Can we talk about the fact that after all these Angels and Demons, and God and the Devil and the Darkness, it‘s one stupid mistake on one stupid monster-of-the-week-hunt that kills Dean. And it‘s so, so FITTING. Like, yeah, you can live through five goddamn apocalypses, even die a few times in the process only to get resurrected by powers beyond your comprehension, fight impossible fight after impossible fight with impossible stakes and come out of it alive. But all it really takes in the end is one bad day. One. Day. One vamp. One ill-placed metal hook. No Big Bad delivering Poetic Revenge and monologuing its heart out. Just a normal-ass vampire in the wrong place at the wrong time - and that‘s it. This scene really showed, even in retrospect, how dangerous Sam and Dean‘s job is, how easily they could have both been killed doing a totally normal hunt in all those years, and makes you realise how little the universe cares for a puny human life, even though we - the viewers - might care a great deal. It‘s very Buffy-esque, I dare say, in the best way possible.
And at the same time there was so much poetry, so much MEANING to that moment. It was Dean, going out fighting, too young maybe, but as prepared as anyone could probably ever wish to be. Going out in Sam‘s arms and knowing that Sam can carry on this time, that he‘s not going to rip Heaven and Hell apart to get him back, because TPTB are now more benevolent than they ever were and Sam and Dean are going to meet again. They‘ll spend eternity together, and that‘s just enough for them. That’s why it‘s okay. That‘s why Dean can go.
This episode wasn’t perfect. This season wasn‘t even close to perfect. Hell, I’ve watched SPN very sparingly for almost 5 years, because the quality has been taking such a nosedive (in my very humble opinion, that nobody has to share!). But this scene, THIS SCENE, Dean‘s death - it reminded me why this was a show that I loved to bits, that made me FEEL so much. That had scenes so beautifully constructed, written and acted that they had the power to bring me to tears just thinking about them. THIS is the Supernatural that was worth writing all that poetry and fanfiction about. This is the Supernatural that I want to remember.
So, in your (long overdue) dying breath: Thank you, Supernatural, for bringing me to tears one final time, and for reminding me of the wonderful show you once were. And more than that, thank you Jensen and Jared for one last beautiful, long look into the Winchesters‘ souls. They will always belong to you, and I will always adore you for showing them to us.