Supernatural (TV Series) What Is and What Should Never Be (2007) User Reviews

Brilliant and Wonderfully Heart Wrenching!!! Must see!!!!

[rebekahlynn222 · 10/10 · 5 May 2007]

For the Supernatural regulars out there, we know how marvelous this show can be. This episode goes ABOVE AND BEYOND any of the great shows we've seen so far!! Far from the comedic atmosphere of Tall Tales and Hollywood Babylon, this episode is much more somber.

Jared and Jensen are both brilliant actors, and, especially in Jensen's case, this episode shows just how talented they are. I taped this episode and have watched it four times in the past three days. The insight into the mind and soul of Dean Winchester makes this episode a must-see. It is touching, tragic, inspiring, and simply wonderful. This episode has just become my favorite Supernatural to date. I HIGHLY recommend that long-time fans and newcomers alike see it is at all possible!!!!

Outstanding

[alienprincess · 9/10 · 9 May 2007]

At first glance, this episode is wonderful. Funny, achingly sad, and adorable all at once. But look a little deeper and you'll find that What Is and What Should Never Be shows a level of sophistication, acting, series and character continuity, and polish, that will blow you away.

Jensen Ackles knocked this one out of the park. Though he always does an exceptional job, he really took it up a notch this time. Never an off moment in the whole show. I have heard him referred to as a subtle actor before, and I think that comes through in this episode. The facial expressions, the gestures and movements are all spot on. You don't have to wonder how his character is feeling; it's written right there on his face, and in his eyes, for all to see. He's heartbreakingly sincere. Spectacular. Jared Padalecki also did an excellent job in this one.

A definite must see for newcomers and regulars alike.

splendidly done

[manon74 · 10/10 · 18 February 2012]

This was a solid example of truly brilliant writing, acting and the magic that can happen when all the pieces fit. Almost all other reviews mention Jensen's heart-wrenching acting and I must concur. He's very good at what he does. Near the end when Dean must chose I was in tears. It was evident what his choice would be but I could FEEL his pain. Most of season 2 seemed to build up to just how much Dean and Sam have been through and how much they are giving up by doing what they know they are meant to do. To see an episode like this seems at first to be cruel but Sam says it best... "it's all worth it". Indeed it is! This = favourite episode. Just WOW!

Fantasy land

[zombiehigh18 · 10/10 · 6 November 2011]

Director and show creator Eric Kripke takes Dean (and the viewers) to fantasy land, we get a chance to see inside his head, to peak at his dreams and his deepest desires, to see what his life could have been like had hunting been off the table and his mother never died in that fire.

The Winchester brothers are hunting a Djinn, when Dean is attacked by one and slips into unconsciousness. And Dean wakes up in a world where he and Sam are having a normal life, his mother never died, his father earlier of a stroke, Sam is in law school and is going to marry Jessica and he himself is working in a garage and having a beautiful girlfriend. Yet he and Sam are never close and probably will never be. And though he knows Sam doesn't need his protection in a world where evil creatures are just a myth, he still misses his brother. Furthermore, he discovers that all the people he and Sam saved in their lives are in fact never saved because he and his brother were never hunters. So Dean has to make the most courageous sacrifice and give up his most desired dream, his and Sam's only chance of happiness, and choose to save people's lives as well as to be there for Sam in the real world.

The writers have given Dean's character a tremendous amount of depth and Jensen Ackles seized the chance. His top notch performance takes us on an amazing journey to see a whole new side of Dean. He was amazing showing every emotion. The guy could literally break your heart in every moment through the episode: watching Dean's face when he saw his mother alive, his reaction to her touching his face leaning with her hand so as to prolong the touch, watching him enjoying her sandwich with great longing, his goofy smile mowing the lawn, his satisfaction just sitting on the porch drinking beer, his happiness seeing Jessica alive, his disappointment to being not close to Sam, his speech on John's grave, and his unselfish ultimate sacrifice.

This writers also dare to discuss the Sam and Dean relationship if they were not stuck 24/7 in the Impala. What Sam would be like, how would he respond to Dean's character and how would he accept his brother's fallouts? It was sad they didn't have the brotherly bond they share in their real life, and, Come on!, he doesn't even like Dean calling him Sammy, It's like we are back to square one.

This episode was sad to its last detail, reminding us how much the boys lost and how much they sacrificed along the way. On the other hand, The monster of the week was cool in a creepy kind of way with all the tattoos and his somewhat merciful way of killing.

Bang up job Kripke on this one. Jensen and Jared, you sure excelled yourselves. It was nice to Samantha Smith and Adrianne Palicki back on the show. Jeffrey Dean Morgan was sure missed. But all in all great one.

Masterfully executed

[Red_Identity · 9 September 2010]

What Is And What Should Never Be remains one of the strongest episodes of the entire series, and the best of the second season.

This is unlike most Supernatural episodes. It has hints of horror, but it is mostly a reflection on Dean's personal life and how it would have turned out had things in his past happened differently. It shows Ackles as his most profound and at his deepest, and it is also one of the show's saddest episodes. The last scene between Dean and all of the members of his alternate family is masterfully written and directed, and anyone watching is sure to feel something. Dean's ultimate sacrifice proves how unselfish he is and how morally right, although it is hard for him to make the decision that he does.

Overall, this is as great as television gets, in any type of television show, but it is not a likely introduction to the series. It is definitely different and not your usual action-horror episode of the series.

Dean Winchester, This Is Your Life...

[hotcountry_chick · 9/10 · 2 March 2012]

What would life be like for Dean Winchester if he was not a hunter? If Mary had not died in the house fire? If Sammy had stayed in college? In "What Is and What Should Never Be", Dean sees just that. And begins to question whether the apple pie life is what he truly wants after all.

