Supernatural Thursdays – The Best Impala Moments

Happy Thursday, Supernatural fans! Have we all recovered from last week’s episode? Ready to hit the final stretch of season seven? Ready to know if a season eight is in store for us (I’m betting it is. You don’t replace a show runner and not renew said show)? We’ll have to wait a little longer for that last point, but until then we can still talk anything and everything Supernatural!

I consider myself a pretty seasoned fan of the show… I dare say even somewhat of an expert on certain aspects… and yet, I found myself learning something new on Twitter this week. It was the Impala’s birthday! Who knew?! Aside from apparently everyone everywhere aside from me?

In celebration of her birthday, and because we all miss that stupid car more than words can express, I thought I’d put together a “Best Impala Moments” edition of Supernatural Thursday. So turn off your iPod dock and crank up the cassette tapes and get ready for some classic car action!

Back In Black

After the season one finale left the Impala a twisted mess of metal and broken glass, Sam had her returned to Bobby’s where Dean promptly put his beloved car back together again. But it wasn’t until a very memorable moment in “Bloodlust” that we got to see the boys back in the car.

What Supernatural fan doesn’t remember the opening to “Black in Black” when Dean drove the car in all her shiny black glory, into frame? Tt was like welcoming back a lost or missing character! And who can forget Dean’s “Listen to her purr…” I don’t think any character on television has ever been that happy to have their car back.

Anna and Dean

I’ve seen fan-fiction written about it, I’ve heard fans talk about it, and I’ve seen tumblr posts devoted to it. Honestly? What Supernatural fan hasn’t entertained the thought of a little extra curricular activity in the back of the Impala?

That’s why in season four when we actually got to see it, lots of fangirls were extremely happy. Unless you disliked Anna and Dean, in which case you were pretty much out of luck. Regardless, it’s obvious that Dean loves his stupid car. We know Dean has loved this stupid car since Jon gave it to him. We also know that Dean likes women. A lot. Put two and two together and it makes for some steamy backseat action.

She’s Destroyed. Again.

This poor car. I don’t know if I feel worse for the Impala herself, or for Dean every time something hits her, a window gets busted out, or something else happens to break his favorite thing.

In two (yes, two) season finales now, the Impala has been destroyed. First season a semi truck came and smashed right into her, totaling the car and leaving Bobby to tell Sam that there was nothing left to save of Dean’s beloved Impala. Sam argued that as long as there was one working part on the thing that they needed to tow it back to the salvage yard for Dean to repair. He was over identifying with Dean being in a coma, but the sentiment was pretty damn cute. And repair her, Dean did.

Then we move to season six. As if Cas and Crowley opening purgatory and Sam laying unconscious in Bobby’s panic room wasn’t enough, Dean had to deal with his car getting demon hijacked and thrown across an open road.

Where She Came From

I wasn’t sure exactly how to work this particular portion of the article, but it needs to be touched on since it is a big moment in the Supernatural story. In “Swan Song” Chuck says no one cared that the Impala rolled off the lot on April 24th. However, to the Supernatural Fandom the day the car rolled off the assembly line was a huge moment.

The history of the Impala is interesting, and I won’t recap “Swan Song” with all of the details – just that Chuck is right; Sam and Dean would smile if they know their car was used to transport bibles.

“In the Beginning” showed Dean transported back to the past just in time to see Jon Winchester ready to purchase a van instead of the 1967 Impala that he eventually hands over to his son. What does Dean do? Steps in as “Dean Van Halen” and convinces his dad to drive off in the Impala.

Rock of Ages

I don’t know if it’s because “Swan Song” is perfect to me in every way imaginable, but I would wager to say several moments in the season five finale are the most memorable moments of the boys and the Impala.

The shots of young Sam and Dean carving their initials into the floor boards, Sam’s army man in the ashtray, Dean’s legos in the heating vents… It shows, like Chuck says, while they didn’t have a home, they were not homeless.

Cut to older Sam and Dean driving to see concerts, sleeping in the backseat, and sitting on the hood drinking beers and looking at the stars. And then rip out my heart.

And then make it worse – have Dean drive up to Stull Cemetery in the boy’s home town, right before the battle between Michael/Adam and Lucifer/Sam is going to go down. Let him pull up with “Rock of Ages” blaring and casually lean against the open Impala door – once again to save his brother.

So what’d you think? There are many more moments that popped into my head, but I want to hear your thoughts about the most memorable moments featuring the Impala! Hopefully they’ll hold us over until we see her again!

Follow me on Twitter! @popKelture

If you are curious about what Supernatural Thursdays are all about, check out our introductory article on it. and more articles here.