Supernatural “The Raid” was written by Robert Berens and was directed by John MacCarthy. The episode features a nicely parallel plot to Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) finding a connection with the British Men of Letters and coming to terms with Mary (Samantha Smith) working with them. The episode also continues this season’s walk down memory lane – and tidying up some loose ends from previous seasons. This episode treats us to a return of the inimitable Rick Worthy as the Alpha Vamp. A bit of a coup for the show given what an in-demand actor Worthy is these days with roles on both
The Magicians and
The Man in the High Castle.
The episode picks up right where we left off last week, and this is one of the most powerful scenes the show has had this season. Mary tries to explain that the British Men of Letters have a better way to hunt. She admits that she may not agree with all their methods. Sam wants to know how long she’s been working for them, and she admits that the Lakehouse – Ramiel – was her working for them. Dean immediately brings up that Cas almost died, and Sam points out that Wally did die. Ackles is fantastic here as we see him withdraw into himself and away from Mary, showing her no sympathy for feeling badly about what happened or having to tell Wally’s wife.
Mary tries to tell them that she’s trying to play catch up for the time she’s lost. Ackles is fabulous in this scene as he points out to Mary that this hasn’t been easy for them either – she’s been gone their whole lives. He points out that she asked for space and it wasn’t just space – it was space from them. He asks her to just once be a mom. And of course, we’ve known that this is something that Dean has wanted since “Dead in the Water” – the third episode of the first season.
Dean asks her to just try being a Mom. Mary points out that she is not just a mom – and Dean is not a child. And heartbreakingly, Dean tells her that he never was a child. He shows her the door, telling her that she’s made her choice. And he calls her Mary, distancing her from him even more. Even Sam tells her that she should go – he’s hurting himself, but it’s also clear that he knows how badly that this has hurt Dean.
Three days later, Mary returns from taking out a vamp nest with Ketch (David Haydn-Jones). Ketch is beside himself with glee over their new toy – the AVD (anti-vampire device). Ketch has no respect for the “scholars” of the team. He hands his bag to Serena (Sunita Prasad) to unpack – showing no respect for her PhDs… a little like the way Dean has been known to treat Sam…
The BML have set up a pretty impressive temporary base. I really liked this somewhat futuristic set – very cool. Ketch checks in with Mick (Adam Fergus) who is clearly in charge of this “away-team” mission. It’s very clear early on that Ketch is the Dean on this team and Mick is Sam. I have to wonder if we will eventually see the BML pull back but leave Sam and Dean in charge of the American operation. For now Mick has orders to get all the Winchesters on board because the rest of the American hunters will follow their lead. Ketch is still clearly, creepily, fixated on Mary – the best, and only, Winchester they need.
Back at the bunker Dean is desperate to kill something – or at least hit something – and brings Sam the lamest excuse for a case. Sam asks Dean if he wants to talk about it, and reluctantly, Dean does – another improvement in how the show has been handling the brothers’ dynamic. Dean wonders what Mary was thinking, and Sam suggests they ask. He’s mad too, but he’s not happy freezing out their mother. She must have had a good reason for what she did, and at the end of the day, she’s family! The Winchester code, after all.
And that’s it for Dean – he leaves to go for a drink. Dean walks out, but not before he tells Sam that he’s always playing the middle. He tells him to pick a side – and I loved how that came back up later in the episode.
Sam answers Mary’s text that she needs to see him urgently, by driving to the BML encampment. Mary tells him why she’s doing it – and I’ll gloat her just a little bit because I called it! She tells him that this could mean a world where he and Dean don’t have to hunt – they could have normal lives. I loved that Sam tells her that he chose this life – it’s nice to see the character finally have this clarity and stick to it – something else the show has been doing better at.
Mary points out that she understands why he gave up going to school and chose this life, but what if, he could make a different choice for the future? It’s that what if that she’s fighting for. She tells him that she’s not trying to recruit him, but she does want to show him that things are changing.
Sam is impressed despite himself. Mick is happy to welcome Sam – who still isn’t ready to shake Mick’s hand. Sam tells him that he digs the low-budget Mission Impossible vibe, but he’s leaving. Mick invites him to stay for the briefing – and Sam isn’t interested until Mick says they’ll be discussing how they’re going to take out every last vampire.
