Every season finale of “Supernatural” is like a kick in the head. Really. The end of “Survival of the Fittest was no exception. I’m going to do this differently, no scene by scene recap. You should really be watching this show. Come on. It’s been picked up for an 8th season and won’t even air again until October. You’ve got time to catch.
So – back to the season finale. There were a few things that I was hoping to see in the finale.
Death Should Mean Something To Hunters
Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester have seen more than enough death and vengeful spirits to know things looked bad for Bobby (Jim Beaver). Bobby had certainly been hunting long enough that I was surprised he thought he could stay a spirit and hold off the vengeful part. There was one way that the writers (thank you Sera!) could have dealt with Bobby’s turning dark and I think they found it.
“Death’s Door”, the tenth episode of this season was a fantastic tribute to Bobby Singer. It remains a fantastic tribute. Sad as I was to see the only father-figure the boys had move on, it was the right decision. Robert Singer (Director) nailed the scene. I’m glad I didn’t have to watch Bobby disappear; I’m glad I am left without the slightest hint as to which direction he went.
Get Dick
It had to happen. I’m going to miss Dick (James Patrick Stuart). Side note: if you have twitter you may want to follow James Stuart. He’s funnier than … well, Hell. (@japastu)
Sam and Dean made short work of gathering the items they needed to make a weapon to kill the head Leviathan. The boys make a deal with Crowley and he brings them a vile of his blood. It wasn’t clear whether Dean was holding a weapon that could actually get Dick until he was jiggling about after being stabbed through the neck.
The problem? Crowley neglected to tell Sam and Dean that the weapon they used to get Dick would have some consequences. When Dick exploded in a giant ball of black Leviathan goo – it seemed that he was sucked back into Purgatory.
Dean and Castiel went along for the ride.
Boy, Dean’s Been A Mess
Dean Winchester is a mess. And he should be. Anyone who has gone through as much as that man – well – suffice it to say I’m surprised all he has is a drinking problem.
So – Dean is now in Purgatory. But, I’m thinking, purgatory is a place that was supposed to be about purification, right? It’s sort of the Lobby from which the elevator is going to take a soul on an epic journey either up or down.
What if Dean has to do a bit of navel gazing to find himself a way out of the mess he’s in? There have been many times over the past few seasons when I’ve wondered if Dean was simply going to snap. What hasn’t he been through? He’s lost everyone and everything he’s ever cared about; sure he got some of it back but he still suffered the initial trauma. And that’s a hell of a liquid crutch he’s developed.
Maybe I just can’t face the idea of him being tormented again – but I’m choosing to think of a spell of time in purgatory as an opportunity to buff up his soul a bit. The boy needs some help.
When Is An Angel Not An Angel?
Castiel (Misha Collins) was a regular angel, then he was a rebel angel with a cause, then he was God, then he was a vessel for century’s old monsters and then viewers were led to believe he was dead. He came back, he was sorry, he sucked all the Lucifer Juice out of Sam’s grapefruit and now he’s Castiel and likes to hang with insects.
I need to admit; I’m not a huge fan of the angel storyline and was glad to see it winding up. But Misha Collins has certainly had his acting skills stretched in about every different direction that is possible. I hope that he hasn’t become absent-angel now he’s Dean’s only companion in Purgatory. It seems out of character but it feels a bit like Castiel has been written in a million different directions since the middle of last season.
Maybe Purgatory will give Castiel some time to have a discussion with the writers.
Baby Come Back
There is a third main character in Supernatural and she’s a 1967 Chevy Impala.
“On April 21st, 1967, the 100,000,000 GM vehicle rolled off the line at the plant in Janesville. A blue, 2 door Caprice. There was a big ceremony, speeches, Lt. Governor even showed up. Three days later, another car rolled off that same line. No one gave two craps about her, but they should have. Because this 1967 Chevrolet Impala would turn out to be the most important car…. No, the most important object in pretty much the whole universe.” – Chuck in Swan Song 05/22
It was no secret that she’d be back because the studio sunk a lot of money into her refit this year but it sure was nice to see that slick black paint grace the TV screen once more. I couldn’t help thinking while I watched her crash into the sign outside Dick’s office that she was still an ever-present and important part of the Winchester Team. She was absent from entirely too much of season 7 and I look forward to hearing her righteous purr a lot more in Season 8.
Once A Demon
When is Crowley (Mark Sheppard) not up to something? Crowley is the most true to his nature of any character I’ve ever seen on a TV show. He’s consistently up to something and that “something” is always of benefit to him. Sometimes he gets it wrong but he seemed to have good aim when it came to setting up Dick and the Winchesters at the same time.
Crowley gave up his blood to Sam and Dean but he managed to get Dick to sign a detailed contract. But what did he get? Do we know everything that was in the arrangement between them? I have a feeling we’re going to be seeing more of Crowley in Season 8.
Season Eight, Lay Them Straight
So we’ve got some awesome set up for season 8 of “Supernatural”. Sam is alone. Dean is in purgatory with an insane and, now, absent fallen angel. Was anyone else freaked out by those eyes in the forest?
Who are the players? We’ve got a rather solitary Sam who has a lot of Leviathans to deal with. Sherriff Mills (Kim Rhodes) is still out there and I’m hoping she’ll be back to provide some support to Sam. There is a rather pissed off and revengeful Alpha vamp (Rick Worthy) lurking around in the shadows. Kevin Tran (Osric Chau) and Meg (Rachel Miner) have both been spirited away by Crowley to places unknown. Castiel has disappeared in a flutter of wings and Dean is surrounded by monsters.
There sure seem to be a lot of possible story lines for Season 8. I’m looking forward to it.