Supernatural5x22 "Swan Song" spoiler/discussion thread

[Mr. Adventure]

I wish they hadn't foretold the Impala's intervention because I think that would have been a stronger moment without it. While I know they have been building the meta-thing for a while I'm not sure how rewarding it actually was. I guess it helped to excuse how inevitably anti-climatic the endgame would be.

That said, it was not a bad episode, I just think it could have been more moving.

I haven't rewatched any episodes from the beginning, how much has Jared changed over the years?

And just for fun: Supernatural quotables over at Zap2It:
http://www.zap2it.com/zap-supernatural-notable-quotables-pics,0,4300588.photogallery?index=1

 

[mswood]

I think they need to remind the viewers that for Sam the Impala is home, in many ways even more so then for Dean. Dean remembers his "home". That is the only home Sam has really ever had (warts and all). The show from day one has gone out of its way to show Dean's love of the Impala, but we have rarely got to see Sam's feelings toward the car. In My Time of Dying is really one of the only times as its a very clear metaphor for his family.

 

[Checkmate]

I got the distinct impression that it was Chuck who was God all along. Hence the wry grin and fading into nothingness, and why the boys were told that he already knew everything that was happening and their involvement therein.

I'm also pretty sure that Sam showing up under the light was a prelude to the next season (since this was 1. supposed to be the final one and 2. they apparently were convinced to come back for another one).

 

[mswood]

I got the distinct impression that it was Chuck who was God all along. Hence the wry grin and fading into nothingness, and why the boys were told that he already knew everything that was happening and their involvement therein.

I'm also pretty sure that Sam showing up under the light was a prelude to the next season (since this was 1. supposed to be the final one and 2. they apparently were convinced to come back for another one).

Well not really. Kripe created a rough 5 year plan (which is actually fairly typical for any show with any serial nature to it, as that is the typical point for a show to get cleared for syndication).

Kripke has never had a say on when the show would end. That is not nor has it ever been something he has any say so in. Now he did have a rough ending for his five year plan (even that was modified quite bit as his plan never, ever had angels as a part of it).

At some point, maybe this summer, maybe after SN does end, Kripke will let us know on his original plan where he plained for the characters to be. It could be they ended where he always planned, it could be this last episode was completely changed to reflect the needs of the studio.

At this point we simply don't know Kripke has said (though take with a grain of salt) that the ending is his ending. But again that may be somewhat truthful or it might be completely truthful or it could be complete crap.

 

[AliciaD496]

20 minutes later and I'm still reeling...

While it wasn't exactly tear inducing for me, it was pretty damn intense. The flashback to the boys as kids crawling around the Impala (it really was the only home Sam ever knew, huh?) were great, and the flashes to the more introspective moments for them. I just...I dunno. I liked that Lucifer 'indulged' Sam some before the showdown, maybe that will have helped him get over a bit of his rage (he did get his revenge on Azazel's minions for the bad parts his life, didn't he?).

Only thing, and I hope it's addressed at least somewhat in September, is what happened after they fell into the pit. Did God (Chuck?) send Adam back to heaven finally? And the big question, like everyone else is asking...Sam or Lucifer outside the house? Or is it just Sam's spirit being allowed to check on Dean before he 'moves on'? I doubt it, but it's a thought. Also, was there an illusion to Bobby dying permanently the next week? (Dean not seeing Bobby for a long, long time? Ruguru's are pretty rough to take on single handed, as we've seen).

 

[mswood]

I think the Ruguru reference is more of a throw away line reference to the first monster they hunted after their father died. And Bobby has been their surrogate father ever since John did die.

Kind of like Sam comment last week of off fighting wendigo's, which of course was their first hunt back as a team unit together.

As to what Sam is, that is of course a mystery for the summer.

Is he Sam just brought back, thus the lighting effect?

Is he a spirit walking, thus the lighting effect?

I would guess it's just Sam, being brought there. God's reward for making the correct choices that his children couldn't bring themselves to do.

As for Adam. I am guessing that like Michael said that Adam wasn't there. I would guess that when Michael took possession of Adam's body that his soul went to heaven already (back to where it was already).

 

[mswood]

Oh one thing, I think in some ways if Sam had stayed in teh Pit that Dean's hell would have been much worse. As per the show, where Lucifer was trapped was I assume separate from other demons (thus way no one ever saw Lucifer). Thus I would assume that in the Pitt it would have been just Lucifer and Sam by the plan. So the he would get tortured and tormented by Lucifer, but he wouldn't be harming others like Dean did.

 

[Lt. Trull]

did I hear right when castiel said that He got a upgrade and is now in charge of heaven.... also... michael is missing... presumed stuck in hell with lucy.... fitting I think since michael being in charge in heaven allowed all this crap to happen.

 

[Checkmate]

Yes, Castiel implied that he was now the head archangel in Heaven in much the same way that Chuck implied that he, himself, was actually God.

 

[Lt. Trull]

well... he deserves it... no angel or even archangel.... knows the human condition better then castiel does now....

