#jake abel plays him and michael so well

[michaelwavemichaelwave]

I would *love* to know about If Jake Abel Won't Do It, I Will; I am very curious <3

I was waiting for Jake to do and ad for the fry and popcorn seasonings, but he never did. So back in late September I wrote this spoof based off an infomercial. The wording is clunky in some places, and I just wasn't satisfied with how it turned out. But here's the whole thing!

“You want fries that taste good, but don’t want to leave your house,” Adam narrates over dramatic grayscale footage of him sitting on a couch looking longingly out the window on a rainy day. 

An animated speech bubble appears over his head with the first stock photo image of fries that the search engine offers. This image dissolves into a grayscale memory of Adam of eating fries with an unrealistic passion, even for Adam Milligan- the man who was fry-less for a thousand years. 

“A good fry seasoning recipe is so hard to come by. Especially after your father-in-law [Chuck] passed away; taking his only redeeming quality, his fry seasoning recipe, with him to the grave.” 

The video transitions to a photoage of another dismal shot of Adam sitting alone on a rocking chair on a porch in the rain, fry between his fingers like a cigarette. His hair is drenched, as is his fry, and his dreams of enjoying a well seasoned fry. Nobody likes a soggy fry, except for Dean Winchester.

“Homemade fries are ok, but they’re missing something! Where’s the SPICE?” Michael rolls his eyes as Adam pretends to take a bite out of a flavorless soggy fry and shakes his head in disappointment as he rests it in his hands. Allowing the fry to fall to the table in abandonment in parallel to season 5 episode 22 “Swan Song” where he and Michael fell into Hell to be abandoned for 1,200 years. “No fry deserves that fate!”

“INTRODUCING THE OFFICIAL JAKE AND SHAKE ADAM AND MICHAEL FRY AND POPCORN SEASONINGS!” Overlayed by Adam joyfully eating popcorn alone on the couch while watching some show off screen. It’s implied that Michael is sitting next to him, but that remains unconfirmed. Watching a movie alone on a Monday night is a great way to enjoy THE OFFICIAL JAKE AND SHAKE SEASONINGS!

“Are you tired of boring old seasonings? With bottles that over pour seasoning on your fries- ruining both your fries and your bottle of fry seasoning? What a mess!! That’s why the containers of Michael’s Popcorn Topper and Adam’s French Fry Topper contain INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY to avoid such a disaster!”

Footage of Adam dramatically falling to the floor in tears plays under Adam’s narration. The ruined bowl of fries loom large in the foreground of the frame as Adam’s small form cries on the floor. Michael stands at the edge of the frame nudging him with his foot. Concern evident in his actions as Adam is inconsolable over his fries. The camera zooms in on an extreme closeup of Michael’s face. He is tired of Adam doing this whenever his fries don’t turn out correctly, but mostly he’s tired of being a sellout for a second commercial. He doesn’t even eat popcorn.

“These seasonings will make your fries so good you can’t get enough of them!” Freeze frame on Adam choking down a large handful of over seasoned fries.

CALL NOW AND WE’LL DOUBLE YOUR OFFER! AND WE’LL ALSO INCLUDE THE OVERSTOCK FROM OUR OTHER PRODUCT- HOT SAUCE- WITH AN EQUALLY LONG SHELF LIFE!

[byneddiedingo]

Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Shannon in Nocturnal Animals

Amy Adams in Nocturnal Animals

Nocturnal Animals (Tom Ford, 2016)

Cast: Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Isla Fisher, Ellie Bamber, Armie Hammer, Karl Glusman, Robert Aramayo, Laura Linney, India Menuez. Screenplay: Tom Ford, based on a novel by Austin Wright. Cinematography: Seamus McGarvey. Production design: Shane Valentino. Film editing: Joan Sobel. Music: Abel Korzeniowski.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Amy Adams are two of our best actors, but even they can't do what writer-director Tom Ford calls on them for in Nocturnal Animals: pull the two halves of his movie into coherence. Part of the film is a savage satire on the art world's high end and its wealthy patrons. The other part is a story of sexual violence and revenge. Adams's Susan Morrow exists in the first part as a wealthy gallery owner in Los Angeles with a husband who is cheating on her. One day she receives a manuscript from her ex-husband, Edward Sheffield (Gyllenhaal). It provides the second story, about Tony Hastings (also Gyllenhaal), who is waylaid by vicious young thugs while driving across West Texas by night. His wife, Laura (Isla Fisher), and his teenage daughter, India (Ellie Bamber), are in the car with him, but Tony, who survives by hiding from the men, is unable to save Laura and India from being raped and murdered. With the help of Bobby Andes (Michael Shannon), a detective who is dying of lung cancer, he gets his revenge but, as they say, at a cost. As Susan reads the manuscript, she envisions Tony as Edward, whom she had betrayed by leaving him and aborting their child, then marrying the wealthy Hutton Morrow (Armie Hammer), with whom she has a now-grown daughter, Samantha (India Menuez). The story so disturbs Susan that she wonders why Edward chose to send it to her after so many years -- is this tale of revenge itself  a kind of threat? As well-done as the Tony Hastings story is, with strong performances by not only Gyllenhaal but also Shannon and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the vicious Ray Marcus, it never comes into the same focus as the "real" story of Susan and the rather decadent art world in which she moves. That said, the best scene in the film may be the one in which Susan has lunch with her mother, a big-haired Texas grande dame played with finesse by Laura Linney. Ford has a way of tossing in secondary characters whose backstories sound potentially more interesting than the ones in the foreground. Nocturnal Animals is a disappointment, but only because it feels like it skims the surface of what it has to tell us.

[theconstantsidekick]

What about Adam Milligan for the character breakdown?

Oh OH. 1. Thanks for asking. 2. WE LOVE ADAM MILLIGAN IN THIS HOUSEHOLD.

Okay so.

How I feel about this character

I freaking love him. I mean, he was just a kid. He was literally just a young man. Barely a whole adult and he was fucking yeeted into the conflict that had nothing to do with him. The only fault he ever had was being related to the Winchester Clan. The poor boy didn't even get to rest in peace. He died and then was forcefully PULLED out of his perfect little heaven, all for a pissing contest between two grown ass Archangels who could not accept that God just didn't give a fuck.

And despite all of that? Sam and Dean pulled him right back into another apocalyptic conflict with God, and he decided to side with them. He convinces Michael, like "hey man, yeah, they left me to rot in hell, they completely forgot about me while bringing each other back time and time again, but they aren't bad guys."

If I were Adam, I would've asked Michael to smite the fuckers, but like let me sit in the drivers seat as it happened.

The fact that, that kindness is present in him even though he was so young when he went into hell, and stayed there for probably like over a century, is a testament to the fact that you should stan Adam Milligan for clear skin.

I will always say, "Our Father, Who Aren't in Heaven" is a masterpiece in character writing. I fucking fell in love with Adam in a matter of 40 mins, and that's some good fucking writing if I've ever seen it.

All the people I ship romantically with this character

No one as such. I don't mind the idea of him being romantically involved with Michael but... the same body thing kinda throws me off. So does the Young John!Michael thing so... idk? Jo Harvel? Cause I read a fic where he had a thing for her? Or Alex maybe? She's cute.

My non-romantic OTP for this character

Michael. Obviously Michael.

To me, Michael is a fucking tragedy. He's one of the saddest characters in Supernatural, in the sense that his tragedy isn't even acknowledged completely.

He genuinely believes in his mission. He believes in his Father, his Creator, only to find out he isn't just unimportant to his dad... nah. His dad made like multiple versions of him. Fuck that. His dad doesn't even cast him as one of the protagonist of the story. Michael is villager B. God took his love and devotion and care and cast him as VILLAGER B!!

So for him to find solace in a friendship with a scrawny little kid who also is rejected, forgotten by his family? Pure gold. Absolutely brilliant. They have a sense of trust. A bond. Michael, a being so powerful he led armies of angels in heaven, now listens to advice from this kid who has nothing more to offer than the kindness in his heart.

Come on man, the first place they go when they escape is a diner. Adam doesn't NEED to eat. He just misses the taste of it all. And Michael, happily, with a smile even, indulges him. How fucking amazing is that?

Like I said "Our Father, Who Aren't In Heaven" is an absolute masterclass in character writing which later gets absolutely butchered by Inhereit the Earth because Michael, as loyal as he was, would never go back to Chuck. He had way too much pride for that shit, and I will not stop gushing about it.

One thing I wish would happen/had happened with this character in canon

I wish they hadn't forgotten him. I like his return in season 15. But man. I think it's Winchester trademark to obsessively try to resurrect family. And like man, by the end, going to hell, opening the cage, it was like just another tuesday for those boys. I don't understand why if they could've opened it for Lucifer, they couldn't have at least tried to bring Adam back.

I think Dean and Sam did give a shit about Adam. I think they wanted to protect him. Dean does mention him when making his deal with Death in season 7, to help Sam but then it gets dropped? Dean is a stubborn bastard. I don't believe he or even Sam would've just given up. But yeah, season 6 & 7 do have a tendancy of fucking up well established character traits. You're telling me Sam Winchester of all people abandoned Kevin? For a dog? Fuck off.

Having said all that, I think it would have been fun to have Adam back and pop in sometimes and just add to the found family thing the Winchesters had going on (before the god awful finale). He could've lived a normal life, but helped on the side? Like Alex does? That would have been so fun.

Man. I miss Adam. What a cutie.

Anyway, yeah. So there you go. My thoughts on one Adam Milligan.

Edit: I couldn't find a place to mention it but I need to.

My man. :)

[ckneal]

I don’t like the ending of Michael’s story in Supernatural. The core idea fits, and I have nothing but respect for Jake Abel’s performance. That man was selling so hard, that I wouldn’t realize just how stupid some his lines were until after the second viewing, and even then, Jake needed to be off screen, because even when he wasn’t the focus, his body language and his expressions were all so on point. This man understood the assignment better than the people who wrote it, and you will not convince me otherwise. Because the thing about that last episode is that while the idea of Dean manipulating and sacrificing this fellow victim of the Good Son mentality to save the day may have been decent, the writing of this idea that should have tied off the dialogue about siblings and fathers and duty that we saw throughout the show, was lazy. When I look at it these days, all I can think is that they needed at least one more draft.

But I digress. Even knowing that Michael failing to overcome his trauma in the end was a perfectly serviceable ending to the series, there’s a part of me—the same part that looks at John Winchester and sees this tragic mess of a man—that really wishes it could have gone another way. Even though it would kind of mean John Winchester—Chuck’s representative in this little narrative he invented to amuse himself—stealing everyone’s thunder from off screen.

Because I fully believe that between John about everything relating to the apocalypse by the time of his death. And I’m not even linking that to the season 14 episode where he gets pulled forward in time and later wakes up thinking he had one crazy dream—I’m just looking at his dialogue with Azazel, the fact that he was looking into the demon kids, and his final order to Dean that he kill Sam if it become necessary. And the thing that I had always taken away from that, was that John knew what Azazel’s objective was, he knew what the demon children’s role would be, what Mary’s role had been, what Dean’s role would be—if Sam turned out to be the One for Lucifer, and I think that that was at the heart of his drinking. Yes, he was upset when he found out who Mary really was, and yeah, John had seen some stuff, but I think that what really, truly drove him to the bottle was the ongoing question in his head, “Could he fight destiny itself?” He was a mere man whose family was the cornerstone of the apocalypse—he wasn’t even important to the story, he was just a tragic background for the protagonists, and with Heaven and Hell both poised to wage war with his kids, John didn’t even know if he could fight it, but he couldn’t let himself not fight it either. That wasn’t in his character.

And while other things also played in, I’m sure, I really do think that being stuck in that position had a large part in what made John bitter. Because as he focused in on Azazel, Azazel being the biggest fish he knew of, he also had to continuous shutdown the alternate, unthinkable course of action: putting a bullet his son’s head. It was an impossible position for any decent father to be in, and we just happen to know that John, before his life went to hell, really did just want to be an average working class joe with a wife and kids, and have the kind of happy nuclear family that he was deprived of growing up, when Henry walked out one night and never came home.

And I have no doubt that if he could have gone after Michael, he would have. Hell, if he knew that Gabriel was running around on earth, John would have been on his trail every bit as relentlessly as he was Azazel’s, because he was desperate. 

I think that John spent the last few decades of his life raging against any every cosmic force he came across, trying to find some sort of wrench he could throw into this well-oiled machine that Chuck had set in place. And I really love the idea that in 1990, John could have thrown that wrench without even realizing it, when Adam Milligan came into existence with no cosmic planning whatsoever, and thirty odd years later it hit its mark when the archangel Michael turned on a spiteful god who had killed the love his life.

[deans-haunted-baby]

The Ones Left Behind

Alrighty time for some truth bombs. I’ve had almost a week to absorb the end of Supernatural and season 15 as a whole. And I think this is the moment where I need to throw in my two cents. For all intents and purposes I won’t go in-depth into 15x20 seeing as that conversation will just open up a whole other can of worms and I don’t need that headache. I have my reasons for being less than indifferent with how the Winchesters’ story concluded. So I won’t go there.

Instead I’ll be focusing all my energies on the unsatisfying conclusions of 4 particular characters. Two of which were main cast members (one that was on the show 12 years and one 4 years) while the other two (played by the same dude) were brought back after a decade long hiatus for a much-anticipated comeback only to be wasted and mangled unfairly by Dabb and his hack horde of a writing staff. Call this a follow up to my last post. If I sound bitter I am because these people don’t have a single clue on how to helm these characters, their relationships or their storylines 😠 Nor do they deserve them.

And yes I’m well aware of Kevin Tran, Rowena, Ketch and several others who got the shaft on this show. Those could be future posts for another time.

But I cannot stress this enough; ADAM MILLIGAN, JACK KLINE, MICHAEL AND CASTIEL ALL DESERVED FUCKING BETTER. There is no arguing these facts, none whatsoever. Not one of these characters deserved that exit to be the final chapter in their story. I won’t do an entire analysis of each character’s arc and role in the show as I’ve already done that in my rant about 15x19. But I will highlight how much season 15 royally screwed over these characters and tossed them aside like trash; as if none of them were ever part of/contributed anything to Sam and Dean’s history/world building of Supernatural’s universe.

*WARNING* This is going to get heated.

Before I dive into the heart of these issues I want to state this is not a “shipping post”. I don’t ship anyone on Supernatural, hopefully this blog has been pretty self-explanatory. So I have no arguments/opinions in those areas. I’ve been a fan of this series for 15 years because of the characters, the familial bonds and relationships formed between characters throughout its run. And I’m well-aware that the Winchesters are the lead protagonists of the show, no need to remind me. These are purely my own thoughts based what I’ve obtained from show canon. Let me just say I can’t get over just how much these writers contradicted and ignored what they put forth in the journeys of these four individuals. its a real headscratcher.

