Top 20 supernatural episodes
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- DirectorSteve BoyumStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesMisha CollinsWith the Apocalypse looming, Sam and Dean realize they are out of options and make heart-breaking decisions that will change their lives forever.Supernatural was originally intended to be 5 seasons, according to series creator Eric Kripke. And if the series HAD ended with the Season 5 finale, Swan Song, then the show could’ve had one of the best series finales ever, in my opinion, with a few adjustments. Season 5 is all about the Winchesters stopping Lucifer (excellently played by Mark Pellegrino) from unleashing The Apocalypse upon the world. And that conflict finally comes to a head in this episode.
Like I just said, if Supernatural had ended with this episode, it could’ve been a completely satisfying ending. It provides definite closure to the storyline that had been building over the first 5 seasons and has that “epic feel” of a final chapter, despite it being more dialogue-heavy. The way it ends still sets up Season 6, so I personally would’ve altered that ending slightly, but I really have no complaints about the rest of the episode. All the central actors give compelling performances, especially Jared Padelecki, but Jensen is great aswell especially at the climax but I won’t go too much into that so as not to spoil what happens in the episode. Also, the script is tightly written with not a single wasted minute in the entire thing. Plus, it contains the most moving and heartwrenching moment between Sam and Dean in the entire series. Just the simple line from Dean, “I’m not going to leave you!” during the episode’s climax hits me like a ton of bricks, along with the following closing minutes, every time. Great work, Eric Kripke. Great work. - DirectorKim MannersStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesSamantha FerrisDean hits an emotional rock bottom after a devastating personal loss. The Yellow Eyed Demon begins a calculated strategic move to unleash the armies of hell.Part 2 finds Jake and Azazel traveling to a mysterious graveyard to enact the final phase of Azazel’s plan while Dean is forced to make a decision with consequences that will bleed over into Season 3. What a conclusion this is. Every single minute of this episode had me hooked, as it takes all the elements from Part 1 and takes it up a few notches. Everything about this episode is superb: the acting,especially Jensen, the writing, the action, the suspense, the emotion. The scale of a 2-parter like this was almost like a movie, and this is most evident in this episode’s climax, which is badass and turns into heartfelt at the end, and it’s such a smooth transition. The ending of this episode made me immediately dive into Season 3.
- DirectorRobert SingerStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesJim BeaverSam and other "special children" are abducted by the Yellow-Eyed Demon and taken to a ghost town, where the ultimate battle must start.In Part 1 of the amazing 2-part Season 2 Finale, Sam and a bunch of other people his age with psychic abilities find themselves mysteriously transported to an abandoned, run-down little town reminiscent of a Western village. They’ve been brought there by Azazel, who intends for them all to engage in a “competition” of sorts, and the last one left standing gets the honor of helping Azazel carry out his master plan…whatever that may be. Meanwhile, Dean and Bobby work desperately to find Sam.
This is one of the most tightly-written and tightly-acted episodes of Supernatural ever. From the moment the plot kicks in, everything becomes so suspenseful and involving, with every minute of the episode being filled with tension, excitement, mystery and much more. It’s sort of a Battle Royale/Hunger Games type of set up for this episode, only much more sinister. And it’s here where Azazel’s master plan finally starts to come to fruition, and seeing it play out proves to be very gripping. Jared Padelecki gets to flex his acting chops a bit more in this episode, and as much as I love Jensen Ackles, not in a gay way though, I gotta say Padelecki does a damn fine job here, as does the actor playing Azazel (whose name I’m too lazy to look up). And it all leads to a gut-wrenching cliffhanger that had me going “Whoa!” even though I knew there were a lot more seasons after this. - DirectorSteve BoyumStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesMitch PileggiCastiel sends Dean back in time to 1973 where he encounters younger versions of his parents and for the first time meets his grandfather Samuel Campbell who holds a secret that sheds a light on the Winchester Family's connection to the hunter community.In The Beginning is like the Back To The Future of Supernatural episodes. After waking up in the middle of the night to find Castiel (Misha Collins) sitting by his bed before cryptically saying “You have to stop it,” and touching Dean’s forehead, Dean finds himself transported back to Lawrence, Kansas in 1973. There, he runs into younger versions of his parents, long before they were married. His mother, as it turns out, is the one who belonged to a family of hunters. Not his dad. And the thing their family is currently chasing turns out to be Azazel, the same demon who sprang everything into the motion in the Pilot episode. Suddenly, Castiel’s warning becomes clearer.
