Sam and Dean Winchester might have laid down their arms but some beautiful, heartwarming moments between characters during its recond run.
A few moments, such as the final scene between Castiel and Dean, weren’t just heartwarming but also broke a million hearts. And given how the brothers’ story ended, most moments, however wonderful at the time, might shatter our hearts a tiny bit in hindsight.
Bobby Referring To The Brothers As His Boys
The episode "Safe House" in season 11 is heartwarming in almost its entirety as fans get to take a ride with fan-favorites Bobby Singer and Rufus Turner who make a come-back for the one episode. The banter between the two is hard not to love.
However, possibly the most heartwarming moment comes when Bobby appears stressed due to the impending Apocalypse, and tells Rufus that he is worried about his boys, Sam and Dean, who are smack in the middle of it all. Rufus immediately calls him out on his remark about his boys, but fans have already been moved by Bobby's obvious love and concern for the brothers, in spite of his gruff exterior.
The Lucky Charms
One of the most adorable scenes from Sam and Dean's childhood came in the season 1 episode, "Something Wicked". The episode takes fans back in time where a young, rather serious-looking Dean, holed up in a dreary motel, has been instructed by John Winchester to take care of little Sam, while he himself was away hunting.
One of the flashbacks here shows Sam wanting a bowl of cereal, Lucky Charms, for dinner instead of some pulpy mess that Dean pours out for him. Dean wants the last bowl of cereals himself but there's no way he can say no to the puppy-eyed Sam. When he brings the packet of cereal out for Sam, the latter, adorably, offers him the prize inside. If that scene doesn't tug at a few hearts, then nothing would.
The Impala Triggering Childhood Memories For Possessed Sam
In the season 5 finale, "Swan Song", the Impala plays a significant role as Chuck, still only a prophet at the time, narrates the episode from the car's perspective. In the climax, Sam is possessed by Lucifer. The boys have planned this - Sam has to jump into the hole in the ground in Stull Cemetery to send Lucifer back to his cage in Hell.
However, once the Devil takes over, he starts beating Dean into a pulp. At this time, a tiny action figure wedged in the door of the car that he himself had placed there ages ago as a boy, catches Lucifer/Sam's attention. A collage of images from his childhood and the time spent with his older brother flashes through his mind, bringing Sam back in control momentarily. With his memories triggered, Sam now jumps into the hole, ensuring that Dean isn't killed after all.
Dean Taking Care Of Lisa & Ben
Dean had his shot at an apple pie life with Lisa and Ben. While Dean and Lisa weren't a howling success as a couple as far as fans were concerned, the fact remains that the life he could have built with them might have been one of the best things to have happened to him.
Dean looking out for young Ben, bonding with him, cooking breakfast, locking up at night, and having someone he loved by his side in bed were some of the most heartwarming moments for the character in the entire series. Unfortunately, life had other plans for the Winchesters.
Jack & Dean’s Day Out
Season 14 had a couple of profound moments between Dean and Jack. The latter was dying at the time, with the doctors having given him a couple of weeks to live at the most. Jack told Dean, who was suffering from tremendous guilt for having been very hard on him previously, that he wanted to experience normal human life before dying.
The two took off, and Dean actually let Jack take the wheels of the Impala, which fans know he was extremely possessive about. The two continued to share some lovely father-son moments as they ate burgers and went fishing. Then, as fans tried to hold back tears, Jack said that he would miss spending time with Dean when he died. However, even with all that, Dean suggesting they visit a cheap bar with great hook-up potential during his heart-to-heart with Jack was probably what filled fans' hearts with a great sense of warmth. This was, after all, typical of the Dean they loved.
The Family Reunion
The 300th episode of the series saw actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan return for one episode as John Winchester. Since Mary was also back from the dead at the time and hadn't died yet again, the brothers got their family back together, if only for just one night.
Sam and Dean had been trying to get rid of Michael who was possessing Dean, albeit dormant. They came across some pearls that would give Dean his heart's desire. Turned out his heart's desire wasn't to eject Michel out but to have his family back. The episode had some beautiful moments as the entire Winchester family sat having dinner together, although, of course, it wouldn't last long.
Cas Telling Dean He Loved Him
In season 15, Castiel finally had his moment with Dean, validating every Destiel shipper over the years. He professed his feelings for the older Winchester, before giving his life for him.
In the episode, “Despair”, Castiel realized that the Empty’s prophecy about taking Cas when he was the happiest in his life was about to be fulfilled. He understood once and for all that he was at his happiest with Dean, and that he loved this maddening human. The moment would have been even more heartwarming had Cas not had to sacrifice himself the very next minute, but it remains an iconic Cas and Dean moment nonetheless.
Dean Hugging Miracle
Miracle was the adorable dog Dean had found just before the world went bonkers; God had snapped his fingers and all creatures had started disappearing from the face of the earth.
Miracle had disappeared too but he came back when things went back to normal and was adopted by the Winchester brothers, especially Dean who grew an instant bond with the dog. Miracle lived in the bunker with the boys, and there is a scene where he throws himself at Dean to greet him first thing in the morning. The bear hug that Dean gives him is possibly the cutest moment ever, especially given how there had been moments in the series when it seemed as if Sam was the dog lover between the two.
Ode To Joy
Fans will recall the moment in season 14 when the four heroes walked down the car park with Dean wielding the spear that would kill Michael, while Beethoven’s 'Ode to Joy' played in the background.
They knew they were walking to their death, but these weren’t just any heroes! They were the brothers Winchester, their staunch friend and angel Castiel, and the Nephilim Jack, representing Team Free Will. So an 'Ode to Joy' moment is the least they deserve.
Brothers In Arms
Finally, in spite of the flak the finale got from fans, Dean driving his Impala around the new and improved Heaven while waiting to be reunited with his beloved younger brother was heartening, if not tear-jerking.
Sam died naturally in the presence of his own son who was also called Dean. He then ed his older brother in Heaven and the brothers in arms got their happily ever after, together in Heaven, with their faithful Impala by their side. Now, that would have warmed a few hearts, to say the least.