You mean to tell me that after TWELVE DAMN YEARS of Castiel being a rebellious warrior angel, searching for his own identity and meaning in life; making that promise to Kelly Kline about raising Jack as his own/risking his life for him. After sacrificing himself for his son a year ago, acknowledging he was satisfied with his role as a father which restored his faith; that it was all because of/for Dean Winchester? 

You mean to tell me that after Michael, THE PRINCE OF HEAVEN and PROTECTOR OF HUMANITY, was locked away in a cage with a human whom he emotionally bonded with for thousands of years (10 years our time); who was abandoned, betrayed and manipulated by his neglectful/abusive father. After choosing free will and aligning himself with TFW for humanity’s sake, just sided with the Earth’s destruction because his little brother called him names? 

You mean to tell me that Jack, A THREE YEAR OLD CHILD, who’s barely just beginning his life and spent his entire duration on the show wanting to be normal and not wanting to be special. Connecting and being integrated with humans; a child who’s biggest fear was outliving everyone he ever loved. Is suddenly ready to walk away from his family, his home and his teddy bear; to give up being a kid forever and run the universe?

You mean to tell me that Adam, SUPERNATURAL’S MOST INNOCENT CHARACTER and FORGOTTEN THIRD-WINCHESTER BROTHER, after being eaten by ghouls; pulled away from his mother out of Heaven, manipulated by angels, trapped in Hell for thousands of years because Sam and Dean left him there to rot. After coming back and helping his neglectful siblings save the world only to be ripped away from his best friend and THE ONLY OTHER PERSON who gave a damn about him; is sentenced to a life of loneliness, homelessness and turmoil until he dies and ends up in Hell where he’ll mostly be tortured and turned into a demon?

NO. I DO NOT AND WILL NEVER ACCEPT THIS BULLSHIT! 

Season 15 not only manages to contradict itself where these characters are concerned (while assassinating them before the final curtain). But the writers deliberately discarded them before giving us that *sarcasm inserted* epic solo-Winchester conclusion. Regardless of how you feel about Adam, Castiel, Jack or Michael, ALL OF THESE CHARACTERS are connected Sam and Dean’s story and part of Supernatural. And when you throw them away like they mean nothing, you’re essentially throwing away a part of the show’s history. You’re ignoring 15 years worth of story building. 

As I said I’m not going to go into 15x20 for reasons, it doesn’t offend me as much as what was done before that finale. Because I think those other show exits really affect 15x20 even worse than people realize. You want to know why, I’ll explain.

Lets start off with Castiel and Jack, OH BOY! We know where they end up; running Heaven and the Earth together which is all fine and dandy. I love my Dadstiel father/son duo being an endgame family unit. But here in lies the problem, we never saw it. Not even a cameo. And technically their onscreen storyline ends at 15x18 and 15x19 which is an ugly, anti-climatic bookend to an incredibly deep relationship that had 4 years of development. First you have Castiel who completely forgets why he made that deal with the Empty to begin with. HIS FUCKING SON. Not to mention it wasn’t about true happiness it was about giving himself permission to be happy; there is a difference. And then you have Jack wandering around next episode, vacuuming up power cause suddenly he’s a machine now, acting like he doesn’t give a shit over losing his dad to an entity HE’S BEEN DREADING ABOUT FOR A FUCKING YEAR. 

Towards the end of season 15 I noticed neither of these characters were acting like themselves. Their motivations, their personalities and strong ties to one another had mysteriously dissolved. Castiel became less concerned about the danger his son was facing after 15x15 (what the hell was that in 15x17?) and more about speaking when spoken to by either Sam or Dean. Does he know how Dean truly feels about Jack; proclaiming the child is “not family”? I doubt the in-character version of him would let Jack leave with Dean after that insult. Castiel’s not even worried whether or not his son is alive or safe before he makes the big confession later. And for some reason Jack (who’d become heavily suicidal) was more concerned with clinging to the Winchesters, willing to die for them, instead focusing on himself and the one person who’s shown him nothing but unconditional love and given him strength since birth. Both of these characters are canonically depressed and suffer from low self-esteem that was never resolved which makes me furious. 

When Chuck killed Jack at the end of season 14, this devastated Castiel in the first half of season 15. He actually got to grieve that loss throughout the episodes and deal with his anger over it, allowing the audience to anticipate the day they’d be reunited one last time. This part of Castiel’s S15 arc also ironically mirrors Jack’s S13 arc of mourning Castiel’s death until resurrecting him. And when this son finally returned to his father, who got to rescue him, it was such a poignant moment between the two. It was a cathartic payoff after witnessing Castiel in so much pain over Jack. There was so much building up between that Dadstiel reunion in 15x11 and the Empty’s pact in 14x08; this was suppose to be a tragic yet pivotal plot-point in both Jack and Castiel’s stories. And with SPN wrapping up we all expected something BIG. Yet somehow the writers retconned the whole thing by making it all about Dean, which is such a gross disservice to these characters and 4 years of storytelling.

For instance, since 15x18 was Castiel’s exit episode, why wasn’t he allowed to hug his son or Sam goodbye one last time? Why didn’t he have more of a focal role instead of standing around majority of the episode with barely any dialogue as so much precious air time was wasted on frivolous things? Why didn’t he get one last badass fight scene with someone like Death instead of being choked out and tossed around like a powerless mortal? Why did the group need to be split up to begin with when it served no purpose either than that *ugh* moment? Why wasn’t Jack allowed to call Castiel “dad” once before the show ended? He deserved to hear his son address him as dad!

AND WHY THE HELL COULDN’T JACK FEEL CASTIEL’S DEATH THE MOMENT IT HAPPENED? 

The show already established to the audience the significant cosmic bond these two characters shared since before Jack was even born. It was so powerful it boosted Castiel’s grace. Jack could remember who Castiel was from the womb and that he’d protected his mother. Not to mention HE FUCKING RESURRECTED CASTIEL OUT OF THE EMPTY ONCE WITHOUT GOD’S POWER. You’re telling me Jack couldn’t feel his dad being taken away forever despite how far apart they were? No, he’d feel it in his heart. Had we’d been given a scene like that at the end of 15x18 (something of substance) with actual grief shown in 15x19 maybe the episode would’ve faired better for them. 

That said it wasn’t, because Jack was treated the exact same way in his final exit. Hardly any lines and just a bunch of scenes of him standing/walking around until that pathetic reveal at the lake. HE DOESN’T EVEN GET TO INTERACT WITH JAKE ABEL’S MICHAEL/ADAM which would’ve been a great follow-up to the AU!Michael storyline in seasons 13 and 14. I swear these directors didn’t give Alex and Misha any motivation during their last three episodes and it’s evident in their hollow performances. But why would they when the scripts are basically telling their characters to quickly fuck off so the brothers can have their final outing. Jack doesn’t even behave like himself after he becomes the new God. His personality is apathetic, cold, alien, stiff and way too mature for the 3 year old child so closely connected to his family/the human world. In that moment I saw Alex Calvert not Jack Kline. It’s bad enough he doesn’t get a meaningful farewell but again Castiel, HIS DAD, is a complete afterthought to this kid 🥶

And that’s what we’re left with. Forever. A frigid, hollow ending to one of Supernatural’s most healthy, touching, family dynamics. It makes you wonder what was even the point. I can’t even fully enjoy the fact that its canon Jack and Castiel are together fixing Heaven because of what the show presented onscreen as their last hurrah. It’s not sitting right and it makes 15x20 even less appealing to me.

Moving onto Michael and Adam. Get ready for this. I could rant forever about how dirty my boys were done by this show. How they were discarded in the SPN series finale recap etc. just as they were FOR THE LAST TEN FUCKING YEARS. Was there even a plan going on here or was this just everyone making things up as it went? Their ending is the most unsatisfying and cruel thing because its INCOMPLETE. There is no real closure or resolution with them thanks to the monstrosity that was 15x19. AND NO ONE CARES ENOUGH ABOUT THEM TO GIVE A SHIT. 

Much as I’ve enjoyed this show for many years, it NEVER deserved Jake Abel, his talent or his time. I keep seeing so many anti posts about Dean Winchester’s final fate in Supernatural and all I can think about is “try being an Adam Milligan fan for the last decade”.  I’ve had to watch this boy go through hell with nothing to show for it either than years of memes. ridicule and the show’s mockery in forgetting him. Actually he’s the ONLY CHARACTER in this series you’re encouraged not to remember 😡 Also quick question: why give us this really interesting and healthy relationship between an archangel and its vessel if nothing was ever going to become of it? 

At this point I don’t know why Adam or the idea of him was even introduced way back in season 4 let alone revisited in season 5. Because the only thing I see when I look at this character now is SAD WASTED POTENTIAL. Storylines never explored. Relationships that never got off the ground. Backstory we never got to see (like for instance his past with John Winchester and his time in the cage). A character’s birthright (Men of Letters) that was never actualized. AND the unexplained factor that Adam could look directly at Michael’s true form without his eyes burning out (making him a special case). And the thing is he could’ve been a really great character, both him and Michael. They could’ve easily reached popular status just like Castiel given the chance since Jake is a freaking acting-powerhouse. We were given a taste in 15x08 just how awesome these characters could be and how they could’ve contributed so much to the story and its core group. But unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be.

Michael will never redeem himself after years of scrutiny and being made out to be some kind of unhinged monster. This show constantly enjoyed pounding into our brains how fearsome Michael was. Warned us via Lucifer (LUCIFER, PEOPLE!) that he wasn’t rational, compassionate and didn’t care about anything except war, death and destruction. And that he was incapable of feelings and emotions. This is how Supernatural saw Heaven’s Prince and guardian of the Earth. Christ, they actually did a two-year storyline about an evil Michael from the AU world who enjoyed torturing and killing while trying to destroy the universe. I want to know WHAT THE HELL THIS SHOW’S WRITERS HAD AGINST THESE CHARACTERS? Why they felt the need to bring back Jake Abel, AFTER A DECADE OF FANS WANTING THIS, if it was simply to piss all over his characters one last time before the show wrapped. This is absolutely unprofessional and childish; the fact that Jake is taking this bullshit in stride makes it all the more shameful 😡

We could’ve learned so much more about Michael’s past and his present relationship with Adam. These characters didn’t need to sit in the cage for a decade they could’ve easily been incorporated back into the show as far as season 8 or 10! And been an asset to the Darkness storyline in season 11.There were characters and storylines introduced that served no purpose. Why did we need to keep seeing characters like Charlie Bradbury or (as much as I like him) Crowley or Garth (love him too) or Lucifer or Abaddon or the Wayward sisters? I would’ve much preferred having Adam and Michael around and got to know them instead; especially after 15x08. I would’ve wanted to see what their dynamic with TFW could’ve become had they been long-time allies. Did John ever tell Mary about Adam’s existence? I’d like to see what her reaction would’ve been like had the Winchesters remembered him during that damn 300th episode. I guess that’s another loose end untied.

But because of what Supernatural did to these two characters, it forever taints Sam and Dean. I don’t think Dabb or purist fans realize this. But when new viewers come into this show about two brothers preaching important things like “saving people”, “family first” or “family don’t end in blood” they’re going to see how badly the main protagonists treated their innocent half brother. How Castiel and Jack were treated. They’re going to see the heroes of the story abandoning this kid in Hell forever with no intention of EVER rescuing him. And that’s why their final appearance leaves such a bad taste going into 15x20. Cause as much as Dabb and co didn’t give a shit about Adam and Michael they also didn’t give a rat’s ass about protecting Sam and Dean’s integrity. That’ll be a stain they can’t undo. 

So through all of it, we’re stuck with the abomination that is 15x19 aka the eye-soar to an unfinished/unpolished story of two horribly disregarded characters. Michael gets the pleasure of being character assassinated right before he’s stupidly killed off instead of going out a hero or becoming the next God (as it was his birthright and the setup was there in the narrative). And Adam gets killed off-screen, OUT OF HIS OWN DAMN BODY, then brought back by Jack only to live a miserable, isolated existence since his brothers have nothing to do with him (the dog and car are more important); his best friend is dead, he has no job or money or a fucking home and he’s legally dead! Really what is there left for him besides the brutal fate awaiting in Hell when he dies?  

SERIOUSLY THEY COULDN’T GIVE US ONE SCENE WHERE THE WINCHESTERS CHECKED IN ON ADAM TO MAKE SURE HE WAS SAFE?! 🤬 His last scene pretty much sums up this shit for what it is. Tragic. I feel like crying for this poor sweet boy.

Congratulations Dabb, BL and co for giving us these much deserved broken story arcs of characters you destroyed and made OOC before leaving the airways. You did your show’s protagonists justice by doing this *sarcasm inserted* after 15 years of being onscreen. I doubt these idiotic decisions are going to age well in the long run. They certainly don’t look good on the Winchesters. Anyway that’s my hot take for the day. 

ALL THESE ACTORS AND THEIR CHARACTERS DESERVED BETTER.

[katsidhe]

Ranking Every SPN Midseason Finale

15) 10.09 The Things We Left Behind. Claire’s reintroduction isn’t as bad as some of her later appearances, mostly because she’s still hostile towards Cas and the Winchesters, but it’s still not great. There’s Rowena and Crowley drama I don’t care about, and Dean kills a bunch of people, which is kinda fun, but would be more interesting if it had any consequences.

14) 14.09 The Spear. Michael’s monsters plan is pretty dumb. I’m still not clear on why Michael stopped possessing Dean at any point. Michael and Jack have a good conversation, and I suppose an assassination is the only viable plan for the Winchesters to go for, but most of this episode is just a series of “why” moments one after another.

13) 1.10 Asylum. This is a perfectly acceptable MOTW episode, and a ghost-addled Sam yelling at and punching Dean is fun, but it’s simply not up to snuff with the kind of plot or character development that the other midseason finales put on the table.

12) 13.09 The Bad Place. I really like Kaia and Jack here. The moment with the angels pounding on the ground to break the wards is genuinely pretty cool.  The stakes get upped with the reveal that Mary’s being tortured in Apocaland, and Dean reacts by threatening Kaia at gunpoint, nice. It’s not a bad episode, and it’s not incredible either.

11) 12.08 LOTUS. Is this episode silly? Oh yes. Am I thoroughly entertained when watching it? Resoundingly yes. Every dumb terrible campy detail--like Lucifer turning crosses upside down—combined with the sheer balls-to-the-wall wtf-ery of the President being possessed, and the interspersed moments of genuine drama—as when Sam banishes Lucifer—creates a combination that I can’t help but enjoy. I also like the likely somewhat unintentional implications as to how the political landscape of the SPN world was changed by the sheer volume of apocalyptic events it’s experienced. Seems fair to conclude that God is angry.

10) 8.09 Citizen Fang. Dean sends Sam after Amelia with a fake text, as their s8 conflict comes to a head. This is far from the shadiest thing Dean’s ever done, but it’s so fascinatingly, unapologetically a Relationship Red Flag that I really enjoy it. Plus, I find Sam’s conflict with Benny pretty interesting here.  

9) 6.11 Appointment in Samara. Dean’s deal with Death is a cool concept, and it’s set up well, but it falls a bit flat. Dean fails the test in a way that’s very predictable, and that has no consequences, because Death likes Sam enough to retrieve him anyway. The better part of this episode is Soulless’ desperate, last ditch attempt to save his life at the cost of Bobby’s—he screams and begs as his soul is returned, and I love the moral dilemma here.

8) 9.09 Holy Terror. Kevin!! His death was viscerally shocking and heartbreaking. This episode is consigned to mid B tier because of the angel drama I don’t care about, and because I am still torn on if I really like Kevin’s death thematically speaking. For one thing, I miss him to this day—I miss having a cynical, informed perspective on the Winchesters in the room. For another, it muddies the waters of Dean’s crime in having Gadreel possess Sam, in ways that are sometimes interesting but sometimes miss the point.

7) 15.08 Our Father, Who Aren’t in Heaven. *chanting* New Cage canon! New Cage canon! Jake Abel steals the show with his insane chemistry with himself, and makes the s15 conflict much more interesting just by existing. I love how goddamn uncomfortable Sam is this entire episode, I love Adam and Michael’s weird compelling dynamic, I love Dean’s awkwardness, and I love the four of them all together. I just want them to sit in a room and talk foreeeever.

6) 7.10 Death’s Door. I don’t even like Bobby that much, but even I have to admit that this is a great emotional episode. Sam and Dean deal with their grief, and it’s done well enough to make me grieve for Bobby too.

5) 2.09 Croatoan. Good episode is good. It’s a zombie episode with a real sense of fear and isolation—and then Sam gets infected. Dean’s violent refusal to kill Sam, the subsequent reveal that Sam is somehow immune, and then a demon revealing that this town died just for an experiment on Sam? Creepy and emotional and intriguing!

4) 4.10 Heaven and Hell. Demon and angel battle! Some very fun additions to what we know about the angels and their motivations: Anna’s commitment to fleeing and defying Heaven, coupled with what appears to be Ruby doing the same with Hell, is cool. I also love how Sam ends up successfully playing both sides off each other. Plus, it ends with Dean’s emotional reveal about his time in Hell.

3) 3.08 A Very Supernatural Christmas. Iconic. Three separate things to love: fantastic pre-series content, including amulet backstory and the reveal of little Sam finding out about monsters; a truly wonderful MOTW that involves Christmas tree stabbing and fingernail pulling; and the looming emotional juggernaut of  a final celebration before Dean’s deal comes due.  

2) 5.10 Abandon All Hope. Crowley’s delightful introduction as a smarmy survivalist, Ellen and Jo’s tearjerking deaths, Cas captive and mouthing off to both Lucifer and Meg, Dean’s unsuccessful shot, and of course Sam and Lucifer’s first meeting in person. Action packed and spooky and thrilling and simply beautifully executed.

1) 11.09 O Brother Where Art Thou? In Hell, is where, and I couldn’t be happier!! Lucifer’s reintroduction coupled with Sam’s distress and brittle scared determination is atmospheric and terrifying. Rowena’s betrayal and Amara’s pitch to Dean are compelling. Most importantly, though, I had to wait a MONTH for 11.10 with Sam’s CRYING FACE in my head: best worst cliffhanger of the series by miles and miles. Bury me in this episode.

[addswastaken]

Spoilers for SPN S15 EP19

Okay... Uh... a few things

So, I'm lowkey disappointed that we didnt the completely angsty Dean I wanted but there were a FEW moments where Dean made a nod to Cas that I enjoyed. Like when he first met Jack and Sam and got out of the Impala and just looked completely lost, yes okay, that was bomb. And then the whole yelling at Chuck to bring Cas back. And ofc writing Cas' name into the table (thank god it was Castiel and not written as "Cass"). But lastly, did anyone else notice that when the Winchesters spared Chuck and Dean said "That's not who I am." Did anyone else get Cas' goodbye vibes? Like when Cas was telling Dean that their enemies see him as an angry ticking time bomb full of rage and hate? Idk I think Dean remembered that and was all "no chuck, you're wrong because my husband said I'm beautiful" XD

Anyways, other things:

The directing of the episode... it well it was a chOICE to say the least. I'm personally unsure if I like the faster pace? I think some things could have definitely been done better so that's that. But overall, I really enjoyed the cinematography of the ep, I found it very pleasing.

So, Michael and Lucifer...

Yeah... uh, did not enjoy Michael's betrayal, I'm a personal fan of Jake Abel so whenever Adam or Michael were being portrayed by him I always loved it. But, it felt like Michael was just there as a plot device? Also if Jack brought everyone back, where does that leave Adam? Cause technically Michael's dead with Adam's body. Did Adam just come back with the body or is he still dead?

Lucifer... ngl, I've never really liked this character and I don't understand why people do, but ya know, love who you love, idc. Mark was amazing though, it was very nostalgic but yeah, I was cheering when Michael killed him.

Jack.

Jack my babyyyyy, I'm going to miss you, cause that definitely felt like a permanent goodbye for the series. Did anyone else see that Jack was eating a candy bar while Sam was creating the spell? I decide to believe it was something with nougat because I can. But also Jack what the heck XD uh you forgot to bring Cas back, ya silly. But I'm just so happy that Jack finally did something sooooo freaking powerful! In s12, they really played up his powers and since then hes either been powerless or dead or whatever. Sometimes I feel like he could have done more in certain areas? So needless to say, im happy we got such a huge power move from him.

Sam, I love you and that's all I have to say but... find Eileen?

We also could have used a Crowley appearance just sayin

Last, yet most important thing:

THIS MEANS GARTH LIVES WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[found--family]

watchnotes for 15x19 Inherit The Earth: 

The Quiet Earth; i love that they finally did this 

Dean drove to them (9 hrs, post-love-loss) 

every scene of Dean from now on is him canonically knowing Cas was in love with him. remember that. 

The Bloody Handprint™ Jacket 

Dean's face is scrunched with grief dO YOU SEE?! 

Team Social Distancing 6-feet-apart 

Dean telling Sam + Jack about Cas *my heart is sobbing* he can't even make eye contact *SOBBS HARDER* 

does.. does Jensen sound odd to anyone else? is it because this ep was filmed AFTER the covid hiatus, so he's not quite back to his Dean-voice? 

"i am lonely" song plays; well-chosen

grieving!jack.. praying to Cas.. trying to bring him back from The Empty again.. *gross sobbing* 

things still dying in Jack's wake - like The Darkness #foreshadowing? 

'3 Sheeps Brewing' *squinty eyes*

it's not your fault Sammy :( 

Chuck, you sonuvabitch

Dean not fussed about dying because Cas is gone *gross sobbing* "but FIRST you gotta bring back the people, the birds—CAS. You gotta bring HIM back." 

oH! so no Big Bang 2.0.. which means they have time. 

3 Sad Bois in the bunker :( :( :( 

drunk!Dean passed out on the floor in the library is a mood 

Dean + Jack wearing blue.. yeh I'm thinking of Cas :'c

so Jack doesn't have his Nephilim powers but he does have the weird Darkness Curse + he can sense.. oh, Angels. 

Route 66. nice. 

Dean finds a golden dog!! and the Happy Music SWELLS!! (sidenote: is that Jensen's dog?) "MIRACLE DOG" *gross sobbing + smiles*

(ﾉಥ益ಥ）ﾉ ┻┻ CHUCK KILLED DEAN'S MIRACLE *ALL THE SOBBING*

MICHAEL! meet your nephew, Jack :3

Michael lost Adam :( 

"Daddy's Boy" oh, Dean.. 

Team Kill Chuck

God's book needs Death to read it, so.. New Death incoming? Lucifer? 

(i see those hanging utensils have been rearranged from the promo pics don't think i don't) 

who's calling you Dea—omg CAS?! 

LUCIFER YOU FUCKING FUCK 

okay 2 things: why does The Empty care about God's Death Book? and why send Lucifer of all people? would've preferred to see a lot of Angels (Uriel) and Demons (real Meg, Ruby) in his place *le sigh, but that's BL for you*

sidenote: i am sad that we were deprived a scene of Empty!Meg ordering Lucifer around 

so this Betty everyone's been so fussed about is some random reaper in line for Death.. Hello, Death 3.0! 

COOL NEW SCYTHE 

Luci + Michael Hells Yes this is the only thing i wanted from Lucifer's return (+ him not being redeemed) 

"Asshats." can we pls keep Betty? XD

..apparently not. omG LUCI YOU'RE SUCH A SUCKUP! G'bye. 

hmm.. something's up with Jack.. did he absorb part of The Empty's power during the divine implosion+after..? 

before this post ends i wanna give a shoutout to Jake Abel's stellar portrayal as Michael this season *claps*

so there's some handy spell in Chuck's book. I'm confused about where that was supposed to come, storywise, but i don't think it's The Answer. I'm betting Jack is The Answer, this altered version of him since returning from The Empty post-implosion. 

theory: they heard Billie say in 15x18 that Jack would be useful to God's ending, so maybe Sam is saying That Stuff out loud in case Chuck is listening; it's a red herring and Sam knows Chuck's End will come at Jack's hand, but he can't say so. 

i always love the glowy special fx

Chuck + Michael convo Hells Ye—wait.. 

..MICHAEL YOU SUCKUP 

woahzah more cool glowy fx

GO SAM GO! 

boys just won't stay down :') 

GO JACK GO! *called it!* forget all my theories about Chuck talking things out with TFW or whatever this is sO MUCH BETTER 

Jack's divine power vaccum + The Plan ohmyes CLEVER BOYS!!! 

Dean "The Ultimate Killer—No That's Not Who I Am" Winchester!! 

THEY TAKE BACK THEIR NARRATIVE HELLS YES

HUMAN!godCHUCK ohmy that's perfect 

God 2.0, God!Jack :') 

The Youngbloods 'Get Together' 

Jack, The New Light, in harmony (True Balance) with The Darkness; he and Amara are getting to know one another as foreshadowed :) 

Jack brings about "paradise on earth" as foreseen by Kelly in 12x19

does this mean Eileen is back? 

omj CASTIEL + JACK finally added to the Found Family initials!!!!! 

(what's with the apocalyptic orange sky as they drive?) 

umm.. okay.. i don't wanna get salty as a last note but: that montage? shouldn't that be kept for the end of 15x20 with Carry On My Wayward Son playing? also Cas was barely in it so wtf

BONUS: the promo for next week gives us nothing to go on. so.. 

CLOSING THOUGHTS: i love what happened with Jack and Chuck and The Plan, a brilliant season ending! I'm interested to see whether they address another New Death in the Final Ep, but mostly excited to see Cas and Eileen(?) back with the boys, what happens with The Empty and Heaven, and ofc where their lives go from here. 

[mantra4ia]

Desires: Lucifer season 5 on Netflix

Created: August 21, 2020. Last Modified: August 22, 2020.

Preface: Alright my Lucis, here’s the sitch: it’s been a minute. Life got a bit chaotic I wasn’t able to start season five quite on time when it premiered on August 21st because I haven’t finished the great 2020 Lucifer rewatch. I’m nearly done however and should be able to jump into it either later today or tomorrow, which is why beforehand I want to — as I’ve traditionally done for a few seasons — create a desires list and keep a tally throughout the season to see how many are met. I am going to try to pace myself, not binge, and watch a single episode a day so don’t spoil me. Likewise I will tag my spoilers. Here we go... #21DaysofLucifer

Season 3 and 4 Roundout - Desires Fulfilled / Questions Answered

✔We’ve seen other demons “like Maze” and a bit of what havoc they can reek. Well sort of. To be quite frank, although it was cool to see them possess the recently deceased, it wasn’t as impending doom as I was expecting. They didn’t seem nearly as disciplined or intimidating as Mazikeen, even Dromos, more bored and desperate.

✔ We’ve seen a little more or the heavenly host in Remiel. Remi was cool, if a bit intense. Her character, and her affinity to Amenadiel was a nice foil to see how far his character has come in evolution. But again like Uriel was for Lucifer, she kind of became a driving force character device to push Amenadiel’s growth. So I wonder if we’ll get to see more of her or not.

✔ (s3) The backstory of Lucifer’s arrival in LA, finding LUX, and making a deal with Amenadiel.

✔ (s3) Cain finally went to hell, YES! Not that I didn’t like Marcus Pierce/Tom Welling, there were some great interactions there, but I just think he was a wishy-washy antagonist based on how he was written and I can’t wait to trade up for Michael.

✔ Maze finally had some happiness and attachment to this silly mortal coil and it slipped away! Why Eve why? I love Maze’s bonding with humans, Linda, Trixie, Chloe. But I love that after a Millennia of serving, and then watching Amenadiel and Linda be happy in a family unit, that she might actually make her own and my hopes were dashed. 

Things we got that we didn’t even know we wanted. SO GOOD:

Season 4 ep 8: Amenadiel bonding with Caleb and confronting community violence, police brutality, and systemic racism. It was a rough episode to be sure, but absolutely needed,

Chloe talking Lucifer down and out of a self-hatred spiral and his transformation into full-fledged devil and back again.

Lucifer playing Creep on repeat while missing the detective (even after insisting in a therapy session that “he’s not a teenager playing Adele on repeat) and Mr. Said Out B**** trying to rob Lucifer and gun point and ultimately get rich. What a fun twist.

The Dan and Maze Los X’s fight. They are wicked good at laying down the  hurt on the criminal element and I was wondering when they’d pair up again after dispatching Warden Perry.

The devil in a bar fight! I mean, it’s only fair since the ladies had their brawl. I love how this fight sequence was filmed in bursts of slo-mo from various angles, involved everything from fists, to tasers, knives, bottles, and the infamous pool cue, and they picked the perfect song for pacing (Jake Bugg, Lightning Bolt, could listen to it all day on repeat.)

Time for all good demons to go home / Enough, you will bow down to your king. Go home! (aka appropriate use of Devilish intimidation face)

Amenadiel vs Remi 

A Rocky montage with Lucifer and Amenadiel / Amenadiel’s face the first time Lucifer drives the Corvette

Lucifer at the roller derby

Chloe the YA fangirl

Maze teaching Trixie about knives, with each handle decorated in a different toy.

Amenadiel and Chloe catching up: your father is so proud of you. Like and angel BOSS!

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:

★ (s3) Amenadiel taking Charlotte home

★ Dan being comforted in his grief by Amenadiel

★ Amenadiel’s wrath and the brotherly duo tag team to lay the hurt on the drug dealer that got Charlie killed. It’s been a while since we’ve seen warrior angel ready to dispatch anyone in his way. And it was glorious!

★ (s3) Lucifer’s almost driving lesson with Trixie “Morningstar”

★ (s3) Maze torturing Lucifer by making him think he’s the Angel of San Bernadino

★ (s3) Amenadiel and Lina helping to dispose of Lucifer’s wings

★  Lucifer kicking Julian, Tiernan’s son, through a glass pane window

★ The goodbye kiss between Lucifer and Chloe

 DIDN’T LIKE:

☒ (s3) Cain playing guitar and singing. What is he, a crime lord, a top cop, or an act that the improv club wouldn’t take? 

☒ Eve. I liked Eve, but we mostly got to see one side of her around Lucifer, and a kind of floundering an confused side when she was with Maze. The side that I would have liked to see more of was the maternal side that came out when she briefly talked about Abel or was interrogated by Trixie. That made her more layered.

☒ Father Kinley. That dude is just meh.

☒ Dan’s broken heart and rebounding with Ella. Don’t get me wrong, its a good arc, but I don’t see it lasting

☒ (s3) Abel and Reese. Those were two side stories I could have done without, although they had great moments of humor. I quite enjoyed Reese’s character, and although I didn’t like Abel Lucifer’s stick-figure comic illustration of Cain fighting with him over a rock was quite enjoyable.

WHAT I TRULY DESIRE: SINFUL SEASON 5, my BURNING QUESTIONS, and SPECULATIONS

Obviously, don’t spoil anything for me, but if any of my desires end up coming true in any of the first eight episodes maybe drop me a hint in the comments...

A big time jump. We need to see the lasting impact of Lucifer’s absence. I know that time in hell works differently per that episode where Lucifer saved Chloe and almost got stuck in a loop, but we still need enough time to elapse that the impact is felt on the mortal side. Or, we need to see the passage of time through a series of events without Lucifer, like a montage of character development. At least a year or so, if for no other reason then Trixie is growing up and I actually want to see her take driving lessons with Lucifer.

Last season Maze gave baby Charlie a gift, something she’d wished she’d had growing up, and previously had alluded to the language of demons, her many siblings, and teased her mother, the mother of all demons. Will we finally get to meet Maze’s mom Lilith (or however they address her)? And, in spite of Mazikeen’s found family, she still has restlessness and abandonment issues. Will her mom finally finally bring her peace, or will clashing with her resolidify Maze’s purpose on earth?

A Decker/Mazikeen team-up or girls night out 2.0 would always be appreciated. At this point its probably 4.0 if you count the bar fight and the bachelorette party.

Will we see tougher, scarier demons, or are they just warmup to the really scary depths of hell?

Speaking of hell, more hell. Tons of hell. I want to know the minutia of all the mechanics. If Lucifer’s gotta be down there in self-imposed exile, he may as well show us around. Pour us a drink.

Will Lucifer see Cain in Hell? Not that I’m dying to see more of “sad Cain” but it would be interesting to see a more dark or desperate or cunning side to him at least now that he’s actually neck deep in torment. Or, alternatively, I’m hedging my bets that he could be a good candidate to light the fire under Lucifer’s *** to get of hell back to the earthly realm. Even in hell, I’m betting Cain would have a soft spot for Chloe, and if news reached Lucifer that Michael were trying to abscond with his life and with Chloe, it would give Cain and Lucifer one last bit of “A-Hole brothers” common ground to bond over. Like “Brothers, am I right? Go kick, get Chloe back, I’ll still have enough guilt to torture me with in a few thousand years when you get back,”   

Will Lucifer fall into peril in hell of once again potentially getting distracted and stuck in a hell loop? Will his servants be satisfied with his return? Will Amenadiel bust him out.

Mr. Said Out Bitch needs a role reprise. He’s been in every season opener 2-4, we’ve gotten to know his undergarments very well.  Its high time we get to know his name and story. He’s put in the work!  

Amenadiel should be running LUX in Lucifer's absence. We got a tease of that in previous seasons (remember when he asked what would Lucifer do?) its time for that to come to fruition. Plus, any excuse to put DB Woodside in a suit, just because he wears them so well. It would also be interesting if, after that tragedy he’s experienced, Amenadiel will start taking after Luci. Maybe not the punishing, not yet, but wanting to seek out evil and corruption. It has been teased since s1 “fall as I did.” Perhaps he’ll start developing a taste for his bother’s line of work whereas he found it repugnant in the early days

Dan and Maze or Dan and Ella pair up. Both Dan and Maze are due for some happiness.

An Azrael reboot, when need more of her. She’s the angel of Death for pity’s sake. I don’t know if the original actress is still available or if they would have to recast, or if the character concept by Netflix would even be the same, but I need Azrael to be capable of sweet and unassuming and on a coin flip downright menacing.

More of Lucifer as a godparent, bless! And maybe a cool montage of “cousin” Trixie and Lucifer co-babysitting Charlie please.

Whilst on the subject of Lucifer and parenting, and without putting Trixie too much into harm’s way, I need to see what “I would do anything to protect that little urchin” looks like. Trixstar ride or die.

Father Frank, come back! I need a cameo or recurrent role pleeeeease.

Trixie in every episode. This is non-negotiable, much like chocolate cake. Beatrice is an all-star. In fact, I’ve decided that when Dad/God finally does show up, Trixie needs to be the one to get to know him / introduce him first. She’s been captain on the celestial cheer squad for four seasons, she’s earned this.

Who's going to see through Michael's facade first? I mean, I know that trailer shows Maze torturing it out of him, but as far as intuition goes, I've got a 50/50 split between Trixie and Linda, with an honorable mention to Dan.

If Michael is Lucifer's twin, does he have the same angelic compulsion skill set? Or something different? And will it work on Chloe or is she universally immune?

A “be like Mike” pop-culture reference. ******Spoilers: ******* all the trailers have revealed Michael already, so they owe us this for letting the steam out.

As far as pop-culture, how many movie and TV references will we get from Lucifer and ensemble this year? I expect A-game, from sci-fi to 80s action, on par with the previous likes of Parent Trap, Star Wars, Home Alone, Kim Possible, and Rocky.

Will Amenadiel’s necklace make a reappearance, even after he put it around Caleb’s neck in the morgue? Heavenly artifacts have a way of causing trouble in this show.

Will what finally learn what, if any, significance there is to Lucifer’s ring? Again, as all my fictional writings will attest, I really kind of want it to be a stolen little trinket from him Dad.

Plot twist: will we get to see Hell and the silver city all in one season, or is that too devilishly good to ask? It would be intriguing if Lucifer fell from Heaven for rebelling and now some threat like, for example, the mother of demons would pose a threat to the gates such that Lucifer was called upon to defend them. Not expecting anything Endgame level with a host of Angels popping up like sorcerers...but it is food for the imagination.

Plot twist: will Michael, duplicitous twin that he is, be revealed as the reason that Lucifer does not lie and can’t stand liars? Will be get a Michael back story? Is he perhaps the true rebellious son? see: my original fan conjecture here.

Additional links to previous recaps, roundouts and wishlists: 

Season 1: Best Moments // Season 2: Predictions, Desires, Roundout, Best Moments // Season 3: Speculations, Quick-shot summary 

[adammilligan]

so i just went and rewatched michael's scenes in both 5x13 and 5x22 and i remember how everybody used to be like "jake abel was a HORRIBLE actor he played michael so badly and that's why i prefer matt" like first of all jake abel NAILED those teeny tiny details that no one ever thinks about in his conversation with lucifer and second of all i'm like 99% sure that you're dragging jake because he didn't do a cool trick like how matt cohen got to burn anna alive.

i thought matt cohen played a good michael, i did, but jake abel will always be the more memorable and "perfect" michael for me⁠—he was well before 15x08 came out and he still is now. his performance of michael in swan song, for me, was absolutely spectacular and i adored it. matt cohen did very well, but i just never preferred him over jake. what i don't understand is why people feel the need to call jake abel a "shitty" actor in order to uplift the fact that they liked matt better. just shut up lmao

[spnreactions]

15x19: Inherit the Earth

Alright guys. 

It’s time. 

The unofficial finale. 

The season finale that ties up a lot of loose ends before we hit the official series finale. 

Oh god I’m so scared. 

But I’m also sooo excited. 

AHHH!

Okay. Let’s just do this. 

Oh. Hey Amara. 

AHHH! My baby. :’( :’( 

OPE! Looks like God’s book is gonna come into play. 

GEE THANKS FOR SHOWING ME THAT AGAIN AHHH!!! :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( 

“Now”

...f**k. This really is Infinity War...

My Mom: Oh look. It’s the pandemic. 

...wow. 

Everyone. 

...

...who’s gonna ask it? 

Which one of them is gonna ask about Cas? 

I bet it’s gonna be Jack.

Awww Sam...this wasn’t your fault. 

Yep. Called it. 

:’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( 

The reactions to that oh my god. Dean really is trying too hard to be the strong one here, but Jensen is doing a really good job of playing the hurt and the pain subtly enough to know it’s there. 

And Jack... :’( :’( :’( My poor baby. I didn’t expect anything less, but god it hurts... :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( 

AHHHH!! WHY DID WE HAVE TO LOSE CAS??!! 

Sam’s face too. :’( :’( :’( 

The way they’re both tearing up. 

God...I hate it. :’( :’( :’( :’( 

Sam’s trying. He’s so desperate. 

JODY! NOOOOOOO!!!!! :’( :’( :’( :’( 

THERE BETTER BE A WAY TO GET EVERYONE BACK!!

:’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( 

I kind of wanted a little more from that moment between Dean and Jack, but I guess I don’t know what else would happen. Dean is upset, and Jack is upset, and Dean’s just trying his best, but it’s hard for him too, so I guess that makes sense. God my poor boys. :’( :’( :’( 

Wow. That shot. 

UGGGGH! SCREW YOU CHUCK!!! (But also that zoom-out was really cool.) 

...wow. 

...ouch.... (I mean, he’s not wrong, but ouch.) 

IT SURE LOOKS THAT WAY DOESN’T IT! 

I thought he was gonna say “the kid” there oops lol. Saying “Jack” is better anyways. 

MY POOR BABY AHHH!!! NOOO!!! :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( 

OKAY WTF??!!!

WHAT THE HECK IS THAT??!! WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY BABY??!!! :’( :’( :’( 

Dean did you just...get a beer? (Oh who am I kidding? Of course he did.) 

Sam no. Stop. This isn’t your fault. :’( :’( 

Sam noooo. What you did was right. 

Sam... :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( 

My Mom: SAM! Don’t yell at him! 

God. You know it’s bad when Dean and Jack are the positive ones and Sam is the one giving up... :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( 

Come on Sam. You guys are Winchesters. Winchesters never give up. 

I really like the cinematography in this. There are so many panning shots and it’s really cool for the style and story of the episode and everything. 

EWWWW!!! SCREW YOU!!!!

Ugh. Rob Benedict is so good at his acting as Chuck, but man, I really hate Chuck. 

Wait, REALLY?! There has to be a catch here right? They wouldn’t just do that. 

AWWW!! DEAN!!! :’( :’( <3 <3 <3 <3 

...wow. 

I guess they are giving up. 

HEY! 

UGH! COME ON CHUCK!!! 

SCREW YOU!!!!

I mean, that was bound to happen.

BUT SCREW YOU!!!!

HEY! 

Jack is NOT a lap dog, you jerk. 

...that is SOOO not cool. 

As if the Winchesters need any more eternal suffering and shame...Jesus Christ. 

SCREW! YOU! CHUCK!!! 

Ahh...this montage of all of them grieving. :’( :’( :’( 

That was a really great shot of Jack, by the way. <3 <3 

But also :’( :’( :’( :’( 

Poor Dean, on the floor with his alcohol.... :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( 

...no you don’t. 

...ope. 

Jack’s...hearing something? Sensing something?

Ah. Sensing something. 

HA! 

HEY! PROMO LINE!!! 

....wait. That’s a good point. I guess because he, like, is still a nephilim, right? 

DOGGO!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

IT’S THE DOGGO FROM THE PROMO!!! <3 <3 <3 

“Miracle.” <3 <3 <3 

He’s just so happy to see somebody else alive oh my gosh. <3 <3 

Also, I saw something before talking about the promo and saying that it would be really out of character for Dean to like a dog in this episode, but, like, really? I mean, what about Dog Dean Afternoon where he finally found an appreciation--even a love--for dogs? I think it makes perfect sense. Especially since he’s so desperate to just...have something to hold onto again, to have somebody to save. The dog makes perfect sense. <3 

Awww!! SEE??!! IT GIVES HIM HOPE!! 

HA! Dean OMG!! XD XD 

Sam’s surprise is hilarious. XD XD 

Oh Dean... 

HA! DEAN I LOVE YOU!! 

SEE?! THAT is what we call CHARACTER GROWTH PEOPLE!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 

My mom said “good boy” to our dog at the same time Dean said “good boy” to their new dog lol. 

AWWW!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

NO!!!

My Mom: SERIOUSLY?! NOT COOL!! 

ARE YOU F***ING KIDDING ME CHUCK??!!! 

ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW??!!! 

THAT WAS SO UNNECESSARY CHUCK WTF??!! 

JERK!!! YOU F***ING SUCK CHUCK!!! 

THAT WAS JUST UNCOOL ON SO MANY LEVELS UGH!!!! 

My Mom: That is messed up. 

UGH!! 

Stupid Chuck. Go die in a hole already. 

...okay. Okay. 

“I have no idea what we’re walking into.” To reiterate, what else is new? 

I bet it’s Michael. 

My Mom: They’re walking...very slowly. Me: Well, yeah. They’re being cautious. My Mom: But they need to hurry up. The suspense is killing me. (XD XD XD)

...okay I see her point. 

Heeeey Michael. 

...Jack looks...mad, for some reason. 

Not gonna lie, I was 100% expecting to see wings there. Kind of disappointed that I didn’t get them. 

HA! He would. 

Awww...too bad. (Not gonna lie, though, my mom and I never really liked Adam. But! We do really like Jake Abel as Michael. He does a great job.) 

UGH. Poor boys... :’( :’( :’( 

“Amazingly”

...come again? 

OH! 

...welp. 

That’s awkward. 

“All caring” HA! I actually laughed out loud when he said that, because yeah no. 

...you could almost say...he’s “Daddy’s blunt little instrument”.... (...and now I made myself cry ugh.) 

Oh. THAT’S why Jack’s mad. 

Oh thank god! Now we have another powerful being on our side!! 

Oh hey! It’s that scene from the promo photos! 

...yeah there’s no way it’s that easy. 

That’d be nice. 

But there’s no way. 

Yep. Not that easy. 

Welp...shoot. That would’ve been nice. 

GUYS!!! IT’S THE SCENE!!! FROM THE PROMO PHOTOS!!

....awww...boys. :’( :’( 

UMMM

Yeah no. I don’t buy it. It’s a trick. 

OH MY GOD THE WAY HE JUST BOOKS IT AHHHH!!!! :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( 

FOR ALL YOU PEOPLE SAYING DEAN DOESN’T RECIPROCATE, LOOK AT THIS!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

There’s no way it’s really Cas. 

But god, the way he runs to him. :’( :’( :’( :’( :’( 

It’s probably Chuck though. 

