Supernatural “Twigs & Twine & Tasha Banes” was written by Steve Yockey and was directed by Richard Speight Jr. This episode continues our walk down memory lane with the show and the show’s commitment to looking after its own – not really plausible to bring Gabriel back, but Speight seems very welcome in the director’s chair. Personally, I’m still wishing to see him show up as Loki (The Trickster)! This was an interesting episode that moves us closer to the season finale – and the possible loss of Mary (Samantha Smith). Unless they are willing to bring her into the fold as a regular, having her play reluctant part-time mom really isn’t working for me, so killing her off again would seem the likely option.
The episode pumps the brakes on the Lucifer’s baby storyline, while moving the British Men of Letters storyline towards a possible conclusion. Mary finally starts to get suspicious about Ketch (David Haydn-Jones). It was a nice bait and switch for the promo pictures to have the shapeshifter that Ketch is torturing take Mary’s form.
The case of the week features witches. It was nice to meet Tasha Banes (Alvina August) even if it was only to lose her. It certainly makes you wonder how any hunter hunts alone and stays alive though! The gimmick of the week with the Demon Borrower Witch (Linda Darlow) was pretty cool. Quick question though - since when is purple the official color of witches?
We get a rather lengthy exposition scene between Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) in the bunker. Dean maintains that there is something up with Cas (Misha Collins) – he didn’t recognize the guy staring back at him. I didn’t like the two self-consciously biting their thumbs - bad acting choice or bad directing choice? The good news out of this scene is that Sam thinks he might be able to fix the colt.
The two are interrupted by “one” of Mary’s phones. Why is it in the bunker? Mary suddenly seems to have made it to modern hunting now. It’s Alicia Banes (Kara Royster) wanting Mary’s help to follow up on Tasha’s hunt. Max (Kendrick Sampson) is sure there is nothing wrong. Dean is inclined to believe Max and is reluctant to give up trying to find Cas, but I adored that Sam convinced him with the very phrase that set everything in motion for the series: “Their Mom’s on a hunting trip and hasn’t been home in a week.” Dean gives in immediately. Had to love Sam using Dean's own words against him!
Dean calls Mary and he leaves a message because she’s busy. He tells her where they’re going and that he’ll text the information. He knows she’s likely busy, but even if she can’t come help out, he asks her to call him back. He’s looking to her for someone to talk to. He’s clearly still upset about what’s happening with Cas.
There’s a nice parallel between the two sets of siblings. Dean and Max are both into bartenders and cars – and Max even crushes on Dean’s grenade launcher! It turns out that Alicia doesn’t have any magic – that’s Max and Tasha’s thing and special bond. Sam compares it to Dean’s bond with John over hunting.
Dean tries to tell Alicia that they’ll take point, but Alicia pulls out a huge knife – she may not have magic, but she’s a hunter. She doesn’t need Dean’s protection. The four head into the hotel only to find Tasha seemingly alive and well. It’s a nice moment from both Alicia and Max. I have to admit that while both Sampson and Royster delivered good performances, I was more impressed with Royster. I do want to give the show props for injecting a little more diversity into the show.
The five of them wait in Tasha’s room – she has wine – Dean is not impressed – while rooms are made up for the four arrivals. Alicia still wants to know why Tasha didn’t answer any of her messages even as Max scoffs at her concern. Tasha makes a lame answer that her phone hasn’t been charging. Tasha tells them there are no witches there. Tasha seems to hurt herself opening the wine, but says she’s fine – she turns around, however, and fixes her broken finger! Our first hint that all isn’t as it seems.
Back at the BMoL bunker, Ketch is turned on by their torture session and wants to burn off some adrenaline… with Mary. She tells him that their one night stand was a ONE night stand. Mary is appalled by what she saw Ketch do. He insists that the ends justify the means. They don’t need a conscience. Ketch flippantly tells her to report him to Mick – and that heightens Mary’s concern over Mick’s being silent and unreachable. Ketch demonstrates again that he is jealous of Mary’s bond with Dean when he tells her to return Dean’s call – she wouldn’t want him to think that Mommy doesn’t love him. Mary starts to realize that sleeping with Ketch was a really bad idea.
