Robin’s Rambles – “Swan Song”
“Swan Song”
–Robin’s Rambles by Robin Vogel
Our THEN recap begins with “Carry On, My Wayward Son,” what I consider to be the anthem of the Winchester family, and I begin to cry at the very first note. I cry even harder when they show us the explosion that led to the death of Ellen and the last time we saw Jo, Sam and Dean are told by the Trickster (aka Gabriel) and Zachariah that they are the vessels for Michael and Lucifer. We are reminded that Adam has become Michael’s vessel instead of Dean, see Death give Dean his ring and tell him that Sam must go into the fiery pit, and hear Bobby ask him what scares him more, losing or losing his brother.
Chuck’s narration, as he’s writing one of his Winchester gospel books, talks of April 1`st, 1967, when the one hundred millionth GM vehicle rolled off the line at a plant in Janesville, a blue two-door Caprice. There were speeches, a big ceremony, and the Lt. Governor even showed up. Three days later, another car rolled off that same line. No one gave two craps about her, but they should have, because this 1967 Chevrolet Impala would turn out to be the most important car. . .no, object in pretty much the whole universe. (The car sold for $3,999.00 new.) She was first owned by Sal Moriarty, an alcoholic with two ex-wives and three blocked arteries. On weekends he’d drive around, giving bibles to the poor, “gettin’ folks ripe for Judgment Day,” he said. (There’s an angel hanging from the rear-view mirror with the name Sal on it on a white piece of paper. Sam and Dean don’t know any of this, but if they did, I bet they’d smile. After Sal died, she ended up at Rainbow Motors Used Car Lot, in Lawrence, where a young Marine (we see young John) bought her on impulse. That is, after a little advice from a friend (we see Dean during his 1973 visit.) I guess that’s where this story begins. And here’s where it ends.
Bobby’s – Sam lies sprawled on the hood of the Impala, drinking a beer. Dean comes over and helps himself to a beer from the cooler. Noting Dean’s demeanor, Sam asks what’s going on. “I’m in,” says Dean, “the whole up with Satan thing–I’m on-board.” “You’re gonna let me say yes,” says Sam, disbelieving. “No, that’s the thing,” says Dean, “it’s not ON ME to let you do anything–you’re a grown–overgrown–man, if this is what you want, I’ll back your play.” “That’s the last thing I thought you’d ever say,” Sam confesses. “Might be,” says Dean, “I’m not gonna lie to you, though, it goes against every fiber I got–the truth is, watching out for you, it’s kinda been my job, you know, but more than that, it’s kinda who I am–you’re not a kid anymore, Sam, and I can’t keep treatin’ you like one–maybe I got to grow up a little, too–I dunno if we got a snowball’s chance, but I do know if anybody can do it, it’s you. “Thank you,” says Sam. “If this is what you want. . .” says Dean, finally looking directly at his brother, “is this REALLY what you want?” Sam shrugs. “I let him out,” he says, “I gotta put him back in.” “OK, that’s it, then,” says Sam, and takes a drink of his beer. Sam drinks, too, and we get a long shot of the brothers, Dean standing against the Impala, Sam sitting on the hood. (Wibble!)
A very quick scene of demons hanging upside-down, being bled dry and Sam wiping off the DKK (demon killing knife), along with Castiel capping off gallons of blood displays how methodically they’re collecting the blood Sam will need to drink before he faces Lucifer. Sam deposits the grisly containers in the back of the Impala; Dean, following behind Cas, wipes stray blood drops off his face, looking disgusted. Bobby stands outside, causing Dean to remark that he still can’t get used to seeing him at eye level. Bobby makes a face at him and asks if he was right. As always, Yoda, says Dean, two stunt demons inside, just as Bobby said, and they got all the go juice Sammy can drink. Bobby asks if he’s OK. Not really, replies Dean, “What’ve you got?” When Bobby shows him a newspaper headlining a 20-degree temperature drop in a five-block radius in Detroit, Dean says that’s the one–“The devil’s in Detroit.” Although Bobby declares it “A little light in the loafers as far as foreboding goes,” Dean gazes at Sam and says he’s sure.
