Ardeospina’s Top Ten Supernatural Episode Endings
#2 – When the Levee Breaks
This is just horrible, absolutely horrible. We’ve seen the brothers argue and say terrible things to each other, even fight, but most of the time it was under some sort of supernatural effect, like the siren or Dr. Elicott’s whammy on Sam or Andy’s mind-control on Dean. But here, it’s just them. Yes, Sam is hopped up on demon blood, but that’s not making him do or say any of this. They’re both trying to do the same thing but are going about it in completely different ways. And because they’ve never been able to really see where the other is coming from, even before this, they cannot reconcile their differences and find a middle ground. So everything just spins out of control, and they hurt each other in the worst possible ways, the way only someone close to you, someone who loves you, really can.
They know each other’s fears and weaknesses, and they both go for them: Sam uses Dean’s fear of his own weakness against him, and Dean uses Sam’s fear of becoming a monster against him. He even calls him a monster. And that’s the breaking point for Sam, who cold-cocks Dean as he’s crying over what he just said and what it means to both of them, which is all kinds of wrong. And, oh, the look on Dean’s face as he gets back up is just…it’s brutal. And then they’re fighting, really fighting. This isn’t just a punch or two. They are really going after each other. Sam has the upper hand, what with the demon blood and all, and he just mauls Dean. The absolute worst, though, is the choking. I really thought for a minute that he was going to do it, that he was going to kill Dean. And then Dean gives Sam an ultimatum, which is the worst possible thing he could have done in that moment. So Sam walks out the door, leaving Dean lying on the floor, battered and alone. And that is how you destroy a relationship you’ve spent four seasons rebuilding.
#1 – A Very Supernatural Christmas
I absolutely adore the ending of this episode. It’s perfect in every way, from the rum-soaked eggnog to the awesomely lame presents to the air-freshener ornaments on the tree. It’s heartbreaking in so many ways, not least because you get the feeling that this is probably one of their best Christmases together, if not the best, and it’s just them in some dingy motel somewhere exchanging gifts from Gas Mart and watching the game on TV. I also love the Rosemary Clooney version of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” they use in the background, and the final shot that pans out to show the Impala keeping watch over the two of them is brilliant. But the real reason this ending is my number-one choice is because of all the horribly sad and heartbreaking things that have happened on this show, the end of this episode is the only time I have actually cried. I’ll tear up at plenty of other moments, but for actual tears to fall, nothing comes close to this ending.
From the second Dean walks back in the door amulet first and sees what Sam has prepared for him, my eyes get misty. But what really sends me over the edge is when Sam turns to Dean and says, “Hey, Dean…” and just can’t bring himself to say anything else because how can he possibly express everything his brother means to him? And you can see him struggling to find something, anything to say. But Dean just looks so content that he can’t bring himself to spoil his mood and goes for watching the game instead. By now I’m crying in earnest, and to make it worse, the two of them just keep looking at each other because neither of them can express what this means to them right now, so all they can do is exchange glances as if to say, “for now, we’re still here, we’re still together, and that’s enough. It’s all I need.”
So there you have it, my Top 10 Endings. Did I leave out any of your favorites? Agree or disagree with my rankings? Tell me about it in the comments!
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