Jensen Ackles’ Top 10 Performances as Dean Winchester on Supernatural

Jensen Ackles’ role as Dean Winchester was undeniably one of the best parts of Supernatural, but these 10 performances by Ackles throughout Supernatural’s 15 seasons are his best overall. Supernatural ended five years ago, but the show continues to be incredibly popular, and the cast remains beloved—especially Ackles and Jared Padalecki.

In fact, even with the Supernatural ending seemingly putting a definitive end to Sam and Dean’s story, there are calls for a Supernatural reboot comprising the original cast. While it remains to be seen whether such a revival could or would ever happen, fans can revisit these 10 episodes of Supernatural that represent Jensen Ackles’ best performances as Dean Winchester.

All Hell Breaks Loose Part 1

Both Sam and Dean died several times in Supernatural, although the number of times Dean died far outweighs how many deaths Sam racked up. Even so, Sam’s first death in the show in season 2, episode 21, “All Hell Breaks Loose Part 1,” is perhaps one of the saddest in the entire show.

Dean witnesses this death firsthand, walking towards Sam as Jake runs up and stabs him in the back. Although Dean rushes to catch Sam before he falls and assures Sam he will be okay, Sam devastatingly dies in his arms. Jensen Ackles’ performance in this episode is absolutely heartbreaking, and he really captures what Dean felt at the time.

This was certainly no easy feat, as this would have been the most devastating moment Dean had experienced up to that point in the show, and given Sam meant everything to Dean, the emotions demanded for this scene would have been high. Yet, Ackles’ depiction was perfect, and this remains one of the most affecting scenes of the show.

Changing Channels

Supernatural season 5, episode 8, “Changing Channels,” is considered one of the masterpiece episodes of Supernatural, which is notable in light of how different it is tonally from much of the show. One of several ‘trickster episodes,’ “Changing Channels” sees Sam and Dean subjected to a series of odd scenarios within TV shows.

What makes this an especially commendable performance is the fact that Supernatural was not billed as a comedy—far from it—and the auditioning process therefore wouldn’t have required the ability to pull off an episode like “Changing Channels.” Yet, Ackles (and Padalecki) proved to be absolutely hilarious in this episode and several others.

This just goes to show what a brilliant actor Ackles is, as he can obviously manage the emotional demands of Supernatural but can also tap into his comedic side.

Yellow Fever

Yet another massively popular episode of Supernatural is season 4, episode 6, “Yellow Fever.” This is another humorous episode, in which Dean is in danger of quite literally being scared to death because of a ‘ghost sickness’ he’s contracted. What ensues is Dean becoming terrified of everyday things, like a Yorkshire Terrier puppy.

This is also the iconic episode in which Dean performs “Eye of the Tiger,” which has become one of the best-known moments in the show and, unexpectedly, is one of Ackles’ best performances in Supernatural, simply because of how hilarious it is.

Soul Survivor

Sam and Dean underwent many changes throughout Supernatural, with both serving as vessels for archangels at different times, being cursed or haunted (such as in “Yellow Fever”), and each battling with nearly crossing over into becoming demons themselves. For Dean, this came about with his Mark of Cain arc.

Once again, Jensen Ackles proved how versatile and impressive his acting skills are, as he easily transitioned from the beloved hero of the show to essentially a demon himself. Unsurprisingly, given how successfully he had portrayed Dean for years at that point, his performance was convincing and downright chilling.

No Rest For The Wicked

Like Sam’s death in “All Hell Breaks Loose Part 1,” Dean’s death in season 3, episode 16, “No Rest for the Wicked,” is perhaps his most devastating death prior to the Supernatural finale. In the episode, Dean must finally answer for the demon deal he made to revive Sam, and he is brutally torn apart by Hellhounds.

Death scenes are known for being challenging in general, as a death can be difficult to portray realistically and therefore runs the risk of coming across as cartoonish or exaggerated. Yet, that was far from the case with this death of Dean. Instead, the scene was emotional, authentic, and thoroughly gutting, making it one of Ackles’ best Supernatural performances.

Despair

There are many devastating moments in Supernatural, but one of the most crushing of them overall is Castiel being taken by the Empty in front of Dean in season 15, episode 18, “Despair.” Although the finale would eventually reveal that Jack had once again saved Castiel from his fate, Dean didn’t know that at the time.

