Supernatural - The Hunter Games - Review

Supernatural returned from Hell-atus with “The Hunter Games” written by the team of Brad Buckner and Eugenie Ross-Leming and directed by John Badham. While the episode set the stage for the second half of the season, overall, this episode was pretty lack lustre. There seemed to be a lot and nothing going on. The episode was hurt by rather over the top performances from Curtis Armstrong (Metatron) and Ruth Connell (Rowena). Stars Jared Padalecki (Sam), Misha Collins (Castiel), and Mark Sheppard (Crowley) all turn in their usually solid performances, elevating the episode to moderately interesting, and Jensen Ackles (Dean) does turn in a particularly good performance as he continues to battle the Mark of Cain.

The episode begins with a really good – as only Supernatural can do them – season recap set to “Long Black Road” by Electric Light Orchestra. Showrunner Jeremy Carver has stated that this season is “more internal” and Cas tells Claire (Kathryn Love Newton), “It’s possible there’s a little monster in all of us.” All of which may help to explain why there isn’t a monster hunt in an episode called “The Hunter Games.” The episode does focus on the trials of family. Crowley with his mother, Cas with his “daughter,” and Sam with Dean. I also liked how they moved from Crowley’s dream to Dean’s waking nightmare.

Arguably, you could also say that Cas is still having trouble with his angel family as well. He calls in a favor from Ingrid (Danielle Krmeniuk) to get Metatron in order to question him about how to get rid of the Mark of Cain. I did like that they clarify – somewhat – what Cas is really thinking. Cas tells Ingrid, “You share my belief that it is angels’ mission to protect humans.” He wants to help get the Mark off Dean not only because Dean is his friend but because it will “eliminate a great threat to” humans. This philosophy could help restore a balance between Heaven and earth if the angels only intervened in times of great peril – like the coming Apocalypse in season four. Still, the writers really do still have a can of open worms where the angels are concerned. However, the Mark does feel like a legitimate way to integrate them more naturally into the story.

The storyline with Claire was both stupid and pointless. Is she supposed to be street smart? Who lets a teenage girl wander the country – and hitchhike!!! – by herself with no money and no means of supporting herself except robbery or prostitution? I’m blaming all of them here as both Sam and Dean tell Cas, well, you tried. What? I’m going to refrain from commenting on Newton’s performance because her storyline is so ridiculous it would be hard for anyone to nail it. I buy that she’d be angry at Dean – and Cas – for killing Randy. But what exactly was Cas’ plan for her? That he would pay for her to spend her days in a crappy motel? At some point, she needs a life – a job, to go to school, something.

Instead of trying to find her someone to live with – how about taking her to Sonny’s halfway home from “Bad Boys” last season? It may be only for boys, but surely he would know someone who could take on a girl. Instead, Cas lets her go off on her own, so she ends up playing pool in a bar with two losers. Which proved that though he might pick up on a “longing” or “wish,”  he’s not exactly paying attention to what trouble she’s getting herself into. And she immediately tells her two new friends about Randy’s murder? And then agrees to their plan to murder Dean? What? I like that she still has enough goodness left in her that she ultimately can’t go through with it and the episode ends with her being on better terms with Castiel, BUT how stupid is she supposed to be that she trusts these idiots? And if this is further proof of her bad judgment in regards to people – like Randy! – then it is even further proof that she should not be on her own.

Dean going to talk to Claire just seemed too contrived to me. Yes, like Claire, Dean is full of rage that he’s having trouble controlling. Yes, showing her that he could control it by not killing the two trying to kill him might show her something about self-control. Yes, having her stop Dean is a good way to show that while she might have some monster in her, it’s not a murderous one. However, shouldn’t she be mad that Dean didn’t stop himself from killing Randy? And I’m not convinced that would have the lasting effect of her turning over a new leaf. But maybe I’m just being harsh…

A lack of logical plotting is the same complaint about the Crowley storyline. Crowley used to be interesting because he was always plotting something and was wickedly smart. Remember him duping Dean into accepting the Mark in the first place? Duping Cas into opening Purgatory? Always playing the angles? And yet, he’s being taken in by Rowena? Maybe it’s the overacting – if you aren’t convincing us that you’re sincere, you shouldn’t be convincing Crowley… And yes, I realize that he’s supposed to be carrying this mommy-baggage which is blinding him to what she’s really up to, but at the end of the day, he is the King of Hell and a demon – just how far are we supposed to believe these mommy-issues are supposed to push him? I really hope that Crowley actually knows what’s going on and this is simply another brilliant performance from Mark Sheppard.

Remember when Crowley used to use witches’ tricks? Yet now, Rowena is able to plant a hex bag under his throne without him being any the wiser. And if you don’t need to eat as a demon (even with a corporeal body to support?), why do you need to sleep and therefore dream? Crowley does pick up on her using the same lines about Guthrie (Russell Roberts) that she used to get Gerald (Viv Leacock) killed. However, that doesn’t save Guthrie.

         I did like the scene with Rowena casting the spell to eavesdrop on Crowley’s meeting with the boys, however. That was nicely staged – and the white eyes made it oddly reminiscent of Game of Thrones. And I still want to know how she’s alive after 300 years. Is it the same witchcraft as we saw in season five’s “The Curious Case of Dean Winchester”?

