The ‘Supernatural’ Finale’s Original Ending Revealed to Have a Different Kind of Heaven for Sam & Dean

Jared Padalecki Jensen Ackles Baby Supernatural Series Finale Sam Dean
Robert Falconer/The CW

Like every other TV show filming in March 2020, Supernatural was affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Its final season ended up airing in two parts, with the last episode airing on November 19, 2020. And what fans saw wasn’t the original plan.

Showrunner Andrew Dabb has detailed what was supposed to close out the CW drama in Supernatural 15 Seasons: The Crew Member’s Souvenir, a book put together by production designer Jerry Wanek. The essence of the ending remained the same: Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) in Heaven (he died on what should have been a routine monster hunt) and his brother Sam’s (Jared Padalecki) life playing out in fast-forward (he died when he was old).

“But those final moments were supposed to take place somewhere else,” Dabb reveals. “When [executive producer] Bob Singer and I sat down to talk about Season 15, and our inevitable end, we came up with something that felt like a fitting version of Sam and Dean’s Heaven: All the people the boys had met along the way (or, at least, those we could convince to fly to Vancouver) crowded into a re-built Roadhouse, as the band Kansas played our (official unofficial) theme song: Carry On Wayward Son.”

COVID changed those plans.

“That Supernatural ending…ended,” Dabb continues. “I love what we have now, Dean in the car on the open road, but I have to admit that I sometimes think about our original idea — all of Sam and Dean’s family and friends, and one of the greatest rock bands ever on a masterpiece of a set, and I miss it…even though it never really existed. I miss what it could have been.”

Read Dabb’s message below and see the set that Wanek and his crew had built for the original ending.

Kansas was still part of the ending: The band’s song played as Dean hit the road in Heaven in Baby (their 1967 Impala) in the finale, aptly titled “Carry On,” before Sam joined him. And while the Winchesters’ friends and family weren’t in Heaven with them, Dean did see father figure and fellow hunter Bobby Singer (Jim Beaver) when he first arrived. Watch that ending below.




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  1. G

    GoldBlowdryer

    No I’m sorry but cas had to be there he was, is, and will always be a main character. I’m very mad.

    11 1

  2. B

    BlueCone

    I didn’t care for the ending, maybe to simple for me. I didn’t know what it was lacking till reading this. That ending would have been perfect and done the justice the show deserved.

    9

  3. J

    Jena

    That ending would have been awesome. I assume the showrunners contacted Kansas about the idea. I do like the ending we were shown*... but again, the proposed one sounds great too.

    *I'm still carping about the one major flaw in the episode. WHY DIDN'T THEY CALL ON JACK (God) WHEN DEAN GOT SHANKED??? What's the point of having God on speed-dial if you can't have Him help out on the really big things??

    12 4

  4. R

    RedSushi

    Was Cas going to be there with them? Are they going to blame COVID for him being forgotten for the finale?

    6 1

    1. C

      CyanAirBalloon

      COVID was likely a factor, but that was not the main reason he wasn't there. Cas was confirmed to be brought back from the Empty, and he helped Jack rebuild heaven. Just read this quote from the actor: "Castiel is not a character that plays into any insidious trope of exclusion in Hollywood… In my opinion, Castiel’s declaration of love was done at his own volition with full knowledge of the consequences of those actions. He went on to rebuild heaven and his action literally saved the world. By making this declaration of love, he literally ends up saving the world. And if that’s not something to celebrate, I don’t know what is." So while COVID can be blamed, ultimately what Cas did was the ending of his character. His action saved the world and he didn't die trying. That does not mean there had to be a reunion

      4 1

  5. P

    PurpleCorn

    The new god said he would no longer get involved with humanity; however, you'd think, for old time sake, he might chime in at least once. lol

    2

  6. G

    GoldTeepee

    But is Kevin in Heaven now???

    3 1

  7. R

    RedPlane

    I’m a little late to the game on this post but finally watched the last season and wow! I thought by the finale was great and terrible. All the feels for sure. Dean dying on such a routine hunt! I mean really? Sucks yet it totally makes sense! I do wish when they were in heaven we saw everyone especially those who had went to hell that should’ve been in heaven. I was hoping for the whole they both live happily ever after with the lives of their lives but I think maybe the writers know more than me and give us exactly what we needed even though it was not what we wanted. Carry on my friends!

    1

  8. G

    GreenCarrot

    Jack said to Dean and Sam he wont be interfering like Chuck to have things play out it should be

    1

  9. P

    PurpleCorn

    Would be nice if one day they could make a second-ending version to the series as a special next year when covid is hopefully less of an issue.

    1

  10. O

    OrangeController

    Kevin can't be trusted he told them to trust Chuck lol, but Jo, Ellen and where is John and Mary but Bobby's there? Yeah it had a lot of holes in it

  11. P

    PurpleCorn

    I know right? You'd think at least they'd make an appearance there at the end.