Supernatural S08E23 "Sacrifice" Episode Review (Season 8 Finale!)

"For the first time in a long time it feels like we're gonna win." ...Sam

The Hell trials and the Heaven trials collide in "Sacrifice" and the end result is spectacular!

Other than stopping the apocalypse, this was probably the biggest season ending to date.

To recap, the plan to cure a demon is a bust! It's possible, Sam gets the ball rolling, Crowley discusses watching GIRLS (tragic), but then it all falls apart. Turns out that Metatron is a tool and has been telling a whole lotta lies about his true intentions, which I feel dumb for not seeing sooner. He's not looking to close the gates of Heaven at all. He's looking to toss all the angels out on their angelic asses! And he succeeds.

He's a vengeful little assbutt, huh?

But more on that a bit later. First, the Winchesters. They're separated early on which is a bit of a bummer, but by the end they're back together (stop pulling them apart, it doesn't really work!).

Dean learns that Sam's gotta die to complete the trials, and so they call it quits with one of the best "brother moments" the show has probably ever done. We all love those, right? Sam spills his emotional guts and Dean gives it all right back.

Usually Dean gets the heavy lifting in these situations, but here it's all about Sam. Which I happen to really appreciate. It's not often he's given this sorta stuff to work with, but in "Sacrifice" he gets the goods and brings home that bacon!

Supernatural Season 8 Finale "Sacrifice" : Pictures, Clips, Synopsis!

Supernatural's 8th season draws to a close next Wednesday on the CW with the ultimate showdown between the Winchesters and Crowley - the king of hell. Who'll be left standing when the dust settles? Take a look at the clips, photos, and the official episode description for clues. It's gonna be demonic!

WHAT MUST SAM, DEAN AND CASTIEL SACRIFICE TO FOREVER SEAL HELL? — With Crowley (guest star Mark Sheppard) poised to undo all the good they’ve ever done as hunters, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) find themselves cornered. But with Kevin’s (guest star Osric Chau) help, the Winchester brothers bound into one last play against The Demon King. Metatron (guest star Curtis Armstrong) initiates a plan with Castiel (Misha Collins) to take on Naomi (guest star Amanda Tapping) and the bureaucracy of Heaven. Alaina Huffman and Kim Rhodes also guest star. Phil Sgriccia directed the episode written by Jeremy Carver (#823).

Supernatural S08E22 "Clip Show" Episode Review

"Even banged up, Sammy comes through"... Dean


OK, so this was one of those episodes of Supernatural where everything the Winchesters do goes balls up and they feel totally worthless and useless, and then they consider giving up. They won't give up, but they sure as hell have enough reasons to do so.

After completing the first two trials successfully, Sam and Dean end up knee-deep in dead bodies (bodies of those they've already saved), and Abaddon is on the loose. The brothers are having a sh!t time of it just now. And it's all thanks to Crowley. What a dick!

The sleaze-bag King of Hell is killing off the Winchester's success stories one by one until they turn over the goods and put all this gates of hell "nonsense" behind them. These guys have been up against more walls that I care to remember by now - usually they've been thrown against them - but their current predicament is perhaps the grimmest (is that a word?) to date. They do nothing and a bunch of people die. They keep at it and a bunch of other people die.

Is there any way out?

Supernatural S08E21 "The Great Escapist" Episode Review

"They're changing me, Dean" ...Sam

I'm a little lost for words so soon after watching tonight's show, there was a whole lot of stuff the chew on and soak up. It's definitely one of the heaviest episodes - in plot/myth - we've had this year, and so it takes a while to sink in. To sum up though, there were basically three situations to sort out: Sam vs. sickness, Castiel vs. Naomi, and Kevin Tran vs. Crowley.

First off we learn quickly what went on with Kevin a few weeks back when he was kidnapped. Crowley snatched him up and put him in a code-busting bubble with impostor Sam and Dean acting as set decoration. But Kevin doesn't buy it, and ultimately Crowley doesn't get the goods. No way would the Winchesters mess up on a secret knock! That's Scooby-doo 101 type stuff! And with burritos in the fridge?