On the drive, Dean observes Cas sleeping in the back seat and calls him “A little angel.” “Angels don’t sleep,” says Sam, reminding him their passenger is human now. Dean tells Sam he has a bad feeling about this, and Sam says he’d be nuts to have a good one. He always said he’d jump your bones in Detroit, says Dean, here we are, maybe he’s rolling out the red carpet–maybe he knows something we don’t. I’m sure he knows a butt-load we don’t, agrees Sam–we just have to hope he doesn’t know about the rings. “This thing goes our way,” says Sam, “and I triple Lindy into that box, you know I’m not coming back–so you gotta promise me something–you gotta promise not to try to bring me back.” “WHAT?” demands Dean–“No, I didn’t sign up for that! Your hell is gonna make my tour look like Graceland! You want me to sit by and do nothing?” “Once the cage is shut, you can’t go poking at it, Dean, too risky!” They argue back and forth, Dean refusing to let Sam rot in there, but Sam insists he has to. “So what am I supposed to do?” demands Dean. “You go find Lisa,” says Sam, you pray to God she’s dumb enough to take you in and you have barbecues, and go to footballs games, you go live some normal, apple-pie life, Dean–PROMISE ME!” Dean looks at him, despairing.
Detroit, Michigan – Bobby looks through binoculars up at the second story window of a building, spotting a minion of Satan. He walks down an alley and reports to Dean and Bobby, “Demons–at least two dozen of ’em–you were right, somethin’s up.” “More than somethin’,” agrees Dean, “he’s here, I know it.” He walks away, past Sam, without another word. Bobby walks over to Sam, softly says, “See you around, kid.” “See you around,” says Sam. Cut to Dean, forehead furrowed; he gazes down, miserable. Cas’ face matches Dean’s. Bobby and Dean hug, hard. “He gets in,” says Bobby harshly, “you fight him tooth and nail, you understand? Keep swinging’–don’t give an inch.” “Yes sir,” promises Sam, just as he would have John. (Wibble!) Bobby turns away and Sam wipes the tears from his face. Sam goes to Castiel and holds out his hand. “Take care of these guys, OK?” he asks. “That’s not possible,” says Cas. “Then humor me,” says Sam, realizing Cas took him literally. “Oh, I’m supposed to lie,” realizes Cas, and makes a hysterically semi-human face and says “Sure, it’ll be fine” with a ridiculous quirk of his mouth. “Just stop,” pleads Sam, and Cas is awkwardly silent. Sam goes over to Dean and surveys the four gallons of demon blood in the open Impala trunk. “You mind not watchin’ this?” he asks his brother. Dean walks away without a word. Sam picks up the first of the blood-filled containers. Later, after he’s downed them all, he slams the trunk closed and rapidly walks past Dean, breathing hard. “OK, let’s go,” he says. Dean follows, walking by Bobby and Cas, with little enthusiasm. Sam stands before the building where Lucifer is waiting, arms raised, and shouts, “ALL RIGHT! WE’RE HERE, YOU SONS OF BITCHES! COME AND GET IT!” Two demons instantly exit a door. Dean stands beside Sam. “Hey, guys,” he says, “is your father home?” The brothers are dragged violently into a shabby room where Lucifer stands, staring out a window. “Hey, guys,” he greets them softly, “so nice of you to drop in.” Sam stares at him, breathing heavily, hatred in his gaze. Dean looks terrified.
Chuck, narrating, tells us the Impala has all the things other cars have, and a few they don’t (we see all the hunters’ stuff hidden inside the trunk–guns, etc.), but none of that stuff’s important. THIS is the stuff that’s important. We see Sam and Dean as children, and Chuck says, “The army man that Sam crammed in the ashtray, it’s still struck there. The Legos that Dean stuck into the vents (Uncle Erv’s Green Valley Motel)–to this day, heat comes on, you can still hear them rattle. These are the things that make the car theirs, really theirs. (The boys scratch their initials, under the floor mats.) We see the car being t-boned by the semi. Chuck explains, even when Dean rebuilt it from the ground up (Dean under the car at Bobby’s from season 2), he made sure all these little things stayed, ’cause it’s the blemishes that make it beautiful. The devil doesn’t know or care what car the boys drive.
