S12.E01: Keep Calm and Carry On

[Meredith Quill]

Episode Synopsis:

Dean is overwhelmed as he comes face to face with his mom, Mary Winchester. Meanwhile, Sam is fighting for his life after Lady Toni Bevell, a member of the British Men of Letters, shot him.

[ZennyKenny]

Getting ready to watch! Got my apple pie, as is customary for a season premiere. Along with ice cream. But not just any ice cream. I got... Moose Tracks. :P

[mustbekarma]

All I could think during this episode was "Those British bitches just better Brexit their asses back to Britain!"

OK, I yelled this at the TV. I have no regrets.

I actually liked this episode. It helped that one of the British antagonists died by Mary WInchester's hands. Don't mess with the mommy, you numpty twits. If it wasn't for the fact that I don't want to see Samifer again, I really wanted Lucifer to enter Sam's meatsuit and rip the second British antagonist to shreds.

Newsflash to Britain Men of Letters-stay out of the United States. We already fought one war and won.

[Morrigan2575]

I really enjoyed this episode but, I'm too tired to go into detail. I'm just going to cover (for now) the one thing that really bugged me. I know why they did it but, I absolutely hated that British Torture Chick managed to take out both Dean and Castiel. 

[Jediknight]

1 minute ago, mustbekarma said:

Newsflash to Britain Men of Letters-stay out of the United States. We already fought one war and won.

Well maybe if the Winchesters didn't break the world every month they'd leave them alone.

That one guy's rant about possessing a 14 year old girl, was hilarious.

[catrox14]

Sure that chick is going to take out both Cas and Dean. Whatever. I hate when shows make others incompetent so someone else can have a moment. Really A LOT.

I loved loved loved Jensen in the opening scene. He was perfect and he broke my heart. 

I loved the Dean/Cas hug but it's time for my nitpicking. I still do not understand how Cas didn't sense that Dean wasn't dead. I didn't understand it in s9 and I don't understand it now other than a heavy dose of Plotonium to create drama and angst.

Sam, you should have killed Lady GoFuckOffandDie. 

I thought it was interesting that Misha has the "and" credit now. That's a prestige thing and it also makes me nervous as fuck that he might not survive the season.

[Boopsahoy]

I really enjoyed the Dean/Mary scenes. I will admit to shedding a tear watching Dean and his Mom and laughing when Dean realized what happened in the back seat of the Impala.  I'm not a fan of torture scenes but damn Sam! I've been tortured by Lucifer sets the bar really high!

I thought it was interesting that they came up with those brass knuckles-they had writing on them-that seemed to de-angel Cas. Interesting way of getting around Cas being powerful.

Need to rewatch  and looking forward to it.

2 minutes ago, catrox14 said:

Sure that chick is going to take out both Cas and Dean. Whatever. I hate when shows make others incompetent so someone else can have a moment. Really A LOT.

Didn't you see those "special" brass knuckles she had? They even showed Dean had them after the fight with something wrapped around them and then they showed them again at the beginning of the coming attractions. :-)

[catrox14]

HOLY CRAP! Supernatural is trending #1 on Twitter  in the US over both football & baseball

[ZennyKenny]

Oh no no no apple pie and moose tracks ice cream do NOT go together. Repeat: DO NOT try the apple pie and moose tracks ice cream! It tastes like season 8 Winchester angst!

[catrox14]

4 minutes ago, Boopsahoy said:

I really enjoyed the Dean/Mary scenes. I will admit to shedding a tear watching Dean and his Mom and laughing when Dean realized what happened in the back seat of the Impala.  I'm not a fan of torture scenes but damn Sam! I've been tortured by Lucifer sets the bar really high!

I thought it was interesting that they came up with those brass knuckles-they had writing on them-that seemed to de-angel Cas. Interesting way of getting around Cas being powerful.

Need to rewatch  and looking forward to it.

