SN: 3-16 "No Rest for the Wicked" Review

This review is really, really late but... better late than never.

This is what a season finale should be like. I was on the edge of my seat, behind a pillow, biting my nails. Noooo, Dean! Is it September yet?

I knew it was going to be a fantastic episode when it started with "Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas.

Frantic running and panting in a forest from the victim’s point of view - it’s Dean. He leaps over fallen logs until a harsh snarl can be heard ahead of him. Dean does an about face and runs in the direction he came from. One of the hellhounds chasing Dean jumps and pins him to the ground. Just as it’s about to bite...

Dean wakes up. He’s in a motel room where he was reading about hellhounds before he nodded off. Sam comes up, smiling. He asks if Dean dug up anything good. Dean shakes his head. Sam reveals that Bobby’s found something – a way to find Lilith. Dean sarcastically replies "With just thirty hours to go!" He suggests they make a T-J run or a Donkey Show. Sam replies that if they do save him (Dean), they never do that. Sam vows that whatever it takes, everything will be okay. Dean won’t go to Hell. Dean nods unconvincingly.

Bobby places a tripod on a map on the table. He promises that after the ritual they’ll know where Lilith is. Dean reminds them that first they are going after Lilith based on Bella’s intel. He adds that when that bitch breathes, the air comes out crooked. Second, if they find Lilith, they have no way of ganking her. Third, Lilith wants Sam’s head on a pike. Dean insists they go in smart or not at all. I think you’re going to have to compromise a bit if you want to live, Dean. Sam says that he’s got a sure-fire way to confirm it’s Lilith and get a bona-fide demon-killing ginsu. Dean catches on to Sam’s thinking and nixes the idea of calling Ruby. He insists that if Bobby and Sam want to save him, they find something else. You don’t have time to be picky, Dean! Bobby starts to leave. Sam asks what he’s doing. Bobby replies to find something else.

In what looks like a basement, Sam does a summoning ritual to summon Ruby. I guess he wasn’t impressed with Dean’s ramblings. Ruby shows up snarking that phones work too. Sam tells her about Lilith holding Dean’s deal. Ruby reveals that she knew but if she’d informed them earlier of Lilith’s involvement, the boys would have rushed after her half-cocked. She adds that Lilith would have peeled the meat off Sam and Dean’s pretty faces. Sam replies that they are ready now and he wants Ruby’s magic knife. Ruby says that Sam is ready and it’s the right time as Lilith is on shore leave. She asks if Sam and Dean still have the hex bags ("Jus in Bello"). Sam replies that they do. It appears that the hex bags jam Lilith’s demonic LoJack so they remain invisible to her. Ruby, however, refuses to give Sam the magic knife. She says that Sam’s got the talent, i.e. the super special abilities, to take Lilith down. The abilities have been dormant for the past year but now that he’s desperate enough he can use them to wipe Lilith off the map. Seeing Sam’s reaction, Ruby notes that Sam doesn’t like to use his powers because he hates the way Dean looks at him, like he’s some sort of freak-show. She tells Sam to suck it up because they’ve got a lot of ground to cover.

Dean emerges from the shadows. He calls Ruby a "slutty little Yoda". Ruby counters with "dumb, spineless dick". Dean punches her in the face. Ruby retaliates by punching Dean twice in the face and spinning into a roundhouse kick that knocks Sam into a post. Ruby continues to kick Dean. When she stops, Dean looks up at her with a grin. Ruby asks what he’s grinning at. Dean shows her that he’s got the magic knife. Ruby tries to go after Dean but she can’t. She’s ensnared in a devil’s trap Dean spray painted on the ceiling. Ruby rages. She screams that Dean deserves Hell and she wishes she could be there to hear him scream. Dean replies that he wishes she’d shut her pie-hole but they don’t always get what they want. Sam and Dean go up the stairs leaving Ruby yelling.