This episode is fantastic for many reasons. One, a few sly Back To The Future salutes in the episode. Two, the story itself, which winds up being surprisingly compelling. Three, the absolutely great performance by Mitch Pileggi as Samuel, Sam and Dean’s grandfather. Four, the climax of the episode, where Azazel faces off with Dean and others. And fifth, the fact that this is another Dean-driven episode; the best one of that type. Sam is in this episode for, at most, ten seconds at the opening, and from there on out, it’s all Dean. But back to the story, what makes it so great is all the twists it takes. Before now, we were under the impression that Mary was just an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of the Pilot, but the revelation that SHE was the one who came from the hunter lifestyle, which is a genuine surprise. That, coupled with the twist of the ending, adds an extra layer to the Pilot that makes both that episode and this one all the more interesting. Let’s just say, that obviously, Dean stops nothing, but a new perspective on the very first scene of the very first episode is given to us. Oh, and this episode just flows so damn smoothly. - DirectorKim MannersStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesJeffrey Dean MorganIn the aftermath of the car crash, the surviving Winchesters go to the hospital, where one is stalked by a Reaper while another must consider sacrificing himself to save the others.After the events of the Season 1 finale, Dean, Sam and John all find themselves recuperating in a hospital. Well, for Dean, it’s much different; as his comatose body lies plugged in to various life support machines, his spirit wanders desperately around the hospital grounds, unseen and unheard by everyone. He crosses paths with a Reaper, a Death Spirit who escorts souls into the next life, and does everything he can to outrun and outsmart it, all the while trying to get help from Sam and John, between whom tempers are rising past the boiling point.
The real strength of this episode, as is the case for most of other favorites, comes from the relationships between the characters. Throughout the first season, it was established that there was bad blood between Sam and their father, John, after Sam walked away from the hunting life in order to pursue a normal life. That animosity is played up JUST the right amount, and the performances by Jared Padelecki and Jeffrey Dean Morgan sell it even more. And there’s another strength of this episode: that despite Dean having the biggest role, in a way, throughout the episode, all three of these guys are as equally effective and no one outshines the other. The bond between Sam and Dean is further developed, as is the troubled one between Sam and John, but most importantly, this episode shows just how important Sam and Dean are to John, and how much he loves them, and how far he’s willing to go to protect them. When we see John doing what he ends up doing to prove that, it makes the final scene of this episode all the more powerful while simultaneously progressing the story of the show to its next chapter. Suffice it to say, In My Time of Dying is a great season premiere, and by the end of it, it’s hard not to feel sorry for the characters for a particular turn of events. Then again, it had to happen. - DirectorDavid NutterStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesSarah ShahiSam and Dean Winchester were trained by their father to hunt the creatures of the supernatural. Now, their father has mysteriously disappeared while hunting the demon that killed their mother, 22 years ago.It may be a bit unconventional to put a show’s Pilot episode on a Top 10 list, but I don’t care. The fact is, Supernatural has a VERY strong first episode. It sets the stage for the entire show fluidly and compellingly, presenting strong characterizations of Sam and Dean right off the bat, thus making it effortless for us to get involved in their story. Their reunion near the beginning of the episode feels real, and I love that how, despite obvious feelings of resentment between the two at first, there’s still a strong brotherly bond between the two of them. Plus, it helps that Jensen Ackles and Jared Padelecki have amazing chemistry. This episode also has a very raw edge to it that suits the whole setup of the show very nicely. The main supernatural threat of the plot is genuinely creepy, and would set the standard for how each week’s monster, ghost or what-have-you would be handled. In fact, with that in mind, I’m kind of surprised this is a 9:00 show. But anyway, everything with which to establish a long-running show is here, and then some. I love the final line and shot of this episode. Supernatural has one of the strongest Pilots I’ve ever seen.
