Bean

I get what you’re saying about closeness and boundaries not necessarily being the same thing.

I agree that the codependency of earlier to mid Supernatural wasn’t a healthy thing over all, for Jensen or Jared actually. But, as you’ve said, I do think Jared had put up some boundaries there, but I think he did it while Supernatural was still filming, so it was even easier to keep it up when they weren’t seeing each other all the time.

But, despite the guys seeming very close again, and both talking each other up lately (again, I don’t see that as ever entirely stopping except right around the prequel drama, for maybe a year or two), I don’t really see this as them truly sliding back into old roles. Jared has often leaned into "little brother" on stage, and despite him not doing it so much for a few years, he’s been at it off and on for a while. Another thing, they still don’t live in the same town any more. It’s harder to be codependent when you aren’t able to be around each other that often. Jared also spoke in Sweden about a tip coming up with Gen and Tom, and then another with his brother and people like that coming up. Jared is still spending time with people outside of Jensen, too.

Also, even if Jared does occasionally hang out with Supernatural cast, and Jensen, a bit more again, keep in mind it’s been years and people can grow and change. I get that we have a tendency to slip into old roles, but these people are older now, can’t party like they used to, and I’m sure there’s other differences.

Jensen might have really been there for Jared with his broken leg, I have no clue. If he was, I’ll chalk it up to being good Jared had another support in place. But I don’t see him fully relying on Jensen at all. And a bit of bromance, to me, doesn’t indicate truly slipping back into old patterns.

I too think Jared’s mental health took a hit with his leg break, he’s practically said so, but I think once he gets busy working he’ll be okay again. I think that even if he does a project with Jensen or somone else. Keep in mind that Jared is the leader in those situations, and he can decide the kind if set he wants.

So, I agree with this in part.

But I think Jared was loosening the boundaries, or letting Jensen in more since as far back as 23-24. I saw them at 2 cons in 2023, both on stage and together in photo ops (between taking pics), in a M&G, and they seemed close, touchy and chatty, warm.

In 2025, they were very back being very similar to their old banter. I see a lot of people blaming Jared’s injury and the resultant dip in his mental health for him seeming close to Jensen again now. But they've been vibing as quite close, and having their own little love fest, since 2025. I think working on set together again really made them remember the good times of working together. I think, even without the prequel, they were getting a bit tired of each other towards the end of SPN, or at least there was some tension there. They were a bit awlward and careful after the drama for a while. But they’d already been easing back in to seeming closer with each other for a bit. I think nostalgia has now set in and they are feeling the fondness for each other and remembering filming Supernatural with a bit of rose colored glasses now. That, or they are working on a project together and rekindling the bromance image harder than ever.

The thing is, the fondness has never entirely gone away, even when there was stiffness and some jealousy there too, and it’s just been getting stronger again over the last few years.

Also, even back in 2015, Jared didn’t credit Jensen for helping with his second breakdown, only the first. He credited Gen, and even Danneel for meeting him at the airport with Gen, but not Jensen. In 2023 at Charlotte con, Jared credited Jensen as one if the people who had helped him through rough times. He’s been pretty consistennt about support in general from people vs specific breakdowns.

Also in the Inside of You interview, Jared said that he had to decide if staying friends with Jensen was worth it to him, after the prequel BS. He ultimately decided it was.

This is interesting. What did Jared actually say? And was there really clear indication that made us believe it was his decisions to set boundaries. I did go down prequel posts, but haven't came across anything about this.

That was my anon that said that but I think they are probably talking about the interview Jared did with Michael Rosenbaum after it happened. He referred to what happened but he really didn't go that far into it and pivoted really quickly to praising Jensen and assuring everyone that they were fine. "There were lots of tears" is a quote I remember from that interview.