Didn't you see those "special" brass knuckles she had? They even showed Dean had them after the fight with something wrapped around them and then they showed them again at the beginning of the coming attractions. :-)

Yes I saw the brass knuckles but it makes no sense for those to take out Dean Fucking Winchester. I can see it slowing down Cas for a hot minute because of the sigils but he's a fucking angel.  It's ridiculous IMO

My head!canon is that Dean was conceived in the back of the Impala.

[bethy]

10 minutes ago, Morrigan2575 said:

I absolutely hated that British Torture Chick managed to take out both Dean and Castiel. 

Ugh. Especially since they showed Cas touch a guy on his forehead to take him out at the beginning of the episode. I knew as soon as that fight started that Dean and Cas were losing so Mary could save the day. 

[Boopsahoy]

7 minutes ago, catrox14 said:

My head!canon is that Dean was conceived in the back of the Impala

I actually think that's canon. Wasn't that what she was inferring looking at Dean and nodding? Pretty sure....

[rue721]

I dunno, I thought those fights were pretty awesome. I loved when Cas spit out all that blood onto the ground, and then got up to fight her again. He was pretty badass.

Sam was awesome, too. His trick with the mirror shard was genius. I actually believed him! Poor thing looked so bleak lying in a pool of blood in that dirty cellar. I love it so much when he's clever. 

[patty1h]

It feels so wrong to have found wet, shivering, tortured Sam so sexy.

[catrox14]

6 minutes ago, Boopsahoy said:

I actually think that's canon. Wasn't that what she was inferring looking at Dean and nodding? Pretty sure....

I didn't know if that was specifically what she meant or just nodding that she and John did the deed in the car. But either way canon or my head!canon it's all good.

[MysteryGuest]

I'm going to have to watch again, because I hate watching with commercials.  That being said, I enjoyed the scenes with Dean, Mary and Cas.  Hated the BMOL, but then I guess we're supposed to.  I don't buy for a second that they are so far superior to us, so something has to happen that's going to make them come to Sam and Dean for help.

I agree about the fight scene and how easily she took out both Dean and Cas.  I know the brass knuckles were the key, but still...  

I know that they didn't want them to find Sam until next episode, but would it have killed them to have written a few more lines of dialogue?  The last few minutes of nothing but watching them all think was a bit annoying.  It's pretty early in the season to be trying to fill time, isn't it?

[Binns]

Right, @patty1h? Smoking. 

Those brass knuckles weren't just decorated with any sigils. They clearly did something to make her supernaturally strong and skilled. There's no other explanation for thrashing a full powered angel much less Dean. 

 

I liked all of the Mary stuff. I liked that they mentioned that she saw them in the past and as a ghost and didn't remember it- that her last memory was burning. It cleaned that up. 

Poor Dean! His backseat memories are contaminated now! I loved his little look over to Cas. 

Overall really enjoyed it. Bodes well for the season if they continue with sharp storytelling. Good villains too. Enjoyed the U.K. background- warding and sigils everywhere and no demon attacks- hopefully at some point they can share some of their knowledge with the boys. And I'm glad they didn't wrap up finding Sam in one ep. I didn't mind the Lucifer stuff though I don't want him taking up tons of time. 

[catrox14]

2 minutes ago, Binns said:

Those brass knuckles weren't just decorated with any sigils. They clearly did something to make her supernaturally strong and skilled. There's no other explanation for thrashing a full powered angel much less Dean. 

Yup.

[Wynne88]

I think I missed something - how did they know that veterinarian had anything to do with anything?

[MysteryGuest]

I just find it difficult to believe that the Americans have been fighting monsters, demons, etc. all this time, while the Brits supposedly had the problem solved?  And this news never got out?  I find that hard to believe.  That's the one part that really bothered me.   

[rue721]

I think that the point of contrast was between:

Dean telling Mary that "saving people, hunting things" was his and Sam's life, and he sincerely thought they were making the world a better place

VS. The BMOL saying that nobody has died by monster attack in Britain since the 1960s, along with the visual aid of the BMOL hunting and killing monsters with chilling efficiency (and I did think their efficiency was chilling. I mean, I think it was supposed to be kind of scary)

VS. Mary's out and out refusal to hunt (which was sort of out of selfishness, but a very sympathetic kind of selfishness imo).

