The Great Escapist is a segue episode! All the plot lines, Kevin's disappearance, Sam's trials and Crowley scheming are bubbling up for the season finale. All season eight's story lines/problems are segues into a new character. What new information, and abilities will the new character/game changer bring for the season eight finale? The Great Escapist is a must watch episode or the viewer will be lost. The new character plot device brings changes and turns which may turn the story upside down. A well written, acted and directed episode. Will Sam after the third trial be cleansed of all his demon blood and be pure again or will the third trial kill Sam that is the question for the season's finale?? I give The Great Escapist an eight out of ten.
5 Reviews
Fast paced and entertaining
shwetafabm27 June 2020
A lot happens. Sometimes spn just jam packs an ep and there are a lot of storylines happening
I just didn't buy some things like Cass appearing in front of the impala, not being able to hide when he could from archangels, the traitor angel
And omg Crowley is just the best, he clearly thinks Dean is cool lol
one of the most entertaining eps of the series
Shuffles the McGruffins well
CubsandCulture10 September 2020
Every once in awhile SPN ends up having an episode that has to get a lot of different parts from point A to B and the episode exists only to do that. This is a pretty good example of that type of episode. It doesn't have much of identity apart from the ongoing plot developments but Edlund finds enough unique things-like Cas zipping around the Biggerson's-to keep the episode fresh and engaging.
In the end the episode is too plotty and jam pack but it does what it has too.
In the end the episode is too plotty and jam pack but it does what it has too.
Create stories and become gods!
hp1993-739-94778523 August 2013
Warning: Spoilers
The SPN fan's dream came true. One of the best (for me the best) episodes after Kripke had left the show! Definitely the best episode of the eighth season up till now.
My arguments?
1) Great narration
From the beginning of the episode three parallel story lines are introduced to us. The first one is about Kevin and Crowley. The second one - Sam and Dean trying to find Metatron, the last one Castiel and Naomi. As the story of the episode continues, the parallels are crossing each others - Crowley meets Naomi and Castiel, Kevin is saved by Metatron. In the very end of the episode, it's Cas who completely reunites the whole story.
2) Depth of the characters
After the previous very emotional episode this one had to aim high. And it jumped miles over the level of the last one.
Kevin - firstly shows us something more than translating the tablet. He reveals the reason why he was in advanced placement - he is smart! The PC message he left for Winchesters was really good delivered!
Naomi - we know she ordered Cas to kill Dean if it's necessary, in this one she shows us that angels are not better than before - killing first- born children in Egypt,the whole Apocalypse and after Apocalypse mess, killing in the Biggerson's + manipulating all the time.
Cas - two sentences and it was again the OLD GOOD ONE Cas - "We were supposed to be their shepherds, not their murderers. + In the words of a — good friend... bite me."
Sam + Dean - when you can discover main characters after 8 seasons, it is amazing! It's the reason why we watch SPN! And in this episode information about their childhood came on the surface. Sam's speech about the purifying effect of the trials! Padalecki should be rewarded for that. Dean always there to take care of his brother no matter what (ice cubes as well)- that's the hunters we (don't completely :D) know!
Metatron - angel who didn't care for the mankind. Didn't care for the Apocalypse. I think he's hiding something, but for now: it was great introduction of the new character. He was mentioned when the tablets firstly came out, now he's alive and kicking. When he talked about the history of Heaven, about God leaving, archangels scheming, trying to rule the universe it really made me remember the fifth season!
Crowley - clever enough to cooperate with an angel again (Ion) and smart as Hell about the hideout of the Angel tablet; good enough to create bullets against the angles, but after all we can finally see that he can be defeated as well.
3) The details!
Biggerson's murders! "They said you have to stop." Crowley pulling out the tablet, Castiel pulling out the bullet. That's the impression I'm talking about - the creators didn't care about blood, missing eyes and together it also delivers the horror atmosphere!
Crowley's "directing" in the real directing!
4) Choices and stories, depth of dialogs
I have to point out those two motives because it's something that is so specific for SPN. We haven't heard about the consequences of closing the hell gates at all, but in this episode Metatron finally questions "the quest". "It's your choice. And that's what this has all been about, the choices your kind make. But you're gonna have to weigh that choice. Ask yourself: what is it going to take to do this, and what will the world be like after it's done?"
The motive of free will is also very "first 5 seasons" like as well as the importance of the stories (→ God and his will...Someone keeping Chuck in mind? His words about being a god who puts his characters into "this". "I'm a god. A cruel, cruel, capricious god. The things I put you through. The physical beatings alone!":) It's good to hear Metatron talking about that: "But really... really, it was your storytelling. That is the true flower of free will. At least as you've mastered it so far. When you create stories, you become gods, of tiny, intricate dimensions unto themselves."
