"Sometimes they would sit on the hood and just look at the stars without ever saying a word."
Everything in this epi is perfect from the excellent লেখা and direction right down to the music. It all comes together in just the right way. From the opening sequence detailing the Impala's birth to the last shot of Sam standing under the রাস্তা light, I am literally entranced. I প্রণয় the narration দ্বারা Chuck, especially the little glimpses into Sam and Dean's lives that we don't see on screen. The fact that they drove 200 miles for an Ozzy সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান অথবা that sometimes they just sit on the hood, looking at the stars without saying a word. It makes the events that follow that much আরো poignant.
This episode, to me, really sums up everything that অতিপ্রাকৃতিক is about; saving people(in this case, everybody), sacrifice, and, most of all, family. Throughout each episode, no matter the subject, the underlying thread that ties them all together is the brother's bond. They প্রণয় each other আরো than anything else in the world and their relationship has been the foundation of every life altering decision either of them has ever made. We all know the things that each has done, that each has প্রদত্ত up because of their প্রণয় for each other. In this episode, they each make the ultimate sacrifice. Sam is giving his life so that the world, and Dean, can be safe. When he makes Dean promise to not try to get him back, he's telling him in essence, to let him go. To go live the life that Sam knows Dean has always wanted, even though Dean would never admit it. He's giving Dean his permission to be happy. Sam wants his sacrifice to not just save the world but to save Dean. Because, in Sam's mind, that gives his own sacrifice the greatest meaning.
Dean, on the other hand, has to sacrifice his little brother. The brother he has protected since he was 6 months old. Dean would much rather give up his own life rather than Sam's but he knows that this is the only way. And, as Chuck says, Dean doesn't want to live with Sam gone. With every fiber of his being he wants to give up, but he promised Sam he would go on. The fact that he tries to is one of the biggest testaments to his প্রণয় for his little brother.
The অভিনয় in this episode is amazing. আপনি can tell everyone is giving 110%. Misha Collins is always amazing and he has one of the best lines to date, "Hey Assbutt!" It's astounding how this প্রদর্শনী can have আপনি in tears one মিনিট and laughing out loud the next. Jensen can say so much with just a look and one of his best moments, I think, is when the brothers are confronting Lucifer and he tells them he knows about the rings. The look that Jensen gets on his face just conveys all the desperation that Dean must be feeling. The tears in his eyes when Lucifer/Sam disappears and the absolute broken man we see after Sam actually disappears into the pit are just a superb demonstration of Jensen's ability as an actor.
Which brings me to Jared. I think that Jared has always been a good actor but this episode made me realize how truly gifted he is. His portrayal of both Lucifer and Sam was incredible. To me, it was like looking at two different actors on screen. When he was portraying Lucifer, I even forgot he was Jared. I only began watching SPN in April 2010 on TNT, and I watched the season 5 finale at the end of May. I was in the middle of Season 2, even though from the internet I knew a lot about the সামগ্রিক story arc, and Jared showed me how someone can evolve from a good actor to an outstanding one.
One of the best things about this epi is the part that the Impala plays in the outcome. It serves to bring Sam's memories of his brother to the surface when he is about to kill him. And then, we're back to the brother's bond. Dean is there for one reason. To be with his little brother when he dies. He won't let him be alone even though it will cost him his own life. The montage of brotherly moments never fails to bring tears to my eyes and the waterworks really start when that damn পিয়ানো starts and everything slows down and the wind is blowing Sam's hair and Sam and Dean look at each other one final time. Then Sam stretches his arms out and closes his eyes(by this time I can barely see the টেলিভিশন screen) and falls taking Michael with him. The first time I saw this, I felt like I couldn't breathe. The world went on but not for Dean.
I could keep going. আপনি can dissect these episodes over and over and still never cover all the subtext. As Chuck says, endings are hard. My husband(who likes SPN,thank God, and thinks my obsesssion with Jared is funny, haha) says that "Swan Song" would have made the perfect ending for the series. Of course, we're all glad that it didn't end there. It did প্রদর্শনী us, though, that প্রণয় is truly the answer. It can, in fact, save the world.
Sacrifice
