ALL OPNIONS ARE MY OWN. NOT INTENDED TO BASH ANY CHARACTERS. SPOILERS AHEAD, DO NOT READ IF आप HAVE NOT WATCHED THE SEASON FINALE FOR SEASON 8. Firstly, I’d like to say, I’d expect nothing less from Jeremy Carver (who wrote this episode). आप might recognize his पूर्व works: A Very सूपरनॅचुरल Christmas, Mystery Spot, In the Beginning, Changing Channels to name a few of his most famous and most beloved. I’ve heard many people exclaim that सूपरनॅचुरल should have ended after season 5’s gut-wrenching, epic conclusion, as they have pointed out that no season following has measured up या will ever measure up for that matter. I must be in the small percentage that actually enjoyed season 6 and 7. Sure the story pacing was a little off, the plot holes were undeniable and it was very disorganized, lacking both mythology and the expertise to bring it all together, but I believe it still gave a wonderful story, elaborated on the boys’ relationship and allowed for growth of the characters and story. However, I was blown away द्वारा season 8, and its finale lets take a look shall we?
Guilty as charged, I am among the प्रशंसकों that enjoy limp Sam and protective Dean. So this season, particularly when Sam began weakened and ill was very enjoyable (despite his pain) to watch, it was like fanfiction come to life! The first half of season 8 broke my heart. I’ll be frank about it. I प्यार both the boys, but I’ve always been a Sam girl at heart. So many सवालों on why Sam didn’t look for Dean crossed my mind as I watched. I also felt bad for all the character bashing Sam received द्वारा yet again, ‘letting Dean down’ so to say. Any प्रशंसक that really immerses into the दिखाना can see past the character flaws and see fundamentally; both characters have a good दिल and are trying to do the right thing. They are both different द्वारा nature, and therefore approach problems differently. Dean has a self-sacrificial, borderline suicidal approach, revolved around providing for, and keeping his little brother alive, सुरक्षित and happy at all costs. Sam on the other hand, is a hopeful character, who constantly reminds Dean that there is something to live for, and that they both deserve a chance, not just Sam. Their chemistry and their differences helps ground the two of them and this is why their codependency is so, so, so necessary.
Moving on from the first half, I was glad that they finally sorted out their problems-ish and were moving on. I really enjoyed the men of letters storyline; I mean the bunker is awesome. And the boys finally have a home. The three trials is also an interesting storyline. I will say, that I do believe that Sam should be the one to complete the trials. I know some प्रशंसकों कहा that Sam doing the trials was “stealing the spotlight again” from Dean. I don’t believe this to be true, I mean the spotlight is shared द्वारा these two main characters who are the only ones still around since the beginning (then again the दिखाना wouldn’t be the same without them). And if आप remember Dean’s heartbreaking speech, I mean how could आप forget it?
Dean: I want आप to get out. I want आप to have a life, become a Man of Letters, whatever. आप with a wife and kids and grandkids, living until you’re fat and bald and chugging Viagara. That is my perfect ending and it’s the only one I’m gonna get. So I’m gonna do these trials and I’m gonna do them alone. End of story.
To Dean, this is just a mission, his last mission. Do some good, go out swinging and the singular, most important job in his life: watch out for Sammy, one last time. I mean if that doesn’t make आप cry, I don’t know what will. The fact that Sam is the one doing the trials forces Dean to keep going, forces him to will to live. Because he will always look out for Sammy, and maybe that’s what he needs. Maybe Sam can teach Dean a thing या two about living, wanting to live and the wonders of the world आप can uncover when आप do. This also helps solidify and strengthen their bond, which having gone under extreme stress and tension for the last three seasons, I can honestly say that their relationship is at its strongest I’ve seen for a long time. Its no और “looking out and sacrificing everything for my little brother”, but rather “let’s do this like we’ve always done it…together”.
