Supernatural: Just When I Thought I Was Out, They Pull Me Back In

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Episode recaps
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Warning: Spoiler Alert

All is forgiven “Supernatural,” in fact I may owe the veteran CW series an apology, for some of the words in describing this year’s lackluster campaign, as they made up for it with perhaps even a bit of excess, with the broadcast of the latest episode “Inside Man.” Episode seventeen of the show’s tenth season, was not only the best episode of this season, it may have been the finest in the last few years. An episode that will live in the hearts of Supernatural fans along with The French Mistake, the debut of Castiel and Dean getting banished to Hell, early in the shows run.

Let me take you for a moment into my process in writing a recap; I’m sitting with eight-pages of handwritten notes I took while watching a 42 minute-episode. If I were to use even half of what I’ve written, it could comprise a novella. So I’m realizing that I can’t do justice to what I just witnessed, but I ‘ll give it my best try. We knew after seeing clips for this week’s show, that we’d see the incredible Jim Beaver once again come into out homes as Bobby Singer. I certainly didn’t expect that we’d get so much time with this wonderful character, a definite bonus. Proving once and for all that author Thomas Wolfe was wrong when he wrote, “You can’t go home again.”

Our first scene’s watching Sam and Castiel crossing a street, heading to a house, then we shift to both holding hands with an older balding, bearded-man around a séance table, he’s speaking in Latin and the candles on the table flare like blow torches.

Suddenly, we see a fireplace, we hear Kenny Rogers singing “The Gambler,” on the radio, we see an ottoman with a pair of boots on them, then an easy chair, panning up to its occupant’s face. Welcome to the private paradise and alleged final resting place for Bobby Singer, former surrogate dad to Sam and Dean, until getting killed by a Leviathan in 2012. Suddenly, the radio signal goes funny and we hear Sam’s voice calling, Bobby are you there we need you? Singer’s face screws up in confusion and he says Sam?

A graphic tells us we’re going back to 24-hours before, we’re in the Gentleman Of Letters building, in Sam’s room, whose sound asleep, until he’s woken by a blood-curdling scream. He gets up grabs a pistol and starts heading towards the noise, it’s Dean screaming Sammy, help me. He gets in there and his brother’s in the midst of a nightmare, seeing flashes of killing people then Cain’s words ringing in his ears, saying Dean’s end will be like Cain’s start, involving killing his brother. It passes and Dean goes back to a restful sleep.

Sam’s on the phone with Castiel when Dean rises, unaware of his nightmare, telling his brother he slept like a “drunk baby.” He then asks Sam what’s going on with the hunting situation, Sam replies all’s quiet except for a situation fellow hunter Rudy’s handling. Dean suggests getting drunk and shooting dice, Sam says he’s in the mood to see a movie that’s playing in Wichita, a French film about a mine that’s really a cockroach and got rave reviews from the New York Times. Had Dean expressed an interest at that point, his younger brother might have said it comes with an all you can eat kale dinner, Dean said he’d enjoy the me-time.

Rowena’s in her room painting hex symbols on her naked body when Crowley walks in, mortified at seeing his mother in the nude, she grabs a robe to cover herself. He asks what she’s up to as she’s stopped nagging him, she throws him off by saying she’s seeing some guy, them starts describing his anatomy. Crowley quickly leaves.

Sam takes another car and meets up with Castiel, who asks where’s Dean? Sammy says we’ve got to do it, he’s getting worse, lore’s not helping, Charlie’s out of contact, Cas says he’ll drive. Castiel takes them to the playground where the gate to Heaven lies, the Angel guarding it’s in a the body of a young dark-haired man in his twenties. He tells Cas he can’t enter then tells him to please hold, we see a beam of energy leave the body and another replace it, Castiel smiles when the man speaks again as it’s Hanna.

She tells Cas she swore she’d never inhabit a vessel again, but she had to speak to him face to face. She’s forbidding him to take Metatron, as they need his help and God’s scribe will trick them and gain his freedom. Three other Angels appear, Castiel’s upset but Sam tells him he’s got a Plan B.

Dean heads to the local watering-hole, orders a cheeseburger platter and a brew, when he hears some college loudmouth and his two buddies, as the one guy’s bragging about his skill at the billiards table. Dean, gets up looking wasted and offers to play the kid for twenty bucks.

Sam tells his celestial partner, about a guy named Oliver Price, who was a famous child-psychic back in the fifties. The Gentlemen Of Letters worked with the boy to hone his skills, before getting slaughtered by Abaddon. Sam says maybe the guy will look at us as friends and help us, Castiel says maybe not as they see no trespassing signs covering his fence. Sam decides to give it a try, after numerous attempts at knocking and calling Price’s name, the older man answers the door, finishing Winchester’s introduction of himself.

