I can actually sorta explain why Supernatural ended like it did for those who don’t know much about the show. Because if you don’t know anything about the fan landscape, this writing choice seems extra buckwild and stupid.
It’s still buckwild and stupid but it’s not quite as out of nowhere.
So there are sorta two clusters of Supernatural fans. The one Tumblr is familiar with is very pro Destiel, pro extended cast, pro side characters, pro heaven and hell plot lines. Most of us are familiar with this side.
However, there is an ENTIRE different section of Supernatural fans that is VERY different. I don’t know how big this collective is, but these folks generally share one opinion: the show is best with just Sam and Dean. They tend to prefer seasons 1-3 as the golden era. They’re not anti supporting cast (though some def are you should see what some think about Castiel) but in their opinion the show is about Dean and Sam and only Dean and Sam. Everything else is extra.
That’s who the finale was catering to. I know this seems wild from a Tumblr POV but if you go to other SPN communities, a significant portion of fans ADORED this ending. While the GOT ending was universally panned by all, this is getting a split reaction. If you go to some review websites that lean towards a wider audience the review is split. See here:
If you go to sites that review television for a general audience the comments are much more positive: lots of people loved this ending. Because this was an ending for them.
I bring all this up because it’s crucial context. Supernatural didn’t write a finale that pissed off and gave the finger to all their fans: it catered towards the more straight leaning classic one that the show outgrew over a decade ago. They had two bases to cater to, and they decided to only cater to one, not even trying to give both something. The queer audience is an after thought, just like Bobby’s comment that Cas is out of super hell off hand. The focus is on the group that insists this show is about brothers and brothers only.
And that’s a shame. Not a surprising shame, but a shame.