5) Despite the serious theme they managed to keep funny moments as well! Dean talking to the receptionist at the hotel about Sam's flu, Crowleys quotes about "polite demons"...
6) Camera, acting!
This episode had everything what a real SPN fan needs and opens doors to the finale of the season more than satisfactorily. (Maybe there was no super song, but the positive things I've mentioned outweighed.) 10/10!
My arguments?
1) Great narration
From the beginning of the episode three parallel story lines are introduced to us. The first one is about Kevin and Crowley. The second one - Sam and Dean trying to find Metatron, the last one Castiel and Naomi. As the story of the episode continues, the parallels are crossing each others - Crowley meets Naomi and Castiel, Kevin is saved by Metatron. In the very end of the episode, it's Cas who completely reunites the whole story.
2) Depth of the characters
After the previous very emotional episode this one had to aim high. And it jumped miles over the level of the last one.
Kevin - firstly shows us something more than translating the tablet. He reveals the reason why he was in advanced placement - he is smart! The PC message he left for Winchesters was really good delivered!
Naomi - we know she ordered Cas to kill Dean if it's necessary, in this one she shows us that angels are not better than before - killing first- born children in Egypt,the whole Apocalypse and after Apocalypse mess, killing in the Biggerson's + manipulating all the time.
Cas - two sentences and it was again the OLD GOOD ONE Cas - "We were supposed to be their shepherds, not their murderers. + In the words of a — good friend... bite me."
Sam + Dean - when you can discover main characters after 8 seasons, it is amazing! It's the reason why we watch SPN! And in this episode information about their childhood came on the surface. Sam's speech about the purifying effect of the trials! Padalecki should be rewarded for that. Dean always there to take care of his brother no matter what (ice cubes as well)- that's the hunters we (don't completely :D) know!
Metatron - angel who didn't care for the mankind. Didn't care for the Apocalypse. I think he's hiding something, but for now: it was great introduction of the new character. He was mentioned when the tablets firstly came out, now he's alive and kicking. When he talked about the history of Heaven, about God leaving, archangels scheming, trying to rule the universe it really made me remember the fifth season!
Crowley - clever enough to cooperate with an angel again (Ion) and smart as Hell about the hideout of the Angel tablet; good enough to create bullets against the angles, but after all we can finally see that he can be defeated as well.
3) The details!
Biggerson's murders! "They said you have to stop." Crowley pulling out the tablet, Castiel pulling out the bullet. That's the impression I'm talking about - the creators didn't care about blood, missing eyes and together it also delivers the horror atmosphere!
Crowley's "directing" in the real directing!
4) Choices and stories, depth of dialogs
I have to point out those two motives because it's something that is so specific for SPN. We haven't heard about the consequences of closing the hell gates at all, but in this episode Metatron finally questions "the quest". "It's your choice. And that's what this has all been about, the choices your kind make. But you're gonna have to weigh that choice. Ask yourself: what is it going to take to do this, and what will the world be like after it's done?"
The motive of free will is also very "first 5 seasons" like as well as the importance of the stories (→ God and his will...Someone keeping Chuck in mind? His words about being a god who puts his characters into "this". "I'm a god. A cruel, cruel, capricious god. The things I put you through. The physical beatings alone!":) It's good to hear Metatron talking about that: "But really... really, it was your storytelling. That is the true flower of free will. At least as you've mastered it so far. When you create stories, you become gods, of tiny, intricate dimensions unto themselves."
5) Despite the serious theme they managed to keep funny moments as well! Dean talking to the receptionist at the hotel about Sam's flu, Crowleys quotes about "polite demons"...
6) Camera, acting!
This episode had everything what a real SPN fan needs and opens doors to the finale of the season more than satisfactorily. (Maybe there was no super song, but the positive things I've mentioned outweighed.) 10/10!
Finally the main story line
danajs244 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Seems like I waited forever to get back to business with the story, and this episode did a good job of coming up with clever ideas to further said story. First was Crowley's doppelganger trick with his demons in hell as Sam and Dean, which was a pretty cool idea for him. Unfortunately psycho Kevin sees through it (hope he dies soon, getting sick of the mood swings). Next is Cas' (s?) attempt to hide the angel tablet by hiding in identical Biggersons over and over. This was easily foiled by the angels in a very easy to guess fashion, just murdering everyone. Sam and Dean find the scribe of God, and he's a bit lame but I suppose that's the point. Curing a demon is revealed to be the final trial, so we'll see how that turns out.
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