Supernatural
CW, Thursday, 9PM
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester”
Written by Eric Kripke and Julie Siege
Directed by Charles Beeson
Warning: this review contains some spoilers. If you’d rather not know what the story is going to include, bookmark this page and read it after viewing.
It’s unrealistic to expect any television show to hit a homerun with every episode. However, Supernatural succeeds again in producing a quality, thought-provoking episode that continues to provide momentum toward the season finale. “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester” is Supernatural‘s Halloween episode in which yet another seal is put at risk when a witch attempts to bring the demon Samhain back into the world.
Sam and Dean have their hands full in this episode as they track down the witch responsible for sacrificing mortals in order to summon Samhain. Their job is doubly complicated by the fact that it’s Halloween and everyone is dressed like a witch, demon, or other underworld creature. As they narrow the search, the angel Castiel and his companion appear, telling the Winchesters that they have been ordered to destroy the town in order to keep the seal from breaking. Samhain cannot be set free.
The story within this episode is solid, continuing to build upon the idea that Armageddon is coming. However, the harsh unwavering attitudes of the angels make Sam question his decision to stop using his powers. Is this city-destroying, harsh-hearted God the one he’s been praying to? He had always imagined a kind, forgiving God that embraced love and compassion. Yet here are these two angels whose orders are to lay waste to the area in order to protect the seal. No matter how Sam turns this idea in his head, he simply can’t justify the destruction of so many innocent lives in order to protect the seal. As a result, he finds himself turning to his powers to stop the demon from roaming free.
Unbeknownst to Sam and Dean, Castiel is having a crisis of conscience. Is what the angels are doing right? Is it just? Or are they doing it because they were told to do it? Although the topic of the question remains hidden, it is clear that Castiel is not the heartless, order-obeying angel he appears to be in front of the Winchesters. Moreover, at the end of the episode, Castiel reveals to Dean that their real orders were to do exactly as Dean commands. Because he told them to wait, to give him time to stop the witch, the angels waited and the seal was broken. Tens of thousands of lives were saved.
Supernatural isn’t playing by the traditional views of Heaven, Hell, and Armageddon. Instead, the writers are weaving those traditional values into the Supernatural universe so that it feels like a seamless transition, even though we clearly do not live in Sam and Dean’s reality, nor do they live in ours. However, this allows for greater character growth for the Winchesters, the angels, and maybe even the demons in the series.
The most interesting developments for Supernatural are sure to come. After all, Castiel is beginning to wonder where the line lies between right and wrong. What is it about Dean Winchester and the mystery of what the angels are doing that could lead Castiel to question his faith? It was wrong to let the witch break the seal and free Samhain, but it would also have been wrong to kill the townspeople to protect the seal. Without a clear right or wrong answer, how can a person (or even an angel) know if what he is doing is right and just?
The Winchester brothers are as engaging as always, but Castiel’s story is also very compelling. An angel with a conscience; what does this mean? The writers are sure to explore this topic fully in the coming episodes, giving more depth and credibility to the finale when it comes. As always, Supernatural continues to be a show to watch.