After a prolonged hiatus, The CW’s “Supernatural” is back with all new episodes to close out their final season. It is a bittersweet experience for fans of the show- knowing that each episode brings us closer to a definitive is tough despite being thankful for the shows return. Even those who are in the camp of the show lasting longer than it should, the beginning of the end is still difficult to wrap ones head around. Luckily, season 15 episode 14 “The Last Holiday” seems content in not rushing anything, milking all the charm of the Winchester brothers it possibly can before diving into the impending doom of the end of the world.
“The Last Holiday” wastes no time getting back into the old “Supernatural” groove. It opens like so many episodes before it; Sam with his nose stuck in a book and Dean salivating at the prospect of eating yet another burger. Things in the bunker keep going out, beginning with grill then the AC. Sam and Dean decide to check out the source to get things back up and running, and inadvertently awaken a wood nymph named Mrs. Butters. Her charge is to take care of the Men of Letters, and she does so with elaborate meals, packed lunches for hunts, and folding Dean’s undergarments. Of course, things aren’t always as they seem, and Jack grows suspicious of her mysterious, goody two shoes nature.
Given everything that happened in the earlier part of season 15, some may find “The Last Holiday” to be more of a filler episode than something worth waiting for. Death’s big plan, Jack’s returned soul, and Chuck’s mission to destroy the last remaining world are all afterthoughts here. But for those who didn’t binge all 15 seasons prior to the new episode, this is classic “Supernatural.”
The show has always been at its best with Monster of the Week episodes, the more silly the better. “The Last Holiday” even has “Ghostbusters” montage tribute, proving the show is always willing to pay homage to the things that came before it. The simple fact is, “Supernatural” has time to burn. And how it ends is seldom as important in the journey, a long standing theme for all Supernatural seasons.
“The Last Holiday” also highlights Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki’s chemistry, returned to perfect form. Both actors have long stated their love for playing Sam and Dean, and they are a large part of what makes the show work even when the show itself does not (season 13 anybody)? Their love for the Winchester brothers shine once again, reminding fans why we fell in love with the show and stuck with it for so long. With so many theories out there about what the finale will hold for them, it is a smart choice to highlight the lighter sides of their story. There’s nothing quite like watching Dean come to the dinner table in purple pajamas with a cap to match, or watching Mrs. Butters tell him he needs watch his cholesterol and eat his vegetables.
It’s the sort of fun we need to be reminded of, because, to be frank, we probably won’t get too many from here on out.
With only 6 episodes left, “Supernatural” with more than likely be doom and gloom from here on out. That’s not to say we still won’t get that wonderful Sam and Dean banter, but “The Last Holiday” is a stark reminder that the show, at its core has a lot to simply sit back and enjoy. Episode 14 is a good reminder of what we will miss the most, and a welcomed returned even if it really does mean the inevitable end.