Lucifer blows icy cold on the window and draws a pitchfork in it. He apologizes to the brothers for the chill–“Most people think I burn hot, it’s actually quite the opposite.” “I’ll alert the media,” says Dean. Lucifer, his face covered in what looks like cancerous tumors, turns to face them. Stomping through his front door is a tad suicidal, he says. “We’re not here to fight you,” huffs Sam, sounding ready for a battle. Why are you here? wonders Lucifer. “I wanna say yes,” says Sam. Excuse me? says Lucifer. Sam causes the two demons in the room to fall and die. Chock full of Ovaltine, are we? asks Lucifer. “You heard me,” says Sam, “YES!” You’re serious, realizes Lucifer. “Look, Judgment Day is a runaway train,” says Sam after glancing at Dean, “we get it now, we just want off!–deal of the century–I give you a free ride, but when it’s all over, I live, he lives you bring our parents back. . .” Please drop the telenovela, says Lucifer, I know you have the rings, Sam. The latter plays dumb–“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The Horsemen’s rings, the magic keys to my cage–ring a bell? asks Lucifer–come on, Sam, I’ve never lied to you, at least pay me the same respect! Dean looks at him in uncertainty and fear, Sam in anger. It’s OK, I’m not mad, Lucifer assures them; to Sam he says, a wrestling match inside your noggin, I like the idea, just you and me, one round, no tricks, you win, you jump in the hole, I win, then I win–what do you say, Sam–a fiddle of gold against your soul says I’m better than you. Sam glares at him. “So he knows,” he mutters to Dean, “doesn’t change anything.” “Sam,” protests Dean, but Sam says, “Yes!” Lucifer closes his eyes, the room fills with terrible light that even Castiel and Bobby can see outside through the windows. Unholy sound fills the room. Dean closes his eyes. When he opens them, Sam lies unconscious on the floor. Dean quickly removes the four connected rings from his pocket and tosses them at the wall, where they stick as if glued. He holds out his arm and recites Latin. A huge hole appears in the wall, then a windy, whirling vortex that threatens to suck the entire room into it. Sam has awakened, and Dean goes to him. “I feel him!” cries Sam, and Dean helps him up and releases him, presumably hoping to send him into the vortex and back into his cage–miraculously leaving Sam safely behind. However, Lucifer turns back to Dean, says, “I was just messing with you,” and adds, “Sam’s long gone.” He recites some Latin of his own, closing the vortex, then takes the rings and says, “I told you, this would always happen in Detroit.” Left alone with the bodies of the demons, Dean clutches his head, tears of despair in his eyes.
Samifer, testing out the strength, enjoys the feel of his new body. He enters a room, passing through a circle of people we don’t know, and faces a mirror, where he decides to take the gag off Sam, who he feels scratching away inside him. You got me all wrong, kiddo, says Lucifer to Sam’s reflection, I’m not the bad guy here. I’m gonna rip you apart from the inside out, do you understand me? vows Sam. Such anger, young Skywalker, says Lucifer sadly, who are you really angry with–me?–or that face in the mirror? “I’m sure this is all a big joke to you,” accuses Sam. Not at all, says Lucifer, I’ve been waiting for you for a long, long time. Come on, Sam, you have to admit, you can feel it, right, the exhilaration, and you know why that is?–because we’re too halves made whole, MFEO, literally. “This feels pretty damn far from good,” protests Sam. I’m inside your grapefruit, Sam, says Lucifer, you can’t lie to me, I see it all, how odd you always felt, how out of place in that family of yours–and why shouldn’t you have?–they were foster care, at best, I’m your real family. “No, it’s not true,” protests Sam. It IS true, insists Lucifer, and I know you know it, all those times you ran away, you weren’t running FROM them, you were running TOWARDS me. Sam looks sick. This doesn’t have to be a bad thing, you know, adds Lucifer, I let Dean live, didn’t I?–I WANT him to live–I’ll bring your folks back, too, I want YOU to be happy, Sam. “I don’t WANT anything from you!” snarls Sam. Really? asks Lucifer, not even a little payback? “What’s that supposed to mean?” demands Sam. Look closely, says Lucifer, none of these little devils look familiar to you? “That’s Mr. Pinsky, one of my grade school teachers,” realizes Sam. And that’s your friend Doug from that time, in East Lansing, says Lucifer, and Rachel, your prom date, Sam Winchester, says Lucifer, spreading out his arms, this is your life, Azazel’s gang, watching you since you were a rugrat, jerking you around, like a dog on a leash–I know how you feel about them–me, too–so what do you say you and I blow off a little steam? Sam’s lip curls up in a cruel snarl.