Not surprisingly, Sheppard’s best scene is his meeting with the boys and agreeing to get the First Blade back for them. However, why would he tell them his bones are in Guam!?! The one sure way to kill him is to burn his bones. Guam might not be terribly specific, but it was clearly specific enough for Guthrie to beat Crowley there – and exactly how did that happen if both demons transported directly there, Guthrie should have left after Crowley because Rowena would have had to convince him first… Once you start poking holes in this storyline, it’s kind of hard to stop… Anybody else feel sorry for Ackles, Padalecki and Sheppard for how totally soaking wet they all were in this scene? And it looked cold… And yet, they were all terrific in the scene. It likely didn’t hurt that they were supposed to be annoyed with each other.

If you liked the episode, I hope you kept reading because I did like the brothers’ storyline. We see that Dean is worried about what the Mark is turning him into – a stone-cold killer. I loved the initial scene of Dean sitting alone in his room and then looking at himself in the broken mirror – a nice reflection of how he is broken inside. Ackles is a master of saying a great deal without uttering a single syllable.

         Sam is also clearly concerned, as is Cas, but also seems determined to stand beside his brother. I like the way Padalecki is playing Sam this season. For me, he finally feels like a real grown up. He’s settled into his role as Man of Letters/Hunter and Padalecki’s performance really reflects it in this episode. Even the arguments between the brothers are more weighty – even if the arguments themselves might seem a bit circular. I did really love Badham’s long take of them walking and talking through the halls of Jerry Wanek’s beautiful bunker set.

Dean is determined the Mark must go at any price – at least to himself. Cas points out that “it’s more than just a physical thing. It will take a very powerful force to remove the effect.” Is there a more powerful force than Dean Winchester when he’s truly determined? Sam suggests that Cain was able to control the urge to kill, so maybe Dean will have to dig deep within himself to find that same power to resist. I loved this final scene between the two brothers – these are the core of the show for many.

Sam points out there’s nothing in the lore to help them, but it’s possible the demon tablet – which is missing – might contain an answer. Of course, if they can’t get the physical tablet, they can at least get the scribe who wrote it. And so, Cas goes for Metatron. I’m afraid that I’ve never been a big fan of Armstrong’s over the top portrayal of the character. I did like him telling Sam to keep Dean away from him, and then the shot of Ackles as he emerges from behind the shelves – Dean can be menacing! I also loved Padalecki’s delivery of “Buddy. I don’t care what happens to you. You killed my brother.” It’s hard not to love when the brothers are actually working toward the same goal.

Metatron first expresses surprise that Dean’s alive, yet later in the episode, he knows that Dean was bromancing around the country with Crowley. Sam is absolutely suspicious of Metatron and resists getting the First Blade back. However, leaving it with Crowley ensures that Dean can’t actually get a hold of it, but will its proximity still have an effect? Of course, if you’re going to go to the trouble of busting him out of Heaven as your last hope, it also doesn’t make sense not to listen to what he says. Metatron also tells Dean that the Mark is toxic and that it will own him sooner or later.

I had to wonder then, if Metatron wasn’t baiting Dean to try to get him to lose control because every time Dean loses control, it gets a little harder to regain control and a little easier to lose control the next time. Regardless, the scene between Ackles and Armstrong was, for me, Armstrong’s best performance to date. I loved the two of them going back and forth. Metatron goes back on his deal to tell them how to get the Mark off and tells Dean each step is now going to cost him. Dean replies that Metatron has it all wrong. Dean’s going to get all the steps and it’s not going to cost him anything. However, by baiting him and activating the Mark, Metatron does exact a price.

Dean lists every one of Metatron’s transgressions from taking Cas’ grace to killing Kevin to starting an angel war to killing him. Metatron’s response hits all of Dean’s Achilles heels: “How many people have suffered and died because they believed in you? How many times have you lied to Sam? You’ve always said ‘for the greater good’ but lately that’s just gone away. Now people die just because you want them to.” Metatron also says “Dean Winchester whose entire existence is defined by a war on the dark and monstrous” and to me that is what defined both the character and the show. Metatron pointing out how far Dean’s come from that also drove home that the show has really in large part moved away from the examination of the dark and monstrous. Ironically, this scene with Metatron is the darkest and most monstrous – as opposed to silly and light – appearance of his character.

Metatron also points out that every time Dean responds by getting angrier, he’s falling deeper under the Mark’s spell. His final stroke is to turn all of his own sins back onto Dean. Dean put Kevin into harm’s way, Dean let Gadreel possess Sam, and Dean went partying with Crowley. Yet, when Dean has clearly lost it and is killing Metatron, Metatron does seemingly give him a clue: “behold the river shall end at the source.” Could the source be Cain? Timothy Ombudson will be reprising the role later this season after all. Or is he referring to a river of rage? What would be the source for that with Dean?

I loved Cas blasting the door in – that was a great special effect. I also loved the scene of Sam pulling Dean off of Metatron. I like how Ackles looks almost drunk and is playing the effect of the Mark much like an addiction. Remember his being physically ill last season when separated from the blade and not being allowed to give in to the Mark’s desire to kill. I also loved how Padalecki put his body between Dean and Metatron, keeping one hand firmly on Dean’s shoulder. It was a nice use of physical acting and felt more like Sam was shielding his brother from Metatron rather than holding him back.

While there were some good scenes in this episode, and we did learn some things that will take the plot forward, all in all this was not my favorite episode of the series. What did you think of the episode? Is my assessment too harsh? Do you want to see more Claire? Are you like me and hoping for the end to the Rowena and Metatron storylines? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

About the Author - Lisa Macklem

I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Forever, Defiance, Bitten, Glee, and a few others! Highlights of this past year include covering San Diego Comic Con as press and a set visit to Bitten. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.