SPN 5x22 Swan Song
So... Dean and Sam's love saved the world. As we always hoped/knew it would. Through the IMPALA, no less. That's awesome.
Otherwise, I'm pretty underwhelmed. I think all the times they have died has just removed all of the impact from it for me. The first time Sam died? In All Hell Breaks Loose? SHAKING AND CRYING. Jensen's performance there...... christ on a cracker, that was insanely amazing and got me right in the gut.
But I just didn't feel any of that impact here. I don't know what I was expecting - for the show to magically get me where I live again? - but it didn't happen. I was doing my best! I was flailing at the screen and making chinhands at the little boys sticking toys in the Impala, and the Montage of Love from which I could name all the S1 and S2 clips, and stuff. But I never actually cried, because there was no moment that surprised me, not really.
I also feel like they Told more than they Showed. They relied on the impact of clips from past seasons to carry the emotional whammy, and didn't even have Sam and Dean say goodbye of any sort before Sam took the plunge. Jensen only got to have shiny eyes! You think he'd fucking CRY for SAM. He has before! Maybe he's just numbed to it like I am. And there was literal narration from Chuck, Telling us that The Impala Is Important! Which I appreciated because awww Impala, but otherwise it just kept any dramatic tension from building for me.
Idk. Maybe Chuck's God and Castiel's been his flunky from the start. (Theory courtesy of apocalypsos.) That could potentially make Castiel interesting, but I was really hoping that season 6 would veer entirely away from the whole angel nonsense. It doesn't look like that's happening.
At this point I'm just resigned to the fact that my heart's just not in this show anymore. I should go watch AHBL and see if I cry again - I bet I would. S1 and S2 were it, baby. That's where the magic was. Now I'm just kind of along for the ride because dammit, Winchesters, I just can't quit you. And you obviously can't quit life. Which is nice for my eyes! But not so much for dramatic impact.
(Isn't it convenient that Jo and Ellen were the only ones whose deaths stuck? And Gabriel, boo :( )
I hope you liked it better than me!