The WFB Admins’ Top 15 “Supernatural” Episodes List: #2
So we’ve reach #2. The penultimate episode in our top 15 episodes. Wait…nobody says penultimate! Ok…it’s our #2, or going with the theme from our #3…it’s our picks for the episodes that get the Silver.
Here we go…..our almost favourite of our favourites….
sweetondean’s #2
“Swan Song”
Why: I remember watching “Swan Song”. I made the error of watching it at work. I think I started crying around about when Sam was saying goodbye to Bobby and Cass’¦.maybe it was before. Right from the opening scene in the junkyard, there’s an overwhelming sense of tragedy. We all knew something bad was about to happen’¦.
I think I really lost it when Lucifer, in the guise of Sam, was beating the snot out of Dean. When Dean said he wasn’t going to leave Sam – that’s about when I started sobbing’ – and I didn’t stop’¦which was awkward’¦because I was at work! I had to excuse myself and go sit in the bathroom for a while to try and get my emotions in check.
On the way home I bought a bottle of wine and poured myself a hefty glass before I watching it again. This time I cried more’¦pretty much from the beginning’¦because I knew what was coming.
“Swan Song’ feels like a love letter to the Winchester brothers, to everything they mean to us and to each other. I love the way it’s structured, with Chuck narrating and the story being built around the Impala’¦the only home Sam and Dean have really known, the thing that carries them safely on their journey together, where so many poignant moments and conversations have taken place. It represents a part of them and I love how it was used.
I love that we see that the brothers have moments where they aren’t battling evil, ‘˜normal’ moments, where they can take in a ball game or a concert, where their life is their own. I got a sense of freedom that I’d never felt before. I’d always felt they were trapped by the life that was forced upon them, but hearing about how they’d take to the highways to go to a game’¦or even just sit in a field and look at the stars, well it made me feel like maybe they have a bit of fun now and then and their life might not be as grim as we often think it is.
The script is perfection. All the words Sam and Dean say to each other, every little moment. Nothing feels wrong, nothing feels out of place. I sometimes have to remind myself that there are the other characters, all of whom I love, in this episode, because for me, “Swan Song” is all about the brothers. The love and sadness, the resignation and dedication, the heroism and sacrifice’¦it’s palatable.
The moment when Sam gets a hold of Lucifer, when something triggers a memory and his life with his brother flashes before his eyes, is magnificent. That montage’¦with only the sound of the wind ending in a body slamming, powerful hug. Perfection.
Jensen and Jared give remarkable performances. Jensen is all raw Dean emotion, Jared is fabulous as Lucifer and strong, heroic and yet vulnerable as Sam. I also have to say Jim, Misha, Rob, Mark’¦just great, every moment with every one of them’¦great.
Eric Kripke out did himself. I’m always baffled to hear that people didn’t like “Swan Song’, which was his swan song in many ways, as after this he stepped down as show runner. I adore his script; you can feel his affection, his passion for his characters and his creation flowing out of every word. I love this script so damn much.
“Swan Song’ is my favourite season finale’¦even though it was and still is torturous. Every second of it captured me and practically made me hold my breath. It still does. No matter how many times I watch it, I find I have to remind myself to breathe.
Favourite Quote: In a script like this, there are so many lines’¦so many things said that I could put here, and if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go with a few.
The first ones capture my heart and represent the heart of the character I’m most connected to in this show and the love of one brother for another. All three come from Dean and represent his love for Sam’¦
“Watching out for you is my job. More than that, it’s who I am.’
“Then, I ain’t gonna let him die alone.’
“Sam, it’s okay. It’s okay. I’m here. I’m here. I’m not gonna leave you. I’m not gonna leave you.’
I’ll also mention Sam to Dean…because the love is reciprocated…
“…..you have barbecues and go to football games. You go live some normal, apple-pie life, Dean. Promise me.”
“It’s okay, Dean. It’s gonna be okay’¦.’
No more words are said between the brothers after Sam tells Dean it’s going to be ok’¦at not least verbally.
And I can’t not mention a quote from Chuck, because it kind of sums up the whole thing’¦
“So, what’s 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, evil, angels, devils, destiny, and God himself, they made their own choice. They chose family. And, well… isn’t that kinda the whole point?’
Geeze Mr Kripke, you sure write pretty.
Favourite Scene: I love the opening scene. I love the brothers sitting on the Impala, talking in the junkyard. I love it.
I love the scene where the boys are sitting on the hood of the Impala, just silently looking at the stars.
