Supernatural S01 E22 – Big Bad O’Clock

Previously: Meg started killing people we gave no fucks about, John walked into a trap, and the boys tried unsuccessfully to kill the demon.

Devil’s Trap

Kirsti: We pick up where we left off, with the boys phoning Papa Winchester and Meg answering. She tells Dean he’ll never see his father again, and Dean hangs up. He starts grabbing his stuff and tells Sam they have to go because the demon knows they’ve got the Colt and now that it has Papa Winchester, it’ll come after them next. Sam’s all “GOOD. COME AT ME, BRO!”, but Dean insists that they’re leaving.

Cut to the Bromobile. Dean says that they need to work out where Papa Winchester’s being kept so they can trade him for the Colt. Sam suggests that Papa Winchester might be dead already, and Dean gets angry. Sam backs down and wants to know how they’ll find him. “We need help,” Dean replies, and the Bromobile bros on through the night.

The next morning, they arrive at a junk yard. Inside the house, there are books all over the place and we’re introduced to our Giles of the Show – Bobby Singer. Which, YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!! There are no words for how much I love Bobby Singer. Bobby makes the boys do shots of holy water before handing over the whisky. (S: Smart man!) Dean thanks him for helping, seeing as how he and Papa Winchester parted on such bad terms. Reason #1 why I love Bobby Singer: he hates Papa Winchester as much as the rest of us. Anyway, Bobby says all that matters now is that they get him back.

Across the room, Sam’s flipping through a book. He says he’s never seen anything like it and asks if the protective circle (a Key of Solomon, apparently) it depicts actually works. “Hell, yeah. You get a demon in – they’re trapped. Powerless. It’s like a Satanic roach motel,” Bobby replies. He goes on to say that the boys are in deep shit because usually he hears of three or four demonic possessions a year, but this year he’s heard of 27. As someone who can see the future, LOL. He says there’s something big coming, and the Winchesters are right in the middle of it. Outside, Bobby’s dog barks, then cuts off with a whine. Bobby crosses to the window and sees that the dog’s gone, leaving the chain dangling. He gets “OH SHIT” face.

Sara: UGH, NO, NOT THE DOG. Take the humans, not the animals!

K: RIGHT?!?!?! 

Meg kicks the door in and storms into the room.

BAMF.

Dean grabs the holy water flask and attacks, but she throws him across the room before he can do anything. She demands that Sam give her the Colt. He says they don’t have it, and she calls bullshit. She says she’d heard a lot about the Winchesters and she’s hella underwhelmed by them. She sassily asks if they thought she wouldn’t find them. From behind her, Dean says “Actually, we were counting on it.” She looks up to see the Key of Solomon painted on the ceiling.

Just because this is a gorgeous piece of camera work.

After the Not!Credits, the boys have Meg tied to a chair in the middle of the trap. Which is something I’ve never understood. Like, if I were trapped in a circle, I wouldn’t be all “Oh, sure, tie me to a chair while you’re at it!” WTF, show. ANYWAY, Bobby says that he’s salted all the doors and windows, so if Meg’s got backup they won’t be able to get in. Dean asks where Papa Winchester is, and when Meg sasses in reply, Dean shouts at her, calls her a bitch and slaps her across the face. I feel like I should introduce Misogyny Shots to the Supernatural drinking game because this show has serious issues with its female characters and the way the boys treat them. And this way, the booze will help us all get through it. It’s like turning a lose/lose situation into a lose/semi-win situation. Or something. SO. MISOGYNY SHOTS!

Sara: I like to think of Meg as neither male nor female since it’s a demon in there right now. Fair game for face slappin’, I say!

K: TRUE. But still in female packaging, so…yeah.

Anyway, Bobby pulls Dean to one side and informs him that he needs to be careful because Meg is still a human being, just one who’s possessed by a demon at the moment. The boys are horrified, even though they dealt with demonic possession way back in episode 4. Then Dean announces that this is good news. Sometime later, Sam stands next to the circle and starts reading an exorcism. Meg’s all “Are you fucking serious?” as she flinches in pain. Dean says that they’ll let up if she tells them where Papa Winchester is. She just grins. Sam continues reading, and Meg’s pain becomes more apparent. She says that Papa Winchester begged for his life, but she slit his throat anyway. Dean makes more threats, and Sam continues reading. Meg’s pain resumes.

Dean yells “Where is he?” a bunch of times and Meg yells back “DEAD” every time. Sam looks at his hella angry brother with concern, but Dean tells him to keep reading. Meg’s chair starts sliding around the circle, and she suddenly yells that Papa Winchester’s not dead but he will be soon. Sam stops reading, and Meg says that Papa Winchester is in a building in Jefferson City, Missouri but that she doesn’t know the address. She also doesn’t know where the Yellow-Eyed Demon is. Dean orders Sam to finish the exorcism, and Meg’s all “FUCK YOU, YOU FUCKING FUCK”, which is pretty legit.

