People generally have one of three initial reactions when they hear the mention of the show "Supernatural": they might gush about how much they love it, look on with confusion because they've never heard of it, or marvel at the discovery that it's still on. With the finale of Season 12 of "Supernatural" airing last Thursday, I had my third get-together with the friend who got me into the show in the first place, and noticed we had developed a pattern. I figured this was probably relatively universal, and since according to Tumblr, the Supernatural Fandom has a gif for pretty much everything...

I thought I'd share the sensation of watching a "Supernatural" season finale with you as much as I could. Via gifs (and normal images, but gifs are more fun). And, for all of you who watched "Who We Are" and "All Along the Watchtower" on May 18th, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about when I run through the five stages of watching a "Supernatural" season finale.

1. "It's tonight! Grab the snacks...and the tissues."

This is stage one. The excitement. The anticipation. The gatherings of people in cosplay for finale watch parties where you see old friends you haven't seen since the last convention. Recap gifsets of the season are being reblogged on Tumblr. Feelings are good. You're not yet worried about who's going to die in the finale or what horrors are going to be unleashed upon the world to set up the next season. Times are happy, and you know you'll be experiencing this with your fellow fans, even if they're not sitting next to you.

Dean has the right idea.

2. "CARRY ON MY WAYWARD SON!"

The iconic Kansas song is always where "the feels" (and quite possibly the tears... not that I'd know from experience or anything I'm looking at you, Season 10) start to flow. This is usually about the point when you realize this is it: this is the finale. My brain usually tacks on a chorus or two of "oh my god" and "I'm not ready," but to each their own. The official recap of the season plays across the screen. You briefly relive all the moments you were angry at the characters for doing dumb things and the moments you applauded them for being intelligent while attempting to prepare yourself for the impending chaos of the episode.

3. [Constant Yelling]

Again, Dean has the right idea.

A.K.A., the entire duration of the episode. A violent reaction to every single thing the characters do, moronic or otherwise. Some of the hits I've mastered over the years:

- "What?!"
- "Nooooo!"
- "YES, FINALLY!"
- "[Character Name], if you die, I will KILL you!"
- "Don't make me come in there!"

And a few more I can't list because they involve words I'm not allowed to say on this platform. You probably have your own favorites. My room gets very loud when normal episodes of Supernatural come on, not only because I turn up the volume to drown out all other noise, but because my reactions to the show are even louder than the TV. This is doubly true on finale night.

4. "WHY would they end it there?!"

The heartbreaking end(-ish) of Season 5. Also what I feel like doing whenever they end the season on some big cliffhanger or revelation.

When the credits roll, but there are still so many questions. Your mind is racing with speculations on some level, but most of your current conscious thought is occupied by some blend of anger, sadness, elation, and shock.

If you're anything like me, you may also be angry that there aren't any scenes from the next episode to hold you over. Yes, I know they'd be from next season; no, I don't care.

5. "I wonder where the story will go from here..."

After reflecting on what the writers did to the characters in the finale, multiple renditions of "WHY?" into the middle distance, and getting over the deep empty feeling that results from knowing that there will be no more "Supernatural" for another four to five months, you'll probably find yourself starting to muse about the next season and what that last episode could possibly be setting up. (Personally, I generally start to channel my anger over the plot lines that weren't resolved--or weren't resolved the way I wanted them to be--into speculation about twists in the upcoming season, ways the story might go. Even if it probably won't, it's fun to think about.)

This is often the stage where you find your way back to Tumblr and reblog pictures of the characters from happier times as you ponder the theories that pop up on your dashboard. If you're a brave soul, you may even venture to fan fiction sites to read more detailed scenarios other fans have dreamed up. With any luck, they'll even have halfway-decent grammar. No matter what, though, the summer hiatus means one thing for certain:

And so is the gag reel, my friends.