I was waiting for this episode for a while now, dealing with normal "innocent" housewife witches gone bad. I was absolutely delighted with this episode. The murders by witchcraft was all so clever and unusual. And call me crazy, but I'm mad about Ruby. The way she can persuade even a tough cookie like Dean to shut up and listen. She is much less annoying and a lot more fascinating than Bela. And finally discovering her origins, BONUS! This episode is one of the few in this season that I really really enjoyed, especially the closing scene, gave me goosebumps. And Dean coming to the horrible realization that his end might not be his end after all. If only Supernatural would return to its roots, and this whole war and the Devil's Gate opening, it could have been left for a final season, seeing as it all seems so ultimate, like the last battle. But hey, what's that? Do I smell a season four already? (grins) Wonder what's next...
10 Reviews
Burn, Witch, Burn!
claudio_carvalho26 August 2009
Warning: Spoilers
When the couple Paul Arthur and Janet Dutton arrives home, Janet mysteriously loses her teeth while brushing them and finally dies. Dean and Sam investigate the case and Sam finds a hex bag hidden in the bathroom. They note that Paul is evasive when they ask if he has an enemy; however when they save Paul from an evil spell, he tells that he had an affair with the unstable Amanda Burns. Dean and Sam head to her house and find her dead in the middle of witchcraft stuffs. Sooner they discover that the housewife witches Elizabeth and Renee Van Allen are practicing witchcraft with the Book of Shadows for self-profit and they have formed the book club with Amanda and Tammi Benton. When Ruby saves the life of Dean, he learns that a powerful demon is leading the housewives and Sam and he are in danger.
"Malleus Maleficarum" is so far the best episode of the Third Season of Supernatural. The engaging story reveals truths and the origins of the demons, and shows that apparently Ruby is a "good" demon that keeps her human characteristics. "Burn, Witch, Burn! a.k.a. "Night of the Eagle" that Dean mentions is one of the most frightening movies of witchcraft that I have ever watched. My vote is nine.
Title (Brazil): "Magia Negra" ("Black Magic")
"Malleus Maleficarum" is so far the best episode of the Third Season of Supernatural. The engaging story reveals truths and the origins of the demons, and shows that apparently Ruby is a "good" demon that keeps her human characteristics. "Burn, Witch, Burn! a.k.a. "Night of the Eagle" that Dean mentions is one of the most frightening movies of witchcraft that I have ever watched. My vote is nine.
Title (Brazil): "Magia Negra" ("Black Magic")
Witch craft
zombiehigh189 November 2011
Warning: Spoilers
After this one, I can't help but be grateful that the writers had it in them to make a female character interesting after all and not ruin her personality on her second appearance, as they did with Jo and Bella. Ruby seems to become more and more an intriguing personality and this episode puts some nice background to her mysterious persona. Knowing she was human once makes me more willing to believe she might be a useful ally to the boys.
Not only did we know about the "New leader rising in the west", Sam's reasons for acting less gentle than he used to, but also we are awarded with a terrific scene between Dean and ruby, when the final crack finds its way through Dean's "I don't give a damn" shield. Knowing that Hell is not the end and that he might become the very thing he hunted one day, especially after Ruby admitted she can't help him out of his deal, Real panic is starting to crush Dean.
But the real hero on this episode was Sam. Sam is heading to a very dangerous road and his head is sure not in the right place. He is so obsessed with saving Dean that he loosing himself along the way. His failure in saving his brother so far is eating him up and he is willing to do anything and sacrifice anything to just help Dean get out of this deal. Sam is willing to buy Ruby's story just in hope she might help, though she never really offered him any lead on how she could do so and time is running out. He thinks he can turn himself into Dean to survive this world alone once Dean is gone, but he forgot who he is, his beliefs his morals and his principles.
Not only did we know about the "New leader rising in the west", Sam's reasons for acting less gentle than he used to, but also we are awarded with a terrific scene between Dean and ruby, when the final crack finds its way through Dean's "I don't give a damn" shield. Knowing that Hell is not the end and that he might become the very thing he hunted one day, especially after Ruby admitted she can't help him out of his deal, Real panic is starting to crush Dean.
But the real hero on this episode was Sam. Sam is heading to a very dangerous road and his head is sure not in the right place. He is so obsessed with saving Dean that he loosing himself along the way. His failure in saving his brother so far is eating him up and he is willing to do anything and sacrifice anything to just help Dean get out of this deal. Sam is willing to buy Ruby's story just in hope she might help, though she never really offered him any lead on how she could do so and time is running out. He thinks he can turn himself into Dean to survive this world alone once Dean is gone, but he forgot who he is, his beliefs his morals and his principles.