Sam says that maybe they should keep Meg around, but Dean’s all “Save the innocent girl.” Bobby points out that saving her means killing her on account of that one time she fell off a building. All that’s keeping her alive is the demon. Dean says they need to “put her out of her misery,” which is weird and gross and I don’t like it. Sam reluctantly finishes the exorcism. Meg throws her head back and black smoke pours from her mouth, spreading across the Key of Solomon before disappearing. The boys stare at Meg’s body, then jump into action when she moves.

Bobby calls 911 while the boys lower Meg gently to the floor. She thanks them and says she’s been possessed for the past year. Dean asks if the demon was telling the truth about Papa Winchester, and she says it was but that it’s a trap. Dean has no fucks to give. Meg continues, saying that the Yellow-Eyed Demon isn’t there, but other demons are. Dean asks for a specific location, and she says “By the river. Sunrise,” before dying. Fade to black.

Sara: Aw. I would be pissed if I was ever possessed and killed like that.

K: Me too. After the Not Commercial Break, Bobby tells the boys to clear out before the paramedics arrive. He hands Sam the Key of Solomon book, and tells them to bring Papa Winchester around when they find him.

They thank him as they head out. Cut to Jefferson City. Dean loads up on weapons as Sam flips through the book. He suddenly looks interested, and dusts off the boot of the car before drawing a symbol on it with chalk. Dean’s all “DUDE. THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING TO MY CAR?!?!?!” Sam replies that it’s called a Devil’s Trap, and I award him a gold star:

title star

Anyway, the Devil’s Trap turns the boot into a lock box. Demons can’t get past it, so they can safely leave the Colt in there while they rescue Papa Winchester. Dean says they’ll need all the help they can get and should take the gun with them. Sam says they can’t waste bullets. Blah blah, bicker bicker, Dean gets feelsy about both his family members having a death wish and the fact that he’ll be the one to bury them. Sam wins the argument.

Cut to the boys walking along next to the river. Dean spots the Sunrise Apartments, and suddenly Meg’s dying words make sense. They realise that they’re kind of screwed because anyone in the building could be a possessed by a demon. Dean decides they should pull the fire alarm, and Sam’s all “But that only gives us seven minutes before the fire brigade shows up…” Dean seems oddly okay with this. Sam heads inside and pulls the fire alarm. A bunch of people scurry out, but in one apartment upstairs, a couple just sit at a table. The man gets up and opens the bedroom door. Papa Winchester is tied to the bed.

Outside, the fire brigade have arrived. Dean asks one of the firemen what’s happening because he’s worried about his dog.

Sam furtively picks the lock on one of the equipment cupboards on the firetruck. Cut to the boys inside the building, dressed in full firemen’s gear. Dean scans each apartment door with his EMF meter while telling Sam that he wanted to be a fireman when he was little. I stop to have thousands of feels because HIS MOTHER DIED IN A FIRE OF COURSE HE WANTED TO BE A FIREMAN.

Sara: I DIDN’T EVEN THINK ABOUT THAT, HOW SWEET AND SAD.

K: Anyway, the EMF goes off, they bust their way into the demon-containing apartment, and spray them with holy water from their fireman tanks. They shove the demons into a closet and pour salt on the floor. The demons stop hammering on the door. The boys head into the bedroom and Dean starts to untie Papa Winchester. Sam tells him to stop because Papa Winchester could be possessed. Dean’s all “We don’t have time for this”, but Sam splashes holy water on his father. Papa Winchester wakes up and is all “WTF is happening?”, then asks where the Colt is. Sam assures him that it’s safe as they untie him.

Outside the building, we see two more people get possessed and head inside. They burst through the door just as the boys are carrying Papa Winchester out of the bedroom. The Winchesters rush back into the bedroom and slam the door. An axe comes through the door as we fade to black.

After the Not Commercial Break, Sam dumps salt along the door as Dean and Papa Winchester climb out onto the fire escape. They all hustle down the fire escape to the street. Sam’s suddenly attacked by Meg’s Backup!Demon from Lincoln, who starts beating the shit out of Sam. Dean tries to help but gets thrown into a car for his trouble. Suddenly, there’s a gunshot and Backup!Demon falls to the ground, dead. Sam looks up to see Dean putting the Colt away. THAT SNEAKY JERK. Dean helps Sam up, then they grab Papa Winchester and run.

Cut to a horror movie looking cabin. A beaten-to-hell Sam pours salt along the windowsills. He thanks Dean for saving his life, and tells Dean not to stress about the fact that he totally just killed a guy, albeit a guy with a demon inside him. Dean says he knows he didn’t have a choice but it still bothers him: “Killing that guy, killing Meg. I didn’t hesitate, I didn’t even flinch. For you or Dad, the things I’m willing to do or kill, it’s just, uh….it scares me sometimes.” Sam doesn’t reply.

Papa Winchester walks into the room and says that Dean did good, saving his brother and looking out for the family.

Sara: Yeah, I don’t know if it’s a good thing when Papa Winchester is proud of you…

K: Definitely not.

Just then, the lights flicker. Papa Winchester says the demon’s found them and tells Sam to check the salt lines before asking for the gun. Dean goes to hand it to him, then hesitates.

