Supernatural: Survival of the Fittest

Filed under: Recaps & Reviews

Season seven's finale is finally here...and it was not worth the wait.

Following last week's episode, Crowley has been trapped by Richard Roman who is now willing to make a deal with the king of hell. If Crowley accepts, all of the demons get immunity (and Canada) but if he declines, things may not go so well for him and his kind. Elsewhere, Sam and Dean have everything they need for the weapon to kill Roman but when they summon Crowley for the final ingredient, he's a no-show. After Castiel and Meg stop by, Crowley shows up and isn't happy to see either of them. Although he is surprised to see them both alive, he hands his blood over for the weapon as killing Roman is more important holding a grudge (for now). After a brief stake out to get some info on Roman, Sam stop's Bobby from storming in and becoming a vengeful spirit but the encounter almost proves fatal. After Bobby regains his composure he realizes his extended stay between life and death has taken its toll, he decides that it's finally time to move onto the next life. No longer willing to let his friend sit this one out, Dean convinces Castiel they can't fight the leviathans without him. Now that they've lost one of their own, can the Winchesters survive a head on attack against the leviathans?

Without question, Survival of the Fittest was one of the worst finales Supernatural has ever had. The episode was devoid of a plot, direction, character and any sense of a soul that Supernatural is known for. After an entire season of trying to build the leviathans into a formidable enemy, they had the impact of a deflated balloon and Roman's death exemplified this. For all of his power and dull charisma, Richard Roman (played by James Patrick Stuart) died just as easily as demons, with a magic knife. At least that is the last we will see of Roman (fingers crossed).

Speaking of misused characters, Bobby Singer's farewell was woefully underplayed. Bobby's departure should have been the emotional core of the story and the greater part of the season after his death. Jim Beaver has proven time and time again he is a talented actor and they could have used him in some way closer to the end of the episode. If Sam and Dean had been used Bobby as a weapon against the leviathans and then burned his flask at least Bobby would have went out with a bang, fighting the good fight. Truthfully, the episode Death's Door was so incredible, I would have preferred that he went with the reaper than stuck around as window dressing.

Overall, season seven was not up to the standard Supernatural fans have grown accustomed to over the years. Bobby's death should have been the catalyst, the moment of change in the season when Sam and Dean took the leviathans personally. Even with Dean's drinking and the devil still inside of Sam's head, that connection to the audience just wasn't there. When Bobby told the boys to save the world because it's their job, it just reminded me that sentiment was echoed throughout the season as a theme. Sam and Dean Winchester have never just saved the world because it's their job and using that as the backbone for twenty three episodes is not going to have the affect you want. Even the cliff hanger of Dean and Castiel's disappearance just leaves more questions but not the right ones. I thought that Castiel absorbed everything in purgatory, what is left to attack Castiel and Dean?

As I expected last week, the Survival of the Fittest and most of season seven turned out to be a dud. Has Supernatural run out of gas or does it still have what it takes to get back to its winning ways? Hopefully you've enjoyed the reviews and you return for season eight when Supernatural moves to its new time on Wednesday nights.

Tags: Supernatural, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Richard Roman, Bobby Singer, Jensen Ackled, Jared Padalecki, James Patrick Stuart, Jim Beaver

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