Supernatural (TV Series) Jus in Bello (2008) User Reviews

My personal Favorite Episode for several reasons

[DJEmir · 10/10 · 13 March 2018]

I love this episode, I started rewatching the entire series and kept waiting for this episode as it was a memorable one that always stuck out since the first time I watched it. I always find it nice when the boys are finally recognized as the heroes that they are, especially from the authorities that hunted the boys thinking that they were murderous "monster" serial killers. When the people that misjudge Sam and Dean realize that there are REAL MONSTERS out there and the two brothers have been fighting to keep everyone safe all this time you know you are in for a great episode and life altering changes within established characters. We get to see how Dean and Sam deal with insurmountable odds and we also see the fallibility of Sam and Dean as human beings. They often face tough decisions when trying to save lives, when doing what they feel is right to save lives they sometimes wind up with more casualties showing just how tough the job really is and how hard it is on your own conscience and soul. There is also an obvious and expected one liner shout out to Bob Marley I shot the Sheriff ... But I didn't shoot the deputy LOL.

It's just about time to meet the "New leader rising in the west"

[zombiehigh18 · 10/10 · 9 November 2011]

I watched the wholes series a couple of times already. And every time I start season 3 I just can't wait to get to this episode. I might have mentioned before that this is my favourite this season, brilliant writing, good job directing, Jared and Jensen shined as ever, great supporting cast and of course pretty smart plan at the end.

Sam and Dean finally have a lead on Bella, but on reaching her hotel room they are arrested by the police after a call from her. FBI Agent Victor Henriksen takes the boys to the police station and arranges for their transfer to a maximum security prison where Sam and Dean will never see each other again. (I love the reaction on their faces, they can't even imagine being separated, they are strong together but alone is too scary for them). Hendriksen's superior FBI Deputy Director Steven Groves goes to see the boys and shoots Dean in the shoulder. Sam finds that he is possessed and tries to exorcise him but the daemon escapes the meat suit leaving FBI Deputy Director Steven Groves dead. After being possessed himself, Hendriksen is convinced with the boys' story about daemons and lets them out of the cell to help fight off the daemon mini army attacking the police station. Ruby finds her way in the station and with the Colt gone, she suggests a spell to kill off every daemon within a mile radius, herself included, but they have to sacrifice Nancy the virgin. Dean and Hendriksen refuse that strongly while to Dean's and our shock Sam is willing to go with Ruby's plan since this can save more people than just Nancy and they are outnumbered. Dean on the other hand has a smart plan to call all the daemons in, trap them and cast the exorcism spell which actually works, yet one of the daemons manages to escape. With the boys gone, the police station is once again attacked by Lilith (It's creepy she chose to appear as a cute little girl) who kills off every body at the station including Nancy and Hendriksen.

It was a shame Hendriksen was killed, I liked the guy and after he knew the truth he would have been a useful ally to the boys. Bella is really getting on my nerves and I still can't trust Ruby (I'm surprised Dean didn't shut her up for the way she was talking to them). How could she even think they would sacrifice Nancy? How could she ever imagine that Dean would accept that? I personally think she was bluffing and there was no spell at all, I think she was putting that act so that Sam could trust her. And that's right there is the scary part, Sam is getting even more darker every day and even Dean is disappointed by his behavior. ("The end justifies the means" attitude of Sam is just scary, I wish some one could knock some sense in his mind but again he is probably still traumatized by the events of last episode) It was sad seeing the boys not acting as a team any more. But I like the Tattoos.

I strongly recommend this one, But I have one question for the show creators: If daemons can kill somebody with just a thought, why do they choose physical fighting? Anyway I really enjoyed the fight scene.

I Shot the Sheriff

[claudio_carvalho · 10/10 · 5 September 2009]

While chasing Bella in Monument, Colorado, Dean and Sam are set up by the despicable blonde and arrested by FBI Agent Victor Henricksen with the support of four local policemen. They are arrested in a cell in the precinct while waiting for transportation to a maximum security facility. When FBI Deputy Director Steven Groves arrives in the helicopter with his men, he tries to kill the Winchester brothers; Sam finds that he is possessed and succeeds in exorcising the demon that kills the agents outside the building. Then the skeptical Agent Henricksen is also possessed by a demon and kills Sheriff Melvin Dodd with a shot in his head. However Sam again exorcises the demon saving the life of Henricksen. Now the three survivors believe in the words of the brothers and they realize that thirty locals are possessed and the police station is besieged. They prepare to defend the building against the demon attack with salt and pentagrams when out of the blue, Ruby arrives with a deadly solution to kill the demons including herself. But Dean does not accept the price to be paid.