Hotel: Sam and Dean load up their rifles with rock salt. Sam looks troubled. He asks if they’re going to let Ruby rot. Dean replies that that’s the idea. Sam wonders what if Ruby’s right and he (Sam) can take out Lilith. Dean looks at Sam. He mocks that Sam will give Lilith the Carrie stare and Lilith will go "poof". Sam thinks they should go ask Ruby what she meant. Dean says that Sam wanted the knife and he (Dean) got him the knife. Sam reminds Dean that the last time, Lilith snapped her fingers and they had 30 demons on their tail; all they have is one little knife. Good point, Sam. The odds aren’t in your favor. Sam reminds Dean that he said they go in smart or they don’t go in at all. They’ve got one shot at this and, if there’s a sure fire way, they should talk about it. Dean counters that they are not going to make the same mistakes all over again. John’s deal, Dean’s deal, now this - every time one of them is up the creek, the other is bagging to sell their soul. Ruby is jerking Sam’s chain down the road and they know what the road’s paved with and where it’s going. Sam assures Dean that he can handle it. Dean replies why risk it. Sam proves Dean point – he says that he’d risk it because Dean is his brother and he(Dean)’d do it for him. "Look how that’s turned out", Dean counters. Dean continues that Sam’s his weak spot; and he is Sam’s – and the "evil sons of bitches" know it too. The demons are using what Sam/Dean is willing to risk for the other against them. Sam asks if they should stop looking out for each other. Dean replies that they stop being martyrs. They go after Lilith the way their dad taught them to with the knife and, if they go down, they go down swinging. Dean asks Sam what he thinks. Sam jokes that Dean should have been jamming "Eye of the Tiger". "Bite me" says Dean. He quips that he rehearsed that speech. Sam smiles sadly. They decide to go to Indiana where Lilith is taking time off. Dean wonders what a demon does for fun. I’m not sure I want to know.

New Harmony, Indiana – Pretty suburb home: Two older gentlemen walk to their respective mailboxes. One mailbox reads "The Fremonts". Tom asks Pat Fremont how his granddaughter is doing. Pat replies that she’s home sick from a darn bug that’s going around. Tom tells Pat to give her a big hug from him and Judy. They shake hands and Pat leaves. Tom looks at the note in his hand. It says "Help us".


Pat walks into the house. He steps over an older woman’s body that’s decomposing judging by the flies around the body. Ew! He walks into the kitchen where a woman is frosting a humongous cake. He asks where she is. The woman (Gina *SV reference*, I missed you!) says that she’s upstairs playing with Freckles. Pat says that if they just sit here, they’re dead. The man warns that she’ll kill him (Pat). Pat replies that it’s her or them. The woman reminds them that it’s her baby girl. "Not anymore" says Pat. There is something inside her. The man warns that she’s coming. A girl comes over covered in blood. The mom, horrified, asks what happened to her dress. The girl answers that Freckles was mean to her and the mom replies that that’s nice. The girl asks her dad to push her on the swing. The dad looks terrified. He hesitatingly suggests that she change out of the dress so the neighbors don’t see her covered in blood. This scene is surreal. The girl replies that her dad is smart and she loves him. She hugs him. The dad replies in monotone that he loves her too. The dad looks at the mom, who shakes her head, and asks if after a while, she could let them go. The girl narrows her eyes. She asks if he wants to be there; if he loves her. The mom and dad rush to say how much they love her. The girl warns her dad not to be mean to her like Freckles or the mean old babysitter (the lady lying dead in the hallway) were. The dad apologizes. There’s a tense moment until the girl smiles and says it’s okay. I'm distracted because Jenny needs braces.


Impala: Dean tries to start the car to no avail. Bobby comes up the driver’s side holding the distributor cap. He asks where they think they’re going. The boys get out of the car. Dean explains that they got the knife. Bobby asks if they intend to use it without him. He asks if he looks like a ditchable prom date. Dean says that it’s about him and Sam. It isn’t Bobby’s fight. Bobby angrily replies that the heck it isn’t; family doesn’t end with blood. Bobby adds that Dean is playing wounded. He wants to know how many hallucinations Dean’s had so far. Sam looks surprised. Dean wonders how Bobby knows. Bobby says that what happens when hellhounds are on your tail and because he’s smart (implying Sam and Dean aren’t?). Bobby hands Dean the distributor cap. He says he’ll follow. Dean looks defeated. Bobby warns not to stop to pee every ten minutes either. Hehehe.



Later as they’re riding in the Impala, Sam starts to say if it doesn’t work out he wants Dean to know something. Dean interrupts. He says doesn’t want Sam to bust out the misty "good-bye" speech. If it’s his last day on Earth, he doesn’t want it to be socially awkward. Dean turns on the radio. "Bon Jovi?" asks Sam. Dean replies that Bon Jovi rocks, on occasion. Dean sings to Bon Jovi’s "Wanted Dead or Alive"; he pushes Sam to join in and Sam does. This scene is too cute.