On TV sets in the window of Motown Electronics, a highly agitated Dean watches as tornadoes, floods and similar disasters happen all over the world. It’s starting, says Cas. When Dean makes a remark about his genius, Cas calls him mean, and suggests they go drink copious amounts of alcohol and wait for the inevitable blast wave. Dean sarcastically thanks him for that, but wants to know how they STOP it? We don’t, replies Cas–Michael and Lucifer will meet on the chosen field, and the battle for Armageddon will begin. To Dean’s annoyance, Cas has no idea where the chosen field is, either. “There’s gotta be somethin’ we can do!” insists Dean. Cas says he’s sorry, but this is over. Dean calls him a junkless sissy and says, “We are NOT giving up!” Bobby, stunned, says, “There was never much hope to begin with. I don’t know what else to do.” Dean gazes at Cas; impassive face again.
Samifer, fists covered with blood, sits on a step in the room and surveys the dead bodies of his enemies. Lucifer gazes at Sam in the mirror and asks, So? Are we having fun yet? Sam doesn’t reply.
Chuck, narrating, as the Impala speeds down a sunny roadway. In-between jobs, Sam and Dean would sometimes get a day, a week if they were lucky. They’d pass the time lining their pockets (the guys playing pool). Sam used to insist on honest work, but now he hustles pool, like his brother. They could go anywhere and do anything. They drove a thousand miles for an Ozzy show, two days for a Jayhawks game, and when it was clear, they’d park in the middle of no where, sit on the hood and watch the stars, for hours, without saying a word. (Over the brothers asleep in the Impala.) It never occurred to them that, sure, maybe they never had a roof and four walls, but they were never, in fact, homeless. (“That’s a good line,” says Chuck to himself, and I agree.) His phone rings, it’s a desperate Dean, not Mistress Magda, as he thought. Turns out he’s not with Becky anymore, he had too much respect for her. “You got a real virgin-hooker thing goin’ on, doncha?” asks Dean. Chuck doesn’t wish to discuss that. Sam said yes, which Chuck already knew. Although the angels are keeping the location of the title fight hush-hush, Prophet Chuck knows–high noon, Stull Cemetery, in Kansas, right near Lawrence. Why Lawrence? wonders Dean. It all has to end where it started, guesses Chuck. Besides the rings, Chuck knows of no way to short-circuit this, and he apologizes to Dean, wishing he did, but he honestly doesn’t know yet. Dean thanks him and hangs up. Seeing Dean heading purposefully to the Impala, Bobby, accompanied by Cas, asks, “You goin’ someplace?” When Dean doesn’t answer, Bobby says, “You’re gonna do somethin’ stupid, ya got that look.” “I’m gonna go talk to Sam,” says Dean. “You just don’t give up,” says Bobby, shaking his head. “It’s SAM!!!” says Dean through clenched teeth. “You couldn’t reach him here, you certainly aren’t going to be able to on the battlefield,” says Cas. “Well, if we’ve already lost, then I guess I got nothin’ to lose, right?” says Dean. “I just want you to understand,” says Cas, “the only thing you’re going to see out there is Michael killing your brother.” “Well, then I can’t let him die alone,” says Dean, giving the men one last look and climbing into the Impala.
