Sam and Dean's puncak, atas 10 Deaths 

‘s traumatic season 9 finale, which [spoiler alert] saw the death — and demon-izing — of Dean Winchester, EW staffers Sandra Gonzalez and Samantha Highfill ranked the Winchester brothers’ top 10 deaths.

Sandra: I honestly didn’t remember this as a “death” until you brought it up, and I think it’s because it was played for laughs.

Sam: I know. I forgot about it until I googled deaths. I don’t even remember how he “came back to life.” Clearly it didn’t impact me.

Sandra: But it was another notch on Sam’s death belt. So notable!

Sam: He did manage to get electrocuted without it messing up his hair, so definitely notable.

Sandra: When I looked at our (very scientific) list as a whole, I was surprised Dean’s trip to Purgatory was ranked so low. But when I thought about the scene, it was pretty uneventful. The look on Sam’s face was panicked, but because he didn’t know the whole situation — specifically, that his brother poofed right into Purgatory — the scene lost impact.

Sam: I originally had it as higher on my original list, but then I thought back to that episode, and I remember barely even feeling like it was a death. It was so sudden. I had no time to have an emotional reaction.

Sandra: I’m sure people are going to say it was more of a teleportation, but the dude was in Purgatory. You technically have to die to get there. It’s very exclusive that way.

Sam: Exactly. It’s not like Purgatory is a place you go to figure your life out and then you come back.

8. SAM STABBED BY ANNA, RESURRECTED BY MICHAEL (season 5, episode 13)

Sam: I knew this one wasn’t going to stick, but him getting stabbed did catch me off guard. And watching Dean panic for even a second always gets me. So it’s forgettable, but it made an impact, albeit brief.

Sandra: And they brought it home with the sad music. It’s hard to make deaths impactful on a show like this because you know characters usually come back in some way — unless their name is John Winchester. (#BringBackJeffreyDeanMorgan) But the surprise + sad music = win.

Sam: And this was the scene that also gave us the Michael-in-John’s-body twist, which for some reason really impacted me. Bravo, guys!

Sandra: I vividly remember watching “Dark Side of the Moon” for the first time. The brutality of the deaths here really freaked me out.

Sam: Yes! And for a split second, I genuinely did panic. It was like, after all the monsters you’ve fought and defeated, THIS is how you’re going to die?! I didn’t fully believe it, but part of me thought it would be very realistic. And as you pointed out … did it have to be a buck shot? So violent.

Sandra: Guns are so real. It reminds me of the conversation I had with

producer Marc Guggenheim about [spoiler alert] killing Moira. They had a debate about gun vs. sword, and decided that a gun was too violent. I agree.

Sam: Yes, 100 percent! Almost anything else feels less violent because it’s less believable and accessible. Also, final thought: They shot Sam and Dean from basically less than a foot away and with a freakin’ shotgun. At least back up or something. You’ll still kill them.

6. EVERY TIME DEAN DIED IN “MYSTERY SPOT” (season 3, episode 11)

Sandra: Now, we’ve reached the point in our countdown where I had my first beef with you, Highfill. Because I initially placed “Mystery Spot” at No. 5.

Sam: This is true, but here’s why I felt it lacked impact: I will say that the first time Dean got shot, I panicked. Because as we just discussed, it felt very REAL. But after that, as soon as we knew Sam was stuck in this loop, I more or less stopped worrying.

Sandra: True. Also, how odd that a series of deaths has become one of the show’s funniest moments?

Sam: YES. That was the other thing — it was a very comical episode.

Sandra: I will say to your point about the loop that there is that last death in the episode where Dean is shot by the mugger. That one stuck. For a while, at least. And seeing Sam turn into Robo-Sam was pretty scary and very sad.

Sam: I will totally agree to that — the mugger is what got me because I was scared it would stick! I’m pretty sure I screamed at the TV. I thought the mugger was first — was it last? I’m stuck in a loop!

Sam: You’re right! OK, yes, that one did get me. The rest I was able to brush off, but to this day, I’m still horrified the mighty Winchester brothers will be taken out by some mugger with a handgun.

5. DEAN KILLED BY LUCIFER IN SAM’S BODY…IN THE FUTURE (season 5, episode 4)

Sandra: So tell me why you liked this one so much that it deserved to be above “Mystery Spot.”

Sam: Honestly, I tear up just thinking about it. First, it was a great acting moment for both Jensen [Ackles] and Jared [Padalecki], and watching Dean watch as his brother — even though it was Lucifer — break his neck? It gives me chills. The way it was done with Sam’s foot just twisting Dean’s neck like it was nothing? Sheesh.

Sam: And Lucifer’s speech about how this moment was inevitable — you could tell it really crushed Dean, which really crushed me.

Sandra: Speaking of crushing Dean — our No. 4 still gives me anxiety to this day. When Dean puts his hand on Sam’s back and sees all the blood and tells him that it’s “not even that bad,” I want to cry. I do cry. No shame.

Sam: That moment when Dean sees the guy sneaking up behind him … I can’t. And then Dean RUNNING to catch him?!

Sam: I felt like I went through so many real stages of grief in that moment. First, I convinced myself that the blade wasn’t big enough to kill Sam. Then I was mad at Sam for not being more alert. Then I was just sobbing.

Sandra: Dear TV: Please stop making Sam experience real grief.

Sam: HONESTLY. Imagine me showing up at a therapist’s office. “What’s the problem, Ms. Highfill?” “So Sam Winchester got stabbed.” “Someone you know?” “Yeah, he’s one of my favorite TV characters.” “Get out.”

Sandra: Last night’s big moment deserves a place near the top of this list. I broke this down in detail in the recap, but I can’t handle the line “I’m proud of us.” It’s too good.

Sam: Too much. Just TOO MUCH. From the start of the episode, I thought Dean would “die” because he’d stop killing and the mark would kill him. But no! The moment he got stabbed, I did this weird gasping thing where I didn’t fully open my mouth, so it sounded strange but got the point across. It was like I refused to believe. And then “I’m proud of us.” Were they trying to kill us?!

Sandra: Maybe. I hope I don’t turn into a demon.

1./2. DEAN GOES TO HELL/SAM GOES TO HELL (season 3, episode 16/season 5, episode 22)

Sandra: In our individual lists, we had the same two moments in the top spots, but our order was reversed. So we declared it a tie, and I’m in strong favor of that because I can’t watch either moment without getting my stomach in knots. On one hand, Sam going to Hell is very much still a fresh wound for me — even though it was four seasons ago. But that season 3 moment just destroyed me the first time I saw it.

Sam: Totally agree. Well, Dean’s death in season 3 had such a buildup because I was dreading it all year hoping they’d find a way to get around it. Also, talk about violent. Those Hell Hounds are NOT nice pets. For me, the season 5 finale was the hardest I cried, mostly because watching Lucifer/Sam beat the crap out of Dean was DEVASTATING. And then when Sam came back and was all “I’ve got him, Dean.” I couldn’t even look at Dean’s messed-up face…good thing my vision was blurry from tears.

Sandra: I remember watching that episode at the office after hours and a janitor walked in on me SOBBING. Then I had to explain to him that it was about a TV show — I’ve never been more embarrassed.

Sam: At least you didn’t explain it as, “He’s in Hell!” But I also get the season 3 finale impact because at that point, we didn’t know if there was a way back from Hell. But watching Dean take a beating and telling Sammy he wasn’t going to leave him … GOD.

Sandra: So I’m happy to call this a stalemate. But I think we can both agree —

may kill their main characters more than any other show on TV, but as our No. 3 proves, they’re still so good at it.

Sam: There could be 25 seasons, and I’d still cry. When those enormous men tear up, I’m a goner.

+ Sam in season 8 finale: Best tear-filled brother speech ever.

+ Dean in season 2 premiere after car crash: Thanks, John!

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