C'mon demons, what are you, stupid or something? Oh wait...

So Kevin is safe and NOT dead like we thought. Not that we really thought he was dead anyway though, since no one dies on Supernatural - ever.

Cass shows up again this week, and oddly hasn't gained any weight from living in every Biggersons in the country. Then again, I guess he's not really got much appetite with that massive rock in his gut! Disgusting... lots of blood. Genius, though!

Anyway, Naomi is a bitch and does some not so nice things to get what she wants. Those poor people, all splattered about the floor, eye-sockets smoking. Can't anyone just enjoy a decent meal anymore? But in the end her power-suited badness isn't enough to win against Crowley, and she zaps back to whatever angelic rock she crawled out from under. How long before she starts wrecking Happy Meals?

Supernatural S08E20 "Pac-Man Fever" Episode Review

"What's up, bitches!"... Charlie

In "Pac-Man Fever", Dean's playing dress-up, and Sam's firing blanks. Plus vampire shootin' and exploding dead bodies!

Got to say that when I switched on tonight's show and saw that it was another guest-star episode, I was just a little bit bummed out. Usually these types of outings leave Sam and Dean in the background and never really accomplish much. Sometimes they're fun, but often they're forgettable and pointless.

However, Charlie seems like more than just a guest star at this point, having been on the show 3 times by now, and so I wasn't quite as bummed out as I might normally have been. And the rest did not disappoint either.

Soupy dead bodies and Djins round out the MOTW plot in "Pac-Man Fever", but it doesn't feel old or tired despite us having seen this particular big-bad in the past. This one's a little different as explained in the "lore", and played by the talented Lynda Boyd! She's the mommy djin working out of the morgue - for obvious reasons - and she also dishes out decent fashion advice to young power-suits on the side.

But what does she think about the shoes? We need to know these things, dammit!

Supernatural S08E19 "Taxi Driver" Episode Review

"You're trying my non-patience"...Crowley

This week on Supernatural, Sam's in transit. First stop is purgatory, and then it's down, down, down the rabbit hole to the "mothership". The big H! Hell! Rescue mission BOBBY!

It's god trial #2!

These trails have made the second part of the season very enjoyable (at least for me), and while I know some fans are gonna complain that there were plot holes and disregard for past myth-points in tonight's show, I don't really care. The details can often make or break an episode, sure, but without them we might have needed three or four separate shows to accomplish everything that went down in this single episode.

Here are the big deals from "Taxi Driver":

Sam in purgatory!

As we all remember, Dean went to purgatory and Sam didn't go looking for him. Everyone's been complaining about that, but I don't really mind it. Sam did what he did, right? It's only because his reasons why have been so under-explored that the situation continues to nag me now. But since Sam got reminded and then told-off (Bobby Singer knows how to put you in your place) about his actions, I think we'll maybe get back to the discussion sooner rather than later.

Purgatory was only a stepping stone in the grand scheme of things tonight, but it brings one of the seasons big issues to the front again and I'm hopeful it'll get more focus when the show returns. Sam's been so quiet on this whole thing that I'm still thinking/hoping there's more to it.

Supernatural S08E18 "Freaks and Geeks" Episode Review

"What, like my feelings?"...Dean


In "Freaks and Geeks" Supernatural (re)introduces "Krissy", a character who, apparently, has been on the show before.

Really? No memory of her whatsoever...

Anyway, she's back, with a team of friends in tow fighting what goes bump in the night. By day though, they take trig tests and attend bake sales. Some guy called Victor keeps them in check and then pimps out their hunting skills when vampires get too close - which is often.

It's the Supernatural version of The Huxtables The Waltons.

From there is goes about as you might expect: Victor's revealed to be a massive tool! He manipulated the lives and deaths of both the kids and their families in order to create a master crop of skilled hunters for the big-bads of the future. Working with a vampire, Victor baited the kids into killing time and time again, telling them the vamps were the cause of all their past suffering. But really it's all just training exercise.

Not a bad idea in theory, but for real life it's kind of a stinker.