WHOA! 

UMMM!!

WELL! 

THAT WASN’T WHO I WAS EXPECTING AT ALL! 

But OKAY THEN!! I’M EXCITED! 

I LOVE HIIM!!

WELCOME BACK MARK!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 

My Mom: I LOVE HIM! So excited!! <3 <3 (Yeah we’re definitely related. XD)

Also! 

Dean’s FACE when he saw that it was Luci. XD XD XD 

Now THAT is a highlight of this episode. XD XD 

Jensen you dork. XD XD <3 <3 <3 <3 

Anyways. 

HAHA I LOVE HIM!! XD <3 <3 

“As you guys know” XD XD 

OMG I LOVE HIM!! XD XD <3 <3 <3 

I mean, yeah, I wouldn’t trust him either. 

But also, I love him. XD <3 

....?? 

Huh. 

This is...interesting. 

HA!

OH! I see what he’s doing! 

New Death! 

Smaaaart Luci! 

...what if she hates them just as much as Billie? 

...did Dean just hide behind Sam? 

Oh no he crossed over okay lol. That makes a lot more sense. XD XD 

OPE! 

Frick. 

LUCI OMG!! XD XD <3 <3 

“And that...whatever that is.” XD XD 

HA! 

I like her. XD <3 <3 

I love how she’s talking in the third person now like they’re children. XD XD 

They’re just...a little surprised, okay? Don’t be too hard on them. 

...uh oh. 

I don’t trust that AT ALL, but okay...

My baby is monitoring Luci so closely I love him. <3 

OOOF. This is gonna be rough. 

“Mikey” XD XD <3 <3 

HA! 

The way Sam and Dean both react to the “humanity”. XD XD They were just like “excuse you?” XD 

“Asshats”?? XD XD 

“Of course I’m sure. I’m Death.” “You’ve been Death for an hour.” XD XD

...there’s a catch. There’s no way. That’s too easy. 

...yep. There it is. 

DANGAT LUCI! 

But I liiiiked you. 

Oh FRICK! 

Yeah okay. That makes a LOT more sense. 

...ouch. 

FRICK! 

Okay Jack! It’s up to you! 

Yeah he would never, so shut your face Luci. 

He says no. 

HA! XD XD 

...huh. 

Well. 

That was quick. 

Is there another catch? Cause Luci wasn’t back for very long... 

...why is Jack being so weird?? 

Like, I love my baby to death, and I definitely trust him, but he’s being soooo weird...

...a...a battle? Michael, chill. That was barely a scuffle. 

Yeah, so instead he sent Lucifer to TRICK CALL DEAN WITH CAS’S VOICE!!! SO NOT COOL LUCI!!! SO! NOT! COOL!!!! 

...you totally did don’t even. 

God. All these angels with their daddy issues. 

All these panning shots again. I love them. 

Like, dude, the camera didn’t change at all. That was awesome. <3 

...huh. 

...again, too easy. There has to be a catch. There has to be. 

But also, I really love how they did that, bouncing back in forth between them getting to the special place and Sam talking about the plan. Cool storytelling. 

Summon something unstoppable to fight him...well that just sounds like another problem, doesn’t it?? 

My Mom: That’s a really pretty special place. (She’s not wrong.)

...I’m waiting for the catch. 

I’m waiting very nervously for the catch. 

My Mom: Whoa. 

...it didn’t work?? 

...frick. 

FRICK!!! 

DANGAT!!! 

SEIROUSLY??!!

UGH!!! FREAKING SCREW YOU MICHAEL!!! 

WHATEVER!!! Jerk. 

Ha! 

Saw that coming. 

UMMMM

UMMMMMMMMM

Okay that’s terrifying. 

No likey. 

My Mom: Ouch. Me: Yeah no kidding. 

Bye Michael. You deserved it for betraying us. 

LEAVE THEM ALONE!! 

...ouch. That hurts, because THE SHOW IS OVER! :’( :’( 

HA! YES SAM! 

DANGAT!!

COME ON JACK!!

Jack is bound to pivotal in this somehow...

COME ON JACK! 

HA! 

Okay, I shouldn’t be laughing, but I wanna talk about this for a second and why I laughed. One of the reasons my dad stopped watching this show is because he hated that they kept falling into the trope of bringing the big bads down to a fist-fight so that the boys have a chance. But let me tell you: it makes perfect sense right here. Chuck has the high ground. He has all the power, and he is just reveling in it. He knows (or rather, thinks, because I have faith that they’ll get out of this somehow) that he has them, and that they’re his, and he wants to take the time to truly make them suffer. Killing them quickly is too easy. It ruins the fun for him. But this? This is toying with them. It’s exactly what he wants. And it’s perfect. 

Come on boys! Stand your ground! You can do this! 

... 

:’( :’( :’( 

OW! 

My mom and I are both just cringing and turning away, because OW! 

SCREW YOU CHUCK! 

Come on boys. You can do this. 

THEY WON’T! 

OUR BOYS NEVER STAY DOWN! 

YES BOYS!! YOU GOT THIS!!! <3 <3 <3 

THEY JUST KEEP TAKING IT!! THEY KEEP GETTING BACK UP!!! I LOVE THEM!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

THEY WON’T EVER GIVE UP YOU JERK!! 

OH MY GOD!!! THAT SHOT!!! SAM HELPING DEAN UP!! THEM HELPING EACH OTHER STAND!!! THAT is a BEAUTIFUL MOMENT PEOPLE!!! OH MY GOD!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 

They’re SMILING!!! I LOVE IT!!! 

JACK!!! IT’S JACK!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 

YES BABY!!! GET HIM!!!! 

“Hey Jack” THE WAY HE SAYS THAT ALL CAUTIOUS HA!! I LOVE IT!!! 

YOU BETTER BE SCARED! 

DUDE!!!!!

DUDE DUDE DUDE!!!! 

HE IS POWERED UP!!!! 

THAT’S MY BABY!!!! 

YES!!!! 

YES BABY!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

THAT’S MY BOY!!!! <3 <3 <3 

OH MY GOD YES!!!

THAT! WAS! AWESOME!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

I don’t even know how, but WOW!!! THAT WAS SO COOL!!!! 

HECK YEAH WE DID!! 

...wait...what? 

It’s...it’s empty? Cause...only Death can read it, right? 

YES BOYS!!! 

OH MY GOD YES!!!! 

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD!!! 

HA! I LOVE IT!!! 

I LOVE THE WAY THEY’RE DOING THIS OH MY GOD!!!! 

THIS IS OUR BOYS!!! 

OH!!

THAT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE!!!! 

Of COURSE Sam and Dean knew!! Because they WOULD KNOW!!! 

DUDE!!! THAT IS THE COOLEST THING EVER!!!! 

OH MY GOD YES!!!! 

THIS IS SO AWESOME!!! THESE BOYS!!! MY BABY!!! OH MY GOD!!! I LOVE IT!!! 

My Mom: JACK!!! <3 <3 <3 This! Is! Awesome!

THAT is a Winchester ending. Like no other. <3 <3 <3 <3 

HA! SCREW YOU YOU JERK!! 

They are 100% going to let him live. 

Because he wants to die. 

So they’re not gonna let him. 

HA!! I KNEW IT!! 

THAT’S OUR BOYS!!! 

THAT! IS SO PERFECT!! 

POETIC JUSTICE PEOPLE!! 

OH MY GOD!!! 

GUYS!!!

“That’s not who I am.” 

After Chuck just called him the ultimate killer, he knows he isn’t. 

BECAUSE OF CAS!! 

GUYS!!! 

HE TOOK CAS’S WORDS TO HEART OH MY GOD!!!

YES!!!

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!! 

THAT IS THE BEST THING EVER!!!  THANK YOU CAS!!! 

CHARACTER!! GROWTH!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

“It’s not his power anymore.” YAAAAAS BABY!!! <3 <3 

JACK REALLY IS OUR NEW GOD AHHH!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

HA! 

THAT is the BEST!!! 

YES!!!

THAT is EXACTLY what you deserve, Chuck! 

THIS! IS! PERFECT!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 

BEAUTIFUL RESOLUTION SPN!!! SO GOOD!!!! 

Oh man, that music. The camera work. EVERYTHING!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 

HE’S SO DESPERATE OH MY GOD YES!!!! 

YOU DESERVE IT CHUCK!!! YOU DESERVE IT YOU JERK!!! 

YES BOYS!!! I’M SO PROUD!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

Guys OH MY GOD!! 

There are 15 minutes left still ahhhh I need this commercial to end so I can see the final resolution of this episode. 

WE BAAAAACK!! 

So...Jack can fix all of this now, right?? 

HIS LITTLE SMILE OH MY GOD I LOVE HIM!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

HE DIIIIID IT!!!! 

MY BABY!!! I’M SO PROUD!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

HIS LITTLE SMILE OH MY GOD I’M CRYING!!! :’) :’) :’) :’) :’) <3 <3 <3 <3 

AND THIS SONG!! IT’S SO PERFECT FOR THIS SCENE!!

THE DOGGO!!! <3 <3 <3 

JACK’S EXTRA LITTLE SMILE FOR THE DOGGO OMG!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

safkl;jdsklfsajd THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 

Awww Dean! <3 

Awww....

...he isn’t, is he? 

... :( 

AWWW!!!

“I’m me.” <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 :’) :’) :’) :’) :’) :’) 

JUST LIKE WHAT HE SAID IN JIM’S GEMS!! 

OH MY GOD AHHH!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

I’M CRYING OH MY GODDDDDD!!! :’) :’) :’) :’) :’) :’) <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

HE’S SO WISE AHHH!! I LOVE HIM!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

FAKJLA:DJKFD OH MY GOD AHHHH!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

“I learned from you...and my mother...and Castiel..that when people have to be their best, they can be.” YEAH HI THAT’S IT!!! I’M DONE!!! I’M LOST!! ALL THE TEARS!!! 

“And that’s what to believe in.” <3 <3 <3 <3 

THIS IS SO FREAKING BEAUTIFUL OMG!!! THIS IS SUCH A PERFECT ENDING FOR MY BABY I’M SO PROUD AHHH!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 

AND THIS IS SUCH A BITTERSWEET GOODBYE, but MAN, I LOVE IT!!! 

BECAUSE IT ISN’T REALLY GOODBYE!!

BECAUSE HE’LL ALWAYS BE THERE!!! 

AND HE KNOWS HOW TO PROTECT THE WORLD BECAUSE OF HIS DADS (AND KELLY)!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

OH MY GOD I’M CRYING ALL OF THE HAPPY TEARS RIGHT NOW THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

My Mom: OMG THIS IS SO GOOD!! <3 <3 

HE JUST TOUCHED HIS HEART I’M GONNA LOSE MY SH** OH MY GODDDDDD!!! :’) :’) :’) <3 <3 <3 <3 

HIS LITTLE GOODBYE!!! JUST LIKE HIS LITTLE HELLO!!! THIS IS SO PERFECT OH MY FREAKING GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

“See ya Jack.” <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

OMG THIS SHOT WAS IN THE “Carry On” PROMO!!! 

“To everyone that we lost along the way.” :’( :’( :’( :’) :’) :’) <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

I’M CRYING OH MY GOD THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!

THEY’RE FINALLY FREE!!! 

THEY’RE FINALLY FREE!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

THAT LITTLE WAY DEAN GRABS SAM BEFORE THEY WALK OFF AHHHH!!! <3 <3 <3 

THEIR NAMES ARE ON THE TABLE HOLY FRICK!!!

CAS AND JACK’S NAMES ARE ON THE TABLE GUYS I JUST LOST ALL FUNCTIONALITY OH MY GOD!!!!! :’) :’) :’) :’) :’) :’) :’) <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

THEY’RE DRIVING OFF!!! <3 <3 <3

OH MY GOD WHAT??!! 

THEY’RE ACTUALLY. MONTAGING US RIGHT NOW HOLY FRICK!!! 

GUYS THIS FEELS SO FINAL WHAT COULD NEXT WEEK EVEN BRING OH MY GODDDD!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

THIS SONG TOO!!! GUYS OH MY GOD MY TEARS ARE JUST FALLING EVEN MORE!!! :’) :’) :’) :’) :’) :’) :’) :’) :’) :’) <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

THEY WERE SO LITTLE OH MY GOD!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

JESS!!

BELA!

DEATH! 

BECKY!

DONNA!

ALL OF THESE OLD CHARACTERS!!!! AHHHHH!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

CHARLIE!! 

KEVIN!!!

THE WAY THEY’RE DOING THIS OH MY GOD I’M LOSING MY MIND!!! 

KELLY!!

THE DRIVING SCENE!!!!

ALL OF THESE SCENES OH MY GOD MY MOM AND I ARE JUST FULL-ON SOBBING RIGHT NOW!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

BOBBY!!

PAMELA!!

ELLEN!!!

CAS AND DEAN!! <3 <3 <3 

JODY! 

RUFUS! 

GARTH! 

MISSOURI!

GABRIEL! 

ROWENA!

EILEEN!

THIS ROLE CALL!!! GUYS!!! THIS WAS NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING AT ALL OMG THIS FEELS SO FINAL!!!! 

JO!

LUCI! 

KETCH! 

LEBANON!! <3 <3 <3 

THAT BULL SCENE!! 

FAN FICTION!!! <3 <3 <3 

MEG! 

CROWLEY! 

MICK!! 

BELPHEGOR!! 

WAYWARD SISTERS!! <3 <3 <3 

TEAM FREE WILL 2.0!!! THEIR LAST SCENES OF THE MONTAGE WERE OF TEAM FREE WILL 2.0!!! I LOVE IT!!! 

AND THAT ENDING SCENE!!! THE IMPALA!!!

“We got work to do.” 

GUYS!!! GUYS!!! GUYS!!!

COULD THAT HAVE BEEN ANY BETTER OH MY GOD!!! 

I LOVED IT!!! 

I LOVED IT I LOVED IT I LOVED IT!!! 

GUYS I MORE OR LESS CAN JUST JUMP RIGHT INTO THIS BECAUSE I’M ACTUALLY HAPPY CRYING NOT EVEN SAD CRYING OMG!!! 

I! LOVED! THIS! EPISODE!! 

THIS! WAS! SO! GOOD!! IT WAS PERFECT!! I HONESTLY DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW NEXT WEEK IS GONNA LOOK NOW!! That felt SOOO final, and I honestly wasn’t expecting that! 

I mean, I knew that this episode was intended to be the season finale, with next week being the series finale, but guys...that felt so final oh my god. And it was SO! GOOD!!! I FREAKING LOVED IT!! 

So, as I often do, I scrolled through Tumblr and other various social media posts to see what people thought, and I was so surprised to see that so many people didn’t like it! While I admit that the episode had a couple little flaws, and while there are still a couple of pieces missing, guys...there’s still one episode left. They can tie up the final loose ends (Cas and Eileen being the two big ones there) then. 

And for a “season finale”?? This. Was. BEAUTIFUL!! The way they tied up Chuck’s storyline was SUCH a Winchester thing, and it was beautiful. And Jack?? BECOMING THE NEW GOD AFTER ALL?! PERFECT! And the way they said goodbye?? STELLAR!! 

AND THEN THE MONTAGE??!! You can’t POSSIBLY tell me that that wasn’t the BEST THING EVER and didn’t make you cry and feel so happy and content!!! BECAUSE IT WAS PERFECT!! 

There was SOOO much about this episode to LOVE, and so much to break down, so the rest of this analysis is gonna be so freaking long, but gosh darnat, I’m ready. 

Okay, I’ll start out with the (very few) negatives so I can end with the amazing positives, though, frankly, I’m ‘bout to combat most of those negatives, because guys, this was too perfect. Don’t even with me. 

So, actually, when I’m focusing just on my own opinion here, the only, only thing that I didn’t really like about the episode was that they randomly brought back Lucifer only to kill him right away again. I get why they did it, but it’s not my favorite plot point. I had the same problem when they did it with Gabriel back in Season 13. If you’re not actually gonna keep them, then don’t bother bringing them back. Find something else. 

That said, I was really happy to see Lucifer, and it made me so happy to see Mark Pellegrino on the screen again. So, in the end, it was worth it, especially with EVERYTHING ELSE they did in return! <3 <3 

Alright. Now I want to address my thoughts on some of the things other people didn’t like about the episode.

First of all, yes, there was not a ton of talk about Cas’s death. But here’s the thing: we didn’t need it. Character-wise, and story-wise, a ton of talk about it wouldn’t make sense. Dean is emotionally stunted. He isn’t going to outwardly react here. In fact, it was pretty obvious that he was trying to be the strong one, but the fact that he couldn’t even try to comfort Jack other than an “I’m sorry” just proves how much he was really struggling inside. Plus, his binge-drinking later just furthers that. Ever heard of show not tell? We don’t need to sit there and listen to them talk about Cas’s death, because we can see how much it’s affecting them--especially Dean and Jack. 

Jack is heartbroken. From the second Dean tells him, we see how much he’s hurting, and it doesn’t go away--not even at the end. Even when he says goodbye, and everyone’s (theoretically) happy, the second he says Cas’s name, his voice breaks a little (more on that ending later). It’s so sad, but so beautiful. 

And Dean? I mean, come on people. The drinking and everything about his face is our first sign. Plus, when he and Sam went to Chuck to make a deal, Dean specifically emphasized that he needed Cas back in order for this deal to go off--and the emotion in his voice when he said it was beautiful. Plus, on top of all of that, there was that scene. You know, the one where he thinks it’s Cas, when there is no way it could be Cas, but he’s so desperate for it to be Cas that he loses all sense of logic and books it up the stairs?? THAT SCENE? Yeah. I’d say he’s pretty heartbroken, and lost, and confused without Cas. PLUS, he actually listened to every word that Cas said to him. Because, after Chuck tried to tell him that all he was was a killer? HE! SAID! NO! And that was because of Cas. 

And THEN, on top of all of that, THEY PUT CASTIEL ON THE TABLE!! (Side note: I’m pretty sure the fandom has collectively decided that the only reason it said “Castiel” is because the writers didn’t want to end on a “Cas” vs “Cass” debate, and I freaking love that, because I agree. XD) There would’ve been no better way to honor his death without bringing him back (more on that later). I! FREAKING! LOVED! IT! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

Alright. Now, let’s break down that ending, positives, negatives, and everything in between. 

Let me start by saying--and I cannot say this enough--I LOVED this ending. LOVED! IT! I thought it was a perfect end for Chuck, for Jack, for the boys--everyone. It was so beautiful and well-thought out, and the way they portrayed it was extra special. I thought it was amazing. 

Now, before I talk about what I loved about that ending, let me address the haters. And, be warned, I know I’m gonna get a little defensive here, but just remember: all of you are entitled to your opinions, and that’s totally fine. These are just my own thoughts--even if some of them might come off a little harsh--because I really do appreciate what the show did with this episode, whether other people do or not. And yes, I know Bucklemming wrote it, and they’re nobody’s favorite, but honestly, I thought they did really well with this one. It was AWESOME. 

For starters, we don’t know that the boys didn’t check in on all of their friends. We really can’t assume that. We went from the boys being in the middle of whatever town they were in (there were so many locations...I kind of lost track of where they ended up at the end...was it still Minnesota?) to them being in the Bunker. We have no idea what happened on the ride back, and my guess is probably that they did exactly that--checked in on everyone. Sam probably called Jody and Donna and Bobby and Charlie and all of them to make sure they were back and okay, because you’re right. They would. And they probably did. But the thing is, we didn’t need to see that, because we can assume that. Jack brought everybody back. Why do we have any reason to think that the boys’ closest friends and family wouldn’t be part of that list? They disappeared, and Jack brought back the people that disappeared. It makes sense to me. 

Second of all, Cas. Look, Destielers. I ship it too, okay? I do. How much I ship it depends on the day, but I do ship it. And I’m gonna say it, and you’re all going to hate me, but I am okay that Dean didn’t immediately ask Jack to bring Cas back because I think it works. I’m gonna be honest--I don’t think Cas is coming back. At least, not in the way everyone wants him to, and I think that’s good. I mean, the whole point of that scene was that Cas was sacrificing himself so Dean could live a life. It’s exactly what Jack was gonna do for Sam and Dean in 15x17, but the difference is that Jack was doing it out of guilt (and love, but mostly guilt). Cas was doing it completely and utterly out love. Sacrificing himself in the way he did led to everything that happened in this episode. It meant Sam and Dean being together to make the plan that let Jack become God. It meant letting the rest of his family live so that they could save the world. And guys...that sacrifice is amazing. Put the Destiel in it, take the Destiel out of it, do whatever, but that is exactly what Cas’s character has always been about. He’s been about protecting humanity and, especially, protecting Dean. And he did exactly that. I know I’m talking a lot about 15x18 right now, but I swear it connects. 

The thing is, if Jack brings Cas back, what does that do? I mean, yes, Dean would get him back, but...Jack isn’t even coming home. He’s God now. He’s protecting the world. And...as sad as it is, he doesn’t need his dads. They taught him so much, and now he’s able to be who is because of that. And Sam and Dean? They’re okay. They’re able to live their lives now. And guys, please don’t hate me, but Cas...doesn’t need to be in the story. His sacrifice was what brought them to where they are, and that is a beautiful thing. And I think Sam and Dean and Jack know that too. I mean, where do you think the “to everyone that we lost along the way” came from? 

Plus, in a much more real sense, think about this. The Empty’s mad at Cas, and the Empty is pretty dang powerful. What happens if Jack brings him back? Don’t you think that would open up a whole new world of problems? Wouldn’t that just put the Empty on our tail again? Yes, the Empty can’t come to Earth, but honestly, I’d be more bothered if they just pulled him back and didn’t address the problems that could cause from the Empty’s perspective. 

Guys. I know it sucks. I miss him too. But story-wise, it actually makes sense, whether we want to believe it or not. And again: we still have one episode left. They’re not just gonna leave it at that. I have faith that Cas is going to come back in some form--maybe not back back, per se, but probably as a memory or, as I mentioned before, maybe even in Dean’s Heaven. Whatever it is, Cas is still going to play a part in those final scenes, because our boys wouldn’t be who they are without him. And the show isn’t going to let him be forgotten. No one is. 

Lastly, those of you who are complaining about it being a bronlies ending...just...stop. XD 

Look. I love Team Free Will. I love Team Free Will 2.0. My favorite character is Jack. I am all for the expansive Winchester family. I love our new characters and our new family. 

But guys...the core of this show still is and always will be the Winchester brothers. Yes, their family got bigger. And yeah, that’s the most special thing ever. But their relationship will always, always be what drives this show. It’s what this show’s been about since Day 1, and even with their extended family, it’s still what this show has always been about--two brothers, saving people and hunting things together. So, yeah, the ending’s gonna be about the bros. Even next week, the ending is probably gonna be the bros. Because that’s what this show is. And it’s not like they forgot about their family. Guys, their names were ON THE TABLE. That right there proves how much of a family they all were. But in the end, it’s still always Sam and Dean. Always. And that’s how it should be. I”m not saying don’t include Cas and Jack. I’m not saying don’t include all of the other characters. For gosh sake, please, include all of the other characters. WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MONTAGE WAS FOR?! But, in the end, the story only wraps when Sam and Dean’s story wraps, because that’s what this story is. And, to reiterate, it isn’t actually over. So. That’s what I have to say to that. 

Now that I have gotten all of that out of the way (holy frick I can’t believe I have more to say--can you imagine how long this is gonna be next week??), let me break down, from my perspective, how BEAUTIFUL that ending was. Piece. By. Piece. 

That entire twist was EPIC. That was the most Winchester ending to ever Winchester. The convolution. The fact that Sam and Dean knew about Jack, and knew about Michael, and used all of it to their advantage was so unbelievably THEM, and I loved it. And on top of that, the fact that Jack wound up being the pivotal turning point in that whole fight was BEAUTIFUL. Chuck’s clear panic and desperation and Jack just LAYING HIM! AMAZING! 

Those last lines between Sam and Dean and Chuck were SO. BEAUTIFULLY. WRITTEN. Chuck wanted a poetic ending--his characters being stronger than him and killing him in the end. But no. Because Sam and Dean and Jack are better than that. And the fact that Dean KNEW THAT, BECAUSE OF CAS?! “That’s not who I am.” Beautiful. And THEN! THIS:

“Then I think it’s the ending where you’re just like us. And like all the other humans you forgot about.” 

“It’s the ending where you grow old, you get sick, and you just die.” 

“And no one cares. And no one remembers you. You’re just...forgotten.” 

Because GUYS! 

THAT. IS. PERFECT.

Not only is that the best justice that Chuck could have possibly received after all of the crap he’s pulled, but think about that last line for a minute. “No one cares. No one remembers you. You’re just forgotten.”

That is the EXACT OPPOSITE of the legacy Sam and Dean will be leaving behind. It’s the exact opposite of the legacy of this show and its characters, because none of them will ever be forgotten. They think they will, but they won’t. That line says so much about this show, and that is absolutely amazing. 

And then, after all of that, everyone comes back because of Sam and Dean and Jack and what they did, and that just furthers that line of legacy even more. 

And oh my gosh. Jack. That proud little smile. The amount of wisdom that he has at freaking three years old--all because of his dads. I mean, let’s just think about that for a second. Jack was born with the entire world convinced that he was going to destroy it. But because of two salty hunters and a fallen angel, he became the new protector of everyone and everything, and he knows how to do it right. BECAUSE OF THEM. He knows how to care, how to treat people, and how to make the world a better place. All. Because. Of. Them. 

And yeah, he didn’t go back home, and it hurts a little bit, knowing that the little family isn’t together anymore. But Jack’s exactly right--they are together, and they always will be. Because they’ll always be in each other’s hearts. Jack won’t ever be far, and Cas will always be there in spirit. Always. 

And Sam and Dean? They’re gonna have each other until the day they die, just as they should. 

And to end all of that with the most beautiful freaking montage I have ever seen. Guys, I thought the Swan Song montage was the best thing in the world. But that? That left it completely behind. “To everyone that we lost along the way.” And, to all the people who are still in our hearts. To show all those characters, to show all those moments, and to show how they all impacted our boys...And then to end it with the boys driving off together towards their new future? Their free future? It. Was. Perfect. 

And, I will say this. Was everything completely wrapped up? No. Was it pretty dang close? Heck yeah. If this had been the official ending, I would’ve been a little disappointed, but it would’ve worked. Obviously, there are definitely a few key character and emotional pieces missing, but that’s why we have next week--one more to try to tie up our last little bits of emotion, and really truly finish out the story. But in all honesty, that was a BEAUTIFUL ending for the season, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better for this episode. 

In the beginning of Season 15, I started getting nervous. I started wondering: what if the ending sucks? I mean, I can name several shows that went on for so long with so many great things and then had a terrible ending that ruined it for fans. I was worried it would happen to Supernatural too. 

But after seeing that semi-ending--after seeing their season finale--I have total faith in them, as I should’ve from the beginning. I know that there’s no way that this ending could be bad. Not when they just delivered that to us. Between the storytelling, the acting, the cinematography, the editing, the music--all of it. It was such a BEAUTIFUL episode, and honestly, it’s already in my top ten. 

Say what you want about Bucklemming. Say what you want about the lack of Destiel. Say what you want about this episode. But to me, this episode was beautiful, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect way to end the Season 15 storyline. 

I am so, so excited to see what they give us next week. It’s going to be amazing. 

My Rating: 30/10

P.S. I...want to react to the 15x20 promo, but...there isn’t really much to react to, because they’re really trying to keep us from knowing what’s gonna happen I guess. So, I’m gonna wait and see if anymore promotional material comes out and then do it all at once. 

[susanoosama01]

Every Michael Ranked

1. Jake Abel (Of course!)

Alright, we all know why Jake was the best Michael ever.

For starters, he plays just with his eyes. He gives this different look to Adam and Michael in every scene. He changes between the two so fast without breaking role. As Michael, his posture, deeper (than Adam's) tone of voice, his chin raised and the look of well masked emotions we can see in his eyes made me fall a little for this character. He actually has the air of the Prince Of Heaven. In S15, he is tired, conflicted and a little defeated. Also he has the sweet moments with Adam. His wonder and adoration in those scenes are completely stripped off the appearance Michael puts up for others. Jake plays him and keeps him three-dimensional.

2. Matt Cohen

For me, Matt Cohen is Michael. The Michael. Original Michael. To see him go from young!John to this terrifying archangel was awesome. It's a feeling I still remember after all the years. Dean who saw this face as his father's, must have experienced the same horrified trhrill when he saw him as Michael. The scene where he torches Anna was like a slap on the face too. Matt there, was everything: a soldier, cold blooded, strong willed, bold and fascinating despite being fearsome. In the times when angels were still pretty strong and not total weaklings except the archangels, Matt managed to make Michael soar up above all of them. His stance was different, the way he talked, the lools he gave, the confidence he radiated... I now can't imagine Michael as anyone else but a look alike of Matt with dark hair and green eyes.

3. Christian Keyes

Christian portrayed Michael, evil and twisted and half-crazed after murdering his brother and without Adam PERFECTLY. He got the attitude of the soldier, the Prince from Matt's Michael almost too well and added this delusional amusement at everything, the trauma of being abandoned by God and the uncare for everything else after he foolishly destroyed all he loved for a father who never valued him in a great and unique way to create a new Michael from this other universe. Remember that proud big bro look he had when Lucifer wanted to fight him again? That laugh when Gabriel actually managed to hit him? Christian remembered Michael's love for his brothers from S5 and put that to good use in his own way for his own Michael. He reminded us that fact the writers forgot and added depth to this Michael who lost his mind because he murdered his family with his own hands. Christian was just dope.

