Supernatural Review: The End of Bobby Singer?
Should fans start preparing for this to be the final season of Supernatural?
I certainly hope not, but with two major character deaths, Castiel and now, Bobby, it feels as if the show is preparing itself for its closing remarks, leaving Sam and Dean to save the world one last time, all on their own. Granted, on this show, anyone can come back and death doesn't last forever... but the brothers have been finally pushed into a situation where relying on each other will be the only way that they survive.
While it's tremendously sad to see a fan favorite go, and I'm sure many viewers will be up in arms over his departure, it was a fantastic send off and closing worthy of breaking out the Kleenex. "Death's Door" was a Bobby-centric episode that offered not only touching moments of background on the gruff guy, but captured the love and adoration Bobby felt for Sam and Dean in a complete hour.
Now, if only Castiel had received the same treatment, his death wouldn't have felt like a quick and pushed away ending.
The idea of life flashing before one's eyes was a genius way to unfold certain significant memories of Bobby's past that helped shape the man he became today. They captured multiple sides to him while keeping the episode filled with a sense of edge-of-seat anticipation of whether or not he would survive.
First, the memory of breaking his wife's heart pulled at the emotions. Bobby may have been a pain from time to time, but at his core, he's always been a good guy. He's always been filled with a sense of care and concern for the people closest to him. The worst part was that he never got a chance to move beyond their fight and even apologize for not wanting children with her.
His memory of playing catch with a young Dean made it clear that Bobby could be a great father, despite his fears to make everything turn out wrong. It was a small look at something other than focusing on hunting creatures, and that was the point: he recognized what a child needed and he loved the boys like they were his own. Having a game of catch is the quintessential type of father-son bonding and Bobby hit it out of the park.
Yet, the most revealing memory was the glimpse into Bobby's past as a child. His drunk and abusive father placed such a fear on the young boy that even after he was dead, Bobby was afraid that he would turn out like his old man. The fact that Bobby was the one to kill his own father, looked upon with disgust by his mother, and raised on the belief that he can't do anything right... it was rather amazing how he did turn out.
Bobby has been extremely hard on himself because, in fact, he's turned out to be a fantastic surrogate father for Sam and Dean. That final moment of Bobby waking from his coma to exclaim, "Idgits," showed more than enough love and pure connection with his "sons" and all I could do was hope that flatlining wouldn't be the end.
Except it seems that it was and Bobby's final memory was one not focused on grief or fear or hunting monsters, but simply being with Sam and Dean at a moment of happiness. Watching the brothers argue over licorice and Chuck Norris was the perfect memory because at its heart was a sense of family.
Jim Beaver gave one of his finest performances, expressing a range of emotions and feelings for each memory. He's truly encompassed the father figure role while contrasting it with his worries of not being good enough. It's amazing to see that just one hour was able to capture the full gamut of who Bobby Singer truly was as a man. Bravo.
The huge emotional question remains: how will Sam and Dean handle life after Bobby?
The brothers have experienced countless losses from their father to Jo and Ellen to Castiel and finally Bobby. It's easy to see that this particular turn of events could send Dean down a spiraling road filled with more punching glass. Great to see that he refused to quit on Bobby. I just hope that all the pain and loss hasn't finally overwhelmed him to the point of becoming pessimistic and giving up.
One of the finer episodes of the season, and certainly one to remember for a while, there were moments of Bobby running from door to door that felt a little slow. And the Leviathan waiting in the car seemed rather pointless other than to really piss Dean off.
Aside from a few minor complaints, this episode was a bittersweet way to end the midseason and captured anticipation, raw emotion, and even a few laughs befitting of Supernatural. Bobby Singer, we already miss you, you idgit.
What did you think of the episode? What were the numbers Bobby wrote down? Will Sam and Dean handle losing Bobby?
Sean McKenna is a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow him on Twitter.
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Dean: Well that's great, because without your power, you're basically just a baby in a trench coat.
Rank: Extra
May 18th, 2012 5:39 AM
Well the downside of great characters are when they die it produces great episodes so writers tend to do that.
