Supernatural’s “Hell’s Angel,” directed by Phil Sgriccia and written by Brad Buckner and Eugenie Ross-Leming, reinvigorates the season’s storylines. Despite a lot of exposition, the occasional clunky dialogue, and a compressed narrative, the episode is compelling and, at times, enthralling.
The episode opens in Saudi Arabia, where Crowley (Mark Sheppard) dissolves a soul contract in exchange for a Hand of God (11×14), the Horn of Joshua. Before he leaves, he kills everyone. When he’s again Stateside, he calls Dean (Jensen Ackles) with news. Dean’s not optimistic, but after Crowley gives him an address, Dean yells for Sam (Jared Padalecki).
The scene shifts to The Darkness/Amara (Emily Swallow), who’s getting a healing treatment. It’s a happy surprise to discover that her healer is none other than Rowena (Ruth Connell). I didn’t like Rowena’s nonsensical death in “The Devil in the Details” (11×10), so I’m glad to see her again.
As much as I love seeing Connell back, though, this scene is indicative of a larger issue with “Hell’s Angel”: There is so much going on that it’s as if two (or more) episodes were compressed into one. Flashbacks reveal that Rowena had an internal spell that activated when her life force was in danger, restoring her, but how did she make her way to Amara? Why did the Darkness allow her to help? We don’t get any of this information, and I doubt that we will. We do learn that Rowena is betting on Amara’s triumph; she promises to stand by Amara as she remakes the world. Meanwhile, Crowley wants to exorcise Lucifer from Castiel and return the devil to the Cage. His plan’s incomplete, though, since Rowena is dead and they don’t have The Book of the Damned.
By ways that remain mysterious, Lucifer infiltrates heaven and encounters Jofiel (Graeme Duffy), an angel inspecting the heavens recognizes him immediately: “So perfect – Castiel. One of heaven’s most wanted possessed by one of heaven’s most hated.” Their conversation ends when Lucifer smites him with a flourish.
Lucifer speaks to a group of angels arguing, “You need me.” He counters the worries about his past and says he can lock the Darkness away. “I’ve done it before… pops didn’t tell you that, huh?” After he takes care of Amara, he wants to stay in heaven. Collins delivers Lucifer’s subsequent offer with a cheeky smile: “If it makes you comfy, you could call me God.”
On earth, the Winchesters remind Crowley that neutralizing Amara takes precedence over Lucifer’s re-incarceration, no matter how much Satan’s bruised the demon’s ego. Dean puts a twist on things, though. He plans to first “exorcise Lucifer out of Cas and put him into a new vessel.“ Sam’s taken aback, but Dean has already thought this through: “I’m not going to send Lucifer into battle inside Cas. What if he doesn’t make it?” Sam says, “It’s a strong vessel. It’s held Cas for years, and we know what he’s been through.” Dean is offended. “It? It’s not an it, Sam. It’s Cas.” I can only guess that Sam’s own history with possession leads to him separating Castiel’s body from the angel’s self. Dean, however, sees Castiel as a package deal.
[Also, which “spare vessel” does Dean plan to offer Lucifer? No way would he offer Sam – is he planning to offer himself? And why does no one call Dean out on this and ask for clarification?]
Sam points out that this is where they always mistakenly make “the heart choice instead of the smart choice.” Dean reminds his brother, “Cas is family.” Sam agrees: “Yes, and his choice deserves to be respected.” “Even if it kills him?,” Dean asks. Crowley interrupts the argument to promise that if Lucifer isn’t caged, then the Horn will stay hidden.
We’re given another all-too-brief scene between Amara and Rowena. Though the other storylines seem to be happening sequentially over the course of a few hours, it seems odd that Rowena’s healing treatments are too. Did she and Amara only just meet? Here, Amara remarks that she doesn’t sense kindness in Rowena, and the witch admits wanting revenge and being self-motivated: “I want to be there when you remake the universe.”
Amara says that what the Winchesters “call destruction, I call renovation.” Rowena assures that she is useful and claims to care about Amara. “Have you ever had that?” Amara answers, “I’ve always been alone.” Rowena reaches out to touch her – in what seems to me a calculating gesture to instill a connection – but Amara freezes, and Rowena does too, pulling her hand back.
