Supernatural: When did the Winchesters get the anti-possession tattoos?

In Supernatural Season 3, the Winchesters show off their anti-possession tattoos. When exactly did they get them and why?

When the demons surrounded the sheriff’s office in Supernatural Season 3, Episode 12 and Henriksen had been possessed, the Winchesters handed out possession charms. They didn’t need the charms because they already had an anti-possession symbol tattooed onto their chests. It was the first time we’d ever seen these tattoos.

When exactly did the Winchesters get the tattoos? This isn’t ever explicitly said, but they admitted that it was too late–later than they should, because Sam had already been possessed once.

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While they don’t say when they got the tattoos, it’s easy to work out that they got them sometime after “Born Under a Bad Sign.” It wouldn’t be surprising if it was straight after. After all, why would either of them want to run the risk of being possessed again? Bobby handed them both anti-possession charms, so it would have made plenty of sense for them to head straight to a tattoo parlor to get something permanent.

Supernatural Wiki has an excerpt of an interview with Sera Gamble that is no longer around, which shares when the tattoos came up. Sure enough, it was straight after “Born Under a Bad Sign” and Sera was reminded of that when it came to writing “Jus in Bello.” This meant she could find a spot to add the reveal, with the suggestion that getting the tattoos happened off screen.

It really is a perfect addition. There’s no need for a huge backstory to these tattoos. And yes, the tattoos have become something that Sera said would mean she’d truly believe the SPN Family was a cult. Fans are getting the symbol as tattoos of their own!

[Next post will be the one to the post about Lilith]

What did you think of the anti-possession tattoos? When do you think the Winchesters got them done? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Supernatural airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW.