Pass Me a Tissue, Please
While this midseason finale didn’t do much with the season’s mythology or villains, I thought it was the most introspective Bobby episode we’ve ever seen. The truth is, Bobby has always been a bit of an enigma. It’s taken years for us to learn much about him as a character and to see glimpses into his past. We know who he is now, of course, but we never really learned all the circumstances that brought him to this point.
Like I said, some fans who might not like Bobby may not have been happy that this episode was a bit of a love letter to his character. But the truth is, each of the characters (and their actors) were amazing. Jensen Ackles knocked the emotional scenes out of the park as he usually does, while Sam’s quiet desperation was heartbreaking.
But now I’m really, really concerned about Bobby’s fate. How to save him from something this serious? If the reaper is to be believed, then Bobby is basically brain dead. I cannot believe the show would kill him. After what happened with Castiel, getting rid of Bobby would be the absolute wrong decision, even if this episode could have served as a beautiful - and fitting - send-off. But the Winchesters, and the Supernatural fans, simply cannot lose another character as important as Bobby.
I loved how Bobby’s happy memories all revolved around Sam and Dean. He obviously didn’t set out to become a father, but he became one nonetheless. And the truth is, he was as equally an important father as John Winchester. There was never a better scene that demonstrated the differences between those two father figures as the one where Bobby was on the phone in this episode, arguing with John about playing baseball with Dean versus teaching him how to shoot a gun.
Here’s the bottom line: no one is questioning that John loved his boys. But from the moment that Mary died in the fire, John was on a mission. He was on a mission to understand and hunt the thing that killed his wife. To achieve this, he needed not only to protect his sons (the last pieces of Mary that he had left), but he also needed to turn them into men who could help him with his end goal. Unfortunately, John died before he could kill Azazel, but he spent his life - and the lives of his children - with a single-minded focus that unfortunately gave them some terrific demon-hunting skills, but pretty crappy childhoods.
Then there’s Bobby. Bobby obviously fell into a parental role by accident, but he excelled at it. He absolutely wanted to teach the boys the skills they needed to survive in the hunting world, but he also wanted to give them some semblance of a life. Recall the scene in episode 6.01 when Bobby told Dean that he failed to tell him Sam was back from Hell because all he wanted was for Dean to live a normal life with Lisa and Ben. I would be interested to know if the writers believe John would have made the same choice as Bobby.
That is the dividing line between Bobby and John: that one was in it for revenge and was forced to use his children as his little helpers in order to achieve it, while the other simply grew to love the two men that the boys had become. Both wanted to protect the boys, but John was a victim of fate and could never have become the father figure that Bobby turned out to be.
I know it’s too late to change anything now, but the Supernatural writers absolutely cannot kill off Bobby. I couldn’t take it. The fandom couldn’t take it. And, most importantly, the characters couldn’t take it. My gut tells me that Bobby may languish in a coma for a few episodes until Sam and Dean are able to get their hands on some supernatural assistance. They probably won’t sell their souls, but maybe a certain angel might swoop in and save the day? Wishful thinking, I know. I don’t know how the show will do it, but as long as Bobby lives, I’m willing to buy whatever explanation they have for healing his brain and getting him moving again. There’s a fine line between showing us that the world of Supernatural is a serious one where people die and killing off the last friend and family member that the Winchesters have.
I can only hope that Supernatural doesn’t cross that line. After tonight’s emotional episode, I simply cannot take any more anguish.
Now that we’ve hit the midseason finale, I plan on taking a look back at the first half of Supernatural’s seventh season and sharing some thoughts with all of you. So you don’t only hear my thoughts, I’ll be soliciting the opinions of several other writers and websites in the fandom for a big midseason review. Make sure you check back early next week for it!
Supernatural is now officially on hiatus until January 6. Watch a trailer here for the January episodes. After tonight’s amazing performance by Jim Beaver, take a look through this episode’s Supernatural slide-show, which features Bobby’s most memorable scenes.
Bobby will return next season but be in slow recovery.
He's gone. And i hope he doesn't return, this was the perfect goodbye.
I was in tears too. I was so moved by Bobby;s story, and his love for Dean and Sam. Excellent job by all involved. Sera's script was well executed.kudos Sera Gamble. Now keep doing that and SPN will be here for a few more seasons. .
I hope Bobby survives because he is Dean and Sam's only father figure. I would hate to see what would happen to Dean if he lost another person he loves. Bobby and Dean playing ball, now that's a kodak moment. Oh, and Roman, I would run if I were you because if Dean tells you he's going to kill you, your a dead man walking!
