I love Familiars and I love this kind of witches. However these are not the witches we have been shown up to this point or after this point in this show. Sam and Dean don't even acknowledge any difference so I wonder if the writers expected the viewers to just overlook this. These witches have powers closer to the pagan gods than the witches in the show. Their lore is not even explained properly so how are we supposed to connect them to the show?
The characters are yet again dumbed down for the plot. Sam and Dean are ready to kill James despite the pile of evidence that it's not him doing the murders and that he is using his abilities only for good purposes. Why witches are inherently and always evil in their mind goes unaddressed despite the fact that this episode is all about a good witch. No, actually this episode is about Portia, the witch's Familiar. I do like Portia, but she was not a good character to focus on, despite the fact that all the murders were committed for a lame reason connected to her. Neither her or James learn anything in this episode and they are not interesting enough on their own.
The one thing that really fit the episode was the subplot involving Dean trusting Sam to finish the trials, but it felt half baked. Dean's motivation to want to take on the trials himself was never just that he doesn't trust Sam or anyone else (except Benny for some reason) but that he wants to keep Sam safe as always and that he doesn't care if he suffers and dies himself. The reason Dean changed his mind about trusting Sam was ridiculously simplified and not even shown directly to the audience, ignoring all the details that make their brotherly bond so complicated and interesting. Also Dean already accepted last episode that Sam will be the one taking on the trials, him showing valid concern over Sam's health should not be the catalyst for a discussion about trust. Dean not trusting Sam has often been a problem between the two of them, but this time it didn't feel like that would be the case.
It was an enjoyable episode overall and Sam and Dean had likeable interactions with each other and with Portia, but that doesn't excuse it for not fitting into this show's lore and atmosphere.
The characters are yet again dumbed down for the plot. Sam and Dean are ready to kill James despite the pile of evidence that it's not him doing the murders and that he is using his abilities only for good purposes. Why witches are inherently and always evil in their mind goes unaddressed despite the fact that this episode is all about a good witch. No, actually this episode is about Portia, the witch's Familiar. I do like Portia, but she was not a good character to focus on, despite the fact that all the murders were committed for a lame reason connected to her. Neither her or James learn anything in this episode and they are not interesting enough on their own.
The one thing that really fit the episode was the subplot involving Dean trusting Sam to finish the trials, but it felt half baked. Dean's motivation to want to take on the trials himself was never just that he doesn't trust Sam or anyone else (except Benny for some reason) but that he wants to keep Sam safe as always and that he doesn't care if he suffers and dies himself. The reason Dean changed his mind about trusting Sam was ridiculously simplified and not even shown directly to the audience, ignoring all the details that make their brotherly bond so complicated and interesting. Also Dean already accepted last episode that Sam will be the one taking on the trials, him showing valid concern over Sam's health should not be the catalyst for a discussion about trust. Dean not trusting Sam has often been a problem between the two of them, but this time it didn't feel like that would be the case.
It was an enjoyable episode overall and Sam and Dean had likeable interactions with each other and with Portia, but that doesn't excuse it for not fitting into this show's lore and atmosphere.