 

[startrekwatcher]

Another observation I forgot to mention last night was I wasn't sure how I felt about the way Adam was treated in the episode. They just firebombed the guy. No effort was made to save him. I can't imagine Dean would be that callous had that been the course of action in dealing with Sam. I guess you could argue that the only thing mattered at that point was saving Sam and there wasn't that connection even if Adam was Dean's brother but I think at the very least there should have been some kind of mention by Dean in the final act about it feeling more like a pyrrhic victory losing both of his brothers and being the last of the Winchesters. As it was poor Adam was forgotten--not that I much cared for him--but story-wise I think it could have been handled slightly better.

The way it was handled here felt like Adam was treated like a plot device by not only Kripke but Dean too. I wasn't crazy about that.

 

[Checkmate]

I think the reason less emphasis was placed on Adam is because he was being the meat puppet for an archangel who's only apparent goal was to kick Lucifer's ass, and that no one was planning on tossing him into the cage for all eternity. That was purely an accident.

Sam was the one who definitely needed rescuing in Dean's eyes. They just got rid of Michael long enough (they hoped) for that to become a possibility. I'm sure they would have addressed/had some plan set up to get Michael out of Adam's body, too. But even if they couldn't, it's not like Michael was going to torch the entire planet or anything. I mean, their dad was possessed by Michael at one point and he turned out okay (even though we were told early on that if an archangel took you over, your body and mind was toast -- but hey, behold the power of rewriting).

 

[Othello]

Take out like the last 5 seconds and that would have been a PERFECT series finale. Oh and God beign the prophet was really cool. :>))

 

[Jetfire]

I really liked the finale...it really should be the series finale...not sure how next season will turn out. I am thinking it was Sam not Lucifer/Sam under the street light.

 

[Vendikarr]

did I hear right when castiel said that He got a upgrade and is now in charge of heaven.... also... michael is missing... presumed stuck in hell with lucy.... fitting I think since michael being in charge in heaven allowed all this crap to happen.

I think Cas went from being powerless to archangel status. With Gabriel dead and Michael in heaven, they need another archangel.

I guess it's Castiel's reward for his loyalty and support of the Winchesters.

 

[Lt. Trull]

did I hear right when castiel said that He got a upgrade and is now in charge of heaven.... also... michael is missing... presumed stuck in hell with lucy.... fitting I think since michael being in charge in heaven allowed all this crap to happen.

I think Cas went from being powerless to archangel status. With Gabriel dead and Michael in heaven, they need another archangel.

I guess it's Castiel's reward for his loyalty and support of the Winchesters.

what makes you think that michael is in heaven... cas said michael is missing... presumed stuck in hell with lucy... a fitting punishment by god really....
for not getting along with his siblings....

 

[Lt. Trull]

IO9 has a interesting supernatural season 5 video tribute.

http://io9.com/5538651/funniest-moments-from-supernatural-season-5-a-video-tribute

 

[Snaploud]

IO9 has a interesting supernatural season 5 video tribute.

http://io9.com/5538651/funniest-moments-from-supernatural-season-5-a-video-tribute

Good clips, awkward ending...pretty much like the season finale.

Seriously, I thought it was a good episode, and the ending was decent right up until Sam showed up at the end. That insert was really awkward.

I'm not sure how to grade the episode as a whole, though. I might need to re-watch it.

 

[Dream]

Carry on my Wayward Son!

I thought it was good if not great season finale. It is what it is. Compared to the other Supernatural season finales this episode ranks somewhere in the middle.

I was pleased that they brought back Chuck. Thank god there was no Becky. I liked that Lucifer actually took over Sam when the episode started, and the story went on from there. Cas and Bobby's death were well done, even if they didn't stick. The special effects for the portal to Lucifer's cage was pretty cool.

Mark Pellegrino was sadly wasted in this episode. He was barely in it. But at least his final Supernatural episode is good. The LOST episode that he was in last week was so horrible that I felt bad for him. I've already blocked Across the Sea from my mind.

No Michael and Lucifer fight? Disappointing.

I liked how Castiel's story ended with him becoming an angel again. He was probably the most developed character on the show after Dean and Sam. It makes me chuckle how much the fangirls over at TWOP are bitching about Dean getting together with Lisa when it ended.

 

[startrekwatcher]

Mark Pellegrino was sadly wasted in this episode. He was barely in it. But at least his final Supernatural episode is good. The LOST episode that he was in last week was so horrible that I felt bad for him. I've already blocked Across the Sea from my mind.

Even all these days later I still haven't really decided whether I liked it or not. It is sorta fascinating because I usually have an idea after watching an episode instinctively whether I liked it or not and then can rather easily go back and figure out what I liked and didn't like about it.

But with "Across the Sea"--it wasn't what I was expecting, it wasn't what I was necessarily wanting but I didn't think it was awful. At the same time I didn't walk away after having watched it four times already necessarily liking it. So you would think that meant it was average yet that doesn't seem right either. I've never quite had a viewing reaction like that whether how I feel is so nebulous. I think I'll know better once I see how it fits in with what is left to come.

I guess that is sorta how I feel about LOST this season--it isn't as good as seasons 3-5, it wasn't as epic in its storytelling, its new characters(Dolgen, Hippy) failed, it seemed like the stalling mentality was back in play from the earlier seasons, the new storytellig device failed to hold my interest yet LOST still held my attention, I looked forward to the next episode and I couldn't write it off either. So I guess appropriately it is a bit of a paradox much like the series itself sometime.