[bethy]

13 minutes ago, Binns said:

Those brass knuckles weren't just decorated with any sigils. They clearly did something to make her supernaturally strong and skilled. There's no other explanation for thrashing a full powered angel much less Dean.

I didn't notice the special brass knuckles during that fight - just something toward the end of the episode, I think. That makes more sense.

[bmoore4026]

Let's see: A Winchester brother bound and in dire peril?  Check.  Dean and Cas hoyay?  Check.  Crowley machinations?  Check.

Yep, Supernatural's back :)

[catrox14]

9 minutes ago, MysteryGuest said:

I just find it difficult to believe that the Americans have been fighting monsters, demons, etc. all this time, while the Brits supposedly had the problem solved?  And this news never got out?  I find that hard to believe.  That's the one part that really bothered me.   

Well, this is a Dabb script and remember in Bloodlines no one ever knew about 5 monster families in Chicago...so...yeah..

That bothered me too.

[catrox14]

6 minutes ago, rue721 said:

VS. The BMOL saying that nobody has died by monster attack in Britain since the 1960s, along with the visual aid of the BMOL hunting and killing monsters with chilling efficiency (and I did think their efficiency was chilling. I mean, I think it was supposed to be kind of scary)

This made me think of the pre-crime thing in Minority Report where the BEVMoL were prejudging whether a monster would kill or not.  Like they never let any monster live but our boys make some compromises at times like with Lenore or even Crowley or Ruby or whatever.

[rue721]

Oh and also! I really enjoyed it.

I don't really understand what the point of torturing Sam is? But they actually made that storyline reasonably suspenseful (and grimy!), and I was really rooting for Sam. So. Good job!

Loved everything to do with Dean and Mary, like I knew I would.

Liked that Cas is OldTestament!Cas again?! I don't remember how or why that happened, but he was cracking me up this episode. I especially liked that scene between him and that guy who saw him fall to Earth. The guy had a totally normal reaction, and Cas was all business. Really fun.

I liked what a big deal it was that Baby got dented.

Torn about the Lucifer storyline, in that I liked Crowley and I even liked those demons that he was following...but I DGAF about Lucifer. Just forget about him, show! There are so many characters who've been killed off too early and relegated to the dustbin needlessly, and yet LUCIFER IS STILL KICKING?! WTF guys. WTF. Everytime Lucifer gets mentioned, I feel like I should raise a glass to the Harvell family, in silent protest that he lives and they died. ;)

[rue721]

29 minutes ago, catrox14 said:

This made me think of the pre-crime thing in Minority Report where the BEVMoL were prejudging whether a monster would kill or not.  Like they never let any monster live but our boys make some compromises at times like with Lenore or even Crowley or Ruby or whatever.

It also kind of reminded me of Gattaca? Even the lighting of that flashback reminded me of Minority Report or Gattaca (all cold and blue and clammy-looking). I think that was the point. Britain looked like some kind of ultra-policed dystopia.

Also, it was interesting that Toni referred to some other BMOL guy (?) as a psychopath, and Sam lured her into his "den" by playing on her (human) sympathy. Something is definitely rotten in the state of Britain!

And just on a practical level, it's freaky as shit that the British MOL just WIPED OUT entire species of monsters/people who were living on their island. How'd they do that?! Did they do things like kill every shifter mother, father, and child? And like you say, not all monsters are actually, you know, monstrous anyway. I mean, like what about the zanna? They slaughtered all of them, too? What about angels? What about random creatures like fairies and wood nymphs or whatever that have their own realms? What about "indigenous" British supernatural creatures? Is no magic or supernatural creature at all allowed in Britain? In theory I guess that's fine, and more-or-less the Winchesters' overall goal, too, but imo it doesn't sit right. I doubt that the show is going to go in the direction of, "oh yeah, Winchesters, start doing things like these police state freaks, that's totally how you should hunt now!" Although obviously we're supposed to respect the BMOL and we're probably supposed to even like Toni. So eh.