Love it when the expand the lore
shwetafabm8 June 2020
uh, might be a spoiler its also a trigger warning.
farplane-exile1 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
First. I love this episode. But a woman loses her teeth in the process of brushing them and later on food is shown crawling with meal worms and a man eating a burger with maggots in it.
If I had known about this before watching the episode I would have been prepared, instead I felt sick to my stomach. I understand that part of the show is the horror factor but I know people who would literally not eat for days after watching this episode.
And before someone thinks to jump on my case about the issue of insect/larvae phobias, just take into consideration that I am in no way offended by it, or with hereby swear off the show if something else like this happens, because seriously its a horror show, there is going to be gross stuff, it would have just been nice to be WARNED.
The character development in this episode is nice too, go Ruby!
If I had known about this before watching the episode I would have been prepared, instead I felt sick to my stomach. I understand that part of the show is the horror factor but I know people who would literally not eat for days after watching this episode.
And before someone thinks to jump on my case about the issue of insect/larvae phobias, just take into consideration that I am in no way offended by it, or with hereby swear off the show if something else like this happens, because seriously its a horror show, there is going to be gross stuff, it would have just been nice to be WARNED.
The character development in this episode is nice too, go Ruby!
I liked this episode! But, when did we all become so dang sensitive???
lynkhome30 October 2023
Does anybody remember the phrase, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me"? Generations of kids were raised hearing that phrase, and they all grew up to realize that people calling you names can't actually affect how you are.
Nowadays, if you say anything to anybody that could be perceived as negative, they become the victim, and you the hate-filled person!
It has gotten so bad that if you hear a television show or movie character, say something to another character, you actually react! What happened to all of us? Why are we all so weak that we have to internalize every single thing we hear?
We all have opinions. Some of them are positive, some are negative. It is ridiculously unrealistic to vilify people simply because their opinion is not good for every person or everything.
Nowadays, if you say anything to anybody that could be perceived as negative, they become the victim, and you the hate-filled person!
It has gotten so bad that if you hear a television show or movie character, say something to another character, you actually react! What happened to all of us? Why are we all so weak that we have to internalize every single thing we hear?
We all have opinions. Some of them are positive, some are negative. It is ridiculously unrealistic to vilify people simply because their opinion is not good for every person or everything.
Disappointing in a couple of ways
CubsandCulture6 October 2019
The revelation that Ruby was witch is never really explored and it feels tacked on in this episode to explain the knife. That is probably the biggest downfall of this episode. The whole witch lore on the show is no where near the other stuff and all witch episodes feel rote to me. This one is probably the worst on that front because the conventions they use (i.e. hex bags) are just sort of lame. Really this episode feels like treading water and filler. There are some nice moments-i.e. rabbit-but not a stellar episode.
The other thing is this is a Ben Edlund episode. Edlund wrote a lot of the wackier episodes-French Mistake, Nightshifter, Monster Movie, Wishful Thinking etc.. This is one of his most conventional episodes. It is so straightforward and the writing isn't as crisp as it usually is. Even his other more plot driven episodes, i.e. Simon Says or The Man Who Would be King are a lot better than this one.
The other thing is this is a Ben Edlund episode. Edlund wrote a lot of the wackier episodes-French Mistake, Nightshifter, Monster Movie, Wishful Thinking etc.. This is one of his most conventional episodes. It is so straightforward and the writing isn't as crisp as it usually is. Even his other more plot driven episodes, i.e. Simon Says or The Man Who Would be King are a lot better than this one.
Not feeling this season
hnt_dnl5 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I know this Ruby character is helping the boys, but I'm just not feeling her character. Maybe it's the actress Katie Cassidy but the character just doesn't have the depth or gravitas of feeling like a hundreds of years old demon. I feel like a different actress would sell me on this role more than Cassidy. For example, the actress who played Meg from Season 1 felt more believable as a demon inhabiting human form. Then on top of it, this witch centric episode was easily one of the weakest "freak of the week" plots of the show so far. Most of the minor characters in the first 2 seasons were somewhat memorable, but the Season 3 guest roles are so forgettable. The only thing saving this season is the great acting and chemistry between Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki. Good thing the they cast the perfect actors for these roles because it seems like it's a point where their charisma and talent is what kept this show afloat during the writer's strike.
Just a really bad episode
stonemiles28 February 2019
Insulting episode
Jinx-to-Ennien27 June 2022
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