Stull Cemetery – Windy, creepy, foggy, a no trespassing sign hangs by one nail from the open gate. A huge, cawing bird of prey flies over Samifer’s head, and he watches it go. Hearing a sound, he turns to see he’s been joined by Mikeadam. It’s good to see you, says Samifer. You, too, replies his brother, it’s been too long. They both can’t believe it’s finally here. “Are you ready?” asks Mikeadam. As I’ll ever be, says Samifer–part of me wishes we didn’t have to do this. “Yeah, me too,” says Mikeadam. Then why are we? asks Samifer. “Oh, you know why,” says his brother, “I have no choice, after what YOU did.” What I did? asks Samifer–what if it’s not my fault? “What is that supposed to mean?” asks Mikeadam. Think about it, says Samifer, Dad made everything, which means he made me who I am–God WANTED the devil–so why?–and why make us fight?–I just can’t figure out the point. “What’s your point?” asks Mikeadam. We’re going to kill each other, says Samifer, and for what–one of Dad’s tests–we don’t even know the answer–we’re brothers–let’s just walk off the chessboard. Mikeadam considers this, and says, “I’m sorry, I can’t do that–I’m a good son, and I have my orders.” You don’t have to follow them, says Samifer. “What, you think I’m gonna rebel, NOW?” asks Mikeadam, I’m not like you!” Please, Michael, begs Samifer. “You haven’t changed a bit, little brother,” accuses Mikeadam, “always blaming everybody but yourself–we were together, we were happy, but you betrayed me, all of us, and you made our father leave.” No one makes Him do anything, says Samifer, He is doing this TO us! “You’re a monster, Lucifer,” says Mikeadam, “I have to kill you.” Sadly, Samifer says, if that’s the way it’s gotta be–then I’d like to see you try. The brothers begin to circle around each other purposefully, anger in their eyes. The silence in the graveyard explodes with first the sound of the Impala’s noisy muffler, then Dean pushing in a cassette tape and driving into the graveyard blaring Def Leppard’s Rock of Ages. The two angels, wearing both of Dean’s brothers to this prom, stare stonily at him. Dean leans out of the car. “Hi, boys,” he says, “sorry, am I interrupting something?”
Dean faces Samifer. “We have to talk,” he insists. Dean, says Samifer softly, even for you, this is a whole new mountain of stupid. I’m not talkin’ to you, I’m talkin’ to Sam,” says Dean. Mikeadam tells Dean he’s no longer the vessel and has no right to be here. Dean says, “Adam, if you’re in there somewhere, I am so sor–” “Adam isn’t home right now,” says Michael coldly. “Then you’re next on my list, buttercup,” says Dean, “but right now, I need five minutes with him.” He turns to Samifer. “You little maggot,” says Michael, advancing on him, “you are no longer a part of this story!” “Hey, assbutt! calls Castiel, and hurls something at Michael that sounds like glass crashing and sets him aflame. Michael screams and appears to burn to a crisp, then disappears. Samifer has shielded his eyes and Dean has ducked his head. “Assbutt???” repeats Dean. “He’ll be back–and upset!” promises Cas, “but you got your five minutes.” Samifer advances on Castiel. Did you just molotov my brother with holy fire? he demands. Cas backs away, protesting. Dean’s face displays that he knows this is very, very bad. No one dicks with Michael but me, says Samifer. He snaps his fingers and Cas explodes into bloody pieces. The spray catches Bobby’s face, who looks at the carnage, breathing heavily. Dean gazes at Samifer. “Sammy, can you hear me?” he says. Ya know, begins Samifer, I tried to be nice, for Sammy’s sake–he grasps the lapels of Dean’s leather jacket–but you are such a pain in my ass. He shoves Dean against the Impala with enough force to shatter the windshield. Bobby shoots Samifer, once in the shoulder, and when he turns around, once in the chest, in the heart. Samifer looks at Dean, then up at Bobby, who is gazing at Dean with an “I couldn’t think of anything else to do” expression. Samifer twists his fingers, breaking Bobby’s neck, killing him.
“NOOOOOOOOOO!” cries Dean, YES, says Samifer, dragging Dean off the Impala by his legs, punching him so hard, he’s bleeding from the mouth. “Sammy, are you in there?” Dean asks, turning to face Samifer again. Oh, he’s in here all right, says Samifer, giving Dean another bone-breaking punch across the face, and he’s gonna feel the snap of your bones–ever single one. He punches Dean over and over against the Impala, declaring, we’re gonna take our time, until Dean’s face is a bloody, broken mess. “Sammy,” says Dean, “it’s OK, I’m here, I’m here, I’m not gonna leave you.” After two more vicious punches, Dean reiterates, “I’m not gonna leave you.” Then, Samifer draws back his fist for another brutal blow, but something happens: sunlight catches his eye, his pupil contracts, and inside the Impala, he sees the soldier he stuffed into the ashtray years ago. That sets off an explosion of other memories of him and Dean, playing in the car as kids, with Legos, scratching their initials into the car, under the floor mats; Sam showing Dean his outdated music collection when they first went on the road and Dean told him, “Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole”; Dean shoving a plastic spoon in Sam’s mouth when he’s asleep; the two of them after they ran from the bank, Henriksen was after them, and they declared themselves so screwed; singing in the car the night Dean’s deal came due; driving after Sam saw Dean humping the Doublemint twins; scene after scene of the two of them, always TOGETHER, finally culminating in Dean hugging Sam desperately after selling his soul to bring him back to life at the end of season 2. Samifer’s clenched fist relaxes, opens, and Sam takes over his body, gasping. Dean, one eye closed from his injuries looks blearily up at his brother. “It’s OK, Dean,” says Sam, “it’s gonna be OK–I’ve got him.” Sam reaches into his jeans pocket, pulls out the rings, and tosses them down onto the dried cemetery grass. He recites the same Latin Dean did earlier. The grass collapses into a hole, and it sounds like someone is screaming. A wind picks up, threatening to push Sam in. Sam looks at Dean, nodding–he’s going to do it, toss himself into the vortex! Then Michael appears. “It’s not going to end this way,” he says, “I have to fight my brother, Sam, here and now, it’s my destiny!” Sam looks at Dean one more time, closes his eyes, and makes ready to take the fall. Michael runs at him, grabbing onto his jacket, but Sam pulls him down into the pit with him, and both men disappear into the vortex. Dean closes his eyes as bright light emanates from the hole. It closes up, grass once more, the four rings sitting on top as if nothing had happened. Dean leans his head back, sad, bereft. Lucifer is back where he belongs, but at what cost? His beloved brother is lost to him forever.
Dean kneels on the ground where Sam disappeared. Castiel appears behind him. “You’re alive?” asks Dean. Better than that, says Cas, touching his forehead. All of Dean’s injuries disappear. “Cas, are you God?” asks Dean reverently. “That’s a nice compliment, but no,” says Cas, “although I do believe He brought me back–new and improved.” Cas kneels over Bobby’s dead body and brings him back to life. Dean is grateful for that, but he stares down unhappily at the four rings in his hand.
Chuck: Endings are hard. (We see the manuscript of “Swan Song.”) Any chapped-ass monkey with a keyboard can type out a beginning, but endings are impossible. (Chuck drinks more booze from a glass.) You try to tie up every loose end, you never can; the fans are always gonna bitch, there’s always gonna be holes, and since it’s the ending, it’s also supposed to add up to something; I’m telling you, they’re a raging pain in the ass!
