I could see this episode as a series finale, & indeed it felt that way. It definitely would have been heartbreakingly bittersweet, a Lord of the Rings ending in a way. Sam as Frodo who saved the world, but not for himself; Dean as Samwise, left behind to live a family life. However, I cannot imagine Sam left to rot in Hell, & Dean knowing that's where his beloved brother would be for eternity. It would haunt Dean...and me, forever! If Dean knew that Sam had "sailed from the Grey Havens to that far green country under a swift sunrise", that I could abide.

Dawn

Part of the reason I allowed myself to get into Supernatural in the first place was because I believed it would end after Season 5.

I'm extremely pleased with the season finale because it DID feel like a series finale. (I would have been satisfied with Sam stuck in Hell too). This way, I can take S6 or leave it, and it doesn't effect the quality of the first 5 seasons.

I would LOVE to know how Kripke would have ended it if there was no S6 though. I'm really hoping that will be revealed in DVD commentary. *crosses fingers*

I would have been pissed if that had been the series finale. I though it would have been a terrible way to end the story or any story for that matter. There was way too much ambiguity to be satisfying. And that is a common trope a lot of story tellers use that i find annoying. There is no such thing as "The End" unless everybody dies. No couple lives happily ever after. In supernatural, much of that ambiguity lies with Dean. There is so many paths that Dean's life can end up in that no amount of speculations would be able to answer it. Dean is at a crossroads. One i find very fascinating. I am very much interested in seeing which road he chooses and why. Also, i detest stories where much of the time was spent averting a disaster of sorts and after said disaster had ended, the story ends. That is so cliche and been done a million times that i have no desire for that to be the Winchester's story. I prefer to know about the aftermath. How did the event affect out main characters? Do the relationships survive? What does it feel like to them when the adrenaline from always being on edge and fending danger is gone? How do they handle the loss? How do they deal? War movies that deal with this portion of the story are way better than the ones that deal with how the war got stopped. I think the aftermath is equally as important. I think that is a better realistic and satisfying ending and why i am happy for a season 6.

I completely agree with you, elle. I would love an ending where they drive into the sunset looking for more baddies to hunt. The show will truly come full circle if they play "Back in Black" and do what they've always done... hunt things and save people.

Hee, just realized I said pretty much the same thing Dawn (Baggins) did--just a lot wordier :D. Yeah, our version of the ending would be VERY Lord of the Rings . . .

I didn't think much of it as a season finale, if that had been the end of the series as well I'd have been massivly dischuffed. Either both go down together ( and preferably get rebooted by New Improved Cas Power ) or fight, survive and hit the road again ... If the final shot after all the twists and turns and blood, sweat and tears was Deano drowning in dosmestic bliss while DeadSam beams beatifically in through the window before disappearing back to Lalaland in a cloud of sparkles I think I'd have shot the computer and then myself, or at the very least sworn violently and sulked for the rest of the week.

PS. I hated the end of LOTR too, they could have ditched 3/4 of the mood-lit Hobbits and squeezed in the scouring of the Shire. :roll::

Flamey, dear, this is something to twist my mind... What would I have felt if this has been the show's end? I'm not a sucker for happy endings. To get a good one, without betraying the core of the show or have it done too cheesy is really hard and I've rarely seen one of those.

I think this show's finale (and one day we're going to have to face it) will never be a apple pie one. It's always going to end in tragedy, one way or another.

I think this would have been a good one to end the show with a melancholy note. However, when the show does end, one day, well, I hope they won't give us an open ending.

All I would like to see, in terms of quality, is this show to reach it's final ending before the quality of scripts or ideas diminishes, as it has happened with other shows I've followed over the years. I'd rather have it end at season 6 than extend it to a season 7 of lesser quality. Then again, it's not my place to say this, actually. I'm only a fan and loving the show. I don't want to ever 'bitch' about it as I've seen on other sites. I have too much respect for everyone involved to venture into saying what or how they should to their work. That's not up to me.

Parting with the characters will be hard at any given time. That will hurt, as it does now, and it's only the hiatus...

I would also love to see Jensen and Jared in other parts, stretching their considerable acting muscles. This show, so far, is providing them with a regular paycheck, so I'm glad for that. But I can imagine an actor's hunger for other stories and opportunities. I do hope, when this show comes to a close one far day.... they will get regular work, should they so desire.

I loved this honest and heartfelt article, Flamey. Thank you, love Jas

Love the idea of a riding-off-into -the-sunset ending, Randal! This show has been a wild west show as much as it has been a family horror show. This would be fitting - the heroes on their magnificent stallion... sigh...

Leslie - isn't it great that being a fan of certain actors will ensure we might love other stuff they do?!

