Swan Song on rewatch
Well, I made myself watch the episode again, paying attention to it (unlike the first viewing). This is going to ramble, so be warned. Also, it isn't positive, so if you're squeeing, don't give yourself a downer by reading.
The first time I watched, this episode couldn't hold my attention. I made myself sit through the whole thing again, paying attention, just in case I had missed something the first time through. And frankly, I was really hoping I had.
I missed a few things, but it didn't add to my enjoyment of the episode. As a matter of fact, it unfortunately reinforced my negative opinion. I really enjoyed the opening monologue about the Metallicar - but the episode went downhill from there. For the life of me, I still can't figure out why everyone was on board with Sam's dumbass plan, especially after everyone verbally and physically ripped Dean apart a few weeks ago. No one had issue with bleeding those possessed people, except Dean. Everyone had extremely OOC moments in this episode, and I can't get around that.
We'd been told for two seasons that Dean would have to stop the Apocalyse, that he was the righteous man, that he was Michael's true vessel. Well, one out of three is better than nothing, I suppose. He continued to behave as (and once again, apologize for being) the righteous man. But as far as being Michael's true vessel and stopping the Apocalypse? Not so much. And just to clarify, I never thought that Dean would say yes, that this season would end in a knock-down, drag-out fight. I never wanted this to be a Michael/Lucifer throw-down, and as far as I'm concerned, the episode would have been much better without Michael in it. I've always wanted Dean to stay human, because *that* is his strength, and I'm glad that Kripke kept that promise, at least. Dean isn't perfect, but he embodies and lives the aspects of humanity that are ours at our best. He isn't willing to compromise himself or others to win.
This is the biggest difference between Dean and Sam. Sam doesn't give a damn about the means, as long as he gets the ending he wants. IMO, that is Sam's big problem, and that's why Luci wanted to wear him to prom. Like Ruby said, it wasn't the demon blood. Sam continually makes the choice to compromise, the choice to do whatever it takes, no matter how repugnant, in order to win. It wasn't demon blood making Sam think about sacrificing Nancy in Jus In Belo. Sam lets his rage, arrogance and self-righteousness rule him. He sees all of his issues as being outside of himself, so he never really addresses them. And that's why Sam isn't now, nor has he ever been, the righteous man. And this episode did nothing to redeem those flaws, as we were told that it would. This was supposed to be Sam's redemption episode, but somehow, after two viewings, I still missed it. Once again, Sam as a character was short-changed. For all of his wanting to grow up, for all of Bobby's pontificating about Dean needing to let him grow up, for all of Dean's apologizing for not letting Sam grow up - the writers just won't let him grow up. And really, I don't see Dean treating Sam as a kid. He routinely takes Sam's advice about hunts, if Sam says "You kill X by doing Y", that's what Dean does. Dean has always spoken of Sam as being a better person than himself, as being smarter and more accomplished than himself. He's told Sam that he admires his strength, he's more prone to apologize than Sam, and even when he feels Sam is being a tool, he'd go to the ends of the earth for him. He'll tell Sam he's a tool, but he'll still back him up. He actually displayed great respect for Sam, before Sam destroyed that faith. So, how is this "being hard" on Sam? How is this treating Sam as a child? Do any of the writers on this show have siblings that they're close to? Because they all write like only children.
Also, since when does Dean want normal? That was Sam's dream. I understand Sam didn't want Dean to sacrifice himself, that he wanted Dean safe, but making him promised to leave the hunting life and go domestic with Lisa? Really? I mean, I actually *like* Lisa, and I like the idea of Dean being with her for a short period of time, to get some compassion, tenderness and respect. You know, all the things he's never gotten, and never will get, from his family. But it flies in the face of the character they've developed over five seasons. Dean defines himself by his family, by hunting and by saving people. In that order. And what about Ben? After all the "absent father", "good son/bad son", "choosing family" crap this season, do you really think that Dean could be happy, living with Lisa and Ben, having them come to depend upon him (especially Ben), and then leaving them? Way to totally pull the rug out from under the character, writers. And if Sam doesn't come clean to Dean immediately about being alive - well, once again, the writers will demonstrate that Sam isn't capable of learning, of growing up, or of ever respecting Dean.
Neither Sam nor Dean were served by this finale. When Bobby died, his character had become so warped over the last few episodes, that I didn't care. And I've always loved me some Bobby. Probably the best served characters were Castiel and Metallicar, and as much as I love them - Sam and Dean are the core of this show. I want *them* to be served.
The writers should be ashamed of themselves for this self-indulgent season as a whole, and this finale in particular.
The first time I watched, this episode couldn't hold my attention. I made myself sit through the whole thing again, paying attention, just in case I had missed something the first time through. And frankly, I was really hoping I had.
I missed a few things, but it didn't add to my enjoyment of the episode. As a matter of fact, it unfortunately reinforced my negative opinion. I really enjoyed the opening monologue about the Metallicar - but the episode went downhill from there. For the life of me, I still can't figure out why everyone was on board with Sam's dumbass plan, especially after everyone verbally and physically ripped Dean apart a few weeks ago. No one had issue with bleeding those possessed people, except Dean. Everyone had extremely OOC moments in this episode, and I can't get around that.
We'd been told for two seasons that Dean would have to stop the Apocalyse, that he was the righteous man, that he was Michael's true vessel. Well, one out of three is better than nothing, I suppose. He continued to behave as (and once again, apologize for being) the righteous man. But as far as being Michael's true vessel and stopping the Apocalypse? Not so much. And just to clarify, I never thought that Dean would say yes, that this season would end in a knock-down, drag-out fight. I never wanted this to be a Michael/Lucifer throw-down, and as far as I'm concerned, the episode would have been much better without Michael in it. I've always wanted Dean to stay human, because *that* is his strength, and I'm glad that Kripke kept that promise, at least. Dean isn't perfect, but he embodies and lives the aspects of humanity that are ours at our best. He isn't willing to compromise himself or others to win.
This is the biggest difference between Dean and Sam. Sam doesn't give a damn about the means, as long as he gets the ending he wants. IMO, that is Sam's big problem, and that's why Luci wanted to wear him to prom. Like Ruby said, it wasn't the demon blood. Sam continually makes the choice to compromise, the choice to do whatever it takes, no matter how repugnant, in order to win. It wasn't demon blood making Sam think about sacrificing Nancy in Jus In Belo. Sam lets his rage, arrogance and self-righteousness rule him. He sees all of his issues as being outside of himself, so he never really addresses them. And that's why Sam isn't now, nor has he ever been, the righteous man. And this episode did nothing to redeem those flaws, as we were told that it would. This was supposed to be Sam's redemption episode, but somehow, after two viewings, I still missed it. Once again, Sam as a character was short-changed. For all of his wanting to grow up, for all of Bobby's pontificating about Dean needing to let him grow up, for all of Dean's apologizing for not letting Sam grow up - the writers just won't let him grow up. And really, I don't see Dean treating Sam as a kid. He routinely takes Sam's advice about hunts, if Sam says "You kill X by doing Y", that's what Dean does. Dean has always spoken of Sam as being a better person than himself, as being smarter and more accomplished than himself. He's told Sam that he admires his strength, he's more prone to apologize than Sam, and even when he feels Sam is being a tool, he'd go to the ends of the earth for him. He'll tell Sam he's a tool, but he'll still back him up. He actually displayed great respect for Sam, before Sam destroyed that faith. So, how is this "being hard" on Sam? How is this treating Sam as a child? Do any of the writers on this show have siblings that they're close to? Because they all write like only children.
Also, since when does Dean want normal? That was Sam's dream. I understand Sam didn't want Dean to sacrifice himself, that he wanted Dean safe, but making him promised to leave the hunting life and go domestic with Lisa? Really? I mean, I actually *like* Lisa, and I like the idea of Dean being with her for a short period of time, to get some compassion, tenderness and respect. You know, all the things he's never gotten, and never will get, from his family. But it flies in the face of the character they've developed over five seasons. Dean defines himself by his family, by hunting and by saving people. In that order. And what about Ben? After all the "absent father", "good son/bad son", "choosing family" crap this season, do you really think that Dean could be happy, living with Lisa and Ben, having them come to depend upon him (especially Ben), and then leaving them? Way to totally pull the rug out from under the character, writers. And if Sam doesn't come clean to Dean immediately about being alive - well, once again, the writers will demonstrate that Sam isn't capable of learning, of growing up, or of ever respecting Dean.
Neither Sam nor Dean were served by this finale. When Bobby died, his character had become so warped over the last few episodes, that I didn't care. And I've always loved me some Bobby. Probably the best served characters were Castiel and Metallicar, and as much as I love them - Sam and Dean are the core of this show. I want *them* to be served.
The writers should be ashamed of themselves for this self-indulgent season as a whole, and this finale in particular.