Edited October 14, 2016 by rue721
Improper use of apostrophes. I wouldn't dare embarrass my second grade teacher, Ms. Bennett, with such ungrammatical nonsense!

[ZennyKenny]

Welp, that sure was an episode... of Supernatural... on my tv screen...

I enjoyed that I watched it with my wife.

Ugh, I forgot how underwhelming season premieres always are. I really should just wait until I can watch the first 3 episodes all at once. It's not that it's terrible; ti's the it's like watching the first 35 minutes of a movie and then having to walk out of the theater.

Edited October 14, 2016 by ZennyKenny

[trxr4kids]

16 minutes ago, rue721 said:

Torn about the Lucifer storyline, in that I liked Crowley and I even liked those demons that he was following...but I DGAF about Lucifer. Just forget about him, show! There are so many characters who've been killed off too early and relegated to the dustbin needlessly, and yet LUCIFER IS STILL KICKING?! WTF guys. WTF. Everytime Lucifer gets mentioned, I feel like I should raise a glass to the Harvell family, in silent protest that he lives and they died. ;)

Couldn't agree more. We've had enough exploration of Lucifer in several incarnations, move on show.

[ZennyKenny]

51 minutes ago, MysteryGuest said:

I'm going to have to watch again, because I hate watching with commercials.

Srsly! I hardly ever watch tv so I forgot how mood-breaking they are. And geez why so many?! When did they start doing 4 commercial breaks instead of 3??? But yeah, I have a feeling that a solid flow will make the episode much better.

[companionenvy]

Pretty much loved everything with Dean and Mary, but not thrilled with the super-competent Ladies of Letters yet -- although I did like Sam's resolve in dealing with them. I've been watching some early SPN recently, and while JA was a fantastic actor from the beginning, JP has really grown over the years.

Calling it right now: the British Men of Letters have made a (perhaps literal) deal with the devil, or at least a demon. I also suspect the "old men" are not human. I'll take anything else to the speculation thread.

[Binns]

20 minutes ago, rue721 said:

 

Liked that Cas is OldTestament!Cas again?! I don't remember how or why that happened, but he was cracking me up this episode. I especially liked that scene between him and that guy who saw him fall to Earth. The guy had a totally normal reaction, and Cas was all business. Really fun.

Read or saw an interview with Dabb? Maybe? Where he said that Castiel was getting back to his S4 roots this season. Sign me up. I adored S4 Cas. 

 

Forgot to add earlier- I thought Jared did really strong work tonight. I especially thought he did a good job of conveying Sam's hopelessness and despair at the end. I figured Toni would let slip that Dean was alive when they had their last encounter and they didn't...so he must feel pretty alone, not knowing where Cas ended up. 

[Ninamags]

Probably not a popular theory but I thought that woman kicking Deans butt was kinda bad-ass.

Yay, girls! 

Of course she had to die. ???

Poor, Sammy. He looked so dejected and alone. He still thinks Dean is dead so he probably doesn't care about anything anymore. 

I hope Samantha was wearing a wig. Mary needs shorter hair if she's gonna be kicking ass and taking names along with her sons. ?

Crowley still gets no respect. 

[Diane]

I am tired so this is going to be short. Loved it. Loved the Dean and Mary stuff, Jared was great, badass Cas. Kill Ladymaygofuckherself now. Hated the women on my other show, get her off this one. Sorry looking forward to Rick Springfield (teenage girl left in this old women)! I can't imagine Mary being gone for 30 something years and being in 2016, just can't imagine that shock.

[AwesomO4000]

1 hour ago, Jediknight said:

That one guy's rant about possessing a 14 year old girl, was hilarious.

Hee, I loved that part, complete with the other demon looking at him askance, and the first demon's explanation of (paraphrase) "hormones man, they mess you up." Hee, they sure do.

1 hour ago, patty1h said:

It feels so wrong to have found wet, shivering, tortured Sam so sexy.

*Joins you in being wrong.*

Defiant Sam was also sexy. I would've been disappointed in him if he bought their "If you tell us what we want, we'll let you walk out the door. Promise" Sure probably to get shot soon after - their "well, you're a lost cause, but there are other hunters" declaration to be proof that that was likely where it was going. I don't trust their motive for wanting to know the names and locations of other hunter at all. (see also below).

I also found smart, sneaky pretending to be dead Sam satisfying as well. And I know he should've killed her to be sure, but I'm even glad that he didn't do that. When I saw the bleeding, I was thinking "wonder if he's doing a little soulless Sam trickery here" and was very pleased when it turned out to be the case. And it was good work by Jared that I could buy that he'd only pretended to cut himself (in other words, it wasn't a jab or a really quick and/or deep slice where I would've said "no way he didn't cut himself there.)

49 minutes ago, companionenvy said:

Calling it right now: the British Men of Letters have made a (perhaps literal) deal with the devil, or at least a demon. I also suspect the "old men" are not human. I'll take anything else to the speculation thread.

Thinking on this, I'm wondering if they are maybe giving up the hunters in America as "payment" for their (Britain's) safety? One reason is I couldn't see the British modus operandi working as well for such a large country as the U.S. There are large stretches of countryside where their "marking" method just wouldn't seem practical. And they'd need a whole lot of hunters to cover the acreage.

[ahrtee]

47 minutes ago, ZennyKenny said:

Ugh, I forgot how underwhelming season premieres always are. I really should just wait until I can watch the first 3 episodes all at once. It's not that it's terrible; ti's the it's like watching the first 35 minutes of a movie and then having to walk out of the theater.

I enjoyed it (especially the Dean/Mary moments), but it was definitely just the setup and we'll have to wait for the payoff (hopefully, we *will* get one!)  

My main issue:  I'm not a big fan of gratuitous torture, especially when it's illogical.  Honestly, with all their toys and sophistication, don't the BMOL have a truth serum that will get the information easily without intentional damage (seriously?  cold water?  Foot porn?  Hallucinations? ... But then we'd miss wet, shivering, tortured Sam.)    

Besides, If they just wanted to make contact with hunters to offer their help, surely there were easier ways to do it (like, maybe, just saying "we've wiped out all the monsters in the UK and want to help you get rid of yours") rather than going straight to torture.   But the end of s.11 sounded like they just wanted to get rid of the Winchesters because of all the times they'd screwed up, so (again) torture makes no sense.  *sigh*

On a separate note, did anyone else think it odd that Dean immediately started calling Mary  "mom," and she didn't look even slightly uncomfortable with it?  (I know to him she's still the mom he remembered, but I would think it would feel odd to her, and just the fact of their age differences might make them both fumble around at least a little, with "what should I call you?" or her saying "call me  Mary.")  

Someone a while ago in the spoiler thread suggested that Milady would wind up a love interest for Dean.  It looks to me more like it's going to be Sam, judging by the admiring glances she was throwing at him (solely for his determination and courage, of course........)

[catrox14]

12 minutes ago, ahrtee said:

On a separate note, did anyone else think it odd that Dean immediately started calling Mary  "mom," and she didn't look even slightly uncomfortable with it?  (I know to him she's still the mom he remembered, but I would think it would feel odd to her, and just the fact of their age differences might make them both fumble around at least a little, with "what should I call you?" or her saying "call me  Mary."

 

 Every time they've ever talked about Mary they've called her "Mom". To me it would be weird if he didn't call her Mom. 

Dean's face when he finally hugged Mary just freaking KILLED ME. He looked so stunned and not even sure it's real IMO. Just beautiful.

[Myrelle]

I heard it was weak. I might wait until next week and watch it(minus the Sam torture nonsense) before next week's episode. It doesn't sound like there were any surprises. Heard that the opening scene was awesome, though.

[ahrtee]

(To Catrox, since Myrelle snuck in a post in between...)

I was thinking it would be weird for Mary, not so much for Dean.  And yes, Dean's face.....

