Listen, after the big 300th family reunion, and the very emotional episodes before that, we were due for a let-down of sorts. After such an excellent run, this latest episode fell a little flat for me, which is a shame, because by the end of it, things had shifted radically.

Not to say I didn’t like those turn of events. I did. And it lines up with Andrew Dabb’s statement that Michael is not the Big Bad of the season. I think I can guess who is.

We are finally getting a gorgon, and the boys have enlisted Rowena to help them track him down, as he has been on a killing spree across the southern states. They think they have finally caught up with him in New Mexico, only to arrive minutes after Noah (our gorgon for the episode) and his pet snake, Felix, make a quick escape.

Seems that this gorgon can feast on eyeballs and catch a vision of the future, which is why Noah has been able to elude our merry band of Winchesters. They also suss out that the gorgon is using his venom to paralyze his victims before he eats ’em all up.

Sam and Rowena hit the books at the motel. Sam shoos away Rowena’s questions about how Dean is keeping Michael in his noggin, and how Jack is alive, sublimating like a good Winchester does.

Dean and Cass have a heart to heart about Micheal while sitting in a diner. Cass promises Dean that everything will be okay, even as Dean struggles with keeping Micheal locked away. Dean knows one moment of not keeping him in check, and all will be lost.

Jack coughs up some more blood in the bathroom. He has been using his soul magicks to keep himself healthy, and is chomping at the bit to really use his powers, no matter the consequences.

Noah leaves a flirty note for Dean at his next victim’s location, and they realize that while Noah can see Sam and Dean coming, he is blind to Castiel and Jack, probably because of their angelic natures.

A plan is hatched, where the angel and half-angel are sent in first, with Sam and Dean bringing up the rear.

Sam and Rowena smuggle Jack, in the form of a cute little puppers, into a Vet’s office so he can procure some anti-venom for an elixir to keep Noah from paralyzing our heroes. Rowena knows some kind of shenanigans have been employed in keeping Jack healthy, but once again, Sam brushes her off.

Armed with the elixir, and silver machetes – Maggie gives the boys the chopping off the head with a silver blade tip from the bunker – the angels burst into the shabby room, surprizing Noah, and sending the almost victim scurrying off after dosing him with the magic elixir.

Lots of ass kicking, and as Sam and Dean join the fray, Noah hits Cass with his venom, and Cass goes down, paralyzed on the floor as everyone fights around him.

Noah smashes Dean’s head against the wall a few times, and Dean is knocked out cold. Just as it seems like everyone is down, Noah hustles towards the door, only to get his head chopped off by a stealthy Jack.

Jack gives the elixir to Cass, but it doesn’t work, so Jack uses some more of his soul magicks. As is usual, Cass is mad that Jack keeps burning off his soul to help everyone, which is clearly frustrating for Jack.

Sam runs to Dean, who doesn’t wake. The boys grab Dean and hustle to the car, driving like maniacs back to the bunker. I think it’s weird that Cass apparently doesn’t try to fix Dean until they get him into the infirmary. That was a long-ass drive back to Lebanon. Cass should have tried his hocus pocus immediately!

Anyhoo!!

While everyone waits for Dean to wake up, Cass gives Jack a little lesson on the brief, shining life span of humans. Jack doesn’t understand why they even bother with emotions like love, if it only means heartache in the end. Cass claims that the pain of remembering is what makes love awesome, or something, and while I see what Cass is getting at, I’m with Jack on this, “That sounds awful.”

It is kid. It is.

Jack is every angsty teenager, and I love that they have him still trying to understand emotions, and pain, and I am sure it is all leading to some very bad news down the road.

Jack does get a new pet out of it all, so that’s nice. (Hi, Felix!)

Suddenly!

Dean wakes up yelling and thrashing about, as he realizes that while he was out, Micheal has escaped. Dean is not happy! He starts chastising everyone for not letting him take the plunge into the ocean, when they all hear screaming from the other room.

Everyone runs into the main room, and the remaining hunters from the AU are dead and bloody. Maggie comes running into the room, when she is suddenly stopped, her eyes burning out, (Dammit, show!). Smiting all around!! Rowena steps into the room, and we can see that Michael has found a new vessel. DUN!

Seems as though Micheal was able to convince Rowena to let him in. The threat to her life doesn’t work, as we all know Rowena has that particular issue sorted. So, Micheal threatens to kill everyone she loves if she doesn’t agree. Micheal seemingly knows that Rowena loves the Winchesters, in spite of herself. (I’m not sure it is love just yet, but okay) Feeling she has no other choice, she nods, and voila, Rowena is Michael.

When she begins threatening everyone – we all know that Micheal is not one to keep his promises – Jack has finally had enough of being neutered. He tells Micheal he is his no kid, but the son of Lucifer, a hunter, and a WInchester! (Agh, okay, that part got me!!) He uses his full power to extract Michael out of Rowena, distilling him to swirly essence, and then takes Micheal’s grace as his own. This seems to fully restore the kid, but it leaves the question open about his soul.

Will our sweet Jack succumb to his darker nature, now that he is powered back up? And how much, if any, of his soul is left? Sam, Dean and Cass seem to be concerned about this new, winged version of Jack. As they should be!!

I like the twist and simplicity of eliminating Michael. Only to maybe end up with something much more dangerous.

Quotes!! 

Dean: “Yeah. Who would just let themselves be eaten? Hey, I’ll say it again, my money’s on witchcraft.”  Rowena: “Och, you. Always blaming witches.”  Dean: “‘Cause a lot of times, it’s witches.”

Sam: “I mean, no pictures in his phone. And this place doesn’t exactly scream ‘snake guy.'”  Rowena: “Not enough Pantera posters, for one.”

Rowena: “He blames me for everything! I let his mother ride the Jet Ski one time!”

Rowena: “Fine. Don’t tell me. But using dangerous, mysterious magic, regardless of the cost? That’s a very on-brand me thing to do.”  Sam: “Well, thank you.”  Rowena: “Of course, Samuel. Until very recently, I was the villain.”

Michael: “I am the commander of the host! The cleanser of worlds! I will not be challenged by a child!”  Jack: “I am not a child! I’m the son of Lucifer. I’m a hunter! I am a Winchester!”

Okay, that last quote deserves the gif!

FUNNNNNNNNN! 🙂

Next!! Some kind of Pleasantville sitch, I guess!