Supernatural Season 5, Episode 22 recap: The Winchesters’ swan song?

Supernatural Season 5, Episode 22 was going to be the Winchesters’ swan song. It turned out to be Eric Kripke’s, and here’s a look back at the finale.

Supernatural Season 5 ended with a swan song. What was originally going to be the Winchesters’ end, turned into only Eric Kripke’s end, as he stepped away from running the show and left it in the hands of Sera Gamble, Robert Singer, and so many more. Here’s a throwback to Episode 22, with a recap of the events.

The history of the Impala

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We first get a story of the Impala’s history, as told by Chuck. Whether he was always supposed to be God or not is something I don’t think we’ll ever get a straight answer about. I never saw it and am not completely on board despite it being canon.

In this moment of the story, though, he was the writer. He was the one to give us Baby’s history because of how important she is to the Winchesters — and foreshadowing Baby’s involvement in the end. This story continues throughout the episode, including touches on the stuffed Army man in the ashtray and the LEGO in the heating vent.

After that, we get to Bobby’s house, where Sam and Dean share a beer. After not really wanting to let him do it, Dean accepts that Sam will become Lucifer’s vessel and sacrifice himself to save the world. Sam points out that he was the one to release Lucifer, so it’s up to him to lock the Devil away again.

That means harvesting demon blood. Sam needs it if he wants to control Lucifer.

It all goes back to Detroit

As promised in Supernatural Season 5, Episode 4, we end up in Detroit. This is where Samifer said the deal would go down, and so it does. However, Sam makes Dean promise him to find Lisa Braeden when it’s all said and done. The promise is that Dean will live a normal life.

After some emotional goodbyes, Sam drinks the demon blood and he and Dean head off to Lucifer. At one point, it looks like Lucifer won’t accept. He knows the Winchesters have the Four Horsemen and plan to trap him. However, in the end, Lucifer takes over Sam’s body. Dean quickly uses the incantation to open the Cage but Lucifer has control and disappears — with the rings.

Lucifer goes on a rampage

Now that he has Sam, Lucifer decides to let off a little steam. He gathers the demons that have been watching over Sam all his life, including prom date, Rachel Nave. However, these loyal demons find out too late that Lucifer was always the bad guy. Lucifer kills them all.

Back with Dean, Bobby, and Castiel, they get an unprecedented amount of disasters and they know the apocalypse has started. Dean calls Chuck to let him in on everything, and Chuck shares that Michae and Lucifer will have their showdown at Stull Cemetery, near Lawrence, Kansas.

Castiel is sure that there’s nothing to be done. Of course, Dean doesn’t see it that way — and, if that’s the case, he doesn’t want Sam to be alone.

Time to ice the Devil

The showdown between Michael and Lucifer begins. Dean shows up in the Impala and tries to talk to Lucifer.

Castiel and Bobby show up to help. Castiel manages to Molotov Michael to get rid of him temporarily. Furiously, Lucifer snaps his fingers and Castiel is literally blow up. When Bobby shoots Lucifer, Lucifer just snaps his neck. It’s left to Dean, and hopefully, Sammy.

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Lucifer starts to beat Dean up, taunting him about how Sam is feeling everything. Dean doesn’t resist once, making it clear to Sam that he isn’t going anywhere. That’s when Sam gets a glimpse of the ashtray in the Impala. Memories rush back and Sam gets a chance to control Lucifer.

He throws down the key to the Cage and uses the incantation. Michael shows up at the last minute, forcing Sam to pull Michael!Adam into the Cage. The apocalypse has ended.

Cleaning up the mess

At the very end, Castiel returns. He heals Dean and brings Bobby back, sharing that God revived him. Castiel has been restored to full angel. He expects disorder in Heaven now that Michael is gone, so has decided to return there.

Dean is, understandably, angry. God should be able to bring Sam back from Hell, but Castiel says that it won’t happen.

Through Chuck’s voiceover, we find out that Dean leaves Bobby and won’t see him for a “long time.” Dean decides to honor the promise he made to Sam, despite wanting to die or find a way to get Sam back. Dean turns to Lisa, and she helps him mourn everything he has lost.

And at the very end, Chuck, now in white, types “The End” and disappears. This is the only moment that suggests he could have been God after all this time.

It’s not the end, though. Outside Lisa’s a street light goes out and there’s someone watching Lisa and Dean through the window. Sam is back.

What did you think of the Supernatural Season 5 ending? What did you think of what could have been the Winchesters’ swan song? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Supernatural airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW.