Supernatural’s longevity is often joked about being, well, supernatural. The show has gone through many transformations over the years, and its twelfth season premiere proves that Supernatural’s evolution is far from over.
Written by Andrew Dabb and directed by Phil Sgriccia, “Keep Calm and Carry On” is going down as one of my favorite premieres. Its focus on family and the ties that bind, along with its departure from the apocalyptic, emphasizes the breadth of these characters and the richness of their portrayals.
The episode picks up immediately where season 11’s finale ended: Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) discovers his long-dead mother, Mary (Samantha Smith), in the park. Castiel (Misha Collins) crashes into a field after being banished from the Men of Letters bunker by Toni Bevell (Elizabeth Blackmore). Bevell shot Dean’s younger brother Sam (Jared Padalecki) in the finale, and in this episode, Sam is her prisoner. Also in the mix is Crowley (Mark Sheppard) searching for Lucifer, who’s jumping from vessel to vessel.
My favorite moments of the episode are where the characters are central. Mary is fascinating, as she works to make sense of the world 33 years after her death. Ackles’s emoting is top-notch (as always), and Dean’s emotion at finding his mother again is heart wrenching. Castiel’s sheer happiness and relief when he discovers that Dean is alive makes me smile, and the duo’s spontaneous, affectionate hug could make any grinch’s heart grow at least four sizes. (More of these scenes, please, Supernatural.)
Unfortunately, Sam’s situation in this episode is anything but heartwarming; he’s in restraints, thinks Dean is dead, and doesn’t know what happened to Cas. However, in this, we see Sam’s strength and his resilience. He’s not scared of Bevell and her associate. As he reminds them, he’s been tortured by the devil, and he can take whatever they mete out.
That said, after what Sam’s been through, and after Lucifer’s taunts last season, I’m pretty done with seeing him hurt. Per spoilers and set pictures, Sam will be rescued in episode two, so that’s a plus. I’m also a bit apprehensive about how the narrative seems to be framing Bevell’s shifting interest in Sam. Right now, I just can’t see the person who okayed the youngest Winchester’s torture with a propane torch as a possible love interest.
I am very interested in seeing how the family dynamics play out this season, though. What will Mary and Sam’s reunion look like? How will an adult Sam and Dean cope with having their mother back – especially since she remembers them as six months and four years old, respectively? What will Mary and Castiel’s dynamic be like? (I really, really want a domestic bunker scene with all four of them – at least one, please?)
The premiere’s well-wrought execution leaves me anxiously excited for where season twelve may take us, and next up is “Mamma Mia,” which aired Oct. 20th. Dear Mr. Dabb & Co., I’m counting on you! Supernatural airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on the CW Network.