8 Years Later, This Dean Winchester Scene Still Makes Me Cry

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For nearly a decade now, I still find myself tearing up during the emotionally wrenching scene of Dean Winchester from “Regarding Dean” in the series Supernatural. Despite its focus on hunting supernatural beings and the struggle between Heaven and Hell, Supernatural has become accustomed to significant character demises. With 15 seasons and over 300 episodes under its belt, there’s no shortage of Supernatural episodes that leave fans in tears. Remarkably, the show can tug at our heartstrings even without resorting to character deaths, demonstrating its unique storytelling ability.

Though primarily known for its action-filled monster hunts, Supernatural has consistently demonstrated versatility by delving into various genres and themes, including comedy and Westerns. Actors Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, portraying Sam and Dean Winchester respectively, have delivered compelling performances that breathe life into the show’s unusual world. Particularly noteworthy is Ackles’ performance in season 12’s “Regarding Dean,” an episode featuring one of the most heart-wrenching scenes in the series, despite no character deaths. This powerful scene even holds its ground against significant moments such as Dean’s final destiny in Supernatural‘s contentious finale.

Dean Winchester’s Memory Loss Is Still So Devastating To Watch

“Watching Him Become… Not Him… This Might Actually Be Worse”

In episode 11 of season 12 titled “Regarding Dean” from the series Supernatural, we see the show at its peak. When Dean is under a witch’s spell during a hunt, he awakens with no recollection of the previous night. As Sam and Dean continue their investigation, Dean starts exhibiting symptoms of memory loss, forgetting crucial details like Lucifer’s son, their ongoing case, and an upset woman. Initially, this memory loss is used for comedic effect, as Dean humorously refers to a lamp as a “light stick.” However, the episode takes a heart-wrenching turn, offering one of Supernatural’s most emotional moments.

In this scenario, Sam finds himself in a critical predicament and reaches out to Rowena (Ruth Connell) for assistance. As they search for a solution, Dean frantically tries to recall vital details about his life, repeating: “I’m Dean Winchester, Sam is my brother, Mary Winchester is my mom, and Castiel is my best friend.” Regrettably, with each recitation, the information slips away from him, and we witness the erosion of the Dean Winchester character we have come to know. This emotional moment surpasses the impact of a typical death in a Supernatural series, as even Sam acknowledges: “I’ve witnessed my brother die, but seeing him transform into someone who is not himself… This might just be more unbearable.

Weirdly, Dean’s Memory Loss Hits Harder Than His Supernatural Death Scene

“Regarding Dean” Offered Something New And Worse Than Death

In a sense, the scene where Dean experiences memory loss packs a more poignant punch than his death scene in “Supernatural.” As Sam expresses in the episode, witnessing someone like Dean, who is known for his robust identity and unwavering confidence, gradually losing sight of himself, is heart-wrenchingly devastating. The emotional scene in “Regarding Dean” truly highlights Jensen Ackles’ acting prowess, as it consistently leaves me in tears, despite the numerous times we’ve seen Dean die on “Supernatural.” This scene’s ability to overshadow even Dean’s death, as acknowledged by Sam, demonstrates just how profoundly sad this scene is.

Ignoring individual feelings towards “Carry On,” the raw truth about the finale of Supernatural series is that, despite being an emotional event with Sam and Dean dying for the last time, its impact was somewhat lessened by past deaths. Dean was supposed to die in season 1, and Sam died in season 2. Throughout the show, the Winchesters have a pattern of dying, so the finale’s occurrences were not unprecedented but rather the end of a familiar cycle. This is why the scene where Dean loses his memory has a greater emotional impact, as it’s something that hasn’t been shown in Supernatural before, making it unexpectedly heartbreaking.

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2025-04-27 16:57