Sam’s taken aback that the old man knows his identity and asks how he did that, Price responds he’s the mind-reader, remember? He then turns to Castiel, saying and you’re, what are you? Cas responds he’s an Angel and Price sputters finally spitting out that’s impossible, when Castiel asks why he says that Price responds he’s an Atheist. Sam says not any longer and they enter the home.

There’s a poster of Oliver of when he was ten, Castiel asks if that’s him and Price says that used to be him, but he’s stopped the psychic stuff. He says being around people’s Hell for him, the Angel nods saying because you can read people’s thoughts. Price says not from you, from you I only see colors. But the hippie’s thinking about this creepy hobbit-looking guy in a cell, Cas responds that’s Heaven’s Jail. The old man asks Heaven’s got a freaking jail, Sam replies, yes and they need to break someone out.

Dean’s looking sloppy drunk as the kid cleans his clock, he then asks the kid for a rematch. The kid asks if he’d like to raise the stakes to one hundred, Dean sloppily throws down three hundred bucks. The kids run short, Dean tells the big mouth to throw in his watch to make it even.

Sam and Cas tell Price they’ve got an inside man, they just need the old man to contact him for them. He asks what would happen if he says no, Sam responds you’re the mind-reader. Price says he’ll get his crap, then comes back tells them to shut-up and hold hands.

Dean threw the first game, as he shows when he racks the table. The kid says he hustled them, Winchester responds he’s pretty quick for a guy made out of hair gel and body spray. He heads to the bathroom, the kids friends say let it pass, then Rowena appears and says hello boys. Dean’s washing his hands and face, when he glances at the mirror and sees his eyes go black for an instant, he gets concerned.

We’re back where we started out, as Sam’s explained to Bobby what’s up with Dean. Uncle Bobby says that if he understands the situation, they’ve got to rid Dean of The Mark Of Cain, before it turns him back into a demon. Sam says, pretty much and Bobby asks what Dean’s thinking, Sam responds Dean’s not in a very good place right now. Singer asks what’s the plan, Castiel says that he needs to escape from his own private paradise and open the gate to Heaven, Cas says he’ll meet him and they’ll find Metatron, the scribe of God together. Bobby asks if Sam remembers when the job involved cutting some fang and knocking back a cold one, Winchester chuckles saying he misses those days.

Singer then asks while he’s playing action-hero, will people be looking for him, Castiel glumly says everybody will search for you, Angels will get quite vexed with a soul running loose in Heaven. Bobby asks if there’s a way to slow them down, Sam replies Bobby will come up with a solution. Singer says he appreciates the kind words but he’s rusty, maybe somebody else should run point. Sammy replies he’s their only shot, Bobby says he’s already dead, what’s the worst that can happen?

Dean heads back out to the bar and sees Rowena sitting on a stool at the bar, she’s put the same spell on the three college guys that she put on the call-girl, when Dean and Sam first met her. Bleeding from their eyes, the guys go after Winchester, he nearly goes postal and kills the first one, but he talks himself down and just knocks the three guys out.

Rowena attempts casting a deadly spell on Dean but its useless, she shakes her head saying impossible, as Dean puts a blade to her throat. He asks why she’s there, she replies because he’s destroying her son, Crowley. Dean asks Crowley, Crowley? Rowena says her son’s a king, he should be godlike, but he’s Dean’s lap dog, he comes running every time he calls. She then tells Dean if he fails to let her go, she’ll let the three college kids die, only she can save them.

Bobby’s told by Castiel that the escape hatch is something that doesn’t look like it belongs. Singer pulls at a loose thread on an area rug, it unravels and the wall opens, light streaming in. Bobby uses my favorite Michael Corleone line “Just When I Thought I Was Out, They Pull Me Back In.” He then goes past the wall, into a hallway resembling a hotel hallway, with doors lining each wall, Bobby sees his nameplate, Bobby Singer 1950-2012. An alarm goes off and Bobby growls “Balls!”

Of course Dean let her go, she heads back to her room angry, then picks up a knife and starts slicing her skin. She then visits Crowley and tells him Dean butchered her. The King Of Hell tells her she’s fool, that Dean wears the Mark Of Cain, she pauses for a second then says the Mark’s just a curse, granted the first curse but can be removed. Crowley calls her on her statement asking how, she says she doesn’t know but she’ll figure it out. Crowley then says he’s got the Winchesters just where he wants. Rowena, pushes his buttons saying demons are already gossiping it about it, if he does nothing, they’ll think he’s weak, then screams be a bloody king.

Bobby’s alleged rust doesn’t pose a problem as he starts opening doors flooding the hallway with other souls. Some Angels arrive, including the one that guarded the gate to Heaven and tell the souls to please return to their personal Heavens. Bobby growls, who made you boss and they rush past the four Angels. Gets to room 42, which is where the gate’s hidden and activates it.