While Sam is being seduced by one side of the BML, Ketch shows up at the Bunker with a bottle of Scotch that Dean can’t resist – much as Rufus couldn’t resist the bottle that Dean brought him when he needed his help. I loved that we get another mention of Rufus via Pierce’s (Aaron Douglas) connection to him.
Mick goes around the table at the briefing. Alton (Kett Turton) is their head of R&D, spell work, weapons development, and Serena is in charge of surveillance and security. Sam refuses to sit. Sam is impressed despite himself. The BML conduct surveillance and learn as much as they can before they destroy a nest. They have a plan to wipe out all of the vampires in North America.
That final nest in the MWR (mid-west region) is about to become a lot more difficult to wipe out, however. I loved the Alpha Vamp showing up to see his “children”! Worthy embues the character with a world-weariness and an underlying sadness that underscores just how old the Alpha must be. And then there’s those wonderful measured tones, like warm dark chocolate over a red velvet cupcake…
The scene between Ketch and Dean is fantastic. Neither one is really a people-person, and it was fun to see Ketch actually uncomfortable. Ketch admits that he doesn’t care if the brothers are on board, but the “old lads” want them. Dean points out sending a chick to kill them wasn’t a good plan. And once more, we see that Ketch and Dean have something else in common. Ketch used to date Toni, so he was the only one to realize that she would go rogue.
Ketch recognizes the killer in Dean – and identifies with it. The BML keep Ketch busy – and they could do the same for Dean. As soon as Ketch mentions he’s off to take out some vampires, Dean is interested. Mick has no idea where Ketch is and what he’s doing. Ketch is actually eager to go old school with Dean and actually trades in his high-powered rifle – too easy – to borrow a machete from Dean.
Ultimately, the two find the nest empty, except for Kris (Alex Duncan). Dean stops Ketch from beating her for information – even Dean is surprised to be the reasonable one! Ketch insists she’s a monster – but Dean still isn’t in to beating a woman. He tells Kris that he’ll make it quick – but he’s not going to spare her.
Mick comes to Sam and asks how he likes their little operation – he can see that Sam is impressed. Sam recognizes that Alton and Serena are smart, but points out Pierce’s failings – he brags about hunting with Rufus – but Sam says Rufus would only hunt with him the once. Mick knows that Pierce isn’t a great hunter – but they can’t get the better hunters to sign on. Sam admits to Mary that even if it wasn’t supposed to be a sales pitch – it was a good one.
And then the hunt falls apart as the hunters become the hunted and the vampire nest attacks the compound – lead by a very pissed Alpha. Naturally, it’s the Winchesters who take point while the rest lock themselves away. I did like getting to watch Mary and Sam hunt together – and Sam’s “nice” compliment to Mary.
Sam catches the nest leader (Andrew Tkach), and he tells them the Alpha is coming for them. Serena doesn’t believe him – their intel has the Alpha in Morocco – and think he’s been there for the last 10 years. Sam tells them otherwise. Mary shuts the leader up, and it’s clear that Serena and Alton aren’t used to violence. When Mary takes charge, we find out that Mick has never killed anything either.
The weapons, including the AVD, are in the armory, but Sam doesn’t think the AVD will do more than hurt the Alpha anyway. Mary gets Mick to get the colt. I loved Sam’s reaction to seeing it again. Mary confesses she stole the gun from Ramiel.
When Mick points out they don’t have any bullets, Sam is ready with Bobby’s recipe to make more. I loved the little look on Mary’s face when she asks if it’s Bobby Singer’s recipe and Sam confirms it is. I wonder if she knows the debt she owes him for all he did for her boys…
Mary, Sam, and Pierce head to the armory, but Sam stays behind to take care of some vamps. Pierce arrives back without Mary – who he’s knocked out – and with the Alpha Vamp whom he serves. Mick, Serena, and Alton have finished the spell on the bullet, but the Alpha Vamp makes short work of Alton and Serena – who, to her credit, rushes the Alpha with a machete.