Love Jas

Arde, a great article, and I agree very much. This is a perfect seasons finale but it would be a perfect series finale also.

Allthough I hate the thought of Sam stuck in hell forever, you're right, it was his choice, and he knew what he was doing. And for who(m?) he was doing it for, and I love him for that. They did the right thing which was the hardest thing but who says life is fair? I really like how Show doesn't give us fairytales and happy endings because they aren't real. Pain is real. Love is real. Family. Friendship. Choices that have consequence. And some of the questions are never answered. Just life, pure and simple, and not at all.

I wouldn't mind an ending with the "we have work for you" and riding together to the sunset, but I've always wanted the show to end like Butch & Cassidy. Against impossible odds with little sarkastic quips and subtle, reassuring glances and then they rush to their doom, together side by side guns blazing.

BUT. The ending we got is more real (& more heartbreaking) because one of the guys is left behind, to grieve and move on, alone. That happens, it's life. My heart breaks for Dean here as much as it did for Sam when he jumped in to that pit. Sometimes there just ain't no pot of gold or eternal happiness at the end of the rainbow. Can Dean move on? I don't know but I have hope because I know he'll try.

And what about Sam? Well, I can't help squeeing when I see him standing there outside Lisas house, out of hell. I like the idea that God saved him, it gives me hope and that's a part of life too. Miracles do happen.

Nevertheless, I'm very psyched for the new season 'because' this arch is over, no matter how awesome it was. Ah, all the possibilities! They can do whatever now, and I agree with anene that "the life after" is a very fascinating premise, there's no reset, life goes on.

Suze, I swear you never fail to crack me up. The golden sparkles might be seriously cheesy :D, Molly & Big John notwithstanding . Lose 'em and I still like it though! I'm with Supernarttu for the most part, although like Randal said, I'd be pretty bitter and grouchy if God left Sam in the pit. Volunteers for the 72, show of hands now, please--just kidding!

You know, about the boys dying together--for a moment I actually thought that would happen. In that moment where Sam takes control and he's struggling to take that leap into the pit (looks like his internal Lucifer's putting up a fight) I thought Dean would grab him and throw himself in with Sam. Especially after the "I'm ain't gonna let him die alone" and "I'm not leaving you" stuff, I thought for a second they'd do a Thelma & Louise blaze of glory and sail off the edge together . . .

Wow, great comments, everybody. Normally I like to answer everyone individually, but that's a lot of comments! I got behind.

Looks like the general consensus is that whatever happens to them, live or die or whatever, they should do it together. I could get on board with that, I think, provided it's not a cheese fest. It's issues like these that make me glad I'm not a writer on this show because there's no way to make the show end and have everyone be happy. As long as they stay true to the show, I'll be satisfied.

I also felt that this could have been a Series finale and eventually I would have come to terms with that. But in a way it is a series finale. Look at it this way, for the past 3-4 years Dean and Sam have been dealing with their "destinies", what they are, what their roles are and what needs to be done. So, with the apocalypse averted, and the world saved, this mytharc has come full circle and ended. So, you could look at it as a series finale because this particular story arc has ended. And in that perspective I am satisfied with the ending and if it were the real series ender, I would also have been able to accept that, eventually. That is once my heart heals from the heartbreak of Swan Song. And as Chuck so eloquently stated "Nothing ever really ends". Which is so true, these characters have become so ingrained in us that they have become a part of us and we imagine our own little scenarios in our minds of what they are doing and so on and so forth. (Just like I dare say we do with our own family and friends). And then there is also all the Fan Fiction out there. Other wonderful fans putting their thoughts and ideas about Sam and Dean to pen and allowing us to enjoy what their interpretations are of our beloved boys. And then as long as there are fan sites like this one, where we fans come together and discuss all that is Supernatural, these characters will never end.

Personally, I am happy that Dean is trying to move on with his life and that Sam is out of the "pit" and I am looking forward to have to being able to watch another season. As for when the series does finally come to an end (perish the thought), I am one of those on the bandwagon of watching Sam and Dean riding off into the sunset together in the Impala under the strains of Carry On Wayward Son and the words of "we got work to do" ringing in our ears. I need to have that ending where I know the brothers are together and content with their lives.

Thanks for this article, Ardeospina!
To me Swan Song did feel like a series finale. But, as many of you have said, it is a worthy season finale to wrap up the myth arc. And it has left enough questions open to continue the story. Me, too, like to know about the aftermath story.
Would love to know if and how much Kripke changed, hope he elaborates it in an interview.
I'd also like a finale with the guys riding off in the Impala into the sunset, "We got work to do" (I think it's Sam's turn now to say it :geek:-). For ones, it's just an awesome scene, and for second, that would always leave room for more episodes/movies :geek: