We start with Claire Novak, a face we haven’t seen since Season 4, when Castiel stole her dad’s meat suit. Back then she was adorable but now…
Spurred by Hannah’s mic drop decision to return to heaven and leave her vessel in peace, Castiel reunites with Claire to right his past wrongs. Turns out Claire’s mom ditched her, her Grandma died, and she’s been tossed around in foster care ever since. Not fun. Claire begs Castiel to act as her father and free her from the group home.
Obviously, the social worker did not buy the act. So Cas knocks out the guards with his angelic Jedi powers and busts her out. After a quaint fake father/daughter diner scene, Claire steals Cas’s wallet and skedaddles.
Meanwhile, Dean is laughing it up watching Three Stooges while Sam makes him a grilled cheese.
It’s clear that Sam is deeply worried about his brother’s bipolar mood swings. It’s also clear that in typical Winchester style, they are not going to talk about it. Can’t a guy turn into a demonic serial killer in peace?
Down in hell… we find our favorite Scottish pixie witch Rowena still chained to the wall.
Back on the trail of juvenile delinquents, Sam and Dean track down Claire’s bestie at the Weiner Hut.
The trio finds Claire just in time to prevent her from committing armed robbery. Claire starts dropping truth bombs about what family really means and how Castiel is to blame for basically her whole life. Then she escapes… again… like any one of these three can’t run down and restrain a teenage girl. In the aftermath, we get a truly epic Winchester family moment as the boys tell Cas about how John “raised them right.” They smile and everything. It was glorious.
Down in hell… Rowena makes her move, accusing Crowley’s right hand man of smuggling demons out of hell.
Crowley kills the poor unsuspecting twit and takes his mother back with semi-loving arms.
Back on the fake daughter hunt, the boys find her almost being raped by a mobster who her “adult friend” Randy (Weiner Hut’s dad?) owes money. I don’t know– this storyline was convoluted. Either way, they rescue the girl and somehow Dean gets cornered and smashed in the head with a beer bottle. Considering the quick Deanmon montage…
Sam, Cas and Claire run back in the house to find all the mobsters slaughtered and Dean kneeling in the center of the room in shock. Sam falls down in front of Dean, begging to be told his brother had no choice… and the camera fades to black.
I’d like to say something snarky here but, actually, it was pretty gut wrenching.
Hopes and Fears
This episode had a lot going for it. One, I freakin’ love Rowena. Actress Ruth Connell is absolute perfection. I haven’t seen a mom this evil or intriguing since Jessica Lange in American Horror Story’s first season. Two, I love it when the boys start reminiscing about dear old Papa Winchester. At the heart of this entire 10 year saga is the story of one amazingly dysfunctional family that, despite everything, loves each other. Sam has been a brooding mess all fall, because deep down he knew Dean was not alright. Now that’s been confirmed, and I have no idea how he’s going to piece his brother back together this time.
On the other hand, I am so tired of the angels. Misha Collins is a great actor with superb comedic timing, but how long are we going to drag Castiel out as little more than a generic plot device?
CARRY ON MY WAYWARD SONS.
Supernatural airs Tuesdays 9/8c on the CW
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Do you love Rowena as much as me? Are we at all concerned about how many blows to the head these guys take? Shout out in the comments section!
