I'd been spoiled for Jessica's return, but that didn't lessen the joy of seeing her again. Ever since Season 1's 'Bloody Mary', where Sam saw Jessica standing on the sidewalk, I'd wanted her to return. In Season 2, we got one of the show's BEST episodes, 'What Is And What Should Never Be'. It was a stellar episode, and Jess's reappearance - not to mention getting to see her and Sam together, happy (and engaged!) - was the icing on the cake. It was great to see how happy they could have been if Jessica hadn't died. What had gotten on my nerves, though, was Sam's lack of mentioning her ever since. He never brought her up. I was grateful that, in Season 4's 'When the Levee Breaks', young Sam brought up Jessica while adult Sam was detoxing from his demon blood addiction. I was glad that, even though Jessica couldn't *be* there, young Sam was voicing what I imagine her concerns would've been if she *had* been there. He spoke for Jessica, in that respect, I thought. It came as a bit of surprise then, in this episode, to see that Jessica had seemingly returned to make Sam feel guilty.
Nice musical montage of Sam and Dean, with Sam burning his fake IDs. Dean and Castiel's first scene of the episode (like most of their scenes together) proved to be a good/memorable one. Dean got a couple of good lines, the first being after Castiel informed him that the Archangel he'd been smote by was named Raphael, and Dean said, "You were wasted by a Teenage Mutant Ninja Angel?". The second being when Castiel was about to touch Dean's forehead to transport him to Maine, and Dean stopped him, saying that, "Last time you zapped me someplace, I didn't poop for a week! We're driving." (it was Castiel's reaction to this information that made the line hilarious). Sam got a good line too (describing himself as "Like a riddle wrapped inside an enigma wrapped inside a taco."). Dean and Castiel make quite the comedy duo (Castiel couldn't even hold his FBI badge up the right way). Their exchanges are just priceless (Dean: "Where've you been?", Castiel: "Jerusalem.", Dean: "Oh. How was it?", Castiel: "Arid."). Castiel's nervousness and facial expressions at the "den of iniquity." that Dean had taken him to (so that he might get laid) were hilarious. Castiel taking the money from Dean was particularly amusing.
Despite all the comedic moments, though, there were some very serious/dramatic scenes to balance things out in the episode. Cutting between Sam in the bar (with the hunters and his new recovering alcoholic friend) and Dean, with Castiel, trapping Raphael in a ring of fire was very well done. The storm, and the revelation that God was apparently "dead", were very dramatic (Castiel got another great line, when he informed Raphael that, "Today you're my little bitch.". Dean adding, in reference to Castiel, "What he said." - combined with how he just sort of looked around the room - made it even funnier). As tension-filled as that scene was, however, Sam being force-fed demon blood in the bar definitely eclipsed it, dramatically. He came through, though, by not swallowing. This definitely shows progress.
Another emotional scene was the one between Dean and Castiel in the car. After all the comedy, it was nice to see them have a more serious conversation. Dean admitting that he'd had more fun with Castiel in the past 24 hours than he'd had with Sam in years, was kind of sad (especially considering that, as Dean said, Castiel isn't that much fun). I was kind of disappointed to hear Dean say that he'd spent so long "chained" to his family, and now that he was alone, he was "happy". I always admired Dean most for his devotion to his family (especially his brother), no matter what...but I guess that it shows Dean truly *is* human - the fact that he's now admitting he's tired of that sort of responsibility.
I'm glad we got another scene between Sam and "Jessica", with him admitting that he loves her and how much he missed her too. I just kind of hate the fact that he thought it was really HER saying these things to him (as if Jess would ever tell him that he can't change). That was a pretty effective/slightly creepy shot, with Sam in the frame and just "Jessica's" hand suddenly appearing. That was also a really neat effect with "Jessica" morphing into Nick/Lucifer (complete with fire under the skin). Lucifer admitting that Nick is "just an improvisation/Plan B", and that he can barely contain Lucifer without spontaneously combusting, was a nice reveal. They managed to to top that, however, with the revelation that Sam is Lucifer's "true vessel". After Sam put up a brave fight, saying he'd kill himself before letting himself be taken over, Lucifer casually telling him "I'll just just bring you back." was very unnerving/creepy. I wish we'd get a better answer to Sam's "Why me?" question than "Because it had to be you, Sam. It always had to be you." - that's not really an answer. Mark Pellegrino gave an excellent first performance as Lucifer (managing to keep the character very similar to how we'd first 'seen' in the season premiere - which was a nice bit of continuity).