- DirectorPhilip SgricciaStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesMisha CollinsDean and Sam get to know the whereabouts of Lucifer and want to hunt him down. But Lucifer is well prepared and is working his own plans.Sam, Dean, Bobby and Castiel think they have a plan to defeat Lucifer: retrieve the Colt from crossroads demon Crowley, and use the magical gun to shoot Lucifer in the head. It sounds simple enough, but of course, the guys are grossly underestimating their opponent. Abandon All Hope is not only a very thrilling and edge-of-your-seat episode, it’s also a very dark one, as the title suggests. Since this episode is in the middle of Season 5, where the main goal is to stop Lucifer and The Apocalypse, our heroes obviously aren’t able to stop anything. But to add to their sense of defeat, two recurring supporting characters meet their demise in this episode in a scene that’s both powerful and badass at the same time. Plus, the acting is very strong all around, especially from Mark Pellegrino, who plays Lucifer himself. Abandon All Hope is a fantastic episode that combines intense action beats with effective emotional moments, making for an installment that leaves you breathless by the end, as well as feeling the characters’ sense of hoplelessness.
- DirectorKim MannersStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesJim BeaverSam tries to move on without his brother and becomes hardened and more reckless in the way he hunts. Bobby and his psychic friend Pamela try to contact the other side to find out more about Dean's ultimate fate.In the riveting Season 4 premiere, Dean awakes in a buried coffin and digs his way out, now mysteriously freed from Hell with no idea of how it happened. But the burned-on handprint on his left shoulder raises interesting questions. After reuniting with Sam and Bobby, the three hunters try to figure out just what the hell got Dean out of Hell…and for what purpose. After the intense and action-packed Season 3 finale, the Season 4 opener is an interesting change of pace. There’s a nice amount of mystery surrounding Dean’s return (that whole opening scene grabs you by the throat), as well as the surprising introduction of Sam’s new storyline. Most of all, Lazarus Rising introduces the new angel mythology, which I’ve loved ever since, and subsequently the angel character most — if not every — fan has come to love: Castiel (Misha Collins). And he makes one hell of an entrance. Also, out of all the Supernatural season premieres, Lazarus Rising has my favorite last-season recap, mainly because it’s set to “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC:
- DirectorSteve BoyumStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesMisha CollinsDean refuses Sam's efforts to help him battle the Devil, and then wakes up to find himself five years in the future, in a wasteland where Lucifer has begun his endgame by unleashing a virus that transforms humans into zombies.The angel Zachariah transports Dean into a grim future where most of the world’s population has been infected with a demonic virus. It’s also a future where Castiel has lost his angelic powers and developed an affinity for drugs and women, another Dean is the leader of a resistance movement, but most importantly, it’s a future where Sam has said yes to being Lucifer’s vessel. The End is such a fantastic episode from start to finish; it has so many great elements going for it. First, the whole post-apocalyptic vision of the future that it creates is riveting, gritty and very much in line with the kinds of post-apocalyptic futures we’ve seen in a bunch of recent movies. Then you’ve got Jensen Ackles in a double role as Dean, absolutely killing it, while also playing each version of Dean distinctly enough that he pulls off giving the illusion that we’re watching two different people…even when both Deans are on-screen together. The End also features some pretty intense action sequences and finally, we get a dark and creepy turn from Jared Padalecki at the climax, where he plays Lucifer-Sam in a very memorable scene. The End is very much in the tradition of excellent time travel-related Supernatural episodes.
- DirectorRobert SingerStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesJim BeaverBobby is close to dying. He must confront his worst memory to escape, before his reaper catches up to him.After being shot in the temple by head Leviathan Dick Roman, Bobby finds himself precariously trapped in a series of memories of significant life events while quite literally being at Death’s Door. But Bobby isn’t ready to die yet, so he decides to find a way out of his mind so he can deliver an important message to Sam and Dean, all the while avoiding a Reaper who’s on his trail. Sam and Dean, meanwhile, deal with the prospect of possibly losing the only parental figure they have left. Season 7, for me, has been the weakest season of Supernatural thus far. Sure, it’d have a solid-enough episode every now and then, but the main Leviathan arc proved to be more interesting just in theory than on-screen. However, it did provide Death’s Door, which is the only great episode of Season 7, in my opinion. The whole set-up of Bobby reliving memories of his makes for an interesting and exciting pace, as well as clever editing, but at the same time, that more flashy approach is still grounded in a good amount of emotion. Jim Beaver really gets to show off his acting chops in this episode, and unsurprisingly, he’s excellent. But most of all, Death’s Door ends on an incredibly powerful emotional note, one I can’t resist falling victim to every time. And even if that moment is undercut by how the story develops later in the season, within the confines of this one episode, it works tremendously.
- DirectorBen EdlundStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesMisha CollinsCastiel tells his story in his own words and confesses to some interesting choices.On average, Season 6 of Supernatural was a pretty big step down from the previous 5. Series creator Eric Kripke originally envisioned the show as 5 seasons, so once it got picked up for a 6th, he left the show in the hands of Sera Gamble, since the story he wanted to tell was over. This left Gamble to figure out how to continue things. You can tell that the first 5 seasons are all connected by a continuously developing storyline; Season 6 and on is more like Supernatural: Part 2. Gamble clearly wasn’t as strong a storyteller as Kripke, but I have to admit Season 6 DID have a handful of awesome episodes near the end, my personal favorite of which being episode 6.20, The Man Who Would Be King.
Until this point in the season, we could tell that Sam and Dean’s angel compatriot Castiel (Misha Collins) was up to something behind the scenes, and here is where we FINALLY find out what that is. The episode, written and directed by one of the show’s strongest writers, Ben Edlund, tells the events of the story from Castiel’s point of view. And there is surprising emotional resonance to the episode as a result. Since he was first introduced in the Season 4 premiere, I’ve always loved the character of Castiel, so having a Castiel-centric episode especially got my interest. Misha Collins turns in a brilliant performance in this episode, making you both understand the position he’s in as well as his motivations for doing what he’s doing. We can clearly see that even he has doubts about this mission of his, but the end result, he believes, can still justify his actions. It adds a layer to Castiel that we haven’t really seen before…and it’s actually kind of heartbreaking, especially a scene near the end of the episode where Sam, Dean and Bobby find out what he’s been up to and confront him. It really emphasizes the brotherly relationship that has developed between Dean and Castiel in particular. By the end of the episode, we can really feel for all these guys and we desperately want to fix things between them ourselves.
Also, seeing Castiel interact with his fellow angel brothers and sisters up in Heaven is also very interesting and only adds to the intriguing way angels themselves are portrayed on this show: as devoted footsoldiers who aren’t afraid to do dark deeds. These aren’t merely nice guys. They’re much more complicated. - DirectorThomas J. WrightStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesMisha CollinsThe influence of the mark on Dean reaches new heights, as Metatron begins to reveal himself to humanity.And lo, another season of ‘Supernatural’ has come to an end. No spinoffs to look forward to (at least for the moment), no word if the next season will prove the last for Sam and Dean Winchester, and no major climactic world event in the vain of last year’s “Sacrifice.” No, this year’s closer opted for a much smaller story, an elementary continuation of the events built up in the last few episodes, almost as if to say the second half of a 2+ hour tale, albeit with one humdinger of a final twist.
The ninth season has felt a bit more abstract, whether by ‘Supernatural’’s advancing age, or the somewhat vague nature of Metatron’s plans, in that it still remains unclear exactly what the villain had attempted to accomplish. We know he’d won the angels back to his side, and planned to act as the new God with seemingly benevolent interest, but how his “Marv” persona or a few miracles performed around the country fed into his ultimate endgame remain somewhat murky, at least by the show’s usual cogency. Don’t get us wrong, Curtis Armstrong has an exceptional presence, and ably portrays the character’s villainous side in battle with Dean, but by and large the character seemed to work best as a cypher for Castiel to sort out his own issues with humanity and the ever-divided angel community.
