Even if she wasn't in the show for the longest time and has only become a recurring character as of late, Mary Winchester is at the center of the Supernatural storyline. John spends his whole life trying to find the demon that killed Mary, becoming a hunter to do so. He also raises his sons to be in the family business of hunting, who then continue their father's mission after he dies. It goes without saying that Mary's death haunts all three Winchesters in different ways.
But then Amara, the Darkness, gives Dean a gift: She resurrects Mary. This was seen as a monumental moment for both the characters in the show and fans alike but over time, Mary's otherwise perfect image began to show some cracks. Some of these were intentional, showing that she's just a regular person no matter what others may say about her. However, the same can't be said for other instances that revealed that some people put her up on too high a pedestal. Here are five times Mary proved to be overrated, and other times in which she is underrated.
UNDERRATED: Her Love For John
Mary is quiet about her love for her husband, to the point where it seems that John may have loved her more - especially since he dedicated his life to her memory. However, when John is brought back for one episode, it's clear and easy to see how much love she has for him.
She once made a deal with the yellow-eyed demon to save John, and she was heartbroken to learn of his death. His brief visit allowed her to feel the sort of complete happiness that she hadn't felt for a while.
OVERRATED: Her Bad Cooking & Baking Skills
This is a simple area where Mary is overrated. Dean re his mom as a great cook. Matter-of-fact, the reason why Dean loves pie so much is tied to memories he has of his mother.
However, when the real Mary comes into the picture, Dean learns that she was a terrible cook. Besides making a strange dish called the Winchester Surprise, she bought all their meals, including pie.
UNDERRATED: Her Strength in the Spiritual Realm
Before Mary was resurrected by Amara, she existed as a spirit in their old house. The fact that she was able to exist as a ghost and not go crazy like so many others have speaks to Mary's strength. She had a sense of premonition, staying behind to still protect her sons. When she sees her adult sons, she instantly recognizes them.
On top of this, she's able to use her strength as a spirit in order to banish the evil spirit that has been taking over their old house. She neutralizes it with her strong and good energy.
OVERRATED: Her Intuition & Decisions
There are times when Mary's intuition is on point, like when she realizes that there is something off with Jack. However, initially when she's first back, she decides to work with Ketch and with the British Men of Letters. Like Dean, she had been wary about them. She then ignored that wariness. For a survivor like she is, her intuition is a little rusty.
Likewise, she seems to reject her sons at first. Both sons have already had a difficult parent in John, someone who loved them but didn't fully accept them. They don't need another parent like that in Mary.
UNDERRATED: Her Adaptability & Survival Skills
While it takes Mary a while to warm to this new world and her adult sons, she is able to quickly adapt to other things like cell phones and computers. She also adapts her hunting style, learning that possessed humans don't need to be killed in order to get the demon out. On top of this, she is thrown into Apocalypse-world, and she learns how to survive there as well.
When Mary is put in a difficult situation, such as when Nick (sans Lucifer) threatens her, Mary stays calm, brave, and pragmatic. She's able to get out of these sort of situations based on her calm and collected demeanor.
OVERRATED: Her Reputation Doesn't Seem Justified
Mary is a good hunter, but she's renowned as an excellent hunter with a lot of spunk. Even the demons have heard of her. The yellow-eyed demon seems to respect her. That spunk and energy she had when she was a young hunter diminish when she's older. Not only that, but it seems as if her knowledge of the supernatural is limited at best. Given that she's the daughter of a veteran hunter, it's a bit weird that she always seems out of the loop, as if she were a rookie hunter.
She knows how to hunt, but she's less inventive about the occult than her sons, less curious than John, and less knowledgeable than her father. Fans don't get to see many instances of Mary earning her reputation. She's good, no doubt, but what exactly made her excellent?
UNDERRATED: She Built A Hunter Community
John was a loner in the hunter community. Although he was respected, he burned bridges. Sam and Dean were introduced to the hunter community somewhat through him, but most of the hunters (even Bobby) didn't want much to do with John. Mary is a different story. In contrast to John, even the most jaded and brutish hunters like and trust her.
In a short time, she's reached out to old leads (most of which are dead, unfortunately), and she's created new connections. She becomes a vital part of the hunter community, and the hunters aren't even wary of her resurrection. They accept her quickly back into the fold.
OVERRATED: She's The Missing Link to Make Dean & Sam Complete
Amara resurrected Mary because she felt that Mary was something Dean was missing and needed. Sam also longed to know his mom. Both brothers expect the time with their mother to make a big difference in their lives. Truthfully, it is a lot of unfair pressure on a resurrected-Mary.
How is she expected to complete them, when she also feels incomplete and lost? Also, why is she expected to patch things up for the brothers, considering that she was dead for as long as they could ? This is one factor that makes her crave distance from them.
UNDERRATED: Her Loyalty to Family
It may take Mary a little while to get there, but she's a mama bear with Sam and Dean. When Lucifer threatens them, Mary actually punches him into another world, all to save her sons (and their world). Jack quickly becomes family as well. Once Jack is in the Apocalypse-world with Mary, she won't leave him even when the humans there want to kick Jack out of their camp for being half-angel.
The Winchesters are a loyal group, and Mary shows that she's also extremely loyal to her family and the hunter community.
OVERRATED: She's A Damsel in Distress
In the first episode, Mary is presented as a helpless person, pinned to the ceiling and burning. It's quite an image. When she's resurrected, Mary seems capable and strong, yet she still needs to be rescued. The British Men of Letters manipulate her to become their own American-hunter killing machine. They brainwash her to "clean house."
Then Dean has to get into her mind and rescue her. Later, she's in the Apocalypse-world, and her sons spend a season trying to rescue her. Then they also try to rescue her from a soul-less Jack. One rescue was fine, but this was a record left on repeat too long.