4. Felisha Terrel

If I had to imagine Michael as a woman, Felisha would be it. Her portrayal was spot on. Her Michael was evil and plotting but still very regal, still the Prince Of Heaven. Felisha didn't let Michael lose any class in any of her scenes. Her Michael was still Michael even in a female vessel which at the time I thought could cause a bit of a problem after the other vessels we saw so far. For example, she walked with precise and confident steps but didn't make them heavy like Christian. She sat in that chair, tapping on the armrest with well manicured nails and completely owned that scene. Her smile, her voice, everything matched Michael. I think without seeing another woman's portrayal to a character that has always been played by men beforehand, she did an astonishing job. She kept her movements and mimics intricate and overall made the whole thing uniquely pleasant. (She also reminds me of Raphael's female vessel so... I love her even more for that.)

5. Ruth Connel

What I liked about Ruth's brief performance here, was how she showed us Michael but still had a bit of Rowena in her eyes. I felt at that moment that Rowena was internally battling with Michael and some of Michael's attention was turned to that fight on the inside so he was a little distracted and we actually could see Rowena trying to get to the surface. Given the chance, she could have made an excellent Michael too.

6. Jensen Ackles

Jensen was... okay. This didn't feel at all like Michael but an overpowered Dean. To his defense, Jensen wasn't used to playing any character but Dean. And Dabb didn't give him anything helpful, not even a little depth to the character. He was just told to copy Christian. He did his best while trying to observe and copy another actor and to keep his act different in his own way too. Still, this is the worst Michael in the show for me. Looks forced and faked and Dean shines through in almost all of Jensen's scenes. This role should have been given earlier to Jensen and he should have had time to prepare a little at least. His Michael is probably liked because of the endless love Dean gets from his stans. The apparel and the power suited Jensen, he was handsome but sadly, not Michael. This was mostly a failure as I see.

[ashen-sky]

Supernatural spoilers 15x18

So, as anyone who follows me probably knows, I only started supernatural back in... July, I think. Binged the first 5 seasons in a week, then slowed down. I just barely caught up in time to watch season 15 when it picked back up. This isn't really important other than the fact that I haven't had the same decade long build up to this episodes confession.

Anyways, I wanna share my thoughts on this episode.

1. The acting- OMG was it amazing, first off Misha made Cas' goodbye and confession so sincere that I probably would have cried if my coping mechanism wasn't to laugh. Lisa made Billie really enjoyable to watch, throughout her whole part in the show I never would have thought she'd be one of my favorite villains but it was always there. Alex made me want to hug Jack, he feels so helpless right now and honestly it was so well played. Then we've got Jensen who made me genuinely believe the shit storm that is Dean's life right now, and Jared is so good at portraying Sam when he shuts down after a big loss like Eileen.

2. Unimportant things I noticed- After Billie appeared on screen for the first time, I paused it and told my dad to watch her, because I wanted to see how obvious it was that Lisa was pregnant. It's just something we do, watching how costumes can cover it up is interesting to me. You can very much tell she's pregnant, but only in a handful of shots because of how her shirt folds. And the other thing is that Eileen's wallpaper was Sam and I think that's cute.

3. The confession- Ahhh, the lovely (read: go fuck yourself) confession, where if my coping mechanism wasn't to laugh, I probably would have cried. Over all? I loved it. How Cas said that no matter how Dean sees himself, Cas loves him. I've seen a comment on how it's queetbaiting but I have a vague definition on what that is, so I'm just gonna leave that alone.

4. Two episodes left- What the hell are they gonna do in the next two episodes?! (See 6 for proper commentary)

5. Jack as god- Y'kown, since seeing this idea, I really liked it. The idea of him taking over and creating the paradise he showed Kelly and Cas. But now he doesn't have his powers, and whatever happened with that plant can't be good. And... I mean Jack has power over the empty, right? So (and this is just me talking crack) what if they made some sort of deal with the empty exchanging Chuck for some angels like Cas, Gabriel, Raphael. You know, to help rebuild heaven. (End of my shit). Either way, someone will have to fill god's shoes and it sure as hell won't be Michael. He has made that clear.

6. Two episodes notes- Well, we know Michael is coming back. Jake Abel was quarantining underneath Rob Benedict before filming started again. My mom thinks Dean might die because Sam can live without dean, but Dean can't live without Sam. Then there's that picture of Sam and Dean in their s1 ep1 clothes, and baby with her old license plates. And I think, if Sam and Dean die in the finale, Jack will let them rest. No more resurrections.

7. Deaths- Also, I almost forgot, I don't think anyone aside from Cas died this episode. The little poof thing everyone did, it's the same thing that happened to Becky and her family. Chuck said they weren't dead, just away. So I think whoever takes over will bring everyone back, like the snap in endgame. Except no one will remember it because everyone went poof.

8. Overall- I think this was a really good episode, and I can see why Misha was happy with how Cas met his end. It was a very human end, sacrificing himself for what he loves. Because that final sacrifice wasn't only for Dean, but also Jack. He made that deal for Jack. And Jared and Jensen have said they're happy with how the show ends, although I haven't seen any commentary from Alex so let me know if he said something on it. I like to know how the actors feel about it. And just remember, no matter how it ends, be respectful of their desicion for the end. The way I see it, as long as the actors are happy, it's a good ending.

And that's all I have to say. Come back the week of the finale to hear me scream! Also, feel free to leave your opinions in my ask box as long as your respectful. I like listening to others opinions.

[kennexara]

I’m still so mad. Like you can put aside the entire Cas thing - and even for that I wasn’t expecting anything but subtext, jesus, I just wanted him to show up and Dean smile at him my standards were fucking low. But even if you didn’t care about Cas and the 12 years of subtext between him and Dean there’s no way around the fact they just…fucked Dean over. Threw 15 years of character development out the window. For - for what? YOUR ENTIRE FUCKING SHOW WAS ABOUT DESTINY NOT MATTERING AND THEN YOU KILLED DEAN THE WAY EVERYONE - HIMSELF INCLUDED - DESTINED HIM TO DIE. What, you wanted to show they finally got over their codependent brother thing? Jfc show them living in separate fucking houses it’s not that hard.

Like, okay, I’m going to tell you what I wanted to happen, and also how they could’ve tweaked it to leave everything ambiguous - do they die next week, do they die of old age, we aren’t telling - and still have the show make fucking sense.

You can keep 15x19 - it was fucking weird, but whatever it works. I do think you should replace the montage with this one, and also you maybe should’ve played carry on wayward son at the start of this second-to-last episode. (hey harkening back to season 1 without destroying 15 years of growth!)

Then 15x20. Don’t do that just-two-brothers-against-the-world. If your primary message was about free will your secondary message was about found family. Show them ACTUALLY checking up that all their friends are back. Jody & Donna and the girls. AU Bobby and AU Charlie and her girlfriend. Eileen - how dare you establish this kickass deaf hunter, slowly start something between her and Sam, and then just fucking forget her. As if two episodes ago he wasn’t more upset about her disappearance than anybody else’s.

And Adam. Get Jake Abel one last time and give him something to do besides stand there while getting called a cuck. “I was wrong before,” he says to Dean. “Sometimes - sometimes, we do get what we deserve.” Dean smiles and slaps him on the back but his eyes are sad. He has that look - you know the one - that he gets every time Cas is gone.

But COVID- Then have everything be phone calls. Or if you’re really cheap and lazy just dig up past dialogue of Hey or Hi or Hello from these people. I don’t need entire conversations, I guess, though I’d prefer them.

“So that’s everyone,” Sam says, putting down his phone. “Everyone’s back.”

“Well, not everyone,” Dean sighs and he has that Look again. Sam gives him a sad look and starts to say something but is interrupted by the creak of the bunker door opening. It’s Cas, of course it’s Cas, and Dean stares at him with that look he always gets when Cas comes back from the dead.

“How are you-”

“Jack,” Cas explains. “He brought me back when he restored everyone else, and I’ve been helping him change things in heaven. It took longer than expected, otherwise I would’ve come sooner.”

“Jack got you out of the Empty?” Sam asks.

Cas hesitates. “Sort of. The Empty claims angels. But if that angel has developed a human soul…the Empty can’t hold it. But it could still take my grace,” he adds, sounding annoyed at the last part.

“You’re - you’re human now?” Dean asks.

“Yes,” Cas says, looking at him. “That’s why I couldn’t return to Earth until we were done with heaven. Are you mad?”

“No,” Dean says, “I don’t - human or angel, it doesn’t matter, I’m just glad you’re here, Cas.”

(And then, if the show had some guts, Cas would say, “No, I meant the thing I said before I died.” And Dean would say, “No, of course not,” and then make some excuse to get them away from Sam and they would actually TALK about it and I don’t need a kiss just Dean saying something about “I feel the same, you know,” and “Being’s nice, sure, but having - having is even better.”)

But they don’t have guts so I’d settle for Dean and Cas hugging and then the three of them all stand there until Sam says, “What do we do now?”

And Dean smiles and says, “Now? Now we write our own story.”

(and if they really decided not to go with classic rock they could’ve done christian rock a la matt maher’s ‘hold us together’ which does not mention god or anything, just talks about how ‘love will hold us together’ and ‘I’ll be my brother’s keeper’ but most importantly ‘this is the first day of the rest of your life.’)

Then you actually show them living lives that are balanced. They’re not full-time hunters, but neither have they stopped completely.

The show’s been establishing Sam as a leader, maybe have him running an American hunter network of sorts? Or having the wall of phones like Bobby? But he still lives in the suburbs with a white picket fence and kids bc that’s the straights dream life apparently. Or if you really want to have season 1 callback, have him be a lawyer for hunters - god knows they get in trouble or arrested by law enforcement enough.

Have Dean open a bar for hunters, like in that dream fantasy from AU Michael. Actually, maybe it’s a restaurant, partially bc he does like to cook and partially so that teenage hunters can breeze in and get advice or extra rocksalt rounds without any trouble while he Dads them. Maybe even have some monsters show up and Dean kicks their asses, like in his dream world. And Cas is there - of course Cas is there, rolling his eyes at Dean’s one-liners but smiling at him fondly all the same.

Don’t do the wig and makeup and ‘look they’re old now!’ thing. Just…don’t. Just fade to black on some scene of Sam and Eileen visiting Dean and Cas at the restaurant and they’re all smiling and laughing.

Then, that scene of Dean in heaven mostly plays out the same. Dean flexes and looks at his hands, his whole body, and says, “Huh, must be in heaven, no arthritis,” or some other issue to let us know he did grow old. And Bobby greets him and doesn’t have to explain quite so much about heaven since Cas already did. And maybe instead of the Roadhouse it’s Dean’s actual restaurant, and you can hear everyone they’ve lost - Charlie, Kevin, Ellen, Jo, Mary, etc inside, bc again COVID and just voices would be enough for me. Maybe you can hear even Crowley and Benny, and Bobby makes some comment about “Oh yeah, Jack dragged people from all places just for you.”

And Dean says something about, “Not everybody is here yet.”

Bobby rolls his eyes and says, “They’ll be along soon enough.”

(I think…I think I would like Sam to be one of the voices coming from the restaurant. Sam always seemed a bit more able to live without Dean than vice versa, so I’d think it’d be nice to show Dean could and did. But they probably really wanted to end on a ‘look at the brothers’ note so I guess Sam isn’t there quite yet.)

Dean gets into the car and there’s that flap of wings they haven’t done in years and “Hello, Dean,” from Cas in the passenger seat and Dean grins at him and cranks the radio higher and it’s playing, idfk, I know they can’t do Stairway to Heaven but we know they can do the actual Kansas version of Carry On Wayward Son so if they’re gonna play that song PLAY THAT VERSION and maybe morph it into the slower one from the musical episode as Dean and Cas exit the car and Cas smiles and Dean says “What?” before turning and Sam’s there and maybe they stand on the bridge together but you know Cas is to the side and Bobby’s waiting at the restaurant with everyone else.

But some fans want blaze of glory and some want growing old so we split the difference and- and made nobody happy motherfuckers! If you want to please everyone then don’t show either! Fade to black from Dean saying “Now we write our own story” and idk, maybe you should’ve saved the montage for this, or at least just say “Sometime in the future” and then my version of the heaven scene plays out minus the arthritis comment and both Cas and Sam show up quicker and it’s left ambiguous if they all lived long lives or died in a blaze of glory a week after stopping Chuck.

[dotthings]

Heavily cluttered, as many Bucklemming eps are, but worth the trip. There was a lot of goodness in 15.08 and there were two moments where I shrieked out loud.

My two out loud-shriek moments, let’s get that out of the way: 

Queen Rowena. Caaaaalled it.

Dean and Cas are going back??? To???? Purgatory???? Together?????? And Bobo???? Is???? Writing the episode???????????? *SHRIEKING AND FLAILING*

Okay more orderly and sedate now. Eileen is so damn fierce. She’s a very physical fighter, she’s smart but seems to use a blunt fighting skill. She can punch HARD. I love watching that so so much. I would enjoy female characters on SPN like this regardless, but the fact that this is a hero character with a disability and it’s never a big deal is deeply refreshing and SPN did something really really right bringing her back, amen.

Protective Sam shows up and Eileen is happy to see him but literally pushes him aside so she can make the kill. She doesn’t need his protection, but she also values him as a hunting partner as the ep shows. Also they’re trying to build a relationship here. Eileen seems used to hunting solo and Sam wants to offer backup, and he got worried. 

So the plan is to lock up Chuck like Chuck locked up Amara. The sweet irony of this delights me. He tried to shut away the divine feminine rather than actually stepping up to deal with his sister as, well, a person (well, a divine deity, but still, a being with feelings and thoughts and complexities). Chuck, the arrogant and narcissistic toxic masculinity God, maybe to be locked up now instead as his hubris and his lack of empathy and his petulance is exposed. What if Amara was the more competent deity all along? 

There is no way Dean doesn’t know what an Achilles’ heel is. The random WTF of this is so much it’s not even angering it’s just so bizarre. LOL what even. Look I am really enjoying S15 but I hope the butterfly net tightens on stopping this kind of thing because honestly. I’ll just pretend that scene isn’t there. Luckily I enjoyed the episode overall a lot.

Team Free Will in research mode together in the bunker just really makes me happy. Cas is where he belongs.

Donatello!Chuck threatening Jody, Donna, Eileen, “pretty much everyone on your speed dial” as a deterrent to Sam and Dean is bearing out again my impressions of how Chuck views these characters. I’m still not 100% sure what he thinks of Cas who is right in the room but Chuck doesn’t seem to acknowledge him, except as some sort of right arm to Sam and Dean, as I’ve said in other posts, I think Chuck regards him as a nuisance now, and a deterrent to his miserable endings, and a pawn. Just like Donna, Jody, and Eileen, to him, they’re just pawns. They’re all people Sam and Dean care about, and Chuck will use them to keep his two favorites in line.

