Supernatural - Inside Man - Review

         Supernatural, “Inside Man,” was written by Andrew Dabb and directed by Rashaad Ernesto Green, whose other credits only include Grimm and some shorts. For a relatively new director, Green does a fine job with this episode. The episode itself felt a lot like a trip down memory lane. Some might even call the episode fanservice. While I’ve been a fan of the show since the beginning, I’ve never felt the need to re-invent the wheel or simply repeat the earlier seasons. I like a show that can grow and evolve, especially when it comes to its characters. This episode had some fun moments, but really felt like it was spinning the show’s wheels as far as moving the plot along in any substantial way.

Of course, the episode featured the return of Bobby Singer (Jim Beaver) – now a resident of Heaven. Beaver stepped back into the role like he’d never left it, which really just underscored how much of a misstep it was to kill him off in the first place. Replacing Beaver’s recurring presence with the likes of Curtis Armstrong as Metatron is just a glaring step down, and this is highlighted by them not only being in the same episode, but sharing a scene together.

Still, it was nice to see Bobby, sitting in his study, sipping whiskey, listening to Kenny Rogers and reading about Tori Spelling. Other “comfort food” from the episode included Dean’s (Jensen Ackles) pranking Sam (Jared Padalecki) by doing horrible – and unspeakable – things to his personal effects, Dean hustling pool, and the séance. Bobby saying “Balls.” We get lots of “cute” name-calling in the episode. Something that Dabb tends to over use so they become rather too clunky. However, some of the highlights include the ubiquitous Squirrel, Hippie, and “looks like a Fraggle.” The more belabored ones included creep-ass Hobbit-looking fellow, Asstiel, and Samtastick.

The episode begins with what felt like the longest “Then” montage they’ve had – not including end of season ones which are excused. The first scene is a tease to Bobby, but otherwise seems a bit pointless for a flash ahead. Still. Bobby. The next scene is Sam being awakened by Dean screaming his name. Sam runs to his room only to find him locked in the throes of a nightmare. Anybody else remember Sam’s nightmares from season one? Dean’s nightmare, however, seems the normal by-product of what the mark has made him do and his worry over it rather than any further manifestation that he’s getting worse as Sam keeps telling everyone.

We see both brothers in full denial mode the next morning. It’s a fun scene – especially Dean’s completely insincere promise to stay out of Sam’s room. Sam sneaks off to meet with Castiel (Misha Collins) to try to get Metatron out of Heaven – all behind Dean’s back. I can’t even begin to say how much I enjoyed Bobby giving Sam grief over that! It was nice to see Collins actually getting to do something for a change too.

It’s nice to see that Hannah (Lee Majdoub) is still sensible enough to refuse Cas’s appeal for Metatron. After she turns them down, Cas and Sam go to Oliver Pryce (Richard Newman), a psychic the men of letters had been training in the 50s before they were slaughtered. Newman is fantastic, and I do hope they find a reason to use him again!

The entire sequence with Pryce is gold. I loved the look on Cas’s face when Sam stops him from simply blasting open Pryce’s door: “I’m helping.” I loved Sam being surprised that Pryce knew who they were – “Mind reader, remember?” And then how disturbed he is that he can only see colors with Cas. Cas tells him he’s an angel and Pryce says “No, you can’t be” because he’s an atheist!

        I loved Sam’s glib “Not anymore.” I loved how impressed Pryce was that Heaven has a jail. Pryce also describes having to listen to the voices in everyone’s heads as “Hell.” When he asks what happens if he says no, Sam says, “You’re the mind reader,” which has Pryce scurrying for his things. I think we can imagine pretty well what Sam was thinking!

It was nice to see them get at least some of the continuity right. Sam contacts Bobby through Bobby’s radio in Heaven – much the same as Cas contacted Sam and Dean in “Dark Side of the Moon.” Bobby is happy to hear Sam’s voice but wants to know where Dean is. I have to admit that I was pretty disappointed that Dean didn’t get to interact with Bobby. It seems every time they bring Beaver back they are determined to keep he and Ackles as far apart as possible, which is sad considering the close bond between Bobby and Dean. Bobby agrees to help though he is surprisingly reluctant, suggesting he’s rusty and there may be someone better.

Bobby quoting the Godfather – “just when I thought I was out they pull me back in” – was hilarious. Of course, he manages to create havoc by releasing all the Bobby Singers – all neatly stored by date in the same hallway. I loved the comment over the radio that “the Bobbys are fighting back and they’re surly!” It’s fun to get to see Bobby and Cas work together. Bobby presses Cas about Dean and he, of course, caves and tells Bobby that Dean doesn’t know anything about what they’re doing. Bobby comments, “Well, that’s a page right out of the Winchester playbook, ain’t it?” In fact, it could easily apply to John in the first season. Cas maintains that Dean has given up.

Bobby is completely unimpressed by Metatron as the Scribe of God. Bobby knows he’s likely to be punished, but his boys are clearly still worth it, and we see the angels come for him at the end. Meanwhile, Sam and Cas don’t go easy on Metatron. Cas takes Metatron’s grace and Sam shoots him. Metatron admits that he has no idea how to get rid of the mark – it’s old magic, God-magic, that pre-dates the tablets, so they aren’t any help either. Cas tells Sam to just shoot him, but Metatron has one last card to play – he knows where to find some of Cas’s grace. Too bad. We’ll be seeing more of him.

Meanwhile, after unsuccessfully trying to convince Rudy to let him help on his hunt, Dean has been enjoying a night out at what appears to be his regular bar – at least the bartender recognizes him and he has a regular order. Dean hustles three “Abercrombie rejects” (Chris McNally (Ty), Steve Baran, and Rhys Williams) out of $300 and Ty’s watch. As we’ve seen a lot this season so far, we get two shots of Dean looking at himself in mirrors. The first is when he’s on the phone to Rudy and tells him he’s doing great – he’s clearly lying. In the second, he goes into the washroom to splash water on his face after fleecing the college kids. As he looks up, he sees his eyes flash black – or at least he thinks he does.

When Dean comes out, he finds Rowena (Ruth Connell) waiting for him. When she enters the bar, she uses Crowley’s (Mark Sheppard) catch phrase of “Hello boys” before putting a spell on them to attack Dean that will burn them up from the inside out. Dean easily puts them all down, but stops himself before he kills Ty. Rowena tries to kill him using a powerful spell that simply bounces off of him. Dean asks her what she’s doing there and she tells him she’s trying to save Crowley because he’s become weak through his friendship with them. It’s interesting that she uses this lie with him, though she could hardly tell him that what she really wants is the repository of spells that the men of letters have. She tells Dean that he won’t kill her because he’s a good guy, a hero, and he’ll her to lift the spell and save the frat boys – she’s not wrong.

Rowena tries to play Crowley by beating herself up and saying that Dean did it. Crowley tells her that he wasn’t touched by her spell because he’s protected by the Mark – which never lets its host die an easy death. She says it can be removed because it’s just a curse, even if a very old one. Crowley is completely unsympathetic, telling her if she got beaten it was her own fault for being stupid. She finally pushes Crowley too far, however, by telling him he looks weak and he’s going to lose his throne.

Crowley goes to Dean and once again we see then sharing a drink. Even Dean remarks how strange it is that he’s playing Dr Phil to the King of Hell. Crowley believes Dean over Rowena and tells Dean that Rowena said the Mark can be removed. Dean says that they’ve both changed, Crowley has gone soft and it might be a lingering effect of the human blood Sam injected him with. Dean asks why Crowley is letting Rowena get to him, and Crowley says because she’s family, blood. And of course, this hits on a central theme in the series. Dean’s answer is an interesting new take on this theme.

Dean tells Crowley, “That’s not the same thing. A wise man once told me family don’t end in blood, but it doesn’t start there either. Family cares about you not what you can do for them. Family’s there for the good, bad, all of it. They got your back even when it hurts. That’s family – sound like your mother?” Interestingly, of course, the wise man Dean’s referring to is Bobby. And that’s finally what Crowley needed to hear. We get the old Crowley growl as he finally kicks Rowena to the curb, but not without her vowing that she’ll watch all he has burn for it.

Sam returns to the bunker and both lie about their nights. I wonder if Dean will at least tell Sam about the Mark being a “simple” curse. Bobby gave Cas a letter to give to Sam, and he retreats to his bedroom to read it. It’s vintage Bobby: “Cas told me what you’re doing for Dean, and I’m not telling you to stop, but maybe going behind his back isn’t the best idea. Your brother, he can be stubborn, but I think he’d understand. And I know it’s the life, doing a little bad so you can do a lot of good.” And here we see Cas with Metatron, underscoring that using Metatron – and torturing him – is worth it to get Cas’s grace back.

The letter goes on: “Sometimes the bad’s real bad and the good can come at one Hell of a price.” The camera show Rowena at real bad and then shifts to Crowley at ‘good.’ Is Crowley’s good of getting rid of her coming at a high price?

Bobby goes on to tell Sam that he’s a good man and he’s proud of him: “I was content up here, but getting a call from you, it’s the happiest I’ve been in forever no matter what it costs.” And we see the angels arrive in Bobby’s Heaven. Hopefully, Hannah will be merciful. It would seem pointless to have rescued Bobby from Hell and sent his soul to Heaven only to then get him kicked out again!

The letter ends on a familiar note: “So stay safe. Keep fighting, and kick it in the ass – Bobby.” It’s Kim Manners signature line. The camera focuses on Padalecki who really does kick in the ass by dropping a single, perfect tear – something that was the purview of Ackles in previous seasons. So the episode ends with several more fan favorite shoutouts.

While Bobby’s letter and Dean’s advice to Crowley were highlights and we learn that Rowena might be able to get rid of the Mark and Metatron definitely can’t, the episode still felt a bit flat to me. What did you think? Were you satisfied with the return of Bobby? Are you worried about the consequences for him? It looks like he may be punished but it also looks like he may also have lost the contentment he’d had. Are you glad to see Crowley finally throw Rowena out or do you think it was a mistake? Are you like me, and feel like Dean and Sam keeping secrets only ever ends in disaster and Sam should take Bobby’s advice and tell Dean everything – and Dean should do likewise? 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.