Edited October 14, 2016 by ahrtee
Tried to get quote in but couldn't figure out how after the fact

[SueB]

2 hours ago, ZennyKenny said:

Oh no no no apple pie and moose tracks ice cream do NOT go together. Repeat: DO NOT try the apple pie and moose tracks ice cream! It tastes like season 8 Winchester angst!

 

Important safety tip.  I'm writing this one down!

2 hours ago, Wynne88 said:

I think I missed something - how did they know that veterinarian had anything to do with anything?

The driver.

[catrox14]

5 minutes ago, ahrtee said:

(To Catrox, since Myrelle snuck in a post in between...)

I was thinking it would be weird for Mary, not so much for Dean.  And yes, Dean's face.....

I think it would be weird for Mary if Dean didn't call her Mom :) But I'm not a mom so what do I know LOL

[ahrtee]

Just now, catrox14 said:

I think it would be weird for Mary if Dean didn't call her Mom :) But I'm not a mom so what do I know LOL

Mary still remembers Dean as being 4 years old.  This is a 37-year-old man calling her (at her remembered age of 29) Mom.  It would be weird to me.  

[catrox14]

Just now, ahrtee said:

Mary still remembers Dean as being 4 years old.  This is a 37-year-old man calling her (at her remembered age of 29) Mom.  It would be weird to me.  

Should he call her Mommy? (I'm just kidding).  I think calling her Mom is probably the most comforting thing he can do for her, IMO.  I guess I don't understand why his age has anything to do with it.  She is still his Mom .

[catrox14]

If these EVMOL really know about Sam they know he's Lucifer's vessel and if he survived that, why would they think they could get him to break? When I think about it for 5 freaking minutes it's a pretty stupid plan

[ahrtee]

I think we're talking around each other.  I'm talking about her POV, not his.  If a man I'd never seen before who is 8 years older than me called me "mom," even if (logically) I knew it was true, I'd feel a little weird.  But maybe that's just me.   It didn't seem to bother her.  So I guess the answer to my question is "no."  

[SueB]

Quick thoughts:

Samantha Smith is an EXCELLENT add to the show.  She was perfect IMO as Mary.  So much was expressed in her body language and facials.  I will be watching Dean and her multiple times this week.  Highlights for me:

- Dean and Mary.  Dean had ALL THE FACTS of Mary's life.  How many times did he hear those stories?  And he just rattled them off with such reverence.  *sigh* I am SUCH a sucker for Dean/Mary feels.  And his whole body language around her is gentle.  He's treating her like he's never treated anyone else.  I don't know how to explain it.  But Jensen just knocked it out of the park. Squatting down to talk to her.  The way he looked back to check on her as they drove (during that montage).  If you rewatch, just see the way he moves around her.  It's so very well done. And yes, that LOOK when he hugged her. And of course I loved his traumatized realization that his mother was recalling sexy times in the back of that car.  Dean needs a good therapist. I volunteer as tribute. 

- Cas is PISSED and he's going to get to Sam.  It doesn't matter that Dean is back, Sam got taken on Cas' watch and he's going to FIND HIM.  How I loved the hug.  And Mary's startled look.  I'm guessing Dean left off the whole "bomb" story.  

- Dean breaking that phone.  It wasn't the speech that did it for me.  It's the way he just crushed a phone in half, letting his anger out.  

- Hormone-flashback-demon.  That was an excellent bit there.  I love when they give the one-off characters a chance to have a memorable moment.

- Mary's trauma. They are NOT sugar coating this.  Again, Sam Smith did a good job showing herself to be unsteady at times and then her training kicking in.  I LOVED LOVED her staring at her hands after she killed Evol British Henchwoman. Plus the haunting looking she had during the montage.

- Defiant Sam.  Such a BadAss.  I like that Evil British Henchwoman gave up so quick.  And the psycho-drugs?  Child's play.  I also like the brutality of the fight between him and Lady McFullOfHerself.  It felt very real.  Excellent fight staging and directing for that scene (from Sam choking her to her escaping on the steps).  Note: I have ZERO sympathy for Lady McFullOfHerself.  I don't want redemption for her.