It all begins when Dean is attacked by a djinn, a malicious genie who grants Dean the wish he has always wanted. When he comes to, he finds himself living with a beautiful woman, his mother is alive and well, and Sam and Jessica have just announced their engagement. Dean is happy, or so it seems. Unfortunately, John has died of a stroke, Dean has treated Sam like crap, and (worst of all), the people that he and Sam had saved in the past year have died. After all, if the Winchesters are not hunting, they most certainly are not saving people. Thus Dean is faced with a dilemma - keep living in his fantasy world, or return to hunting.

Because that is what Dean's new life is - a fantasy, a hologram created by the djinn who had poisoned him earlier. He and a reluctant "college boy" Sam return to the warehouse where Dean had been initially attacked, where the eldest Winchester meets face to face with his "loved ones". As Dean listens to their pleas, he debates whether or not to stab himself - live what seems like years with his "family" but ultimately die in hours, or force himself to wake up and lose the life he so desperately wanted.

"What Is and What Should Never Be" is a beautiful episode which deals with Dean's emotional struggles as he lives his fantasy life. His happiness when he hears of Sam's engagement, his emotions when he reunites with his mother, and the horror when he learns that those he and Sam had saved had died: brilliant acting on the part of Jensen Ackles. This man is so underrated, would love to see him expand his horizons beyond Supernatural. He can make you laugh with his schtick and physical comedy, and make you cry with a facial expression or a monologue. And this episode, there is no exception. You feel for him when he realizes that he must give up the life he dreams of.

I absolutely loved this episode! I give it an 9 :)

absolute, hands down brilliance

[super_frog16 · 10/10 · 18 June 2007]

This episode has to be one of my most favourite, FAVOURITE eps of all time. It was heart wrenchingly beautiful, enormously sad, and absolutely charming. I had heard a lot about this episode before i actually got to watch it, but it lived up to, and blasted past, all my expectations. Dean gets to see how life could have turned out had hunting never been apart of his and Sam's lives. The acting surpassed anything i could and would have expected from Jensen and Jared, Jensen especially. His reaction upon seeing his mother for the first time, was so heart wrenching. He played the confusion factor brilliantly, the guys face is like a book, you can read everything Dean is feeling throughout the whole ep. There is an absolutely adorkable moment with a lawn moment, I just wanted to hug Dean and squeeze his cheek lol. Jareds acting as the wussy brother was brilliant. Sam would have been a complete soft touch if the deamon hadn't shown up when he was a baby put it that way lol. The addition of pictures of Jared and Jensen when they were younger, as a younger Sam and dean were such a brilliant touch lol, loved it. The attention to detail on this programme is phenomenal. Especially things like drawing your attention to the fact that Dean didn't have his usual amulet necklace, by using an uber shiny one which makes you go 'hey wheres dean necklace?' Anyway, the ending is brilliance on screen, the choice between everything you'v ever wanted, or the lives of everyone you have ever saved i bow down to the brilliance of kripke and the acting abilities of our guys *bows* definitely one to be watched over and over...and over ...and one more time :D XsarahX

The crownjewel of the 2nd season. Supernatural at its very best.

[CubsandCulture · 10/10 · 17 September 2019]

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.

Good show

[mm-39 · 10/10 · 22 July 2007]

What is and never should be is great insight into the character development of the two main protagonists. I love how the show talks about Dean's need for family stability; Sam and Dean's relationship is glued by their work; They are so different they complement each other. Dean's over confidence cause the show trouble, and his duty and honor is his salvation. Dean's life would be one of trouble if he never had the outlet of hunting. The monster is well done. The ending gives the reason for the mission, and create round characters out of Sam and Dean. 10 out of 10. Watch the summer rerun. What is and never should be is a fresh and different episode which build depth for the series.

On edge

[shwetafabm · 10/10 · 28 May 2020]

What if things were different? Dean gets to see a normal life but what is going on really. A sad episode, as usual at times funny

That Was Just a Dream

[claudio_carvalho · 9/10 · 24 July 2008]

In Illinois, while chasing a Djinn in an old building, Dean is attacked by the creature and faints. When he wakes-up, he is in Kansas, living with the sexy Carmen; his mother Mary is alive; Sam is graduated in Law School and engaged with Jessica, but they do not have a good relationship. Dean wonders whether his innermost wishes have been granted by the Djinn, but he is haunted by visions of a weird young woman.

"What Is and What Should Never Be" is another great episode of the Second Season, actually one of the best of this series. The acting is top-notch and the dramatic story with another reality is excellent. One of the funniest moments is when Dean questions whether the Dijnn gave a "supernatural acid" to him. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Apenas um Sonho" ("Just a Dream")

I went to rate this episode just to find out I rated it a 10 many years ago

[leon211-530-111150 · 10/10 · 30 September 2023]

I think that says all. Supernatural has always had its ups and downs but the one think prevailing is the two brothers and their family drama. Sam and Dean will always be the center of the show, hunting monsters, jinns, spirits, and whatever else evil creatures they could get their hands on.

It's been the prime theme of the show since the beginning. And part of it has always been the tragedy of the brothers and their family.

This episode starts off with a gut punch right away. Happy gamily. Mom alive. Both living a normal life. And the sad part is that from the get go you know something is off. Knowing however tragic their character arcs are, it makes them who they are. And that alone might be the most tragic thing, period.

This episode has me emotional every single time and always will. It perfectly plays on the strengths of the show while doing something completely different and I don't think I've ever seen another episode of any show pull off something like this.

Masterpiece. Period.

Got the Led Out

[nebohr · 9/10 · 25 August 2022]

A most excellent episode. It's like Dean's perfect world. Except. Except he was put there by an evil genie /jinn. You know what that means, don't you?

Photoshopped family photographs.