Bobby's character is one of the best in Supernatural in league with Jenson Ackels Dean.
So sad to see him go mainly due to his entertaining quotes and the fatherly auora he brings in to the show.
April 6th, 2012 5:22 PM
best show ever created,good times and bad times.long live supernatural and well done to all the talent that makes it. you rock!
April 2nd, 2012 6:24 PM
i dont get why people are saying they'll quit the show if he comes back i find dean and even cas much more interesting then bobby and besides the boys did just fine before they met bobby and they'll be fine again i was enjoying this series until last weeks episode the story was so original and obvious it actually made me laugh after 7 years you'd think they'd come up with something fresh
April 2nd, 2012 10:21 AM
OH MY GOD!!! i have never even heard of a TV series better than this one. I hope to God this show stays for a few more years to come. I LOVE THIS SHOW!!! Dont EV ER take it off or cancel it. PLEASE! You will crush my dreams.
April 1st, 2012 8:24 AM
The storyline for this season is going downhill this is not the same show I have been following for all these years. This has got to be the worst season ever, while the actors continue to do a fantastic job the story,plot and writing have suffered and I must say that if Bobby does not return this season I will not return next season. If anyone from the show reads this tell Sera to stop trying to bury supernatural and take it back to the show it should be. If I wanted to watch a cheesy cartoon like show, well, cartoon network is available all day.
March 24th, 2012 9:40 PM
Why on earth would you kill off Bobby? He was one of the best characters on the show.
Please bring him back. It's not the same without him. He added so much to the show.
I don't think it's as good anymore without him. PLEASE BRING BOBBY BACK'!!!!!!!
March 24th, 2012 8:54 AM
Not liking this season at all. It is turning into a very bad, night-time soap opera. My enthusiasm is gone. I don't know who the writer is, but come on guys be for real. You can't seriously believe your true fans like this new storyline. Stop killing off the main characters, and find yourselves your new writers. We want, or at least I know I do, SUPERNATURAL back; not this new stuff, which I shall call UNNATURAL.
March 19th, 2012 2:29 PM
I'm so upset about the losses of our main characters. But ever since the show moved to Friday something changed. I loved it when the filming and scrips were dark and emotional (predictable or unpredicatable). The characters are so amazing and well played, but I feel the show has become too light and at times silly. Maybe we need new writers and director? Or maybe they are all just tired of doing the show? Anyway, killing off the best characters (especially Bobby) have left me empty. This was and still could be the best supernatural show out there if they went back to the original dark formula. We have plenty of ghosts, vampires, and demons to go around. How about filming a few episodes in Europe? Lots of haunts there. I would love to see Dad, Castille and Bobby brought back from hell for those shows. Would be awesome. Finally, on different notes, please consider changing the show back to a night earlier in the week and have Sam change his hair back. Not a good look for him. Too
March 11th, 2012 9:40 PM
I think the new episodes will be great, i mean, now are going to paaepr different gods in the Supernatural story. I was thinking about it and maybe i donb4t know, what if god dissapeared beacause he was divided in a bunch of pieces, or in this case, different gods? what if is needed that this gods get unit into only one to bring back the ancient god, the creator of the world?Well i think that this will be (only the presence of new gods, without taking in count my theory yet) a 180 degrees change.
March 4th, 2012 12:21 AM
@Denise: totally agree. Writers hedged that Season 7 would be the last. Rufus, Castiel, Bobby - mourn people and move on. Sam/Dean survived their daddy dying, don't drag this out. The producers say Season 5 wrapped up the heaven/hell story arc; Season 6 limped along IMHO. One Epic Fail - should have introduced Mayans (hello, 2012!) or Chinese theology and dropped the Judea-Christian stuff altogether.
Again, seems like the writers were afraid to start another major story arc that would need at least season 7 & 8 to flesh out. If it's canceled they'd have pissed off die-hard fans left hanging. Who's going to iTune/Amazon the previous season or buy T-shirts and posters? Or write fan fic? ;)