I love Dean rocking up all bravado to take on the Devil and the archangel Michael, pumping out “Rock of Ages”. I love that the cassette he slips into the player in the Impala has “kick it in the ass’ written on it. Such a nice touch and tribute to Kim Manners.
I love the soundless montage in the cemetery and the flashback montage during Chuck’s ending speech.
I love the brothers looking at each other, with Sam nodding bravely as Dean watches him fall back into the pit’¦ Then Dean simply slumps.
Yeah, I’m not going to pick one scene, I can’t.
This episode still breaks my heart. It feels so, final’¦even though it’s not. It feels it. It feels like a series finale’¦though I’m so happy that it wasn’t. Because I wasn’t ready to let go and I couldn’t have coped with Dean surviving and Sam languishing in the pit for eternity. Nope, that just doesn’t work for me. It’s both or neither. Both live or both die’¦that’s pretty much all I can handle. But let’s not think about that huh?
“Swan Song’ was very nearly my #1 choice. If I could have skipped #2 and had two #1’s I would have. But that’d be cheating’¦so I had to make a choice and by a whisker, it came in at #2. I couldn’t even tell you why’¦just a sentimental thing probably, because my #1 has held my heart for a very long time. It was a bloody tough decision though. I’m mean the brother’s love saved the world’¦how awesome is that.
(Alice’s #2 is on page 2)
Swan Song is my number 3. Love that episode so much! Thanks for such great tributes to it! I have not been aware of things like the conventions, etc. until the last year or so. Before that, I just watched, and loved, the show. Anyway, I guess that is why I had no idea there were fans that did not like that episode. I cannot wrap my brain around that – just does not compute! Looking forward to your number 1s. My 2 is Point of No Return and 1 is the Pilot. I could watch my 1, 2, and 3 episodes every night and never get bored!
Thanks again – you have made the last part of the hiatus easier to handle.
So far the episodes that you guys have picked are in my all time favorites category. However, I don’t envy this assignment that you’ve had…I would be at a loss to pick my all time favorite. It would be a tie between several episodes!
I agree about “Swan Song”. I think that it was a masterpiece of writing by Kripke. It was such a love letter about the show which was also his “baby”. Oh…I also agree that Chuck is God! IMO That’s why Kevin is a prophet because God doesn’t want to have the “cat out of the bag”..just yet! He’s still roaming the earth, but no longer needs his earthly disguise for direct interaction with the Winchesters. Also I seem to remember a certain leviathan (Chet) having access to bankcard records for a customer (David Righton) who did business with Mistress Magda. So that seems to back up that theory. Some habits die hard! Hmmm… 😉
Being a late comer to Supernatural season 5 was my first full watching weekly season. Swan Song was my first real season finale.
Fav scenes: the entire narration by Chuck is just fantastic.
The discussion between Sam and Dean in the car, just heart breaking. Dean: “Then what am I suppose to do.” Remember AHBL2?
When Sam is getting ready to drink the demon blood and says to Dean ” Ya mind not watching this?” Omg !
Deans look of absolute despair when he realizes Lucifer has Sam.
I still can’t watch the cemetery scene with Lucifer beating Dean with out cringing.
The look between the brothers when Sam has taken control of Lucifer and is ready to jump into the pit just breaks your heart. . ( again)
Let me just say this was some of the best acting by Jared ever.
I hate spoilers and will avoid them at every turn. I actually screamed at the end when the street light flickers, camera pans down and there Sam is staring at Deans “apple pie life”. You just knew season 6 was going to be amazing.
It was also the beginning of my first Hellatus 😮
Oh sweetondean, I could give you the hugest hug right now. You expressed so beautifully the exact same reasons I love this episode so much. I adore it. I was tearing up from the very first scene in the junkyard and sobbing by the end. I also have to remind myself to breathe. What a beautiful, beautiful ending. I too felt the affection for this show and these characters just dripping off every word of Kripke’s script. I’m pretty sure by now I can quote every line Chuck wrote for his final installment, too. Oh, and you said that you had a tattoo that said “We keep each other humanâ€. I’m actually still planning one day to have “Choose family†tattooed, just because of this episode.