Lucifer has continued his persuasion of the angels, including straddling one angel as he counters criticism. Amusingly, the sitting angel doesn’t quite know how to react to Satan astride his lap. After Lucifer’s rallying “pep talk,” Collins delivers more great lines, including the usefulness of “wing twisting” and that “he who hesitates disintegrates.” As much as I miss Castiel, I really love seeing Collins’s portrayal of Lucifer.
Amara tests her recovery, sending a power burst to heaven. The angels are horrified, though Lucifer looks nearly gleeful at the attack; the Winchesters and Crowley are alarmed; and Rowena is terrified. Lucifer uses “Auntie Amara’s” attack to his persuasive advantage in heaven. Amara declares the test a success; Rowena doesn’t seem completely happy that her ministrations have worked.
Apparently, Crowley’s kept Rowena’s hex bag in his coat pocket all this time because she’s able to spy on her son’s conversation as she’s done before. She overhears their planning, but when she comes back to herself, she lies to God’s sister: “They are paralyzed with fear and don’t know what to do.” Though Amara expression is skeptical, she doesn’t press the point.
Crowley wants Lucifer re-caged, though the Winchesters insist they need him to wield the Hand of God. Crowley points out that Lucifer can’t wield the weapon if he doesn’t have it, and since it’s in the demon’s possession, this “is not a negotiation.” Coincidentally, as soon as Dean points out that they’re missing Rowena and The Book of the Damned this time, a message burns itself into the wall: “Back from the Dead, Fergus.”
The next scene finds Rowena, Dean, and Sam at an old church, preparing the warding and sigils for Lucifer. Crowley arrives with the Horn of Joshua, making it clear that he doesn’t trust Dean to follow the plan. The King of Hell asks “mummy” where she’s been: “Hiding. Once the Dark Prince knew I was alive, I wouldn’t be.” No mention’s made of her work with Amara.
Dean is rightly confident that Joshua’s Horn will lure Lucifer and reads the summoning spell. Rowena wisely hides as Lucifer appears. The score amplifies the drama of this scene, and the camera angles remind us that the reactions we’re seeing are very individual: Crowley sees the being that will depose him and destroy Hell; Sam sees the angel that wants, at the least, to possess him; and Dean sees Castiel at Lucifer’s mercy. Unfortunately, we don’t get to linger on these reactions because there’s no time to spare in this packed episode.
Lucifer calls out the trap: “I’m just not feeling the warm and fuzzy here.” He sees the Horn and agrees, “that ought to take her out all right. Let’s get to it. Douse the flames. [pause] Or don’t.” Suddenly, Dean activates the warding that the devil’s standing on, and the ensuing scene is heartbreaking:
Lucifer’s vessel reacts to the warding, and Dean gets to his feet, calling out, “Castiel, show yourself.” Cas answers, “Dean… what are you doing? What’s going on?” Castiel looks confused, uncertain, and Dean gets as close as he can with the holy fire between them. “Cas, Listen to me. We don’t have a whole lot of time, okay? You’ve got to—” Before Dean can finish, Castiel convulses. Crowley’s been watching with a smile but his face goes blank.
Dean continues to call out for Castiel as his friend’s body convulses, and Lucifer reclaims control. Collins’s portrayal of these character shifts is phenomenal. Crowley realizes what’s happening and backs away; Rowena looks terrified; and Sam’s expression is more complicated, though I read him as worried and disappointed. Ackles’s expressions as he conveys Dean’s emotions are a gut-punch. Though Dean continues to call for Cas and tells him to expel Lucifer, the devil is firmly in control. “You almost had me there, but these mail order spells…,” he scoffs.
The warding is failing, and Lucifer steps closer, taunting Dean’s cries for his friend. I have watched gifs of this scene a hundred times as Dean’s shock and hurt are palpable. Crowley utters, “Bloody Hell,” and makes the surprising move to possess Lucifer and reach Castiel directly.
