Supernatural Season 15 Episode 19 Review

 So, this episode is not the finale despite very much feeling like the finale. Whatever happens in the next episode is going to be a complete surprise. Well, I have some theories but that is beside the point. What matters is that ‘Inherit The Earth’ wraps the ongoing conflict of the season (and series) in as satisfying a way as possible. And with some of that signature Supernatural attitude.

Primarily, Lucifer called Michael a cuck. That is the crux upon which the continued existence of, well everything rests. It was incredible. Bringing Mark Pellegrino as Lucifer back at some point in this final season was a no brainer. Because of the setup of this episode, with only Sam, Dean, and Jack left, it had not even crossed my mind he had yet to appear though. I should have anticipated it once Michael resurfaced, as expected.

The two archangels have some fun interplay in their brief time onscreen together. But neither was meant to last as Michael murders his brother and Michael himself was played by both the Winchesters and Chuck. How unfortunate, but, really, they deserve it.

Team Free Will’s plan, which hinged on tricking Michael (Still possessing Sam and Dean’s half-brother) into telling Chuck their plan to stop him once and for all. Except it was a fake out. Turns out, Jack was indeed ducking the God energy from plants last episode. He also got some from Michael and Lucifer’s deaths.

Unfortunately, Jack gets tossed aside, leaving just our longtime heroes to stop Chuck. For the first time ever, Chuck gets his hands dirty. He physically beats Sam and Dean, but because they are Sam and Dean, they keep getting up. Eventually, they have to literalize the primary of theme of the 15 seasons and lean on each other to get up and continue fighting. This, as one would expect, greatly frustrates the Almighty.

The entire sequence is immaculate. As always, Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki have such an obvious bond that a bit of their real relationship trickles into their performances and makes everything feel natural. Rob Benedict is also exceptional as the most frustrated writer of all time. He really gets to show off in the next part of the scene though.

You see, Jack finally steps in, having absorbed the energy Chuck released with each hit. Surprisingly, there is no battle between these two gods. Instead, Jack is able to remove what is left of Chuck’s godhood. Initially disappointed, the now mortal Chuck becomes excited at the prospect of being killed at the hands of Dean Winchester, the greatest killer of all time. This is one of, if not the most common theme throughout this final season. Dean is a killer. It is what he is, and he cannot stop it. But just this once, he walks away from a monster. Chuck does not deserve the easy way out and will be forced to live out his life among the creations he tried to destroy. It is a fitting ending, though the scene kind of forgets about Sam once Jack steps in.

Then it gets weird. Jack, taking his place as the new God (With Amara inside him now), brings back everyone that disappeared at the end of ‘Despair’. It happens across a montage of people returning set to The Youngbloods’ Get Together, which is the exact kind of song Jack would play during this scene but feels a bit corny in this context.

Then Jack says goodbye. He has to leave as he wishes to be a hands-off ruler. The show does, somewhat, broach the question of what happens if Jack goes bad. He promises he will not as he learned everything he knows from Sam, Dean, and Castiel. It is a heartwarming sentiment, even though I disagree with the idea of installing a new God as a good ending for Supernatural. There should have been no one in that position with everyone free to make their own decisions. But alas, that is not what we got and what we got is likely the best version of the story the creators wished to tell.

So, Jack leaves and the Winchesters pack up and drive into the sunset as another montage plays. This time it is a series of scenes and characters from throughout the years accompanied by Jackson Browne’s Running on Empty. In tandem with the final notes, we get the scene from the end of the pilot of Dean shutting Baby’s trunk. And it is over.

Now look, I cried during this scene. A lot. It was incredibly well done. But this is not the last episode? That is something every other show I have ever seen would save for the finale. And yet, Supernatural did it in the penultimate episode. This, more than anything else, makes me curious to see the finale. What could they possibly do that is as good an ending as this episode provided?

 

Best Quotes:

Chuck: "You know, eternal suffering sounds good on paper, but as a viewing experience, it's just kinda meh. So we're done. I'm canceling your show."

Chuck: "Why are you smiling?"
Sam: "Because. You lose."

Lucifer: “You’re a cuck, Mikey!” x2