New details regarding what the Supernatural series finale looked like before COVID-19 suggest the episode would've been improved in one significant aspect. Supernatural's fifteenth and final season had the misfortune of going on break in March 2020, only a few short episodes before the long-awaited finale. Work on season 15 had not yet been completed when coronavirus hit, and Supernatural was one of the unlucky TV shows forced to complete a season in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. When it eventually arrived towards the end of 2020, Supernatural's finale proved highly divisive.
The circumstances were undoubtedly difficult, but the impact of social distancing and travel restrictions was obvious throughout Supernatural's last two episodes. Characters awkwardly kept their distance from each other, and production pressed on with the absolute minimum of on-screen talent. Cast and crew members confirmed that COVID-19's impact altered the ending Supernatural originally had in place, and information about that abandoned finale is now starting to emerge. According to Andrew Dabb (Supernatural showrunner), the intention was for Sam and Dean's final moments to take place in Heaven's rebuilt version of the Roadhouse, which would be packed with any and all past cast members willing to appear. Even the Kansas were slated to play the house band, rocking out "Carry On My Wayward Son."
This proposed ending would've fixed a major issue with Supernatural's finale - the lack of returning characters. Many expected to see a glut of familiar faces should Sam and Dean ever ascend to heaven, honoring the spirit of Supernatural's family ethic. In the end, Dean met only Bobby Singer in the afterlife, although the Winchesters' parents were also referenced. Without old friends to greet them, Supernatural's finale failed to create a sense of legacy for the Winchester brothers, but the intended ending would've hammered home how many lives Sam and Dean touched for the better.
The scrapped Roadhouse scene might've also addressed the glaring omission of Castiel in Supernatural's finale. Misha Collins' angel confessed his love for Dean Winchester shortly before Supernatural turned COVID-friendly, but promptly died moments later. The exchange wasn't explicitly romantic (although clarification later came that it was), and fans were disappointed when Cass never returned to address his declaration. Some felt that the death was another example of the "bury your gays" trope, and Collins himself caught backlash after a poorly-received video response. Castiel surely would've been part of the pre-pandemic Roadhouse reunion, and viewers might've found closure if the angel had been afforded one more conversation with Dean.
It's entirely understandable that Supernatural couldn't bring together a big group of former cast members after the pandemic struck, but those original plans wouldn't have solved every problem with the final episode. In addition to describing the Roadhouse idea, Andrew Dabb also confirmed that Dean's death and Sam growing old were always part of the design. Although the producer didn't specify whether the manner of Dean's demise ever changed, the fact that an ordinary vampire killed the great Dean Winchester was widely criticized. Many viewers also found Sam's naff "old man" costume a laughable intrusion on Supernatural's finale, and COVID doesn't appear to be responsible for either. Nevertheless, Supernatural's ending was clearly stronger before lockdown measures were put in place.