Supernatural – Recap & Review – Swan Song

photo: the cw

Supernatural
Swan Song

Original Air Date: May 13, 2010

Nicola – Associate Staff Writer
nicola@thetwocentscorp.com

This is the end… my only friend, the end…

This story/season’s end is channeled through the story of the Impala, as told by Chuck, who would be the greatest living authority besides Dean and Sam, I suppose. We are given a look at some interesting but seemingly irrelevant details about the car’s history, such as Sam’s army man and Dean’s legos. Cute, but let’s get to the showdown, shall we?

After much internal struggle, Dean tells Sam he’s willing to back his plan to say yes to Lucifer. Sam is surprised, but I’m not. It’s THAT solidarity that was missing for most of the season and that had to click into place at the last minute for any of this to work. Of course, besides his brother’s support, Sam also needs buckets of demon blood, so they get on that (am I the only one who thought of Arrested Development and buckets of red corn syrup? Yes?). Bobby’s hard at work on figuring out where Lucifer is, but Dean’s on it. He knows the Devil is in Detroit, because that’s where Future!Lucifer told him he’d get Sam.

On their way there, Sam tells Dean he doesn’t want him to come after him after he’s jumped into the pit. And THERE’S a double standard no one was expecting! One of the defining characteristics of this family is their inability to take no for an answer, and I’m having trouble believing that’ll start now of all times.

Once in Detroit Sam says awkward and heartbreaking goodbyes to Castiel and Bobby, before he and Dean are escorted to Lucifer. Face to face with the decaying vessel, Sam gives his okay for the transfer, even after Lucifer says he knows all about the rings. It’s going to be one big showdown in Sam’s mind. Lucifer climbs inside and there’s an internal struggle as Dean performs the ritual with the rings, but it’s Lucifer who comes out on top. He snags the rings and disappears, leaving Dean… more than a little lost.

Dean wants to go after him to the place of the final battle between Lucifer and Michael, but Cas and Bobby have given up. He enlists Chuck’s help instead, who gives him the location.

Dean arrives just in time. Lucifer’s begging Michael (in Adam) to forget about the fight and defy God the way he did, and Michael says he can’t do that. Of course, Dean spoils their party a little bit when he steps in the middle of their tango. But he just wants five minutes to reason with Sam, who he knows is still in there. Cas and Bobby show up then (because we couldn’t write them out, not ever) and Cas send Michael up in a geyser of holy fire, giving Dean his five minutes with “Sam” (and also giving me my new favorite insult. “Assbutt” could not be a better balance of creativity, maturity, and bluntness).

Lucifer’s none to pleased about having his dance cut in on, and he displays his displeasure by exploding Cas and breaking Bobby. And then it’s all down to Dean. And he comes through. Even as Lucifer is beating the crap out him, Dean only reassures Sam that he’s here, that he’s not leaving him, not for anything.

And some of that gets through. Memories cycle through Sam mind, memories of times when he and Dean were everything to each other. Memories of the car, and the army man and legos (I don’t like it when details that are supposed to have been present their whole lives only show up in the relevant episodes, even if they are tiny). And with those memories, Sammy’s able to bounce back. He tosses the rings to the ground, creating the pit. Michael shows up at the last minute to tell Sam that this can’t happen, but Sam just yanks him in with him, and the pit closes up around them.

Leaving Dean on the ground, crushed – literally. Luckily brand spanking new Castiel shows up, newly re-Angelfied, and he heals Dean and then Bobby. He’s ready to go back to heaven and get things under control, now that Michael is gone. Dean’s a bit disgusted with heaven and God right now, so doesn’t think much of Castiel’s plans. He doesn’t seem to like Bobby’s idea of going back to hunting either, so they part ways as well.

He goes back to Lisa instead and settles in with her and Ben. Exactly what he’d dreamed up, only a hell of a lot more bittersweet.

Before we say goodbye to the Winchesters for the summer (and Sam… maybe forever?), we’re given two parting gifts: Chuck looking satisfied with the ending of his perhaps final book before winking out of existence, and Sam standing on the street corner, looking in at his brother and his newfound domestic bliss.

What does this all mean? I think we can safely say that Sam will be back. After all, Dean had to spend a summer in hell. Maybe Sam gets to spend a summer someplace much better. But when he comes back will he still be the Sam we know and love, or with he be purified?

Is Chuck God? Was He there all along, guiding them along silently?

A strong finale, full of unanswered questions, but leaving enough finished to be satisfied. The biggest question that looms is how can they ever top this? Get rid of the Devil and what is there left to do? Can they really go back to just hunting Wendigos?

We have the whole summer to ponder (longer if they’re going to start season six mid-season as is being discussed). Until then, share your theories!  How are they going to “beat the devil?”

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