Supernatural 15.19 “Inherit The Earth”–Right in the Feelings

This episode was seriously no joke. Throughout the whole thing, I was constantly surprised, but I also felt like I was right where I wanted to be. It delivered something perfectly Supernatural to round out the arc of the season. I know a lot of people in the fandom have big problems with Brad Buckner and Eugenie Ross-Lemming, and I do too. But I think this episode might be one of their best. While at some points the script might have been a little disjointed, and I was annoyed as all heck we had to see Lucifer again, I really felt like this was a perfect way to wrap up the season, and at the same time, open up the world for Sam and Dean. I’m sad we won’t get to see what they do with this new-found free will, but it’s nice to know that it’s there.

Before we get to the details, there are a few things I need to call out:
1. Jake Abel is a monster and the only thing I could think about when they were all on that beach was “Bravelecki.”
2. That ending montage almost had me in tears. What an emotional moment, and what a great ending to the season.

Alright, now onto details.

I thought Jack had a great send-off, and I was really glad to see his powers were for good rather than for bad. I was nervous last week when that plant seemed to die when he was near it, and then seeing those planters die as he walked by made me even more nervous. It was nice to see that Jack’s powers were able to be put to great use rather than just as another superpowered person. I also really loved the fact that Jack has become the new G-d. His line about Chuck inserting himself into the story felt spot on, and I appreciate the idea that Jack has enough presence of mind to know that he can’t get involved. I also really loved what he said to Sam when he asked about coming down for a beer. His answer of, “I am in all things,” was so perfect and I think it hit home not only because it is true for Jack, Sam, and Dean, but because it is true for us in the world. In Judaism, we believe that we are all made in the image of G-d and that we can see G-d in others, just as we see him in ourselves. For me personally, I see G-d in others, but I also see him in the changing of the seasons, or when flowers bloom each spring. Knowing that Jack was taking that approach to the whole thing made me feel very warm and fuzzy.

Honestly, I loved Chuck’s ending. I found it to be the perfect way to end his arc. I think for a lot of shows, they would have killed Chuck and then moved on. But no. On Supernatural, G-d gets his powers taken away, and then he has to finish out his life just like the rest of us. I think it was a really poetic ending because I think it not only gives the Winchesters a chance to be the bigger person, but it also provides us with an opportunity to have empathy for Chuck. I’ve never been an almighty, all-knowing, all-powerful being before. But what I have had to deal with is the idea that eventually my life is going to come to an end. At some point, I will no longer be a person on this earth, and I can have empathy for a person who is just discovering this now. Additionally, it made such a great character moment for Sam and Dean to reject Chuck’s ideas of who they are and make their own choice about what to do with him. It felt a lot like what Sam and Dean did at the end of Season 5, but even bigger. They rejected the roles that they were “supposed” to play and did it their own way. The death book also being blank was also a great moment because it really allowed Chuck to have a physical representation of what his life was going to be. He has no clue, and neither do the rest of us.

Okay. Now onto Sam and Dean.

I have to talk about them together for this episode because I felt like they were so entwined. Usually, I can separate them, but this episode they were so together that I’m having a little trouble separating them. One moment that really stood out to me in the episode was when Chuck was beating the hell out of them and they just kept getting up. I felt it perfectly encapsulated what the show is all about and who the Winchesters are. For them to be completely and utterly broken, but to continue getting up to face the bad guy was not only just a beautiful moment for the episode, but it showed exactly why we’ve been watching for fifteen seasons. No matter how low things get for the Winchesters, we know that they will always get back up, even if they’re facing G-d. I also loved the flashbacks we got when the Winchesters were telling Chuck about their plan. I find reveals like that to be awesome, and I always love getting to see more than I did on the first go around. I loved the idea that Sam and Dean took that beating from Chuck in order to give Jack enough power to take Chuck’s power as his own. It was an inspired writing choice, and I think it showed the nobility of Sam and Dean. They’re willing to take a hell of a beating in order to give Jack a chance. I think that’s awesome.

I also really loved the moment when Dean finds the dog. Something about it just hit me and seeing his face light up when he saw that pup made me so happy. Naming the pup Miracle was perfect and then seeing it get poofed away by Chuck was such a soul crusher. In screenwriting, there’s this whole slew of moments that are called, “Save the Cat” moments. They’re the type of moments that help us to like our protagonist. For example, holding the door for someone, helping someone cross the street, and saving an animal. While this was a save the cat moment, it also was the opposite. If we need to not like our antagonist, all you need to do is kill an animal, and right there, you’ve succeeded. I haven’t liked Chuck all season, but watching him poof that sweet pup away made me even firmer in my dislike. I also love that the show was able to find this little moment of levity between Sam and Dean about Miracle, before getting back to the seriousness of the episode and the stakes. (Also, I don’t know what it was about this episode, but both Jared and Jensen were looking perfect! Maybe because this was the first episode they shot coming back from quarantine, but man the two of them looked stunning!)

We’ve known it all along, but I think this episode really showed how truly good Sam and Dean are, and how powerful the rejection of “supposed to” can be. Throughout their entire journey, the Winchesters have always rejected “supposed to,” and I think this was a perfect encapsulation of that philosophy. If this was the season finale, then I think it was perfect. It wrapped up the arc of the season perfectly, and it finished out what needed to be finished out in a way that was very satisfying.

I’m not sure how to feel about the fact that we only have one more episode left (or two if you count the hour before the finale). I have a lot of emotion wrapped up in Supernatural, and I know I’m not alone in that. This show came to me at a time when I really needed it, and its fandom has shown me so much love that I am utterly stunned. So, with that in mind, I will leave you there. As always, comments are open, and I am always available on social media for questions, comments, or concerns. Here we go, family, one more to go; the road is almost ended.