Irritated about: I NEEDED Dean to get a good hit on Evol British Henchwoman.  She died waaaaaaayyyy too easy.  I don't mind Mary getting the kill, but Dean needs to hit something.

All in all, it was a huge shift in pace from the finale but I liked it.  There was a grounded feeling to this episode.  Little bits like showing them pushing the car off the road, getting coffee, etc..  I liked all of those details. There's a reality to it.  Jarring (good word usage Cas!) in the amount of tangible detail.  It made me empathize with Mary's POV (suddenly back amongst the living).

[catrox14]

Just now, ahrtee said:

I think we're talking around each other.  I'm talking about her POV, not his.  If a man I'd never seen before who is 8 years older than me called me "mom," even if (logically) I knew it was true, I'd feel a little weird.  But maybe that's just me.   It didn't seem to bother her.  So I guess the answer to my question is "no."  

 I am talking about her POV as well.  Dean was shocked when he saw her and blurted out Mom. He didn't think she was real at first, and when he approached her, she tackled him and he explained who he was. Once she remembered her own death and IMO experiencing that trauma again and Dean explaining her history, she trusted that he was her grown child. I'm saying from her POV, at that point, hearing "Mom" was of comfort.

[JunebugWA]

So the BWoL said there had not been any monster attacks in Britain since 1960's, what about the Banshee that killed Aileen's parents? Did it not count because it happened in Ireland instead of the UK? Also, did they not know that the American's MOL chapter was wiped out in 1958? I hope Milady is not going to be on for a whole season. Hopefully Cas and Sam will give her her just dessert next week and be done with her. 

Edited October 14, 2016 by JunebugWA

[justmehere]

2 hours ago, ahrtee said:

My main issue:  I'm not a big fan of gratuitous torture, especially when it's illogical.  Honestly, with all their toys and sophistication, don't the BMOL have a truth serum that will get the information easily without intentional damage

Exactly. I think the show has way over-used torture. Here, I just kept wondering why the BMOL didn't have truth serum (sodium pentothal). However, I thought the cold water route was interesting. It seems like no big deal, but... hypothermia.

One other issue: What exactly are Cas's  powers at this point? Why did he need the truck? Is he still not able to relocate? He made the guy unconscious easily enough; does he not have enough power to blast someone from a distance? Even with the brass knuckles and sigils, I wondered why he didn't didn't use his power before she could even reach him.

I liked the episode overall for many of the reasons already mentioned. I also thought it was interesting that Lucifer was burning through humans, not finding one strong enough to last. That sounds really awful. I just mean conceptually, it was a strong visual showing that few can hold him so he's kind of been on the run trying to survive.

[Omegamom]

Awesome.

Lots of quick funny moments--I liked that.  The demon in the fourteen year old girl...Dean getting squicked out by the thought of mom and dad in the backseat of his precious Baby...a few more that I don't remember.

Lady McWhatserface and the British MOL.  They are the result of fifty years of the MOL running the supernatural world with fascist efficiency.  That would be why the immediate leap to torture--they see Sam as a monster, so deal with him like a monster, instead of taking their time, working into a friendship, and getting all the info that way.

Sam was just gorgeous.  Damn, that man has a nice jawline!

Mary.  My goodness, they have done a good job, much better than I expected.  They realized that she would be weirded out by the changes in pop culture, I liked that.  I liked the direct call back to how adamant she was to get out of the hunting life.

Lots of the family music theme.

Cas being badass--yay!

Sam throwing being tortured in Hell by Lucifer in the BMOL ladies' faces--you go, guy!

I agree with @ahrtee that Mary should find a "strange" guy older than her calling her "Mom" to be weird.

All in all, it felt like a nice, tight episode.

(Though having Sam tied [chained!] into a chair yet again was irritating.  I was ready for the cliche Sam-escapes-from-chair scene.  Glad it didn't go that way!)