‘Supernatural’ Series Finale: For Sam & Dean, ‘It Was Always You and Me’ (RECAP)
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for the series finale of Supernatural, “Carry On.”]
Carry on, my wayward son/There’ll be peace when you are done/Lay your weary head to rest/Don’t you cry no more
There’s no other way that Supernatural can end than with the Kansas song playing over the final scenes (instead of an opening “Road So Far,” like season finales), but before the series rips our hearts out, it…does exactly that, over and over.
First, we get a taste of what life is like for Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) now that they’re “free” and Chuck (Rob Benedict) is no longer all-powerful. And that means enjoying having a dog for Dean, going for a jog for Sam, and doing regular ol’ chores like the dishes and laundry.
Oh, and of course there’s pie. In fact, there’s a whole pie fest. Dean’s pretty much in heaven, while his brother has “Sad Sam face” because he’s thinking about Castiel (Misha Collins) and Jack (Alexander Calvert). But as Dean puts it, “That pain is not going to go away, but if we don’t keep living, then all that sacrifice is going to be for nothing.” Sam cheers up when he pies his brother in the face.
And then it’s time for an old-school case.
Vamp-Mimes!
It looks like it’s just going to be a regular monster-of-the-week case for the Winchesters: Masked intruders break into a family’s home, kill and drain the father of blood, cut out the mother’s tongue, and take the kids. Sam and Dean, as FBI Agents Singer and Kripke (for executive producer Robert Singer and creator Eric Kripke!), recognize the sketch of the assailant at the crime scene from their dad’s journal.
John, it turns out, worked kidnappings in the same area in 1986. Dean decides (hopes) they’re dealing with vamp-mimes, only for the one they capture after determining the next targets, to speak. After a few threats of torture (how would he prefer his decapitation, slowly with a tiny knife or quickly with a machete?), the vamp tells them where the kids are being kept.
(Robert Falconer/The CW)
Once at the nest, they free the kids, but killing the vamps is easier said than done. In fact, they even know one, Jenny, who called dibs. Sam beheads her, and the Winchesters take out all but one vamp…which is when it all goes terribly, terribly wrong.
“Tell Me It’s OK”
The remaining vamp impales Dean on rebar sticking out of a beam before Sam beheads the monster. Dean knows this is it for him. “Stay with me, please,” he begs Sam, who refuses to accept there’s nothing he can do.
“You knew it was always going to end like this for me. It’s supposed to end like this, right?” Dean says. “Look at us, saving people, hunting things, it’s what we do. … We had one hell of a ride.” And he doesn’t want his brother to bring him back because that never ends well. They cry, we cry, the dog waiting back at the bunker probably cries because he intuitively knows Dean’s not coming back.
Knowing he doesn’t have much time, Dean keeps Sam close. “I’m so proud of you, Sam. You know that? I’ve always looked up to you,” he says. “You’re stronger than me. You always have been.” And then he goes way back to “Dad’s on a hunting trip, and he hasn’t been home in a few days.”
“I must’ve stood outside your dorm for hours. Because I didn’t know what you would say. I thought you’d tell me to get lost, or get dead. And I didn’t know what I would’ve done,” Dean admits. “I was scared. Because when it came down to it, it was always you and me. It’s always been you and me.”
“Don’t leave me,” Sam begs. “I can’t do this alone. … I don’t want to.” But Dean’s not leaving him, his brother promises, because “I’m going to be with you, right here,” he says, his hand to his heart, further destroying every single person watching this episode. “I love you so much, my baby brother.”
But before Dean can go, he has an ask: “I need you to tell me it’s OK.” Sam does, putting his hand on his brother’s on his chest…and with a “Bye, Sam,” Dean dies and all his brother can do is cry and hold him.
They always knew this time would come. #Supernatural #SPNFamilyForever pic.twitter.com/ISMg20y1KC
— Supernatural (@cw_spn) November 20, 2020
Carry On
After giving his brother a hunter’s funeral, Sam’s just going through the motions in the bunker, missing Dean, crying, mourning with the dog. Until Dean’s Other Other Phone rings in his desk drawer when he’s in his brother’s room and someone’s calling for help with bodies missing their hearts.
Then we pick up with Dean. He arrives in Heaven to find Bobby (Jim Beaver) waiting (outside Harvelle’s Roadhouse!) — and he’s not in a memory. Jack freed him from Heaven’s lockup and, with Castiel’s help, changed a few things, pulling down the walls and making sure everyone’s happy and together. Rufus is nearby. So are Mary and John. (So a Winchester reunion off-screen!) “It’s the heaven you deserve,” the boys’ father figure explains.
So what’s Dean going to do now with everything he could want, need, or dream before him? Go for a drive in Baby. And that’s when “Carry On Wayward Son” begins playing. “Love this song,” Dean says.
As he drives (time passes differently in Heaven, Bobby shares), we see Sam’s life play out. He has a son, Dean, whom he raises, and it’s when his hair is graying that he goes into the garage and uncovers Baby, sits in the driver’s seat, and puts his hands on the wheel, clearly still grieving and missing his brother. When he’s old, his son, with an anti-possession tattoo on his arm, tells him it’s OK for him to go. And he does.
In Heaven, Dean stops driving on a bridge and leans on the railing. Without turning around, he smiles, realizing, “Hey, Sammy.” The brothers hug and look out at the Heaven before them.
That’s the only way Supernatural could have ended, with the brothers together.
What did you think of the series finale? Vote in the poll below.