And for as much as it seems the show’s central bromance has shifted to Dean and Crowley, “Do You Believe in Miracles” at least notably returned to the central question dividing Sam and Dean all year, namely the ability to let one another go. Even at their closest this year, Sam continually insisted Dean’s desperate gambit to save Sam was borne of his own selfish nature, while he himself would let Dean go if the opportunity necessitated. Now, even as Sam reluctantly allows Dean to act as the metaphorical loose cannon, he finds himself unable to say goodbye to Dean, attempting to invoke whatever deal Crowley might offer in exchange. The brothers have been killed and raised so many times by now, we’re hard-pressed to imagine that either Crowley or another of the angels (presuming Castiel was too weak) would take much issue with returning Dean to life absent any major cost, but as far as the shift in Sam, the point comes across.
Naturally, we have a few unanswered questions going into the tenth season, specifically what Cas will do in the face of his fading grace, and while “Miracles” wasn’t the most climactic of showdowns or finales, Dean’s apparent demonization is definitely a strong pull to keep us coming back for what *may* prove the final season. We seem to remember that purifying demons actually proved a relatively simple task last season, but surely some unforeseen conflict will arise to keep Dean-mon in play, likely absent any permanently inked corneas, because let’s face it, a wizard did it. - DirectorPhilip SgricciaStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesMisha CollinsSam and Dean capture Crowley to finish the trials and close the gates of Hell. Castiel and Metatron continue the trials to close the gates of Heaven. Sam is left with a huge decision.The race to close the Gates of Hell once and for all reaches its final stretch after Sam and Dean trick and kidnap Crowley with the intention of using him, The King of Hell, to complete the third Trial. But of course, this is the Season 8 finale, and things never go smoothly in season finales. And also like all season finales worth their salt, the ominously-titled Sacrifice is one hell of a ride. The main crux of the episode, which is Sam vs. Crowley in an old and abandoned church, is fantastic and features some top notch acting from both Jared Padalecki and Mark A. Sheppard. Sheppard especially shines toward the end of this episode, as he gets to play sides of Crowley we’ve never seen before. Then there’s the subplot dealing with Dean, Castiel and Metatron, which develops in a very interesting way and makes for a season finale cliffhanger that’s, for lack of a better term, biblical. Out of all the network shows I watch, Sacrifice proved to be the best season finale of them all last season.
- DirectorMike RohlStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesRobert WisdomCastiel and Uriel ask Dean to torture Alastair for information. But when Alastair breaks free, Castiel starts to believe that there is a traitor among the angels.Castiel and Uriel ask Dean to assist them in the torture/interrogation of Alastair, not only because they believe Alastair has information on a recent string of angel slayings, but also because they think Dean’s “experience” down in Hell will prove useful in this instance. On The Head of a Pin is such an intense and character-driven episode. First of all, most of the first half is mainly devoted to Dean torturing and interrogating Alastair, and all of the mind games that start up between them. That back-and-forth is completely riveting, and sometimes makes you wonder who exactly is the one being tortured here as well as being pretty intense (in a good way) for a network T.V. show. This really highlights the strength of writer Ben Edlund, who not only writes some great dialogue in these scenes, but also ensures that there’s not one boring or slow moment in the entire episode. After that whole torture segment, the episode gets more into the angel mythology again, and those scenes are equally awesome and compelling. But to top it all off, the closing scene between Dean and Castiel is particularly strong and ends the episode on a really powerful note.
- 2005–202050mTV-149.3 (7.8K)TV EpisodeDirectorEric KripkeStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesSamantha SmithDean is attacked by a Djinn and finds himself in a new reality where his mother is still alive and a mysterious woman holds the key to everything.“Why do we have to be the ones to save everybody?”