Whoops I’ve rambled on yet again, but I think it’s important to set a base for what I’m talking about before analyzing how it all came together in the finale. The story pacing was superb. It did not feel too rushed and I was surprised Carver could pull together such a masterpiece in a measly 40 minutes. Kudos to seeing sheriff Mills again, Sam and Dean pretend to negotiate a truce with Crowley but ends up trapping him to use for the third trial. Well done boys. Metatron being the bad guy totally caught me off guard, well done writers. The introduction of the expulsion of all the एंन्जल्स out of heaven was yet another storyline, which will likely be elaborated on अगला season. Poor Cas, who tried to do the right thing yet again, fell victim to his own nature, which resulted in devastating consequences for heaven. Because this storyline has yet to unfold, I’ll shift gears and focus on the trials, and possibly one of the most powerful scenes in this series.
Sam, having completed two of the three trials can finally see the finish line. “For the first time, I feel as if we are going to win, I feel good” he tells Dean. Needing to go to confession to purify his blood before starting the injections, Dean offers some suggestions. The lighthearted humour of Dean confusing something he did with Sam did not overshadow the seriousness of the scene. The look in Sam’s eyes when Dean rattles off a सूची of Sam’s mistakes, stretching across the seasons from Ruby to Soulless Sam, is undeniably hurt and perhaps a twinge of inner suffering (which comes to be elaborated on later). The curing of Crowley (oh how I प्यार but hate आप for all you’ve done to the boys), is at first uneventful but soon the cure takes effect and Mark Sheppard’s brilliant अभिनय portrays a strangely remorseful Crowley. Nice cameo Abadon, see आप अगला season, likely in a different meat suit since Sam kinda burned your last one. Cut scene, Naomi somehow wants to make peace with Dean and Cas after learning Metatron’s true goal and tells Dean that if Sam completes the trial, he will die. Naturally, Dean hauls नितंब, गधा to Sam, but Cas goes to heaven and tries to find out the truth. Unfortunately Naomi was telling the truth for once and Metatron completes the spell.
Sam, who is just सेकंड्स away from completing the trial, is stopped द्वारा Dean who explains what he knows to which Sam replies, “so?” And all hell breaks loose. A floodgate of emotions, self-worthlessness and pain is opened, as Sam explains to Dean that he wants for once, to finish something and make Dean proud. Sam also delivers, one of the most दिल breaking lines ever (there have been a few this season).
Sam: आप want to know what I confessed in there? What my greatest sin was? It was how many times I let आप down. I can't do that again.
To all the people who believed that it did not bother Sam, this line proves otherwise. In this one line, आप can see the inner, raw suffering he has endured, the burden he carried and hid for so long. It did break his दिल that he couldn’t be the brother to Dean that he wanted to be. All of the things that Dean listed earlier about his mistakes (and even in the episode where Dean was possessed with the Penny and listed what he called “Sammy’s greatest hits”), come to light and for maybe the first time ever, Sam allows us to see how he really feels and despite appearing like he doesn’t care, its और like he doesn’t want to convey all these years of hurt and remorse. Dean finally sees how some of his words have damaged Sam and ultimately tells him “don't आप dare think that there is anything, past या present, that I would put in front of you!” That brotherly love, so beautiful, so powerful and so unconditional, I will never get tired of it.
The end leaves it open as to where we’re headed. Crowley is mostly cured (is it semi-permanent if the trial is not completed?) Sam is in considerable pain, Dean is calling out to Cas, who is somewhere, looking very human. And the sky is lite up with falling एंन्जल्स from heaven. What a wonderful, emotional, masterpiece.
Sidenotes:
A) Did it occur to आप if Dean had not stopped Sam, Sam would have died? I mean like really died, not सूपरनॅचुरल died. Think about it. If Sam completes the trials, the gates of hell are slammed shut forever and Sammy dies. Meanwhile, Metatron completes the spell and expels all the एंन्जल्स from heaven, turning them into humans. No hell, means no crossroad demons, means no deals for Sam’s life. No angels, means no saving या reviving people, means Sam stays dead. This all equates to Dean being left alone on earth to live a life without Sam.
B) Amazing अभिनय all around. Jensen nailed Dean’s emotional scenes (he always does) right on. Mark was fun to watch as he evolved from scary king of hell to being remorseful and asking for atonement, freaky. Jared was phenomenal all season, especially in the last scene, his अभिनय has come a long way. Osric was an unexpected surprise. He came from the geeky Kevin who was worried about grades to a strong fighter prophet, who grudgingly learns to accept his role. All the cast is amazing, these are just some honorable mentions, cannot wait for season 9.
So how did आप like season 8?
Guilty as charged, I am among the प्रशंसकों that enjoy limp Sam and protective Dean. So this season, particularly when Sam began weakened and ill was very enjoyable (despite his pain) to watch, it was like fanfiction come to life! The first half of season 8 broke my heart. I’ll be frank about it. I प्यार both the boys, but I’ve always been a Sam girl at heart. So many सवालों on why Sam didn’t look for Dean crossed my mind as I watched. I also felt bad for all the character bashing Sam received द्वारा yet again, ‘letting Dean down’ so to say. Any प्रशंसक that really immerses into the दिखाना can see past the character flaws and see fundamentally; both characters have a good दिल and are trying to do the right thing. They are both different द्वारा nature, and therefore approach problems differently. Dean has a self-sacrificial, borderline suicidal approach, revolved around providing for, and keeping his little brother alive, सुरक्षित and happy at all costs. Sam on the other hand, is a hopeful character, who constantly reminds Dean that there is something to live for, and that they both deserve a chance, not just Sam. Their chemistry and their differences helps ground the two of them and this is why their codependency is so, so, so necessary.
Moving on from the first half, I was glad that they finally sorted out their problems-ish and were moving on. I really enjoyed the men of letters storyline; I mean the bunker is awesome. And the boys finally have a home. The three trials is also an interesting storyline. I will say, that I do believe that Sam should be the one to complete the trials. I know some प्रशंसकों कहा that Sam doing the trials was “stealing the spotlight again” from Dean. I don’t believe this to be true, I mean the spotlight is shared द्वारा these two main characters who are the only ones still around since the beginning (then again the दिखाना wouldn’t be the same without them). And if आप remember Dean’s heartbreaking speech, I mean how could आप forget it?
Dean: I want आप to get out. I want आप to have a life, become a Man of Letters, whatever. आप with a wife and kids and grandkids, living until you’re fat and bald and chugging Viagara. That is my perfect ending and it’s the only one I’m gonna get. So I’m gonna do these trials and I’m gonna do them alone. End of story.
To Dean, this is just a mission, his last mission. Do some good, go out swinging and the singular, most important job in his life: watch out for Sammy, one last time. I mean if that doesn’t make आप cry, I don’t know what will. The fact that Sam is the one doing the trials forces Dean to keep going, forces him to will to live. Because he will always look out for Sammy, and maybe that’s what he needs. Maybe Sam can teach Dean a thing या two about living, wanting to live and the wonders of the world आप can uncover when आप do. This also helps solidify and strengthen their bond, which having gone under extreme stress and tension for the last three seasons, I can honestly say that their relationship is at its strongest I’ve seen for a long time. Its no और “looking out and sacrificing everything for my little brother”, but rather “let’s do this like we’ve always done it…together”.
Whoops I’ve rambled on yet again, but I think it’s important to set a base for what I’m talking about before analyzing how it all came together in the finale. The story pacing was superb. It did not feel too rushed and I was surprised Carver could pull together such a masterpiece in a measly 40 minutes. Kudos to seeing sheriff Mills again, Sam and Dean pretend to negotiate a truce with Crowley but ends up trapping him to use for the third trial. Well done boys. Metatron being the bad guy totally caught me off guard, well done writers. The introduction of the expulsion of all the एंन्जल्स out of heaven was yet another storyline, which will likely be elaborated on अगला season. Poor Cas, who tried to do the right thing yet again, fell victim to his own nature, which resulted in devastating consequences for heaven. Because this storyline has yet to unfold, I’ll shift gears and focus on the trials, and possibly one of the most powerful scenes in this series.
Sam, having completed two of the three trials can finally see the finish line. “For the first time, I feel as if we are going to win, I feel good” he tells Dean. Needing to go to confession to purify his blood before starting the injections, Dean offers some suggestions. The lighthearted humour of Dean confusing something he did with Sam did not overshadow the seriousness of the scene. The look in Sam’s eyes when Dean rattles off a सूची of Sam’s mistakes, stretching across the seasons from Ruby to Soulless Sam, is undeniably hurt and perhaps a twinge of inner suffering (which comes to be elaborated on later). The curing of Crowley (oh how I प्यार but hate आप for all you’ve done to the boys), is at first uneventful but soon the cure takes effect and Mark Sheppard’s brilliant अभिनय portrays a strangely remorseful Crowley. Nice cameo Abadon, see आप अगला season, likely in a different meat suit since Sam kinda burned your last one. Cut scene, Naomi somehow wants to make peace with Dean and Cas after learning Metatron’s true goal and tells Dean that if Sam completes the trial, he will die. Naturally, Dean hauls नितंब, गधा to Sam, but Cas goes to heaven and tries to find out the truth. Unfortunately Naomi was telling the truth for once and Metatron completes the spell.
Sam, who is just सेकंड्स away from completing the trial, is stopped द्वारा Dean who explains what he knows to which Sam replies, “so?” And all hell breaks loose. A floodgate of emotions, self-worthlessness and pain is opened, as Sam explains to Dean that he wants for once, to finish something and make Dean proud. Sam also delivers, one of the most दिल breaking lines ever (there have been a few this season).
Sam: आप want to know what I confessed in there? What my greatest sin was? It was how many times I let आप down. I can't do that again.
To all the people who believed that it did not bother Sam, this line proves otherwise. In this one line, आप can see the inner, raw suffering he has endured, the burden he carried and hid for so long. It did break his दिल that he couldn’t be the brother to Dean that he wanted to be. All of the things that Dean listed earlier about his mistakes (and even in the episode where Dean was possessed with the Penny and listed what he called “Sammy’s greatest hits”), come to light and for maybe the first time ever, Sam allows us to see how he really feels and despite appearing like he doesn’t care, its और like he doesn’t want to convey all these years of hurt and remorse. Dean finally sees how some of his words have damaged Sam and ultimately tells him “don't आप dare think that there is anything, past या present, that I would put in front of you!” That brotherly love, so beautiful, so powerful and so unconditional, I will never get tired of it.
The end leaves it open as to where we’re headed. Crowley is mostly cured (is it semi-permanent if the trial is not completed?) Sam is in considerable pain, Dean is calling out to Cas, who is somewhere, looking very human. And the sky is lite up with falling एंन्जल्स from heaven. What a wonderful, emotional, masterpiece.
Sidenotes:
A) Did it occur to आप if Dean had not stopped Sam, Sam would have died? I mean like really died, not सूपरनॅचुरल died. Think about it. If Sam completes the trials, the gates of hell are slammed shut forever and Sammy dies. Meanwhile, Metatron completes the spell and expels all the एंन्जल्स from heaven, turning them into humans. No hell, means no crossroad demons, means no deals for Sam’s life. No angels, means no saving या reviving people, means Sam stays dead. This all equates to Dean being left alone on earth to live a life without Sam.
B) Amazing अभिनय all around. Jensen nailed Dean’s emotional scenes (he always does) right on. Mark was fun to watch as he evolved from scary king of hell to being remorseful and asking for atonement, freaky. Jared was phenomenal all season, especially in the last scene, his अभिनय has come a long way. Osric was an unexpected surprise. He came from the geeky Kevin who was worried about grades to a strong fighter prophet, who grudgingly learns to accept his role. All the cast is amazing, these are just some honorable mentions, cannot wait for season 9.
So how did आप like season 8?
