5.22 Swan Song
Title | Swan Song |
Episode # | Season 5, Episode 22 |
First aired | May 13, 2010 |
Directed by | Steve Boyum |
Written by | story by Eric "Giz" Gerwitz and teleplay by Eric Kripke |
On IMDB | http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1626753/ |
Outline | Sam and Dean decide to try and trap Lucifer. |
Monster | |
Timeline | |
Location(s) | Detroit, Michigan; Lawrence, Kansas |
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Contents
Synopsis
Chuck is writing about the history of the Impala, for a manuscript entitled "Swan Song". He writes that it is the most important object in the history of the universe.
Over a beer in the junkyard at Bobby's, Dean tells Sam that he will support his plan to let himself become Lucifer's vessel, in order to trap him in Lucifer's Cage. They prepare by killing so demon's and harvesting the Demon Blood, which Castiel has said Sam will need to drink to contain Lucifer.
Omens lead Sam, Dean, Bobby and Castiel to Detroit, where Lucifer had always predicted Sam would say yes. As they drive, Castiel sleep - he is no longer an angel. Sam asks Dean that if the plan works, Dean is not to try and save him, but must try and live a normal life. They arrive in Detroit, and after saying goodbye to Castiel and Bobby, Sam drinks the demon blood, and he and Dean go to confront Lucifer.
Lucifer reveals he knows that they have the Horsemen's Rings, and plan to trap him. Sam goes ahead with saying "yes" anyway. As Lucifer takes over Sam's body, Dean uses the rings and with an incantation opens Lucifer's Cage. Lucifer, however, is in full control of Sam, and closes the cage, taking the rings and disappearing.
Later, Dean, Castiel and Bobby watch the news, as disasters occur across the world - the Apocalypse is beginning. Both Castiel and Bobby seem without hope. Dean calls Chuck who tells dean the confrontation between Michael and Lucifer will take place at Stull Cemetery near Lawrence in Kansas, where the boys first lived. Dean prepares to head there, telling the others that he won't let Sam die alone.
In Stull Cemetery, Lucifer faces Michael who appears using Adam as a vessel. Lucifer tries to dissuade Michael from the fight, blaming their conflict on God, and suggesting they walk away. Michael counters that he must carry out God's orders, and that it's his destiny to kill Lucifer, who is evil. Just then Dean arrives in the Impala, Def Leppard's Rock of Ages blaring.
Dean tries to talk to Sam, inside Lucifer, but Michael tells him it's not his fight anymore. Castiel arrives tossing burning Holy Oil on Michael causing him to vanish temporarily. Lucifer turns and disintegrates Castiel, and then as Bobby shoots him, he snaps his neck.
Lucifer starts to beat Dean, taunting him, saying he will kill him slowly and make Sam feel it. Dean doesn't resist, just telling Sam he won't leave him. As he goes to land another blow, he glances at the Impala, and suddenly all Sam's memories of life with Dean rush at him, allowing Sam to take control over Lucifer. He tosses the Horsemen's Rings to the ground, recites the incantation to open Lucifer's Cage. He and Dean look at each other one last time, but as Sam goes to throw himself in, Michael reappears. he tries to stop him, but Sam drags him into the cage too, and it shuts.
As Dean grieves, broken and bloody, Castiel reappears and heals him. His angelic powers are restored, and he also resurrects Bobby.
Castiel tells Dean he will return to heaven, where he expects without Michael there will be chaos. Dean leaves Bobby, who Chuck tells us in voiceover, he won't see for a long time. He says that while Dean wants to rescue Sam, or die, he promised Sam he wouldn't, and that Dean will try and keep that promise.
Chuck, now dressed all in white, says that endings are hard, and never perfect, and that nothing really ends anyway. He types "The End" and vanishes. Chuck - it seems - is God.
Dean arrives at Lisa Braeden's house, distraught, but trying to hold it together. She comforts him as he cries.
Sometime later, Dean is having dinner with Lisa and Ben. Lisa asks is Dean's okay - taking a sip of a large scotch - says quietly that he is. Outside the house, a street light goes out. Underneath it, watching the house, stands Sam...
Characters
- Sam Winchester
- Dean Winchester
- Bobby
- Castiel
- Lucifer
- Michael
- Chuck
- Adam Milligan
- Lisa Braeden
- Ben Braeden
- God
Definitions
- Impala
- Horsemen's Rings
- Lucifer's Cage
- Vessel
- Stull Cemetery
- Lawrence, Kansas
- Samifer
- Holy Oil
- Dead...or are they?
- Demon Blood
- Archangel
- Angel Lore
- The Meaning of Episode Titles
Music
- Carry On Wayward Son
- Rock of Ages (Def Leppard) as Dean enters Stull Cemetery. This song was also used in 1.05 Bloody Mary.
