MID-SEASON RETURN | 'Supernatural' First Blood S12e09
Sam and Dean Winchester are here to save the world again, returning after a mid-season hiatus with the show’s 250th episode. Far from being on hand to save the lives of others, ‘First Blood’ sees the brothers on a quest to save their own.
Read the episode breakdown below!
SPOILER ALERT!
Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) have been caught by federal agents while confronting Lucifer, accused of trying to kill the President of the United States. They are swiftly taken to a secret government facility and placed in isolation cells.
Things are looking grim for the pair, who are already convicted of several counts of murder plus indecent dealing with corpses - despite being listed as deceased a few times themselves.
Meanwhile, their mother Mary (Samantha Smith) and the angel Castiel (Misha Collins) have no idea where the brothers have been taken.
Though this week’s plot was rather weak, the cast’s excellent acting made up for its shortcomings.
Though special Federal Agents, and an anti-terrorism expert are holding the Winchesters, the security in the facility seems remarkably lax. Where are all the guards?
Also, the deal with reaper Billie (Lisa Berry) seems uncharacteristic. The brothers have a history of making deals to save each other, but this one seems odd; both agreed to this deal without a protest. Then, when their mother offers to complete the deal, neither of them moves to stop and disarm her, and it’s left to Cas to save the day.
Collins shines in this episode, portraying a particularly vulnerable and distraught Castiel. Cas feels he has let the Winchesters down by allowing Kelly to escape with Lucifer’s unborn child, and for not being there for them when they were captured. As the weeks go by, Cas feels more and more useless as he realises just how important Sam and Dean’s hunting skills are, until it culminates in his actions in the forest.
Cas’ reunion with Sam and Dean and his heart-felt speech is touching, and will make ‘Destiel’ shippers happy. But what will be the nature of the consequences Billie spoke of?
Sam and Dean are almost eerily silent in this episode. In fact, they don’t even have any dialogue until the halfway mark, running and fighting in the forest instead, and showing themselves for the honed killers they have become.
Meanwhile, the British Men of Letters are showing themselves to be merciless killers by ‘cleaning up’ the remaining soldiers who knew about Sam and Dean’s arrest. The Winchesters made it clear that they didn't want to hurt the soldiers who were just 'doing what they were told', but it seems their British colleagues don't see it that way. Their story line still feels very sinister, despite their willingness to help Mary and Cas locate the boys.
Even though the plot wasn’t the best this season has to offer, the top acting and beautiful scenery in the Rocky Mountain National Park makes for an enjoyable episode. Now the boys are ready to get back to hunting things and saving people.
Watch ‘Supernatural’ on the CW at 8pm EST, Thursdays. Airing on Eleven at 9:30pm Mondays in Australia.
