Summary
- "Swan Song" is Supernatural's best episode, with a 9.7 rating on IMDb. It was originally meant to be the series finale.
- Ending with "Swan Song" would have let Supernatural go out on a high note, avoiding a complicated legacy.
- The actual series finale, "Carry On," has a lower rating on IMDb due to an underwhelming ending and viewer fatigue after 15 seasons.
Supernatural, the later ones tend to be the weakest. Whether it's because viewers were fatigued 15 seasons later or the show ran out of stories to tell, the excitement surrounding Supernatural peaked long before its series finale.
The Supernatural series finale also had numerous problems, even if there were a few high points in the final episode. The CW show easily could have ended earlier, and it was actually supposed to. Supernatural set up the perfect ending in its highest-rated episode, and the fact that no later episodes sured it proves the series should have run with it.
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Supernatural's Best Episode Is Exactly Where The CW Series Should Have Ended
"Swan Song" Tied Everything Up Impressively
Supernatural season 5, episode 22, "Swan Song," is the show's best-rated episode on Supernatural season 5 to be the last, and this is obvious throughout its finale. Although the final scene teases more to come, "Swan Song" properly resolves just about every storyline and character arc from Supernatural's early seasons.
"Swan Song" doesn't just wrap things up either; it does a solid job of it, truly sticking the landing as a potential conclusion. This episode of Supernatural is heartfelt, emotional, and manages to capture everything viewers love about the show. The early seasons' charm is definitely present, but the end of "Swan Song" also boasts a painful and definitive feeling. Given how well received it still is, it's likely Supernatural should have taken its final bow here — even if there are winning episodes beyond this point.
Ending The Show With "Swan Song" Would Have Let Supernatural Go Out On A High Note
It Wouldn't Have Such A Complicated Legacy
Some might consider Supernatural's 15 seasons worthwhile for the gems spread throughout its later outings, but ending the series with "Swan Song" would have allowed it to go out on a high note. Even if Supernatural has memorable installments after season 5, the vast majority of its later seasons — and its actual series finale — complicate its legacy. Supernatural seasons 1-5 feel coherent and well-balanced, even if there's a decent amount of filler throughout the first couple of outings.
By contrast, you can argue that everything beyond Supernatural season 5 feels very hit or miss. There are just as many disappointing episodes and storylines as there are great ones. For diehard fans, it might be worth sifting through the less memorable installments to get to the hits. However, this mix of highs and lows makes Supernatural feel like a weaker series overall. Had the show concluded with "Swan Song," viewers might look back fondly on the entire thing.
Why Supernatural's Actual Series Finale Ranks So Much Lower Than "Swan Song"
"Carry On" Has A 6.9 Rating On IMDb
Compared to "Swan Song," Supernatural's true series finale — season 15's "Carry On" — has a much lower rating on IMDb. "Carry On" has a 6.9-star rating, which isn't terrible. However, it doesn't reach the heights of season 5's ending. There are a few reasons for this, but one of the biggest issues is the anticlimactic way Dean Winchester dies. While Sam nearly perishes in "Swan Song," his death has a deeper meaning. He makes a sacrifice for the greater good, but Dean's final scene doesn't have any of that power.
In general, "Carry On" feels too underwhelming to be a season finale, much less a series finale. "Swan Song" delivers all the heart and tension associated with good endings, but Supernatural season 15 fails to do the same. It's probably safe to say that some viewers were also growing weary of the series after 15 seasons. With the later outings not living up to the earlier ones, Supernatural's season 15 finale just wasn't going to have the impact it needed to. It's a shame, as it really deserved a better send-off.
Supernatural
- Release Date
- 2005 - 2020-00-00
- Network
- The CW
- Showrunner
- Eric Kripke
WHERE TO WATCH
Created by Eric Kripke, Supernatural is a fantasy/drama series that premiered in 2005. The series follows the adventures of Dean and Sam Winchester - two men wronged by supernatural beings as children who now spend their days investigating and hunting demons, ghosts, and monsters across the United States.
- Directors
- Philip Sgriccia, John F. Showalter, Robert Singer
- Writers
- Eric Kripke, Andrew Dabb, Robert Berens
- Franchise(s)
- Supernatural
- Seasons
- 15
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