A cop spots the Impala and follows with lights flashing. The boys notice. Dean says that he’s got a busted tail light. Dean pulls over. The cop comes up to the driver’s side. He asks to see Dean’s license and registration. Dean hands it to him without looking up. The cop asks if "Mr. Hagar" knows he’s got a busted taillight. Dean starts to say that he’s been meaning to take care of it when he suddenly opens the Impala’s door, hitting the officer in the stomach. The cop doubles over. Dean rushes out of the car and hits the cop over and over. He pulls out the magic knife and stabs the cop in the throat. Bobby comes running up to them. He asks what happened. Sam answers that Dean killed a demon. Sam wants to know how Dean knew. Dean replies that he could see its real face.

As Sam, Dean and Bobby hide the cop’s car, Sam asks if Dean is now seeing demons. Dean answers that he sees all kinds of things. Bobby says that it’s not all that crazy. Dean’s got 5 hours to go; so he’s glimpsing the B-side. Dean’s asks for Bobby to be a little less new age. "You’re almost Hell’s bitch, so you can see Hell’s other bitches" states Bobby. Maybe that’s too little new age? Dean sarcastically thanks Bobby. Sam thinks this will come in handy. Dean quips that he’s glad his doomed soul is good for something. Bobby thinks Lilith has demons stashed all over town. They can’t let them sound the alarm. Bobby adds that if Lilith knows they’re there, they are dead before they’ve started. Dean just wants to go. They head toward their respective cars.



Back at the Fremont’s place, the grandfather and dad sits stiffly at the dining room table. The mom comes in with the cake and candles. They wish the girl (Jenny) a happy birthday. Jenny is thrilled that it’s her birthday every day. She blows out the candles and the mom proceeds to cut the cake. Jenny casually asks her grandfather why he went to Mr. Webber for help. Everyone stops what they’re doing. The grandfather lies that he didn’t. Jenny replies that he’s a big fat liar. She asks her parents if they knew about this. The parents look terrified. They look at each other, then at the grandfather. The mom answers no. The grandfather looks warily at Jenny. Jenny asks if he loves her. The grandfather insists that he does. Jenny says that he’s lying again. He’s a mean old man. The grandfather looks at the mom. He pleads for her to do something to help him. Jenny doesn’t think she likes him anymore. She twists her hand and the grandfather’s neck is broken. The mom starts to scream but Jenny warns her not to; screaming makes her mad. The mom continues to cut the cake. Jenny cheerfully asks for ice cream with her cake.

Outside the house, Sam, Dean and Bobby watch as the mom puts a piece of cake in front of Jenny. Dean says that Lilith is the little girl; her face is awful. Sam is ready to go. Dean, however, wants to wait. He says that the mailman and Mr. Rogers (i.e. Mr. Webber) are demons. Sam says that they’ll ninja pass them and sneak in. Dean asks if the plan is to give a Columbian necktie to a 10 year old girl. Sam replies that he knows it’s awful but it’s not about saving Dean, it’s about saving everybody. Bobby quietly adds that she’s got to be stopped.


Later, Jenny and her mom are on a bed. Jenny asks her mom to read the book the mom’s holding again. The mom answers that she’s read it 26 times already. Jenny says again. The mom starts the story again. She’s got tears in her eyes.

Outside, the postman is sorting the mail at his truck. He spots Dean. Dean starts to run and the demon follows. Dean rounds a corner. When the demon rounds the corner, Sam stabs him with the magic knife as Dean holds him. Further away, Bobby starts a chant to make holy water. Sam retries the knife from the ex-mailman’s chest. He wipes the blood on his jacket. Ew! Dean drags the body behind a bush.

Dean walks away only to be pushed face first into a chain linked fence. Ruby demands her knife back. Sam comes up behind Ruby with the knife. He tells her Dean doesn’t have it. Dean wonders how she got out. Ruby answers that what Dean doesn’t know could fill a book. Dean looks at Ruby and says that she’s one ugly broad. Ruby asks Sam to give her the knife. Sam says when this is over. Ruby replies that it’s already over. She gave them a way to save Dean but they shot it down. It’s too late, Dean’s dead and she’s not going to let Sam die too. Sam warns her that if she tries to stop him, he’ll kill her. Ruby unwisely taunts him. Dean interrupts their little cat-fight. They look around and see the neighborhood’s residents standing around. They’re all possessed by demons.