That is the question behind What Is And What Should Never Be, a very intriguing and heartfelt “what if?” episode. While hunting a djinn, or genie, Dean is plopped right smack-dab in the middle of an alternate life. A life where he has an attractive and respectable girlfriend. A life where he was never raised to be a demon hunter. A life where he and Sam barely talk with each other outside of holidays…and a life where their mother is still alive.
This is a very moving episode, because not only does it show the lives Sam and Dean would have had if the fateful events of the Pilot episode had never taken place, but it also shows the effect having a regular life would have had on Sam and Dean’s relationship to each other. An episode like this really emphasizes just how important Sam and Dean are to each other, and it also shows that they really do need each other around. One moment that’s particularly effective is when Dean discovers that all the people who they saved up until now have died as a result of their non-involvement. This is followed by a poignant scene where Dean talks to the gravestone of…well, let’s just say someone who met a much quieter end in this reality. Seeing how the brothers’ relationship with their mom could have developed is also intriguing. Another thing about this episode is that it really emphasizes just strong of an actor Jensen Ackles can be. Between him and Jared Padelecki, I personally prefer Ackles, (for their acting they are both good though)so the episodes that give Ackles more to do are ones I especially like. I also rather like the clever nod to Sam and Dean’s first scene together in the Pilot that’s placed in this episode. - DirectorCharles BeesonStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesMisha CollinsDean and Sam are thrown into an alternate universe by the Trickster where they are characters in different TV series.Sam and Dean find themselves not only face-to-face with The Trickster again when their latest case points to his M.O., but also trapped in a “T.V. Hell” of The Trickster’s creation, in which the only way to escape is for Sam and Dean to play their roles in various different T.V. genres. Changing Channels is such a crazy and funny episode, it’s hard not to love it. Seeing Sam and Dean get plopped into such a variety of different styles of T.V. shows never fails to be entertaining, especially in how they react to it all. The writing by Jeremy Carver is endlessly clever and funny, not to mention as spirited as The Trickster’s own personality. I especially love how Dean mocks police procedurals when they’re placed in one. And just like Mystery Spot, Changing Channels ends up tying in nicely with the main arc of the season, as well as including an intriguing revelation about The Trickster that develops his character in a pretty surprising way. Also, this episode earns bonus points for the great sitcom-inspired opening sequence alone.
- DirectorKim MannersStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesJim BeaverSam relives the same day over and over, continually having to deal with Dean's death.While investigating the disappearance of a man at a “mystery spot” in Broward County, Florida, Dean is shot and killed. Then, Sam suddenly awakens in their motel room the very same morning…and Dean is alive again. And so starts an endless Groundhod Day-inspired loop of the Tuesday where Dean dies, with said older brother meeting his demise in different, and more creative ways each time. The best thing about Mystery Spot is how it unfolds. When it begins, we think it’s just going to be another typical “Monster of the Week” episode, but then about halfway through, it cleverly transforms into one that relates to the season’s main story arc. Dean’s constant dying turns out to be the work of The Trickster (Richard Speight Jr.), who’s doing this to “help” get Sam used to Dean not being around when his Hell debt comes due in a few months. Another great thing about Mystery Spot is how it balances tones so well. The various ways Dean dies throughout can get a little morbidly funny, and yet when the story forces Sam to cope with the loss of his brother for a while, it becomes pretty dramatic and tragic without the transition feeling awkward. Jared Padalecki does strong work here. The episode also highlights just how awesome of a character The Trickster really was.
