The third to last episode of Supernatural unfolds in Rashomon style. It also happens to be one of the few really good episodes this season. Not entirely surprising since we’re just about to the finish line!
One of the things I’ve always hated about shows that deal in the supernatural, especially where divine beings are concerned, is how weak they turn out to be once the heroes need to face them. You never have a god doing something enormously powerful to prove it is in fact a god. The heroes always seem to find some convenient Achilles’ Heel and that’s that. The god is basically nullified.
Now, for many seasons Supernatural has committed the same sin. It’s one of the reasons I really loved the episode where Michael returned because you got to see how truly powerful not only he is, but Lilith. These are cosmic beings but we rarely get to see them act that way. This episode demonstrates once more just how ridiculously juiced God really is, and I loved it.
Here’s a brief rundown for you: In the Rashomon style you’ve got Amara, Dean, and Sam:
Amara’s story follows her efforts to convince her brother to change his mind until she realizes he’s the first narcissist and decides OK, I’ll help the Winchesters cage him.
Dean’s story follows his and Jack’s journey to complete the nephilim’s conversion into a god-killing machine. This leads them to Adam, as in first man, Adam (Hey, Alessandro Juliani!). Turns out the prototype isn’t too pleased with his creator, and we learn it was really Adam’s plan to kill God this whole time.
Despite this being Dean’s side of the story, we do get Jack’s viewpoint as well since he’s taken into the back with Adam, but all-in-all this tale does provide some fodder for questions. Like, who is Serafina (aside from Carmen Moore, who plays her)? Where is Eve? Has Adam never told anyone else about his plan to kill God?
Anyway…Sam’s viewpoint is last. He and Cass work on an alternative solution to the God problem, and Sam’s main hang-up just seems to be that Billie didn’t talk to him. Remember what I said in my rant last review? That Dean is the one everyone talks to? Sam’s finally getting this, and he wants in on the divine hotline. Though, he winds up with a little more than he bargained for when he and Cass find a key to Death’s door. It’s a cute throwaway scene, with the younger Winchester and the fallen angel manhandling a few movie-level divine objects until discovering said key.
Sam goes through the door to get to Death’s library and comes across dead reapers. Meg is responsible, well, The Empty using Meg’s body. Sam’s quick thinking results in him not dying, and also getting some rather valuable information. Looks like I was right, this was The Hunger Games after all. Billie wants to kill God so she can become the new God, and once she’s in charge, she’s going to reboot the whole series. The Empty is a fan, but like Sam, it’s not entirely sure it can trust Billie’s word, so it’s been killing reapers to lure Death back home for a chat.
Our episode climaxes with Jack being ready to blow, Sam trying to stop his brother and the nephilim from killing Chuck, and Chuck telling Amara he orchestrated everything! Not gonna lie, that was hands down my favorite moment from the past couple of episodes (obviously save for Michael killing Lilith, which was amazeballs).
Chuck says the thing I’ve been thinking this whole time: What part of omniscient do you people not understand? I mean, if you’re going to build up an entity, and claim it is all-powerful and all-knowing, then doesn’t making a secret plan to destroy said entity work out to be impossible? But, Chuck shares some things in common with his Pagan brothers and sisters, he likes the drama, he likes the pageantry. I’m guessing it’s why he allows things to continue on the way they do. Still, to see Chuck put his foot down is impressive.
I was a little sad to see him absorb Amara. Does he actually plan to leave Earth entirely and make something new with her? Also, if it’s a balance, why does he get to be the face? I’m not gonna go into another sexism rant, but…this episode is really pushing my buttons. And yes, I get that having Chuck face the Winchesters is more meaningful because he’s been there since season four, while Amara only got introduced back in season 10.
I am eager to see how this plays out. Chuck leaves Sam, Cass, and Dean with Jack all fuse lit and ready to blow. Is he just waiting to see if they finally die? And, what is he going to do with Billie? That’s a fight I want to see.
