for TV!
I love the way when they leave, one of them has always got a supportive hand on the other, like good job, partner.
I caught some of the Ruth Connell and Mark Sheppard panel, two of my favorite people – both of whom have heartfelt and insightful chapters in Family Don’t End With Blood .
Mark and Ruth talked about how a Supernatural convention is somewhere everyone can feel safe.
Mark said the cons also make them feel like their job means something.
Mark genuinely identifies as a fan himself and loves fandom.
Mark: I don’t trust people who aren’t fans.
Ruth: Isn’t it wonderful to do something just for the enjoyment of it? (YES)
Someone asked Ruth if she believed in witchcraft or energy?
Ruth: How do you think I got the job?
We got a little loving Rob and Ruth moment too – look at those smiles on the new parents!
Sunday also had a Jim Beaver panel – I’m so glad to have him back at cons too, especially because I also love him on ‘The Boys’.
Jim to Rob: Nice to see you…with your clothes on!
(The Boys episode with Rob as guest star had just aired, which meant we had all just seen Rob in the human centipede scene as Splinter…uhhh…eating his own ass? Poor Rob).
Jim: I’m the clothed member of The Boys.
It’s true. So far anyway.
(Jim Beaver has a great chapter in the new book Supes Ain’t Always Heroes, all about his portrayal of Robert Singer once again, this time on The Boys. He also has an amusing chapter in Family Don’t End With Blood and is a great writer!).
I loved Jim’s shirt at this con – he also wore all the bracelets that fans had given him. Great look!
I have no recollection of what this was in response to, but at one point Jim said “Jared is a very clean young man” and then added, “wait…define clean…”
Lol
He had some lovely things to say about Supernatural, which I never get tired of hearing.
Jim: I took away from Supernatural deep friendships with the cast and the crew, and to do these things (cons). I got to do the best show ever for that.
On Bobby’s time in the wheelchair:
Jim: It was important to me to honor that I could get up from the wheelchair between takes. I didn’t want Bobby to be “inspirational” in the way disabled people are used.
I love how thoughtful Jim – and the rest of the cast – were about the show and their characters and the messages being sent.
He also said he had a real learning experience on the set in a wheelchair trying to get over all the cables that are always all over the floor.
Jim did a little reminiscing about Bobby’s car too – apparently Bobby’s Chevelle had a problem starting, especially right after they called ‘action’. Oops.
And then it was time for the J2 panel! Jared and Jensen leapt onstage along with Rob (after some secret shared joking around to set the tone)
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1807555398079308216
Jared immediately noted the fan – Jensen pointed it at him.
Jared: I’m running hot…
Jensen: Yeah you are, big guy!
These two, seriously.
They both looked outrageously gorgeous. Jared said he’s embracing his mountain man hair era, which I am SO here for. Jensen said he misses his short hair, which NOPE. I’m totally with Danneel on this one, as I’ve told her. Sorry, Jensen.
Jensen said that the person who did his hair on Tracker did hair on Supernatural too! He’s not sure yet what Mark Meachum’s hair will be like on Countdown. Stay tuned!
There was so much laughter in this panel, and it’s contagious. My face hurt. Not complaining.
I can’t remember what this actual question was, but Jared said he’d like Sam to be in a squirrel suit.
Jensen: I might have to double up on the squirrel suit. But wouldn’t yours be a moose suit?
On a more serious note, they talked about how they deal with people’s input or judgment.
Jared: I think it’s good and bad. I don’t wanna change who I am based on what other people see me as or judge me for. But I also don’t want to be oblivious. If ten people come up to me and say I’m being a jerk, I wanna ask, hey am I being a jerk? Or if someone says that was nice what you did, cool I thought it was nice, I’ll do more of that.
Jensen: Better to be self aware than unaware.
That right there is why they’re unusual in terms of celebrities and have remained a little less affected and a little more grounded, I think.
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1807559135065751960
They were definitely on the same wavelength for this panel. Jared started to tell a story about Shep, and Jensen immediately started laughing.
Jensen was eager to show off his “Best Dad” bracelet aww.
Amusing moment – a fan came to the mic and said “my mom loved you, Jared. She liked them tall.”
Jared: Thanks.
Jensen: I’m not short!!
Lol
They spent some time reminiscing about Supernatural, and it never fails to make them smile like this.
And me to smile the same.
Jared gave a great answer about how he uses the physicality of his characters to show who they are, like how expressive they are with their hands.
It’s something I really noticed with Walker, and something that both Jared and Jensen did so much with Supernatural – all those little non verbals that told you so much about their characters.
They both look back fondly on the stunts they did themselves on the show, laughing that they never took the knee and elbow pads for stunts.
Jared and Jensen will never get tired of talking about how much they loved filming ‘Baby’.
Jensen: It was like we were really Sam and Dean in that moment. There was no crew around, no makeup, hair, wardrobe, no sound, electric, grips, camera. It was just he and I in a car with two cameras strapped to it, Jared’s dealing with the sound machine, I’m putting the slate up, and then it was like, let’s go. We’d put the car in gear and head down the road, a scene with just he and I. Meanwhile the whole crew is back at base camp going I hope this works out…
Jared: I hope they come back…
Jensen: They’re like, we can’t even trust these guys to drive from … one time we were driving…
You get the feeling the two of them could just reminisce about being Sam and Dean forever. And honestly? I would pay good money for that!!
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1807564767739150797
Even when they were filming, they used to watch the show – they genuinely were fans of the show they were also making, which I think contributed to how long Supernatural aired.
Jensen: Jared and I used to run back to our trailer and watch the show. There was some amazing post production with Styx’ Renegade, or Death’s entrance.
Truth.
They also reminisced about that time they switched Sam and Dean’s lines, much to director Bob Singer’s chagrin.
Jensen: Bob’s like ah great, what? And Jared goes, we’re gonna read this scene for you, tell us what you think, and he’s like uh all right. So we read the scene where I’m reading all Sam’s lines and he’s reading all Dean’s lines and Bob doesn’t have the script in front of him, he’s just listening to us play it out. And we finish the scene and he’s like yeah, that’s great, what’s the problem? And I’m like, I just read all of Sam’s lines and he just read all of Dean’s. And he’s like, what? He looks at the script and then he’s like, well just do that! So not necessarily improv but definitely a curveball.
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1807566877574795390
They’ve both talked about how hard it was at times being away from friends and family and kids, though. Jared talked about the difficulty of leaving their kids and family to go to work, and how he and Jensen were there for each other and got each other through it.
That creates a bond that’s not easily broken, which I think explains why these panels are still as happy making as they are – these two are brothers, for real.
The last question fan totally had her wits about her and took some photos with Jared and Jensen once her question was answered.
We got a little glimpse of director Jensen as he pointed Jared to go one way and went the other himself to sign the banners (he does this every time, and for me it’s a beloved little part of all the traditions they have for their joint panels).
Jared and Jensen shared the traditional fist bump and thanked the fans, and that was the end of an awesome panel!
It was also the end of an awesome con – Richard Speight, Jr. joined Rob Benedict and Louden Swain to sing (the also traditional) “It’s The End Of The Con As We Know It” song.
Thanks, Seattle, you really came through this time!
–Lynn
You can read all about how special Supernatural
is to both the actors and the fans in the books with
chapters by both – info at:
‘a little less affected and a little more grounded ‘. Ouch.
I do think they’re more grounded than many who’re impacted by celebrity, maybe by not living in LA all this time.