I mean a dead leviathan walking!
Cas will save him..I hope.
Cas is dead i don't think he can come back again, i'm thinking sam and dean might make a deal with the devil to bring back bobby, or find the reaper who took bobby, or ask death for a deal.
I dont want bobby to leave, the show was sad :(
They’ll probably get Crowley to help them get Bobby back since they know that Bobby knows something and Crowley wants the leviathans hone so his bound to help them out.remember he stop the cross road demon and even told the other demons not to hunt the brothers down
Anyone notice that the reaper was Chuck Shurley – the prophet/writer of the Supernatural novels within the show – the chap whom everyone wondered was really, er, God?
Erm no, that wasn't the same actor. But he looked a bit like him, I guess :)
Enter text right here!The clock ticking in the background ticked for a few seconds after the fade to black and then stopped. That signifies his time running out. The reaper pulled out the pocket watch at the beginning of the EP remember? They took a few pages out of the Sopranos handbook for this EP which is great.
The "Enter text right here!" should have said "He's dead". Idk what happened.
When Supernatural Returns In Jan 2012, It Appears The Episode Will Have To Do With Introducing God Of Time? I Believe if This Is So.. Bobby Will Be Saved As They Will Go Back In Time? Guess We Will Just Have To Wait And Find Out.
Bobby has to live, any anything to the contrary should be shot in the head. And yet, with his memories fading and a bullet in the brain, Bobby may live but it is more likely than not that he won't be the same Bobby. In so many ways that could be even more devastating than his death. My heart wants Bobby to live, but my head is warning me against what he may be.
Like Bobby and the boys, I didn't have a very good relationship with my father. He was very withdrawn and a closeted alcoholic. Besides the relationship between the brothers, the relationships between Bobby and the boys is my favorite of the show. I have the wonderful opportunity to live vicariously through Sam and Dean and imagine Bobby as my own surrogate father. As adorable was little Dean was, I actually enjoyed more the image of myself at that moment getting to throw a ball around with Bobby, something I never got to do with my own father. This is something wonderful that the show has provided for me and something I am looking forward too in the future. It's a precious gift and one I hope that writers don't take away from me.
That's a very moving thing to say about such a loving character. I'm sure you're not the only one who feels that way about him. I think of him as an uncle figure that I would love to have and I love the relationship he has with the boys. To me it is just as important as the the brothers relationship as well. I can't imagine this show without Bobby especially if (hopefully) they plan on coming back for another season next year. I don't see why they wouldn't as long as the actors and crew and the loyal fans wanting it. I hope they aren't stupid enough to take the only parent/friend they have left.
It's time for Bobby to move on, I love him and his character but I think this is the perfect send off, I'm kinda annoyed they cliffhangered it. The whole episode was so poignant. He deserves to rest. He struggled and fought to get those numbers to the boys, now his job done. To quote a particular song that I'm sure y'all know "There'll be peace when you are done." Bobby carried on and did what he needed to do and now he should be allowed to rest. No amnesia story, no ghost story. We all have a time, this is Bobby's.
He wasn't eaten alive, or cursed or killed by a Ghost or ghoul or whatever he was shot with a human created tool, he died a very real death.
The human death of a mortal man in a Supernatural World. There is not a more poetic way to say goodbye to Bobby.
There is the other choice Bobby could have made, of course. The Reaper warned him time and again that remaining behind after the Reaper's offer expired would mean life after death as a ghost, and that choosing that path might mean he could stay behind, but probably not in a form that would ultimately be helpful to Sam and Dean. So be careful what you wish for! Bobby might return, but how horrible would it be for Sam and Dean to have to destroy him?
Your point about Sam and Dean all of a sudden being able to be seen with nobody batting an eyelid after the Leviathan imitators is a valid one. But far more concerning to me are how LAME these so called 'big bads' are. I mean, these are things that are capable of destroying an angel, that have no fear of demons (in fact the demons fear them), but they still sneak around and can't even take out 2 brothers??? The fact that they have been targeting Sam and Dean but unable to get them makes them LAME. The fact that they are not just killing who they want, when they want needs to be explained. If they are SO BAD, then surely they shouldn't even worry about the Winchesters.
But enough of that. Surely they won't kill Bobby off. Please bring back Cas and let Dean, Sam, Bobby & Cas have a final showdown with Dick and his crew of lame monster mates.