"Supernatural" Good God, Y'All (2009)

Director:

Philip Sgriccia

Writer:

Sera Gamble (writer)

TV Series:

"Supernatural" (2005)

Original Air Date:

17 September 2009 (Season 5, Episode 2)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Castiel tells Sam and Dean that he is going to search for God, who will be able to defeat Lucifer. Bobby's old hunter friend...

Plot Keywords:

Supernatural | Missing Father | Search | Death | Murder

Cast

Jared Padalecki	...	Sam Winchester
Jensen Ackles	...	Dean Winchester
Misha Collins	...	Castiel
Jim Beaver	...	Bobby Singer
Samantha Ferris	...	Ellen Harvelle
Alona Tal	...	Jo Harvelle
Steven Williams	...	Rufus Turner
Shawn Roberts	...	Austin
Titus Welliver	...	Roger / War
Genevieve Fleming	...	Pregnant Woman
Michael Bean	...	Pastor
Josh A. Young	...	Pregnant Woman's Husband (as Josh Young)
Autumn Bri	...	Teen Girl
Steve Love

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:TV-14

Trivia:

When asked if these problems come from space, Dean comments that this "is not X-Files." Actor Steven Williams (Rufus) is best known for playing Mr. X in "The X Files" (1993).

Quotes:

Castiel: I don't have much time, we need to talk.
Dean Winchester: Okay.
Castiel: Your plan, to kill Lucifer.
Dean Winchester: Yeah, you wanna help?
Castiel: No. It's foolish. It can't be done.
Dean Winchester: Oh, well thanks for the support.
Castiel: But I believe I have the solution. There is someone besides Michael, strong enough to take on Lucifer. Strong enough to stop the Apocalypse.
Sam Winchester: Who's that?
Castiel: The one who resurrected me and put you on that airplane. The one who began everything. God.
[pause, the brothers look at him in disbelief]
[...]

Movie Connections:

References "The X Files" (1993)

Going up to the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky!)...

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

This season continues to use classic rock songs to great effect, and 'Spirit In The Sky' is no exception. Excellent use of the song, show! Too bad the rest of the episode wasn't as good as that moment. This wasn't necessarily a 'bad' episode, it just left me with a feeling of "Well...what was the point exactly?" - and mostly this is due to the waste of potential in the episode. For one thing, we (finally!) had the return of Ellen and Jo Harvelle. It's a well-known fact that certain people had their issues with the Harvelles (more with Jo than Ellen), and it was for this reason that they were written out of the show in Season 2. It's taken *this* long for us to get them back, and I'm someone who welcomed their return. It's a shame, then, that it feels as if the writers were playing it safe with the return of Jo and Ellen in this episode (again, Jo more than Ellen). Seems they were so scared of any negative reactions to Jo's return that they reduced her role to little more than a cameo - which is a damn shame, because what we saw of her and Ellen in this episode was quite good (and explored their relationship a little more). It would've been nice to have seen Sam and Jo talk about what happened the last time they met in 'Born Under A Bad Sign'.

Ellen's reunion with the boys was a long time coming, and what a great reunion it was (holy water to the face, a hug and a slap - that's our Ellen). It was kind of curious that Ellen left Sam out of all of these and focused more on Dean - but hey, maybe Jo told her mum what happened with Sam previously? Having said that, Sam and Ellen *did* get a moment to themselves, but it didn't really explore a whole lot. The main focus of this episode was Sam and Dean and what direction they're moving in after the events of last season. This episode did a good job of letting us see Sam's torment over what he did and how Dean's treating him now.

What was interesting at the start of the episode was Castiel informing Sam and Dean that he's been cut off from Heaven (having to resort to contacting them via phone), as well as the fact that he can only do some 'angel-y' stuff now (which doesn't include healing Bobby). Bobby's anger at Castiel for not being able to heal him was understandable. Speaking of Bobby, I would've liked to have known how he went from "Suck dirt and die, Rufus." in Season 4's 'When the Levee Breaks' to being back on speaking terms with Rufus in this episode. Meanwhile, Castiel's mission to "find God" is intriguing (as was his asking Dean for the amulet that Sam gave to him in the flashback from Season 3's 'A Very Supernatural Christmas'). Seems that amulet is more important than we ever thought.

This show's interpretation of War was a neat take on one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It was an interesting portrayal and, hopefully, if we ever get to see the other three, they'll be equally as good. The problem with this episode was mainly that it didn't amount to very much. The people of a small town were being turned against one another, believing each other to be demons (when in fact there weren't any demons at all). While it certainly allowed for quite a few shootouts, it didn't actually prove to be that interesting (and was somewhat confusing in the beginning).

The best things to come out of this episode (aside from the great use of that song, as mentioned earlier) were the return of Jo and Ellen, as well as Sam's relationship with his brother changing/developing. They couldn't just keep having these same talks over and over every episode, so I think it's quite a welcome change to have them part ways at the end of this episode (they've done so before, after all, and we know it's not going to last, so really...there's no need to panic). There's only one small flaw with this plan, and that is...given what has been going on with Sam, and what he and Dean have been discussing for some time now...is it really so wise for Sam to be left on his own? Isn't putting a recovering demon blood-aholic out there on his lonesome going to cause MORE trouble, rather than lessen it? I'm not quite sure I see the logic in their plan...but whatever. It should make for some interesting viewing (to see how they manage, separated).

I just wish this episode had had more Jo and Ellen (and if this is their last episode - it was kind of a crappy end for their characters. Jo had much more of a meaningful send-off in Season 2, as did Ellen. On the one hand, I hope the writers bring them both back for at least one more episode, so that they can get a *proper* send-off...but on the other hand, I don't want these two characters brought back simply to be killed off. They deserve better than that, writers!).