Supernatural, “Our Little World,” was written by Robert Berens and was directed by John F Showalter. The episode continues this season’s return to many of the things that fans first fell in love with about the show and that help to define it. It also marks the return of Metatron (Curtis Armstrong). I haven’t made it a secret that I’m not a big fan of Armstrong or Matatron. But like Ruth Connell, I think Armstrong may have suffered in the past from some erroneous directing. Regardless, I found him a lot less irritating in this episode.
As you might expect, an episode with Metatron in it is itself very meta – reflecting back on how the media portrays reality. I really liked this thread through the episode and it’s very well written. We see that Castiel (Misha Collins) is still immersed in binge watching television. It’s a way for him to avoid reality and having to deal with what happened. We first see him watching a trashy talk show – Jenny Jones. It’s interesting that it’s a “paternity episode” because family also plays an important through line in the episode and the mytharc.
Amara (Yasmeene Ball) once again targets someone with a troubled family life when she eats Goldie’s (Eva Day) soul. Goldie subsequently tries to kill her mother. The new Amara (Samantha Isler) returns to Crowley (Mark Sheppard), but it’s clear she is starting to chafe at the bonds of her “family.” Crowley is still able to keep the upper hand – briefly – to ground her. I loved Crowley with the Understanding Your Teenage Daughter self-help book tucked into his Hell binder! Perhaps the most shocking reveal – not just of the episode but maybe many seasons! – is that Amara is God’s sister. So…. Siblings. Like that doesn’t resonate with this show!
Castiel is about to leave the bunker – at Dean’s (Jensen Ackles) insistence – but can’t get past the door when he has flashes to beating Dean and killing Crowley. He retreats from reality again and back to the tv. Castiel tracks Metatron down because he sees him reflected in the camera lens as he preys upon the victims of crime by videotaping and selling the footage. So a reflection in a picture – very meta. Castiel calls him on it, saying that he’s preying like a vulture on human tragedy. Metatron responds, calling Cas “Ass-tiel,” that religion is dead, the novel deader. Reality it the great literature of our era. It’s an interesting comment from a scripted drama in the era of reality television – though I’d argue that reality television is well past its heyday.
We also see Amara viewing reality through a mediated lens – the cat meme: “If nonsensical slogans attached to idiot pictures of domestic animals counts as the world.” Crowley tries to appease her by bringing her a soul to eat, but she refuses him. Crowley, like any parent, tells her that his rules may seem arbitrary but he has wisdom and experience to offer her. Crowley asks her to slow down and play be his rules. For her patience, he’ll offer her protection.
It’s actually Sam (Jared Padalecki) who insists they get Castiel back in the field. The brothers are trying to track Amara by her victims. This does lead them to Goldie, and they are able to enlist her to help capture the demon who is sent to kill her. When was the last time we even say a Devil’s Trap? The brothers take him back to their hotel room – I have to wonder how they got him out of the jail… However, another thing that fans have complained about for some seasons was also rectified in this episode! Sam insists that they can try to exorcise the demon and save the meat suit! Unfortunately, Dean discovers a bullet hole in the meat suit.
We also see a “Hunter’s wall” for the first time in a very long time as the brothers spread out their evidence on the hotel wall. It certainly gave me the warm and fuzzies! In triangulating from the demon’s phone, they determine that Crowley is probably holed up in the Needham Asylum. Sam wonders why he wouldn’t have her in Hell, but Dean tells Sam that Crowley hates that place! Sam is clearly worried that Dean has some kind of connection to Amara – good instincts Sam! He asks Dean if he’s ready to kill her. Dean admits that they don’t really know how to kill her but the threat is too big to wait. Here’s another familiar Winchester scenario! Dean says they’ll just hit her with everything they’ve got, but he looks worried.
Sam and Dean split up – Sam to take out the demon guards and Dean to get Amara. Sam continues to try to save the demons and subdue them without actually killing them. I loved the way Sam’s fight is inter-cut with Cas’s fight with Metatron. Cas has revealed that he took the demon tablet from under “Marv’s” mattress. Metatron baits Cas, telling him that he can sense he’s broken, he’s a wuss. He soon learns that Cas isn’t holding back from fear but from anger. Cas is tired of being everyone else’s pawn. When one demon almost chokes Sam to death (and remember when Sam was always getting choked?!), he has to kill him. But he holds back from killing the next one.
Meanwhile, Dean confronts Amara. This scene is also inter-cut with Castiel and Metatron. Amara tells Dean she knew he’d come and he says he’s sorry, but then Crowley shows up and pins Dean. He says, “My girl’s growing up. I should have known it wouldn’t be long before the boys showed up.” Dean tells him he’s an idiot for thinking he could control Amara. Crowley clarifies that he’s trying to help her reach her full potential, not control her.
Crowley then tells Dean their bromance is finally over. Fatherhood changes a man! However, Amara is having none of that. She hits Crowley over the head before pinning him herself and breaking his hand to make him drop Ruby’s knife. Sam arrives at the door, only to have a vision of the box. Amara spares Crowley’s life for safe passage for Dean.
Dean picks up the knife, but Amara insists, “You won’t. You can’t.” And then we cut immediately to Metatron, “I can’t take it anymore.” He can’t stand the ordinary drudgery of everyday life. Cas demands, “Tell me about the darkness.” And we cut immediately to Amara’s “Tell me.” Amara tells Dean that he (humans) represent the first experience of His creation. The sweet triumph and sweeter folly of what He’s wrought. She tells him there’s no fighting it, she’s fascinated.
We cut back to Metatron who says people want their God to be a finger-snapping (Gabriel anyone?) all powerful one. Metatron tells Cas that what God did – Creation – took work and sacrifice. He had to give up the only family he’d ever known – Amara. Amara tells Dean that she’s on earth to settle an old score – the oldest score.
In the end, Dean can’t kill her. Amara throws Sam when he comes in the door and that’s what gets Dean moving, but she throws him too. The final shot of her in the episode is a beautiful montage set to Girl, You’ll be a woman soon – that follows Amara in the world, Crowley unhappy on his throne, and Dean back to drinking whiskey – never a good sign with him.
We also see the brothers back at the bunker with Cas. Sam says he’ll look into the lore, but he has another vision. This time it’s a throwback to the Hell we first saw at the end of season 3. Sam sees the cage – and fingers poking out of it. Must they go to Lucifer or Michael for help in dealing with the Darkness?
This was really a solidly written and directed episode. I loved the little touchstones of so much of what is at the core of the show. What did you think of the episode? Favorite scene? Line? What do you think about Amara being God’s sister? Was Castiel wrong in letting Metatron go? Who do you think is in the cage? 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, Agent Carter, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, The X-Files, Defiance, Bitten, Killjoys, and a few others! I'm active on the Con scene when I have the time. 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.