Supernatural S08E17 "Goodbye Stranger" Episode Review

"Do you need more time with Miss. October?"... Sam

After a brief winter break, spring has finally sprung and brought with it the return of Supernatural. So what's new with the Winchesters?

Oh, not much really, just... Dean's dead! Again and again and again and again...

But don't worry, it's just a test. And Castiel passed with flying colors! What the hell, Cass?

Naomi's part in the Supernatural world has so far been limited and confusing, but she's definitely not been warm and fuzzy, throwing out reasons for us to trust her. I'm actually surprised we weren't lured into liking her more before she turned out to be a massive bitch because, well, that's usually how it goes with TV villains (is she a villain?). Anyway, there's not much chance we'll get to liking Naomi after tonight. Not after she worked Castiel like a puppet and nearly had him kill his true love best buddy Dean. All for a hunk o' burning rock. A tablet to be exact - with instructions to close down heaven.

Tablets are all the rage these days. Everyone wants 'em.

So Castiel beat the hell out of Dean but stayed his hand at the last second, all while being coached by that casual but smart power suit in the sky. Not exactly fun stuff to watch, but as dramatics go it's about as dramatic as you can get. There's some type of unspoken bond between Castiel and Dean (fans sometimes write naughty stories about it) and it was massively put to the test tonight - and won! Looked a whole lot like Swan Song, didn't it?

Supernatural S08E16 "Remember the Titans" Episode Review

"Dragon penis!"... Dean

Guy goes up a mountain. Dies in avalanche. Ends up invincible. Obviously, he's Prometheus!

This week's plot was pretty straight forward once we dug out our old text books and quickly refreshed on all that jazzy Greek gods stuff, but I'm still bummed that there weren't any zombies! You'd think that Zeus and the gang would have had dealings with the undead at least once, wouldn't you?

Well, if they did, it wasn't here. Prometheus is cursed to die everyday - that messes up your hardrive apparently - and when he wasn't busy being dead he banged some random hottie and passed the curse on to his son, Oliver. He looks sorta like that kid from the "I see dead people" movie. You know the one.

Anyway, there's some quick researching, and then it's all about killing Zeus to break the curse. No hex-bag cavity search required! Not even a little. The brothers spend some time pinned to the wall, they're thrown around for a bit, and then super sexy Artemis crashes the party and cleans up all the mess Robin Hood style. Cut to burning the body. Job done.

Supernatural S08E15 "Man's Best Friend With Benefits" Episode Review

"I trust you, Sammy"... Dean

Supernatural deals inter-species love in "Man's Best Friend With Benefits", and it's a little WTF! ... 

Witches and Familiars traditionally come as a pair, but rarely have they been a pair like Portia and James from tonight's show. It's weird and the noticeable lack of gags and jokes keeps it that way. Dean needed to make the most of that the situation but didn't. Something, anything, to lighten the mood here, please! It almost felt like the show itself felt a little unsure of the subject.

And to be honest I'm not sure about the weekly plot either. It started out promising, but then sorta drifted off into crazy town when everyone started transforming into cats and dogs. I liked James and I like crazy witches etc, but the familiar stuff felt a bit stretchy. Ending with the reveal that it was all the product of a jealous rage was a bit of a downer as well. I wanted a bigger conclusion.

So, that happened, but the best parts of the episode came via other roads - the flashbacks from inside both Sam & Dean's heads! Loved that stuff and it was a great fast and loose reminder of all the crap the brothers have been though over the years, and why it's so important that they stick together to make the most of Sam's upcoming god-trials.

But again with the trust issues!!!

Supernatural S08E14 "Trial and Error" Episode Review

"Those bitches can be... real bitches!"... Dean

This week on Supernatural the quest to lock up Hell moves a little bit closer to reality when a rancid Kevin Tran finally cracks the code.

The twist...

...it takes a Hellhound!

That's just the first step actually. Of three. Challenges that must be completed before the gates can be shut forever.

Maybe God should have made it a little easier?

Whatever, it's on! and I'd guess it's safe to assume completing these trials and closing the gate is what we have to look forward to for the season finale later this year. And you know what? I'm fine with that. Season 8 has been so strong, hardly a step wrong, and with the show already renewed for a 9th season, I think we can pretty much relax and enjoy whatever's on the horizon. If this Carver guy is responsible for this, then I hope he's planning on hanging around.

The weekly stuff here was pretty good too, however it's a shame Crowley was mentioned so much but didn't actually appear. The farm-family were fun but a little cartoonish, and could have used a dose of Crowley's English wit to set them right. But if the demon wasn't there in body, he was definitely there in spirit - he made deals with just about everyone and their dog on that farm! Talk about people wanting it all!

So with so many clocks ticking, it shouldn't be too hard to get under a hound and slice it open. Especially not with those hipster Clark Kent glasses the brothers were sporting this week. But they keep missing out until finally Dean's attacked and Sam has to save his ass from being shredded.

And here's where it's gets really good...

CW Renews 'Supernatural', 'Arrow', 'The Vampire Diaries' for Fall 2013

The CW has reportedly picked up 'Supernatural', 'Arrow', & 'The Vampire Diaries', for additional seasons! It's a good day for genre fans. OK, so the news isn't exactly unexpected, but it's always good when you know your favorite shows will return. It kinda takes the pressure off.

Check the official press release:

THE CW ANNOUNCES EARLY PICKUPS FOR THREE SERIES FOR THE 2013-2014 SEASON

“Arrow,” “The Vampire Diaries” and “Supernatural” to Return Next Season

February 11, 2013 (Burbank, California) ? The CW Network has given early pickups to three of its hit series for next season, including freshman hit ARROW, its top-rated drama THE Vampire Diaries and fan favorite SUPERNATURAL, it was announced today by Mark Pedowitz, President, The CW.  All three shows will return in Fall 2013.

 “We said last year that one of our goals was to establish building blocks to grow on, and now with our new hit ARROW and fan favorite SUPERNATURAL on Wednesday night, and the continued success of THE Vampire Diaries on Thursday, we’ve been able to do that,” said Pedowitz. “Not only do ARROW, SUPERNATURAL, and THE Vampire Diaries perform well on-air, they’re also extremely successful for us both digitally and socially. I’m thrilled to have all three shows returning to our schedule next season.”

 One of the true breakout hits of the season, ARROW posted The CW’s best series premiere since 2009 and currently stands as the network’s most watched show (4.3mil).  Heading into its fifth season next fall, THE Vampire Diaries remains The CW’s highest rated series in target demographics, including adults 18-34 and women 18-34.  THE VAMPIRE DIARIES also continues to be one of the network’s top performing shows digitally and socially; in fact, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES recently topped Trendrr’s list as network TV’s #1 social program for the week of January 21–27

The Winchester brothers of SUPERNATURAL will continue to fight the forces of evil for a ninth season.  Since being paired with ARROW on Wednesday this year, SUPERNATURAL has seen a dramatic uptick in its ratings from last season, rising 15% among total viewers, 10% in adults 18-34 and 18% in adults 18-49.

Supernatural S08E13 "Everybody Hates Hitler" Episode Review

What's angry, bald, and more moose-like than Sam?...

A golem! 


Picking up from where we left off last week, we get a fresh look at what that mysterious key unlocks and... it's the Bat Cave! 

OK, so not really the Bat Cave - no one can get that key - but it's pretty close. It's a nifty well hidden and well stocked hideout complete with hot showers and at least one robe and one pair of slippers. They belong to a dead guy though, so wear at your own risk.

I'd probably wear 'em and hang out, taking advantage of all the creature comforts that place has to offer. And it seems that's exactly what Sam and Dean plan to do, too. Did I see a mini-fridge? It sure beats busted up log cabins and cheap motels that probably have suspicious stains all over the furniture, right? So is this their new homebase? Is this their new home? That'd be a first.

Supernatural S08E12 "As Time Goes By" Episode Review

What do you do when your grandfather comes out of the closet? You make deals with demons ensuring he ends up dead.

Isn't that the Winchester thing to do?

Sadly, it is and Henry died. The brothers loose yet another family member. This time it was one they didn't even really know... That's tough luck for sure, and more proof that hunters have crap lives. Supernatural is definitely not about the warm and fuzzy things in life.

Still, as emotional as this week's show was, I'm not sorry to see the back of Henry. I found him, the "Legacies" & "Men of Letters" thing all a bit annoying. There was too much exposition and none of it really felt authentic to the show we already know. And I kinda hated that ugly blue suit of his as well. Being from the 50's doesn't excuse terrible fashion choices. You know I'm right!

Supernatural S08E11 "LARP and the Real Girl" Episode Review

"I'm just an IT girl, standing in front of a monster, asking it not to kill her..."


Charlie Bradbury returns in "LARP and the Real Girl" and it's almost like everyone in every world - both real and imaginary - wants her. Boys, girls, orcs, elves, even fairies! Sure she's cute, but what potion is this girl brewing? Is it commercially available? Drop me a line if you've got the goods.

Anyway...LARPing. It's weird, yeah?

Yup, it sure is. Supernatural reminded us of this little nugget only about 400 times throughout tonight's episode after all. But weird or not it's fun, and even with the general mood of danger and the threat of having your arms and legs torn off lurking around the corner, the atmosphere compared to lastweek's show is well up there. We're not quite back to full on euphoric dream-state, but it's getting there. Sam's still a bit of a droopy pants and doesn't want to take part in too much fun, but by the end of the show even he's in full war-paint, wielding a wooden sword. So he'll probably be OK following Amelia-gate. That's what I'm calling their breakup, by the way.

Supernatural S08E10 "Torn and Frayed" Episode Review

Samandriel is missing and the shrubbery is burning! Supernatural is back!

BREAKUP ALERT!

Sam and Dean are fighting yet again and working like hell to keep out of each others way. It doesn't work of course, thanks to Castiel, who's under orders from Naomi to free Alfie from the evil grasp of Crowley. He drags the Winchesters back together and the healing begins. That's good news for us fans who don't particularly relish the bickering brothers. The feuding won't last long (does it ever?) especially with Amelia in the rear-view. Sam ditched her.

But is she gone for good?

It could be a fitting end to the saga of Sam and Amelia, but something tells me it's not the last time we'll be seeing her. If it is then what really was the point? She wasn't even kidnapped! Not even a little. Surely she's got to be rescued at least once, right?

I've made no secret of my less than appreciative attitude toward Amelia; I just didn't buy her whole deal, and felt like her and Sam's relationship was flat and cold. However, tonight I did sympathize with her and felt that if this is the last we see of her, she went out on a high. The character finally felt (sorta) real and integral to the show - most importantly to the ongoing relationship between the brothers.

Supernatural S08E09 "Citizen Fang" Episode Review

"Pie!"

In the mid-season finale of Supernatural, Benny's under suspicion and "mostly OK Martin" is definitely not OK. He's more like mostly mental. Good riddance!

But is this the end of Benny too, or will he show up again, transformed back into the monster he used to be thanks to the taste of fresh blood?

It would seem like the answer's been laid out in front of us. Remember that thing Sam said about how he might end up being the one to ice Benny?... Yeah, that's probably gonna happen now. In fact, I'd be surprised if it didn't. That, or Dean will end up having to do it himself when Benny goes blood-smoothy crazy all over town. How do I feel about either outcome?

Kinda crappy.

In some ways I'd rather Martin had made the chop when Benny laid his neck on that dessert counter there at the Gumbo Hut. It was a heartbreaker of a scene, and Benny would have went out a hero had it played out the right way. I mean, you can't ask for a better exit than having your head chopped off to save your family, right? It's all kinds of noble.

Supernatural S08E08 "Hunteri Heroici" Episode Review

"Whatever you say Scully..."

Things get funny on Supernatural this week, as cartoonish events send hearts popping, anvils dropping, and birthday cakes splattering. It's another one of those outside the box episodes.

But does it work?

Yeah, it sorta does. I'll admit that at times the episode felt a little overloaded with the various ongoing plots, but mostly the cartoon thing worked well. I was a little bit worried there wouldn't be any plausible explanation and that the whole thing would just get tossed up to an alternate universe or dimension. But the slick introduction of psychokinetic pensioner Fred, and the breakdown of how everything connected to his love for and escape to the world of cartoons really worked. My believability meter stayed pretty steady throughout. Even when Castiel (and Sam) humped the train all the way inside Fred's mind.

The gags were fun (frying pan to the face, exploding cake candle, BANG!), the references sharp ("wrabbit", "That's all folks!"), and it was great to finally get a peep under the anvil. Even if it was nasty as hell!

My one and only complaint with the weekly plot is that Fred ended up turning the gun on the evil doctor guy at the end and blowing him away. That felt kinda harsh and dark for an otherwise lighthearted episode. But what do I know, right? I'd probably go mental if someone lifted my diamonds.

Supernatural S08E07 "A Little Slice of Kevin" Episode Review

This week on Supernatural, Castiel returns from Purgatory looking dirty, acting mysterious, and... without a memory. No idea how he got out. Just poof! and he's standing by the roadside, peeping through windows, and creepin' on Dean in the bathroom.

It's a mystery from the jump, and by the end of the show we're still mostly in the dark. Mostly...

Enter Naomi.

She's some kind of Heaven bigshot that rudely interrupts our broadcast and zips Cass to that big waiting room in the sky. We don't really know who this woman is, what part she plays, or even if she's good or bad. But she says an incursion of angels pulled Cass out of purgatory and now he's got to be her spy and unknowingly report back on the Winchesters, the Trans, the tablets, and whatever else is being stirred up down below. She's kind of a hot ball-buster.

What's it all about?... You're guess is as good as mine. I like it, though. It's added yet another layer of intrigue to this so-far pretty great season. The fact that Chuck was mentioned is also cause for celebration too, as it's my belief that he wasn't name-dropped for nothing.

Are we still all thinking he's actually the notorious G.O.D?

Supernatural S08E06 "Southern Comfort" Episode Review

"That's not how you say balls!"... Dean

Garth returns to Supernatural! He's got a whole bunch of phones, terrible taste in ringtones, and he kinda sorta thinks he's Bobby. Oh dear! Recipe for disaster?

Not really, no. "Southern Comfort" was one of the stronger episodes so far this season, and though it kept the ongoing Winchester bickering off to the side for 90% of the episode, when it all did finally hit the fan, it really made a mess.

Thanks to a bad penny that causes you go insane and run-over/shoot/shovel-to-death anyone you might have even the smallest beef with, Dean lets rip on Sam and unloads one of the biggest crap-storms we've probably ever witnessed. All his frustration and animosity about being left for dead in Purgatory is unleashed and it ain't pretty. I feel like Dean is justified in wanting an explanation, but I also think it's time the brothers work this out as well. So, for that reason Dean's outburst was completely welcomed. Enough angst!

But was the evil penny of death even required?

Probably not. As Sam says, those were the things Dean wanted to say in his heart, and likely would have eventually said anyway. Just hopefully without the gun waving. If we've learned anything from Supernatural's history, it's that secrets and bottling sh!t up does no one any good. So it's all out and I'm glad, regardless of how it came about. It's all very mature.

But I'm also glad that Sam picked up his balls and fought back, too. He obviously feels like he's justified in his actions as well and that what he "found" was worth it. He did what he did and that's it. How long can he be expected to apologize for the same things over and over? It's season 8 and he's still hearing about demon blood, for god sake! Time to put some of this stuff to bed and move forward.

My only complaint here is that as a fan and viewer, I don't feel like Sam is justified in his actions. Probably because the flashbacks to Sam loves Amelia are cold as ice. I just don't buy any of it and so far their relationship feels completely flat and unimpressive. What's that special about it?

If Sam felt like what he had with Amelia was big enough to abandon everything he's ever known for then fine, it's cool, I can dig it. But I want to see that and understand it. Otherwise he just looks like he gave up for no real reason.

Maybe the flashbacks need more Riot?

Our Score: 9/10
Ratings Note: 2.32 Million Viewers / 1.0 18-49 (↑ 0.2 on last new episode)