TVSquad

(S03E09) After a month and a half off, Supernatural finally returns with a new episode. As welcome as that was, I couldn't help wondering just what the hell they are thinking over there at the CW scheduling department. Of all the weeks to bring the show back, the night of the Lost season premiere? That probably cost a bit in the ratings department, and that's unfortunate, because this was another very good episode.

At first glance, it had the makings of another story of the week episode. The friendly neighborhood book club coven featuring Tammi (Marisa Ramirez), Elizabeth (Erin Cahill, On The Lot), and Renee (Kristin Booth) had enough going for them that they could have held up an entire episode all on their own. The gory dispatch of Janet, the cringe inducing burger that Paul had, and the slashed wrists of Amanda all set the stage very well.

Dean's reaction to discovering that they were dealing with witches was perfect. "I hate witches, always spewing their bodily fluids everywhere. It's creepy. It's downright unsanitary." I was actually surprised by the revelation of Tammi as the demon. After hearing Ruby's warning I was expecting another big bad to make an entrance, having manipulated the book club into doing his or her bidding. It worked either way though.

That was all well and good, but there was plenty more to be had. Things crossed from story of the week to big time events when Tammi got the upper hand. I loved her little speech. "There's a new leader rising in the West, and he doesn't like you very much." Rising in the west just sounds so ominous. That has all kinds of potential. Sure, it's potential we may be waiting all summer for, but we waited two years to get to the showdown with the yellow eyed demon, right?

Our little pal Ruby was back and she brought along a little back story. Learning that she was a witch a few hundred years ago, previous to her career as a demon, served a couple purposes. First, that knowledge combined with her speech to Dean makes her character much easier to embrace, as well as vaulting her solidly ahead of Bella in the new character competition. And second, knowing what we know now, I'm much more inclined to believe her story about wanting to team up with the boys in the coming war. Yes, she's still a demon, and that does garner a bit of suspicion, but at this point I want to believe that she is an ally.

I was caught a little off guard by her admission to Dean that she can't help save him. It was all just a ruse to get Sam to talk to her. I've been happily operating under the assumption that it would all play out that way at some point. If we are to believe that Ruby's help is out of the picture, how does Dean get out of the deal? Because really, he has to get out of the deal, right? I love the Bobby episodes, but somehow I just can't see Sam and Bobby carrying the show.

We also got another look at the changing Sammy, only it may not be dark Sammy after all. They've been pretty consistent with building this all season, so it was nice to see it come to a head with Dean calling Sam out for not acting like himself. It actually led to a nice moment between the two of them when Sam said that he needs to be more like Dean in order to survive "in this craphole of a world" without him.

All things considered, pretty dang solid. It's certainly looking like the strike is going to throw a wrench in the works and we won't get the whole effect of what was on the drawing board for the season, That being said, were this a normal season, the introduction of our mysterious new leader rising in the west is perfectly timed. Things have settled after the dramatic end to last season and it's time to start getting deeper into this coming war.

And finally, in case you didn't get the episode title, like me, this link is an interesting read.