Supernatural Review: Despair (Season 15 Episode 18)
Supernatural spends this week taking some of its last breaths. Watching it, viewers can feel that the end is near.
On Supernatural Season 15 Episode 18, “Despair,” the Winchesters suffer some devastating losses before their final stand-off with God. There could not be a more apt name than “Despair” for the developments that unfold.
With only two episodes remaining after “Despair” – it’s obvious that the endgame is upon us. Death, The Empty, and God/Chuck remain major players in the fight for humanity and free will.
But at the end of “Despair,” at least one of those has come off the board. Billie, the former reaper turned Death II, has met her untimely end at the hands of Dean and the Empty.
Unfortunately…there’s more.
“Despair” being so close to the end had to illustrate that the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been. As such – God is just wiping people out of existence, which of course Sam, Dean, Cas, and Jack try to stop.
As such — “Despair” is a cornucopia of returning guest stars. Bobby, Charlie, and Sheriff Donna are among the returning characters, and it’s always good to see them. There are even more who play a small role or get a mention, like Jody and the girls, and Eileen.
Involving all of these fan favorites is an exciting element of “Despair,” but also a devastating one. Every one of these characters disappears before the end.
But the price they pay in “Despair” is great. They stop Billie’s power mongering and satisfy the Empty, but to do so, Castiel makes the ultimate sacrifice. The result is about what you would expect — an absolutely devastating blow before the series end.
Both of these things — the string of disappearances and the loss of Misha Collins’ Castiel — are absolutely devastating. The scene between Castiel and Dean before Castiel enters the empty may be Collins’ best work on the show. It’s raw, emotional, and surprisingly real for an angel and a monster hunter.
Losing Cas is a gut punch for any long time Supernatural fan. But his sacrifice to save Dean, Sam, and Jack feels right, and displays a tremendous amount of growth from his first appearance on the show to his last.
“Despair” brings a lot of just that — despair. The stakes have never been higher than they are now on Supernatural, but it’s clear the final two episodes will be some of the most exciting and emotional the show has ever done..at least if “Despair” is any indication.
A few stray thoughts:
- “My only worry is the lav situation.” I hope we get a little more Bobby before the series wraps. He DID bring a bucket.
- It’s been really great to see Rachel Miner return to the show as The Empty. I feel like this is probably it for her — but she was fantastic.
- I imagine that “Despair” marks the final appearance for several of these characters, but I hope not! Supernatural owes a lot of its success to these fan favorite recurring characters. If it is the end, it’s a fitting tribute.
What did you think of this episode of Supernatural ? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Supernatural airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW.
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Nick Hogan
Nick Hogan is an experienced podcaster and writer (particularly on media topics), who loves discussion and analysis of TV and is always looking for new shows to watch. He is also a parent who loves buffalo wings, blowing raspberries, and his beloved Cincinnati Reds.