Wow.
After a series of chapters that left us giggling like fangirls, Supernatural cranked up the dial on seriousness last night in "Abandon All Hope." We were just getting accustomed to Sam and Dean in comically awkward situations, thanks to their brilliant cowardice in "Changing Channels," geriatric goofiness in "The Curious Case of Dean Winchester," and copycat nerddom in "The Real Ghostbusters," but who saw this coming? Spoilers follow!
Supernatural won't be back with a new episode until January 21 (I know, I know... I cried too) but we'll need all that time to catch our breath after last night's events. The Winchesters set out on a journey to face the Devil, and the writers played it up like it may be the boys' last night on Earth. It was a little bit much since we all knew Sam and Dean weren't going anywhere, but we can't say the same for their hunter compadres Jo and Ellen.
The mother-daughter combo blew themselves to smithereens to give the brothers a shot at saving the world, and what could have been a sappy and drawn-out or unfeeling and curt moment thankfully wasn't either. It lasted just long enough for viewers to really feel some tugs at the heart strings, but was short enough to make the gals' sacrifice seem noble and heroic, as they wasted no time in sending the hell dogs back from where they were let out. (Did anyone else have flashbacks of Vasquez and Gorman grenading themselves in Aliens?) Great stuff, and yes, great timing on some character deaths for the series. The stakes have been raised.
But the real deal here was Sam and Dean versus Jacob Lucifer. The boys scored the Colt—the mystic weapon that can kill anything—from the same-sex kissing Crowley with the hopes of putting some lead in the Devil. Crowley was all too eager to let the boys have it; apparently not all demons are in cahoots with Old Scratch, and thus the mythology expands. But when Dean pulled the trigger on Lucifer with a shot right to the forehead, Lucifer fell to the ground and got up, uttering one of the season's best lines: "Owwww!" Holy crap. Now what are they going to do?!?!
I hope everyone realizes the level of brilliance that actor Mark Pellegrino is bringing to the table. As Nick, he was a convincing troubled soul, desperate for revenge. As an early Lucifer, he was a convincing misunderstood angel, manipulating others with a sympathetic voice that people wanted to hear. Now, with his plan in action, he's simply becoming a confident jerk—while his reasoning remains the same. And Pellegrino nails it every time.
The episode ended with the Devil raising the Angel of Death, and millions of Supernatural fans (there are millions of us, right?) clamoring for more. A terrific ending to a great first half. See you all in January!
A few more notes on the episode:
— Awesome: Castiel slamming five shots and saying, "I think I'm beginning to feel something" in that very deadpan Castiel voice.
— Jo must be the only woman in the world who's able to resist Dean. Bet she wishes she had taken him up on that offer now. Self-respect is overrated!
— What are the five things that can't be killed by the Colt? One is Lucifer, and some hypothesize that the other four are the Horsemen de la Apocalypse. But what if it's Michael, God, and... the Winchesters?
— How much longer will Nick's meat suit work out for Lucifer? Looks to me like he's peeling away pretty fast.
— Six months from now in Detroit? I am so there. But hasn't Detroit suffered enough? Does it really have to be the epicenter of the Apocalypse? They have the Lions for crying out loud!
— Castiel's best move ever: using Meg as a plank to get out of the ring of fire. I do believe I jumped out of my chair and pumped my fist at that point.
— When will we meet Michael!?!!?!?!?
— Is Season Five the best season of the show so far? I don't want to anger fans of the early seasons, but I'd have to say so. Thank you to The CW for letting it stick around!
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I have the sneaky feeling that that series is going to end with the biggest cliffhanger ever... to be continued in about a year on the big screen... just a thought!
no I have to disagree with rishaville.. I didn't like the idea of Jo and Dean. even if it was only a one night thing, she did have feeling for Dean but he never remember (born under a bad sign) the demon said, "he thinks of you as a sister" which was just fine by me a love story in the middle of a war? to cliche. I can't wait for the season to begin back up how are they going to beat the devil?...I think boys will say yes. it will be an epic battle if they do (unless Eric has changed his mind and will do one more season)but what are the chances of that.. on another note why haven't we heard Micheal? should HE be the one trying to convince Dean to let him take over his body to fight Lucifer? Ellen and Jo will missed on the show
jo dead nooo i like her and dean together
I wasn't expecting much from the episode but even then I was disappointed. I'm having a harder and harder time caring about the continuity, especially because the stand-alones are generally ok while the actual story is sloppy and often feels like they're making it up as they go along.
When Jo was in the kitchen, on that chair slightly bent over, and then at the fridge supremely bent over, I saw God.
I kinda liked the characters of Jo and Ellen, I'm surely going to miss them, it should've been written that they stay til the end of the series but that didn't happen.
just.....speechless....rhis is the best show ...really
One word. AWESOME!
Great episode I think it is tied for first this season with The End and it stinks that we have to wait 2 stupid months for a new episode. And Cas was awsome, great way to improvise.
It was a super episode im kind of curious about the Angel of Death. I think it's a woman :-P And Castiel is so damn adorable
It's great that there's finally one woman who can resist Dean. She's way overdue, in my opinion.
I for one was majorly PI**ED at this episode, Don't get me wrong it was a great episode but seriously what is up with Kripke killing off Sam and Dean's allies 1 by one or two as was the case in this episode I mean it's been going on for 25 years(counting the years before the show started). First Mary who had been raised as a hunter then John(BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER) then they kept bumping off other hunters and potential allies right through until season 5 when they(The Supernatural PTB) said "Let's take Bobby who is one of the best hunters still alive and put him in a wheelchair for the rest of the year" and "Let's take Castiel strip him of all his cool Angel powers and turn him into a moping sad sack who can't do anything except pop in and out". And of courtse Jo and Ellen...What was up with that I get that this has always been about Sam and Dean but really how are they supposed to fight a damn apocalypse without even a couple of soldiers to help them fight? Why not just kill Bobby\Rufus and every other hunter on the planet as well as the anti-christ kid and just be done with it already!
"Abandon All Hope" totally lived up to its title, the group photo they took had sucha bleak sadness to it, I hope this sets the tone for the rest fo the episodes this season. Love the quirky episodes, but enough is enough it's badass time. I pretty much agree with everything said in the article. I mean, sure, I loved the early seasons and folklore/roadtrip type stuff but Supernatural really shines with its own mythology and with every season the crank it up a notch. The wait until the end of January is gonna kill me. It's almost too bad everything they've done on the show has built up to season 5, because if they do decide to keep it on (i think it's finally gotten big enough the CW wants to keep it alive) what's left to tell? traveling outside North America? Ah well, Supernatural's totally going out on top. Note to all those making serial dramas and genre dependant stuff: this is how you make a solid show. It's not often you can say a show's gotten consistantly better with each episode, especially five seasons in.
Castiel drinking was funny, Jo's death was sad, and Lucifer getting up with an owe, after being shot in the head with the colt was funny!
i must say that i cried when Jo died. Too bad but I finally got Jo/Dean kissing scene :) and Castiel drinking with Ellen - awesome!!!!
Great episode. Sorry to see the deaths though.
incredible McG show. And many thanks go to Kim Manners. Rest In Peace Kim.
Haha, this Detroit girl is with you. We've suffered plenty. The Winchesters are welcome here anytime though - LOL. Great review!
It was one of the best episodes of all seasons for me.I had read spoilers about two favorite characters that were going to die and I thought from the first moment that it would be Ellen and Jo.I don't think it has sth to do with females or anything.if you think about there was no other choice.Castiel is regular this season (even if I'm not really crazy about him) and Bobby is too important for the show imo.And killing off mother and daughter especially in such a touching way made the episode more beautiful.Sad but beautiful.I mean I cry every time I watch the scene (guilty!) I started watching Supernatural this summer (4 seasons in 3 weeks!!!) and I have to say I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!
I hate how everyone assumes that if something bad happens to someone who's not a white male, even if it's just a character, then the person behind it must be racist/sexist, and also Jo and Ellen were in S5E2 which was around 2 months ago, not 3 years. They were always just guest characters anyway, Jo was in 6 episodes total.
I've admitted a few times that I used to outright hate Supernatural. I used to call it, get this, "Charmed with dudes" and wrily point out it was trying to be a Preacher/Hellblazer ripoff and failing miserably. I have also admitted a few times that I may not have been wrong at the time (circa season 2), but the series has outgrown its limitations. To me, Castiel's "I can do this" followed by walking over a live demon to escape one of those all-too-convenient fire prisons was officially badass enough to be Garth Ennis worthy. Well done, sirs.
I Agree with alwaysobsessed, killing off every girl in the show gets annoying. I even once said I'm glad they didn't bring Jo and Ellen back for another season, because they would probably be killed. And I was right
Im pissed! they brought the Harvelles back, after 3 effing years just so they could kill 'em off. The part about it being a heroic death is just a small consolation. I dont like how the writers kill of their women and if they dont bring either Jo or Ellen back somehow in the nearest future then Im not watching this sexist show.
It was an awesome episode, and IMO this season IS the best so far! Can't wait till january 21st! :)
What an episode! I almost burst into tears when Jo died... er, Jo and Ellen died I mean. And I'm not a crying kind of dude. I kinda hoped Jo and Dean got together, but now... NOT GONNA HAPPEN! Damn it. I think kripke is preparing us to accept that this will be the last season of Supernatural, and that's ok, it's a great show I would hate to stretch it and loose quality. Mark Pellegrino was brilliant as Lucifer. I agree that the five things the colt can't kill are the archangels (Lucifer included) and God. But, isn't God dead already? The four angels that got to see God are obvius (I think): Gabriel, Michael, Raphael and Donatello, er... I mean Lucifer. The best season so far, hope they have more serious episodes though. This one rock the hell off the previous 9 episodes (even those who were serious). Hiatus till late january.... ARRRRRGGHHHHH!!!!
great episode
IT WAS AWEEEEEEEEEEEESOMMMMMMEEEEEEE!! I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THIS!!! Best move is Castiel throwing that b*tch Meg in the holy fire and stepping over her! Shut up Meg!!
for its last season supernatural is not letting down cant wait to see how things play out
i really love this season, it hasnt disappointed me thus far. even the goofy episodes had a point to them, I love that the trickster was actually Gabriel (that was a surprise). I think that the 5 things that cant be killed by the colt include God, Lucifer, Michael but I dont know about the rest of them........ possibly Death?
Kudos to Tim for the brilliant write up that captures every thought that went through my mind watching this. And I agree it is definitely the best season. Although i am disappointed that Jo was killed off, but that's mostly due to Alona Tal being so HOT!!!
Brilliant.... just brilliant
One of the best episodes! So strong, yet emotional! Well done Kirpke and the talented cast!
I really hope that there is a season 6 because there I think there is still to many stories to be told, i found two old details that were left out till now: 1. Azazel told Sam there are "generations", but we never got to see more of that 2. Anna tells Dean that only 4 angels saw God, and I really wanna know who they were just as I wanna know what are the other 4 things the Colt can't kill
SEASON 6 ANYONE?? :D
Bawled my eyes out... Brilliant ep tho - they just keep getting better and better. I think its the best season so far.
I was balling like a baby when Ellen and Jo died! It was the saddest moment on Supernatural!
I'm with all of you. i live in sweden so i just found out there wasn't gonna be another ep until january which sucks a bit. guess i'll have to rewatch some favourite eps until then. this show is really getting better and better and i quite like the occasional filler ep because if they were to have the story progress in every episode it would have been a really dragged out process. i also miss the early seasons in a way cause i thought the show was way creepier the first season, more ghosts and scary things. now it's mostly demons so sometimes i just miss those good old days.
While other shows get weaker after a while, "Supernatural" has gone better and better and I think the peek isn't even reached yet. I still wished, there were more recognition for this show. How about tv.com making a start and nominating Jensen Ackles for instance in one of their votes? He's just brilliant and totally underestimated in here.
Jo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The foook did you kill her????
Definately their best season so far.. :) LUV IT!
I compleatly agree with you this show is getting bigger and BETTER!!!!!
Season 5 is undoubtly the BEST season so far!!! And this episode was just AWESOME!!! Epic way to end this first half of the season!!! And Mark Pellegrino is ROCKING as Lucifer!! Couldn't be better!!!
I concur. Supernatural just keeps getting better and better.
4th season is the best. but 5th season is only half done so who knows. there better be a 6th season!
agree with everything Tim said. although the Lo/Ellen scene got tears streaming down my face. so sad - imagine Lo and Dean as a couple? Weird, i know, hard to get used to, i know, but still... Seeing Dean in a serious relationship in episode 20 of season 2 was weird but amazing, but this would just seem so much more different - not only because its not a Djin causing it, but also because of the history, all the things we've seen and experienced about Lo, and the fact that Dean is a one-night kinda guy - relationships never seemed to be his thing:p
Thought the episode was only decent at best, except for a few scenes particularly the beginning and ending, it felt mundane throughout.
Season Five Is the best season.Supernatural really did up there game this year. poor sam and dean :(:(:( it was really sad in this episode. yup im hooked on supernatural untill janurary!! cant wait :D
OMG!! I watch this morning OMG!!! Awsome episode by by Jo Juliet and I will give you a "one-minute-silence" homage poor Jo... awsome episode but what a sad one... Awsome 10/10!!
Supernatural is my favorite show. It delivers every week.. even with the stand alone episodes. But last nights episode was pure awesome. I mean Castiel used a woman demon as a bridge..
I do not think this is Supernaturals best season yet although I do admit it has the potential. I mean after Thurs episode I was blown away but for the previous 9 episodes..not so much. I mean they were good episodes but I really only like Supernatural when it has the plot and continues the story.. I usually get irritated that I have to wait week after week. I mean the plot is so good!!!! I want the whole 20 something episodes to be only plot oriented episodes