- DirectorCharles BeesonStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesMisha CollinsTo protect Sam and Dean from a surprise attack from Raphael, Balthazar sends them both into an alternate universe where their lives are a TV show called Supernatural (2005).The archangel Raphael is on the warpath, so in a desperate attempt to keep them out of harm’s way, Balthazar (Sebastian Roche) transports Sam and Dean into an alternate reality where they are two actors named Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles who star on a T.V. show called Supernatural. Hands down, The French Mistake is the funniest episode of Supernatural ever. With a premise as crazy as this, the episode could have gone way out of control, but writer Ben Edlund knows just how to handle it. The “real” characters, i.e. the producers, writers and stars (namely Misha Collins playing an exaggerated version of himself) are written and played just right, and I love how these guys aren’t afraid to partake in some great self-deprecating humor. I could almost just sit here and list all my favorite lines and moments in The French Mistake: Misha Collins’ whole performance and all his constant Tweeting, Dean’s line “So the character Bobby Singer on the show is named after you? What kind of a douchebag names a character after himself?”, and especially the scene where Sam and Dean have to do a bit of acting and play the roles of themselves as they think the real Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles would. It’s all so hilarious and makes for an episode that’s fast and furious in delivering the jokes. And yet…I don’t think this is the best “out of the box” episode that Supernatural has to offer. For that, see entry # 15.
- DirectorJ. Miller TobinStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesRidge CanipeIn this Christmas-themed episode, Sam and Dean follow the trail of an "anti-Santa" that abducts its victims by using their chimneys. Dean tries to get Sam to celebrate Christmas like they used to but Sam doesn't want to accept that it could be the last one they'll spend together.In eight seasons, Supernatural has only done ONE Christmas episode, in Season 3. And it’s actually pretty great. Since this IS Supernatural, after all, this Christmas episode is much darker than ones of other shows; it includes a scene where a demonic Santa kills a kids’ parents on Christmas Eve, before stuffing the dead bodies in his sack and up the chimney…as the kid watches. Talk about your holiday cheer. But this dark Christmas twist isn’t the reason why this episode is on my list. It’s more to do with the subplot of the episode, which deals with why Sam and Dean don’t feel like celebrating this year, including flashbacks to a Christmas years and years ago where they had to celebrate, as young boys, themselves on Christmas Eve/Day. I especially love episodes of this show that deal with the brother relationship between Sam and Dean, and this episode is no exception. The heart in the writing of this episode is incredible. The ending especially moves me to tears, in fact, and it’s a terrific payoff to the subplot I mentioned. Combine that with some pretty twisted stuff for a Christmas episode, and you’ve got something that really sticks out.
- DirectorPhilip SgricciaStarsJared PadaleckiJensen AcklesKatie CassidySam and Dean are arrested by Agent Henriksen and thrown into a jail cell in Colorado just as an army of demons makes their first move under a new leader who wants Sam dead.From an action point of view, I think I’m safe in saying that Jus In Bello is perhaps one of the most badass episodes of Supernatural. Basically, this is the Supernatural version of Assault on Precinct 13. Here’s the story setup: while closing in on an elusive thief who stole a powerful weapon of theirs earlier in the season, Sam and Dean are arrested and taken into custody by Agent Henrickson, the FBI agent who’s been on their trail since Season 2. Sam and Dean are then tossed into a Colorado jail cell to await transport back to FBI HQ, with Henrickson there with them, but it’s at this time that Lilith, the new leader of an army of demons, decides to send in her minions to attack the Colorado precinct. Their mission: to kill Sam.
This episode is incredibly tense, suspenseful and exciting. Plus, it still manages to squeeze in some vintage Winchester Brother humor. The dynamic between Sam, Dean and Agent Henrickson is at its most interesting here, reaching new heights of tension and there’s a great back-and-forth between the three throughout the episode as Henrickson discovers what the Winchesters really do. So, the dramatic tension is definitely there and if that wasn’t enough, episode scribe Sera Gamble loads the rest of the 42 minutes with non-stop suspense, all tremendously executed. As is usually the case with stories of this nature, there is a great deal of rising tempers between all those trapped in the precinct. It all leads up to an immensely exciting final stand as the army of demons finally mount an all-out attack, and are fought off with great effort by Sam and Dean and the others. I’d go so far as to say this action sequence can stand up to a lot of similar sequences in most of today’s big screen thrillers. And then the episode ends on a perfectly ominous note as we get our first glimpse at the big new baddie, Lilith, and…it’s a hell of an entrance.