This ensuing scene is so symbolic: Castiel has taken refuge in the bunker’s kitchen, which has “surprisingly good reception.” He’s adjusting his television’s rabbit-ear antennae when Crowley appears. Though the demon’s surprised to see where Castiel is, I’m not: The kitchen is central to the Winchester’s family scenes, maybe most memorably in “The Book of the Damned” (10×18) when Castiel, Dean, Sam, and Charlie have dinner together. It makes sense that Castiel gets the best “reception” to his “self” and his loved ones in this room.
While Castiel is out of it, he knows that he’s not really in the bunker (unlike Sam during Gadreel’s possession in 9×10). However, he doesn’t seem to understand the full ramifications of what’s happening. He explains, “I’m just waiting for the battle,” as he focuses on his program.
Crowley sees the changes in Castiel and wants to know what Lucifer’s done to him. “Oh, he mostly just leaves me alone,” Castiel answers. At first, that answer seems reassuring – but it actually is anything but. It’s Cas’s isolation and depression that made him susceptible to Lucifer’s lies in the first place. Being left alone only reinforces Castiel’s mistaken belief that he – as Castiel – doesn’t have worth or counts.
The demon sees immediately that Lucifer’s “really got his hooks in” Castiel and orders the angel to “Snap out of it.” He explains what the Winchesters are doing, but Castiel only comments, “That doesn’t sound like a very good idea.” Crowley says the angel’s in no state to judge, and it is disturbing to see how belatedly Cas realizes that Dean has been calling to him: “That was Dean I saw. And he wants me to expel Lucifer?…Well, he may have a more objective view of the situation. Maybe I should.” Even as he says this, Castiel’s attention refocuses on his television screen, and he smiles absently at whatever he sees. This vividly reminds me of “Hunteri Heroici” (8×7), and its emphasis on awareness, communication, and relationships.
“Well, let’s do it now before it’s too late,” Crowley suggests. But Lucifer (now portrayed by Mark Pellegrino) enters the kitchen, and he is not happy. He attacks Crowley. Castiel, detached once more, absently remarks, “Guys, you’re going to break something,” as he adjusts the television’s antennae again.
Out in the world, Dean is frustrated that Lucifer hasn’t yet been ejected. He and Sam are debating what’s taking so long, and Rowena’s frustrated by their “dithering.” Crowley sends a distress call, etching “HELP ME” across the forehead of his meatsuit. As Pellegrino’s Lucifer beats up Crowley and reminds him that he’s “nothing,” while Sam chants the exorcism and Dean throws holy water.
As the exorcism reaches Crowley, Castiel hears Sam and realizes something is wrong. He doesn’t act, and we can’t tell if this awareness is passing because when Crowley’s exorcised, we lose our view of Castiel. (It’s also significant that we haven’t seen Castiel’s point of view since his possession.) Crowley delivers the bad news: “Lucifer’s hold on [Cas] is too strong.”
“Watch the fire,” Rowena yells. She hides right before the warding and the holy oil completely fail, and an angry Lucifer (Collins) becomes conscious. “You know, I could’ve been your warrior,” he says, looking directly at Dean. “Eh, who needs ya.” Crowley disappears, and Lucifer takes the Horn before roughly seating Sam and Dean onto nearby pews. Again, looking at Dean, he says, “There comes a time when every relationship has run its course.” Lucifer twists his hands, and whatever he does leaves the brothers in agony.
An explosion interrupts Lucifer’s torture: Amara enters after tracking Rowena there, though she doesn’t call the witch out by name. Still, Lucifer looks directly towards the corner where Rowena’s hiding. Lucifer absorbs the Horn’s power and attacks. Everyone is shocked when Amara simply absorbs the blast.
She pulls Lucifer to her and cups his face. “I think you and I need to have a nice, long chat.” Their interaction is interesting here, and I feel like there’s more going on than we know. Dean’s anxiety seems to increase with Amara’s interest in Lucifer/Castiel’s body, and he once more calls out, “Cas.” This major moment reveals Very Important Things: Dean’s concern for Castiel trumps Amara’s usual control over him, and judging by their expressions, both Amara and Lucifer now realize that. Amara looks disconcerted by Dean’s non-thrall behavior, but she releases the Winchesters from Lucifer’s control before disappearing with her nephew. The camera lingers on Dean through this entire sequence, and if you didn’t pay attention to Ackles’s expressions, I encourage you to do so. His emoting skills are top-notch.
Back at the bunker, Sam carries beers into the map room, as Dean gathers up several empty bottles that weren’t in the opening scene. While they’re wearing the same clothes all episode, the bottles suggest they’ve been back and processing/drinking for a while. The brothers talk through Rowena’s survivalist strategy and why Lucifer wielding the Hand didn’t work while Dean sets the bottles up on the table. Dean questions if a booted archangel can be God’s Chosen, which reopens the question of who will prove to be God’s Chosen in the end? Dean takes a seat, and Sam, looking apologetic, brings up his wanting Cas to deal with Amara.
“Well, that’s what he wanted, though, right?,” Dean asks. “…Didn’t we say that we were going to swear off getting in the way when one person makes a choice the other doesn’t agree with?” Dean’s mannerisms in this scene aren’t his usual: He seems deflated, though thoughtful. Sam looks surprised. “…Yeah, we did say that,” he agrees, taking a seat at the other end of the table. Sam appears emotional, but agrees, “Okay, so, that’s our policy.” “Which sounds damn good,” Dean says. Sam huffs a laugh, and the brothers share a look. Dean says, “Well let’s go find that idiot and bring him home.” Sam nods, and Dean rolls the baseball towards the bottles.
They crash, just as the scene shifts to Amara slamming Lucifer against the wall. Lucifer tries to convince Amara that he’s useful to her cause. She agrees, but not in the way he intends. She’s going to use him to lure God, so that her brother can witness firsthand the “utter destruction of all his creation before he himself is swept away.” Lucifer smiles wickedly. “You’re expecting him…. I wouldn’t wait up. Pretty sure he caught the last train out.” Amara’s undeterred: “Well, we’ll see, won’t we?” She blasts him, and Lucifer screams. I can’t help wondering, if Samandriel’s screams caused a burning bush to manifest (8×10), what will Lucifer’s bring about?
I really enjoyed “Hell’s Angel,” but it feels too long since we had a myth-arc fix. It’s been three episodes and a short hiatus since the “The Vessel” (11×14), which was followed by “Beyond the Mat.” The episode, written by John Bring and Andrew Dabb and directed by Jerry Wanek, shows the Winchesters finding diversion from their pain in a case that involves wrestlers they idolized in childhood, while Lucifer tortures Crowley before the demon can make his escape.
After the ensuing hiatus, the compelling “Safe House,” written by Robbie Thompson and directed by Stefan Pleszczynski, brings Jim Beaver and Steven Williams back as Bobby Singer and Rufus Turner in an episode that’s half flashback. (And, seriously, we need more Bobby and Rufus; they are great!) Last week’s “Red Meat, co-written by Robert Berens and Andrew Dabb and directed by Nina Lopez-Corrado, delivers an emotional punch that, frankly, still has me reeling as we’re shown that Dean is definitely not in the best headspace as the threat/thought of losing Sam in addition to Cas pushes him over the edge and back into “let’s make a deal” territory. Billie, however, reminds Dean that nothing awaits him or Sam but The Empty. As usual, Dean’s not talking, and he doesn’t tell his brother about his near-fatal overdose. It’s this mindset that concerns me. Of the three, Sam currently seems the healthiest and most-centered, but Castiel and Dean have me worried.
This season has repeatedly incorporated direct references to Castiel and the larger arcs into the Monster of the Weeks, which works well. It would be nice, though, if more narrative space were given to the myth-heavy episodes in the season line-up. After all, while “Hell’s Angel” kicks up the momentum and finally – finally – propels the plot, Supernatural is now on a two-week hiatus and will return with what sounds like yet another MOTW. It’s frustrating. Still, I have to know how Castiel will be saved, and I’m really curious about Dean’s plan to locate a spare vessel and if Sam will go along with that plan, so I’m hanging in there. However, I do hope that Season 12 reconsiders the episode pattern and the habit of overloading the pivotal myth episodes.
When Supernatural returns on April 27, there are five weeks left of season 11’s run. I hope for good things, and in the meantime, I’m re-watching “Hell’s Angel” and crying over Dean and Castiel. Supernatural airs Wednesdays on the CW Network at 9 pm ET.