Supernatural Review: Alpha and Omega - Love, Family and Understanding

-by sweetondean

Supernatural finales terrify me. I’ve been severely, emotionally damaged by them in the past! I’ve learnt, through stupid errors of judgement, that I have to go home and watch in solitude, so that I can immerse myself in the experience as well as give myself completely over to the emotion…because there was that time I watched Swan Song at work and spent about an hour in the loo sobbing, and that time I watched Do You Believe in Miracles in my car at lunchtime, and then couldn’t think or even function, and had to leave work early, and no one knew why I was so out of sorts! 

Of course my acute pain is also having to wait to watch the damn thing…as at 11am my time, the East Coast goes in, and then 3 hours later the West Coast and I’m still HOURS AWAY FROM GETTING HOME! No social media, no going online, no looking at my phone…and hoping against hope that for a change I can get out of work at a decent time, because by 5pm I am well and truly desperate! Damn you other side of the world!

I loved so many things about Alpha and Omega, so many, but the thing I loved most was, in the end, the world was saved by the theme of this show, family and love…and a newer theme…understanding. 

Dean could stand in front of Amara and talk to her about betrayal, the anger and the hurt that family can cause, and he could stand in front of her and say that all of that is unimportant, that family is more important than any of that, because he knows. He and Sam have been down that path together so many times, they’ve had rocky and tough moments filled with rage and disappointment, and yet here they are, closer than ever, because they came to understand that all of that, all of that crap that they waded through and carried around with them for so long, is not as important as having a strong relationship with the person you love most in the world. It’s not as important as family. It’s not as important as each other. When you’re faced with losing that forever, as the boys have been many times, as Amara and God were, all of this becomes crystal clear.

“But no matter how bad it got we always made it right because we’re family. I need him, and he needs me and when everything goes to crap, that’s all you’ve got, family.”

Amara and God and the resolution of their fight, was mirroring what the boys have been through, we were seeing the brothers’ story playing out through these all powerful and estranged siblings, and it was only because Sam and Dean have been through all of that heartbreak, and self reflection that Dean was able to find inside himself what was needed to talk Amara down. He was able to talk her down, through acknowledgement, understanding and compassion. Dean could see her humanity, and spoke to that.

Amara wasn’t an evil being, she never was, she was wounded and felt lost and alone, and just wanted her brother to love her and admit he hurt her – she just didn’t go about it in the best of ways!

Amara resented her brother for wanting something else, needing something else, someone else. Some of the most contentious moments between the brothers have come from one of them wanting someone or something else, which causes the other to feel not enough. God made Amara feel like she wasn’t enough. Dean understands that too…he’s been there.

Sam and Dean have felt all these feelings and have had or tried to have all of the these conversations, sometimes angrily. It shows so much growth in their relationship and so much growth in Dean Winchester that with everything going on, Dean used his smarts and experience to see through it all and recognise in Amara her obvious ambiguity in how she was feeling about what was happening, not only to her brother but to the world. Earlier in the episode Dean said, “If you’ve got something for me to punch shoot or kill, let me know and I’ll do it ‘til I die”, yet here he was, choosing not to kill. He chose to talk…something that he and Sam have done a lot of this season…Dean chose to be emotionally open. 

For me, this scene reflects back to us what was the most wonderful and rewarding thing about season 11, the brothers talking, the brothers nutting things out together, the brothers' emotional availability, the brothers understanding that they need each other, and that that trumps everything else. That led to a more open and honest relationship between them, born out of a confidence in knowing that their brother has their back no matter what. They made it right. When Jeremy Carver took over this show, we were promised a more mature Sam and Dean…and that’s exactly what we got.

Dean was able to get through to Amara to show her that she simply needed her brother, to help her better understand what she was feeling, to understand what she wanted and reach out to God to make things right, because they’re family.

The other theme of season 11 that Alpha and Omega reflected on was based on the conversation that Sam and Dean had in episode one.