Two cars ride down the highway. In the Impala, Dean asks Castiel, “What are YOU gonna do now?” “Return to heaven, I suppose,” replies Castiel, “with Michael in the cage, I’m sure it’s turmoil and anarchy up there.” “So what–you’re the new sheriff in town?” asks Dean sarcastically. “I like that, yeah, I suppose I am,” says Cas. “God gives you a brand-new, shiny set of wings,” grouses Dean, “and suddenly, you’re his bitch again.” “I don’t know WHAT God wants,” admits Cas, “I don’t know if He’ll even return, it seems like the right thing to do.” “If you do see Him, tell him I’m comin’ for Him next,” says Dean angrily–“He brought you back, but what about Sam?–what about ME?–where’s my grand prize?–all I got is my brother IN A HOLE!” “You got what you asked for, Dean,” points out Cas, “no Paradise, no hell, just more of the same–I mean it, Dean, what would you rather have–peace or freedom?” Dean turns to him, but Cas is gone. “Boy, you really suck at goodbyes,” says Dean. (FREEDOM or PEACE? WTF???)
Bobby and Dean hug goodbye, and Chuck says that this is the last they will see of each other for a very long time. For the record, this time next week, Bobby will be hunting a ruguru outside of Dayton, but not Dean, who didn’t want Cas to save him. Every part of him, every fiber he’s got wants to die or find a way to bring Sam back, but he isn’t going to do either–because he made a promise.
Dean knocks at Lisa’s door. “Hey, Lisa,” he says with a small grin. “Thank God,” she says, “are you all right?” “Yeah,” he says, sounding near tears, “if it’s not too late, I’d like to take you up on that beer.” Smiling, big time, she says, “It’s never too late, and they hug. I thought I heard her whisper something about waiting. The camera pulls back, and they’re still hugging.
Chuck: So what does it all add up to? It’s hard to say. But me, I’d say this was a test, for Sam and Dean–and I think they did all right–up against good (saving people) evil (YED, Meg), angels (Zachariah), devils, destiny and God himself. They made their own choice. Sam and Dean close the hood of the Impala at the end of season 2, when Dean says, “We have work to do.” They chose family (Sam and Dean hug when Dean returns from hell.) And, well, isn’t that kind of the whole point? (Sam and Dean sit on the hood of the Impala, staring up at the stars together.)
THE END writes Chuck, finishing off his drink. No doubt, he says, endings are hard. But then again, nothing ever really ends, does it? Chuck smiles, then disappears like a supernatural creature would. He is a prophet, and I hope this isn’t the last we see of him.
Lisa’s house – Dean sits at the table with Ben, Lisa comes over. “You OK?” she asks. “I’m good,” he answers, but he’s got a big drink of booze in his hand, which he gulps down.
Outside, a street light flickers and goes out. Standing under it is Sam, who is staring in at Dean, Lisa and Ben. He’s not smiling. It’s begun to thunder.
(You know, I was thinking that if we weren’t getting a sixth season, this episode would have just ended with the scene of Dean sitting at the table with Lisa and Ben, drinking, a man who will never really be happy again without his brother. There wouldn’t have been that last Sam scene, because Sam would have been gone for good, a sacrifice to make the world safe again for the rest of us. We knew someone would have to die to save the world, and apparently, Sam would have been the brother who died. God, that makes me sad.)
Yes, I cried buckets throughout this episode. Everywhere. Don’t make fun of me or I will probably figure out where you live and come hurt you. Don’t make fun of my woman-pain!
Speculation: Is Sam Lucifer, a demon, an angel or is it just a coincidence that the light went out over his head and thunder rolled as soon as we saw him. Why did he look so malevolent? Why did Mr. Kripke make me cry?
Do you think we’ll be seeing Cas again? Perhaps he can drop down from heaven once in a while to check on how Dean is doing? I have no inside info on Misha’s contract, but it would be nice to see him once in a while. Bobby, too.
I wonder if Dean is going to tell Lisa everything that happened so she understands his drinking and sorrow. I really don’t feel he’s going to be happy living an apple pie life, not if Sam isn’t living one, too.
