A religious cult which refuses medical help is not unusual, but what is unusual is their leader – not only does he allow paramedics entry but states the attack was a hate crime instead of the usual - trying to attach religious significance to it. Then he grants complete access to church records. A very unusual leader. The possibility of an outsider spiking the coffee is slim, these people just wouldn't trust outsiders. Chances are it really is an inside job, people drawn to cults easily become fanatics on the subject – this was probably an attempt to provide 'proof' of their teachings. Or given the infighting – an attempt to discredit Reverend Ezra.

Larry, uncharacteristically passionate, becomes deeply offended by Susan, to the point of argument. This episode touches on dangerous ground – the ancient battle between religion and science. Some - like Larry – use science to reinforce their faith, while others – like Susan - follow the extreme of either science *or* religion.

The twist in the tale comes from the motive: not the obvious religious one, but simple greed. A long con designed to rob the cult blind indefinitely.

On a side note, I haven't watched this since season 1 and I have to say I'm impressed, it's gone from good to excellent. I'm definitely going to catch up with my watching. Absolutely love the visual effects, beautifully done, very effective.

A potentially controversial episode handled extremely well, an all around excellent episode.

Great dialogue, great jokes and a delightful group of guest actors.

The intro is hysterical! The writer really is funny and the rubber chicken?! And the writer takes a photo with his camera phone! The rest of the episode is just as funny, both as parts of the show Annabelle and from the CSI cast. This was a nice departure from the usual seriousness and often an attempt at a comedy episode in a show as intense as this doesn't work, but it was very well written, the jokes were clever and well delivered, so for me, it worked.

CSI had become a bit stale for me but this was a breath of fresh air. Loved it.

The last of the season is well done as usual. We'll have to wait until it's return to see what this series is capable of.

Judgement Day – Kyle and Derek were playing baseball when it happened. When Derek starts talking about it, John takes the opportunity to ask about his father, not that he learned much. Ellison visits Charlie and starts talking about cyborgs – how much does he believe and how much is he just using to get Charlie to talk to him? Charlie innocently mentions the visit from the other 'agent', much to Ellison's surprise. Charlie was incredibly stupid, going straight to Sarah. All Ellison had to do would be put a bug on his car, and Charlie would have led him straight to her! Ellison sees a photo of 'Agent Kester' and recognises him instantly. He shares his theory – she gets it 100% right by the way – but it does sound ridiculous when said out loud.

Cameron notices John's distracted and he tells her it's his birthday and he's positive his mother has forgotten. Cameron, typically not understanding, "But it was 16 years ago." Noticing they're being watched, Cameron deals with it. "Is this your car?" "No, it belongs to the guy I killed and stuffed in the trunk." John's new friend, completely taken with Cameron, naturally believes she's joking and asks her to the prom!

John's hostage situation was a tense one – despite Sarah's excellence with weapons, she just wouldn't trust herself to shoot – Derek has no such hesitation and proves why John chose him, that was one hell of a shot! John's reaction afterwards is so sweet, he grabs onto his mother and holds on tight. An ugly situation – killing a man in front of a very little girl, Sarah does the only thing she can do – sends her to her daddy. Back at the house, Sarah's trying not to baby her upset boy but just can't resist stroking his hair… and like a typical teenager, he immediately protests! Derek, of all people, remembers John's birthday! And we get a revelation – Sarah's never killed anyone. John gets the best birthday surprise he could ask for - he gets to see his father. It seems too much of a coincidence… and it is: Derek knows. The remark about Kyle's 'type' was obviously a joke – a reference to Sarah's photo? I'd never liked Derek until now, this was a nice thing to do, I'm going to have to soften my opinion of him.

Ellison has lost his mind – he already suspects what 'Kester' is and he goes after him?! Ellison got them killed. Charlie heard over the police radio and instantly realised what happened. For whatever reason, Kester doesn't kill Ellison. By just being there, Charlie admitted he lied.

Sarah did remember John's birthday but before they can celebrate, they find the guy Derek killed an impostor and the real guy just blew up Cameron! She's going to be so angry! A little predictable - I'm surprised they didn't go for more of a cliffhanger.

This was another good episode, but there's just something missing that would make this series excellent. It's still highly enjoyable and I look forward to it's return.

Every season finale of Supernatural is traumatic and this is no exception. Where to begin?! This is the most intense and packed season finale to date and there's just tons to material to talk about!

The teaser: Though it was obvious it had to be a nightmare, still very tense and brilliantly filmed. Waking up to Sam's serene smile must have been rather surreal for Dean as Sam is surprisingly calm given the 30 hour window, but Sam does his best to reassure Dean with absolute conviction that he will save Dean. It's incredibly sweet and so typically Sam, and makes Sam's failure all the more tragic – he really would have done anything to save Dean. Despite everything he's done and everything he's seen, Sam still possesses this wonderful childlike innocence and belief that evil cannot triumph. Is it any wonder we love this boy? Dean, however, has a hallucination of Sam and given his ability to see demons in the rest of the episode…! Was this just an innocent hallucination or was Dean actually seeing Sam's demon blood?!

Dean, who has always been the rush-in-where-angels-fear-to-tread one, suddenly puts the brakes on. If they find a way to save him, fine – but it's got to be smart. Dean seems to already be thinking ahead and is obviously trying to keep Sam from doing something typically Winchester, namely heroic and self-sacrificing. "Just because I have to die doesn't mean *you* have to." Dean has never trusted Ruby and I consider that partly Sam's fault – if he had told Dean exactly what the Crossroad Demon said about Ruby, Dean would know she's on our side – the enemy of my enemy…

There was a time when Sam still used to obey Dean, I vaguely remember it… Sam uses the exact same ritual John used to summon YED, wonder if Sam knew that? Probably not. Now Blondie has some major revelations: she didn't lie to Sam about saving Dean, she lied to *Dean*. Knowing Lilith holds Dean's contract, Ruby waited for Sam to be at his most vulnerable, and desperate, so she could do what she's been leading up to since they first met: make Sam into the demon leader. Sam, who has shied away from his powers since the day he got them, would never consider learning to use his powers unless he absolutely had to, and Ruby uses this. She's always had an agenda and this is it. Can't really blame Sam, Ava went homicidally psycho after learning to use her powers.

Ruby has never denied she would follow Sam and we've speculated on her motives before, especially in 'Jus in Bello'. I've known since YED died that Sam's powers were just dormant but I never guessed that Sam could be this powerful. YED had to be powerful – he was a major leader of the demons (Casey called him a tyrant and Lilith is afraid enough of Sam to want him dead) and the 'psychic children' displayed an astonishing variety of demonic powers after getting his blood. What perhaps should have occurred to us was that each was capable of all the powers (with enough training) or that the sole survivor – in this case, Sam – would perhaps inherit those powers. This is just speculation, who knows what Sam can really do? Only season 4 can answer that.

Despite Dean's suspicions, Ruby really is on our side. With so much at stake, Dean just can't bring himself to trust her and instead plays her perfectly, staging the very cool fight (anticipating Sam's defiance, does he know the kid or what?!) to steal the knife. It's a great scene, Dean and Ruby trading insults is always fun ("Our slutty little Yoda." ; "Anti-Christ Superstar" ; "… because you were human once and like kittens…") and this is the best yet! Does Ruby have no other clothes?! She's still wearing the same bloodstained shirt!

The one thing that's troubling is the apparent windfall of Lilith just happening to be on 'shore leave' right when Sam and Dean want to kill her?! If Dean is really that important, why would she leave the fight right when his contract's up? Unless… she didn't. Could this whole thing have been a trap to lure the elusive Sam Winchester right to her so she could fry his gorgeous ass? Ruby, despite her usually wary nature, seems so relieved that her Sam's time has finally come that she doesn't look too closely about why.

Sam is starting to tentatively wonder about his supposed powers and only minutes after Ruby said it, Dean gives him the Look. "Quit looking at me like that." Sam's getting curious and Dean immediately looks worried – it was Sam's idea in the first place to get the knife, and now that he knows there's something better, he suddenly wants to know more. Dean is so terrified that Sam is going to be lured to the Dark Side that he won't even consider it, won't even talk about trusting Ruby. Makes you wonder how much is concern based on here and now, and how much is based on John's warning.

Loved Dean's heroic speech about how the Winchesters must stop sacrificing themselves for each other. Bobby commented on this right after Dean made his deal but the message has finally sunk in. Not only is this an exceptionally unhealthy mindset, but it has now become a weapon used by the enemy. (Most recently, the Trickster said it: "Dean's your weakness, bad guys know it too… he'll be the death of you, Sam.") "You're my weak spot, you are… and I'm yours." "You don't mean that – we're family." Dean has realized he must put a stop to this right now because Sam is set to do exactly what Dean did and is ready and willing to sacrifice himself to save Dean. "You're my brother and you did the same thing for me." Dean has accepted his fate, ready to pay his dues and wants to end the self-sacrifice trend this family has set - it has to end with Dean. It was an eloquent and heartfelt speech and the entire scene was just beautifully written and played. As the boys often do after an intense conversation, one of them makes a joke, this time Sam with his great 'Eye of the Tiger' comment. Just wonderful.

Perhaps it's not the best plan in the world, but I respect Dean more because he made it. It would be so easy to stoop to fighting fire with fire, but what would be the cost? No-one knows, not even Ruby, Sam could be fine or using demonic powers could turn him evil. Dean makes a choice which I actually consider noble – to fight their way, without bowing to the temptation of using the enemy's weapons against them. This decision shouldn't surprise me but somehow it does.

The entire scene with Lilith in the house is beyond creepy. It's also extremely revealing – the family don't realize what she really is and Lilith is playing house, except with real people. What struck me about Lilith, particularly when she was in Ruby's body, was that she was still acting like a child – speech patterns, body language, the very innocent kiss with the odd "Your lips are soft." comment – could the demon Lilith actually be a child? This is the second time she's chosen a child's body. Let's face it, 'playing house' is something a child does, not an adult. Then again, she does strike me as actually being insane. Not a single demon we've met so far has acted this bizarre. Loved how the parents deny all knowledge of the note, to the grandfather's horror, just letting her kill him! What wonderful people, no wonder Lilith chose them!

As if we didn't already consider Bobby family, here he makes damn sure the boys know it too - "Family doesn't end with blood, boy!" Loved the 'ditchable prom date' line! Dean possesses the unique ability to see demons, something no other Hellbound soul we've met has had and yet Bobby knows about it and acts like it's normal! Delightful how Bobby can make them both act like little boys again, look at Dean slinking around the car, tail between his legs!

Sam makes an awkward attempt to say goodbye to Dean, and what a surprise, Dean cuts him off as he always does. Then is probably the most disturbing part of the episode – karaoke. Kill me now. Jokes aside though, it was so sad to see Dean's face as he stopped singing. In the last year, the Winchesters have racked up quite a body count and this is the worst single episode to date – Dean may be legally dead, but he keeps killing people – like a cop! – and someone's gonna notice he's alive! Again! There are moments when you have to love Bobby and this is one of them – "You're almost Hell's bi*ch so you can see Hell's other bi*ches." Classic!

There's one thing I just don't get about the arrival at the house. The boys lure Lilith's guards one by one to their deaths… why doesn't a single one of them sound the alarm?! Bobby takes a leaf out of John's book and turns the sprinklers to holy water, brilliant. Ruby somehow got out of the devil's trap – did she pull a Meg and just crack the ceiling? Ruby hasn't just come to help stop Lilith, she's come to protect Sam – Dean, however, has been written off. Sam actually swears! I thought saints weren't allowed to swear?

Then comes the switch – there's only one time when Ruby was separated from Sam, when they were searching the rooms… right before Dean tells Sam that Lilith has already gone and Ruby enters behind Dean. Poor Sam is having heart palpitations about nearly murdering an innocent child. Across the street, Bobby realizes with horror that the time's up and he can't get to the boys. Sam, out of time and desperate, is willing to do whatever it takes… except Ruby seems to have no idea what he's taking about. Dean objects and Ruby a.k.a. Lilith (it had to be her at this point, upstairs was the only time she was out of their sight and a few minutes later, Dean realizes the demon in Ruby isn't the same as Ruby was outside) figures it out. It wouldn't take a genius to figure out what Sam was talking about – and maybe she had access to Ruby's memories.

This is probably the most beautiful, most touching conversation the boys have ever had. Dean puts his foot down – Sam is going to let Dean go to Hell. Dean takes responsibility for his own actions and does what he can to prepare Sam for what is about to happen. Sam doesn't beg, tries not to cry, tries not to make this harder on Dean than it already is. As the clock strikes twelve, their eyes lock and Dean tries to smile, tries to reassure Sam.

Gotta give Katie credit here – her transformation into Lilith was excellent, the expressions, the body language, the voice – she was really great! I had reservations about Ruby (Katie is brilliant though) but they are long gone, she's great – so I really hope she's not dead! Lilith never actually said she was, maybe she's just gone back to Hell. And what is with that cracking sound Ruby's neck made? It sounded like it was broken, maybe Ruby's body really is dead, it sure looked like it was.

Did Lilith have to refer to Dean as 'puppy chow'?! That was one of the most disturbing and horrible scenes Supernatural has ever shown, all the more so because it's someone we love. I always figured that Sam's powers would surface and save the day but you could actually see the moment Dean died. Sam's powers didn't materialize, instead there's what seems to be an automatic defense against Lilith's blast. From the utter shock on Lilith's face, this is not something she expected from Sam or possibly, she didn't know it was even possible. Lilith escaped so she's obviously our villain for season 4.

Jensen's performance was brilliant as always but for once, Jared outshone him. His subtle but powerful performance was heartbreaking, especially that moment when he murmurs Dean's name as he breaks down into tears. No melodrama, no hysterics, just simply perfect. These boys are so talented, it's humbling.

The question of the moment: Is Dean really in Hell? This doesn't resemble any Hell which various demons, including Ruby, have described. Is Dean in some kind of limbo? Unfortunately we have to wait to find out the answer to that question. The first time I watched I completely missed that hook through his shoulder, OMG! Dean, terrified, in pain, alone, floating in space, uncertain what his fate will be - an utterly horrifying scene, far more disturbing that any fire and brimstone Hell could be.

In limbo until season 4 and all we can do is wait and speculate. 1/ Dean is well and truly dead so even if Sam can get him out of Hell, what's to stop Dean moving on like John did? Sam would have to find a way to get Dean out and restore his body simultaneously. 2/ Is Ruby really dead? 3/ Now that Lilith knows Sam is more powerful than her, what will she do? What will Sam do? Even if he wanted to learn to use his powers, his teacher Ruby is quite possibly dead.

Last thoughts:
- The use of 'Wayward Son' for the recap was perfect, I was emotional before the episode really started! I've always thought it was the perfect theme. The moment I heard it, I knew this would be a rough ride.

This episode was highly satisfactory and gotta admit, it was a gutsy move to kill off one of your two main characters! ...even if we know it's not a permanent condition. Season 3 hasn't been great overall, it's had it's highs and it's (very) lows but with an episode like this, it's hard to complain. One can only blame the writer's strike for so much and we can only hope that the SN crew get their house in order before season 4 starts. Though we had a short season, it ended well and as a die-hard SN fan, I'm more than satisfied. Season 4, get your ass in gear because we're waiting!

Derek, completely unable to trust Cameron, searches her room and emerges triumphantly having found the Terminator's chip that she kept. John confronts Cameron about whether she lies to him and she openly admits she does. Reviewing the data on the chip shows extremely disturbing information – Vick was an advanced infiltration unit – it was married! All business of course, Skynet business, a grand plan involving a traffic monitoring system that doubles as a surveillance system.

Cromartie starts checking on high schools and ends up at the right school. Luckily, a simple switch with John's new friend and Cromartie goes away. John is dismayed by her throwing his friend in the path of Cromartie and Cameron, though sometimes extremely literal, is starting to learn to act human, improvising, making small talk, keeping secrets, winking.

Continuing with the chip, they witness the execution of Derek's men. Why were his men following the wife, Barbara, and Derek didn't know? For that matter, why wasn't he there the night they died? It does clear Cameron, it just followed Sayles back to the safehouse. Derek is starting to worry me, he has a lot of secrets. I didn't agree with Sarah's decision not to tell Derek about Kyle, now I realise it was the right decision, I just don't trust him. It feels like he's got an agenda we don't know about.

The traffic control system seems to be a bigger problem than anticipated – it not only blocked the virus, it set off an alarm. Derek wants to kill a couple of unconscious security guards?!

What Cameron warned of happened, Vick reactivated. Shut down in time, it still gives John a dangerous idea – plug Cameron into the traffic system and let her destroy it from the inside. Still suspicious, Derek warns against trusting her, maybe she's Skynet. He makes a very valid point – in T3, we saw that Skynet, a sentient computer program, used the internet to spread. What's to stop Cameron doing the same thing?

Derek, seeing an opportunity to destroy Cameron, takes her chip but John, as always, defends her and insists that she can be trusted. Their plan works and creates the worst traffic jams in L.A. history. I've always worried about John's bond with Cameron and his actions after restoring the chip – gently stroking her hair – doesn't reassure me one bit. When she wakes, he jerks his hand back, looking guiltily as hell.

Sarah confronts Derek – who is completely immodest despite being naked in the shower – and tells him she knows he killed Andy. The chip shows that Vick really did kill Barbara, once she ceased to be useful.

An informative episode which introduces troubling new ideas – how much can we trust Cameron and Derek, just how deep are John's feelings for Cameron and what else does the future Skynet have planned as it has agents here who are specifically furthering its goals?