Supernatural: The Fifteenth and Final Season Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Supernatural: The Fifteenth and Final Season Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 24, 2021

TV shows come and TV shows go and within a jam-packed TV landscape. Many do so with little fanfare or notice; after all, how many people can actually watch so many of these different choices? Certainly every show will have some level of fandom to celebrate a release and mourn a departure, but few are those with legions of fans and none, but one, with a 15-season legacy to leave behind. Supernatural is that one. In fact, its longevity is legendary; Warner Brothers promotes Supernatural as "the longest-running genre series in U.S. television history." That's not just an accomplishment worthy of applause; that's a statistic for the history books. There was no momentum lost going into the fifteenth and final season and one could have reasonably seen the show continuing or for another two, three, four, maybe even five seasons, but kudos to the showrunners for choosing to cap the series now on their own terms rather than be backed into a corner with unforeseen future obstacles leading to a premature cancellation, forcing a less dignified, planned, and proper exit for one of television's most beloved series.

Note: Warner Brothers has released all previous fourteen seasons of 'Supernatural' to Blu-ray. It is highly recommended that newcomers go back and start at the beginning. For convenience, below is a link to each individual season listing. There is also now a comlete series collection box set for those wishing to acquire the whole run in one fell swoop.

• Season One
• Season Two
• Season Three
• Season Four
• Season Five
• Season Six
• Season Seven
• Season Eight
• Season Nine
• Season Ten
• Season Eleven
• Season Twelve
• Season Thirteen
• Season Fourteen

"Carry on" no longer. Season fifteen sees Dean and Sam Winchester (Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki) reach the end of their journey in one of the most explosive seasons of Supernatural. The season follows on the heels of the climactic confrontation with none other than God himself that closed season 14. As the brothers, along with new and unexcepted allies -- and foes -- attempt to save humanity from a vengeful and all-powerful deity, they reconnect with their own past as their story travels full circle towards their destiny.

What is here is a season of exceptional balance, assuming both a core Supernatural season and story arc while also building -- with ease and grace, not with forced maneuverings and crowbar-style arrangement -- a season suitable to call the end, one that will satisfy the broad-swath fan base and do justice to the characters and storylines as they have formed in this season and developed throughout the show's lengthy run. In isolation, season 15 plays very well within the core expectations for the show while those concluding threads begin to intertwine the closer the series pushes to its final few episodes. It's a satisfying journey within the context of a typical Supernatural season and an emotional one within the context of the larger whole.

The following episodes comprise season 15. Summaries are courtesy of the Blu-ray packaging (specifically, in this case, the booklet included with the complete series box set; note that I did not receive an individual season 15 screener).

Disc One:

• Back and to the Future: Sam, Dean and Castiel are left to defend the world after all the souls in Hell have been released back onto Earth.
• Raising Hell: Sam, Dean and Castiel call on Rowena to help keep the evil souls at bay and get an unexpected assist from Ketch.
• The Rupture: Together with Rowena, Sam and Dean work tirelessly to keep all of hell from breaking loose. Meanwhile, Castiel cannot forgive an arrogant betrayal.
• Atomic Monsters: Sam and Dean investigate the mysterious death of one girl and the disappearance of another.
• Proverbs 17:3: Sam and Dean's routine case turns out to be anything but.
• Golden Time: When Castiel investigates the disappearance of a local teen, an old friend visits Sam and Dean.
• Last Call: Dean goes off on his own to investigate a case. Meanwhile, Castiel has an idea how he can help Sam track down God.

Disc Two:

• Our Father, Who Aren't in Heaven: Sam, Dean and Castiel's continued search for a way to defeat Chuck leads them to unexpected places and towards unlikely alliances.
• The Trap: While Sam and Eileen face the brutal truth, Dean and Castiel work together to get a step ahead of Chuck.
• The Heroes' Journey: Sam and Dean hit the road to help an old friend, but it appears that their luck may have finally run out when they're the ones in need of rescue.
• The Gamblers: The brothers press their luck in a winner-takes-all game of pool. Meanwhile, Castiel hunts down a would-be murderer, but not for reasons one might think.
• Galaxy Brain: Sam and Dean -- along with Castiel, Jack and Sheriff Mills -- assist in an extraordinary and heartbreaking rescue. Billie surprises everyone at the bunker.
• Destiny's Child: A search for one thing that may give them an edge against God leads Sam and Dean to Sister Jo's door...and a secret that may have died with Ruby.
• Last Holliday: Sam and Dean discover a wood nymph living in the bunker who's determined to protect her family at any cost.