See what I did there?

Yeah. Chuck doesn’t care about the characters as people. Everyone except Sam and Dean are expendable and tools to be used so he can control Sam and Dean and that’s it. He’ll destroy them with a snap of his fingers and won’t care. Look at that. Familiar attitude, isn’t it. How interesting.

“If you want to stay here, stay here.” Dean’s gone back to not!listening to Cas I see. While Cas is Dean-avoidant and trying not to look at him throughout the episode. But both of them are thawing just a little.

Like when Cas heals Dean’s cut palm and the way it’s staged looks like he’s going to take Dean’s hand to do it which I don’t think is an accident. That moment was meant to be soft.  Dean didn’t ask. Cas offered. And Dean didn’t jerk his hand away or say no. Then there’s the fact that Cas is going to go with Sam and Dean into Hell despite all his misgivings about Michael and this entire plan. 

Team Free Will, getting all researchy together, and then getting all BAMFY together with their angel blades going into Hell.

We didn’t get any kind of nod back to Dean and Cas’s last visit together to Hell and that’s the second time they have been back to Hell (well the last time was some sort of Hell ante-room, the cage was brought up iirc) and SPN failed to nod to it, WHY AM I CONTINUALLY DENIED THIS.

“Hello, boys.” There it is. My actual shriek of delight. I hope it didn’t alarm the neighbors.

“I took it.”  Yes you did, my red-headed goddess queen of the underworld. You sure did. GET IT ROWENA. Rowena won the game of thrones. Boom.

She’s a little flirty with Sam, still has a soft spot for him I think. 

And then starts playing marriage counselor for Dean and Cas. “What am I picking up with you two? A wee tiff?....So fix it.” Someone called this, I’m fairly certain, that if Rowena saw Dean and Cas again during their divorce she’d size that situation up and down and comment on it. FIX IT. So say we all.

“Family sucks.” Jake Abel did such a fantastic job in this. tbh I didn’t give much thought to Adam all these years, it seemed like SPN was never going back there. I liked Jake’s performances in S5, but it just seemed like a story that was over. But Jake Abel, man. He comes back after all this time and owns the dual roles and made me care. With a performance that was alternately fearsome and vulnerable. 

“That’s adorable.” Dean is SO happy about Sam and Eileen, he looked so soft, and still a bit not okay because his chosen other half is barely looking at him, but mostly Dean’s rooting for Sam to have some happiness. “If it was to work, she gets it, she gets us, she gets the life.” It’s a retreated on Sam’s speech back during “Baby” about someone...something...who understands the life. And Sam has found that with Eileen.

Meanwhile Cas is right there, with Dean, with this great big chasm still open between them but...he’s there. And all the arrows point towards him for Dean. 

Dean and Cas are being magnets again. Not like in S14 where every time there is a crisis they stand very close together and are drawn together, now they’re like magnets that are trying not to feel the pull but they cannot escape each other’s pull nor do they really want to, but they can’t quite figure out how to cross the distance. 

There’s more than one scene where Dean or Cas is out of focus and the other in focus, as if to emphasize how they’re both there but not in phase with each other. Not yet.

I so enjoyed the Cas and Michael stuff. Cas’s prayer to Michael, Michael’s mad on for Cas. “Oh, I didn’t come to beg.” And there’s the ruthless strategic angel.

There’s also something really...fitting about Sam and Dean and Cas all being the ones standing outside the ring of holy fire together to trap an archangel who they effectively hope to bring in from the cold, to their side, in a post S6 era of the show. 

“To paraphrase a friend you had an entire oak tree shoved up your ass.” I see Cas is still quoting Dean, having Dean as a compass point or a North star. Even if he can barely look at Dean right now.

Cas telling Michael his unimportance to God and keeping the upper hand is just...so satisfying. Cas has grown so much. I keep thinking about S5 Cas and how despite how powerful Cas was back then, radiating power in ways he doesn’t quite do the same way now, Cas always seemed so...smol next to the archangels. Punching above his weight class. But now he faces down Michael and tells Michael rawly how it is with their dad Chuck. And when Michael tries to choke him, he fights past it and goes into Michael’s mind to show him everything, to help him see the truth. Cas has grown so much, this felt a lot like a little brother constantly picked on leaves home, grows, and comes back to find big, big brother isn’t quite as big and intimidating as he remembers. 

Which in fact he isn’t, because Michael is capable of insight and change and feelings too. He’s not his father. Despite being the favorite. Despite clinging still to his hero-worship. But Cas worked past that with Chuck long ago.

When Eileen’s friend needs help on a hunt, and Eileen goes to Sam, Sam goes with her, no doubts. Tells Dean he’s going, as Dean recounts to Cas, and Dean seems cool with it. 

Sam and Eileen seem to be growing closer and closer, and while there is something tentative about Sam, he definitely is drawn to her and cares. That tentativeness is from past hurt and loss and maybe he’s scared to enter into this kind of relationship. But they’ve got their own magnetic pull together, they fit. 

Dean and Cas facing each other in that bunker kitchen, the lighting darker and colder than usual. They’re facing each other, and each shift in and out of camera focus, not looking at each other much. Cas can’t look at Dean at all in this scene, while Dean keeps sneaking glances at Cas. In other scenes, Cas does sneak looks at Dean. They are ridiculous and my heart hurts. The blocking here is them facing each other only not--they are a few feet off, so looking past each other.

Cas sitting at that table, hands folded, staring straight ahead and working very hard obviously to Not Look at Dean. 

Dean’s reaction on Cas reporting the words Michael said, “I want you dead, get out.” The things Dean has said to Cas are coming back to haunt him, coming from the words of their once mortal enemy, that’s gotta sting.

Both Dean and Cas have some work to do here, but Dean definitely is already very aware his own words went too far, and has been for a while. 

“God lied to me. I loved him.” Oh wow that hurt, I didn’t expect these feelings. 

A thing about Adam and Michael, both feeling so abandoned by their families, and losing everyone. They offered support to each other. They worked out a time-share in Adam’s body. We’ve seen genuine vessel and angel bonds form before (in Lily Sunder). There’s also a S7 episode by Ben Edlund about the bond between a human and the demon who possessed him. Not sure how healthy Adam and Michael are, but they seem weirdly functional, and don’t despise each other and I kind of have some feelings about Adam and Michael bonding the way they did in The Cage. Perhaps Michael shielded Adam from the worst of it. It’s how Adam is coherent after being down there for so long. Maybe Adam made Michael less lonely. Did I ASK for feelings about Adam and Michael, no I did nOT and yet here we are.

Then there’s Adam. It was interesting that scene where Sam acknowledges maybe they gave up too easily. Because Sam and Dean refuse to accept it when it’s each other they lose, and have gone way over the line to get the other one back. Here Sam is admitting that it shouldn’t be just for them. That Adam was worth saving. Even though they don’t know him well, he still didn’t deserve what happened (as Dean acknowledges at the end of the ep). And Sam and Dean never mentioning him again or giving him another thought apparently, all these seasons...well, that kind of made me assume that was that. Just because someone is blood, doesn’t make you family and they barely knew Adam. 

But if it’s someone who could potentially earn that? Someone basically good? And they just...forgot about him and left him to his torment in Hell? So this did need addressing. There’s not much time to develop a relationship with Adam and TFW this late in the game but there was a start here. 

Dean likewise offers his apology to Adam at the end. “You’re a good man. You didn’t deserve that.”

Right when I was thinking, so many of them don’t get what they deserve, they just keep getting Hell heaped on their heads, Adam says “Since when do we get what we deserve.”

There’s a subtle thing there where Adam looks at Cas, Cas very pointedly still tries to be not looking at Dean, and after Adam leaves Dean turns to Cas looking so...sorrowful for a moment. I keep saying, Dean and Cas deserve each other, and right now they can’t figure how to have each other. 

But Michael left them a strange gift. The Leviathan flower, to seal away Chuck, but the gift has a double meaning (unintentionally on Michael’s part). It’s not just the tool to shut away the villain, Michael opens a door to Purgatory and boom just like that, opens up a whole doorway on Dean and Cas’s story because of the emotional significance of Purgatory for them. What they had there. What happened there. The way that place broke loose some of their feelings. I’m not sure what’s going to happen now, if they both go, as the promo glimpses seem to suggest, does one return and the other gets trapped? Is Dean’s prayer to Cas going to be inside Purgatory, is Cas also still in Purgatory and they get separated? Is being thrown together back into that environment going to help them heal? Or will they be torn apart again but that provides another route to reconciliation?

[katsidhe]

15.19 Final Thoughts

I was all set for disappointment after 15.18, but this was… good, actually! Not perfect by any means, but the beats it hit and the points it made were by and large ones I’d been waiting for all season. Where it wasn’t touching (and it was touching!), it was absurd enough for me to enjoy it heartily anyway. I wish that this episode had been split into, like, three, so that it could have spent the time it needed on wallowing.

I love the empty earth. Love it to absolute PIECES. Because it fits so, so well, right? The claustrophobia of the Winchesters’ lives writ grotesquely large. They’re the most important people in the universe, of COURSE they are, because Chuck feels like it, and of course they can’t die, of course they’re doomed to wander eternally—ughh I love it. It’s the natural, absurd, and absurdist conclusion to where this story has always been heading. I am so glad that they went there.

Sam’s heartbreaking guilt—his knowledge that his defiance in 15.17 was what led to this empty universe. Oh, Sam. Again sublimating his loss and his agony into personal responsibility. And the worst part is that he’s right. I love the tragicomedy of Sam and Dean’s offer to play along for Chuck, and that he refuses, preferring to watch them walk the earth alone. Honestly? if it had cut to black right there? I would be mightily pleased.

ok but SAM!!! if there was a winner of 15.19 (and therefore a winner of SPN in general? sure feels that way to me), it’s Sam. Sam defied Death and defied God (and in 15.17 defied Dean). Sam saved Jack, who was the key to everything. Sam got the assist on Lucifer. Sam tricked Michael. Just, GAHH, what a great episode for him.

I about lost my goddamn mind when Lucifer showed up, because I had lost any inkling of hope that he’d turn up again. Kinda figured that plot thread had been irrevocably dropped. I’m sorry for losing my faith, Show! I should have believed that you’d eventually give me a taste of what I wanted!

I predict this opinion is going to be a little unpopular, but I was so happy to see him. I don’t care that he was too quippy, I don’t care that he was gone in like six minutes, I don’t care that his and Michael’s fight was, again, anticlimactic (though at least there weren’t wires, t god). Here’s the thing. I don’t NEED my fictional suffering to be like, artisanal, and thoughtfully designed. I’ll buy that shit at Costco, in ten gallon drums. I’ll chug it straight from the bottle like trauma ketchup. I’ll watch Lucifer resurrected a thousand times, if it means I get to watch Sam’s FACE while they’re in the same room. PRAISE.

The corollary: the ABSOLUTELY AMAZING CONCEPT of the last five people in the entire world being Michael, Lucifer, Sam, Dean, and Jack, all stuck awkwardly in the Bunker. Omfg. This SENT me so hard I had to take a walk, I was laughing too much. What a ripe premise. What an ugly premise. I need fic, immediately, stat, stat means now.

Relatedly, I love the mental image of Sam unobtrusively going offscreen and getting the archangel blade and handing it to Michael and quietly hissing, “uh PLEASE ffs kill your goddamn brother.” Pfffffffffffffffff.

Deeply disappointed that Jack didn’t get a chance to say anything to Lucifer. Yet another thing that needs further treatment.

I’d figured Lucifer was telling the truth when he told them he was joining Team Kill Chuck. However, Lucifer’s willingness to be on board with Chuck’s plan makes, just, a ton of sense. He’s always had less to lose than Michael, when it comes to accepting his father’s olive branch, since he fell so far so long ago, while Michael is still teetering on that precipice. And Chuck’s just extended, basically, a massive apology to him by erasing all the people and places and stories that he favored over his children. Of COURSE Lucifer wants to be alone with his dad, the only chosen one left, in a universe that is finally pristine. Of course he wants to rub his new favor in Michael’s face. I just wish we’d seen and heard more of this. His resurrection wasn’t pointless at all, but it was underdeveloped.

Michael’s inability to separate himself from his father’s will at the bitter end is a tragic and somber end. Jake Abel brought his A-game again. I wish very deeply that we’d been able to see more of him this season: he is one of the few surviving people with genuine investment in Chuck as a person, and he had a deep, deep betrayal to unpack.

Chuck and his enemies: Billie was always too straightforward in her goals and motivations to be truly interesting as an enemy to Chuck; she is less a character, and more an avatar, a force of nature. She opposed him the way a river opposes stone. The Emptity is nearly disinterested in the whole mess—it just wanted to be left alone. The really interesting sources of conflict for Chuck were always going to come from his family: Amara, and the archangels. And I’m glad we got some of that conflict now, even if it was too little too late.

Both of his children were unable to separate themselves from craving his approval. It’s a dire, tragic condemnation of this immortal cosmic family. And it says something about the microcosm of the Winchesters, of them as the model for the stories Chuck enjoys, the stories he inhabits. Supernatural is a story about being trapped. 

Sam somehow tricking both Michael and God? Sam, your BRAIN, it’s simply too big! but real talk how did he manage this? Does he still have the protection from Chuck’s sight via his now-erased God hole? I’m gonna go with yes, and in fact I’m gonna go a step further and pretend he still had that bullet wound this entire season, and that it healed when Jack took Chuck’s power, because now it makes even less sense than ever that the writers chose to erase that tantalizing physical connection. There, in my head, I’ve now fixed it.

Jack. Oh, Jack, what was the show ever going to do with you? The only thing it could, I think. I love that Dean, with absolutely no sense of irony, demanded Jack return with Sam and Dean to where he ~belongs, accusing him tacitly of selfishness, as if not three days ago he’d been egging him on to suicide. For Jack’s own sake, I am glad he is away from the Winchesters, and I hope he spends several decades talking to Amara and like, manifesting as a tree or something, to get some badly needed emotional balance and sense of scale. There is still so much wrong with putting this much power and responsibility in the hands of a browbeaten three-year-old. But, yes, my heart does swell at the thought of Sam’s imperfect love fostering the new God.

The image of Sam and Dean, broken bones, bloodied faces, laughing in the face of God like they’re insane is a pretty damn good one.

Also, Dean denying himself as the “ultimate killer”? Hahahaha so much to unpack there

My least favorite part was, predictably, the saccharine speech about #freewill, complete with the goddamn table carvings. I will certainly cop to really enjoying the montage, tho (but can anyone explain to me why it was like, almost-but-not-quite in chronological order? ).

I’m probably going to have more to say about all of this. Please talk to me about this episode. I’ll forgive 15.18, and hell, I’ll proactively forgive 15.20. Together with 15.17, 15.19 paints a more pleasing, more damning, and more fruitful conclusion for SPN than I ever dreamed I’d get.