Supernatural‘s final episode chose not to reveal the mother of Sam Winchester’s son, and that tantalizing mystery is ripe for picking if season 16 ever comes to pass. As the surviving brother of Supernatural‘s ending, Sam Winchester started a family and enjoyed a long, peaceful life after the show ended. While Supernatural‘s series finale featured Sam’s son prominently, however, the idyllic flashforwards neglected to identify the boy’s mother – Sam’s wife or partner. The mystery woman appeared only as a blur in the background while Sam and his son played together.

While Sam dying as an old man initially looked like the end of his story, reviving the series for Supernatural season 16 remains a distinct possibility. The franchise seemingly has no future beyond the central duo of Sam and Dean Winchester after numerous Supernatural spinoffs failed, and the starring duo of Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki have both spoken positively about returning to their most famous roles under the right circumstances. At this point, a future Supernatural revival could be the only way viewers will ever find out who Sam ended up with.

Why The Identity Of Sam’s Partner Is Such A Big Mystery In Supernatural’s Ending

It’s Not Eileen?!

When Supernatural‘s series finale revealed that Sam Winchester had found love, Eileen Leahy was the most obvious candidate. Sam and Eileen had developed a romantic relationship across Supernatural‘s last season, and at no point was any explicit confirmation of a breakup provided. Even leading into the final run of episodes, Sam was clearly still holding a candle for Eileen, so when his mystery partner surfaced during Supernatural‘s closing flashforwards, anyone would be forgiven for assuming the female-shaped blur was Eileen.

By ruling out the obvious option of Eileen, the question mark hanging over Sam Winchester’s love life becomes even larger.

The figure shared a vague resemblance to Eileen, and the lack of guest stars due to COVID-19 could have explained why her usual actress, Shoshannah Stern, wouldn’t have been invited back. The plot thickens, however, thanks to Jared Padalecki, who has debunked the idea of Sam and Eileen getting together. Speaking to Variety, Padalecki argued, “Dean would not have wanted his little brother to marry Eileen, Ruby, someone in the [hunting] life.” The actor all but confirms the woman Sam ended up with after Supernatural was a previously unseen character, and that knowledge raises a whole new batch of questions.

How did Sam meet his new partner? How did he tell her about monsters and the supernatural? Did she put a stop to Sam’s life as a hunter? By ruling out the obvious option of Eileen, the question mark hanging over Sam Winchester’s love life becomes even larger, and the intrigue over this pivotal, yet frustratingly faceless, character intensifies.

Supernatural Season 16 Is The Only Way We’ll Get An Answer About Sam’s Partner

Sam’s Partner Is A Story No Supernatural Revival Could Ignore

While Supernatural season 16 looks destined to happen sooner or later, precisely where in the timeline it would take place is a trickier topic. Based on how the cast have aged a few years, the obvious choice for any Supernatural continuation would be picking up a few years after Dean’s death, perhaps while Sam’s son is still a toddler. In this scenario, Sam’s partner becomes impossible to avoid. Dean would almost be playing the role of the audience, demanding detailed updates on how they met, what she’s like, and whether she enjoys pie.

The Winchesters
confirmed that Dean, via heaven, can travel anywhere in the timeline.

Alternatively, Supernatural season 16 could take place closer to the show’s ending, before Sam meets the love of his life and settles down. This setup would allow the revival to actually show how Sam met his partner, rather than just having Sam recount the story to Dean. Supernatural season 16 would then be bridging the gap between Dean’s death and Sam starting a family, chronicling how Sam’s new family came to be. It’s even possible that Dean, from beyond the grave, somehow plays matchmaker and sets Sam on the path to happiness, which would add a more poignant note to Supernatural‘s ending.

Sam’s Partner Would Totally Change The Tone Of Supernatural Season 16

Supernatural Has Never Introduced A Permanent Love Interest Before

Sam and Dean’s love interests throughout Supernatural were rarely the real deal. Some got painfully cut short (Dean and Lisa), some were casual (Dean and various), and others transpired largely offscreen (Sam and Eileen). Ultimately, no romance could get in the way of Sam and Dean’s hunting, or else the entire premise of Supernatural would disintegrate. Supernatural season 16, if it happens, will be a different prospect entirely, because if Sam and Dean Winchester are forced back into the fight against evil after Sam has found a long-term partner and become a father, he immediately has far more to lose.

Dean moving in with Lisa and Ben is perhaps the closest
Supernatural
came to telling a story of this ilk during its original run.

To avoid the tired trope of a two-dimensional wife character staying at home while her husband hogs the spotlight, Sam’s partner would also need to become a character in her own right – another addition to the brothers’ long list of allies. The events covered in Supernatural season 16 could even be the way Sam’s partner first finds out about the paranormal, with Sam forced to explain his past, the return of his dead brother, and why they need to save the world again.

Dean moving in with Lisa and Ben is perhaps the closest Supernatural came to telling a story of this ilk during its original run, but their relationship was short-lived and quickly forgotten. Since Supernatural‘s flashforwards have already confirmed Sam and his new partner will go the distance, her presence in season 16 would add a narrative dimension that represents distinctly unfamiliar territory for Supernatural.

Sources: Variety