Dean: He’d be furious.
John: What?
Dean: That I wasted a bullet. He wouldn’t be proud of me, he’d tear me a new one.

Dean cocks the gun and points it at Papa Winchester. “You’re not my dad,” he says as we fade to black.

Sara: LOL at the fact that Papa Winchester telling Dean he’s proud of him makes Dean go, “WHOA WHOA WHOA, that is not my dad.”

K: LOL or OW MY HEART?

After the Not Commercial Break, Papa Winchester insists that it’s really him, and Dean insists it’s not. Sam comes back in and is all “Whoa, WTF?” Papa Winchester says Dean’s gone crazy, Dean says that Papa Winchester is possessed. He gets teary as he says he knows because Papa Winchester is…different. Papa Winchester tries to convince Sam, but Sam goes to stand with his brother. Papa Winchester’s all “Fine, kill me then!” Dean can’t pull the trigger. “I thought so,” Papa Winchester says as his eyes flash yellow.

Okay, so basically? The reason a demon got busted? IS BECAUSE IT WAS KINDER THAN JOHN WINCHESTER. The nicest thing Dean’s ever heard from his father – “I’m proud of you” – and it comes from a freaking demon. I cannot even begin to tell you about how much I hate John Winchester and the relationship he has with his children.

Papa!Demon pins both boys against the wall telepathically. Dean drops the gun, and Papa!Demon picks it up, saying it’s been a pain in his ass for years. Sam asks about the holy water, and Papa!Demon is all “LOL” because apparently being hurt by holy water is for plebs. Sam tries to fight the force holding him to the wall and yells that he’s going to kill the demon. Papa!Demon puts the Colt on the table and sasses “Make the gun float to you there, psychic boy.” Sam stares at it but nothing happens.

Papa!Demon walks over to Dean and informs him that Papa Winchester is still in there, and he’s going to murder Dean’s face off when he gets his body back. Sounds about right. He goes on to tell them that possessing Papa Winchester is about justice because Meg (well, Demon!Meg, anyway) was his daughter and Backup!Demon was his son. The boys wants to know why he targeted their family, and Papa!Demon says it’s because their mother and Jessica were getting in the way of “My plans for you, Sammy. You…and all the children like you.” OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH, BIG PLOT POINT.

Dean tells Papa!Demon to get to the point because he can’t stand the Big Book of Villain Gloating (he actually says “monologuing“, but whatever). Papa!Demon says it can see right through his use-humour-to-mask-pain attitude, and says “You know, you fight and you fight for this family, but the truth is they don’t need you. Not like you need them. Sam – he’s clearly John’s favorite. Even when they fight, it’s more concern than he’s ever shown you.” OUCH. (S: Oof.)

Dean sasses in reply and is suddenly yelling in pain. His chest starts bleeding heavily, and Sam struggles to get free. Blood pours from Dean’s mouth as he says “Dad, please…” and passes out. Papa Winchester momentarily regains control, and Sam’s released. He grabs the Colt from the table and points it at his father as the demon takes hold again. “You kill me, you kill Daddy!” Papa!Demon says. Sam says he knows and shoots his father in the leg.

Papa!Demon goes down, and Sam rushes to his brother. Dean orders him to check on Papa Winchester. Sam heads over to his father, who suddenly comes to and yells that the demon is still inside him. He orders Sam to shoot him in the heart. Dean begs him not to. Sam can’t do it. Suddenly, black smoke pours from John’s mouth and rushes out through the cracks in the floor. Papa Winchester glares at Sam. Fade to black.

Sara: Yeah, Sam totally should have killed him. 

K: SRSLY.

After the Not Commercial Break, Sam’s driving down the highway blaring CCR’s Bad Moon Rising. Dean’s slumped in the backseat, and Papa Winchester’s gasping in pain in the passenger seat. He berates Sam for not killing the demon when he had the chance, because the Yellow-Eyed Demon trumps everything, even his life. Sam looks at Dean in the rear view mirror, and says that there are some things more important. They still have one bullet, he says, they just need to start over. Just then, a semi-trailer slams into the passenger side of the car, forcing it off the road.

The zoomy cameraman shows us that the truck driver is possessed before showing us the Winchesters, unconscious and covered in blood. Bad Moon Rising continues as we fade to black.

Sara: TAKE MY LOVE, TAKE MY LAND, BUT NOT THE BROMOBILE.

K: Something like that, yes. And so ends season 1. It’s taken a long time, but the Yellow-Eyed Demon has finally surfaced and shit is getting real. Although if Sam had only done what John asked and killed his father, he would have saved himself a shit ton of trouble into the future…

 

Next time: Find out how the Winchesters faired the accident in Supernatural S02 E01 – In My Time of Dying.

K (all posts)

I'm a 30-something librarian and I still live with my parents because I'm super broke. Leader of Team Heartless Cow. I have an inexplicable love for 90s television, eat too much chocolate, and read more than is good for me.





Sara (all posts)

I'm a 30-something with three kids who spends an embarrassing amount of time watching teen television dramas. There's a whole lot of Internet out there, and I plan on reading all of it before I die.





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