Instead, he believes his beloved friend has been lost forever, taken right in front of him just after Castiel told Dean that he loved him. This was yet another moment in which Ackles had to convey deep and painful emotions, and he once again executed it brilliantly.

In fact, this scene is (heart-wrenchingly) well-known and lauded by audiences because of how convincing Ackles’ performance is, especially when he lets out a little sob as he’s collapsed on the floor and holding his head in his hands.

In My Time Of Dying

Although Supernatural season 2, episode 1, “In My Time of Dying,” ended up being one of several times Dean cheated death, he came dangerously close to being taken by a reaper in one of the most compelling episodes of the show. Following the jarring car accident that concluded season 1, Dean was on death’s door in the hospital.

While Dean initially believes he has met another soul toeing the line between life and death in the hospital, it turns out she is actually a reaper named Tessa who is attempting to help Dean accept it is his time to go. Jensen Ackles’ portrayal of this emotionally heavy, nuanced plot is in part what makes it work so well.

Dean’s desperation to escape this fate is tangible throughout the episode, and when the episode concludes with John Winchester’s shocking death, Dean’s grief is just as easily felt by viewers, yet again reflecting Ackles’ acting skills.

Carry On

Although the Supernatural finale proved to be controversial for a host of reasons—not the least of which was Dean’s death, particularly the way in which he died—Ackles’ performance in this final episode was nothing short of excellent. Dean had countless deaths throughout the show, which made it especially difficult for his final death to feel unique.

Yet, this death not only felt raw and real but also was in a league of its own in terms of what Ackles brought to this fan-favorite character’s final moments. While many may still be wishing that Supernatural’s original ending was the one the show went with, there’s no denying that Ackles’ performance in the finale was brilliant.

What Is And What Should Never Be

In season 2, episode 20, “What Is and What Should Never Be,” Dean is mentally transported to another version of his life by a Djinn. In this alternate reality, Dean’s mother never died, and he and Sam were raised normally, not as hunters.

This sounds like Dean’s perfect life, but it ends up being far from it, as he learns that he and Sam aren’t close, and he isn’t exactly thriving. The episode contains a number of hilarious Dean moments, such as his excitement over getting to mow the lawn (something he’d never done in real life because of his lifestyle and childhood).

Ackles therefore successfully depicted both moments of levity in this episode as well as more serious scenes, such as Dean’s conflicted feelings about leaving this reality to return to the real world, where his mother would be dead and his life would be entirely centered on hunting.

Swan Song

Jensen Ackles’ single best performance as Dean Winchester was in season 5, episode 22, “Swan Song,” which was Supernatural’s original ending and thus the narrative culmination of the show’s first five seasons. Because of that importance, “Swan Song” reflected one of the most important episodes and story arcs in all of Supernatural.

This episode, like many others, demanded Ackles’ ability to depict a range of emotions, many of them in response to heartbreaking events, from Castiel and Bobby’s back-to-back deaths to witnessing Sam fall into Lucifer’s cage. Dean was also beaten nearly to death by Lucifer in Sam’s body, which was no doubt a difficult scene to capture.

Yet, “Swan Song” is largely considered one of Supernatural’s best episodes, if not the single best episode of the show, for a reason, and Jensen Ackles’ incredible performance as Dean Winchester was certainly among the biggest reasons why.

Supernatural

8/10

Release Date

2005 – 2020

Showrunner

Eric Kripke

Directors

Philip Sgriccia, John F. Showalter, Kim Manners, Thomas J. Wright, Charles Beeson, Guy Norman Bee, Richard Speight Jr., Mike Rohl, John Badham, Steve Boyum, Amyn Kaderali, Jensen Ackles, Tim Andrew, Eduardo Sánchez, Jeannot Szwarc, P.J. Pesce, Nina Lopez-Corrado, James L. Conway, amanda tapping, J. Miller Tobin, Stefan Pleszczynski, John MacCarthy, Jerry Wanek, Ben Edlund

Writers

Meredith Glynn, Davy Perez, Raelle Tucker, Cathryn Humphris, Brett Matthews, Nancy Won, John Bring, Ben Acker, Daniel Knauf, David Ehrman, James Krieg, Trey Callaway