So many characters, so little time! This episode was jam-packed with fan-favorites, angel, devil and human alike. Let’s get right to my favorite moments.

I Will Survive

Sam’s alive, but at what cost? The opening scene was filled with amazing shots of everyone, a sweet hug between Mary and Sam, and so much tension you could cut it with an angel blade. Lucifer wants Jack in his life, Dean wants Lucifer dead and Jack? Well, Jack doesn’t know what he wants. Everyone’s acting was spot on—Jared Padalecki conveying Sam’s gratitude tinged with shame at how he was brought back, Jensen Ackles playing Dean’s angered fear at Lucifer trying to connect with Jack, Misha Collin’s protective portrayal of Castiel acting as substitute father, and Mark Pellegrino as Lucifer trying to curb his inclination toward evil to try and woo his son. And let’s not forget Alexander Calvert’s confused naiveté as Jack, who knows what he’s been told about Lucifer but, still longing to understand himself, is drawn to him anyway. Everyone set the stage for a compelling episode, and no one was out acted.

Em-bro-ce

Man, there is nothing like a Winchester Brothers hug. We wait for them—long for them. And when Dean told a sorry Sam, “you got nothing to apologize for” and embraced him it was so, so satisfying. They both lose themselves in it for a moment—Sam closing his eyes, Dean, with a catch in his throat, admitting, “I thought I lost you, man…”—and it is a beautiful thing. I preach it all the time: the depth of sibling love this show gives us is unparalleled and I want more, more, more.

Motherless Son

Jack flashing back to his mother Kelly talking to him about his dad and him being who he chooses to be was bittersweet, and, interspersed with the love Sam showed him and his unfortunate failings, we really see how torn Jack is about it all. How confused he is. It’s going to be a rocky road for him, and no one, not even the Winchesters and Cas, his found family, can spare him that.

Right in the Kisser

Just a tiny thing, but I loved it when Mary socked Lucifer right in his smarmy face. And, surprisingly to me since I was more than annoyed when she left her boys behind to go find herself or whatever, I actually understood why she felt she needed to stay in Apocalypse World. Mary is a hunter, born and raised to protect the weak and needy from the monsters of the—or any—world. Though I’m glad she saw Sam’s suggestion for all of them to leave Apocalypse World and regroup as a good one, I did get her initial motivation to leave Sam and Dean once more, and this time it stung much less. (Side note: Dean’s, “Wait. What?” when Sam contradicted him was expertly delivered. As we have come to expect from Ackles.)

Two and a Half Angels

I loved the dynamic between Jack, Cas and Lucifer. Calvert’s face as Jack asked, “Why does everyone hate you?” (and Collin’s “go on—tell him” look) was great, and Lucifer’s explanations, ranging from serious to inappropriate (calling Kelly a great kisser was cringeworthy) actually made sense. I’ve seen a lot of Tumblrs that crack wise about how ours is the only fandom that has, to quote a phrase, sympathy for the devil, but there’s great reason for that. The character is complicated, and so are his current motivations. That makes for good TV.

“Jack—we are your family.”

Loved that line. I love how the Winchesters and Cas father Jack. Cas is the gently reassuring one, Sam is the educating and encouraging one, and Dean is the gruff but protective one. They really do give Jack what he needs. But Mary was right too—it’s very natural that Jack would be curious about his father and would need to discover him on his own terms.

Of course, that doesn’t mean Dean has to like it or, when Lucifer saves them from a team of Michael’s angels, trust it.

Sioux Falls for Anything

Oh, Bobby. How I loves me some Bobby Singer. Seeing the Singer Salvage sign, even as an alterna-verse thing, warmed my heart, and so did the fine, fine acting of Jim Beaver. I love that so many of the Apocalypse World versions of the characters we know and love remain so similar to their Earth counterparts, showing that the person is who they are, they’re just shaped by different circumstances. It’s a cool take on nature versus nurture.

It Ain’t Me, Gabe

Richard Speight plays Gabriel so well. Funny and charismatic, but deadly serious when he needs to be. It’s good to see him call Lucifer out on his crap. I loved when he talked to Lucifer one on one while protecting the camp. His frustrated anger with Lucifer spilled into the words he spat at his brother, about him being a cancer that Chuck had to try to cut away from his beloved humanity. The surprise, of course, was that it brought Lucifer to a single man tear. Both Speight and Pellegrino played their roles well. It was a great scene.

Playing Ketch

More Ketch and alterna-Charlie please! I have truly grown to love Ketch, and him working with Charlie (despite their capture) made for good viewing. I loved Ketch sassing the angels that were torturing him, laughing in their faces as they did, and only truly breaking down when Charlie was the one being hurt. And by whom? Well, here’s the thing….

Type Cas

Misha Collins has played more versions of his character than anyone, and he always tries to make them distinct. I’m not gonna lie—the accent of Apocalypse World Castiel didn’t really work for me—but the demeanor? The hard facial expressions and evil tone of voice? Well done. This Cas blew my nature/nurture theory all to hell by being everything savage and ugly our Cas is not, and I was glad Charlie and Ketch were saved and he took an angel blade to the heart. Yet? The cutting between our Cas torturing a traitor and what alterna-Cas was doing to Charlie reminded us: maybe there’s more alike in there than we think. (Another side note? Them being held hostage at a Gas n’ Sip was a nice touch. As was Sam’s joyous embrace of alterna-Charlie and Ketch making jokes with Dean about saving him.)

In n’ Out

Alterna-Bobby said he’s real proud of the boys. That made my heart pull a Grinch and grow three sizes. And his decision to join all of his freedom fighters on Earth? YAY! (Mostly because that means more Jim Beaver, and I love that.) It was also great to see Dean use his automotive skills to resurrect an old bus to transport everyone, Lucifer at the wheel, Bobby in the door, and Mary perched in the back, gun at the ready. What wasn’t so great was Lucifer being able to convince Jack of what Sam could not—that killing Michael wasn’t the priority, and saving the freedom fighters was. Jack bonding with Lucifer? That can’t be good.

Make a Witch

Yay for Rowena, keeping the rift open long enough for everyone (well, almost everyone but we’ll get to that in a moment) through! I love her as part of the team. Ruth Connell makes even small moments with Rowena count, and I want more of them, please.

Another pleasing redhead moment? Alterna-Charlie saying, “See you on the other side, bitches.” I admit—I swooned a little.

Angels Arc

Damn Alterna-Michael straight to hell, though he does make quite an entrance. Lucifer trying to fight him with Jack not even there to witness made me wonder if on some tiny level he really had changed, and Gabriel insisting he would buy time for the boys made my truly fearful for him. “All I did on Earth was run. I’m not running anymore,” he said. Sounds like famous last words.

And indeed they were, which broke my heart. Is Gabriel really dead this time? It appears so. But I’m willing to be wrong about that if it means we get Richard Speight back.

Vengeance is Mine

Sam, sweet nerdy Sam, finally gets his revenge when he refuses to let Lucifer through the rift. “How did you think this was gonna end?” he asked, all savage, and I must admit, I swooned a little then too, and again, later, when he smiled at Rowena’s saucy success. It was lovely hearing Bobby speak to the crowd, encouraging them to recognize Sam and Dean, and see temporary victory for all of them.

Temporary, I say? Oh, yes. Because Lucifer bargaining with Michael that he can teach him the spell to get to Earth if Michael allows him to reunite with Jack (and sacrifice everything—and everyone—else) bodes terribly ill for Earth and, most importantly, the Winchesters.

Season Finale next week, bitches! See you then for episode twenty-three, “Let the Good Times Roll”.

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