The mid-season finale of Supernatural was titled "Abandon All Hope," and it certainly delivered on that promise.  It turned out to be one of the most depressing hours of TV Supernatural has ever produced, and now, more than ever, I have no hope of a happy ending.

The episode saw the small group of heroes travel to fight and kill Lucifer.  Instead, Jo and Ellen died, the Winchesters learned the Colt is useless against Lucifer, and Death, the second Horseman of the Apocalypse, was raised.  The show ended with tornadoes ravaging Missouri while Sam, Dean and Bobby stared sadly at a photo of their group slowly burning.

That's not just hopeless, that's the last circle of despair.  For most of season 5 Sam and Dean were convinced that the Colt was the only way to kill Lucifer, and now their last hope is destroyed.  There's no secondary plan, no new strategy, it just felt like that final scene saw the two brothers abandoning all hope.

Assuming the Horsemen are like the Seals from last season, Lucifer is now halfway to his Apocalypse, with War and Death riding on Earth.  The second half should be a cakewalk.  Lucifer just performed his ritual while Sam and Dean stood aside and watched, completely ineffectual.  I'm glad to see that Supernatural has made Lucifer a much stronger foe than any demon the boys have faced, but right now, he seems invincible.

Undoubtedly this is what Eric Kripke wants, and I'm willing to give it to him.  If there was even the tiniest glimmer of hope, I would cling to it.  If there was one small momentary triumph, I'd be happy.  But Ellen and Jo are dead.  The Colt is useless.  Bobby is still in a wheelchair.  Death is on Earth.

There is no hope.  Winter is hard enough, especially when combined with more than two months of no new Supernatural episodes.  But to leave fans on such a pessimistic note without any reason to celebrate almost seems cruel.



-John Kubicek, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image courtesy of the CW)