SAM: Dean, if we don't change -- right now -- all of our crap is just gonna keep repeating itself.

DEAN: Okay, I-I don't even -- what?

SAM: This -- this "kill first, question later." What happened to us? Hunting things -- we're good at that. Sure, we're great at that. But that's only half of the bumper sticker, man…saving people means all of the people, Dean. Not just that baby. Not just each other. I unleashed a force on this world that could destroy it . . . to save you.

DEAN: And I told you not to.

SAM: And I'd do it again. In a second, I would do it again. And that is what I'm talking about. This isn't on you. It is on us. We have to change….you do what you do. But you've got to let me do what I do, too.

So here we were, with Dean taking a soul bomb inside him, because it was their only chance to save all of the people, and Sam letting him, because it’s what Dean does, it’s what they both do. He’ll back Dean’s play, just like Dean did with Sam in Swan Song, even though it goes against everything they feel is right. 

They pledged to each other that that they would do this in episode 1, and though you knew, and could see in every part of their being neither one wanted this to be the choice, they also both knew it was the only choice – it was plan B right through to Z, and they committed to this 22 episodes earlier, they committed to saving all the people and letting the other do what they do.

This is what made the season 11 finale such a wonderful piece of story telling, it was almost circular…rounding back to where we started, and through the God and Amara arc, and everything that was happening, everything was a reflection of what the brothers have been through and overcome, and a celebration of who they now are, of what they believe in their every fibre. It was a celebration of what makes them Sam and Dean. This has been the strongest brother season in years.

I’m so happy that Amara wasn’t killed or locked away again for all time. And I was also surprised! The whole finale was surprising! It was a totally different direction to what I was expecting and it was so rewarding for that reason…no big war, no big battle, just a conversation that allowed healing – brought about by healing. Such a massive, beautiful, elegant surprise!

I’m glad Dean told Cas that Sam and him understood his decision, and that they felt it was the right thing to do to allow Lucifer in. In the end they did believe that Lucifer, along with God would be their only answer – of course they weren’t because the only answer was always going to be the Winchesters. It always comes down to them. But Cas, who has felt valueless, needed to hear that it was the right thing, and he needed to hear that he is important to Sam and Dean. Dean was open and reflective enough to recognise and admit that sometimes Sam and he are so focused on their own world that they forget about everyone else. For Dean to call Cas their brother is the ultimate compliment Dean can give. His brother is the most important person in the whole world to him. Hearing all of this from Dean will hopefully be a salve to the angel’s broken spirit.

Seeing everyone in weird team free will just sitting around, contemplating their own demise, frozen by despair and defeat made me feel so sad. You could see how everyone had given up; you could feel the weight of it resting wearily upon them, on everyone of course except for Sam Fucking Winchester!

Seeing Sam arc up at everyone’s inability to pull themselves out of their end of the world funk…he looked so huge! He filled the space with his anger and frustration. It was Sam who forced everyone to think beyond the inevitable to another way…it was Sam who made them all snap out of only seeing futility in trying to stop what they were facing. Sam never, ever gave up…and he is why they could fashion a plan to save the world.

A round of applause for Jensen and Jared. Their performances in this episode, in a season that was filled with astonishing performances, was some of the most beautiful work I’ve ever seen the two of them do.

The Winchester brothers have come such a long way – it was reflected in how they went about hunting for the souls in that sanatorium. Fighting like a well oiled machine. It was water off a ducks back. Just a bunch of ghosts! And there was something about them walking out of the building side by side, shoulder to shoulder that drilled right into my heart – how unified they have, how instep - two halves of one whole.

When it became apparent that it would be Dean who would have to be the one to carry the bomb, you could see Dean’s “of course it is” weary, small smile. When it became apparent that Dean would not be carrying the bomb, he would be the bomb – well, that’s when I felt like time slowed down.

