'The Dark Horse'
This is semi-long. I don't just talk about the Christmas episode and how it will affect the series, but I also talk about my reasoning of why I'm discarding or using what I am. Spoilers for future 'The Dark Horse' chaptered-stories and one-shots.
I waited to continue writing to 'Kid Gloves' as well as other pieces in "The Dark Horse" series for a week because of the looming Christmas episode of Supernatural (A Very Supernatural Christmas) because 1.) I was spoiled slightly and 2.) I didn't agree with the spoilers and had to see the end result before I passed judgment.
As a reader of this series, you know that I tread carefully on relationships of the Winchesters when they were young and impressionable. I paint John as - not the perfect father - but a damn good one who cared about his boys more than anything else. Period. He'd do anything for them. Although, it later writings of the series, which have been scarce as of yet seeing as I'm setting the stage, (i.e. the title piece, 'Stanford Days', 'Katy Bar the Door', and 'Disposable Heroes') you will see a different light is shown on John. He slowly stopped being their father and starting becoming their "drill sergeant" per say. So, I do confess, I am weaving a lot of canon into the story based on both what Sam and Dean has said even if you cannot see it as of yet. Although, this change John goes through is crafted in a way that is believable and doesn't demoralize or dehumanize John in the slightly. There will be no ruthless John bashing. That, I can promise. You will see his struggle as he slowly starts to learn the truth that was hinted at in 'Crown of Thorns' with the veiled references.
In 'Stanford Days', you will barely see John or Dean in the present of the story. They will be woven into flashbacks and Sam's thoughts of them - especially John. The story follows Sam's life at Stanford (at least his early years) and really digs into his psyche. Why did he feel Dean was more of a father than John? Why did he not get along with John? What was their huge following out? When did everything their family was change? You see Sam's perspective, his thoughts and feelings, which explains in depth how he perceives on the actual show.
Meanwhile, in 'The Dark Horse', you will see where things changed for John - the things that Sam and Dean never saw. You will follow John's adventure and learn the ultimate truth of why and how he stopped being their father and more of a 'drill sergeant' - again, per say. It's Sam's word not mine. You will read the process of what happened, what John learns, everything. You will only get a little insight on his thoughts.
In 'Disposable Heroes', John muses on where their lives went wrong. They were a semi-happy hunting family that one day was turned upside down. You will learn of John's reactions to what happened in 'The Dark Horse' and learn why John made the decisions he made.
In 'Katy Bar the Door', you will see into Dean's psyche. You will get into his mind and figure out why his loyalty to John never wavered while Sam's was crumpling dramatically. You will dig into Dean's mind and found out how he felt about growing up a hunter, the responsibilites, his mother. Everything.
These four stories are critical. I never did plan on writing 'Stanford Days' until I figured that the boys' stories needed to be told as well. Their story is rarely told in the series. You follow John and his struggles. You never really see into the boys' minds. I wanted to show the vast differences in their minds, show how they reacted to their childhood. So that's why I decided to write 'Stanford Days' in order to show Sam's mindset. 'Katy Bar the Door' was always going to be part of the series, but I have reshaped it so that the story follows Dean so that you have a chance to see into his mindset.
With this all said, I'm discarding a lot of what was learned - per say - in 'A Very Supernatural Christmas'. I do not believe that Sam never knew what was going on until the age of nine. The evidence before the episode suggests otherwise. This episode seemed to pull a huge retcon, and I will not succumb to the new angle.
"We were raised like warriors, Dean," says Sam in the 'Pilot'.
Based on the syntax, it is inferred that Sam was raised as a hunter from a young age and not suddenly start at nine. 'We', in syntax form, suggests that Sam and Dean were raised in that lifestyle at the same time and not separately. John raised them both like warriors. He didn't train Dean and then train Sam. They were a we and not an I. 'Raised' also gives the connotation that the training was his earliest memories. A child is 'raised' as an infant to about pre-teen. After that, a parent doesn't 'raise' their children but rather 'guides' their children. Sam, being close to pre-teen at nine, would have already been 'raised' mostly and start to slowly get his freedom. Sam was not 'raised' from nine to eighteen. He was more 'guided'.
In short, in 'The Dark Horse' series, Sam did not learn about hunting when he was nine. No, he learned about it from a young age. He knew what was going on even though he didn’t fully understand it. In the series, Sam will know of hunting, what John does, but doesn't know the full effect of it - he doesn't know the true dangers that follow hunting.
"Sam, Dad was never disappointed in you. Never. He was scared."
"What are you talking about?"
"He was afraid of what could've happened to you if he wasn't around. But even when you two weren't talking, he used to swing by Stanford whenever he could. Keep an eye on you. Make sure you were safe," a conversation between Sam and Dean during 'Bugs'.
'Bugs' is often discredited by fans as the worst episode. I'm with you. The plot was just weak and the night scene was unbelievable. So, many people don't watch 'Bugs' twice or even think about it beyond Jensen's infamous bee anecdote he seems to tell at every convention, interview, etc. We often forget that there was a huge pivotal moment in the Winchesters' past weaved within the nonsense.
John was scared. John was scared for his boys when he wasn't around. He checked up on Sam out of fear. A father who checks up on his eighteen to twenty-two year son at college even though they're estranged because he's afraid of what may happen shows a John that would never miss a Christmas if he could help it. Trust me, I know people who have estranged family members and they want nothing to do with that person - won't see them or talk with them for years. John looked pass the fight, realized that that's what his son wanted, even doted on him (Phantom Traveler), and checked up on him. Of course, keeping in the manly Winchester fashion, John never allowed Sam to know his fears and anxieties. They were there though and legit.
I like to believe if Show could have gotten Jeffrey Dean Morgan, the ending would have played out a little different in 'A Very Supernatural Christmas'. Alas, it didn't. Although, I'm positive John made it home and had a good reason.
So, no, I'm sorry, I don't believe 'A Very Supernatural Christmas' in the least. I believe a total retcon is happening on the show based upon this episode and an upcoming episode because of the spoilers I've read. I'm writing a series about the true Supernatural before Kripke suddenly decided to paint John in a negative light.
The question is: what from 'A Very Supernatural Christmas' is going to be incorporated into the series? Well, I'll tell you even though I'm planning to write a one-shot filled with all of the Winchester Christmases. I'm hoping to get it done before Christmas. First, yes, John didn't make it back for Christmas that year. He was stuck in snow without a phone or something to that effect. He was worried sick about his children not to mention nauseous at the very thought of not being there. Dean still robbed the house and brought back chick presents. Sam still gave Dean the amulet. Instead of Sam being bombarded with the information on the hunting world, he's going to realize how scary it really is.
For now, that's all I've got to say. I hope my ramblings didn't confuse you.