Spoilers ahead! You’ve been warned!
Avengers assemble!
Sam is intent on deciphering his visions from God, pushing Dean to ask the one person who might have an answer … Crowley. After losing control of the Darkness in previous episodes, the King of Hell is pretty eager to help put that cat back in the bag. The final member of the A-Team is Rowena, who has a fangirl crush on Lucifer and is on board with the plan the second she hears he might be involved.
“We’re all enemies. But right now we got bigger fish to fry, then we can go back to killing each other.” – Dean to Rowena
The Darkness is such a cougar.
I have mixed feelings about this character. On one level she terrified me all season. Her scariest incarnation was the hangry toddler phase, though the teenager was almost as frightening. Unfortunately, now that she is fully formed and an adult, she seems less dangerous and more desperate. She had a very Housewives vibe the whole episode, seeking out attention and throwing tantrums when she didn’t get the reaction she wanted. By the end of the episode, we still haven’t learned much about Amara’s final plans. We know she lusts for Dean and we know she wants to “bring the world to bliss with darkness,” whatever that means.
“I know that you’re a warrior and your instinct is to resist, but I can’t be resisted.” – Amara to Dean
Oh shit, Sam Winchester, get out of there!
Sam carried the biggest storyline this episode. After being separated from Dean, he is forced to make the decision to meet with the devil solo. Mark Pellegrino has always rocked the character Lucifer. The casual nonchalance and chilling vibe he brings to the role is so creepy and amazing at the same time. I was very happy to see him return to the show, considering he’s busy over at Quantico these days.
“Sam Winchester, my old roomie. Hug it out?” – Lucifer to Sam
https://youtu.be/1t7sOfMsAXI
The dialogue between Sam and Lucifer was perfection. Sam is doing his best to explain what’s happening with Amara all while Lucifer pretends he’s clueless and, strangely, willing to help. All he “needs” in return for his help is to be set free in a brand new vessel, one in the shape of Sam Winchester. His plan sounds convincing and it was a true show of resilience that Sam said no. But then the tables turn – the way Rowena was super calm makes me think she had something to do with it – and Sam is suddenly inside the cage. Absolute terror was written all over his face, especially when Lucifer dropped the final bomb. It wasn’t God sending Sam messages, it was him … the whole. damn. time.
https://youtu.be/O8eRqvoPvuY
Final Thoughts
The visual effects, cinematography and sound department were on point for this episode. Jared Padalecki stole the show and reminded me why – despite Dean’s swagger and charm – he plays my favorite Winchester brother. Sam’s hope that God was finally helping them only to discover it was all a horrible trick was devastating and brutal.
My reaction:
It’s worth mentioning that the two episodes prior to the winter finale were awesome in their own right. They were both one-off episodes that blended together comedy and a lot of fears from Sammy’s childhood, in particular how abandoned and trapped he felt when Dean and Daddy Winchester left him alone in hotel rooms so they could go hunt monsters. Foreshadowing is a bitch, folks.