Quotes
Sam: You go find Lisa. You pray to God she’s dumb enough to take you in. You have barbecues, and go to football games. You go live some normal apple pie life Dean. Promise me!
Castiel: It’s not possible.
Sam: Humor me
Sam: What?
Dean: You think, genius?
Castiel: You don't have to be mean.
Dean: So what do we do now?
Dean: Then I ain't going to let him die alone.
Dean: I'm not talking to you, I'm talking to Sam.
Michael: You're no longer the vessel, Dean. You got no right to be here.
Dean: Adam, if you're in there somewhere, I am so sorry.
Michael: Adam isn't home right now.
Castiel: Uh...no.
Castiel: That's a nice compliment, but no.
Castiel: Return to heaven I suppose. With Michael in the cage, I'm sure it's total anarchy up there.
Dean: So what - you're the new Sheriff in town?
Trivia & References
In The End, Future Dean tells Dean that Sam gave "the big yes" to Lucifer in Detroit. In 5.10 Abandon All Hope, Lucifer predicts this future to Sam, telling him "I don't know Sam, I think it will. I think it'll happen soon, within six months. And I think it'll happen in Detroit." The episode first aired on November 19, 2009. If you look at a calendar for 2010, six months from this date is the third week of May (the week of May 17th). 5.22 Swan Song aired on May 13, one week shy of Lucifer's six-month projection.
MFEO= Made For Each Other.
The Triple Lindy was a ridiculous high dive done by Rodney Dangerfield in the movie Back to School. Watch the clip to see how ridiculous.
This line is said many times, by several characters, in the Star Wars movies.
Graceland was Elvis Presley's estate in Memphis, Tennessee and is now a museum.
Castiel: I suggest we imbibe copious amounts of alcohol. Just wait for the inevitable blast wave.
Dean: Yes, well, thank you, Bukowski.
A Molotov cocktail is an incendiary weapon in which a flammable liquid is placed in a glass bottle and sealed with a cloth or rag. The cloth is set on fire, and when it is thrown and the bottle breaks, the liquid inside spreads and catches fire. Castiel made his Molotov cocktail using Holy Oil.
Chuck: Well, there's only one explanation. Obviously I'm a god.
Sam: You're not a god.
Dean accuses Chuck of having a "thing" for virgins and prostitutes (hookers), possibly a hint towards Chuck's true identity as God. Specifically, a reference to the Virgin Mary, who supposedly gave birth to God's son, Jesus.
In the fourteenth century, Italian poet Dante Alighieri wrote the epic poem Divine Comedy, which chronicles the poet's fictional tour of the various levels of Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. In the first part, Inferno (sometimes known as "Dante's Inferno"), Dante descends into the center of Hell, which is in the middle of the 9th Circle, the eternal punishment for betrayal, the most heinous of sins. There, Dante finds Satan trapped in a lake of ice with many other betrayers for all eternity. This is in stark contrast to the popular view of Hell as the "lake of fire".
Ovaltine is a powder flavoring mixed with milk, but in this context, Lucifer is referring to the Demon Blood Sam drank before coming up. In 4.03 In The Beginning, Azazel says "Demon blood is better than Ovaltine, vitamins, minerals. It makes you big and strong."
Dean: Yes, well, thank you, Bukowski.
Charles Bukowski was an American poet, novelist, and short story writer. Bukowski's writing was heavily influenced by the geography and atmosphere of his home city of Los Angeles, and is marked by an emphasis on the ordinary lives of poor Americans, the act of writing, alcohol, relationships with women, and the drudgery of work.Telenovelas are (usually) Latin American TV soap operas.
Dean: Where's Cas?
Chuck: He's dead. Or gone.The archangel smote the crap out of him. I'm sorry.
Dean: You're sure? I mean, maybe he just vanished into the light or something.
Minutiae
- Cyclone in Tampa
- Temperature drops in Detroit (20 degrees in a five-block radius in downtown Motown)
- Wildfires in Los Angeles
- A magnitude 7.6 earthquake in Portland
- A magnitude 8.1 earthquake in Boston
- More in Hong Kong, Berlin and Iran
Sides, Scripts & Transcripts
Promotion
- Twitter exchange with a guest star
- Interview with a guest star (and a former guest star)
- Episode Title Name Spoiler TV
- Synopsis SpoilerTV
- Spoiler about the Finale with Sera Gamble Ask Ausiello
- Synopsis
- Finale promo
- Promo pics for the finale
- Promo for finale
- Clip #1 from finale - extended version
- Clip #2
- Space TV promo
- Interview with Mark Pellegrino on finale