by Bob Teoh
via sciencefiction.com
“Supernatural” kicked off a rather heartbreaking season this year with the death of two characters very dear to the the Winchester Brothers and the fans: Bobby, the duo’s mentor and father figure, and Castiel, an ally and very close friend. Nevertheless, the season has been far from lackluster despite the loss of these essential characters. With a new type of supernatural creature called the Leviathans that render the brothers’ weapons useless, the series is as exciting as ever.
This week’s episode, “Repo Man,” however, strayed from the major story arc of the season and focused on two things that have been in the background for a while–demons and Sam’s deteriorating mind. When the series started, the main antagonists of the show were the demons, who plague and torture the innocent. Yet, with the emergence of new villains, the creators seemed to have phased out the original antagonists that made the show so compelling.
Therefore, it was especially thrilling to see the show return to its roots by having the brothers track down a demon they have exorcised before, referring to it as “unfinished business.” Watching the duo trade in their new weapons for the classics, such as the Dagger and the Devil’s Trap, was definitely a treat for all loyal fans that have witnessed the show mature over its seven seasons.
Despite the gripping storyline, the gem of the episode was the return of Lucifer, played by “Lost” alumni Mark Pellegrino, who continues to plague Sam’s mind. Sam has been gradually descending into madness and losing his grip of reality after his resurrection from Lucifer’s Cage in Hell. Yet, like the demons, this storyline has been put on hold since the arrival of the Leviathans.
Fortunately, “Repo Man,” shifted the focus back on Sam’s mental state, with another thrilling performance from Pellegrino. Instead of giving his character the personality of a cheesy villain, Pellegrino turned the Devil into a calm, collected, and manipulative enemy with a dark sense of humor. Lucifer has always been one of the most memorable villains in the entire course of the series, so watching him toy with Sam’s mind was absolutely enjoyable, though it means very bad news for the protagonists.
Overall, seeing “Supernatural” take some time off to return to the core elements that once made the series so great was a very gratifying experience. Loyal fans of the show will get rewarded, while new viewers will get a taste of the series during its earlier seasons. It is interesting to see where the writers will take the show with Sam clearly crippled by his impending insanity and the possible rebirth of Castiel in the next new episode, which unfortunately does not air until March.
Bob Teoh is a contributing writer. Email him at entertainment@nyunews.com.
