This episode combines an emotive story about Dean coming to terms with the loss of his parents and his lot in life with a clever use of lore to render one of the more memorable monsters of the week. Add in that the episode asks a few weighty questions-why the Winchesters, what is real, how much is one person's happiness worht, etc.-and you have a high point of the series. Like "Faith" in season 1 this is Supernatural at its best.
Much credit needs to go to Kripke (and some good fortune) for sticking the landing. This episode is a visual feast that combines the washed out subdued look of early season 1 with some of the cooler look that defined the show and most of all one of the brightest and colorful scenes in all of the show. And it works, the colors and moods-so radically different from each other-fit together on the narrative level and the final episode feels like no other in the show's run.
This is just simply great.
Much credit needs to go to Kripke (and some good fortune) for sticking the landing. This episode is a visual feast that combines the washed out subdued look of early season 1 with some of the cooler look that defined the show and most of all one of the brightest and colorful scenes in all of the show. And it works, the colors and moods-so radically different from each other-fit together on the narrative level and the final episode feels like no other in the show's run.
This is just simply great.