The End 5x04: A Supernatural Review

Summary

Zachariah throws Dean five years into the future to see one possible outcome if Dean continues to refuse to allow Michael to possess him. August 2014 the Croatoan virus has decimated the population and Lucifer is in control. Dean comes face to face with his future self who has become more harsh and emotionless. Past!Dean learns that Sam said yes to Lucifer using him as a vessel and Castiel is no longer an angel since all the other angels left. Future!Dean finds The Colt and uses it to go after Lucifer. However, the lesson Dean learned wasn’t the one Zachariah intended.  Supernatural 5x04 The End Promo 

Review

"The End" is directed by Steve Boyum and written by Ben Edlund. In the DVD commentary for this episode, Eric Kripke, Ben Edlund and Bob Singer talk about how this idea came about from the 2x09 "Croatoan" episode which left the demonic virus story hanging there as a threat. They took the ideas of Sam and Dean clones (could that be a real thing cause I'd like to order one of each!) and 28 Days Later, stirred in some Croatoan virus and a pinch of time travel and we get this creative episode.

 

Let's talk craft. How do you successfully shoot one actor having a conversation with his future self and have it look realistic?  

Is that Baby's license plate I spy in the background?

First, you have an amazing actor who can portray the same character but one who is older, more hardened, bitter, and emotionless than the other. Then you try not to shoot a complicated scene that could potentially destroy the illusion. Or you shoot a simple scene in a complex way and have a talented visual effects artist piece together some amazing footage and get this incredible image of Future!Dean giving Past!Dean a glass of whiskey!

And a scene where Past!Dean confronts Future!Dean about using his friends, including Cas, as bait.

Well done all around!

I’ve made no secret of my love for Ben Edlund’s writing. He is an amazing storyteller. This story adds so much motivation to Dean and propels the brothers back together after their separation due to broken trusts and Sam releasing Lucifer. But part of great storytelling is creating depth of character. Creating a way to develop the back story of Lucifer and Michael within the short time frame in which one episode is filmed is difficult. Jared's portrayal of Lucifer is chilling. The story Lucifer tells of how he fell from grace from his perspective makes him seem almost sympathetic-- almost. It certainly determines that he feels betrayed and justified in everything he does. The Kripke/Edlund commentary also establishes that it was Sera Gamble who suggested Lucifer be dressed in white. 

Lucifer is called The Lightbringer, The Morningstar and it is such a juxtaposition to his dark, demonic, evil persona.

   

Ultimately, this episode doesn't necessarily propel the story forward other than to bring Sam and Dean back together because all Zachariah succeeded in doing was showing Dean that he was wrong to push Sam away. Dean sees it as the reason Sam says yes to Lucifer in the future. Even though it doesn't move the myth arc story forward much, it is entertaining as hell! (Yes. I just said that.)

The episode finishes with after Cas rescues Dean from Zachariah, Dean calls Sam and they meet to have their broment with Baby. Dean tells Sam that he’s sorry and that he was wrong and they “keep each other human.” Sam says thank you with such gratitude in his reply that you can really sense how terrified he is about Lucifer and is so glad that his brother will be by his side again. But the most revealing about this exchange is when Sam asks Dean what they do now.

Dean: We make our own future.

Sam: Guess we have no choice.

This shows each of their philosophies. Dean is all about free will and Sam is all about destiny. This is hinted at and downright stated at different points throughout the season.  

    

Again, let's talk craft. Wow what a beautiful shot! There were many in the last scene of the episode. Let's take a look at some of this beautiful cinematography.

Seriously. Wow!

Questions. Problems. Concerns. Observations.

This episode is pretty flawless. It's beautiful in so many ways. But I do have a few observations. I noticed a few subtle things that I may be way off base about but in the alley, there is the graffiti on the walls. When Dean first enters the alley it says Dogs of Peace which could refer to the rock band by that name who happen to have a song titled “Pray to God”.

So it "Never Happened"

And as Dean approaches the little girl, there on the far right it says “Never Happened”.  I don’t believe anything is placed accidentally so it’s left up to us to decide what it all means. At least until someone comes along to tell me how wrong I am about all this I’m going to believe those are clues.

Chuck made an appearance in this futuristic episode. He is the supply guy for the survivors' camp. No talk about his prophet status in the episode. In the commentary, Kripke revealed that they cut out how Chuck talked about not having headaches anymore and other prophet stuff and went more with a bit of levity for this dark episode. Now while I love the "Hoard toilet paper like it's gold cause it is" line I am left with that curiosity of what visions Chuck did see and now knowing that Chuck is God, how did he fit into that episode? Of course, at the time, we didn't know Chuck was God but we know that now.

I'm also wondering if with the current season 11 storyline, if we are seeing a reference back to the line Lucifer said to Dean in that rose garden "Whatever you do, you will always end up here. Whatever choices you make, whatever details you alter, we will always end up here."

I win. So I win.

Just something to ponder.