Ardeospina’s Top Ten Supernatural Episode Endings
#8 – My Bloody Valentine
Lengthwise, this is actually a pretty short ending, but man, it sure manages to pack a punch. So Sam’s in demon-blood detox again, and Cass and Dean are keeping watch. I love that Cass tries to reassure Dean here, that he even recognizes Dean needs reassurance. Being around humans certainly is rubbing off on him. Dean’s in a bad way, though, and tells Cass he needs to get some air. So Dean goes out into Bobby’s wrecking yard and prays for help. Sounds so simple on paper, doesn’t it? In practice, though, it’s gut-wrenching. Dean just looks so broken here. And while I truly think Famine was wrong, that Dean isn’t dead on the inside, Dean certainly seems to believe it. He hasn’t been this broken since “On the Head of a Pin.”
#7 – Nightshifter
I love everything about this episode, from Ron to the Mandroid to the very real menace of Henrickson. But the ending is the best part about it, far and away. I mean, even badass Henrickson has to begrudgingly acknowledge the brilliance of the boys’ escape. The kicker, of course, is the music. Best use of a Styx song ever! In fact, it might be the best use of music ever on the show, and they’ve had some great music cues. It’s just so perfect, and I love how they stretch out that sort of heartbeat pause right before Dean understates “We are so screwed,” then it kicks right into the “Yeah!” the tempo of the song changes, and the boys drive off into the parking garage. Plus, if you look really closely, Sam hits his head on the Impala as he’s getting in. Hee! I guess it’s good that he had a helmet on.
#6 – Heart
It’s all sad all the time from here on out, folks. And to kick things off, we have the tearjerker that is “Heart.” This is another perfect use of music. “Silent Lucidity” kicks in right when Dean takes the gun from Madison, and it just adds so much gravity to this scene. Plus, we have both boys crying, so it’s extra emotional. They’re crying over different things, of course, but that doesn’t lessen the impact. I really love that their crying is just so perfectly them. Sam is a mass of tears running down his face, open and unapologetic for airing his feelings. Dean, meanwhile, is trying hard to be his stoic self, but lets that one tear slide down his cheek. Then gunshot, flinch, and credits. Brilliant.
Hi Ardeospina.
Had to read both of yous’ lists before commenting. I really wanted to see how different/similar your lists would be. This was a really interesting read, like your lists were backwards or something. Alice highnoted on the rocking awesome endings and you on the most heartcrushing, emotionally tugging ones 🙂 And still so many similarities were found, yet from different perspectives.
I agree on all your picks. Just wonderful scenes. And I like how you explained why they got to you (and to all of us). Just so many lovely, crushing, badass moments. I couldn’t make a list like this so kudos to y’all.
Like I said in Alices lists’ Comment, I find all the endings as essential. Even if I don’t like a particular eppie, I gotta watch the ending. It’s like the previouslies, I have to watch them too. I guess most people just pass them, but I want to watch them every time, and same goes for the endings. I love all of them, and the use of rock music is pure joy. And sometimes the lack of it gives the same impact.
I just love this show. Each and everyone working on it gives it their 110% and you can see it.
Thank you both for this double listing. Just awesome you guys. And I hope you do this again 🙂
Another great list, and after reading both, I must say that I cannot pick a number one. Aw yeah, cop out, baby!
It’s splitting hairs, because each ending is one chord in the entire song; all are necessary, whether grab-the-Kleenex or holy-freaking-shit or even a subdued one, if called for.
Thanks Ladies for two wonderful lists! I’m going to have to go with Alice for #1 – as far as an ending that completely summarizes an episode and is just so perfectly filmed/edited I have to go with Nightshifter. It may not be heart-wrenching but it is AWESOME!
By the way – I’m surprised that we didn’t get at least an honorable mention to Lucifer Rising for the very satisfying ‘ganking’ of Ruby!?
Thanks, Alice, for the extra screencaps and the paragraph breaks. I didn’t realize some of those descriptions were so long!
Ladies, both of your lists are awesomely awesome! But I just have to give the thinnest edge of the wedge to Ardeospina just because of her number one ending. That is my absolute number one ending too. My tears flow freely every time I see it as it gets to me in every emotional way possible. And the final scene with the Impala and the lights and both boys in the window……just a wonderful ending.
On my own list too is the end of Lucifer rising when Dean knifes Ruby with Sam holding her for him and me screaming “kill the bitch!” at the top of my lungs. LOL! 😮
Between the two of you, basically ALL my favorites are here, except IMTOD, no Big John Croaking Awesome list, though, as always! Thanks for the “Sympathy” bit, I love reading about how people started watching SPN, what got someone’s attention or tipped them over from viewer to fan
Oh, the ending of Shadow when everyone splits up is a quality ending as well.
If there was some kind of award for faultless delivery of a regular parting kick in the teeth the SPN team would have taken it home for keeps ages ago … For me Nightshifter takes the cake, for no better reason than it so totally rocks and nobody cries/dies/walks out or bangs on for ages about their black and hopeless inner landscape. 😀
PS. Um … And The Black Truck, and the panic-stricken mutual clutch at the end of Lucifer Rising and … and… and … I hate you both, don’t make me choose! 😆
Ardeospina and Alice, WOW both your lists were great!
Devil’s Trap, and AHBLpart1 stand out the most for me, but Heart is right up there too.
These are fun. Can’t wait for your next group!
Ardeospina, well done, wow! Some of my favourite endings are here, too, and thank you for Heart and My Bloody Valentine. They break my heart every time.
And that damn song ‘Silent Lucidity’ was so well picked, but it’s also a heartbreaker (this sounds as if I was a weepy wuss, I guess I am – and I get teary again with the Christmas episode. I don’t like Christmas much, it brings up too much pain, and I understand Sam perfectly in this episode – even if it breaks your heart, you put up a brave face to make the last Christmas a beautiful one for the ones you love).
Oops, and here she realized that her favourite endings were the deeply painful ones…
Ah, I’m a case for my own couch… I can’t really pick a favourite no1. I kinda love them all.
Thanks! Jas
Ladies, great job! And looking at both list, it’s safe to say that this was a hard job, too, so, great job indeed!! 😀
After going thru your lists and my Supernatural-file in my brain (no time for re-watching the episodes), I’d settle for my top 3:
A very Supernatural Christmas – …. trying to find the right words to explain why, and I can’t. I just can’t.
Devil’s Trap – the most shocking and unpredictable ending I’ve ever seen in a show. I was a total mess after that.
Nightshifter – now, that’s MY show 😀 !!
Great list. It made me think about episodes in a different light, but when they showed Dean in hell….I cried like a baby, and I rarely cry! It was like he loved his brother so much, and couldn’t live without him, that he sold his soul–in hell 4ever–just to bring Sam back. If that aint love…. and then to make it worse, he’s calling Sams’ name in the end…. man….
Good list but I think Dead Mans Blood should be up there, that final scene where John agree’s that the three of them should go after yellow eyes together is amazing