Supernatural Season 3 finale recap: Did Sam save Dean from his deal?

The Supernatural Season 3 finale delivered everything we could hope for, showing us that sometimes happy endings aren’t always possible. Here’s the journey to see Sam and Dean take on Lilith in the 16th episode, titled No Rest for the Wicked.

We’ve made it to the Supernatural Season 3 finale. It’s taken most of the summer and it’s in time to have a big party for Castiel’s 10th anniversary on the series. But right now, it’s all about the events that happened in “No Rest for the Wicked.”

For a year, we wondered how Sam would save Dean from his crossroad deal. As it got closer to the finale, we started to question if it would really happen. If Bela couldn’t be saved after 10 years, could Dean after just one?

The episode took us through a range of emotions, delivering some strong performances and a shocking ending. Here’s everything that happened in Supernatural Season 3, Episode 16. By the way, this wasn’t a great birthday for Sammy!

The clock is ticking down

More from Supernatural

• Jensen Ackles and The Winchesters cast kick off #SaveTheWinchesters campaign
• Will The Winchesters be saved? (Can Supernatural fans save the prequel?)
• Did The Winchesters get renewed? (Is The Winchesters season 2 happening?)
• Is a new episode of The Winchesters on tonight? (March 14, 2023)
• The Winchesters Season1 finale explained: Did it connect to Supernatural?

We start off with Dean in a dream being chased by hellhounds. When he wakes up, it’s clear that the clock has almost run down. Dean is seeing demonic and twisted faced, dreaming of what’s to come, and generally not himself. Sam and Bobby both know, but they’re focused on finding Lilith.

It turns out they have found a way to find her. Sam is excited, but part of Dean tells him that this isn’t going to work. Regardless, Bobby uses his device to find Lilith and they get a location. Of course, Dean doesn’t want to go in prepared so with a plan in mind, Sam summons Ruby and Dean is able to steal her knife.

Oh, and it turns out that Lilith is getting some R&R in before Dean is taken to Hell. Ruby wants Sam to use his psychic powers to take down Lilith, which certainly foreshadows a few things to come.

What does a demon do for fun? Well…

Lilith is a spoiled brat

Taking over a child does help to keep her safe in a way. Who wants to kill a child? Well, those one may be for the chopping considering the spoilt brat she is! It’s clear nobody is safe when we see grandma dead in the hall and this eight-year-old covered in blood after killing the cat. Mom, dad, and grandpa are held hostage in the house and all Lilith wants is cake for every meal.

Grandpa does eventually decide it’s time to attempt to kill the brat, but Lilith is onto him. With a snap of her fingers, grandpa’s neck breaks and it’s all over.

Watch your favorite shows on fuboTV: Watch over 67 live sports and entertainment channels with a 7-day FREE trial!

Dean sees more faces

On the drive to New Harmony to face Lilith (with Bobby in tow because he made it clear that “family don’t end with blood”), the Winchesters get their epic rendition of “Wanted Dead or Alive” and are later pulled over by the cops for a busted taillight.

Dean very quickly stabs the cop and reveals he was a demon. Yeah, part of going to Hell means that Dean can see the demon faces and you know that will come in handy later. Sure enough, it does.

With a plan in motion, the Winchesters are able to get into the house Lilith is held up in and they head off to kill her. Just as Sam is about to stab the child, Dean reveals that Lilith is no longer in there. Where is she? Well, shortly before this Ruby turned back up and went in the house too. Lilith has jumped inside Ruby.

Finally, the clock ticks down to midnight, Dean hasn’t realized that Ruby is now Lilith, and the hellhounds are there. It’s too late to do anything once Dean does realize that Ruby is Lilith, so all he can do is say his goodbyes to Sam.

Lilith/Ruby opens the doors to the room and allows the hellhounds in. We watch as Dean is ripped to pieces and pulled to hell. With him trapped in Hell, calling for Sam, Sam is left with Lilith who is extremely happy that Sam is alone and powerless.

At least, that’s what she thinks. When she tries to destroy him, the white light does nothing. She panics and gets out of dodge, leaving Sammy to grieve over his brother’s body.

It was a shocking twist to the Supernatural Season 3 finale. We hoped up until the last minute that Dean won’t be saved. I remember watching the finale and just thinking “what happens now?”

What did you think of the Supernatural Season 3 finale? Did you like that Dean couldn’t be saved in the end? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Follow SPN Hunters on Twitter for a rundown of best moments, best lines, and the Supernatural Season 3 ranking to get through Hellatus.