Jared Padalecki Interview: ‘Supernatural’ Season 15, the Show’s Legacy, and Jensen Ackles

Jared Padalecki was understandably emotional during the final roundtable interviews for The CW’s Supernatural. The cast has been a huge draw at the San Diego Comic Con for more than a dozen years, and now with the popular series heading into its 15th season it’s tough for all involved to hold their emotions in check.

After taking part in the final Comic Con panel in support of Supernatural, Jared Padalecki sat down to discuss heading into the show’s final season. Padalecki talked about his hopes for the show’s legacy and what it’s been like being part of the Supernatural family for 15 years.

Is it pretty incredible to you that you gained a brother through this show? You and Jensen are extremely close.

Jared Padalecki: ”And a wife and kids. Yeah. I almost said it hadn’t sunk in. You know, we still are flying back to Vancouver to film for nine months so I’m not reflecting just yet – partly because I don’t want to start crying again like I did on stage. So, yeah, it’s pretty incredible.

It’s really funny. We were going to go downtown last night to have dinner with Bob and Jeannie… We were going to head downtown and go to some events and see some buddies. He and I just decided to sit on his patio of his hotel and have a drink and just decompress and relax and talk about how crazy the experience has been. It’s really special. You know, he’s been around for births and deaths in my life and vice versa. Triumphs and losses…and he’s not the only one, obviously. It’s been he and I for the longest, but I’ve met a lot of people that have changed my life and remain pretty special to me.”

What do you hope the show’s legacy is going to be?

Jared Padalecki: “My gosh, I guess what I hope the show’s legacy will be, in some way, shape, or form we always hoped that what the show would be about is you do what you can when you can and where you can. You try and help as best as you can. You accept your flaws, again, as best as you can. You are not going to be perfect, move on. Pain is mandatory, suffering is optional, you know, which is one of my favorite sayings.

Everything is not going to be hunky-dory and perfect, but you’ve got to keep on going and try and accept it as best you can. And this has kind of been inspired by the show and outside the show, you know we’ve had a campaign called ‘Always Keep Fighting.’ And it doesn’t mean put your hands up and start swinging punches. It’s about whatever struggle you are going through. Always be kind; every soul is engaged in a great battle. So, I hope the idea that people would see other people and also understand they are going through a great battle and reach out and be kind.”

What do you see yourself doing after this? Do you see yourself taking time off to spend with the family or do you have any pet projects you want to tackle?

Jared Padalecki: “I don’t know. The honest answer is I don’t know. I feel like I want to see family, you know. We’ll see what happens. Yeah, I don’t know. I have no idea. I’ve spent my whole entire adult life (working); I’d like to meet my wife and kids.”

Is there anything that you would like to do as Sam before the series ends that you haven’t done yet?

Jared Padalecki: “Just jokingly, like go to the beach and go swimming. Or, like do laundry in your underwear, you know? Just silly stuff. We’ve done a lot in 307 hours and we’re going to do a lot more in 20 more hours.

You know what’s been really awesome about Supernatural for me is I’ve stayed in my lane. I’ve felt I’m really committed to making Sam Winchester as honest and real as possible on camera, so whether that means he’s drinking demon blood or he’s Lucifer or he’s soulless or he’s just Sam, I tried to make it as honest as possible and be as real and committed as possible. That’s felt very comforting. So, I’d like to do that again.

I have some idea where the season is going. I’m really excited about it and I want to make it as true as possible. You know, it’s going to be around forever. So when my kids’ kids’ kids’ kids are watching Supernatural, I want to know that I gave it everything I have.

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