Killing Jo Off Was Supernatural's Dumbest Missed Opportunity
This character could have added more depth to the show's drama.
Supernatural introduced a myriad of storylines that both thrilled and infuriated fans. Some of those arcs divided the fandom, leading to heated debates about the writers' decisions.
Often, the heart of these controversies lay in the characters' fates. From Charlie Bradbury and Crowley to Castiel, Dean, and Sam: while some believe these characters were given satisfying and logical conclusions, others feel their narratives could have been handled much better. A notable example is Jo Harvelle, who many fans believe could have been a far more captivating character.
Portrayed by Alona Tal, Jo was anything but a lacklustre presence. She enriched the narratives of the Winchester brothers and the broader Supernatural universe. The assertive and sardonic budding hunter was swiftly thrust into the horrifying truths of her world, unravelling the details of her father's death and finding herself amidst the showdown with Lucifer.
In Season 5, Jo and her mother, Ellen (played by Samantha Ferris), met their end battling the Hellhounds, marking the culmination of her arc. Two seasons later, Jo resurfaced as a spirit appearing to Dean. After this, the writers seemed to set her character aside for good.
It's worth noting that during Jo's tenure on the show, she had her share of detractors within the fandom, making her death less impactful for some.
'People would post extensively about how much Jo or Bela sucked, with plenty of insults or "flaming" about how those characters were ruining the show,' a fan noted.
However, current sentiment doesn't mirror those past views. Many fans expressed disappointment when after Eric Kripke stepped down as showrunner, the subsequent leadership chose to forgo many intriguing story arcs without introducing compelling replacements.
Jo's character held immense potential, which unfortunately went untapped. Kripke had initially conceived her as Sam and Dean's half-sister. This twist would have granted Jo and the Winchester brothers additional opportunities for growth and interaction (beyond Dean hitting on her).
'Jo, as John's bastard daughter, would essentially take on Adam's role in the story. Imagine her getting resurrected after her horrific death, being completely disillusioned with Sam and Dean, and saying yes to Michael out of pure desperation. It would be such a tragic twist,' another fan mused. Now that would definitely have been a most compelling alternate universe!