Disc Three:

• Gimmie Shelter: While Sam and Dean go off in search of Amara, Castiel and Jack work a case involving members of a local church.
• Drag Me Away (From You): Investigating the murder of a childhood friend, Sam and Dean are called back to a motel from their past and a case they thought was solved a long time ago.
• Unity: After a difference of opinion leaves Sam and Castiel behind, Dean hits the road with Jack to complete the final ritual in the quest to beat Chuck.
• Despair: With the plan in full motion, Sam, Dean, Castiel and Jack fight for the good of their common goal.
• Inherit the Earth: With everything on the line as the battle against God continues, a familiar face returns to join the fight.
• Carry On: It's the end of hunting things and saving people. Baby, this is Supernatural's last ride.

Supernatural: The Fifteenth and Final Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Supernatural's fifteenth and final season arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer that aesthetically fits right in with recent season presentations. As expected, this is a sharp, detailed, lively image that holds firm to tight, intimate details and abounding clarity across the run. Facial features are appropriately involved and in-depth, showing facial scruff, pores, and small imperfections with high yield intimacy. Location details are consistently clear and revealing, particularly in sprawling outdoor locations (take a look in the season's penultimate episode at some of the views of abandoned streets for a fine example of the extensive location definition to be found). The picture does go a bit noisy in lower light but to no bothersome level. Color reproduction is very strong, too, yielding high quality contrast, fine essential color depth and vitality, balanced skin tones, and agreeable blacks. Compression is not a concern. This is a very good, well-rounded image from Warner Brothers.

Supernatural: The Fifteenth and Final Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack also meets expectations for series norm and format excellence. It's appropriately large in presentation stature, finding a feel for location details whether inside tight interior locales or expansive outdoor areas where even the fine point environmental elements prove agreeably vital in bringing the listener into the experience. The track makes use of every speaker at its disposal for not only location definition but musical engagement; the fronts are clear and expressive and the surrounds active and carrying a rather impressive selection of content that holds to balance with the front. The subwoofer adds never overbearing but finely complimentary low end depth. Action scenes are fully charged and vigorous, offering balanced aggression and impressive surround integration to pull the listener into any given episode's heavier hitting moments. Dialogue is clear and clean with a firm front-center positioning.

Supernatural: The Fifteenth and Final Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Supernatural: The Complete Fifteenth Season incudes deleted scenes spread across the three discs housing all 20 episodes while a dedicated fourth bonus disc brings with it additional content.

Disc One:

• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 2:08 total runtime): Included are scenes from Raising Hell, The Rupture, Proverbs 17:3, and Golden Time.

Disc Two:

• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 7:36 total runtime): Included are scenes from Our Father, Who Aren't in Heaven; The Trap; The Gamblers; and Last Holiday.

Disc Three:

• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 8:19 total runtime): Included are scenes from Gimmie Shelter, Inherit the Earth, and Carry On.

Disc Four:

• Supernatural: The End of the Road (1080p, 30:10): Cast and crew talk up the process of ending the show on their own terms, reflect on the series, and discuss the storylines and emotions surrounding the series' end run.
• Supernatural: Family Don't End with Blood (1080p, 23:05): Exploring the bonds shared by the characters and the cast as they have developed on- and off-screen through the years.
• The Winchester Mythology: Midwestern Heroes (1080p, 21:36): Exploring the series' story and character roots in the American Midwest and a "Route 66 meets The X-Files" narrative tone. It also explores some of the associated motifs and storylines.
• Supernatural: The Long Road Home (1080p, 42:22): Reflecting on the 15-season run with quite a bit of depth on story origins, major arcs and characters, and more.
• Gag Reel (1080p, 15:04): Humorous moments from the shoot.
• Supernatural: 2019 Comic-Con Panel (1080i, 33:44): A panel comprised of key cast and crew discuss the series' run and its closure.
• Winning Baby: A Supernatural Giveaway (1080p, 4:22): Exploring the iconic car used in the show and a real replica given away at Comic-Con.

Supernatural: The Fifteenth and Final Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's difficult to envision any Supernatural fan, with the show from the beginning or otherwise deeply devoted to it throughout much of its run, walking away from season fifteen disappointed with the closure. Disappointed that it's over, sure, but certainly not with how the show gracefully exits on its own terms. This is a great final season, bolstered by the essentials that make the show tick and defined by the closing notes that see it end just as it should. The Blu-ray presentation is likewise well capable, offering high end video and audio presentations alongside the usually assortment of Supernatural supplements. Highly recommended.