There are moments in Supernatural that live in fans’ minds long after the show ends. Not because of epic battles or shocking reveals, but because of raw, emotional storytelling.
Season 12’s "Regarding Dean" is one of those rare episodes that hits in a deeply personal way. It’s painful, intimate, and haunting. More than any finale moment, it left a lasting impact.
It’s hard not to look back at that episode of Supernatural and wonder how the show that gave us something so emotionally powerful ended Dean’s story in such a lackluster way. After 15 seasons of sacrifice and struggle, something about Dean’s final moments just didn’t feel right.
"Regarding Dean" stands as proof that he deserved more. Not just a longer life, but an ending with real emotional weight. What makes this so heartbreaking is that Dean isn’t just forgetting facts. He’s losing his identity, his personality and what makes him him.
Keep reading to dive deep into this storyline in Season 12.
A Season 12 storyline about Dean Winchester hits harder than the actual finale of Supernatural

Supernatural is among those dramas that fans love to rewatch. It follows the Winchester brothers, who witnessed their mother's death in childhood and later transformed into hunters.
What sets this story apart is that the duo not only deals with hunting all kinds of evil supernatural beings. It also explores family dynamics and the thin line between good and evil. The two main characters are played by acclaimed stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles.
The duo faced constant threats during their quest, and their story finally concluded after 15 triumphant seasons. However, I believe that Ackles' Dean could get an even better ending than what we saw in the finale.
As previously mentioned, Season 12's storyline about Dean's memory loss is pretty devastating. It doesn't have a huge plot twist or a major shocker, but something which is emotional.
Dean Winchester starts forgetting the man he is and what his journey has been. Not only this, he cannot remember the people he loves, and this serves as a painful experience, especially for fans who followed Supernatural since Season 1.
What makes this worse is that Dean has been close to death many times before, but this situation was completely different. Instead of a quick danger or a fight he could prepare for, this was something invisible and slow, like his entire personality was being erased.
And along the way, his brother Sam is right by him, doing his best to hold it together. But you can tell how much it is for him to sit there and watch Dean disappear. Sam is always the one standing beside Dean, but in this case, there's nothing he can do. The ache is silent and internal.
That's what makes this episode land so hard. It's not monsters or saving the world. It's about how much we're afraid of losing ourselves and the people we love.
Due to how perfectly crafted and emotionally rich this episode was, there were some fans who felt let down by how the last episode of the show (Season 15 finale) was.
That's because "Regarding Dean" showed how potent the storytelling was when the writers actually leaned into actual emotions. Having watched such an emotional episode, viewers deserved a much more meaningful conclusion to the entire series.
Also Read: Is Supernatural leaving Netflix in 2025? Streaming details of the hit horror drama, explored
Dean’s ending in Supernatural felt too ordinary for someone who gave everything

Supernatural Season 15 finale felt a bit disappointing. Having battled the apocalypse, traveled to Hell and back (literally) and defied God himself, Dean dies on a normal hunt, a rusty nail and a run-of-the-mill vampire kill.
It wasn't only sad but also anticlimactic. Yes, not all heroes must exit in a blaze of glory. But Dean's tale wasn't all about being a hunter. He was the emotional center of the show, the protector, the one who bore the weight season after season.
A quiet, off-hand death wasn't reflective of that. His conclusion seemed to be written so that space could be made for Sam's future, but at the expense of Dean's own legacy.
Even the brevity of his afterlife, being reunited with Baby on a deserted road, rang hollow in light of the complicated path he had taken. After years of suffering and sacrifice, there should have been more. Not a white picket fence house or a life of perfection, but at least peace, purpose and earned rest.
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