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5.22 Swan Song Sam: "I let him out. I gotta put him back in." I'm glad they didn't go for a big CGI fight scene extravaganza. It was like they were saying simply that this is where the story began, this is how it ends, and this is what it means. The end of the arc It was Sam's turn to sacrifice himself for his family, just as John and Dean did before him -- but bigger, since he also saved the world from the Apocalypse he inadvertently caused. Sam's love for Dean, their connected past as brothers, and a tiny toy stuck in the Impala's ash tray were what gave Sam the strength to defeat Lucifer. It's a shame Sam had to take Adam down with him. Poor Adam. He never caught a break, did he? Horrible death by ghouls, yanked out of Heaven, five minutes to get to know his brothers, and boom, in a box with the Devil. He made the ultimate Winchester sacrifice just like the rest of the family, but without any say or choice in the matter. If that's what happened. Where are Adam/Michael and Sam/Lucifer? Are they in a metaphysical cage under the cemetery in Lawrence? Are Sam and Adam even conscious of where they are? Can archangels even suffer under those circumstances? And what did that final scene with Sam under the street light mean? The zapping of the street light suggested that Sam was still supernatural, but the fact that he was obviously there to make certain Dean was all right suggested that it was our Sam. How can that be? Continuing characters possibly continuing. Or not. We've been getting broad hints all season that Bobby would die, so I decided that it was misdirection and we'd lose Castiel, instead. So I was definitely shocked when both of them freaking died... and then both of them came back. Yes, it's a cop out to keep killing characters and bringing them back, but hey, it's a tradition on Supernatural by now. God brought Castiel back before and he might even have done it because he needs a sheriff in Heaven, and who better? And we already knew angels have healing power, so it made sense that the first thing Castiel would do when he returned, new and improved, was bring back Bobby and heal Dean. Let me add that I desperately didn't want to lose either of them. I was relieved, even if it did sort of nix the high tragedy aspect. Chuck said that Dean and Bobby won't see each other again for a long time, so I think they just wrote Bobby out. At least we can take heart that he's out there fighting the good fight. Until Crowley shows up to collect, anyway. Was this whole thing really just some arbitrary test designed by God? Doesn't make God look all that good, does it? Was Chuck supposed to be God? I really don't want Chuck to be God. Frankly, I have a hard time thinking about the possibility of God making it with Becky, much less "Mistress Magda." And wasn't Dean wearing his God EMF amulet when he and Sam first met Chuck? Maybe Chuck the prophet just ascended or something. I hope so. Happily ever after They brought the story full circle with the Impala as their home and symbol of the Winchester family, and the ultimate showdown taking place outside of Lawrence, Kansas. The brothers montage was great -- I particularly loved the bit about Dean and Sam sitting on the hood of the car in the middle of a field watching the stars. There had to be good times we didn't see. Dean kept his "happily ever after" promise to Sam, because he said he would. Except he looked deeply unhappy and he had a drink in his hand. How typical that Sam forced his own idea of happily ever after on Dean. That's not Dean. Dying young saving the world is Dean, even though I love Dean and that's certainly not what I want for him. Dean's unhappy face is what stayed with me after the episode. The End As Chuck said, endings are hard and the fans are always going to bitch. I don't think any finale to an arc story this massive could ever satisfy all of the fans. I wasn't as emotionally involved as I was when Dean went to Hell, and it didn't blow me away the first time through. Maybe my expectations were too far out of sync with what we got. But I suspect this episode improves upon acquaintance, because it really got to me the second time I watched it. I truly don't have any preconceived notions or laundry lists for season six; I love this series and I'm ready for them to take me wherever they want to go. I just want both brothers back. And Castiel. And I want Chuck not to be God. Really. And I still want the Supernaturalverse as it is, because if it isn't, what's the point of doing another season? Bits and pieces: -- I'm such a fan of this show that "Carry on Wayward Son" gave me chills this time. -- Jared Padalecki did a good job as Lucifer, although it felt just a bit as if he were mimicking Mark Pellegrino. And I just realized, seeing Jared do it, that Pellegrino's interpretation felt feminine, but not in a good way. I think he was going for petulant and seductive. -- The Impala's first owner was Sal Moriarty, who gave free Bibles to the poor in preparation for Judgment Day. Nice touch. And the used car lot where John bought the Impala was Rainbow Motors. We probably already knew that. -- Lots of other people in Sam's early life were also Lucifer's demons. What a bummer. -- Three Star Wars references. Dean did the standard line, "I've got a bad feeling about this." Dean also called Bobby "Yoda." And Lucifer said to Sam, "Such anger, young Skywalker." -- This week: Detroit, Michigan; and Stull Cemetery outside Lawrence, Kansas. (Great looking location, wherever that was.) "The Kids are Alright" took place in Cicero, Indiana, so that must be where Lisa and Ben were and where Dean ended up. -- Except for Lisa, whose part was minimal, this episode was all about the guys. Typical for Supernatural, which tends to be a guy show. Quotes: Dean: "It's not on me to 'let' you do anything. You're a grown... overgrown man." Sam: "Take care of these guys, okay?" Castiel: "That's not possible." Sam: "Humor me." Castiel: "Oh, I'm supposed to lie. Sure. (fake smile) They'll be fine." What's funny is that Castiel did take care of them, just as he promised. Dean: "Whatever happened to Becky?" Chuck: "Didn't work out. I had too much respect for her." Dean: "You've really got a whole virgin/hooker thing going on, don't you?" And if Chuck is God, that was pretty funny. Castiel: "The only thing that you're gonna see out there is Michael killing your brother." Dean: "Well, then, I ain't gonna let him die alone." Dean was right to go. Castiel and Bobby were wrong. But hey, they went, too. Castiel: "Hey, ass butt." This reminded me of Captain Kirk's classic 'I don't know the local slang' line, "Well, double dumb ass on you." Castiel: "No paradise, no hell -- just more of the same. I mean it, Dean. What would you rather have? Peace? Or freedom?" I'm tempted to go with the four out of four gallons of demon blood, but that was gross. So I'm going with four out of four Holy Impalas, Billie View all comments or post a comment. |
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