Jared Padalecki
Jensen Ackles
Misha Collins
Alexander Calvert
Mark Sheppard
Jim Beaver
Genevieve Padalecki
Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Samantha Smith
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Rob Benedict
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Conversation26 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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G
Wow. That episode tugged at the heartstrings. I don't know how else the show could have ended. Giving both of the brothers violent endings just wouldn't have felt right. And, after the hard lives they led fighting the good fight, reuniting in Heaven seems like the most appropriate ending. It really is hard to believe that 15 years have passed since the pilot episode aired. I remember watching it for the first time. They look so much younger then. One of these years I might just watch the entire series again... and join Sam and Dean again for one heck of an adventure. Thank you, Eric Kripke, for bringing these characters to life.
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C
I've been a loyal, steadfast fan, for 15 years. The last episode, just tore me up! Knowing Sam and Dean, together, were no more, really broke my heart...the final ending was beautiful; the boys were back together! What a fantastic 15 years, it was! Thank you one and all, for the ride!
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C
I feel like I just lost two close friends. I've watch supernatural for so many yrs and I love the characters. Ill continue to watch the reruns but I can't watch this last one ever again. Also I feel that it should have been longer than an hour. There was a lot to squeeze in, in an hour. Farwell boys!
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J
This was such a moving episode. The scene in the barn with Dean dying.... a masterpiece of writing and acting.* Then showing Sam throughout his post-Dean life.... he was true to his bloodline. And I'm certain he was the father to his son that he himself didn't have. And the final scene on the bridge.... another one that gave all the feels (and tears).
Well done, SPN. Well-done indeed.
*However, in the barn scene, three little words were screaming in my head. It felt strange that it wasn't even mentioned by either character. Those three words: "Call for Jack!!!" G.o.d 2.0 is a best buddy, he can do anything. Why not call on him? He'd be more than happy to help, I'm sure. The fact that neither brother even mentioned him or thought of it seems pretty odd. But in the long run, I can overlook it. The episode was very, very good. A lot of series have crappy finales, but THIS was not one of those!
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J
Note: the site wouldn't let me post the "G" word as it was, so I had to insert the periods in "His" name. 😉
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P
I was thinking the same thing - call for Jack!! How many times did they call for Cas in the past - and now when they really need help they don't shout to the heavens for it?!
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C
I’m trying to find out who was Sam’s wife
Also they never explained what happen when Sam had the call - “someone's calling for help with bodies missing their hearts.”
And walked out of the men of letters
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J
I think that, like who his eventual wife is, the Texas case was just to show that life for the hunter goes on, and he had to stay busy. I was wondering about his wife too (Eileen??), but in the long run that wasn't all that important. After all, as was stressed at the end of the "look-back" episode, the basis of the show, and the entire finale, the whole point was that the story is about the brothers... from beginning to end.
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C
Yea i know main was the story but i just noticed her as she was standing on the porch while watching sam and (other) Young dean is playing catch or smthing. But i eventually forgot about so yea, dont worry about it 🙂
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J
I don't have DVR so I couldn't go back and see her again, or pause it or anything. Otherwise I definitely would have!! Also, IRL no parent of a small child would have the kid wear a shirt with his name on it. Not in today's world. But it was necessary for the story, so we could see that Sam has a son, and that he honored his brother in that way. I wouldn't expect anything less. 🙂
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C
I dont live in U.S. and i have to watch every show/movie in a site where its all free no scubscription but with ads
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B
Well at least we found out family does ends in blood after all these years. Kinda came round full circle not great
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G
Dean’s demise was not epic one deserving of a Winchesters
I believe many would agree. The brothers together were fantastic as always.
I will never watch that episode again I cried to much loosing Dean and hurting for Sam .
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O
Ended the only way it could have... with the brothers together. sure sure... but before that they were separated for like 40 years and sam had an entire life that neither Dean nor us, the viewer, gets to be any part of. That's not a good ending.
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P
What would have been your ending?
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P
His wife was on the porch in the scene he played catch with his son.
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P
I don't believe Sam continued his life as a hunter, nor his son. The way he looked at the bunker before he left after the phone call was a goodbye look. He was leaving it behind. He also had a bag packed. His son went through school, and lived a normal childhood with his father around. I believe the tattoo was to represent his safety, rather than his commitment to hunting.
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B
I didnt like it. It was just too pat. Too brutal and I hate it.
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J
Why was Bobby in heaven? Jack brought back all the people Chuck had "poofed" away, and Bobby was one of them. So why wasn't he back to life??
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B
The Bobby that Chuck poofed away was alternate universe Bobby. So when Jack brought everyone back, he would have gone back to his own world. The Bobby from Sam and Dean’s world was already dead and locked away in heaven. When Jack remade heaven, their Bobby was released from heavens lockup and given the heaven he deserved as well.
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P
And no one has talked about the alternative Sam and Dean who are still in Brazil
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P
He brought Bobby back from the alternative world not the original Bobby who died long ago
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B
This ending broke my heart but I think any ending would’ve broken my heart. I’ve been sad all day today. I wish it could’ve gone on forever and they would’ve never died.
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G
Every story has a beginning, a middle and an end. That was not a Supernatural END, get it right,
DO IT AGAIN
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G
I wish Sam had raised the two orphaned boys who appeared to be a few years apart, no wife, just like his Dad did. It was weird for Sam to just appear with a kid and never a wife, although I know it wasn’t the point. I think raising two boys mirroring his own life would have been better.
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P
Supernatural shat the ending. This was an ending for two white, male heterosexual characters. It was hope and love and free will for just them.
The writers and the show runners took away every piece of representation they ever had and destroyed it to create the most problematic narrative.
This is not my ending.
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