Every season of SPN, we get at least one dud. I know it’s hard to admit, but there is no way we can have 22 episodes of Winchester perfection. Not only was this one not great, but the format was very un-Supernatural like. I mean, flashbacks to some crazy, unstable woman from the 1500s instead of having Sam and Dean discover the backstory together? We are not so dumb that we need it spelled out quite that literally.

Also, I understand that sometimes Jared and Jensen need a little time off. They do tons of appearances for the show, and I am sure they like to see their families from time to time, but the show has done much better versions of Sam and Dean lite episodes dozens of times. Meh.

So, what was good about this episode? A few things.

Dean’s confession that he wasn’t ready to die was a nice moment. He had an opportunity to open up to someone, instead of putting up a brave front to his little brother all the time. And because of this tendency to try and keep Sam safe, Sam is becoming more and more obsessed with saving Dean. So much so, that it takes a Dean pep talk to get him in the game. As repetitive as the cartalks have become this season, it is always nice to have those beautiful boys talking it out.

The other good part of this episode was we finally get the connection of Rowena to the boys. Crowley has been kneecapped by the presence of his mother this season, IMO, and having her fanny about for no good reason except to antagonize her son and tell him what a loser he is has been pointless. We finally get Mark Shepard as a regular and this is what you give him show?

So, to get Rowena to finally shut up, Crowely goes out and gets the leader of the Grand Coven for his mumsy to torture. This is where we not only find out that the coven ain’t what it used to be due to the Men of Letters rolling in and taking all the spells and whatnot, but that the Mark of Cain is a curse. We all know that curses can be lifted, don’t we? Hope glimmers for Dean, even if he doesn’t know it yet. Looks like the boys will have to get through Rowena to lift this particular curse, hopefully giving us and Crowley some good soul searching. Help his dear mom, or his even dearer bestie, Dean.

In other news, there was a Winchester family reunion at the SPNCON in Vegas a few week ago, and there’s photographic proof!

Cuuuuuute.

In the next episode, the gang is back together! Including Bobby Singer!

With six episodes to go, I am hoping for things to get messy. And fun!

Gif courtesy of AllTheSupernaturalGifs tumblr.

Family photo found on the Supernatural Wiki main page.