The penultimate episode of Supernatural felt like the finale of the series, while the actual finale seemed like it would be more of a coda.

Season 15, episode 19, "Inherit the Earth", is the culmination of many of the storylines in the series, including the depowering of Chuck Shurley/God (Rob Benedict), the transformation of Jack (Alexander Calvert) into the new God, and the sacrifices of Rowena (Ruth Connell) and Castiel (Misha Collins). Most importantly, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) have now been freed from Chuck's influence and can choose their own journey. The season finale shows where those choices lead them in a slow, personal ending that some may find anticlimactic, and others may find appropriate for the war-weary brothers.

The Winchester's Last Hunt, & Sam & Dean's Final Fate

Sam And Dean Reunite In The Afterlife

It's six months after "Inherit the Earth", and Sam and Dean are paling around like they did before the forces of heaven, earth, and hell stepped in to direct their lives. They haven't stopped monster hunting, but the tone of their fights is much more in line with Supernatural season 1. When they hear about a group of vampires capturing children for blood farming, the Winchesters set off to hunt down the particularly ferocious monsters. Though they easily defeat the vamps, and meet the vampire Jenny (Christine Chatelain) from season 1, Dean is thrown against a wooden beam.

At first, it seems like an injury Dean can easily shrug off, but then Sam notices a piece of rebar protruding from his brother. Sam desperately says he'll get help, but Dean asks him to stay, knowing his wound is mortal. The brothers have a tearful goodbye and thank each other for their years of friendship, and Dean dies in his brother's arms. While Sam buries his brother, Dean wakes up in heaven, now run by Jack, who has removed the bureaucracy and segregation, replacing it with the idyllic vision most people have of the afterlife.

In heaven, he's greeted by Bobby Singer (Jim Beaver) and the old friends share a beer. While the pair reminisce, Dean notices his beloved Impala has made it to the afterlife and, after downing his drink, he takes Bobby's advice and drives off to find his parents, who Bobby says live nearby. Back on Earth, a nostalgic musical montage shows what happened to Sam. It's simple: he lives his life. As "Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas plays, Sam's life is shown through the years.

He grows older, leaves his monster-hunting life behind, and has a child, Dean Jr., with an unseen woman. The years , and Sam grows old. His son says his goodbyes, and Sam dies old and happy. Time flows differently in the afterlife, and while Dean is driving his Impala along heavenly roads, he comes to a bridge similar to the one seen in the pilot episode. There, he sees someone standing waiting for him. Dean gets out of the car to embrace his brother and the Winchesters are finally reunited for good.

Why Didn't Sam Bring Dean Back?

Dean Was Destined To Die In A Fight And Sam Was Destined To Grow Old

Sam and Dean have died plenty of times in Supernatural, but each time they've been brought back, so it's curious as to why Sam did not bring Dean back this time. Dean has been avoiding death frequently in season 15, narrowly escaping multiple times. It is fitting that his actual death would not come from the will of God or the devil, it would simply be the one time his luck ran out and a wayward piece of metal stabbed him in just the right spot. This is how Dean would want to go, in the middle of a fight, protecting those he loves.

This was always how it was going to end for Dean, and both brothers knew that.

Dean has always been more of his father's son when it came to being a hunter. While Sam had always hoped for a quiet life, Dean found purpose in hunting. This was always how it was going to end for Dean, and both brothers knew that. Sam can accept this for Dean, because with everything they've been through in the past season, Sam knows that this death was a result of Dean's choices, rather than some outside influence.

What Happened To Castiel & Jack

Heaven Has Been Reshaped For The Better

After the events of Supernatural season 15, episode 19, Jack and Castiel (Misha Collins) are now in charge of heaven. Jack as God, resurrected Castiel from the Empty and together, the old friends reshaped the afterlife into something beautiful. Gone are the walls that separated areas of heaven, and it's been returned to a utopia.

Jack has gone further and restored the multiverses that were destroyed in the previous episode, and he allows Dean to finish his work, by returning Dean's journal and Colt revolver to him, which Dean gives to his parents. After their many sacrifices and the long season they've spent searching for purpose and identity, Jack and Castiel are given the most important role in the afterlife, and their experiences ensure that they will be just and fair rulers of heaven.

The Series Finale Was Divisive - But It Had To Be This Way

Supernatural Was Always About The Relationship Between Sam And Dean Winchester

When the Supernatural season finale aired, many fans were upset with the anticlimactic ending that saw only the return of a few characters. The original plan for the Supernatural finale involved Dean still going to heaven, but he would end up in a bar that looked like the Roadhouse where he would find all the characters from past seasons. This would have certainly satisfied a lot of fans, hoping that the show would tip its hat to the seasons that came before.

The Supernatural series finale was rewritten because of complications arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

But the Supernatural finale fans did end up getting. was true to the show because Supernatural has always been about the Winchester brothers. It's their story that is the core of the series. Dean was always going to die in battle, and Sam deserved a long life, and they both got what they were destined for. The Supernatural finale ends the never-ending loop of hunting and sends the Winchester brothers off with a goodbye that doesn't forget their friendship and love is more important than any villain ever was.