Snowflake Challenge 2025 - Day 8

[dizzojay]

Challenge #8

In your own space, write a promo, manifesto or primer for a beloved character, relationship or fandom.

 

So, I’ve seen this question before in the Snowflake challenge and, in the past, I’ve written about the Supernatural fandom, Dean, Sam and the Impala. 

So, this time I’m going to pay homage to Supernatural’s Bobby Singer, as he holds a very special place in my heart! 

Whether or not John was a good father is a hot debate within the fandom. I absolutely respect everyone’s individual opinion, and mine is that although I fully understand that John was a deeply damaged man, some of the ways he treated the boys was unforgivable to my mind.  I don’t hate John, but he’s not a character I have a great deal of affection for.

Bobby, on the other hand, stepped into the void created by John and in his own blunt and unsentimental way, became a brilliant father figure to Sam and Dean.  His assessment ‘I adopted two boys and they grew up heroes’ says everything to me about Bobby’s relationship with the Winchesters.  He took them under his wing because he knew they needed that support, and he was so proud of how they turned out.

But another reason I love Bobby is his wit and wisdom, and his quote ‘family don’t end with blood’ is probably my favourite quote in the whole show (although Crowley’s ‘they ate my tailor’ runs it a close second!!)

Whilst I know that Bobby was referring to the Winchesters being his family, that quote resonated deeply with me.  You see, I’m an only child and, as a result, with the exception of my husband and my parents, my friends are and always have been the most important people in my life; they’re my chosen family, and it was great to hear someone describe my reality so simply but yet so perfectly!

A few years ago when I turned fifty, I treated myself to a big Supernatural tattoo as a birthday gift to myself – and Bobby’s quote was the centrepiece of my tattoo.

I hope Bobby would approve!

Comments

[mekare]

Ah yeah, I always loved Bobby for the same reasons.

[dizzojay]

I think it's not an unusual opinion in our fandom!

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> although I fully understand that John was a deeply damaged man, some of the ways he treated the boys was unforgivable to my mind. <<

Agreed. If a parent can't provide proper care for their children, it is their responsibility to find someone else who can. John was free to focus on hunting, but it was not okay for him to drag along two small children and grossly neglect them.

>>Bobby, on the other hand, stepped into the void created by John and in his own blunt and unsentimental way, became a brilliant father figure to Sam and Dean. His assessment ‘I adopted two boys and they grew up heroes’ says everything to me about Bobby’s relationship with the Winchesters. <<

Well said.

>>my friends are and always have been the most important people in my life <<

I think that's true for a majority of people in fandom, though reasons may differ.

Re: Thoughts

[dizzojay]

I agree. In fandom we are a community of like-minded people.

[tsuki_no_bara]

don't con a con man. :D i loved him so much. the boys needed a father - i think john did the best he could but like you say he was a deeply damaged person and "the best he could" was... not great - and bobby stepped up. he was gruff and sarcastic and smart and he loved the boys like they were his. and everything else i ever saw jim beaver in, i always had an initial moment of "...wait a second" because i imprinted so hard on him as bobby.

[dizzojay]

...'and everything else i ever saw jim beaver in, i always had an initial moment of "...wait a second" because i imprinted so hard on him as bobby.'

Likewise!

I loved Bobby's wit and wisdom, his worldview was brilliant!

[switchbladeeyes]

I love Bobby so much! He was a wonderful character on the show. Great write up!

[dizzojay]

Thank you.
It's good to see this post attracting lots of Bobby fans!

[muccamukk]

Awww. I always loved Bobby too. He's so much what the boys needed.

(Good to hear the John Winchester dad debate is still going twenty years in, lol).

[dizzojay]

I think that debate will still be going on in another 20 years! XD

[trepkos]

I'm sure he would - what else was involved in the SPN tattoo?
Bobby is a great character, and ‘family don’t end with blood’ a great quote!

[dizzojay]

It's across the back of my shoulders, and it has the anti-possession tattoo in the middle with black angel wings spreading across my shoulders. It has the quote underneath.
You can see a photo in this Lj post: https://dizzojay.livejournal.com/583803.html
Ignore the inflamation in the picture, this picture was taken minutes after the tattoo was finished!

[trepkos]

Impressive!

[dragonofeternal]

Bobby really is the truest dad to Sam and Dean...

A bit sideways of this, but perhaps the most glorious and odd bits of fanwork I ever saw for Supernatural was at a fantasy taxidermy expo where I saw someone who had taxidermied, posed, and dressed a beaver as Bobby Singer. They had a screenshot of the specific shot they were referencing next to their taxidermy mount. Truly amazing.

[apachefirecat]

Bobby was always one of my favorite "side" characters, only coming in second to Crowley. Not even Castiel! ;)

And I am SURE he would love the idea of your tat!! <3

[musyc]

Bobby is such a wonderful character! Weekend at Bobby's is one of my top five episodes, perfect from start to finish.