Sam goes for food, and Dean bonds a little with Tasha. He tells her that she’s done a great job with Max and Alicia. They’re happy, well-adjusted, and good hunters. Dean tells her that John raised he and Sam to hunt – and their relationship with Mary is … complicated. Really? How does everyone not know that Mary was dead? Tasha tells him that parents always seem smart and strong and perfect and it’s only when you grow up that you realize that they are just people too. It makes Dean thoughtful.
Mary overhears Ketch on the phone talking about a “package,” and when she tells Ketch she uses Mick’s computer to check her email, she finds one from Mick saying he’ll be stuck in London a few more weeks – convenient. It all heightens her suspicions and she checks the armory, ultimately finding Mick’s body.
Sam brings the food and takes Dean outside to show him a missing poster for Rick Walsh (Paul Rogic) – who they all saw when they arrived. Dean steps away from his phone just as Mary returns his call. She leaves a message apologizing for not being there for him and Sam – but she will be once she “finishes this.” Whatever “this” is.
Mary is looking to make sure that Ketch doesn’t realize she’s been in the armory and manages to duck into a room that she doesn’t have access to – finding computers that are tracking all the known hunters – the good news is that Elaine, Garth and Claire are all still alive. Ketch finds Mary and tries to lie that a werewolf killed Mick.
Mary calls Ketch a psychopath and an epic fight ensues. Ketch maintains that they have to be ruthless – not like Mick and her boys. Mary tells him not to talk about her boys. He admits to her that he killed the FBI agents and the “psychic girl” – he tells her they’re sloppy, and she corrects him that they’re decent. Ketch tells Mary that he can keep her safe if she just plays her part and “plays nice.” Mary doesn’t play nice, but she foolishly walks away without securing Ketch or making sure that he’s unconscious – and of course, he tazes her and takes her prisoner.
Dean and Sam meanwhile head into the creepy – and very smelly (smells like death) cellar. They find the bodies of Andy (Tim Carlson) – the desk clerk – Walsh and Tasha. Max is heading out for a date with the hot bartender, but comes to see what they’re up to. They try to keep him from seeing Tasha’s body, but fail.
Dean, Sam, and Max go back to Tasha and Alicia, and Max uses a reveal spell to get twiggy-Tasha to give up the Witch. Max and Dean go upstairs, leaving Dean and Alicia to deal with Andy – great special effects in this scene. Andy is killing Sam, and Alicia finally tries to help, but twiggy-Tasha gets up and stabs Alicia.
The Witch’s soul will go to Hell unless she can find someone else to take her burden – and her power. She shows Max and Dean exactly what happened to Tasha – she wouldn’t take the deal and the Witch made her into one of her creatures. The doll has all of Tasha’s memories – because it has her heart. Max also refuses and tries to kill her. If he kills her, all the dolls will fall apart. If Max takes the burden, his mother can live forever. Dean tries to tell him not to do it. Max is about to take the ring, but Dean shoots her. He explains to Max that the deal wasn’t with the witch but with a demon, and if he touched the ring, Max would lose his soul.
Max and Dean return to find Alicia dying. Max is distraught that he could have saved them – and Sampson really does deliver a great performance in this last scene. He tells Sam and Dean that he’ll burn the bodies himself. He begs them to just leave.
We get a nice ride and talk. Dean muses that they had such a nice loving family – and then it was just gone. Sam insists that Dean did the right thing by not letting Max take the deal, but Dean points out that they do awful things for each other all the time – that’s what you do for family. As they talk we see that Max has taken the deal after all and saved Alicia. The fire special effect at the end is pretty horrible, however.
Dean finally gets Mary’s message as Sam sleeps. He smiles at the first – but then there’s a second message, telling Dean that they’ve got a problem. Ketch has Mary tied up. He muses that he wishes she could have been as ruthless as he hoped – this could have all worked out. Sadly, the episode ends with the return of Toni (Elizabeth Blackmore) – who declares that Mary is an asset and they have other plans for her. I really could have done without ever seeing Toni again…
This was a solid episode in a traditionally (or at least for the last 6 or 7 years) fallow time of the season. I can’t say how much I enjoyed watching Mary beat the crap out of Ketch – though I’ll admit that I’ve grown a bit fond of the psychopath and really hoped that Mary had chipped a hole in his dogged adherence to the ways of the BMoL – the “love” of a good woman influence and all that. I also couldn’t help but think of listening to Samantha Smith at a convention years ago lament about always being cast in the girlfriend or mom role and wishing she’d get the action role! So nice to see her dream come true! What did you think of the episode? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