I loved the Alpha confronting Mick. He points out that he’s old and likes to live quietly, but Mick has killed so many of his children. Worthy is great in this scene – we still get the measure, unhurried words, but the sleepy world-weariness is gone. I also loved him telling Mick he didn’t get involved in England because “it’s England” and the disdainful little shrug. But America?! I loved the delivery of “It’s time you get off my lawn!” accompanied by a snarl and barely contained rage. Yet, he never really raises his voice.
Sam finds Mary knocked out, so they both know Pierce isn’t to be trusted, and go to save the others. They sneak back into the control room as the Alpha tells Mick that he’s going to call home and tell them to cancel the American incursion. I loved the glee with which he tells Mick that he’s going to devour him on screen while the BML watch – messy, but necessary to make his point!
The Alpha continues to be amused when Sam shows up and grabs the colt – which the Alpha recognizes, but he lies and says he’s one of the five things that the gun can’t kill. I also loved how suddenly the Alpha is just a little less sure. But Sam is only going to plead for himself and Mary – let things go back to the way they were – hunters just picking off one or two vamps at a time.
It sounds reasonable when Sam declares it should be a fair fight. Mary is shocked when Sam is ready to give up Mick, but echoing back to Dean’s admonition to pick a side, Sam says that’s what he’s doing. And it looks like he’s picking his family over the BML – or is he. In fact, Mick rushes him to give him the bullet he needs for the empty colt. Mary tries to sneak up on the Alpha and – quite unplausibly, he throws her over the table rather that killing her.
But Sam has the bullet now – but the Alpha doesn’t know that. I loved Worthy’s reaction as the Alpha realizes exactly what’s happened. And it’s a really nice way to circle us back to what really happened. Unfortunately, Sam does take the shot – and we get a pretty terrific special effect of seeing Sam through the skull of the Alpha – but I may never forgive Sam for killing the Alpha!!
Mary and Sam play clean up – and Ketch and Dean have finally arrived. Mick is clearly shaken and wants to know where Ketch was – people died! Ketch has little sympathy for Mick – after all, he’s in the field truly risking his life – and seeing others die – all the time. He tells Mick he was making a play for Dean – and it was working – until Mick’s operation went sideways. There is clearly little love lost between these two.
Dean catches up with Sam and Mary. Sam wonders why Dean would have sped to the rescue of the BMLs with Ketch when he didn’t know that Sam was there – but he clearly came because he knew Mary was there. He admits – a la Metallica – that when he thought Mary was in danger “nothing else mattered.” He then absolves her from “mother-duty” – it’s not her job to make his lunch or kiss him goodnight. He recognizes that they are both adults and that they will make their own choices and decision and will have to respect each other. And of course, this is something everyone has to come to terms with. Dean Winchester is hardly the first – or last – adult to have to see his mother as more than just that. And then he calls her Mom again.
Ketch takes Pierce away in chains. Sam wants to know where he’s taking him, and Ketch tells them they have unpleasant ways of dealing with hunters who go rogue. Mary and Sam both respond “good.”
In the final scene, Mick thanks Sam for his help. He’s embarrassed by the events that didn’t show the BML to the best advantage. Sam, however, finds it easy to see the bigger picture. The Alpha is dead, and the BML are changing the world. He’s in. Mick asks about Dean, and Sam asks for some time. Will this drive a wedge between the brothers?
It’s hard to see the world changing, but this could finally be the change that should have happened when the brothers first discovered the bunker. Sam is so clearly a scholar and would do very well in Mick’s position – and that doesn’t take anything from his hunting abilities, but Dean is the killer that Ketch identifies with – though not to the same degree. To those who want to turn a blind eye to this side of Dean – that he has struggled with – and improved – let’s not forget his killing Amy Pond or how he was initially drawn to Gordon’s ruthless methods.
I was thrilled to have Rick Worthy reprise his role as the Alpha Vamp and sorry to see the death of the Alpha, but it is a worthy impetus for Sam to consider a new “side.” This was a well-written episode that moved the BML plot along, as well as Mary’s place in the larger scheme of things, including her family. What did you think of the episode? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