Alice, I was just a wreck, too. The first time I watched, I did manage to maintain some modicum of self-control since I was watching with my family. At the time though the broadcasting channel aired a late repeat on the same night so I stayed up and watched, and yes, wrecked again. I have no idea what time I finally crawled into bed, but it was certainly some unearthly hour. This episode was so heartfelt, I still don’t understand to this day how some fans disliked it so much. Yes, maybe the story didn’t exactly pan out the way they might have wanted, but Kripke was just so earnest in the script, I can’t see how they couldn’t put that aside to enjoy the very visible love for his show apparent in this episode.
Ardeospina- I’m sure The Man Who Would Be King could very well be classified as a masterpiece. Wonderful from beginning to end. Oh, and thanks for breaking the fourth wall. 😉
btw, am I the only one, that finds it extremely funny, that God works as Mistress Magda?
I mean SERIOUSLY?!
Sweetondean,
You, I like.
Your take one of my most emotional, heart-wrenching episodes ever and make me giggle while teary-eyed reading your take on it. (still sniffing here!)
Ar
I’m glad “Swan Song” is way up there in your choices. I agree with you Alice, it was the most perfect love letter to the fans, I’m always shocked when I hear some people hated it. My favourite scene is pretty much at the end, just the look between Sam & Dean just before Sam jumps in the hole, Dean gives this imperceptible nod letting his brother know that’s it’s okay to let go. 😥 And then when Sam shows up outside of Lisa’s house and the light explodes above his head, I was so convinced he had come back as Lucifer. That was a long hiatus!
Wait, back up… “Swan Song” was not well received? Kripke had to defend it? Wow! I didn’t start watching until a year ago when it came out on Netflix, so I was unaware of the reception it got. It floors me to hear that, because I thought it was a fantastic finale! I’m with you on this.
My #2 episode is “Changing Channels”. From Dr Sexy MD to the VD commercial, Sam as the Impala, the CSI sunglasses showdown, this one had me in stitches! The boys figured out the Trickster was actually an angel, and I loved Dean’s speech at the end about standing up to his family. I also enjoyed he nod to Jeffery Dean Morgan’s character in Grey’s Anatomy. This show has ghosts? Why?! Indeed.
“Well I say… no guts, no glory!” – Dean
Sweatondean (and Alice)you nailed it with swag song. Just reading your review makes me tear up. Love the flow of the show and how it centered around the car. The parts of the boys just sitting on the hood reminds me that the guys are just humans. Also, I am a huge Def Leppard fan (seen them 8 times in concert) so I was totally rocked to hear the song.Do you think they plan to bring Chuck back this year since they mention him a couple of eposides ago?
I remember reading a lot of posts from folks hating “Swan Song” and for most of them, it seemed to be their disappointment that Jensen would not get to play ‘Michael’.
They so wanted a battle between “Michael” and “Lucifer”.
Couldn’t understand it myself, as this show for me has always been Dean and Sam, Sam and Dean, and I didn’t want them to disappear into the woodwork while I watched two archangels battling it out. That you can get in video games where the battle is 99% and character 1%.
I was so relieved where Kripke went with this script and the love he poured into those characters and delighted when “Chuck” became God! Bravo! 😛 What a swan song for Eric! So sorry he had to hear gripes about his perfect script. 🙁
I have loved all of your choices thus far. Only since getting into your top 3 have I had a little different view. :0) Swan Song is my favorite episode to date. I was also a late comer to Supernatural (season 8 will be my first live season) and I watched seasons 1-7 in just over a month on Netflix. When I finished season 7, season 8 was only 3 episodes in. Anyway I remember watching Swan Song and balling my eyes out. That was the first and only episode so far to do that. Now don’t get me wrong I cried my fair share during Death’s Door and even other episodes before Swan Song. But there was something about that episode that just hit home what this show us really all about for me. It’s not really about the supernatural at all…..it’s about family. When we started it was Sam and Dean and John. Now it’s those 3 plus Bobby, Cas, Ellen, Jo, I could go on.
I would say my top 3 would be 1: Swan Song. 2: Lazurus Rising. 3: Dark Side Of The Moon. Now picking those was hard so I do not envy you 3 for picking 15!! But I do want to thank you for doing it, it has been really interesting seeing others perspectives on their favorite episodes. :0)
Oh my WORD Sweetondean but I have got a lump in my throat the size of the moon at the mo. My favourite part in ALLLL of SPN is how chuck narrates the story through the ‘journey’ of the Impala. WEEP AMD WAIL I cannot tell you how this affects me. Then I read that you watched this at work and then I just HOWLED with laughter. You must have been one blotchy wet mess. I just cannot imagine whether ordinary folk could get this but I do Sweetondean I do.