Every emotion that Sam and Dean were feeling played out on their faces – from Dean’s realisation of what it all meant, and the tears starting to prickle in his eyes, to Sam’s realisation and horror, followed by the same beginnings of tears. Once again they faced one of them sacrificing themselves for the greater good. Once again, Dean faced dying, once again, Sam faced losing Dean. I swear to you, time started to stop around me. All I saw was Sam and Dean. I know Billie was there, I know everyone was there, but if you asked me where anyone else was in the room, I couldn’t tell you, because my heart was switching between stopping and beating so hard I could barely breathe…and all I saw were two heart broken brothers.

The goodbye at the graveyard was my complete and utter undoing. Sam standing away from everyone else, separated and different in his grief, because it's his brother. Dean, as always, trying to put on a brave face, joking about his funeral – Sam saying "Done", without even looking at Dean. And even when faced with his own death (again), it was his brother’s safety that was Dean’s priority, because Dean knows, Sam does not do well without him – so he asks his friend to take care of his little brother, because as huge as Sam is, he seemed so small and lost in that scene.

When Dean finally went to give Sam the keys to their home on four wheels, I was struck by how neither could look at the other. Sam shaking his head slightly like he was saying no, like he couldn’t even believe this was happening, tears welling in his eyes. Dean eyes filled with tears too, trying to be strong for Sam, trying deflect the moment, “Come on, you know the drill, no chick flick moments, come on”. Sam with the perfect reply, “Yeah you love chick flicks”. Dean with all he had left, “Yeah you’re right I do, come here”. And they fold into a hug, or not even a hug, they fold into each other and simply hang on each other, burying into each other’s shoulders for their last moment together. This was one of the most lovely, most painful and most powerful scenes I think the show has done. It was brutal in its rawness and honesty. I swear neither of them did anything but glance briefly at each other throughout the whole scene, because if they actually looked at their brother…they would break,  they would fall apart, and they can’t do that, because they’re the Winchesters and they’ve got work to do.

My beautiful, beautiful boys. They destroy me and fill me to over flowing with love all at the same time. 

The performances by both Jensen and Jared in their scenes together, and then Jensen with Amara, were exquisite. The nuances in every look, in every moment, in the way they held their bodies. Bravo. (They fill me to over flowing with love too.)

And in the end we were left with a surprise double banger cliff-hanger (Oooo I rhymed). The Lady Penelopesque Woman of Letters - Toni, possibly having shot Sam, and Dean facing his no longer dead mother lord knows where!

Where we pick up in season 12 is anyone’s guess quite frankly! Mary was a what the hell moment, as was that English broad shooting at Sam – who I’m pretty sure couldn’t have cared less, the way he said Dean was dead broke my heart.

And now we have five painful months to come up with theories as to what it all means! Where is Dean, what does Mary's return mean, what is going to happen to Sam, will he get to see his mum (I hope so with all my heart), where did Cas get sent to, will Billie be coming to reap, will we find out more about the Men of Letters, will we discover more of the chosen, how long before Toni pulls her head in and realises that she wouldn't be still here if it wasn't for Sam and Dean saving the world, will the brothers be separated....after everything...again? (Please nooooo).

Alpha and Omega was written by our new show runner, Andrew Dabb; and for me this finale was a representation of the heart of the show. This was the show I fell in love with, and now love more than I can ever put into words. It was the essence of Supernatural, played out at a gut wrenching pace that allowed every little agonising glance, every little agonising realisation play out in our hearts and in Sam and Dean’s hearts with shattering power. It was a finale that belongs to a mature show that understands it doesn’t have to have explosions and gunfire and running and fighting and killing to be gripping. It just has to be true to the two characters that drive the story; it just has to be true to the core of what this show is built on and what makes it great…love and how family is everything.

So that's it for season 11! I want to thank you all so much for coming here week in week out to read my thoughts and join in the conversation in the comments. Your support means the world to me. I'll be around during the break posting things; I promise not to disappear completely!

And now the countdown to season 12 begins! Stay strong through hellatus! GROUP HUG!

-sweetondean xxx


Check out Anna's thoughts on Alpha and Omega. Read them here!