Why does Ruby help Sam and Dean? Unpacking the Complex Alliance

For fans of the hit CW series Supernatural, the question of Ruby's motivations has always been a lingering one. Why would a demon, a creature of pure evil in most lore, consistently aid the Winchester brothers, Sam and Dean? It's a complex relationship, riddled with deception, shifting alliances, and ultimately, a shared enemy that often outweighs their inherent animosity. Let's delve into the intricate reasons behind Ruby's assistance to the demon-hunting siblings.

Ruby's Primary Motivation: The Greater Evil

At its core, Ruby's help stems from a pragmatic, albeit self-serving, understanding of the supernatural landscape. While demons are generally antagonists, they aren't monolithic. There are different factions, and some demons see the burgeoning threat of Lucifer and his impending apocalypse as a danger to their own existence, not just humanity's. Ruby, a particularly cunning and ambitious demon, recognized this threat early on.

Lucifer's Reign: The primary goal of many demons, including Ruby in her own way, was to prevent Lucifer from breaking free from his cage. If Lucifer were to be unleashed, his wrath would spare no one, not even his own kind. This shared threat provided a common ground for an unlikely alliance.
The "Devil's" Plan: Ruby understood that Sam was a crucial piece in Lucifer's grand design. She knew that Lucifer intended to use Sam as his vessel. By keeping Sam alive and, in some ways, guiding him, Ruby was playing a dangerous game. She believed she could manipulate the situation to her advantage, perhaps even finding a way to control or exploit the events once Lucifer was free, or even to stop him by guiding Sam.

Ruby's Personal Agenda: Power and Survival

Beyond the overarching threat of Lucifer, Ruby also had her own personal ambitions that aligned with assisting the Winchesters. Her intelligence and resourcefulness meant she was always looking for opportunities to advance her own standing and ensure her survival within the demonic hierarchy.

Gaining an Advantage: Ruby saw Sam and Dean as valuable assets. They were powerful hunters with a knack for disrupting demonic plans. By helping them, she could indirectly thwart other demons who were working towards Lucifer's release or other nefarious goals that might interfere with her own long-term survival or rise to power.
Information and Manipulation: Ruby was a master manipulator. She used her knowledge of the demonic world to feed Sam and Dean information that served her purposes. This information often led them to confront other demons, effectively clearing the path for her own agenda or weakening rival demonic forces.
A Unique Position: Ruby occupied a precarious position within the demonic hierarchy. She was aware of this and understood that by working with humans, especially those who were central to the apocalypse, she could potentially leverage her unique knowledge and access for her own benefit, perhaps even to carve out a more independent existence or gain favor with powerful demonic entities other than Lucifer.

Ruby's Connection to Sam: A Tangled History

A significant factor in Ruby's decision to help Sam, and to a lesser extent Dean, was her personal history and her evolving relationship with Sam, particularly after her possession of a human body.

Possession of a Human Body: Ruby, after a period of being disembodied, managed to possess a human named Ruby. This gave her a unique perspective and a taste of human existence, which some speculate may have influenced her actions, though her core demonic nature likely remained.
Fascination with Sam's Power: Ruby was undeniably fascinated by Sam's psychic abilities and his potential as a vessel for Lucifer. She saw him as a key player and perhaps even saw a twisted sort of partnership or understanding developing between them.
A Twisted Form of "Protection": While it's a stretch to call it genuine affection, there were moments where Ruby seemed to genuinely want Sam to survive, albeit for her own reasons. She understood the immense pressure he was under and the dangers he faced, both from demons and from his own destiny. Her help could be interpreted as a way to keep her "asset" alive and functional.

The Deceptive Nature of Her Help

It's crucial to remember that Ruby was still a demon. Her help was never altruistic. It was always couched in deception and self-interest. She lied, manipulated, and betrayed the Winchesters on multiple occasions, often putting them in greater danger in the process of achieving her own goals.

"You think you're playing me, Sam? I'm playing you. We're all playing each other. That's how this works."
- Ruby

Her ultimate betrayal, leading to the death of a significant character, underscores the inherent untrustworthiness of her alliance. However, in the turbulent world of Supernatural, alliances are often forged out of necessity, even with those you cannot truly trust.

Conclusion: A Necessary Evil

In the end, Ruby helped Sam and Dean because their goals, however temporary and self-serving, aligned with her own. She saw them as tools to combat a greater evil and to advance her own position. While her methods were undeniably treacherous and her ultimate loyalty was always to herself and her demonic nature, her assistance, for a time, proved crucial in the ongoing fight against the forces of hell.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why did Ruby initially target Sam?

Ruby's initial interest in Sam stemmed from her knowledge that he was destined to be Lucifer's vessel. This made him a critical pawn in the larger demonic game, and she saw him as someone she could potentially control or exploit.

Did Ruby ever truly care about Sam or Dean?

It's highly unlikely that Ruby experienced genuine care in the human sense. Her actions were driven by self-preservation, ambition, and a pragmatic understanding of the supernatural hierarchy. Any perceived "care" was likely a calculated manipulation to keep them as useful allies.

How did Ruby get her human body back?

Ruby possessed a human woman who happened to be named Ruby. This allowed her to operate in the physical world, which was essential for her machinations and her ability to directly interact with the Winchesters.

What was Ruby's ultimate goal?

Ruby's ultimate goal was likely her own survival and advancement within the demonic hierarchy. She saw the apocalypse as an opportunity to gain power and influence, and her alliance with the Winchesters was a means to that end.