While this episode certainly didn't beat Season 4's third episode ('In The Beginning'), it was definitely better than episode 2 of this season. You wouldn't think the boys being separated could make for a very good episode...but this one was actually pretty good. While I was very happy to see Jessica/Adrianne Palicki again (she was really good playing "Jessica"/Lucifer), I hope this doesn't end up being her last appearance in the show. Before the series ends, I would like to see Sam talk to the *real* Jessica (or her spirit, anyway) and not someone posing as her.
Nice musical montage of Sam and Dean, with Sam burning his fake IDs. Dean and Castiel's first scene of the episode (like most of their scenes together) proved to be a good/memorable one. Dean got a couple of good lines, the first being after Castiel informed him that the Archangel he'd been smote by was named Raphael, and Dean said, "You were wasted by a Teenage Mutant Ninja Angel?". The second being when Castiel was about to touch Dean's forehead to transport him to Maine, and Dean stopped him, saying that, "Last time you zapped me someplace, I didn't poop for a week! We're driving." (it was Castiel's reaction to this information that made the line hilarious). Sam got a good line too (describing himself as "Like a riddle wrapped inside an enigma wrapped inside a taco."). Dean and Castiel make quite the comedy duo (Castiel couldn't even hold his FBI badge up the right way). Their exchanges are just priceless (Dean: "Where've you been?", Castiel: "Jerusalem.", Dean: "Oh. How was it?", Castiel: "Arid."). Castiel's nervousness and facial expressions at the "den of iniquity." that Dean had taken him to (so that he might get laid) were hilarious. Castiel taking the money from Dean was particularly amusing.
Despite all the comedic moments, though, there were some very serious/dramatic scenes to balance things out in the episode. Cutting between Sam in the bar (with the hunters and his new recovering alcoholic friend) and Dean, with Castiel, trapping Raphael in a ring of fire was very well done. The storm, and the revelation that God was apparently "dead", were very dramatic (Castiel got another great line, when he informed Raphael that, "Today you're my little bitch.". Dean adding, in reference to Castiel, "What he said." - combined with how he just sort of looked around the room - made it even funnier). As tension-filled as that scene was, however, Sam being force-fed demon blood in the bar definitely eclipsed it, dramatically. He came through, though, by not swallowing. This definitely shows progress.
Another emotional scene was the one between Dean and Castiel in the car. After all the comedy, it was nice to see them have a more serious conversation. Dean admitting that he'd had more fun with Castiel in the past 24 hours than he'd had with Sam in years, was kind of sad (especially considering that, as Dean said, Castiel isn't that much fun). I was kind of disappointed to hear Dean say that he'd spent so long "chained" to his family, and now that he was alone, he was "happy". I always admired Dean most for his devotion to his family (especially his brother), no matter what...but I guess that it shows Dean truly *is* human - the fact that he's now admitting he's tired of that sort of responsibility.
I'm glad we got another scene between Sam and "Jessica", with him admitting that he loves her and how much he missed her too. I just kind of hate the fact that he thought it was really HER saying these things to him (as if Jess would ever tell him that he can't change). That was a pretty effective/slightly creepy shot, with Sam in the frame and just "Jessica's" hand suddenly appearing. That was also a really neat effect with "Jessica" morphing into Nick/Lucifer (complete with fire under the skin). Lucifer admitting that Nick is "just an improvisation/Plan B", and that he can barely contain Lucifer without spontaneously combusting, was a nice reveal. They managed to to top that, however, with the revelation that Sam is Lucifer's "true vessel". After Sam put up a brave fight, saying he'd kill himself before letting himself be taken over, Lucifer casually telling him "I'll just just bring you back." was very unnerving/creepy. I wish we'd get a better answer to Sam's "Why me?" question than "Because it had to be you, Sam. It always had to be you." - that's not really an answer. Mark Pellegrino gave an excellent first performance as Lucifer (managing to keep the character very similar to how we'd first 'seen' in the season premiere - which was a nice bit of continuity).
While this episode certainly didn't beat Season 4's third episode ('In The Beginning'), it was definitely better than episode 2 of this season. You wouldn't think the boys being separated could make for a very good episode...but this one was actually pretty good. While I was very happy to see Jessica/Adrianne Palicki again (she was really good playing "Jessica"/Lucifer), I hope this doesn't end up being her last appearance in the show. Before the series ends, I would like to see Sam talk to the *real* Jessica (or her spirit, anyway) and not someone posing as her.