"Jus in Bello" is definitely the best episode of this great Third Season so far. The screenplay is excellent, with many twists, and I personally loved the joke of Dean with Eric Clapton's song when Henricksen says that he has shot the sheriff. Dean learns that there is a price to be paid in a war and the creepy Lilith could not have a more innocent appearance. The brothers must eliminate the despicable Bella that is permanently jeopardizing their mission with her trickery. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Terror na Delegacia" ("Terror in the Precinct")

One of the all time best episodes of the series

[daendil · 10/10 · 21 January 2018]

I don't have much to say, but I decided, if I write a review of the worst episodes (out of frustration) then I should write one for the bests too. For context: I'm rewatching the series in 2018 and I think this one is one of the best episodes in the whole show. I don't want to spoil anything, do watch it! (And I laughed out loud on the joke.)

But I didn't shoot the deputy...

[ulrikekalb · 10/10 · 18 January 2020]

I started to rewatch Supernatural again for the I don't count anymore time, and still the story is gripping,..the horror, the suspense, the introduction of Lilith... this is Supernatural at it's best!

The best show of season 3

[vrspnpguyfun · 10/10 · 5 August 2022]

I have to say that this is probably my favorite episode of season 3. Which is saying something. Because seasons 3, 4, and 5 were, in my opinion, perfect seasons. Every episode enjoyable. Whenever I binge the series this is the episode I can't wait to get to.

Love it, love it, LOVE IT.

One of the best with one minor issue

[Ranbl · 9/10 · 29 September 2023]

This is really one of the best episodes of the entire show. Humor, huge battle, dire consequences and lots of growth.

Katie cassidy with her best guest appearance and ruby went from great to freaking amazing. By willing to make the sacrifice play she showed the winchesters how high the stakes are and what level of commitment needed to win this war.

Following the groundhog episode I was ready for a procedural follow up but this episode went even higher.

Later season had bigger battles and apocalypses but this episode is the peak of supernatural the naive first seasons.

If you want to get someone in this is the one you show them.

Warning I think I figured this season out!

[mm-39 · 8/10 · 28 February 2008]

Good story. I love how they took care of all the Demons. Dean is pretty common scene smart. The episode is like a zombie movie. I believe the end of the world preview was in this episode. A few things I figured out. Ruby is a plant pushing Sam. All of Ruby's help is to gain there trust. Everything else is lies, demon's lie. What a evil solution Ruby had for the problem. Sam would have turned dark side listening to Ruby. Bella is involved with the scheme. Bella told Dean she was not going to sell the colt, but stoled the colt for other reason. I think Dean is going kill Sam after watching the Mystery spot show. The trickster told Sam that Dean will be the death of him. All the subplots are coming together. Rubys big guilt trip at the ending cenments the main story together.(In my opinion) Let us hope Bobby can help the brothers out. 8 out of 10. Funny, many of the supporting characters never seem to live long in the series.

Awesome episode!

[hnt_dnl · 10/10 · 5 April 2022]

This is the episode I've been waiting for in Season 3! It's been really random and aimless up until this point. This engrossing and fast-paced episode had it all. Action, tension, humor, suspense. The claustrophobic, centered location at the jail really made it all work giving the episode a full on horror vibe. It also had really good guest characters in Nancy (first likable new character in Season 3) and the returning Agent Henrikson, who had his best development in his entire time on the series. The heart to heart between Dean and the agent was cliche buddy team up done right. Also, Dean's humor was on point the entire episode. And Dean and Sam just look awesome fighting demons. I wanted to dock 1 star due the annoying Ruby showing up out of nowhere, then the writers did a solid and had her leave before the amazing climactic showdown between the Winchester crew and the demons in the jail. It's almost like Ruby brings the show down with her forced badassery and sarcasm and so the writers know she's an awkward insert. But I guess since the actress was probably on contract for the season, they had to keep using her. Regardless, even she didn't ruin this phenomenal episode.

Demons attack

[shwetafabm · 9/10 · 8 June 2020]

I loved the outlaw episodes and the terror of the brothers when they realised how screwed they are in that department, obviously its not realistic when they still stroll around impersonating fbi agents but it's a tv show right. The culmination of it comes here and it's done fine. They get holed up and have to fight a bunch of demons. That's the problem. The fight scenes are always unrealistic with the demons, it takes all the scare out of them tho we get that final scene Also why do the writers make Dean look so creepy...so not in touch with how a scared woman will see him saying her name and how she shouldn't be afriad when she has all reason to, that's basically a woman's nightmare, some creepy dude knowing of her and talking creepy stuff.

The whole thing feel rushed...less than the sum of its part

[CubsandCulture · 7/10 · 8 October 2019]

This episode had too 1) wrap up the Henriksen storyline, 2) introduce Lilith and 3) tell the cost of war/siege story. Oh and provide a delay in the Bela storyline. All of these various plot threads are shortchanged because of how much the episode is trying to do. The siege story, especially, is awful. The boys big fight about the morality takes all of 30 secs and the resolution of the siege feels like a narrative cheat.

This should have been split into two episodes; this is one place where season 3 being short really hurts the episode.

Yup!

[darkdementress · 7/10 · 22 July 2019]

Has some big plot holes but entertaining and blew my mind the first time I watched it.