39: "Carry On" - Pain, Trauma, and Processing

The Fangirl Business: A Supernatural Podcast

*S15E20 SPOILERS BELOW*

In their overview of Supernatural’s finale, Chrisha and Catherine discuss their personal reactions and the many triggers embedded within the narrative.

Note: There are no audio clips in this episode of The Fangirl Business.

CONTENT WARNING: Discussion of abuse, childlessness, ableism, misogyny, queer erasure, suicide, & suicidal ideation.

IF YOU NEED SUPPORT:

• https://www.imalive.org/online/ (offers online chat)
• Text SHARE to the Crisis Text Line
  • 741741 in the USA
  • 686868 in Canada
  • 85258 in the UK
  • 50808 in Ireland

IF YOU WANT TO DONATE:

• The Castiel Project: https://give.thetrevorproject.org/fundraiser/3037563
• Dean Winchester Is Love: https://donate.nami.org/fundraiser/3040106
• The Sam Winchester Project: https://www.togetherwerise.org/fundraise/samwinchester
• The Jack Kline Project: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/random-acts-10-year-anniversary/MeganCrocker
• In honor of Eileen Leahy: https://www.nad.org/donate/
• The Eileen Leahy Fundraiser: https://www.mightycause.com/story/Ofvepf
• The Miracle Project: https://secure.aspca.org/team/the-miracle-project
• Gabriel’s Gift: https://fundraise.actionagainsthunger.org/fundraiser/gabrielsgift
• The Charlie Bradbury Project: https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/3042431

Additional Links:

• Here’s a Buzzfeed article about the finale that Chrisha and Catherine both found helpful: https://www.buzzfeed.com/deirdre-t/supernaturalas-legacy-the-trauma-of-silence-1b17yhc5ye?utm_source=dynamic&utm_campaign=bfsharetwitter
• Two “fix-it” fics Chrisha and Catherine found helpful are:
  • “Carry On” by Castielslostwings https://archiveofourown.org/works/27648386
  • “Being and Having” by tricia_16 https://archiveofourown.org/works/27678379

PS: Catherine here. I say at one point that the CW is generally progressive. We recorded this before I realized just how much hurt the CW has inflicted to other audiences this year, including Riverdale and The 100. I have been so saddened and upset to learn all of this.

Follow us on Twitter @TheFangirlBiz and on Bluesky @thefangirlbiz.bsky.social
Join our Kofi Discord community at $1/month: https://ko-fi.com/thefangirlbiz/tiers
Support our podcast by buying our new merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/thefangirlbiz/shop
Thanks for listening!

Bab

1. intro (00:00:00)

2. the day of the finale (00:11:25)

3. the PR campaign for the last 7 episodes (00:13:29)

4. the fallout from the episode airing an hour earlier in Canada (00:14:55)

5. the retrospective episode (00:17:57)

6. Chrisha and Catherine's reactions as the finale was airing (00:19:07)

7. the real time trauma response to Dean's death and the rest of the episode (00:30:04)

8. overview of episode trigger: found family erasure (00:42:23)

9. overview of episode trigger: ableism and the erasure of Eileen (00:44:31)

10. overview of episode trigger: childlessness and the focus on living on through children (00:45:13)

11. overview of episode trigger: misogyny and the erasure of, violence against, and silencing of women (00:45:53)

12. overview of episode trigger: abuse and John's presence in heaven (00:46:53)

13. overview of episode trigger: queer erasure of Cas and Dean (00:47:23)

14. overview of episode trigger: suicide and suicidal ideation regarding Dean's death (00:47:43)

15. the implications of Dean's death for his queerness (00:52:42)

16. Cas' absence from the finale (00:58:40)

17. "Carry On Wayward Son" discussion (01:03:29)

18. Chuck's "white male privilege" ending (01:06:03)

19. the wider reaction to the episode (01:08:54)

20. if you are hurting, you're not alone (01:13:45)

21. coping discussion (01:16:35)

22. outro (01:32:37)