Sam and Castiel, sitting in Castiel’s car in front of the playground, the Angel asks if Sam thinks Bobby can handle the job, Sam chuckles, exclaiming Bobby can do anything. The gate’s activated, they run to it, Sam tackles the guard, Castiel enters the gate, then slides into Heaven like a ballplayer sliding into home. Bobby helps him up saying welcome to the party.

In the hallway, Cas says they’re not far from Metatron, Singer asks where’s Dean? Cas says he’s resting he’s sick, Bobby shoves him saying try that again. Castiel says Dean’s given up and Bobby responds and you two Idjuts haven’t, that’s a page right out of the Winchester playbook. Cas asks Bobby if he’d give up, Singer growls Hell no.

Dean’s poured himself a whiskey and starts to drink it when he says, he was wondering when you’d show up. Crowley simply says squirrel, Dean responds, Boris, where’s Natasha? Crowley asks if that truly matters, Dean replies that it really doesn’t, then asks you want to do this or what?

Bobby and Cas reach Metatron’s cell, whose sitting there smiling and says hello boys, Castiel says he’s coming with him, the scribe replies he won’t be Dean’s punching bag again. Cas responds Dean’s not involved, Metatron says oh the “B-Team” eh? The keys are over there, chop-chop, Bobby asks if this is really necessary, Castiel responds that he’s afraid so.

Sam waits at the playground, Cas and Metatron appear, the scribe saying Samtastic, I got shotgun. Castiel pulls him near saying he’s in no position to demand terms, Metatron says he knows the Mark, he’s got Castiel’s grace, he’s in command. It’s called Leverage, Learn it, Live it, Love it. Castiel grabs Metatron, slits his throat gathers the Scribe’s grace in a tube, then closes the wound. Sam then shoots him in the thigh, Metatron falls to the ground bleeding and screaming.

Castiel says we’ve got your grace now Metatron,, you’re mortal. If you don’t cooperate, we’ll what’s the term, blow your frickin head off. THAT’S called Leverage!

Dean and Crowley are at the bar drinking, Crowley’s drink of choice filled with little umbrellas. Dean tells The King Of Hell he got tempted to kill Rowena, but never touched her. Crowley shakes his head and says so  she was lying, Dean says must be a family trait. Crowley says mother states that the Mark’s just a curse that can be removed, but she’s got no idea how to do it. Dean says that’s fine, I’m good Crowley then asks who’s the liar now?

He then tells Winchester that Rowena says he’s grown soft, Dean chuckles and says you have. Crowley gives him a look, Dean says a few years ago you would have come in here with Hell-Hounds and blew the roof off this place. Maybe it’s all the human blood Sammy pumped in you, but you’re different, then he says perhaps he’s changed as well, he never thought he’d play Doctor Phil for the King Of Hell. Crowley says maybe we’re getting old, Dean says I definitely did not see that coming.

He then asks why Crowley lets Rowena get to him, Crowley replies because they’re family, they’re blood. Dean says they’re not the same thing. A wise man once told him family don’t end in blood. However, he says it doesn’t begin with it either, Family’s the people who care about you, instead of wanting something from you. Family’s got your back, even when it hurts, from the beginning to the end, all of it. Does that sound like your mother?

Turns out that Metatron bluffed Dean, he’s got no clue how to rid Winchester of the mark, its old magic, Lucifer stuff and you can’t go asking him. Castiel, knows Metatron’s telling the truth, tells Sam to shoot him, but the scribe tells the Angel that some of Castiel’s grace remains and he’ll take him to it. Sam tells Cas it’s his call.

Crowley tells Rowena to get out, pack her things and leave, she cries out she’s his mother. He responds that she may have given birth to him, but she never was a mother. He says she was right about him getting soft, but that’s over, he screams I’m Crowley The King Of Hell. He then tells her she has five minutes to leave, she starts blubbering.

Sam returns to the Men Of Letters building, Dean asks him how was the movie, Sammy responds French. Then he asks about Dean’s night, he replies it was quiet he shot some pool. “THE BOYS,” say goodnight and when Sam enters his room he removes some paper from his jacket. A flashback shows us Castiel giving it to him, it’s a message from Bobby.

Bobby starts off by saying that he feels strange writing Sammy, then writes that Castiel told them about what they’re doing with Dean. He says he’s not saying they should stop, but perhaps they should tell Dean. He then writes that he knows the life, you do something a little bad to get good results. Sometimes however, the bad things terrible and the good comes at a Hell of a price.

He then writes that Sam’s a damn good man, one of the best and he’s incredibly proud of him, that although he’s not on the ground, Sam will make the right decision. He says that he’d been content in Heaven, but hearing from him was the best he felt in forever, no matter what it costs. We see three Angels entering Bobby’s paradise, we can tell they realize he was behind everything. So stay safe, keep fighting and kick it in the ass! Bobby.

The Story Continues on Wednesday, April 15, at 9:00 pm on The CW.

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