John Winchester NEEDED to be in this episode! Seriously. I’m sure it wasn’t possible with JDM’s schedule, but I missed him terribly. It felt wrong to finish the story without big John.
I KNEW Sam had the strength to overcome Lucifer, I just knew it! I was SO proud of him, weren’t you? I saw the pride in Dean’s eyes, too, even underneath all the blood.
God, it was AWFUL when Lucifer exploded Cas and broke Bobby’s neck! I’m glad God brought Cas back and then Cas brought Bobby back. Dean was right, though, where’s his grand prize? Sam appears to have come back the way animals and people do when you bury them in the Pet Sematary, though, so Dean had better be careful come season 6.
It was a wonderful last episode, even if we didn’t get an I LOVE YOU between the brothers or another hug. I loved the scene of them looking up at the stars for hours without saying a word. It made me cry, of course, but it spoke volumes of their connection, their position as soul mates, dare I say? Thank God for a sixth season, because if they ended it with Dean in Lisa’s house, Sam gone, I wouldn’t have been able to take it. It would have killed me to see Sam stuck to Lucifer, separated from Dean forever.
Hi Robin, good review, and so many questions opened, though it’s the myth arc’s ending.
I agree with you, Dean will not be able to live normally, eventually he will go and try to find a way to get Sam back. Hello, it’s Dean! I also think that there definitely is room for Cas to come back, if only for short drop ins. I am so glad him and Bobby survived, Lucifer killing them, to me, was just as brutal a scene as the deaths of Ellen and Jo. I think the things said in the Sam/Lucifer dialogue in front of the mirror will play a big part in S6, Sam’s story isn’t finished yet.
The “Peace or Freedom” quote struck me very much. To me, it’s the Supernatural-story in short: Either you obey and, of course, have no right of opinion, but in return will be provided for, and I’ll let you live a peaceful life. Or you choose freedom and make your own choices dealing with all the good and bad things that come with them on your own. Like living in brain-washing totalitarian regimes as opposed to democracies (I know, I’ve been there).
This was a wonderful episode, and a wonderful finale.
Cheers,
Lara
Robin, I stopped counting the tissues i needed while watching this episode, re-watching it actually. Upon first viewing I was okay, still, but it hit me as I watched it a second time. Like a brick.
Nothing will ever be the same for neither of the brothers. And it’s okay. I hope that Dean will let Lisa in, but I don’t think he will stay. Eventually, I believe, he will leave to search for Sam despite his promise (that is should Sam not make himself known at the beginning of Season Six).
There was so much love between the brothers, I didn’t need an I-love-you. Their eyes spoke volumes. With ‘I’ll back your play’, ‘you go live some normal, apple pie life’, ‘Sam, you gotta go now!’, ‘It’s okay, Sammy, I’m here, I’M not gonna leave you’ – they said exactly that: I love you. They just used another language.
Thank you for this, dear.
Love Jas
It’s so funny: I was somewhat okay after watching this epi for the first time yesterday. And then, today, it hit me – yeah, like a brick, Jas! All day I’ve been on needles, thinking about how this all could have happen, wasn’t there another way?? Sam is where? and why??? Dean in – well isn’t it? – an unfamiliar environment with strangers, how is he gonna survive this??? How am I gonna survive this???? And why do I care about fictional characters so much???? What is happening to me?????
Jas, appointment. Now!
Hi Robin
Great review. I too was very emotional over this one.
I have to admit you had be laugh over your question on Why did Kripke make me cry? My only response is because he’s an evil genus bastard.
I also loved the scene with the two sitting on the Impala watching the stars. It goes in with Dean’s memory of setting off the fireworks with a young Sam. Both so heartwarming.
“Don’t make fun of me or I will probably figure out where you live and come hurt you.” *gasp* Robin, we wouldn’t! 😀
Yeah, the Cas Explosion made me gasp– poor, poor Jimmy’s been chunky souped twice now. The warehouse exsanguination was pretty horrifying too.
Like Freebird, the “peace, or freedom” line really got to me, I absolutely loved it . . . the price of free will. Great review!