Sam, Dean and Ruby start running. The demons follow. They come to a door and Sam tries to jimmy it open. Dean wonders what’s going on with Bobby. The sprinklers come on and the demons are soaked... in holy water. Way to go, Bobby. Sam finally opens the door and they walk in to find the dead babysitter’s body. Dean wonders if Lilith knows if they are there. Ruby thinks so. They cautiously walk in. Sam walks in front, holding the knife, followed by Ruby and Dean. Dean suddenly turns around to find the dad. He covers the dad’s mouth and assures him that he’s there to help. He warns the dad to talk quietly. Sam asks where his daughter is. He answers that it’s no longer his daughter and she’s upstairs in the bedroom. Dean tells the dad to go to the basement and put a line of salt behind him. The dad starts to argue that he’s not going without his wife. Dean knocks him out, picks him up and heads toward the basement.

Sam and Ruby head upstairs. Ruby opens a door very quietly and goes inside. Sam heads in the opposite direction still holding the knife. Huh? Why are they splitting up? He listens at another door, and then quietly turns the handle. He spots the mom and Lilith on the bed behind a curtain. As he opens the curtain to find the frightened mom looking at him; Lilith is sleeping beside her. The mom tells Sam to do it. Why in heck is Sam hesitating! Jenny opens her eyes and screams. Dean holds Sam’s arm and yells that it’s not her. The girl whimpers for her mom.

Outside, the demons stand around the house while the sprinklers spray holy water. They’re not very resourceful, are they? Bobby looks at his pocket watch and curses.



Inside, Dean tells the mom that no matter what they hear, her husband, daughter and she are to stay in the basement. Ruby and Sam come up behind Dean. Ruby says that she hates to say I-told-you-so. I think she’s lying. Sam asks Ruby where Lilith is. He wonders whether Lilith can get past the holy water. Ruby replies that at the level Lilith is, she’s not sweating the holy water. Sam admits defeat. He asks what he has to do to save Dean. Dean comes up behind him. He asks Sam what the hell he’s doing. Ruby tells Sam that he had his chance and they needed time. The clock behind Ruby reads midnight. Dean tries to stop Sam. Sam yells that he’s not going to let Dean go to Hell. Dean yells back that that’s what Sam’s going to do. Dean apologizes. He says that it’s all his fault but what Sam wants to do can’t save him – it can only kill Sam. Sam, with tears in his eyes, asks what he’s supposed to do. Dean quietly replies to keep fighting and to take care of his wheels. Dean adds for Sam to remember what their dad taught him; and what he (Dean) taught him. As the clock strikes midnight, Ruby says that she wouldn’t wish this on her worst enemy. Dean hears the hellhounds. He tells Sam but Sam can’t see or hear them.

Sam, Dean and Ruby start running. Sam closes the doors as they rush through each one. They end up in a room. Dean puts dust in front of the doors and windows. Ruby demands that Sam give her the knife. Sam hesitates. She asks if he wants Dean to die. Sam looks like he’s considering giving Ruby the knife when Dean yells for him to wait. He says that it’s not Ruby. Lilith uses her powers to disarm and pin Sam to a wall. She pins Dean onto a table. Dean asks how long Lilith’s been in Ruby. Lilith answers not long but she likes it because it’s grown up and pretty. Her eyes cloud over. Sam asks where Ruby is. Lilith replies that she was a bad girl so she sent her far away. Dean says that he should have seen it before but they all look alike to him.


Ruby ignores Dean. She walks toward Sam. She says that she’s wanted to meet him for a long time. She forces him to kiss her. She notes that his lips are soft. Sam says that now that she has him, she should let Dean go. Yeah, like it’s going to be that easy. Lilith says that Sam’s got nothing to bargain with. Dean asks if this is the big plan; drag him to Hell, kill Sam and become Queen Bitch. Lilith says that she doesn’t answer to puppy chow. She opens the door and tells the hellhounds to get Dean. Dean is dragged to the floor by the unseen hellhounds. Sam yells for Lilith to stop it. Dean screams as he is being mauled by the hellhounds. There is blood everywhere. Suddenly Dean goes quiet. Sam yells no. I yell no. Lilith raises her arm and says "yes". A white light comes out of her extended hand. When it’s over she looks at Sam who is cowering on the floor but unharmed. Sam gets up and Lilith orders him back. It doesn’t stop him. He picks up the knife and stabs her. She screams as black smoke rushes out of her mouth and falls down dead beside Dean. Sam walks over to Dean’s body and picks him up. He cries and repeats "no".

Zoom into Dean’s mind: Dean is bloody, tied by chains and screaming for someone to help him. He yells for Sam.

Arrgggh! Is it September yet?!