Supernatural Review: The Chitters (Season 11 Episode 19)

The finish line.

It’s a place that we never really consider as viewers of Supernatural, mainly because Sam and Dean have never truly seemed to be headed toward it.

Since the pilot episode, over 11 years ago, the Winchesters have moved from one hurdle seamlessly into the next, never really considering that maybe, just maybe, it was time to stop hunting. (Well, I guess you can count those brief periods where Sam and Dean each played house with their respective girlfriends…but not really.)

From Yellow Eyes, to Lilith, to Lucifer, to Leviathans, to the Mark of Cain, and now to Amara, there’s never been a real moment when the brothers look at one another and say, “We’ve done our job. Let’s retire. There are other hunters out there who can handle it.”

Which is exactly why I love the introduction of Jessie and Cesar into the Winchester’s lives.

The husband hunters (which, by the way, great job writers,) spend day and night tracking down an emerald eyed demon, one that Jessie is personally connected to, the same way that Sam and Dean were to Yellow Eyes.

Sam and Dean see a lot of themselves in Jessie and Cesar the more time they spend with them. The husband hunters also feels like a nice fan-fiction nod to those who ‘ship the Winchesters. (Yeah, I don’t get it either, but to each their own!) Dean telling them that they fight like brothers, only to discover that they are married may go down as one of my favorite reaction shots in the entire series.

Once the Winchesters, with the help of their new friends, eradicate the sexually charged “chitters,” Jessie and Cesar are relieved that their work is done. They’ve tracked down and killed their demon.

They’ve reached the finish line.

The parallel story allows Sam and Dean to see what freedom would have looked like had they hung up their hats after defeating the demon that killed their mother and started their entire journey.

Which leaves me wondering what the finish line looks like for the brothers.

Is it defeating Amara? With Season 12 already announced, I think not. So what WILL it be? What is going to be the case that finally makes Sam and Dean – if both brothers even make it to the end – say, ‘Our work is done.’

Season 11 has not been huge on the big story – the amount of Monster of the Week episodes seems to outweigh the amount of actual plot stories. Season 11, however, does seem to be the strongest season of the series in many years. While some Monster of the Week stories are obvious filler, episodes like “The Chitters,” leave us thinking about the long term plan for the Winchesters.

With Supernatural going into its record-breaking 12th season, showing no sign of stopping, it’s challenging to imagine what huge obstacle is left to be thrown in their path.

Speaking of obstacles, Amara is still out there. Sam and Dean COULD have asked Jessie and Cesar for their help in fighting the Darkness. But Dean says it doesn’t seem right to ask. It’s a nice moment for Dean, actually.

He respects those that make it to their own happy ending.

With only three episodes left this season, and seemingly no plan to stop God’s little sister, Sam and Dean may want to consider asking for the help of those hunters NOT retired (if they can track some down,) because based on next week’s promo, it looks like Amara and the Darkness Zombies are back and stronger than ever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogVU05HMN2M

What did you think of “The Chitters?” Hit up the comments below and share your thoughts!

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Supernatural airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW.