Supernatural Hiatus Hunting: 5.04 “The End”

Welcome to Hiatus Hunting, Season Five edition! We’re kicking off season five with an iconic episode – one that gives me chills just thinking about the incredible acting and intense level of emotions captured on the screen. So, enjoy an in-the-moment look back at The End.

“The End.” The episode that answers the burning question, what if you held an apocalypse in Kansas City and no one came? Let’s get started.

Then: A whole freaking lot.

Now: The Impala! That’s a perfect way to open an episode. Dean pulls up, parks in front of a meter and doesn’t put change in. I guess paying for street parking in Kansas City is optional. So that’s why it will be destroyed. Dean’s stingyness put less cops of the streets to fight zombies.

A religious nut in a suit, must be a Jehovah’s Witness, is harassing passersby on the street. He comes up to Dean. “Have you taken time out to consider God’s plan for you?” “Too freaking much pal.” Dude, you really don’t want to know God’s plan for Dean, or his brother for that matter. It’s pretty messed up. Religious nut gives Dean a long parting stare. Remember this for later.

Dean’s in your standard crappy motel room with one bed (sniff!) talking on the cell phone. He’s talking to Cas! He has trouble hearing what Cas is saying, which isn’t hard since a semi is going by Cas on the other end. Dean makes a joke. “It’s kind of funny, talking to a messenger of God on a cell phone. You know, kind of like watching a Hell’s angel ride a moped.” Castiel isn’t in the mood for jokes since the “voice” is telling him he doesn’t have many minutes left. What sort of a cell plan did he get? A prepaid phone? Angels have all this almighty power yet can’t pick a decent cell phone plan?

Dean goes on with the point. They’re talking about the colt. Dean thinks it’s been melted down. After all, why would demons keep around a weapon the kills demons? Castiel has heard otherwise and thinks it’s what’s needed for Dean’s crazy plan to kill Lucifer to succeed. Uh, what happened to the finding God thing? Castiel wants to know where Dean is, and Dean tells him his room and number in Kansas City. Insert your own joke here. You know, I don’t have any Missouri jokes, but I do have an Oklahoma one that I failed to share in last week’s recap. Why doesn’t Texas fall into the ocean? Because Oklahoma sucks. Bada-bump. Thank you, I’ll be here all week.

Castiel is ready to come right over, but Dean points out the basic human needs of eating and sleeping, especially after driving 16 hours. Huh Dean, if you only had someone that could help you with the driving. Let’s see, who could that be… Dean needs four hours. Castiel agrees and while waiting on the street corner decides he’ll wait right there. Oh that won’t attract attention. If only there was time in this episode to show cops chasing him off for being a pervert.

Dean is sleeping and the clock shows 4:15. AM. Man I feel his pain. The phone buzzes and rattles against the table. Somehow Dean hears it. He picks up the phone and starts blasting Cas, but it’s not him. It’s Sam! Oh Sammy, you’re coming to your big brother for help. That’s so awesome. Dean protests that it’s 4:15 but Sam says it’s important. I’ll say! Dean, the fact that Sam is calling you at all means it’s important.

Dean grabs a beer in a nice POV shot from the refrigerator. He isn’t at all blown away by the fact that Sam is Lucifer’s vessel. “So Lucifer’s wearing you to the prom?” “That’s what he said,” Sam replied, still pretty unnerved by it. “Just when you thought you were out they pull you back in, huh Sammy?” Now, I’m no aficionado of the Godfather movies but I’ve seen them and I’m convinced the entire Godfather III film was shot just so Al Pacino could say that one line. Prove me wrong. Anyway, Sam isn’t laughing and thinks Dean would be a bit more panicked by the news. We know Sam was. Dean shows how numb he’s become to things lately. “I guess I’m a little numb to the earth shattering revelations at this point.”

Sam asks “What are WE going to do about it.” We? Aww Sam, you actually think your big brother will jump in and help. Not that I blame you since he’s been doing that your whole life. Dean asks Sam what he wants to do about it. Sam wants back in. “I’m sick of being a puppet to these sons of bitches.” I could say something really suggestive here, but Sam’s having a moment so why ruin it. “I’m going to hunt him down Dean.” Dean’s not impressed, thinking they’re back to revenge, which worked out so well the last time. No, Sam has a new word for it now. “Redemption.” Okay, po-ta-to, po-tah-to. He can do this and he’ll prove it to Dean.

Dean, who should know by now never to make decisions at 4:15 am with little sleep, makes one anyway. It’s a boneheaded one. He thinks he and Sam should stay apart, FOREVER. Wow Dean, did Sam piss you off that much? “We’re the fire and oil of the Armageddon. On that basis alone we should pick a hemisphere. Stay away from each other for good.” Sam doesn’t think it has to be that way. They can fight it. Dean agrees, but not together. “We’re not stronger when we’re together Sam. I think we’re weaker. Because whatever we have between us, love, family, whatever it is, they are always going to use it against us. And you know that.”

Sam is a bit distraught by all this. I’m a bit distraught by all this. “We’re better off apart. We got a better chance of dodging Lucifer and Michael and this whole damn thing if we just go our own ways.” “Dean, don’t do this , ” Sam begs and why are they killing me with brotherly drama this early into the episode? Dean does a quick “Goodbye Sam” and hangs up, and with one pained expression we see Dean die a little inside. Remember that for later. Heck, remember it for the next scene!

Back to the clock by Dean’s bedside, which is cracked beyond repair. Dean wakes up on springs instead of the mattress, and the decor of the room actually improves with the charred out walls. Dean naturally has that “WTF?” look. He sticks his head through the broken out window to see the really fake landscape of a burned out Kansas City, which is an obvious photoshopped picture. But hey, considering the classic rock has been back, I approve of the attempt at making it look real for the cheapest possible dollars. Given Dean’s mild reaction, it’s my guess he’s still suffering from that being numb thing. I’m not numb, I’m laughing my fool head off, for on the theater marquis is “Now Playing, Route 666.” Yeah, that’s an appropriate one to mark the end of the earth with. “Bugs” would have been funnier.

Title card. It’s never been more appropriate.

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