Cain joins the rest of the main cast this season in cleaning up messes, much as Cas tried to do with Clair, and Sam and Dean are trying to do in regards to the MoC.  As for Crowley, well, finally Rowena’s annoyingly shrill presence dovetails with the Winchesters’, as, at the end of the episode, Crowley turns his back on his perceived friendship with Sam, Dean, and to a lesser extent Cas, and returns to his demony ways…at least I dearly hope so.  It was one betrayal too many and the writing is clear:  Hunters and demons will use each other as a means to an end, but friendship just isn’t in the cards.


This was an excellent episode. I join others who have commented that Mr. Berens, the newest addition to the writing cast, has an impeccable writing style that compliments all the good things about this series.  He sticks to canon, gets the characterizations right, and even gives us good brotherly moments, both funny and sad.  The scenes with Sam and Dean hit all the right notes from the beginning scene in the Impala – intriguingly shot from the backseat – as they discuss the case and banter about whether true crime statistics, the knowledge thereof, is a hobby or disturbing,  (as someone who once studied Ted Bundy and enjoys true crime shows, I say it’s a hobby.  Who knows, if I did it over again, I might study criminal justice), to Sam trying to understand Dean’s motivation in going after Cain, to Dean telling Sam he was scared, to the end as Dean, exhausted from his battle with Cain, came down, handed the Blade to Cas and nearly fell into Sam’s arms, to their summation and final scene:  Berens got it right. 

Take note all other writers – except Jeremy Carver who does always manage to get the brotherly moments right – this is how it’s done.  It’s really not hard.  A little less slapstick, a few less pop culture references, which are always better lightly sprinkled rather than slathered on, and some honest, open discussion.  Some of those brother moments had a touch of the original master:  Eric Kripke.

The script wasn’t flawless – but hey, what script is (Aside from Person of Interest’s, but they’re playing at a whole different level, and only at Season 4, so longevity is due some credit here.)  The biggest flaw:  no way two guys dressed in suits, driving an Impala get to wave a couple of badges and gain entrance to a maximum security facility.  I’m a court reporter and occasionally go to state penitentiaries of lesser security measures, and I still have to be searched, properly ID’d and I have to be vouched for by the attorneys who requested my services.  But, hey, it’s Supernatural, and at least they weren’t FBI agents again.  It was necessary to send them there for Dean to see Cain’s profile.  Distinctive as that profile is/was, I think it had more to do with the presence of the MoC that Dean knew it was Cain.  From then on, the episode was off and running.

Every character’s story dovetailed, and it all worked.  With Crowley’s reaching a turning point, I think his demony mojo returns and he and Rowena will join forces to regain the Blade and end the Winchesters.

I love the use of the barn for the showdown.  Timothy Omundson can make walking in a circle and kicking straw away to reveal a trap mesmerizing.  His every word was spoken with purpose and the implications are chilling.  As convincing as that blow with the Blade was, coupled with the thunder and the sound of Dean forcibly removing it from Cain, I’m not convinced he’s dead – at least I hope not.  I’m going with the adage:  If you don’t see a body, then they’re not really dead.  (Oh, wait, that’s what Plageman and Nolan say regarding Person of Interest.  Oh, well, I’m applying it here as well.)  Cain is just too good a character, and Timothy Omundson too good an actor, to be gone already. 

Plus, there were three moments in this episode when Jensen used his eyes, to the side and lifted up, to convey something amiss with Dean, or an untruth being told.  First was telling Crowley that Cain was coming for him, second, when he looked back up over Sam’s shoulder after confronting Cain, and third, and most chilling, was when he patted Cas on the shoulder and left the kitchen.  Jensen used his eyes beautifully to convey so much in each moment, and the final look was absolutely unnerving.  In that instant I knew Dean was truly not all right.  Sam’s horrified admission to Cas mere moments simply added to the chill.

Last week’s episode was crucial in that Dean came to peace with the MoC; that peace allowed him focus and control.  The Blade didn’t consume him immediately, and as Cain observed during the fight, Dean was holding back, perhaps because of Sam’s staunch faith in him; Dean didn’t want to disappoint Sam.  It was desperately heartbreaking to see Dean nearly pleading with Cain to simply tell him that he could, in fact, stop.  Cain’s statement that he won’t stop nearly ended Dean as he realized he was (A) going to have to kill Cain, and that meant using the Blade; and (B) he was very well looking at his own future – a future that terrifies Dean.

Other notes:

“There is no resistance.  There is only remission and relapse.”  Frightening.

Mr. Omundson’s look as Dean cut Cain’s hand off, that shock and amazement was breathtaking, and then it was followed as he hung his head in defeat.  Just wow.

Mark adds so much to that moment as Crowley hands Dean the Blade because he subtly leans back, underscoring Crowley’s wariness of Dean possessing both the Mark and the Blade.

Thank you to the makeup department for keeping Dean’s injuries on his face and making him pale, and kudos to Jensen for conveying that exhaustion beyond the scene at the barn but all the way back to the bunker.

Is Cain well and truly gone?  Just how did Sam know Dean was in trouble?  Do you think the move to Wednesday s will be good or not – ah, who cares on that one; SPN is renewed for Season 11 and it has shown an ability to excel on whatever night it is shown.

Until next time, thanks for reading, Elle2

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